News & Events

Editor’s Note: The following interview with Mr. Shabani was written by Marjorie Stoneman on behalf of Whitewater Unites Lives (WUL).

Ilmi Shabani is well-known in Whitewater as the owner of Jessica’s Restaurant.  He and his family have nourished the community from Jessica’s for 33 years.

Born in Macedonia, Ilmi came to the United States at age 13, where he attended school in Illinois and learned English.  He said, “I am more comfortable speaking English than Albanian.”  He is fluent in English and Albanian and also knows some Macedonian and Spanish.

As a young man, he journeyed back and forth from Macedonia and eventually worked as a waiter in Chicago.  The owner of the Chicago restaurant, Leonardo, had a home at Whitewater Lake, and Ilmi often visited with his family.

Leonardo told him, “You are capable to be on your own.  You should start a business.”  He decided Whitewater was the place to be.

He said, “Whitewater is a friendly town.  Dave Kachel and Harry Leffingwell welcomed me and said it would be a great idea to start something here.”  He opened Jessica’s with $400 of his own and a loan from Leonardo, which has long since been paid back. 

Ilmi has traveled back and forth from Macedonia throughout his life.  He met his wife there and had to leave her in Macedonia with his son and daughter for several years until they could file for amnesty in 1989.  It took three years to be able to bring his family here.  “I wanted a better life here,” said Ilmi.   

At ages 6 and 7, Ilmi’s children attended Washington Elementary School, where the teachers and principal welcomed them.  They learned English at the school. His youngest daughter was born here.

 “This is my home.  I am a part of Whitewater. I am committed to the downtown.  I thank the community for all the support,” said Ilmi.

Ilmi is very grateful to his family and staff who stood by him and supported him.  He said that the business suffered during the Pandemic. “I wouldn’t be here if not for them.  We work together as a team.”

When he isn’t working, Ilmi enjoys planting his garden, raising chickens and spending time with his seven grandchildren.

“I worked 16 hours a day, seven days a week to be where I am today.  I love work,” he said.

Ilmi’s son, Urim, is learning the business from his father, and will take over once Ilmi retires.  “I am committed to Whitewater.  My son is taking over but it’s hard to let go.  I tell my son I will work until I am 92,” said Ilmi.

His dream is for his grandchildren to thrive in the United States, and he would love to have Jessica’s stay in the family for generations to come.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

We are celebrating “50 Years at the Depot” at the museum and here is a look at the museum’s display space from when it first opened in 1974 along with a recent photograph of our display space today. The Whitewater Historical Society has spent the last 50 years interpreting the history of Whitewater in the depot museum with our varied collections. Fifty years ago we had an eclectic approach, showing our many artifacts in a variety of settings. Today, we use our artifacts and copies of our photographs to present a thematic history of Whitewater. Both approaches have brought Whitewater’s history to our thousands of visitors over the years.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(5166P and 2023 Photo by Carol Cartwright, Whitewater Historical Society)

 Out & About Mom Walks this summer for grandmothers, foster moms, adoptive moms, stepmoms, surrogate moms, mother figures, and moms-to-be!

NEXT WALK: SATURDAY, JULY 13, 10-11AM
Yerkes Observatory, 373 Geneva St, Williams Bay

Calling grandmothers, foster moms, adoptive moms, stepmoms, surrogate moms, mother figures, and moms-to-be …

Join the Tree House and fellow moms as we walk and talk about the ins and outs of parenthood and babies! Each free Out & About Mom Walk will include medical providers walking alongside participants to answer questions about child development, immunizations, nutrition, and more. Walk participants will be provided with water, giveaways, and community resource information.

Bring your strollers and/or kiddos of all ages!
REGISTER FOR ONE, TWO, THREE, OR ALL FOUR WALKS!
REGISTER

Additional walks later this summer:

Saturday, August 17, 11am-Noon
Starin Park, Whitewater

Saturday, September 14, 10-11am
Sunset Park, Elkhorn

Questions about Mom Walks? Please contact 262-374-2242 or madeline@treehouseforkids.net. 

Funding for Mom Walks is provided by a grant from the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board (CANPB).

Whitewater, Wisconsin (July 8, 2024)—AACSB International (AACSB) has announced that the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has earned five more years of business and accounting education accreditation. This marks the 50th year of consecutive AACSB business accreditation for the university and its College of Business and Economics (CoBE).

AACSB has 1,026 accredited institutions in over 65 countries and territories and 194 institutions with AACSB accreditation for accounting programs. Achieving this milestone ensures greater access to high-quality business education for learners and for businesses seeking top talent.

“AACSB congratulates the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on achieving AACSB accreditation,” said Stephanie Bryant, executive vice president and global chief accreditation officer at AACSB. “The commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of the school’s dedication—not only to its students, alumni network, and greater business community—but to society as a whole.”

Achieving AACSB accreditation is a mission-driven, rigorous process that includes an in-depth assessment of internal activities. It is a peer-reviewed evaluation focused on continuous improvement. During this multiyear path, schools focus on developing and implementing a plan to achieve their mission and align with AACSB’s accreditation standards. These principles-based standards require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation, research, teaching and learning, and making the region better through business education.

“This year UW-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics is celebrating 110 years of business education, 25 years of online education, and now 50 years of continuous AACSB business accreditation. Whether online or on-campus, freshman to doctoral students, the College of Business and Economics helps students achieve their dreams for a better future” said Dean Paul Ambrose. “Being Wisconsin’s largest business school is no coincidence. With AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting, CoBE ranks in the top 2% of business schools globally for program quality. Whitewater proudly accepts 97% of applicants, and CoBE graduates boast a 99% job placement rate.”

“It’s been an incredible year of milestones for our College of Business and Economics,” said UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey A. King. “Dean Ambrose and the faculty and staff work hard to create a world-class experience for our students, and our 50 years of AACSB accreditation are proof of the college’s continued culture of transformative education. I’d like to congratulate our business school students, faculty, and staff – past and present – who made this achievement possible. We see you, and we thank you.”

Per 2022 data, of all Wisconsin public comprehensive universities, UW-Whitewater has the largest population of underrepresented minority students, is number one in total aid, and graduates the greatest percent of students in six years or less (Universities of Wisconsin standard graduation measure).

About the College of Business and Economics

The college ranked No. 1 in the state in the 2024 U.S. News and World Report review of online programs. UW-Whitewater is home to Wisconsin’s top-ranked single school in the following categories:

• Best Online MBA
• Best Online Business Graduate Program
• Best Online Business Undergraduate Program
• Best Online MBA Program for Veterans
• Best Online Business Graduate Program for Veterans

For more information on the College of Business and Economics, visit uww.edu/cobe or email cobe@uww.edu.

Erika Dugger
Hyland Hall 4300H
Phone: (262) 472-4924
Email: duggere@uww.edu
URL: https://www.uww.edu/cobe

According to Fox 6 Milwaukee, “A Walworth County judge sentenced Yefferson Guzman Rodriguez to two years in prison for each of two counts in connection with an incident in which officials said he was wielding several rifles after holding a victim against her will for multiple days in October 2023. Guzman Rodriguez pleaded guilty in March to felony counts of false imprisonment and strangulation/suffocation.”

Read the full article here.

Do you and your young kids love to sing, dance, and play musical instruments? Do you wish you had new parenting strategies to handle stress, meltdowns, and challenging behaviors?

Children ages zero to six and their caregivers are invited to “Sing, Dance, Thrive,” a free class at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on Saturday, July 11 at 9:45-11:00 a.m. Participants will engage in imaginative music and movement adventures, playfully dance with colorful ribbons and parachutes, and nurture relationships by deepening emotional awareness and learning coping strategies for home and school.

The class is taught by Noelle Larson, a Board-Certified Music Therapist, graduate of Whitewater High School and Berklee College of Music, and the owner of Circle of Song Music Therapy, LLC. Noelle has a passion for helping clients and participants to “Connect, Thrive, and Come Alive Through Music”, strengthen family relationships, learn adaptive coping strategies, and experience wonder and joy through the delight of participating in live music making.

There is no cost or registration required to attend. While the class is best for ages 6 and under, all ages are welcome to attend. Contact Sarah French with any questions at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-473-0530.

The Whitewater 4th of July Committee is proud to share that the 39th Annual Car Show, sponsored by First Citizens State Bank, was a resounding success, celebrating a shared passion for automotive excellence. 

Held July 6, the car show attracted a large crowd of car enthusiasts, families, and community members who enjoyed an afternoon filled with an array of classic and modern vehicles. The event featured an impressive collection of cars, from vintage models to the latest innovations in automotive technology.

Chad and Jessica O’Leary, the dedicated organizers and volunteers, once again demonstrated their passion for the automotive world and their commitment to bringing the community together by organizing the car show for the 4th year in a row. There were 89 registered vehicles, and when combined with those who joined later in the afternoon, it brought the number of total participants over 100! Please join us in celebrating this milestone record attendance.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous sponsor, First Citizens State Bank, whose support was instrumental in making this event possible. First Citizens State Bank’s continued commitment to the community and enthusiasm for the car show also played a pivotal role in its success.

One of the highlights of the event was the announcement of the winners. This year’s winners, chosen by popular/band vote, were:

• John & Becky Starks, 1956 Ford Parklane
• Frank & Jessie Schlumpf, 1955 Chevrolet 2 Door Wagon
• E.G. Becker, 1940 Ford 4 Door
• Keith Hetzel, 1992 Lincoln Towncar
• Larry Trieloft (Band choice), 1967 Ford Mustang LTZ

We congratulate the winners and thank all participants for showcasing their remarkable vehicles.

We look forward to continuing this tradition and welcoming everyone back for the 40th Annual Car Show next year.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

Katie Lehman and Lisa Dawsey Smith
Co-Chairs, Whitewater 4th of July Committee
whitewater4th@gmail.com

Thank you once again to our hosts, sponsors, participants, and attendees for making this event unforgettable.

FORT ATKINSON, WI — Fort Community Credit Union (FCCU) held their annual brat cookout on Saturday, June
8, to raise money for the Jefferson County Cancer Coalition (JCOCC).

The JCOCC is a community-based organization that aims to support individuals and families affected by cancer
in Jefferson County. The coalition works towards raising awareness about early detection, prevention and
treatment of cancer while also advocating for improved cancer care and support services within the community.
The cookout took place at FCCU’s Main Branch located at 800 Madison Avenue in Fort Atkinson.

All items were donated by Johnsonville, Kwik Trip, FCCU team members, and Festival, ensuring that 100% of the
proceeds went to the JCOCC. FCCU team member Deanna Ugalde was instrumental in the coordination and
execution of the event. “Thank you to the FCCU team,” said Deanna, event organizer. “Without their help and
support, this event would not be possible every year.”

FCCU raised a grand total of $2,533.71 for the Jefferson County Cancer Coalition this year! Thank you to
everyone who stopped by to support such a great cause!