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The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that over 200,000 people in Wisconsin care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in their homes.  These caregivers provide millions of hours of unpaid care each year valued at $7 billion. This care allows older Wisconsinites to stay in their homes, where costs are lower and both parties are more comfortable. 

Dementia caregiving can be physically demanding and time-consuming, and caregivers often experience high levels of stress.  With numbers rising, Wisconsin recognizes a public health emergency.   A long-range plan has been created which stresses the importance of community support.   The Alzheimer’s Association has responded to the health care emergency with a program called the Healthy Brain Initiative, a large component of which is educating, engaging and mobilizing the community.   Whitewater’s volunteer group called Dementia Friendly Community Initiative (DFIC) strives to do just that.  Here are some services we offer:

• Rockin’ Respite     Twice a month, caregivers can drop off their loved ones for a day of activities, socializing, snacks and one-on-one time with a volunteer.  The caregiver is free to do errands, make appointments for themselves, see friends or family or just take a nap.
• Purple Angel     The PA program offers training to employees in stores, restaurants, and offices of all kinds on how to understand and respond to persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) who may be having difficulty navigating places of business.
• Dementia Friends     A one-hour small group meeting is offered to answer the question “What is dementia?”  A sample of what you will learn is the Bookcase Analogy which explains how the brain loses ability to perform logical and sequential activities while the emotional responsive part of the brain is still fully functional.
• Thanks You Gifts     Caregivers are honored and thanked for all they do for their loved ones with a gift of appreciation during Caregivers Month in November.

Whitewater’s DFIC would like to offer more activities such as twice a year outings to museums, galleries, workshops etc. for caregivers and their loved ones.  With more volunteers committing only three hours twice a month, we could offer Respite to more people and give more caregivers a break.  Volunteers find that by giving a little of their time, they gain an understanding of Alzheimer’s and related dementias which might affect you or me when we least expect it.  

Please contact Seniors in the Park to learn more about our work.  Learn if you might want to be part of that essential community support for persons with dementia and their caregivers.  Call or email Jennifer, director of  Seniors in the Park, at 262 473 0535 or  Jackson@whitewater-wi.gov

For more information:    https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/non-dhs/dph/dementia-plan-2024-2028.pdf
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.  More committee members are needed!  Contact Jackson@whitewater-wi.gov or call Jennifer at 262 473 0535.  

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UW-Whitewater staff has recently considered various approaches that might improve pedestrian safety on Starin Road. Per their recommendation, the Common Council approved closing Starin Road to traffic on a trial basis, Monday – Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. from October 7 to October 18. The city Public Works Committee will receive a data-intensive report on this project at their meeting on Tuesday, December 10 at 5 p.m. in the Cravath Lakefront Room on second floor of the municipal building. University personnel will also be present. In their report on the trial, city staff recommended against further implementation of the partial closure. It is expected that after discussion the Public Works Committee will make a recommendation to the Common Council.

The report showed that during the hours of the trial period there was an average increase of 541 more vehicles per day on Main Street and 838 more vehicles on Schwager Drive, representing an increase of 6.3% and 68.2% respectively. The report may be viewed as part of the agenda packet on the city website, beginning on page eight.

A number of city staff submitted comments on the proposed weekday closure. Rationale given for leaving Starin Road open included reduced police/fire/EMS response times, additional traffic being added to busy Main Street, the temporary closure not including all of the busy crosswalks on Starin Road, and anticipated challenges with snow plowing. Additionally, it was noted that in the past five years there have been five pedestrian crashes on Main Street versus none on Starin Road.

Suggestions that were offered by city staff and residents for approaches that might be taken to improve pedestrian safety without road closure included:

• Student education on “defensive walking.”
• Annually in August, have reminders for drivers about the return of students and the resulting need to “up the awareness of more foot traffic” in the Banner and on social media.
• Additional signage at Prince Street (eastbound) and Graham Avenue (westbound) with suggested wording: ENTERING STUDENT CROSSING ZONES — USE CAUTION and BE PREPARED TO STOP FOR CROSSING STUDENTS.

Citing the lack of pedestrian involved crashes on Starin Road as opposed to the frequency on Main Street, Police Chief Dan Meyer opined, “I believe closing Starin Road would increase the chance of vehicle/pedestrian crashes on Main St. and would only serve to reduce the perceived safety concern on Starin Rd. that is not currently supported by the data.”

Citizen comments are always welcome at Public Works Committee and other city meetings, whether in person, via email or online/phone participation.

Written by Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by wal_172619 from Pixabay.

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

The person who was found deceased in a home where a fire had been reported on November 21 has been identified as Indumathi Chilukuri, a 71-year-old female Whitewater resident, Whitewater Police Chief Dan Meyer told The Whitewater Banner. Meyer indicated that no other person of interest has been identified. Per Ryan Dion, assistant fire/EMS chief, the origin and cause of the fire, which had nearly self-extinguished upon the department’s arrival, is being investigated by the Walworth County Fire Investigation Team as a possible arson. If it is determined that there is a potential that a crime occurred, the investigation will be turned over to the police department. The Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office declined to provide the Banner with any information regarding the decedent, including the cause of death. A previous Banner article provides further details from the initial reports.

The incident occurred at 505 Ventura Lane on the city’s west side. According to the recently issued 2024 Walworth County property tax bill, the property is in the names of Chilukuri Rao and Chilukuri Indumathi. It is unclear as to why the reported first and last names of the decedent are reversed from those on this document.

Photo courtesy of Tom Ganser.

Rotary Youth Exchange Notice:

The Whitewater Rotary is currently hosting an exchange student from France at Whitewater High School this school year. A critical part of this program is finding willing host families from within the Whitewater Unified School District families. Families come in all shapes and sizes: married w/students, married/no students, retired, single and everything in-between. Rotary families host for a third of the year, depending on the need and number of host families that apply. We are seeking a 2nd host family (approximately 2nd week in Dec to 2nd week of March) and 3rd host family (approximately 2nd week in March to 3rd week of June). Your local Rotarians will meet with you to discuss the specifics.

Youth exchange helps broaden viewpoints of the events in the world and gives a student the opportunity to realize their dream of studying abroad. Rotary students are sponsored by other Rotary clubs around the world, are vetted and arrive with health insurance. They are enrolled in local schools, attend classes and are expected to attend Rotary events throughout their school year.

Contact the name listed below if you are interested in applying to become a Rotary Host family. We look forward to hearing from you!

Please contact Mark Olm, mark@olmandassociates.com if you are interested in learning more.

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

Construction of the new Dollar Tree store to the southwest of the intersection of Main Street and Indian Mound Parkway seemed to move along rather rapidly, but it looks like decorations won’t be on sale for this year’s holidays. Llana Dostie, Neighborhood Services Administrative Assistant, told The Whitewater Banner that “The current contractor will be turning the building over to the next contractor around December 1st.    It usually takes about two months after that contractor starts work for the building to open.  Given that time line we are looking at sometime 1^st quarter of 2025.”

The apparent delay in opening may be related to the fact that Dollar Tree has been in the process of opening several other stores in the state this year. Longtime residents recall that the chain previously operated a smaller store in Whitewater Plaza for several years. Residents who are looking forward to the store mention that, among other things, they find it to be a good source of party and craft supplies and greeting cards. Unfortunately the days of $1 prices are long gone. In 2021 the chain raised the price on most items to a minimum of $1.25, and this fall many items were lifted to $1.50. Some items, however, are even as high as $7, or possibly higher.

Chris Verhyen of the Southeast Region WI Department of Transportation confirmed to The Whitewater Banner that US Highway 12 between LaGrange and Elkhorn reopened, after months of construction, on November 19. The new traffic signals at County ES (“Abell’s Corners”) are awaiting an inspection, so there is a temporary four-way stop there. Verhyen indicated that the department is hoping to turn the signals on during the week of November 25.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage https://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljenkins/

The “CliffsNotes” version: Persons who are responsible for any building or lot with a public sidewalk are required to remove all snow and ice from the sidewalk within 24 hours after a snow or ice event. If ice can’t be removed, it must be kept sprinkled with salt or sand. If these requirements are not met, the city may have the work performed at a minimum cost of $100. Please see below for the city ordinance.

12.20.020 Snow and Ice Removal Required.
The owner, occupant, and person in charge of any building or lot fronting upon or adjoining any sidewalk shall remove all snow and ice from the sidewalk no later than twenty-four hours after a snow or ice event. When any ice is so formed on any sidewalk that it cannot be removed, then the responsible party shall keep the same sprinkled with salt or sand. If any such owner, occupant, or person in charge refuses or fails to comply with the provisions of this section within the time aforesaid, the city manager or an appointed representative may remove such snow or ice and the cost thereof shall be charged at a rate of one hundred dollars per hour, with a minimum charge of one hundred dollars. Work lasting more than one hour will be billed an additional twenty-five dollars. Any subsequent snow removal, which takes place within six months of the prior removal, will be charged at a rate of one hundred fifty dollars per hour, with a minimum charge of one hundred fifty dollars. Work lasting more than one hour will be billed an additional twenty-five dollars. If the city contracts the service out for snow and ice removal, the city shall bill back to the property owner the cost, for any labor, equipment, and material necessary to remove the snow and ice from the public sidewalk the rate of the cost of the contracted service, plus a ten percent administrative cost fee, or, at the city’s discretion, the street department’s going rate for time, materials and equipment. The cost of such removal shall be reported to the city clerk in writing with a description of the premises, and such costs shall be and become a special tax and lien against the premises, and if not previously paid shall be inserted by the city clerk in the next ensuing tax roll as a special tax against such premises; and such costs may, in the discretion of the common council, be collected by suit against the owner or occupant of the premises.

(Ord. 1474 §1, 2001: Ord. 1193 §1, 1990: Ord. 983 §54(part), 1982; Ord. 901 §1, 1978: Ord. 862 §1, 1976: prior code §6.01(8)).
(Ord. No. 1846A, § 1, 11-8-2012; Ord. No. 1993A, § 1, 2-4-2020)

Wild Ones Kettle Moraine Chapter Presents “Wisconsin’s Rare Plants: Monitoring and Conservation“
Presented by Kevin Doyle

Kevin Doyle is a botanist with the DNR’s Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation.  He also coordinates the Rare Plant Monitoring Program, which is a citizen science program aimed at training volunteers to search for and record data on rare plants. This talk will focus on the ecology and biology of Wisconsin’s rare plants, as well as how people can get involved and how volunteer data are used in rare plant conservation.

WHEN:  Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 10 a.m.

WHERE:  South Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters, Eagle

      S91W39091 Highway 59

                   One mile west of Eagle, on Highway 59

Open to the Public.  No admission fee.

Friday, November 1 is the last day for early voting on the second floor of the city Municipal Building. Hours are 8 am – 5:00 pm. (Normally the building closes at 4:30 pm.)

Tom Ganser writes, “I began voting in 1971, and until today [Thursday, Oct. 31] I have always voted on the day of the election.  Today was the first time I’ve voted in person before the election date in the Whitewater Municipal Building … and it was “easy peasy” !