News & Events

FORT ATKINSON, WI — Fort Community Credit Union (FCCU) held their annual brat cookout on Saturday, June
8, to raise money for the Jefferson County Cancer Coalition (JCOCC).

The JCOCC is a community-based organization that aims to support individuals and families affected by cancer
in Jefferson County. The coalition works towards raising awareness about early detection, prevention and
treatment of cancer while also advocating for improved cancer care and support services within the community.
The cookout took place at FCCU’s Main Branch located at 800 Madison Avenue in Fort Atkinson.

All items were donated by Johnsonville, Kwik Trip, FCCU team members, and Festival, ensuring that 100% of the
proceeds went to the JCOCC. FCCU team member Deanna Ugalde was instrumental in the coordination and
execution of the event. “Thank you to the FCCU team,” said Deanna, event organizer. “Without their help and
support, this event would not be possible every year.”

FCCU raised a grand total of $2,533.71 for the Jefferson County Cancer Coalition this year! Thank you to
everyone who stopped by to support such a great cause!

A quiet Tuesday night light show without the fireworks! The photo was taken looking west from Trippe Lake. What a gorgeous sunset!

Submitted by Carol McCormick

In the past couple of months, the Whitewater Effigy Mounds has had visits from Amy Rosenbraugh, nationally-known expert on Effigy Mounds, and expert UW Madison Geology Professor William Gartner. They recently had observed LIDAR map imagery of the sacred mounds here and now suspect a pretty incredible new discovery on this historical Whitewater and State Landmark – one thousand-year-old raised garden beds. Landmark Trek was there to film and observe the day they were there in town and created an Effigy Mounds Part 2 episode covering all the new information. The video is below.

5 Family Rummage Sale, Thursday, July 11- Saturday, July 13, 9:00am-3:00pm – 239 Lakeview Dr, Whitewater
You name it; we probably have it.

Piper Road Spring Band will play this Thursday, July 11, from 11:30am to 12:45pm, for the Whitewater Art Alliance’s Savory Sounds Summer Concerts, rain or shine.  Piper Road Spring Band has been a Whitewater and regional bluegrass band favorite since their days 40 years ago when they played weekends at the Green Dragon on Blackhawk Island.  Fiddle, mandolin, string bass, guitar, and washboard are their classic makeup.

And what food goes better with Piper Road Spring Band music than pizza?Always a favorite at Savory Sounds, our vendor this week will be Rocky Rococo’s, so come hungry!

This week’s band is sponsored by The Coburn Company, Inc. (www.coburn.com) 

• Location: Flat Iron Park (next to the Birge Fountain), 402 W Main St, Whitewater.
• Rain or Shine: Normally held outdoors on the lawn, in the event of rain, the concerts are moved indoors to the Cultural Arts Center.
• Seating: Bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets but if the concert gets moved indoors you won’t need them.
• Food & Refreshments: Food and other refreshments will be available from the food vendor or bring your own lunch.
• Parking: CAC lot and city street parking is available with additional parking is available at First English Lutheran Church.

Our sponsors for the summer series are:  

Estate Sale
Marianne Steck
1110 W. Walworth Ave.
Whitewater, WI 53190

Saturday, July 13th 9:00am-2:00pm
Sunday, July 14th 9:00am-2:00pm
Numbers issued ½ hour prior to sale on both days

You don’t want to miss this sale! It is a very clean sale with high quality items!

Antiques & Collectibles: Cedar Chests, Braided Rugs, Beautiful American Black Walnut Twin 4 Poster Beds with Matching High Boy, Vanity/Mirror & Nightstand, Tartan Plaid Picnic Bucket Grill, Snack Tables, 5’ Homasote Santa, Vintage Well Pump, Antique Cast Iron School Bell, Wall Mount Kerosene Lamp/Reflector, Antique Kitchen Clock, Claw Footed Fern Stand, Ronald Regan Signed Photo, U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Sword/Scabbard, Aiwa Cassette/CD Player, Mid-Century Modern Record Player, T.V. & Radio Console Cabinet, Victorian Side Chair, L.P. Record Albums, 3 Drawer Commode, Burley Candles, Honey Comb Thanksgiving Theme, Electric Company Cookbooks, Mid-Century Record Cabinet, Gone with the Wind Type Lamps, Rotating Color Wheel, Coffee Grinder, Vintage G.E. Refrigerator, Christmas Ornaments

Glassware: Set of Gibson “Festival Fruit” Pattern China, Set of Johnson Brothers “The Friendly Village” Pattern China, Westmoreland, Cut Glass, Stemware, Pink & Green Depression, Ironstone “Tea Leaf” Bowl & Pitcher, Cambridge – Rose Point Pattern

Furniture: Maple Desk, Stiffel Table & Floor Lamps, Kitchen Table & 4 Chairs, Ekornes Stressless Chair & Ottoman, Maple & Cherry End Tables,- Coffee Tables, Sofa, Big Man Recliners, Small Drop Leaf Table & 2 Chairs, Rocker Recliner, Wooden Rockers, Entertainment Center, La-Z-Boy Recliner, Wing Back Chair, Marble Based Table Lamps, King Size Bed, Dining Table with 4 Leaves & 6 Chairs, China Hutch, Pictures & Frames

Household Items: Small Kitchen Appliances, Usual Kitchen Items, Office Supplies, Home Health Supplies including Transfer Wheel Chair, Sentry Floor Safe, Nesco & Stand, Set of Stainless Flatware, Small Upright Freezer, Washer, Dryer, Metal Cabinets, Filing Cabinets

Garage & Outdoor Items: Patio Table Umbrella, Hand Tools, Metal Shelving, Croquet set, Appliance 2-Wheel Cart, Garden Tools, Vintage Reel Mower, Water Fire Extinguishers and much much more

See Craigslist for pictures

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Community Foundation.

The Whitewater Community Foundation (WCF) has presented the spring 2024 grants, which include $2,500 to Fairhaven for the outdoor garden space at Hearthstone Memory Care, $1,000 to the Book Buddies project, which connects volunteers with children and books, and $383 to the Dementia Friendly Community Initiative to comfort people living with dementia.

“These action grants support the Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission to enhance Whitewater’s quality of life for all people,” said Kat Mawhinney, WCF Board Member who chairs the Community Action Grant Selection Committee.

Fairhaven – $2,500

The grant to revamp the outdoor garden at Hearthstone Memory Care will allow families to enjoy time with residents in an outdoor space and will improve the functionality and beauty of the area through purchases of gardening beds, tools, plants, outdoor furniture, umbrellas, tents, and decorative pieces. 

The group shared, “Hearthstone has a capacity of 24 residents to which every resident could benefit.  Family members/visitors, volunteers and students groups will all be able to use this space with the residents.”

Book Buddies – $1,000

The grant to Book Buddies will be used for one new book per child, outreach, notebooks, pencils, book marks and t-shirts for volunteers.  Approximately 25 children will benefit directly and improve their reading, speaking and listening skills by working with an adult volunteer who reads with them.

The group shared, “Having the support of a caring adult who not only helps them with these skills but values their opinions when discussing the books’ positive themes, helps children build self-esteem as well as character which could play out in their families, classrooms, or their community.”

Dementia Friendly Community Initiative – $383

The grant to the Dementia Friendly Community Initiative will be used to purchase several items, including two weighted ‘newborn comfort’ therapy baby dolls, a faux therapy dog and cat (and brush and batteries,) and a tool board for people who like to build.

The group shared, “Caregivers and persons living with dementia are often isolated.  Most people with dementia live at home with a family caregiver.  These items can often calm and distract a person with dementia, giving the caregiver a break or time to accomplish other needed activities in the home.  Caregivers will be able to check items out of the library to experience an expensive item with their loved one to see if it will be useful to purchase one.”

Twice a year, the Whitewater Community Foundation offers Community Action Grants for projects that the community and board of directors believe are worthwhile and beneficial to various segments of the population.  Grant proposals are due on April 30th and October 31st of each year.

“This kind of caring is what Whitewater and the Whitewater Community Foundation are all about,” said Telfer.

Organizations interested in pursuing a Whitewater Community Foundation Action Grant should contact chairperson@whitewatercommunityfoundation.org.

The Foundation continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and also offers fiscal sponsorship to organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects.

More information about the Whitewater Community Foundation can be found at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org and on Facebook. 

The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.”

(ELKHORN, WI): The Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will offer Walk with Ease at Starin Park in Whitewater starting July 23. Walk With Ease—a program from the Arthritis Foundation—is a structured walking program that teaches participants how to safely make physical activity part of their everyday lives. The program is designed to help people living with arthritis better manage their pain and is also ideal for people without arthritis who want to make walking a daily habit. 

Walk With Ease offers support, information, and tools to help participants develop successful exercise routines. The six-week group series is led by certified instructors Chetney Blaszczyk RDN, CD, and Rebecca Way MSW, APSW. During the program, participants learn proper stretching and pain management techniques; they also build stamina and walking pace. The program can be modified to meet the needs of individual participants so that each person can develop an exercise routine that fits their unique goals.

“Research shows that walking is not only good for joints, but also helps improve the health of the heart, lungs, and bones,” said Blaszczyk. “Walking can also help with weight management, which can reduce one’s risk for arthritis in the knee, heart disease, and diabetes. If you can be on your feet for 10 minutes without increased pain, you will most likely have success with Walk with Ease.” 

The information and strategies taught in the program are based on research and tested programs in exercise science, behavior change, and arthritis management. Updated and evaluated by the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and the Institute on Aging of the University of North Carolina, Walk with Ease is shown to increase balance, strength, and walking pace, as well as reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis. The program is also shown to build participant confidence to be physically active and improve overall health.

Walk withEase will be held every Tuesday, July 23 to August 27, from 9 to 10 a.m., at Starin Park, 504 West Starin Road, Whitewater. Pre-registration is required. This workshop has a suggested contribution of $10. For more information, contact Chetney Blaszczyk at (262) 741-3309. Before starting any exercise program, always check with your physician.

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.

Contact: Chetney Blaszczyk RDN, CD
ADRC Nutrition & Health Promotion Coordinator
(262) 741-3309
cblaszczyk@co.walworth.wi.us