American House Grand Rapids2619 Kalamazoo Avenue SE | Grand Rapids | Michigan | 49507

Office: (616) 248-3499 | grandrapids@americanhouse.com | americanhouse.com

December 2016Your Friendly American HouseGrand Rapids Staff

Executive Director Theresa BursleyAssistant Executive Director Belinda WernerLife Enrichment Director Stella BlissSupervising RN Heather WalkerHead Chef Teresa McCookHousekeeping Supervisor Karie BeaudinMaintenance Supervisor Bob HoornHairstylist Just ConnieOffice Support Katie RobertsonSocial Worker Jill Thymes

Important Phone NumbersMain Office (616) 248-3499The Medical Team (616) 916-7958Life Enrichment Office (616) 248-9889Dietary Services (616) 248-0283Ridelink (616) 774-1288GO! Bus (616) 456-6141Senior Meals (616) 459-3111Calder City Taxi (616) 454-8080Walgreens (616) 452-4870Meijer (616) 452-9651

Happy Holidays!We want to wish you and your loved ones every

happiness this Holiday Season and throughout theNew Year!

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Residents Only

Let’s GatherTogether andSpread Some

Holiday Cheer!On Friday,

December 23rd, at2:00pm, we will bespreading someHoliday cheer in thebistro and lobbyarea. Holidayrefreshments will beserved and of coursesome great Holidaymusic will be playingas we participate in agame called bring agift get a gift. There isa $5.00 limit on thegifts. Please be sureyour gift is wrapped.You can bring it tothe Life EnrichmentOffice or bring it withyou on the day of theevent. It’s simple, ifyou bring a gift youget to choose a gift.Please do not putyour gift under thetree until the eventtime. We will have afew extra gifts forthose that are notable to get out topurchase one.

Holiday Events at AmericanHouse Grand Rapids

American House Grand Rapids willhost a Holiday Gathering for you andyour family on Tuesday, December 6th,at 5:00pm. Join us as we will welcomein the 2016 Holiday Season. A flyer willbe posted with further informationregarding the number of guestsallowed.

Ugly Holiday Sweater ContestOn Thursday,

December 22nd joinus as we show off ourugly Holiday sweaters.This is lots of fun toparticipate in duringthe Holiday season.The idea is to make

the ugliest Holiday sweater you possiblycan by adding items to it.

Holiday PhotosOn Monday,

December 5th, at10:00 am, we will betaking Holiday picturesfor you to send to yourfamily and friends.

We’ll provide the setting, cards and 5printed photos per resident.

Winter Weather ConditionsThis is to inform you that during the

winter months American House GrandRapids reserves the right to ground thebus when having or expecting badweather conditions. If local schools areclosed the bus is automaticallygrounded.

Our Veterans atAmerican House

Grand RapidsWe had a great turnout at both

morning and afternoon events onVeterans Day. Many of youproudly displayed your patrioticcolors. We recognized many ofour veterans as they shared withus where they served and yearsof service. Residents wereencouraged to walk around theroom and shake hands and thankeach veteran for their service. Wealso recognized our veterans atthe 2:30 Happy Hour. We hadThe Silvertones here forentertainment and sang along tomany of the patriotic songs theyplayed.

Our VeteransJim SarnicolaJohn NidefskiReuben SmartVioletta BarthTom FredrickBill GriffoireIvory JenningsOren ClarkAl MaukRick StadtJeffrey Stokes

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AMERICAN HOUSEFOUNDATION

American HouseFoundation will besponsoring theHoliday HOPE ForSeniors. We willhave a special tree

with large paper bulbs for you totake if you would like to participate.This works like the Angel Tree but isstrictly for seniors. If you have anyquestions please come to the officeand we will be happy to assist you.

Happy 100th Birthday Oren!We invited the Fire Department in

for Oren’s 100th birthday. For firehazard reasons we decided not tolight 100 candles. Thank you to thefiremen that are stationed directlynext door to American House GrandRapids for attending the party armedwith fire extinguishers.

Wit & Wisdom

“Joy descends gentlyupon us like the

evening dew, anddoes not patter down

like a hailstorm.”—Jean Paul

“A thing of beauty isa joy forever: Its

loveliness increases;it will never pass

into nothingness.”—John Keats

“It is the supreme artof the teacher to

awaken joy increative expression

and knowledge.”—Albert Einstein

“Happiness lies in thejoy of achievement

and the thrill ofcreative effort.”—Franklin D.

Roosevelt

“Tears of joy are likethe summer

raindrops piercedby sunbeams.”—Hosea Ballou

“Focus on thejourney, not the

destination. Joy isfound not in finishing

an activity butin doing it.”

—Greg Anderson

Copyright © 2015 Uhlig LLC

December 2016Grand Rapids

EntertainmentOutingsSpecial Events

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

19:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Meijer10:45 YMCA Veggie Van

1:00 The Corner Store2:00 Bingo

210:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion

1:00 Euchre1:00 The Corner Store2:30 Happy Hour with

310:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie

410:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship

510:00 Holiday Photos10:00 Coffee Hour1:00 The Corner Store1:00 Cribbage2:00 Meijer

69:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Arts & Crafts

1:00 The Corner Store2:30 Health Matter with Drew in

the Bistro3:45 Line Dance Class5:00 Christmas Party

710:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 BP & Weight Checks11:00 Smash Burger

1:00 The Corner Store1:00 65 Game3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship

89:00 Sonus Hearing9:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Meijer10:45 YMCA Veggie Van

1:00 The Corner Store2:00 Bingo

910:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Exercise Class10:30 Catholic Communion10:30 Amigo

1:00 Euchre1:00 The Corner Store2:30 Happy Hour with Eddie

Francisco

1010:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie

1110:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship

1210:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Exercise Class11:00 Holiday Music in the Bistro

1:00 Cribbage1:00 The Corner Store2:00 Meijer

139:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Arts & Crafts1:00 The Corner Store2:00 Banks & D&W3:45 Line Dance Class7:00 Bingo

1410:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Exercise Class10:30 BP & Weight Checks11:00 Woodland Mall

1:00 65 Game1:00 The Corner Store3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship

159:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Cascade Meijer10:45 YMCA Veggie Van

1:00 The Corner Store2:00 Bingo

I Will Be Out of the Office 1610:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion

1:00 Euchre1:00 The Corner Store2:30 Happy Hour with The

Silvertones

1710:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie

1810:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship

1910:00 Resident Meeting10:00 Coffee Hour11:00 Holiday Music and

Refreshments in the Bistro1:00 The Corner Store1:00 Cribbage2:00 Meijer

209:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Arts & Crafts1:00 The Corner Store2:00 Dollar Tree3:45 Line Dance Class7:00 Bingo

2110:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 BP & Weight Checks11:00 Gun Lake Casino

1:00 The Corner Store1:00 65 Game3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship

229:00 Ugly Holiday Sweater9:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Meijer10:45 YMCA Veggie Van

1:00 The Corner Store2:00 Bingo

2310:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion

1:00 The Corner Store1:00 Euchre2:00 Happy Hour and Holiday

Greetings

CHRISTMAS EVE 2410:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie

CHRISTMAS DAY 2510:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship

2610:00 Coffee Hour1:00 The Corner Store1:00 Cribbage

279:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Arts & Crafts1:00 The Corner Store2:00 Meijer3:45 Line Dance Class7:00 Bingo

2810:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 BP & Weight Checks11:00 Applebees

1:00 65 Game1:00 The Corner Store3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship

299:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Meijer10:45 YMCA Veggie Van

1:00 The Corner Store2:00 Bingo

3010:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Exercise Class10:30 Catholic Communion

1:00 Euchre1:00 The Corner Store6:30 New Years Eve Event

NEW YEARS EVE 3110:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie

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Talk About It

Amigo Mobility“TIME FOR A

WINTER TUNE-UP”“On Friday,

December 9th, from10:30 to 12 Noon, theteam from AmigoMobility Center willbe here to check,clean and lubricateyour mobilityequipment. Minorrepairs can be doneon site and anythingmore involved can bescheduled. They willalso haveaccessories andparts available. Takea few minutes to getyour walker,wheelchair or scooterready for winter.”

SafetyReminder

This is a friendlyreminder not to letpeople in the buildingthat you do notknow. If they are hereto visit a friend orfamily member theyneed to call from themain entrance andhave that personbuzz them in. We allneed to do our partto keep prowlers outof the building.

Thank you!

ARTS & CRAFTS

Picnic at theRockford Dam

We were thankful to have niceweather to shop, go out for icecream and picnic.

New Year’s CelebrationJoin us for our New Year’s Eve Event on Friday, December 30th, at 6:30pm,

in the dining room. We’ll have Eddie Francisco here to entertain you as we bringin the New Year 2017. Hors d’oeuvres and champagne are on the menu for thisspecial event. Because this is a very special occasion we would like toencourage you to come dressed up for the party. This is not required but it is anopportunity to dress in your best for a special celebration. We will be taking lotsof pictures throughout the evening.

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Special Dog Day

Thank you Sandy, Ina andgrandchildren! We enjoyed seeing thedogs in their cute costumes.

A Wealth of‘Wonderful’ Facts

This year, the classic movie “It’s aWonderful Life” turns 70 years old.Earn your wings with friends andfamily by sharing these fun factsabout the holiday favorite:

• The film was based on the1943 short story “The GreatestGift” by Philip Van Doren Stern.

• Featuring Jimmy Stewart’s returnto acting after serving in WorldWar II, the movie was the firststarring role for Donna Reed.

• For the film’s winter scenes, thespecial effects crew came upwith a groundbreaking way tomake snow: They combined thefire-extinguishing chemicalFoamite with sugar, water andsoap flakes, then pumped themixture through a wind machine.

• The famous finale originally hadthe cast singing “Ode to Joy”rather than “Auld Lang Syne.”

• A box office bomb in 1946,the movie only made back$3.3 million of its $3.7 millionbudget. It didn’t become abeloved holiday tradition until itwas repeatedly aired on TV inthe 1970s and ’80s.

• In 2006, the American FilmInstitute named “It’s a WonderfulLife” the most inspiring film ofall time.

Remember Me?

If you catch thesong “(There’s NoPlace Like) Home forthe Holidays” thistime of year, chancesare it will be theversion sung by PerryComo, the legendarycrooner fans called“Mr. C.”

He was bornPierino Como onMay 18, 1912, inCanonsburg, Pa.,outside of Pittsburgh.

Young Como tookmusic lessons andenjoyed singing,and later sang in abig band.

In 1943, he signedhis first recordingcontract as well as amovie contract.

Como earned twoEmmy Awards for“The Perry ComoShow,” which airedweekly until theearly 1960s.

Among his biggesthits was the ballad“Catch a FallingStar,” which wasawarded the firstofficial gold recordin 1958.

Como’s annualholiday TV specialswere a belovedtradition.

December 2016

1818: The song “Silent Night” is

performed for the first time at a

church in Austria.

1913: Created to entertain readers,

the first crossword puzzle is

published in the New York

World newspaper.

1925: The world’s first motel, the

Motel Inn, opens in San Luis Obispo,

Calif. It charged $1.50 per night.

1938: Construction begins on the

Thomas Jefferson Memorial in

Washington, D.C.

1943: Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower is

appointed supreme commander of

Allied forces during World War II.

He led the invasion of Western

Europe that began on D-Day.

1947: Florida’s Everglades National

Park is dedicated.

1963: During the broadcast of the

annual Army-Navy college football

game, instant replay is used for the

first time in a live sporting event.

1985: Wilma Mankiller takes office

as chief of the Cherokee Nation and

becomes the first woman to lead a

major American Indian tribe.

1998: Six astronauts aboard the

space shuttle Endeavour deliver the

first American module of the new

International Space Station.

2004: After 23 years as anchor of

the “NBC Nightly News,” Tom

Brokaw signs off for the last time.

2006: New York City becomes

the first major U.S. city to ban

artery-clogging artificial trans fats

in foods sold by restaurants

and bakeries.

DECEMBER