News

Master Gardener, Ruth Flescher, will be at the Irvin L Young Memorial Library on Tuesday, September 5 at 6:00 p.m. to present “Seed Saving 101.” The public is invited to attend and learn why it’s important to have open-pollinated varieties to save from, ways to isolate the blooms to ensure you get the genetics you want, the difference between market maturity and seed maturity, both wet and dry seed processing, seed storage, and average seed life.   

The presentation will be held in the library’s Community Room located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. There is no cost or registration. For additional information, visit the library’s website at www.whitewaterlibrary.org or call 262-473-0530.  

Whitewater resident Tom Stanley has had such an interesting life that his next book is going to be a a biography. Tom and his wife, Sue, both taught for the Department of Defense in countries such as Japan, the Philippines, Germany, and on Okinawa, but his first book focused on a football coach from his hometown of Ashland, Wisconsin. The Mythmaker was co-authored by this coach’s son Tim McGuire.

Former Whitewater resident Marcia James hosted her book club – the Book Babes – at her Whitewater Lake rental this week. Tom joined nine ladies who have been meeting since 2002 and have often had authors join them. Tom not only discussed his book, but previewed the book that he is working on now about his and Sue‘s life. Then seven of the ladies and Tom got on a pontoon boat in triple digit heat and toured Whitewater Lake. Cold bottles of water and squirt guns were prolific!

Whitewater residents Jane Johns, Barb Pennington, and Dee Simon; Janesville residents Nancy Johnson, Donna Reinardy, and Jean Schollmeier; Pardeeville resident Lila Waldman; and Johnson Creek resident Ann Riall enjoyed lunch and custard before boarding the boat. The group has met in Baraboo, at a park in Janesville, and restaurants. The pandemic introduced Zoom as their frequent medium.

Linda Godfrey, Suzanne Popke, Marshall Cook, John Durand, and Richard Haney are other authors who have joined the group. Former Whitewater resident, Carrie Simon, who co-authored the Pudgie Pie cookbook, made pies for the group in Marcia’s backyard. The group meets once a month and have a teaching background in common.

Editor’s note: The above article and photos were provided by Marcia James.

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by Sheryl Robinson.

Whitewater Student Teen Lacey Skime, Awarded $10,000 Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship for Pioneering Mental Wellness Initiative

Lacey Skime, an enterprising and compassionate resident of Prairie Du Chien, has been honored with a $10,000 Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship for her innovative project, the “Mental Wellness Fair and Kits.” This remarkable achievement showcases Lacey’s dedication to fostering mental wellness and building a more supportive community.

Nationally, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) recognized nearly 3,200 members of the 2023 Gold Award Girl Scout class who identified issues in their communities, took action, and found or created solutions to earn their Gold Awards. This year’s world-changer class raised $2.5 million in funding and invested over 300,000 hours to address real-life problems such as environmental sustainability, racial justice, mental and physical wellness, and gender inequality in STEM.  

This year GSUSA awarded 110 Gold Award Girl Scouts from across our Movement, one from each council, a scholarship, made possible in part by the Kappa Delta Foundation, in addition to funds from GSUSA and its National Board.

In line with this mission, Lacey Skime’s “Mental Wellness Fair and Kits” project epitomizes the values of the Gold Award. The project began with a mental wellness fair encouraging open conversations and learning. Thought-provoking posters were displayed throughout her school, sustaining the conversation. Lacey’s commitment extended to radio interviews and strategic social media posts, ensuring a broad reach.

Collaborating with her friends and fellow troop members, Lacey developed mental health bags that found their way to various community agencies, creating a supportive network for young individuals facing challenges. These carefully crafted bags contained resources, encouragement, and practical coping skills to navigate difficult times. Agencies such as Crossing Rivers Hospital Behavioral Health Department, local schools, behavioral health clinicians, police departments and more readily embraced these emergency kits.

Reflecting on her impactful project, Lacey shared, “You don’t know exactly what’s going on with your gold award project to start one.   A big part of this is learning about your issue while you go through this.   You are not expected to be an expert on the issue.   It’s building your understanding, reaching others, being willing to learn more, grow personally, and teach others with the help of your community.  It’s bringing it all together in the end from a curious start.”

Lacey’s leadership shone through as she coordinated every aspect of the fair, demonstrating exceptional organizational and collaboration skills. Collaborating with many agencies, she successfully united different resources, facilitating a comprehensive approach to mental wellness.

Lacey’s enthusiasm was infectious, inspiring her peers and the community to rally behind her cause. She realized that the resources are available through surveys and conversations, and the need for these conversations is apparent. Lacey’s dedication also attracted the attention of the Crawford County Mental Health Coalition, further extending her network and impact.

“Lacey Skime exemplifies the spirit of the Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship through her unwavering commitment to mental wellness and community collaboration,” said Sheryl Robinson, Badgerland Council Gold Award Mentor. “Her project showcases her leadership, resourcefulness, and compassion, making her deserving of this scholarship.”

Lacey’s initiative addresses mental health concerns and empowers others to join the conversation. Her journey proves that one determined individual can create a lasting impact, leaving behind a more supportive and connected community.

Lacey is attending UW Whitewater this fall.   She’s interested in elementary education or early childhood suction.  However, she’s also open to learning more about herself and her interests during these years.   She plans to work on campus and spend time with her nephews, build friendships and experiences. 

Update 8/28 @ 10 a.m.: Local resident Wesley Therrian indicates that he and his son Joshua are in the movie, “way up in the stands in the top row under Bob Uecker. If you could slow it down, there is a spot in there that shows Josh just getting into his seat. We are unfortunately unaccredited for our role in the filming. It was really fun.”

Update 8/28 @ 10 a.m. – Projectionist Mark Dorn passed on that UW-Whitewater Baseball Coach John Vodenlich also appears in the film.

“Mr. 3000”
Tuesday, August 29, 1 p.m.
(Comedy/Drama/Romance/Sports) Rated PG-13;
1 hour, 44 minutes (2004)

Stan Ross, a retired Milwaukee Brewers baseball player perhaps bound for the Hall of Fame, must come out of retirement at age 47 when it is discovered  he is three hits shy of 3,000. Filmed at American Family Field (Miller Park) Milwaukee, and Waukesha! 

Starring Bernie Mac, Angela Bassett, Paul Sorvino, Chris Noth, Larry King and Jay Leno. 

An event to celebrate the Heart Prairie Norwegian Methodist Episcopal Church being listed in the National Register of Historic Places will be held on Sunday, September 10th at 2:00 p.m.  The church is located at N7372 County Road P, Delavan.  The program will feature music, speakers, and attaching a bronze plaque to the front of the church. There also will be a marked walk of the historic cemetery.  Refreshments will follow.  There is limited parking and seating.  For more information, contact Georgia Kestol at gkestol@yahoo.com.

Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by Georgia Kestol.

Whitewater Grocery Co. is thrilled to invite GroCo Owners to attend our Annual Meeting on October 19th, 2023 at Second Salem, 111 W. Whitewater St, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Since our last annual meeting, we’ve made tremendous leaps toward our goal of opening our friendly neighborhood grocery store. This year will be the biggest one yet for Whitewater Grocery Co. and we’d love to share in that excitement with all of our Owners.

Join us to hear Board of Directors election results, updates from committee chairs and special guests. Have your questions answered and find out how you can help open our store even faster.

Stay tuned for more information. We can’t wait to see you there!

WUSD Professional Learning Community Presentation – Monday @ 8:00 a.m.Members of the Whitewater School Board will be attending a presentation by Eric Twadell at Whitewater High School. A quorum of the School Board may be present; however, the Board will not be conducting any business during the event.

Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 5:30 p.m. (Closed Session) 7:00 p.m. (Open Session)
Agenda (click on “meetings” in upper right corner) includes 2023-24 Budget Hearing
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin

5:30 p.m. via Zoom Online – Closed Session

• URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85107808798?pwd=bWVteVN6ODRtajJ4b000RjdZWTZuZz09

– Passcode: 308069

• Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
• Webinar ID: 851 0780 8798

– Passcode: 308069

Closed Session

7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online

• URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88605456019?pwd=Vk1CTFZjeHlTVEx1N24veTZ6cGpsZz09

– Passcode: 727968

• Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
• Webinar ID: 886 0545 6019

– Passcode: 727968

City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission – Monday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda
Community Room – 2nd Floor – 4:30 p.m. In Person and Virtual
312 W. Whitewater St.
Please join meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/280678605
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 280-678-605
United States: +1 (571) 317-3122

WUSD Staff Kick-off – Tuesday @ 7:00 a.m.
Members of the Whitewater School Board will be attending the 2023 WUSD Staff Kick-Off at Whitewater High School. A quorum of the School Board may be present; however, the Board will not be
conducting any business during the event.

1. 2023 WUSD STAFF KICK-OFF
   A.

WHITEWATER –August 22, 2023 –The Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, Half Marathon Team Event, 5k, and W3 Fit Kid Shuffle is excited to announce the registration for the Fit Kid Shuffle and Kids Korral are now live. 

The 11th annual DWS will be held on Sunday, September 17th, 2023. The DWS partners with Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3) to host the Fit Kid Shuffle, a free race for kids. The Fit Kid Shuffle is held on Saturday, September 16th at 10:00 a.m. where kids 10 and under can join in on the fun. This one-mile course includes obstacles and pathways for participants to enjoy. Fit Kid Shufflers are provided with a t-shirt, snacks, and even their very own medal after the race. 

Meanwhile, the Kids Korral, free childcare for children ages 1-10 is available for parents, guardians, or caregivers who are participating in the race. In previous years, the Kids Korral has been a great success for the DWS, as well as an important feature for runners with children.

The DWS partners with UW-Whitewater’s College of Educational and Professional Studies to make the Kids Korral possible. Members of the University’s student organization: Creative and Resourceful Educators (CARE) plan to dedicate their time to making the Kids Korral as safe and beneficial as possible. 

The Kids Korral is scheduled to open at 7:00 a.m. on race day, where kids have the opportunity to play games, arts and crafts and much more. The Kids Korral will offer child supervision until noon. Parents and caregivers can pick up their kids whenever they are finished, and can continue the festivities at the DWS’ post-race celebration. 

The DWS Team is excited to offer the Fit Kid Shuffle and Kids Korral once again. To register to run or volunteer, visit https://RunWhitewater.com/.

For further details, please contact Jeffery Knight, Executive Director at 920.728.0662 or jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com.

About the DWS
The goal of the DWS is to promote the City of Whitewater and highlight its greatest features, while keeping everyone in the community active. All the proceeds from the race are donated to local non-profit partners: Bethel House (which provides interim housing for homeless families), Whitewater LEADS, Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club. The DWS partners with the city, business community, and university to make this a tremendous event that benefits all who participate. For more information about the race visit www.runwhitewater.com.

(ELKHORN, WI): According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four older adults has a fall each year and Wisconsin leads the nation in fall-related deaths for people 60 and older. But the good news is that falls are not a normal part of aging and can be prevented. The Stepping On program offered by the Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) has been researched and proven to reduce falls by 31 percent.

Stepping On gives participants strategies for avoiding falls in just seven weekly sessions, including balance and strength exercises, home safety check suggestions, medication review, and more. Local experts, including a physical therapist and pharmacist, visit over the course of the seven sessions to provide fall-prevention information and strategies. The workshop is designed specifically for people aged 60 or older who have fallen and/or have a fear of falling.  Participants can expect to leave with improved strength, better balance, and a feeling of confidence and independence.

Stepping On will be held in the Stratford Community Room on Thursdays, September 21 through November 2, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Westshire Farms at the Lakes, 5680 Parliament Lane, in Delavan. The workshop has a suggested contribution of $10. 

For questions or to register for the program, contact Chetney Blaszczyk RDN, CD at (262) 741-3309.

About the ADRC of Walworth County: The ADRC provides information and assistance to older and disabled adults, their friends, family, caregivers, and the public. We can assist by evaluating your current needs and providing options available to meet the needs of your personal situation.