News & Events

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from UW Madison Extension. There is a Zoom webinar on Wednesday, April 3, and an in-person presentation on Saturday, April 6 at the UW-W Community Engagement Center. In June, 2022 the City of Whitewater Common Council considered adoption of the No Mow May program. After considerable discussion the members voted 4-3 not to adopt the program. Among the concerns that were expressed were that long grass would not present a favorable impression of the city on visitors, and an understanding that most of the vegetation to which pollinators are attracted actually does not exceed the 7″ height that is allowed before grass must be mowed per the city ordinance. It was also suggested that residents could plant bushes that might be equally effective in providing for pollinators.

“No Mow May” has become a catchy phrase in Wisconsin, encouraging homeowners to allow their lawns to grow during May. But does this practice actually support pollinators? Join Julie Hill, Horticulture Educator for Walworth, Rock and Jefferson counties to learn about how an unmowed lawn impacts (or may impact) pollinators and how you can support pollinators all year long.

April 3, 12:00 p.m. *via Zoom Webinar

• Registration required: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/free-online-programs/?utm_source=Flyer&utm_medium=Flyer&utm_campaign=Mini+Webinars

April 3, 3:00 p.m.
Jefferson Public Library
321 S. Main Street, Jefferson

April 6, 10:00 a.m.
UW-Whitewater Community Engagement Center
1260 West Main Street, Whitewater

April 6, 12:30 p.m.
Community Room, Dwight Foster Public Library
209 Merchants Avenue, Fort Atkinson

April 11, 12:30 p.m.
Matheson Memorial Library
101 N. Wisconsin Street, Elkhorn

April 16, 6:00 p.m.
Hedberg Public Library
316 South Main Street, Janesville

For more information or questions, please contact Julie Hill, Email: julie.hill@wisc.edu ,
Office: 262-741-4958 or Cell/Text: 262-374-4191. Events can also be found at UW-Madison Extension Event Calendar: extension.wisc.edu/events/

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

As often seems to be the case, this year the Democratic and Republican Presidential nominees have been all but officially decided before Wisconsin voters get a chance to weigh in. There are still some important contested elections, however, on the county and local level, not to mention two constitutional amendments.

In the city there’s only one contested race, for the at-large seat on the Common Council. The two district council positions have only one candidate. There will be three names on the ballot for two seats on the School Board; however, Larry Kachel has indicated he that would be unable to serve.

There will be only one polling place for the city in this election, the Downtown Armory at 146 W. North Street. As always, the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters will notice two significant changes from all the previous elections. Instead of there being the usual four check-in tables, there will be only two divisions, one for Jefferson County residents and the other for Walworth County. Once a voter arrives at their county section, they may approach any poll worker (officially called an election inspector) who is sitting at a Badger Book. These electronic devices are replacing the paper poll books. The voter is still required by law to state their name and address and provide their driver license or other photo ID. Rather than signing in ink, the signature will be provided on the electronic screen. This may be done either by using the provided stylus or with a finger. The signature must be written entirely within a box on the screen. Never fear, the signature need not bear great resemblance to one’s usual signature. From there, the process will be essentially the same as before, except that the voter will be provided a receipt that indicates the style of paper ballot which they are to be issued at the next table. The ballots will be marked by the voter in the same fashion as previously.

Here is a link to a brief video from the City of De Pere which provides an excellent introduction to the Badger Books. As is shown in the video, the Badger Books will also be used to register new voters or to enter changes of address. Our voters will, however, be directed to a separate station for this purpose. After the voter is registered or their address is changed, the same poll worker will provide the receipt that they need in order to obtain their ballot.

By entering your address at this site you may see what will be on your ballot.

The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area has published its local online Voter Guide on the VOTE411.org platform. The League sent a questionnaire to a total of 119 local candidates running in 45 contested races in many villages, towns and cities in Walworth and Jefferson counties. Questions were provided in English and Spanish and candidates were encouraged to reply in both languages. Communities with contested races included in the Voter Guide are: in JEFFERSON CO. cities of Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Waterloo, Watertown, Town of Ixonia, Villages of Johnson Creek and Palmyra; and, in WALWORTH CO. cities of Delavan, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva, Whitewater, Towns of Richmond and East Troy, and Villages of Fontana, Mukwonago and Sharon. Ten local municipal and school board referendums will also appear in the Voter Guide.

The League’s Voter Guide on VOTE411.org is a source of nonpartisan candidate information where voters can go to read candidates’ responses to the League’s questionnaires. By visiting the site (click on “Find What’s On Your Ballot”), you will be able to compare their answers, which are posted verbatim. The League encourages voters to start their candidate research before they cast their ballot so they are informed voters on Election Day.

The Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs (WFWC) is pleased to announce that it has initiated a new cultural event for the Whitewater community: the Bassett House Spring Concert Series. The concerts will be held on Sunday, April 7 and Sunday, May 26, both at 1:00 p.m., at the Bassett House, 708 W. Main Street, Whitewater. This series promises to become a wonderful new spring tradition that you won’t want to miss.

Performing at the April 7 concert will be UW-Whitewater student vocalists from the voice studio of faculty member Rachel Wood. The concert will consist of a delightful blend of pop songs, Broadway hits, and classical pieces. On May 26, Robert Gehrenbeck and Sarah Read Gehrenbeck will perform a Memorial Day-themed concert of popular and art songs.

Ticket prices for adults are $30 per concert or $50 for the complete series. Student tickets are $15 per concert, and child tickets are $10 per concert. Make checks out to the WFWC and mail them to Linda Robinson at 957 W. Highland Street/Whitewater, WI 53190. Alternatively, you may pay via Venmo: Whitewater Federation. In either case, please indicate the concerts you will be attending and the number of adults, students, or children attending. Space is limited, so buy your tickets soon.

All proceeds will go to the Bassett House Preservation Fund, which the WFWC will use to ensure the preservation of the Bassett House, one of Whitewater’s oldest historic homes. The Bassett House is located at 708 W. Main Street in Whitewater.

For more information, contact Linda Robinson at linrob73@gmail.com

Families are invited to attend “Money Smart Kids” at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on Thursday, April 4 at 3:30 p.m. In partnership with PremierBank, join us for a free financial literacy story time and activity. It’s never too early to learn how to be smart with money! Best for ages 4-10 but all ages are welcome.

This is a free event and no registration is required. The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. Contact Sarah French with questions at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-458-2782.

The Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will offer Walk With Ease starting April 9 at Walworth County Health and Human Services. Walk With Ease– a program from the Arthritis Foundation—is a structured walking program that teaches participants how to safely make physical activity part of their everyday lives. The program is designed to help people living with arthritis better manage their pain and is also ideal for people without arthritis who want to make walking a daily habit. 

Walk With Ease offers support, information, and tools to help participants develop successful exercise routines. The six-week group series is led by certified instructors Chetney Blaszczyk RDN, CD, and Rebecca Way MSW, APSW. During the program, participants learn proper stretching and pain management techniques; they also build stamina and walking pace. The program can be modified to meet the needs of individual participants so that each person can develop an exercise routine that fits their unique goals.

“Research shows that walking is not only good for joints, but also helps improve the health of the heart, lungs, and bones,” said Blaszczyk. “Walking can also help with weight management, which can reduce one’s risk for arthritis in the knee, heart disease, and diabetes. If you can be on your feet for 10 minutes without increased pain, you will most likely have success with Walk With Ease.” 

The information and strategies taught in the program are based on research and tested programs in exercise science, behavior change, and arthritis management. Updated and evaluated by the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and the Institute on Aging of the University of North Carolina, Walk With Ease is shown to increase balance, strength, and walking pace, as well as reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis. The program is also shown to build participant confidence to be physically active and improve overall health.

Walk WithEase will be held every Tuesday, April 9 to May 14, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Walworth County Health and Human Services, 1910 County Rd NN Elkhorn. Pre-registration is required. This workshop has a suggested contribution of $10. For more information, contact Chetney Blaszczyk at (262) 741-3309. Before starting any exercise program, always check with your physician.

About the ADRC of Walworth County: The ADRC provides information and assistance to older and disabled adults, their friends, family, caregivers, and the public. We can assist by evaluating your current needs and providing options available to meet the needs of your situation. Learn more at www.co.walworth.wi.us/376/Aging-Disability-Resource-Center.

Easter,^{[nb 1]} also called Pascha^{[nb 2]} (Aramaic, Greek, Latin) or Resurrection Sunday,^{[nb 3]} is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.^[12][13] It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus Christ, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance.

Easter and its related holidays are moveable feasts, not falling on a fixed date; its date is computed based on a lunisolar calendar (solar year plus Moon phase) similar to the Hebrew calendar. The First Council of Nicaea (325) established only two rules, namely independence from the Hebrew calendar and worldwide uniformity. No details for the computation were specified; these were worked out in practice, a process that took centuries and generated a number of controversies. It has come to be the first Sunday after the ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or soonest after 21 March.^[18] Even if calculated on the basis of the more accurate Gregorian calendar, the date of that full moon sometimes differs from that of the astronomical first full moon after the March equinox.^[19]

[From Wikipedia]

Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

Whitewater High School held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of their Certified Nursing Assistant Lab on March 20th.

WHS is the 9th high school that has opened a Nursing Assistant lab in partnership with Gateway Technical College. Other high schools include: Burlington, East Troy, Brookfield, KUSD-Indian Trail, Muskego, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, and Wilmot.

Whitewater High School’s first ten student cohort is scheduled to begin Gateway’s two credit Nursing Assistant program on April 17th. Upon successful completion of the program, the students are eligible to take the Wisconsin Nursing Assistant competency evaluation for inclusion on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry and employment in nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, hospices, assisted living centers and homes for the developmentally disabled.

WHS now offers 19 different Gateway transcripted credit courses that are taught by Whitewater High school teachers, which will result in hundreds of thousands of dollars saved for our students. This is in addition to the Start College Now courses, Vanguard Distant Learning, and HS Academy courses that WHS students can take at Gateway Technical College.

A special thank you goes out to Fairhaven Senior Services. We are profoundly grateful for their partnership and dedication to helping to make this lab a reality. The beds, overbed tables, and linens were all a donation from Fairhaven. Simply stated, without their generous donation, we would not have been able to make this lab a reality. Thank you!