Willow - Fall/Winter 2016

Fall/Winter 2016 2015

A WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES PUBLICATION

Finding Your Center Mind, Body, Spirit

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The Inside Story

At Willow Valley Communities, we believe that innovation and continuous renewal are a big part of what makes our communities special.

Just as we seek to provide opportunities for Life Lived Forward for all our residents, we also embrace that philosophy as an organization. Commitment to ongoing revitalization and growth is part of our DNA, and, at any given time, that commitment is evidenced throughout our two campuses.

This issue of Willow focuses on some current examples of our Life Lived Forward approach. On the Manor Campus, The Vistas, the new addition to Providence Park, moves closer every day to welcoming the people who will bring it to life. The North Community has just undergone a magnificent transformation. And on the Lakes Campus, the Theater Level of our beautiful Cultural Center gets a whole new look.

Fall/Winter 2016

We focus on keeping our environments vibrant to honor and support the vibrancy of our residents and the team members who serve them. Our constant goal is to make Willow Valley Communities an energizing and beautiful place to live and work.

Kind regards,

John G. Swanson President, Willow Valley Living

Contents

Willow is a publication of Willow Valley Communities

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Headlines

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Making it Your Own

“A� Rating Issued by Fitch Ratings Willow Valley Receives National Recognition for Excellence

Design Details

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Out & About Art: Liz Hess Gallery

Reaching Our Community & Beyond

The Willow Way of Life Ukuleles Transcending the Generations

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Innovation & Growth Hard Hats and Welcome Mats

Aiding Fellow Craftsman across the Globe

Cultured Elegance, Timeless Enchantment

Cuisine: Barberet Bistro & Bakery Shopping: Building Character

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Perspective Pastor, Teacher, Author, Leader, Husband, and Father

10 Finding Your Center Mind, Body, Spirit

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Feed the Soul The All-New North Community

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Headlines “A” Rating Issued by Fitch Ratings Leading provider of credit ratings attests to Willow Valley’s excellent financial strength and performance Willow Valley Communities was excited to announce earlier this year that it received a coveted “A” rating with a Stable Rating Outlook from Fitch Ratings, a leading provider of credit ratings, commentary and research.

Fitch Ratings, based out of New York City and London, is the predominant rating agency in the senior living sector.

In addition to serving as a tool for investors, in senior living communities the ratings communicate overall financial health to the residents who live at Willow Valley as well as to prospective residents as they assess a particular organization’s strength.

Dan Hermann, Senior Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking for Ziegler, a leading national investment bank and full service brokerage firm affirmed the announcement. “The ‘A’ rating from Fitch for Willow Valley Communities puts the organization in an elite category of high-class, high-quality senior living organizations,” said Mr. Hermann. “It reinforces that the organization’s commitment to service excellence, wellness and successful aging is done within a solid operational and financial framework. We commend Willow Valley Communities for this notable designation.”

National Recognition for Excellence Willow Valley Communities was doubly honored at the 2015 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Awards : The Clubhouse won in the category of Best 55+ Outdoor Lifestyle Amenity, and Local Table, Willow Valley Communities’ artisanal farm-to-table restaurant and bar, won the Best 55+ Dining or Café Experience.

NAHB is a trade association of 140,000 members in all aspects of the building industry that helps promote the policies that make housing a national priority. The NAHB 55+ Housing Council is the voice of the 55+ senior housing industry and a leading source of information and research

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on the active adult, independent living, service-enriched, and assisted-living markets. For the Best of 55 + Housing Awards, judges were challenged to review entries and determine which projects stood out in each category.

John Swanson, President of Willow Valley Living, the management and development company for Willow Valley Communities, was excited by the news. “We work to infuse everything we create with innovation and excellence,” he said. “We are honored to have been recognized with these NAHB awards.”

Out & About

Barberet Bistro & Bakery

cuisine

Barberet Bistro & Bakery is located in the heart of downtown Lancaster, but it will quickly transport you to the chic patisseries of Paris with its modern take on classically delicious desserts.

art

Liz Hess Gallery

Liz Hess is a well-known local artist located in the heart of Gallery Row on North Prince Street in downtown Lancaster. Annual trips in the United States and abroad continue to serve as her inspiration and one of her most popular collections is the Red Umbrella series, first created during one of those trips. Once a year, Liz travels abroad to spend several weeks painting on location. Trying to capture on canvas such beautiful locations as the old world charm of Tuscany, the canals of Venice, the lavender fields of Provence, or the brooding sea and landscapes of Ireland has proven to be invaluable in stretching Liz’s artistic imagination.

140 N Prince St., Lancaster, PA 717.390.7222 • lizhess.com

Recently named in the 2016 Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America by Dessert Professional magazine, Chef Barberet continues to receive recognition for his culinary expertise. “It is rewarding to see that even from a small town like Lancaster you still can be recognized for the dedication you put into it every single day. It is a dream come true and the reward is to see the smiles on the faces of [my customers].”

26 E King St., Lancaster, PA 717.690.2354 • 26eastlancaster.com

Building Character Building Character is a feast for the senses: a marketplace of vintage, recycled and handmade treasures.

This eclectic collection of 50+ shops in 10,000 square feet of historic warehouses is located in the heart of Downtown Lancaster’s premier shopping destinations in the 300 block of North Queen Street.

Building Character is a place where shoppers can spend hours perusing clothing, metalcraft, jewelry, vintage home furnishings and collectables, handmade furniture, handcrafted soaps, original art, antiques, wooden accessories, pottery, leatherwork, handmade greeting cards and more by local craftspeople, most of whom employ green practices and recycling methods to create their inventory. And it’s all in a relaxed, “come explore me” atmosphere.

It’s a must-see destination for visitors and locals alike – and no two visits to Building Character are ever the same.

342 North Queen St., Rear Warehouses, Lancaster, PA 717.394.7201 • buildingcharacter.biz

shopping

Liz sells her works through her gallery and online. Services include private commissions of any subject such as portraits and houses.

Owner, operator and chef Cedric Barberet has over 25 years of professional pastry experience as well as a Master’s Degree in Pastry from Patisserie Chereau in France.

Chef Barberet’s love for pastry creation started at Patisserie Barberet, his family’s bakery in Ville franche-sur-Saône, France.

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Design Details

Sally Gross has always had a love affair with early American history. She loves the time period, the furniture, the style and the stories. “So many wonderful things were happening in our country at that time,” she says. “We are a nation of immigrants.”

Sally is proud of the story of her own grandmother, who as a young mother brought her four small children, including Sally’s mother, from Norway on a ship to America. Sally said her grandmother tied a rope to each child to keep track of them during the journey. The family eventually made their way out west and settled on a homestead in South Dakota.

When Sally became an adult she found herself decorating her homes in that Early American style. She and her husband John moved around a lot because of his career as an Aeronautics Engineer for NASA. Sally was always able to incorporate the early American style that she loved using the pieces she had collected: spare furnishings, primitive accents, and plain, classic furniture. Rustic tables, trunks, and Windsor or ladderback chairs and simple accessories: a handful of wildflowers in a crockery pitcher, a pierced-tin lantern or two, a linen runner, a basket filled with balls of yarn and lots of primitive dolls. She painted the homes in natural colors using the classic colonial palette: mustard and golden yellows, deep wine reds, grayish blues, warm and somber linen whites with undertones of brown or black.

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The Gross family eventually settled in a circa-1740 old stone farmhouse in Chester County, Pennsylvania –Sally’s dream home. But after 30 years, Sally and John began to contemplate downsizing – and they wanted to do that without sacrificing her unique style. Sally explains what she did next: “I made a list of what I had to have. I knew I still would want to entertain my family, play my piano, have a formal and informal place to spend time, use my antiques, cook and re-create the atmosphere of my old home in my new home.”

Sally and John also also wanted to move to a place that offered her world-class amenities, stability, security and the freedom to concentrate on the things that bring them joy. After an extensive search, they eventually settled on an apartment in Spring Run in Willow Valley Communities.

In addition to their lovely apartment and all the amenities Willow Valley has to offer, they have the added peace of

Sally & John Gross

Making It

YourOwn

mind of Lifecare. Lifecare includes short- and long-term care at no additional cost, should it ever be needed. This element was very important to the Grosses in their search.

Sally went to work as soon as she moved in and was thrilled that she was supported by Willow Valley Communities to make her apartment her own with her paint choices and décor. “I was able to make it what I wanted it to be.”

Making their home their own was also important to Bruce and Sandy Sahler. In 2002 the Sahlers moved to a 2,500-square-foot custom-built log home in Vermont. It was on seven acres and had one full wall of windows. They loved skiing, the crystal clear nights, the rural atmosphere.

It was heaven. Sandy decorated the home herself using Shaker décor – natural pieces made from beautiful wood with simple lines. She also used a number of items made by her father.

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Design Details

Making It

YourOwn

Sandy & Bruce Sahler

The Sahlers lived in Vermont for 14 years, and as idyllic as their home sounds, they never planned to stay there permanently. Their sons and their families were in New York and New Jersey, and with busy grandchildren’s schedules, visits were a challenge. Also the Sahlers were ready to downsize to a place that offered them more peace of mind for their future.

After much research they settled on Willow Valley Communities. They loved the amenities and all that Willow Valley had to offer. Though the nearby skiing opportunities were more cross-country than downhill, they found Lancaster had its own crystal clear nights and a unique combination of rural beauty and small-city sophistication.

Still, the Sahlers wondered how they could make their apartment their own.

The first step was a meeting with Danette Betancourt of Willow Valley’s Design Center. Danette first provided the couple with floor plans that they could work with in order to determine how their current furniture would fit in the new apartment. Danette also advised them on paint color and other enhancements to help continue the Shaker style throughout. They remodeled the fireplace and repainted it; the finished product absolutely thrilled Sandy.

But perhaps the most dramatic change the Sahlers made to their apartment was with flooring. They were able to match the wood flooring they had loved in their log home.

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It complemented their décor perfectly in their new home as it had in Vermont and created a familiar environment right away.

Bruce and Sandy Sahler love their new apartment in the Spring Run Community, and they love to show it off to family and friends. And they love telling the story of how they made it their own.

No matter what design style you hope to achieve or the look and feel you want in your home, Willow Valley Communities offers all the style options, designs, floor plans, custom materials, and professional assistance to “Make it Your Own.”

Danette Betancourt, Director of Willow Valley’s Design Center says that in addition to the Colonial and Shaker styles the Gross’ and Sahlers embraced, almost any design, style, or dream can be realized at Willow Valley.

Through choices of colors, finishes, flooring, and furniture placement, residents can choose options to suit their individual tastes and styles all from one location at the Design Center.

For example, today’s contemporary design is another popular option that is ever-changing and encompasses varying styles. The Design Studio offers many different elements to achieve modern looks in color, metal accents, texture, wood tone, window treatments, cabinets, countertops, lighting and more. Even custom millwork such as bookcases, columns, and special moldings can be added for a distinctive touch. Finishes such as stainless steel, brushed nickel, polished chrome, and granite. Neutral colors like brown, taupe, cream or pure white. With a wide range of woods, finishes, designs, and stains to choose from, a unique flooring design is easily created, as well. All with smooth, clean lines without adornment or ornamentation, which reflects today’s modern contemporary design and all to enhance the high-quality construction and the smart layout of an apartment, townhome or villa at Willow Valley.

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Reaching Our Community & Beyond

AIDING FELLOW CRAFTSMAN across Jim Von Stetton remembers he was planning on a simple “show and tell” presentation – but it turned into so much more. Recently back from Africa on a church missionary trip, Jim was just going to show some of the lovely wood pieces he had purchased during his time there to the Willow Valley Communities Carving Club. Jim’s father, Wayne Von Stetton, a member of the Carving Club, had fostered an appreciation for the craft in Jim from the time he was a child.

The hobby was something they enjoyed together for many years. Father and son knew the other club members would also be interested in seeing the exquisite craftsmanship produced by artisans so far away.

During his presentation, Jim explained how, throughout his travels in Africa, he had seen men in the village markets and along the side of the road selling intricate carved wooden pieces. The artwork was magnificent, and they were priced at pennies on the dollar of what such carvings would be worth in America.

Jim felt compelled to purchase them.

Having grown up with the art, Jim knew

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Wayne Von Stetton and Dick Gutter, Members of the Willow Valley Communities Carving Club

the Globe personally when he saw these pieces being sold along the dirt roads of Africa what incredible talent it took to create them.

Jim also spoke to the club members about what he learned in Africa about the wood carvers: that the craft is passed down generation to generation – father teaching son, and so on – and that each village seemed to have its own artistic style. The pieces were made from different kinds of wood, whatever the men could find in the forest. Some were even made from ebony, an extraordinarily hard wood.

“The men who create the carvings sell the art as a way to support their large families,” Jim explained. “I was moved to pay far more than what they were asking—not out of a sense of charity, but because the pieces were worth far more than what the men were asking.” The admiration for the work only grew among the club members as Jim shared the implements used to create such beauty. “They used only very primitive tools – like a dull pocket

knife, or an old, discarded restaurant knife.”

The members of the Willow Valley Carving Club were amazed. They knew first-hand what skill and precision it took to create their own works of art. Though it was a fun and enjoyable hobby, it took time, talent and concentration to carve intricate details out of wood. Also, they had the luxury of fine tools—something the men in Africa did not have.

Club members were moved to act.

They knew they had extra tools among the members that the African artisans would certainly be able to use. Could Jim somehow help get them over to Africa to a carver who really needed them?

Jim was happy to help. He had a trusted contact in Africa who was able to get them to a grateful recipient, an African carver by the name of Armando Cunguara. Mr. Cunguara wrote a heartfelt thank you letter to the Carving Club Members —which they enjoyed after they had

it translated! The members were so touched, and they were committed to continue to help others this way in the future.

Jim is quick to point out that the new tools simply serve to accelerate the process of bringing the talent and the skill passed down through generations of training to beautiful fruition.

Having higher quality tools enables them to create their amazing pieces faster and with more ease, assisting in the support of their families.

Wayne Von Stetton summed up the sentiment beautifully. “Wood carving has always brought me joy, but it’s only ever been a hobby. I’m so proud to be a member of the Willow Valley Carving Club which enabled me to take my lifelong artistic talent to the next level.” he said, “And, I am especially proud of my son Jim who inspired the group to help artists halfway around the world to support their families.”

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Mind, Body, Spirit

Finding Your

CENTER

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For resident Tom Dodge, keeping himself centered “mind, body and spirit,” is an important part of life at Willow Valley Communities. “I pay attention to my wiring. There’s the physical centering in the fitness center at Willow Valley, but the volunteering, the coming alongside other people, is what has done the most for me finding my center.”

Communities and around the Lancaster community.

Once an avid marathoner, Tom wasted no time availing himself of the amenities in his new community when he moved to Lakes Community in 2014. “I walked into the Fitness Center at the Cultural Center and flagged down one of the trainers,” says Tom. “I asked them, ‘What is the best way for me to use this place?’” Tom started doing a circuit and then moved on to yoga, core power classes, and swimming. He also enjoys long walks with his wife Elizabeth around Willow Valley Communities.

Elaine Watters, a resident of Manor has been involved with a wide variety of sports throughout her life: basketball, softball, ice skating, golf and more. At Willow Valley Communities her lifestyle has continued with pickleball, ping pong, yoga, Zumba and long walks around the campuses. She’s added another way to find her center: every other week Elaine gets a deep tissue massage at Willow Valley Communities’ Day Spa.

As a platoon leader in Vietnam, Tom saw things no one should ever have to see. “I am eternally grateful that every member the platoon got home safely,” says Tom. “I want to give back. I really get fed by volunteering and helping others.”

Tom is a retired Chaplin from Hospice of Lancaster County and now volunteers extensively at Willow Valley

Tom also knows the value of rest in nurturing one’s center.

He can often be found in the Relaxation Room with its healing Himalayan salt wall located in the Day Spa at Willow Valley Communities’ Cultural Center. “It’s probably my favorite room on campus,” says Tom. It is there he says he can really connect with his spirit and pray for others.

Elaine prefers this more intense massage among the many varieties offered by the Day Spa. “It helps relax the muscles, and it’s also good for circulation. It’s great for athletes because it works more deeply,” she says.

Like Tom, Elaine also likes spending time in the Relaxation Room.

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Finding Your CENTER

Elaine’s regular massages help her be ready to take on the next challenge which is so very important to her, not just physically but emotionally as well.

“I find my center through my physical activity and afterwards through my massages,” says Elaine. “That helps me to keep moving forward.”

Painting is what helps center Cathy Love. Cathy was an elementary school teacher. She was always exposed to art and crafts but never took the time to formally pursue painting, though she was always intrigued by it. Finally she decided to take a class. It literally changed her life and the way she sees the world.

“I look at the leaves and the sky differently now. I look at them and think, ‘Wow, wouldn’t that be pretty to paint?’” “Painting,” she adds simply, “claims you.”

At Willow Valley Communities, Cathy has had many opportunities to expand her craft, participating in classes and connecting with other artists who help inspire growth in her art. “I have a painting table in my bedroom. It’s the first thing I see when I wake up, and I pass by it several times a day. When I think I have reached a point with a painting, I walk by and then I see something else I want to add. I just keep working on it.”

Through her painting, Cathy achieves greater balance. “It just helps me sail away into my zone. It’s a wonderful activity. It’s amazing.”

She chuckles when she adds, “I’ll just be painting and painting, and then my husband will poke his head in and ask about dinner!”

In addition to the many art classes, Willow Valley also features multiple studios for creating art and multiple galleries that exhibit local and national artists in all media, supporting a vibrant artistic community.

Whatever a person’s passions, he or she is likely find a class, club, group, or space at Willow Valley that offers growth, strength, or relaxation. Willow Valley Communities is a place of possibility, with programs and amenities that support whatever journey a person wishes to create.

“I look at the leaves and the sky differently now.

I look at them and think, ‘Wow, wouldn’t that be pretty to paint?’ ” “Painting,” Cathy adds simply, “claims you.”

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The Willow Way of Life

Ukuleles TRANSCENDING the Generations

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When Peggy Thomas meets someone new, one of the first things she shares is her love for the ukulele. It was 1949 and Peggy was spending summer at home after her first year at college.

Her father taught Peggy how to play the ukulele that year. Peggy was always musical and always loved to sing, so it was a really nice father/ daughter bonding experience. But what Peggy didn’t realize that summer was not only was she receiving the gift of the love of music from her father; she was receiving a lifetime gift of friendships that would help her transcend all generations.

Peggy met her husband Steve, a guitar player, and soon found they loved to sing and play music together. Even as young parents busy raising three sons, they still always found time for music with friends, spending many a weekend evening filling the house with song.

In 2004, the Thomases decided to move to Willow Valley Communities, and it was natural for them to search for a musical community. Even before moving, Peggy contacted other residents about starting a ukulele club.

“I was really just looking for people to teach,” remembers, Peggy. “I was hoping to meet new people and just get together about once a month to sing and play together.”

Today, the Willow Valley Communities Ukulele Band has 14 dedicated members, with Peggy managing weekly rehearsals and four performances a month. The members also get together with other Willow Valley Communities music groups in large performances twice a year.

This year, the group found out first-hand that the love of the ukulele spans generations.

Michele Conrad, the General Music Teacher at John Beck Elementary School in Lititz, Pennsylvania, heads

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up the after school music club at the school. She has 17 fourth and fifth grade students learning to play the ukulele. “The ukulele is one of those instruments on the rise,” Michele says. “It’s an accessible instrument– easy to learn and easy to hold.” The school was able to obtain the ukuleles through a grant from Music for Everyone (MFE), a Lancaster not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and resources to strengthen the role that music plays in schools and communities.

MFE helped John Beck Elementary obtain 17 ukuleles– beautiful instruments made of all different shades of warm-toned woods. Michele hung them on the wall in her classroom, much like pieces of art, for her students to enjoy.

John Gerdy of MFE connected Michele with Willow Valley Communities’ Ukulele Band. John and MFE have had a long-standing relationship with Willow Valley Communities.

Willow Valley supports MFE both through its “Keys for the City” initiative and has helped supply instruments to local schools as well. After learning about the Willow Valley 16

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Ukulele Band, Michele decided to invite its members to meet her Ukulele Club for an event. “As a teacher, I want the children to do more than perform,” says Michele.

“I want them to build and be part of a musical community.”

And, build a community they did! The two groups met in Michele’s classroom. The group members politely introduced themselves and told a little bit about their experience with the ukulele.

Then the magic began.

The John Beck group performed first, and, much to their delight, the Willow Valley group began to strum along.

When the Willow Valley group played, the John Beck group also joined in, smiling, strumming, and singing—even some songs written decades before they were born.

And then both groups played together—freely, effortlessly.

Generations beautifully melted away as music rose from their simple wooden ukuleles. Just a room full of people, building relationships through the shared love of music.

“As a teacher, I want the children to do more than perform. I want them to build and be part of a musical community.”

–Michele Conrad, General Music Teacher at John Beck Elementary School

The festive musical atmosphere inside Ms. Conrad’s classroom soon spilled out into the hallways of John Beck Elementary, and teachers, students, and others from all around couldn’t help but be drawn into the room and into the music.

After the event, while the two groups shared refreshments and more experiences, Michele expressed her gratitude to the Willow Valley Ukulele Band for showing her students that the love of music is a gift of life, transcending all ages, all generations.. “No matter what, no matter when,” Michele says, “you can always make music.”

And what a wonderful lesson for children to learn.

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Innovation and Growth

HARD HATS Driving past Providence Park, it’s hard to miss the excitement unfolding. Yellow construction vehicles dot the hilltop, as The Vistas comes to life. As the five-story building takes shape, the future residents are sharing their excitement as they get to know one another and form community.

&

All but five of the 53 spacious, light-filled apartments already have owners eager to move in. As future residents prepare for their moves to The Vistas, Willow Valley Communities has organized quarterly events to help them build relationships, starting with a holiday mixer last December, and including a design event and a picnic to-date. Before the moving trucks arrive, there will be many more chances for these neighbors to bond, including a party box event at a Barnstormers game and a holiday luncheon at North Community.

Brenda L. McCleaf will be moving into a Chatham, one of The Vistas’ spacious residences. “The get-togethers enable us to meet our next-door neighbors as well as many others,” says Brenda. “How thoughtful of Willow Valley to provide us with this social venue to learn about each other and establish connections long before move-in day!”

Construction progress updates are shared with the future residents as The Vistas’ luxury apartments are erected. Oversized windows, generous ceiling heights, and distinctive design features make the spaces superbly livable.

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A rooftop lounge planned for The Vistas will offer striking views of farmland on one side and the skyline of Downtown Lancaster on the other.

A bar with comfortable seating and a fireplace will round out this unique feature.

Vince and Barbara Czepukaitis, future Vistas residents, also shared their enthusiasm. “We have enjoyed attending The Vistas mixers at Willow Valley along with watching the construction progress. It’s been fun getting to know our new neighbors.

There is already a real sense of community among us. We can’t wait to move in!”

Vince and Barbara Czepukaitis, future Vistas residents

WELCOME MATS

Proposed rooftop terrace for The Vistas

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Cultured Elegance, Timeless

Cultural Center Art Gallery and main concourse

The residents of Willow Valley Communities reflect a rich diversity of eclectic tastes and varied personalities.

The communities’ shared spaces create opportunities to gather with friends—new and familiar—and to share unique stories. That goal was in mind as designers worked to create the renovation of the Cultural Center’s Theater Level.

Sophisticated textures and bright colors keep the spaces elegant and inviting. Incorporating the existing architectural elements, the new design showcases the custom wood millwork and brings classical elements into the space. The renovation encompassed the entire 42,000 square-foot upper floor of the Cultural Center.

New finishes and furnishings are in place throughout the Theater Level. The Ballroom features new walnut flooring, 20

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500-seat Performing Arts Theater

wall treatments, ceiling dĂŠcor, and chandeliers. There is also enhanced decking and furniture on the Ballroom Terrace.

Enchantment

The Theater now boasts a refinished stage floor, along with improved lighting and acoustics controls. The 500-seat auditorium includes a new floor, wall finishes, and improved seating areas.

The Art Gallery and lounge areas in the main concourse greet visitors with new flooring, wall and ceiling finishes, and vibrant new furniture, furnishings, and custom lighting fixtures. The Education Rooms are also complete with new finishes, seating, lighting, and projection equipment. The Board Room also has new finishes and lighting. The Art Studio now features a beautiful floral wall mural and ceiling disks, as well as improved lighting and furnishings.

The entire area has new window treatments. All of the new carpets are custom designs, meaning they are entirely unique to Willow Valley Communities. Many of the lighting fixtures and furniture pieces are also custom designs.

Overall, the new design expresses comfortable, contemporary elegance through the selected furniture, artwork, lighting, and finishes. With an emphasis on shapes and forms, metal accents and clean lines, these spaces bring together a style that is both functional and lovely.

Art Studio

Ballroom WillowValleyCommunities.org

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Perspective

PASTOR,

Teacher,

Author, LEADER,

&FATHER HUSBAND,

Reflections on the many roles of one prominent Willow Valley resident

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I have had the privilege of being a colleague and friend of Dr. Robinson for over 20 years, and he’s been a mentor and an inspiration.”

Dr. Scott M. Gibson, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Haddon W. Robinson, Ph.D., is a resident of Willow Valley Communities, but his influence is felt worldwide as he is a wellknown and well-respected preacher, teacher, author and communicator of God’s Word.

When he was just a teenager, Robinson wrote in his journal, “I listen to some preachers who preach for an hour, and it seems like 20 minutes. I listen to others who preach for 20 minutes, and it seems like an hour. I wonder what makes the difference.” Answering that question influenced the direction of his life.

Dr. Robinson is widely regarded as as an expert teacher on the subject of preaching. A native of New York City, he received a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, an M.A. from Southern Methodist University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. Dr. Robinson became a preaching giant at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he influenced the seminary’s multiple campuses as the Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching, the Senior Director of the Doctor of Ministry program, and as the Interim President of Gordon-Conwell. Prior to Gordon-Conwell, Dr. Robinson was the President of Denver Seminary (1979–1991) where he helped lay the groundwork for the school’s tremendous growth. He was also a professor of homiletics at Dallas Theological Seminary for 19 years and taught speech at his alma mater, the University of Illinois, from 1960–1962. He has also taught, preached, or lectured at churches and campuses on all six continents.

In 1996 he was named one of the twelve most effective preachers in the English-speaking world and was also given the 2008 Living Legend Award by E. K. Bailey Ministries and was named among Christianity Today International’s Top 25 Most Influential Preachers from 1956–2006.

In addition to his seven books, Dr. Robinson has also written and edited for a wide range of publications such as The American Lutheran magazine, Christianity Today, and Leadership Journal. He was also a writer for Our Daily Bread, one of the most used devotionals in Christianity Today with over 40 million distributed each year. Among his books are The Good Shepherd, What Jesus Said About Successful Living, and Decision-Making by the Book. His most impactful work remains Biblical Preaching, a text used at more than 100 seminaries and Bible colleges in North America and around the world.

Dr. Robinson has won countless awards and professional accolades. However the real tribute comes from his children, Torrey Robinson and Vicki Hiltzges, as well as his many colleagues such as Dr. Scott M. Gibson, Professor of Preaching, at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Torrey says, “For all he accomplished in his vocation, my sister and I can attest that he still manages to love and care for his family. Both my sister and I chose professions that reflect my dad’s influence. Vicki is an outstanding motivational speaker, and I am a pastor.”

Dr. Gibson adds, “I have had the privilege of being a colleague and friend of Dr. Robinson for over 20 years, and he’s been a mentor and an inspiration. He’s a stellar preacher and has had an impact on the entire world.”

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Feed the Soul

North Coffee Lounge

THE All-New

NORTH COMMUNITY The North Community at Willow Valley has been reimagined. The final touches are just being put in place on the indoor and outdoor renovation that has been underway for more than a year.

These results, covering two floors and totaling 42,486 square feet, have inspired many accolades. Resident Liz Forbes wrote in a letter to Willow Valley Communities: “I want to publicly thank Willow Valley for the wonderful renovations. Everything is just lovely: the dining rooms, the atrium, the front entrance, the piano room, the coffee shop and dining area, the library, and finally the courtyard. Thanks go to everyone who made it possible for the courtyard to be ready for Mother’s Day. Our family enjoyed being outside and remarked how lovely it was.”

One of the highlights of the renovation is the new North Coffee Lounge, located outside the redesigned library, which has quickly become a popular gathering place for residents from both campuses. At the Lounge, residents can meet friends for a quick drink and a snack, or for a sandwich or salad.

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Fall/Winter 2016

There are also freshly baked treats and pastry choices available.

Of course the new North Coffee Lounge serves coffee, but it’s not just any coffee. The fresh, organic, shadefree Grounds for Change™ brand coffee is fair trade. This delicious coffee is produced by America’s first CarbonFree® Certified coffee company, proving their commitment to sustainability. Grown by small farm cooperatives, the producer’s crop-to-cup process includes organic cultivation of the coffee plant, nonmechanized harvest of coffee cherries, sun drying of the coffee beans, and recycled, sustainable paper products.

The Coffee Lounge also serves wine from 2 to 5 pm, giving residents the opportunity to savor a glass overlooking the atrium and newly renovated 33,000-square-foot courtyard. Currently, the Lounge offers four wines, including two red: Mont Pellier Pinot Noir and Paducci Merlot, and two whites: Parducci Chardonnay and Indomita Sauvignon Blanc. Residents are finding it’s the perfect way to unwind and gather before dinner.

Residents can’t get enough of Corner Sweets, the new demonstration pastry kitchen, where they can view a trained pastry chef through a display window while this professional bakes fresh bread, decorates cakes, and creates treats like luscious chocolate chip bundt cakes.

In addition to the popular gazebo, innovative and fresh additions to the Courtyard include a fire pit, outdoor dining, new trees and plants, and an outdoor kitchen where residents can barbecue. The preeminent feature of the courtyard is the ecosystem pond, which features a soothing waterfall, decorative rocks, integrated lighting, and even a footbridge.

The ambiance and menu have residents delighted. One resident shared with a team member: “It’s like a neighborhood block where you can see all your friends while shopping at the pharmacy, doing business at the bank, and grabbing coffee or lunch before heading to the library.”

North Atrium WillowValleyCommunities.org

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Life Lived Forward

600 Willow Valley Square Lancaster, PA 17602

The Willow Valley Way For more than 30 years, Willow Valley Communities has been dedicated to helping people pursue exceptional lives. Our mission is simple: to inspire each person to embrace the possibilities of a Life Lived Forward.

We are committed to innovative programming, operational excellence, and prudent financial practices.

Our communities provide the security of Lifecare, which includes short- and long-term care at no additional cost, should it be needed.

And we’ve been grateful to have been affirmed for our efforts. The National Association of Home Builders Best of 50+ Housing Awards recognized

Willow Valley for Best Lifestyle, Best Dining, and Best Fitness and Wellness Program. We have received an “A” rating from Fitch Ratings, affirming our proven financial stability. Our most important recognition, though, comes from the people who live here.

Phone 866-642-7330 | www.WillowValleyCommunities.org | LifeLivedForward.org | Find us on Facebook