News & Events

The National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office is currently predicting that the Whitewater area may receive 4-8″ of snow by early Friday afternoon. Snow may begin falling by about 1 a.m. on Friday, with the heaviest rate, greater than 1″ per hour, likely occurring between about 10 a.m. and noon on Friday. This is expected to be a wet/heavy snow, so anyone who will be shoveling is advised to move small amounts of snow at a time and take many breaks.

Living with Pain? Healthy Living with Chronic Pain Can Help!

ADRC of Rock County Offers Program to Help Alleviate and Cope with Ongoing Pain Symptoms

We all experience pain from time to time – from headaches to muscle strains. But many people live with ongoing, persistent pain – known as chronic pain – that comes from injuries or conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve damage, and others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 11% – 40% of the U.S. adult population has chronic pain that impacts their physical and mental health and is one of the most common reasons that people seek medical care. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that help is available for people in Rock County. [The Banner has been assured that residents of Jefferson or Walworth County are also welcome to participate as long as space is available.] Healthy Living with Chronic Pain (HLCP) is an evidence-based program for people living with on-going, persistent pain. The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Rock County will be offering an online series on six Tuesday mornings, from April 2 – May 14, 2024 (no class April 23rd.) The time will be from 9:00-11:30 a.m. each week. People will need a computer or tablet with a camera, microphone and have reliable internet. Leaders are Chris Devine and Kay Searfoss.

Developed at Stanford University, the program provides information and strategies for reducing and managing pain and has been researched and proven to decrease pain, improve mental health, and increase confidence in one’s ability to manage pain down
the road. Each weekly session is 2-1/2 hours long and provides a venue for mutual support and sharing among participants.

To learn more or to register for Healthy Living with Chronic Pain, please contact the Health Promotion Coordinator at the ADRC of Rock County by calling: 608-757-5309 or email: Lisa.Messer@co.rock.wi.us. Space is limited, please register as soon as possible.
Suggested donation is $20 and includes a resource book and program materials. Best suited for those age 60+.

The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Rock County supports the independence of older adults, adults with disabilities, their families, and caregivers, by providing services and connecting individuals to available support, education, and programs.

Editor’s note: The above press release was received from the ADRC of Rock County. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage from pexels by Engin Akyurt.

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

There will be at least one Easter egg hunt in the city this year, but the bunny will be delayed until the Sunday after Easter, April 7. Hunter Karnitz, who was recently appointed as manager of the Whitewater Aquatic & Fitness Center (WAFC), confirmed that the event will take place after Easter due to the schedule of an intern who is planning and leading it. The information provided below is from the Parks & Recreation site, where registrations may be made.

WAFC Egg Hunt 2024!! Come join us for a fun-filled egg hunt in and around the Aquatic Center Pool! There will be three different age groups for this event: 0-5 year olds, 6-10 year olds, 10-18 year olds that will take place right after one another. Kids will have 20 minutes to find as many eggs as they can, then turn them in for prizes! Eggs will be reset and then the next group will do their searching! Afterwards the pool will be open for swimming. There is a small cost to participate which will go back to improving the Aquatic Center! All who participate will receive a FREE Day Pass as well that they can use the next time they come for Open Swim!

Register at the WAFC desk or here: https://whitewater.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=4751

*Please have your child wear a swim suit and bring a towel and some sort of bag/basket to carry eggs!

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

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

Delicious pancakes and Jones Sausages were served on Saturday by grateful Kiwanians to our generous community. Thanks to all who volunteered, donated funds, donated products or services, and attended the breakfast. The funds raised will help Kiwanis help children.

Following are a series of photos shared by Tom Ganser:

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater High School. Photos were taken by Greg Stewart.

On Saturday, March 9th, students from seven schools met at Whitewater High School to participate in the WSMA District Solo/Ensemble Festival. Students performed in both instrumental and vocal events throughout the day. Congratulations to all WHS students who performed! Special congratulations to the 26 WHS students who received at 1* rating in one or more events which qualifies them for the WSMA State Solo/Ensemble Festival which will be held in April on the UW-Whitewater campus. We wish you all the best! 

Dante Baker – Marimba Solo

Isabella Cohen, Jay Downs, Taiya Kolb, and Kay Mikos – Saxophone Quartet

Jay Downs – Alto Saxophone Solo

Taiya Kolb – Alto Saxophone Solo

Isabelle Lavertu – Trumpet Solo

Lucy Troxel – Clarinet Solo

Sami Van Daele – Marimba Solo

Meridyth Cashion-Soprano Solo

Ayden Clark-Soprano Solo

Charlotte Hajewski-Soprano Solo

Alex Sullivan-Soprano Solo

Brooke Mason-Alto Solo

Marina Linos-Alto Solo

A’lani Ross-Alto Solo

Ava Van Daele-Alto Solo

Alex Sullivan and A’lani Ross – Soprano/Alto Duet

Alex Clarksen-Tenor Solo

Samuel Nickelsburg-Tenor Solo

Payton Bunger-Bass Solo

David Enns-Bass Solo

Payton Bunger, Alex Clarksen, David Enns, and Samuel Nickelsburg- Tenor/Bass Quartet

Alex Clarksen-Musical Theater Solo

Charlotte Hajewski- Musical Theater Solo

Brooke Mason-Musical Theater Solo

Ava Van Daele-Musical Theater Solo

Aliciana Lopez  and David Enns-Soprano/Bass Duet

Isabella Cohen and Samuel Nickelsburg-Soprano/Tenor Duet

Isabella Cohen, Lucy Davis, Erison Dreksler, Georgia Esch, Jazmin Falcon, Charlotte Hajewski, Nina Heim, Aliciana Lopez-Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Payton Bunger, Meridyth Cashion, Ayden Clark, Alex Clarksen, David Enns, Marina Linos, Brooke Mason,  Samuel Nickelsburg, Lauren Rollette, A’lani Ross, Alex Sullivan-Madrigal Ensemble

Payton Bunger, Meridyth Cashion, Ayden Clark, Alex Clarksen, David Enns, Marina Linos, Brooke Mason,  Samuel Nickelsburg, Lauren Rollette, A’lani Ross, Alex Sullivan-Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Photo credit: Greg Stewart

UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena played host to fifty-four high school FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Teams from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota from March 14 – 17, 2024. Wisconsin currently has sixty-six active FRC teams, and forty-four of them were playing in this tournament. Whitewater High School’s team, Ferradermis, is the only FRC team in the Rock Valley Conference.

The Ferradermis robot, Chief Lee the Tangerine, performed very well, going 7-3 in its ten qualification matches under Driver Andrew O’Toole, Operator Kay Mikos, Human Player Erison Dreksler, and Technician Nina Heim. The robot had undergone a major change in its shooting mechanism in the ten days between the Northern Lights Regional in Duluth and the team’s trip to Milwaukee, greatly improving the accuracy of the mechanism and making the robot a force to contend with on the field.

During qualification matches, the randomly assigned alliances of three robots are awarded ranking points – two for a win, one for a tie, one for scoring a minimum number of notes (orange rings), and one for achieving enough points in the end game, which is based on climbing on the stage (a structure with 3 chains). The #1 ranked robot, Team 6223 Arsenal of Engineering from Menomonee Falls High School earned a total of 28 ranking points during qualifications. Ferradermis earned a total of 19, placing them 16^th in the overall rankings.

Emerson Dunham, the Game Strategy Subteam Lead for Ferradermis gratefully accepted a gracious invitation from Team 9535 The Knack from Lake Country School to join the #6 seeded playoff alliance along with Team 2194 Fondy Fire from Fond du Lac High School. The alliance played extremely well together, going 3-2 in the double-elimination tournament. Before losing to the alliance led by Team 1714 MORE Robotics from St Thomas More High School (the team that had been the #1 seed at the Northern Lights Regional in Duluth), the Ferradermis alliance managed to knock out the #1 seeded alliance along with the #5 seed and the #7 seed.

Working together throughout the weekend to support the team were Safety Captain Elora Wildermuth-Breitzman, Head Scouts Andrew Zimmermann, Zoe Olson, and Cyrus Hudec, Head Programmer Ace Hudec, pit crew member Luc Pomazak, videographer Margaret Brown, Ambassadors Cosette Wildermuth-Breitzman and Maddi LaHaie, and Scouts Belle Cohen, Rae Breisath, Chacha Binagi, Georgia Esch, Preston Miller, Carson Miller, and Toby Kapfer.  Ferradermis worked with an eight-team scouting alliance at this event including teams from Mukwonago, Muskego, Sheboygan, MSOE, New Berlin, Waukesha, and St. Thomas More. This was the largest scouting alliance we have ever formed, and it allowed us to use two sets of data gathering tablets for the first time, providing redundant data to help minimize the impact of any errors in data collection.

In addition to the work with the robot, students had many other opportunities to engage with others at the event. On the way into Milwaukee, the team stopped at Tailored Label Products in Menomonee Falls for a tour. This is where the team’s Head Coach Jacob Lee works as an engineer, and it was great for the students to gain a better understanding of his career path. Two of our students chose to sing in the team choir and performed the national anthem at opening ceremonies. Since our team had won the Impact Award in Duluth, Ferradermis was not allowed to compete for that award again in Milwaukee. However, our Impact Presentation Team organized an “Impact Exchange” where teams could come together to share ideas and help each other with their presentations. Ferradermis was honored to be one of two teams selected to do a live interview with WISN Channel 12 News in Milwaukee, so five of our team members put on a show with the robot in the pit and shared information about the Impact Award. Also at this event, the team got to see two more of its alumni, Reilly Aschenbrener and Daniel (Peter) Portwine giving back to the program by volunteering as robot inspectors.

Ferradermis could not do what it does without the many sponsorships it receives from businesses, individuals, and service organizations in and around Whitewater. The team was excited to be able to host two representatives from one of our Platinum-Iron Sponsors, MacLean Fogg Component Solutions, at this event.

The next stop for the team is the Midwest Regional at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, which will take place over Spring Break. Plans are also coming along nicely for the team’s trip to the FIRST Championships in Houston from April 16-21.  Thank you to the many individuals, businesses, and service organizations (56 at last count) who have come together to help the team fund this incredible experience! There are still many opportunities to help the team with their fundraising:

Attend the Ferradermis Bionic Bingo Night at The Real MacCoys on March 26 at 6 p.m. This event is hosted by the United Way of Jefferson and N Walworth Counties.

Dine at Rocky Rococo’s on April 9.

If you already shop at Kwik Trip, you can purchase Kwik Trip cards through the team at face value, and the team gets to keep a portion of the sale.

The WUSD Robotics Booster Club is running an online flower bulb sale.

Direct donations to the team can be made on the team’s website.

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