JULY 2021 - Homewood at Frederick
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A Publication for the Independent Living Residents of Homewood at Frederick VOL. 22 NO. 7 JULY 2021 INSIDE THIS ISSUE … How to Handle After Hours Emergencies … Meet Our New Activities Coordinator … The Stories Behind Those Winning Photographs … New Groups Forming … Capon Springs Trip Recap … And More 1
THE MAINSTREAM Notes from Executive Director Karen Main We welcome in the new month as Governor Hogan releases the State of Emergency for the pandemic on July 1st! This brings much awaited relaxation for masks and face coverings in public places. Homewood considers all State and Federal (CMS) information along with possible outcomes for our campus before making final decisions. Our independent living and assisted living will have different relaxation than our healthcare center, due to Maryland Department of Health guidance and regulations. MDH has a call scheduled on July 1 to update any changes in regulation for our healthcare centers. Currently, our guidelines of operation remain until all regulations are finalized. All of us have been through a long journey over the last 18 months and we are coming to a time of regaining a less restricted lifestyle. I encourage you to dig deep and stay strong over the next few weeks as we are coming into the home stretch! As we wait to celebrate our independence from the pandemic, come join us for the 4th of July! Picnics will held at Crumland Farms and at The Lodge. Picnic will be FREE for residents! You can invite guests to The Lodge as it will be outside. Thanks to all those who helped make our 2021 Golf Tournament a great success! We had a full course of golfers and brought in over $58,000, resulting in our best year ever! Profits will be used to make improvements to our Crumland Farms pool and spa area. A special thanks to our Homewood Frederick co-worker golf committee! There was a lot of work and preparation prior to and during the event. Construction activity is happening next door on the Crum Family Farm and residents are curious as to what the final plans are and about road improvements. I have been in communication with some key people from Natelli Communities and they are willing to provide an updated presentation on the Bloomfield development. Please watch for updates on date and time. With good news around campus and in our County and State there is less need for weekly updates. Campus updates will be the first and third Thursdays of each month. Have a Happy 4th of July! Karen 2
PRESENTING OUR PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS … 1st PLACE, LANDSCAPE/SKY Sunset with Tree, Skip Stewart “This is one of many pictures I take of sunsets on a regular basis here at Homewood. This one was so vivid in color and the tree offered a special perspective and scale to make it special in my view. Like so many special photos, I captured this one by chance. Looking out of the breakfast nook window I noticed the colorful clouds and stepped onto our patio with camera in hand. I was fortunate to capture this sunset at its peak of radiance.” 1st PLACE, ANIMALS Visit to a Mexican Sunflower, Irv Gerduk “My wife Anita, the master gardener, created a hummingbird/butterfly attracting garden outside our patio home dining room window. I removed the screen, cleaned the window, and thusly had the perfect blind. The Mexican sunflower proved irresistible, both to birds and butterflies, especially Monarch butterflies and female ruby throated hummingbirds.” 1st PLACE, FLOWERS Richard Fulchiron “When I saw this Flowering Hibiscus (Rose Mallow) at a local nursery, I was reminded of the success in growing this flower in Ohio. The first summer here at Homewood was a complete success. The crimson flowers in early July were spectacular and, much to my surprise, the flower bloomed again in September. I am looking forward to another beautiful blooming year.” 3
CHAPLAIN’S CORNER Three summers ago I was in my mother’s Indiana garden admiring my great- grandmother’s pink peony bush. “Would you like to have a ‘start’ of it?” my mother asked. I eagerly responded, “Yes!” That peony plant has survived for at least three generations, carrying with it many lovely memories, and I was anxious for it to start a new generation. I brought it home to Maryland and planted it. It was so tiny at first, but it grew bigger the second year. Then last summer, somebody stepped on it. “I think we’ve killed it!” I wailed to my mother. “They’re pretty tough,” she reassured me. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it came back.” Sure enough, this spring it’s developed into quite a respectable-looking plant. It still hasn’t bloomed, but I understand that it may take a few more years for that to happen. I’m just happy to see that it has survived and even thrived. The growth and resilience of that peony plant reminds me of us here at Homewood over the past year. It has been a long and lonely time of separation from our friends and neighbors. But it has been a time of growth as well. Like my little peony, we have branched out and spread new roots. We have learned that we have strengths of which we might not have been aware. Some of us may have taken up new hobbies or renewed an interest in old ones. Perhaps we found our faith grew deeper as we had more time to spend in prayer; studies have shown that prayer builds resilience. We may even have learned that when by ourselves, we are better company than we thought. Although we may feel that we have been stepped on and even crushed by the losses of this past year, we have come back stronger than ever. This does not mean that we do not miss beloved friends or family members, but rather that we have learned new ways to cope with those losses. Building resilience is an important life skill, and we are never too old to learn new life skills. We can feel good about what we have learned this year and carry it forward into difficult situations that may lie ahead. We can be thankful for our new growth as we “bloom” in one another’s company again. In this green season of summer, we are invited to celebrate all this and more. We wish you a very happy Fourth of July! --Chaplain Shelley Weakly One minute you're young and fun. The next, you're turning down the car stereo to see! 4
HERE’S HOW TO HANDLE MAINTENANCE EMERGENCIES AFTER HOURS We all know that “emergency situations” happen at the most inopportune times—like dying smoke detector batteries that start their annoying chirping sound late in the evening so you can’t sleep, or an air conditioning system that shuts down on the hottest night of the year. Here’s a little reminder on how to get help after hours. The easiest thing to remember is that you can ALWAYS push your Lifeline button to connect with a “live” person 24/7. The person answering the phone will contact Security, who will respond and assess the situation. If Security can’t fix the problem, they will reach the Maintenance person on call. Or, you can call 301-644-5600 which goes directly to the healthcare center after hours. That line is answered 24/7. If you observe something on site that requires Security’s attention, you can reach the guard on duty at 240-818-4565 for Crumland Farms or 240-344-5281 for The Lodge. --Barbara Kirk SPOTLIGHT ON HOMEWOOD’S HEALTH CARE CENTER Getting to know Homewood’s Health Care Center is the point of a presentation on Wednesday, July 21, 6:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room at Crumland Farms. Community Services Director Dore Ackermann and Vicki Keriakos, Director of Nursing in the Health Care Center, will lead this special program for all Homewood residents and family members. “If John needs more care than I can give, where will he go?” — this is the kind of question that will be addressed by Vicki and Dore. Many residents are at Homewood because this is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), but some simply do not know what kinds of care are available in our Health Care Center. The Caregivers Support Group is grateful to Activities Director Julie Norris for setting up this monthly series of helpful presentations, addressing the struggles of those with acute medical needs and giving support to their caregivers. With this inaugural presentation on July 21, the support group will now meet regularly on the first Tuesdays of each month at 11 a.m. in The Lodge’s classrooms, while these campus-wide presentations will be on the third Wednesdays. All are welcome! --Fred Wenner 5
A NOTE FROM THE WRRA PRESIDENT Hallelujah! We are breaking the bonds of COVID-19. We had a great Memorial Day holiday with friends and family. Homewood provided a wonderful Memorial Day “picnic.” May was a month of opening up and, by the time you read this, the month of June and will be behind us, the 4th of July will be upon us, and summer will be in full swing. All Homewood residents, able and willing, have been vaccinated. We can move about freely with a sense of confidence that we have not felt in more than a year. We owe so much to scientists, medical professionals and first responders all over the world for their dedication and sacrifice to bring us to this day. On June 9 we held the 19th Homewood at Frederick Golf Classic. The WRRA was proud to contribute to this worthy cause. All of the proceeds this year go to help fund the renovation of the Crumland Farms pool and spa. With the conversion of the ILRA to the 501(c)(3) non-profit WRRA comes a whole new requirement for financial record keeping, to comply with the regulations of the IRS. Our President Elect, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer will be working with our Financial Review Committee and our accounting firm to install new accounting software that will allow the bookkeeping information to flow into IRS. Form 990. The new Board is gathering suggestions and ideas for improving the campus both functionally and esthetically. We will read each submission and then direct it to either Homewood Corporate, Homewood at Frederick or one of our standing committees. If it does not fall into one of those categories, it means we need a special committee or File 13 (if you don’t know what that is, ask a friend or a Board member). Until next time … Stay Safe and Stay Well, --Claude Revis, WRRA President One of the more unusual flowers now in bloom on campus is this strikingly beautiful orange rose bush at the home of Ben and Cindy Williams. The story is that Ben, who apparently has quite the green thumb, found this as a “straggler” at the end of the season, and nursed it back to health. It has become Cindy’s favorite in their colorful garden. (Photo by Nancy Hamstead) 6
INTRODUCING OUR NEW ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR: SARAH CLARY A familiar face is wearing a new hat! On June 1, Sarah Clary, former part-time receptionist, officially became our Activities Coordinator at The Lodge. Sarah joined the Homewood staff two years ago when she was looking for a part-time job on weekends to help with her daughter’s college expenses. She had been working full time as a preschool teacher for 14 years. When the pandemic cut her preschool’s hours, and finally forced the school to close for the year, Sarah knew she needed to move forward with other plans. As she picked up more and more hours at The Lodge front desk, she got to know our residents quite well. Interestingly, Sarah had thought about applying for the Activities Coordinator position the last time it had become open, but the timing wasn’t right then for her to try something new, with ever-changing virtual school schedules for her younger daughter. Sarah is originally from Clarksburg, Maryland, but now calls New Market home, where she lives with husband Steve and daughters Anna, 20, and Rosalynn, 10. Oh yes, there’s a “third daughter,” she laughingly told me, referring to her much loved Golden Doodle, Lola. Ask to see her family pictures—Lola is included right there in the group! Sarah has a B.A. in Sociology from University of Maryland Baltimore Campus, specializing in health and human services. During college and afterwards, she had done some volunteer work in a retirement community setting. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys gardening and reading, and is a HUGE Washington Capitals fan. She is looking forward to getting to know our residents even better and hopes to learn more about their life experiences and talents. --Barbara Kirk RESIDENT AND STAFF HOLIDAY VENDOR SALE Attention: Authors, Painters, Crocheters and Knitters, Quilters, Jewelry Makers, Photographers, Woodworkers, Crafters, etc.! For this year’s Holiday Vendor Sale on Thursday, December 2, we would like to showcase the talents and hobbies of the residents and staff here on campus!! Participants will get a 6-foot table to display their handcrafted and original work for sale. Space is limited. Please contact Liz Kannenberg, Volunteer Director, at 301-644-5646 for more information. Interest deadline is September 3, 2021. Participants agree to a goods donation ($20 value) to be raffled off. Proceeds will go to Homewood’s Benevolent Fund. 7
MEET YOUR NEW NEIGHBORS MICHELE BISSONETTE and KARL BOEHLE are new residents of The Lodge, having moved from their home in Lanham, Maryland in January 2021. Karl was born in Hamburg, Germany and had a career in cooking and hotel management in Berlin, Paris, and Lugano, Switzerland before coming to Maryland and working in hotels in Washington, D.C. and Ocean City. He later worked at D.C. area Saab and Acura dealerships. Karl enjoys photography, music, travel and reading. Karl’s spouse, Michele, is a D.C. native who studied English and history at Towson, earned an M.A. in American Studies at University of Maryland and continued work towards a Ph.D. there. She spent her career in a variety of positions at Computer Sciences Corporation, including managing technical communications and supporting flight dynamics engineers in support of NASA. Michele was an active volunteer at the Greenbelt library and supported the Prince George County Food Bank. Hudson, their rescued Elkhound mix dog, also enjoys his new life at Homewood. BEV SHIVELY moved from Crofton, Maryland into The Lodge in May 2021 to be near her family in this area. A native of New Castle, Indiana, she graduated from Purdue University and also studied at Michigan State in preparation for a career as a home economist and food broker. Active in her community, Bev belonged to a Red Hat group, was PTA president and volunteered in her local hospital and school system. Her hobbies include sewing, knitting, taking online classes, working on the computer and spending time with her children and grandchildren. PAT GEORGE, along with her Bichon dog Charley, relocated from nearby Braddock Heights to their new home in one of the West Cottages in April of this year. Pat is originally from Hazleton, Pennsylvania and was an AT&T employee during her working life. She has been active in the Lions, Red Hat Society and Beta Sigma Phi. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting. Pat has 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. --Leslie Hobbs and Barbara Kirk 8
MEET YOUR NEW NEIGHBORS UNDINE (“DEAN”) BENNETT moved to a Crumland Farms apartment in June from downtown Frederick. She grew up near Blue Ridge, Maryland and has 2 daughters, 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She ran a home decorating business out of her home for many years, Dean’s Drapery Corner, which specialized in draperies and wall coverings. Dean’s hobbies include golf, bridge, playing cards, art and sewing. --Barbara Kirk HERE’S WHERE YOU CAN FIND RESIDENT PHOTO PROFILES AND MINUTES BOOKS Copies of the Resident Photo Profile books are kept in the Café/Library at Crumland Farms and the “Do Drop In” at The Lodge. Also, there are duplicate copies of the books with hard copies of Minutes from all Committees and Residents Association Minutes in the Café/Library at Crumland Farms and in the “Do Drop In” at The Lodge. Residents Association books containing minutes, old issues of The Chatter, etc. at Crumland Farms are on a shelf in the bookcase next to the window at the front of building. Also, as a reminder to all committee chairs, it is the responsibility of the Chair of each Committee or the Secretary (if they have one) to place a copy of their minutes in the book at Crumland Farms as well as The Lodge and to send electronically or give hard copy to Julie Norris to place on the Resident APP. Information from the Resident Photo Profile books is obtained from the profile form given to you by your “Buddy” who contacts you when you come to live at Homewood at Frederick. This information is not transferred to the APP. It is each resident’s responsibility to place information on the APP as instructed by the Marketing Department when you move in. If you have any questions, please contact me at erdmanis@comcast.net or 301-378-2822. --Shirley Erdmanis, WRRA Immediate Past President 9
“THE OTHER WALKING GROUP” GOES ON AN OUTING Nancy Hamstead couldn’t resist sharing these photos of some of our resident mallard ducks taking a stroll through the community. And yes, they seem to realize the importance of staying hydrated, too. They were drinking water that had pooled on top of a manhole cover! HELPFUL TIPS ON BORROWING OUR DVDs We have a large selection of DVD choices on the racks located near the coffee machines in the Crumland Farms Cafe/Library. Here’s how you can borrow one to enjoy at home. ❖ Choose the movie you want to see from the rack, then take it to the main reception desk. The person there will take your choice (that case is empty) and will get the DVD you want. You will then be asked to sign that DVDs borrowing card with your name and the date (month, day, year). Please write legibly. ❖ When you finish viewing the movie, please return it by putting it in the DVD slot next to the slot where you put your outgoing mail. Do not return the movie to the rack. A library aide will remove your name from the card, put the DVD away and return the empty case to the rack for others to choose from and enjoy. There are eight new additions to the DVD library: “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Deepwater Horizon,” “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” “The Producers,” “Gladiator,” “Tin Cup,” “The Way We Were” and “The Quick and the Dead.” Borrow, enjoy and return! Thank you. --Ruth Edder, Chair, CF Library Committee 10
CORNHOLE TOURNEY IS NPCF FUNDRAISER Friday, July 2 marks the return of another Homewood tradition—our Annual Cornhole Tournament. Cornhole began on our campus when an aficionado of the game, Dr. Robert Broadrup, a well-known Frederick dentist, moved to Homewood. He loved playing and soon generated interest among other residents. This has snowballed over the years. After Bob’s passing in 2018, the tournament was renamed to honor his memory and it became a fundraiser for the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. For residents not planning to participate in the tournament this year but who would still like to make a donation, checks can be made payable to National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation and dropped off with Diane Holter, Apartment 4008 in The Lodge by July 2. Donations are tax-deductible. LIVE MUSIC RETURNS TO HOMEWOOD! On June 5 we were treated to our first musical performance in front of a live (and unmasked!) audience in over a year…since the days before COVID shut everything down. Cellist David Gu’s presentation of classical and popular selections was enjoyed by a group of music enthusiasts who gathered in the Crumland Farms Multi-Purpose Room. It was also broadcast over Channel 970. The following week we enjoyed the jazz styling of Christiana Drapkin, also presented live and over Channel 970. Our in-person crowds have been small, probably because we all got used to not being able to be in the same room as the performers. But with the new musical events being added to our activities schedule now, this is no longer the case. There’s nothing like being there in person to enjoy a live performance. And you don’t even have to make a reservation. Just c’mon out! (Photos by Barbara Kirk and Marcy Pekar) 11
CAPON SPRINGS MEMORIES Our semi-annual trip to the beautiful Capon Springs resort in West Virginia was enjoyed by 19 Homewood residents in mid-May. Originally established in the 19th century, this resort offers a true old-fashioned getaway with delicious food, breathtaking scenery and a relaxed pace of life. In the upper left picture Joan Farrell, Ed Chaney and Natalie Bowers are enjoying a little porch sittin’. In the upper right picture Herb and Sue Hoffman pause to enjoy some of the beautiful gardens. In the lower right picture, Natalie Bowers and Pam Zusi hit the trails. (Photos by Judie Kirkpatrick) 12
BOOK REVIEWS The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson In 2020 Jennifer Doudna and her colleague Emmanuelle Charpentier won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on CRISPR, the technology of editing genes. The Code Breaker is a broad-ranging story of the scientists, biohackers, patents, and rivalries of the people involved, as well as the use of this fast-developing technology and its ethical implications. We can all understand the importance of CRISPR in fighting diseases (such as the Coronavirus), but where does society draw the line when it comes to planning the traits of our children? This is a very readable account on a vital topic. It is available in The Lodge Library, as well as the public library. --Kathy White An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten This is a book which contains five stories all featuring the same 88-year- old lady with no family. She took revenge if you wronged her. It is a funny, quick read. Enjoy! In our 4th floor library at Crumland. --Vernon Rippeon DELAPLAINE PRESENTS OVER 70 SHOW The Over 70 Show is Delaplaine Arts Center’s highly- awaited annual showcase of works featuring artists age 70 and over. This year, in addition to visiting the physical exhibits in the East and West first floor galleries, you will be able to view them virtually at Delaplaine.org. The show runs from July 17 to August 22. Delaplaine Arts Center is located at 40 South Carroll Street in downtown Frederick, housed in the 100-year-old Mountain City Mill along the banks of Carroll Creek. Hours of operation are Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are closed most holidays. Admission is free. In past years, several of our Homewood artists have had their work displayed in the showcase. I came … I saw ... I forgot what I was doing. Retraced my steps. Got lost on the way back. Now I have no idea what's going on! 13
NEW GROUPS FORMING ON CAMPUS “LET’S TALK” Just when you thought that our Activities Department has filled our calendars, a brand-new activity has arrived in The Lodge. It has been named "Let's Talk," and it was born at a session of Mindful Meditation when Cindy Abbott spoke so beautifully about her late mother...a talk that included pictures and other memorabilia. So beginning in July, we are asking for other residents to share one awesome, fantastic, delicious, and precious moment in their lives with their fellow friends and acquaintances. Think of one event, just one, that you will never forget, a trip, a family occasion, an incident when you were working, or a true adventure you had, and come with your story with any pictures, etc. you have to document it. We already have volunteers for July and August. So please contact me with your name and the subject of your talk, and I will put you on the schedule. Our next meeting is tentatively set for Thursday, July 22 at 10 a.m. in The Lodge Event Center. We will update you if this changes. We are looking forward to hearing the wonderful stories that you will share. --Alice Haber BIRDWATCHERS CLUB The Birdwatchers Club meets the second Monday of the month at 2 p.m. in the Multi- Purpose Room at Crumland Farms. This group is in the early stages of formation. Weekly walks are now scheduled through July 8. At the July 12 meeting the decision will be made how many walks and trips the group wants to do from that point on. Relaxed walks around campus last about an hour and participants are free to drop out early if they need to. Wear comfortable shoes, and bring hat, sunscreen and bug spray. Also bring binoculars if you have them; if you don’t have any, we’ll find a pair for you to borrow. For more information, contact Lynn Chapman, 512-731-5562 or chapmanlynnmarie@gmail.com. PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB We have many people living at Homewood who are interested in photography—as evidenced by the nearly 50 entries in our recent photography contest! If you are one of them, you might want to check into the newly-formed Photography Club. This Club meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 2:30 p.m. in the Crumland Farms Multi- Purpose Room. 14
Homewood’s White Team included (L-R) Harry Smith, Dick Stevenson, Claude Revis and Scott Taylor Our Blue Team was made up of (L-R) Jerry Michener, Bob Kinsey, Tom Willich and Phil Young (Photos courtesy of Julie Norris) GOLF TOURNAMENT RAISES $58,000 A little cooperation from the weather and a full slate of 144 players made for a fun day on the links, all for a good cause. The 19th Homewood Classic Golf Tournament was held at Glade Valley Golf Course in Walkersville on June 9, after a year’s hiatus due to COVID. Proceeds from the Tournament will go towards renovation of the pool and spa area at Crumland Farms. A huge vote of thanks to everyone who contributed toward this event’s success through both sponsorship and participation. 15
INSPIRATIONAL TRIP TO BASILICA COMING IN JULY A trip up the road to Emmitsburg, Maryland is planned for Tuesday, July 13 to tour the beautiful Basilica honoring Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first native-born American saint. This year marks the 200th anniversary of her death. The Basilica was originally designed to be used by the nuns in the Daughters of Charity as their chapel following its completion in 1965. After the beatification of Elizabeth Ann Seton, the building was turned into her National Shrine. There are also historic homes on site and a museum featuring special exhibits for this commemorative year. Following lunch at a local restaurant, we will also visit the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. This is one of the oldest replicas of the Lourdes Grotto in France found in the United States. Be sure to sign up on the Homewood APP so that you can make this meaningful visit. WHO’S WHO IN THE LODGE LIBRARY? Come meet: Michael Phelps No Limits: The Will to Succeed Julia Child Appetite for Life Bette Davis The Girl Who Walked Home Alone Ted Koppel Off Camera: Private Thoughts Made Public Anne Lehman Mother’s Painful Secret Frank McCourt Angela's Ashes Terri Irwin Steve and Me Please browse through our biography/autobiography collection in the main floor reading room in The Lodge and meet a variety of literary friends. Select … Read … Return! --Pat Curchin, Lodge Library Committee THE CHATTER NEWSLETTER STAFF Editor: Barbara Kirk (Phone: 301-682-2204, Email: bjkirk107@aol.com, Mail: CF Apt. 443) Correspondents: Leslie Hobbs, Vernon Rippeon, Shirley Erdmanis Proofreaders: Bill Butler, Fanny Johnsson WRRA Representative: Barbara Kirk Photographers on Call: Shirley Erdmanis, Nancy Hamstead, Barbara Kirk Advisor/Production Manager: Julie Norris DEADLINE to submit copy: 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. Copy can be emailed to the Editor, given to the receptionists to be sent through in-house mail to CF #443 or placed in the box in the CF coatroom near the reception desk. Newsletter Committee Meeting: the second Friday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the 3rd floor library at Crumland Farms. 16
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