Mark Your Calendar: September Concert Highlights

Visit the College of Arts and Communication website to explore our full list of events. Reserve your spot for upcoming ticketed shows or enjoy our enriching non-ticketed events for free. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to engage with creativity and culture – join us and let the arts ignite your imagination!

Whitcomb/deVries Duo
September 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Light Recital Hall

Celebrate the 20th tour of the acclaimed cello/piano duo Vincent deVries and Benjamin Whitcomb as they return to the stage with a dynamic program of works by Beethoven and Dohnányi. This seasoned duo promises an evening of unforgettable music. Don’t miss this milestone performance from two masters.

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Matthew Onstad – Faculty Trumpet Recital
September 21 at 1 p.m.
Light Recital Hall

Join Dr. Matthew Onstad for a captivating Faculty Trumpet Recital, joined by pianist Dr. Diana Shapiro. This dynamic program of trumpet and piano repertoire features the world premiere of an exciting new work by acclaimed composer Su Lian Tan. Experience the brilliance and artistry of two outstanding faculty performers in an unforgettable afternoon of music.

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Misty Shore Duo
September 25 & 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Light Recital Hall

Misty Shore Duo, including piano and live electronic performance, will present 2 portrait concerts of work by the members of the duo. The first concert, on September 25, will feature the mature works by pianist Chen-Hui Jen, while the second, on September 26, will include 2 large-scale works by electronic performer Jacob Sudol.

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Seniors in the Park Presents “The Friend”

“The Friend”

Tuesday, September 23, 1 p.m.

(Comedy/Drama) Rated R (language)

1 hour, 59 minutes (2025).

When a solitary writer adopts and bonds with a Great Dane that belonged to a late friend, she begins to come to terms with her past and her own creative life. Starring Naomi Watts, Bill Murray and Apollo (Great Dane). “A fresh, fun, sentimental and meaningful film” says The Hollywood Reporter. 

Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. Although there is no charge to attend, regular participants are encouraged to join Seniors in the Park. The annual fee for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District is $10 and non-residents is $15. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes out of our fundraising monies. If you cannot afford the fee, we have a fund that will cover it for you. Fees are accepted at the Starin Park Community Building or online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/

Local Student Graduates from University of Dubuque

The University of Dubuque is excited to celebrate the academic accomplishments of undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students who graduated this summer.

Whitewater, WI

 Jonathan Mayer, Master in Management – Aviation Leadership

This Week’s School Board Meeting

Monday, September 22, 2025
Whitewater School Board – Regular Meeting 
Whitewater High School Library 
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin 
6:00 p.m. via Zoom Online 
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89329605814?pwd=TVqnVI4kSrdqJ1z1H10hPlLZ7qodrz.1 – Passcode: 363074 
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– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799 
– Webinar ID: 893 2960 5814 
– Passcode: 363074 
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PUBLIC NOTICE: The meeting will be live streamed via Zoom for those Board members and individuals unable to attend in-person. If you require special accommodations to fully participate, please notify the School Board Secretary by phone (262) 472-8713 or in writing at least 24 hours prior to the meeting time. 
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If participants wish to speak on Agenda Items they may speak regarding specific issues on the agenda at the time the Board discusses that item. A Citizen Comment Request should be filled out prior to speaking. In accordance to Board Policy 187, personal criticism and/or derogatory remarks directed at School Board members or employees of the district will not be tolerated. Should there be a number of citizens planning to speak, the President will announce the total time for citizen comments and divide the time between speakers equally with no more than three minutes allotted to each participant. The Board will not be able to respond to individual questions at the meeting. Complaints against an employee should be sent to the Superintendent or Board in writing with your signature. Please keep in mind that students often attend or view board meetings. Speakers remarks should therefore be suitable for an audience that includes Kindergarten through 12th grade students. An officer of the Board may interrupt, warn or terminate speakers’ statements that are unrelated to the business of the School District or inappropriate for K-12 students or is disruptive to an orderly, productive meeting. – 

The time estimates noted for agenda items are for informational purposes only and may not be reflective of actual discussion during the meeting. 

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (Action Item) 

4. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS – NONE 

5. STUDENT REPORTS – 5 MINUTES 

A. Whitewater Student Council Report – Whitewater Middle School 

6. PUBLIC COMMENTS 

A. Citizens may speak under Public Comments, but no School Board action will be taken. Issues raised may become a part of a future agenda. Participants are allotted a three-minute speaking period. A Citizen Comment Request should be filled out prior to speaking. In accordance to Board Policy 187, personal criticism and/or derogatory remarks directed at School Board members or employees of the district will not be tolerated. Should there be a number of citizens planning to speak, the President will announce the total time for citizen comments and divide the time between speakers equally with no more than three minutes allotted to each participant. The Board will not be able to respond to individual questions at the meeting. Complaints against an employee should be sent to the Superintendent or Board in writing with your signature. Please keep in mind that students often attend or view board meetings. Speakers’ remarks should therefore be suitable for an audience that includes Kindergarten through 12th grade students. The Board President or officers of the Board may interrupt, warn or terminate speakers’ statements that are unrelated to the business of the School District or inappropriate for K-12 students or disruptive to an orderly, productive meeting. The time estimates noted for agenda items are for informational purposes only and may not be reflective of actual discussion during the meeting. 

7. SPECIAL REPORTS AND/OR ACTION 

A. Report on Washington DC Trip 

B. 2027 Trip to Washington DC/New York City 

C. 2027 Trip to England and France 

D. District Goals Presentation (Pillars) 

E. WHS Booster club to present on recent improvements to the JV Baseball fields and present donation of $13,000 to the district for the HUDL Subscription 

8. PERSONNEL REPORT (Action Items) – NONE 

9. SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS – 5 MINUTES 

A. Superintendent Update – Celebrations; look, listen, and learn update 

10. BUSINESS OFFICE REPORTS – 10 MINUTES 

A. Preliminary 2025-26 Budget Report 

11. CONSENT AGENDA (Action Item) – 5 MINUTES 

A. Voucher Approval – August 2025 

B. Donations for $1,020.00 from several donors. 

C. Minutes Approval of Regular Meeting – August 25, 2025 

D. Minutes Approval of Policy Review Committee Meeting – September 8, 2025 

12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 

A. Bray’s Architecture Milestone Updates 

B. Building Solutions Referendum Update 

C. Referendum Update for cameras and doors 

D. Superintendent goals 

13. NEW BUSINESS (Action Items) – 10 MINUTES 

A. Donation for $5,183.61 from several donors as part of the DonorsChoose Project for Ferradermis. B. Donation for $5,000.00 from Kiwanis to the Family Emergency Fund for shoes and coats. C. 225, Superintendent Evaluation, For Immediate Implementation. 

D. 225-Ex, Superintendent Evaluation Tool, For Immediate Implementation. 

E. 671.1 Payday Schedules, For Immediate Implementation 

14. BOARD MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

A. Future Agenda Items 

15. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS 

A. Board Engagement Opportunities 

16. ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION 

A. Adjourn into closed session, (Action Item) pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(f), considering financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems or the investigation of charges against specific persons except where par. (b) applies which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data, or involved in such problems or investigations, specifically, to discuss a busing issue and revisit ACC stipulations or criteria for to appoint members. When closed session ends, the meeting ends. 

17. ADJOURN

Merwood “Woody” Olsen Presents Imaginative Scenes Through Watercolors at Roberta’s Art Gallery

Merwood “Woody” Olsen, Aqua Crustaceans
Watercolor, Acrylic, Metallic, Charcoal Pencil, and Cray Pas on Arches Paper

Whitewater, Wis. (Sept. 18, 2025) – Roberta’s Art Gallery is proud to present the watercolor works of Merwood “Woody” Olsen, a local artist and alum of UW-Whitewater, on display from September 18 to October 17. A free public reception will be held on October 7, 2025, from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by an open house from 7 to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. In addition, a free watercolor workshop for students will take place on Tuesday, October 14, from 7 to 9 p.m., in the University Center Lower Level, hosted in collaboration with UC Live.

“Expressing Imagination” showcases bright splashes of watercolor in various shapes and sizes, layered to create dynamic compositions in both positive and negative space. Figures, often faceless or with distorted features, emerge from these vibrant backgrounds, encouraging personal interpretation. Olsen’s unique process combines watercolor with drawing, collage, and mixed media, incorporating crayons, charcoal, and wash. The result is artwork filled with depth, texture, and motion, influenced by years of experimentation and a love of color theory. Olsen says, “When first studying watercolor, I was instructed to drag the brush across the paper overlapping other washes to create color, depth and texture. The results fascinated me. I knew I had found my media.” 

Merwood “Woody” Olsen, Seahorse
Watercolor, Acrylic, Metallic, and Charcoal Pencil on Arches Paper

Born in Beloit, raised in Sharon, and graduated from Big Foot High School, Walworth, Wisconsin “Woody” attended UW-Whitewater, studying art history, studio arts, etching, and printmaking. He was a student of the late Leanne Stevenson, Whitewater professor and artist. Olsen continued his studies at the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His abstract paintings have been featured in juried shows throughout the Midwest, including “Watercolor Wisconsin”. His work is included in several private collections. He currently resides in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he is the curator chair of the Janesville Art League’s permanent collection.

Roberta’s Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the James R. Connor University Center at 190 Hamilton Green Way, Whitewater, Wisconsin. The gallery collaborates with campus departments, student organizations, and community artists to coordinate and sponsor exhibits. Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

At Roberta’s Art Gallery, we pride ourselves on providing free and open exhibits to the public, and attending certain events can earn students class credit. If you are interested in being featured in the gallery, please contact us for a proposal request. Reach us at ucart@uww.edu or 262-472-3193. Visit www.uww.edu/rag for any questions or inquiries, and follow our Instagram @uww_rag. For more information about Woody Olsen’s work, please visit woodyolsen.com.###

Whitewater High School Prepares to Celebrate Homecoming Week September 21 – 27

Whitewater High’s Homecoming 2025 has arrived! The theme for this year is “Whippets Got Game.” The week’s activities along with the dress up days and schedule change for Friday are posted below. 

Keep in mind that other schools in the district may have different activities and dress up days. 

Also, please note that Homecoming Court will no longer be taking place on Lip Sync night. Instead, the court students will be announced at their assembly on Friday and at the football game Friday evening. 

Whitewater High School would like to give a special shout out to Home Lumber for donating the materials for construction of the W to be burned on Wednesday evening after Lip Sync.

Information Submitted by Chelsea Luebke
Whitewater High School Student Council Advisor
cluebke@wwusd.org

Obituary: Carol Miller

Carol Lynn (Rogers) Miller passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, August 31, 2025, in Loveland, Colo., surrounded by her family. 

She was born December 18, 1952, to Mary Lou (Joosten) and Alan Rogers in Fort Atkinson, Wis., and grew up in Whitewater as the oldest of their four children. Carol graduated from Whitewater High School in 1971, where she met the love of her life, David Miller. They married on May 27, 1972, in Ogden, Kansas, where he was stationed in the U.S. Army. The couple returned to Whitewater where they raised two sons, Ryan and Todd.

Carol took her responsibilities as a stay-at-home mom seriously and was fiercely loyal, especially with family. She was a beloved favorite aunt and a quilt artist, creating dozens of extraordinary quilts for family and friends. She was smart and witty, taking charge of family holidays and events, and vetting her brothers’ girlfriends and wives.

In her professional life, Carol was a business woman, operating the local Ranch House restaurant with her husband Dave. She later worked at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital and volunteered with the Whitewater Rescue Squad. Upon retirement, Carol and Dave saw the United States, living for a time in The Villages, Fla., and traveling in their RV, eventually settling in Loveland to be near family.

Carol is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Dave, Loveland; her son Ryan, Loveland; and son Todd (Megan), Riner, Va; grandsons Jackson, Bodhi, and Eamon; her three brothers, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. 

A private celebration of life for family members will be held at a later date.

#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Tucker the Trucker

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

This week’s photo is of “Tucker the Trucker.” Harry Tucker was Whitewater’s long-time local moving and hauling business owner. Tucker moved to Whitewater from a farm in 1933 and started his trucking business. He specialized in moving households and transporting general cartage loads. He had a side business hauling sand and gravel. In 1958, after 25 years, Tucker sold his business interests, probably retiring.

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

(2631P, Whitewater Historical Society)

Obituary: Ryan J. Oezer, 48

Ryan Jay Oezer
July 19, 1977 – September 7, 2025

Ryan Jay Oezer, 48, of Whitewater, WI, unexpectedly passed away on September 7, 2025. He was born in Racine, WI, to Joel and Patsy Oezer. Ryan graduated from Horlick High School in Racine in 1995. He worked for Target for over 18 years before becoming co-owner of Reynolds Heating and Cooling, LLC, in 2020.

Ryan was a devoted foster and adoptive parent for more than 13 years through Walworth County DHHS and Milwaukee Children’s Services. He enjoyed spending time with his children, traveling, and attending events at the Jefferson County Speedway.

He is survived by his mother, Patsy (Trish) Oezer of Kissimmee, FL; his sister, Allison Oezer of Las Vegas, NV; his brother, Jordan (Mackenzie) Oezer of Madison, WI; and several nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his former wife, Katie Reynolds of Whitewater, WI; his children, Carolina Oezer of Nashotah, WI, Leonid Oezer of Elkhorn, WI, Topanga Reynolds-Oezer of Whitewater, WI, Aiden Reynolds, Lawson Reynolds, Espyn Oezer, Isaiah Oezer, Anastasia Oezer, Anthony Oezer, and Antonia Oezer, all of Whitewater, WI; his three grandchildren; his significant other, Brenda Leader of West Allis, WI; and many other friends and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his father, Joel K. Oezer, and his niece, Taylor N. Oezer.

A memorial visitation will take place on Friday, October 3, 2025, at 841 Brewhouse in Whitewater, WI, from 4–6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, an account has been established at First Citizens State Bank in Whitewater, WI, for “The Family of Ryan Oezer.”

Summer School Exploratory Tech Students Earn OSHA Safety Cards

Our Exploratory Tech students completed their 10-hour OSHA training during summer school and just received their OSHA 10 Safety Cards! We are so proud of their efforts—this certification is an important step in workplace safety and will help them with Youth Apprenticeships (YAs) and building strong resumes.

Article and Photo Submitted by Nolan Otremba
Whitewater High School Technology and Engineering Teacher
otrno01@wwusd.org