From Egypt to the Stars!

Where can you visit pyramids and the surface of the moon without leaving your own town?  Why, in Lebanon, PA, of course!  The residents of Juniper Village at Lebanon were treated to a special presentation of "Aida" at Lebanon High School on March 1st.  The story takes place in ancient Egypt, but cleverly links the past with the present.  The music, sets and acting were outstanding!  We felt more like we were at a Broadway show than one put on by high school students.  The previous week, we walked the halls of Cedar Crest High School to visit their planetarium.  We were taken on a guided tour of the actual night sky of Lebanon, plus a fascinating glimpse into what an astronaut must endure to travel in space.  After visiting ancient Egypt and the moon, we were all very glad to be back in good old Lebanon, PA!

Edible Art Demonstration by Chef Ray

The residents of Juniper Village at Lebanon were recently treated to a very special demonstration by our own Chef Ray Krueger on the Art of Creating Garnishes.  Two student volunteers were present, and they were very interested to learn more about this art form, which was new to them.  The residents also enjoyed the demonstration, but even more they enjoyed getting to eat the final creations.  Cantaloupe snowmen just taste so much better than plain cantaloupe!  And the ladies were thrilled to be presented with strawberry roses by Volunteer Tim.  Many thanks to Chef Ray for sharing his talent with us!

Resident Art Show and Wine Reception

Residents, Staff and Visitors all thoroughly enjoyed the Resident Art Show and Wine Reception at Juniper Village at Lebanon.  Many resident artists displayed items that they made here in classes, or some that they made prior to moving to Juniper Village.  One residents displayed her granddaughter's illustrations for books, and Ralph Ashburn, a Condo resident, displayed his handcrafted wood items.  Three of Ralph's photographs were also won by three lucky residents as door prizes.  The highlight for several residents was the wine and cookies that were served.  It was a nice, relaxing afternoon for everyone who attended.

Juniper Village Residents Creating in Clay!

Juniper Village at Lebanon residents were very fortunate to have local artist M.J. McFalls teach them how to make beautiful dishes from a ball of clay.  M.J. walked everyone through each step, and one hour later, each person had a finished, painted clay dish ready to be taken off to the pottery studio to be fired in the kiln. In three weeks, they will get their finished results, and they will certainly be amazed at the transformation.

A Double Pet Surprise Visit!

The residents of Juniper Village at Lebanon were treated to a double surprise visit by two very popular pets:  "Teddy" the terrier and "Bandit" the bunny.  They were both here at the same time, but they got along just fine.  While "Bandit" made his way around visiting the residents sitting on the couches, "Teddy" visited people sitting in the chairs around the perimeter of the room.  They were both about the same size, which is actually a nice size for the residents as many of them want to hold them on their laps.  "Teddy" is a certified Therapy Dog, and he visits often, but this was "Bandit's" first visit, and he did very well.  Many thanks to our nurse Collette Stroh for bringing in her pet rabbit for our residents to enjoy!

March 2016 Events in Lebanon, PA: Your Treasure is Within

As we bring down the curtain on our Creative Expressions series we focus this month on Drama. Juliette Binoche said, “I think acting is about forgetting yourself in order to give the best of yourself. It's passing through you more than you're creating it. You're not the flower, but the vase which holds the flower.”

Through dramatic performance we are able to forget about ourselves while becoming someone else, if only for a moment. We can be transported to another time, another place and another way of thinking. With all of our inhibitions set aside we focus this month on breaking out of our shells to share a bit of ourselves with wild abandon through our weekly drama clubs which will culminate in a fantastic performance or reading of dramatic prose. We invite you to join us in this enlightening journey of self-discovery through the magic of theater this month. We will also be attending theatrical performances around town, where we can let our inner critic loose. One last opportunity to become someone else is offered during our Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, where everyone can be Irish for the day. Join us as we feast on traditional Irish foods such as corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, shepherd’s pie and more! Lastly, March would not be complete without honoring the dramatic achievements of others with our own Oscar Party. This month we invite you to let your inner star shine at Juniper Village.

Our fabulous March 2016 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  Special Performance by Bryan & Rachel Stevenson who will entertain us with everything from classical music to popular hits, as they say music soothes the soul, so stop by after work or dinner for an opportunity to relax and unwind as light refreshments will be served, there’s no cost to participate and everyone’s welcome to join us on March 10^th at 6:00 pm.

§  Spring Egg Hunt as all little ones up to age 10 are invited to hunt for colorful eggs in our charming courtyards during this a wonderful opportunity to experience the warmth that comes from sharing special moments with your friends and family at Juniper Village, and even the Easter Bunny will be joining us, so don’t miss those great photo opportunities on March 19^th at 2:00 pm.

§  Just Breathe – Living With and Understanding COPD with J Diaz, Respiratory Care Practitioner and owner of C&OPD (Conquering & Overcoming Pulmonary Disease, PLLC), who will educate us on the signs, symptoms and treatment options for COPD, so if you or someone you know is suffering from COPD you’ll want to join us for this complimentary informational session to be held in The Club of the Community House and a light lunch will be served on March 30^th at noon. (No cost to attend but please RSVP to 717-272-8782.)

We look forward to sharing our March 2016 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as Your Treasure is Within.