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Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Walworth County.

Walworth County is seeking volunteers for a new Department of Health and Human Services program called Connecting Minds that begins April 7. The memory enhancement program pairs volunteers with adults who may have mild cognitive impairment, early-stage memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, for a weekly three-hour interactive group class that provides social stimulation and enjoyable activities. The program is designed to promote and preserve brain health through fun, engaging activities that challenge cognitive abilities, help improve memory, focus, and concentration.

“Volunteers bring extra energy, ideas, and motivation to the program, as well as offering warmth and support to Connecting Minds participants,” says Volunteer Services Coordinator Colleen Lesniak. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related memory loss, and their families.”

Volunteers will receive training from professional staff with experience in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and therapeutic recreation. The program will be held on Thursdays, starting April 7, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Walworth County Health and Human Services, 1910 County Rd. NN, Elkhorn. 

Individuals interested in volunteering should contact Colleen Lesniak at (262) 741-4223, clesniak@co.walworth.wi.us. 

By Al Stanek
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Walworth County’s experiment with embedding a full-time county-funded crisis worker within Whitewater’s Police Department has been so successful that the program is being expanded. The trial program which began last year in Whitewater and Delavan is now being expanded to the City of Lake Geneva and the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department.

Since last April a trained crisis worker funded by the Walworth County Health and Human Services Department has been responding along with Whitewater Police officers when a call involves alcohol abuse, drug abuse, or mental health issues including suicide attempts. Whitewater Acting Police Chief Dan Meyer reported that over 135 Whitewater police calls utilized the special skills of the county crisis worker in the first 180 days of the program.

Meyer’s report to the Whitewater Common Council on March 15 pointed out that, “Previously officers would arrive on scene, gather information and then hope to connect with crisis workers.” Crisis calls occur over all portions of the day and night and any gap in response time by the skilled crisis worker can be a problem in many cases. “On many occasions individuals refused to speak with officers but were willing to discuss issues with the Critical Crisis Liaison (CCL),” according to Meyer’s report.

Trained social worker and former Milwaukee Police Officer Amanda Akridge, who has been Whitewater PD’s CCL, will be transferring to the Lake Geneva PD. Araceli Wence, who has been active in the area of family violence, will be succeeding Akridge effective April 11. Wence brings the added benefit of being fluent in both English and Spanish.

Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library would like to introduce “What Should I Read Next?”, a personalized reading recommendation service.  Interested parties may fill out a form on our website (whitewaterlibrary.org, under the Other Resources tab).  A librarian will review your submission and then provide you with several personalized reading recommendations.  There are forms for adults, teens, and children.

This service is free and open to the public.

Happy reading!

Irvin L. Young Memorial Library Board of Trustees – Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes approve recommendation of the Library Expansion and Renovation Steering
Committee for The Sweeney Group to lead the capital campaign.
Community Room
431 W. Center Street – This will be a hybrid in-person/virtual meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87126653158?pwd=c21MNGc1Z2hreENSQ3BiYTVJWVAxZz09
Meeting ID: 871 2665 3158
Passcode: xn3M4cD1
You can also dial in using your phone:
1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) – Meeting ID: 871 2665 3158
Passcode: 05966906

City of Whitewater Community Involvement & Cable TV Commission – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/779618325
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: 1 (571) 317-3122
Access Code: 779-618-325
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install

City of Whitewater Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee – Wednesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda
City Hall – 2nd Floor Cravath Lakefront Room
312 W Whitewater Street

City of Whitewater Community Development Authority Board of Directors – Thursday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes proposal for new CDA meeting schedule and closed session re: Negotiation of UDAG Loan to SweetSpot.
Location: Innovation Center
1221 Innovation Drive in Room #202 or #205
THIS IS A IN‐PERSON AND VIRTUAL MEETING.
Citizens are welcome to join us in person,
or via computer, smartphone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85668724741
Webinar ID: 856 6872 4741
Or Telephone:
Dial 1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 856 6872 4741

Spring begins on Sunday, March 20.

[From Wikipedia] Spring, also known as springtime, is one of the four temperate seasons, succeeding winter and preceding summer. There are various technical definitions of spring, but local usage of the term varies according to local climate, cultures and customs. When it is spring in the Northern Hemisphere, it is autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. At the spring (or vernal) equinox, days and nights are approximately twelve hours long, with daytime length increasing and nighttime length decreasing as the season progresses.

Spring and “springtime” refer to the season, and also to ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and regrowth. Subtropical and tropical areas have climates better described in terms of other seasons, e.g. dry or wet, monsoonal or cyclonic. Cultures may have local names for seasons which have little equivalence to the terms originating in Europe.

The image on the homepage, “Happy Spring” by Bonnie BonBon is marked with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Five alumni who have achieved significant professional and community service success are being honored as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater celebrates its 154th anniversary. The 2022 class of alumni award honorees include graduates with careers in education, communication, accounting, human resources and mental health — including a public servant who has served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate for more than a decade. 

The awards will be presented at the Founders Day Celebration, held at UW-Whitewater at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 9.

This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award is Christopher Maniece. The award recognizes the professional accomplishments of Maniece, who earned a B.A. in psychology in 2013 followed by dual master’s degrees in 2017, and his work as a school counselor with the Madison Metropolitan School District. After earning his Ed.D. from Edgewood College in 2021, he is currently pursuing his MBA from UW-Whitewater, with expected completion in 2023.

The recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement is Frederick Arndt. Arndt, who earned a B.S. in political science and English in 1970, held executive and leadership positions in human resources in Fortune 50 corporations as well as startup and early stage ventures for more than 45 years, including McKesson Corporation, SegaSoft, Capitol Records, Apple Computer, Searle Pharmaceuticals, Frito-Lay, and Baxter International.  

Also receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement is Amy Herbst. Herbst, who earned a B.S. in social work in 1993, is vice president, mental and behavioral health, at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and an industry expert with more than 25 years working with children, youth and families, including leading the largest child welfare and foster care programs in the state.

Sen. Howard Marklein is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Community/Regional Service. After earning his BBA in accounting in 1976, Sen. Marklein pursued a successful career in public accounting as he devoted himself to public service, from community development to being elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2010. Since then, he has been elected to the Wisconsin State Senate and serves as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance.

The recipient of the Distinguished Alumni for Service to UW-Whitewater is William Lowell. Lowell, who earned a B.A. in communication in 1982 followed by an M.S. in speech–public relations in 1983, has taught in the Department of Communication since 1985 in addition to pursuing a long career as a marketing and management consultant. He tapped into his business relationships to supervise numerous internships in the College of Arts and Communication. 

“All of these accomplished alumni speak to the breadth and the depth of the impacts that our graduates can have, both professionally and in their communities,” said Interim Chancellor Jim Henderson. “As evidenced by these individuals, our academic programs have a strong track record of producing talented, versatile graduates, and I couldn’t be more proud to recognize and celebrate the achievements of these Warhawks.”

“Our alumni bring a wealth of experiences to the Warhawk family,” said Amy Oeding ’90, chief alumni relations officer. “Like so many of our alumni, they not only give back to their communities, they continue to have a rich connection to the campus and to today’s students.”

Also being honored are the 2022 UW-Whitewater Outstanding Student Award winners, one from each of the university’s five undergraduate colleges. Each student receives a $1,000 scholarship in addition to their award:

• Samantha Adler, early childhood education major from Mt. Horeb, College of Education and Professional Studies 
• Jackie Carper, marketing and communication double major from Lake Geneva, College of Business and Economics 
• Abigail Lammers, English and Spanish double major from Waukesha, College of Letters and Sciences
• McClane Noffke, journalism major from Holmen, College of College of Arts and Communication 
• Natalie Shortreed, liberal arts major from Janesville, College of Integrated Studies

The outstanding alumni and student awards will be presented at an Awards Celebration at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 9, in honor of the university’s founding on April 21, 1868. 

For more information on UW-Whitewater’s Distinguished Alumni awards, visit uww.edu/alumni/awards.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

As Americans watch the unspeakable loss of life and property in Ukraine, not to mention the millions of citizens who have become refugees, many people have expressed a wish that they could do something to help. For your information we are providing links below to several sources that are making recommendations for charitable contributions. The Banner, of course, is unable to make any endorsements. Readers are undoubtedly aware that thousands of Afghan refugees were recently hosted at Fort McCoy. Many people and organizations have been helping a number of those people to get settled in Wisconsin. See the second part of this article for information on these efforts.

Catholic News has a number of suggestions of Catholic related organizations.

CNN’s “Impact Your World” is suggesting contributions to 40 different organizations that are assisting with relief efforts. A contribution may be given that will be split between the 40 agencies, but the website also provides an opportunity to contribute directly to any one of the 40 organizations.

The Cut provides a very extensive list of suggested organizations to help the people of Ukraine.

Fox News lists three organizations which it says have received top ratings from Charity Navigator.

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Efforts to Assist New Afghan Neighbors

Editor’s note: Thanks to Rev. Mary Beth Byrne for this information.

Resettlement Agencies, Coalitions, and Communities in Wisconsin

South Central Wisconsin – Jewish Social Services is a resettlement agency located in Madison. With the support of volunteers through Open Doors For Refugees, they are resettling families and individuals in and around Madison. Visit opendoorsforrefugees.org to learn how you and/or your congregation to volunteer.
South East Wisconsin – Lutheran Social Services is resettling and supporting Afghans primarily in Milwaukee and within a 100 mile radius. International Institute of Wisconsin is also resettling Afghans in Milwaukee. LSS does cosponsorship with churches and both are in need of volunteers. Team Rubicon collects and distributes material donations and the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition provides services and support to the refugee communities in Milwaukee.

Webinar Opportunity:
After Fort McCoy: Immigration Justice Here and Now with our New Afghan Neighbors
Hosted by the United Church of Christ, Wisconsin Conference
Looking for inspiration in the Lenten season? Join us at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22, for a conversation about ways congregations around the state are welcoming our new Afghan neighbors. During this 90-minute Zoom workshop hosted by the UCC Wisconsin Conference’s Immigration Working Group, we’ll learn about the big picture of statewide refugee resettlement from the Rev. Peder Johanson (Volunteer Coordinator for Afghan Refugee Response with the Wisconsin Council of Churches) and Mary Flynn (Program Manager for Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan). We’ll be inspired by stories of personal experiences welcoming new Afghan neighbors, including an update from the newly-formed group, Welcoming New Neighbors-NW WI Refugee Resettlement. And we’ll have a chance to brainstorm together and share ideas of how our congregations might get involved in welcoming new refugee neighbors to our communities.

Register here for “After Fort McCoy: Immigration Justice Here and Now with our New Afghan Neighbors” on Tuesday, March 22 from 6:30-8 p.m.