Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Community Foundation.

The Whitewater Community Foundation is now accepting applications for Fall Community Action Grants.  Grants will be awarded to local non-profit organizations actively working to support the greater Whitewater community. 

Qualified projects should be intended for educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent purposes that will benefit and improve the greater Whitewater community.  Consideration will also be made based on the results of the 2023 Civic Summit, when more than 30 community members, business leaders, educators, nonprofit organizers, and others determined key areas for improvement in Whitewater:

• Communicating to Whitewater’s diverse population in English and Spanish, making signage bi-lingual, coordinating communication to all groups, and providing opportunities for people of different backgrounds, age groups, etc. to integrate to help meet community needs;
• Housing assistance, affordability and accessibility for families and professionals seeking to purchase homes;  
• Marketing Whitewater by coordinating and cross-pollinating events, calendars and volunteer opportunities.

Projects are expected to be accomplished within a specific period of time (generally not more than one year) and should be creative, innovative and address community needs.  Interested organizations can find more information and fill out an application at site https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/community-action-grants/ The deadline for submitting applications is October 31, 2024.

Kat Mawhinney, WCF Board Member who chairs the Community Action Grant Selection Committee, said, “We are pleased to be able to offer these grants to organizations helping to make the Whitewater community stronger.”

Organizations interested in pursuing a Whitewater Community Foundation Action Grant should check out the Whitewater Community Foundation web https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/  or contact Kat at 262-473-1403.

The Foundation continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and also offers fiscal sponsorship to organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects.

More information about the Whitewater Community Foundation can be found at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org and on Facebook. 

The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.”

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

Whitewater Breakfast Kiwanis volunteers helped to clean up Highway 12 from County O to County H in La Grange recently. Pictured here are Steve Ryan (L) and Steve Smith. Others not in the picture who helped are Lynn Binnie, Rick Halvorson, and Darsha Olsen.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving  the world one child and one community at a time.

Twenty-one members of Ferradermis, Whitewater High School’s FIRST Robotics Competition Team, participated in the TWIST off-season event held at Muskego High School on Saturday, October 12. The mission of TWIST (Together Women in STEM Thrive), hosted by Team 6421 The WarriorBots from Muskego, is to create an off-season event with a twist, centered around creating an empowering and inclusive environment for girls, a group typically underrepresented in STEM fields, to take their skills to the next level. The one rule modification for the event is that the drive team must be entirely female; male team members otherwise fully participate. The second annual TWIST event hosted 30 teams and 27 robots from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.

The event also included a FIRST Lego League (FLL) Scrimmage, providing an opportunity for FLL teams who have already started their new season, to meet with judges to learn about the judging process and get feedback on their in-progress Innovation Projects. Full competition tables with referees were also available for students to test their robot runs and receive feedback. The Washington Bricklayers FLL Team, under the mentorship of Chris Nate and Val Troxel, embraced this opportunity to test their season progress so far. The Washington team, along with Whitewater FLL teams from Lincoln, Lakeview, and the Middle School will be competing with 20 other teams from around the state at the Whitewater FLL Regional hosted by Ferradermis at Whitewater High School on Sunday, December 8.

At TWIST, each team may nominate one student for the Student Inspiration Award Presented by CrunchLabs and Milwaukee Tool. Ferradermis was proud to nominate Senior Mechanical-CAD subteam lead Zoe Olson. Her nomination essay, submitted by Head Coach Mark Zimmermann and Advisor Laura Masbruch, included the following summary of Zoe’s contributions to the team: “Zoe Olson has shown amazing growth in both her leadership skills and her technical skills over her four years on Ferradermis. When Zoe joined the team as a freshman, she was not sure she wanted to travel with the team and really hung back at meetings. As a senior, she is still a very soft-spoken young woman, but her determination to push herself out of her comfort zone to master CAD and get comfortable with large-scale shop equipment has set a great tone for other girls on our team. Zoe has taken on the role of CAD subteam lead for the last two years. She has a true drive to learn and understand mechanical concepts. When not operating the lathe or the CNC router in the shop, she will often sit and have quiet debates with our technical team lead about mechanical design. Zoe is very welcoming of all students and will often sit with our newest members, exposing them to CAD and sharing her passion. Zoe tackles any job that needs to be done, whether that be repairing the robot or scouting in the stands. As a senior, she has enrolled in the Introduction to Engineering Design course as well as Digital Electronics and is now considering pursing a biomedical engineering degree at MSOE.”

The Ferradermis robot, Chief Lee the Tangerine, was led onto the field by Drive Coach Emerson Dunham, Driver Margaret Brown, Operator Erison Dreksler, Human Player Vivian Harris, and Technician Nina Heim. Ferradermis membership is currently over 60% female, so the team had no issues fulfilling the all-female drive team requirement. Other teams, however, would have been unable to field a drive team with enough girls to compete. For the second year in a row, Ferradermis demonstrated their gracious professionalism and loaned out girls to other teams so they would have a full drive team. Zoe Olson had agreed ahead of time to fulfill the role of human player for Team 8531 the TermiKnightors from Dominican High School. On the spur of the moment, two Ferradermis freshmen, attending their first ever robotics competition, also stepped up to help out other teams. Charlotte Trautman filled in as the human player for Team 1259 Paradigm Shift from Pewaukee, and Emilie Bruns stepped in as the human player for Team 1675 UPS from Milwaukee. The role of the human player is to feed game pieces into the field at the appropriate moment and to control the coopertition and amplification buttons, which change the scoring during a match.

The Ferradermis robot went 6-5 on the day and was invited to be part of the 6th seeded playoff alliance by Team 930 from Mukwonago. The pair then invited Team 6381 Red Raider Robotics from Sheboygan North to round out the alliance. Ferradermis was represented on the field for alliance selections by Isabella Cohen and Georgia Esch. The alliance pushed their way through the double-elimination playoff bracket, finishing the day in third place.

The team was supported throughout the day by members Andrew O’Toole, Preston Miller, Carson Miller, and Safety Captain Elora Wildermuth-Breitzman in the pit. The scouting team in the stands was led by Chacha Binagi and Andrew Zimmermann. Freshman Eli Gonsior took on the task of videoing every match and delivering it immediately to the pit for analysis by the drive team. Freshman Virginia Nelson wore the team’s media badge, photographing the event for the team’s records, and freshmen Jayden Kehrer and Cooper Housel helped with scouting and each spent some time in the pit, learning how an event works. Students were able to take advantage of an Opportunities Fair throughout the day. The fair featured representatives from multiple universities, scholarship providers, and NCWIT, the National Center for Women in Information Technology.

Seven team awards were presented throughout the playoffs, and Ferradermis was honored to receive the T’WISTful Thinking Award Presented by Generac. This award was to celebrate a team with innovative designs and use of materials to create a successful and creative mechanism. The judges were impressed with the team’s use of 3D printing to create custom components and the team’s iterations on their robot design throughout the season.

FIRST Robotics competitions are run by volunteers, and the event on Saturday had over 110 people step up to take on volunteer roles, several of them with ties to Ferradermis. Whitewater’s Administrative Team Captain Maddison LaHaie got her wish to “DJ” and ran the sound system in the gym throughout the day. Ferradermis Advisor Laura Masbruch volunteered as a Judge, gaining valuable insight for the team on the judging process used at all FRC events. Several Ferradermis alumni were also at the event as volunteers including MSOE student Reilly Aschenbrener, UW-Madison student Kay Mikos, and former Head Coach Dilpreet Randhawa. Thank you to volunteer team mentors Kat Dunham, Tori Breisath, and Paul Kriegel for supporting the team throughout the day. Thank you also to alum Zach Brantmeier for spending time with the team in the pit and helping troubleshoot the code on the team’s second robot.

At a FIRST Robotics Competition event, a unicorn match is a match where the two alliances earn all possible ranking points. TWIST took this concept to a whole new level with charity matches for Children’s Hospital. Many off-season events include some aspect of community service, and our hosts for TWIST chose to create a competition between teams to bring in the most LEGO kits to be donated to Children’s Hospital. Our Head Coach Mark Zimmermann graciously agreed to don a unicorn costume if Ferradermis brought in enough LEGO kits to earn a spot in the match. Thanks in great part to generous Whitewater community members who ordered kits and had them shipped to the high school, Ferradermis was able to donate 32 LEGO Kits, won a $25 gift certificate for REV Robotics, and earned a spot in the match! The participating teams donated a total of 217 kits.

Ferradermis will enter its 10th and final competition of the 2024 Crescendo season on October 25-26 at Roboteer Rumble in Tremont, Illinois, where they will face off with 36 robots from Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Iowa. The new 2025 Reefscape season will kick off on January 4.

Article Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor
lmasbruch@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Kat Dunham, Tori Breisath, and Laura Masbruch

Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492, and Columbus Day 2024 occurs on Monday, October 14. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but did not become a federal holiday until 1937. For many, the holiday is a way of both honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage. But throughout its history, Columbus Day and the man who inspired it have generated controversy, and many alternatives to the holiday have proposed since the 1970s including Indigenous People’s Day, now celebrated in many U.S. states and cities.

Editor’s note: The above article is from history.com. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay.

According to a press release, Dodge County deputies were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on County Road G near Canary Road in the town of Beaver Dam on Saturday, October 12 at 8:38 p.m. The sole occupant of a black 2009 Cadillac CTS was pronounced dead at the scene. The other vehicle was parked in a private driveway and was not occupied.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office indicates that the initial investigation shows the Cadillac, driven by a 45-year-old man from Palmyra, was southbound on County Road G and ran off the roadway to the right, entering a private driveway. The car struck a parked, unoccupied vehicle and continued in the private yard, striking a tree and coming to a stop with severe front-end damage. Excessive speed is believed to be a factor.

The crash is under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Team. The name of the driver is being withheld pending family notification.

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025. The 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to nearly 68 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2025. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 31, 2024. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits.) On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January.

Over the last decade the COLA increase has averaged about 2.6 percent. The COLA was 3.2 percent in 2023, [8.7% in 2022, and 5.9% in 2021.]

Nearly 68 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning in January 2025. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2024. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).

“Social Security benefits and SSI payments will increase in 2025, helping tens of millions of people keep up with expenses even as inflation has started to cool,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security.

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) is slated to increase to $176,100 from $168,600.

Social Security begins notifying people about their new benefit amount by mail starting in early December. This year, for the first time, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a newly designed and improved COLA notice that makes it easier for customers to find the information they need most. The simplified COLA notice is now only one page, uses plain and personalized language, and provides exact dates and dollar amounts of a person’s new benefit amount and any deductions.

Individuals who have a personal my Social Security account can view their COLA notice online, which is secure, easy, and faster than receiving a letter in the mail. People can set up text or email alerts when there is a new message–such as their COLA notice–waiting for them in my Social Security. People will need to have a personal my Social Security account by Nov. 20 to see their COLA notice online. To get started, visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Information about Medicare changes for 2025 will be available at www.medicare.gov.

Editor’s note: The above announcement was made by the Social Security Administration on October 10.

WAA is pleased to host an Artist Reception for the two exhibits currently on display in the Cultural Arts Center Gallery during the month of October, Studio 84: Past & Present and the Electric Eclectic IV invitational photography exhibitions. The reception will be held Saturday, October 12 from 12 pm – 4 pm, with the Studio 84 program beginning at 1 pm and the Electric Eclectic IV program beginning at 2 pm.

A previous Whitewater Banner article provides information regarding the Electric Eclectic IV exhibition. See below for the Studio 84 exhibit.

Studio 84: Past & Present

A Review of the Past and Present Art of Studio 84

Exhibit: October 3 – 27, 2024

Reception: Saturday, October 12, Noon – 4 pm, Program at 1 pm

The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA), in collaboration with Studio 84, proudly presents Past and Present. Past and Present is an extraordinary exhibition that celebrates Studio 84’s rich history and vibrant future, along with the many artists who have contributed their creative works over the years.

The exhibit will be open to the public from October 3 to 27, 2024, with a special reception on October 12 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, offering a chance to meet the artists and experience their creative journey.

This exhibition highlights the collaborative spirit between the WAA and Studio 84. Studio 84, a unique non-profit art studio located in Whitewater fosters inclusivity through the arts. Studio 84 focuses on providing creative opportunities for all individuals, with an emphasis on supporting artists with disabilities. The studio’s philosophy encourages participants to explore a variety of artistic mediums, providing individualized guidance based on each person’s abilities and goals. With programs designed to nurture creativity and self-expression, Studio 84 promotes personal growth and community engagement.

Founded by artist Deborah Blackwell, Studio 84 has been a cornerstone of the Whitewater arts community since 2009. Its mission is to offer fully accessible artistic experiences that enrich lives, empowering individuals through self-directed activities and a focus on their unique strengths. Over the past 15 years, the studio has evolved, providing a wide range of visual arts programming and recently introducing a dance program. This exhibit will showcase a range of media, reflecting both traditional and contemporary artistic approaches, while celebrating the growth and creativity of all contributors.

Join us in celebrating the power of art and community.

Lakeview, Lincoln, and Washington Elementary Schools are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with classroom and building-wide activities to promote and educate students on the rich Hispanic culture many community members share.

The month-long series of activities is designed to deepen students’ understanding and appreciation of
Hispanic cultures. They highlight various traditions, histories, and contributions of Hispanic communities,
offering students meaningful opportunities to learn about and celebrate the diverse cultural backgrounds
that enrich the Whitewater community.

Lincoln Elementary School kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with a vibrant, educational assembly led
by its multilingual staff earlier this month. “Hispanic Heritage Month is such an important time for us to
come together in our school community and recognize the diverse backgrounds that make us stronger,”
said Lincoln Elementary Principal Brad Gefvert. “We’re excited to continue celebrating and learning from
one another as we explore the many cultures of our students and staff.”

At Lakeview, classrooms have enjoyed activities like decorating doors with vibrant designs that highlight
Hispanic traditions and contributions. Daily announcements feature fun and educational facts about
various Spanish-speaking countries. In art class, students have created projects inspired by renowned
Latino artists, while in music class, they’ve been learning and singing songs from across Latin America.

Teachers at Washington Elementary enjoyed a lunch with authentic ethnic foods gifted by families. Fun
facts about Hispanic culture are shared during morning announcements, and students look forward to a
“Día de los Muertos” or “Day of the Dead” art project to learn about this beautiful tradition.

WUSD is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every student’s culture is honored and
celebrated. Hispanic Heritage Month, observed annually from September 15 to October 15, plays a vital
role in supporting this effort.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

Vaccines for COVID-19, flu, and RSV available

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is encouraging Wisconsinites to get vaccinated against respiratory illnesses this fall. An updated COVID-19 and a new annual flu vaccine are now available to protect against COVID-19 and flu strains circulating this season. RSV vaccines are also available for people who are eligible, including most older adults and people who are pregnant. An RSV antibody to protect infants from severe illness is also offered.

“In the fall, viruses like flu, RSV, and COVID-19, start to increase across Wisconsin and spread through communities, workplaces, schools, and other places people live, work, and play,” said State Health Officer Paula Tran. “While they may only cause mild sickness for some people, for others, like older adults, infants, and those with underlying health risks, they can cause serious illness and even death. Vaccines are safe and effective, and we encourage Wisconsinites to talk to their health care providers to see what’s best for them.”

Currently in Wisconsin, COVID-19 activity is moderately elevated statewide. Flu and RSV activity is low, but levels are expected to increase. Every year there is an increase in respiratory infections during and after the holidays. DHS recommends the following seasonal vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and RSV.

Flu (Influenza)

The flu vaccine is recommended annually for everyone 6 months and older. This is especially important for those at highest risk of experiencing severe symptoms, including older adults, people with chronic health conditions, people who are pregnant, and young children.

COVID-19

It is recommended everyone 6 months and older get the updated COVID-19 vaccine. The 2024–2025 vaccine is formulated to protect against currently circulating variants of COVID-19 and will protect people from the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter.

RSV

People who are age 60 and older

A single dose of RSV vaccine is recommended for people who are age 60 or older who have not already received an RSV vaccine, especially people who are:

• Age 75 and older.
• People ages 60–74 who have certain chronic medical conditions, like lung or heart disease, or who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities and are at increased risk of severe RSV.

RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine, meaning older adults do not need to get a dose every RSV season.

Pregnant people and infants

DHS recommends either maternal RSV vaccination or infant and young child immunization with monoclonal antibodies to prevent severe disease in infants. Most infants will not need both. Certain pregnant people should get the maternal RSV vaccine to protect their infant, because infants are especially at risk of severe RSV. CDC recommends one dose of the vaccine be given to pregnant people when they are 32–36 weeks and 6 days pregnant, between September 1 and January 31.

If a pregnant person does not receive the maternal RSV vaccine, an RSV antibody shot is recommended for infants less than 8 months old and some toddlers to protect them from severe RSV. This antibody, called nirsevimab, will be available October 1- March 31.

How to get a vaccine

Vaccine appointments are being made available by health care providers, clinics, and pharmacies. To find and schedule a vaccine, Wisconsin residents are encouraged to check with their primary care provider, local or Tribal health department, community clinic, or visit vaccines.gov. If they do not have health insurance, or their health insurance does not cover vaccines, there are programs that can help, including the Vaccines for Children program and Vaccines for Adults program.

Eligible Wisconsinites can get their flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccine at the same time.

“Vaccines are proven to be a safe and effective way to protect yourself and those around you from the most common respiratory viruses this season. Not only can vaccines prevent the most severe symptoms of these illnesses, they can also reduce the chance that you can spread disease to others,” said Dr. Stephanie Schauer, DHS Division of Public Health Immunization Program Manager. “In addition to getting vaccinated, we encourage Wisconsinites to cover coughs and sneezes, wash or sanitize your hands often, and maintain awareness of the respiratory viruses currently spreading in your community to assess risk when making plans.”

Respiratory season tools and data

As part of its year-round mission to track the spread of illness in Wisconsin, DHS monitors both vaccination rates across the state as well as overall respiratory virus activity reported to DHS by health care providers and labs across the state. The data will be available on new respiratory data webpages summarizing overall respiratory activity, emergency department data, and laboratory testing data. DHS also offers immunization data dashboards for COVID-19, flu, and RSV for Wisconsin residents.