From left: Annie Means ’22, Isabel Lieser, Meredith McBranch ’24 and Apple Lieser ’23
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Who do you call when you need passion and persistence? Your Whitman friends, of course.
Just three weeks after Apple Lieser ’23 graduated from Whitman College with a degree in Politics and Environmental Studies, she received an unexpected call.
It was January 2024. Her hometown of Castine, Maine—a coastal village with fewer than 1,000 residents—had just been struck by two devastating winter floods.
Her aunt and uncle’s commercial building—home to Dennett’s at the Wharf, one of the only restaurants and bars in the community—was nearly unrecognizable.
Lieser’s uncle and aunt, Kip and Judy Oberting, had previously leased the property to a succession of restaurateurs. But after the storms—and the extensive reconstruction needed to make the space usable again—no entrepreneur was willing to take on the financial risk of reopening the seaside restaurant and bar.
“My uncle sent a text to our family … asking if any of the cousins had interest in running a restaurant that summer,” Lieser recalls. “I thought about it for a couple of days. Then I said yes—but only if I could convince my friend Meredith from Whitman to join me.”
Thus began the first iteration of the new Dennett’s at the Wharf, not just a seasonal town restaurant and bar, but a vital third space for the community of Castine.
Read the full story in the Spring 2026 issue of Whitman Magazine.
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As per the Outdoor Air Quality and Wildfire Smoke Policy, and in compliance with Washington state employment law, Whitman College monitors U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) levels and will respond according to the severity of the situation.
The current AQI measurement in Walla Walla is considered “Moderate” by the EPA. While this level of air quality is acceptable for most people, individuals who are particularly sensitive to particle pollution should take extra care.
With wildfires in the area, the air quality has been sporadic and may reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category, which is of particular concern to those with respiratory illnesses. If you would like an N95 mask as a precaution, masks are available at the front desk of Reid Campus Center, Facilities, Human Resources, Security, Olin Hall, Hall of Science and the Welty Health and Counseling Center.
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Global Film Series Continues at the Library
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Throughout the summer, Penrose Library is screening films from World Cup countries, every Wednesday, from 3–5 p.m. in Room 313. This week’s film, “Mariner of the Mountains,” is from Algeria. The full schedule is available online.
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Earlier this month, Whitman students in the Summer Design Lab hosted a weeklong Kids College event to teach 23 local middle school students about human-centered design, biomimicry, industrial symbiosis and prototyping. Check out more photos on Instagram.
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Indoor Soccer: Futsal Game
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Sherwood Athletic Center, Multipurpose Gym
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Reid Campus Center, Basement
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Penrose Library, Room 313
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Indoor Soccer: Futsal Game
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Sherwood Athletic Center, Multipurpose Gym
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Stanton Sports: Sand Volleyball & Lawn Games
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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Whitman Today is emailed to Whitman College staff, faculty and students each weekday during the academic year and twice a week during breaks. An archive of previous issues is available online.
All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other Whitman content to share, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon on the business day prior to publication. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.
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Find us on social media: @whitmancollege
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