After yesterday’s rout, the Scrabble gods have apparently realigned! Resident Anne D (220 points) easily defeated peer Jo R (145 points) and your humble reporter (126 points). OK ask me: how does it feel when someone is creamed at Scrabble by a hundred-year-old? Well, my only possible reply is Anne was pleased and felt vindicated! There is more to this saga.
Credit this homerun to Administrator Greg Chambery! Greg challenged us to create a handful of "anchor events" – larger, more dynamic affairs to get us through winter's dog days. He offered the example of hosting a Maplewood version of "Chopped," the culinary competition shown on Food Network. Dining Services Director Mike Fall initiated the effort. We needed staff or family member contestants, and a basket of five ingredients for them to work their magic. The event would take place at Happenings Restaurant on the afternoon of Friday, February 1. An eclectic panel of judges would decide the winner.
Mike handpicked interesting ingredients including quinoa blend couscous, beef short ribs and taco shells. Four brave contestants stepped up: Dining Room Captain Brandon Pensgen, Diet Tech Carol McCarthy, MDS Nurse Bonnie Berretta and Director of Social Services Lynn Pierce. In my opinion, all of them were winners on this day!
The Webster Willink Middle School students have been making quite a connection with residents of The Maplewood over the past few months. What started out as a Lego Robotics team project has turned into an amazing bond between the students and our residents.
January’s icy, distressing personality was in frigid form on a recent Friday, with temperatures in the teens joined by a hazy gray sky. We had a plan to break through the gloom by visiting the Genesee Brew House again! Friends and volunteers joined residents Jane S and Sarah S. Interested in the Genesee Brewery’s new centerpiece facility, Activities Assistant Sarah Hodges’ mother joined us as well.
Representatives from the Webster Hope House and Webster Comfort Care Home graciously arrived at Danny’s Grill on Thursday, January 10. The Bazaar Committee plus a very important former member waited for them. Finally, I thought to myself, our reward. This is what all that hard work was for – to help people! Margaret F, Connie B and Ruth G handed each a check for $894. The grateful pair thanked us and shared a little bit about their organizations.
Residents Mary G and Sarah S had a small entourage join them on Thursday, January 17 at Rochester NY's Strasenburgh Planetarium. Mary’s nieces, Sarah’s friend, long time volunteer Diane Herbst, Sarah Hodges and myself joined the two for a therapeutic showing of “Coral Reef Adventure.”
The Planetarium’s domed theater and surround screen enabled viewers to experience sensations that were nearly three-dimensional at times. There were a number of wheelchair slots so slipping Mary and Sarah into place was easy.
“Coral Reef” projected a soothing, tropical ambience thanks to incredibly bright cinematography, exotic locations and pleasant tunes courtesy of Crosby, Stills & Nash. On this blustery January afternoon in Rochester, we might as well have been on vacation, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef.
As we bid a fond farewell to 2012, with its many memories and special moments, we thought to share with you our 10 most-read blog posts published this year. Not only do these article provide an enjoyable look-back at 2012, they also provide an overview of some interesting skilled nursing-related topics that we'll continue to cover in 2013.
Our Director of Social Services Lynn Pierce was very excited about her appearance in our kitchen on Thursday, December 13. Lynn wanted to share a Hanukkah tradition with the Maplewood family by preparing Latkes.
We Gentiles probably know Latkes by their secular name, Potato Pancakes. A large, curious crowd gathered to learn more about Hanukkah and critique Lynn’s cooking ability. I was worried that she set herself up for a fall, declaring “I’m a good cook.”
We finally acted on the epiphany we experienced during a recent Internet 101 session (btw, you can always see our upcoming activities here). As I showed our residents images of the relatively new Genesee Brew House Restaurant, they looked back at me with hinting stares. “Oh yeah, I get it,” was my reply, “why don’t we just GO THERE?!”
On this overcast, wet Rochester New York afternoon residents George C and Eileen D rolled a few over at Empire Lanes in Webster. George was amazed to have a chance to bowl in an actual bowling lane again. Both did very well. I thought about this particular trip and wondered a few things: How many more Empire Lanes outings will we schedule over the coming months? What trip’s overwhelming popularity will demand repeat scheduling? Times have really changed. But we're always ready.
Credit this homerun to 
The Webster Willink Middle School students have been making quite a connection with residents of The Maplewood over the past few months. What started out as a Lego Robotics team project has turned into an amazing bond between the students and our residents.
Residents Mary G and Sarah S had a small entourage join them on Thursday, January 17 at Rochester NY's Strasenburgh Planetarium. Mary’s nieces, Sarah’s friend, long time volunteer Diane Herbst, Sarah Hodges and myself joined the two for a therapeutic showing of “Coral Reef Adventure.”
