Lena Community Park District 609 N. Schuyler St. • Lena
Serving the communities in Stephenson County
Shopper’s Guide
VOL. 78 • NO. 27
Annual
Catfish Tournament Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 6:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Launch from McNeil’s Damascus Landing 4998 W. Cedarville Rd., Lena, IL
Trophies and Prizes Awarded For more information call the LCPD at 815-369-5351 or 815-990-0146
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 2016
Lena Living Center celebrates Independence Day with a traditional family picnic By Tony Carton EDITOR
Tricking out a bike with flag-inspired frills is a long-standing Fourth of July tradition, but this year the Lena Living Center put a new spin on that practice and the residents started their holiday celebrations with a wheelchair parade. “We are celebrating the Fourth of July with our residents,” said Lena Living Center Activity Director Patti Earnst. “We’ve decorated all our parade participants’ chairs and we are having a Wheelchair Parade. We are also going to have a cookout for lunch with brats and all the usual goodies that folks traditionally share at a family Fourth of July picnic.” In addition, there was a full afternoon schedule of employee games and lots of ice cream. “The Fourth of July was always big to our residents,” said Earnst. “They had big picnics and family reunions and get-togethers because you didn’t go out so much like now days where we go out and spend money and this and that. They didn’t do all that. They had family picnics and so today’s return to picnicking and celebrating on the Fourth is important for all of us.” And, she noted, there is always the true meaning behind the Fourth of July celebrations. “Independence Day and what it stands for is important to our residents.” Earnst said.
The Lena Living Center is a licensed Medicare, Medicaid, Skilled Care, Long Term Care facility providing 24-hour professional nursing services. Living Center Director of Business Development Dee Kuhlemeier said the residents spend the majority of their time inside, but for the celebration, the staff took them outside, staged a parade with them, and hosted a family picnic. “They’ve all celebrated Independence Day for years and it’s important for their families to come together and continue their traditions of celebration,” Kuhlemeier said. She said family togetherness was the focus of the day’s celebrations. “We feel like giving back to our residents and their families because with all the changes and faces underway at the Living Center,” Kuhlemeier said. “We want them to feel we are continuing a family atmosphere that is so important to the whole care process. Back in the day, families sat around and celebrated the Fourth with a big picnic and had ice cream as an extra treat. We want our residents and their families to feel that sense of togetherness here today.” Marilyn Staub and her sister Joan Yeakle came to visit her mom Bertha Prasse, perhaps best known as “Bert” who has crossed the 100-year
See PICNIC, Page 15
Masonic Temple offers Cantigny Park bus trip
TRACY SIEGNER PHOTO THE SHOPPER’S GUIDE
The Masonic Temple will host an open to the public bus trip to Cantigny Warren Mayor Wayne Raisbeck served as Grand Marshall and led his troops with a lively step during the Park, Wheaton, IL on Saturday, July 16, at 8 a.m. Participants will leave from Wheelchair Parade celebrating Independence Day at the Lena Living Center. the Freeport Masonic Temple. Cost is $20 per person. The tour features a visit to the U.S. Army First Division Museum plus the Cantigny mansion and gardens. For reservations or more information please call the Freeport Masonic SEE US FOR THE BEST FINISH IN THE BUSINESS! Temple at 815-233-0513, or Dennis Bussian at 815-238-2312. Learn more about the museum, mansion and gardens online at www.Cana Free Estimates tigny.org. a Certified Technicians
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