The Villager - Holiday 2022

The Villager

T H E G I F T O F G I V I N G

Connection

Sharing traditions and bridging generations

Joy

Sharing our favorite memories and looking forward to what's next

Celebration

Honoring the talents, success, and friends of our community

The Holiday Season is officially upon us!

2022 has been a roller coaster, but now it's time to surround ourselves with loved ones while reflecting on the many things we are grateful for Everything from the food on our tables, to the friends and family who bring us peace.

No amount of gratitude would fully encapsulate how thankful I am for my grandparents, my family, my colleagues, and the folks we serve So this magazine is a small portion of gratitude to return the grace to all those we love

We're embracing The Gift of Giving in this edition of The Villager. Our community, our team, our residents, and our families are always giving to us. Throughout the communities, I am honored to witness neighbors pouring into each other with words of wisdom or simply providing a shoulder to lean on The Gift of Giving recognizes the many stories of hope, joy, and teamwork that reminds us that there is so much to this crazy life for all of us to look forward to.

With that being said, and on the behalf of Galerie Living, we would like to Thank You for everything you do throughout the Village Park and Corso communities Thank you, to all of our residents for becoming a support network for neighbors Thank you to all caregivers and nurses who make sure everybody is feeling okay Thank you to the Maintenance teams, who make sure everything is running smoothly on a day-to-day basis. Thank you to every member of the dining team who serves up smiles for every meal. Thank you to all of our administrators who constantly give support and guidance

May your holidays be filled with warmth, happiness, and lots of love

Kelsie Anderson Culture & Brand Manager of Galerie Living

KelsieAnderson

Vision, Mission, And Values

VISION

To create unexpected happiness in life for seniors, families, and communities

VALUES

Happiness

We believe happiness is a feeling of belonging, purpose, comfort, independence, and security Our communities encourage connection, dignity, and joy for residents, families, and team members

Excellence

We are committed to quality in design, care, and service Our team achieves excellence daily through demonstrating high intention, integrity, intelligent direction, and skillful execution

MISSION

Elevating the senior living experience

Innovation

We lead through vision to find new ways of elevating the senior living experience Each day, we seek unique opportunities to achieve our vision of creating unexpected happiness in life

Dignity

Each member of our community honors and respects the independence, needs, and value of one another We are called to communicate openly, listen attentively, and care compassionately

Wishing everybody a Happy Birthday.

November, December, January, February Birthdays

Rasheed Almond

Gertrude Ampofo

Jason Antoine

Candace Armstrong

Minna Ash

Anulika Asomnanya

Destinee Bates

Randy Benjamin

Yoltyde Benjamin

Dierricka Berch

Marva Bethea

Lynnette Bissanti

Jyanyha Brown

Kerry Brown

Felisa Bryant

Rashedia Buford

Kim Burke

Shamona Burns

Jeremiah Cornish

Lester Dale Deneke Daniels

Darius Daugherty

Roshunda DIckerson

Cameron Dixon Bahia Elquati

Tennille Evans

Alissa Fair

Jessica Fuller Marlon Gellineau

Donteau Gleaton

Linnette Headlam

Barbara Henderson

Trou Husser

Patrice Jack Marie Jaward

Bianca Jones

Edward June

Dewayne Kennedy Eula Knipper

Georgina Kristjanson Abibat Lasisi Darlene Leon Demetra McDaniels

Immanuel McGee

Cassandra McNeil

Richard Monroe

Veronica Mweetwa

Shamekia Nash Helen North

Terrance Owens

Talisa Payne

Felisha Pender

Brent Peterson Julius Pierre

Jack Rarer

Victor Sanchez

Barbara Sandimanie

Felicia Scales-Vinson April Smith

Katryna Stackhouse Dana Suite

Marcia Teague Haye

Laura Tribou

Samuel Tribou

Osasenaga Uyi

Latasha Wallace

Berthina Weaver

Najah Whitmaler

Kedijah Williams

Nashira Wooten Benjamin Yoltyde

Reasons to Celebrate

Thank You to our dedicated team members.

Rasheed Almond | 1 Year

Gertrude Ampofo | 1 Year

Octavia Badger | 2 years

Damien Besson | 1 Year

Eunice Beyan | 1 Year

Kimberly Boudreaux | 1 Year

Tomasa Cazares Flores | 1 Year

Joseph Cephas | 5 Years

Nalijah Dale | 1 Year

Tierra Dalton | 1 Year

Kelly Dunham | 1 Year

Laura Ehlert | 1 Year

Gloria | Garcia | 2 Years

Kevin Gerald | 1 Year

Aster Gezawe | 1 Year

Jack Gibson | 2 Years

Terrence Grimes | 2 Years

Felicia Hammonds | 2 Years

Melita-Louise Harris | 1 Year

Linnette Headlam | 1 Year

Betty Hodges | 1 Year

Robert Hosey | 1 Year

Leslie Ivy | 1 Year

Cassandra McNeil | 1 Year

Jocelyn Nero | 1 Year

Angie Pacetti | 1 Year

Felisha Pender | 1 year

Golden Peoples | 1 Year

Asia Poinsette | 1 Year

Benjamin Samuelson | 1 Year

Shea Simon | 3 Years

Jennifer Skura | 1 Year

Alexander Smith | 2 Years

April Smith | 2 Years

Damien Smith | 1 Year

D'Jehiah Smith | 1 Year

Yolonda Smith | 2 Years

Yolanda Smith | 2 Years

Jermaine Stephens | 2 Years

Gayle Warren | 4 Years

Patricia Williams | 1 Year

Shyna Willis | 1 Year

Looking Back at 2022

A look back at our favorite moments throughout Corso Atlanta and Village Park Senior Living communities

Introducing Galerie Living Rewards

Unexpected Happiness

By you. For you.

Our team members rock and deserve to be recognized. This Winter, Galerie Living rolled out Galerie Living Rewards Galerie Living Rewards is a peer-to-peer recognition program that allows team members across Corso Atlanta and Village Park Senior Living communities the opportunity to recognize each other’s accomplishments in the form of virtual tokens As tokens are accumulated on www.galerielivingrewards.com, they can then be used towards a catalog of prizes ranging from clothing to new appliances.

Team Members aren’t the only ones who can recognize and reward each other Residents and their loved ones are encouraged to recognize the server, caregiver, or stand-out team member who has assisted them in a significant way or simply created a moment of unexpected happiness At each Galerie Living property, Value Reward Cards can be found in the mailroom. These note cards individually titled, Happiness, Innovation, Dignity, and Excellence, are eagerly awaiting to be filled out with a description of how a team member made somebody’s day better The completed Value Reward Card can then be submitted to the front desk ballot box. Our recognition officers will then provide virtual tokens to the aforementioned team members.

Take some time to recognize a team member and thank them for all they do by using Galerie Living Rewards today!

asonal Celebration Tree

ey Snook shares the joys of Village Park htree Corners' year-round Christmas Tree

The Holiday season is a time to celebrate and gather in holiday cheer, but for the residents of Village Park Peachtree Corners, holiday cheer is felt year-round

At the close of 2021’s holiday season, decorations were beginning to move into storage when a resident approached Physical Therapy Assistant, Ashley Snook, and asked her to keep the Christmas Tree in the fitness center. The comfort of the holiday cheer was a positive reminder to the resident who recently lost her husband

“She reminded me that we all need a little cheering up and this tree did this for her while she exercised in the gym, and so it began,” Ashley fondly remembered.

“We have decorated every month and residents stop by the gym just to look at the tree ”

Ashley honored the request and the tree has stayed up ever since Every chance she gets, Ashley redecorates the tree to showcase the latest holidays, seasons, and celebrations. Whether it is welcoming Spring, honoring the 4th of July, or sharing the spooky theatrics of Halloween, the tree is always decorated with beautiful, handpicked ornaments to brighten the room and animate the holiday season all throughout the year

This seasonal celebration tree and the people who bring it to life are reminders to us that cheer, celebration, and togetherness are not abou calendar. Rather, they are about the people around us - the people who make every day a celebration.

A Celebration of Lights and Life

The celebration of lights has a profound meaning to Corso Atlanta Senior Living Consultant, Kim Linder due to a special milestone birthday memory entailing a surprise trip to Israel that her husband had carefully planned for the both of them during Hanukkah many years ago.

Hanukkah has always been one of Kim’s favorite holidays. Every year she loves dusting the menorah off so it's shiny, adding the candles each night, saying the prayer and sharing gifts with loved ones, which is part of her yearly tradition However, the trip to Israel left an indelible imprint that reminds her how the "miracle of lights can also be the miracle of new beginnings "

Once Jack and Kim landed in Israel, she felt an extraordinary connection and vibrancy to the energy of the historical city of Jerusalem. Since the couple was early to check into their hotel room, they decided to take a stroll along the local boutique shopping areas Almost immediately, they spotted a beautiful small gift shop and agreed to go inside where we were greeted by the young shopkeeper who was standing by a traditional golden-bronzed menorah on his work desk He was delightful and after chatting awhile, he shared with Kim and Jack that he just became a father to a newborn son.

This was a celebration of life that ended up being more of a celebration of life.

He then invited the couple to celebrate the special moment with him before he closed the shop doors for the day. They were touched by his warmth and a sense of connection The group of three then lit the Hanukkah candles, said Mazel Tov, and shared a little schnapps with a piece of sponge cake What started off as a simple greeting, became more than a celebration of light and evolved into a celebration of life

For the next 10 days, Jack and Kim carried this experience throughout Israel They continued to meet people with diverse backgrounds who held a strong sense of purpose and spirit for the community they lived in The journey was quite remarkable and inspired Kim to re-create this feeling of "community" in her life

“For Kim, it's an honor to be Jewish and celebrate Hanukkah while embracing the past and creating new experiences for residents and members

“Corso Atlanta is not just a senior living community, it is a family-living community that feels safe to be yourself with respect for each other's traditions ”

To celebrate, Kim invited some of the residents to a meeting to ask them how they wanted to celebrate their holiday this year at Corso. They became excited to begin new celebrations together.

Kim purposefully wanted to bring Jewish holiday experiences that would have a pivotal impact on cultivating a sense of community at Corso Atlanta She often works alongside residents and team members to bring Jewish traditions and celebrations throughout the year These celebrations have created a well-spirited and connected community that embraces tradition and neighborly camaraderie.

Kim recalls, “One of our residents had a cookbook with all her favorite recipes for the holiday and was able to give that to our executive chef. As a result, the food and beverage team made an extraordinary meal. They had gone out of their way to make something really special for us ”

They soon gathered together for their own celebration and created a new community to feel welcomed in. Collectively, the efforts of the residents and team members empower Corso’s mission to be a diverse community that fosters culture, history, and togetherness

“Corso is not just a blended community, it is a diverse community,” Kim said. “We keep all holiday traditions that are very important to us ”

She remembers when Corso opened in December 2021. The community’s Jewish population was quaint, but by Passover, the population had grown significantly.

By celebrating Hanukkah, Shabbat, and simply breaking bread together, traditions practiced throughout Judaism have opened opportunities for conversation and engagement Kim explains, “We just really wanted to get together on a Friday, break bread, have some wine and wish each other blessings and talk about the high points of the week.”

These traditional gatherings build connections, create relationships, and remind us of the importance of togetherness, both during and beyond the holiday season which reminds Kim of her special experience in Israel many years ago

HOLIDAY HOMECOMING

Veteran and businessman, Wayne D , reflects on the magically overwhelming holiday his brother returned from World War II

The year was 1941, and Wayne Dahlgren was walking along Broadway in Rockford, Illinois. Music played softly on the sound system overhead There was peace in the air, but as he moved through the street, the music suddenly cut off, and a disembodied voice emerged in its place announcing, “Pearl Harbor has been bombed and the United States is officially at war with Japan ”

His heart sank. Wayne and his family knew what this meant - draft letters

I rushed up, grabbed him, and started to tell him how happy I was.

The Dahlgrens knew it was only a matter of time with five kids in the family. Every day, they waited for those brown envelopes to slip into their mail Not long after the world-changing announcement, Wayne’s oldest brother, Marshall, was called to service “We knew what was going to happen,” he recalls. “You just knew it, and yet when it did happen, it was very, very sad ”

The years that followed were troubling as they waited for good news or any news for that matter With Marshall having been drafted and Wayne’s other brother having enlisted into the Air Force, having peace of mind became a rare commodity in the Dahlgren home

“My mother was always worried,” Wayne described. “Everybody cried a lot, hoping and praying that they would come back "

The fear of a loved one dying in the war was valid Many of those who were drafted risked being killed Wayne remembers walking through his town and seeing commemorative plaques hanging in the windows of the homes that lined the streets The plaques recognized the slain soldier who had lived in that respective dwelling. The melancholy contributed to the anxieties and fears of losing his siblings.

Six long years later in December 1947, Wayne’s dad sat him down to share the news Wayne had been waiting to hear.

“Marshall is alive and healthy and everything is fine He's coming home.” Wayne rejoiced and immediately asked all of his eagerly anticipated questions learning that Marshall would be back just in time for their family Christmas Party

To celebrate his brother’s return, Wayne’s family decided to make that Christmas Party one of the biggest and best to come His mother cooked all of their favorite dishes stemming from their Swedish heritage and invited all of their family members, neighbors, and friends

December 25, 1947, arrived and so did Wayne’s brother. As Marshall walked into the celebration, Wayne ran to him

“I rushed up and grabbed him and started to hug him and tell them how happy I was, ” Wayne joyfully remembers “I told him about all the plans that I had for the

TELL YOUR STORY

Believing in God Again

WRITTEN BY MATHILDE W.

Our family had the opportunity to spend Christmases in the beautiful Alps of Austria and Switzerland while living in Germany. This truly was a magical time with wonderful memories, crisp cold air, soft falling snow, and the icicles hanging off the picturesque alpine homes. Imagine coming in from the cold and sitting down in the chalet in front of a roaring fire after a full day of skiing The Christmas tree was decorated just perfectly. An old-fashioned one decorated with handmade ornaments, lit with real candles radiating a wonderful glow in the room Music playing and Silent Night being sung in numerous languages by the international visitors being present. Just magical!

But there was one trip that was most memorable, one that would create a lifelong bond and change a life In 1968 we went to Zell am See, a quaint Austrian town on Lake Zell, south of the city of Salzburg. Our girls were young and enrolled in ski lessons. The ski instructor’s name was Wilfried, who loved to ski and enjoyed life as a fine young bachelor. My husband Chuck, always enjoyed getting to know people and invited him to have dinner with us By the end of our week, having spent time with Wilfried, Chuck offered him a job to join his team In the 1970s, both our families moved to the states and continued to visit each other and kept in touch by phone

In December 2018, when Chuck passed away, Wilfried wrote this touching tribute:

“Chuck was the most important person in my life I ever met In fact, he changed my life in a dramatic way. He had a heart of gold and he was like a father to me always caring and guiding the beginning of my professional life and my life in the US.

To this day, I believe it was a miracle that they walked in the restaurant in Zell at the end of the winter

To this day, I believe it was a miracle that they walked in the restaurant in Zell at the end if Winter.

I was just leaving and had no job but dreams And here is Chuck offering me a job I would have never got, was not qualified at the time but he believed in me and guided me. Our week skiing together, all the fun we had, especially you girls, and that day in Zell changed my life forever

Chuck is the single reason I found my way back to believing in God again ”

That Christmas was memorable and a life-changing experience for Wilfried, both professionally and spiritually, and for our family as well, we gained a lifelong friend.

Believe in miracles, be kind and make a difference It could change someone ’ s life.

Merry Christmas. -Mathilde W.

Matzi the Bear

WRITTEN BY BEATRIX SCHWARTZ

“Don't tell anyone you paid almost a thousand dollars to repair your bear,” My husband says “Why not?” I ask. He replies: “Because they’ll think you ’ re crazy. ”

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY 1940-1945

Shrieking sirens Nervous noise Bombs Windows are covered in black The light turned to darkness. Shattered peace Mother holding my hand. Me holding my mother's hand. I think that I am comforting her. With my other hand, I hold Matzi, my bear He must come with me. Always.

We can’t take the elevator. We ran downstairs with other people. Some give me a smile and pat my head Some don't We are going downstairs to the bunker Mother tells me we might have to stay there for a while until the noise stops. The bunker is where we all sleep together It is cozy and a little fun if it weren't also so scary.

There are always new people coming in, some of them from the street where something must have hurt them because they are bleeding. Mother has one of our white napkins that they used to iron when we were upstairs She ties it around my temple and with her red lipstick, she paints a cross on it I like the feel of the coarse, familiar cloth around my head and I like being a “big girl” nurse. Mother lets me go around by myself I cannot wander too far We are enclosed I am three years old and am taking care of the wounded. I make people smile.

My new bed feels hard and strange, so different from the one I used to crawl into upstairs that was soft and smelled safe. I hug Matzi tight. He reminds me of me when I used to be upstairs.

I am three years old and have no words. Only feelings which I do not understand. Why am I so scared and also so excited? What does it mean to live? What does it mean to die?

After the war, my bear and I escaped from Hungary together I was seven years old. Matzi the Bear was six. He was with me when we crossed the dangerous border into Austria. He is stained with my tears from Paris from when we were there together, confused, lost, and missing my mother I carried him to England When I had that horrible earache, he was there soothing my pain. Finally, Matzi and I arrived in Canada I carried him off the train and he was there to witness the greatest disappointment of my life. The woman I had been yearning for, the woman whose memory helped me survive the two impossible years of separation my mother She was not there

LAURENCE HARBOUR, NEW JERSEY SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

No sirens No bunker No Mother No napkins. No visibly wounded. Only familiar feelings for which now, I do have some words. Matzi and I lived by the water. We heard strong noises overhead They sounded like low-flying planes heading for Manhattan. It’s 9:00 a.m. and the television is on CNN. Matzi was sitting in his rocking chair in the living room with my husband across from him I was talking on the phone Before hearing the commotion on the television, I sensed that I needed to get out of bed and go into the living room I carried the phone into the living room. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Then, another plane hit the building

The smoke. The bodies. The confusion. The fear. The dread. The helplessness. I grabbed Matzi Something was familiar here, but I wasn't sure what. From where we were in New Jersey, we could get a glimpse of the World Trade Center. After the attacks, for days and days, we could only see smoke rising

I wanted to help I needed to help I needed to do something When I was in the bunker I had a mission. I could help. I could make people feel better I could make them smile. Now, I could do nothing. The worst thing in the world is to be able to do nothing

I took Matzi to bed that night

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY A FEW YEARS LATER

In honor of Matzi’s 59th birthday and my 60th, I had an elegant suit made for him He sits in his rocking chair, wizened by age and experience And only by looking deeply into his glazed eyes, can one see the wear and tear of the years on his soul. I am so glad that he is still here because sometimes I believe he is the only one who understands

I don’t know what to do with Matzi when I die He is very frail Like the Velveteen Rabbit, “most of his hair has been loved, he is loose in the joints and very shabby,” but I feel the need to preserve him because somehow I believe Matzi to be my only legacy

I looked on the Internet to find a bear hospital and found one in Secaucus, NJ. There was a sign on the door: “THE DOCTOR IS IN”

I saw lots of dolls and bears. One of the dolls was lying on a table, seemingly receiving a transfusion The woman who welcomed me took Matzi into her arms and cradled him with such gentle admiration and respect; I felt safe about leaving him there instantly A few days later, I received a call from the doctor who left a warm Colombian accented message on my machine asking me to return her call regarding my “beautiful” bear. When I called her back, she told me that restoring him would cost $909 50 Without hesitation, I told her to do it For a moment, I wondered if I had lost my mind.

Several weeks later, I received a call telling me that I can pick up Matzi The assurance and excitement in the doctor’s voice let me know that he had, indeed, been restored

When I arrived in Secaucus, I didn't know who was more excited, myself or the doctor The doctor had obviously fallen in love with Matzi She had managed to bring back Matzi’s sound box and I heard Matzi growl like I had not in many, many years

When I told the story of Matzi to the doctor, she told me she knew everything. By working with him, she learned the whole story. Matzi had carried that story, our story, with him Matzi had been beautifully, carefully, and caringly restored and was sitting back in his rocking chair. Once in a while, our dogs will go over and take a respectful sniff knowing full well that he is not a toy but a special presence in our midst.

And my husband no longer suggests that I tell no one how much I spent on Matzi because he too now knows the story of my bear.

Stories to Remember

REFLECTING AND CONNECTING WITH THE PAST

Veteran and lifelong storyteller, Dick Johnston has spent nearly a century recording and recounting his life. Dick’s writing helps him cherish his experiences and relive some of his favorite memories. After writing three autobiographies, he’s encouraging us to do the same.

Born in 1923 in Woodstock, GA, Dick featured his adolescent memories and milestone accounts in his book, “Woodstock Memories ”

“I was born at home in my mother’s room, ” Dick recalls “The same room that two of my brothers were born in.”

In “Woodstock Memories” and his other autobiographies, Dick describes this period in detail, exploring personal moments like his time at school, as well as more universal experiences, including the toll of WWII and being drafted in 1944

Dick’s writing is more than just a collection of stories; it's a way for him to reconnect with his past, his memories, and in a heartwarming way, himself.

“I’d get a yellow paper and I’d write down all the events I’m gonna cover and I’ll use that as a guide I can leave it, come back to it, figure it out, and the writing generates memories that I’ve forgotten ”

Dick’s pastime not only helped him resurrect his forgotten memories, but it also ensured that his legacy will be passed on to his grandkids, great grandkids, for generations to come Today, Dick and his wife, Brenda, enjoy living at Corso Atlanta where they’ve been encouraging their neighbors and friends to share their stories

“These stories,” Brenda adds “They’re going to be lost, quickly, if we don't capture them,”

If you ’ re interested in capturing your story, we encourage you to email mmj@villageparkseniorliving com to be featured in an upcoming edition of The Villager

CELEBRATE ARTS & CULTURE

The Holly Candle

Forest chipmunks have many holiday traditions, the most important of which is the lighting of the Holly Candle First, the candle is formed from beeswax collected during the summer months Once complete, the candle is placed in a candle holder (discovered long ago by their ancestors), and holly seeds are planted next to it. When December arrives, the chipmunks light the candle each night, celebrating and dancing in the glowing, moving shadows cast by the leaves.

.

WHIMSICAL WINTER WONDER WITH MACKENZIE MYRICK

Artist, Mackenzie Myrick, creates whimsical worlds of wonder with exquisite detail through a single black pen Each composite masterpiece is accompanied by a fable envisioned by Mackenzie For the Holiday Season, Mackenzie is sharing her newest

It is also traditional to spend time writing letters (typically consisting of paw prints and the occasional berry juice painting) for family members to open on Christmas Day.

creations, The Holly Candle and The North Polar Bear

The North Polar Bear

The world’s best candy canes can be found at Candy Cane Farm, located in the center of that wintery bliss we call the North Pole. The farm, which was created by the North Polar Bear Family many frosty moons ago, is known for its oversized peppermint treats that are grown from scratch Yes, you heard that right! They plant rows upon rows of candy canes and harvest them all year long. Part of what makes their candies so delicious is the quality of the snow they grow in pure white and fluffy, it gives the peppermints an icy and refreshing quality that cannot be found anywhere else.

This is a small glimpse of Mackenzie's Holiday Collection Discover more of her seasonal wonders at mackenziemyrick.com

Corso Atlanta's Expert Sommelier, Brian White HOTTY TODDY

It’s cold outside, but inside there’s a steamy mug of deliciousness waiting to melt away the cold and transport you back to the days of the Tiki Cocktails Hot Buttered Rum is a true classic from a genre of cocktails that has recently made its way back onto the scene Many bars and bartenders have made Hot Buttered Rum over the years, but nobody did it like Vic Bergeron from Trader Vic’s fame Trader Vic’s was the premier Tiki Bar starting after World War II and is still around today Around the world, Trader Vic’s are found throughout Hilton Hotels

This Hotty Toddy takes some preparation, but the results are well worth the wait. Besides the rum, there is a mix that must be prepared ahead of time

Corso's Classic Hotty Toddy

The Mix

4 oz unsalted butter

1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 tsp Ground Cinnamon

1 tsp. Ground Cloves

1 tsp Ground Nutmeg

1 tsp. Ground Allspice

Let the butter soften to room temperature and mix all ingredients into a smooth paste. Store the unused portion in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

The Drink

2 oz. Plantation Original Dark Rum

2 tbsp. Butter Mix

6 oz. Boiling Hot Water Whipped Cream 1 piece Star Anise

In a heat proof glass or mug, add the rum and the butter mix. Then add the boiling water and stir until the ingredients are mixed. Top with whipped cream and place the star anise on the top

CHRISTMAS WREATH SALAD

Part One: Candied Pecans

Ingredients

1 lb. of Pecans or Pecan pieces

1 cup of White Sugar

1 tbsp of Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/3 tsp. of Cayenne pepper

Directions 1. 2. 3 4. 5 6.

Soak Pecan pieces in warm water for five minutes. Then strain. Mix white sugar, cayenne pepper, and pumpkin spice until consistent. Toss the strained pecans liberally with the flavored sugar mix Place on a parchment lined sheet tray and bake at 275-300° for 10-15 minutes. Check every 10 minutes, stirring the pecans and spreading them evenly to make consistent. Once all the sugar has turned from a syrup like consistency to more crystalized, remove out of the oven to cool

Ingredients

1 Delicata Squash

1 tsp. Candied Pecan Sugar

2 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions 1 2. 3

Part Three:

Ingredients

1 Orange (zest & juice) 1 Lemon (zest & juice) 1 Lime (zest & juice) 2 tbsp. of Dijon Mustard 4 tbsps of Honey 2 cups of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Part Four: Christmas Wreath Salad

Ingredients

Baby Kale Greens 3oz Citrus Vinaigrette 1.5oz Candied Pecans 2 Tbs Pomegranate Seeds 1 Tbs. Roasted Delicata Squash 3 Tbs (already roasted) (could sub butternut) Shaved Radish 7 Pieces Microplane Pecorino Romano (to finish, with a micro plane) (could sub parmesan) Salt & Pepper to Taste

Directions

Toss Baby Kale Greens with Citrus Vinaigrette and Salt + Pepper

Arrange the Baby Kale Greens on the plate to look like a wreath, with hole in the middle.

3.

THAI STYLE MUSSELS

Ingredients

10 lbs Mussels (cleaned and bearded) 6 Celery Stalks (split and diced)

1 1/2 cups minced Shallot 1/2 cup minced Herbs (parsley, cilantro) 1/4 cup Canola Oil 10 oz. of Cream Salt & Pepper to taste 4 sp. Madagascar Curry Powder 1 Tomato (seedless and diced)

Thai Sauce

4 cans of Coconut Milk 1 qt Cream 3 Stalks of Lemongrass (peeled, smashed, and cut) 6 leaves Kaffir Limes (thin sliced) 4 Garlic Cloves (sliced) 1/2 cup of Cilantro 3 oz. Thai Curry Paste

Directions

Thai Sauce 1. 2. 3. Thai Style Mussels

1. 2 3. 4. 5.

Clean Mussels and remove the beard. Dice all Celery and Shallots In a medium/large pot, heat canola oil and vegetables until vegetables are lightly translucent

Add Mussels and close the lid for 5-6 minutes Add Thai sauce and Herbs Close the lid to create steam. Mussels will begin to pop open. Make sure to shake well and cook until all mussels open up. (About 8 minutes) Keep hot and serve in a deep pasta bowl Sprinkle the remainder of cilantro on top.

Appétit!

Chef Philippe Haddad · Galerie Living

Fantasy in Lights

GARDENS PINE MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA

Grab your favorite cup of Hot Cocoa, and enjoy a whimsical journey toward West Central Georgia Be amazed by the glow of millions of Holiday lights Celebrating 30 magnificent years, Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain is welcoming the Holiday season with their annual Fantasy in Lights

Festive lights and holiday scenes envelop the 2500-acre nature resort. To ensure the vibrant holiday feels effervescent at every turn, more than 300 team members set up over 8 million LED lights and music speakers beginning in August The grandiose event is so extravagant, it has even been listed as one of National Geographic’s Top 10 Light Displays in the World.

CALLAWAY

On its biggest nights, this winter wonderland can see upwards of 1000 people from all around the Southeast. Callaway Gardens Marketing Manager, Rachael McConnell grew up in the neighboring city of Columbus and shared her own insights on this festive regional favorite.

“We see grandparents bringing their grandbabies out here, adult couples going on date nights, and of course families with their children,” Rachael said. “I think the beauty of the lights, the magic, and just how much larger than life it is really draws people to create those shared memories that are worth repeating It's not just a oneand-done but, something they want to continue making into a Christmas tradition ”

To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Fantasy in Lights, Callaway Gardens introduced Celebration Lake as a new scene to the drive-through light show. The major waterfront scene synchronizes 30 lit trees with the merry tunes of Christmas. Other famous favorite scenes include Nutcracker Lane, and Fred the Frog.

Open until January 2nd, Callaway Gardens invites you to step into the spirit of the season. Surround yourself with loved ones, twinkling lights, and a forest filled with picture perfect trees.

Christkindlmarkt Atlanta

The Atlanta Christkindl Market is the largest Christkindlmarkt in the Southeast Located at the Buckhead Village District (290 East Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30305) the Market kicks off Friday, November, 25th and runs daily until December 24th 2022

This is the only authentic German Christkindl Market organized by German/American citizens for everyone who loves the tradition of a German Christmas Market The Christkindl Market is following an old tradition from Germany and other parts of Central Europe. A Christmas market, also known as Christkindl Market (literally meaning “Christ Child Market”), is a street market celebrating Christmas during the four weeks of Advent The history of these markets goes back to the Late Middle Ages in the German-speaking part of Europe and in parts of the former Holy Roman Empire. This includes Germany, France, Switzerland, and Austria. We named the Atlanta Christkindl Market after Atlanta's German partner city, Nuremberg, where the Christkindl ("Christ Child") originates from. The vendors vending out of original German built wooden booths, which over the years brought the total number to 75 booths, a Santa House, an 18 feet Christmas tree and Kaethe Wohlfahrt. Attendees can also look forward to cultural music program with local musicians and artist presenting their art, acting, music and craft to the public.

Vendors are a mix of Germans and Americans who travel throughout the country to promote authentic German specialties such as food, music and crafts Guests can look forward to Cinnamon Nuts, Chocolate, Bratwurst, Curry Sausage, Schnitzel, German Pancakes, Crepes, traditional Christmas Tree Ornaments, original wood crafts, children's wooden toy's, European handmade jewelry, candles, local homegrown honey and many other delectables

In addition to all the vendor booths, photos with Santa are offered every Saturday and Sunday during market hours. Meet and greet the Christkindl is also only unique to our Atlanta Christkindl Market As we have so many dog lovers, we have dedicated one Saturday to bring your four-legged loved one to take a picture with Santa Last year, dozens of dog lovers brought their dog for photos with Santa. This Christkindlmarkt is the only one taken pictures with dogs, together with people and Santa in an original German built Santa House.

Christkindlmarkt Hours

Friday - Sunday

11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday 3:00 p.m. - 8:30p.m.

The event is free of admission. Everyone is welcome and can attend. www.christkindlmarket.org

The Christkindl Market is organized and managed by the GA Events and GAC-Foundation (GAC-F) in partnership with Buckhead Village District by Jamestown LLP In 2015, the fundraiser began out of an idea with a few German Business Leaders that Atlanta should have a traditional German Christmas market

To find out more about upcoming GAC events, please allow these website, please visit:

www ChristkindlMarket org www.OcoberfestAtlanta.org www.GAC-Foundation.org

Fröhliche Weihnachten!

New Year's Eve Possum Drop

WRITTEN BY JACK RARER

For many of us, this season is all about tradition. Tradition may look like hanging up lights around the house or simply a group of loved ones gathering for a celebration.

For Tallapoosa, Georgia, tradition looks like a taxidermied opossum.

In the past, nearly three decades now, folks from all over have gathered in the small town of Tallapoosa to celebrate the New Year. Across the world, most people look forward to seeing an illuminated ball or a giant peach drop from the sky as the clock strikes midnight However, the streets of this small Georgia town cheer for a taxidermied opossum in a cage.

The opossum in question, Spencer, was found on the road by a taxidermist, Bud Jones, in the ’90s, and became a legend a few years after.

“He wasn’t hurt at all,” Bud recalls, “except he was dead.”

Spencer was named after Ralph L Spencer, a businessman credited with a massive boom in Tallapoosa in the late 19th century Tallapoosa was once known as “Possum Snout”, so town organizers reached out to Bud in an effort to have Spencer become a sort of “Tallapoosa mascot”. Naturally, they decided to plop him in a cage strung with Holiday lights and turn him into a New Year’s ornament that is to be dropped at midnight.

As strange as it may be, the event was a success, and with a population of just over 3000, Tallapoosa’s Possum drop has reached a peak attendance of more than 7000 people. The event features live music, a family-friendly fair, and entertainment for all, but the Possum Drop, in its bizarre glory, seems to be more than just a celebration of the new year.

When this town gathers on December 31st, they aren’t just there to celebrate the changing of the calendar or the progress they've made over the last yearthough I’m sure there’s plenty of that to go around. They’re there to celebrate the tradition itself They’re there to celebrate the people who made New Year’s their own and have invited us to do the same every year since.

For more information on the Possum Drop, visit www.thepossumdrop.com, and be sure to tune in to their Livestream on Facebook on December 31st.

PHOTO CREDIT: THEPOSSUMDROP.COM

TECHNOLOGY & WELLNESS

LAUNCHING FYNN

FOR BETTER RESIDENT EXPERIENCE

Fynn’s comprehensive solution is designed specifically for successful senior living Our technology is userinformed, built, and tested to meet the unique needs of senior living stakeholders

Senior living operating technology, Fynn, launched across three Galerie Living communities this fall. Through advancements in artificial intelligence, consolidation of information, and an intuitive user experience, Fynn acts as a companion to caregivers, managers, residents, and soon families, in an effort to bolster overall community wellness.

Utilizing integrated data analytics and delivery, Fynn’s digital dashboard takes the burden off of caregivers and creates a more efficient and effective basis for resident care. Wellness Director of Village Park Peachtree Corners, Yvette Sneed, rejoiced in the optimization of streamlining essential data into one cohesive space.

“As soon as you go to the dashboard, everything is right there: falls, incident reports, anything that I need for tasks and assessments,” Yvette explained “I instantly know what I have to do for myself, for the residents, and how to direct the staff accordingly.”

The care dashboard is Fynn’s vehicle for ensuring need-to-know care information stays top of mind and is communicated to care team members in real-time and across shifts. The platform provides secure information on resident health and activities of daily living (ADLs) while also acting as a transparent, collaborative space for caregivers to respond to residents’ needs.

“Anything that I’ve put in on previous days comes through in real-time,” Yvette adds “The hope is that the team stays on top of shift records because that's where the most current information is.”

Caregiving in senior living is an inherently collaborative process, but without efficient means of communication between caregivers, friction occurs. Fynn’s intuitive platform minimizes that friction and ensures consistent, data-informed care by allowing multiple caregivers the ability to access and log clean, reliable information at the point of care delivery.

In addition to having permissioned access to comprehensive information on resident and community wellbeing, caregivers are empowered by Fynn’s technology to also provide a helping hand in proactive strategies. In the near future, care data will be used to craft well-informed, evidence-based recommendations without taking time away from team members.

By utilizing artificial intelligence, can anticipate potential acuity changes and optimize staff-to-resident performance matching The returned time allows team members to focus on their main priority caring for residents.

Values & Tradition

WRITTEN BY CLARISSA RICE

This is the time of year when our thoughts turn to the holidays and move naturally to the traditions associated with them Traditions are beliefs, practices, and customs handed down from generation to generation Some of them are hundreds of years old. Others are relatively new. Many traditions are so long established that they have the effect of an unwritten law This is particularly true of the traditions of ancient religions. Traditions inspire connection, loyalty, and commitment. They also create belonging and comfort. They are often the glue, which holds a culture together. They promote adherence to duty, they set up expectations that lead to practices.

As seniors, we often mourn the loss of beloved traditions, and yet modern life has brought some changes.

Clarissa Rice has a Master's degree and EDS in school counseling. Prior to retiring, she was the Counselor at Snellville Middle School for 27 years. Clarissa also taught English, Speech, and Drama.

Some traditions have been left behind because they no longer make sense today, or in some cases are destructive in practice I'm sure we could all name a tradition, which is best forgotten. This year, my family will gather at a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner, not on Thursday, but on Wednesday evening. I can't ever remember doing that before, but necessity sometimes dictates practice Often when a tradition changes it is because a higher priority exists. Many years ago, when my children started to marry and have their own homes and children, I stopped having my traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve and moved to a Christmas party a week before, so my children could make their own

Resident Spotlight: Clarissa Rice

or be available to travel to inlaws ations. That way I could have my gether with me, and still, let them to establishing their own traditions. worked out very well for everyone. f caution when establishing , you may be stuck with them I'll h a humorous story. A few years ago, my daughter-in-law, who is the pmother to my grandchildren, prepared elicious dinner for their Christmas ebration. Everyone enjoyed it very much. following year, when she checked in h the kids to see what they wanted for Christmas dinner, they said, “Let's have same one as last year, it was great.” So t's what she did. The following year when suggested a different menu My teenage nddaughter said, “Oh no. We have to have the same one as last year. It's a dition ” er, my daughter-in-law shared this story h me and asked, “how did it get to be a dition?” I replied, “You did it more than ce ” Anticipating traditions in our lives will a wonderful thing. May your holiday son be filled with warm, loving traditions

Holiday Fitness

BRADFORD BAILEY, SENIORFIT ATLANTA

In preparation for the holiday season, Bradford Bailey, founder of SeniorFit Atlanta, is sharing his expertise in the form of three fitness tips for seniors about strength training, cardiovascular training, and social-emotional wellness

Strength Training

When it comes to seniors and fitness, we often underestimate the importance of strength training. As you age, you lose muscle mass and bone density Engaging in strength-training movements regularly help combat the loss of muscle mass and bone density Regardless of location; a gym, a group setting, or at home, try to do strength training movements at least two times per week to target all the major muscle groups. Light weights, exercise bands, and body weights are all effective options for strength training

Cardiovascular Exercise

It is imperative that seniors engage in some type of cardiovascular exercise at least four days a week. Clients often ask me about the most effective types of cardiovascular exercise, and the answer is simple.

The most effective type of cardiovascular exercise is one that you most enjoy! Simply because you are most likely to do it with fidelity. The simplest, most accessible, and favorite of my wife and I, is walking Cardiovascular exercise is your first line of defense in keeping your heart and lungs healthy This is especially important to combat the flu

Social-Emotional Wellness

Seniors that are emotionally healthy tend to be physically healthy This is because engaging more in physical fitness positively impacts all areas of life Make it a priority to get out and take part in trips and outings with friends and family Just remember that exercise doesn’t have to be formal to be effective. EVERY STEP COUNTS!

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