Pictured here is a New Years postcard postmarked January 1, 1913. It was sent from Mary R. to a S.W.W. Burgett, both of Whitewater. In her note, Mary sends “greetings for the new year!” In the early twentieth century, postcards were an especially popular way to send a short note to friends and family on special occasions, holidays, and sometimes just to say hi. Mary’s postcard only cost her one cent to send! What are your family’s New Year’s traditions and memories?
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society collections!
(Burgett Family Postcards Collection, Whitewater Historical Society)
(Jefferson County press release) All Jefferson County Snowmobile Trails will be open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 31, 2020.
This includes all County Trails – both north and south.
Some trails may be closed due to open water. Plowed fields may be rough. Please ride safely.
Please stay on the marked trails and obey all signage.
Please call the Snowmobile Alliance 24-hour Hotline at 920-699-SNOW (7669) daily for current information. Snowmobile trails in adjoining counties may be closed. Trail users should check with each county to determine trail status.
Every week the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library offers a new take home craft activity! Craft videos are posted Mondays at 11:00 a.m. and take-and-make kits are available during that week. Children’s Crafts – January 4 and 19 Adult Crafts – January 11 and 25 Visit the Library’s Facebook page or YouTube channel to view live programs or watch recordings of past library programs. Visit our website for more information. whitewaterlibrary.org
Per City Clerk Michele Smith, as of December 30 the following is the status of the candidacy of those persons who have taken out nominating papers for the Common Council election which will be held on April 6, 2021.
Aldermanic District 1: Incumbent Carol McCormick has filed all paperwork and her name will be on the ballot.
Aldermanic District 3: Incumbent Brienne Brown has completed registration paperwork but is still obtaining signatures on the nomination papers.
Aldermanic District 5: Neil Hicks has completed all paperwork and his name will appear on the ballot. Incumbent Greg Majkrzak III has completed all paperwork and his name will appear on the ballot.
Councilmember at Large: Daniel Machalik has completed registration paperwork but is still obtaining signatures on the nomination papers. Lisa Dawsey Smith has completed all paperwork and her name will appear on the ballot. (Incumbent Patrick Singer is not running for reelection.)
Information on district boundaries is available from the City Clerk’s office at (262) 473-0102 or at msmith@whitewater-wi.gov . The City Clerk’s office can also explain the paperwork and circulation of signature requirements which are slightly different for the citywide at-large position than for the individual numbered district spots. Nomination papers must be submitted by Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
Per School Board Secretary Jaclyn Tueting, as of December 18 the following candidates had filed to run for one of the two open positions on the Whitewater Unified School Board for the election on April 6, 2021.
Incumbent Tom Ganser has completed all paperwork and his name will appear on the ballot.
Maryann Zimmerman has completed all paperwork and her name will appear on the ballot.
Information may be obtained from the School Board Secretary, Jaclyn Tueting, at jtueting@wwusd.org, 419 S. Elizabeth St., or 262-472-8702. The deadline for filing for candidacy with Ms. Tueting is 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. The office will be open on January 4 and 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Candidates are not required to submit nominating petitions. They do not run for a specific seat; in this case, the two candidates with the most votes will be elected.
Per an article in the December 29 Wisconsin State Journal titled, “Despite half century campaign, salt continues to threaten Madison lakes, drinking water,” salt that is applied to roads, driveways and sidewalks, “…dissolves in water that finds its way into lakes, streams and even the groundwater that provides the city’s drinking water.” It’s predicted that within fifteen years the water from one of Madison’s wells will begin to taste salty.
Whitewater’s Urban Forestry Commission is concerned about the negative affects of salt on the quality of our lakes, including the wildlife. They encourage you to “Salt smarter at home!”
Residents should try to manually remove snow as soon as possible to avoid slick conditions and unnecessary salt use, especially on paths and sidewalks.
A good rule of thumb is to use 12 ounces of rock salt on 10 sidewalk squares or a 20-foot driveway. How much is 12 ounces? Use an old coffee mug as a salt scoop, and you’ve got it.
You do not have to feel “the crunch” for salt to do its job. Salt lowers the freezing temperature of water so snow and ice can be more easily removed. Putting more salt on a surface does not make snow and ice melt faster or eliminate the need for plowing or shoveling.
If the air temperature is below 15 degrees, sodium chloride won’t work! Switch to sand or a different ice melter.
The Wisconsin Salt Wise Partnership is a partnership of Dane County organizations working to reduce salt pollution. Though we aren’t in Dane County, their concerns should be ours as well. Salt Wise is urging homeowners, municipalities, and private contractors to make a commitment to reduce salt use this winter. Using excess salt harms plants and animals, pollutes our water, damages buildings and corrodes vehicles, roads and bridges. Once you put salt down, it doesn’t go away. Instead, it travels into our lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands, putting our aquatic life at risk and endangering our freshwater resources. Salt also alters the composition of soil, slows plant growth and weakens the concrete, brick and stone that make up our homes, garages, bridges, and roads.
According to a recent report from Public Health Madison Dane County, more than 38,000 tons of salt were spread on Madison and Dane Co. roads during the winter of 2016-2017, and that doesn’t include what was spread on parking lots, sidewalks and driveways. That is enough to pollute over 29 billion gallons of water. There is a way to cut down on salt use and keep our roads, parking lots and driveways safe: Use only what you need — and that’s less than you might think!
Believe it or not, just a coffee mug of salt is enough to treat an entire 20-foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares. Scatter the scatter salt so the pattern should look like the image below.
Proper salt application
Other strategies include:
Shovel: Clear walkways and other areas before the snow turns to ice. The more snow you remove manually, the less salt you will have to use and the more effective it will be.
Sweep: Sweep excess salt from walkways and parking lots after a snow event, especially before a rain event to prevent salt from washing down the storm drain to our waterways.
Switch: When pavement temps drop below 15, salt composed of sodium chloride won’t work. Switch to sand for traction or a different ice melter that works in lower temperatures.
Hire a Certified Contractor: If you hire a contractor to do your snow and ice removal, check to see if they are already certified through the City of Madison’s Winter Salt Certification Program. If not, encourage them to become certified and to follow locally developed application rates.
Look for proper salt use at the stores & businesses you visit. If they’re using the right amount of salt, thank them! If not, let them know you are concerned about over salting and direct them to www.wisaltwise.com for more information.
Love the lines: the stripes on roadways before a storm are made of anti-icing brine. Using brine can reduce overall salt use by 70%! If you see brine lines, you know that your winter maintenance crew is protecting public safety while saving time, money and caring for the environment.
Be Salt Wise all year! The salt you put in your water softener ends up in local freshwater streams. New, efficient softeners use less than one bag per month. If you’re using more – have a professional tune yours up – or, replace it with a high-efficiency model.
Do your part to help out our community and local water resources. Be Wisconsin Salt Wise! Find out more at www.wisaltwise.com.
(UW-W press release) The following students have been trained and certified to be University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater resident assistants for the 2020-21 academic year.
Whitewater, WI – Anai Parker, who is majoring in psychology
Whitewater, WI – Oliver Wink, who is majoring in social work
RAs are student staff members who serve as positive resources for other students on their residence hall floor, and encourage community-based learning and interaction among residents.
“The RAs are a critical component to our students’ UW-Whitewater experience. They demonstrate positive leadership and serve as role models to many of our students,” said Amanda Krier-Jenkins, assistant director – staff and academic development. “Collectively they have been a part of hundreds of academic interventions, dozens of community-building events and initiatives, and they support the community standards that allow residents to maximize their academic and personal success.”
RAs must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, full-time student status and complete several interviews with peers and academic staff members to hold this position. Students receive numerous benefits, as well as outstanding experience in communication skills and leadership.
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
907 AM CST Tue Dec 29 2020
WIZ056>058-062>064-067>070-292315-
/O.CON.KMKX.WS.W.0003.201229T2200Z-201230T1800Z/
Sauk-Columbia-Dodge-Iowa-Dane-Jefferson-Lafayette-Green-Rock-
Walworth-
Including the cities of Baraboo, Reedsburg, Prairie Du Sac,
Sauk City, Portage, Columbus, Lake Wisconsin, Lodi, Beaver Dam,
Waupun, Mayville, Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Barneveld, Madison,
Watertown, Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Darlington, Shullsburg,
Benton, Belmont, Argyle, Blanchardville, Monroe, Brodhead,
Janesville, Beloit, Whitewater, Delavan, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva,
and East Troy
907 AM CST Tue Dec 29 2020
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO NOON CST WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...Wet heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6
to 8 inches.
* WHERE...Dodge, Jefferson and Walworth Counties.
* WHEN...From 4 PM this afternoon to noon CST Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous
conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.
The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
(City of Whitewater submission) The City of Whitewater Department of Public Works will collect Christmas trees on Tuesday, January 5, and Tuesday, January 12, 2021. Please place your tree on the terrace by 5:00 a.m. on one of those dates.
Residents who wish to have a tree picked up before or after the above scheduled dates must call the Department of Public Works at 473-0560 before 5 a.m. on Tuesday that week to schedule a brush pick up.
Trees that have been flocked or contain wire will not be collected. Please place these trees for collection by John’s Disposal on the second Thursday of the month, your bulk pick up day.
