News

By Tom Ganser

On March 16 and 18 the Whitewater community experienced the magic of music, thanks to two concerts in the UWW Young Auditorium.

On March 16 the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra and the Whitewater Symphony Orchestra (comprised of UWW students) combined talented musicians in a concert that began with the performance of strings only “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis,” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and conducted by David Anderson, LGSO Music Director. This was followed by a performance of “The Planets, Suite for Large Orchestra” by Gustav Holst and conducted by Christopher Ramaekers, UWW Director of Orchestras, and that showcased over 120 musicians and a choir of UWW female voices led by Robert Gehrenbeck, Director of Choral Studies.

On March 18, Glenn C. Hayes conducted nearly 80 members of the University/Community Band in the performance of five selections, including excerpts from Symphony No. 1, “The Lord of the Rings” by Johan de Meij and “Country Band” March by Charles Ives.

The next concerts by these ensembles include the University/Community Band on April 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Young Auditorium, the Whitewater Symphony Orchestra on April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in Young Auditorium, and the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra on May 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Big Foot High School Auditorium,

For more information about the LGSO concerts and Chamber Music concerts visit www.LakeGenevaOrchestra.org.

For more information on the University/Community Band and Whitewater Symphony Orchestra concerts visit www.uww.edu/coac/events.

Director of Children’s and Family Ministries
Whitewater Area Regional Ministries of the United Methodist Church is seeking a half-time Director of Children’s and Family Ministries who will provide leadership, coordination, resourcing and communication for its Christian education programs for children and youth. Our aim is to encourage faith development in an inclusive, caring and fun environment. Please submit a resume or letter of interest to dan@fumcwhitewater.org or Rev. Dan Fahs, First UMC, 145 S. Prairie Street. Whitewater, WI 53190.

Purchase a Yard Sign for Your Graduating Senior!

¡Compre un cartel de jardín para su graduado!

The cost is $20 if paying by cash/check; $20.66 if paying online. Orders may be submitted using the link at the top of this post. They must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12th. Payment is not due now, but must be made before signs can be picked up or delivered.

For Questions, Contact Elizabeth Miller
emiller@wwusd.org

Frank P. Weinberg, formerly from Whitewater, received his 60 year recognition of being a member of the Masonic Lodge Oriental #20 Mesa, Arizona, where he resides with his wife and family. Frank started off on his Masonic journey at the Masonic Lodge in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

Editor’s note: The above submission was provided by Frank Weinberg.

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

The Whitewater Community Foundation is now accepting applications for Spring Community Action Grants.  Grants will be awarded to local nonprofit 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 bilingual, 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: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bx6_oS4QSIAeR3BoVjNTeVJfQzg 

The deadline for submitting applications is April 30, 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 site https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/community-action-grants/ 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 Margaret Wheeler.

Updated note: The snacks are provided through a private donation.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week’s image is a rare one of a passenger car purchased for the “B Line,” a short-line railway that was partially constructed between Whitewater and Lake Geneva in 1914.

The purpose of the B Line was to be a fast connection to Lake Geneva where passengers and/or freight could be transferred to lines going to Chicago. This would provide people and businesses in Whitewater faster transportation in Walworth County and, ultimately, to Chicago.

The line was partially built, but never completed due to lack of funding and the increase in prices for steel created by World War I in Europe. A portion of the roadbed for the B Line can still be seen along Highway P at Bluff Creek south of Whitewater where the road was raised to go over the highway and the creek.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(5547PC, Whitewater Historical Society)

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District Robotics Booster Club.

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.

Local author, Mark Maas, will be at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m. He will be talking about his book, One Team / One Family: Winning Is a Lifestyle, which reflects the belief that building character, trust, and positive chemistry among teammates is at the core of success. Whether in the realm of athletics, the corporate boardroom, on the factory floor, or in schools and offices across America, this book provides a blueprint for success. Sharing stories from a forty-year career in teaching and coaching, Maas lays out the fundamental principles for building team relationships.

Maas will be available for questions after his presentation. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. The library has a copy of the book available for checkout as well.

The presentation will be held in the library’s Community Room located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. The public is invited to attend this free program and no registration is required. For additional information, visit the library’s website at www.whitewaterlibrary.org or call 262-473-0530.

Editor’s note: With a portion of Whitewater being in Jefferson County, Whitewater residents would be expected to be welcome regardless of whether they live in Jefferson or Walworth County. Walworth County always has at least one clean sweep annually; sometimes there has been a Whitewater event, though not last year.