Heritage Senior Communities“Your Home for Today…and for Tomorrow” December 2020 • Issue 12

MerryChri�mas

ManagementStaff

Kurt SappAdministrator

Candy BitsonResident Services Coordinator

Jodi HindsLife Enrichment Coordinator

Chef Brenda OlsonFood Service Manager

David HubbellMaintenance / Housekeeping

Supervisor

Cathy GuilesOffice Manager

850 Seminole Road, Norton Shores, MI 49441 • Phone: 231-780-2944 • Fax: 231-780-2599Email: seminoleshores@heritageseniorcommunities.com

One of older residents remembered getting a ShirleyTemple doll for Christmas. On another Christmas she gotbaby dolls inspired by the Dionne quintuplets. It camewith five little baby dolls in a pink basket. I’m not tellingher age but I’m guessing you could make a good guess bythese two very timely gifts.

Then the conversation turned to memories of Christ-mas out in the community. The descriptions of downtownMuskegon resembled something that Norman Rockwellwould be inspired to paint. They told me it was a total-ly different feeling downtown during the holidays; it wasspecial. Western Avenue was all lit up with Christmas dec-orations and there was a marvelous hustle and bustle ofChristmas shoppers going from Grossman’s to Hardy’sHerpolesheimers. “At Christmas, you always ran into peo-ple you knew.” said one resident. “Then, if you still a dimeleft over, you got to go to Walgreen’s and sit at the sodafountain.”

Another resident remembers the city’s nativity sceneon Broadway and Leahy. “My family went there every yearand we would kneel down and say a prayer. Then, my

mom would find some strangerto snap a picture of our wholefamily.” The tradition of familyphotos in front of the nativityscene went on for ten years. Hismom would proudly line them allup every Christmas.

Thanks to all the residentswho participated in my Christ-mas Reminiscing. I can vividlyimagine your wonderful nostal-gic memories and feel the giddi-ness of all your experiences. I didnot tell you the names of theseparticipants because I thoughtresidents could have some funasking around for clues and fig-uring it out for themselves.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

For most residents, their parents held to the traditionalSanta myth. It was the perfect “good behavior” incentivefor any mom to have in her arsenal. To keep the myth go-ing, however, each household had a twist as to how thingswere done. One resident said that Santa Claus decorat-ed the Christmas tree at her house. To help the very busySanta, her kind Father set the tree up and put the lightson, but it wasn’t until Christmas morning when she gotto see the tree in all its glory. Another resident said his treenever had any presents under it until Christmas morn-ing. I imagine that kept him in suspense whether he madethe naughty or nice list. But, every Christmas morningit was pure delight when he saw the presents piled highunder the tree and spilling out into the room.

“My parents pushed all the furniture back and set upa miniature Christmas Garden,” said another. Hergrandfather, an artist, painted a backdrop for the sceneand her father created a village, complete with a moun-tain, a train and little people.

Then we talked presents. I learned the favoritecologne of the 1940’s was Evening in Paris. One womanshared, “I still remember mymother getting a beautiful boxlined in blue velvet from my Fa-ther, filled with small bottles ofEvening in Paris cologne.”

From one of the younger res-idents, there was mention of thefamily getting their first recordplayer, and of him giving his sis-ter a transistor radio. The mostmemorable gift though, was a BBgun that he received, which hewas only allowed to use in thebasement. There, he could onlyshoot at a stack of cardboard box-es. He said he demolished thoseboxes.

Resident’s Christmas Memories:

mmmmttfffffffffpppppppsssssmmuu

wwmmiiigggnnprrau

gyxx--ff

--eedd--tt

BBeeeeyy--ee

Resident Spotlightby Jodi Hinds

Staff AnniversariesThank you for another year of service, and for all that you do!

Beverly B. ..................................12/1/15Patrice G. ..................................12/5/17

Kaitlin D. ..................................12/3/19Mandy W. ...............................12/17/19

take it from there. I also have had craftgroups and cooking groups.

Starting in December a hymn sing willbe added and the volley game. The volleygame is an easy, fun activity that promotesstretching and reaching. Something every-one needs these days! There will also be ex-ercise classes. Residents, if I haven’t ap-proached you on an activity that you areinterested in, ask an aide to give me themessage that you want to be put on my list.I also will be leaving time open once a weekfor doing one-on-one activities like man-icures and foot spas.

Just a side note: As of yet, no outsidefolks, such as entertainers, volunteers,church or community groups are allowedin the building. So, it’s time for some think-ing outside the box. In October we wereable to have the entertainment of the MonaShores Marching Band play for us. Jay theband director told me he is going to try andget small groups of band members to bun-dle up to come back in December and playoutside our windows. Cross your fingers.

After months of not being able to havegroup activities, we were finally allowed inOctober to have small groups of resi-dents in the Life Enrichment Room.What a blessing! It’s a small step forwardbut at least it allows for laughter and shar-ing among residents. Of course, things haveto be done differently, so I’d like to explainhow just what is happening with our Lifeprogram.

The first thing that needed to be donewas to measure the Life Enrichment room,and find how many could fit comfortablywhile still being distanced six feet apart. Wecan fit eight residents at one time. Bingowas the first thing to come back, but therewas more than eight residents that wishedto play, so there was two sessions back toback, one at 1:30, and another group at3:00. Along with Bingo are two othergames: Group Crossword puzzle andWheel of Fortune. For socializing there havebeen several informal coffee circles. I startthe group off with an interesting topic orquestion, serve snacks, and the residents

Spotlight on Activities:by Jodi Hinds, Life Enrichment Coordinator

Department Spotlight

The Murder Mystery Party Annette turns 100!Cookie

Izzy stays after to pose mask-less Anne Marie as Dusty ChapsJudy waving at Halloween children

Cora Terry as Captain Dread Christina and a littlebook of Longfellow poetry

Kurt is King Nancy

ACROSS1. One of Santa’s Reindeer3. Santa’s Helpers5. December 25th is _________.7. Christmas drink

10. The name of a popularsnowman.

Christmas Crossword PuzzleChristmas Word SearchO B Y R R S B G H E W M B S H

Q X C S S F Z S N P E S Z L E

R E E D N I E R D Z T N T E A

L D T M M V H T T W C O T I R

L P A M L Q V R X G Y R K G N

R Z Q E E S E J K S Y D G H B

B Y U E O E T F I L D Y W T V

C L S W D I V O L H E Z H T S

D E X L M T Q O C Z L K Q S S

N G R W M N H W P K S J G Z A

M N Q W L D W P S R I H W G N

P A Z T S S K E N R S N X X T

R Z O D E T H D L C A J G O A

C U S B H N A M W O N S R Z O

Y S Z F Z U B R N T N R V T Q

ANGEL

ELVES

HOLLY

REINDEER

SANTA

SLED

SLEIGH

SNOWMAN

STAR

STOCKING

TREE

TOYS

DOWN2. Christmas month4. He hates Christmas!6. You hang them by the chimney.8. On Christmas morning we

unwrap our ________.9. ___ to the world!

1 2

3 4

5 6

7

9

10

8

HappyHolidays!Happy

Holidays!

Administrator NotesDuring this holiday season, I would

like to remind everyone of our gift andgratuity policy here at Seminole Shores. Itis our policy that employees are not al-lowed to accept gratuities or gifts fromfamily members, or residents. We appre-ciate that you want to thank them forwhat they do for your loved ones andsending cards to staff with notes of thanksand encouragement can go a long way inboosting an employee’s spirits.

We also ask that when sending a holi-day decoration, such as a wreath or tree,that you choose artificial greenery overlive cuttings. Also, candles need to be theelectric flameless type. Following thesesimple rules will keep us safe and in com-pliance with all fire codes. Thank you foryour corporation.

BirthdaysBirthdaysScott B. ......................................12/10Susan J.......................................12/13Mary B. .....................................12/16Carol M. ....................................12/16Janice K. ....................................12/21Gary P. .......................................12/28

With Deepest Sympathies...Our thoughts and prayers are extended

to the families and friends ofJessie J. and Elaine B.