Another way to give back

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Freeman, The (Waukesha, WI) – Friday, September 5, 2014
Section: Local News
— Jordyn Noennig ,Special to The Freeman

WAUKESHA — A local family strongly versed in giving back to the community did not think twice when the opportunity to donate their father’s brain to Alzheimer’s research was presented to them.

John Melster, whom the family describes as a community activist, spent much of his lifetime fundraising for Carroll University, serving on boards, working with Boy Scouts and delivering meals to the disabled before passing away in March at the age of 93.

Giving his brain to research Alzheimer’s, the disease that affected his final years, became the final gift Melster would give.

“It seemed to work for our family because we always gave to the community,” said Cathy Bellovary,daughter of Melster, “and this was just another way.”

Bellovary first thought of donating her father’s brain after working 16 years at the Waukesha County Aging and Disability Resource Center, where she helped seniors with a variety of health and disability problems.

She was grateful she had experience and knowledge in helping elders cope with developing dementia, but still found her father’s case a difficult journey.

“It was actually much easier to help other people deal with losing someone to Alzheimer’s than your own family in the same situation,” Bellovary said.

The family found comfort with their call to the Alzheimer’s Association to learn how to donate to the Wisconsin Brain Donor Program.

“I talked to the director of the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Bellovary, “and I was impressed with the conversation and what they told me about the donation process.”

The Wisconsin Brain Donor Program at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in Madison has collected brains for research for more than 20 years and have accumulated over 300.

The Wisconsin Brain Donor Program was originally not specific to dementia research until it received a federal grant a few years ago and took a new focus.

Program members have since paired with the ADRC to create a project where they not only dissect brains, but record data and test scores of adults prone to Alzheimer’s based on genetics or those developing mental problems.

About 600 are signed up for the new program so far, and almost 70 percent have agreed to donate their brains after death.

Bellovary said she mayjoin the clinical trial to monitor herself in case she begins developing the disease, and to help the cause of research.

“You don’t anticipate these things, but I am certainly considering joining the clinical trial now,” she said.

Jay Fruehling, senior research specialist and manager at the Wisconsin Brain Donor Program, encourages those losing their parents to Alzheimer’s to donate, or join the program to help find a cure.

The actual brain removals are done by a board certified pathologist and take about an hour. The procedure does not affect any funeral arrangements, including having an open casket.

Fruehling said researchers were hoping to have a cure by now, but the brain is so complex and unknown it has been hard to pinpoint a treatment.

“The research is very complicated, and takes a lot of baby steps,” said Fruehling.

To help fund Alzheimer’s studies and treatment for families dealing with dementia, the Alzheimer’sAssociation holds annual fundraising events, including the Walk to End Alzheimer’s this Saturday in Frame Park.

The walk began in Waukesha County in 2010 and has raised over $400,000 to help support the over 8,500 individuals with Alzheimer’s in the county alone.

The association already has reached this year’s goal to raise $120,000, according to Bellovary, who is on the board for the walk this year.

The board members anticipate more donations and participants on the day of the walk, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.

“I’m very excited to walk this weekend; we’ve raised more than ever before,” Bellovary said. “Plus we joke that my father used to be in charge of the weather for this event, so hopefully he brings us some sunshine this weekend too.”

For more information on the Wisconsin Brain Donor Program, call 608-256-1901 or email brainbank@ medicine.wisc.edu.

For more information on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, go to alz.org/walk.

Construction halted, drunk-driving crackdown during holiday weekend

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Freeman, The (Waukesha, WI) – Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Section: Local News
MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Transportation plans to freeze construction on most major highways due to heavy traffic expected during the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

Motorists will still encounter lane restrictions and possible traffic delays at the Milwaukee Zoo Interchange along with other areas where construction is in the works.

WisDOT encourages drivers to be patient and careful when driving through these areas, especially during peak travel times, which are likely to be noon to 8 p.m. Friday andMonday.

“To prevent crashes, drivers must slow down, pay attention and not tailgate when approaching and traveling through work zones,” said Don Greuel, WisDOT’s chief project services engineer.

WisDOT also plans to have a strong patrol force on the streets all weekend, given that 10 people died in 10 Wisconsin traffic crashes in Wisconsin during last year’s Labor Day weekend.

Nearly 400 law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be out in force to control traffic safety and arrest drunken drivers during the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, according to David Pabst, director of the WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety.

The State Patrol also will be using its aircraft for aerial enforcement. The dates, times and locations of many of the aerial enforcement missions will be announced in advance on Twitter (@WisconsinDOT).

Those traveling should be aware of other delays they might encounter on Wisconsin roadways, which would include: Lane closures on Interstate 94’s north-south corridor inKenosha County; lanes closures on the Highway 20 interchange in Racine County; the Hoan Bridge in downtown Milwaukee; the Madison Beltline in Dane County; Highway 73 in Dane County’s closures between I-39/90 and Highway 12/18; I-90 near La Crosse; Bong Bridge between Duluth and Superior; Highway 41 in Winnebago County; the Highway 141 bridge over the Wausaukee River’s closure heading southbound; and Lineville Road and Shawano Avenue interchanges closed in Brown County.

— Jordyn Noennig , Special to The Freeman

Scrima’s Pizza moving

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Freeman, The (Waukesha, WI) – Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Section: Local News
WAUKESHA — Scrima’s Pizza has signed an exclusive agreement with Woodman’s Market to expand its product line, but as a result is moving the business out of Dave’s Mobile on Silvernail Road in early September.

The pizza company, native to Waukesha, has sold its fresh-made pizza hot and ready or “Take ’n Bake” from Dave’s Mobile for the last two years. But even after the move, owner Joe Scrima said the business will still deliver its pizzas to the west side of the city.

“I hope the move doesn’t affect our loyal customers from that location,” Scrima said.

Scrima’s Pizza has been operating from Woodman’s Market on East Main Street since the newer marketplace opened in June 2013.

As a part of the agreement, Scrima’s will broaden its product line, which will include its Italian catering dishes and now features rotisseriechicken. “I’m excited to expand,” Scrima said. “I think it’s the right move for us.”

The pizza maker believes that he will stay exclusive to Waukesha, instead of adding locations to other nearby Woodman’s such as the Menomonee Falls location.

“If there was a way to mass produce my pizzas I would consider (it),” Scrima said, “but not if I wouldn’t be able to make them fresh.”

— Jordyn Noennig , Special to the Freeman