FEBRUARY 2022
The elder stateswomen of PPH “That’s 206 years of greatness right there!” These were the words of Maintenance Technician Antwine Johnson as two of PPH's centenarians walked together down a hallway one afternoon late last year. Cecelia Amato, 104, and Marcella Fellin, 102, are longtime friends who can often be found walking together to pick up dinner, feeding hungry koi fish on a cool summer evening, or just having a chat on a bench. “Marcella and I always walk together. She loves to talk to everybody. She stops and talks to this person and that person. I walk ahead and then she catches up,” Cecelia said. Cecelia and Marcella met years ago at St. Martin’s seniors’ group. They enjoyed line dancing, pinochle, and the companionship of fellow seniors. And the fun they had wasn’t just confined to St. Martin’s. “Sis [Cecelia] drove her car up until she was 100 years old!” Marcella explained. “She used to take us from St. Martin’s out to lunch, driving up Roosevelt Blvd. like it was nothing!” The often busy and chaotic Roosevelt Blvd. certainly never fazed Cecelia. For one, she lived just a few
Marcella Fellin and Cecelia Amato share a laugh. The two centenarians are longtime friends who both love the amenities and companionship that PPH has to offer. (Masks removed for photo)
blocks off the boulevard for many years. And second, she had no choice but to learn how to drive in the 1940s when she began working in her father’s bakery in Ardmore, Pa. once her brothers went off to serve in WWII. Cecelia said that one of the keys to longevity is eating healthy and not smoking. “What you eat is very important,” she said. She kept mentally active for years by playing pinochle three days a week with friends, only slowing down recently because of some vision difficulties. Marcella toured five other senior living communities, but ultimately
came to the realization that PPH was the best fit for her; she was familiar with many aspects of the community and friendly with many residents. “PPH has everything. It’s like a little city you’re living in. You have your bank, you have your post office, you have your gift shop,” Marcella said. One of PPH's biggest draws for Marcella was the swimming pool: she swam regularly as a guest — when the pool was in what is now Pathways’ pharmacy — prior to choosing PPH as her new home 16 years ago. Her enjoyment of swimming goes back to when she was a young girl Friends >>Page 7
In This Issue...
l Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service l PPH Gives l Black History Month preview
6401 Martins Mill Road, Philadelphia PA • www.PPHFamily.org • 215.697.8000 •Facebook.com/ThePhiladelphiaProtestantHome
Black History Month is a federally recognized annual observance celebrated nationwide. Dr. Carter G. Woodson is credited with creating this opportunity to reflect on the important roles of African Americans in this country. The son of former slaves, Woodson spent little time in school, but taught himself basic English and math skills. He enrolled in high school at age 20 and completed a four-year curriculum in two years. He went on to earn a master's degree from the University of Chicago and a doctorate degree in history from Harvard. Disturbed by the fact that history textbooks largely ignored the
contributions of black Americans, he went about trying to correct this oversight. In 1926, he established Negro History Week. He summed up its intent by saying, “We should emphasize not Negro history but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race, hate and religious prejudice.” In 1976, the week was expanded to a month-long celebration. For his extraordinary efforts, Dr. Woodson has been called “The Father of Black History.” PPH supports Black History Month and appreciates Lawndale Manor resident Carol Drummond’s
efforts to coordinate the activities and events celebrating the contributions of African Americans to American History. In the words of Marcus Garvey, “A people without a knowledge of their past, history, origin or culture is like a tree without roots. The February calendar will list all Black History month programs. We hope you will join us for some or all of them as they will be interesting, informative and fun. You can get started by checking out the special Black History Month word search that is inserted into this publication! Be sure to check channel 2 and bulletin boards for up-to-date information.
They who serve us – Luke Cihak of Dining Services By Lawrence H. Geller Alpha Manor resident Luke Cihak is a quiet sort of man, but always ready to meet your needs in the dining room where he has been employed as a server these past two years. Scouting and camping were his favorite activities as a youth, activities in which he is still involved in "various capacities" to this day. If you ask Luke what his greatest characteristic is, "flexibility" would spring to mind. This is a trait he learned from his dad, the
man he most admires in his life. Italy is high on his list for travel someday. Not for the art, sculpture, or the opera. "It's the good food," he says. You can see why he likes working in the dining room. Note: The January "They Who Serve Us" incorrectly stated that Yvette Lopez-DeVictoria's second language is Spanish. Yvette learned both Spanish and English at a young age, as her parents mostly spoke Spanish, but they recognized the importance of Yvette learning how to speak English at a young age.
Luke Cihak (center) with PPH President & CEO John Dubyk and Director of Community Relations Bill Conaway at a 2020 Boy Scouts event.
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Resident Portal:
Visit pphfamily.org/pphresidentportal/ for the latest COVID-19 updates, PPH President & CEO John Dubyk's weekly video update and other timely materials and videos. This page is password protected — please call Shannon Grieb (6641) or Mike Berman (8003) if you would like to access this page.
Pulse
MLK Jr. Day addresses 'Beloved Community,' honors vital part of PPH community PPH broadcast a Martin Luther King Jr. observance on Monday, Jan. 17. Filmed the prior Thursday in separate segments due to COVID-19 precautions, the observance featured remarks and musical performances from PPH residents, remarks from PPH staff, a presentation from a guest speaker, an update on the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service project, and the unveiling of the 2022 project. “If we are truly family at PPH and we hope to make our world and our community a better place to live in, it is our responsibility to move forward by embracing diversity, equality and unity,” said PPH President & CEO John Dubyk. Lawndale Manor resident Tom Sexton spoke of the success of last year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service project, a monthly food drive. PPH residents donated approximately two tons of food over the course of 2021. The donations went to four local food pantries — Memorial Presbyterian Church on Oxford Ave. in Fox Chase; The Dream Center of Philadelphia, located a few blocks from PPH at 5500 Tabor Ave; Berachah Church on Ashbourne Road in Cheltenham, Pa.; and Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel Synagogue on Old York Road in Elkins Park, Pa. Tom reported that the food drive will continue indefinitely as long as PPH’s neighbors are in need of food. The 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service project recognizes and celebrates PPH’s Security team. “While we all go about our days and sleep peacefully at night, they go about their jobs,” said Lucille Hite.
Each Security team member received a personal certificate of appreciation for their dedication to Alpha Manor PPH. There were resident Sylvia two posterboards Metzler and Lawndale Manor in the Fountain Room with photos resident Marge of each member, Sexton pose and a third poster- with Security Team member board, which Johnny Benjaresidents and min. The 2022 fellow PPH staff were encouraged MLK Jr. Service to sign to express project recognizes PPH's their support and appreciation Security Team. for the Security Team. “The Security staff are asked to do many, many things here that are just not in their job description, and they go above and beyond to take care of those things,” said Vice President of Operations Dave Hughes. Hugh Taft-Morales, leader of the Philadelphia Ethical Society, gave a (pre-recorded) presentation titled “The Beloved Community.” Hugh’s presentation explored how Dr. King’s vision over 50 years ago is still relevant to the political and social divisiveness occurring in US communities in 2022, and that the beloved community demands daily work and inner discipline to remove the roadblocks to love. “Americans too often forget how fundamental community is to building a meaningful life,” he said. Hugh’s friend, Alpha Manor resident Sylvia Metzler, encouraged anyone interested in talking with
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him to meet on a Zoom discussion later that week. As Hugh encouraged throughout his presentation, it’s important to have difficult discussions. “To deconstruct American racism, we must confront difficult truths and work through conflict. It must involve introspection, self-criticism, and humility,” he said. Lawndale Manor resident Lucille Hite served as the observance's emcee. Director of Environment Services Luke Mason gave the opening meditation. Lawndale Manor resident Carol Drummond performed an acapella version of the song “Dr. Martin Luther King,” and Lawndale Manor resident Audrey Alston sang “Take My Hand Precious Lord.” Medical Mission Sister MaryAnn Tregoning, the 2021 Personal Care Resident of the Year, gave the closing meditation. For information on how to contribute to the monthly food drive, see page 6.
Collection of the Month PPH residents Rich Graber and Pastor Ken Smith, both of Lawndale Manor and both longtime collectors, had their cast iron toy collections on display throughout January. Many of the toys go as far back as the late 19th/early 20th century! Rich began collecting cast iron toys in the mid-1940s. One of his fondest memories is shopping at a neighborhood store one holiday season with his father. "I remember my dad taking me to the store and buying some as a Christmas present," Rich said, noting that he remembers shopping in a store in nearby Burholme on the 7200 block of Tabor Ave., right off Cottman Ave. He doesn't recall the name of the store, but believes it was in or next to a bakery. Rich particularly enjoyed cast iron toys from Kenton Hardware
Company, the largest manufacturer of cast iron toys at the time. Kenton, based in Ohio, made work, transportation and circus toys. Ken says the first cast iron toy he ever bought was the Ice Wagon. "I was always fascinated with toys as a kid," he said. Ever since Ken moved to PPH and downsized, he doesn't collect as much, unless something stands out. "If something catches my eye or fancy, I ask myself if I have a place for it, how much do I want it, and if it is affordable. If the answer is yes to all three questions, I'll buy it," he explained. He says his collections reflect a style of living from the past.
Top, Ken Smith's cast iron toy collection. Above, Rich Graber's toy collection, which includes some cast iron toys. "It's nice to see what kids played with back 100-150 years ago," he said.
Flower Arranging
An 'Unforgettable' performance
A Pathways resident works on a beautiful flower arrangement. Flower arranging is a relaxing and highly beneficial activity for seniors that boosts morale, reduces anxiety, and improves manual dexterity.
The band Unforgettable performed at PPH on Dec. 28. Many residents watched on PPH TV as they sang songs from the 1950s and '60s.
Employee of the Month Ron Barras Please join us we congratulate Ron Barras, the newest member of the Human Resources Department on being named Employee of the Month! Although he has been with HR for a short time, he has embraced his duties with pride and excellence. He relates so well to the staff just as he did with our residents when he worked in the Business Office. He is truly making a difference and a welcome addition to Team HR.
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For employee of the month nominations, contact Daphne Floyd at 8015 or dfloyd@pphfamily. org.
PPH residents ring in the New Year!
Personal Care and Pathways held New Year's Eve parties to ring in 2022!
Fly Eagles Fly — PPH cheers on the Birds!
PPH residents and staff, including Pathways resident Ken Venuti and Mary Smith of the Medical Office showed their Eagles spirit leading up to the team's first-round playoff matchup. Unfortunately, the Eagles came up short, but it sure wasn't from a lack of support from the PPH community. Better luck next season!
Volunteer of the Month Nick Miniuk
For volunteer of the month nominations, contact Carol Cherrington at 8027 or ccherrington@ pphfamily.org.
Congratulations go out to Nick Miniuk, “Volunteer of the Month” for February 2022. He has done an excellent job in the short time he has been a community volunteer. Nick has proven to be a very proficient person in Human Resources and the Finance department. Whatever clerical project he is working on, Nick will give it his all. Thanks Nick, you are an asset to our volunteer program! (See the March issue for a photo of Nick)
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NEWS BRIEFS COVID-19 protocols for visitors: Guests are not permitted to eat in the Fountain Room. PPH residents having guests: please order take out and pick it up for your guests. Visitors are not permitted in public areas. PPH encourages everyone to get vaccinated, to continue to practice infection control precautions such as maintaining a healthy social distance, properly wearing a mask while visiting, to perform hand hygiene frequently while on our campus, and refrain from visiting if you feel sick or have been exposed to COVID-19. Reopening of venues: The following are tentatively scheduled to reopen or resume on Tuesday, Feb. 1 (barring any additional surges in COVID-19 cases at PPH): Scoops, Dining Room, Fountain Room, Beauty Salons, Billiards and Shuffleboard Room, Trips. Please continue to use caution by wearing a mask when outside your apartment when on campus (inside) at PPH. The Wellness Center (and pool) as well as the Crafts Room reopened on Jan. 24. Beauty Salons: A Feb. 1st reopening has been tentatively set, for the grand opening of PS Salons. PPH looks forward to the beginning of this partnership and the enhanced services that will be provided for our residents. PACE: Pennsylvania's prescription assistance programs for older adults, PACE and PACENET (Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly), offer low-cost prescription medication to qualified residents, age 65 and older. Yearly income must be below $27,500 (single) or $35,500 (married) to qualify. For more information, visit the PACE website pacecares. magellanhealth.com/or reach out to Social Services for assistance. Black History Month: See page 2. TED Talks: See the February calendar.
PPH Auxiliary: The Auxiliary's next meeting will be held on PPH TV channel 57, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 11:30 a.m. See channel 2 and the bulletin boards closer to this date for whether this meeting will be inperson in the Social Hall or channel 57 only. Membership in the PPH Auxiliary is open to PPH residents, staff, and community supporters (only $5 per year). Dating back to its origins as the PPH Ladies Aid Society in 1889, the Auxiliary continues its initiatives to support the heart of PPH's fundraising mission, Benevolent Care, as well as supporting staff/ resident gratitude activities. Contact Auxiliary President Patricia Coyne at cameo1200@gmail. com or 8403 to become a member or for more information. Independent Living Residents Association: The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. (If subject to COVID-19 restrictions, this will broadcast on channel 57) Tentative schedule: March - Monday, March 21, 2 p.m. April - Monday, April 18, 2 p.m. May - Monday, May 16, 2 p.m. Chatty Patty: Even Chatty Patty needs a quiet month every now and then! Chatty Patty — Patricia Coyne — will be taking a break in February and resuming in March: Thursdays, 11 a.m. on channel 7. Veterans' Meeting: The February meeting is cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, but we are moving forward with the PPH Veterans' Heroes project. We are collecting photos of veterans in uniform and a current picture to scan for the video. Please contact Bill Conaway (8194) or Valerie Williams (8006) to coordinate. Calling all Veterans: It is important to PPH that we identify all veterans living in our community. We want to make sure you are receiving the meeting notices, ceremonial invitations, and other veteran
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specific information. If you are new to the community and/or you have not completed the May 2021 veteran survey, please contact Bill Conaway (8194), Valerie Williams (8006) or Kathy Wersinger (8017) so we can add you to our list to ensure you receive all information and meeting notices. Voting 2022: The primary election is May 17, and we want to make sure all PPH residents can vote. Please contact Bill Conaway (ext.8194) or Valerie Williams (ext.8006) to confirm that you are either registered to receive a mail-in ballot application or that you have changed your address to a PPH address. If you have not registered to receive an application for a mail-in ballot, we will be working with you when the state of Pennsylvania opens the website. Food Collection: The PPH Food Drive — a 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service project — will continue indefinitely as long as PPH's neighbors are in need of food. Food will be collected the last week of the month and then delivered the first day of the following month. There will be two collection sites: the vending machines area located near the Wellness Center and in front of the Security desk. For more information, call Tom Sexton at 8368. Trips: Starting with the February trips, fees for trips will be added to each resident's monthly bill (NO CASH) If you'd like to cancel, you must call the Business Office (8010) to have the trip fee removed. Magee St.: The Magee St. gate now closes at 5 p.m. Closing time will go back to 8 p.m. as of April 1. REACH suggestions: If you have any content suggestions for REACH, please contact REACH editor and PPH Communications Specialist Mike Berman (call 8003, or email mberman@pphfamily.org).
Family Focus Giving back to PPH Director of Nursing Kyle Ozimkiewicz is one of many PPH employees who believes strongly in the community's values and mission and chooses to give back by participating in PPH's Employee Giving program. "I give back to PPH through the Employee Giving Program because it allows me to help in a way that is meaningful and responsible," Kyle explained. This program supports the services and activities that PPH strives to continually enhance, as well as Benevolent Care that helps fulfill PPH’s time-honored mission of providing a caring senior living community that affords its residents the opportunity to achieve Friends >> From Page 1
living in a small Pennsylvania coal town. “I was what they called a coal cracker,” she said. A young Marcella would walk four miles to her town's local swimming pool. Perhaps walking four miles, swimming, and then walking another four miles home is one of the many secrets that helped Marcella live to 102. But it wasn't just about the luxury of being an elevator ride and a short walk away from partaking in a longtime hobby that helped Marcella decide to make the move to PPH. A friend once told her, "You want to move [to a senior living community] while you’re capable of moving. You don’t want to wait until you’re sick and down and out.” She says that is some of the best advice she’s ever received, and now passes it along to others, including a couple of friends she says are con-
Director of Nursing Kyle Ozimkiewicz believes giving back to PPH is meaningful and responsible. their highest possible quality of life. Staff participation in the program means the world to PPH's residents and their family members and highlights that our staff supports PPH’s mission and core values. Every dollar — no matter the amount — makes an impact in the sidering a move to a senior living community, possibly PPH. Cecelia has three living adult children; Marcella has two nieces who live a few states away who she catches up with over the phone regularly. Both women spoke of how grateful they are for the friends they have at PPH, noting the importance of every day companionship. “Moving to a place like PPH is the best thing to do when you’re older, not to be alone. We enjoy dinner together — me, Marcella, Dee. Albie, and Claire. Dee is our coordinator.” Cecelia said, noting that her friend Dee helped her navigate PPH when she first moved in four years ago. Their fellow residents — in many cases one, two or even three decades younger — express adoration and admiration for the two centenarians. “Marcella is my role model. Her wisdom is a lesson to be learned,” Lee Wallack said. “When I grow up, I want to be just
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lives of the PPH family. A few dollars per paycheck goes a long way: $5 per paycheck totals $130; $20 per paycheck totals more than $500 annually and offers membership in the PPH Bergdoll Society. To express our gratitude for the generosity of those who decided to give back, every PPH team member who participates in the Employee Giving Program will be included in a drawing to win a day off with pay! If you are a PPH employee who has not yet enrolled, or would like to make a change to your existing gift designation or amount, please contact Director of Fund Development Deanna Keough (215-6978586 or development@pphfamily. org).
The koi fish gather as Marcella and Cecelia feed them some treats. like Sis,” Patricia Coyne said. And besides their companionship with others, Marcella and Cecelia have each other. “She always makes me feel good," Cecelia said. “‘You can do this, Sis, and you can do that,’ she always says.” “I’m so glad I know her,” Marcella said. "She’s terrific.” To learn more about Marcella and Cecelia, including their secrets to longevity and a happy, healthy life, visit our blog at pphfamily.org/blog.
Reflections
Agapé — God's love for humanity The message of Biblical faith condensed to one word would be “love.” It is the basis for all the commandments. The New Testament offers us a key for understanding God more clearly and for living in a more meaningful way, teaching us that the greatest spiritual gift is love! Nothing matters as much as loving. Love – using the Greek word Agapé—is more important than everything else put together. What is Agapé? It is the love God has for humanity, the love seen in Jesus, in Ghandi, in Martin Luther King, Jr., and in Mother Teresa: It is not so much a different kind of love, but human love raised to a divine
degree. It is how we love when God shows through us. It describes a way of loving in friendship, affection, or passion when God’s love flows through us, in contrast with how so much of our public and social media discourse is today. The choice to belittle or demean those who disagree with you is the very opposite of Agapé. Let us never condone that kind of discourse and behavior. Agapé love is how we will choose to relate to all the people in our lives when our choices are healthy. Agapé love is how God loves us and how we’re designed to love, how we’re designed to live. Agapé
Pastor Jack Price – PPH Director of Pastoral Ministries
is human love in its many expressions, multiplied by the factor of God and growing in the depths of our souls. The only chance our world has of becoming more than we have been before is to love our enemies as well as our friends. That can only happen when you and I take the chance and let our lives be defined by how well we love. Nothing else is more important. No other choice is more crucial. No other gift is more important. There are many ways we can live and many values we can espouse, but greater than any of them is love. May God bless you now and always.
In loving memory
Pathways held a Memorial on Dec 23 to celebrate the lives of Pathways residents who passed away from December 2020 to this December 2021. "A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered."
THE PPH MISSION Guided by Christian values, the mission of The Philadelphia Protestant Home is to provide a caring senior living community that affords its residents the opportunity to achieve their highest possible quality of life. 8