The public is invited to a free informational session about learning how to compost. Composting is a natural process that uses some of the things that we usually put in the garbage or even in the recycling bin. The resulting compost is a very nutrient rich mulch that can be used to improve the soil. The presentation will be led by Linda Holmes. You will learn about different methods of composing, guidance, and information to get you started. May is the perfect time to start a compost pile!
Join us at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library’s Community Room at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater on Tuesday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. Contact Sarah French with questions at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-458-2782.
Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the homepage image by Couleur from Pixabay.
When you are the caregiver for a person with dementia, you are responsible for the daily needs such as bathing, dressing, paying bills, shopping, meals and providing transportation. Caregivers provide emotional support and may have to manage a chronic disease or disability. Caregiving responsibilities increase and change as the loved one’s needs increase. Financial pressures mount up. Little wonder that caregiver stress and depression is becoming a serious public health issue
Shortage of Caregivers
In a recent survey of unpaid caregivers, AARP found that there were nearly 42 million people caring for an aging friend or family member, 10 times what it was in 1989. The baby boomers are living longer but doing so with more chronic diseases and less means than the generation before them.
Americans are becoming caregivers at a younger and younger age. The share of caregivers under 45 is five times what it was two decades ago. The Centers for Disease Control reported in 2021 that over 34% of Americans 18 and older are either caring for an adult or juggling the care of both adults and children. Today’s “sandwich generation” is younger than ever and they face career interruption, acute financial strain, lack of support and fatigue from fulfilling the demands of too many roles.
At the same time the cost of professional caregiving is going up and nursing homes are unable to find employees. Federal assistance might pay a caregiver minimum wage but the income level to qualify is extremely low and most people with any benefits at all can’t qualify. Median costs for professional caregivers is $3,000 a month and a bed in a nursing home, $8,500 a month.
The situation is dire and the chances of mending the shredded safety net are not great in our current political climate. Caregivers need community support and the comfort of small kindnesses.
Random Acts of Kindness
When asked the question “How are you feeling today?”, most caregivers of family members with dementia say they have never been asked this question. People ask about the person with dementia but don’t seem to realize the overwhelming job the caregiver has. Here are some ideas for small acts of kindness that can go a long way to make a caregiver feel appreciated and cared for: Drop off a meal. Send flowers or a card. Offer to pick up items when shopping. Give a gift card to a local restaurant. Double your next cookie recipe and drop it off. Offer to pay for a professional housecleaning. Ship food treats from an online site. Pay a visit and fold laundry or clean the kitchen. Share favorite magazines. Give a professional massage or pedicure and sit with the loved one.
This article is submitted by Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, a program of Whitewater Seniors in the Park. New members are always welcome. Contact jfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or call Jennifer French at 262 473 0535.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
This image shows the old Whitewater library, now the White Building, in the early 20th century. In May of 1903, 120 years ago, ground was broken for this building thanks to a large donation from Mary Flavia White, daughter of Judge White, who helped bring the Normal School (UWW) to Whitewater. It was a major milestone in Whitewater at the time.
The Classical Revival style building was designed by Madison architects Claude and Starck, who designed almost identical libraries in many communities. In fact, you can see similar buildings in Watertown and Delavan. The building served the community as a library for almost 90 years and continues to serve the community as the location of the Whitewater Arts Alliance and the offices of the local community TV station.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
The UW-Madison Division of Extension Institute of Community Development has submitted a strategic plan to the City of Whitewater. The strategic plan was prepared by Steven Chmielewski, Community Development Educator for Waukesha & Jefferson County.
The strategic planning process began with a Community Listening Session on March 6, 2023, where taxpayers, residents, commercial property owners and representatives of organizations provided input into the strategic planning process.
On March 8 an initial session was held with department heads, Common Council, and the city manager to discuss the community listening session input, community and economic data, and environmental analysis. A second session with the same group was held on March 16 to discuss current and upcoming operational and strategic issues as well as to clarify and prioritize operational and five strategic issues to guide biennial budget development.
The following five high priority questions and goals were identified:
How will the City use its resources to incentivize developers to build single family houses? Increase the amount of single-family homes by 20 per year for five years.
How will the City find ways to communicate without a newspaper? Increase understanding of how the community broadly consumes information and become more efficient in sharing information.
How will the City support a thriving business community, including attracting businesses to move here? To better understand the underlying issues and then leverage resources.
How will the City improve and communicate our recruitment and retention efforts (including diversity)? To identify metrics to improve retention and evaluate or establish recruitment measures.
How will the City navigate the prioritization of its expenditures with available resources (infrastructure, land use & environment, levy limits, unfunded mandates, landmarks)? Seek input to identify and prioritize.
Chmielewski shares the conclusion, “This effort encompassed a set of concepts, tools and procedures to help the City of Whitewater clarify the strategic issues the organization is facing, and to increase the outcomes in high priority areas while delivering on mission and moving toward the vision. Through the three facilitated Strategic Planning Sessions, participants helped clarify and frame the issues or challenges the City is facing. The City will use these five high priority issues to develop goals and objectives that guide the budget process to create public value.”
John Weidl, Whitewater city manager shares, “Strategic planning is an opportunity for us to decide as a community who we are and where we want to be. It’s clear to me that the city needs to be focusing on housing, job creation, a thriving business environment, recruiting and retaining quality employees within the organization, better communicating our efforts and obtaining feedback from our stakeholders. Over the next two years, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
The strategic plan was initially reviewed during the Common Council meeting on May 2. The strategic plan is available to view on the City’s website (click here to view the plan). The public is welcome to review and provide any comments by email to citymanager@whitewater-wi.gov by noon on May 30th. Comments can also be mailed to City Manager, 312 W. Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190. Responses will be reviewed at the next Common Council meeting on June 6. Please feel free to contact Weidl at citymanager@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-473-0104 with any questions, comments, or concerns.
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.
The following individuals from Whitewater are among the 3,115 prospective candidates for degree attending University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee commencement exercises Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Milwaukee.
UWM is the second largest university in the State of Wisconsin, with over 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Jo Gonzalez, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, Master of Social Work Morgan Louchart-Inches, School of Education, Bachelor of Science Hannah Tuinstra, College of Health Sciences, Master of Science Jaime Weigel, School of Education, Master of Science
Editor’s note: Updated on 5/18/23 @ 11:15 p.m. to add the list from the Daily Jefferson County Union.
EAST SIDE
N101 State Rd 59 – Thurs/Fri/Sat N 101 State Rd 59 (Corner of E Starin Rd and Newcomb St.) Thursday May 18th 10 am-6 pm, Friday May 19th 8 am-5 pm, Saturday May 20th 8 am- 5 pm. Holiday Decorations, Household, Gaming Systems, CD’s, Men’s Clothes, Kids Toys, Electronics, Dressers, Bar Glassware, Books and so much more!
130 N. Newcomb St. RUMMAGE SALE! This weekend Friday-Sat 8am-6pm Sunday 12pm-5pm! Washer, dryer, refrigerator, oven, furniture, cloths and more! 130 N Newcomb St Whitewater *Street access in alley off of north or main*
Rummage sale Thursday thru Saturday 8am to 4pm New items added. Household, microwave, induction heater and pans, means, women’s clothes, designer purses, pet kennels, end tables ,air fryer, travel refrigerator lawn and garden . Basketball stand (adjustable) Only advertised fri-sat. so ww anything gets first shot at the bargains Furniture available 27th ..couch, love seat, full size bed, recliner, chair, and small kitchen table and chairs
1236 Tower Hill Pass – Sat/Sun Rummage sale , 1236 Tower hill pass. Whitewater. Here are just some of the items we will be having. Coach, Thirty-one, Grace Adele, Scentsy, pampered chef, household items, woman clothes, new king comforter set and much more. Saturday ( 20)and Sunday ( 21) 8-4 both days
1716 Turtle Mound Ln. – Fri/Sat Huge Moving Sale! Housewares, home decor, big and small tools, antique glassware, pewter items, decorations and much, much more. 1716 Turtle Mound Ln. Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
234 S. Pleasant St. – Fri/Sat 234 S Pleasant St, Whitewater, WI 53190. Multi Family: lots of small girl sizes 0-5. Men’s sizes Large, XL, 32-34. Friday & Saturday only.
RUMMAGE…Breidsan Dr (just past Taco Bell) Friday and Saturday
425 S. Douglas Ct. Rummage Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 9-4 – 425 S. Douglas Ct. Tons of stuff for cheap!!!
Out of Town
W5910 Greening Rd – Sat/Sun Three Family Garage Sale W5910 Greening Rd Whitewater, LaGrange. Saturday May 20th 8AM – 4PM and Sunday May 21st 8AM -1PM Snowblower, Tools, Power Tools, Golf Clubs, Trek Bike, Huffy Bike, Water Cooler, Cobb Grill, Portable Gas Grill, Large George Foreman Grill, Kitchen Items, Clothing , Shoes, Dolls, Doll Furniture, Much, Much More. HWY 12 to CTY RD H to Greening Rd.
N9218 Wooded Ct Friday 10-2
Here’s the list on the Daily Jefferson County Union, courtesy of Debra Kraus’s post on Facebook. It seems to be a small citywide sale this year.
A Banner Service: Garage Sale Ads
As a result of a reader’s comment that it’s hard to find garage sales in Whitewater now that we no longer have a weekly shopper, the Banner staff agreed to begin a “consolidated” garage sale posting that will be published by Thursday morning for the upcoming weekend’s sales. This announcement will only be for garage sales (a sale of miscellaneous household goods, often held in the garage or front yard of someone’s house) in the city and school district boundaries. We will not be accepting, for example, ads for cars or other items that are not part of a scheduled garage sale. There will be a limit of three times per year for a particular property. Although we may eventually make a small charge for this service, initially it will be complimentary.
Those wishing to place a notice must send the information to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com by Wednesday at 6 p.m. You may include a brief description of the items that are for sale, the hours and days of the sale, and of course your address.
Join a growing movement of people who are helping fellow community members living with dementia. A little support can make a big difference in their lives. Be a Dementia Friend! The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library will be hosting an informational session to learn about this worldwide movement, about living with dementia, and the simple things you can do to support someone living with the disease.
The one-hour session is a discussion led by a Dementia Friends Champion. It is not a training session. You’ll learn what dementia is, what it’s like to live with the disease, and some tips for communicating with people who have dementia. Everyone who attends is asked to turn their new understanding of dementia into a practical action that can help someone living in your community. The action can be as big or as small as you choose—every action counts!
Dementia Friends is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. Developed by the Alzheimer’s Society in the United Kingdom, the Dementia Friends initiative is underway in Wisconsin and across the United States. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects families, each of us can make a difference for people touched by dementia.
The session will be held in the library’s Community Room at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater on Thursday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend. Registration is requested. Please visit whitewaterlibrary.org and click on “Events – Registration Forms” to register in advance. You may also email sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or call 262-458-2782 to register, or with any questions.
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Plans are proceeding expeditiously towards the construction of a Starbucks on the current site of the Whitewater Quick Lube at 1280 W. Main Street. As was previously announced on the Banner, Starbucks had submitted plans to the city for a coffee shop with drive-thru on the property. The existing building would be demolished. Assuming that the Plan & Architectural Review Commission (PARC) favorably reviewed the site plan and voted to issue a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) that is required for the drive-thru, the city would be in a position to accept an application for a building permit.
In advance of the PARC meeting of May 8, members were provided a report from the city’s engineering consultants, Strand Associates, regarding anticipated traffic impacts of Starbucks. It was their view that the proposed Starbucks would be compatible with the rest of the property “as the busy hours for Starbucks are typically different from Walmart. Starbucks is busiest during the AM peak hours when Walmart use and traffic will be at its lowest. Also, during the PM peak hour when Walmart is experiencing heavier traffic, Starbucks is experiencing lower traffic volumes. Saturdays is when the site will likely be busiest as both land uses will likely see increased traffic volume during the late morning hours. It is on a Saturday when it is most likely that some of the Walmart traffic will shift to the western driveway. ” The consultants did not feel that the addition of a traffic light would be warranted.
In spite of the assurances in the Strand Report, discussion at the PARC meeting revolved almost exclusively around potential traffic concerns, among them being the possibility of slowdowns in the westbound right lane on Main Street if traffic backs up in the east driveway. Also mentioned was concern about likely conflicts between vehicles exiting the Starbucks drive-thru versus the incoming and outgoing Walmart traffic. Ultimately the CUP and site plan were both approved on 6-1 votes with Andrew Crone, who contended that a change in the orientation of the building would be beneficial, casting the negative vote. The approved motion called for suggesting to the developer that there be a “right turn only” sign installed at the exit from the drive-thru.
Although it had been anticipated that ALDI’s plans might also be reviewed at the meeting, that developer indicated that they needed more time and expect to submit their application in time for the June meeting. City Manager John Weidl stated at the Greater Whitewater Committee meeting on May 11 that city staff has been in communication with the owner of the Whitewater Quick Lube to offer assistance in finding a suitable alternate location for their business. Weidl expressed optimism that their business will be retained in the city.
If PARC approves the site plan, accepts the design, and approves the Conditional Use Permit, the owner of the land and his representatives can apply for building permits. The internal review by city staff will continue throughout the building process, with engineers and public works personnel ensuring the building and site are constructed in compliance with the city code. The Starbucks plans are available for review on the second floor of the municipal building at the Public Works/Neighborhood Services counter.
Chris Bennett, Neighborhood Services Director, shares, “One more place to grab a good cup of coffee is always good for any city. In a larger sense, what this new Starbucks represents is an individual and company willing to invest in Whitewater. Couple this with the new ALDI that is coming soon, and the redeveloped ACE Hardware, and that end of West Main Street is positioned for a bright future.”
The following Whitewater residents have been honored by Southern New Hampshire University’s for their achievements in the winter term, which runs from January to May.
Joslynn Collick was named to the President’s List. Holly Schwaller was named to the Dean’s List.
Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President’s List. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution with a 90-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 170,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers approximately 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH. Recognized as one of the “Most Innovative” regional universities by U.S. News & World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, SNHU is committed to expanding access to high quality, affordable pathways that meet the needs of each learner. Learn more at www.snhu.edu.
“Whitewater Unified School District Issues Statement on Community Pool Agreement”
The Whitewater Unified School District has released the following statement on May 12 regarding the Aquatic Center Meeting Committee held Thursday, May 11, 2023:
Last evening, the Whitewater Aquatic & Fitness Center Negotiations of The Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) met with the City of Whitewater Committee to continue negotiating the joint agreement that operates the Aquatic Center Facility. The WUSD Committee communicated that they value and support the community pool and facility and are committed to coming to an agreement. However, the School Board aims to find a solution that focuses on the facility maintenance and capital planning rather than the operation of an Aquatic Facility and Fitness Center business.
WUSD committed to paying half, $220,000, of the previously accumulated operational deficit from the Aquatic Center in order to clear the financial path of negotiations. However, that commitment came with the caveat that the District does not want to continue to be responsible for the operations or future accumulation of debt based on the operation of the business inside of the facility moving forward. “The education of our students must be the top priority when making financial decisions moving forward. We are not in the business of running a recreational pool and fitness center,” stated the committee chair for WUSD, Board Member Jennifer Kienbaum. Historically, WUSD utilizes the lap pool for swim team and swim lessons, not the recreational pool or the fitness center.
The City of Whitewater’s full contract budget request from WUSD of $4.3 million over a 15 year contract is the equivalent of 4.5 full-time teacher salaries and benefits over a 15 year period. The WUSD committee stated that it would not commit to a time period that extensive until the City is able to demonstrate a successful business plan inside the facility that does not depend on the WUSD contribution to simply run their business.
Finally, WUSD made its intentions clear that WUSD was proposing, due to our size, staffing and the building’s connection to our facilities, to take over the maintenance of the Aquatic Center Facility moving forward. This is a substantial commitment, however, it is critical that our facilities are well cared for. This would make for a more traditional lessor/lessee agreement and clarify the City/School District partnership. WUSD owns and maintains the building and would like our staff who are familiar with it, to do the upkeep and maintenance. This will require continued discussion on rental costs to utilize the pool. Negotiations are planned to resume on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.
Editor’s note: The Banner reached out to City Manager John Weidl to offer an opportunity to comment, and he provided the following statement on May 15.
Paying for obligations under a previously signed and agreed upon contract was a good first step for WUSD to demonstrate commitment to doing the things it says it will do. Second and third on that list comes paying their fair share of the usage demand, which totals almost $70,000 a year and taking on the maintenance and chemical costs associated with the pools too, if WUSD intends to take care of all the facilities and maintenance as they proposed. Otherwise, this proposal aligns with previous WUSD proposals in that it is neither equitable nor accounts for WUSD’s demand on the facilities – creating a funding shortfall.
In short, WUSD is still proposing to use only use debt financing to sidestep the operational costs of their usage and the current proposal threatens the operational integrity of the entire facility for the community and surrounding area. As I said before, following through on prior obligations was a nice, and very basic, first step among many more needed for the school district to provide the transparency, honesty, and commitment to partnership that is required to successfully run the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center.
On Tuesday, the staff and elected officials will have to take a hard look at the future of the facility’s current hours and daily operations in light of the shortfall in funding offered by WUSD at this time. How WUSD can try and spin fulfilling basic contractual obligations into some sort of positive step while they have turned the faucet off on any operational funding for their usage is beyond me.
This weekend Friday-Sat 8am-6pm Sunday 12pm-5pm! Washer, dryer, refrigerator, oven, furniture, cloths and more! 130 N Newcomb St Whitewater *Street access in alley off of north or main*
