A Magical Mystery Tour!

On February 3rd, residents from all areas of Juniper Village at Lebanon boarded our bus for a "Scenic Ride" not knowing that a big surprise was waiting for them just down the road!  After a quick drive through the countryside, we soon stopped at the home of Cindy Boyer, resident Joyce Mease's daughter.  Cindy had been up until 1:00 AM the night before baking several kinds of cookies and opera fudge, which she handed out on the bus on beautiful Valentine plates.  She also gave everyone a juice box drink.  After everyone was finished, Cindy brought her little dog out to the bus to say hello.  We appreciate the kindness and generosity of Cindy and all of our wonderful volunteers, family members and friends!  They are truly our Valentines!

Red Hats and Teddy Bears

Many thanks to our wonderful guest speaker, Ferne Steckman from Palmyra, who makes the trek to Lebanon each month to lead our Red Hat club.  She always has an interesting topic, and this month it was "Teddy Bears".  We learned about their history and the many varieties of teddy bears.  Ferne brought several examples with her and filled an hour with teddy bear facts and trivia.  Some residents dashed out of the party to go back to their rooms and bring their own teddy bears to the party.  The best part was the chocolate teddy bear cookies that Ferne made.  What a wonderful afternoon for everyone!

February 2017 Events in Lebanon, PA: Awaken Your Passion

This month, our focus on creative expression continues with a focus on art. Art, as with beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. It is understandable that some have great artistic ability and others do not. But, at Juniper we know that everyone has a passion for creative expression, regardless of ability or age. Pablo Picasso once said, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” He is speaking about becoming inhibited as adults. With our various art programs we encourage uninhibited creativity as a form of therapy. Creating art affords the opportunity of self-exploration and self-expression leading to both physical and mental benefits. Creating art in any of its various forms, is also about sharing a bit of ourselves with each other. Art is one way to express ourselves, and the creations are honest and true representations of our experiences. In sharing our stories through art with others we invite communication and create lasting bonds.

Art typically encompasses painting, sculpting, and drawing. But, the act of creating art can be as simple as doodling. Art is simply the creation of something outside one’s self that often mirrors what is going on within their mind, soul, and body. We use creative arts as a way to nurture the spirit of life. Join us throughout February as we focus on great varieties of art such as photography, needlework, handicrafts, painting, sculpture and more. Please join us as we share a bit of ourselves with our weekly craft classes, experience art on an outing to an art museum, and embrace our celebratory spirit with Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day parties. We look forward to helping you Awaken Your Passion this month!

Our fabulous February 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon include our:

§  Go Red for Women Paint and Sip Fundraiser for a fun evening of painting, making friends and sharing a good bottle of wine and complimentary hors d’oeuvres – all for a great cause, as the cost to participate in the Paint and Sip event is $35 per person, and part of the proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign on February 7^th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. (Please RSVP to 717-272-8782.)

§  Hands-On Pottery Workshop as we enjoy the art of making pottery as local artist M.J. McFalls from Elmlock Pottery teaches us different pottery techniques while we make a free small item to keep on February 15^th from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. (Please RSVP to 717-272-8782.)

§  Healthy Hearts for Seniors What You Should Know with Dr. Edward Tadajweski of WellSpan Cardiology Associates, who will discuss ways to reduce the incidences of heart disease, how to live a healthier lifestyle, and special concerns for seniors at this complimentary informational session held in The Club of the Community House that is open to the community and a complimentary light lunch will be served on February 22^nd from noon to 1:30 pm. (Please RSVP to 717-272-8782 by February 20^th.)

We look forward to sharing our February 2017 events in Lebanon, PA at Juniper Village at Lebanon with you as you Awaken Your Passion.

Elvis Is In The Building!

We were "all shook up" when Elvis arrived at Juniper Village to sing many of his most famous numbers!  Resident Paul Hirlinger got up to sing several numbers with Elvis (also known as D.J. John Garloff). Staff member Lindsay went up to sing and do sign language for "Jesus Loves Me", and at the end of the show, Paul helped Elvis throw scarves out to the ladies in the audience.  It was a great afternoon of singing and swooning in honor of Elvis's birthday!

The Endless Banana Split!

Here at Juniper Village at Lebanon, we know that the answer to any problem known to man is: "Ice Cream"!  Many of us would like to eat it morning, noon, and night, so imagine how excited we were to participate in making a six-foot Banana Split!  Everyone pitched in to peel and slice bananas, scoop the ice cream, add the toppings, dish it out, and of course, eat it!  Residents, staff, and family members of all ages were on hand to taste the finished product, which was fantastic!

Giraffe Award Winners Announced!

In December at Juniper Village at Lebanon, five co-workers were chosen to receive the prestigious Giraffe Award, which signifies excellence in work performance and "going above and beyond" to bring a special quality of life for our residents and coworkers.  The five coworkers chosen were:  Evette Hernandez, Connections Department; Charmain Wenger, Wellness; Sarah May, Wellness; Lindsay Bender, Business Office Coordinator Assistant; and Tina Garloff, Dining Services.  Each one of these outstanding individuals received a special giraffe pin and a hug from the founder of Juniper Village, Lynne Katzman.  We could fill many pages with the accomplishments and talents of these wonderful people!  Just like the giraffe, they each have a big heart, and it shows in their work each day.  Our director Joan-Marie also handed out Giraffe Awards to each resident, as we are blessed to have so many wonderful residents living here, each with their own unique talent or trait.  Look for many of these awards to be posted on their doors!

Ringing in the New Year at Juniper Village!

We rang in the New Year a little early this year at Juniper Village at Lebanon.  Our favorite piano player, Karl Hausman, was only available on Dec. 30th, so that's when we celebrated New Year's Eve, complete with our own Bologna Drop!  Dropping a giant piece of bologna has been a tradition in Lebanon for 20 years, but we think that our own bologna drop is even better than the one being held downtown on the 31st. First of all, it's held inside, where it's nice and warm.  We get to eat bologna and cheese the whole time and toast at "midnight" (really 7 pm) with real sparkling wine or sparkling cider.  When the lights were turned down and the countdown began, the excitement built to a crescendo when the bologna was finally dropped, and people lifted their glasses to toast the New Year.  We wish all of our families and friends a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year in 2017.