News

Per a press release issued by the City of Whitewater, residents in the City of Whitewater are now eligible to have groceries delivered directly to their doorstep from Festival Foods in Fort Atkinson or Janesville within two hours.
Festival Foods is known to work closely with and get involved in the communities in which they serve. It is a family and employee-owned grocery company operating stores throughout Wisconsin with their headquarters located in DePere. It was founded as Skogen’s IGA by Paul and Jane Skogen in 1946 and is still owned by the Skogen family.

Economic Development Director, Cathy Anderson reached out to Festival Foods in hopes to expand their delivery service to include Whitewater. Festival Foods agreed and this service is now available for many within the 53190 zip code. UPDATE: Delivery is available to the areas shown in red on the revised map above. The best way to see if delivery is available to your residence is to enter your address on the website. Note that an initial screen that pops up will ask whether you wish to try a special subscription offer from Instacart, which after a 2-week trial period would cost $99/year. It appears that there may be little/no benefit to this offer under the Festival program.

“It is very exciting to work with a company willing to expand their local service and assist the Whitewater community,” said Anderson. “I placed my first order and was amazed at how simple, easy and quick the process was. It is very user friendly and the items I needed were on my doorstep within about two hours.”
Festival Foods contracts with Instacart allowing for a personalized home delivery service. Residents can visit the Instacart website, https://www.instacart.com/store/festival-foods/storefront or download the app to their smartphone. Enter the zip code of 53190, create an account with an email address and you can shop the virtual aisles of the store as if shopping it in person. Options for delivery of 2 hours, 5 hours or a window of your choice are available.

A nominal delivery fee may be applied to some orders and residents have the opportunity to tip the delivery driver if they wish.

“What a unique, convenient and safe service for the Whitewater community to benefit from in this time of uncertainty,” said Anderson.

Banner note: The Gazette on January 12, 2021 also has an article on this new service. It includes this quote from Anderson: “Monday’s news, while it is welcome, does not end the effort to bring a grocery store to the city,” she said.

Banner note: On the Instacart site you will note that there are several other grocers (from Milton and Janesville), as well as a few other retailers, that may offer delivery to your address. All of those other grocers, however, indicate that their pricing through Instacart may be higher than their in-store pricing. Festival states that their pricing is the same as the shelf price.

The City of Whitewater provides efficient and high-quality services which support living, learning, playing and working in an exceptional community. Visit www.whitewater-wi.gov for community information and updates.

(News release) CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (01/11/2021)– Emma Van Daele of Whitewater, WI, has been named to the Southeast Missouri State University Dean’s List for academic achievement during the fall 2020 semester.

Students named to the list earned at least a 3.75 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, completed at least 12 hours of standard graded credit, achieved no grade below a B and received no failing grades in enrolled, credit/no credit or pass/fail courses.

Tuesday, January 26 at 7 p.m.
Live on Zoom

“Some writers use diaries, journals, photos or family histories to jumpstart writing a
memoir. For me, a dream ignited my interest in writing a five-volume series starting with –
Escaping Her Dungeon of Despair, based on my own experiences.” —Vivian Probst
The Dwight Foster Public Library invites you to attend this timely presentation. We will
broadcast Probst’s presentation on Zoom and Facebook Live. To register for the Zoom portion
go to https://www.fortlibrary.org/writing-your-memoir/.

Vivian Probst is a novelist, writer of several memoirs, linguist, and champion of language skills.
She wants to inspire people to write their memoirs, especially now, during the time of COVID-19
when they may have more time to put their thoughts on paper.

“Each of us has a unique life story that shapes our future and can inspire others. I hear people
say, “Someday I’ll write a memoir.” “I say do it! It can be hard, I know, to share painful
memories but it can also be a healing process.”

Probst is not new to memoir writing. Three years ago she chronicled her deeply personal story
about what it took to restore her marriage. The experiences were recounted in her riveting
memoir, I Was a Yo-Yo Wife.

Nancy Brunner, Janie Anderson and Katie Melody are WUL Hometown Heroes, and have been nominated for “Volunteering at the Whitewater Food Pantry at various times, and through that opportunity to help others they found a way to help each other, teaching and learning sign language.  They have also found individual interests in supporting the Whitewater community at their churches, the Whitewater Arts Alliance, the Whitewater Aquatic Fitness Center, Rockin’ Respite, and Studio 84.  Sharing their time and talents is a way to build up the community and build friendships as well.”

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) 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.   

 Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com 

Rapid testing continues to be available at the Williams Center on the following dates. Preregistration is required at this site. Resulted are emailed within appoximately 30 minutes. If you are symptomatic or get a positive result on the rapid test, you will be offered a PCR test, the results of which are not available for at least a couple of days.

UW-Whitewater Williams Center (Community Member)
907 W Schwager
Whitewater, WI 53190

Testing Hours: Monday, Jan. 11 through Friday, Jan. 15 – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Please note that this location will only test individuals who are 5 years of age or older.

UW System President Thompson, Wisconsin comedian Berens urge continued use of free testing sites

(UW System press release) MADISON, Wis.—University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson and Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens of The Manitowoc Minute are urging state residents to obtain a free COVID-19 test at one of the state’s rapid-results “surge testing” sites.

Thompson challenged Berens to a smash-off in his latest “Smash COVID” video aimed at reminding UW System students and others to get tested and to continue behaviors that prevent the spread of the disease, including wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing hands.

“We all want to smash COVID, and I’m happy to join President Thompson in bringing attention to these free tests,” Berens said. “Keep ‘er Movin’ Wisconsin – through the COVID testing line.”

Since surge testing began in early November, more than 170,000 free tests using the Abbot BinaxNOW rapid-results antigen test have been administered at Wisconsin’s 22 surge testing sites on or near UW System campuses, identifying nearly 14,000 potential positive carriers of the virus who have been advised to isolate. The testing sites will be operable for several weeks, likely through Jan. 23, with UW-Madison closing its sites on Jan. 7.

“With our partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, we began surge testing in early November when the virus was raging across Wisconsin,” Thompson said. “Since then, the number of cases in our state has been dropping, and surge testing has been a critical factor because we could quickly identify potential cases.”

Thompson said Wisconsin residents should consider getting tested at a surge testing site now that the holidays are over – especially if they spent more time than usual outside of their home or socializing with people who are not in their household.

Thompson and Berens filmed the latest “Smash COVID” video in downtown Waukesha and on the campus of UW-Milwaukee at Waukesha. Thompson has also served as a spokesman for the “Stop the COVID Spread! Coalition.” Berens is the founder of The Manitowoc Minute, the popular weekly video featuring a uniquely Wisconsin perspective.

View the video here: https://youtu.be/DvamjfLfGc4

View President Thompson’s other “Smash COVID” videos here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/uwsystem/2093215074148544/

Plan and Architectural Review Commission Meeting – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes proposal for a Conditional Use Permit for Development of a 36-Unit Multifamily Building
at Parcel ID /WUP 00153A for Adam Coyle And Ryan Hughes Doing Business As ARCH Development, LLC.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/355747573
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
Access Code: 355-747-573

Public Works Committee and Public Works Committee acting in its Capacity as the City of Whitewater Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Citizen Participation Committee – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes
– Public Hearing And Possible Action: Community Development Block Grant – Public
Facilities CLOSE Program Funds – Residents of the City of Whitewater are encouraged to attend,
especially residents with low to moderate incomes.
– Discussion And Possible Action Regarding New Water Tower Site Selection
– Discussion And Possible Action Regarding Removing The Left Turn Arrow From Eastbound Main Street To Northbound Prairie Street
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/259093013
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
Access Code: 259-093-013

Whitewater Unified School District Policy Review Committee – Wed. @ 10:00 a.m.
Click here for agenda, then click on “meetings” in upper right hand corner.
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85850987882?
pwd=SzdKZGpBNUpVZG1hUmxSYndBdnZzQT09
Passcode: 808702
You can also dial in using your phone.
Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
Webinar ID: 858 5098 7882
Passcode: 808702

Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Special Meeting – Wednesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Prime Training LLC proposal for WAFC
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/253710045
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3122
Access Code: 253-710-045

Police and Fire Commission Regular Session Meeting – Wednesday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Embedded Walworth County Crisis Employee Update
Due to Coronavirus concerns, this will be a VIRTUAL MEETING. (not in person).
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join us 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://global.gotomeeting.com/join/562136885
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (786) 535-3211
Access Code: 562-136-885

(Whitewater Lions Club news release) Due to the Covid-19, the Lions Club has made significant changes to this year’s Fish-A-Ree, to be held on February 14. Because the Lions clubhouse will not be open to the public, the Valentine Pancake Breakfast will be a Drive-thru Pancake Breakfast.  The hourly fish prizes have been replaced with prizes for the biggest of the day prizes.  The bucket raffles this year will be conducted as an online auction.  Tickets for the $500 Raffle are available from the Whitewater Lions Club members at $5.00 each and 5 tickets for $20.00.