News
Whitewater Lions 2nd Annual May Day Basket Sale
IT’S TIME FOR THE WHITEWATER LIONS 2ND ANNUAL MAY DAY BASKET SALE!!! Do you know someone that could use a little smile? Would you like to brighten someone’s day? Show someone you care? The Whitewater Lions have the perfect solution, a cute little May Day basket filled with chocolates, delivered right to their door!! Each basket is a cute cone shape with a ribbon handle and it contains approximately a dozen small chocolates. “Secretly” delivered to any address in the Whitewater School District on MAY DAY. (May 1st)
For Electronic Ordering and Payment Use the Following Link: (You will need to click on “follow link” when you’re told “leaving Facebook.”) https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSdqHYODFZr…/viewform…If you’d prefer to mail your order and payment, please print order form and mail to :Whitewater Lions Club, Attn: May Day BasketsPO Box 246Whitewater, WI 53190
ALL orders MUST be received by April 29th! If you have any questions please send an email to: WWLions27a1@yahoo.com
#wilions27a1 #WeServe — at Whitewater Lions Club, Whitewater WI
Flashback Friday with the Historical Society: Converse Equipment Co.
It’s time again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society!
This week’s photo from probably sometime in the 1960s features a local business from the past: Converse Equipment Company. Located on East Milwaukee Street, Allen Converse purchased the Ford tractor and farming implement dealership from Les Engel in 1957. April is prime time for local farmers to begin prepping and planting their fields, meaning that the Converses’ shop would’ve seen many farmers looking to repair and purchase farming equipment.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society collections!
(5119P, Whitewater Historical Society)
The Whitewater Historical Society collects, preserves, and interprets the history of Whitewater and the surrounding area. Be sure to join us next week for more from the Society’s collections. Please “like” us on Facebook, and check out our website at whitewaterhistoricalsociety.org!
Business Update includes Baymont Inn, Grunzolio Pizzeria, and White Elephant
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
The Baymont Inn, 1355 W. Main Street, has been closed for several months, reportedly due to decreased business due to COVID-19. The Banner was told by Kellie Carper of Discover Whitewater that the last she had heard was that the hotel planned to reopen on May 1. An employee at Super 8, which is under the same ownership, could not confirm that date but said he thought it was still the plan. The hotel’s website is showing availability beginning on May 1.
Grunzolio Pizzeria has recently opened at 108 S. Fremont Street. It’s no coincidence that it’s located behind the dental office of Bart Kraus, D.D.S., as Dr. Kraus owns the pizza restaurant and is currently its primary chef. Dr. Kraus indicates that he’s always wanted to have a pizza place, and since his dental office has been closed during the pandemic, this seemed like the ideal time. There is a small amount of seating, but currently there is carryout only. The website is https://grunzoliopizza.com/ and the phone is 262-771-5407. Current hours are 2-7 p.m., seven days a week.
Probably most everyone knows that Walmart, 1362 W. Main Street, is undergoing major renovations. New signage is being proposed for both the pylon sign by Main Street as well as on the building. The Plan and Architectural Review Commission is considering the wall signs at its meeting on Monday, April 12. The Banner will provide an update as available regarding the renovation, including the self-service checkouts.
The White Elephant antique store, a longtime fixture at 183 W. Main Street, has closed. However, another business purchased the inventory and is currently liquidating it. The Banner was told that all merchandise is offered at 90% off, unless the price says ‘firm.’ The next open day is planned to be Thursday, April 15, tentatively 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. It was indicated that it’s uncertain what the schedule will be thereafter, including how much longer the business will be open.
Whitewater Public Library Offers “Home Improvement Contracts under Wisconsin Law” on Tuesday, April 20
(Whitewater Public Library submission)- The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library presents “Home Improvement Contracts under Wisconsin Law,” a virtual program, on Tuesday, April 20th at 6:00 p.m. Individuals can register for this Zoom program at whitewaterlibrary.org.
The Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection will present information on home improvement practices and contracts under Wisconsin law. Wisconsin residents sign home improvement contracts every day to make improvements to their homes and property. It is important to understand the consumer protection laws that are in place to protect you before you enter into this type of contract. As part of the presentation, you will learn about tips on hiring a contractor, contractor requirements, and required contract provisions. Home improvement resources will be available to all attendees. As Wisconsin’s lead agency for consumer protection, the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection provides information and education, mediates complaints, investigates cases, and takes enforcement actions to fight fraudulent and deceptive practices that harm consumers and honest businesses.
Whitewater Middle School Sixth-Graders Complete the Water for South Sudan’s Iron Giraffe Challenge; await live drawing
(Whitewater Middle School submission) For the second year in a row, sixth graders at Whitewater Middle School have successfully completed the Iron Giraffe Challenge. The challenge, which benefits the nonprofit organization Water for South Sudan, was to raise $1,000 which the company then uses to drill and rehabilitate water wells in Africa. To date, a total of $1,281 has been donated to the school’s 2020-2021 fundraiser. In the two years that Whitewater Middle School has participated in the Iron Giraffe Challenge, they have raised a total of $2,404.
Of the 199 schools in the world that registered for the 2020-2021 Iron Giraffe Challenge, WMS was one of 99 schools that completed the challenge. Since the Iron Giraffe Challenge’s first year in 2016, WMS currently ranks 57th in the world all time in total fundraising for Water for South Sudan.
Due to these incredible fundraising efforts, Whitewater Middle School has qualified for a grand prize drawing where schools can win a variety of different prizes including school visits from Salva Dut (the founder of Water for South Sudan), video conferences with author Linda Sue Park, and much more. The live drawing will be on Friday, April 9 at 11:00 AM CDT and will be broadcasted on Water for South Sudan’s Facebook page via Facebook Live.
To learn more about our fundraiser, please visit our fundraising page at classy.org/team/284892.
Plots Available to Reserve at Whitewater Community Garden
Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 season at the Whitewater Community Garden, located near the Innovation Center at 1201 Innovation Drive, next to the soccer fields.
30 plots are available to the public with the idea of bringing together community members of all ages and cultures from the Whitewater area.
Water is provided by the City of Whitewater and is available for registered members. The main source is located on the property with additional hoses throughout the plots. There is also a locked shed filled with everything you need to tend to your plot.
Whitewater Community Garden (WWCG) is reserved for residents of Whitewater.
Our 20X20 plots are available for $25 for the 2021 season. An additional $25 refundable deposit will be asked for new members. The refundable $25 deposit will be returned after the close of the garden season, if the gardener maintains their plot during the season and also cleans up their plot by November 2021.
Plots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
We’ve been working since 2009 to grow local and healthy produce in an open space that enables residents to be involved in planting, growing and maintaining their own garden plots.
We encourage you to join us and contribute towards making a difference. More information regarding the gardens and the application process may be found here.
First United Methodist Church Celebrated Easter with a “Reunion” in the Parking Lot; Their First In-Person Worship Since March, 2020
Insight from the ADRC – 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms. If you notice any of them, don’t ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stage, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking for the same questions over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later. - Challenges in planning or solving problems
Some people living with dementia may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Making occasional errors when managing finances or household bills. - Difficulty completing familiar tasks
People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Occasionally needing help to use microwave settings or to record a TV show. - Confusion with time or place
People living with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later. - Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. They may also have problems judging distance and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Vision changes related to cataracts.
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
People living with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble naming a familiar object or use the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”).
What’s a typical age-related change?
Sometimes having trouble finding the right word. - Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
A person living with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. He or she may accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them. - Decreased or poor judgment
Individuals may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Making a bad decision or mistake once in a while, like neglecting to change the oil in the car. - Withdrawal from work or social activities
A person living with Alzheimer’s disease may experience changes in the ability to hold or follow a conversation. As a result, he or she may withdraw from hobbies, social activities or other engagements. They may have trouble
keeping up with a favorite team or activity.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Sometimes feeling uninterested in family or social obligations. - Changes in mood and personality
Individuals living with Alzheimer’s may experience mood and personality changes. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, with friends or when out of their
comfort zone.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
Get checked. Early detection matters.
If you notice one or more signs in yourself or another person, it can be difficult to know what to do. It’s natural to feel uncertain or nervous about discussing these changes with others. Voicing worries about your own health might make them seem more “real.” Or, you may fear upsetting someone by sharing observations about changes in his or her abilities or behavior. However, these are significant health concerns that should be evaluated by a doctor, and it’s important to take action to figure out what’s going on.
Reference: Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs
Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline: (800) 272-3900
For more information, please contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center:
Aging and Disability Resource Center – Walworth County
www.co.walworth.wi.us/adrc
(262) 741-3400
Aging and Disability Resource Center- Jefferson County
www.jeffersoncountywi.gov
(920) 674-8734
This Banner article submission is part of an ongoing series to bring information and awareness to the Whitewater community via a partnership of Whitewater’s Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, Seniors in the Park, Jefferson and Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center Dementia Specialists, and Downtown Whitewater.
Our Readers Share – Jeff Bierman: Whitewater Depot on Good Friday Morning
Our thanks to Jeff Bierman for sharing this beautiful photo with us.
— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share. Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com or click on “submit a story” near the top right of our homepage. Thanks for thinking about this!