News & Events

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from Walworth County.

Walworth County and United Way of Walworth County Team up to Support Local Nonprofits and Veterans Organizations

ARPA Grant Program to Provide a Fourth Round of Funding to Social Service Agencies

Walworth County has earmarked an additional $200,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funds for the United Way of Walworth County to distribute to local nonprofits and veterans service organizations in 2024. The goal of the ARPA grant-funding program is to offset the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic incurred by local 501(c)(3) nonprofit and 501(c)19 veterans service agencies.

This is the fourth round of funding since the program was established in 2021. In December 2021, Walworth County awarded an initial $100,000 to the United Way through the grant-funding program. Sixteen area nonprofit agencies received between $1,000 and $9,000 each. Since then, the County has provided two additional rounds of funding totaling $175,000, with grants between $1,000 and $7,500 awarded to 46 local nonprofits.

“The ARPA grant-funding program is an incredible opportunity to support local nonprofits that have a tangible impact on Walworth County communities,” says United Way Board President Katherine Gaulke. “We are excited to continue our partnership with Walworth County and, for the first time, extend grant funding to veterans’ organizations.”

For this round, eligible agencies can request between $1,000 and $9,000 and may utilize the grant for assistance in implementing COVID-19 prevention or mitigation tactics; technical assistance, consulting, or other services for business planning; assistance with payroll support, costs to retain employees or other operating costs; or assistance to those impacted by COVID-19.

A board of United Way of Walworth County committee members will select the grant recipients. Organizations with 501(c)3 and 501(c)19 tax-exempt status may apply. These organizations must also maintain their principal place of business in Walworth County, conduct their business in Walworth County, and serve people within Walworth County.

Applications are available online at http://www.unitedwaywalworth.org/arpa-grant. Qualifying 501(c)(3) or 501(c)19 agencies interested in applying may also contact Katherine Gaulke for an application at (262) 374-4474. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2024, at noon. The goal is to issue the awards by March 15, 2024.

This project is being supported in whole or in part by federal award number FAIN #SLFRP 2146 awarded to Walworth County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Since John’s Disposal was closed on Christmas day, all routes will be delayed by one day. The city routes will be picked up on Friday, December 29.

Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 to January 1 each year.

[From Wikipedia) American Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 during the aftermath of the Watts riots^[2] as a specifically African-American holiday.^[3][4] Karenga said his goal was to “give blacks an alternative to the existing holiday of Christmas and give blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society.”^[5] For Karenga, a major figure in the Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s, the creation of such holidays also underscored the essential premise that “you must have a cultural revolution before the violent revolution. The cultural revolution gives identity, purpose, and direction.”^[6]

According to Karenga, the name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning “first fruits”.^[7] First fruits festivals exist in Southern Africa, celebrated in December/January with the southern solstice, and Karenga was partly inspired by an account he read of the Zulu festival Umkhosi Wokweshwama.^[8] It was decided to spell the holiday’s name with an additional “a” so that it would have a symbolic seven letters.^[9]

During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas. He believed Jesus was psychotic and Christianity was a “White” religion that Black people should shun.^[10] As Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his position so practicing Christians would not be alienated, stating in the 1997 book Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture that “Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday.”^[11] Many African Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa do so in addition to observing Christmas.^[12]

After its initial creation in California, Kwanzaa spread outside the United States.^[13]

Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder called the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba – the seven principles of African Heritage). They were developed in 1965, a year before Kwanzaa itself. These seven principles comprise Kawaida, a Swahili word meaning “common.”

Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the principles, as follows:^[14]

1. Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together.
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
5. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
6. Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
7. Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

The University of Wisconsin – Whitewater celebrated the achievements of its graduates on Saturday, December 16, as proud families and friends gathered for the 2023 winter commencement ceremony. Approximately 620 students crossed the stage to receive their degrees. Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser.

The City of Whitewater – Department of Public Works will collect Christmas trees on Tuesday, January 2, and Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Please place your tree on the terrace by 5:00 a.m. on the dates listed above.

Residents who wish to have a tree picked up before or after the above scheduled dates must call the Department of Public Works at 473-0560 before 5 a.m. on Tuesday that week to schedule a brush pick up.

Trees that have been flocked or contain wire will not be collected. Please place these trees for collection by John’s Disposal on the second Thursday of the month, your bulk pick up day.

For additional questions or concerns contact the Department of Public Works at (262) 473-0560. For other requests visit https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/RequestTracker.aspx.

Brian Neumeister
Superintendent- Streets/Parks/Stormwater Utility

I find it necessary at this time to “speak” on the passing of James “Jim” Allen. Jim became more to me than a colleague or even a friend in the years I knew him (and I met him at just 18, so it was a number of years)—he became my family. When I lose a family member, I am compelled to remind those they impacted of that impact to keep their memory alive—and Jim made a greater impact than many of us ever will.

Whitewater is a community of service and we certainly cannot downplay the service of others but still Jim rose above the crowd. Jim was the quintessential Whitewater cheerleader, always lifting up the things that make us great while working to make us even better. He never turned away from a challenge and he would never turn you away if you needed help or wanted to share your thoughts or opinions, even if he did not share them.

No matter where I was in life, Jim was there. He wasn’t just a mentor on the council as I was young—a mentorship many believe is a critical part of learning how to serve in that role—he mentored me in life. He showed me how to be a better friend, how to love someone through hard days, and how to always work for growth, recognizing not one of us is perfect.

Jim was more than Council President Allen. He was hilarious. He was thoughtful. He was self-reflective. He was giving. He gave nicknames and gifts and smiles, always freely. He loved the dogs I treat like my children who loved him back—and I trust their judge of character the most. He showed up for me even when I wouldn’t ask. He called to check on me when I claimed I didn’t need it.

You need not look far to see his impact. He impacted UWW in his work. He impacted the city in his service. He impacted his family in his love—and his friends just the same. I can’t count the ways he impacted me but if you’d ever like to hear just a few, I’ll treat you to coffee.

Each of you living in this city is affected by his work every day. I am impacted by his love. I miss you already, friend. Thank you for making me better. Thank you for making us better.

Councilmember 2011-2018, Stephanie A. Goettl

The winners of the Jefferson County “Deck the House” contest were recently announced.
Three winners from each participating community were named, one for each of three categories: most elegant, best holiday spirit and Clark Griswold, where “any color lights, props, inflatables, roof top and yard décor that can be seen from outer space fits,” according to the official voting form.

Winners in Whitewater were:

Most elegant: 190 Locust Lane
Best holiday spirit: 1127 W. Walworth Ave.
Clark Griswold: 216 S. Locust Lane

Winners in Cambridge, Fort Atkinson, Ixonia, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills and Watertown may be found here. Here’s a link to the house map.

Coincidentally, (or perhaps not surprisingly), Matt Wojtkunski wrote to the Banner to say that his street, Locust Lane, has a few houses lit up in a row, and his home is animated to music. The show runs from 4:30ish to 10 p.m. Tune to 88.5 FM. “We love the holidays and enjoy doing something like this for the community,” Matt wrote.

Also, here are pictures that Paul Jhona sent of the roof at Standard Process in Palmyra.

Joy to the world! Wishing you a peaceful and pleasant day. Thanks for reading the Banner.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the above image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.