What happens in Vegas….happens in Whitewater. Looking for a great night out? Join AMA for an on campus casino night. Win your date’s heart in the process.

The American Marketing Association of UWW (AMA) will be hosting Casino Night on Friday April 23rd beginning at 7pm in the Hamilton Room of the University Center beginning at 7pm to fundraise for two noteworthy causes, the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Herma Heart Center in Milwaukee and the United Nations Children’s Fund Tap Project. Admission is $15 for students and $25 for community members that had preregistered for the event before April 23rd. Ticket prices at the door will cost $35 and everyone must bring an I.D.

Ticket prices will help the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Herma Heart Center in Milwaukee to continue the fight in saving the lives of children from five families in the Whitewater area alone who have congenital heart defects. The United Nations Children’s Fund Tap Project will give relief to thousands of families both locally and globally that suffer disease and illness due to contaminated water. These families will recieve clean water for drinking and cooking among many other uses.

At the end of the evening you can cash all your chips in by 11pm and get great prizes or particpate in the silent auction.

A few of the prizes you can win:

• Gift Certificate to Cold Spring Inn
• Beloit Snappers tickets
• Alcoholic beverage signs
• Toppers Pizza gift certificate
• Michelle’s Beauty Boutique gift certificate
• A pass for free SEAL movies for a semester
• Anasazi Spa and Salon gift certificate
• Gym membership gift certificates

Some of the items available for bidding at the silent auction:

• Autographed Packer football
• Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder autographed baseballs
• Two tickets for Country USA
• 2 Noah’s Ark Tickets
• 2 Milwaukee Bucks tickets
• A gift certificate for four rounds of golf at Koshkonong Mounds C.C.

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to soar at the same altitude of an eagle or a hawk? Hang glide at Raven Sky Sports and experience a once in a lifetime opportunity with your significant other.

Lessons:

The “Tandem High-Altitude Hang Gliding Flight Lesson”: Available seven days a week in the mornings and evenings until 8:30pm in the summer for “sunset flights” this lesson only takes one hour and includes a 20-25 minute preparatory hang gliding flight lesson. Glide 3,000 feet in the air above Whitewater with your USHGA certified instructor on a dual hang glider until your instructor releases the glider from the tow plane. At that point, you will fly free of the tow line and begin your descent back down at which point you will come in on the wheels attached to the bottom of the glider that took you up on the runway.

The “Hang Gliding Hill Flying Class”: This class goes out once a day from 9:30am – 3:30pm and sometimes earlier in the summer when the temperature is higher. Recommended for beginners who wish to fly solo, this class will teach everyone who wants to learn how to take off, fly, and land their gliders. Equipment can be rented or bought at Raven Sky Sports. Safety equipment, such as helmets, will automatically be provided for every person during every flight.

Prices:

Both the “Tandem High-Altitude Hang Gliding Flight Lesson” and “Hang Gliding Hill Flying Class”cost $149.00 each. Please visit Raven Sky Sports for additional lessons and their prices.

Location:

Contact Information:

Mail:

Raven Sky Sports

P.O. Box 101

Whitewater, WI 53190

Telephone:

1 (262) 473-8800

Fax:

1 (262) 473-8801

Looking for somewhere cheap to take your date for supper? Still want to spend some time outdoors? Warm your date’s heart and make a great impression by taking her to a charity event in Whitewater, WI sponsored by Touched by a Paw.

On April 14, 2010 Touched by a Paw will be hosting a Spagetti Dinner from 4:00pm – 7:00pm at the Cravath Lake Pavillion in downtown Whitewater. Tickets cost for $7 each for adults and $5 for each child. Otherwise you can buy your ticket at the door for $8. Children’s tickets also serve as raffle tickets at the time of their purchase. If you aren’t bringing a child but are still interested in purchasing a raffle ticket, you may do so for $5 per raffle ticket. Tickets are currently be sold in advance at the Reflections of the Past store in Whitewater located at 182 West Main Street.

Dinner will be provided by Mama Mia’s of Brookfield, Wisconsin and will include their famous garlic bread special as well as a delicious desert table all of which is included in your ticket price.

Touched by a Paw is a not for profit no kill shelter in Whitewater, Wisconsin that dedicates itself to rescuing and caring for cats at all stages in their lives. This is just one of the many events Touched by a Paw has organized throughout the area in its sixteen years of service to help find homes for all the cats it shelters. If after reading this you are interested in learning more about Touched by a Paw or the cats it shelters please visit their website at Touched by a Paw.org or call them at 1 (262) 473-4769. Touched by a Paw is open for building tours and adoptions every Saturday from 12pm – 4pm.

Interested in art and music? Hungry? Take your date to a free art show on the UW-Whitewater campus Tuesday April 20th. 

The Fiskum Art Gallery will be hosting an inauguration for their new exhibit “Influences of Heritage: A Master’s Degree Showcase” from 5pm – 7pm in which light refreshments and entertainment will be provided. The exhibit itself will be showcased until April 30th.

From the Top, a Madison group of acapella singers, will be performing two songs at 6pm. After the reception their main performance will be from 7:00pm – 8:00pm in the Summers Auditorium.

From the Top will set the stage for an exciting new art show composed of work by two UW-Whitewater graduate students, Jennifer Pelnar and Rachel Roemer. This work will symbolize the experiences these two young women have encountered throughout their lives within the relationships they have built with their families.

The art of Jennifer Pelnar will more specifically include references to objects, stories and songs from the bedtime stories her father use to read to her as a child. She has passed this tradition on by reading the same stories her father read to her to her own children. Jennifer hopes to encourage others to do the same so she shares this experience in the quilt work she has put on display for the “Influences of Heritage: A Master’s Degree Showcase.”

Rachel Roemer has used the faces of her family members to design pastel drawings in which she uses their faces as a type of landscape by enlarging specific features of each face.

 About the Gallery 

• The gallery is free and open to all students and the public.
• The gallery features 4-6 exhibits and 4-6 experiential art activities per semester.
• Gallery Hours (Spring 2010):
  • M – Th, 10 AM - 6 PM 
  • Fri., 10 AM - 3 PM 
  • Weekends: as needed for special events
• Gallery Phone: 262-472-3193

Contact Information:

 When was the last time you barbequed? Swam in a lake or caught a fish bigger than your leg?

Take a trip to Whitewater Lake and refresh your memory. Located just a few minutes south of Whitewater, WI, Whitewater Lake offers kayaking, hiking, swimming, camping, fishing, barbequing, and plenty of  tanning opportunities in addition to ample room for frisbee and volleyball games. You can even play a professional round of golf at Broadland’s Golf Club nearby. Spend the day with your loved one or even your family at this one of a kind lakefront property perfect for outdoor lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. 

According to SixWise.com, a few of the biggest issues in relationships today include problems dealing with money, sex, work, children, and housework. If you and your partner, including children if you have them, can schedule a day together to just get away and relax you’ve already made the first step in solving some of those fights you may have been having lately. By scheduling a day at Whitewater Lake for instance, all you have to worry about is gas to get there and maybe some picnic supplies if you plan on staying for awhile, most of which isprobably already in your kitchen cabinets.

This is an incredibly cheap date so you and your partner won’t have to worry about financial concerns. By getting away from home you can even escape the pressures of day to day work and chores at home. The beach offers plenty of fun activitities for your children that would encourage them to work together and get along better such as sand volleyball and kayaking. And sex? According to the MayoClinic.com, exercise (at a beach for instance) would boost energy levels, promote better sleep, PUT THE SPARK BACK INTO YOUR SEX LIFE, improve your mood, combat chronic diseases, and help manage your weight. If your partner felt sexy, acts sexy, and had the energy to be sexy…well, suffice it to say you two will probably want to spend quite a bit more time at the beach then you have in the past.

Other nearby attractions for both couples and families to enjoy include Big Foot Beach State Park, Kettle Moraine State Forest, and whitewater rafting on the Menomonee or Pewaukee River. High temperatures throughout summer range in the 80s so make sure to pack your flip flops, swimming suits and sunscreen as you prepare to save your relationship. 

If you’re looking for something to do with your significant other that would allow you to spend some time outdoors, why not get free food and a t-shirt in the process? Make an impact in your community today by signing up for the Make a Difference Day challenge. Studies have shown that volunteering is not only good for the community’s continuing development, but for your own. Encourage your loved one to participate in Make a Difference Day with you and you’ll be encouraging them to stay healthy and happy while strengthening the bonds of your relationship. If all else fails, you both will have participated in greater experiences to put on your resume after graduation.

On April 23, 2010 the city of Whitewaterwill host Make a Difference Day to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to come volunteer in improving our city. Last year, UW-Whitewater and the community of Whitewater came together to work in playground installation, tree planting, painting, highway cleanup, City library work and more. Volunteers work from 1pm to 3pm and for their dedication and hard work, they will receive a free t-shirt and food on the day of the event. This year, the city of Whitewater is hoping to beat the number of volunteers it had last year, over 500! If you’re interested in volunteering and a UW-Whitewater student, faculty or staff member you can sign up at https://my.uww.edu/. Community Members can register for projects by contacting Matt Amundson at 1 (262) 473-0122.

Why volunteer? The Canadian Forum on Volunteering in Montreal, Canada has recently done a study on the health benefits of volunteering. In the thirteen studies that they did “seven studies identified an overall reduction in anxiety and depression, six studies noted improved self-esteem, five studies identified lower mortality rates, three studies identified improved immune systems, and two studies recognized better weight control, reduced blood pressure and a speedier recovery time from surgery…one study identified increased mental functions as a health benefit of volunteering.” The study goes on to state that there is no evidence to suggest that this research was done for recruitment purposes so it is factual and unbiased.

Now that you know the facts, get out and Make a Difference!

“Love never reasons but profusely gives; gives, like a thoughtless prodigal, its all, and trembles lest it has done too little.” – Hannah More

Are you stressed? Well, if you are a student, faculty or staff member on the University of Wisconsin Whitewater campus, then you are able to receive discounted rates on Massage Therapy sessions sponsored by professionally licensed Massage Therapists at the University Counseling and Health Services building located on campus next to the bookstore. Here you and your partner will experience some of many benefits massage therapy has to offer including stress reduction therapy and pain alleviation.

This can be done by various different methods that are tailored to each individual. The Counseling and Health Services Center at UWW goes further by incorporating water treated, hot stone massages to not only alleviate pain and relieve stress and anxiety, but to improve circulation, promote deep muscle and tissue relaxation and release some of the body’s harmful toxins.   

For people that do not feel comfortable with full body massages, the campus Counseling and Health Services Office also offers a 15-minute chair massage option.

For those of you looking to get in a good work out, try checking out Wall Crawlers Rock Climbing Gym in Whitewater, WI located at 138 West Main Street. At Wall Crawler’s you will be exposed to both beginning and advanced levels of rock climbing so you can choose what works best for your fitness level. Tutorials are also provided before hand for first time climbers.

Wall Crawlers offers many unique events such as Ladies Night, Sunday Family Specials, birthday parties and lock-ins that are tailored to singles as well as large and small groups. Below is information  describing each event and how much it costs to participate in.

Rates and Events

1. Walk-In Rates: $14 for day pass and equipment rentals  or $10 for just the day pass
2. Family Membership for six months: First member $250 Second member $150 Each additional member $75
3. Family Membership for one year: First member $400 Second member $250 Each additional member $100
4. Single Membership per month: $50
5. Single Membership for one year: $400
6. Student Monthly Membership: $40
7. Student Semester Membership: $150
8. Student Academic Year Membership: $250
9. Ladies’ Night: 50% off day pass admission and equipment every Friday night
10. Sunday Family Fun Special: Every Sunday up to four family members can climb for $35. After that each immediate family member costs $10.
11. Rental Costs: Harness Rentals $4 Shoe Rentals $3 Belay Device Rental $2

* Birthday parties and lock-in prices depend on group size so it is best to consult Wall Crawlers and speak with them about costs before scheduling a day or night to climb. You can contact Wall Crawlers directly by calling 1 (262) 473-5450.

After being cooped up inside all winter wouldn’t it be great to enjoy the outdoors with that special someone now that the weather is finally starting to warm up? According to one online source, Effigy Mounds Park, on the west side of Whitewater on Indian Mound Parkway and Wildwood Road, is free for the public to hike and discover a part of Wisconsin’s rich, prehistoric history.

At Effigy Mounds Park, otherwise known as Maple Mounds Group and Indian Mounds Park, there is  one of the largest collections of  Native American burial and ceremonial cite remains named effigy mounds that date back to approximately 1000 A.D.  These are located around what use to be a village containing 30 huts on approximately 1.5 acres of Native American land. These mounds were the homes for close to 12 mound builders and they were built in the shape of animals, culturally prominent symbols, and religious as well as human figures. It was a mound builder’s occupation to actually build these mounds in many Native American cultures not just the Potawotami who lay claim to these mounds. Recent historical research states that these mounds were originally built in the mid-17th century during the Beaver Wars otherwise known as the French and Iriquois Wars. Effigy Mounds Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and  is still used to this day for ceremonial pow-wows.  

Hopefully, this blog will help others in similar budget constraints. My blog will be dedicated to informing interested readers of the most current events in the Whitewater area that tailor specifically to people on a budget.

For instance, are you looking to cuddle up with your significant other on Valentine’s Day? What better excuse to do that than at a horror film!

This upcoming weekend, February 11th through the 13th, the UWW Summers Auditorium will be playing the movie “Paranormal Activity”. Admission is $1 per UWW student I.D. and $3 for someone without an I.D. such as a visiting partner, friend, or relative. Show times are Thursday at 10:00pm, Friday at 7:00pm and 10:00pm, and Saturday at 7:00pm.

Not interested in horror movies? What about a basketball game? On Saturday February 13th, the UWW women’s basketball team will be hosting a breast cancer awareness event called Pack it Pink. The basketball team will be selling pink t-shirts in the hope of raising money for the breast cancer foundation. T-shirts are $5 each and a ticket into the game costs $8 for adults and $3 for senior citizens. Anyone who buys a pink t-shirt gets in free. 200 pink pom poms will also be given out to the first 200 fans to shop at the Kachel Gymnasium gate for the 3:00pm game. Special organizations or groups can call Leah Thyne at 1 (262) 472-1655 for a chance to get free tickets into the game against UW-Eau Claire.