MAY IS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH... CELEBRATING JOHN DOUGHERTY

When John Dougherty graduated from high school in June 1943, the world was on fire. Within a month he was drafted and sent to Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. His training took him to West Virginia and Camp Pickett, Virginia before flying to California for deployment to Burma. For 62 days his ship zigzagged across the Pacific Ocean, before landing on the coast of India. His unit sailed up the Hooghly River, where they caught a train in Northern India, which took them into Burma. He served with a medical unit stationed near the Burma Road, which was built a couple of years earlier to help provide supplies to China, to help support them in their efforts to hold off the Japanese. His parents sent four sons to serve their country in World War II. All but one returned. John wears his veteran cap to honor their sacrifice; when asked, he tells their story.

John’s stories of World War II bring the history alive. He talks about the daily supply drops with red, green and white parachutes. The red parachutes meant medical supplies. The white parachutes meant food while the green parachutes brought beer. The soldiers used the chutes for everything—making bedding, tents and more from the material. When the war was over, his team waited six months to return home. They flew to Calcutta, but because of civil unrest, the soldiers needed to stay outside of the city. The USS Admiral W. S. Benson picked them up and after a quick stop in Manila to drop off cows, they returned to the United States, sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, to San Francisco, California. After returning home, John attended Millersville University. He served his local community as a teacher, coach and athletic director for 35 years.

Thank you, John, and other veterans, for your service and sacrifice on behalf of our country and our local communities.

1. Pain reduction: Working on your balance goes beyond just strengthening muscles. It challenges your whole body to act as one unit, strengthening muscle groups that may not normally get a good workout. This can lead to improved posture, which can in turn lead to less back pain and a decreased risk of arthritis.

2. Improved athleticism: We’ve all seen the images of burly football players dancing in pink tutus. That’s because ballet is an excellent way to learn better balance, which is key to doing well on the field. Athletes who practice balance regularly see an improvement in their agility, quicker reaction time and overall better performance.

3. Longer life: Did you know that falls are the leading cause of injury and death for older Americans? With improved balance, senior citizens can reduce their risk of a fall, which could in turn mean a longer life!

4. Reduced injury: Better balance can help people of all ages avoid injuries. Not only will it help you keep upright, it can also teach you how to fall, so that you will instinctively hit the ground in the right way so as to do the least amount of damage.

5. Accessibility: The best part of working on balance is how accessible it is! You don’t need any equipment to work on basic moves. All you need to do is find an even surface to stand on, close your eyes, and gradually lift one leg, holding for 30 seconds. Switch to the other leg and do the same. For beginners, do this to each side three times, gradually adding more reps as you get better.

Balance training involves doing exercises that strengthen the muscles that help keep you upright, including your legs and core. These kinds of exercises can improve stability and help prevent falls. Join us on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12:30pm for Greg’s Balance Class, especially if you use a cane, walker or scooter, or attend Andrea’s class at 1:15pm. Classes are held in the Fitness Room.

STARTING MAY 1

CYBER CYCLE CHALLENGE

GSV has two Cyber Cycles: one in Gardens North Gym and one in the Wellness Center. If you haven’t tried a Cyber Cycle, stop by and have the Wellness Staff set you up!

MONDAY MAY 1

BARN DANCE | 2-4pm, Campus Services Barn

See page 4 for details.

MAY 1-5

LANCASTER SENIOR GAMES

AT SPOOKY NOOK SPORTS

Contact Joanne (6117) jashcroft@gardenspotvillage.org for information and signup

MAIN STREET ART GALLERY & APARTMENT SUITES DISPLAY CASE

MAY 1-31

Gallery: Congressional Art Competition

Glass Case: Mother’s Day tea collection of Sandy Schneider

ARTISANS CORNER 1ST FRIDAY POP-UP

MAY 5, FRIDAY

10AM – 12NOON

Featured Artist: Pixie Boswell

Demonstration: Button Earrings

**CARD CONNECTION

MAY 18, THURSDAY

1PM, ART STUDIO

Teacher: Paula Schmauk

Cost: $6pp includes supplies for two cards. Sign up at Resident Services.

NEW HOLLAND AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MAY 18, THURSDAY

7PM, CHAPEL

Speaker: Robert Frick, historian

Topic: They Made Lancaster Great: Jacob Eichholtz, artist known for portrait paintings of prominent Lancastrians. Anthony Ellmaker, a businessperson with ties to New Holland.

Historical Society members and nonmembers invited to attend.

MAY 23, TUESDAY

9AM-12NOON, GARDENS SOUTH CONFERENCE ROOM

If you enjoy stitching (knotting) and supporting MCC, this hands-on monthly meet-up is for you. There’s no need to sign up, just show up and lend a hand.

MAY 23, TUESDAY

2PM, ART STUDIO

Make a brand-new, hands-on, creative card.

Teacher: Marie Diehl

Cost: $6pp includes supplies

Sign up at Resident Services.

MAY 25, THURSDAY

7PM, CHAPEL

Author: Bruce Mowday

Book: Stealing Wyeth

A gang of thieves decided to steal an original painting for their retirement and engaged a professional cat burglar, so the story goes. Mr. Mowday will speak, sell and sign copies of his book. Courtesy of the GSV Art Guild.

MAY 2 – JUNE 6, TUESDAYS

9:30AM, THEATER

(Sign up begins April 4)

Topic: Landmark Documents of American Democracy and their Authors

Speaker: Dr. Fredrich and Dr. Karlesky

Learn more about the Declaration of Independence: Jefferson, The Constitution: Hamilton & Madison, the Bill of Rights: Madison, the Gettysburg Address: Lincoln, the 14th Amendment: Thaddeus Stevens and Brown v. Board of Elections: Warren. For more than forty years, Quest for Learning has offered the Lancaster community an opportunity to attend quality continuing educational and enlightening seminars. Cost: FREE courtesy of GSV. Limited seating. Sign up at Resident Services.

Cost: GSV residents free courtesy of PCA&D & GSV partnership. Sign up at Resident Services. Public welcome with fee and registration at pcad.edu/creative-exploration

MAY 13 & 20, SATURDAYS

10AM-12PM, ART STUDIO

Teacher: Leah Limpert Walt

This extended workshop demonstrates the function behind vocabulary like: proportions, structure, planes of the head, gesture, rhythm, value and their respective relationships that come together in your drawing to create likeness. A small variety of drawing media will be explored as we discuss surfaces, techniques and capabilities of various media. Expect to gain confidence in portrait drawing materials, methods and accuracy in your portrait drawings.

** All NEW sign-up begins May 2