News & Events

The question every dementia family asks is “How long do we have?”

Reza Hosseini Ghomi, MD, MSE, a neuropsychiatrist and health tech expert, used to give textbook answers about averages and stages.  Now he tells them about the Three Clocks.

Clock #1: The Medical Clock     
This is what families expect doctors to discuss. Stages, timelines, progression rates. The answer is “mild cognitive impairment progresses to dementia at the rate of 10-15% annually.”  But this clock is largely useless for real-world planning.   What does that mean for Tuesday’s grocery shopping? Nothing.

Clock #2: The Functional Clock     
This is what actually matters for daily life.  When will driving become unsafe?   When will living alone become risky?  When will complex financial decisions need supervision?  When will medication management require help?  This clock runs differently for everyone. Some patients drive safely for years after diagnosis, others need to stop driving immediately.

Clock #3: The Family Clock   
This is the clock we don’t talk about but everyone lives by:  How long can the spouse manage caregiving alone?  When will siblings need to have “the conversation”?  How much time before difficult decisions become urgent?  When will family dynamics crack under pressure?

Here’s what Dr. Ghomi has learned after 1,000+ dementia consultations:

• The Medical Clock gets all the attention but provides the least useful information for families.
• The Functional Clock determines actual quality of life and safety.
• The Family Clock determines whether the first two clocks matter at all.

Averages and generalities are not of much use to families dealing with dementia. The three questions they need answers for are:  What shall we watch for?   What specific milestones?  How do we prepare as a family to face these changes?

The most important clock isn’t ticking in the patient’s brain. It’s ticking in the family’s capacity to adapt.  When families ask “How long do we have?” they’re really asking “How do we make the most of whatever time remains?”

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 Jackson@whitewater-wi.gov or call Jennifer at 262 473 0535       
https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/273/Seniors-In-the-Park

For more information on family dynamics and dementia:  https://www.caregiver.org/resource/holding-family-meeting/

Whitewater Fire/EMS would like to invite the public to a “Push-In Ceremony” to commemorate placing their newly delivered fire engine into service for our community.

The event will occur at the Whitewater Fire Department following the annual Whitewater 4th of July parade. There will be brief remarks by department staff, followed by a fire service tradition known as a Push-In, where members of the community are invited to help us “push” the new apparatus into the bay. Following the event, the department will offer fire station tours, as well as question and answer opportunities as emergency call volume will allow.

On behalf of Whitewater Fire/EMS, we wish everyone a safe and fun Independence Day.

Whitewater Fire Department
312 W. Whitewater Street
07/04/2025
12:00 pm

For additional information contact:
Assistant Chief Ryan Dion
rdion@whitewater-wi.gov

The following area students have been named to the Dean’s List at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for the spring semester of the 2024-25 academic year, ending in May:

Ethan Dugan, International Business Major
Caroline Skindingsrude, Elementary/Middle Education Major
Catherine Skindingsrude, Biology Major

Qualification for the Dean’s List is limited to students who have attained outstanding academic achievement. To be eligible, students must have earned at least a 3.5 semester grade point average and carried a minimum of 12 credits. 

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, founded in 1909, is one of 13 four-year institutions comprising the Universities of Wisconsin. UWL offers 130-plus degree programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels in arts, social sciences and humanities; science and health; business; and education. UW-La Crosse – www.uwlax.edu – is a top-ranked national university. It is the No. 1 public university in Wisconsin with fewer than 25,000 students, according to Niche’s 2025 ranking of the best U.S. colleges and universities.

Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, June 26 – 28
630 S Wisconsin Street, Whitewater

Estate Sale of Barbara & Allen Quast from 9am to 5pm on Thursday, June 26, Friday, June 27 & Saturday, June 28.  Everything acquired over 8 decades must sell at 630 S. Wisconsin St, Whitewater (the red home that is the first right turn past the Hillside Cemetery, across from Waters Edge subdivision south entrance). 

Thousands of high-quality household items including Made in USA for cooking, healthy living, furniture, yard work, etc with prices starting at $1.  

2200 sq. ft. home on 6.83 acres for sale at $650k.  

Call Bob Quast at 563-570-5466 with any questions.

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

When 8-year-old wheelchair-user and lifetime Whitewater resident Milena Baker helped to cut the ribbon at the brand new “We-Go-Round” at Starin Park in 2022, she was very excited that she would be able to play at the park with her friends. 

Now 12 years old, Milena says, “The merry-go-round is awesome! I can play with all my friends and they can play with me. It’s a place where we are all included and can have fun.”

The vision for the “We-Go-Round” was just that…to allow wheeled-mobility devices to fit in comfortably so that children of all abilities could play together.

Created through a partnership with the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club, the Whitewater Community Foundation, the City of Whitewater, the Whitewater Kiwanis Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the merry-go-round provides fun for all ages.

“The We-Go-Round project came to fruition and became a reality late summer/early fall of 2022. The Whitewater Community Foundation made this project possible with funding options working with the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club as sponsor, as well as the Whitewater Kiwanis Foundation,” said Lorrie Koppein, director of the project for the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

The Whitewater Community Foundation (WCF) set up a fund and collected donations for the project and was the ‘conduit’ for donations. 

“The Whitewater Community Foundation is here to help with projects like this that make a huge impact in Whitewater,” said Therese Kennedy, Co-President of the WCF.

“And why was this piece of equipment so important?” said Koppein.  “To serve the entire community of all ages and abilities since it is wheelchair and walker accessible. Plus the location was paramount to access for all participants: near the parking lot and a sidewalk installed to directly access this piece of equipment at the Starin Park Playground. A big thank you to the Whitewater Parks and Recreation Department for help in designing, locating and installing the now very popular We-Go-Round.”

City of Whitewater Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities Kevin A. Boehm said, “Beyond play, the We-Go-Round promotes physical activity by helping children develop core strength, upper body muscles, and balance. The spinning motion also offers important sensory input that aids in brain development. The We-Go-Round is a versatile and thoughtful addition to any playground, emphasizing inclusion, safety, and developmental benefits.” 

Koppein said, “This piece of equipment was largely funded by community members and Whitewater business leaders. Not to be forgotten were the tremendous efforts of the late Rollin Cooper, who raised the final $20,000 in order to make the We-Go-Round a reality.”

Milena’s mother, Joanna, said, “When we go to other communities and find anything that is inclusive, it’s like finding treasure. Everyone wants to feel like they belong. The Cooper legacy lives on in ways that those two may never have imagined. We owe them so much gratitude!”

Kiwanian Jerry Grant said, “The We-Go-Around is used a lot, in many different ways. People of all ages use it. That was a very good community investment.”

The WCF serves as the conduit for donations for several groups like the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club that are doing community projects but don’t have a 501c3.  A conduit/fiscal sponsorship agreement between a partnering organization and the WCF means that the foundation agrees to establish an account at First Citizens State Bank, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to receive and manage donated funds for the partner organization’s project. Because the funds would be coming to the WCF, the donations are tax-deductible, and donors will receive a receipt. The partner organization can then request funds from the account to pay for expenses related to the project only. A designee of the partner organization would be the person to request and receive the funds for payments with appropriate documentation (receipts, invoices, etc.).

In addition to assisting local organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects, the WCF continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and awards Community Action Grants to local organizations twice a year.

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

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

This Thursday’s Savory Sounds concert (on June 26) featuring Randy Plunkett has been moved to Fairhaven Senior Services in the Fellowship Hall.  The organizers felt it was necessary to make this decision because of the temperature, humidity, and potential for storms and gusty winds since there is another event scheduled for the Cultural Arts Center at the same time. There will be no food truck, so attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch.

The community is invited to attend the 13th Annual Miss Whitewater Pageant on Thursday, July 3, at 6:30 PM at the Frawley Amphitheater in Cravath Lakefront Park. This beloved tradition brings together local girls and young women in a celebration of confidence, community spirit, and charitable giving — all while supporting a great cause.

Over the past 12 years, the Miss Whitewater Pageant has raised more than $100,000 for veteran organizations. Each year, the pageant selects a different nonprofit organization focused on supporting those who have served our country. This year, all proceeds will benefit Guitars for Vets, a nonprofit that provides free guitars and music instruction to veterans struggling with the emotional scars of war.

Money is raised through ad sales in the official pageant program and raffle ticket sales — making it a true grassroots fundraising effort supported by generous community businesses and residents.

This year’s pageant features 24 contestants across five divisions, ranging from the youngest “Mini Miss” to the senior “Miss” division. Each contestant brings a unique personality, spirit, and dedication to service.

A Pageant with Purpose

Unlike traditional pageants that focus solely on competition, Miss Whitewater is rooted in service, self-expression, and support. Contestants of all ages take part in activities that build confidence, connect them to their community, and inspire them to give back.

“The value of the Miss Whitewater Pageant goes far beyond crowns and sashes,” says Elizabeth Bols, event organizer. “It teaches participants the importance of compassion, public speaking, and community involvement — while allowing them to contribute to something bigger than themselves.”

 For the community, the pageant is a heartfelt celebration of local pride and generosity, showcasing the potential of young people to lead with kindness, empathy, and action.  

Join Us for an Evening of Entertainment & Impact

Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy a fun, family-friendly evening of music, smiles, and community support. Attendees will have the opportunity to donate to Guitars for Vets during the event.

Let’s come together on July 3rd to support our future leaders and honor those who have bravely served.

For media inquiries or information on how to support the event, please contact:  Elizabeth Ellis 920-728-0135 Pageant Director.

Article and Photos Courtesy of Tom Ganser