A Message From Your Executive Director
Dear Residents and Families,
As I write this, I am preparing to work with the team of directors to put the finishing touches on our annual Employee Appreciation Parking Garage Party. Once you are reading this, we will have already enjoyed music, dancing, a photo area, burritos from Boloco, raffle prizes, and most deliciously – a visit from Ben & Jerry’s to scoop ice cream for our staff. I so appreciate how hard our people work and am pleased to have the opportunity to show that appreciation in this way.
I am also pleased to announce that we were awarded grant funds from the state of Vermont’s Premium Pay for Workforce Recruitment and Retention Grant Program. On September 9th we will be distributing $120,000 in grant money to our staff who have worked so hard during COVID and have also committed to continue working at The Village for another year. Consistency of staffing is so important to the success of The Village and I’m thrilled the state recognized that and offered some incentives.
Suzette and I are waiting to hear from our pharmacy, Health Direct, as to the date of our flu vaccine clinic. Once we know we will share that information. We will also be working to offer COVID boosters to any residents who need them. Stay tuned for more information on that as well.
We welcomed eight new residents in August and are looking forward to welcoming even more in September. Be sure to say hi to any new faces you see around!
Finally, we often find ourselves with outdated insurance information for our residents. This can make it challenging for pharmacy orders. If/when you have updated insurance cards, Medicare numbers, etc. please provide copies to Shanya or Suzette at spauldingshanya@thevillageatwrj.com or barboursuzette@thevillageatwrj.com. Thank you.
Happy End of Summer!
Be well,
Nikki
Community Connection
September Events:
September 2nd, Every Friday Afternoon — Outing: The Village Weekly Swim (At the UV Aquatics Center)
Residents will be able to swim laps or exercise in the lap pool at the aquatics center every Friday afternoon for 30 – 45 minutes. Please be in the Lobby by 1:30 pm so you can get there in a timely manner.
September 3rd — Dr. Kevin Moll Presents: “Too Hot to Handle” (1938)
The 1938 comedy-drama Too Hot to Handle, often referred to as Let ‘Em All Talk, was helmed by Jack Conway and starred Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and Walter Pidgeon. The story revolves around a newsreel reporter, a female flyer he finds attractive (inspired by Amelia Earhart, who vanished 14 months earlier), and his ferocious rival.
September 3rd — Outing: Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song at Nugget Theaters in Hanover, NH
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song is a definitive exploration of singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen as seen through the prism of his internationally renowned hymn, Hallelujah. This feature-length documentary weaves together three creative strands: The songwriter and his times. The song’s dramatic journey from record label reject to chart-topping hit. And moving testimonies from major recording artists for whom Hallelujah has become a personal touchtone. Starring Leonard Cohen, John Cale, Jeff Buckley and Brandi Carlile
September 5th, Every Monday Morning — Communion with Deacon John
Deacon John comes to offer communion to all residents of the Catholic faith.
September 5th — Greatest Events of WWII in Colour Documentary Series
Blitzkrieg (50m) – Revolutionizing warfare through radio technology, swift panzer divisions and aerial bombardment, Germany pushes Allied forces to the sea at Dunkirk. (Netflix Mini Documentary Series)
September 7th — Richard Araldi – Xylophone
Bringing family, friends, and neighbors together and enriching lives through live music in an intimate setting. Richard Araldi! The Man! The Myth! The legend! The Percussionist?
September 13th — West Hartford Library Farmers’ Market
Join us at the West Hartford Library Farmers’ Market! There will be a variety of vendors selling local foods and crafts.
September 14th — The Village Community Dance!
Village residents and employees will come together for an end of summer dance in Miller Stage!
September 15th and 22nd — Beginner Tai Chi Classes with Jay (Introduction)
Tai chi’s health training focuses on stress relief for both the body and mind. Tai chi sessions that focus only on health are common at hospitals, clinics, community centers, and senior centers in the twenty-first century. Tai chi’s low-stress training strategy for elders is becoming more popular.
September 15th — Tunbridge World’s Fair in Tunbridge, VT
The Tunbridge World’s Fair features a wide array of agricultural and handcraft displays.
September 21st — Resident & Staff Apple Cook-Off!
Join us in the Bistro for an apple dessert cook-off! Enter your submission, taste-test, and vote for your favorite!
September 22nd — Cooking with Dolly
Dolly Brandie – Lajoie just retired from King Arthur Baking Company. She is involved with Meals on Wheels and several other organizations. Come by and learn as she shakes things up in the kitchen for your enjoyment.
September 24th — Vermont Institute of Natural Science (Quechee, VT)
Based in Quechee, Vermont, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science is a nonprofit institution dedicated to environmental education. Its goal is to inspire people and communities to protect the environment via research, education, and the rehabilitation of avian animals.
September 29th — Outing: Boston Museum of Fine Arts
The acclaimed portraits of President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama come to the MFA on the final stop of their national tour.
September 30th — Happy Hour – Featuring Music from Ms. Grace Marie
Grace Marie, a jazz and easy listening performer, will showcase her vocal abilities and a repertoire of light music that spans the 1930s, 1940s, and present.
Resident Spotlight
Mary Martino
Mary Martino, a resident who moved to The Village at White River Junction recently, has seen a lot happen on our planet in the last 100 years. For instance, the first time an automatic dishwasher was used, the inauguration of Warren G. Harding as President of the United States, the introduction of Band-Aids, as well as the first Baby Ruth candy bar, which by the way was named after Ruth Cleveland, the daughter of President Grover Cleveland rather than the baseball player. However, Mary, who turns 100 on September 13, had a few constants in her life. Mary learned early on what it meant to make compromises and work things out. Mary and her family, who shared a third-floor home with two other families, survived The Great Depression when Mary was a teenager. “This is all we had”, she said, “and we managed to make it work”.
Mary has no reservations about how much she loves being outside and relaxing in a peaceful environment. A cup of ice cream, namely black raspberry flavor, which she has been enjoying recently, is the perfect way to end the day. Mary and her late husband, Joseph Martino, owned the most well-liked soft serve ice cream shop in the neighborhood in Connecticut where they lived. People traveled from across the neighboring counties to the ice cream business because it was the tastiest and was prepared with real cream. Mary and Joseph also owned a grinder and pizza restaurant that was in business for more than 33 years before they decided to call it quits.
After hearing Mary’s story in part, I came to see why she has lived so long: she does not entertain foolish talk, she knows what she likes and what she does not, and any small thing counts as a blessing and a gift.
Happy 100th birthday, Mary Martino!
Memory Care Minute
August was another awesome month on Memory Care. We would like to welcome Jerry Burt, Judith Honeywell and James Speer who moved in in the month of August.
This month residents went to the Vermont Institute of Science (VINS) to see birds and reptiles. While there we were treated to a presentation on the species that live at VINS. Residents also went out to lunch at Weathervane in West Lebanon, enjoyed Maple Creemies, and some scenic drives. They have been working hard on weekly ball drumming along with daily walks. Residents also attended live music with Jim Hollis and Cooie on Miller Stage.
Most fun in August was our pool party on Gates Garden! Residents had the opportunity to buil sandcastles and to dip their toes in a pool. They had a fantastic afternoon, and the weather was perfect.
In September we will be going out for ice cream, apple picking and getting ready for fall. We are very much looking forward to a Village-wide dance for residents and staff on September 14th in Miller Stage. Watch for pictures next month!
Kathleen March
Memory Care Director
Staff Spotlight
Belinda joined our culinary team last winter as a server in the dining room, coming in as an energetic and hardworking presence. Belinda approaches each day at The Village with consistent positivity and a joy for her work! We are so grateful for everything that Belinda brings to The Village and are so happy to honor her as Employee of the Month. When she is not working Belinda enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 children, and 11 grandchildren. She likes embroidering, knitting, gardening, and collecting books about royalty. Congratulations to Belinda for being our Employee of the Month for August!
COVID-19 In Our Community
We are committed to keeping you informed of how COVID-19 is impacting The Village at White River Junction. We continue our robust commitment to following the guidelines from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health authorities by:
- Based on our current Phase and the positivity rate in our county, the following protocols for visitation are in place:
- We will gather name and contact info for contact tracing for every visit.
- Visits may occur between 8am and 8pm.
- Currently we do not allow guests to eat in the dining rooms.
- Core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention will be enforced. These include:
- Screening before each visit
- Hand hygiene
- Mask use for all visitors and staff; It is currently recommended that fully vaccinated visitors keep their mask on when in a private area, even with a fully vaccinated resident.
- Requiring all staff to wear surgical or procedural masks and adhere to screening processes
- Maintaining the frequency and rigor of cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces
- Reviewing our emergency preparedness and response program
- Coordinating best practices across our large partner network
- Group activities are held
Helpful Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
- www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/index.html
LCS COVID-19 website
Local health department website
From the Governor
