Sing, Dance, Thrive! Free Class for Young Children and Caregivers
Do you and your young kids love to sing, dance, and play musical instruments? Do you wish you had new parenting strategies to handle stress, meltdowns, and challenging behaviors?
Children ages zero to five and their caregivers are invited to Sing, Dance, Thrive, a free class at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on Saturday, June 17 at 10:00 a.m. Participants will engage in imaginative music and movement adventures, playfully dance with colorful ribbons and parachutes, and nurture relationships by deepening emotional awareness and learning coping strategies for home and school.
The class is taught by Noelle Larson, a Board-Certified Music Therapist, graduate of Whitewater High School and Berklee College of Music, and the owner of Circle of Song Music Therapy, LLC. Noelle has a passion for helping clients and participants to “Connect, Thrive, and Come Alive Through Music,” strengthen family relationships, learn adaptive coping strategies, and experience wonder and joy through the delight of participating in live music making.
There is no cost to attend, but please register in advance at whitewaterlibrary.org. Additional sessions will be held on July 8 and August 26 at 10:00 a.m. You may register for one or multiple sessions. Contact Sarah French with any questions or to register by email or phone at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-473-0530.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. In honor of Father’s Day on Sunday, we honor Edwin Coe (above) and his son, Robert K. Coe, (below) editors and publishers of The Whitewater Register for 80 years, 1873 to 1952. The Coe family continued to operate the Register until the late 20th century. We hope all fathers have a great day!
Join us again next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Santos Asucena Caseres Cruz, who is accused of two felony counts in connection with the deceased newborn baby that was found in a field on March 4, was scheduled to be arraigned in Jefferson County Circuit Court on June 15. However, her attorney, Jeffrey De La Rosa, raised a question as to whether Caseres Cruz is competent to stand trial. Judge William Hue ordered a competency exam. A status conference is scheduled for July 27. Caseres Cruz remains in custody.
Members with June renewals should submit by Friday, June 16 to avoid gaps in coverage
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reminds residents who are BadgerCare Plus or Wisconsin Medicaid members that renewals are underway, and there is a “just right” time to renew to avoid delays or gaps in coverage. For example, on May 15, DHS sent renewal packets to approximately 53,000 Wisconsin households scheduled to renew in June. DHS encourages these members to submit their renewals by June 16 to avoid any gaps in coverage. Packets are in the mail to members with a July renewal date and they should send in updated information by July 18 to avoid coverage gaps. The new DHS renewal status webpage shows the “just right” renewal period for each month. Members are encouraged to renew online at ACCESS.wi.gov or by mail.
“If a member is still eligible, we want them to keep their state coverage. If they’re not, we want to help connect them to resources to help them find other options. Either way, the process starts with submitting their renewal,” said State Medicaid Director Jamie Kuhn. “It’s been more than three years since any of our members have done one and for many, it’s the first time. That’s why we’re working hard to get the word out and why we’re sharing information with more than 100 partner organizations from all over the state to help raise awareness and provide assistance.”
Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations, pleading with community members to make an appointment to donate blood in the coming days. Heading into the summer months, Versiti has seen a drastic drop in scheduled appointments.
“25 percent of our blood collections come from our high school and college partners, meaning that when it’s summer vacation, those community blood drives are not happening,” said Dr. Alcinda Flowers, associate medical director at Versiti. “And while we anticipate this dip every year, we are also seeing fewer first-time donors walking through our doors, which is adding to an already dangerous situation.”
Versiti estimates that around 20 percent of its donors are first-time donors; unfortunately, more than 50 percent of those donors only donate once. With an aging donor base and increased need, first-time blood donors are desperately needed.
“Our loyal donors continue to hear our pleas and roll up their sleeves, for which we are extremely grateful,” added Dr. Flowers. “However, if every eligible donor could pledge to donate at least twice by the end of the year and encourage a friend or family member to give blood donation a try as well, the impact on the local blood supply would be significant.”
While Versiti strives for a three-day supply of available blood for local hospitals, as of June 6 the organization had less than a one-day supply on the shelves. Not only does this potentially put people’s lives at risk, but it limits the ability to respond to the need for blood should the unexpected occur.
What to know about blood donation ▪ Every two seconds, someone needs lifesaving blood to survive. One donation can save up to three lives. ▪ The donation process, including registration and testing, takes about an hour. Because your body constantly replaces blood and fluids, blood donation doesn’t take a major toll on the human body. ▪ There is no substitute for blood donation — blood cannot be manufactured. It can only come from volunteer donors. ▪ Roughly 40 percent of Americans can donate blood, but only about 3 percent do so. ▪ Blood donation can help patients of all ages who are victims of traumatic accidents, patients of organ transplants, or fighting through diseases like cancer.
All blood types are needed, with types O-positive and O-negative most in demand. O-positive is the most common blood type, while O-negative blood is the universal type that can be received safely by all patients in emergencies when the blood type is unknown.
Donating blood takes about an hour. Anyone age 17 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors age 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.
About Versiti Versiti is a world-class blood health organization with locations across the Midwest. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Versiti was formed with a mission of service to improve patient outcomes, advance the field of personalized medicine and strengthen the health of communities everywhere. We are deeply rooted in the communities we serve, providing innovative, value-added solutions in the fields of transfusion medicine, transplantation, and blood-related diseases. From research and diagnostic testing to the sharing of lifesaving gifts through blood, organ and tissue donation, the collective efforts across Versiti result in improved patient outcomes and expanded access to care, advancing the field of personalized medicine. For more information, visit Versiti.org
This past spring, the following students graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
3,143 students graduated from Marquette in May. The university celebrated its 142nd Commencement with a series of events, including Graduate Recognition Ceremonies at Fiserv Forum and a Baccalaureate Mass on campus. Learn more about the weekend.
Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws over 7,500 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate and professional students from nearly all states and more than 60 countries. In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world. Find out more about Marquette at marquette.edu.
Whitewater, WI
Amy Curtis, Master of Science, Nursing Andi Markham, Master of Science, Nursing
Garage Sale Friday 6/16 & Saturday 6/17 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 922 E Main St, Whitewater Girls’ & men’s clothes, bikes, furniture, picture frames, car jack & ramps and lots more.
No more babies garage sale 214 N Esterly Ave Friday June 23 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday June 24 9-5 Sunday June 25 9-?
No more babies! Girls nb-4t, boys nb-12m, (some clothes in bigger sizes), new condition crib and mattress, baby bath, walkers, toys, books, so much more! Many men size 13 shoes. Small kitchen appliances. DVDs. Winter jackets of many sizes. Multiple boxes of free baby items! Venmo PayPal cash accepted!
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
John Ranger Terrell
John Ranger Terrell, age 28, is staying in an Airbnb in Whitewater as he prepares for the time trials for U.S. Paralympics Cycling on Wednesday, June 14. John currently resides in the Olympic Village in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He spoke with the Banner about his para-cycling journey as he also explained the rules involved in the sport.
Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church, 8605 E County Road A in the Town of Johnstown, is the site of the time trials for U.S. Paralympics Cycling on Wednesday, June 14. Dozens of para-athletes will be competing in their ongoing effort to win the right to compete in the 2023 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Para-cycling Road World Championships in August in Glasgow, Scotland. Their ultimate goal is to make the team for the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.
According to teamusa.org, “Road para-cycling made its Paralympic debut at New York/Stoke Mandeville 1984 and has been contested at every Games since. Track para-cycling entered the Paralympic program 12 years later at Atlanta 1996. The sport was developed in the 1980s and was first open to vision impaired athletes who competed in tandems with a sighted pilot. Over the following years, para-cycling started to include those with cerebral palsy, amputations and other physical impairments, who compete on bicycles, tricycles and hand cycles.
There are five sport classes for hand cycling, two for tricycle, and five for bicycle, whilst the three sport classes for the tandem compete in one event. Athletes participate in World Cups, world, and regional Championships throughout the year.”
John Ranger Terrell
Many Whitewater residents are probably more familiar with another Paralympics sport, wheelchair basketball. In both sports the athletes are classified by their level of infirmity, a term that Terrell prefers over disability. In the upright bike the classes range from one to five, with five being used for an athlete with the least infirmity. John was hit by a car as a pedestrian when he was 19 and experienced a brachial plexus injury as a result of blunt-force trauma. He tried to salvage his limb for over two years, but his nerve transplant surgeries were unsuccessful, and he finally made the very difficult decision to accept amputation. His journey included struggles with addiction to the opioids that he was prescribed. He would normally be considered a “five,” but due to an additional infirmity in his legs, he’s a “four.” Something that often confuses spectators is that infirmities are not always obvious; for example, John might be competing with someone with cerebral palsy.
In his youth John was a huge BMX racing devotee, working with his friends to build courses with higher and higher jumps in the woods near his home in San Antonio, Texas. His goal was to become a professional BMX rider. After his accident John was told that his BMX dreams were “toast,” but he was in denial. While finally setting his sights on turning his love for BMX into mastering para-cycling, John earned a B.S. in biochemistry and a Master’s degree in sports management. He has already started a nonprofit organization through which he intends to mentor para-cyclists.
The Johnstown time trial will be a 16 kilometer rectangular road course. The roads will be closed to traffic, but John indicated that it is unfortunately not uncommon, and dangerous, to encounter a car on the route. Most of the athletes will complete one circuit, but John’s class will ride 32 kilometers. The athletes start the race one minute apart; they are not competing against each other but against the clock. John hopes to complete the approximate 18.6 miles in about 38 minutes. That would represent an average speed of 29 miles per hour. Yes, he acknowledged, one of the challenges that he had to overcome early in his training was maintaining his balance.
John Ranger Terrell
In this life, John said, “we all get disabled in some way. For some, it happens very early in life; for others, it’s not until the final days.” Every challenge that has come his way in his journey has been an opportunity for growth. Here’s what he said in another interview, “Believe in yourself, define yourself, invest time in yourself and make the most of every single day. Life is a series of decisions, so I want to encourage people to make better decisions and to constantly look to improve their previous efforts. We become good at whatever we practice, so make the choice every day to practice positivity and to implement self-accountability. What is for you will not go past you.”
What’s John’s view of Lance Armstrong, whose seven consecutive Tour de France titles were stripped after an investigation found he used performance-enhancing drugs over his career? John indicated that what most of the public doesn’t know is that every high performing cyclist in those years ultimately tested positive or admitted having used such drugs. What Armstrong accomplished was still unbelievable, and he was the only person who was penalized for the violation, as the sport wanted to make an example of him.
The 2024 Paralympics logo
John is laser focused on making the U.S. para-cycling team for the 2024 Summer Paralympics. He’s enjoyed so much success this season that for a while he was wearing the “leader” jersey. John’s Instagram handle is @fivefingergrip and he’s on Facebook at John Ranger Terrell. (How’d he get his middle name? His father was an Army Ranger.) Here’s an interesting interview with him.
The time trials begin at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, and John hits the track at 11:24 a.m.
The Whitewater Plan & Architectural Review Commission on June 12 approved the site plan for the proposed Aldi grocery store with very little discussion. Company representatives indicated that no projected timeline can be provided at this time, as bid specifications are still being developed.
The April article in the Banner regarding Aldi’s plans may be viewed at this link.
