Forty-two high school FIRST Robotics teams from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota descended on UW-Milwaukee’s Panther Arena from March 23 – 26 for the FIRST Wisconsin Regional. Whitewater High School’s Team #6574 Ferradermis played well throughout the event!
6574 Prepares for the Start of a Match
Ferradermis played 12 qualification matches with a final record of 7-4-1, earning an average of 2.25 ranking points per match, and a final ranking of 12th out of the 42 teams. Up to four ranking points can be earned per match. Two are awarded to the winning alliance in each match, and in the case of a tie, each alliance is awarded one ranking point. During this year’s game, an alliance can earn an additional ranking point in a match for successfully scoring a certain amount of cargo in the hub and another for scoring a certain number of points by climbing in the hangar during the end game. Ferradermis earned at least one of those additional ranking points in 10 of their 12 qualification matches. They also played two “unicorn matches” which is the nickname given to a match where an alliance earns all 4 ranking points.
Andrew O'Toole and Elijah Grall Talk with an Inspector
Checking in with the Inspectors
Competition Logistics Team Members Preparing Scouting Reports
Conversations in the Pits with Alliance Members
Daniel Portwine
Doing a Behind the Bumpers Interview with FIRST Updates Now
Getting Instructions with our Alliance Partners for the Elimination Round
Jazmin Cederberg Prepares the Drive Station for a Match
Jazmin Cederberg
Our New Road Case Constructed by Chris Dunham
Our Scouts Teamed up with WarriorBots to Gather Data
Pit Admin is Information Central
Pit Setup Crew
Ready for a Match
Reviewing Video of the Climb on the Practice Field
Strategy Meeting at the Hotel
Student Tour from MSOE Robotics Students
Taking the Field for a Match
Team Spirit in the Stands
The Chairman's Presentation Team
The Pits - Each Team has a 10 x 10 Area to Work
The Robot Must Weigh Under 125 Pounds and Fit Within Certain Dimensions
UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena is Home to the Wisconsin Regional
Working on the Robot in the Pit
The drive team in Milwaukee was led by senior driver Elijah Grall, freshman operator Andrew O’Toole, junior human player Jazmin Cederberg, and freshman technician Hugo Portales.
During the alliance selection process, because some of the higher ranked teams selected each other as alliance partners, Ferradermis moved up into the #8 alliance captain position. Competition Logistics Captain senior Shane Kinson then took the field to invite Team #1259 Paradigm Shift from Pewaukee and Team #930 from Mukwonago to join our alliance. The alliance played two hard-fought quarterfinal matches before being eliminated by the #1 seeded alliance.
The Chairman’s Team of freshmen Andrew Zimmermann and Maddi LaHaie and sophomore Cosette Wildermuth-Breitzman was able to visit with judges and do their presentation in person rather than virtually as they had for the previous competition in Duluth. Also, while in Milwaukee, the two Dean’s List semi-finalists for Ferradermis, juniors Jazmin Cederberg and Daniel Portwine, had a chance to interview with a pair of judges.
The next stop for the team will be the Seven Rivers Regional in La Crosse from March 30 through April 2. This event will host 47 teams from Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota, many of whom are already well known to each other from the competitions in Duluth and Milwaukee. It should be a great event! The event can be livestreamed at https://www.twitch.tv/firstinspires5 on Friday and Saturday. Go, Ferradermis!
Article and Photos Submitted by Laura Masbruch Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor lmasbruch@wwusd.org
Editor’s Note: The following information is provided by Studio 84.
Studio 84 is inviting the community to join in their annual fundraiser of sweet treats. They need a dozen bakers and 60 cookie eaters! Check out the details here:
Deadline for commitment: April 15, 2022 Dates: Delivery of your goodies: May 27, 2022 Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. Location: 121 W. Center St. Whitewater Ticket holders will pick up their orders on Saturday, May 28, 2022 12-2 p.m.
Bake 60 cookies (5 dozen) any type, flavor, fancy or plain, decorated or not (no nuts or nut products please). To keep a variety please check this link (www.studio84inc.org/sweetfundraiser) to see who is making what. Cookie choice is first come first served basis upon sending in your entry form. We don’t want repeats and have our ticket holders end up with the same Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookie for all their cookies! After all as they say, “variety is the spice of life, right?”
Ticket holders will receive a dozen cookies and we will have 60 tickets available for only $15 (that’s $1.25 a cookie). You can help us spread the word of your involvement so tickets get sold!
All bakers will be put into a drawing to win a prize. All ticket holders will be put into a drawing for a chance to win one of several gifts. So lots of winning will be available. But the biggest win will be the sweet things our artists will make happen because our programing has been supported.
Studio 84 is a non profit art studio, gallery and store. They specialize in the creative and vocational development of people with disabilities including those with Autism, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities, cognition delays and mental illness. They believe in creating an environment of inclusion and are open to all ages and all abilities The studio is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. For more information, check out: info@studio84inc.org or call 262-473-984.
Studio 84 is a 501c3 non profit and all donations are tax deductibleto the full extent of the law.
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue via the City of Whitewater.
Wisconsin Help for Homeowners (WHH) is a new statewide program that can help with overdue bills like mortgage payments, property taxes, and utilities. The program is available to Wisconsin homeowners with overdue housing-related bills, both with and without a mortgage, who meet income and other eligibility requirements, and have experienced a qualified economic hardship since January 21, 2020.
This $92 million federally funded program provides a maximum of $40,000 in assistance for eligible households.
Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by the Special Olympics of Wisconsin.
On Wednesday, March 30, “Day of Giving,” 100 percent of your purchase at any Jersey Mike’s in the state will support the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games and help 65 Team Wisconsin athletesattendthe 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, June 5-12, in Orlando, Fla. At the USA Games, athletes compete in 19 sports including athletics, swimming, softball, bocce, bowling, flag football and many more.
That’s right – on March 30, the passionate teams at 24 Jersey Mike’s Wisconsin locations will give every single dollar in sales, not just the profit, to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games and the state Programs attending the USA Games. It’s all part of Jersey Mike’s nationwide 12th Annual Day of Giving. For the first time ever, the company is donating all proceeds to a single cause on that day when Jersey Mike’s restaurants from every state will support athletes from Special Olympics throughout the country.
All month, generous customers have been making donations at more than 2,000 Jersey Mike’s locations throughout the nation during the 12th Annual “Month of Giving” fundraising campaign for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games. On March 30, Day of Giving, it’s our turn to give and we’re giving it all away! Local delegates will be on-site at 3 locations in Wisconsin.
· Athlete Meet & Greet: Come meet local athletes and hear their stories
o Meet Unified Flag Football delegate, Alison Mushett of Madison
o Meet athlete as coach, Travis Stuckart of Manitowoc
o Meet Youth Leadership Experience representatives, Jenni Oeftger, Anabelle Hodges and Alicia Langlois of Neenah High School
o Meet Bowling delegate, Gabe Wells of West Allis
o Meet Unified Bowling Pair and brothers, PJ Lynch and Andrew Lynch of Milwaukee
· Special Olympics USA Games and Jersey Mike’s believe the passion for being great has no boundaries.
· Nationwide Jersey Mike’s hopes to raise enough money to help every qualifying athlete across the country attend the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.
FAST FACTS
· Every four years, more than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states unite to compete in one of the most beloved and inspiring sporting events in the US – the Special Olympics USA Games.
· During this year’s Month of Giving in March, Jersey Mike’s hopes to surpass last year’s record-breaking $15 million fundraising total. Proceeds support the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games and help local athletes attend the USA Games.
· Since 2011, Jersey Mike’s Month of Giving has raised more than $47 million for local charities.
I would like to introduce to you a new feature column that I will be writing for our Whitewater Banner. I am excited to start this column, so let me explain a little bit about it first!
It all started in our local Hillside Cemetery a few years ago…
While taking a walk through this cemetery one day and reading some of the headstones, I began to wonder who all these individuals were. What brought them to Whitewater? What did they do? Who were their families?
Luckily since I was in a cemetery, I had no one around to hear me asking aloud these questions while staring at a headstone that belonged to a person, I had no idea who they were! But they were someone, to somebody, at one time…
After that day, every morning I would say aloud “good morning” to all those who were laid to rest in that cemetery, as I drove past on my way to work. I thought someday it would be an interesting project to research all those resting there and to write their stories. Some had many chapters, some had few, but no matter how many chapters they had in that book, it was their story.
I knew that would be quite the undertaking, so I got to thinking that maybe the next best thing would be to get to know those in our community now, before their book closed. I’ve heard many phrases when people reminisce on their lives, but one thing remains the same, it belongs solely to us; we are the authors.
So, let’s get to know one another, whether it’s a toddler that I may interview, (which will be very interesting seeing that they are in the first chapters of their lives!), or if I am interviewing an individual who may say his story is a Gone with the Wind novel, because he’s on his 96 (years old) chapter!
No matter who the individual is, I look forward to hearing and writing about those who reside in and around our community!
I would like to say “it takes many authors and many pages to create these volumes within our community.”
Welcome to the Chapter Story ‘library’….
If you know of anyone that would like to share their story, you can contact me at:
WhitewaterBanner@gmail.com
Subject line: Chapter Story
I look forward to this fun, unconventional “book club!”
We are hosting an event called “Where are All the Aliens?” on Thursday April 14th at 6:00 p.m. This program will be presented by Dr. Dennis Roscoe, a NASA Solar System Ambassador. This event is open to all ages 10+ and will be held in the Community Room of the library. Registration is not required for this event.
The city’s agreement with Bird electric scooters enters its second season, anticipated to begin this weekend. Bird representatives told the Common Council that brand new scooters will be provided, which will be the new Bird Three model. Features of this model include high powered LED headlights and taillights, a beginner mode with gentle acceleration, and an extended chassis with longer wheelbase for increased stability on all terrains.
The below information is from the city’s website. Further information may be found at bird.co.
FORT ATKINSON, WI – Fort Community Credit Union (FCCU) is pleased to announce the promotion of Kevin Paynter to Chief Lending Officer.
In 1989, Paynter joined FCCU as a Collections Officer. In the years following, Paynter held a variety of roles as he progressed through his career at the credit union. In 2000, with the completion of the newly constructed Whitewater Branch, Paynter was promoted to Whitewater Branch Manager in addition to his duties as a loan officer.
In his 32 years with the credit union, Paynter has earned the Credit Union Business Lending Professional (CUBLP) Designation and has continued to serve as the Whitewater Branch Manager and loan officer. As a Commercial and Mortgage Loan Officer, Paynter found joy in helping local businesses and families qualify for the loans that turn their dreams into a reality. Furthermore, Paynter’s passion for financial literacy and education grew beyond the credit union, teaching economics and finance at the Lakeland College Campus in Madison for 20+ years.
“We are thrilled to promote Kevin to this role, where we know his decades of experience will help lead our teams as we continue to help our members and communities thrive financially,” said Danielle Frawley, Paynter’s predecessor. Following Paynter’s promotion, Frawley will transition to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer.
Paynter currently serves on the board for the United Way of Jefferson and Northern Walworth Counties and University of Wisconsin Whitewater Rec Sports. While his departure from the Whitewater Branch is bittersweet, Paynter’s love for and commitment to the Whitewater community will never cease.
According to an article on March 23 in the Lake Geneva News, “a 22-year-old man is facing four charges in connection with a burglary that happened at Warhawk Catholic Ministries in Whitewater on Feb. 21.
Camil T. Maroun, of [170 N. Hyer Lane] Whitewater, reportedly illegally entered the religious property, stole the Eucharist and caused a flood in the building.”
Maroun is charged with two felonies, burglary-building or dwelling and criminal damage to religious property, and two misdemeanors.
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
The Banner reached out to all of the candidates for Common Council in the April 5 election, offering them the opportunity to share with our readers their background, what they feel they would bring (or already bring) to the Council, reasons for running, what they believe should be primary goals for the city, etc. Responses were received from the two candidates for an at-large seat: incumbent James Allen and challenger Chuck Mills, and from the lone candidate for Aldermanic District 4, Jill Gerber. Those responses are published below. Lukas Schreiber (Aldermanic District 2) did not provide a statement.
Another useful source of perspectives is the candidate forum that was sponsored by the League of Women Voters. The video may be viewed here. Finally, the candidates were also given the opportunity to provide responses on vote411.org.
Jill Gerber, Candidate for Council Aldermanic District 4
Name: Jill Gerber Address: 234 S Pleasant St Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Law from UW-Whitewater Occupation: Data and Special Programs Assistant within the College of Education and Human Services at UW-Whitewater Email: jgerber1026@gmail.com
What are your reasons for seeking this position? My interest in Common Council developed from working within municipal agencies for over 17 years. I was the executive assistant to the City Manager for the City of Whitewater from 2015-2019 where I was able to see first-hand the ins and outs of each department within the City and how important it is that employees work together to achieve goals.
I feel local government needs to be more efficient in researching projects and more transparent with the citizens so we can be a service to the community and not make our citizens feel like they are getting less for their tax dollars.
As mentioned earlier, I have worked in the public sector for years, not for the money, but because I enjoy feeling like I am making a difference and helping citizens. I enjoy volunterring and being a part of a team that works a project from the start to the finish. Key word being “finish.”
What are the primary goals of the City?
One of the most pressing issues facing the City is getting emergency medical treatment in a timely manner. Whitewater Fire Inc. for years has been facing difficulties in staffing, recruiting, and responding to calls for service. In 2021, EMS had 1,620 calls for service with 272 being a 2nd call. Usually at 1,000 calls for service full-time paramedics are added to the staffing. Not only does Whitewater have a high call volume, but the priority of the calls is also much higher. Currently, we are waiting for a paramedic to respond from other jurisdictions which is causing excess delay time for critical service.
By adding a full-time EMS department under the City of Whitewater, citizens would have a paramedic available to respond on each call for service and receive more advanced medical treatment.
The City of Whitewater has a high population of citizens over the age of 55. Given the higher level of service from a paramedic, comes a reduction in mortality rate. I believe we need to provide better emergency medical care and service to the citizens of Whitewater.
Another pending issue is the City’s housing stock. The City has very few homes that are within the $200,000-$400,000 range that are in type A condition. With a large city population under age 25 and over 55, we are not attracting or retaining homeowners after age 25.
Other issues include: the need for more new businesses, improvements to the Whitewater Aquatic Center and Cravath Lakefront building, more collaboration with the public schools and the university, improved transparency with citizens, and updated City marketing to make Whitewater a destination.
Additional Comments:
If elected to Common Council as your Aldermanic District 4 representative, I look forward to working hard for the citizens, and listening to your questions and thoughts about city government.
I am very interested in working towards a more transparent government and getting accurate information to the citizens. I want to see more developers and business owners being marketed to build and expand in Whitewater. I would love to see our Downtown district flourish with more marketing to the students, citizens and surrounding communities, which will help grow our housing stock.
I believe we will need to spend money on adding full-time paramedics to our EMS staff to improve service and response time. I am a strong supporter of our first responders, including police, fire and EMS. We need our first responders to ensure Whitewater remains a safe place to live, work, and play.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach me through my Facebook site, the Nextdoor app, or by email, jgerber1026@gmail.com.
James Allen, Candidate for Council Member at Large
I’m Jim Allen
I was born at Fort Memorial Hospital and have been an integral part of the Whitewater community since. From participating in boy scouts to working the Whitewater Gazette route to assisting at my father’s local garage and gas station, I’ve been able to see Whitewater transform into such a wonderful place to live, work, and play. I am a proud Whitewater Whippet and UW-Whitewater Warhawk. While in middle school, my confirmation class at the Methodist Church started the United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF), which is open to students of any denomination. Later on, I became the manager at Randy’s Restaurant Banquets and Brewery for 17 years, later taking on a job at the University as catering director. I chaired the Whitewater Fourth of July committee, keeping the event free for all. My other prominent positions have been on the Whitewater Community Development Board, on the Birge Fountain Restoration Committee, on the Whitewater Tourism Committee, on the Police and Fire Commission, and on the Public Works committee and the City Finance Committee.
I will bring a local and logical sense of thinking to the common council and I use my background in business to guide the City of Whitewater on its budget. My main focus is on what the city needs and how to pay for those needs without raising taxes. With inflation and the consumer price index rising higher each day, this is placing pressure on everyone, especially those with fixed incomes. This city needs to be challenged to find ways to provide our current levels of service to the taxpayer when our revenues do not stretch as far. Next fall will most likely see a referendum re-organizing our EMS service and volunteer fire department. These changes will come with significant costs and I will make sure these decisions are made with a steady watch on the budget while continuing my support of department members.
I want to see Whitewater grow and I want to see new businesses choose Whitewater and as a place for new families to settle down, while retaining the businesses that we have. I want us to incentivise housing development for families with a wide-range of incomes and I want to support our library, with the city’s need for additional meeting space. I will continue supporting our downtown efforts and our senior center, as well as support our police department who we all count on to provide us with safe neighborhoods. I will assure you that this will be done in a financially responsible way.
Please consider voting for me to continue representing you at the polls on April 5th.
Chuck Mills, Candidate for Council Member at Large
Hello to everyone in Whitewater. My name is Chuck Mills. I am the owner of Mills Automotive on the east side of town. I may have towed your vehicle or changed your oil or rented you a U-Haul at some point. I am running for the at-large seat on the Whitewater City Council. My wife Jean and I moved to Whitewater from Milwaukee thirty years ago. We live on Whiton Street. My goal is to represent all Whitewater residents. I would like to work together with the rest of the city council to bring our Main Street back to the economic success of the past. I have a goal to bring jobs to our commercial park. I also feel our Whitewater’s infrastructure is in need of attention. I feel Whitewater’s priorities should be to finish current projects before we take on new ones. I do not believe in mandates. I believe mandates are a violation of our precious Constitution. I am a proponent of our EMS, Fire, and Police Departments. I spent many years helping with our 4th of July committee. The result of this is the current and continued success of Whitewater’s 4th of July celebrations. Starting a business (Mills Automotive) and raising my three beloved children with my wife Jean has been my life’s work. Whitewater is our home. Now is my time to serve. Please feel free to contact me with your questions, concerns, and ideas so together we can move Whitewater forward. I would love to hear from everyone. I can be reached at millsautomotive@yahoo.com or by phone 262-473-8901. Thank you so much. Chuck Mills
