News

The Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs (WFWC) is pleased to announce that it has initiated a new cultural event for the Whitewater community: the Bassett House Spring Concert Series. The concerts will be held on Sunday, April 7 and Sunday, May 26, both at 1:00 p.m., at the Bassett House, 708 W. Main Street, Whitewater. This series promises to become a wonderful new spring tradition that you won’t want to miss.

Performing at the April 7 concert will be UW-Whitewater student vocalists from the voice studio of faculty member Rachel Wood. The concert will consist of a delightful blend of pop songs, Broadway hits, and classical pieces. On May 26, Robert Gehrenbeck and Sarah Read Gehrenbeck will perform a Memorial Day-themed concert of popular and art songs.

Ticket prices for adults are $30 per concert or $50 for the complete series. Student tickets are $15 per concert, and child tickets are $10 per concert. Make checks out to the WFWC and mail them to Linda Robinson at 957 W. Highland Street/Whitewater, WI 53190. Alternatively, you may pay via Venmo: Whitewater Federation. In either case, please indicate the concerts you will be attending and the number of adults, students, or children attending. Space is limited, so buy your tickets soon.

All proceeds will go to the Bassett House Preservation Fund, which the WFWC will use to ensure the preservation of the Bassett House, one of Whitewater’s oldest historic homes. The Bassett House is located at 708 W. Main Street in Whitewater.

For more information, contact Linda Robinson at linrob73@gmail.com

Families are invited to attend “Money Smart Kids” at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on Thursday, April 4 at 3:30 p.m. In partnership with PremierBank, join us for a free financial literacy story time and activity. It’s never too early to learn how to be smart with money! Best for ages 4-10 but all ages are welcome.

This is a free event and no registration is required. The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. Contact Sarah French with questions at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-458-2782.

The Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will offer Walk With Ease starting April 9 at Walworth County Health and Human Services. Walk With Ease– a program from the Arthritis Foundation—is a structured walking program that teaches participants how to safely make physical activity part of their everyday lives. The program is designed to help people living with arthritis better manage their pain and is also ideal for people without arthritis who want to make walking a daily habit. 

Walk With Ease offers support, information, and tools to help participants develop successful exercise routines. The six-week group series is led by certified instructors Chetney Blaszczyk RDN, CD, and Rebecca Way MSW, APSW. During the program, participants learn proper stretching and pain management techniques; they also build stamina and walking pace. The program can be modified to meet the needs of individual participants so that each person can develop an exercise routine that fits their unique goals.

“Research shows that walking is not only good for joints, but also helps improve the health of the heart, lungs, and bones,” said Blaszczyk. “Walking can also help with weight management, which can reduce one’s risk for arthritis in the knee, heart disease, and diabetes. If you can be on your feet for 10 minutes without increased pain, you will most likely have success with Walk With Ease.” 

The information and strategies taught in the program are based on research and tested programs in exercise science, behavior change, and arthritis management. Updated and evaluated by the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and the Institute on Aging of the University of North Carolina, Walk With Ease is shown to increase balance, strength, and walking pace, as well as reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis. The program is also shown to build participant confidence to be physically active and improve overall health.

Walk WithEase will be held every Tuesday, April 9 to May 14, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Walworth County Health and Human Services, 1910 County Rd NN Elkhorn. Pre-registration is required. This workshop has a suggested contribution of $10. For more information, contact Chetney Blaszczyk at (262) 741-3309. Before starting any exercise program, always check with your physician.

About the ADRC of Walworth County: 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 situation. Learn more at www.co.walworth.wi.us/376/Aging-Disability-Resource-Center.

Easter,^{[nb 1]} also called Pascha^{[nb 2]} (Aramaic, Greek, Latin) or Resurrection Sunday,^{[nb 3]} is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.^[12][13] It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus Christ, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance.

Easter and its related holidays are moveable feasts, not falling on a fixed date; its date is computed based on a lunisolar calendar (solar year plus Moon phase) similar to the Hebrew calendar. The First Council of Nicaea (325) established only two rules, namely independence from the Hebrew calendar and worldwide uniformity. No details for the computation were specified; these were worked out in practice, a process that took centuries and generated a number of controversies. It has come to be the first Sunday after the ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or soonest after 21 March.^[18] Even if calculated on the basis of the more accurate Gregorian calendar, the date of that full moon sometimes differs from that of the astronomical first full moon after the March equinox.^[19]

[From Wikipedia]

Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

Whitewater High School held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of their Certified Nursing Assistant Lab on March 20th.

WHS is the 9th high school that has opened a Nursing Assistant lab in partnership with Gateway Technical College. Other high schools include: Burlington, East Troy, Brookfield, KUSD-Indian Trail, Muskego, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, and Wilmot.

Whitewater High School’s first ten student cohort is scheduled to begin Gateway’s two credit Nursing Assistant program on April 17th. Upon successful completion of the program, the students are eligible to take the Wisconsin Nursing Assistant competency evaluation for inclusion on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry and employment in nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, hospices, assisted living centers and homes for the developmentally disabled.

WHS now offers 19 different Gateway transcripted credit courses that are taught by Whitewater High school teachers, which will result in hundreds of thousands of dollars saved for our students. This is in addition to the Start College Now courses, Vanguard Distant Learning, and HS Academy courses that WHS students can take at Gateway Technical College.

A special thank you goes out to Fairhaven Senior Services. We are profoundly grateful for their partnership and dedication to helping to make this lab a reality. The beds, overbed tables, and linens were all a donation from Fairhaven. Simply stated, without their generous donation, we would not have been able to make this lab a reality. Thank you!

City of Whitewater Equal Opportunities Commission – Monday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: Update on the Immigration Support Coalition and Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Welcome to Whitewater Graphic.
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 the webinar: EOC Meeting
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/118229557
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code:
118-229-557
United States:
+1 (224) 501-3412
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

City of Whitewater Common Council Special Meeting – Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda: Closed session regarding City Manager’s employment performance, followed by open session Discuss and possible action regarding City Manager’s employment performance.
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 the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83579476749?pwd=fdUwsXXzKhOGDK4a5Xx3RFUloKdRQ.RCn1mtyGu_2WC66j
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799
Webinar ID: 835 7947 6749
Passcode: 501639

City of Whitewater Lakes Advisory Committee – Wednesday @ 4:00 p.m.
Agenda: Discussion and possible action regarding Whitewater Stormwater Quality Management
Plan
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 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 the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82335842029?pwd=aWhrcGRsL2dNRmJUbGFGQ0dmZHNhdz09
Meeting ID: 823 3584 2029
Passcode: 520009
Or join by phone
+1 312 626 6799 US

City of Whitewater Landmarks Commission – Wednesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Birge Fountain funds, Territorial Oak Site, Information needed to list landmarks for sale, update on current owner of the building that the Prairie Tiller is painted on, update on future of Starin Park water tower, discussion and action on request to review property at 1002 S. Janesville St.
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 the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83198282604?pwd=cDdLWjUvTTRqRUQ4UVcwQWcrcW1BUT09
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 831 9828 2604
Passcode: 137945

City of Whitewater Common Council – Thursday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Mobile Home Community understanding of Special Assessments, salary compensation survey, flexible work arrangements policy update, PEG station cost an usage update, second reading of an ordinance regarding Mobile Home Community Special Assessments, Discussion and possible action regarding the RFP for Building Inspector, Discussion and possible action regarding UW Whitewater MOU on the polling place on campus; CLOSED SESSION TO RECONVENE FOR POSSIBLE ACTION regarding Whitewater Aquatic & Fitness Center update, and Regarding City Manager employment performance.
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 the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89059667839?pwd=828n1ImYKC_qW3mXIeQlhsH8760wrg.GwxEQrQ2BSFknVhG
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 890 5966 7839
Passcode:212798

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Public Library.

Memory Cafés are designed for people living with memory loss, and their care partner. The Glacial River Library Memory Project hosts one café a month, rotating between four public libraries. The next café will be held Monday, April 8th^th at 10:30 A.M. at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library, located at 431 W. Center St. in Whitewater. The theme will be The Solar Eclipse. Please call 262-473-0530 for more information. Please click here to register and choose “events.”

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The Whitewater Ministerial Association has for many years sponsored a Good Friday “progressive” service (as in a progressive dinner) which takes place at First English Lutheran Church, Congregational United Church of Christ, and First United Methodist Church. This year, on March 29, the service started at noon at the Methodist church, followed by the Congregational church, and concluding at the Lutheran church. Hymns were sung, prayers were offered, and at the Methodist church the choir sang “Wondrous Love” and the moving “Via Dolorosa.” Brief meditations were shared by Rev. Dave McDonald, Rev. Dan Fahs, and Rev. Joseph O’Donnell. Also participating was Rev. Madeline Burbank, UW-W Campus Pastor with support of ELCA South-Central Synod of Wisconsin and Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. Nearly twenty participants followed Joe Sherman of the Methodist church as he carried the cross from one church to the next.

The city offers brush collection by appointment every Tuesday, all year. Effective April 2, per a press release from the Department of Public Works, residents wishing to schedule a brush pickup must call 262-473-0560 by Monday at noon. When calling, you should provide your name, address, and phone number. Alternatively, a request may be submitted online by Monday at noon.

Brush must be brought to the curbside and placed with the cut ends facing the street.  Brush cannot be brought to the curbside before 4 p.m. on the Sunday prior to the scheduled Tuesday for collection.  Brush must be at the curb by 7 a.m. on Tuesday.  

Brush must be a minimum of 3/4″ and a maximum 6” in diameter. The brush must be a minimum of 3 feet in length.

The City reserves the right to not collect brush for just cause. Vines, rakings, roots, and root balls will not be accepted. Property owners can dispose of vines, rakings, roots, and root balls at the compost site. The site will be open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning on April 6 and on Wednesdays from 3-7 p.m. beginning April 10.

Brush located at the curbside will be collected and chipped. The first 10 minutes of chipping will be free of charge if an appointment has been received by the DPW.  Any chipping after the first 10-minutes will be charged to the property owner at a rate of $30 per 10-minute increments. Major storm damage brush collection will be done at no charge. The City will determine and announce emergency storm related brush collections. All brush placed at the curb will be collected on the day of appointment. No exceptions!