News & Events

Griffin James, who graduated from Whitewater High School in 1999, has taken his music to new limits. When he studied piano with Esther Haight and Chris Johansen, or played euphonium with Christine Hayes and Don Deal–all reported to Griffin’s parents–Richard and Marcia James–that he had a gift. So he went on to meet his future father-in-law (his UW-Madison low-brass professor) and later get his master’s degree at Illinois State University. After directing bands in Bakersfield, California, and for Milwaukee’s Whitnall High School, Griffin and his wife Katie (also a music major) have found their home in Baraboo.

This weekend is Baraboo’s Big Top Parade. Tonight Griffin will be playing in the Circus Band on the Courthouse Square. Tomorrow night, he will put on his Lederhosen and lead his Polka Band–Big Griffy Jim’s Polka Dots–at the Al. Ringling Brewery. On Saturday, he will lead his high school band down main street with two elephants serving as the grand marshals.

Also, when Griffin was in high school, he auditioned for the Wisconsin Music Ambassadors–a group of select band students who traveled to Europe and gave concerts in several countries. Only July 6, Griffin and wife Katie–the choir director for the Wisconsin Dells Middle and High Schools–will join several other band leaders and conduct a mini camp at UW-Whitewater. They will be preparing The Wisconsin Music All Stars–80 select orchestra students–for performances in three of the six European countries that they will travel to July 9-28.

Griffin, who is president of Baraboo’s Theatre Guild, has also learned that he has been selected as the incoming Community Band Director. This is an appointment through UW-Sauk County. Griffin also recently joined the Madison Brass Band where he plays alto horn alongside his former high school band director–Don Deal.

The music continues as Griffin and Katie’s two sons play piano, saxophone, percussion, or euphonium–their parents’ main instrument. Canon and Reed will be accompanied by their Grandma–Marcia James, formerly of Whitewater–as they watch the Wisconsin All-Stars perform in Europe.

Editor’s note: Our thanks to Marcia James for submitting this article.

About half of the members of Ferradermis, including two brand new members who have joined this summer, were able to travel to Dousman on Saturday, June 24, for the Laser Lights Off-Season Event sponsored by FRC Team #2077 Laser Robotics from Kettle Moraine High School.

The team had a very successful day and was the first pick in alliance selections when we were asked to join the #1 ranked team, FRC Team #930 the Mukwonago Bears from Mukwonago High School for the playoffs. Mukwonago and Ferradermis later added the host team from Laser as the third member of their alliance. The alliance made a great run through the playoffs before being knocked out by the eventual champion, the second-seeded alliance led by FRC Team #6421 the Warriorbots from Muskego High School, in the semi-finals. Ferradermis officially finished as part of the 3rd place alliance.

In addition to competing, Ferradermis also operated the concession stand for the event as a team fundraiser.

Watch for the team (weather permitting) in the Whitewater Fourth of July Parade and at the Whitewater City Market on July 11 if you’d like to learn more. The team will next be in competition in Rockford, Illinois on Saturday, July 22 before wrapping up the summer off-season at Mukwonago on July 28 and 29.

The team, which is open to any Whitewater High School student, will continue to accept new members this summer and throughout the fall. If interested in joining, please reach out to Laura Masbruch at lmasbruch@wwusd.org.

Article and Photos Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor and Banner Volunteer
lmasbruch@wwusd.org

City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission – Monday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda includes tree planting update and status of tree ID tags for arboretum.
Community Room – 2nd floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/353101269
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 353-101-269
United States: 1 (872) 240-3311
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

Whitewater University Technology Park Board – Wednesday @ 8:00 a.m.
Agenda includes Our future – strategic thinking and planning discussion.
Join by computer, tablet or smart phone: https://uww.webex.com/wbxmjs/joinservice/sites/uww/meeting/download/77c71cfa052e4ae6b43ed5b6ba74742f?siteurl=uww&MTID=m09fbf1f803c7286c148c878ae0bdc8ae
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 353-101-269
United States: 1 (872) 240-3311
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

City of Whitewater Parks & Recreation Board – Wednesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes WAFC Action Plan and lakes vegetation project
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
Cravath Lakefront Room- 2nd Floor 312 W. Whitewater St.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89618969560?pwd=Smg4Z2RTa2ZQRTlRbXNkUlg3VG5xZz09 Meeting ID: 896 1896 9560
Passcode: 867705
Or dial 1 312 626 6799
Meeting ID: 896 1896 9560
Passcode: 867705

Whitewater Unified School District – Monday @ 5:15 p.m. (Closed session), 7:00 p.m. (Open session)
Closed session Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner): to discuss the conduct of a previous support staff employee, to discuss potential land/building allocation, and discuss and consider private transportation contract and discuss and prepare for the Whitewater Aquatic & Fitness Center negotiations. 
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
5:15 p.m.
———————————————–
5:15 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81122007610?pwd=YUNFWDhyelpjV05mUkJSM1hlNG85Zz09
– Passcode: 436281
———————————————-
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 811 2200 7610
– Passcode: 436281
———————————————-
Closed Session
———————————————-
7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online OPEN SESSION
Agenda: (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner)
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82572974894?pwd=ZUpvR2cvWVd5eE5GRG96eWM0MFp3Zz09
– Passcode: 388902
———————————————-
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 825 7297 4894

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the City of Whitewater.

In observance of Independence Day, the City of Whitewater will be closed on Tuesday, July 4th. Therefore, no brush will be collected the week of July 3rd.

As a reminder – residents are asked to call the Department of Public Works at 473-0560 to make an appointment for brush pickup. Appointments must be made by 5 a.m. on the Tuesday collection so route scheduling can be completed. All brush located at the curbside will be chipped. The first 10 minutes of chipping will be free of charge if an appointment has been received by the DPW. Any chipping after the first ten minutes will be charged to the property owner at a rate of $30 per ten-minute increments. Brush must be a minimum of ¾” and a maximum of 6” in diameter. Vines, rakings, roots and root balls will not be accepted. Property owners can dispose of these items at the compost site.

For other requests, visit https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/RequestTracker.aspx. The City of Whitewater provides efficient and high-quality services which support living, learning, playing and working in an exceptional community.

The following students from the area have been named to the University of Wisconsin-Stout Dean’s List for the spring 2023 semester.

The award is presented to students who have a grade point average of 3.5 or above. 

UW-Stout, Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, has 49 undergraduate majors and 23 graduate programs, including one doctoral degree. UW-Stout, established in 1891, prides itself on the success of its students in the workplace, with an employment rate above 98% for recent graduates. 

The university was awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2001.

UW-Stout is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes.

Whitewater , WI 

 Broderick Frye, BS Professional Communication and Emerging Media
 Cassandra Hoxie, BS Computer and Electrical Engineering

Please join the Landmarks Commission at the Birge Fountain today, June 25, between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Celebrate the fountain being the heart of our community all these many years. This is a free public event and all are welcome. Parking on side streets. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and listen to “the water that brings life and music.”

Dear WHS Band Alumni,

For the 25th year, we will be putting together an alumni band for the July 4 parade. If you’re going to be in this part of the country for the holiday, please consider joining us! I know that some of you have been playing professionally while others haven’t touched it since graduation – ALL are welcome!  Instrument loans are available as are fingering charts! No marching is involved, we’ll be sitting on a flatbed truck!

There will be no rehearsal, but if you want to see the music ahead of time I can email scans to you. Our “uniform” for the parade consists of ANY WHS Band T-shirt and AT LEAST one other article of clothing. (I just happen to have some pretty nifty WHS Band shirts still available at the low price of $5)  Or just wear something red.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. this year, the normal time. We’ll plan to meet at Lincoln Elementary School (Prince St. between Highland and Walworth) around that time although we will be near the end of the parade. Do not attempt to drive up Prince Street that morning; best bet for close parking is in the Middle School (old HS) lot off Elizabeth Street.  Drummers talk to me about the best way to get your equipment onto the truck.

For added incentive, there will be the traditional gathering at the beer tent after the parade.  (OK, soda for you recent alumni.)

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU’RE COMING so I know how many chairs, stands & copies of music we need.  Also, please forward this to any other WHS Band Alumni you know from any decade – my list of email addresses is far from complete.

Hope to see you there!

Dr Don W Deal [WHS Band Director 1979-2012 and again in 2020]

drddeal@gmail.com