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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.

Written by Chris Lindeke and Kristine Zaballos | Photos by Craig Schreiner | Video by Kyle Winter

Thousands of people visited the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater during the summer of 2024 as the Whitewater and Rock County campuses hosted scores of events between the spring and fall semesters.

A total of 6,330 campers and 700 camp counselors participated in the university’s 67 summer programs. Another 5,538 people were served through events run by external partners, including the Special Olympics Wisconsin Summer Games and the Drum Corps International Whitewater Classic.

UW-Whitewater’s First Year Experience office welcomed 2,182 students and 2,493 guests for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR). The Department of Admissions held three preview days and 126 campus tours over the summer for prospective students and their family members and guests, attracting another 3,279 visitors to campus.

“It was an incredible summer at UW-Whitewater, and I’m so proud that nearly 20,000 people visited our campuses,” said Chancellor Corey A. King. “We have a vibrant community, and it was on full display across the wonderful plethora of events we hosted. I’d like to thank our students, event volunteers, faculty, and staff, including our camps and conferences office, for fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment for learning and engagement.”

The above Youtube video that shows highlights of the summer may be viewed here.

With offerings in athletics, arts and STEM, camps remain a vital part of the campus experience at UW-Whitewater. Camps that continued strong traditions of participation in 2024 included band, football, volleyball, and tennis camps, while several camps emerged as popular choices in 2024, including musical theatre, piano, and college prep bowling. UW-Whitewater at Rock County’s all skills volleyball camp reached maximum capacity.

Inclusivity and belonging are part of the priority mission of UW-Whitewater; summer camps put the mission into practice by providing events like wheelchair basketball camp, hosted by coaches who are national champion team members and 2024 Paralympians, and Chatter Matters, a camp serving individuals who use assistive communication devices and their families. UW-Whitewater maintains a 1:10 ratio of camp staff to camper for all youth programming and prides itself in youth protection training for all faculty, staff, coaches, and volunteers involved in leading programming.

“Camp is a special place filled with new and old friends, familiar activities and new experiences, and opportunities for people of all abilities to build life skills,” said Morgan Anderson, director of camps and conferences. “For more than 50 years, we’ve worked hard to provide affordable, life-changing experiences for our patrons. We strive to have something for everyone to explore.”

Registration for the 2025 camps season will begin in January. Music, athletic and academic events for youth are also held throughout the academic year. Visit our camps website for more information.

Giovanni Anello IV, a talented musician from Whitewater, WI, has been awarded First Prize in the prestigious Charleston International Summer Music Competition. This online-based competition attracted musicians from around the world, with participants submitting video auditions in various categories.

Giovanni submitted his application in early August, and after an extensive preliminary round, was notified a few weeks later that he had advanced to the final round. Out of the numerous applicants, only six finalists were chosen to compete in Giovanni’s category.

On September 10th, the final results were announced on the competition’s website. Later that same day, Giovanni received the exciting news that he had secured First Prize, with the judges awarding scores on a 1-10 scale to determine the winners.

“I was thrilled when I was notified that I had won as this is the first large steppingstone to my performance career after winning both the Iowa and WI state NATS competitions and qualifying for the NATS National Student Auditions earlier this year,” said Giovanni. “Through this competition I have already been able to make musical connections with judges from around the country as I think about grad school in the next few years. None of this would have been possible without the help of my voice teachers the last two years, Professor Christine Blanner of Drake University and my current teacher Dr. Matthew Markham at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. They were the ones who sculpted my voice and performance to be what it is today.”

The Charleston International Summer Music Competition is known for celebrating musical excellence and fostering global artistic connections. Giovanni’s victory in this competition reflects not only his exceptional skill and dedication but also his growing presence on the international music scene.

From the Charleston International Music Competition website:

Giovanni David Anello IV, great-grandson of great Milwaukee director John David Anello Sr., is a fourth-generation musician and singer from Mukwonago, WI. He attended Mukwonago High School where he attained numerous awards through the Wisconsin School Music Association and Wisconsin Choral Directors Association including two Exemplary Performance nominations and a selection for the award at the state level and earned his spot three times into state honors choirs. After high school, Giovanni attended Drake University where he studied under Dr. Christine Blanner for a year as he transitioned from a music minor to a major. During that time, he competed in and won the 2023 Iowa NATS state competition. The following year Giovanni transferred back to his home state to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to study with Dr. Matthew Markham. In the last year Giovanni has won the 2023 Wisconsin NATS state competition and the 2024 North Central NATS regional competition on his way to qualifying for the 2024 National Student Auditions preliminary round. Giovanni made his opera debut as Polyphemus in Handel’s Acis and Galatea at UWSP in April of 2024. In his studies, Giovanni is currently attaining his Bachelors in Music Education along with his BM in Music Performance with a Vocal Emphasis. A very active student in the university, Giovanni is involved in many choirs including the vocal jazz ensemble believing that the best musician and teacher is a well rounded one. He is also extremely active in the Xi Omicron chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Anello’s competition performance may be viewed here.

UW-Whitewater hosts public lectures in Whitewater and Janesville focused on the election

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Continuing Education announces free public lectures in Whitewater and Janesville this fall. Lectures in the Election 2024: Looking Back and Ahead series will examine local and national issues in the upcoming election, as well as explore elections through a historical lens.

For over 40 years, UWW has hosted lectures in the Fairhaven Lecture Series in Whitewater, and began a similar tradition in Janesville in 2020 with the Cedar Crest Lecture Series. Lectures in both series will reflect back on politicians, presidents and events from the past, and forecast what may be in store for 2025 and beyond. 

Lectures in the series include:  

A Look at Key 2024 Congressional Elections
Susan Johnson, associate professor, Politics, Government, and Law
Monday, September 23 at 3 p.m. at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater

The Inaugural Address: A Look Back at Four of the Greatest Inaugural Addresses in American History
Richard Haven, professor emeritus, Communication
Thursday, September 26 at 2 p.m. at Cedar Crest, Inc. in Janesville

The Founding Fathers Did Not Trust You: A Look at the Electoral College
David McKay, senior lecturer, History
Monday, September 30 at 3 p.m. at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater and Thursday, October 17 at 2 p.m. at Cedar Crest, Inc. in Janesville

“I Like Ike:” Looking Back at the Intersection of Cold War Politics, Mid-Century Celebrity, and Hollywood Glamour at the Dawn of the TV Age
Anna Hajdik, lecturer, Literature, Writing, and Film
Thursday, October 3 at 2 p.m. at Cedar Crest, Inc. in Janesville

Presidential Influence on the Supreme Court of the United States:  The Trump Effect
Jolly Emrey, associate professor, Politics, Government, and Law
Monday, October 7 at 3 p.m. at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater

The Politics of News
Keith Zukas, associate professor, Communication
Thursday, October 10 at 2 p.m. at Cedar Crest, Inc. in Janesville and Monday, October 14 at 3 p.m. at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater

The Difference a Map Can Make
Jonah Ralston, associate professor, Politics, Government, and Law
Thursday, October 21 at 3 p.m. at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater

The Promise and Potential of the 2024 Presidential Election
Eric Loepp, associate professor, Politics, Government, and Law
Thursday, October 24 at 2 p.m. at Cedar Crest, Inc. in Janesville and Monday, October 28 at 3 p.m. at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater

Attacks, Acclaims, and Defenses in the Historic 2024 U.S. Presidential Debates
Corey Davis, professor, Communication
Monday, November 4 at 3 p.m. at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater

Recap of the 2024 Election Results
Faculty Panel from the Department of Politics, Government, and Law
Thursday, November 11 at 3 p.m. at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater

Lectures in the Fairhaven Lecture Series are held in Olm Fellowship Hall at Fairhaven Senior Services, 435 West Starin Road, Whitewater. Free parking is available and registration is not required. The lectures will be recorded and posted to our website and YouTube channel. Videos of lectures from this and previous series can be accessed for free any time after they are posted. Visit https://www.uww.edu/ce/fairhaven for more information and descriptions of each lecture.

Public lectures held in the Cedar Crest Lecture Series will take place in the Gathering Place at Cedar Crest, Inc., 1702 South River Road, Janesville. Free parking is available and registration is not required. Visit our website at https://www.uww.edu/ce/cedar-crest for lecture descriptions and updates.

If you have a disability and require accommodations, please advise us as soon as possible. Requests are confidential. UW-Whitewater provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA. Please contact Kari Borne at bornek@uww.edu or 262-472-1003 for further information.

After a very busy road construction season, the last major detour in the city has been lifted with the reopening of Fremont Street. Phase I of the reconstruction began on April 22, at which time it was projected that Fremont Street might reopen by September 1.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay.

Beginning at 7 pm on September 20, 2024, Aria Wagner and Elizabeth Matson will be performing “Perspective and Perseverance: A Night of Revisioned Tales” at The Wright House in Whitewater. They will share classic tales of adventure, magic and perseverance from a new perspective.

Register on Eventbrite: https://perspectiveandperseverance.eventbrite.com

Aria Wagner began her storytelling career more than 7 years ago when she joined Elizabeth Matson’s Storytelling Troupe at Hedberg Public Library. Since then, she has enjoyed telling stories in several venues such as The Whitewater Storytelling Festival, WISTGET (Wisconsin Storytellers’ Get-Together) and various venues in Janesville. Aria’s favorite part of storytelling is to put her own spin on classic fables, and to be able to share new cultures and folktales with others through the art of traditional storytelling.

Elizabeth works at the Hedberg Public Library as the Head of Youth Services. She has started a Teen Storytelling Troupe at her library and a peer storytelling coaching group with other Wisconsin storytellers in her area.

Contact host, Sarah Beth Nelson, with questions. voxfabularum@gmail.com

Courageous Conversation: Project 2025

The League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area invites the public to participate in a Courageous Conversation on Project 2025, Wednesday, September 18, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM, at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center, 341 S Fremont St, in Whitewater.

Project 2025 is a series of goals and objectives shaped by the Heritage Foundation as a strategy document for the Office of the President.

An objective of the League is to engage in dialogue, deliberations, and discernment about issues that are critically important to the community. The premise of a courageous conversation is to speak your truth, experience discomfort, accept and expect non-closure, but stay engaged. The topic of Project 2025 is one that the community should discuss openly to understand its intent and proposed actions. During a presidential election year, we must stay vigilantly informed and have opportunities to deliberate through a lens of open-mindedness and freedom of expression.

The purpose of this courageous conversation is for participants to receive an overview of Project 2025, to ask questions about its intent, and to dialogue with other community members in a round table arrangement to seek understanding and to be understood. To assist in this discernment process, we have asked Dr. Eric Loepp, Associate Professor in the Department of Politics, Government, and Law and Director of Learning Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, to facilitate the discussion.

Please direct any questions about this program to League board member Dwight Watson, dwight.watsondcw@gmail.com.

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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!

Jefferson County Administrator Ben Wehmeier Taking New Position
Wehmeier will join Watertown Community Health Foundation as President & CEO

Jefferson County Administrator Ben Wehmeier announced he will be taking a position with the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, where he will serve as President and CEO. Wehmeier started as Jefferson County Administrator July 1, 2013. His last day as county administrator is anticipated to be in mid-December.

“It’s been a great honor to serve the people of Jefferson County for the last 11 years,” Wehmeier said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to serve Jefferson County in this new role, which has many alignments with the Jefferson County strategic plan.”

In collaboration with the county board of supervisors, county department leaders and staff, and with the many public-private partnerships developed over the years, Wehmeier enacted numerous processes that have enhanced communications, budgeting and management of the county.

During his tenure, Wehmeier worked to advance the strategic priorities of the county. There’s been $1.3 billion worth of business investment in the county in the last year alone. Additional examples of county accomplishments under his leadership include:

• Updating the county’s strategic and comprehensive plans
• Developing the Bridges Federated Library System, a consolidated system between Waukesha and Jefferson County that has been recognized by the Public Policy Forum for intergovernmental cooperation
• Founding a 501(c)(3) entity focused on public/private partnerships for Economic Development, now known as ThriveED
• Developing a treatment court system
• Integrating mental health teams with law enforcement
• Developing a Youth Crisis Stabilization Facility
• Positioning the county to address housing shortages, including the development of the Live Local Development Fund with ThriveED and fundraising of nearly $10 million
• Partnering with broadband providers to expand access in the county
• Developing the Food and Beverage Innovation Park that led to Kikkoman choosing to locate its facility in the county
• Executing numerous building and infrastructure projects, including the construction of highway facilities, communication infrastructure, interurban trails, and courthouse/sheriff/jail facilities
• Receiving recognition for financial reporting and budgeting excellence 10 years running
• Developing shared local government positions

“We’ve valued Ben’s leadership, collaboration, and achievements over the years on behalf of the people of Jefferson County,” County Board Chair Steve Nass said. “We wish him well in the future and look forward to continuing to collaborate with him in his new role.”

“We have a plan in place to transition seamlessly into recruiting and onboarding our next county administrator,” Nass added. “We believe having Michael Luckey serve as interim county administrator, while we transition, will ensure the county continues to move forward on its strategic priorities.”

Luckey, in his role as assistant to the county administrator, has made significant contributions to advancing the county’s longer-term strategic initiatives. He has a decade of experience in local and state government, including a number of leadership positions.

The County Board Executive Committee will oversee the recruitment of the new county administrator, and the transition period working with Luckey as well as county department heads.

Our thanks to Steve Watson for more great wildlife photos.