News & Events

Editor’s Note:  The following was written by Marjorie Stoneman about Studio 84’s Dance Program.
Update: Photos from the Studio 84’s performance at the Multicultural Heritage Showcase are added to the bottom of the article.

Joy and laughter dances at Studio 84.  Many know Studio 84 as a place for people of all abilities to come to paint, draw, and work with clay and ceramics.  A new program offered is dance. 

And what a wonderful dance it is.  An incredibly talented dancer herself, Margaret Wheeler donates her time each week to bring joy, laughter and dance to Whitewater’s Studio 84 at 121 West Center Street. Stuart Nagy and Steven Paprocki benefit from her talents each week.  They are regular dancers and artists at Studio 84.  Each Tuesday they travel from Hales Corners to spend the day creating art and dancing.

Margaret Wheeler brings an enthusiasm that brightens the studio and makes everyone happy, including visitors.

Dancers Stuart and Steven are definitely joyful as they dance choreographed pieces that are meaningful and fun.  One of the recent performances was danced to “Invisible” by Hunter Hayes.  The anti-bullying theme was powerfully put into dance and featured each dancer’s personal experiences.  Margaret asked each of the dancers to take what could be considered a negative and turn it into a positive.  They danced and used posters to share their messages.  For Stuart, “Hiding” was converted to “Being Seen.”  For Steven, “Shy” was converted to “Quiet Confidence.”  One of the other students created “Autism is Amazing.” 

People with all abilities are invited on Tuesdays from 1-2 p.m. to join the dance class.  Each dancer pays $15 per hour to participate and all proceeds are donated by Margaret to Studio 84.  More information and sign-up information can be found at:  www.studio84inc.org.

“We pick songs that feature fun, positive, non-bullying, and even awe-inspiring themes,” said Margaret.

The class begins with warm-up stretches and then they proceed to choreographed dance segments.

Margaret said, “I love the people, the atmosphere, to be there with all of the art.  The people I meet are so creative…and dance adds to that.”

Margaret Wheeler earned a Master’s Degree in Dance from Mills College, Oakland, CA and has taught and choreographed since the 1980’s.  She has a Certificate of Adaptive Dance from the Boston Ballet and from the American Dance Festival. Previously, she was Director of the Dance Program at Fisk University, Nashville, TN and she created the Parabolic Dance Company in Helena, MT in which all proceeds from concerts were donated to nonprofit organizations.

When she isn’t donating her time dancing, she spends her time as an International Employment and Immigration Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Her dance class has performed at the Multicultural Event through the Whitewater Unified School District and is available for other venues.   Anyone interested in having a performance at their location or event should contact Studio 84 at info@studio84inc.org.

Margaret said, “Being in this space makes me happy – but mostly the people.  People can do anything.”

Dance is just one of the arts featured at Studio 84.  Stuart can often be found at the Whitewater City Market selling his pottery to help raise funds for Studio 84.  He has been involved in Studio 84 for about seven years and said, “I just love doing the arts.” And of dance he said, “It’s fun.  And it gets me energized.”

Benjamin Kelly, a director at Studio 84, said, “I would like to see the studio continue and expand – reaching more people.”  Studio 84 services much of Southern Wisconsin.

Volunteers like Margaret are crucial to the group to sit with artists as they create, help with administration, and assist with other tasks.  Donations also keep the doors open, help with supplies, and more.  Funds are welcome and so are art supplies. 

Their website says, “Studio 84 is a nonprofit art studio, gallery and store.  We specialize in the creative and vocational development of people with disabilities including those with Autism, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities, cognition delays and mental illness.  We believe in creating an environment of inclusion. Open to all ages and all abilities.”

Margaret is also working with the City of Whitewater Parks and Recreation Department to offer evening classes at the Whitewater Armory. More information about Studio 84 and the dance programs can be found at www.studio84inc.org or by calling 262-473-9845.

Studio 84 will be exhibiting art at the Whitewater Arts Alliance Gallery in downtown Whitewater through October 27.  There will be an opening reception on Saturday, October 12, Noon to 4 p.m. with a brief gallery program introducing the exhibit at 1 p.m.  The exhibit can be viewed during the following open gallery hours as well: Thursday-Sundays, Noon to 4 p.m. at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 W Main St. Whitewater. 

Update: Photos below from Studio 84’s performance at the Multilingual Heritage Showcase on May 11 are courtesy of Tom Ganser.

Whitewater High School Alumni Association Annual Meeting
Date: Saturday, October 19 @ 12:00 pm
Location: Jessica’s Restaurant, 140 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190

The primary purpose of the Alumni Association is to raise funds for the distribution of scholarships to Whitewater High School graduating seniors.

All Whitewater High School Alumni and guests are welcome to attend.
Jessica’s standard menu will be available for purchase by attendees.

RSVP Sonja Jacobson by October 15 at 920-253-8831 (please leave a detailed message)

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by Sonja Jacobson.

Wisconsin Makers will host its second annual aluminum pour on Saturday, Oct. 12. The public is invited to this family-friendly event at the regional makerspace, located at 200 E. Clay St. in Whitewater. It will be similar to the past cast
iron pours, except organizers will be pouring aluminum, which has very different properties. It melts at a lower temperature, is lighter, is silver in color and does not rust.

Spectators are welcome to watch the “pour team” — led by Teresa “Tree” Lind, a former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater lecturer of art and design — melt aluminum in an outdoor furnace and then fill sand scratch molds with the liquid metal. The team will start melting aluminum at 9 a.m. By noon, it will have reached 1,200 degrees and be ready to pour into the sand scratch molds participants have carved. After being cooled and cleaned, the castings will be ready to take home by mid-afternoon. The cost is $25 per scratch mold. Participation is on a first- come, first-served basis.

Grilled brats, chips, water and soda will be available for purchase during the pour.

Make your casting

Members of the public wishing to make their own casting may buy a scratch mold square to personalize with their design that day, starting at 9 a.m. They must be completed by 11:30 a.m. Those who would like to get a head start on their design may attend a scratch mold workshop at the makerspace Friday, Oct. 11, from 6 to 9 p.m. Volunteers
will be on hand to provide tools and advice. In addition, persons who would rather to do their artwork at home may buy scratch molds beforehand at Binning and Dickens Insurance, 319 W. Center St., Whitewater, during weekday business hours. They also may be purchased by contacting Wisconsin Makers President Al Jewer at wisconsinmakersinc@gmail.com or (630) 430-9498 and setting a meet-up time.

“We are very excited to be hosting our second fall aluminum pour,” said Jewer. “We have held spring cast-iron
pours for many years and last year added the aluminum pour. This is a wonderful opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art and have a lot of fun doing it.”

Wisconsin Makers is a nonprofit regional makerspace (community workshop) offering an affordable, collaborative and
educational environment that inspires people of all ages to become innovators by unlocking their skills through continual experimentation and training. Work areas/equipment include: 3-D printing, laser engraving, machining, welding/fabrication, electronics, blacksmithing, woodworking, ceramics/pottery, jewelry making, arts/crafts,
quilting/fabric arts, matting/framing and more.

For more information on the iron pour or scratch mold workshop, or to learn about the makerspace or memberships,
visit Wisconsin Makers’ Facebook page at @wisconsinmakers. A brief video showing the capabilities and resources
available at the makerspace may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqa9N8p1Fqw.

Sheriff Fell is pleased to announce that the Rock County Sheriff’s Office will offer our first 2024 Snowmobile Safety Education Course on November 5, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and November 9, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 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, 1985, is required to complete a Snowmobile Safety Education Course to legally operate a snowmobile in areas open to the public within Wisconsin. Students should be at least 12 years of age or turn 12 shortly after the class.

Snowmobile Safety Education Course
Session 1: November 5, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. @ Rock County Sheriff’s Office
Session 2: November 9, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 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/snowmobile-education
Class size is limited to thirty (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 announcement was provided by the Rock County Sheriff’s Department, which has previously confirmed to The Whitewater Banner that Rock County residency is not required in order to register in their classes.

Many of the offseason events that Ferradermis, the Whitewater High School Robotics Team, participates in have a community service aspect to them, and this upcoming weekend’s competition at Muskego High School is no different. On Saturday, October 12, Ferradermis members will be competing in TWIST (Together Women in STEM Thrive) hosted by Team 6421 the WarriorBots with 28 teams from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. As part of the event, teams are encouraged to bring new, unopened LEGO sets to be donated to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee.

Teams with the most donations will win the opportunity to dress one of their mentors in a blow-up unicorn costume for a human player match, and Ferradermis’ Head Coach Mark Zimmermann has graciously agreed to take part in this match if the team can collect enough donations.

The team is reaching out to the Whitewater community in hopes that community members will help us reach our goal. New, unopened LEGO sets can be dropped off this week during the school day at Whitewater High School or given to any team member. Amazon orders could be sent directly to Laura Masbruch at Whitewater High School, 534 S Elizabeth St, Whitewater, WI 53190.

Article Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor
lmasbruch@wwusd.org

The Greater Whitewater Committee is Set to Host Dr. James Hartwick and Dr. Eric Compas from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater as Guest Speakers at the October Meeting.  

The Greater Whitewater Committee (GWC) is set to host James Hartwick and Eric Compas at the upcoming October meeting. Eric Compas recently presented to the Legislative Council Study Committee on the Future of the University of Wisconsin System. We have invited both James Hartwick and Eric Compas to discuss the GPR funding inequities within the UW System because they are both a part of the Faculty External Affairs and Outreach Committee.  

Eric Compas is a professor specializing in human-environment interactions in the Geography, Geology, and Environmental Science Department at UW-Whitewater. He is also the Director of UW-Whitewater’s GIS Center, which provides on-campus internships for students with off-campus clients. His teaching focuses on environmental policy and geographic information systems – mapping with computers – and emerging technologies like drone mapping and extremely accurate GPS equipment. He is also working with the State of Wisconsin to understand and map the potential impacts of climate change on Wisconsin communities and explain how communities might plan for and adapt to these changes.

James Hartwick is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, specializing in teacher education. James is the secondary social studies program coordinator. He also writes about teacher education and the spiritual lives of teachers. He is a former Faculty Senate Chair and is deeply committed to the health of the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater. He is married and has lived in Whitewater for the past 15 years. In recognition of his efforts to support democracy, James won the League of Women’s Voters-Whitewater Area, Making Democracy Work Award.  

The GWC’s upcoming monthly meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 10th 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 GPR funding inequities with the UW System. If interested in attending, you must RSVP. To reserve your spot, contact Jeff Knight at jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com or 920.728.0662 by Wednesday, October 9th.

“I attended the Study Committee meeting where Eric Compas presented his GPR PowerPoint,” said GWC President, Jeffery Knight. “The inequities in the funding of the formula are so severe that it demands continued attention, which is why I asked Eric Compas and James Hartwick to attend the next GWC meeting as we continue to advocate for a change in the funding formula.”

Equal Opportunities Condition – The meeting scheduled for Monday has been canceled due to lack of a quorum.

Tech Park Innovation Center Advisory Board – Tuesday @ 8:30 a.m.
Agenda
Whitewater Innovation Center, Innovation Drive
*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/576696725
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 576-696-725
United States: +1 (224) 501-3412
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

City of Whitewater Finance Committee Meeting – Tuesday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion Regarding an Amendment to Slater Development.
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.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86834216141
Or One tap mobile :
+13052241968,,86834216141# US
+13092053325,,86834216141# US
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
+1 312 626 6799 US
Webinar ID: 868 3421 6141

City of Whitewater Public Works Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and Possible Action regarding changing winter parking restrictions to start
December 1, instead of November 1, Discussion; Possible Action regarding Public Participation at Public Works Committee meetings; Discussion and Possible Action regarding request to paint traffic signal control boxes; Discussion and Possible Action regarding Bird Scooters; Discussion and Possible Action regarding pedestrians not crossing W. Main Street at designated crosswalks near the University; Discussion and Possible Action regarding traffic concerns near Walmart and ALDI.
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/81993928164?pwd=wEFxkzfakvpdvC9e87dbvhcC3W3Bgy.1
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US (Chicago)
Webinar ID: 819 9392 8164
Passcode: 791620

City of Whitewater Community Involvement and Cable TV Commission – Wednesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smartphone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/265349749
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 265-349-749
United States: +1 (646) 749-3122
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

City of Whitewater Board of Zoning Appeals – Thursday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: Applicant: Tammy Aprahamian
Property Location: 187 W Main St
Applicable Code: 19.30.030(g) A ground floor residence is prohibited.
Variance Requested: To allow a first-floor apartment in a B2 Central Business District.
Reason for Request: To allow for continue remodeling of the Bowers House.
Whitewater Municipal Building Council Chambers,
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 click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89750564686?pwd=usYaEI0y1vVo2TD5rEx0CnaD7J4NCy.1
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US (Chicago) (Houston)
Webinar ID: 897 5056 4686
Passcode: 522546