Here’s the eighteenth annual FREE WHITEWATER list of the scariest things in Whitewater. (The 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 editions are available for comparison.) The list runs in reverse order, from mildly scary to truly frightening. 10. Crazed Foxes. For many years, I’ve warned the…
Holiday
Animals, Daily Bread, Holiday
Daily Bread for 10.20.24: Bats 1 and 2
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
Sunday in Whitewater will be sunny with a high of 72. Sunrise is 7:15, and sunset is 6:03, for 10 hours, 49 minutes of daytime. The moon is a waning gibbous, with 86.7 percent of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1944, American general Douglas MacArthur fulfills his promise to return to the Philippines when he comes ashore during the Battle of Leyte.
It’s soon to be Halloween, and while some bats are around all year, others appear only during the season.
Bat 1:
Bat 2:
Coast Guard rescues 17-year-old kayaker:
America, Holiday
Daily Bread for 7.4.24: Happy Independence Day
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
Independence Day in Whitewater will be cloudy with a high of 84. Sunrise is 5:22 and sunset 8:36 for 15h 13m 20s of daytime. The moon is a waning gibbous with 2.3 percent of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence.
This day in 1836, the Wisconsin Territory is formed: In Mineral Point, Col. Henry Dodge took the oath of office to become the first Governor of the newly created Territory of Wisconsin. The Territory, previously attached to Michigan, encompassed what is now the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and portions of North and South Dakota.
Whitewater’s Independence Holiday celebration continues today at the Cravath Lakefront:
Christman Family Amusements: No wristband sessions on 4th of July
Whippet City Mile: 9:45 AM along parade route
4th of July Parade: 10 AM
Civic Organization Food Vendors: 10 AM to 11 PM
Live Music at Frawley Amphitheater:
Polka 2 PM
Sam Rodewald 5 PM to 7 PM
U2 Hype 8 PM to post fireworks
Fireworks: 10 PM
National Archives, July 4th 2024 Declaration of Independence Reading Ceremony:
See also What’s in the Night Sky: July 2024.
Daily Bread, Holiday
Daily Bread for 6.16.24: Happy Father’s Day
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
Sunday in Whitewater will see morning thundershowers with a high of 88. Sunrise is 5:15 and sunset 8:35 for 15h 20m 00s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 71.3 percent of its visible disk illuminated.
Soothing to be writing as the rain bathes the city only inches from one’s porch.
A quick note: FREE WHITEWATER will begin a series tomorrow, as a serialized draft, on the long fight for good governance in our small and beautiful city. On days with installments, those posts within the series will appear at the top of that day’s posts, and with titles in a different type font from other posts. No title for the series quite yet, other than ‘A Serialized Draft.’ A proper title and other touches will come much later, when the series is compiled into a different, final form.
On this day in 1858, Lincoln delivers his House Divided speech in Springfield, Illinois. See Lincoln’s full speech, delivered at the Illinois Republican State Convention, Springfield, Illinois June 16, 1858.
Watch as arena transforms to hold Olympic swimming pool:
America, Daily Bread, Holiday, Wisconsin
Daily Bread for 6.14.24: Flag Day
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
Friday in Whitewater will be sunny with a high of 79. Sunrise is 5:15 and sunset 8:35 for 15h 19m 25s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 52.8 percent of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1822, Charles Babbage proposes a difference engine in a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society.
On this day in 1885, the first recognized observance of Flag Day in Wisconsin occurred at the Stony Hill School near Waubeka. The event was led by Bernard J. Cigrand, a teacher. Flag Day did not become a national observance until 31 years later when Woodrow Wilson recognized it on June 14, 1916.
It’s flag day in America. Right side up:
Ohio town invaded by swarm of mayflies:
Daily Bread, Holiday
Daily Bread for 5.27.24: Memorial Day
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
Memorial Day in Whitewater will see scattered showers with a high of 70. Sunrise is 5:20 and sunset 8:23 for 15h 02m 35s of daytime. The moon is a waning gibbous with 83 percent of its visible disk illuminated.
Whitewater’s Memorial Day Parade, weather permitting, will take place at 10:30 AM, beginning at the Hearthstone Parking Lot and proceeding along North Street to the Old Armory. Regardless of the weather, a ceremony will take place inside the Armory at 11 AM.
Toward the end of May 1673, the Marquette & Joliet reach the site of modern Green Bay.
On this day in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge opens to pedestrian traffic, creating a vital link between San Francisco and Marin County, California.
This Memorial Day, the National Guard Bureau honors and remembers those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their nation:
Thousands of families are visiting Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, for the parade, history lessons, and tributes in the town known as the birthplace of Memorial Day:
Daily Bread, Holiday
Daily Bread for 5.12.24: Happy Mother’s Day
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
Sunday in Whitewater will be mostly sunny with a high of 79. Sunrise is 5:33 and sunset 8:08 for 14h 35m 17s of daytime. The moon is a waxing crescent with 22 percent of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1949, the Soviet Union lifts its blockade of Berlin.
A bit of Mother’s Day history:
This Mother’s Day, make your flower bouquet last longer:
Holiday, Religion
Daily Bread for 3.31.24: Happy Easter
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
Easter in Whitewater will be cloudy with a high of 51. Sunrise is 6:35 and sunset 7:31 for 12h 45m 13s of daytime. The moon is a waning gibbous with 66.3 percent of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1918, Daylight Saving Time goes into effect in the United States for the first time.
Daily Bread, Holiday
Daily Bread for 3.17.24: St. Patrick’s Day 2024 Timelapse of Chicago River Being Dyed Green
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
St. Patrick’s Day in Whitewater will be windy with a high of 38. Sunrise is 7:00 and sunset 7:04 for 12h 04m 24s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 53.7 percent of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1958, the United States launches Vanguard 1, the first solar-powered satellite, which is also the first satellite to achieve a long-term orbit.
St. Patrick’s Day 2024: Timelapse of Chicago River being dyed green:
Iceland volcano erupts for fourth time in three months:
Daily Bread, Holiday
Daily Bread for 1.1.24: Happy New Year
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
A new year begins in Whitewater with partly sunny skies and a high of 33. Sunrise is 7:25 and sunset 4:31 for 9h 06m 23s of daytime. The moon is a waning gibbous with 73.8% of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1983, the ARPANET officially changes to using TCP/IP, the Internet Protocol, effectively creating the Internet.
2024 Unmissable Night Sky Events:
Daily Bread, Holiday
Daily Bread for 12.25.23: Merry Christmas
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
Christmas in Whitewater will be cloudy with a high of 54. Sunrise is 7:24 and sunset 4:26 for 9h 02m 22s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 97.2% of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1776, George Washington and the Continental Army cross the Delaware River at night to attack Hessian forces serving Great Britain at Trenton, New Jersey, the next day.
Post by @catsofyoreView on Threads
A hand-colored portrait of the Trimpey family cat, Mary, posed by a small Christmas tree. The tree is decorated with ribbon garland and there is a toy mouse and ornament at the base of the tree.
See Portrait of a Cat, Wisconsin Historical Society.
Daily Bread, Holiday
Daily Bread for 12.24.23: Young People’s Chorus of NYC Performs The Twelve Days of Christmas
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
Christmas Eve in Whitewater will be cloudy with a high of 54. Sunrise is 7:23 and sunset 4:25 for 9h 02m 05s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 93.8% of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1943, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower is named Supreme Allied Commander for Operation Overlord.
Young People’s Chorus of NYC Performs The Twelve Days of Christmas:
Daily Bread, Holiday
Daily Bread for 12.23.23: Some Santa History
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
Saturday in Whitewater will be cloudy with a high of 46. Sunrise is 7:23 and sunset 4:25 for 9h 01m 52s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 87.8% of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1954, the first successful kidney transplant is performed by J. Hartwell Harrison and Joseph Murray.
City, Daily Bread, Holiday
Daily Bread for 12.1.23: The Parade
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Good morning.
Friday in Whitewater will be rainy earlier in the day with a high of 37. Sunrise is 7:06 and sunset 4:21 for 9h 15m 25s of daytime. The moon is a waning gibbous with 82.3% of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, seamstress Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat to a white man and is arrested for violating the city’s racial segregation laws, an incident which leads to that city’s bus boycott.
Whitewater’s annual Christmas parade takes place tonight. The parade begins at 6 PM, with events before and after. (See the link to the Downtown Whitewater Facebook page with details on those accompanying events.)
(The parade route — principally along Main Street — is in green, the staging area in red, and the detour route in black.)
The Parade of Lights, like the July 4th parade held nearly half a year earlier, brings together people from across the city without charge, and without expectation other than a common, joyous celebration.
Preserving these parades, and building from them, is part of the work of re-knitting the city.
What’s in the Night Sky December 2023: Geminid Meteor Shower | Astronaut’s Tool Bag: