Editor’s note: The following press release was received from UW-Whitewater.
Summer camps have been a vital part of UW-Whitewater’s history since 1973, and in its 50th year, record-setting participation was set. More than 6,740 people participated in UWW’s summer camps and clinics, breaking the previous record set in 2015. In addition to those participating in its homegrown athletic, arts, and STEM programs, more than 7,000 additional people experienced the UWW campus through partner events, such as Special Olympics State Summer Games and Madison Scouts Marching Band.
Several camps had record participation in 2023 including Football (2,031), Volleyball (1,051), Boys Basketball (155), Boys High School Soccer (80), Jazz (49), and Game Development (45). Many other popular camps returned with high registration numbers including Tennis, Band, Gymnastics, and College for Kids. Grandchildren’s University returned for the first time since the pandemic and new camps were added, including Rock, Pop, and Music production in Whitewater and Music Explorers on the Rock campus.
Inclusivity and belonging are part of the priority mission of UW-Whitewater. Summer camps put the mission into practice by providing events like Wheelchair Basketball camp, hosted by national champion teams, and Chatter Matters, a camp serving individuals who use assistive communication devices and their families. In addition, UWW maintains a 1:10 ratio of camp staff to camper for all youth programming and prides itself in youth protection training for all faculty, staff, coaches, and volunteers involved in leading programming.
“UW-Whitewater has built a reputation of offering exceptional programming, in state-of-the-art facilities, at affordable prices,” says Morgan Anderson, Director, Camps & Conferences. “Camps offer spaces for kids to be kids, disconnect from devices and reconnect with activities they love. Through camps, youth are developing life skills that will serve them well, long after camp is over.”
Registration for the 2024 camps season will begin in January. Music, athletic, and academic events for youth are also held throughout the academic year. Visit our website at camps.uww.edu for more information.
ROBERTA’S ART GALLERY PRESENTS VIBRANT TEXTILE ARTWORK OF HMONG AMERICAN ARTIST GER XIONG/NTXAWG XYOOJ
Explore colorful Hmong textile artwork at Roberta’s Art Gallery with “Re/connections” by artist Ger Xiong/Ntxawg Xyoo. This is a must-see exhibit for anyone interested in contemporary art, Hmong culture, or beautiful works of art that hold deep meaning. “Re/connections” is on display from August 17 to September 15, with a reception on Thursday, September 14. The reception will feature a guest panel discussion at 6:30 p.m. in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Organization and the Office of Global Experiences. The discussion will cover topics such as how artwork and design play a role in the preservation of culture. There will also be an open house during the reception from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., where guests can meet the artist and enjoy complimentary refreshments.
“Re/connections,” by Xiong/Xyooj, is a unique exhibit that utilizes processes and patterns from both Hmong and American iconography. He explores themes of resilience, displacement, and adaptation through the lens of a mother raising her eight children in an unknown land in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Despite statelessness, the Hmong culture and identity have been preserved through artwork and design. Xiong/Xyooj says, “My artwork explores how stateless and displaced people can reconnect to their culture and history.” He says, “This exhibit helps to show how stateless and displaced people navigate identity within dominant spaces.”
Re:silience by Ger Xiong
Refresh by Ger Xiong
Xiong/Xyooj is a Hmong refugee who immigrated to the United States from Thailand during the Vietnam War. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Metals and Jewelry from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and his Master of Fine Arts from New Mexico State University. His work has been exhibited nationally throughout the United States and published internationally in Australia. He is a Fulbright Scholar who researched and collaborated with Hmong artisans in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from 2019 to 2020.
Roberta’s Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the James R. Connor University Center at 800 W. Main Street, Whitewater, Wis. The gallery collaborates with campus departments, student organizations, and community artists in coordinating and sponsoring exhibits. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday, and is closed on Saturday and Sunday during the summer. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and is closed on Saturday and Sunday during the academic year, which starts on September 5.
At Roberta’s Art Gallery, we pride ourselves in providing free and open exhibits to the public, and attending certain events can earn students class credit. If you are interested in being featured in the gallery, please contact us for a proposal request. Reach us at ucart@uww.edu or 262-472-3193 or visit our website for any questions or inquiries and be sure to follow our Instagram at uww_rag.
Editor’s note: The above press release was received from UW-Whitewater. Those needing a parking permit may wish to view this information.
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
On August 3 UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt announced that major staffing changes would be needed in order to address an “unprecedented” $18 million annual structural deficit. He referred to a “perfect storm” that includes declining numbers of high school graduates attending college and declining state support of the UW System, resulting in increasing reliance on tuition, which had been frozen for in-state students for ten years until the coming school year.
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, Leavitt indicated that the university plans to cut about 200 non-faculty staff and administrators, while requiring many other employees, including faculty, to take furlough days. “The cuts amount to about 20% of university employees,” according to the paper.
In response to the Oshkosh announcement, UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey A. King issued a statement later the same day to the university community indicating, “The purpose of my message to you today is to ensure that you have the facts about our fiscal picture at UW-Whitewater and to underscore my continued confidence in our budget moving forward.”
King stated that the structural deficit for the 2022-23 year had been anticipated to be $8.5 million, but, “Due to prudent fiscal management and annual savings strategies, we reduced the actual 2022-23 deficit to less than $4.5 million by the end of the year.” While acknowledging that there is still much to be done, the chancellor stated that the goal is to balance the budget within five years; meanwhile, reserves will cover the shortfalls. One positive note is that enrollment for the upcoming fall semester is anticipated to exceed projections on both campuses.
The UW System had asked for a $262 million increase in operating budget funding for the 2023-25 biennium, and Gov. Evers had recommended a $305 million increase. The legislature actually cut the system budget by $32 million in the document that the governor ultimately signed.
Chancellor King’s message is reproduced below.
Message from Chancellor King
Dear UW-Whitewater colleagues,
Earlier today, UW-Oshkosh announced layoffs and furloughs as part of a plan to address an “unprecedented” $18 million structural deficit that the university is facing. As you know, higher education institutions across Wisconsin have been navigating financial challenges in recent years. Our thoughts are with our colleagues at UW-Oshkosh during what is an extremely difficult time.
This news is prompting questions about the finances at other universities. The purpose of my message to you today is to ensure that you have the facts about our fiscal picture at UW-Whitewater and to underscore my continued confidence in our budget moving forward.
Like most UW campuses, UW-Whitewater has a structural deficit, which means a university needs to use its financial reserves to balance out the budget at the end of the year. We communicated this figure to the UW System as part of our annual budget submission.
As we communicated in past budget town halls, we planned our structural deficit to be $8.5 million at the beginning of the 2022-23 fiscal year. Due to prudent fiscal management and annual savings strategies, we reduced the actual 2022-23 deficit to less than $4.5 million by the end of the year.
Our goal is to eliminate annual deficits within the next five years. We are making strong progress to that goal, and will utilize reserves to cover the deficits.
In the meantime, we are making strategic reinvestments back into the university, including new recruitment and retention efforts. We are hitting or exceeding the benchmarks that we normally use to track our enrollment. Current projections indicate a larger student population for Fall 2023 at the Whitewater and Rock County campuses, which would result in even higher tuition revenue than budgeted.
Additional strategies we have undertaken to stay on pace to eliminate our deficit include:
Using an institution-wide position vacancy review to determine which vacant positions (particularly those that have remained vacant for some time) can be eliminated from the budget, reallocated to drive growth, or combined with other positions to obtain budgetary savings.
Utilizing fully the General Purpose Revenue fringe pool to achieve annual savings.
Partnering with the UW-Whitewater Foundation to identify opportunities for external funding of existing programs/positions.
Reviewing facility usage to ensure efficient and effective use of spaces with the expectation of cost savings.
As you can see, the efforts to strengthen our fiscal picture are university wide, and I want to express my gratitude to all faculty and staff who have creatively, diligently and thoughtfully collaborated to get us to this point. We still have much work to do. Reducing our budget deficit remains a top priority. It will take all of us to actively strive toward continuous improvement as we reach a balanced budget.
Editor’s note: 930 W. Walworth is between Prince St. and Whiton St.
On Tuesday, August 15, the street department will be closing W. Walworth Ave. in the area of 930 W. Walworth to dig out for asphalt installation on Wednesday, August 16. Homes will be accessible from either side of the closure. The street will remain closed overnight Tuesday and reopened on Wednesday after completion.
If you have questions, contact Brad at 262-473-0139.
Grab your family, dinner, and chairs to join us for a free concert at Cravath Lakefront Park on Thursday, August 17th, starting at 7 p.m. Smooth, Soulful, Beautiful, Melodious—all words to describe the spot-on vocal harmonies produced by Michelle and Todd of Indigo Canyon. Whether playing as a Duo or with the Full Band, the energy is always upbeat. Hailing from the Kenosha area, Indigo Canyon has built a strong reputation for creating grooves and drawing crowds into dancing frenzies. If you don’t believe it, come see for yourself!
(EDGERTON, WI) – Edgerton Hospital and Health Services is celebrating 100 years of providing quality and compassionate care, on August 26th, and everyone is welcome!
The hospital and its team invite patients, supporters, community members, family, and friends to join them in the Edgerton Hospital healing garden for food, fun, and to celebrate the organization’s history and commitment to the community.
This free public event will feature:
Food Trucks & Booths, with food sales, including: Eat at Joe’s, Steve’s Deli Dog House, Ember Foods, Lily’s Magical Treats, Quick Chef, and Maria’s Taco Truck
Prize Drawings
100 Year Edgerton Hospital T-Shirt give away – (first 200 attendees)
A display of the hospital’s 100-year history
Special “I was born at Edgerton Hospital” pins
And more…
Event details: Who: Edgerton Hospital and Health Services
What: 100 Year Anniversary Celebration – (Open to the public)
Where: Edgerton Hospital Healing Garden, 11101 N. Sherman Road, Edgerton, WI When: Aug 26, 2023, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
This is a FREE public event, with food sales. In case of inclement weather, the event may be moved indoors. For more information visit www.edgertonhospital.com.
Edgerton Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital. The hospital serves the communities of Edgerton, Milton and surrounding communities. Founded in 1923, the facility offers inpatient, outpatient, surgical, diagnostic, emergency, urgent care and rehabilitation services. It is an affiliate of SSM Health. For additional information about Edgerton Hospital, please visit www.edgertonhospital.com.
The Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will offer “Welcome to Medicare” workshops on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. This popular educational session will provide information about Medicare for individuals turning 65 years of age, those over 65 and planning to retire, or individuals with disabilities that have received Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months or have End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
“It is vitally important that individuals eligible to receive Medicare are aware of the different parts of Medicare, including Part A and Part B, as well as the prescription drug coverage,” says Elder Benefit Specialist Julie Juranek. “Being knowledgeable about premiums and penalties for not having creditable prescription drug coverage will help people make sound choices when exploring available plans.”
The Welcome to Medicare workshops will be held at the Walworth County Health and Human Services building, 1910 County Road NN, Elkhorn. RSVPs are highly recommended by calling (262) 741-3366.
About the Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center: 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.
Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Sherry Stanek.
Chimney Swifts Gathering For Migration
Chimney Swifts are very important birds for those of us who don’t like being bitten by mosquitoes, midges and other pesky bugs as we enjoy the outdoors each summer. Each one eats thousands of insects every day as they swoop, chittering through the sky! It is quite a beautiful ballet to watch!
A big gathering place for these birds in Whitewater is the large chimney behind Whitewater Middle School and they’ve started to gang up there ahead of their migration to South America in the coming weeks. Chimney Swifts used to nest in hollow trees in old growth forests and moved into chimneys as that habitat got harder to find. The Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission raised funds to build a ‘Swift Tower’ at Cravath Lakefront Park near the gazebo a few years ago because so many buildings no longer have accessible chimneys. This Swift Tower was built to look like a large chimney and is also a place to watch at this time of year. Plan to arrive about ten minutes before sunset and you’ll get to see the birds arriving and swooping and making their chittering sounds. As it gets closer to dark, they begin circling the chimney they’ve chosen and one by one, drop in to spend the night.
There is a continent wide effort to raise awareness about the diminishing numbers of Swifts held by The Audubon Society each fall. The birds start to gather in mid August and leave sometime between then and mid September. Audubon needs citizens to watch for and count these birds and then report the numbers to The Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group’s website. It is not easy to count the hundreds of swooping birds, and doesn’t have to be perfectly accurate, but it does give them an idea of the population that is invaluable and helps us know how they’re doing. It’s also an amazing sight and lots of fun if you just want to go and see the spectacle! Thank you to everyone who wants to help!
On Sunday, September 10 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. will be the second annual Food Truck Rally in front of Dwight Foster Public Library, 209 Merchants Ave. The food truck rally is the only event of its kind in Fort Atkinson! We like to think of the event as a laid-back family fun event where everyone can find something they enjoy. And, of course, it’s the only Sunday the library is open. Enjoy a variety of delicious food and drinks! Cuisines include Thai, Jamaican, American and Mexican. We’ll also have fresh squeezed lemonade, mocktails, Kettle Korn and Cotton Candy. Music by Jason Pettit.
Editor’s note: The above press release was received from the Dwight Foster Library.
