News & Events

The City of Whitewater invites the community to the second scheduled session of the Common Council for September, set to occur on Tuesday, September 17, at 6:30 PM. This session will convene in a special setting at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW), specifically in room 259 of the University Center, located at 190 Hamilton Green Way. This meeting is an excellent opportunity for community members to participate in the governance process and witness the ongoing partnership between the City of Whitewater and its University community. All interested individuals are encouraged to attend.

Parking: Parking will be available in lots 12 and 12A without a permit during the event hours. (6:00p.m.-9:00p.m.) https://www.uww.edu/documents/campus/CampusMap.pdf

Speakers: The meeting will feature important remarks from Chancellor King and Whitewater Student Government President Douglas Bradley. The specific topics and titles of their speeches will be confirmed and announced closer to the meeting date.

Editor’s note: The above press release was received from the City of Whitewater.

Whitewater Fire/EMS held their annual pancake breakfast on September 8. Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser.

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

In a Facebook post on September 6, Whitewater Cinemas, which is locally owned, announced that they are now open only Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Their website will not be announcing the following weekend’s movies until at least Tuesday, as they only learn their week’s bookings on Monday afternoon.

Facebook commenters made a number of suggestions in response to the post, including showing old movies and sporting events. The cinemas responded that they have considered many such possibilities, but there are many legal complications, for example, for showing Packers games on the big screen, and even old movies are not inexpensive to show.

The motion picture industry is beginning to recover from the pandemic, but, per the statistics shown on the table below, the domestic box office has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels. Increased availability of streaming is among the factors that have taken a toll. Americans who went to the cinema more than five times in 2000 went fewer than three times in 2023. An even more stark statistic: “One out of every five moviegoers has vanished since the pandemic,” said The Hollywood Reporter. According to theweek.com, “Last year’s Hollywood strikes complicated the issue, as the strikes stalled or halted many anticipated film productions and left holes in the box office schedule.”

Year	Domestic box office (billions)	Releases	#1 movie
2024 (Through 9/1)	$5.848	452	Inside Out 2
2023	$8.908	590	Barbie
2022	$7.370	499	Top Gun: Maverick
2021	$4.483	441	Spider-Man: No Way Home
2020	$2.113	465	Bad Boys for Life
2019	$11.363	910	Avengers: Endgame
2018	$11.892	993	Black Panther
2017	$11.075	854	Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
2016	$11.375	855	Finding Dory
2015	$11.149	845	Jurassic World
2014	$10.369	849	Guardians of the Galaxy

The text of the Whitewater Cinemas Facebook post is as follows:

Hey Whitewater – we’re now open Friday-Sunday only!

We won’t lie, business has been tough since 2020. Costs are up, attendance is down, and we’re in an industry where we have to rely on a lot of outside factors like the studios, what they release, and their terms.

We love this community and want to continue serving you as long as we can, and this decision makes that feasible.

We’ll still have all of the latest releases at our famously low prices ($8 for adults, $7 at matinees – you can’t beat it!) Plus, free refills on our delicious popcorn and soda, and all of our concessions will continue to be available to go.

If you want to support us (or another locally owned theater near you), we suggest-

-Seeing a movie this weekend and buying concessions! We make very little off of ticket sales, but concessions balance that.

-Purchase concessions to go and bring our popcorn home for your next movie night or game.

-Engage with our social media posts and share them with your friends, family, and community groups.

Thank you all for your continued support. We are grateful to be one of the very few locally owned and operated movie theaters in Wisconsin. We’ll see you this weekend for a movie!

Check our our website for showtimes and to pre-purchase tickets:

http://www.whitewatercinemas.com

Editor’s note: The image on the homepage is from the Whitewater Cinemas Facebook page.

The Unity Project of Fort Atkinson will be hosting the seventh annual Fort Fall Fiesta on Saturday, September 14th from 12-4 pm at Jones Park in Fort Atkinson. The event is free, and everyone is welcome.

The fiesta brings together English and Spanish speakers within our community for an afternoon of food, music, dancing, games and children’s activities. Authentic food will be available from La Morenita taco truck and the Hispanic congregation of First United Methodist Church. Delicious ice cream treats will be served by Frostie Freeze and Beauty and the Bean will serve coffee drinks. A local DJ will take requests for a mix of Hispanic and local favorites. The Cub Scouts, Jefferson County Humane Society, Fort Healthcare and BASE will have fun activities for the whole family. Free face painting, balloon animals and giveaways. New this year will be a quinceañera fashion show co-hosted by the Fort Atkinson Club at 1:00 pm. Community members are invited to enter the domino tournament for a chance to win tickets to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Fort Atkinson Chamber will announce the winner of Lemonade Day at 2:00 pm. The event will also feature over thirty exhibitors who offer products, services, or opportunities to the Hispanic community.

This year’s event sponsors include Fort Community Credit Union, Fort HealthCare, Jones Dairy Farm and Molina HealthCare. Concessions are sponsored by Kwik Trip and BKS Dental.

Special thanks go out to Sam Hartwick and the Fort Atkinson Generals, Fort Atkinson Parks & Recreation Department and City of Fort Atkinson for their support.

“The Unity Project’s mission is to promote a sense of acceptance and belonging among all members of the community. The Fiesta is an opportunity to bring people together, celebrate, and create bonds that strengthen our community,” said Whitney Townsend,
event organizer.

Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of 9/11 and State Day of Service and Remembrance

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #240 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Wed., Sept. 11, 2024, out of respect for the nearly 3,000 individuals who lost their lives in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Additionally, Executive Order #240 declares Wed., Sept. 11, 2024, as a state Day of Service and Remembrance to encourage all Wisconsinites to commit acts of service and give back to local neighbors and communities to honor the lives lost 23 years ago. Gov. Evers and members of the Evers Administration will be participating in service events on Wed., Sep. 11, 2024, as part of the state Day of Service and Remembrance. “Each year on this day, we remember the thousands of individuals who lost their lives, pay tribute to the first responders, neighbors, and volunteers, among many others, who responded bravely and at great personal sacrifice, and honor the countless more whose lives were forever changed by this tragedy,” said Gov. Evers. “On 9/11, we reflect upon the spirit of service, our resilience together, and our resolve to find strength through unity, community, and common purpose. I encourage Wisconsinites to join in honoring this solemn day through service, whether it’s finding ways to give back to our local communities or even through simple acts of kindness to others.” A list of potential volunteer opportunities, including virtual options, can be found on the Volunteer Wisconsin website here. Wisconsinites can also participate in other ways, including by engaging with their neighborhoods and communities, performing acts of kindness, or taking the time to reflect on the significance of the day.

The City of Whitewater is inviting all residents to a community listening session on Friday, September 13th, to discuss an exciting new housing project proposed by NRS Real Estate. The session will focus on the potential development of modular homes, a distinctive and affordable housing option that could meet the needs of our community.

Date: Friday, September 13th
Time: 3-5 PM
Location: Community Room at City Hall, located at 312 W Whitewater Street

Unlike previous development proposals, the modular homes presented by NRS Real Estate offer a unique advantage—each unit can be delivered for under $300,000. This initiative aims to provide a more affordable housing solution while maintaining quality and design standards that align with Whitewater’s strategic goals.

NRS Real Estate representatives will be on hand to explain the details of the project, address any questions, and gather input from residents. This listening session is a crucial opportunity for community members to voice their opinions and help shape the future of housing in Whitewater.

“We’re committed to making sure that any development in Whitewater reflects the needs and desires of our residents,” said Economic Development Director Zeinert. “This session is an important step in that process, and we encourage everyone to participate and share their thoughts.”

Your feedback is vital in determining whether this modular home project is a good fit for our community. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to ensure Whitewater continues to be a great place to live.

For more information, please contact Taylor Zeinert at 262-473-0148 or at tzeinert@whitewater-wi.gov

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the City of Whitewater.