August 2017 Schooner Flash Newsletter

The Schooner Flash

August 2017 Issue 113

Writers:
Your Schooner Family
Editor-in-Chief:
Sue O’Brien
Designer/Co-Editor:
Linda Hildonen

In This Issue:

• Supporting the Arts
• Open House
• Welcome
• Easy Recipe
• Word Search
• Save the Date
• Referral Bonus
• 102 Years Young
• Play Pool
• “I’m Not Ready”
• Arts – Continued
• July BBQ Photos

Supporting the Arts

Our Fair Lady, Tonie Ramsey, has become the latest resident to lend her image to our series of theater-inspired ads, which appear in the playbills for The Franco-American Heritage Center, as well as the Public Theater and other local performing arts centers.

Past participants have been Ralph Gould, posing as The Phantom of the Opera, and Romeo and Theresa Labbe, posing as none other than Romeo and Juliet! See our previous season’s ad on the back page of this issue of the Flash!

Thank you to all our models for making our annual playbill ads a hit!

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to our community!

Elaine Letendre, apartment 415
Muriel Myers, Residential Care
Joan Wood, apartment 621

Something Quick and Tasty

Whenever you have a craving for chocolate, this easy “No Bake Chocolate Cookies” recipe should cure it! This recipe is a classic! Whenever you want to make something quick and easy and chocolatey, give it a try.

• 1/4 cup butter (melted)
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons cocoa
• 1/2 cup milkStir together and boil 1 minute and add:
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon vanillaDrop with a teaspoon and cool. Enjoy!

Comments in Passing

“If we fill our hours with regrets over the failures of yesterday, and with worries over the problems of tomorrow, we have no today in which to be thankful.”

Save the Date

It’s never too early to start preparing for a craft fair.  The date for Schooner’s craft fair this year is Saturday, October 21st.

If you would like to reserve a table or two to display your crafts, for yourself, a friend or family member, just let Giselle Prevost know and she will be happy to sign you up and give you all the details! Her office is down the hall from the Camden Living Room or you may call her at ext. 135.

Did Someone Say $$$$$?

A friendly reminder: Schooner Estates offers a $1000 referral bonus. If you have any friends, family or acquaintances that you believe would enjoy living here at Schooner Estates, invite them in for a tour! They can even stay to have lunch with you, on the house. And the best part? If you refer someone new who comes to live here at Schooner Estates, you will be paid a one thousand dollar referral bonus!

A Special July Birthday!

Our own Hope Weston turned 102 years young on July 6th. She is amazing and we hope her day was filled with many birthday wishes!

Play Pool

Take time out from your everyday routine and play a game of pool! Our pool room also contains game tables and a large screen television. The perfect place for a friendly get together.

Located on the 2nd floor, Searsport building.

“I’m Not Ready Yet”

We hear that comment so often when talking to people about the lifestyle at Schooner Estates and sometimes find it difficult to answer in a brief way. The article below, says exactly what we would like to say to folks who are trying to make this decision.

How often a strong and vigorous man or an active and gracious woman enter their retirement years and use this excuse to postpone the planning and decisions that could free them to enjoy the time.

They’re not ready yet…

•To live in an attractive and comfortable home without the effort of maintaining it.

•To enjoy excellent meals, graciously served in an attractive dining room, and give up the chores of constant shopping, cooking, and cleaning up.

•To eliminate worry concerning health, security and transportation.

They’re not ready, in short, to simplify their lives. They wait for some sign, some failing, to justify or even compel a move from the home that’s too big, or chores and possessions which require a great deal of attention. Sometimes they wait too long.

Sometimes they find they have wasted what could have been some of their better years. Moving to senior living shouldn’t mean retiring from life, but simplifying life to enjoy new interests and activities, or the old ones there wasn’t enough time for. One doesn’t step into old age by moving to a community, but opens a new door to an active, dignified and interesting life.

What does the senior living home have to offer? Independence, a sense of community, friendships, a place to be private and security.

Our best gift? A gift of time to use constructively and personal services to be used as needed.

July 2017 Schooner Flash Newsletter

Schooner Flash Newsletter

July 2017
Issue 112

Writers:
Your Schooner Family
Editor-in-Chief:
Sue O’Brien
Designer/Co-Editor:
Linda Hildonen

In This Issue:

• Americana BBQ
• Welcome
• Welcome Back
• Word Search
• Quilt Show
• July BBQ Menu
• Health Tips
• Men’s Photos
• Open House

Time to Celebrate the Red, White & Blue

The weather is warm, the days are long and summer is in full swing. Before you know it, we’ll be having our second barbeque of the season. Planned for Wednesday, July 5th, with an “Americana” theme, this will be our official celebration of Independence Day!

We are hoping to see everyone wearing their red, white and blue attire. Chef Seth Lyons and his culinary crew will be loading the buffet tables with a superb line up of foods and festive drinks…and don’t forget dessert! See our menu on page
three. Invite your friends and family – pick up a guest ticket at the front desk.
Below are a few pics from our June 7th Hawaiian cookout.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to our community!

Louise Desjardins, apartment 412
Colleen Weston, studio 105

Welcome Back Katelyn!

We are happy to report that our former home health nurse, Jen Kelliher, Schooner RN, is thoroughly enjoying being a mom. It does sadden us though that she has decided to tender her resignation from Schooner.  We thank Jen for all her support of our Schooner community over this past year and wish her the best with her family.

And…we’re very pleased to share that Katelyn Sanford has accepted the full time Home Health Nurse position.  Everyone is thrilled to have Katelyn back and move into this position permanently.  Katelyn has done an incredible job for us filling in for Jen over the past 3 months.  Her knowledge, expertise and passion for our Schooner family will continue to serve us well.   Please join me in welcoming Katelyn to her new position.

Quilts…Save the Date

Quilts, they warm the heart and soul and truly are works of art. That being said, we are happy to inform you of an upcoming event. Join our own Giselle Prevost for a ride to the Maine Quilt Show, to be held on Thursday, July 27th. This annual event is presented by Pine Tree Quilters Guild and will be held at the Augusta Civic Center. If you love quilts, this is the event of the year for you!

Check with Giselle for trip details and to sign up.

Americana BBQ Menu

Here you go…all the makings of an incredible “Americana” 4th of July barbecue, right here! From traditional favorites such as fried chicken and burgers – – plus a lot, lot more. Schooner Chef Seth Lyons and his crew have taken care of the menu so you can focus on enjoying yet another perfect barbeque.
See you on July 5th!

•Salads
Cukes in Cider Vinegar
Ranch-Style Potato Salad
Tossed
•Mains
Southern Fried Chicken
Slider Burgers
Marinated Shrimp Kabobs
Classic Italians
Mac & Cheese
Pork n’ Beans
Corn on the Cobb
•Dessert
Apple pie a la mode
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Watermelon Slices

Warm Weather Health Tips

Preparation and moderation are the key regarding enjoying time outdoors during the summer months. By following some common sense tips, we can all more fully enjoy the good summer weather and avoid over exposure to the sun and heat.

— What’s The Hurry? — Summer should be enjoyed, so why rush? The faster you move the more your body heats, especially in warm weather.

— Shade — Plan outdoor activities for cooler early morning hours. Look for shaded areas such as a covered porch or under a tree to enjoy an activity. Heat can impact seniors as easily indoors as it can outdoors, so be sure air conditioning is used. Lower shades to keep light and heat out.

— A Need to Hydrate — Ice cream, popsicles and other frozen treats are refreshing on a warm day. Also, drink plenty of water, juice and sports drinks while avoiding caffeine. Here at Schooner, check out our Brass Rail Café in the Village Green and the Camden coffee bar area. We have cool drinks available daily. Stay hydrated and stay healthy!

Coming Soon: Our 2017 Open House!

Saturday, September 9th we will be holding our Annual Open House! The past two years have been extremely successful thanks to the talent and involvement of you, our residents! Once again, we will be looking for volunteers to be involved in the day’s events. We will be featuring another display of Veteran’s pictures and items, and displaying your arts and crafts! If you have an idea of how you’d like to participate, please let us know! And don’t forget to invite your friends and family. Remember; Our Community is Your Community!

June 2017 Schooner Flash Newsletter

The Schooner Flash

June 2017
Issue 111

Writers:
Your Schooner Family
Editor-in-Chief:
Sue O’Brien
Designer/Co-Editor:
Linda Hildonen

In This Issue:

• BBQ Season Begins
• Lobster Bake
• Welcome
• Hydration
• June BBQ Menu
• Compassion

We’re Firing up the Grill!

We are looking forward to our first community barbeque of the season. It took a while for winter to end and summer has been knocking on the door! Our Schooner theme days have been decided and we are excited to share the dates with you. We hope this will help you to plan ahead, in order to not miss a single one. As always, we look forward to meeting family and friends there. Just call the front desk at 784-2900 to sign them up and reserve a spot.

Here are the dates:

• June 7th: Hawaiian Theme
• July 5th: Americana Theme
• August: Ocean Theme, Seafood Buffet (Date to be announced)
• September 20th: Oktoberfest

Take a look at our June 7th “Hawaiian” menu on page 3.

Our first lobster bake of the year is scheduled for Friday, June 16th at noon time on our cozy Residential Care Patio.

Held throughout the summer months, this a very tasty and popular event!

Just give our front desk a call and sign up.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to our community!

• Sylvia Everett, apt. 642
• Gus & Joanne Jaccaci, apt. 312
• Larry Rinck, apt. 411
• Susan Warschauer, apt. 530

A Need to Hydrate

It cannot be said enough – no matter what time of year it is, staying hydrated is essential! Drink plenty of water and try to limit your caffeine consumption. Here at Schooner, check out our Brass Rail Café in the Village Green and the Camden coffee bar area. We have ice cold, fresh fruit flavored water available daily. Stay hydrated and stay healthy!

Hawaiian Luau Menu

Hawaiian Luau 2017

Salads
Hawaiian Macaroni salad
Island Sweet Potato salad
Tropical Fruit Salad
Mixed greens with Bacon, Coconut, Macadamias, and Pineapple Vinaigrette

Mains
Char Sui Pork Shanks with Bok Choy
Coconut Curry Shrimp
Huli Huli Chicken
Island Style Fried Rice
Hawaiian Stir Fry Vegetables

Finale
Tropical Fruit Shortcake
Coconut Cream Pie
Mango Sorbet

ENJOY!

Strive to be Compassionate

Despite popular belief that compassion depends solely on you, the way to achieve it may not lie just within yourself, but in your relationships and interactions with others. When we have feelings of caring or love for other people, we feel better.

So how can you tell if you are or not?

You find commonalities with other people. Compassionate people are very outward-focused because they think and feel about other people. They have that ability to feel others’ feelings, so they’re very socially connected.

You don’t put emphasis on money. If money doesn’t buy happiness, then it doesn’t buy compassion, either. A major component of compassion is giving back, even in the smallest ways. When we take actions that are caring and loving, we feel more love in return.

Be kind to yourself. If we treat ourselves harshly, this is the way we are likely to treat other people.

Teach Others. Compassionate people don’t want to just keep their gifts to themselves, they want to impart their knowledge onto other people

You Express Gratitude. Empathetic individuals not only acknowledge those acts of kindness done unto them, they actively express gratitude for them.

You’re Mindful. When you’re exercising compassion, you’re putting yourself in the moment. Compassionate people aren’t listening and checking their smartphones at the same time — they’re present, offering their empathetic response to the story right in front of them.

Info from the Huffington Post

April 2017 Schooner Flash Newsletter

The Schooner Flash

Issue 109
April 2017

In This Issue:

• Afternoon Tea
• Residential Care Open House
• Welcome
• Collective Goods
• Word Search
• Mardi Gras Pics
• Employee Welcome
• New Activities
• Laughter
• Easter Menu
• Musical Entertainment

You Are Invited to Our Afternoon Tea

There’s nothing quite like a formal Afternoon Tea, and it’s even better when it’s for a good cause. Last year’s Tea, to benefit the American Heart Association, was such a good time that we’ve decided to do it again this year. This time, all proceeds from the event will go to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. The menu will include finger sandwiches, petite sweets, and a variety of fine teas. The event will take place in the Tenants Harbor Room on Sunday, April 9th at 4pm, and tickets are $10. Call the front desk for details!

Get to Know Your Neighbors: Residential Care Open House
Our Residential Care neighborhood is always open to all of our tenants, but so few people take advantage of the opportunity to come down for a visit. So here’s your formal invitation: Schooner Estates Residential Care will be hosting an Open House on Tuesday, April 25th, between 2:00 pm and 4:30 pm. With refreshments, music, and staff to provide guidance and information, this will be the perfect opportunity to learn more about our highest level of care. Come down and get to know your neighbors!

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to our community!

Walter Crites, Memory Care
Doris Fournier, Memory Care

Time to Shop!

Schooner is pleased to be hosting a “Collective Goods” (formerly Books are Fun) event. Having hosted this event several times in the past, it is well received and we all look forward to it! The fair will be loaded with gifts and books from hundreds of great publishers. All are at great discounts of 30, 40 and even 50 percent off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. You are sure to find something special. So stop by and browse through their many items.

The fair will be held in our Village Green on Friday, April 21st, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Everywhere Else, It Was Just Tuesday!

Our annual Schooner Mardi Gras celebration, celebrated on Fat Tuesday, February 28th, went off without a hitch! The food was outstanding and our ever popular parade was a success, as usual!

New Staff Members!

Schooner is pleased to send out an official welcome to Cynthia “Cindy” Swift, RN. Cindy comes to us from Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice and is our new Director of Nursing.

Cindy describes herself as a “Mainer through and through.” She graduated from the USM School of Nursing and worked for several home care agencies in Southern Maine before she and her husband of 33-years left Windham and moved to Lewiston-Auburn. Cindy says that her love of working with seniors runs deep, as she grew up with four generations under one roof. “I feel so blessed to have had my great-grandmother’s and grandparents’ influence in my upbringing.” Just like we feel blessed to have her here with us!

WELCOME BACK to Giselle Prevost. Giselle, our former Activities Director, has been with us for several years. After a leave of absence, she has returned to us with a new part time position: Resident Services Assistant, a busy job indeed! Among many other things, she will be mainly visiting and helping out our new residents with their needs. We’re happy to have her back!

New Activities

Writing 101: Schooner’s own CJ Cooper will be leading a writing class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10:30 -11:15 in the Camden Living Room. This class will be a good exploration of journaling and more. Call Giselle at ext. 135 for more details!

Canasta, Anyone? A new resident who is a Canasta player is looking to form a Canasta group to meet and play. All skill levels welcome! IF interested, call Giselle at ext. 135

Life is Better When You’re Laughing…

We’ve all heard it said many times, “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” Whether you’re watching an amusing show on TV or quietly giggling at a newspaper cartoon, laughing DOES you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that’s no joke. A good sense of humor can’t cure all ailments, but data is mounting about the positive things laughter can do. A good laugh has great short-term effects.
Laughter can:
•Enhance your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulating your heart, lungs and muscles.
•Activate and relieve your stress response.
•Soothe tension to stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation.

Our Easter Menu

Easter blessings to all…
May your happiness be great and your
troubles few. A delicious Easter meal prepared especially for you!

Easter Sunday, April 16th 2017

Appetizers

Black-Eyed Susan Deviled Eggs
Spring Tomato Bisque

Entrees

Baked Pit Ham with
Caramelized Pineapple Glaze
Rosemary Dijon Grilled Lamb Chop
Baked Stuffed Sole with Sherry Wine
and Fresh Chives

Chicken Breast or Baked Fish –
Plain or Breaded

Accoutrements

Sour Cream & Chive Mashed Potatoes
Rice Florentine * Summer Squash
Dill-Buttered Carrots*Peas and Pearl Onions

Desserts

Strawberry Shortcake Parfait
Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake
Fresh Fruit Salad w/ Rainbow Sherbet

Musical Talent Galore!

You’re in for a treat, new to Schooner, “The Carol Bailey String Band” is coming on April 19th at 10:00 a.m. to our Village Green.  This group, consisting of a 20+ piece string band from Litchfield, are on an All American Music Tour. Ranging from the ages of 60 to 93 years old, this talented group spans about 30 years. They all share the love of music. The band started as a chorus in 2010 and eventually added instruments to their repertoire. Mary Fitzmaurice learned how to play the guitar and she also learned how to sing, thanks to rehearsals at the Litchfield Senior Center every Wednesday. With the help of the band’s director, Pat Bailey, members like Fitzmaurice are able to learn new lyrics. “We’re just recycled teenagers you know,” said Bailey. “You never know what’s going to happen, or what somebody is going to say. It just makes it a lot of fun.”

We hope to see everyone there!