Winter 2010 • The Village at Brookwood
Connecting with Friends: An Easy Resolution to Keep Preserving the Poetic Tradition Residents’ Association Brings the Community Together
Message from the Executive Director
Here’s a Resolution That’s Easy to Keep
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At the beginning of the year, I am always struck by how many print articles, Internet articles and television news stories are devoted to New Year’s resolutions and how to stick to them. The media proclaims that people are full of good intentions in January, but by February most New Year’s resolutions are a dim memory. It’s tempting to just shrug off New Year’s resolutions because of the conventional wisdom that they will fail. But making these resolutions is important to overall health and well-being. According to researchers, the three most common Daniel L. Cuthriell resolutions are to lose weight, exercise regularly Executive Director and quit smoking. Other popular ones include reducing stress, spending more time with friends and family, volunteering to help others, learning new things, and traveling. While the top three receive much media attention this time of year, I would like to focus on another one: spending more time with friends and family. Every day researchers are finding out more about how social engagement, activities and support systems improve your physical and mental well-being (with the added benefit of reducing the likelihood of depression during these long winter months.) People tend to choose where they want to live based on the neighborhood or community that evokes positive feelings. This is especially true as individuals grow older — they appreciate amenities, but they know what truly helps you to be happy and enjoy life is social interaction and engagement with a community of friends. Dining together, learning from one another, traveling together, sharing common interests — all of these positive interactions contribute to a happier New Year and a longer, healthier life. This is a resolution that can be easy and enjoyable to keep! When I ask people why they like living in The Village at Brookwood, I used to expect answers like “the food is delectable,” “we love the spacious apartments,” or “we love the aerobics classes.” But the majority of the time, I am told:
“We love it here because we love the people — it is the most wonderful group of people you would ever want to meet.” As we move into the second decade of the millennium, I feel blessed to be part of such a supportive, enriching environment in a community of such wonderful people. Best wishes for a great 2010 and here’s to much success with your New Year’s resolutions! www.villageatbrookwood.org
The Village Welcomes New Board Members The Village at Brookwood welcomes new members to the Board of Directors, all of whom bring a wealth of diverse expertise and experience to our Board, as well as a commitment to the local Burlington community. Dr. Alan J. White, Retired Athletics Director of Elon University Dr. Barbara Tapscott, Retired Administrator with the Alamance-Burlington School System J. Ray Deal, Attorney specializing in estate planning and estate administration Jeffrey Blaser, Certified Financial Planner with RetireCare Solutions The new members join current members Dr. Jo Watts Williams, Chair; Don Bolden; Hellen Brennan; Rose Ann Gant; Ralph M. Holt, Jr.; F. D. Hornaday; Ed McCauley; and Shawn Smith.
Looking Ahead
Will 2010 be the year you put your life plan in place? Call to find out how we can help! (800)-282-2053 or (336) 570-8440.
RESI D E N T S P O T L IGH T
Shining Light on the Art of Poetry
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Poetry, the art form used by ancient and prehistoric civilizations to tell stories and record events, is the least popular literary genre today, according to Bud Crampton. “I think it is a crying shame, and I do what I can No hearth adorned her to try and generate interest in a spaces nor rosebush climbing high dying art.” But sunset glows in lonely coves Crampton has published his were roses in the sky... own book of poetry called “Roses Excerpted from “We Lived the Dream,” a poem by George “Bud” Crampton in the Sky,” named from a line in Crampton’s poem “We Lived the Dream,” which describes life on a boat. “The book originated with my desire to leave something permanent for my descendants to remember me by,” he explains. “Some poems are based on actual experiences, but many are merely figments of my imagination and dreaming up different adventures. My preferred subjects are boating and the sea.” Originally from Moline, Illinois, Crampton attributes his early interest in language arts to a high school English teacher. In 1953, he married the “love of his life,” Barbara, and they lived in Rock Island County, Illinois, where he practiced law for many years. He began writing poems shortly after his retirement. “I have always been interested in the rhyming poems of Robert W. Service, Rudyard Kipling, and other poets writing robust tales of adventure,” he says. “But I did not begin my own writing until one beautiful morning while watching the sun come up over an island.” Crampton joined the Pamlico Writers’ Group in Washington, N.C., a small town located on the Pamlico River. “The group met every other week and inspired me to write a poem to read at each meeting,” he says. His preferred genre centered around “rhyme, meter, alliteration, and whatever sounds good to my ear.” Crampton and his wife have four sons, eight grandchildren, one step-grandchild and one great step-grandchild. They moved to The Village at Brookwood in 2005 and quickly settled in as busy members of the community, which didn’t leave him much time to write. “I became involved with the Residents’ Association, and I moved on to other things,” he says. Luckily for us, he has preserved his past adventures, imagination and creativity in the longstanding poetic tradition.
“Roses in the Sky” is available in The Village Library. It can also be purchased, through www. authorhouse.com, and by special order via Barnes & Noble and other bookstores.
N O T E W OR T H Y
Environmental Services Scores 100% (Twice)
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One of the most beneficial aspects of residing in a Continuing Care Retirement Community is that you have time for many enjoyable pursuits because the more mundane tasks, such as cleaning, are done for you. And you would be hard pressed to find a cleaner community than The Village at Brookwood, which has scored back-to-back 100 percent ratings during its biannual inspections from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Environmental Health. “I have been in this business for 22 years, but this is the first time I have managed a housekeeping department that scored 100 percent on the state health inspection, much less twice in a row,” says James Pettaway, director of Environmental Services. “That is a major accomplishment — I was very proud, and the staff was very excited.” Pettaway manages a staff of 14 housekeepers and three team leaders who are responsible for weekly cleanings in all the independent living homes, and daily cleanings in Edgewood Place (skilled nursing) and Heritage Place (assisted living). “We clean restrooms, dust, spot clean, sweep, vacuum, sanitize hard surface floors and surfaces, empty trash, wash linens and make beds,” Pettaway explains. Environmental Services is always working toward improved quality assurance. Each employee has a checklist, and the team leaders and Pettaway make spot checks at the end of the day. “We also meet with our employees monthly for round table discussions so they have the opportunity to contribute feedback,” Pettaway says. “I think what’s different about The Village are the attitudes — everyone cares about making our community the best — and the cleanest — it can be.”
Meet the Officers FEA T URE
Dr. Wally Snyder, President Dr. Snyder is a transplanted Virginian who has lived most of his life in North Carolina. A retired minister, he spent 20 years as a pastor and 30 years as the CEO of Elon Homes for Children. After his wife passed away, Dr. Snyder moved to The Village at Brookwood in September of 2003. “I got involved in the Residents’ Association very quickly through the property committee,” he says. “I have been president for two years, and I’ve had a great time. It’s a great joy to work with everybody — there’s a comradeship of the people, friendliness. We have our differences of opinion, but that doesn’t last. We come to a conclusion and move on.”
Andy Davison, Vice President Davison and his wife grew up in Elizabeth, N.J., where he spent 35 years in marketing, management and sales for the steel industry. When he retired, they left New Jersey “because New Jersey has too many people per square inch,” and moved to Durham to benefit their youngest son with the area’s educational and vocational opportunities. After spending 15 years in Durham, the couple moved to The Village in 2003. Davison served on the Finance Committee for four years and became Vice President last April; however, the Residents’ Association is not the only way he has served the community. “One of the first projects I undertook was showing movies on the second and fourth Friday nights in The Gathering Place,” Davison explains. In addition, as an aficionado of jazz and swing music with a large collection of records from the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s, he has led seven very entertaining programs for the enjoyment of the residents. “The people here are marvelous,” he says. “We have an array of people who are just the finest people you would ever want to meet.”
Bob Murray, Treasurer Originally from Davenport, Iowa, Murray lived much of his life in Rochester, N.Y., where he worked for Eastman Kodak for almost 40
Bringing the Community Together Th e Village Residen ts’ Associati on
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Whatever your preference during retirement — whether it’s relaxing in your rocker or raring to go — The Village at Brookwood offers a multitude of opportunities to fit your lifestyle. For many of those who desire to remain active and involved in their community, the Residents’ Association is an area in which their involvement is welcomed with open arms. “The purpose of the Residents’ Association is to improve the quality of life of the residents,” explains Bob Murray, treasurer. “It also interfaces with the management of The Village to facilitate communication between management and community members.” The Residents’ Association was started within a year after the first residents started moving into The Village during July of 2003 with its first major initiative being the installation of the flagpole, according to Dr. Wally Snyder, president.
Getting Involved The Residents’ Association and Residents’ Council include nine standing committees: Care and Concern, Dining, Finance, Health and Wellness, Life Enrichment, Nominating, Property, Library and Village Shoppe. The Library is run by the Residents’ Association and provides reading materials for the residents, as well as donating books to other libraries and organizations. “We have people who move in and donate their entire collection of books,” says Andy Davison, vice president of the association. “It’s a major operation, as is the Village Shoppe.” The Residents’ Association runs the Village Shoppe and holds annual events such as the Fashion Show and Brunswick Stew sale. “These are all opportunities for residents to become involved and work together on a project,” Murray says. Another standing committee, Care and Concern, has focused its efforts on being of assistance to residents who live in the assisted living and skilled nursing areas of The Village. “They go and visit them and bring them little gifts at Christmastime,” Davison explains.
FEA T URE
Bringing People Together An important aspect of the Residents’ Association is its involvement in bringing the community together for social events; for example, community members — especially the avid basketball fans — love to gear up for March Madness. “If Duke and Carolina are playing, it becomes highly enjoyable!” Davison says. One of the association’s newest initiatives is a shuffleboard court, which is a current work in progress. “We had three individuals so interested that they put up a sizable amount of money to do it,” says Dr. Snyder. “I am so impressed with the generosity and willingness of people to do for others. It really tells you something about the people here — that they will do when they are able to do.” A pool table, ping-pong table and dartboard are at the top of the association’s wish list, all of which are projects that act as a means to bring Village members together. “About half of the community members are very closely bound to Alamance County and the Burlington area, and about half are from out of the area, many from New York and the Midwest,” says Larry Osius, secretary. “It’s a very diverse group from a lot of different geographic and political and economic backgrounds with different ideas and different ways of doing things. Many people who come here may not know anyone else in the community, and the association creates gatherings and interactions so they can meet and socialize and find common interests.” The four officers of The Residents’ Association are excellent examples of that kind of common interest. They are from all different professions and parts of the country (see sidebar), but they all share the trait of being active, involved citizens. “All of us have been involved in organizations either civically or professionally, and we have continued that well into retirement,” Osius says. “To me it’s amazing that we have accomplished what we have in the relatively short amount of time that we have been here,” Osius continues. “And I think that speaks to the quality of the people who live here.” The officers of the Residents’ Association at The Village are ready to welcome new members who are interested in staying active and involved in their community. Says Murray, “We’re waiting for you!”
Residents’ Association officers have come together from different areas and backgrounds to serve The Village community. Standing: Andy Davison and Larry Osius. Seated: Dr. Wally Snyder and Bob Murray.
years. As a vice president at Kodak, “it was traditional that if you were in a responsible position with the Kodak company, you were active on the school board, the hospital board, the United Way and so on,” Murray says. “That was a way of life.” Murray lived in South Carolina and Florida and was active in both communities. When he had both hips replaced in Florida and had to spend an extended amount of time in the hospital, he found out how much of an inconvenience it was to be in a hospital more than 20 miles away from his home, particularly when his wife had to drive so far to visit him. They chose to move to The Village as a Continuing Care Retirement Community. “We had a vacation home in Southern Pines back in the late ‘70s, so we were familiar with the area, and I’ve long been a Duke basketball fan. We knew the sorts of educational and health care opportunities that were here, so that, and the fact that a mile and half down the road was a Donald Ross designed golf course, led my wife and me here.”
Larry Osius, Secretary Osius, who is also editor of the monthly members’ newsletter called The Village Voice, has lived with his wife in a garden home at The Village since November of 2003. Originally from Michigan, he has lived in Oklahoma, New York City, outside of Washington, D.C. — where he was editor and publisher of a national electrical contracting industry publication — and South Carolina where he and his wife had retired to the Myrtle Beach area. With family who live in Burlington, they found out about The Village when they were babysitting for their grandson and drove by the community when it was under construction. “We were going through a situation with two friends in the Myrtle Beach area who were ill, and we saw what was going on with their children having to traipse down from up north, and we didn’t want that to happen to our children,” Osius says. “We like knowing that if something goes wrong for either me or my wife, we have access to care right here on campus.”
AROU N D T HE V I L L AGE
Holiday Festivities Warmed Up The Village
V Village photographers documented their travels, including an afternoon spent relaxing together, the Yorktown aircraft carrier, the architecture of Charleston, and the history of Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach, N.C.
Village Residents on the Go
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Fourteen of The Village at Brookwood’s residents headed south to the historic coastal city of Charleston, S.C., during November. Along with enjoying excellent low-country dining, the group took a historical walking tour of the Battery, enjoyed horse-drawn carriage tours of the city, shopped, visited the Yorktown aircraft carrier and submarine, and ferried over to Fort Sumter where the first shot of the Civil War was fired. In addition, the group traveled to James Island for the Festival of Lights, a fabulous display with much animation, and visited The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina before returning home. In September, residents also traveled to historic towns on the coast of North Carolina: Beaufort and New Bern. They stayed at the Inlet Inn in Beaufort for two nights and explored the Maritime Museum (learning much about the infamous pirate Blackbeard), the North Carolina Aquarium and Fort Macon State Park. In addition, the group enjoyed dinner at the wellknown Sanitary Fish Market and Restaurant, and took a sunset cruise along the shores of Beaufort and Morehead City. Before journeying home, the group also visited New Bern, with some residents touring Tryon Palace and others taking a trolley tour that stopped at Cedar Grove Cemetery, New Bern Academy and Christ Episcopal Church.
Village residents enjoyed a scrumptious Christmas banquet featuring salmon, beef tenderloin, shrimp and roasted pork on December 16 as they were entertained by Elon University’s Dickens carolers, sponsored by MidCarolina Bank, and a visit from Santa Claus himself. After the dinner, a local band entertained the group with Christmas music and memory lane songs. At the New Year’s Eve party, community members ate, drank, mingled and held an enjoyable Chinese Gift Exchange with champagne toasts to ring in the New Year. Above: One of 471 Chrismon ornaments, hand made by Village resident Nina Holladay, which graced the Christmas tree in The Village Square during the holidays.
Fashion Alert! The Village at Brookwood Fashion Show, sponsored by Dillard’s department store, will be held March 9. The Residents’ Association has planned a luncheon to raise money for special projects. Don’t miss the fun! Call (336) 570-8400 for more information.
HEA L T H N O T ES
It’s Time to Love Your Heart
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February is American Heart Month and an excellent time to remind everyone to be proactive about loving and protecting their heart and their health. Assess Your Risk — Because The Village at Brookwood has an on-site Health Clinic, we can help you assess your risk for heart disease by checking blood pressure and cholesterol. High blood pressure increases your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. High levels of cholesterol in the blood — produced by the liver from saturated fats — can lead to fatty deposits in your coronary arteries that increase your risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and diseases that affect the circulation. Don’t Smoke — If a person smokes, the single most important thing he or she can do to live longer is to stop. Smokers are twice as likely as non-smokers to have a heart attack, but the minute they quit, the risk of heart attack starts to decrease. Watch Your Diet — Living at The Village means you always have access to chef-prepared meals and a balanced diet containing plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, and whole grain breads and pastas. We make it easy to stay away from processed foods and reduce your salt, fat and sugar intake. Monitor Alcohol — Too much alcohol can damage the heart muscle, increase blood pressure and also lead to weight gain. Limit your intake to one or two drinks a day.
If you have a question about symptoms or how to live a heart healthy lifestyle, visit Jessica Wright, RN, the on-site health clinic nurse at The Village at Brookwood.
The Village at Brookwood 1860 Brookwood Avenue Burlington, NC 27215-9924
PERMIT NO. 95605
POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE
Recognize the Early Signs of Heart Disease — If you feel tightness or discomfort in the chest, neck, arm or stomach that occurs when you exert yourself but goes away with rest, that may be the first sign of angina, which can lead to a heart attack if left untreated.
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Manage Your Stress — Living at The Village allows you to relax and take advantage of recreational and social opportunities that can help you live longer.
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Manage Your Weight — Carrying a lot of extra weight increases your risk for coronary disease and diabetes. If you are overweight or obese, try to reduce your weight starting with small, healthy changes to what you eat and increasing your activity level.
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Keep Moving — Your heart is a muscle that needs exercise to stay fit and pump efficiently. The Village offers many opportunities to get exercise — from walking around the beautiful grounds to aerobics classes to water exercise classes such as “Cardio Splash” in the Wellness Center’s heated saltwater pool.
Choices Community Comfort Convenience 1860 Brookwood Avenue Burlington, NC 27215
(800) 282-2053 www.villageatbrookwood.org
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We’re Going on the Road Again! The Village at Brookwood may be coming to a city near you this year, bringing community members and staff to give you a personal account of the benefits of life at The Village. Call us today at (800) 282-2053 to make your reservation.
PINEHURST February 10 • 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Holly Inn at Pinehurst Resort
CHAPEL HILL March 24 • 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Siena Hotel
FEARRINGTON VILLAGE March - date and times to be determined; call for details
NORTHERN VIRGINIA April - date and times to be determined; call for details