Mercury
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The Tofield
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COVID has hugely impacted the Welcome Basket program: Chehade
Tofield RCMP with K Division Traffic Unit issues 30 tickets
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Wednesday July 29, 2020 Vol. 102 Issue 48
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Operations and Maintenance budget to fund PPE supplies, says BRSD
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Sunshine Villa residents take in the sun Moush John
Tofield Mercury
Garry singing in the glow of the kerosene lamp. SUBMITTED PHOTOS/SUNSHINE VILLA Joseph Voegtlin in the Big Chair.
Bill Barrett with Prime Minister portraits.
Dale Hayduk enjoys the sun.
Adeline and Eva with Bert (centre) in the Big Chair.
Fern Lehman in the Big Chair.
With summer here, Sunshine Villa residents have been enjoying the outdoors, according to Julie Ishida, activity coordinator at the Villa. “With summer here, going outdoors has been a boost to our residents,” she said. “Walking and enjoying the fresh air are big pluses, and the residents who garden are enjoying their plants more than ever. Those who do not garden, enjoy seeing the flowers in bloom, and veggies and strawberries grow.” Ishida explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on the Villa residents. “Keeping calm and carrying on through it has been no easy thing, yet the residents and staff carry on with the challenges that protecting them from the virus brings,” she noted. “Protecting our residents does mean more isolation than anyone would ever want to experience, and there’s no doubt that this is difficult. But there’s a strong sense of community here, and residents and staff do watch over and look out
for one another!” With Alberta in Phase 2 of the relaunch, there is some opportunity for family visiting, she said, with the visits being outdoors in a designated area, by appointment with the designated family members. Just to get some photoopportuniy, Ishida said staff member Sarah Munson brought in a giant size lawn chair and the residents “got a kick out of it, with the tallest resident, Joseph Voegtlin, finally able to sit in a chair where his feet didn’t reach the ground!” “With the pandemic restrictions, volunteers have been gone from the activities for months now, and are greatly missed,” Ishida explained. “They added so much to Sunshine Villa. When restrictions can be lifted in the undetermined future, they will be welcomed back. “Residents were thrilled when hair dressing opened and Mickey Tree could attend to the residents for all their hair dressing needs. Family members, community services and businesses have lifted residents’ spirits too.”