News

Editor’s note: The following information was received from Walworth County 4-H.

Youth in grades 8-12, their parents, and their teachers are invited to participate in a virtual 4-H science careers series called “Scientists Live.”  This series offers participants quick exposure to science careers that may be of interest as youth make their post high school plans.

Now in its third year, “Scientist Live” features 30-minute stand-alone episodes that feature real-world scientists.  During each, the featured scientist shares a 20-minute presentation about their career and then hosts a 10-minute Q & A with the participants attending the live session.  As part of their presentations, scientists tell about the work they do, the schooling they needed to get where they are, the things they like most about their work, what they find most challenging, and much more!

The series is happening live every Wednesday of March from 12:00-12:30 p.m. via Zoom.  All episodes are being recorded and closed-captioned for program registrants who cannot attend live to view on their own schedule.   Participation is free.  Full details and registration info are available at: https://go.wisc.edu/7km16o.  Sign-up is required at least 24 hours before the first episode one plans to attend. 

Thirty-two half-hour episode recordings from past “Scientists Live” seasons are available for free immediate access, as well!  These recordings feature a wide variety of science-related careers ranging from electrician and high school science teacher to aerospace engineer and marine biologist.  Get complete details and access the recordings sign-up link at: https://go.wisc.edu/2zef04.

“Scientists Live” is the high school component of the 4-H Science Explorers program, a collaborative effort between the UW-Extension 4-H Youth Development Educators in Crawford, Lafayette, and Walworth Counties and UW-Madison BioTrek Staff.  4-H is the Positive Youth Development program of UW-Madison Extension.  For more information about Walworth County 4-H, visit the Walworth County Extension website at:  https://walworth.extension.wisc.edu/.

2021 Outstanding Research Award Nominees will host “Lightning Talks” (short talks) where they will present their research. Refreshments will be available for attendees.
We invite community members, the general public, and UW-Whitewater students & staff to attend.
Celebrate the research, scholarship, and achievements of Faculty and Instructor honorees across the University’s five Colleges!
Contact: For questions, please contact: Paul Waelchli (Library Director) waelchlp@uww.edu / (262)472-5516; Diana Shull (Librarian) shulld@uww.edu / (262)472-5011

Editor’s note: The following information was received from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

The University of Wisconsin – Whitewater is announcing that Summer Session 2022 registration opens beginning the week of March 7, 2022.

Summer Session is a series of approximately three-week sessions held between May 23 and August 13, 2022. The Summer Session term allows students to take up to twelve credits over the course of a summer, one three-credit course at a time. Part of the Finish-in-Four initiative developed to help students complete a bachelor’s degree in four years, the Summer Session offers a combination of online, on-campus, and hybrid courses. In fact, students who take special sessions like Summer Session and its winter companion, Winterim, are over 20% more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree in four years than are their counterparts. Summer Session features sections of courses that tend to fill up quickly during the academic year. The program is open to any college students, even those not attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (including incoming freshmen and graduate students).

Summer Session 2022 terms are May 23 – June 11, June 13 – July 2, July 5 – July 23, and July 25 – August 13. Students may take only one course during each session and many find they prefer this intensive course format which allows them to concentrate on only one subject.

There is an advance registration period for current University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students. Registration opens to UW-Whitewater students March 7, 2022.  March 12, 2022 marks the date when registration opens to all campuses.

Dr. Matthew Vick, Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education, encourages students to “take advantage of the long summer break to participate in a short summer session courses.”

Interested students are invited to learn more, including a complete list of course offerings and registration information by visiting uww.edu/ce/summer.

Editor’s note: The following was received from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Come see mystical, eye-catching pieces created by a college student herself at Roberta’s Art Gallery, in “Beyond the Waves and Into the Stars,” by Ashlyn Bledsoe. The exhibit will run through March 2 – March 30. Bledsoe’s pieces in the exhibit are full of imagination and fantasy inspired scenes, often consisting of vibrant blues, purples, and pinks which tie to the theme of the sea and space.

Bledsoe is currently a sophomore at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, majoring in illustration. “Beyond the Waves and Into the Stars,” will be her first professional art exhibit, besides having a solo show at her high school. She deems art as her purpose in life, saying: “Art is literally who I am. Without it, I don’t know what I would do. My room is surrounded by pieces of mine that I’ve hung up. I wake up and see it every day, I have this drive, passion, and love for it.”

Bledsoe’s exhibit features work done by using mixed media, with most of her pieces consisting of acrylic paint, ink, markers, and colored pencils in the creative process. She pulls inspiration from fantasy and science-fiction scenes to create her own intriguing scenes through bright colors and intricate details.

Roberta’s Art Gallery will be holding an exhibit reception featuring Bledsoe speaking on her work and her experiences as a young artist, on Wednesday, March 9, at 6 p.m. in person at the gallery. Any guests are strongly encouraged, and can meet the artist, chat, and enjoy light refreshments. To see more of Bledsoe’s work and experience, visit her Instagram at art.with.ashlyn.

Roberta’s Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the James R. Connor University Center (UC) at UW-Whitewater. The gallery hosts multiple exhibits each semester by collaborating with the artists–both locally and regionally. Many of our events will be held in person this semester, with the option of a virtual exhibit. Our hours are Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Roberta’s Art Gallery prides itself on all of their exhibits being free and open to the public. This means anyone: whether you’re a student, a Whitewater community member, or someone wanting to support the artist, please stop by. For questions or further information, contact Roberta’s Art Gallery at (262) 472-3193 or ucart@uww.edu or visit our website.

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

UW System President Tommy Thompson will visit the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to celebrate his accomplishments as System President. 

Everyone is welcome to attend a farewell celebration at 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 7, in the James R. Connor University Center, the Hamilton Room.

The event will include networking, a program, and refreshments.

Complimentary parking is available in lots 12 and 14.

Editor’s note: The following was received from the Whitewater Arts Alliance.

The Whitewater Arts Alliance will be hosting the Wisconsin Regional Art Program (WRAP) exhibit that features the works of nonprofessional Wisconsin artists at Whitewater’s Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street, from March 4 through March 26. Visitors will be asked to participate in health and safety measures in light of COVID-19, to include wearing a mask at all times (masks will be provided) regardless of vaccination status. The virtual show will soon be available to view through our home page at whitewaterarts.org.

Artists from Wisconsin will be exhibiting art in a variety of media including 3D, photography, and watercolor.  Artists and art-advocates alike are invited to view the exhibit free of charge. The exhibit will run from 1 to 5p.m., Thursday through Sunday, beginning March 4th and running through March 26.

Though there will be no reception for this show, artist Larry Shultz will be presenting on March 27th for the WRAP workshop. Anyone who is not a WRAP exhibitor can attend the presentation for $5.

WRAP was established to encourage Wisconsin citizens with a serious interest in art – people who make art purely for the love of it, rather than for fame and fortune. The purpose of WRAP is to encourage nonprofessional artists to develop their abilities. The Wisconsin Regional Art Program consists of many artist workshop/exhibits that meet throughout the year statewide. Each one has a different artist demonstration or slide lecture and a different judge to lead the afternoon critique. Artists may enter as many Wisconsin Regional Art Workshops as they like. The program is run by the Association of Wisconsin Artists (AWA), formerly named WRAA.

Artists winning a State Exhibit Award are eligible to compete for monetary awards at the State Day in Madison.  In order to enter the State Exhibit you must be a member of the Wisconsin Regional Arts Program – you can join the organization at any time before the state exhibit by going to wiscartists.wildapricot.org and click on the WRAP tab to register.

The first Rural Art Exhibit was held at the Memorial Union during Farm and Home Week in 1940. Under the guidance of John Stuart Curry, the exhibit grew rapidly, expanding from 30 nonprofessional artists in 1940 to over 100 by 1947. The energy and enthusiasm of Curry’s successor, Aaron Bohrod, the WRAP directors, James Schwalbach and Ken Kuemmerlein, and the help of the AWA have continued to make the exhibition and workshops cornerstones of activity for nonprofessional artists throughout the state.http://wiscartists.wildapricot.org

WRAP was developed and administered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Liberal Studies and the Arts. WRAP exhibits and workshops began in 1940 to encourage the creative growth of non-professional artists from rural areas. 

Big thanks to our sponsor!

The mission of the Whitewater Arts Alliance is to promote the visual and performing arts through an alliance of artists, individuals, educational resources, and organizations to promote creativity and diversity that will serve to educate and enrich the lives of the residents of the Whitewater community and surrounding areas.

Editor’s note: The following was received from the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes new member business and Gold Sponsor, Jennifer Visser’s State Farm Office, to the business community in Whitewater. 

Owner, Jennifer Visser officially opened her office on Main Street in Downtown Whitewater in early January. Jennifer is a long-time Wisconsin resident, but she is new to the Whitewater area, having moved her family to town in hopes of becoming a strong community supporter and helping the residents of Whitewater protect all that matters to them through her insurance and financial services.  Jennifer’s mission is “To create an unprecedented experience for our State Farm customers by offering comprehensive products and an outstanding customer service focus.” She and her team member, Hannah Delaney, are looking forward to meeting the community and supporting the growth and safety of everyone. 

The Chamber and its ambassadors welcomed Jennifer and her team with an official ribbon cutting on March 2^nd. The energy and excitement that Jennifer brings to the Whitewater community will surely be contagious. The office is located in the heart of downtown Whitewater at 162 W Main St, Ste F. They are open Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with weekend/evening hours available by appointment. For additional information about the newest Whitewater Area Chamber member and learn what they are all about, visit her web page, https://bit.ly/35n0lZm, or stop by to say hi and get to know Jennifer and her team yourself!

City of Whitewater Equal Opportunities Commission – Monday @ 5:00 p.m.
VIRTUAL MEETING AGENDA includes hate and bias complaint form procedures.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/301597693
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: 1 (312) 757-3121
Access Code: 301-597-693
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install

Whitewater Unified School District Policy Review Committee – Tuesday @ 9:00 a.m.
Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner.)
Whitewater Unified School District Central Office
Front Conference Room
419 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin

City of Whitewater Public Works Committee – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Municipal Building
Community Room, 1st Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
Agenda includes discussion of award of contract for E. Main Street reconstruction, discussion of award of contract for Yoder Lane reconstruction

Whitewater School Board/Whitewater Education Association Bargaining Session – Wednesday @ 3:45 p.m.
Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner.)
Whitewater Unified School District Central Office
419 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin

Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by the League of Women Voters of the Whitewater Area.

The League of Women Voters of the Whitewater Area is pleased to announce that it will host an in-person WUSD School Board candidate forum on Saturday, March 12, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., in the City of Whitewater Council Chambers, 312 W Whitewater Street. 

There are four candidates running for two open seats on the school board. They have all confirmed their participation:  Miguel Aranda, Jennifer Kienbaum (incumbent), Joseph Kromholz (incumbent), and Andrea Svec. The League will be assisted in running the forum by Whitewater High School students under the supervision of the League and WHS American Government teacher Greg Stewart. The forum will be co-moderated by WHS students, Junior Alex Martin and Senior Aldo Rodriguez. The League is delighted to provide an opportunity for these students to engage in the democratic process alongside us.

If you have questions for the candidates but are unable to attend the in person forum, please submit your questions electronically via the following Google Form by Wednesday, March 9.

Submit questions for School Board candidates at WUSD School Board Candidate Forum Submission Form. 

Candidate questions prepared by the LWV Whitewater Area board and WHS students will be used if there are not enough questions provided by the public. The League does not accept questions targeted to specific candidates. 

The forum will be filmed by Whitewater Community TV and live streamed to their Vimeo website. A recording will be rebroadcast on channel 990 and made available on our website, https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area, during the weeks leading up to the April 5 Spring Election.  

The League is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.