News & Events

Jeanine Fassl writes, “Rick took these pictures on a bright sunny Halloween day.  I guess even the flowers are confused about this fall weather!”

Our thanks to Rick and Jeanine Fassl for sharing these beautiful, “unseasonal” pictures.

— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share.  Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com. Thanks for thinking about this!

After 38 years we have made the difficult decision to retire. We have greatly appreciated all of the support from our wonderful customers over the years. It has been our pleasure to have served all of you. You may have started as our customers, but have ended as our friends.  We could not have continued to serve our community without the dedicated commitment of our employees, especially Mike Higgins and Chris Haferman. We look forward to Lee Loveall and Ernesto Magana continuing to provide Whitewater with quality service.  Don’t worry about us, we have 7 great-grandchildren that will keep us very busy! Denny & Judy Fero

Brianna Tillett earns degree from NIU

DeKALB, Ill. – More than 587 students received their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Northern Illinois University in August. Included among the graduates was Brianna Tillett of Whitewater, WI, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation and Disability Services.

About Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university with a global network of nearly 260,000 alumni. With expertise that benefits its region, the country and the world, NIU offers more than 170 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs across seven colleges: Business, Education, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Health and Human Sciences, Law, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts. Through its main campus in DeKalb and education centers for students and working professionals in Naperville and Rockford, NIU serves a diverse and international student body of over 15,400. The 16 NIU Huskies Division I athletic teams compete in the Mid-American Conference. For more information, visit NIU.edu.

“The Fabulous Four”
Tuesday, November 12, 1 pm

(Comedy) Rated R (language); 1 hour, 38 minutes  (2024).

Two female friends travel to Key West to be bridesmaids in a college girlfriend’s surprise wedding. Sisterhood is rekindled in a fun sort of way! Starring Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Megan Mullally, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Michael Bolton. 

Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. Although there is no charge to attend, regular participants are encouraged to join Seniors in the Park. The annual fee for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District is $10 and non-residents is $15. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes our of our fundraising monies. If you cannot afford the fee, we have a fund that will cover it for you. Fees are accepted at the Starin Park Community Building or online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/

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

In the November 5 election Whitewater resident and three-term Common Council member Brienne Brown, a Democrat, was successful in her second attempt to win a seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Benefitting from the composition of a new District 43, Brown beat District 33 incumbent Scott L. Johnson by a vote of 16,553 to 15,712. Johnson’s current district, which he has served for two years, includes the Jefferson County portion of the city. Brown will represent the entire city of Whitewater, plus the towns of Richmond, Cold Spring, Johnstown, Lima, Milton, and Fulton, as well as the city of Milton and a very small portion of Janesville. Brown will be installed in January.

Brown issued the following statement in response to her election:

“I am thankful for the trust placed in me by the voters of Assembly District 43. It will be an honor to represent all of you.

Thank you to the campaign volunteers who worked tirelessly across the district to bring about this result. I will work just as tirelessly to be the advocate you deserve in the Assembly. 

I want to acknowledge Representative Johnson’s service in government and wish him well.”

Story and photos by Tom Ganser

There is no better way to bring musical theater joy to the holiday season than by enjoying a performance of the Whitewater High School Players production of Irving Berlin’s classic “White Christmas” Nov. 21-23 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. in the James M. Stewart Auditorium at Whitewater High School.

General tickets ($7 for students and $10 for adults) are available at the box office one hour before the performance. For more information, contact the box office at 262-472-8178.

Prior to curtain opening, Tom Ganser’s photos of the WHS Players productions of “Footloose” (2021), “Beauty and the Beast” (2022), and “Mean Girls” (2023) will be shown.

Based on the 1954 holiday classic film “White Christmas” this uplifting family musical revolves around two buddies, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis. After World War II, they become a popular song-and-dance duo, and they decide to help their former commanding general by putting on a show at his struggling Vermont inn. Along the way, they meet two talented sisters, Betty and Judy Haynes, and love blossoms during the holiday season. 

“White Christmas” is a festive celebration of romance, friendship, and the magic of Christmas.

Under the artistic direction of Jim McCulloch, musical direction of Liz Elliott, choreography by Tatum Atkins, and costumed by Sarah Vincent-Dunham, cast members include: Ian Agen, Jocelyn Alcala, Chacha Binagi, Payton Bunger, Ayden Clark, Alex Clarksen, Peyton Comfort, Esteban Diaz, David Enns, Georgia Esch, Vivian Harris, Nina Heim, Haley Keltesch, Ameera Lin, Ash Miethke, Genevieve Miranda, Virginia Nelson, Sam Nickelsburg, Sophia Noonan, Kai Peterson, Haleigh Pond, Jesus Ramirez, Lia Ramirez, Julian Rennells, A’lani Ross, Josie Selby, Taylor Speerbrecher, Alex Sullivan, Jaylynn Traxler, and Ava Van Daele.

Bringing set construction and backstage magic to the production under the guidance of  Kat Dunham are Caitlin Alford, Isabella Cohen, Laken De Porter, Erison Dreksler, Emerson Dunham, Calli Hartzheim, Taiya Kolb, Angel Kigar, Isabelle Lavertu, Kara Long, Miles Nickelsburg, Ava Nygren, Joshua Nygren, Sam Raupp, Cora Schimming, Kendra Serrano, Lucille Troxel, and Samantha Van Daele.

Adding sparkle to the production by the pit band musicians under direction of Sam Averill are Dante Baker, Anne Coburn, Isabella Cohen, Jay Downs, Justin Kamp, Isabelle Lavertu, Melina Palmer-Flintrop, Nathan Roley, Piper Tevis, Sami Van Daele, and Willow Vogelzang.

The important and lasting powerful impact of being part of a Whitewater theatrical production on students is easy to underestimate, but very evident.

Chacha Binagi, WHS junior, said, “Phil Davis is my first lead singer role. In summer and previous fall shows, I’ve been given named supporting roles, but still considered a member of ensemble. It hasn’t been easy, learning harder dances and more lines, but it’s definitely been fun. I’ve liked doing more and it isn’t too hard as long as I put effort into it.”

He added, “I like how much Phil Davis dances, and how he’s charming and funny. Through this show, I’ve learned that you will never know how hard something is or how hard someone has it until you live through it.”

WHS freshman Jaylynn Traxler has been a valued part of past Whitewater productions.  Regarding her experiences as a member of the crew in “White Christmas,” she shared, “I would have to say when being in this musical you have to have a lot of time management and being able to be negotiable. When facing challenges that randomly pop up through the musical extra rehearsals or different time changes, you have to be able to be there when you can and be negotiable with the director.”

Considering the value of what she’s has learned, Traxler added, “This also relates to when you get a job or when you go to college when you have to have time management to get to your job on time or talking to a professor so all of it is really important.”

“If I don’t step up on a stage again I will always have these skills that theater has taught me.”

Start your holiday season by surprising a friend or neighbor with the gift of a ticket to “White Christmas.”

Gov. Evers Orders Flags to be Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Milwaukee Ald. and Former State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff  MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #242 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Fri., Nov. 8, 2024, in honor of Milwaukee Ald. and former Wisconsin State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff, who passed away on Mon., Nov. 4, 2024. “Jonathan’s passing is a tragedy to all who knew him and for the many whose lives have been bettered because of his service and advocacy. As a legislator, Jonathan was always eager to seek the good in others, always working in earnest to bridge divides and bring people together of different backgrounds and perspectives,” said Gov. Evers in a statement released shortly after former Rep. Brostoff’s passing.  “There are few who advocate as zealously and tenaciously as Jonathan did for the people and causes he cared about. Whether it was supporting the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing community, increasing shared revenue, expanding access to mental health services, or any of the many other issues he focused on, Jonathan fully devoted himself to the work and was relentless in pursuing the change he believed in. “Like so many, Kathy and I are shocked and saddened by Jonathan’s passing, and we are keeping his wife, Diana, their four young kids, their families and friends, and all those who knew and loved Jonathan close to our hearts. We lost him far, far too soon.” Former Rep. Brostoff was born in Milwaukee and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in political science. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2014, where he represented the 19th Assembly District until 2022. During his four terms in office representingAssembly District 19, former Rep. Brostoff served on notable committees such as the Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care, the Committee on Mental Health, and the Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform. Former Rep. Brostoff was also a staunch advocate for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing community and authored legislation that aimed to address the shortage of sign language interpreters in Wisconsin. Following his time in the Assembly, in November 2022, former Rep. Brostoff was elected to serve the 3rd District of the Milwaukee Common Council, championing issues like pedestrian safety and bike lane accessibility as well as sustainability. In addition to his years of public service as an elected official, former Rep. Brostoff was also known to spend his time volunteering at a local youth shelter and at the Maryland Avenue Montessori School, as well as remaining active with the Milwaukee Public Allies program, for which he was an alumnus, and Dryhootch, a non-profit focused on peer support and services for veterans.  Services for former Rep. Brostoff will be held on Fri., Nov. 8, 2024, in Milwaukee.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week’s image is from the Scholl Collection of glass-plate negatives from the turn of the 20th century. It is a view of a sorghum mill processing sorghum stems, a common activity in the fall during the 19th and early twentieth centuries. Sorghum is a highly nutritious grain with seeds, that when dried, make a gluten-free flour. The long stems hold a sweetish liquid that can be boiled into a sweet syrup. It was used in the past as an economical sweetener and, during World War II, a substitute for rationed sugar. The photograph shows stems of the sorghum plant in a press, powered by a draft horse, extracting the liquid. In the background is a shed with a working stove, probably heating sorghum liquid down into a syrup. 

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(2881GP, Whitewater Historical Society)