News

Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by the Whitewater Community Foundation.

The Whitewater Community Foundation is now accepting applications for Spring Community Action Grants.  Grants will be awarded to local non-profit organizations actively working to support the greater Whitewater community with educational, cultural, charitable and benevolent projects that will benefit and improve the community. 

Projects are expected to be accomplished within a specific period of time (generally not more than one year) and should be creative, innovative and address community needs.  Interested organizations can fill out an application at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gY51mjXwlRW3vKYr75UWyqL5By6Wgdb4/view The deadline for submitting applications is April 30, 2025.

Virginia Coburn, WCF Board Member who chairs the Community Action Grant Selection Committee, said, “I’m inspired by the number of local organizations sponsoring programs and projects to benefit the community.  The Foundation has given grants to The Community Space, Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, First United Methodist Church, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Whitewater Rescue Squad and many more. I invite you to read the pages on our website to see if one of your projects is eligible for an action grant.”

Organizations interested in pursuing a Whitewater Community Foundation Action Grant should check out the Foundation website: https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/?s=Action+Grants
or contact Ginny Coburn at virginiacoburn@coburn.com for more information.

The Foundation continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and also offers fiscal sponsorship to organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects.

More information about the Whitewater Community Foundation can be found at https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/ and on Facebook. 

The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.

On March 13, Whitewater has a chance to hear from a local community member who has seen dementia from both sides.  Randy Cruse was a caregiver for his wife and he is now an educator with the Alzheimer’s Association.  Randy will give a presentation on the Ten Warning Signs of Dementia on Thursday, March 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center.  Everyone is welcome.  Refreshments will be served.  

Randy’s talk will be interesting to all ages but especially to those age 40 to 50 which is when people typically find a loved one is in need of more help.   The presentation will distinguish typical age-related behaviors from true signs of a problem.  For example, age-related memory change that most of us experience includes forgetting names or appointments but remembering them later.  The brain is still able to “search its files,” find hints and logical connections to the type of information that needs to be brought forward.  This is different from signs that might indicate Alzheimer’s or related dementias. A degree of memory loss that disrupts daily life such as forgetting recently learned information, forgetting important dates or events, asking the same question repeatedly and depending on friends or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

All of us need occasional help using microwave settings, recording a TV show or help with an unfamiliar computer task.  That’s different from problems with daily tasks, getting lost driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a familiar game.  Those could be an early sign of dementia.

You will learn about several other types of behavioral changes that indicate your loved one should be evaluated for Alzheimer’s.  These signs shouldn’t be ignored.  New drugs and lifestyle changes have helped many patients.  Knowledge about what the patient is feeling and going through can be invaluable to caregivers in navigating this new relationship.  The community is cordially invited to Randy’s informative presentation on March 13.

For more information:    https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs

https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/273/Seniors-In-the-Park

This article is submitted by Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, a program of Whitewater Seniors in the Park to help educate the community about dementia and to support patients and caregivers.  New committee members are very welcome!  Contact jjackson@whitewater-wi.gov or call Jennifer at 262 473 0535.  

College is supposed to be a time for learning, meeting new people, and figuring out the next steps of life.  However, for a lot of students, this is a time that is filled with stress, anxiety, and even depression.  Based on the Healthy Minds Study, almost half of all college students struggle with anxiety or depression.  And across the University of Wisconsin School System, anxiety (73%), stress (65%), and depression (63%) are all in the top concerns for students who seek counseling.

Even though mental health is such a large issue, getting help is not always the easiest process.  Counseling services across the UW campuses are usually backed up, which means students have to wait weeks just to talk to someone.  Others don’t even bother reaching out because they feel embarrassed or don’t know what resources are available.

This issue isn’t just about mental health, it can also affect school performance, graduation rates, and can have a major negative impact on their futures after college.  When someone is constantly overwhelmed and struggling, their grades will be in trouble.  They might end up dropping out and carrying these issues into their careers as well if the proper help is not provided.  If we want to set students up for success, colleges need to make mental health more of a priority.

The University of Wisconsin School System needs to step up and create change.  More funding for counseling services and better promotion of mental health resources could be important steps in making sure students get the help they need.  Schools should also encourage conversations about mental health so feel less alone during these times.  

Students and administration need to come together in order to make this happen.  Students should reach out to their student government representatives and advocate for changes within the university to make sure that this issue gets the attention and can be resolved.  The UW system and colleges around the country need to prioritize mental health and make sure students have access to the resources that will be beneficial.  

Editor’s note: Sidney McLean is a senior majoring in social work at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. .

Healthy Minds Network. (2023). Healthy Minds Study: 2022-2023 National Report. https://healthymindsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HMS_National-Report-2022-2023_full.pdf

University of Wisconsin System. (2022). UW Student Behavioral Health Annual Report 2021-2022. https://www.wisconsin.edu/student-behavioral-health/download/UWCIAP_Annual-Report_21-22_FINAL.pdf

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (n.d.). Mental Health Resources. https://www.uww.edu/uhcs/az/mental-health

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Bianca Van Dijk from Pixabay.

The Whitewater Arts Alliance, in partnership with Fairhaven Senior Services, invites the community to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a festive “Decorate a Shamrock” workshop. This free event will take place on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, from 3 pm-4:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall at Fairhaven Senior Services, located at 435 West Starin Road, Whitewater, WI 53190. Led by Angie Alesci, this workshop is open to both Fairhaven residents and members of the Whitewater community. Participants will have the opportunity to decorate their own shamrock, with all supplies provided at no cost. This event promises a fun, hands-on experience for all ages and skill levels, fostering a sense of fun and community. “We’re thrilled to, once again, partner with Fairhaven Senior Services for a community workshop and bring this St. Patrick’s Day celebration to Whitewater,” said Kim Adams, WAA Gallery Director. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for residents and community members to come together, get creative, and enjoy the spirit of the day.” This event is generously sponsored by Culver’s, whose support helps make free community programs like this possible. No registration is required—just bring your enthusiasm and join the fun!

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club

The Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club will be holding a sit-down, dine-in Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, March 8 from 6:30-11 a.m.  All are invited to bring their appetites to the Downtown Armory, 146 W. North Street.  No tickets will be sold, and people are asked to make a donation of at least $7 to help cover the food costs.  Additional donations are welcome to help support the children that Kiwanis serves.

Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club Co-President Corey Davis said, “We are thrilled to offer this wonderful breakfast fundraiser again this year to support children.” 

Whitewater Kiwanis is a group of dedicated volunteers who help both children of the Whitewater community and the world. The club raised funds to make possible the recent installation of the city’s first piece of inclusive playground equipment, a We-Go-Round, in Starin Park.  Annual donations are also made to provide shoes and winter clothes for students, as well as support for organizations such as the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, The Community Space, and the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club.

If you have an interest in helping youth in Whitewater, you can check out Whitewater Kiwanis on Facebook and join our Club by contacting Corey Davis at coreydavis77@yahoo.com. We meet at 7 a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month at Jessica’s Family Restaurant.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.

Editor’s Note:  The following interview was done by Marjorie Stoneman on behalf of Whitewater Unites Lives.

Roberto Soto, owner of Omega Auto Repair LLC, came to the United States from Piedras Negras, Mexico and is now a United States citizen and business owner in Whitewater.

Roberto first moved to Texas where he remembers being bussed as a migrant worker to what was then Larson Company in Fort Atkinson.  He canned corn and carrots and worked a 10-month contract before he returned to Texas each year. 

Roberto fell in love with Wisconsin, and met his wife in Fort Atkinson so he decided to stay.  Hard work is key for Roberto.  He started out at Generac as first a line-worker and then progressed to operator-three.  In addition, he worked on car brakes for people on the side.  He also worked at Coburn Company. But his love of cars began with his work at Kusel Auto Repair in Watertown. 

He bought what is now Omega Auto Repair from Donna Henry in 2021.  He specializes in electrical trouble-shooting and light mechanical work.  “I do work for three different shops in town that can’t do electrical.  I consider myself a technician.  I can do mechanical, but I specialize in electrical,” said Roberto.

“Whitewater is one of the most beautiful towns I’ve been in.  I’ve lived in three different countries, and what I like most (about Whitewater) is the people.  People here remember their grandpa who did not speak English because he came from another country.  They have decency and care for other people,” he said. “I was born in the wrong country (Mexico).  I’ve always wanted to come to the United States,” he said.

Roberto said, “Whitewater is a good place to raise a family.”  Three of his children are grown, and one attends school in Whitewater.  “I feel safe in Whitewater.  The majority of immigrants are hardworking,” he said. 

Roberto learned English in Mexico.  He said, “I was not a good student in any class except English class.  I was top of the English class.”  His goal at the time was to speak English well so he could fulfill his dream of living in the U.S. 

Roberto and his wife have raised two daughters and two sons with careers in nursing, mechanical engineering and computer science.  Roberto went to school until 9^th grade, and he says, “I am very proud of my children.  Sometimes I don’t understand how they got so smart because I wasn’t a good student.”  Roberto is self-taught. 

About his business, Roberto said, “I am very honest to the point that it hurts.  People who bring cars here like how I explain what is wrong.  I tell it like it is.”  Sometimes that means letting people know that their repairs are not worth the price, and they should look instead at purchasing a new car.  “I want to do a good job, and I make sure the job gets done right,” he said.

He also really appreciates the good Google reviews that describe how he works with customers like the following:  “Roberto is super professional, and very reliable. I’ve been in there a few times, and he has fixed all of my issues with an affordable cost. Definitely my go to mechanic when I need something done. He tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Very quick and efficient.”

Roberto said, “I am here to help anybody who needs help repairing their car.  I love working on cars and I love helping people get their cars fixed and on the way, I make money.  It’s a good trade.”