News & Events

Bethel House is hosting a fund-raising five-course dinner catered by Black Sheep with wine
pairing at the Staller Estate Winery on November 5 at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds support Bethel
House, Whitewater’s grass-roots nonprofit providing hope and housing to homeless families
with children in the Whitewater area. The cost is $75 per person.

Given the risk of the Covid variant, in order to stay safe and healthy while gathering, the plan is:
– Tables are spread out on both the upper and lower levels of Staller’s large event space;
– All the servers will wear masks;
– Attendees are encouraged to register for the dinner with people you know, for a table
size of 2, 4, 6, and 8.

The difficulty of supporting families experiencing homelessness and at great risk of becoming
homeless in these challenging times is described by Bethel House Executive Director Kristy
Weinberg:
“This has been such a difficult year for many families. Some have experienced hardship
because they contracted Covid and were very sick. Some lost their jobs because their
employer lost their business. Some have had to choose between their job and caring for
their children. Many have experienced additional issues with domestic violence or a mental
health crisis. The pandemic has taken its toll on everyone, but some have suffered
extensively. We do what we can. Sometimes that means giving more help than we usually
provide towards their rent or electric bills so they don’t get evicted. Often it means simply
giving a ride to an appointment, finding beds for the kids, or even just picking up a pack of
diapers. And in all cases, that means being a safe, listening ear for them to open up and
share their struggles.”

If you are interested in attending the dinner on November 5, email
becca.bethelhouse@gmail.com or call 262-473-2715. Donations can be mailed to Bethel
House, 133 S. Franklin Street, Whitewater, 53190.

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by Whitewater Arts Alliance.

The annual Whitewater Arts Alliance Members’ Show (and sale) will be exhibited in a hybrid format online at whitewaterarts.org and at the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street, from Friday, Nov. 19th to Sunday, Dec. 19th. Except for Thanksgiving week (11/25 – 11/28), the gallery will be open Friday through Sunday each week from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. The virtual show will be available for viewing all month long. The Whitewater Arts Alliance will be recording a virtual reception to display on our youtube channel. Viewing the exhibit is free of charge and open to everyone interested in the visual arts. The city of Whitewater asks that visitors wear masks in the Cultural Arts Center regardless of vaccination status.

The WAA Members’ Show welcomes art pieces by Whitewater Arts Alliance members in any 2-D or 3-D medium completed during the last two years. The Alliance encourages each participant to submit three to four pieces. All participants will be entered in a blind drawing for a free 2022 WAA membership. The drawing will be Sunday, Nov. 21.

Anyone can become a member of the Whitewater Arts Alliance by completing a membership form and choosing their membership type. Check out whitewaterarts.org and click on “About” and “Become a Member” for more details.

Show visitors will also have an opportunity to vote for their favorite pieces on exhibit in-gallery or online.

Participating members of the Whitewater Arts Alliance are to bring their art and completed forms (unless submitted by email at wwartsalliance@gmail.com) to the Cultural Arts Center gallery on Sunday, Nov. 14 between 2:00 and 6:00 P.M. Current forms are on the WAA website whitewaterarts.org on the “forms” menu. Artists are to pick up their art pieces after announcement of the viewers’ choices on Sunday, Dec. 19 at about 2:30 P.M.

Exhibit Guidelines

1. Submitted pieces should represent work done during the last two years.

2. Submitted pieces must be original. If a piece references or reproduces a photograph,

the artist is to have taken the original photograph(s).

3. Submitted 2-dimensional pieces must be wired and ready for hanging.

4. Pedestals are available for 3-dimensional pieces, but if a display case is needed, the artist is to

provide it.

5. Members may submit up to a maximum of four pieces.

6. Complete the licensing contract to merchandise images (whitewaterarts.org). At the WAA website, click on “Forms” and then click on “Members’ Show Licensing Agreement.”

7. Complete the general insurance release form for liability while pieces are on exhibit at the CAC (whitewaterarts.org). At the WAA website, click on “Forms” and then click on “Members’ Show Insurance Release.” At the bottom of the insurance release form, you will find information tags for three art pieces. Complete one of the tags for each art piece to be submitted for the show. Attach the tag so that it can be viewed easily from the front.

8. Email digital copies of your art (JPEG format) to wwartsalliance@gmail.com for the virtual show.

9. Bring art pieces, completed forms (items 6 and 7 above, and unless emailed to wwartsalliace@gmail.com) to the CAC gallery on Sunday, Nov. 14 between 2:00 and 6:00 P.M. or at another time by special arrangement.

10. Pick up art after announcement of viewers’ choice award on Sunday Dec. 19 after 2:30 P.M.

The Cultural Arts Center is located on 402 West Main Street in the historic White building near the Birge Fountain. Parking is behind the building. An elevator is available for access from the parking lot entrance.

Big thanks to our sponsor, First Citizens State Bank!

By Al Stanek
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The City of Whitewater’s project to combat unsightly vegetation growth on Cravath and Trippe Lakes will be accomplished almost entirely without the use of herbicides to knockdown the green areas that nearly encompass the remaining lake beds as the result of a two-year drawdown of the two bodies of water.

The announcement came from Parks and Recreation Director Eric Boettcher at the October 19 City Common Council meeting. The existing green areas will instead be mowed using six-foot wide commercial mowing blades drawn by an all-terrain vehicle, belt-driven traction vehicle and a commercial tractor. The work will be done by the same outside contractor that had been hired to spray the herbicide and is scheduled to begin the week of October 25. It will take place where the shoreline allows and may still require some minimal spraying according to Boettcher.

The use of herbicides had generated opposition from some city residents although the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved chemical treatment was deemed to be safe. The change in plans will not likely add additional costs to the project according to Boettcher who explained that the change in methodology was required by the unusually dry conditions in September and early October that resulted in vegetation going to seed earlier than normal.

The Cravath and Trippe Lakes Drawdown and Dredge Project began in July of 2019. It took two years and the use of siphons in Trippe Lake to accomplish the drawdown. A controlled burn of the remaining mowed vegetation is scheduled to take place in November. The actual dredging phase of the project is scheduled to begin in January of next year. Both lakes are scheduled to be refilled in spring.

The project is similar in nature to other Wisconsin communities’ lake improvement efforts designed to improve water quality and depth, reduce aquatic vegetation, and eliminate invasive aquatic plant species. Lakes project updates are routinely posted on the City of Whitewater’s website at www.whitewater-wi.gov.

In other business the Common Council scheduled a special meeting for October 26^th to continue renegotiations with the Whitewater Fire Department regarding their contract for services with the City. The Common Council also reluctantly agreed to a settlement with Walmart related to an excessive property assessment claim. The agreement calls for the 2021 assessment to not exceed $5,300,000. The current assessment is $5,657,300 and the property owner’s opinion of value was $4,500,000. Reduction in total property tax (all jurisdictions) is $8092 with the city’s share $2347. City Attorney Wally McDonnell advised that trying to resolve the issue in court would cost much more in legal fees than the amount of tax revenue lost. This is the second time that Walmart has filed suit alleging excessive assessment.

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by Knight Public Affairs, LLC.

The Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, 5K and W3 Fit Kid Shuffle held its ninth annual race banquet on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at Willow Brook Golf Course. Gathered for a night of celebration were race sponsors, team leaders, volunteers and five local charities. “The purpose of DWS is to support Whitewater by giving back to organizations that are devoted to helping this community,” DWS Executive Director Jeffery Knight said. “It’s always great to see so many members of the Whitewater community come together for this event.” 

During the banquet, DWS presented $5,000 to each of the five charities, totaling $25,000. These five charities are: Working for Whitewater’s Wellness, Bethel House, Whitewater Unified School District, Whitewater LEADS and J-Hawk Aquatic Club. Beyond the DWS donations, there was an additional $740 directly donated from anonymous individuals to the charities of their choosing on the DWS website. Over the last nine years, the DWS has been able to raise a total of $229,500. “It really is incredible to witness the amount of work that goes into the DWS,” GWC Chairman Larry Kachel said. “The number of local sponsors, volunteers and community members who come together to help out is inspiring.”

This year’s DWS saw the return of the W3 Fit Kid Shuffle, the post-race awards ceremony, and open registration all the way up until race day. The DWS would like to thank everyone who came together to make this ninth year a success. Next year, the tenth annual DWS will take place on Sunday, September 18, 2021. Planning has already begun to make the DWS’s tenth anniversary race an extraordinary event. Keep an eye out for a special black Friday registration deal. 

“The Lost City of Z” – October 26, 1 p.m. – (Biography/Drama/Adventure) 2 hours, 21 minutes; Rated PG-13 (2016)

A true-life adventure about British explorer Major Percival Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who disappeared while searching for a mysterious indigenous city in the Amazon, in the 1920’s. This is a thrilling, thoughtful, hauntingly beautiful film that you will not soon forget. Also stars Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Franco Nero, and Tom Holland.

Rummage sale
329 E Cravath Street
Saturday/Sunday, October 23/24
9:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Lots of bargains. Household items, some clothes, furniture, and outdoor Disney Christmas items. Stop and find some bargains.