Spring Break
'Taste' a delectable success
Rico Torres
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: News
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Local businesses set up tents where people could purchase food or beverages. Downtown Whitewater Inc., Leadership Development and the Royal Purple hosted the event, which included live music, a magician, Scheer's Lumberjack Shows and Jo-Don Farms' Animal Shows. The Whitewater Chalkfest featured artwork on the surrounding sidewalk ranging from young children to professional artist Rossella Ballerina.
Rosella Ballerina has had her artwork all over the U.S. and the world, including Colorado and Italy. She said she has never done chalk art before and had a lot of fun doing the Whitewater Chalkfest.
"It's a great event and a real coming together of townspeople and students," State Representative Kim Hixson said. "It's so important to bring the community and the university together … I can't wait [until] next year for this because I think it's going to be bigger and better."
The "Taste of Whitewater" included a beer tent featuring Wisconsin breweries. Taste attendees had to be 21-years-old in order to enter the tent.
"It's an event for everyone," junior Jessica James said. "I think it also invites the college crowd and the community to get together at one event and have fun together that way."
The mid-afternoon entertainment included the music of Wisconsin natives Pat McCurdy, and the Mighty Short Bus.
Interim Chancellor Richard Telfer said he enjoyed listening to the music and eating.
"I think it tells people that there are some things to do in town," Telfer said. "It's good for the campus to have this connection with the community … I think it's a very nice event if we can keep it going."
UW-Whitewater senior Calli Matzke said she had a lot of fun walking around the "Taste of Whitewater."
"I think that anything that gets businesses out there and families spending time in the town together … is a great event for everyone," Matzke said.
The event was created by UW-Whitewater senior Shane Brossard and junior Derek Henze.
"I always thought that the city of Whitewater and the university needed an event which could be enjoyed by both, Brossard said. "I also thought that UW-Whitewater needed something other than homecoming and St. Patrick's day as the big events for students each year."
Inspiration for the Taste of Whitewater began in 2006 when Brossard teamed up with former marketing editors of the Royal Purple began brainstorming and talking to local restaurants.
"We got nothing but 'This would be so great for the city' and 'Great idea, you guys should do it,'" Brossard said.
With the help of Bill Bowen of Double Dip Deli and former downtown director Allison Lodge, official planning began in February 2007. A committee was formed and details were put into place.
"We started looking for bands, entertainment and anything else that could make the event go," Brossard said. "We knew how to do the food we just needed some entertainment."
After months of hard work, everything paid off when more than a thousand students and community member descended on Cravath Lake to partake in the festivities.
"I felt a huge sense of accomplishment when I saw young kids just having a blast watching the magic and animal shows, college kids dancing on stage with Pat McCurdy, tons of people young and old alike cheering for the lumberjacks," Brossard said. "It makes you feel like you actually did something worth while."
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