Have you seen this month’s Park Bench Newsletter? Here are a few easy ways to stay in the know for upcoming activities! Don’t miss out on the fun.
Check out the Seniors in the Park activities that have been added to the Whitewater Banner Community Calendar; a screenshot below shows the calendar’s location on the Banner’s website:
View the December Park Bench Newsletter, and many others in the Helpful Links section of the Banner’s website:
And if a paper copy is your preference, pick one up at a variety of locations around town. Jessica’s Family Restaurant, Discover Whitewater Offices, Irvin L. Young Memorial Library, City of Whitewater Municipal Building, and the Starin Park Community Building are a few locations where printed versions are distributed!
Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms. If you notice any of them, don’t ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Memory loss that disrupts daily life One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stage, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking for the same questions over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.
What’s a typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
Challenges in planning or solving problems Some people living with dementia may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.
What’s a typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when managing finances or household bills.
Difficulty completing familiar tasks People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
What’s a typical age-related change? Occasionally needing help to use microwave settings or to record a TV show.
Confusion with time or place People living with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.
What’s a typical age-related change? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. They may also have problems judging distance and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving.
What’s a typical age-related change? Vision changes related to cataracts.
New problems with words in speaking or writing People living with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble naming a familiar object or use the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”).
What’s a typical age-related change? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps A person living with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. He or she may accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses.
What’s a typical age-related change? Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.
Decreased or poor judgment Individuals may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.
What’s a typical age-related change? Making a bad decision or mistake once in a while, like neglecting to change the oil in the car.
Withdrawal from work or social activities A person living with Alzheimer’s disease may experience changes in the ability to hold or follow a conversation. As a result, he or she may withdraw from hobbies, social activities or other engagements. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite team or activity.
What’s a typical age-related change? Sometimes feeling uninterested in family or social obligations.
Changes in mood and personality Individuals living with Alzheimer’s may experience mood and personality changes. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, with friends or when out of their comfort zone.
What’s a typical age-related change? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
Get checked. Early detection matters. If you notice one or more signs in yourself or another person, it can be difficult to know what to do. It’s natural to feel uncertain or nervous about discussing these changes with others. Voicing worries about your own health might make them seem more “real.” Or, you may fear upsetting someone by sharing observations about changes in his or her abilities or behavior. However, these are significant health concerns that should be evaluated by a doctor, and it’s important to take action to figure out what’s going on.
For more information, please contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center: Aging and Disability Resource Center – Walworth County www.co.walworth.wi.us/adrc (262) 741-3400 Aging and Disability Resource Center- Jefferson County www.jeffersoncountywi.gov (920) 674-8734
This Banner article submission is part of an ongoing series to bring information and awareness to the Whitewater community via a partnership of Whitewater’s Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, Seniors in the Park, Jefferson and Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center Dementia Specialists, and Downtown Whitewater.
Hey — it’s market day! It’ll be a beautiful, sunny day on Saturday, March 20, and you’ll find us at the CEC from 10 am to noon. The UW Whitewater Community Engagement Center is the former Sentry building located at 1260 W. Main Street.
This week’s special treats include lamb and freshly picked spinach (My Farm), duck eggs (Helena’s Plant Closet) and a strawberry rhubarb tart (Wood Street Bakery). The full list of vendors we’re expecting is below:
Bowers Lake Coffee ● locally roasted and brewed organic coffee & coffee beans Clark Family Farms ● lion’s mane mushrooms, chestnut mushrooms, pink oyster mushrooms, blue oyster mushrooms, microgreens; take-and-eat dishes Helena’s Plant Closet & Whitewater Egg Delivery ● air plants, succulents, cactus, jade, peperomia, in handmade & whimsical pots, chicken and duck eggs Kettle Moraine Honey ● local honey, beeswax products, scented soaps Kristie’s Creative Kitchen ● jams, pickled items Komboocho Brewing ● quality kombucha using organic & local ingredients Margie Hammerl ● eggs, chicken My Farm ● spinach, eggs, fresh lamb, greens mix Soap of the Earth ● local, handcrafted soaps & lotions Stephani’s Spot ● garden preserves, baked goods, salsa, mustards, sauces Sunny Brook Farm ● local produce, eggs Wood Street Bakery ● cranberry almond scones, coconut chocolate chip scones; strawberry rhubarb tart; sourdough bread, Asiago cheese bread, cranberry walnut bread & multigrain bread; assorted granolas
Looking ahead: Market on the move! With the milder weather, WWCM has decided to move on to the outdoor season earlier than normal this year. Here’s where you can find us over the coming weeks.
Remaining indoor markets at the CEC: Saturday, March 20, 10 am-noon Saturday, March 27, 10 am-noon Saturday, April 3, 10 am-noon
April markets in the parking lot next to the Depot Museum: Tuesday, April 6, 4-6 pm Tuesday, April 13, 4-6 pm Tuesday, April 20, 4-6 pm Tuesday, April 27, 4-6 pm
By May, we’ll be back in our regular spots around the Depot. We’ll run 4-7 pm, and you can expect food trucks, music, and furniture out when the weather permits. Fingers crossed for sunny days, everyone… see you at the market!
Your local aging and disability resource center (ADRC) is the first place to go to get accurate, unbiased information on all aspects of life related to aging or living with a disability.
One challenge some community members may find a local ADRC office can provide additional information for is dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease. It’s an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases. Other types of dementia include Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Frontotemporal, and Vascular.
5 Key Messages • Dementia is not a normal part of aging. • Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain. • Dementia is not just about having memory problems. • It is possible to have a good quality of life with dementia. • There’s more to the person than the dementia.
If you have any questions about this information please contact your local ADRC.
ADRCs are friendly, welcoming places where you can go for information about aging or living with a disability, whether you are looking for yourself, or you are a concerned family member or friend, or a professional working with issues related to aging or disabilities.
The ADRC provides information on a broad range of programs and services, helps people understand the various long-term care options available to them, helps people apply for programs and benefits, and serves as the access point for publicly funded long-term care.
These services can be provided at the ADRC, by telephone, or through a home visit, whichever is more convenient to you.
The ADRC can connect you to resources about:
In-home personal care and nursing
Housing options
Housekeeping and chore services
Home modifications
Adaptive equipment
Transportation
Health, nutrition, and home-delivered meal programs
“21 Bridges” (Action/Police/Crime/Thriller) – Tuesday, February 23, 1 p.m. – Rated R (Violence, language) -1 hour, 39 minutes (2019)
An embattled NYPD detective (Chadwick Boseman)is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive conspiracy that links his fellow officers to a criminal empire. He then must decide who he is hunting, and who is actually hunting him. During the manhunt, Manhattan is completely locked down for the first time in its history, with no exit or entry to the island, including all 21 bridges. This cops and robbers “ride-along” will leave you breathless!!
There is a capacity limit, and COVID-19 precautions, including facial mask, are required. Please register in advance online, by email (dweberpal@whitewater-wi.gov), or phone (473-0535).
(WHITEWATER – January 10) On February 1st, 2021, the Whitewater Arts Alliance will be presenting a gallery exhibition of work created by Mark Lawrence McPhail. This exhibit will be on display through February 28th in the Cultural Arts Center located at 402 W Main St Whitewater. The gallery will be open Fridays-Sundays, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in accordance with our COVID-19 safety precautions. Fridays the gallery is open for high-risk individuals only (those 65 years or older or with pre-existing conditions), and all are welcome on Saturdays and Sundays.
“More than a Village” is a photographic exhibition that documents the work of the Akola Project (formerly the Uganda American Partnership Organization–UAPO). During 2009, Mark served on the Board of the UAPO and traveled with the organization to Northern Uganda, where he worked with a local refugee community on several development projects. He documented the experience during his visit through explanatory photographs of the work being done, and portraits of the people served by the organization.
An artist’s statement provided by Mark Lawrence McPhail:
“This collection of images offers a commentary on the well-known Yoruba proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” In Africa, a continent underdeveloped and exploited for centuries, it takes more than a village to serve and support children displaced from their homes and families by war, conflict, and environmental disruptions. It takes people of conscience, compassion, and generosity to truly raise a child. In working with the Akola Project, an organization that seeks to serve and support the least, the lost, and the left behind, I had the opportunity to document and observe the power of people of conscience to serve as an extended family for children who had lost the families into which they were born.
The Akola Project, founded by Brittany Merrill Underwood as the Uganda American Partnership Organization (UPAO), employs hundreds of women in Dallas and Uganda to make jewelry, selling their designs at exclusive stores including Neiman Marcus. In 2009, UAPO traveled to refugee camps in Northern Uganda to assist with several development projects and work with women in their communities to build sustainable businesses. These images tell the story of the kindness, compassion, and commitment of the UAPO volunteers, and the hope, appreciation, and joy clearly captured in the eyes, expressions, and smiles of the children they served. For a short period of time, both had the opportunity to experience what it means to be part of a human family that transcends differences of geography, class, and culture.
This is a story that needs to be told in a time when division, conflict, and disease seem to have undermined our collective capacity for empathy, kindness, and generosity. At a time when cruelty and indifference seem to have crippled our politics, and threatened the wealth and health of nations, perhaps those of us who too often take for granted the privileges we enjoy might learn from children for whom such privileges are a distant dream. In Uganda, I discovered that when our privilege is tempered by compassion and motivated by a spiritually inspired commitment to serving others, we will raise children who can help us realize and appreciate the dreams of democracy, freedom, and equality to which we aspire. As these images indicate, it may take more than a village to raise a child, and yet it might well be the children who teach us the simple lessons of life that define our humanity, and remind us of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s recognition that ‘We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Per a press release issued by the City of Whitewater, residents in the City of Whitewater are now eligible to have groceries delivered directly to their doorstep from Festival Foods in Fort Atkinson or Janesville within two hours. Festival Foods is known to work closely with and get involved in the communities in which they serve. It is a family and employee-owned grocery company operating stores throughout Wisconsin with their headquarters located in DePere. It was founded as Skogen’s IGA by Paul and Jane Skogen in 1946 and is still owned by the Skogen family.
Economic Development Director, Cathy Anderson reached out to Festival Foods in hopes to expand their delivery service to include Whitewater. Festival Foods agreed and this service is now available for many within the 53190 zip code. UPDATE: Delivery is available to the areas shown in red on the revised map above. The best way to see if delivery is available to your residence is to enter your address on the website. Note that an initial screen that pops up will ask whether you wish to try a special subscription offer from Instacart, which after a 2-week trial period would cost $99/year. It appears that there may be little/no benefit to this offer under the Festival program.
“It is very exciting to work with a company willing to expand their local service and assist the Whitewater community,” said Anderson. “I placed my first order and was amazed at how simple, easy and quick the process was. It is very user friendly and the items I needed were on my doorstep within about two hours.” Festival Foods contracts with Instacart allowing for a personalized home delivery service. Residents can visit the Instacart website, https://www.instacart.com/store/festival-foods/storefront or download the app to their smartphone. Enter the zip code of 53190, create an account with an email address and you can shop the virtual aisles of the store as if shopping it in person. Options for delivery of 2 hours, 5 hours or a window of your choice are available.
A nominal delivery fee may be applied to some orders and residents have the opportunity to tip the delivery driver if they wish.
“What a unique, convenient and safe service for the Whitewater community to benefit from in this time of uncertainty,” said Anderson.
Banner note: The Gazette on January 12, 2021 also has an article on this new service. It includes this quote from Anderson: “Monday’s news, while it is welcome, does not end the effort to bring a grocery store to the city,” she said.
Banner note: On the Instacart site you will note that there are several other grocers (from Milton and Janesville), as well as a few other retailers, that may offer delivery to your address. All of those other grocers, however, indicate that their pricing through Instacart may be higher than their in-store pricing. Festival states that their pricing is the same as the shelf price.
The City of Whitewater provides efficient and high-quality services which support living, learning, playing and working in an exceptional community. Visit www.whitewater-wi.gov for community information and updates.
“Some writers use diaries, journals, photos or family histories to jumpstart writing a memoir. For me, a dream ignited my interest in writing a five-volume series starting with – Escaping Her Dungeon of Despair, based on my own experiences.” —Vivian Probst The Dwight Foster Public Library invites you to attend this timely presentation. We will broadcast Probst’s presentation on Zoom and Facebook Live. To register for the Zoom portion go to https://www.fortlibrary.org/writing-your-memoir/.
Vivian Probst is a novelist, writer of several memoirs, linguist, and champion of language skills. She wants to inspire people to write their memoirs, especially now, during the time of COVID-19 when they may have more time to put their thoughts on paper.
“Each of us has a unique life story that shapes our future and can inspire others. I hear people say, “Someday I’ll write a memoir.” “I say do it! It can be hard, I know, to share painful memories but it can also be a healing process.”
Probst is not new to memoir writing. Three years ago she chronicled her deeply personal story about what it took to restore her marriage. The experiences were recounted in her riveting memoir, I Was a Yo-Yo Wife.
“Love Actually”(Romance/Comedy/Holiday) – Tuesday, December 22, 1 p.m. only; Rated R (Sex/Language)2 hours, 15 minutes (2003) – Back by Popular Demand, our favorite holiday “rom/com”! Romance and relationships in an all-star ensemble comedy that tells ten separate but intertwining love stories from London to Milwaukee (yes, that is correct), leading up to a spirited climax on Christmas Eve. We’ll all be singing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” made even more popular by this film! Starring Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, and Bill Nighy.
There is a capacity limit, and COVID-19 precautions, including facial mask, are required. Please register in advance online, by email (dweberpal@whitewater-wi.gov), or phone (473-0535).
Join the Humane Society of Jefferson County and Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on Tuesday December 22, 2020 at 6 p.m. for a family friendly read aloud. This is a virtual event. To register please visit www.whitewaterlibrary.org.
