News & Events

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by UW-Madison Extension Walworth County.

Have you thought about joining the 4-H program, but felt you didn’t know enough about it?
Walworth County 4-H is offering you an opportunity to get your questions answered and see if 4-H is a
good fit for your family!

Explore 4-H Night is set for Tues., October 5th , from 6-8 p.m. at the Walworth County Fairgrounds
Activity Center, Elkhorn. This fun, open house style event will offer parents and children the opportunity
to sample 4-H through a variety of hands-on activities related to a number of projects such as arts and
crafts, foods, horticulture, wildlife, and more! You’ll meet some new animal friends, including cavies,
poultry, cats, and even a horse! You can even test your aim and learn all about 4-H shooting sports
opportunities at SHOOTING SPORTS ALLEY! Along the way, you’ll meet youth and adults who are
already a part of the 4-H program. They can fill you in about 4-H fun, friends, projects, meetings, and
more!

Participation is absolutely free! Pre-registration is not required, but, the first 15 families who do
pre-register by October 4 at 5 p.m. will receive a special participation prize at the door. For more
information, or to register, call the Walworth County UW-Extension Office at 262-741-4951 or email
deborah.harris@wisc.edu. The event location is in the SE corner of the fairgrounds. A Spanish language
interpreter will be present throughout the event.

4-H is a Positive Youth Development program of UW-Madison Division of Extension.
Participation is open to all youth in grades 5K through 13. 4-H clubs meet monthly to talk business, do
activities, plan community service efforts, and enjoy member talks and demonstrations. 4-H members
work with their project leaders and families to pursue and complete their individual projects. There are
79 project areas available from which to choose. Learn more about Walworth County 4-H at
https://walworth.extension.wisc.edu/. The new 4-H program year is starting now, so this is the perfect
time to join in the fun! Enrollment is open!

An EEO Affirmative Action employer, UW-Madison Division of Extension provides equal
opportunities in employment and programming including Title VI, Title IX and the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in Explore 4-
H Night or the program overall, call 262-741-4951.

Welcome back to #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society! Pictured here is a train wreck that most likely occurred on the outskirts of Whitewater on September 30, 1901. An event like this would have been the talk of the town, as evidenced by the amount of people watching the clean up process undertaken by Chicago, Milwaukee, & Saint Paul railroad crews. Interestingly enough, in the 1890s through the 1930s, train wrecks were purposely staged for public entertainment and proved to be rather popular spectacles throughout the country.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society collections!

(2984GP, Whitewater Historical Society)​​

The Whitewater Historical Society collects, preserves, and interprets the history of Whitewater and the surrounding area. Be sure to join us next week for more from the Society’s collections. Please “like” us on Facebook, and check out our website at whitewaterhistoricalsociety.org!

Are you in 5th through 8th grade?  Do you know someone who is and enjoys history and writing?
This year, to honor the 100th Anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Nov. 11, the American History Essay contest for grades 5-8 focuses on the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  The essay topic is, “Imagine you had a brother who lost his life on the battlefields of France during WWI.  You and your family attended the Nov. 11, 1921, dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, DC.  Describe what this meant to you and your family.  Why is it important to remember those who gave their lives to serve our nation? “ The length is 300-600 words for 5th grade and 600-1,000 words for grades 6-8.

For those in high school, a “Patriots of the American Revolution Essay Contest” is being offered .  The topic this year is, “ Select a figure from the American Revolution era (1773-1783).  Discuss how he or she influenced the course of the American Revolution, who he or she was and his/her contribution to the founding of a new nation. “ Your figure may be any person, whether a well-known figure or an everyday man, woman or child who supported the American Revolution in ways large or small.  The word length for this essay is 800-1200 words. 

Please contact Vicki Schicker of the Fort Atkinson-Eli Pierce DAR Chapter (Schicker@hotmail.com) for further guidelines, information or with questions about the contest.  The deadline for entering an essay this year is December 17th.  Prizes are awarded at the Chapter, State, Division and National levels. 
These contests are open to all students in public, private or parochial schools as well as those who are home schooled.

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

Whitewater resident Caryl Yasko was recently commissioned to restore the bicentennial mural “The Stonecutters” which she painted in the Village of Lemont, Illinois in 1975. Per the village Facebook page, “After week one of the restoration, the colors are starting to POP! Caryl Yasko and team, Harrison Halaska and Ingrid Kallick are working on the mural most weekdays beginning in early afternoon. Rob Moriarty joins them early evenings, and they all work on the mural as long as daylight allows. Stop by and watch them restore this beautiful mural on the Digs on Canal building at 316 Canal Street in Budnik Plaza – don’t be shy – go right on up to the front of the mural and watch them at work. Be sure to leave a note on the paper pad located on the side of the scaffolding. Caryl would LOVE to HEAR for YOU! ”

Yasko is particularly known in Whitewater for the Prairie Tillers mural she painted on the east exterior wall of 119 W. Center Street in 1980. (See last image below.) Per Community Built Organization, “Caryl Yasko has been a leading figure in the American Public Art Movement for more than forty years. She is well published internationally. She was a founding artist in the Chicago Mural Group and taught mural techniques at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and many colleges and universities, mostly in the Midwest.  She developed a concrete fresco technique and a line-drawing system for public participation.  Caryl’s works include building filigree windmills and prairie, 60′ foot poles with airplane beacon, and colorful murals in all situations and locations, often with a cast of thousands in the spirit of public participation.”

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City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission – Monday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Arboretum Report: DNR Grant update and next steps;
Purple Martin Report: Funding of PM house #3
Cravath Lakefront Room 2nd floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
(This will be a hybrid meeting)
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/940598565
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
Access Code: 940-598-565

Downtown Whitewater Board of Directors – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda – Virtual Meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89492152017?pwd=cHFhSVluYXo3bGNQZDBxRkhiMj
E3UT09

Whitewater Unified School District Board – Monday @ 7:00 p.m.
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Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right hand corner) includes  Report of Preliminary Third Friday of September Student Count and Enrollment
Whitewater Unified School District Central Office
William D. Kyle Board Room
419 South Elizabeth Street
7:00 p.m.
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7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82811372039?pwd=bGJmdzBCRVpkK3VIY0RoQXZ6VTEvUT09
– Passcode: 509411
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– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 828 1137 2039
– Passcode: 509411

PUBLIC NOTICE: The health and safety of District employees, School Board, and the community is a top priority. As such, some Board members may participate virtually. Members of the public may attend in-person on a first come, first serve basis by submitting a Google Form: https://forms.gle/FVTddjN1GNyDm5kx8, 24 hours prior to the meeting time. A capacity of 20 individuals is set for in-person attendance. Additionally the meeting will be live streamed via Zoom for those individuals unable to attend in-person.
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If participants wish to speak on Agenda Items they may speak regarding specific issues on the agenda at the time the Board discusses that item. A Citizen Comment Request should be filled out prior to speaking. In accordance to Board Policy 187, personal criticism and/or derogatory remarks directed at School Board members or employees of the district will not be tolerated. Should there be a number of citizens planning to speak, the President will announce the total time for citizen comments and divide the time between speakers equally with no more than three minutes allotted to each participant.
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City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda includes development of Capital Improvement Program for 2022-23
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
City Manager’s Conference Room (2nd Floor)
Meeting will be held in a BLENDED format (in-person and Virtual). You may join the meeting
in person in the City Manager’s Conference Room located on the 2nd floor of the Municipal
Building or from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/530273725
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: 1 (312) 757-3121
Access Code: 530-273-725

City of Whitewater Parks & Recreation Board – Wed. @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes 2021/22 WAFC Fee Schedule, Halloween Program And Events Discussion And Recommendation,
No Mow May Discussion
(Virtual Meeting)
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/650006053
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (786) 535-3211
Access Code: 650-006-053

Editor’s note: All City of Whitewater residents are eligible to use this service, even if they live in the Jefferson County portion of the city.

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Walworth County Dept. of Health & Human Services.

Free Financial, Legal & Safety Resource Session for Older Adults and Their Families

The Walworth County Department of Health & Human Services’ (WCDHHS) Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will host the annual Safe and Savvy Senior Day, a free, in-person information and resource session for older adults and their families. The Safe and Savvy Senior Day will be held on Saturday, October 9^th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the WCDHHS building at 1910 County Road NN in Elkhorn.

“Many older adults and their family members are not aware of the important legal documents and actions that should be taken care of as they age,” says WCDHHS Adult Protective Services Specialist Karen Gillingham. “Safe and Savvy Senior Day will help them understand some of the essentials, such as advance directives, power of attorney for health care and finance, and burial trusts.”

During the event, attendees can learn about current scams and ways to protect themselves and their assets; meet with Veteran Services staff; complete a free memory screen; drop off unused medications; receive a flu, shingles or COVID-19 vaccination; get valuable information from the ADRC and/or Lakeland Health Care Center; and check out the new Mobile Health Hub.

Safe and Savvy Senior Day will be held at the WCDHHS building at 1910 County Road NN in Elkhorn. RSVPs are highly recommended by calling (262) 741-3366 or emailing kgillingham@co.walworth.wi.us. Current CDC guidelines suggest wearing a mask indoors in public settings if you are in an area of high transmission to maximize protection from the Delta variant and possibly prevent spreading it to others. If you are unable to attend in person and would like more information, please contact the ADRC at (262) 741-3400.

About the ADRC: The ADRC provides information and assistance to older and disabled adults, their friends, family, caregivers, and the general public. We can assist by evaluating your current needs and help provide options available to meet the needs of your personal situation.

The image on the homepage, “International Day of Older Persons” by Campbelltown City Council is licensed under CC BY 2.0.