Willow - Spring 2023

Willow Valley Communities

Celebrating Life Lived Forward

Welcome to this issue of Willow, Willow Valley Communities’ lifestyle magazine.

I am delighted to be writing to you in this space for the first time as President and Chief Operating Officer of Willow Valley Living, the management company for Willow Valley Communities.

In early 2018 I began my career at Willow Valley Communities as Executive Vice President of Residential Operations. At the time, I was very familiar with Willow Valley Communities and desired the opportunity to be a part of an organization known for its high standards of excellence, attention to detail and service, and culture of hospitality. Over the past few years, I have been inspired by Residents’ pursuits of their individual Life Lived Forward lifestyles. Since the appointment to my new role in October, I’ve continued meeting more Residents and learning even more about their journeys.

I am especially humbled when I see the deep personal relationships that have come about on our campus. I see these relationships celebrated in a multitude of ways at Willow Valley Communities:

y Residents just moving in from states across the country reaching out to meet their new neighbors as the moving truck arrives

y Residents who have been here for years celebrating a milestone anniversary of their move

y Willow Valley Communities’ club members collaborating to organize a heartfelt event

y Residents coming together to show love and support of one of their own

I am always appreciative when Willow Valley Communities receives accolades as an organization, and we continue to celebrate Lancaster, PA, which has once again been named the #1 Best Place to Retire in the United States for 2022–2023 by U.S. News & World Report.

At Willow Valley Communities, there is so much to be grateful for, and there is so much to celebrate. I see it every day as I engage with Residents and our Team Members. I invite you to learn more from the stories of many of these celebrations inside this issue of Willow, and I invite you to come for a visit to see for yourself.

Sincerely,

Craig D. Thompson President & Chief Operating Officer Willow Valley Living

CELEBRATING THE NEED FOR SPEED | 3

Residents Jim Comey, Jerry Covey, Jack Dunlap, and Dick Tennies may have come from different journeys, but their favorite one now is by motorcycle. Find out how this group pursues this passion at Willow Valley Communities.

FROM NEW NEIGHBORS TO STEADFAST FRIENDS — THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE | 9

Discover how easy it is for Willow Valley Communities Residents to make friends — no matter how long they’ve lived here.

HOW CELEBRATING VETERANS DAY TURNED INTO CELEBRATING VETERANS MONTH | 14

When the Willow Valley Communities Veterans Committee, Camera Club, and Quilt Guild decided to collaborate for a Veterans Day event, it turned into honoring our veterans for an entire month.

KAY SHANAMAN: CELEBRATING LIFE | 21

Meet new Resident Kay Shanaman and learn how she thrives with a healthy lifestyle, a positive attitude, and a spirit of motivation.

WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES CELEBRATES FAMILY | 23

Peter and Phyllis Witmer will soon be our first third-generation Residents! Meet the couple and see how Willow Valley Communities is a true family affair for them.

MOSAIC: AND AWAY WE GO! | 25

Hundreds of visitors and members of the media have already come to Willow Valley Communities to learn more about Mosaic, Willow Valley Communities' expansion into Lancaster City. Now you can, too.

CELEBRATING THE WILLOW LIFESTYLE | 29

We are honored to receive recognition from outside organizations for our commitment to excellence.

CELEBRATING THE NEED FOR SPEED

At Willow Valley Communities, Residents have seemingly limitless opportunities to embrace our Life Lived Forward philosophy and engage in what interests them most. Hundreds of clubs, classes, presentations, and exhibits in an almost mind-boggling array are offered regularly for Residents to choose as they desire.

But of these many passions Willow Valley Communities Residents can pursue, the most celebrated ones are the deep personal interests they bring to their new home to share with their new community. We never tire of featuring these unique passions that make Residents at Willow Valley Communities, well, unique. Here are just a few of them.

The Motorcycle Gang

If you happen to hear the rumble of motorcycles turning a corner on campus, you might just be seeing Jim Comey, Jerry Covey, Jack Dunlap, and Dick Tennies coming back from a motorcycle ride throughout Lancaster County. The group of fairly new Residents found each other through the shared passion of motorcycle riding, and they decided to meet up to ride together. The gentlemen may have different backgrounds, different journeys that brought them to Willow Valley Communities, and different models of bikes, but they all have one thing in common: they love riding motorcycles

and want to share their passion for the pastime.

SouthPointe Resident Jim Comey from Kennett Square, PA says he’s been riding since the mid ’70s, with treks to Canada and the Blue Ridge Mountains. He stopped while raising his children, but took it up again in 1990. He says his prime time to ride his 2019 BMW 1200 R nineT Pure bike is Sunday morning. “The world’s quiet,” he reflects. “There are not many people on the curving country roads yet, and all’s right with the world.” Jim also describes how riding a motorcycle is the best mental health therapy there is. “Merging with a machine in the open air, your senses are alive and your mind’s sharp — there’s nothing better!”

SouthPointe Resident John (Jack) Dunlap, originally from Oxford, PA, says his love of motorcycles goes back to childhood, when a neighbor who was a Philadelphia Highway Patrol Officer asked if he would like a ride on his police motorcycle. Jack recalls his answer was an enthusiastic “YES!”, and the lifelong love of motorcycle riding began. “The ride was magical,” he recalls.

Through the ’70s, Jack admits to being a bit “obsessed” and says he’s owned about a dozen motorcycles over the years. As a young, new pastor, ministry allowed little free time for his obsession, but he got around that challenge by starting

L-R: Residents Jack Dunlap, Jerry Covey, Dick Tennies, and Jim Comey

a motorcycle club at one of his churches. Now you’ll see Jack riding the unique three-wheeled 2013 BRP Spyder RT Limited, explaining that he’s recently “swapped two wheels for three.”

Jerry Covey of Spring Run currently rides a bright lime green 2019 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe. He grew up in Northeast Ohio, where he got his first motorcycle after high school graduation. He’s ridden ever since, and once or twice a year he goes on a four- or five-day motorcycle trip with three of his best friends from college, all retired engineers.

Jerry says he really enjoys the back roads of Lancaster. “Most of my local riding is with Dick Tennies. We have taken many rides in all directions from here. Fun, fun, fun!”

Dick Tennies, also a Spring Run Resident, is from Annapolis, MD, and says he rode while he was in college and until he was 26. He then sold his cycle and got busy with life, but picked up riding again with his college friends at age 61. They all enjoy going on annual rides and have been all over the lower 48 states, to Italy, and last year his friends visited Willow Valley Communities to ride throughout Pennsylvania.

“Lancaster County has fun motorcycle roads, curves, and elevation changes. Beautiful countryside with the Amish contour farming,” explains Dick. He recounts that he started back with a 1200cc cycle and has downsized to a 2009 BMW F800GS, chuckling that “lighter is better as you get older.” But as he approaches his 80th birthday this year, Dick says, “I will ride until I let the old man in, which won’t be too soon!”

We agree!

L-R: Jack Dunlap, Jim Comey, Dick Tennies, Jerry Covey

I will ride until I let the old man in, which won’t be too soon!

Dick Tennies, Resident

JEEP: Just Empty Every Pocket

Growing up in a career military family, Gables Resident John Henderson’s passion has always been military history. He and his wife, Carolyn, are from New Cumberland, PA. Through the years he collected countless artifacts and often participated in Civil War and World War II reenactments. As time went on, his focus became primarily World War II, he believes, to honor his father, a veteran of the war. (John and Carolyn’s son is also active duty in Germany.)

John says that one day he “got a real bug” and began searching for an authentic WWII military jeep. He succeeded in finding one that was being used as a farm vehicle, a Ford GPW WWII jeep with a production date of September 21, 1942. Although it was a little rough, it was restorable. “Perfect,” John describes.

He bought the jeep, lovingly restored it, and added authentic accessories, “to make it 1942 combat ready!” John explains. “When I got the jeep, it was an old, beat-up farm vehicle and had been converted to 12 volts. To get it back to 1942 US Army specifications, I put in a new wiring harness, converting the jeep back to its original 6-volt system.” He then replaced a blackout driving light that had been removed, installed a wire cutter, .30 caliber machine gun mount, front bumper towrope, canvas windshield cover,

dashboard data plates, canvas water bucket, camo net, tire chains, and a siren, and he applied period-appropriate unit numbering and US Army markings. John also added a special touch, hand painting “Carolyn” on the side as WWII soldiers used to do. “They used to paint their sweeties’ name on the side of their jeeps, so I did that also,” he says, blushing.

You’ll see John riding around Willow Valley Communities in the jeep, sometimes alone, sometimes with Carolyn, or sometimes with a lucky friend. He’s always happy to oblige when asked for a ride. John also enjoys showing the jeep at car shows and WWII events, and his favorite experiences have been when he’s had the opportunity to take a WWII vet out for a ride in it. “It’s a true honor to do that,” he explains, adding that he believes it is cathartic. “The vets will often open up to me with memories and stories that they have never shared before.”

John is sometimes asked what the letters JEEP stand for, and he says there are several possible sources. “Some say it is short for ‘general purpose.’ Some think it came from a popular character in the Popeye cartoons.” But he adds with a laugh that he agrees with so many other restorers that JEEP means “just empty every pocket.”

They used to paint their sweeties’ name on the side of their jeeps, so I did that also.

John Henderson, Resident

John and his son, Joe, during a re-enactment of the Battle of the Bulge.

A Collector of the Classics

A gorgeous arctic blue 1956 Corvette is the proud owner of SouthPointe Villas Resident Tom Grieco. And, no, that’s not a typo. An enthusiastic collector of classic cars all of his life, he swears that “The cars find me; I don’t find the cars.” Tom, who retired from Princeton University as a safety engineer, owns three other collector cars, including a 1957 Chevrolet Belair Sport Coupe, 1941 Packard 160 Coupe, and a 1929 Hupmobile Six Sedan. Other cars that have passed through his hands include a 1926 Ford T, 1948 Pontiac “woody” station wagon, and 1973 Mercedes 450SL.

Tom has always loved fixing things — taking them apart, then restoring or rebuilding them, with or without a shop manual. “I love the satisfaction and the challenge of fixing something that others say can’t be fixed,” he explains. Tom says his identical twin brother, Charlie, has similar traits, but he enjoys refurbishing homes.

Tom’s passion is showing and talking about his cars. He’ll take them out on the road or to a car show and is happy to

answer questions and explain any aspect of his vehicles — for as long as people want. “I don’t own any trailer queens,” he states. (A “trailer queen” is a classic restored car that never gets driven.)

The most fun Tom has is when he and one of his vehicles participate in a parade. He’ll purposely play period music from the car sound system, and he just loves to see the people smile as he drives by. “It’s a real thrill,” he says.

Tom and his wife, Robin Buccos, live in SouthPointe, which is also the current home of the Corvette. But he has plans to switch cars soon with the pink 1957 Chevrolet stored at the couple’s second home in North East, MD. And he can’t wait to drive it, show it, and talk about it — for as long as people want him to.

Will Tom be purchasing any more cars? “It all depends,” he says with a wink, “if there is one out there that happens to find me.”

SouthPointe Resident Tom Grieco loves driving his 1956 Corvette.

The cars find me; I don’t find the cars.

Tom Grieco, Resident

FROM NEW NEIGHBORS TO STEADFAST FRIENDS THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE

At Willow Valley Communities, there is always something — or someone — to celebrate. Relationships and friendships come easily as Residents open their homes and their hearts to new neighbors. Those new neighbors soon become dear friends sharing a laugh and making dinner plans over a hot cup of tea or a refreshing glass of wine.

Willow Valley Communities’ newest Residents at SouthPointe Village have already gotten the hang of it. Residents of the new M apartment building, the first of several to be constructed on the site, have regular, low-key monthly gatherings in one of their stunning open spaces.

It started with Bernie and Ella Dougherty, who moved to SouthPointe Village from North Carolina in August 2022. During their daily routine, they would encounter other new Residents in the elevator, lobby, garage, and other places.

Bernie explains, “Everyone greeted each other but really had not formally met, so the notion occurred to me that it might be useful to organize a gathering in our third-floor lounge where we could all introduce ourselves and begin to get to know one another in a social setting.” He placed a flyer in each Resident’s mailbox announcing a date and time and extended an invitation. They were asked to bring their beverage of choice, along with a snack or appetizer to share.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. During the first gathering, contact information was exchanged, as well as potential interest in various card games. “The rest is history,” says Bernie.

With these most recent Willow Valley Communities Residents making it a routine to connect monthly, they are sure to make even more history together as time goes on.

We now feel like we have a ‘family,’ and we take care of each other — we just love our neighborhood!

Ellen Eager, Resident

Up the street from the M building are the SouthPointe Villas on Gordon Drive. Every other Monday, Residents there take turns hosting a casual 5:00 happy hour. Hal and Ellen Eager, who moved to SouthPointe from Lancaster in January 2021, remember how the gatherings got started.

“Within a few months, one of our neighbors started our happy hours outside in the parking lot of our cul-de-sac,” recalls Ellen. “We would each bring our own chair, a drink, and a snack. When the weather started to get colder, we decided to take turns hosting in our villas.”

Dick and Kris Tedesco add, “Everyone just brings what they want to drink and some munchies, and that’s it. It’s not formal at all. It’s just the Residents on our street getting together for two hours.”

Though it sounds simple, for Ellen it goes a bit deeper. “We now feel like we have a ‘family,’ and we take care of each other — we just love our neighborhood!”

Dick Tedesco

Hal and Ellen Eager

Across the way on the Manor Campus is The Vistas, a community that was also brand new just five years ago. Residents there chose this fifth anniversary to celebrate the deep friendships that have grown over the years, gathering on a brilliant September evening at The VUE, the open-air rooftop lounge at The Vistas, to share food, drink, memories, champagne, and cake. They also posed for a group photo.

After a champagne toast, Barbara Czepukaitis led the group in singing “Auld Lang Syne.” She explains why this song was appropriate for the occasion. “Of course we sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ on New Year’s Eve, but it is also an age-old tradition in England, Scotland, and Wales. It is a thank-you and tribute to friends and family everywhere that they may have a

happy and healthy New Year. But since we were celebrating our five years together as a ‘family’ at The Vistas, it seemed appropriate to me to toast our friends, and also those who have passed, with this song. ‘Forever may we remember our times together.’”

Vistas Residents continue to look forward. “It’s a new life,” Barbara says. “It’s a new generation, and Willow Valley Communities is a wonderful place for all of us to be.”

Her husband, Vince, concurs. “We have a group of caring and compassionate people who have become more like an extended family, more than what any one of us could have imagined.”

Vistas Residents celebrate five years.

And at Willow Valley Communities, when one of our own needs support in challenging times, Residents are also there in full force. Vistas Resident Yash Amin’s beloved wife, Rita, passed away in March 2022. Rita loved social gatherings very much and had them often, inviting her many friends. She would refer to them as “get-togethers.”

Yash explains that the way Rita would have a get-together was she would arrange to serve “the best food, the best drinks, to the best friends.” So he, along with many Willow Valley Communities Residents, coordinated a get-together in

Rita’s honor. Not a memorial, but a get-together, just as Rita would have arranged. The best food, the best drinks, and the best friends.

“Get-togethers are exactly what Rita wanted me to keep hosting with our friends here at Willow Valley Communities, in her loving memory as I continue with Life Lived Forward,” Yash reflects. “I sincerely feel so blessed for being at Willow Valley Communities and making such great friends here that really care for one another. It’s a little piece of heaven on earth, or something similar!”

Get-togethers are exactly what Rita wanted me to keep hosting with our friends here at Willow Valley Communities, in her loving memory as I continue with Life Lived Forward.

Yash Amin, Resident

Yash Amin

HOW CELEBRATING VETERANS DAY TURNED INTO CELEBRATING VETERANS MONTH

When Stacy Musser, Willow Valley Communities’ Senior Director of Resident Life and Wellness, had an idea for Veterans Day, she couldn’t have known the impact it would have throughout campus — or how it would turn Veterans Day into Veterans Month, involving hundreds of Residents, dozens of Team Members, and several on-campus clubs and organizations.

Every year, Willow Valley Communities has a Veterans Day program organized by the Veterans Committee. With support from the Residential Life and Wellness team, the group puts on a program that includes presentations and a speaker. This time, Stacy had an idea, and in true Life Lived Forward

fashion, Willow Valley Communities Residents took it and ran with it. “It really snowballed,” she chuckled.

The idea was to have photos of Willow Valley Communities veterans displayed in the Cultural Center Gallery. It’s a large, commanding space that typically features the artwork of regional artists — perfect for a Wall of Honor photo display of Willow Valley Communities veterans.

Stacy explained, “I just thought we had this great space, so why not do something personal to show the impact of what our Residents who served experienced? And we do a Veterans Day program every year, so it’s a perfect time to showcase photos on a Wall of Honor.”

Photographing Our Veterans

Stacy contacted Resident Tony Poulos, President of the Camera Club, who loved the idea. He got to work reaching out to the club’s 200 members to organize the project, working closely with the Willow Valley Communities Veterans Committee to coordinate, schedule, and photograph the veterans. “When we first discussed the project, we estimated that maybe it would be a total of about 100 veterans’ photographs that needed to be taken,” recalled Tony.

But as word spread, the project grew — or “snowballed” as Stacy described, into a total of 350 photos.

Eighteen four-hour photo sessions, held from July through October 2022 across campus, were needed to photograph all of the veterans. Interestingly, 12 of them are women, and one of them is over 100 years old.

Camera Club member Domenick Buttiglieri photographed about half of the 52 veterans who are Residents of Willow Valley Communities’ supportive living communities. He said that was the most meaningful aspect of the project for him. “I met several World War II veterans who flew missions and were willing to tell me about it. I photographed a veteran who landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day when he was 18. He was wounded twice and received the Purple Heart.”

Domenick’s wife, Marjorie, concurred. She worked as an assistant for the photographers and didn’t realize how the experience would impact her. “I came from a patriotic family, and several of the men had served in the military,” she said. “Some even came home with injuries. But they never talked about their experiences or shared stories. It was through assisting in the photography project that I heard many stories — stories that had been waiting to be shared.” Marjorie added, “It was truly a privilege to have been a part of this project.”

Even after all the veterans were photographed, the project was far from finished. The Camera Club then worked tirelessly editing all the photos and getting them printed, framed, and arranged for hanging to create the awe-inspiring Wall of Honor in the Cultural Center Gallery. Resident Life and Wellness Coach Barry Sipe and Cultural Center Events Coordinator Jen Rynier also played instrumental roles in completing the project. “The Wall of Honor would not have come to fruition without their efforts,” Stacy offered.

The photo project was completed by November 1, just in time for the annual Veterans Day program on November 7, organized by the Veterans Day Committee.

The Willow Valley Communities Wall

Camera Club President Tony Poulos assists during a photo shoot.

Quilts of Valor

It was also during this time that the Willow Valley Communities Quilt Guild came up with an additional idea for the Veterans Day program. Resident Betty Price, Chair of the Veterans Committee, explained that while the desire is that all veterans at Willow Valley Communities are acknowledged, a new tradition of awarding Quilts of Valor provides another meaningful way to honor vets.

A Quilt of Valor is a handmade quilt awarded to a service member or veteran who has been touched by war. The quilt says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.”

Resident Sondra Scott led the Willow Valley Communities Quilt Guild’s Quilts of Valor efforts. She said that the Guild enthusiastically decided to create quilts to support the mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. “Our Guild is honored to be

part of the Quilts of Valor project as a way to thank our vets for their service to our country,” she stated.

Sondra also noted that at least one of the quilts made each year is a Guild group project. Each block in the quilt is made by a different woman, and when the blocks are completed, the group works together to finish the quilt. She remembered one of the Guild members saying, “Hand sewing the binding together at the end is like stitching the last bit of love into the quilt.”

Further describing the process, Sondra said, “We include a quote on the label that is sewn onto the back of each quilt that says it all: ‘This quilt is presented in appreciation for your service to our country, which will not be forgotten.’ Many of our Guild members have loved ones who are veterans, so the Quilts of Valor project truly comes from our hands and hearts.”

Hand sewing the binding together at the end is like stitching the last bit of love into the quilt.

Sondra Scott

The Veterans Day Program

Three Quilts of Valor were presented to veterans during the Veterans Day program. Sondra remembered how “deeply moved” she was during the event as the story of each recipient’s military service was shared.

Fred Connin served six years in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Sonar Supervisor. He was deployed for two years active duty in Vietnam with the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet, serving on board the USS Hissem , a destroyer escort, and the USS Nicholas, a destroyer.

Erve Easton joined the Navy and had several careers. First, he served on a carrier as an Expert On Demolition Officer. Next, he spent 17 years in the Submarine Service, becoming Captain. The third phase of his career was at the Pentagon, where he became the Navy’s leading expert in Cold War submarine operations.

Wendell Stockdale graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, but entered the Air Force because he wanted to fly. On a cloudy March day in 1956, he was ferrying his F-86 jet fighter to Prestwick Airfield in Scotland when he “flamed out” (ran out of fuel). Wendell planned to bail out, but spotted what looked like a school ahead. He knew if he left the plane it would certainly crash into the school in a ball of fire. He rode the plane down into a field, sustaining multiple severe injuries to himself, but averting a disastrous calamity that could have resulted in death and injury to countless people.

The program also included an inspiring and motivational presentation from Colonel Gary Steele, U.S. Army Retired, who served 23 years in the U.S. Army, broke the color barrier on Army’s varsity football team, and is a member of the Army Sports Hall of Fame.

L-R: Fred Connin, Erve Easton, Wendell Stockdale

Serving Willow Valley Communities’ Veterans

After all the activities of Veterans Month — the many photo shoots, the impressive photo display, the Quilts of Valor presentations, the Veterans Day program — Betty reflected and said it was nothing short of amazing. “It raised awareness of the veterans in our Willow Valley Communities family. Seeing 350 of their photos fill two walls in the Cultural Center Gallery was actually overwhelming. Some were almost brought to tears. And the stories many of our vets have to tell are extraordinary.”

Betty was delighted with the collaborative effort from the Willow Valley Communities Veterans Committee, Camera Club, and Quilt Guild, but was especially appreciative of the personal outreach the Veterans Committee was able to provide. She said that was probably the best thing about the event — that the Veterans Committee was able to connect with and talk to every vet at Willow Valley Communities who had their photo taken. She said that although the Willow Valley Communities Veterans Committee shares the common bond of having served in the U.S. military, and that all have had remarkable careers serving our country, right now the true purpose of the group is to help and serve all Willow Valley Communities veterans.

“One of our most important missions,” she said, “is to share experiences and help each other.” The group is eager to help other veterans by providing information about benefits, contacts, and other items of interest through a newsletter and by hosting visiting experts. Betty noted that through the photo shoot process, they learned more about the vets’ needs and interests, thus enabling them to plan more events tailored to them.

Veterans Month culminated with a social event at the Cultural Center Gallery. All of the volunteers who participated in the project were invited to meet the Resident veterans they had worked with. Each veteran enjoyed the fellowship and then was presented with their 8" x 10" framed photo.

During the social event, Stacy Musser looked over the Wall of Honor and reflected on her feelings. “Looking at this wall, emotion comes over me. It allows you to peek into some of the experiences that these Residents must have had.”

She concluded, “We have so many Residents here who have served our country in so many ways. This wall helps tell all those stories.”

Colonel Gary Steele, U.S. Army Retired, greets Residents after his presentation.

Veterans’ photos were organized before being hung on the Wall of Honor.

Betty Price

The Quilt Guild working on one of the Quilts of Valor.

KAY SHANAMAN: CELEBRATING LIFE

A healthy lifestyle focused on mind, body, spirit wellness has always been important to Kay Shanaman. Eating right, exercising, and being open to trying new things and meeting new people is how she embraces life.

And that’s exactly what Kay, a new Willow Valley Communities Resident, has done since she moved into her brand-new apartment at SouthPointe Village on the Lakes Campus.

She retired from a 30-year career as a first-grade teacher with the nearby Warwick School District. Additionally, she was employed by Weight Watchers of Philadelphia, where she spent over 34 years as a leader, coach, and trainer in Lancaster and Berks Counties, and 10 of those years as a manager for Lancaster County. She continues to enjoy coaching workshops in Lancaster.

After retiring, Kay and her husband, Duane, started exploring senior living communities by attending the annual Explore Retirement Living (ERL) Open House Tour. This countywide, collaborative event enables people to visit and compare 18 communities in Lancaster County all in one day.

At first, Willow Valley Communities’ extensive professional woodshops impressed Duane, an avid woodworker. But upon further review, it was our Type A Lifecare contract that made the couple’s decision easy. The contract means that if a higher level of care is ever needed, monthly service fees do not increase because of that need. Willow Valley Communities is the only exclusively Type A Lifecare contract community in Lancaster County — and the only one on the ERL tour.

The couple set their sights on Willow Valley Communities and started to make their plans. However, Duane tragically and suddenly passed away before the move. Kay took pause and reflected, but after a time decided to continue with the plan. “I knew I had to stay around people, and I knew I had to stay busy,” she remembers.

Kay motivated herself to embrace downsizing and adopted a mindset that kept her progressing. She explains that while cleaning out the mountain of items in her basement, “I would say, ‘If I saw this item in a store, would I buy it?’” If the answer was no, out it went. She also found that taking

photos of items that she wanted to remember helped the process of eliminating them.

Kay busied herself embarking on her new phase in life and adopting a new outlook. She wanted her new space to reflect that, so she contracted the services of a local decorator to help with designing her new home. Kay’s new style is clean, fresh, and modern with pops of color that don’t compete with the dramatic artwork she and Duane had collected over the years.

There was one thing, however, that didn’t change throughout this process: Kay’s sense of humor and her infectious laugh. You can’t help but giggle just a little bit with her when she nods toward Duane’s beautiful urn on her dresser and explains that as she was making all of her decorating decisions and changes, “He didn’t object at all with any of my choices.”

Staying engaged and having a positive attitude — with lots of laughter included — is what Kay thrives on at Willow Valley Communities. “This is your life,” she says, “and you create your own reality. Whatever you’re looking for, it’s here.”

This is your life, and you create your own reality. Whatever you’re looking for, it’s here.

Kay Shanaman, Resident

Peter and Phyllis Witmer

WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES CELEBRATES FAMILY

For these Residents, Willow Valley Communities is truly a family affair.

Peter and Phyllis Witmer will soon be Willow Valley Communities’ first third-generation Residents! Phyllis’s parents, Jim and Sally Witmer (coincidentally, Phyllis’s married name is the same as her maiden name), are current Residents of our Lakes community. Phyllis’s grandparents, Jacob and Naomi Good, were among the first Residents at Manor in the 1980s. Peter is also a legacy. His parents were Lakes Residents, and his mother is currently residing at The Glen. Also, Jim’s brother and his wife live at our SouthPointe community.

Phyllis says, “I grew up at Willow Valley Communities.” She remembers visiting her grandparents at Manor and having holiday dinners and celebrations with them. She also remembers bringing Peter, her then boyfriend (they met on a blind date), to meet them. Peter chuckles, “Phyllis’s grandparents had so many friends at Manor that we were left alone at the table while they socialized.”

Years later in 2016, after The Clubhouse was built, Phyllis enjoyed going to the outdoor pool with her mother every chance she could. In fact, she enjoyed The Clubhouse so much that her mother rented it out for her to hold her son’s high school graduation party there.

Now Peter and Phyllis are busy packing up their home in Leola, PA for a move to their apartment at Willow Valley Communities’ North community this spring. Peter currently works full-time for Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development, and Phyllis is a retired RN after a 38-year-long career at Lancaster General Hospital. They have a son who lives near Willow Valley Communities, and a two-year-old poodle, Sasha, who can’t wait to meet new friends at the dog parks on our campus.

“We always knew we would move here,” recalls Phyllis. “Willow Valley Communities made a commitment to us in mind, body, spirit. But what really sold us is Lifecare. It’s great to know that we will always be taken care of.” (Phyllis is referring to Willow Valley Communities’ Type A Lifecare contract, which means that if Peter or Phyllis ever need an enhanced level of care, their monthly service fee will not increase because of that enhanced need.)

Phyllis’s parents, Jim and Sally, are delighted with their daughter’s and son-in-law’s decision to move to Willow Valley Communities. And Sally says that her parents, Jacob and Naomi Good (past owners of Lancaster’s Good’s Furniture Store), would also be incredibly proud. “My father was a very smart businessman,” she explains. “He always believed in Willow Valley Communities, and so do we.”

Peter and Phyllis Witmer with Phyllis’s parents, Jim and Sally Witmer

AND AWAY WE GO!

That’s the spirit for Mosaic by Willow Valley Communities, our planned 20-story mixed-use tower that will rise majestically above Lancaster City. Mosaic, featuring 146 exquisite single-level residences, is the inspired work of renowned architects and designers and was merely an innovative dream less than 10 years ago. A dream, as well as a plan, to bring elevated 55+ living to the vibrant and culturally rich city of Lancaster.

Fast forward to 2023 and away we go!

Hundreds of visitors have already come to Willow Valley Communities to attend Mosaic information events. Over 1,000 people have expressed interest, all figuratively raising their hands saying, “Tell me more.”

On January 31, 2023, Willow Valley Communities held our first Mosaic press conference offering members of the media the latest details, timing, and pricing of this magnificent project.

Several dozen members of the media visited Willow Valley Communities’ Welcome Center to learn the very latest construction updates, schedules, and future plans from John G. Swanson, CEO of Willow Valley Development Corp.; Brian T. Rutter, Chief Marketing Officer of Willow Valley Communities; and Lester Yuen, the project’s lead architect from Gensler, the largest architecture firm in the world.

L-R: Megan Megensky of CBS 21 News with Maureen Leader, Willow Valley Communities’ Public Relations and Communications Manager

John G. Swanson, CEO of Willow Valley Development Corp., speaks to the media during the Mosaic press conference.

Brian T. Rutter, Chief Marketing Officer of Willow Valley Communities, is interviewed by WGAL News 8.

Together, they presented Mosaic’s floor plans, amenities, pricing, and construction schedule. They also told the story of Mosaic’s key role in Lancaster City, along with how its purposeful design will fit beautifully within the cityscape.

Reporters, photographers, and videographers had unfettered access, including questions/answers, interviews, video, and photographs, to John, Brian, and Lester throughout the conference. A Mosaic model at the location of the press conference was also open for tours. The model features 15thfloor simulated views of Lancaster City and beyond, allowing guests to experience what will be visible to future Mosaic Residents. Members of the media were encouraged to tour, video record, and photograph.

Mosaic is the next generation of residences by Willow Valley Communities, whose two existing suburban campuses are home to 2,600 Residents from close to 40 states. Mosaic will offer a premium level of award-winning service and amenities, and the exceptional value of Lifecare. Mosaic’s Type A Lifecare contract entitles a Resident to short- or long-term care at our main campuses, if ever needed, with no increase to their monthly fee.

Distinctive 55+ living is right around the corner at Mosaic. Intent deposits are being accepted now, and reservation deposit appointments are being planned for the very near future.

888.893.1423

Artist Rendering | Mosaic Ground Floor Lobby Willow Valley Communities Residents enjoy walking in Lancaster City.

Artist Rendering | Mosaic 17th Floor Club Lounge

Artist Rendering | Mosaic

In a word, refined

You know what you love. An elegant home in the heart of our vibrant city. Superb hospitality. Activities that engage your mind, body and spirit. And the comfort of knowing your future is secure.

If an exquisite home is nonnegotiable, you’ve come to the right place. At Mosaic, we’re uncompromising when it comes to craftsmanship, beauty, and attention to detail. Coming to the heart of Lancaster, Mosaic

will offer exceptional 55+ city living with 146 single-level residences that maximize one-ofa-kind Lancaster City views with windows stretching from floor to

Plus, the exceptional value of Willow Valley Communities' Lifecare, which entitles you to short-or long-term care, if needed in the future, at no increase to your monthly fee. Which means the comfort of knowing your future is secure, while you live life richly today.

ceiling. Choose from among 16 two- and three-bedroom plans that range from 1,592 to 3,338 square feet.

First apartment selections begin this spring. For your personal consultation, visit:

mosaiclancaster.com | 888.893.1423

Distinctive 55+ Living in Lancaster, pa

ApartmentSelections BeginThisSpring

Artist renderings for illustrative purposes.

CELEBRATING THE WILLOW LIFESTYLE

Willow Valley Communities is more than a 55+ community in Lancaster, PA — it’s a way of life.

Residents are offered almost endless opportunities to grow, learn, and engage daily. Pursuing passions and sharing experiences in our most stunning environment offers Residents an extraordinary lifestyle. Most of all, they enjoy the exceptional value of our Type A Lifecare — a wise investment for their and their family’s future.

Willow Valley Communities is grateful to be recognized for our almost 40-year commitment to excellence annually by these respected organizations:

Lancaster, PA Ranked #1 Best Place to Retire U.S. News & World Report 2022-23

Rated Best Independent Living Community U.S. News & World Report 2022-23

Awarded “A” rating with a Stable Rating Outlook Fitch Ratings 2022

The Glen the #1 Nursing Home in Pennsylvania Newsweek 2023

Best Senior Living Community 2022 Best of Lancaster Readers’ Poll, Susquehanna Style Magazine

First Place, Best Senior Living Community LNP|LancasterOnline 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards

First Place, 55+ Community LNP|LancasterOnline 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards

First Place, Retirement Community LNP|LancasterOnline 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards

First Place, Personal Care/Assisted Living Facility LNP|LancasterOnline 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards

The Willow Valley Way

For almost 40 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 should you need it later

— with no change to your monthly service fee due to the increased level of care.

And we are grateful to have been affirmed for our efforts. In addition to the many awards and recognitions we receive every year from various organizations, we consistently receive an “A” rating from Fitch Ratings, affirming our proven financial stability. Our most important recognition, though, comes from the people who live here.

600 Willow Valley Square Lancaster, PA 17602