News & Events

This December and January, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland is making it easier than ever for girls and families to join the Girl Scout Movement. For a limited time, families can sign up youth in grades kindergarten through 12th grade for Girl Scouts at a special rate of just $5—unlocking a world of opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.

Girl Scouts offers unmatched experiences for girls to discover their passions, build life skills, and make new friends. From outdoor adventures to STEM activities, community service projects, and creative expression, Girl Scouts equips girls with the tools they need to lead with courage, confidence, and character.

“There’s no better time to join Girl Scouts,” said Lisa Smith, CEO of Badgerland Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts builds confident, resilient leaders who shape the future. Through unmatched opportunities in STEM, the outdoors, entrepreneurship, and life skills, Girl Scouts empowers girls to break barriers, embrace challenges, and create lasting change in their communities and beyond. It’s not just a program – it’s an experience that transforms lives and equips them to lead with courage, confidence, and character. This $5 membership is a wonderful way to start their journey!”

This special membership promotion runs December through January 31 and is open to all new youth members. With troop opportunities throughout the community, Girl Scouts is ready to welcome new members and help them kick off their year with confidence, friendship, and adventure.

Top 5 Reasons to Join Girl Scouts Now:

1. Participate in the famous Cookie Program starting this February and build skills like confidence and goal-setting.
2. Gain early registration access to amazing summer camps packed with unforgettable outdoor experiences.
3. Explore passions and develop skills through STEM activities, creative projects, and community service opportunities.
4. Build true friendships in a welcoming and supportive environment.
5. Be accepted for who you are and discover your strengths in a space that celebrates individuality.
   
   To learn more or to sign up for joining Girl Scouts:
   www.gsbadgerland.org or call 800.236.2710

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We Are Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland
Badgerland serves 23 counties through south-central and southeastern Wisconsin. Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges— whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by  Kateřina Hartlová from Pixabay.

Are you considering a change for your farm or ag business? Or maybe you have an issue that needs to be addressed to improve your business and you are not sure how to get started on that planning. Navigating Your Ag Business: From Stress to Success is a new UW-Madison Division of Extension online course that will provide you strategies to answer these three questions: 

1. Where are you now?
2. Where do you want to be?
3. How do you get there?

Navigating Your Ag Business: From Stress to Success combines online self-paced learning activities with live online group meetings, fostering a supportive peer community while collaborating with facilitators. The course starts on January 1, 2025, with the first live Zoom meeting scheduled for January 28, 2025, from 6:00 – 7:30 PM Central Time. The self-paced learning continues through April with opportunities for group and personalized meetings with facilitators throughout the remainder of the course. By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Prioritize their current unique stressors
• Select which financial camp they are in
• Develop a vision and goals for their farm and family
• Design an action plan to address their identified stressor and reach their vision and goals

Space is limited for this session that starts in January. Multiple farm members are encouraged to participate and attend the live sessions. It would be helpful for participants to register by December 13, 2024, so that materials can be mailed to them prior to January 1. However, we will accept registrations until the class is full. [In the future the course will cost $150, but support from a grant is covering the cost this time.] To learn more about the course and to register go to go.wisc.edu/NYAB Direct any questions to Joy Kirkpatrick, Farm Management Outreach Specialist, joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu 608.263.3485. 

This program is a partnership between UW-Madison Division of Extension’s Farm Management Program and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, & Consumer Protection’s Farm Center. The development of this program was supported by USDA/NIFA under award numbers 2020-70028-32728 and 2024-70028-43552. 

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by UW Division of Extension. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay.

Sheriff Fell is pleased to announce that the Rock County Sheriff’s Office will offer our first 2025 ATV Safety Education Course on January 7, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and January 11, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., at the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, 200 East U.S. Highway 14, Janesville, WI 53545. Students must attend both sessions to
graduate.

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, is required to complete an ATV Safety Education Course to legally operate an ATV or UTV in areas open to the public within Wisconsin. Students should be at least 12 years of age or turn 12 shortly after the class.

ATV Safety Education Course
Session 1: January 7, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. @ Rock County Sheriff’s Office
Session 2: January 11, from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. @ Rock County Sheriff’s Office

Registration is now open. Complete the online enrollment form to reserve a seat.
https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/sheriff-s-office/recreational-patrol/atv-education

Class size is limited to 30 students. Upon submission of the registration form, the submitter will see an onscreen confirmation message with course information.

The course fee of $10 per student will be collected at the first session. If the student is under 18 years old, a parent/guardian will need to attend the first session with the student. Students will receive course materials at the first session. Please direct any questions to Deputy Trevor Lund at trevor.lund@co.rock.wi.us.

Editor’s note: The above press release was received from the Rock County Sheriff’s Department.

Editor’s Note:  The following interview was done by Marjorie Stoneman on behalf of Whitewater Unites Lives (WUL).

Most Americans have parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents who were immigrants, and Cesar Mendoza is no different. He is a second-generation immigrant.  His mother came to the United States from Guanajuato, Mexico before he was born and later became a United States Citizen under the Amnesty program.

Born in the U.S., Cesar has always been a United States citizen and grew up in Whitewater, where he attended every school except Lakeview.  He remembers great experiences growing up and appreciates Whitewater’s diversity.   Cesar opened a thriving business in 2015 called Underground Cutz that provides barbershop haircuts.

Cutting hair is his passion and his avocation.  He went to UW-Whitewater for a while, but ended up cutting hair for so many students that he decided to open his own business after attending barber school.  After cutting hair out of the basement of his step-dad’s furniture store, Leon Furniture, for three years, he finally had so many customers that he was able to open his shop right next to his step-dad’s shop.   The landlord of his building offered to renovate and let him pay it back in installments.

Cesar has always liked Whitewater, and though he wanted to remain living here, he found his perfect home in Milton where he and his wife live with their four children.

Most of his barbershop clients come from outside of Whitewater or are university students.  He said, “Getting people from Whitewater to support businesses in Whitewater is tough.”

In fact, he says he has a few Hispanic clients but most are not.  He thinks it is because of his branding – the name of his business is in English.  While some people assume he speaks Spanish because he looks Hispanic, others assume that, because the name of his business is in English, he does not speak Spanish.

In fact, he does speak both English and Spanish fluently.  His mother, who learned English at work once she moved here, would tell her children she could not understand them (even though she could) if they spoke English because she wanted them to learn to speak Spanish fluently.

He takes his family to Guanajuato, Mexico regularly so that his children, ages 9, 4, 2 and 11 months, can understand more about his family’s culture.  He says that the culture in Mexico is very different than in America.  People in his mother’s hometown are very family-oriented and friendly to everyone.

Even though he regularly visits Mexico, the U.S. is his home.  He loves the United States for its diversity.  “The U.S. is everyone’s country – that’s what makes it so different from other countries.”

He feels strongly that Immigrants add value to the community and economy.  He says, “Whitewater would be nothing without immigrants because everyone in Whitewater probably has an immigrant background.”

Undergrown Cutz, on 153 W. Main Street, Suite A, is open for walk-ins Thursday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Whitewater Unified School Board Survey and Budget Work Session – Monday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda: Review Community Referendum Survey; Purpose, Process, and Implementation
Whitewater High School Library
435 South Elizabeth Street

City of Whitewater Plan & Architectural Review Meeting – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and possible approval of a Conditional Use Permit for an Auto Repair Shop to
be located at 265 S. Wisconsin Street, and Discussion and possible approval of a Specific Implementation Plan and Conditional Use for Alcohol by the Drink for a Wedding Venue to be located at 328 W Main Street
(Hamilton House), Whitewater, WI 53190 for Mark and Karen Barbar. Tax Parcel #/OT
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or
telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/911157061
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 911-157-061
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

City of Whitewater Public Works Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and Possible Action regarding the closure of Starin Road between Prairie
Street and Warhawk Drive to vehicular traffic.
Cravath Lakefront Room, 2nd Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88217346962?pwd=bCTW0icn4KHCK3OY4Zota4HFslxs9Q.1
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 882 1734 6962
Passcode:
830873

UW-Whitewater Career Services is collecting professional attire for our Warhawk Success Closet, a free resource for students to use for interviews and work wear. We are accepting donations of gently-used professional clothes, specifically suit jackets & blazers, dress pants, dress shoes, ties, belts, and dress shirts/blouses. Please consider cleaning out your closet to help the Warhawk community! Our drive runs through December 13th, although donations can be made any time of year. Visit https://tinyurl.com/WarhawksDonateUWW to learn how to donate.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by  Ribhav Agrawal from Pixabay,

The Greater Whitewater Committee (GWC) is set to host Gallery Director Kim Adams from the Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA), at the upcoming December meeting. Kim Adams will be providing an update on the Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA). 

Kim Adams has served as the Gallery Director for the Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) since December 14, 2023. As a lifelong learner and advocate for the arts, she believes that creativity resides in everyone.

One of the standout achievements in Kim’s career has been her instrumental role in developing and supervising The Center Art Gallery and Roberta’s Art Gallery, at the UW-Whitewater University Center. Her collaborative efforts with the UW-W Art Department, alongside engagement with student artists, local, regional, national, and international talents, have been pivotal in fostering a vibrant artistic community. Kim has also been actively involved with local organizations such as the Whitewater Arts Alliance, Studio 84, Fairhaven Senior Services, Optimist International, Association of College Unions International, and the Whitewater Unified School District, among others.

Kim’s impact extends beyond gallery curation and collaboration. She played a crucial role in the development of the permanent art collection at the University Center, orchestrating collaborative projects that bridged the gap between professional artists and students. Her commitment to education and outreach is further exemplified by her previous involvement in the “Warhawk Experience Camp,” assisting with Warhawk Dual Enrollment research, and serving as the Community Outreach Specialist for the Chancellor’s Office (in fall 2023).

“The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) is an essential part of our community,” said GWC President, Jeffery Knight, “I am looking forward to Kim’s presentation to learn more about the incredible work she does.” 

The GWC’s upcoming monthly meeting is Thursday, December 12th at 7 a.m. at 841 Brewhouse: 841 E Milwaukee St, Whitewater, WI 53190. The public is more than welcome to attend this meeting to hear more about the Whitewater Arts Alliance. If interested in attending, you must RSVP. To reserve your spot, contact Jeff Knight at jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com or 920.728.0662 by Wednesday, December 11th.

About the GWC

The GWC is an action-oriented group committed to working with citizens, elected officials, and policymakers to identify, craft, and implement a pro-business agenda. The agenda advances the economic, education, and social policies required to energize and secure the Whitewater area’s economic future, as well as protect Whitewater’s quality of life.