News

(City of Whitewater press release) Whitewater is excited to welcome an organization that will bring psychological services, family and mental health counseling, and addictions treatment to the community.

The Pauquette Center for Psychological Services offers a range of state-licensed mental health services to meet every need, including psychotherapy, AODA Treatment/Services, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, group therapy, and more. Pauquette is currently providing telehealth services, including groups during the pandemic to offer safe treatment to those in need.

The company signed a 7-year long-term lease commitment to work out of the Whitewater University Innovation Center, Suite #221 starting January 2021. The Innovation Center will offer ample meeting and office space surrounded by a serene, peaceful environment with abundant nature and nearby walking paths which will benefit employees and clients.

As the cornerstone facility to the 130-acre technology park, the 38,000 square-foot Whitewater University Innovation Center operates primarily as a mixed-use business incubator strategically built with support from the City of Whitewater, the Whitewater Community Development Authority and the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. With the support of their partners, the Whitewater University Innovation Center’s Mission is to create and foster durable businesses and jobs through a close alignment of UW-Whitewater’s research and
educational competencies and the resources of the City of Whitewater. The Technology Park serves as afoundation for a diversified and robust regional economy through the attraction of new residents, utilization of UW-Whitewater faculty, staff and student expertise and the retention of alumni talent.

”We are very pleased that Pauquette Center has chosen the Innovation Center to expand their business operations and look forward to supporting them as they grow their company in Whitewater,” said Mark Johnson, Whitewater University Innovation Center Executive Director.

Pauquette is currently located in Richland Center, Reedsburg, Baraboo, Columbus, Prairie du Sac, Portage and Madison. The decision to open an eighth facility in Whitewater made sense to help a growing need in the rural area of Walworth, Rock and Jefferson counties.

“Our decision to move to Whitewater was an easy one as our organization actually has fairly strong ties to this community,” said Lesley Chapin, Pauquette Vice President and Executive Director. “Our President, Thomas Hayes, along with our Director of Business Operations, Peter Schuster, both graduated from UW-Whitewater in different areas of study. Also, I was born and raised in Fort Atkinson and my family still resides there. This community invested in my education throughout my undergraduate and graduate programs of study so
bringing my education full circle and bringing services to Whitewater is very meaningful.”

COVID-19 has presented the needs for services in communities around the world, services Pauquette will be available to offer to Whitewater. “The timing for this clinic could not be better,” said Chapin. “I am well aware of the impact COVID has had on our communities and I am so thrilled to be able to bring some much-needed service back to an area that has invested so much in me over the years.”

Pauquette plans to collaborate with the UW-Whitewater two masters program, social work and counseling education, to provide services to create internships for students.

“We look forward to building a strong relationship with Pauquette Center,” said Sarah Hessenauer, Professor and Chair for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. “Finding clinical internships in the Whitewater area can be difficult for the programs, so having this opportunity for interdisciplinary teamwork to address mental health
concerns will benefit both the UW-Whitewater masters students and the community.”

“Whitewater is the next perfect location to not only help those with a need, but also a great opportunity to partner with the university while working with students in this field,” said Chapin.

The Community Development Authority is proactive in its search of businesses who want to call Whitewater their home. Whitewater is a rural, vibrant community. People come for jobs and stay for the lifestyle.

“Creating internship opportunities for students while they are attending school in Whitewater is an asset which may lead to potentially keeping them in the Whitewater area to work and live is a success for everyone,” said Cathy Anderson, Economic Director for the City of Whitewater.

If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance, contact Pauquette at 262-473-0670 or visit their website https://pauquette.com/ to learn more.

Pauquette Center for Psychological Services
Whitewater University Technology Park
1221 Innovation Dr. Suite #221
Whitewater, WI 53190

(UW-W press release) The laugh of a child brought back the joy and excitement for Erica Schepp.

The director of child care at the UW-Whitewater Children’s Center, Schepp recalled that first day, re-opening the doors to the center in late May, three months after the facility in the Roseman Building had closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Being shut down was surreal,” said Schepp, who, during those three months worked from home serving families and preparing to return safely. “Preparing to come back, I remember being excited, being worried, hoping we had prepared enough and we were doing enough.”

“My office overlooks the playground,” Schepp recalled. “The moment they (children) came out, I heard the laughter and joy in those young voices and I knew, ‘This is it.’ It was the joy and the energy coming back.”

Schepp said the Children’s Center was the first program to return to in-person activities after learning and instruction went online midway through the spring semester. Not only was it vital to re-open safely, but others on the campus would be learning from the Children’s Center’s example. Schepp said the staff of the center met the challenge.

“We were the front runners,” said Schepp. “We learned a lot from being the first ones to reopen. I am proud and thankful for that.”

Others think so, too. The center recently topped $100,000 in awards from a series of grants administered by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families from $50 million in the federal CARES Act to keep safe, high-quality childcare going in the United States. Schepp credits the National Association for the Education of Young Children and its “nonstop work and support” for advocating for that funding in the CARES Act.

She said the grants help because the Children’s Center is largely self-sustaining. When the center closed in mid-March, it returned 75 percent of tuition to its families. Schepp said the grants are earmarked for centers that had to shut down; retention and retaining of teachers; personal protective equipment and other defenses from COVID-19; and other pandemic-related needs.

During the closure, the Children’s Center’s professional teachers kept working with their families online. Schepp said those relationships between teachers and families are key to supporting the children and keeping trust. And at UW-Whitewater, Schepp said trust matters.

“We say we have ‘the youngest Warhawks’ in our program,” said Schepp. “The work we do supports so many others on campus and through the Whitewater community. Childcare is essential to the workforce, to the community and to the campus.”

And to the 54 UW-Whitewater students who work as paid part-time teaching assistants, the Children’s Center has become an essential part of their training for careers in elementary education, early childhood education, social work, communications disorders and related fields involving children. The center accepts children from infancy through 4-year-old kindergarten.

Students learn to become careful observers of children, to notice what questions children ask and to discover individual curiosities that can be built upon. Students experience language development and early literacy. They even see basic sign language taught to infants, who are known to sign before speaking their first word.

“If a child’s interests are engaged more, they want to go deeper,” said Schepp. “That’s how our classrooms are designed. You might look at a class and say ‘Well, they’re just playing.’ But the play is our children’s work. There’s meaning and value in that play.”

“What a difference those first four years make,” added Schepp, an urgency rising in her voice. “I know that the first five years are critical years in their lifelong development.”

The university students at the center chart every detail of each child’s day for reports, which go to the parents. Students change diapers, feed children, eat with children, play outside with children and assist the professional teaching staff. And now, during the pandemic, there are cleaning protocols and health screening tasks to be done.

Schepp said the center reopened at 50 percent of capacity in late May and now is up to about 70 percent. She will keep writing those grant applications.

“This is not something you leave on a desk at the end of the day, and I see it in our student employees,” said Schepp. “With some of them who struggle with coursework, grades, even thoughts of leaving school, this is what keeps them going. The challenging moments they work through with children make their relationships stronger.”

“This is a place of humanity. What you receive from it often feels like it’s tenfold what you give.”

(College of Arts and Communication, Department of Music submission) The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Music is seeking instrument donations for their brand new “Be Instrumental” campaign. The campaign comes as a partnership with the White House of Music and will have a direct impact on each music education student. This initiative was designed to continue the outstanding preparation of the nationally-recognized Music Education program at UW-Whitewater.

“As a music educator, you have to be able to teach a variety of instruments to students,” says Mike Dugan, Chair of the Department of Music. “We previously have had music stores donate these instruments, but in the midst of this financially challenging year, we are finding donations falling short of our needs.”

Specifically, the department is seeking instrument donations for the following, in priority order:

Trombone; Alto Saxophone; Clarinet; Violin; Cello; String Bass; Oboe; Cornet/Trumpet; Horn; Bassoon, and Percussion Practice Pads and Stands. In partnership with the White House of Music, there are two options to engage in this unique program, listed below. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

Donate Your Used Instrument

Donate your slightly used instrument and receive a letter verifying the donation as a gift. If your instrument needs slight repairs to get it into proper playing condition, the department hopes you may be able to make those repairs prior to donation. If repairs are unable to be made, the instrument would be examined for an appraisal of value. To make a donation, visit: https://www.uww.edu/cac/music/be-instrumental

Purchase an Instrument or Contribute Towards the Purchase of an Instrument

Purchase or donate through the White House of Music and a student-line instrument will be supplied to the UW-Whitewater Department of Music. White House will keep all donations segregated so any dollar amount donated can accumulate to the dollar value needed for a purchase. In addition, Chris White, President and CEO of White House of Music and 1993 UW-Whitewater alum, will add to this offer a full year of free service for any instrument purchased and donated to the Be Instrumental initiative.  A win-win offer we hope you will find enticing!  Follow this link to see a list of instruments we need with a donation tab to White House of Music: https://white-house-of-music-inc-uww.square.site/

Participants will become “instrumental” to empower students in continuing the exemplary music education tradition at UW-Whitewater. If you are interested in making a donation, please visit our website at: https://www.uww.edu/cac/music/be-instrumental. For questions or more information, please contact uwwmusic@uww.edu.

(University of Wisconsin System submission) University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson today announced additional details to provide incentives to UW students with nursing skills and other health backgrounds to work on the front lines of Wisconsin’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional details include qualifying criteria, deadlines, and how students can apply. 

“The UW System has identified a need and is stepping up to help,” President Thompson said. “As Wisconsin deals with this terrible pandemic, the need for health care workers has never been greater. The UW System is glad to be able to offer this incentive to students, who can use this opportunity to learn and to help our fellow Wisconsinites.”

The System had previously announced that its approximately 4,000 nursing students would be able to earn real-time experience and a $500 tuition refund for agreeing to work in hospitals and other health care settings and to help administer vaccines, including anticipated vaccines that combat COVID-19.

A $500 tuition refund will be provided to students who meet the following criteria:

• Must be enrolled at a University of Wisconsin System campus during the Spring 2021 semester.
• Must work a minimum of 50 hours in a Wisconsin clinical or health care setting, such as a hospital, clinic, nursing home, long-term care facility, state or local health care facility, or state veterans home, between December 1, 2020, and February 1, 2021.
• Must meet health care licensure and certification requirements, such as a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Technician (CEMT), or Nurse Aid. Students who also qualify as a CNA under the emergency rule currently in place can participate as well.

The program is open to students currently employed or who become employed in a Wisconsin clinical or health care setting. To be eligible for the tuition credit, students must present a letter from their employer verifying the type of work and the hours worked to their campus Bursar’s Office by no later than March 31, 2021.

Students who qualify will receive a $500 tuition refund at the end of the Spring 2021 semester. Students may receive only one $500 tuition refund regardless of number of hours worked beyond the 50-hour minimum.

Students interested in becoming involved can connect with employers via Handshake, an online job listing and candidate management system. The UW System will promote the use of Handshake to potential health care employers, and UW campus career services administrators will help students identify job eligible opportunities.

The UW System is considering additional spring semester incentives for nursing student health care work, including clinical support for vaccinations, beyond February 1, 2021.

(Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce press release) This year has proven to be one filled with many challenges and disappointments, but it has also given us opportunities find ways to come together as a community to support each other. To embrace this spirit of collaboration and support, the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations from the community for their annual awards. The chamber’s membership has already taken time to submit their nominations and now we are asking the Whitewater community to provide input on this important process. We want to be able to honor the many individuals, businesses, and organizations that make Whitewater the great hometown that it is! The award categories are listed below, and to submit your nomination(s), if possible, please print this form, fill it out, scan and email it to the chamber at info@whitewaterchamber.com by Friday, December 18^th. If that is inconvenient, feel free to simply provide the following information in an email: your name (and business if appropriate), phone number, email address, name of business/individual you are nominating, a brief explanation of why you are nominating them for the award, and which award you are nominating them for. If you have any questions please contact the chamber at (262) 473-4005.

Good Neighbor Award

Given to an individual in the Whitewater community who can be described as an outstanding citizen who represents Whitewater at its very best. This person makes a positive difference in Whitewater by improving the quality of life and embracing the community spirit!

Service Excellence Award

Presented to a business that demonstrates hometown hospitality by delivering excellent customer service and care to their guests/customers/clients and the community.

Lifetime Impact Award

Presented to a business, individual, or organization that has been a part of the community for 20 years or longer, positively impacting community development and growth.

Discover Whitewater Award

Presented to the business, individual, or organization that creates a warm, welcoming, and unique experience for travelers and guests to enjoy in the Whitewater community.

Pandemic Pro Award

Presented to the business that made the most of the multiple opportunities this year to successfully “pivot” their business practices in innovative ways and remain open for the community.

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

Recently the Wisconsin Department of Health Services has, for the first time, started providing COVID-19 data for each municipality and school district in the state. This is particularly helpful for Whitewater, as the previous information that was enumerated by census tract did not isolate the portion of the city that is located in Jefferson County. The statistics for the seven days ending December 12 reflect a very high new rate of confirmed cases, in spite of the fact that the majority of UW-W students had already left two weeks before that period. As of the morning of December 11, UW-W had reported only 14 new cases among students and staff versus the 74 cases identified in the city as a whole.

It might be speculated that the increasing rate compared with the week ending 12/5 could be partially related to gatherings over the Thanksgiving holiday. Whitewater’s rate might also be influenced by the recent ready availability of rapid testing at UW-W.

Fifteen deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported in the city; eighteen have been reported in the school district. It is believed that the majority of the deaths in the city have taken place in senior residences.

New daily confirmed cases reported as an average over the last 7 days and rate per 100,000 population:

City of Whitewater	Average new daily cases	Rate per 100,000 population
12/5	7.14	48.4
12/12	10.57	71.6
Whitewater Unified School District
12/5	9.29	46.1
12/12	13.14	65.2

Rates per 100,000 population for selected municipalities as of 12/12

Madison	35.1
Jefferson	39.4
Palmyra	49.5
Fort Atkinson	50.6
Jefferson County	53
Entire state of WI	65
Milton	66.5
Walworth County	67.5
Milwaukee	67.8
Rock County	67.8
Whitewater	71.6
Elkhorn	73.6
Janesville	78
Cambridge	80

(UW-W press release)

UW-Whitewater is extending its COVID-19 “surge testing” to help meet the needs of the community during the holiday season. On Monday, UW System President Tommy Thompson said COVID-19 “surge testing” sites will operate at least until Christmas, with days and hours varying by individual site. UW-Whitewater plans to remain open into early January.

The 22 sites across Wisconsin located on or near UW System university campuses provide free, rapid COVID-19 tests to community members as well as students and employees. Since opening in early November, the sites have now administered about 100,000 Abbott BinaxNOW tests. Of those, UW-Whitewater has administered 8,675 of these “surge” tests since Nov. 9.

In addition to the surge testing site, UW-Whitewater’s University Health and Counseling Services has administered nearly 9,500 tests to current students and continues to offer the service.

“UW-Whitewater has a long, proud history of helping our communities during critical times. And we continue to do so today and into 2021,” Chancellor Dwight C. Watson said. “I want to thank UW System, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, along with our staff who have supported these important efforts. As our students say, get tested and ‘know before you go.’ If you are traveling for the winter break, please test before you leave so that you will know your status if you choose to visit with others during the holidays.”

Originally, UW System officials estimated the sites would operate for about six weeks, or through mid-December. Thanks to added support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to meet the demand, surge testing will continue.

Hours for COVID-19 testing at UW-Whitewater will continue from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday until Tuesday, Dec. 22. The site will be closed Dec. 23 through Jan. 3 and will reopen on Monday, Jan 4. The hours will remain 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Testing is located at the Kris Russell Volleyball Arena in the Williams Center and free parking is available in lots 7 and 9 on Warhawk Drive.

Pre-registration is required at doineedacovid19test.com

“We believe this timeframe will allow our community members to be tested prior to the holiday and then be able to test once the New Year begins,” Watson said.

Additional testing information can be found at https://www.uww.edu/warhawks-return/testing

Banner note: Results from the rapid testing are generally emailed in less than an hour. Anyone who tests negative but has been experiencing possible COVID-19 symptoms, as well as anyone who tests positive, is offered a PCR test, for which the results may not be available for several days.