News

Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area.

The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area will hold a Candidate Forum for City of Whitewater Common Council candidates on Saturday, March 2, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., in the City of Whitewater Council Chambers, 312 W Whitewater Street.  

Greg Majkrzak and Keith Staebler are in a contested race for the Common Council At Large seat. The uncontested candidates, who will also be present at the forum, are Brian Schanen (District 4, Wards 6/7/8), and Orin Smith (District 2, Wards 9/10).

The League sponsors candidate forums for the benefit of YOU, the voter. At the forum, you will be asked to write your questions on cards distributed by the League. Questions are reviewed by question checkers, who sort them by topic and check for redundancy, before forwarding them to the moderator. We do not accept questions targeted to specific candidates. Questions prepared by the League board will be used only if there are not enough questions provided by residents in attendance at the forum. 

Bring your family and neighbors!  Be an active participant in our democracy!

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!

Editor’s note: Story and photos of a dress rehearsal are courtesy of Tom Ganser.

The Whitewater High School (WHS) Players will be presenting Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” Feb. 29 – March 2 at 7 p.m. and March 3 at 2 p.m. in the James M. Stewart Auditorium.

General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students.  Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling the box office at 262-472-8178.

“Our Town” (1938) is considered to be Wilder’s best work for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.  The play is centered on Grover’s Corners, a fictional town in New Hampshire between 1901 and 1913.

Jim McCulloch serves as director and Kat Dunham as technical director.  Cast members include Deven Bawden, Chacha Binagi, Payton Bunger, Ayden Clark, Alex Clarksen, Grace Coleman, Estaban Diaz-Gallegos, David Enns, Haley Keltesch, Marina Linos, Kara Long, Brooke Mason, Sam Nickelsburg, Hayleigh Pond, A’lani Ross, Josey Selby, Taylor Speerbrecher, Greg Stewart, Alex Sullivan, Ava Van Daele, and Willow Vogelzang.

Students supporting the production in a variety of capacities include Rae Breisath, Alexsa Cansino-Pena, Emerson Dunham, Ace Hudec, Gabi Kirley, Taiya Kolb, Kara Long, Kayla Mikos, Miles Nickelsburg, Ava Nygren, Joshua Nygren, Payton Peacock, Lucille Troxel, Samantha Van Daele and Matt Zingsheim.

Sophomore Devin Bawden plays multiple roles, including Joe Crowell, whom he describes as “a jock, playing baseball, and having a good aim” – very different from his last role as Glenn Coco, a “nerd and mathlete,” in “Mean Girls, High School Version.”

Admitting that preparing for the role of Joe Crowell has been surprisingly easy, Bawden said that whereas Joe Crowell is an athlete involved in sports, he himself is “chill and part of the Drama Club.”  Bawden also shared, “One thing about being an actor in ‘Our Town’ that can apply to real life is having confidence.”

The WHS Players has partnered with the Whitewater Historical Society to present “Streets of Whitewater,” including a detailed collection of historic photographs, artifacts, and stories of the early days of Whitewater that will be on display before each performance.

The Whitewater Unified School District invites the community to the dedication of the high school’s auditorium to honor school board member James (Jim) M. Stewart on Saturday, March 2, at 5:30 p.m., before the performance. 

The City of Whitewater is thrilled to announce that applications are now open for the Whitewater WindUp, a business pitch competition aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and economic growth within our vibrant community.

Whitewater WindUp offers aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs the chance to win their very own downtown storefront, along with a year’s rent and renovations. We encourage all individuals with innovative business ideas to participate and make their mark on downtown Whitewater. Even if you’re not looking to start a business, you can still contribute by voting for the winner and helping shape the future of our local business landscape.

The Whitewater WindUp applications are open now and close on April 20th at 11:59 p.m. Throughout the competition, participants will have access to workshops focused on finance, marketing, ideation, and pitch submission, providing valuable guidance and support for developing their business ideas. Submissions will be evaluated, and the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite business pitch on April 22nd.

“As a community, we believe in the power of entrepreneurship and the positive impact it can have on our local economy,” said Taylor Zeinert, interim Economic Development Director for the City of Whitewater. “We are excited to see the creative and innovative ideas that will be brought forth through the Whitewater WindUp competition. This is a unique opportunity for individuals to turn their dreams into reality and contribute to the growth of our community.”

To apply for the Whitewater WindUp competition and for more information, please visit our website
https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/FormCenter/Community-Development-Authority-14/Whitewater-WindUpApplication-121 The deadline for applications is April 20th at 11:59 p.m. Stay updated on the latest news and updates by following our social media channels.

The City of Whitewater is committed to fostering a strong and thriving business community. We value the input and support of our residents and look forward to the positive impact that the Whitewater WindUp will have on our downtown area. For any inquiries, please contact Bonnie Miller, administrative assistant for economic development, at 262-473-0149.

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Sarah Hoots.

It’s almost Girl Scout cookie season for Whitewater Girl Scout Troop 7639!

This year we will be selling from Saturday March 2nd until Sunday April 7th. Follow our new Facebook page “Whitewater Troop 7639” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556108976225&mibextid=ZbWKwL
for the most up to date cookie booth details, as well as our direct sale link.

Cookies are still $5/box and we have 9 varieties available: Thin Mints, Caramel Delights, Peanut Butter Patties, Adventurefuls, Lemonades, Toast-yays, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Trefoils (fka Shortbreads), and Gluten Free Caramel Chocolate Chip ($6). Sorry, there will be no Raspberry Rallies this year.

Our opening day is packed with opportunities to support us in and around Whitewater and we have 19 Girl Scouts selling this year.

Look for us Saturday March 2nd:
8 am-11 am & 3 pm- 6 pm Whitewater Walmart
10 am-4 pm Downtown Whitewater (150 W Main St)
11 am-2 pm Texas Roadhouse, Janesville
12:30 pm-5:30 pm at Whitewater Cinemas (inside the lobby)

We will also be at The Sweetspot Cafe, Monday Evenings from 4-7 pm, and at Whitewater Cinemas nearly every weekend.

Our Troop would like to extend a huge thank you to Elena & Jake Gildemeister as well as all the other local businesses that give us the opportunity to share their retail space.

If your local business would like to host a booth, or schedule a one time visit from one of our “cookie wagons” please reach out soon to gstroop7639@gmail.com

Our proceeds this year will be going towards a troop trip to The Kalahari Resort, camping at Camp Brandenburg, a community garden project in collaboration with The Community Space, helping to make some improvements to our local dog park, as well as many other outings and learning opportunities.

Thank you for supporting Girl Scouts!

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire awarded 648 degrees from both campuses in December 2023.

The local student who received a degree and their field of study is:

Congratulations, class of 2023!

Whitewater, WI

 Kitana Volbright, Bachelor of Arts, Arts and Sciences

ON YOUR FEET!

THE STORY OF EMILIO & GLORIA ESTEFAN

HER VOICE. HIS VISION. THEIR STORY.

ON YOUR FEET! is the inspiring true story about heart, heritage and two people who believed in their talent—and each other—to become an international sensation: Emilio and Gloria Estefan. Now their story is an all-new exhilarating original musical winning the hearts of critics and audiences alike, with the Chicago Tribune declaring “IT’S A HIT!” and The New York Times cheering, “The very air in the room seems to vibrate in this undeniably crowd-pleasing musical!” ON YOUR FEET! features some of the most iconic songs of the past quarter-century, including “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “Get On Your Feet,” “Don’t Want To Lose You Now,” “1-2-3” and “Coming Out of the Dark.” Prepare to be on your feet from start to finish!

Friday, March 1 – 7:30 p.m. – Young Auditorium, 930 W. Main Street, Whitewater.

Tickets range from $58-110. Select your seating and purchase ticket at this link. Tickets purchased at the door are subject to a $2 per ticket surcharge.

“Infectiously fun with genuine heart! If you aren’t humming a Gloria Estefan hit when you leave the theater, it might be time to check your pulse.” – Associated Press   

“An exuberantly fun, razzle-dazzle production!” – Variety   

“Exhilarating dancing, invigorating music, and a truly inspirational story!” – Huffington Post