News
SSM Health partners with local school districts to vaccinate educators: On-site, mobile clinic in Whitewater today
(SSM press release) – SSM Health is continuing its COVID-19 vaccine community outreach efforts with an on-site, mobile vaccination clinic for pre-registered individuals on Tuesday, March 16. This is not a walk-in clinic.
Educators from the Whitewater Unified School District, School District of Fort Atkinson and UW-Whitewater will receive their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine during this day-long event. In addition, Madison College (Watertown and Fort Atkinson campuses), and employees from other area school districts, also will be vaccinated.
“We believe vaccinating educators is a key component to getting our state’s children safely back to school full time and SSM Health is honored to partner with school districts to administer the COVID-19 vaccine,” said SSM Health WI Regional President Damond Boatwright.
SSM Health has enough vaccine supply to vaccinate school district staff members, while still prioritizing those ages 65 and older. We continue to closely follow guidance issued by Wisconsin DHS and are collaborating with public health officials in the communities and counties we serve.
To date, SSM Health has administered more than 111,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin. We are committed to vaccinating as many individuals as safely and efficiently as possible.
Studio 84 Fundraiser offers Gift-Baskets for Mother’s Day
(Studio 84 submission) Just in time for Mother’s Day gift giving, honor mom, grandma, or someone who is like a mother by gifting them with a special gift from Studio 84. Each gift comes with a specially designed mug, of your choosing, a box of 10 notecards, chocolates, a cupcake and cookie created just for the occasion from SweetSpot Bakehouse in Whitewater.
Gifts can be ordered on Studio 84’s website www.studio84inc.org for $30. There are only 36 baskets available, and when they are gone, they are gone! You can make an additional donation in honor of the basket recipient and we will include a special card that lets them know.
Can’t meet with mom yet? Why not consider dropping it off at her door, ring the doorbell and run! Then keep your distance and watch the surprise on her face after sending her an air hug.
Proceeds from this event will go to help support our programing services in the arts for people with disabilities.
Date: May 8th 2021 from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Curbside pick-up location: 121 W Center St. Whitewater, WI 53190
For more details and to order your gift visit Studio 84 online at www.studio84inc.org
Robert McCullough is a Hometown Hero
(Whitewater Unites Lives submission) Robert McCullough is at WUL Hometown Hero. He was nominated “For his many contributions to the people of Whitewater, including helping to keep people safe and healthy during COVID-19.”
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
Andrea M. Svec discontinues active pursuit of School Board candidacy
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
Whitewaterbanner.com
March 14, 2021
At the School Board candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters on March 13, it was announced that Andrea M. Svec would not be participating due to having decided not to actively pursue a seat on the board. The ballot will still include her name in addition to Tom Ganser, Larry Kachel, and Maryann Zimmerman.
In her response to the www.vote411.org candidate questionnaire, Andrea Svec stated, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will not actively be pursuing a seat on the Whitewater school board for 2021. I look forward to renewing my efforts for a 2022 seat. Thank you for your support and understanding.”
Results of the February 16 primary election were:
Tom Ganser – 534; Larry Kachel – 488; Maryann Zimmerman – 461; Andrea M. Svec – 233; Jakub Fadrowski – 56
In the general election on April 6, the two candidates with the highest votes will be elected. Absentee ballots are expected to be mailed early this week. It should be noted that the request for absentee ballots is only valid for a calendar year, unless the voter indicated that they are “indefinitely confined.”
UW-Madison and UW-W offer Virtual Lecture on 3/30: “Cacophony: How Disinformation, Distraction, and the Heckler’s Veto Undermine Collective Thought”
(UW-Whitewater submission) The UW-Madison Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership and UW-Whitewater are pleased to welcome Siva Vaidhyanathan for a virtual lecture, “Cacophony: How Disinformation, Distraction, and the Heckler’s Veto Undermine Collective Thought” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 30.
This virtual lecture is free and open to public. Please visit https://thompsoncenter.wisc.edu/events/ for details on how to attend.
A cultural historian, media scholar, and lecturer, Vaidhyanathan serves as the Robertson Professor of Media Studies and the director of the Center for Media and Citizenship at the University of Virginia. He is a frequent contributor on media and cultural issues on public radio shows and news programs, notably the BBC, CNN and NBC. Siva has also authored several books, including The Googlization of Everything (And Why We Should Worry) and Antisocial Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy.
His articles have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian and The Nation. Vaidhyanathan’s current project reflects major societal concerns related to the “global media ecosystem,” but touches on such issues as the prevalence of propaganda and misinformation (and its easy dissemination on social media) which further threatens to undermine democracy and destabilize governments across the world. Moreover, the lecture considers the importance of news and information literacy, which is fundamentally one of the most important issues of our time in an age when expertise and intellectualism is under attack.
The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library Presents: Mexicans in Wisconsin on Tuesday, March 23rd at 6:00 p.m.
(Whitewater Public Library submission) The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library Presents: Mexicans in Wisconsin on Tuesday, March 23rd at 6:00 p.m. Registration for this Zoom program is at whitewaterlibrary.org.
Trace the diverse journeys of Mexicans to the Badger State with historian Sergio M. González, author of Mexicans in Wisconsin (Wisconsin Historical Society Press). González will follow the emigration trails that led Mexicans to settle in Wisconsin over the last century and share how they’ve come to build homes and community in rural and urban spaces across the state. Sergio M. González is an assistant professor of Latinx Studies at Marquette University. A historian of twentieth-century U.S. immigration, labor, and religion, his scholarship focuses on the development of Latinx communities in the Midwest.
We welcome everyone in the community to attend our meetings and participate in our events. If you require accommodations to make that possible for you, please call the office of the Library Director (473-0530) 72 hours prior to the meeting.
This Week’s City Meetings – UPDATED with Alcohol Licensing Committee
City of Whitewater Plan & Architectural Review Commission – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Public Hearing for proposal of a Conditional Use Permit to serve alcoholic beverages by the glass at Grunzolio Pizzeria and Public Hearing for proposal of a Conditional Use Permit for changes to signage at Burtness Chevrolet, Buick, GMC
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/819394469
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
Access Code: 819-394-469
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/819394469
Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 6:15 p.m. (Closed session; 7:00 p.m. (Open session)
6:15 via Zoom online – closed session
- URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81040553865?pwd=RFZnc0YyRmZXMmVaUFhTTGJBdldaZz09 –
Password: 645726 - Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
- Webinar ID: 810 4055 3865
- Password: 645726
- 7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online – Open session
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86811719916?pwd=UEljc1VjQVZQMnp5QWZFLzhJZXM5QT09 – Passcode: 589551
- Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
- Webinar ID: 868 1171 9916
- Passcode: 589551
Irvin L. Young Memorial Library Board of Trustees – Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes 2021 strategic plan activities and review/possible action on market appraisals of property owned by the library.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/911192765
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3112
Access Code: 911-192-765
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/911192765
City of Whitewater Alcohol Licensing Committee – Tuesday @ 5:45 p.m.
Agenda includes request for beer & wine license for Grunzolio Pizza, 108 S. Fremont St., and appeal of denial of beverage operator’s license
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/396810245
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
Access Code: 396-810-245
City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes resolution extending Tax Incremental District #4 to support affordable housing, closing Tax Incremental Districts #5,6,7,8 and 9, acceptance of community development block grant for water tower project.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/97693876561?pwd=Y1NzUGRFOTJpSUVRWVplM0dtTzdyUT09
Passcode: 344288
Or Telephone:
US: +1 929 205 6099
Webinar ID: 976 9387 6561
Passcode: 344288
City of Whitewater Parks and Recreation Board – Wednesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes lakes drawdown update
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/204313821
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123 Access Code: 204-313-821
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/204313821
Local High School Students perform in the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association Honors Choir
(Whitewater High School submission) Congratulations go to Olive Coburn, Josh Kirley, and Anderson Waelchli on their performance in the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association Honors Choir. Josh and Anderson performed in the Bass Clef Choir and Olive performed in the Treble Clef Choir. They prepared the music beforehand and then rehearsed online one weekend in January. This event culminated in a virtual choir concert that premiered on YouTube: The Bass Clef Choir introduction starts at 19:23 and the Treble Clef Choir begins at 28:20.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDqflSiNKmI
Whitewater Kiwanis donates backpacks to TCS
(Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club submission) Whitewater Kiwanis Club President Jean Bromley poses with a backpack, part of the club’s continuing effort to supply area children with this needed item. New backpacks have been donated to The Community Space and are available free of charge to any student who needs one.
