News & Events

Whitewater Community Drumming Circle
Thursday 1:15 p.m.

Mark your calendars…..the next Community Drum Circle with Christine Hayes is set for this Thursday…12/18 at 1:15 pm in Olm Fellowship Hall at Fairhaven, 435 W. Starin Road. All skill levels and ages are welcomed. We hope to see a full room!

All welcome!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D6ngfnNFp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by Christine Hayes.

The Community Development Authority (CDA), the economic development organization for the City of Whitewater, exists to encourage and assist development in the City that creates jobs, increases the tax base, and improves quality of life in the community. In addition to offering multiple programs to help businesses grow, the CDA also offers a Down Payment Assistance Loan Program for first-time home buyers.

Earlier this month, two families [pictured above] moved closer to making their dream of owning a home a reality. They each received funds from the Loan Program which helped towards their down payment.

Mason Becker, Community Development Director says, “The City of Whitewater showed tremendous foresight in using Affordable Housing Extension funds from the closure of a Tax Increment District to support the Down Payment Assistance Program. We are proud to be able to work with local lenders, such as Fort Community Credit Union, to help make the home ownership dream a reality, along with bringing more residents into the Whitewater community. Nine individuals and families have already been assisted by this program, and we’re looking forward to helping many more achieve home ownership.”

City of Whitewater DPA Program Details:
 Loan to support purchase of single-family home for use as borrower’s primary residence.
 Loan is 0% interest.
 Repayment of the loan is deferred until the home is sold or is no longer the borrower’s primary residence.
 The maximum amount allowed for a second mortgage through the Homebuyer Program is $25,000 and may be applied to lender-required down payment.

Borrower Requirements:
 Meet program income guidelines.
 Be mortgage ready and able to secure affordable superior mortgage loan from a bank, credit union, USDA Rural Development, or another conventional lender.
 Must qualify for a conventional loan through a reputable lender.
 Land Contract purchase does not qualify.
 To increase the probability that a house payment will remain affordable, the first mortgage used to purchase a home must be a fixed rate mortgage.
 To be eligible for the Down Payment Assistance, applicants must have a combined household income of 100% or less of current HUD Income Limits by county (see HUD Income Limits Chart found through the link at the bottom of the article).

Property Requirements:
 Home must be move in-ready and meet Housing Quality Standards at the time of purchase.
 Property value must not exceed HUD established county limits.
 Must be fee simple title at purchase.
 Homes that qualify for Down Payment Assistance can be stick built, modular, new manufactured or condominium on a permanent foundation. A home on a rented or leased lot does not qualify.

Additional information can be found at: https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/571/Housing-Loan-Program

City of Whitewater property owners recently received a tax bill which, in nearly all cases, reflects a significant increase in city and school district property taxes. (The only exception would be if the assessed value of the property declined significantly.) The city has released a video which seeks to explain the tax increase, which is almost entirely a result of the police and fire/EMS referendum which passed last April. The video may be viewed here.

County residents and staff family members recently had a unique opportunity to tour the Jefferson County Courthouse upon completion of a multi-year renovation project. Guests at the November 12 Open House were encouraged to meet with design/construction, facilities, and county representatives; view maps, floor plans, and photographs; and enjoy a self-guided tour through the building.

The renovation added approximately 33,000 square feet of office, meeting, and mechanical space on the north, east, and south sides of the Courthouse, including expanded capabilities for the Jefferson County 911 Call Center and the Emergency Management Command Center, additional court hearing rooms, and a larger area for Geographic Information System (GIS) services.

More than 120,000 square feet of existing space was remodeled, with objectives to modernize furnishings, fixtures, and mechanical/electrical systems to gain efficiencies and maximize functionality for staff and residents. Related County departments are now located in shared suites, allowing for improved customer experience.

“It was wonderful to meet and visit with our constituents as they explored the renovated Courthouse,” said Michael Luckey, Jefferson County Administrator. “This location has been home to the County Courthouse since 1880, with the last major building update completed in 1966. The latest updates position us to serve the people of Jefferson County effectively both now and into the future.”

For additional information about the Jefferson County Courthouse, please contact John Fox, Director of Facilities Management, at JFox@jeffersoncountywi.gov or 920-674-7322.

The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) is excited to announce a Call for Art for the 3rd Annual Artrageous Birds Juried Exhibition, a celebration of creativity inspired by the beauty and spirit of birds. This juried exhibition welcomes artists from the local and regional community to submit original work in both traditional and digital mediums. The exhibition will run from Thursday, March 5 through Sunday, March 29, 2026 at the WAA Cultural Arts Center Gallery 402 W. Main St., Whitewater. All accepted works will also be displayed online, offering artists the opportunity to reach a wide audience. As a juried exhibition, all entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges, and accepted works will be eligible for cash awards. A Best of Show award of $250 will be presented, along with first, second, and third place prizes in both the Traditional and Digital Salons. Additional honors such as Viewer’s Choice, Public’s Choice, and Honorable Mentions will also be awarded. Artists may submit work in the following categories: Traditional Salon: Painting, drawing, illustration, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, 3D art, and photography. Digital Salon: Digital painting, drawing, illustration, mixed media, and photography. Submissions are now open and close on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Notifications of acceptance will be sent on Monday, February 9, 2026. Accepted works for the Traditional Salon must be delivered to the gallery on Tuesday, March 3 (4 pm-6 pm) or Wednesday, March 4 (12 pm-4 pm). Artwork pick-up will take place on Monday, March 30 (4 pm-6 pm). Artists can submit entries through ArtCall, accessible via the WAA website at whitewaterarts.org/artrageous-birds-2026-call. Discounts for WAA members and students are available. “This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for artists to share their creativity and connect with audiences both in Whitewater and beyond,” said Exhibit Co-Chair Emily Painter. Exhibit Chair, Jeff McDonald added, “By expanding the mediums, welcoming regional artists, and offering cash awards, we are creating a vibrant showcase that reflects the diversity of artistic expression in our community.” For more information, please contact Exhibit Co-Chairs Jeff McDonald at waa.franachen@gmail.com or Emily Painter at wwartsalliance@gmail.com, or Gallery Director Kim Adams at wwartsalliance@gmail.com or 608-201-2151.

Website: whitewaterarts.org Facebook: facebook.com/wwartsalliance Gallery Hours: Thursdays-Sundays, 12 pm-4 pm Please Note: The gallery is closed outside of Gallery Exhibit Hours except for special events and is also closed when no show is currently running. “20 Years Of Celebrating The Arts And Creating Community!”

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater held its 2025 winter commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Williams Center on the Whitewater campus.

On a bitter cold day in Whitewater, families and friends gathered to celebrate 888 undergraduate and graduate students who earned degrees. Graduates represented the College of Arts and Communication, the College of Business and Economics, the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Integrated Studies, the College of Letters and Sciences, and the School of Graduate Studies.

Chancellor Corey A. King presided over the two-hour event.

“We’re grateful you chose to be Warhawks,” King said. “We see you. We share in your emotions today.”

After a recognition of university administrators, faculty, and staff, student speaker Samuel Bardales addressed his fellow graduates and attendees. Bardales earned a BSE in mathematics education with a minor in business law, and served as a leader in residence life, Whitewater Student Government, Lambda Chi Alpha, and more organizations on campus.

“Whitewater has been more than a place to learn,” Bardales said. “It’s been a place to grow, to belong, and to become who we are today.”

Bardales shared some of his favorite memories and traditions on campus and acknowledged the role that challenges in his life played in making him ready for the real world.

“Failures — and bumps in the road — will come, but now we have experience, resilience, and each other,” he said.

Bardales, a native of Gurnee, Illinois, lauded those who took winding roads and faced the same challenges on the way to graduation.

“You should be so proud of yourself, because even when it felt impossible, you still kept fighting, and now look at where you are,” Bardales said.”

Commencement speaker Mark Perry addressed the audience next, focusing on the story of his father, Harold Perry, who graduated in 1933, and the role UW-Whitewater played in his life. 

Perry and his family remain highly engaged with the university. UW-Whitewater recently announced the Harold M. Perry ’33 and Margaret A. Perry Endowed Faculty Chair, a $2 million gift that will support a select UW-Whitewater faculty member or members to tackle complex issues, develop long-term solutions, and positively affect Wisconsin’s economy and student success.

The Endowed Faculty Chair started as a $10,000 retirement gift from Harold’s employer in 1974. Harold asked that it be donated to UW-Whitewater to establish a scholarship for students like him.

On Saturday, Perry stood in the same spot as his father did 67 years ago — Harold gave the commencement address in 1958.

“(My dad) often spoke about how influential his time here was, how his Whitewater education gave him opportunity, purpose, and community,” Perry said. “I was privileged to visit campus this summer, and I immediately understood why he loved it. This is a special place, rich with history, tradition, and people who sincerely care about students and their future.”

Perry, who is retired after a career working in accounting and finance in Silicon Valley, remains active through governance of various community service ventures. He offered graduates the lessons he’s learned in mentoring young people for his 55 years of professional experience.

“By far, the most important of the four lessons is to figure out what you are good at and then work hard to master it,” Perry said.

Perry noted that his father — a first-generation college student — stood in the same place as Saturday’s graduates nearly a century ago.

“Be guided by your Whitewater education, your core values, and hard work,” he said.

After crossing the stage, graduates marched out to “The Warhawk Strut” as the ceremony concluded.