All-American

Penn State football is in full swing and there is nothing quite like the experience of watching the Nittany Lions both in person and on television.  One resident had a difference experience than most, as a player. Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living resident at The Inn, Richie Lucas, played for Penn State as a quarterback from 1957 to 1959.  Richie, along with then head coach Rip Engle and assistant coach Joe Paterno, lead the team to a winning season in 1959 which ended with a big victory at the first ever Liberty Bowl in Philadelphia against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Richie, nicknamed “Riverboat Richie”, was the first ever Penn Stater to receive the Maxwell award and was runner up for the Heisman trophy in 1959.  He was later indicted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

After Penn State, Richie was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first-round of the 1960 NFL draft.  He went on to play quarterback, halfback, and defensive back for the Buffalo Bills and later for the Denver Broncos.  Richie decided to leave football in 1962 to serve in the Army during the Cuban Crisis.  He returned to Penn State, after serving in the military, to work in athletics administration and raise his two children here in State College.  Richie retired from Penn State as the assistant athletic director in 1998. During his 30+ years working at Penn State he worked with many coaches, including the late Joe Paterno. Richie said that working with Joe was nice. "He was a great guy! Very hard working."

Penn State’s football schedule for October

10/1 vs Minnesota

10/8 vs Maryland

10/22 vs Ohio State

10/29 at Purdue    

Pretty in Pink

Sitting in her favorite chair and dressed in shades of pink, Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living Resident, Elizabeth "Betty", admires a recent bouquet of 100 roses in honor of her 100th birthday. With a new box of confections on one side of her and her pink floral walker within reach, Betty smiles radiantly as she proclaims, "I'm an old lady but I never worry about it." Betty denies having relatives who lived "an unusually long time" and shares that she never thought she would live this long. Surrounding Betty are pictures and reminders of her family. One particular photo brings a twinkle to her eye, as it shows a young married couple, Betty and her spouse, Larry, on their wedding day with their best man. As she recalls those days she shares, "my hair was brown with so much shine. I wasn't so bad looking either." Another picture, taken exactly 50 years later shows a couple still very much in love. Along with the photographs are more flowers from family members and very special artwork by her young great granddaughter, Peyton.

Betty denies any advice for living to 100 nor attributes her accomplishment to a certain lifestyle, however she did share that she enjoyed staying active when she was younger. She shares that she liked a variety of physical activities, "I liked them all," including swimming, bicycling, and a bit of golf.

Juniper Village at Brookline is honored to have Betty celebrate her special day with us. Happy Birthday Betty!!

Best in Show

The Grange Fair, held for the past 142 years in Central, PA, is the largest encampment and fair in the nation. This two week event brings the community together to highlight the talents of its residents in a vast array of abilities. More than just a place for “fair food” and live entertainment, attendees of The Fair enjoy watching horse shows, meandering through exhibit halls showcasing community service organizations, and catching an occasional cow or pig judging event. Also featured during The Fair is the annual art show. For one artist at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living, it marks the time once again, to collect his masterpieces to put forward in this art event. Stanley Persons, a resident at The Inn, has competed in The Grange Fair art show for the past several years and has taken prizes each year. There were a total of eleven categories this year in the Centre County Senior Living Communities sub division of the art show and Stan submitted his art work in five of the categories.  Stan won first and “best of show” for the category of Valentine, first and “best of show” for Leaf, first for Animal, and second for Easter. At the end of the two week fair, only five Best in Shows were given, of which Stan won two of them. "I'm thrilled that Stan has been recognized for his great art work! Stan always enjoys our art activities and events and we love to show off his great masterpieces,” said Jill McKenrick, Director of Connections at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living. 
 
Congratulations Stan!!!

September 2016 Events in State College, PA: Spread Your Joy

As the air begins to cool and summer wanes, Juniper Village ends our “Stay Connected” series by recognizing Friendship and Joy. What is it that brings you joy? Is it the wet nose of a newborn pup? The smile of your first grandchild? The taste of a triple chocolate ice cream cone? Whatever it is we invite you to share that joy with others at Juniper Village this month.

Much attention has been paid to studies regarding the effects of stress on your health, but what about the effects of joy? The landmark “Nun Study,” as it's often known, revealed that positive emotion is correlated with longevity: 90% of the most cheerful quarter of nuns was alive at the age of eighty-five, whereas only 34% of the least cheerful quarter lived to that age. Similarly, 54% of the most cheerful fourth was alive at age ninety-four, versus 11% of the least cheerful. Of the 678 sisters in the original study about four dozen are still living. So go ahead, grab that triple chocolate cone it might just extend your life!

Join us this month as we celebrate friendship and staying connected with calendar events such as our annual daffodil planting and our home warming, birthday party and Best Friend initiatives.

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

§  Sip and Paint Night Fundraiser with Benchmark Therapies as we enjoy an evening of networking with fellow healthcare professionals while Amanda Kunkle, owner of Happy Valley Sip & Paint, guides the class through one-of-a-kind masterpieces on September 8th from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. (Please RSVP to Jill at 814-235-2041. Tickets are $35; proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.)

§  Big-Brothers Big-Sisters Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser (Dine-In and Take-Out) because Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Centre County operates under the premise that “one caring adult can make a significant difference in the life of a child,” and this mission statement is reason enough to come and enjoy a sit-down or take-out spaghetti dinner to benefit this amazing community program on September 14^th from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

§  Weekend Winedown to taste for a cause at this annual fundraiser event and silent auction to benefit bound to get your taste buds going wild, featuring signature dishes from local eateries alongside Seven Mountains wine at the winery on September 23rd at 6:30 pm. (Please RSVP to Liz at 814-234-3135. Tickets are $40 each or $70 per couple; proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.)

We look forward to sharing our September 2016 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living with you as you Spread Your Joy.

A Day Worth Waiting For

The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and there was excitement in the air at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living on Saturday, August 20th. Residents finished lunch early, put on their party clothes, and gathered in the Willows Dining Room to celebrate a day with their dear friend and neighbor, Max Confer. Max was smiling from ear to ear for the two hours that friends and family gathered to wish him the happiest of 100th birthdays. True to his form, Max maintained his grace, kindness, and true love of life while sporting a festive birthday hat.

Along with a variety of appetizers, three cakes were served, each representing important roles he has each day; a friend, a father, and a "Gramps." Throughout the room snapshots of Max's personal history decorated the tables. Photos included pictures of him with family, his years in the United States service, and fun times of travel throughout his life. Banners and balloons added an extra treat for the youngest of Max's family members present, ranging from several months old to several years old.

It is truly Juniper's honor that Max chose to move to Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living Community several years ago. Like many, Max brings such joy to the lives of other residents as well as the staff each day. Happy Birthday Max!

Quite an After Hours

On August 11th Juniper Village at Brookline partnered with Penn State Health and B Events to host the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) Business after Hours. Over 150 members and guests of the Chamber attended this networking event. Guests were treated to live entertainment by local string band, Strait and Miller. Attendees also enjoyed in fare prepared by Juniper dining including a large antipasto bar, chicken pops, and chocolate fountain. Featured beverages were provided by Otto's Brewery, Barrel 21 Distillery, and Seven Mountains Winery. During the evening, Dr. Kevin Paul Black, MD Vice President of University Park Regional Medical Campus welcomed attendees to Juniper Village and promoted the developing partnership between Juniper Village and Penn State Health. He shared that Penn State University Park is embarking on a full medical school program for students which will highlight collaboration with area health providers, including Juniper Village at Brookline, to provide rotational sites for medical students to learn and develop hands on experience with older adults.
        
Networking and relationship building amongst community based providers is the foundation for Partners in Caring, which is one of nine Juniper Communities signature programs. Juniper Village at Brookline was thrilled to create such a warm and welcoming opportunity for this level of fellowship to occur and is eager to continue to provide this level of community service.

August 2016 Events in State College, PA: Breathe in Life

Each August we turn our focus to the environment by offering social events and educational opportunities on living a more environmentally sustainable life. By making caring choices and creating helpful habits we can all make a difference to our planet.

Did you know that an aluminum can may remain in its current condition in a landfill for up to 500 years? That same can, when recycled, can end up back on your grocer’s shelf in as little as two months. Recycling that aluminum can also saves energy. Enough energy, in fact, to power your television for three hours! Aluminum can be recycled over, and over and over again – without limit. Americans will use about 2.5 million plastic bottles every thirty minutes. If that bottle is not recycled it can spend the next 450 years or more in a landfill. A modern glass bottle will take about 4,000 years to biodegrade. Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled again, and again and again. So, the next time you are enjoying a delicious beverage, be conscious of the packaging and make the choice to recycle.

Join us this month as we promote the environment with a focus on our recycling programs – from annual rummage sales to shredding and more; our educational offerings will help you to support our environment and Breathe in Life!

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

§  Flower Arranging because custom flower arrangements can cost a pretty penny, but with a little know-how and tips of the trade, we will learn to make our own breathtaking flower arrangements as local florists educate attendees on floral design basics while providing all supplies to make our own floral masterpieces on August 8^th from 2:15 pm to 3:15 pm.

§  CBICC Business After Hours for all Chamber of Business and Industry members, Juniper Village at Brookline is rolling out the green carpet, so come celebrate a wonderful networking event with live music, local brews, and plenty of sweet and savory treats on August 11^th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. (Register online at www.cbicc.org or pay $5 at the door.)

§  The Buzz About Bees with local apiarist, Mike Dahlberg, from Nittany Ridge Apiaries, who will provide an educational presentation of interesting facts about beekeeping and the busy life of a honey bee complete with an observation hive and honey extraction demonstration for an interactive experience followed by honey-themed appetizers and honey-sweetened beverages on August 17^th from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

We look forward to sharing our August 2016 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living with you as you Breathe in Life.