Willow - Fall/Winter 2015

Fall/Winter 2015

A WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES PUBLICATION

Beyond Age

Living with Purpose and Passion page 4

The Inside Story

This year has been one of growth and reimagination for Willow Valley Communities. After a wonderful summer of

less than three weeks. We anticipate beginning to prepare the ground for construction before the end of the year.

During its first year of operation, The Clubhouse had more than 38,000 visitors, about 15,000 of whom were family and guests of residents. The numbers bear out the vision we had for The Clubhouse—that it would become an intergenerational hub of Willow Valley Communities, offering tangible, meaningful opportunities for residents, their families, and guests to interact day-to-day.

As we move toward the holidays, I wish you and those you love a time of peace and abundant blessings.

celebration at The Clubhouse for its first anniversary, we are moving into the end of the year with many exciting initiatives underway to create more opportunities for our residents and to continue to attract future residents to our community. You’ll read about these stories and more in this issue of Willow magazine.

In this issue, you’ll also read about the reimagination of our North Community. Our goal is to update the community and uncover more areas for residents to enjoy, while more fully integrating indoor and outdoor spaces.

Our newest residences, The Vistas, have met with significant response and were more than 75% reserved in

Fall/Winter 2015

In this issue’s feature article “Beyond Age,” you’ll read about how Willow Valley’s long-standing commitment to innovation has enabled our communities to continually attract new residents while providing distinctive opportunities for current residents as well. This approach creates a vibrant atmosphere that residents can enjoy at any age.

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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The Vistas Are on the Horizon Generosity Provides New Educational Opportunities

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Out & About Art: Marlin Bert Cuisine: Miesse Candies Shopping: Details

Reaching Our Community Beautiful Feet Hundreds of Sneakers Donated to Local Children

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Living Small to Live Big

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Innovation and Growth Renovate, Decorate, Celebrate Manor North Community’s New Look

Mind, Body, Spirit Willow Valley’s 2015 National Senior Games Team

Perspective

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The Willow Way of Life Marking the First Year of The Clubhouse and Local Table

4 Beyond Age Living with Purpose and Passion

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Feed the Soul Experience Willow Valley Experiential Events Program

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Headlines

The Vistas Are on the Horizon More exciting news from Willow Valley Communities about our next innovative expansion, the Vistas at Providence Park.

These breathtaking luxury residences will be spacious, light-filled apartment homes that take residential design to the next level. Beautifully appointed, The Vistas will include distinctive, high-end features such as large, oversized windows and classic, elegant finishes throughout.

As of the publication date of this magazine, 38 of the 53 apartments have been reserved. The popularity

of the building is due both to the distinctive design of the residences, as well as The Vistas’ most striking feature: a prime hilltop location, with upper-floor apartment homes and common areas offering commanding views toward the city of Lancaster on one side and surrounding farmland on the other side.

Another feature of The Vistas will be its prime location only a few minutes’ walk to all the amenities at The Clubhouse, providing exceptional dining as well as intergenerational fun like bowling, swimming or vintage arcade games and many other opportunities for all of our residents to enjoy Life Lived Forward.

Generosity Provides New Educational Opportunities One of the hallmarks of Willow Valley Communities’ residents is their generosity. This generosity recently manifested in 64 scholarships totaling $115,000 to students working at Willow Valley for education in two scholarship programs: The Brunner Nurse Education Fund and the Team Member Educational Fund.

The Willow Valley Communities Brunner Nurse Education Fund approved 22 scholarship recipients for the upcoming 2015/2016 academic year totaling $49,500. The team member Educational Scholarship Fund awarded 42 scholarships for a total of $65,500.

The Brunner Nurse Education Fund is the vision of Lillian Brunner. Founded in 1999, it was created to support nurse education and professional development at Willow Valley Communities. It provides nursing scholarships and 2

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educational opportunities for team members and supports extra educational seminars and specialized training for Willow Valley nursing staff which keeps them up-to-date on the latest developments in geriatric nursing care.

The Team Member Education Fund is a more general scholarship fund to assist with education in all professions beyond just the nursing field. This is the sixth consecutive year that Willow Valley’s residents have donated to this fund.

The philanthropic spirit of Willow Valley residents has enabled hundreds of Willow Valley team members to further their education and training with both of these opportunities. Willow Valley honors all of those who have contributed, as well as the hard working team members that have sought to further their education through these opportunities.

Out & About

Miesse Candies

art

Marlin Bert

Popular local artist Marlin Bert was the most recent to exhibit at The Clubhouse art gallery.

Marlin says his work is all about the journey.

“A process full of both spontaneous emotion and calculated precision.”

Marlin is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and has worked as an artist and architectural illustrator for more than 20 years. He lives and works in Lancaster City, painting in a fourthfloor studio of the former Keppel Candy factory building located on the 300 block of North Queen Street. His work has been exhibited at Demuth Foundation, Lancaster Museum of Art, and Art on the Farm.

Miesse’s rich chocolate is made with real cocoa butter, unlike other confectionary-based chocolates. They use all natural ingredients, such as pure vanilla, real butter, and fresh cream, with no added preservatives.

Tracy Artus and her husband became owners of Miesse Candies in 2011, and since then have been growing the vision for the company, focusing on expanding Miesse’s wholesale business, introducing new products, developing more specialty products, and reviving old favorites like hand-dipped chocolate pretzels, nonpareils and caramels.

Miesse Candies is committed to manufacturing excellence in order to provide the freshest, most delicious chocolates. The excellent customer service is second to none, and Miesse Candies has been a favorite of Willow Valley residents and team members for many years.

Details Since 1996, Details has been a downtown Lancaster gift boutique for cards, gifts, home accents, specialized printing, one-of-a-kind work from local artisans, and many other items made in the USA. Details has beautiful home décor items including unique pillows or throws and other items to help make over any room. A wide variety of frames, vases, and botanical picks can incorporate a pop of color to your space. Staying true to the store’s Lancaster roots, Details is proud to carry accent tables, decorative corbels, and serving trays—all made from reclaimed Lancaster County barn wood.

shopping

For Marlin, getting there is more than half the fun…it’s all the fun. When people look at his work, Marlin wants them to see a record of his process, the act of creating, not just the final product. He says, “If I were a musician, I’d be telling you how much I enjoy performing, not how much I enjoy listening to myself. My work is about the process. That’s where I truly discover myself. ”

Miesse Candies has been a favorite with chocolate lovers for more than 140 years. Founded in 1875 in Lancaster, Miesse Candies is a household name for high-quality, homemade chocolates and is dedicated to creating the very best specialties in milk, dark, and white chocolate.

cuisine

Details is the boutique for finding a gift for any occasion, and the store is designed to make shopping fun and enjoyable in an elegant and whimsical atmosphere. The excellent staff at Details will even assist customers in selecting the perfect option or gift.

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Debbie Mink (pictured with her grandchildren), living at Willow Valley since 2013

“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?”

- Satchel Paige 4

Fall/Winter 2015

When Marlyn Kinnamon and her husband Frank moved into Manor North in August 1995, Marlyn was just shy of her 60th birthday. “I was young and healthy and loved what I saw in Willow Valley Communities,” says Marlyn. “I knew I could continue to grow here.”

Marlyn, now 80, looks very much as she did when she moved into the communities. Her glowing skin, bright blue eyes, and boundless energy speak of a life that’s lived every day with enthusiasm and joy. “I take care of myself,” explains Marlyn. “And how can you not be happy with all the wonderful opportunities we have here?” Her positive energy is contagious, and when she talks about her husband Frank, who was older than she and passed away two years ago, you can see how his love is still working to set the tone for

Dwight & Nina Jasmann, living at Willow Valley since 2014

BEYONDAge Living with Purpose and Passion

this remarkable woman’s life. Marlyn is meticulous about her fitness—she is in the Cultural Center fitness center or walking around the communities almost every day.

Most of all, she spends a lot of time thinking about the things she’s grateful for—and one thing that’s at the top of her list is that she moved to Willow Valley when she did.

“It was a great decision,” says Marlyn.

Marlyn is part of a trend that Willow Valley Communities has seen since Manor opened in 1984—the communities have always attracted new residents of an age younger than the national average. Nationally, the average age at entry for senior living communities is over 82; Willow Valley’s, at just above 75, has remained fairly constant overall since the 1980’s, with some specific residence types as low as 69. The trend, of course, extends beyond chronological age

to physiological age and psychological age. Willow Valley Communities tends to attract people who are looking to engage and learn and, as Marlyn said, “grow.”

Redefining the Standard With fewer than five percent of those eligible to live in communities like Willow Valley choosing to do so, the senior living field has some serious work to do. More often than not, decisions to make a move are delayed as long as possible, and the move is viewed as a needdriven one rather than a desire-driven one. Through its approach to innovation and engagement in its communities, Willow Valley works to create a different reality. “Our Communities are about life—even more than they are about Lifecare,” says John G. Swanson, President of Willow Valley Living, the management and development company WillowValleyCommunities.org

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BEYOND Age

Living with Purpose and Passion

Stu Wesbury, living at Willow Valley since 2004

for Willow Valley Communities, referring to the long-term care coverage that is part of every resident’s program. “We want to rival the amenities and programs one might find in the finest active adult community while also providing the security of knowing that if additional needs arise in the future, that’s taken care of—logistically and financially.”

The youngest of those interested in Willow Valley, chronologically, are members of the Baby Boomer generation, a cohort with an age range of 51 – 70. With a minimum entry age of 55, Willow Valley sees a broad range of ages, with many now falling into the Boomer group and most, regardless of age, fitting the profile of the type of person who has inspired Willow Valley’s commitment to Life Lived Forward.

Willow Valley has long had a philosophy of designing for people, not just creating someone’s idea of what a senior might want. One prime example is the Fitness and Aquatics Center at the Cultural Center; it was created to be “athleteworthy” by consulting with and learning from some of the top fitness experts in the country. The result is that very serious athletes find in Willow Valley a place that they can continue to train, improve, and compete. (See the National Senior Games , p.10.)

Like Marlyn and Frank, many of the people who have moved to Willow Valley over the years have been groundbreakers, attracted to the things that made Willow Valley different from other communities. In the beginning, when many of the residential components of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC’s) were emerging from a care model, Willow Valley came from a hospitality model. “This set the course for a scrupulous attention to detail and an eye-to-eye customer focus that many communities had to work years to adopt,” says Kim Daly 6

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Nobbs, Chief Marketing Officer for Willow Valley Living. “In fact, many are still working to adopt this approach.”

Examples of the innovation that runs deep in the DNA of Willow Valley Communities can be seen throughout. And that innovation is resonating with people—even those who might have crossed the idea of senior living communities off their list of options. The Baby Boomers in particular have a broad set of desires when thinking about their next stage of life. Together with their vibrant kindred spirits from other generations, they are inspiring Willow Valley, and the senior living field as a whole, to think broadly about what is possible.

Moving Forward If Willow Valley desires to keep the attention of its most active prospective residents while continuing to enhance the opportunities for current residents, the organization knows it must keep raising the bar. The Baby Boomers will help keep the senior living field on its toes in this regard.

Andrew Carle, the Founding Director of the Program in Senior Housing Administration at George Mason University, notes that his generation has revolutionized virtually every product and service in the American marketplace. “We’re the reason there are a hundred flavors of baby food. As we get old enough to retire and go into senior housing, do you think we’re suddenly going to settle for one flavor [of anything]?”

Tom and Elizabeth Dodge (with Clifford), living at Willow Valley since 2014

According to Kim Daly Nobbs, Willow Valley’s vision is “to positively transform the way aging is viewed and experienced in our world.” She notes that this dream “is illustrated by how life here inspires each person to embrace the possibilities of a life lived forward.” And far from ‘one flavor’, Willow Valley offers many somethings for everyone.

A Matter of Lifestyle A 2015 study by Gallup revealed that preferences among members of the Baby Boomer generation vary more than traditional stereotypes would suggest. On top of that challenge is the need to engage current residents ranging in age from 55 – 105. How can any one location possibly appeal to such a diverse group? Lifestyle programming like Willow Valley’s award-winning bill of fare encompasses a wide range of experiences and appeals to both familiar and new trends. Community events such as hikes around scenic Lancaster County, aquatics, wellness classes, art shows, lectures, and a movie series, truly offer something for every taste and ability.

Educational opportunities cover a wide range of topics from oil painting to tap dancing. Hands-on, expert training is available to grow residents’ comfort level and experience with technology, and continuing education classes at local universities are available to help Willow Valley residents expand their horizons. As Kurt Schlabach, President/CEO of RetirementHomeTV, writes, “Retirement living isn’t about

Charlie & Caroline Homentowski, living at Willow Valley since 2010 the end stage of anything. It’s about new beginnings and growth.” Willow Valley’s mantra Life Lived Forward speaks to the essence of this philosophy. The organization even took the word “retirement” out of its name several years ago because it did not fully express the level of engagement of the people who live in the communities, whether or not they were still doing paid work.

“We have so many residents who spend their days contributing to others, enjoying life and pursuing their passions,” says John Swanson. “Willow Valley’s vision is to create spaces and opportunities for that vibrant energy to thrive.”

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Reaching Our Community

Beautiful FEET To some local children, new school sneakers might be part of just another shopping trip.

For many children, though, the back-toschool experience can be a difficult one.

Team members Laura Weaver and Cori Steiner are co-chairs of the Willow Valley Communities Outreach Committee, a joint resident and team member initiative focused on Lancaster County’s children in need. “To the family that flees domestic violence in the middle of the night with just the clothes on their back,” says Laura, “giving them a new pair of sneakers and socks is like handing the kids a pot of gold.”

Willow Valley’s Sneakers for School Project donates brand new sneakers to homeless children in Lancaster to help them feel special for that first day of school and start the year off right.

At Carter and MacRae Elementary School, Willow Valley 8

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Communities’ residents and team members were joined by the Homeless Student Project Committee Members and a representative from Shoe Carnival, Inc. to distribute 500 pairs of brand new sneakers for children facing adversity in the Lancaster area. The volunteers’ work was made much easier thanks to the many helping hands of the children of the School District of Lancaster staff.

This is the fourth year the Willow Valley Communities Outreach Committee has participated in the Sneakers for School Project. Since its beginning, the group has raised $50,115 and donated 1,800 pairs of sneakers and socks to the Lancaster Homeless Student Project, Lancaster County Children and Youth, Domestic Violence of Lancaster, Milagro House, and Deb’s House. “It’s a very humbling and overwhelming experience,” continues Laura. “I never realized how many children in Lancaster County may go back to school with no new sneakers.” She explains, “These kids didn’t have sneakers for gym class, or if they did some had a huge hole in the bottom of the shoes.”

The group painted, built new shelves and a toy cabinet, cleaned toys, and purchased a rocking chair, bean bag chairs, carpet squares, and toys. The new chalkboard wall they created has already been a big hit.

Due to the generosity inspired by the Sneakers for Schools project, the Community Outreach group was also able to fund a special playroom renovation for Milagro House, an organization committed to providing education, housing, and counseling for women and their children experiencing homelessness. Cori and Laura recruited resident volunteers, including Lakes Wood Shop members, to help them renovate the playroom which had not been upgraded in 10 years.

Ryan Hardy, Willow Valley’s audio visual technician who participated in the volunteer renovation, was touched by the project. “When I grew up, my parents provided us with what we needed, and we didn’t think twice about having toys to play with, a roof over our head, and meals on the table,” says Ryan. “Being able to help provide a place to play and have some fun for the kids at Milagro House, and being able to work with the team of people that took on this task, was very special.” There is legacy in the generosity of Willow Valley’s residents and team members as they demonstrate their care and love for our community at large.

The gifts and efforts will have a lasting impact on those who benefit for years to come.

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Mind, Body, Spirit

WILLOW VALLEY’S 2015

National Senior Games

WILLOW VALLEY’S 2015 COMPETITIVE TEAM Debbie Mink - Singles Tennis - Singles Table Tennis

Caroline Homentowski - Race Walking

Bob Locke - Swimming - 50 yd, 100 yd Freestyle

Norman Linhart - Tennis - Singles & Doubles & Badminton - Singles

Janet Rushmere - Swimming - 50 yd, 100 yd Freestyle & 50 yd Backstroke Charlie Trumbo - Swimming - 50 yd, 100 yd Freestyle; 50 yd, 100 yd Breaststroke & 50 yd Backstroke

Elaine Eichner - Pickleball Doubles & Tennis - Singles, Mixed Doubles Byron Babcock - Tennis - Doubles

Marianne Siecko - Track - Hammer Throw, Shot Put, Discus, Javelin

Charlie George - Shuffleboard - Singles & Doubles

Charlie Homentowski - Tennis - Mixed Doubles

Irmgard Nelson - Table Tennis - Singles & Doubles

Stuart Jones - Shuffleboard - Doubles Terry Webb - Table Tennis - Singles & Doubles

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Fall/Winter 2015

Team WITHIN THE HEART OF A TRUE ATHLETE, THE PASSION FOR SPORT ONLY GROWS OVER TIME. Perhaps nothing proves this better than the National Senior Games, held in Minneapolis, July 3-16. The Games, a 19-sport, biannual competition for men and women 50 and over, is the largest multi-sport event in the world for seniors. Willow Valley Communities is an excellent choice for the serious athlete, with worldclass fitness and aquatics centers and exceptional fitness team members on hand to support whatever an individual’s personal goals may be. Willow Valley’s team of 15 athletes joined over 12,000 others from all over the country to compete. Escorted by members of the Wellness Team Pam Schorr and Karen Nye, Willow Valley resident athletes were awarded a total 7 medals and 12 ribbons. (For a list of winners, see page 13.)

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“Swimming is a natural sport for me.”

Charlie Trumbo

Charlie Trumbo started swimming because he was too short to compete in other sports at his Baltimore high school. Finding he excelled as an athlete in the water, he received championship medals all three years he competed. After a growth spurt, Charlie continued his successful swimming career in college, but also lettered in football and baseball!

In 2006, Charlie was diagnosed with tongue cancer. He shares, “I was on a feeding tube and couldn’t swallow for over a year. They agreed to do chemo and radiation together at my age only because of my good physical conditioning. I lost 35 pounds, and I really thought I was going to die.”

Willow Valley’s Lifecare program supported Charlie as he went through the difficult process of recovery.

After a tremendous turnaround, he returned to swimming with renewed

“I’ve always loved tennis.”

gusto. “I’d never heard of the Senior Games until I moved to Willow Valley in 2001. I competed nationally for the first time in 2009,” Charlie says.

“I won awards every time I competed, but this was the first time I medaled. I am truly blessed.”

Debbie Mink During those years, Debbie’s husband Keith was fighting a losing battle against an eye disease that would one day take his sight. “There was always that dark cloud over our heads,” Debbie shared. When their children were 11 and 9 years old, the Minks bought a camper and started traveling as a family. “We wanted Keith to see the country and the world, so it was then that I stopped playing tennis every summer.” The family travelled the United States and Germany. After the children were grown, Debbie and Keith went on to travel China, Italy, Peru, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Switzerland, Austria and Croatia.

In the late 70s and early 80s, Debbie Mink played tennis in a league several nights a week. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Debbie taught Title I reading, kindergarten, and fourth grade in the Penncrest School District for 25 years, while also raising her children and actively playing tennis.

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In their Villa together in Providence Park, Debbie and Keith have found a welcoming community as well as inspiration for Debbie to return to one of her life’s earliest loves.

“In 2013, we moved to Willow Valley Communities, and I found my love of tennis again.”

“I can’t imagine my life without swimming.”

Janet Rushmere

Four-year-old Janet Rushmere’s first swimming lesson was conquering the ocean at Rehoboth Beach, DE, with her father, Ed Bardo as her teacher. Janet’s extremely athletic father worked at University of Delaware as head of the Physical Education Department and Head Coach of the swimming team. “I still love swimming in salt water,” Janet notes.

A certified Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and Fitness Specialist, Janet poured into her hometown community by introducing preschool gym and swim classes at the Newark, DE, YWCA. She also taught a variety of adult fitness programs, including water exercise. In 1974, she launched a business enterprise with another instructor called Pike

Creek Gym and Swim for babies and pre-school children.

Janet says, “My all-time favorite age for swim lessons is preschoolers. There is joy in everything they do!”

Soon after moving to Willow Valley, Janet was persuaded to compete in the 2014 Lancaster County Senior Games, where she won four gold medals in freestyle and backstroke.

She also won three gold medals at the PA Keystone State Games later that year! Her volunteer coach, fellow resident Bob Locke, supervises her pool workouts. The fitness staff augments her training with challenging workouts in the gym.

Janet shares, “I like to keep moving, and swimming tops the list of sports I enjoy.”

Willow Valley Communities, through its Life Lived Forward philosophy, seeks to encourage residents as they engage together in pursuit of their passions. Staying active, being healthy, travelling, competing, and succeeding in living a vibrant life—whatever that looks like for them and even winning medals sometimes.

WILLOW VALLEY NATIONAL GAMES AWARD WINNERS Charlie Trumbo – North 100 yd Breaststroke - GOLD 100 yd Freestyle - SILVER 50 yd Freestyle - GOLD 50 yd Breaststroke - GOLD

Marianne Siecko - North Hammer Throw - 4th Place Ribbon Discus - 5th Place Ribbon Javelin - 6th Place Ribbon Shot Put - 7th Place Ribbon

Janet Rushmere – Providence Park Villas 50 yd Freestyle - 5th Place Ribbon 100 yd Freestyle - 5th Place Ribbon 50 yd Backstroke - 6th Place Ribbon

Gene George - Manor Singles Shuffleboard - SILVER Doubles Shuffleboard – GOLD

Irmi Nelson - Lakes Singles Table Tennis - 6th Place Ribbon Doubles Table Tennis - 4th Place Ribbon Terry Webb - North Singles Table Tennis - 8th Place Ribbon Doubles Table Tennis - 4th Place Ribbon

Stuart Jones - Manor Doubles Shuffleboard – GOLD WillowValleyCommunities.org

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Perspective

LIVING SMALL TO

LiveBIG THERE’S A NEW TREND IN HOUSING, BUT IT ISN’T A “BIG” ONE. WHETHER YOU CALL IT “LIVING SMALL,” “VOLUNTARY DOWNSIZING,” OR EVEN “THE TINY HOUSE MOVEMENT”… THE TREND TOWARDS SIMPLICITY IN LIVING ARRANGEMENTS IS CATCHING ON FAST.

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According to the National Association of Homes Builders (NAHB), the average size of the American home expanded from 983-sf in 1950 to 2,340-sf in 2004, an increase of 140 percent. More recently, an opposite trend is taking hold.

Thanks to a growing level of environmental awareness as well as a desire for simplicity and freedom, more Americans are joining the movement towards simplified living.

“Voluntary downscaling,” as its been called, is about learning to live joyfully in smaller spaces and with less stuff.

Architect Sarah Susanka’s 1997 book entitled The Not So Big House is credited with starting the movement towards smaller living. Susanka describes a philosophy of quality in housing over quantity of space. The foundation of this philosophy is that spaces such as guest rooms, multiple bathrooms per occupant, and formal areas do not necessarily add to function and may increase the needed resources through additional cleaning and heating/cooling costs. Despite the allure of the expansive or impressive areas found in large homes, some homeowners report that they prefer their home’s cozier, more intimate spaces where comfort, beauty, and efficiency meet.

Dolores DiBartolo, Willow Valley Communities Lakes resident Additionally, in the digital age when library-sized book collections and endless photos and videos can be easily accessed on a hand-held device, downsizing a home is not only feasible, but also economical and eco-friendly.

Albums of photos, home videos, and hardbacks can be easily accessed with the swipe of a finger. Thanks to the advent of electronic medical records, paperless bills payment, and online wealth management, the giant stack of mail waiting to be methodically alphabetized into a filing cabinet can be eliminated, too.

Willow Valley Communities resident Dolores DiBartolo and her husband Anthony are from Staten Island, NY. The DiBartolos began looking into senior living to plan for potential future needs after experiences with relatives who depleted their savings paying for long-term care. “That is not what we wanted for our future,” Dolores shares. “We

learned about Lifecare at Willow Valley, and the promise that no matter what level of long-term care you may need, you are entitled to receive it without a change to your monthly fee. Lifecare’s promise brought us to Willow Valley.”

After living in a large home, though, Dolores wasn’t ready to give up all her space. The DiBartolos were planning on selecting one of Willow Valley’s large Willow Gables town homes, but a visit from their daughter, Cindy, changed their perspective.

One weekend, the DiBartolos were staying in a guest apartment at Willow Valley Communities called the Raleigh, a 925-sf, one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with a study, so Cindy could look around the community. “She told me when she walked into the lobby at Lakes that she WillowValleyCommunities.org

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Living Small to Live BIG

thought she’d walked into the Waldorf Astoria!” Dolores says.

“As I looked around the guest apartment with Cindy, we noticed it was set up almost exactly as her apartment in Manhattan. I said to Anthony, ‘We could live in this space,’ and he agreed,” Dolores recalls. “It made so much sense. Why would I want to move into another large home and still have to downsize again later?”

Making the move from a larger home to a smaller space may be daunting, but there can be practical as well as economic benefits. Furniture, rugs, wall hangings, and décor items you no longer need can be gifted to children, donated, or even sold. It can be a chance to start fresh with a different, updated look for your home. Instead of furnishing a dozen rooms with odds and ends, you can really invest in three or four integrated designs.

As a bonus, a smaller living space can actually help reduce clutter. If a home doesn’t have “extra rooms” where the occupants can close the door to hide boxes of old sweaters, worn chairs, and stacks of paperwork, the incentive is much greater to stay organized and tidy.

Pennsylvania-based author Francine Jay, known as “Miss Minimalist,” writes, “I never think of minimalism as deprivation. Rather, it’s eliminating the excess – unused items, unnecessary purchases, unfulfilling tasks – from your life. I may have fewer possessions, but I have more space. I may have fewer commitments, but I have more time. Minimalism is making room for what matters most.”

Other countries have more fully embraced this “smaller is better” philosophy. Every other country in the world averages smaller home sizes than the US. For example, compared to America’s 2,300-sf average, France’s average is just 1,216-sf, and the UK’s is just 818-sf!

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Duane Elgin, author of Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life that is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich, writes, “Simplicity of living, if deliberately chosen, implies a compassionate approach to life. It means that we are choosing to live our daily lives with some degree of conscious appreciation of the condition of the rest of the world.”

“My daughter really put my mind at ease on the decision to select one of Willow Valley’s smaller apartments,” Dolores continues. “She pointed out that all 12 people in our family were not going to come at once, and when they would come, it would be just as easy for them to stay at a guest room at Willow Valley or in a hotel. And for holidays, she said it was time for me to relax and give her a turn to host!”

Going smaller is not for everyone, and Willow Valley Communities certainly has a broad range of residence sizes.

But those who find the philosophy of voluntary downscaling intriguing should consider some key points before making a new housing selection. Architect Marianne Cusato believes proximity to public spaces is fundamental to living small. “The house does not need to be the size of an entire town if it is connected to a town,” Cusato says.

Dolores DiBartolo notes, “People might believe that a smaller apartment is not comfortable. That’s definitely not the case for us! Plus, Willow Valley’s amenities like the fitness center, the pools, The Clubhouse, the activities, the entertainment, and of course, the delicious food, are all here to enjoy, no matter where you live in the community. Our home is not just comprised of the four walls we live in, but of everything Willow Valley has to offer.”

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Innovation and Growth

Renovate,

One of the hallmarks of Willow Valley Communities is its commitment

to continuous renewal of its physical spaces. After any building reaches 10 years of age, Willow Valley evaluates what is needed to bring that building new life. Sometimes what’s needed is just a simple refresh of the finishes. For other buildings, it’s an opportunity to make significant changes to enhance design and function.

Manor North opened in 1995 and underwent a renovation 10 years later. The current renovation project is more a reimagining of the community. North typifies the Willow Way of Life by encouraging active minds through literature, music, activity, interaction, cuisine, and art. Soon, thanks to the extensive renovation, residents will have new opportunities to awaken their senses in a fresh, vibrant living space. The full breadth of community opportunity and experiences are at the center of the new vision for the building, woven together as seamlessly as the natural flow from indoor to outdoor.

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Decorate, Celebrate MANOR NORTH COMMUNITY’S NEW LOOK

New looks and layouts are underway for North’s piano lounge, buffet and menu dining, atrium lounge, coffee café, fireplace lounge, library, billiards room, and large auditorium.

These spaces, covering two floors and totaling 42,486-sf, will invite residents and guests into a world of casual elegance, inspiration, and discovery. True to Willow Valley’s support of the Lancaster community, local suppliers and contractors have been used wherever possible for this design-build project which began in January.

The new Manor North CORE, to be completed mid2016, will feature a new atrium and coffee bar as well as a redesigned courtyard that uniquely fuses indoor and outdoor spaces together. This expansive redesign will feature custom millwork, increased natural light, multistory gathering spaces, and a welcoming feel to emphasize sharing and socializing. With all new contemporary finishes and furnishings, North will exemplify the innovation and beauty for which Willow Valley Communities is known.

First floor renovations include redesigns of the kitchen, buffet dining room, menu dining room, private dining room, lobby, piano lounge, and reception area. Residents are already enjoying the delights of the new buffet dining room’s state-of-the-art equipment, including a pizza oven and rotisserie. Coming soon will be the new pastry kitchen with handcrafted artisan baked goods made fresh daily.

The addition of a new 1,000-sf atrium lounge will showcase a 28’ tall glass wall looking out into the newly renovated 33,000-sf courtyard where diners can enjoy eating alfresco.

The amenities of the popular courtyard, including the gazebo, will be updated for style and ease of use.

Innovative and fresh additions to the courtyard include a fire pit, outdoor dining, some new trees and plants, and an outdoor kitchen where residents can barbecue.

The library, auditorium, multi-purpose room, art and crafts studio, mailroom, business center, offices, and billiards WillowValleyCommunities.org

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Renovate, Decorate, Celebrate

room are all getting an upgrade on the third floor. A new audiologist office suite will benefit many members of our community. The PNC Bank and pharmacy will remain in their current homes.

The highly anticipated new coffee shop and sandwich bar, which will overlook the stunning new atrium from the third floor as well as out into the courtyard, will feature baguette and other bread delights from the first floor pastry bakery.

Fair trade coffees and recycled, sustainable paper products will accent responsible harmony with nature.

The people of Manor North are already known for their passion for discovery and their caring, community-centered fellowship. Sharing inspiration with others will continue to come naturally in this fresh setting. Nurturing existing friendships and creating new relationships in this stunning environment will further enhance community life at North.

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The Willow Way of Life

Marking the First Year of

THE CLUBHOUSE AND LOCAL TABLE

The Clubhouse on Willow Valley Communities’ Manor Campus has enjoyed a vibrant first year. It’s been a year of pinball and Skee-ball competitions at the vintage arcade, a year of worldwide golf courses played at the golf simulator, a year of family bowling nights at the six-lane bowling alley, and a year of using the fully equipped fitness center and playing matches on the pickleball and volleyball courts. Since the amenities of The Clubhouse opened in July 2014, the 30,000-sf hub has provided 22

Fall/Winter 2015

an abundance of intergenerational opportunities for residents, their families, and their friends—not to mention our team members, who this year were able to use the outdoor pool on Sundays. Since The Clubhouse opened, more than 38,000 visits have been recorded, 15,000 of whom were guests.

The first full summer season at The Clubhouse was a hit, with residents bringing out-of-school grandchildren and the children’s parents to relax,

(From left) Certified Sommelier Chris Trendler; Chef Rolando Anoceto; Lead Bartendar Gordon Drake renew, and rejuvenate. The state of the art Har-tru™ tennis courts, swept, conditioned, and ready for the season were played well into the crisp fall days.

The vision for The Clubhouse was to create innovative spaces that encourage visits from family and friends and inspire meaningful intergenerational interaction. That vision has been and continues to be realized, but Willow Valley Communities simply provides the

canvas. The residents then paint a life lived forward.

With the cooler seasons upon us, residents and their guests will continue to enjoy great times and conversations inside The Clubhouse while enjoying the indoor activities or over delicious meals in the farm-to-table gourmet restaurant, Local Table. Willow Valley’s wine lovers will continue to enjoy expert advice from Willow Valley’s own sommelier on innovative food and

wine pairings. The Clubhouse, just as Willow Valley envisioned, has taken innovation to a whole new level. It’s all about meaningful intergenerational connections: spending time and making memories together. Here’s to many more years to come.

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Feed the Soul

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Fall/Winter 2015

EXPERIENCE Willow Valley

EXPERIENTIAL EVENTS PROGRAM Visiting Willow Valley is one thing – but experiencing Willow Valley is quite another. When potential future residents encounter the spirit of Willow Valley and the beautiful local area—the vibrancy, the excitement, and the community relationships—they understand the possibilities of living at Willow Valley in a completely different way.

That’s the philosophy behind the Experiential Events Program, designed to allow guests to sample some of the types of opportunities they would have available to them should they decide to move to Willow Valley. It may be an active afternoon of play at The Clubhouse to excite the mind, a fun poolside dance to awaken the body, or an inspiring theatrical performance to nurture the spirit. All of the experiential events offer opportunities to grow, learn, and engage while experiencing Willow Valley Communities and the surrounding areas.

Willow Valley is a community of endless opportunities with unparalleled amenities and has opportunities for you to experience all of them. Enjoy an afternoon full of flavor, conversation, and discovery as you learn about delectable food and wine pairings with one of Lancaster’s premier wine professionals, our own sommelier. Attend a Broadway– quality show or musical performance on the stage of our 500-seat performing arts theater, attend a cooking class with one of our award-winning chefs, or have a pampering spa treatment in our Day Spa. Many guests of Willow Valley have enjoyed these and other events on their journey of learning about the communities.

Not only do those who move to Willow Valley experience all that Willow Valley has to offer -- 11 dining venues, The Cultural Center, The Clubhouse, Fitness Center, pools and tennis courts, they have the exciting city of Lancaster right in their backyard. Our experiential events calendar incorporates the larger community as well, with its rich history, arts, and culture – fabulous theaters and symphony, entertainment, art galleries, restaurants, our own baseball stadium featuring The Barnstormers, and so much more.

Lancaster is a city ripe for exploration.

Look for your copy of the Experience Willow Valley catalog or contact our Welcome Center for a copy. Reserve your space today for one of our uplifting and entertaining events. Experience the endless possibilities offered by our distinctive environments and learn what Life Lived Forward is all about.

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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 consistently received “A” category ratings from Standard & Poor’s, 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