Sewing the Seeds of Kindness

Over the last few weeks, the Juniper Village at Brookline "Knitting for a Cause" group has been busy sewing blankets of comfort for friends at our Rehabilitation and Skilled Care community. So far nearly 30 blankets have been crafted and will be presented to our neighbors sometime in June.

The goal of the group is to be able to assemble enough blankets so that each new resident will have one upon moving in, allowing for an added piece of comfort and extra special gesture of friendship. And who among us couldn't use one more friend?

2015 Juniper Leadership Conference Awards

Juniper celebrated its 27^th anniversary this year.  Each year communities are honored for their achievements in critical operational and financial areas.

Awards were presented at the 2015 Juniper Leadership Conference, held this year in Baltimore’s historic inner harbor.  Awards were presented by Lynne Katzmann, founder and CEO of Juniper Communities, and Diane Byrne, Vice President of Program, Development, Training & Operational Oversight.

At the recent Juniper leadership conference, Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living was presented the Juniper Culture Award in recognition of “walking the talk” and leading the implementation of Juniper’s Culture and Signature Programs in the midst of a full acquisition transition in 2014.

A Meal That Matters

Making a difference in the community is an important part of what we at Juniper Village do each and every day. Not only do we believe in nurturing the spirit of life in our own residents, but also in the residents of the greater State College community. This is why a number of Juniper Village at Brookline associates were proud to represent our organization at the 10th annual State College Area Meals on Wheels (SCMOW) benefit dinner. As the longest-running corporate supporter of SCMOW, and the only platinum-level sponsor, JVB associates were treated to front row seating at the event and the opportunity to meet keynote speaker and Penn State football head coach, James Franklin. 

Since 1971, SCMOW has served more than a million meals, and is now able to serve meals three times per week to those in the State College Area School District. According to SCMOW Board President, Bill Haner, the total amount raised at this year's dinner is slated to be between $45,000 and $50,000, which will tie or exceed the organization's record fundraising amount! 

May 2015 Events in State College, PA: Grow Strong Daily

Fitness is on our mind during our May 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living with our Alive In All Seasons theme “Grow Strong Daily”. As you know, physical activity is good for you both physically and mentally. Regular physical activity can help you to continue to do the things you love and stay independent as you age. Exercise can reduce the risk of developing some diseases and reduce symptoms of some chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and balance issues.

But, if exercise has not been a part of your daily routine how do you take that first step? Start by making it fun! Turn a walk around the block into a scavenger hunt – search for daffodils, birds, squirrels or lucky pennies. Instead of a dip in the pool, create an adventure as you pretend to swim with the dolphins. Rather than send your co-worker an email, walk to her office and communicate face to face, double the benefit with a smile! What’s important is to make it fun and just start – today!

 

Join us for our May 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living as we will Grow Strong Daily with Fitness Five, and walk “cross country” with our Route 66 Walking Program and learn more about keeping our hearts fit at our Healthy Heart Luncheon. We look forward to sharing these and many other activities with you this month. Peruse this month’s calendar, and we will see you soon!

Our fabulous May 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living include our:

§  Penn State Hershey “Grow Strong Daily” Lunch and Learn featuring nutritional, heart healthy foods followed by a class to discover fresh, easier ways to live better and healthier on May 15^th at noon.

§  Family Forum Meeting allowing you to voice your opinions and help shape the future of our wonderful community on May 19^th at 6:30 pm.

§  Murder Mystery Fundraiser as we engage with intriguing and amusing entertainment while enjoying a delicious meal to benefit our favorite charitable causes on May 30^th at 6:00 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our May 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living!

Come On Down for An Evening of FUN and Prizes!!

Okay… so we didn’t technically win any prizes this time around, but we sure did have a ton of fun when “The Price Is Right LIVE” made a stop at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center! More than 20 JVB residents and associates were part of the audience to watch as contestants played PLINKO, spun the Big Wheel, and had a Showcase Showdown. And as you can see, everyone was sporting their “Nurturing the Spirit of Fun” T-shirts (and some necklaces, and headbands, and pom-poms)! There was dancing in the aisles, applause, and lots and lots of laughter!

The H'art and Soul of Dining: Brookline Style

Juniper Village is ushering in the “H’art and Soul” of Dining in a BIG way! One of our nine signature programs, H’art and Soul is all about offering up the perfect balance of delicious, nutritious food options in a comfortable atmosphere that embraces the spirit of service! With that in mind, Chef Frank Pascale, Food Service Director at Juniper Village at Chatham (New Jersey) recently paid a special visit to State College. A recipient of the Medal of French Government/Joseph Donon Award, Pascale brought his culinary know-how to the table, dishing out tips and techniques for some of his favorite, and most popular recipes. Chef Frank discussed some tricks of the trade that he’s learned during his time in the kitchen—proper use of spices, use of locally-sourced foods, and more—that include five years with Juniper and six as a Chef Instructor at Hudson County College in NJ.

Friend of Juniper, and co-owner of State College’s premiere event company, B Events, Cori Agostinelli Kalupson, also made a stop by our senior living communities. This 25-year veteran of the hospitality industry demonstrated the proper methods for plating and serving  an aesthetically pleasing meal from start to finish; covering everything from table setting and wine pairing, to coffee with dessert.  As part of her profession, Cori and her business partner design and execute events that are a marriage of cutting-edge trends to small-town comfort and familiarity.

If you thought dining at Juniper Village was good before, you’re sure to be delighted with the fresh flavors (served with a certain flare) that we’re cooking up now! Bon Appetit!

April 2015 Events in State College, PA: Believe in Yourself

Welcome to April - the name derived from the Latin word Aperire meaning “to open”; the month when everything starts to bloom and come alive. What better time to really put forth your best efforts and see the true beauty inside than the month in which everything begins anew! Diana Ross, in the Wiz, advises “believe in yourself, right from the start. You'll have brains; you’ll have a heart; you’ll have courage to last your whole life through if you believe in yourself.” So let’s put our best foot forward, believe in ourselves and we can move mountains!

Join us for our April 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living as we pull pranks on April Fool’s Day; honor Jesus Christ on Good Friday, followed by hiding Easter eggs; celebrate the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery on Passover; and celebrate mother earth on Earth Day and Arbor Day. Peruse this month’s calendar as we focus on the brain through our Daily Brain Builders, Wii tournaments and our Healthy Brain Luncheon. Plan to join us for any and all events. Also, check out our Healthy Aging Resource Library to learn more about the brain or any number of health related topics. We look forward to seeing you during this fun filled month.

Our fabulous April 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living include our:

Ø  The Price is Right Live Game where we participate in our own version of the well-loved TV game show full of fun and prizes on April 16^th at 6:00 pm.

Ø  Tastes of Tuscany interactive presentation by the Penn State University Wine-Making Club as we tour the flavors of Italy on April 19^th at 4:00 pm.

Ø  Penn State Hershey “Brain Health” Lunch and Learn giving us tips on how to promote brain health and preserve cognitive function at any age on April 21^st at noon.

Ø  Nittany Valley Symphony Concert featuring Spanish Impressions with an intimate post-concert reception following the performance on April 25^th at 6:30 pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our April 2015 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living!