Applications Sought: Part-time Director of Children’s & Family Ministries

Director of Children’s and Family Ministries
Whitewater Area Regional Ministries of the United Methodist Church is seeking a half-time Director of Children’s and Family Ministries who will provide leadership, coordination, resourcing and communication for its Christian education programs for children and youth. Our aim is to encourage faith development in an inclusive, caring and fun environment. Please submit a resume or letter of interest to dan@fumcwhitewater.org or Rev. Dan Fahs, First UMC, 145 S. Prairie Street. Whitewater, WI 53190.

Families of Class of ’24 Whippet Grads Invited to Purchase Yard Signs

Purchase a Yard Sign for Your Graduating Senior!

¡Compre un cartel de jardín para su graduado!

The cost is $20 if paying by cash/check; $20.66 if paying online. Orders may be submitted using the link at the top of this post. They must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12th. Payment is not due now, but must be made before signs can be picked up or delivered.

For Questions, Contact Elizabeth Miller
emiller@wwusd.org

Former Resident Receives 60 Year Recognition of Masonic Membership

Frank P. Weinberg, formerly from Whitewater, received his 60 year recognition of being a member of the Masonic Lodge Oriental #20 Mesa, Arizona, where he resides with his wife and family. Frank started off on his Masonic journey at the Masonic Lodge in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

Editor’s note: The above submission was provided by Frank Weinberg.

Whitewater Community Foundation Action Grant Applications Due April 30

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Community Foundation.

The Whitewater Community Foundation is now accepting applications for Spring Community Action Grants.  Grants will be awarded to local nonprofit organizations actively working to support the greater Whitewater community. 

Qualified projects should be intended for educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent purposes that will benefit and improve the greater Whitewater community.  Consideration will also be made based on the results of the 2023 Civic Summit, when more than 30 community members, business leaders, educators, nonprofit organizers, and others determined key areas for improvement in Whitewater:

  • Communicating to Whitewater’s diverse population in English and Spanish, making signage bilingual, coordinating communication to all groups, and providing opportunities for people of different backgrounds, age groups, etc. to integrate to help meet community needs;
  • Housing assistance, affordability and accessibility for families and professionals seeking to purchase homes;  
  • Marketing Whitewater by coordinating and cross-pollinating events, calendars and volunteer opportunities.

Projects are expected to be accomplished within a specific period of time (generally not more than one year) and should be creative, innovative and address community needs.  Interested organizations can find more information and fill out an application at: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bx6_oS4QSIAeR3BoVjNTeVJfQzg 

The deadline for submitting applications is April 30, 2024.

Kat Mawhinney, WCF Board Member who chairs the Community Action Grant Selection Committee, said, “We are pleased to be able to offer these grants to organizations helping to make the Whitewater community stronger.”

Organizations interested in pursuing a Whitewater Community Foundation Action Grant should check out the Whitewater Community Foundation web site https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/community-action-grants/ or contact Kat at 262-473-1403.

The Foundation continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and also offers fiscal sponsorship to organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects.

More information about the Whitewater Community Foundation can be found at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org and on Facebook. 

The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.”

#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Passenger car purchased for the never-completed B Line

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week’s image is a rare one of a passenger car purchased for the “B Line,” a short-line railway that was partially constructed between Whitewater and Lake Geneva in 1914.

The purpose of the B Line was to be a fast connection to Lake Geneva where passengers and/or freight could be transferred to lines going to Chicago. This would provide people and businesses in Whitewater faster transportation in Walworth County and, ultimately, to Chicago.

The line was partially built, but never completed due to lack of funding and the increase in prices for steel created by World War I in Europe. A portion of the roadbed for the B Line can still be seen along Highway P at Bluff Creek south of Whitewater where the road was raised to go over the highway and the creek.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(5547PC, Whitewater Historical Society)

The Library Presents Local Author Visit with Mark Maas

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.

Local author, Mark Maas, will be at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m. He will be talking about his book, One Team / One Family: Winning Is a Lifestyle, which reflects the belief that building character, trust, and positive chemistry among teammates is at the core of success. Whether in the realm of athletics, the corporate boardroom, on the factory floor, or in schools and offices across America, this book provides a blueprint for success. Sharing stories from a forty-year career in teaching and coaching, Maas lays out the fundamental principles for building team relationships.

Maas will be available for questions after his presentation. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. The library has a copy of the book available for checkout as well.

The presentation will be held in the library’s Community Room located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. The public is invited to attend this free program and no registration is required. For additional information, visit the library’s website at www.whitewaterlibrary.org or call 262-473-0530.

Jefferson County Clean Sweep – Fri. & Sat.


Editor’s note: With a portion of Whitewater being in Jefferson County, Whitewater residents would be expected to be welcome regardless of whether they live in Jefferson or Walworth County. Walworth County always has at least one clean sweep annually; sometimes there has been a Whitewater event, though not last year.

Dean of the College of Education & Professional Studies Named

Lana Collet-Klingenberg [linkedin.com]

Editor’s note: The following announcement was posted at UW-Whitewater on April 2.

After the completion of a national search, Provost John Chenoweth is pleased to announce that Dr. Lana Collet-Klingenberg has been appointed to serve as the Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies effective April 7, 2024.

As a distinguished teaching scholar, Dr. Collet-Klingenberg has served the college as Associate Professor and Professor as well as Chair of the Department of Special Education.  Dr. Collet-Klingenberg has also served the college as Associate Dean and most recently as Interim Dean.

Dr. Collet-Klingenberg earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Provost Chenoweth would like to thank everyone who provided feedback during the interview process as well as the members of the Search and Screen Committee, chaired by Vice Chancellor for University Relations and UW-Whitewater Foundation President, Katie Kuznacic, for their extensive work on this search.