News

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.

Celebrate all of the wonderful ways in which all children add to the beauty of our community at the third annual free family-friendly International Children’s Day Celebration on Saturday, April 27 in Whitewater.

This event will include live music, games, crafts, face-painting and other activities for children of all ages and runs from noon until 4 p.m.  at Lincoln Elementary School. Information will be available on local and regional services for families.  A variety of international food offerings from local organizations will also be for sale.

Marco Wence will perform. A student choir will sing Puerto Rican and Chinese children’s songs including one that honors the Lunar New Year. Lakeview Elementary students will drum. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the talents of our school children and community members.

“Whitewater prides itself on being a community that is supportive of all children and their families. April 27 is an opportunity to celebrate International Children’s Day and those who care for, support, and encourage children here and around the world,” said Miguel Aranda, planning committee member.

Representatives from the Mexican Consulate of Milwaukee will be at the event, providing information and answering questions.

The World Conference for the Well-being of Children in Geneva, Switzerland, proclaimed June 1 to be International Children’s Day in 1925. It is usually marked with speeches on children’s rights and wellbeing, and other events involving or dedicated to children. A similar event, Universal Children’s Day, falls on Nov. 20. It was established by the United Nations in 1954 and aims to promote the welfare of children around the world. The first celebration of International Children’s Day in Whitewater was held in April of 2022. Many countries around the world celebrate the day in late April.

Sponsors of International Children’s Day Celebration include Whitewater Unified School District, Whitewater Unites Lives, and Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

Students from Whitewater High School’s Music Masters Ensemble and Jazz Band celebrated Jazz Appreciation month with a performance for Whitewater Middle School’s music students on April 12th.  Each group performed three pieces that represent the music they have been studying this semester. Congratulations on a fine performance! 

Editor’s note: The above photos and copy were provided by Karen Tordera.

It is anticipated the Walworth Avenue Storm Sewer and Drainageway Project will begin on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The
project entails replacing storm sewer inlets and storm sewer pipe in Walworth Avenue near the properties of 1011 and
1027 Walworth Avenue, replacing the storm sewer pipe that runs south from Walworth Avenue, and reshaping the open
drainageway.

Walworth Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Prince Street and Elizabeth Street for a day, Thursday, April 25,
2024, starting at 7:00 a.m. to remove terrace trees. It is anticipated to be closed again starting around May 9, 2024, until the project is completed, tentatively scheduled for May 24, 2024.

If you have any questions please contact Brad Marquardt, Director of Public Works.
Brad Marquardt
Director of Public Works
(262) 473-2239
Bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov

Editor’s note: The above press release was received from the city Department of Public Works.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Department of University Health and Counseling Services will host “Can I Kiss You?”, a presentation by WHS/UW-W alum Mike Domitrz, this Thursday, April 25, at 5 p.m. at Summers Auditorium in the University Center on campus.

Domitrz, an author and award-winning speaker, will present a high energy, inclusive program for providing how-to skills for teaching consent, respect in relationships, bystander intervention, and addressing sexual assault.

Admission to the event is free. Food, free t-shirts, and giveaways will be on hand.

Domitrz, who founded The Center for Respect, works closely with students, parents, and educators across the country to produce national initiatives resulting in revolutionary change in America’s approach to dating, respect, and intimacy.

Domitrz served as UW-Whitewater’s May 2023 commencement speaker.

The National Honor Society at Whitewater High School will be offering a variety of items and services in their Spring Silent Auction this year.  Please review the projects by using the link below and indicate if you are interested in a project and the price you would like to offer.  The highest bids will win the projects.

The auction will be available online until Friday, April 26th at 3:30 pm.  Members will contact you the week of May 1st to make arrangements for project completion.  

Thank you so much for participating!  

The projects that are offered, together with the current bids, may be viewed on this spreadsheet:

Please use this form to place a bid on your favorite projects:

BID ON A PROJECT FORM

The Rock County Medical Examiner’s Department has identified Patricia A. Seufzer, 59, of Whitewater as being the fourth person who died following a motor vehicle crash on April 13. The crash occurred at the intersection of US Hwy 12 and E County Road in the town of Lima.

Ms. Seufzer was pronounced deceased at a local hospital on April 18, 2024. Preliminary results confirm that Ms. Seufzer died from injuries sustained in the crash. Additional testing is underway at this time.

This incident remains under investigation by the Rock County Sheriff’s Department and the Medical Examiner’s Department.

Editor’s note: Previous posts on the Banner related to this crash:
https://whitewaterbanner.com/victims-of-saturday-motor-vehicle-crash-identified/
https://whitewaterbanner.com/three-killed-in-crash-on-hwy-12/

Guided Journaling Workshop at the Library

Community members are invited to a free guided journaling workshop led by local writer Katy Daixon Wimer. Enjoy reflective journaling prompts and inspiring, lively conversation. Feel free to bring your own journal or a small journal will be provided. The event will be held at the Irvin L Young Memorial Library’s Community Room located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater on Wednesday, April 24 at 6:00 p.m.

This program is for adults. Teens are welcome with a participating adult. Registration is requested. Visit whitewaterlibrary.org and click on “Events – Registration Forms” to register in advance. You may also email sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or call 262-458-2782 to register, or with any questions. 

Advancing to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic Arts Association State Festival is an achievement, and earning awards beyond that represents rigorous standards. All five Whitewater High School Forensics state qualifiers ended the season in fine fashion, earning medals for their outstanding performances at Saturday’s State Festival:

Carley Boudreau (11) and Marina Linos (12) earned Gold Medals (Critic’s Choice Award)

Senior Emerson Ellenwood earned a Silver Medal (State Finalist Award)

Seniors Emilia Houwers and Lauren Rollette earned Bronze Medals (Finalist Award)

Article and Photo Submitted by Elizabeth Miller
Whitewater High School Forensics Coach
emiller@wwusd.org

[From myjewishlearning.com] The first Passover seder is on the evening of Monday, April 22nd, and the second Passover seder takes place on the evening of Tuesday, April 23rd. Passover 2024 begins at sundown on Monday, April 22nd and ends the evening of Tuesday, April 30th for most Jews in diaspora. Jews in the land of Israel and some Reform Jews in diaspora will end Passover on the evening of Monday, April 29th.

(From Wikipedia) Passover, also called Pesach or Pesakh (/ˈpɛsɑːx, ˈpeɪ-/;^[2] Hebrew: פֶּסַח‎ Pesaḥ) is a ritual meal, the Pesach seder, that occurs the night of the paschal full moon after the 14th of Nisan, eve of the 15th, telling the story of the exodus, and remembering how the angel of death “passed over” the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague on Egypt. It begins Feast of Unleavened Bread that continues through the 22nd of Nisan, and is one of three pilgrimage festivals in which all Jewish males living in the land of Israel are obliged. On the 16th of Nisan, jews begin the counting of the omer, the memorial offering of the firstfruits of the barley harvest. The counting continues for seven weeks until the Feast of Shavuot, also known as Pentecost.

When the Temple in Jerusalem stood, the paschal lamb was offered and eaten on Passover eve, while the wave offering of barley was offered on the second day of the festival. Nowadays, in addition to the biblical prohibition of owning leavened foods for the duration of the holiday, the Passover seder is one of the most widely observed rituals in Judaism. In the Diaspora the unleavened bread is celebrated for 8 days, based on the concept of yom tov sheni shel galuyot.

The Community Development Authority of the City of Whitewater is excited to announce the upcoming Housing Roundtable, slated to take place on Thursday, April 25, 2024. This pivotal event aims to foster collaboration among City officials, staff, housing experts, developers, real estate brokers, bankers, members of the building trades, and municipal officials from neighboring communities. Together, these stakeholders will explore strategies to enhance the affordability of market rate housing for our vital workforce.

The Housing Roundtable offers an open forum for dialogue and brainstorming, uniting public and private sectors to address the pressing issue of housing affordability. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the event seeks to identify innovative solutions that can positively impact our community.

Thursday, April 25, 2024, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Light refreshments available from 8:30 a.m.)
Whitewater University Innovation Center 1221 Innovation Drive (Located in Whitewater’s Business/Tech Park)

All members of the public are encouraged to attend and contribute their insights to this critical conversation about housing affordability in Whitewater and beyond.