Newton Community Matters – February 2023

An education in love: The Arlee and JoAnn Johnson story

Arlee and JoAnn Johnson met in the first grade when the teacher directed Arlee to sit in the desk behind the girl with the pigtails. Given that the school was small, from that point on they were in the same class every year until they graduated from Corn High School in western Oklahoma. Following graduation, they both commuted to Southwestern State College and majored in speech. This meant that they continued to see each other in class on a regular basis, but it wasn’t until their second year of college that they began dating seriously.

They were married on January 15, 1966.

During their 57 years of marriage, they moved about the country working first as teachers and then serving in pastoral ministry in various locations throughout North America. They have three children who are married, three grandchildren and one great granddaughter. u

Gerald “Chris” Christensen, showing the “LOVE” to staff

The holidays may seem like long ago by now, but we have to acknowledge assisted living resident Gerald “Chris” Christensen.

To help celebrate the holidays and show his appreciation for the care he receives throughout the year, Chris handcrafted Christmas ornaments for each member of the assisted living staff. Chris also handcrafted 27 total of "The Lord's Prayer" hangings (seen behind him in the photo above) gifting most to family and friends and selling three.

Thank you, Chris, for your kindness and sharing your holiday cheer with us, we appreciate you! u

Arlee and JoAnn Johnson wedding

Arlee and JoAnn Johnson

Getting to know Newton Presbyterian Manor’s new marketing and sales director

Hello, my name is Toni Gibson and on December 1 I became Newton Presbyterian Manor’s new marketing and sales director.

I was born and raised in Fort Scott, Kansas where I played many sports growing up, but dance was my passion. I was on the dance team all four years of high school and my first two years of college. I attended Pittsburg State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work. I spent the last 10 years of my career with the State of Kansas/Department of Commerce.

I am married and have a 12-year-old daughter named Ella who is a complete daddy’s girl. My husband and Ella participate in a very fun and challenging artistic sport together called Aerial Silks. My husband is working on his certification and currently teaches classes in his spare time. We have two dogs, a female pit bull and a male silky terrier. Our pit bull is super sweet and docile, but our silky thinks he is “large and in charge.” My daughter has two guinea pigs named Sammy and Rover. We moved to Newton in August 2019 after my husband accepted a full-time job with KBX Rail in Wichita. I was hired for the administrative assistant position here at the Manor in December of

2019. The front desk taught me new and valuable skills that I know helped me earn the director position. Since then, I have never looked back and truly love working here.

The residents make me smile every day as they are full of joy and spirit. I especially enjoy hearing their stories about family, past jobs and just life in general. It has been such a pleasure getting to know them. I feel honored to serve them daily and do whatever I can to support them. I am looking forward to diving into this new position and can’t wait to

Toni Gibson

see what new adventures are waiting for me here at the Manor! u

Bravo of the Month: Tim Clark

Resident Eleanore Myers would like to recognize Tim Clark from the life enrichment staff for all of his hard work and dedication during the community’s recent Hearts for Him program. With the help of a few residents and staff members, Tim coordinated getting more than 50 residents to the community dining room and coffee shop before

Time Clark

the 6:30 p.m. event. Once the program was over, Tim then made sure that everyone got back to their residences safely and that the tables and chairs in the dining room were moved back in and ready to go for the next day.

“He went the second mile to make sure everyone who wanted to come was there and see and hear well,” said Eleanore.

“Thank you, Tim for a great job done!” u

marketing and sales

Community holds dedication ceremony to celebrate recent renovations

Newton Presbyterian Manor celebrated the latest renovations on our campus recently. The December dedication ceremony honored the donors who contributed to the renovations of our new salon and deck off the main dining room.

Sarah Oenning, vice president, department of giving and Regional Director Operations Courtney Wolfe where on hand to deliver beautiful and moving speeches while assisted living resident Delila Wedel shared her own stories. Her salon experiences during the remodel ended up filling the room with laughter. For refreshments, Sarah Juel,

dining services director, created a lovely hot cocoa bar for all to enjoy while those in attendance listened to Christmas songs performed by a duo of violinists.

Thanks to the many PMMA staff who put this ceremony together and

thank you so very much to all of the donors who helped make the renovations happen. We couldn’t have done it without you! Your generosity means the world to us. We will enjoy the new deck and salon for many years to come. u

1200 E. Seventh Newton, KS 67114-2820

Newton Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless® call for entries underway

Senior artists in the Newton area are invited to participate in Newton Presbyterian Manor’s annual Art is Ageless® exhibit and juried art competition March 9 – 24.

Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the Art is Ageless calendar in 2024.

Entries will be accepted at Newton Presbyterian Manor until 5 p.m. on March 2.

Artists compete in nine categories, including painting, drawing, photography, quilting and sculpture and may be designated as amateur or professional. The complete rules and category listings are found online at www.ArtIsAgeless.org. Local competition winners will join winners from 14 other PMMA® communities to be judged at the systemwide level.

Artists may choose to enter the exhibit only. For the competition, works are to have been completed in the

past five years (since January 2018).

Newton Presbyterian Manor plans to host an exhibit and reception in person for artists, residents and their guests. The exhibit will take place from March 9 – 24 along the west link by the Garden Apartments. The reception will take place at 2:30 p.m. on March 9 in the main dining room. Please RSVP to Toni Gibson at 316-283-5400.

The Art is Ageless® program encourages Newton Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year. Newton Presbyterian Manor is a PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®) community.

Entry forms and information can be obtained by contacting Toni Gibson at 316-283-5400 or togibson@pmma.org, or accessed online at ArtIsAgeless.org. u