February is National Arts Month

February is a time to celebrate the Arts. With the Super Bowl halftime show, The Grammy's, and The Oscars nominations, it's hard to not think of the Arts. Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living is no different and took this month to highlight their own artists within their community.  Juniper Village hosted an Art & Wine walk featuring many pieces of resident artwork of various media. Such displays include watercolor and oils on canvas, fiber-works, and natural materials. Residents, families, and community members enjoyed casually strolling through the warmth of the community while delighting in tasty treats and sipping on local wines. Many featured artists were present during the evening and humbly took praises for their hidden talents Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living offers a variety of activities tailored to the Arts including painting, music appreciation, and craft work. A silent auction of art work also took place during the evening with proceeds benefiting the Alzheimer's Association. This event is the first of three being offered at Juniper Village at Brookline this month with the other two taking place at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehabilitation and Skilled Care & Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring.

An Uncommon Valentine

A Mother’s Treasure is her Daughter ~ Catherine Pulsifer

Irene and Ruth Hornack are a unique Valentine couple at Juniper Village at Brookline, and at most Independent Living communities. Their relationship far surpasses any married couple within Juniper Village, as they are mother and daughter. Having never lived apart, Ruth shares about her and her mother, “we manage to get along.” Irene, age 98, says that Ruth is “very helpful” and often assists Irene with daily tasks such as meal preparation and going to appointments. The couple feels that they support each other and are always together. “Oh we have disagreements but that’s life,” says Irene about their close relationship. Both shared that they feel lucky to have each other. Their family unit is strong as evidenced by pictures throughout their apartment of Irene’s husband, who died in 2000, and her son who passed at the age of 47. Irene also expressed relief in knowing that when she is no longer able to reside with Ruth, that Ruth “will be well taken care of.” The two of them share their apartment with their cat, Rosie.

 

(Pictures: Ruth and Irene Hornack taken days ago; Irene’s son in the airplane; Irene and her husband with a family friend at a graduation)

There is a shade of Red for every Woman

The title quote by Audrey Hepburn couldn't have been truer on February 5th, 2016, at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living. At the HEART of Central PA, Juniper Village at Brookline showed support for the National Wear Red Day for Women's Heart Health through the National Heart Association. With participation from nearly all residents and staff, it was hard to miss the sea of red throughout the Senior Living Campus. The day was complete with two special staff handing out heart shaped lollipops to participants.  This day is just one of twenty-nine this month in which residents and staff enjoy spending time together; conversing, laughing, and feeling loved.

Pictures include: two fantastic staff (mother and daughter) who were the most Festive!, Our Director of Wellness with a resident, Residents from The Inn and staff, Residents from The Pines and staff, Residents from The Willows and staff.

Music for the Heart

This Valentine's Day, the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra (PCO), The American Heart Association, Penn State Hershey, and Juniper Village at Brookline teamed up to present "Music for the Heart," a combination of lecture, concert, and celebration in honor of heart health in our area. The February 14th extravaganza began with Dr. Paul Haidet's lecture on the health benefits of music at Penn State's Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. Immediately following, was a collection of movements from Mahler's 5th Symphony, courtesy of the orchestra and choral group, the Concordia Singers. 

Later that afternoon, Juniper Village hosted approximately 100 concert-goers at a post-show reception in its Willows Dining Room. Guests were serenaded by vocal soloist Danya Katok and PCO's conductor, Yaniv Attar on guitar. A proceed of all concert tickets was donated to the American Heart Association. Juniper Village at Brookline is supporter of the Centre Region Heart Walk held each spring in State College.

February 2016 Events in State College, PA: Awaken Your Passion

In February we turn our Alive In All Seasons focus to art and invite you to awaken your passion with us. Leo Tolstoy defines the activity of art as “To evoke in oneself a feeling one has experienced, and... then, by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds or forms expressed in words, so to transmit that feeling.”

This month we will transmit our feelings using many different mediums to let other share in our experiences, feelings and passions. We will travel through art around the world and experience art as it is meant to be – inspirational and transformative. We will feel the cool breeze and smell the fragrant blossoms of Monet’s gardens in Giverny, France as we gaze upon In the Garden and the Water Lilies series. We will feel the angst of Vincent Van Gogh as we admire his passionate works such as Vase with Twelve Sunflowers and The Starry Night. We will also pour our passion into our own creations evoking memories of the past to share with the future.

Please join us on this journey as we visit local art museums and create our own art through weekly craft programs. Celebrate with us as we recognize Valentine’s Day with sweets for the sweet and Fat Tuesday foods and fun at our Mardi Gras party.

Our fabulous February 2016 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living include our:

§  Art Therapy for Seniors informational dinner with Erin Carter featuring our Mardi Gras finest fare will grace the tables with favorites like Creole shrimp and grits and traditional King Cake on February 9^th at 5:30 pm. (Please RSVP to 814-235-2041.)

§  Art and Wine Walk to view our All Seasons Gallery—composed of resident and guest local artists—all while sipping local wine and enjoying light refreshments while resident art work will be available for sale at our silent auction with all proceeds to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association on February 9^th at 6:30 pm.

§  Sip and Paint event to unleash your inner artist and brush up on your painting techniques during this Happy Valley Sip and Paint event as we’ll relax and unwind with a Big Spring Spirits Distillery signature cocktail and traditional hors d’oeuvres, so create your very own masterpiece on canvas to take home and enjoy on February 19^th at 6:00 pm. (Please RSVP to 814-235-2041.)

We look forward to sharing our February 2016 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living with you as we Awaken Your Passion.