The next Wright House Concert is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, featuring local storyteller, Sarah Beth Nelson.
Subversive Librarian: Stories Lived and Told by an American Librarian in Norwich England
In the fall of 2008, Sarah Beth married John Nelson and they immediately moved to Norwich, UK, where John had a scholarship to study abroad. In order to stay busy (and sane) Sarah Beth volunteered as a librarian and storyteller. Jack, Boudica, the Foolish Frog, and the many people she met along the way made her feel like a heroine, but her return to the US in the spring of 2009 was less than heroic…
Guest MC: Karen McCulloch
Karen owns Whitewater’s local book store, The Book Teller. She hosts events for writers and readers at The Book Teller and has hosted outdoor open mics on 1st Street.
This public service announcement serves as a reminder that blowing or depositing grass clippings into any City street is prohibited. Reasons this is not permitted include: 1) Grass clippings, leaves, and other lawn debris can clog storm drains, resulting in street and private property flooding. 2) Storm drains flow directly to local lakes untreated. Grass clippings add unnecessary nutrients, which help feed harmful algae blooms. 3) Clippings can make the street slippery and hazardous for bicyclists and motorcyclists.
Using a mulching mower puts clippings back into the turf and keeps the nutrients where they belong. Should you choose to use a discharging mower, please be sure to point the blower toward your property (away from the street) to prevent clippings from leaving your lawn. Mowers may also choose to bag clippings, but they may not be disposed of in the garbage totes. City residents are encouraged to compost clippings on their property or take them to the City’s compost site.
When finished mowing, be sure to use a blower, broom, or rake to clean up any grass clippings or debris that have inadvertently made their way into the street, sidewalk, or storm drain.
City Code – Chapter 12.08 – STREET OBSTRUCTIONS Sections: 12.08.010 – Prohibited. (a) No person, except as provided in Section 12.08.020, shall place, deposit, keep, or cause to be placed, deposited or kept in or upon any street, alley, gutter, sidewalk or public ground within the limits of this city any stone, brick, timber, lumber, iron, wood or other material for building, or any wood, snow, rubbish, earth, grass clippings or lawn debris, or anything or substance whatever; nor shall any person burn or cause to be burned any such substance in any public street or alley; nor shall any person leave any automobile, truck, trailer, equipment or other vehicle standing or parked in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, or public ground so as to encumber the same, or so as to obstruct, impede, or hinder travel thereon; nor shall any person leave, or cause to suffer any box, barrel, crate, cask, bale, package, merchandise, or other thing to stand, be or remain upon any street, alley, sidewalk, gutter, or public ground longer than may be actually necessary for the act of delivering or receiving the same. (b) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall forfeit and pay a penalty of not less than twenty-five dollars not more than two hundred fifty dollars, together with the costs of prosecution. (Ord. 983 §51, 1982; prior code §6.01(1)) (Ord. No. 1759A, § 1, 2-16-2010)
Brad Marquardt Director of Public Works bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
It can be confusing! There are two outdoor markets that occur in Whitewater from May through October. They occur at essentially the same place, but on different days.
Whitewater City Market – Tuesdays, 4-7 p.m. – The market, built to celebrate local foods, products, and community, opens for its ninth season on May 7. It sets up around the Historic Train Depot, 301 W Whitewater Street, with a few of the vendors, including ready-to-eat foods, being located in the parking lot adjacent to the depot. The City Market is located at the Irvin L. Young Library on Saturdays from November through April. For further details please see this May 4 post.
Whitewater Farmers Market – Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. – This is a smaller, producer only market featuring produce, baked goods, and the like. It is located in the parking lot next to the Historic Train Depot, 301 W. Whitewater St. The market opened for the season on May 4. Though in its 33rd year, this market wasn’t always at this location. Sometimes a farmer will sell directly from the bed of their pickup truck.
We know many of you are moving out soon, and before you put any of your furniture out to the curb or put any of your housewares/textile items in the garbage, consider donating them to Bethel House!
Our organization houses up to seven families at a time in our Transitional Housing Program, and we make every effort to fully furnish each home every time a new family moves in—from couches and beds to curtains and rugs to cookie sheets and silverware.
So rather than tossing your items (in good condition, of course!), let them find a new home and support a local family at the same time. Contact our Director of Case Management to coordinate donation details.
Whitewater Unified School District School Board representatives & Whitewater Education Assoc. – Monday @ 3:45 p.m. Representatives of the School Board of the Whitewater Unified School District and the Whitewater Education Association will meet on May 6, at 3:45 p.m. in the Whitewater High School Library for an Employee Benefits Committee meeting. No action will be taken.
City of Whitewater Equal Opportunity Commission [EOC] – Monday @ 5:00 p.m. Agenda includes Discussion and Possible action regarding the Welcome to Whitewater Graphic and Discussion of possible action of Combining Disability Rights Commission and EOC. Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods. Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto.com/972125269 You can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (646) 749-3122 Access Code: 972-125-269 Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install
Whitewater Unified School District School Board & Whitewater Education Assoc – Tuesday @ 3:45 p.m. PUBLIC NOTICE: Pursuant to §111.70 and §19.82(1), Wis. Stats., you are hereby notified that representatives of the School Board of the Whitewater Unified School District and the Whitewater Education Association will meet on May 7, at 3:45 p.m. at the Central Office Board Room, 419 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin, to exchange 2024-25 proposals. The meeting will be open to the public. In addition, the parties may caucus individually in closed session. Subsequent negotiations will be conducted in closed session unless the parties agree to open sessions.
City of Whitewater Common Council Meeting – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m. Agenda includes Jessie Dugan from Bethel House is presenting a recap of their Emergency Assistance Program that will highlight the needs of the families they are serving-specifically as they relate to housing, income equality and the overall cost of living expenses, Update on library renovation, TDS update regarding completion date and when it will enable us to start broadcasting, Discussion and possible action regarding UWW MOU Polling Place on Campus, Discussion and Possible Action regarding Starin Road Safety, Discussion and Possible Action regarding Approval of Proposed Scope Work to be performed by SEWRPC for phase one of the Comprehensive Lake Management Plan for Cravath and Trippe Lakes. Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St. *In Person and Virtual Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods. Please click the link below to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81914940238?pwd=tYI97riyLo4kl5RS_Fg1w21zex-Now.BINRMCzgtNj9T41o Telephone: 1 (312) 626-6799 Webinar ID: 819 494 0238 Passcode: 525458
Whitewater Unified School District School Board – WUSD Unplugged Attendance – Wednesday @ 4:00 p.m. Members of the Whitewater School Board will be attending the WUSD Unplugged session in the Whitewater High School Library on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 beginning at 4:00 pm. A quorum of the School Board may be present; however, the Board will not be conducting any business during the event.
Julie Hill, Horticulture Outreach Specialist at the UW Extension office, is giving a presentation at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library about the variety of factors contributing to the declining health of trees in our landscape, in particular the oaks. In addition, spongy moths have become a well-known pest in the past couple years. Join us to learn about the stressors facing oak trees, how to promote healthy trees, and options for managing spongy moths in your yard. The presentation is in the library’s community room on Tuesday, May 7 at 5:30 p.m.
There is no cost or registration to attend. The library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. Contact the library at 262-473-0530 with questions.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.
WHITEWATER, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-Whitewater secured the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Tennis Championship (presented by Culver’s) with a 5-2 triumph over The College of New Jersey at Warhawk Outdoor Tennis Complex on May 4.
Both teams secured a spot in the title match by winning their respective divisions during the regular season.
UW-Whitewater (18-2) also earned the conference’s automatic NCAA bid with the victory, while the Lions dropped to 13-3 on the season.
It was the first men’s tennis championship in the conference since the 1994-95 academic year.
Singles: No. 1–Matthew Michibata (TCNJ) def. Luke VanDonslear (WW) 6-3, 6-3 No. 2–Reuben Giorgio (WW) vs. Adrian Tsui (TCNJ) 6-1, 5-6 (did not finish) No. 3–Tyler Nelson (WW) def. Aayush Kishore (TCNJ) 6-0, 6-4 No. 4–Theo Billson (WW) def. Alberto Thomas (TCNJ) 7-6(7), 6-2 No. 5–Drew Van Fossen (WW) def. Harrison Maitland-Carter (TCNJ) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 No. 6–Giovanni Vitali (WW) vs. Brett Schuster (TCNJ) 6-3, 1-6, 4-3 (did not finish)
Correction: The headline has been corrected to indicate that the closure is between Prince St. and Elizabeth St., not Prairie and Elizabeth. The Banner regrets this error.
The Walworth Avenue Storm Sewer and Drainageway Project will begin on Monday, May 6, 2024. Walworth Avenue will be closed to thru traffic between Prince Street and Elizabeth Street. The project entails replacing storm sewer, curb and gutter, and street repairs. The completion date is tentatively scheduled for May 24, 2024. Questions may be directed to Brad Marquardt, Director of Public Works.
Brad Marquardt, Director of Public Works, (262) 473-2239, Bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov
Reminder: Fremont Road closures till approximately September 1:
Fremont Street from Starin Road to Lauderdale Drive is now closed to through traffic. The intersection of Starin Road and Fremont Street will remain open to traffic; however, the intersection of Lauderdale Drive and Fremont Street will be closed to traffic. Work in this portion of the project includes replacement of sanitary sewer mains and laterals, replacement of water mains and laterals, storm sewer improvements, replacement of sidewalk, curb and gutter, and new asphalt pavement. The project also includes work to abandon, in place, sanitary sewer and water mains that run under Treyton Field.
Phase II of the Fremont Reconstruction Project will begin later this summer. During work on Phase II, Fremont Street will be closed to thru traffic from Starin Road to Whitewater Creek. Work includes the pulverizing of existing asphalt, new asphalt pavement, and ditch work between Lauderdale Drive and Whitewater Creek. The intersections of Schwager Drive and Fremont Street and Burr Oak Drive and Fremont Street will also be closed to traffic during this phase. Additionally, there will be periodic closures of the Starin Road and Fremont intersection to facilitate curb and gutter replacement and repaving of the intersection. Fremont Street from Starin Road to Whitewater Creek is tentatively scheduled to be open to traffic by September 1, 2024.
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.
The Whitewater community has the opportunity to help fill the shelves of local food pantries to serve those in need on Saturday, May 11. There are two ways to donate food and help our hungry neighbors.
– For more than 30 years, USPS has conducted an annual nationwide food drive on the second Saturday of May- the largest one-day food drive in the country. In Whitewater, the food drive is supported by the Hunger Task Force to help the Whitewater Food Pantry. Residents will be receiving postcards and/or plastic bags in the mail as a reminder of the food drive. Just put your nonperishable contribution in or near your mailbox on Saturday, May 11, and your mail carrier will take the food to the Whitewater Food Pantry. Questions? Laurie Giorno, lead volunteer in Whitewater, can be reached at 262-903-9416.
– The Community Space [TCS] in Whitewater has been in operation for just five years, but has already ramped up to give out more than 300,000 pounds of food a year through its collaboration with Feeding America and other organizations and its dozens of volunteers. Whitewater Unites Lives is hosting the food drive at the Community Space this year to help meet the increased demand TCS has experienced. To help, bring your nonperishable donations to TCS on 834 East Milwaukee St., drive around the back, and WUL volunteers will happily collect your donation from your car between 8:30 and 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 11. Questions? WUL co-founder Rosalinda Martinez can be reached at 920-222-0749 and co-founder Marjorie Stoneman can be reached at 414-861-4126.
Suggested donations to both pantries include peanut butter, jelly, individual packets of oatmeal, canned tuna, dried cereal, canned fruits and canned vegetables.
Whitewater Unites Lives (WUL) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.
Editor’s note: Per the SSM Health website, applications are being accepted at St. Mary’s Hospital/Janesville for Apprentice Nurse Aides who have successfully completed nurse aide training and the exam. There also are openings for Apprentice Medical Assistants in Family Medicine in Janesville; these positions do not appear to require nurse aide training.
Students will earn as they learn necessary skills for a variety of health care careers
SSM Health is recruiting high school students for a paid apprenticeship program across its hospitals and clinics in Wisconsin that will offer valuable hands-on experiences while providing a pathway to rewarding careers in health care.
The Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Program offers high school juniors and seniors enrolled in related courses industry-recognized completion certificates for their work in one of eight health care career areas, which include:
Medical Assistant
Medical Office Assistant
Phlebotomy Assistant
Medical Imaging Assistant
Nursing Assistant
Physical Therapy Aide
Medical Lab Assistant
Pharmacy Assistant
“Health care offers many rewarding career paths, and we are delighted to welcome these young people into our hospitals and clinics to experience these important roles for themselves as we seek to help train a new generation of exceptional caregivers in the communities we are privileged to serve,” says program coordinator, Sandy Riley.
Those selected for the one-year program are required to work 450 hours and can elect to begin their apprenticeship in the summer or at the start of their fall semester. SSM Health hopes to interest 50 students to apprentice throughout the 2024-2025 school year within its care teams throughout its hospitals and clinics in Wisconsin.
Interested students and their parents can learn more about the available apprenticeships and apply online at the SSM Health Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Program page.
The apprenticeship program is led by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and is offered in collaboration with: the Dane County School Consortium in Greater Madison, Southwest WI Workforce Development Board, Inc. in Green/Rock Counties and the Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA 3) in Iowa County, (CESA 5) in Sauk County and (CESA 6) in Greater Fond du Lac, as well as a host of area high schools.
Editor’s note: The Whitewater Banner reached out to SSM Health to confirm that Whitewater High School students are eligible to participate. The short answer is that they are welcome to apply, as are students at Fort Atkinson and Elkhorn Area high schools, as well as home school students. The long answer from Sandy Riley of SSM is as follows:
“The Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program has been in existence in Wisconsin since 1991 (to clarify). Ours was the first state to implement YA and it has been adopted by many other states across the U.S.. YA in Wisconsin operates through partnerships between high schools, consortia partners, employers, DWD, parents, and of course students.
Some schools work with a consortia partner who serve as a liaison between employers and schools. Other high schools operate the program independent of a consortia partner. The vast majority of high schools participate in YA. In addition, students completing a home school program may also qualify.
To find out more about specific school districts, visit https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/contacts.htm#youthApprenticeshipConsortiums and search by school district to find the contact information for each school’s YA Coordinator. All three schools above [Whitewater, Fort Atkinson, and Elkhorn] are listed on the DWD site. Alternatively, this page also has a clickable button labeled “See Consortium Info” which will link to the consortium partner that supports the program in each region. They are wonderful subject matter experts and are often a bit easier to connect with, particularly during the summer.
Finally, a simple email or call to the Department of Workforce Development YA contact is also an option: ya@dwd.wisconsin.gov or 608-733-3930. If a school does not participate and there is no consortium partner, DWD would be the best information source.
