Upcoming City Meetings: Week of July 9 to July 15

Plan and Architectural Review Commission – Monday, July 9, 2018, 6:30 pm, City of Whitewater Municipal Building – Community Room. For agenda, 


WUSD School Board – Special Meeting – Monday, July 9, 2018, 7:00 pm, Whitewater Unified School District Central Office – William D. Kyle Board Room. For agenda, 


Public Works Committee – Tuesday, July 10, 2018, 6:00 pm, City of Whitewater Municipal Building – Community Room. For agenda, 


Finance Committee – Wednesday, July 11, 2018, 6:30 pm, City of Whitewater Municipal Building –  City Manager’s Conference Room. For agenda, 


Public Meeting – Lakes Drawdown Project –  Thursday, July 12, 2018, 5:00 pm, City of Whitewater Municipal Building – Cravath Lake Front Room. For agenda, 

Studio 84 names Jessica Barden as Artist of the Month for July

Jessica Barden has been a student at Studio 84 for six years and has developed her talent for painting pet portraits. She is one of several students who is making her art into a business. Here is what Jessica had to say about her time at Studio 84, “It makes me feel good that I could have a job out in the community with the stuff I’m learning at the studio. Makes me feel really good that I could have my own business in art. I feel proud of myself and it makes me feel good that I have something going in my life. People love my artwork and it makes me happy, and jump for joy and makes me proud. I thank God that I know how to do this kind of work. I thank God Studio 84 has taught me these things.”

Over the years, the staff has noted, that Jessica is learning to deal with frustrations and how to use those frustrations as learning experiences not just with her art but in everyday life as well. Director, Deborah Blackwell, states that she’s also learning to operate the cash register to check people out and loves giving tours of the gallery and store.  Blackwell says, “her confidence in what she does is growing, she’s learned so much with painting that she is often seen helping others too.”

As part of the vocational training program in the arts, Jessica now has her own website, Facebook page, and email and has become quite proficient at using these programs.  As a natural process of using these programs, she is also improving her spelling and reading abilities. She works with Gateway Tech intern Stacy Whetlow with her reading skills by reading books together. You can visit Jessica’s website at jjbarden79.wixsite.com/artist.

Studio 84 in Whitewater is a non-profit art studio that provides experiences in the arts for the community. They specialize in the creative and vocational development of people with disabilities, including those with Autism, physical disabilities, cognitive limitations, and mental illness. The studio is open to all ages and all abilities.

For more information visit studio84inc.org or check us out on Facebook.

Fran Achen Photo Competition Reception on July 8

On Sunday, July 8, the Whitewater Arts Alliance will hold the reception for the 9th Annual Fran Achen Photo Competition at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street.

This year, more than 125 pieces from almost 40 different photographers will be on display. These entries are from young photographers who are just beginning to hone their skills to accomplished photographers from our area. The reception will begin at 1:00 p.m. with the music of Carl Cole and Co. Visitors may remember this incredible group from Savory Sounds and the 10th Anniversary Bash last fall.

During the reception, the WAA will be dedicating a mobile – that was recently assembled for the gallery – in memory of Jim Coburn for his support of the arts in the community. A contest to name the artwork will also be explained and opened for entries. Finally, awards for the Fran Achen Photo Competition will be announced, beginning at about 2:15 p.m.

This reception is free and open to the public.

Free Summer Concert Series with City Market Vendors – Tuesday, July 3

The UWW 150th-anniversary celebration continues with a performance from King Solomon. Join us 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, on the Wyman Mall near the Andersen Library for spirited reggae music, lawn and kids games, and a beverage tent with regular and adult options. Enjoy more than 35 Whitewater City Market vendors from 4-7 p.m. with food trucks like Flying Cow Pizza, Smoked on Wheels BBQ, Yang’s Thai Food, and Lefty’s Two, and local products like cheese, honey, kombucha, seasonal produce, preserves, eggs, meat (chicken, beef, bison, pork, and lamb), handmade soap, coffee, chocolates, bread, pastries, jewelry, and plants. We hope to see you there!

For more details, visit uww.edu/150/concerts

Whitewater Kiwanis donate to Studio 84

Kiwanis Whitewater Breakfast Club donated $500 to Studio 84 after a presentation by Executive Director and Founder, Deborah Blackwell. Studio 84 provides fully accessible opportunities in the arts to enrich people’s lives by focusing on the strengths and abilities of the individual, by encouraging the creative voice with self-directed activities, thus, inspiring self-worth, pride, confidence, and acceptance.

Studio 84 serves anywhere from 10 to 30 artists with cognitive or physical limitations. Studio 84 gives them the opportunity to creatively and independently make their own art and control their artistic expressions.

More information about Studio 84 can be found at http://www.studio84inc.org or on Facebook.

Pictured here: Kiwanis President Jerry Grant with Studio 84 Executive Director Deborah Blackwell.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is launching a new initiative called the “Warhawk Success Closet”; requests donations of professional and business attire

Come September of Fall 2018, UW-Whitewater will officially be opening the Warhawk Success Closet to all students.

Currently, the Success closet is accepting donations of gently used professional and business appropriate clothes such as suits, button-ups, blouses, dresses, trousers, shoes, etc.

UW-Whitewater’s Career and Leadership Development (UC 146) is heading this initiative and is where donations can be dropped off.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Warhawk Success Closet Coordinator, Amy Yang, by phone at 262-472-1471 or email at yangat25@uww.edu.

Savory Sounds Summer Concert: UWW Jazz Camp, June 28 at 11:30 am

 UWW Jazz Camp

June 28 at 11:30 am

 Birge Fountain in front of the Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main St.

The UW-Whitewater Jazz Camp Combos are groups formed as part of the summer jazz camp held every year. These talented students come from the Midwest for a week-long jazz intensive camp. The UW-Whitewater Jazz Camp is highly respected throughout the Midwest with top nationally known jazz faculty that join with the staff to form an Adult Jazz Ensemble, specifically to complement the student summer jazz camp.


The WAA is grateful to our partners-Fairhaven Senior Services, First Citizens State Bank, Fort Community Credit Union, Olm and Associates, and PremierBank–for helping to make these events possible.

Savory Sounds Upcoming Schedule
(11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on the following Thursdays, inside the CAC if raining)

July 12 Rose Among Thorns
July 19 Brass Knuckles

Murder on the Orient Express – Tuesday, June 26 at 12:30 PM, Seniors in the Park

Murder on the Orient Express is a 2017 mystery drama film directed by Kenneth Branagh with a screenplay by Michael Green, based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie. The film stars Branagh as Hercule Poirot, with Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daisy Ridley in supporting roles. The film is the fourth screen adaptation of Christie’s novel, following the 1974 film, a 2001 TV film version, and a 2010 episode of the television series Agatha Christie’s Poirot. The plot follows Poirot, a world-renowned detective, as he seeks to solve a murder on the famous trans-European train in the 1930s.

When: TuesdayJune 26 at 12:30 PM

Where: Seniors in the Park