News & Events

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the ADRC of Walworth County. The Banner apologizes for the late posting of this announcement. Please call to ensure that space is still available.

Real Health Talk: ADRC of Walworth County Hosts Mind Over Matter Workshop

For women, aging well sometimes means confronting some inconvenient (and often embarrassing) truths: Half of all women age 50 or older will experience incontinence at some point in their lives. The Mind over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder program, offered by the Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), is a small group, community-based program proven to improve bladder symptoms for 71% of participants, and bowel symptoms for over 55%.

In three, two-hour sessions held every other week for one month, Mind over Matter gives participants strategies for reducing incontinence. This interactive workshop engages women to work together to set and meet personalized goals and is led by a trained female facilitator. The workshop is designed specifically for women age 50 or older, who live independently, have experienced bladder/bowel issues, or are interested in preventing them. Participants can expect to leave with an understanding of how muscles work and exercises that can reduce incontinence. Participants will build confidence through goal setting and know when to seek the expertise of a health professional.

Mind over Matter will be held on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., February 27 to March 26, at the East Troy Area Intergenerational Community Center, 2040 Beulah Avenue, East Troy. The workshop has a suggested donation of $10. 

For questions, or to register for the program, contact Chetney Blaszczyk RDN, CD at (262) 741-3309.

About the ADRC of Walworth County: The ADRC provides information and assistance to older and disabled adults, their friends, family, caregivers, and the public. We can assist by evaluating your current needs and providing options available to meet the needs of your situation. Learn more at www.co.walworth.wi.us/376/Aging-Disability-Resource-Center.

Rehearsal photos courtesy of Tom Ganser

The Whitewater High School (WHS) Players will be presenting Thornton Wilder’s (who was born in Madison, Wisconsin) American classic, “Our Town,” Feb. 29 – Mar. 2 at 7 p.m. and Mar. 3 at 2 p.m. in the newly named James M. Stewart Auditorium located at 534 S. Elizabeth Street.

General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students.  Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling the box office at 262-472-8178.

In the true spirit of “Our Town,” the WHS Players has partnered with the Whitewater Historical Society to present “Streets of Whitewater.”  A detailed collection of historic photographs, rarely-seen artifacts, and stories of the early days of Whitewater will be on display before each performance.

The Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) invites the community to the dedication of the high school’s auditorium to honor WUSD school board member James (Jim) M. Stewart on Saturday, March 2, at 5:30 p.m., before the performance. 

City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission – Monday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion regarding Arboretum signage, Discussion and update regarding tree tags, Discussion and possible approval of Territorial Tree Playground ideas, and Presentation and Discussion from Jaime Wiegel regarding the Whitewater Effigy Mounds.
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 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.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89935976147?pwd=TlVCYlEzOGlJMEp0RjV4WmpHemJYUT09
Meeting ID: 899 3597 6147
Passcode: 214149
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1 312 626 6799
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Whitewater Unified School District Policy Review Committee – Monday @ 5:30 p.m.
Whitewater High School Library, 534 South Elizabeth Street
Agenda: 221.1, Recruitment and Appointment of Administrators and Coordinators; 222.1, Administrator Contracts

Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 6:30 p.m. Closed session – 7:00 p.m. – Open Session
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
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6:30 p.m. via Zoom Online – CLOSED SESSION to consider the findings and conclusions of a personnel investigation concerning a specific previous support staff member and to discuss the conduct of a specific certified staff member.
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– Passcode: 454314
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Open Session
Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner) includes 2024-2025 Calendar Approval.
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7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online
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– Passcode: 452162
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– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 890 0805 3362
– Passcode: 452162

City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 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:
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Editor’s note: The following press release was received from The Friends of Lorine Niedecker, Inc.

The Friends of Lorine Niedecker, Inc. is dedicated to preserving and expanding the legacy of Lorine Niedecker, a preeminent 20th century Wisconsin poet. Our organization offers access to research archives and educational materials, and publishes The Solitary Plover, a semiannual newsletter, and What Region, a monograph series. More information about this organization can be found at https://lorineniedecker.org/

The Friends of Lorine Niedecker will host a reading by the poets published in the Winter 2024 Solitary Plover on Thursday, February 29 at 6:30 p.m. CST.

We invite you to join us for this virtual reading conducted on Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86490079677?pwd=qca05GzRcVegmGK6YarutYSa4VhkeU.1

Meeting ID: 864 9007 9677

Passcode: 520557

Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser

The agenda for the Whitewater Unified School District Legislative Breakfast was as follows:

1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

• A. Introduce Wisconsin State Legislators and Whitewater School Board Members – Larry Kachel, School Board President

2. DISTRICT UPDATE

• A. Welcome – Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty, Superintendent

3. SCHOOL DISTRICT PRIORITIES & PROPOSED LEGISLATION

• A. Mental Health Supports & Special Education Funding – Dr. Lanora Heim, Director of Pupil Services
• B. 2023 Senate Bill 973 – Dr. Lanora Heim, Director of Pupil Services
• C. Multilingual Services Funding – Melania Argueta Borchert, Multilingual Services Coordinator
• D. State Funding for Post-Secondary Options for Students – Brent Mansky, High School Principal

• E. ACT 20 Timeframe/Implementation – Terilyn Robles, Director of Teaching and Learning

4. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Whitewater Unified School District.

Members of the Whitewater High School FIRST Robotics Competition Team Ferradermis advocated for their program to state officials at the Wisconsin State Capitol in hopes of expanding the team and the opportunities available to students.

Organized by FIRST, a global youth-serving nonprofit organization advancing STEM education in K-12 schools, the event featured several teams and groups with similar interests in promoting science and technology programs to lawmakers. 

Seven WHS students led meetings with senators and their representatives at the Capitol Rotunda to discuss the costs of supporting a program like theirs and how large the return on investment is for participants. In an interview, Cosette Wildermuth-Breitzman, Ferradermis team captain, told WMTV-15 News that public speaking, community outreach, and building partnerships with sponsors are skills students could only learn and practice through the robotics program. 

“We have classes where we need to make presentations, but nothing prepares you for this level of outreach unless you’re actually doing it,” Cosette said.

The program costs approximately $70,000 annually, including the cost of the team’s robot-building supplies and transportation to competitions. This money is largely raised through grants and sponsorships, but by lobbying with lawmakers for more funding, Ferradermis is hoping to expand its team with more female participants. The team also aims to provide access to the program to underrepresented communities in Wisconsin. 

“This was such a great experience for the team,” said Laura Masbruch, Ferradermis team advisor and coach. “Our students spoke with actual state senators, some for 45 minutes, about this club that has really transformed for some into a passion. I’m proud of how the team represented WHS and our community, and all the hard work they continue to demonstrate in our program.”

To learn more about Ferradermis or to become a sponsor, please visit www.ferradermis.org.