(UW-Whitewater submission) The following individuals were inducted as student government senators at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Whitewater, WI: Nick Doolittle, who is studying political science
Whitewater, WI: Austin Schlief, who is studying political science
Whitewater, WI: Lexington Gracia, who is studying communication
Elections were held in the fall of 2021, and 16 new members were inducted for the 2021 calendar year. WSG Senators hold positions in five different districts across campus: Drumlin, Esker, Rock County, Off-Campus and At-Large. The placement of senators into these five districts depends on where senators live and attend classes.
To become a senator, students go through an application process, which includes collecting signatures in their desired district, appearing on a ballot and undergoing a campus-wide vote.
Once elected, the senator’s foundational responsibility is to act as the outreach of student government. This includes communicating with constituents in each of their districts, bringing the concerns of campus forward to the student government and writing resolutions/acts either to make a statement on behalf of WSG or make a call to action. Members of the WSG Senate also sit on various campus committees and represent not only WSG, but all student voices.
“The newly sworn in Whitewater Student Government senators are a bright, ambitious and optimistic group. The senate makes a positive impact through legislation, constituency events and sitting on UW-Whitewater’s committees to advocate for students. Their dedication, leadership and desire to make our campus better will shape the future of our university for years to come,” said Jody Wentworth, student body president.
The WSG Senate meets virtually every Monday at 7 p.m. All individuals are welcome to attend any of the meetings to bring forward any concerns, aspirations, or ways to improve the UW-Whitewater campus.
(Walworth Co. Division of Public Health press release) ELKHORN, WI — On February 18, 2021, Walworth County moved to Phase 3 of its Phased Guidance for COVID-19. The Division of Public Health initiated the shift after observing sustained improvement in all key indicators highlighted on Walworth County’s Public Health Community Data Dashboard.
The most notable change from Phase 2 to Phase 3 is an increase in recommended capacity from 50% to 75% for certain industries and some larger permitted gathering sizes. While Phased Guidance recommendations become more relaxed, Walworth County Health Officer Erica Bergstrom encourages that collective actions to prevent COVID-19 remain steadfast. “Our community has worked diligently and made tremendous sacrifices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 over the last year,” she states. “At this pivotal point in our recovery, we must remain vigilant in protecting our community against COVID-19. When we use all available tools and strategies, we ensure that we stay on this encouraging path.”
Even as vaccines become more readily available, it remains important to use all preventative actions to protect against COVID-19. These include being vaccinated when and if able, maintaining physical distance from those outside of your household, wearing a face covering, washing your hands frequently, staying home when you’re sick, and getting tested if you have symptoms.
College of Arts and Communication, Department of Music
(WHITEWATER, WIS.)— The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Music continues its virtual event offerings with the next concert in the Music Mosaics series, titled “A Night at the Opera”. All proceeds from the Music Mosaic series go directly towards scholarships for Department of Music students. This virtual performance will take place on March 2 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $13 for a single viewer ticket and $26 for a family viewing ticket for two or more. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. Although tickets must be purchased by March 2, the content will be available through March 15, 2021 for viewing.
“A Night at the Opera” features UW-Whitewater voice and piano faculty performing their favorite arias from opera works by Handel, Mozart, Wagner, Strauss, Thomas, Massenet, Donizetti, Puccini, Stravinsky, and more. Performers include Brian Leeper, baritone; Jessica Schwefel, mezzo-soprano; Adam Shelton, tenor; Rachel Wood, mezzo-soprano; and MyungHee Chung, piano.
Rachel Wood
“Although the COVID-19 pandemic has forced artists to reimagine the performance experience, we are excited to continue to share our art with the Whitewater community and beyond. Even without the staging, the costumes, or the live audience, the glorious music and powerful stories stand on their own, and we have the opportunity to present them in a completely unique way. Most importantly, though, we are doing so safely: all of the performances you will see were recorded in real time in separate spaces using low-latency technology” says Wood. Dr. Wood has appeared in opera, concert, and recital performances across Canada, the United States, Italy, and the Netherlands. She has performed the title role in “The Rape of Lucretia”, La Natura and Endimione (“La Calisto”), and Penelope (“Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria”), Dorabella (“Così fan tutte”), Zita (“Gianni Schicchi”), La Zia Principessa (“Suor Angelica”), and Alma March (“Little Women”). Other opera credits include Madame de Croissy (“Dialogues des Carmélites”), Cornelia (“Giulio Cesare”), and Dame Doleful in the Canadian premiere of “Too Many Sopranos”.
The music has gone on at UW-Whitewater in a big way with the help of a program called SoundJack. “SoundJack is a low-latency audio platform that allows musicians to collaborate in real-time over the internet. Unlike other popular online platforms such as Zoom, Soundack reduces the latency to an imperceptible amount. UW-Whitewater faculty use SoundJack to safely teach applied lessons, hold rehearsals, and to collaborate on recordings and performances like this one,” says Wood. SoundJack is being used at UW-Whitewater in a variety of ways by the Department of Music and also to aid in the Department of Theatre/Dance production of “Antigone” which also releases in March.
Faculty performers Wood, Leeper, Shelton, Schwefel and Chung have an impressive list of credits to their name.
Brian Leeper (Photo Craig Schreiner)
Baritone Brian Leeper joined the music faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2004. He currently teaches Studio Voice, Meistersingers Choir and directs the Opera Workshop. An active soloist and clinician, he also presents masterclasses and recitals at Universities across the US and abroad. He is also on the voice faculties of two international opera programs in Italy; FIO-Italia and Opera festival di Roma. Equally at home with Oratorio and Opera, Mr. Leeper has performed over twenty major operatic roles, including a national radio broadcast concert performance of Candide with the Cleveland Orchestra. He has appeared as soloist in oratorio with conductors Leon Botstein, Robert Page, Weston Noble and Vance George. Most recent solo appearances include Brahms Deutches Requiem, Elijah, The Creation, the St. John Passion, Messiah, Don Pasquale, L’Elisir d’amore and Die Fledermaus.
Adam Shelton
Shelton is a Wisconsin transplant from Tennessee and is a singer, teacher and director. Shelton has performed with Madison Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Madison Savoyards, Music Theatre of Madison, Four Seasons Theatre, Soo Symphony & Opera, MidColumbia Mastersingers & Orchestra, La Musica Lirica, Arizona Opera, Knoxville Opera, and Opera For the Young. Career highlights include: Frederic in “The Pirates of Penzance”, The Magician in “The Consul”, Alfred in “Die Fledermaus”, Ferrando in “Così fan tutte”, Lyric Tenor in Argento’s “Postcard from Morocco”, the title role in Mascagni’s “L’amico Fritz”, Don José in “Carmen”, and Nemorino in Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore.”
Jessica Schwefel
Mezzo soprano Dr. Jessica Schwefel has performed in over 30 operatic productions with Madison Opera, Opera for the Young, Fresco Opera Theatre, UW Opera, Music By The Lake, among others. Dr. Schwefel has also been a member of the Florentine Opera Chorus since 2008, where she has been involved in a number of productions and outreach performances. She also participated in the Florentine’s recordings of “Elmer Gantry” and “Rio de Sangre”, which collectively earned three Grammy Awards in 2012 and 2013. Her involvement with the Florentine Opera’s production and recording of “Prince of Players”in 2018 culminated in two Grammy award nominations in 2021. Solo concert performances include engagements with the Oshkosh Chamber Singers, UW Summer Choir, South Shore Chorale, UW Choral Union, UW Symphony Orchestra, UW-Oshkosh Choirs, and UW-Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra. Her singing has also been heard on WPR programs such as “University of the Air”, “On Higher Ground” and “The Midday.”
Myung Hee Chung (Photo Craig Schreiner)
Dr. Chung has performed extensively throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Asia. She has soloed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Portland Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonic Orchestra, and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed as a member of Seraphin Trio at the University of New Mexico for 4 years and with the UW-Whitewater Piano Trio since 1999. Dr. Chung is a recipient of numerous national and international awards, including first prize at the 1977 William Kapell Maryland International Piano Competition, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Performer’s Competition, Portland Symphony Orchestra Competition, and The Juilliard Concerto Competition. She was a prizewinner in the 1980 Gina Bachauer International Competition and a finalist in the 1981 Busoni International Competition.
“A Night at the Opera” virtual performance will take place on March 2 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $13 for a single viewer ticket and $26 for a family viewing ticket for two or more. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. Although tickets must be purchased by March 2, this content will be available through March 15, 2021 for viewing.
Our lakes are vital to where we live, work and play. But they need our help!
Join these upcoming free webinars to find out how you can help our shorelines and lakes by learning about invasive species, healthy shoreline management and how to improve water quality and decrease erosion. Note there are two webinars listed here with different registrations. These free webinars are hosted by University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension in collaboration with local and regional organizations.
Take Action to Keep Our Lakes Healthy
Thurs., March 4th, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Lesser celandine, Phragmites, and knotweed are three invasive plants in southern Wisconsin that grow in wet areas and have significant impacts on our lakes. Learn how to identify them, their affects, and how you can take action by looking for and reporting infestations via email or with the Great Lakes Early Detection Network app. Presented by Jason Granberg, Conservation Biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Anne Pearce, Coordinator of the Wisconsin First Detector Network.
This is a free online event, but registration is required. Please use the following link to register: https://go.wisc.edu/ixpf32
* Once registered, a connection link to the webinar will be sent the day before the event.
Shoreline Gardening for Healthy Lakes
Thurs., March 18th, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
In this webinar, you will learn what rain gardens are and how this special type of low maintenance garden can filter pollutants, recharge the groundwater and reduce pollution of local waterways. You will also learn what services healthy shorelines provide, including habitat, improved water quality and decreased erosion. Presented by Paul Skawinski, Lakes Outreach Specialist and Statewide Coordinator of the Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Network and Patrick Goggin from the Extension lakes team.
This is a free online event, but registration is required. Please use the following link to register: https://go.wisc.edu/663c99
* Once registered, a connection link to the webinar will be sent the day before the event.
If you have questions about this event, please contact Julie Hill, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, julie.hill@wisc.edu
(Lions Club submission) The Whitewater Lions Club hosted their 45th Annual Fish-A-Ree on February 14! The challenges brought about by Covid-19, bitter cold and tons of snow inspired the Lions to make several innovated changes. The Drive Thru Pancake Breakfast utilized a Car-Hop Style service, manned by a group of school age volunteers, to serve the steaming hot pancakes, eggs and sausages right to the cars. Because the Lions clubhouse was not open to the public, we decided to incorporate an On-Line Auction to replace the Bucket Raffles that our supporters have enjoyed for so many years. Another innovation this year was the live streaming of the action in the kitchen to the action on the ice on Facebook. Whether sitting in an ice fishing tent or the comfort of their home, everyone could feel involved.
With changes comes progress. We sincerely thank each and every one who attended our Pancake Breakfast, bought a raffle ticket and bid in our auction. And a special Lions THANK YOU to the Greater Whitewater Lake Property Owners Association. The Whitewater Lions Club is truly blessed to have so many Businesses and Industries in Whitewater and surrounding communities with huge Valentine’s Day Hearts.
Hearts and Roses to Generac of Whitewater and Next Home Realty for being sponsors of our $500 Cash Raffle. Thanks also to K&W Greenery of Janesville for sponsoring the Largest Fish prizes. And a huge heart goes to DLK Enterprises for purchasing pancake breakfasts for 90+ residents of Brookdale Manor and Blackhawk Apartments. A complete list of our supporters is posted in the Whitewater Lions Club Facebook Page.
2021 FISH-A-REE FISH OF THE DAY WINNERS Category Winner/Length/Amount Northern – Tory Francis 27 inches $50.00 Bass – Bruce Sarow 19 1/8 inches $50.00 Walleye – none Perch – Layne Hamilton 6 3/8 inches $25.00 Crappie – Chase Wilcox 7 3/4 inches $25.00 Blue Gill – Steve Runnoe 5 inches $25.00
AND THE WINNER IS—
CONGRATULATIONS to Donna Vosburgh.
Donna Vosburgh of Whitewater is the winner of the Whitewater Lions Club 2021 Fish-A-Ree $500 dollar cash raffle. Pictured here is Donna accepting the $500 from Fish-A-Ree Chairman Lion Steve Malone. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this year’s Fish-A-Ree!!
(Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club submission) The Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club will be postponing its annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser, typically held in March, until May 8 due to COVID health and safety concerns.
Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club President Jean Bromley said, “Our members have decided that, due to safety concerns for volunteers and attendees, the club will not be holding our Pancake Breakfast in March. We are looking at May 8, and we want our community to know that Kiwanis will be back with those delicious pancakes and Jones sausages.”
The Pancake Breakfast is the major fundraiser for the Kiwanis Whitewater Breakfast Club, which is made up of dedicated volunteers who help children in the Whitewater community and the world, all with 100 percent of funds raised going directly to projects helping improve the lives of children in the community. Each year, the club distributes approximately $20,000, with over half going to the Whitewater Unified School District, including scholarships. Kiwanis helped to build and maintain the Flowing Well Shelter, a shelter and accessible playground at Starin Park and Treyton’s Field of Dreams, the WHS football field lights and press box, as well as adopting a highway to clean up. In addition, the group donates to the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club, the Friends of the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center Family Partnership Fund, the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House and more. More information can be found on the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club Facebook page.
Donations to Kiwanis are welcome, and should be sent to: Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club, P. O. Box 427, Whitewater, WI 53190.
“We very much welcome and appreciate donations to help us with our mission of changing the world, one child at a time,” said Bromley.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the worldone child and one community at a time.
Lakes Drawdown Community Meeting Wednesday, February 24 – 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
City of Whitewater is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/94328678246?pwd=dlljR2tmb0hoZFlGb0sxOXhCdHlZZz09 Meeting ID: 943 2867 8246 Passcode: 845632 You can also dial using your phone. +1 312 626 6799 US Meeting ID: 943 2867 8246 Passcode: 845632
Presentation by Eric Boettcher, Parks & Recreation Director, and Heidi Bunk, Lakes Biologist, WI Dept. of Natural Resources
(University of Wisconsin-Whitewater submission) Chancellor Dwight C. Watson announced the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s plans for the fall 2021 semester will include in-person classes and on-campus living and dining experiences as they were pre-pandemic. In addition, plans include athletics, arts and other expected activities.
“We at UW-Whitewater are always focused on student support and success,” Watson said. “We do not yet know what, if any, modifications — such as mask wearing and restrictions in class sizes — will remain in place as we return in the fall. Just as our protocols under COVID-19 have been based on county, state, and federal health department guidelines, our path to a safe fall 2021 will continue to be based on this guidance.”
To get to fall, Watson said everyone needs to continue to follow the Warhawk Social Covenant: wear a mask when in public, stay socially distant when appropriate, wash hands regularly and get tested, and — when eligible — get vaccinated.
Currently enrolled students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisers to be ready for fall priority registration, April 5-16.
Newly admitted students can sign up for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) beginning March 1.
“We can’t wait to welcome you to the Warhawk family!” Watson said.
(Shelley Black submission – Grace Black, a senior from Whitewater, signed a letter of intent for Track & Field at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Grace is a multi-year letter-earner in track and field and has also participated in high school volleyball, basketball and club softball with the Rock River Stix.
