American House Zephyrhills · in Springfield, MA, on January 24, 1978, but moved to Largo, FL, when she was 10, followed by a move 6 years later to Dade City. A 1997 graduate of Pasco

38130 Pretty Pond Road | Zephyrhills | Florida | 33540(813) 779-4501 | americanhouse.com

American House Zephyrhills

December 2016Our Management TeamVirginia Rice Executive DirectorKeaton Hobbs Marketing DirectorBarbara Bartlett, RN Wellness DirectorAbigail Boyd Business Office ManagerMike Diaz Environmental Services DirectorArmando Acosta Executive ChefDebbie Bond Life Enrichment DirectorCindy Christmas Memory Care LED

Epicurean Dining RoomHours of Operation

BREAKFAST7 - 9 a.m.LUNCH

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.DINNER

4 p.m.– 6 p.m.

Visit Us on the Webwww.americanhouse.com

A bright and cheery sight in winterbackyards the northern cardinal is the mostpopular state bird, representing seven U.S.states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, NorthCarolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.

A Special Holiday Message From OurExecutive Director

Happy Holidays to our American House Family!This is a favorite time of the year for our residents,

families, staff and visitors because of the beautifulholiday decorations we display in our community.This is something we look forward to year after year.If you have a favorite holiday decoration/heirloom, wewill proudly display it for you in the community.

Our Resident/Family Holiday Party is scheduled forThursday, December 15, from 4pm until 6pm. PleaseRSVP at the front desk for any guests. Due to ourcurrent capacity, this year we will have a 2 guestsonly limit per resident.

We will have the staff donation box at the frontdesk for those of you that want to contribute a little”Holiday Cheer” to our hard working staff. If you don’twant to contribute monetarily, we will accept cookiesand sweet treats to share with our staff. The box willbe available until December 16.

A warm welcome to our new Life EnrichmentDirector, Debbie Bond, who has a lot of exciting andfun events planned for you this month so check thecalendar so you don’t miss a thing!

Let’s remember those residents who are no longerwith us and keep them in our prayers.

I would like to welcome all our new residents to ourAmerican House Family, and remember that my dooris always open to you and yours.

God Bless You and Happy Holidays,Virginia

2

Trivia Whiz

The ColdestPlace on Earth

Antarctica, homeof the South Pole, isthe coldest, windiestand driest continenton Earth. The highesttemperature everrecorded inAntarctica was58 degreesFahrenheit; thecoldest was129 below zero.

Norwegian RoaldAmundsen wasthe first person toreach the SouthPole, arriving onDec. 14, 1911.

Antarctica has nogovernment. It is rununder the terms ofthe Antarctic Treaty,which declares thatthe continent be usedonly for peacefulscientific research.Dozens of nationshave signed thetreaty since it wasfirst written in 1959.

There are 1,000 to4,000 researchers inthe polar region atany one time.

About half a dozenpenguin speciesmake the continenttheir home.

Resident of the Month:Meredith M.

Born on Aug. 28, 1942 in LakeCharles, LA, Meredith is the daughterof Joe Bartlett, a preacher andRoselma, a schoolteacher. Sheattended school in New Orleans, butmoved with her parents and 3 siblingsto Sulfur, LA, during her senior year.While in high school, Meredith, a giftedartist and photographer, enjoyed artorganizations and was a member of theOpera Club. After graduating, sheattended Louisiana College, where shestudied Commercial Art andAdvertising. Meredith earned a bachelorof fine arts degree in Advertising andbecame a fashion illustrator. Also, whileattending LA College, Meredith met her“Prince Charming,” Dr. Lawrence M.,and they had two daughters, ElizabethNoel and Jana Kathleen. Meredith’sfamily has now grown to include fivebeautiful and intelligent grandchildren.

Meredith’s hobbies includedquilting, reading, being a vocalmusician, soccer games,concerts, and making porcelaindolls. In fact, she taught a classat a college in Jackson, MS, onhow to make porcelain dolls.

A resident here since January2016 and a member of ourChime Choir, Meredith has someadvice she would like to sharewith those interested in movinghere: “This is a very pleasant andcordial place to live. I have beenmade to feel very welcome hereand I hope that I can makeothers feel the same.” Anotherthing that Meredith would tellprospective residents: “The staffhere is wonderful and verywelcoming. You cannot ask for abetter or more caring group ofpeople than the American Housestaff and residents. I am veryhappy to be here.” Thank you,Ms. Meredith, we are very happyto have you here, too. Andcongratulations for being chosenas our December Resident ofthe Month!

Lots of fun events this monthbesides the Christmas Party onthe 15th. Check your calendarand board daily for updates.

So many reasons tocelebrate!!!!

3

Employee of the Month:Jennifer L.

Congratulations to Jennifer L.,our December Employee of theMonth. Jennifer, the mother of 4sons and 1 daughter, is one of our3rd Floor Med Techs. She was bornin Springfield, MA, on January 24,1978, but moved to Largo, FL,when she was 10, followed by amove 6 years later to Dade City. A1997 graduate of Pasco HighSchool (Go, Pirates!), Jennifer tookCertified Nursing Assistant andChildcare classes and was also amember of HOSA, which is a clubfor future health care professionals.

Jennifer grew up with 2 sistersand 1 brother; her mom is retiredfrom Kmart and her dad is a truckdriver. Before becoming a memberof the American House family,Jennifer worked at WestbrookeManor for five years and was acustomer service manager atWalmart for 10 years.

Jennifer’s plans for the futureinclude taking classes to become aLPN with hopes of one day becominga Registered Nurse. Great plans for agreat lady. We know that she willsucceed!

In her spare time (with 5 kids and abusy job, where does she find “sparetime”?), Jennifer loves to cross stitchand play computer games.

As for working here, Jennifer says“I love my residents. I love talking tothem and hearing how they grew up.Taking care of them is a pleasure. Ilove helping others, so helping themmakes me happy.” Well, Jennifer, weare all happy that you are a part ofour “family.” Congratulations,Jennifer.

Wit & Wisdom

If it had beenThree Wise Womeninstead of the ThreeWise Men, theywould have asked fordirections, arrived ontime, help to deliverthe baby, cleaned thestable, made acasserole, andbrought practicalgifts (like diapers!)

****************Lee, a 7-year-old

boy, was asked tosay the blessing forthe Christmas dinner.The family membersbowed their heads inexpectation. Leebegan his prayer,thanking God foreach member of hisfamily. Then hebegan to thank Godfor the food.

He gave thanks forthe turkey, thestuffing, the pudding,even the cranberrysauce. Then Leepaused, andeveryone waited andwaited. After a longsilence, he looked upat his mother andasked, “If I thank Godfor the Brusselssprouts, won’t heknow that I’m lying?”

Copyright © 2015 Uhlig LLC

December 2016Zephyrhills

Special EventsEntertainmentOutingsRecurring Events

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

19:30 Chair Exercises CC

10:00 Health Talk CC10:30 15 Minutes with Armando B11:00 IPAD class AC

1:00 Peggy’s Card Class - AC2:00 Happy Hour3:00 Jokereno - GR6:00 Bingo - GR

29:30 Intro to Line Dancing CC

11:00 Lunch Outing1:00 Christmas Tree

Decorating A2:00 ZUMBA CC2:30 Bridge Game B3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR6:00 Poker B


10:00 Wii Bowling - CC10:00 Corn Toss PRACTICE B12:30 Shopping Trip1:00 Ukulele Club CC2:00 Cooking Class with Armando AC2:30 Movie & Popcorn - CC3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR3:00 IPAD class AC5:30 Movie CC

410:00 Wii Bowling - CC10:30 Corn Toss PRACTICE B

1:30 Word Find CC3:00 Church Services - CC6:00 Bingo - GR

59:00 Coffee and Current Events B9:30 Chair Exercises CC

10:00 Shopping Trip10:00 Charity Knitting/Crochet GR10:30 Group Chat B

1:00 Corn Toss - B2:00 Intro Spanish and Ice Cream B3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR5:30 Bible Study with Maureen - CC6:30 Duplicate Bridge CC


10:00 Wii Bowling - exercise room10:00 Nature Appreciation CC10:00 Communion2:00 Wine Hour at the Bistro3:30 Nature with Debbie in the

Village6:00 Bingo - GR


10:00 Shopping Trip10:30 Chime Lessons GR

1:00 Pottery and painting AC2:30 Bridge Game B3:00 Jokereno - GR6:00 Rummikub - L6:00 Poker B


10:30 15 Minutes with Armando B11:00 IPAD class AC

1:00 Duplicate Bridge CC2:00 Happy Hour3:00 Jokereno - GR6:00 Bingo - GR


10:00 Wii Bowling - CC10:30 Christmas cookie exchange

AC11:00 Lunch Outing

1:00 Corn Toss - B2:30 Bridge Game B3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR6:00 Poker B


10:00 Corn Toss PRACTICE B10:00 Wii Bowling - CC12:30 Shopping Trip2:00 Cooking Class with Armando AC2:30 Movie & Popcorn - CC3:00 IPAD class AC3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR5:30 Movie CC




10:00 Shopping Trip10:00 Charity Knitting/Crochet GR10:30 Group Chat B

1:00 Corn Toss - B3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR5:30 Bible Study with Maureen - CC6:30 Duplicate Bridge CC


10:00 Resident Council B10:00 Communion10:00 Wii Bowling - CC2:00 Wine Hour at the Bistro3:30 Nature with Debbie in the




1:30 Music Bingo AC2:30 Bridge Game B3:00 Jokereno - GR6:00 Rummikub - L6:00 Poker B


10:00 Christmas Children Carols A10:30 15 Minutes with Armando B11:00 IPAD class AC1:00 Duplicate Bridge CC3:00 Jokereno - GR4:00 Christmas Party 4-66:00 Bingo - GR

169:00 Stroke Prevention GR9:30 Intro to Line Dancing CC

10:00 Wii Bowling - CC11:00 Scenic Drive

1:00 Corn Toss - B2:00 ZUMBA CC2:30 Bridge Game B3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR6:00 Poker B7:00 Piano Recital A


10:00 Corn Toss PRACTICE B10:00 Wii Bowling - CC12:30 Shopping Trip2:00 Cooking Class with Armando AC2:30 Movie & Popcorn - CC3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR3:00 IPAD class AC5:30 Movie CC6:00 Christmas Symphony Outing




10:00 Charity Knitting/Crochet GR10:00 Shopping Trip10:30 Group Chat B

1:00 Corn Toss - B2:00 Intro Spanish and Ice Cream B3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR5:30 Bible Study with Maureen - CC6:30 Duplicate Bridge CC


10:00 Communion10:00 Wii Bowling - CC10:00 BOOK CLUB L2:00 Wine Hour at the Bistro3:30 Nature with Debbie in the




1:30 Music Bingo AC2:30 Bridge Game B3:00 Jokereno - GR6:00 Rummikub - L6:00 Poker GR


10:30 15 Minutes with Armando B11:00 IPAD class AC

1:00 Duplicate Bridge CC2:00 Happy Hour3:00 Jokereno - GR6:00 Bingo - GR


10:00 Wii Bowling - CC11:00 Scenic Drive

1:00 Corn Toss - B2:00 Fireside Patio Chat2:30 Bridge Game B3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR6:00 Poker B


10:00 Wii Bowling - CC10:00 Corn Toss PRACTICE B12:30 Shopping Trip2:00 Cooking Class with Armando AC2:30 Movie & Popcorn - CC3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR3:00 IPAD class AC5:30 Movie CC

Christmas 2510:00 Wii Bowling - CC10:30 Corn Toss PRACTICE B



10:00 Shopping Trip10:00 Charity Knitting/Crochet GR10:30 Catholic Mass - CC10:30 Group Chat B

1:00 Corn Toss - B3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR5:30 Bible Study with Maureen - CC6:30 Duplicate Bridge CC


10:00 Communion10:00 Wii Bowling - CC10:30 Reminiscing with Residents CC

2:00 Wine Hour at the Bistro3:30 Nature with Debbie in the Village6:00 Bingo - GR



1:30 Music Bingo AC2:30 Bridge Game B3:00 Jokereno - GR6:00 Poker B6:00 Rummikub - L


10:30 15 Minutes with Armando B11:00 IPAD class AC1:00 Duplicate Bridge CC2:00 Happy Hour3:00 Jokereno - GR6:00 Bingo - GR


10:00 Wii Bowling - CC10:00 Bible Study with Gary - CC11:30 New Year’s Toast DR

1:00 Corn Toss - B2:30 Bridge Game B3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR6:00 Poker B


10:00 Wii Bowling - CC10:00 Corn Toss PRACTICE B12:30 Shopping Trip2:00 Cooking Class with Armando AC2:30 Movie & Popcorn - CC3:00 IPAD class AC3:00 Early Bird Bingo GR5:30 Movie CC

6

You Should Know

Emma Lou Gaylor

Florence W. 12/01Millie P. 12/02Grace S. 12/07Gerald R. 12/08Janet T. 12/11Earl I. 12/11Ruth F. 12/11Beatrice M. 12/12Lois C. 12/15Willie B. 12/15Marian B. 12/22Elaine E. 12/22JoClaire M. 12/23

WelcomeHome!

Roy T. #17Willie B. #200BAgnes K. #212A

North America’sEndangered Animals

In the United States alone, nearly1,500 plant and animal species areprotected by the EndangeredSpecies Act, which was signed intolaw on Dec. 28, 1973. Following are afew of North America’s nativecreatures hoping to be the nextsuccess story.

Gray wolf. The largest members ofthe canine family, gray wolves—alsoknown as timber wolves—onceroamed over two-thirds of the U. S.But thanks to their taste for livestock,they were hunted nearly to extinction

by the 1930s. Today, their numbersare back in the thousandsthroughout Canada, Alaska andparts of the continental U.S.

Whooping crane. Due to habitatloss of grassy wetlands, thepopulation of North America’stallest bird reached an all-time lowin 1941, with only 15 cranes left inthe wild. That number has nowrisen to more than 300. Theseimpressive birds can grow 5 feettall and are mostly white, with adistinctive red patch of skin ontheir heads.

Black-footed ferret. This maskedmember of the weasel familydepends on the prairie dog forsurvival, using abandoned burrowsfor shelter. The decline of prairiedog populations during the20th century caused ferret numbersto fall, and the species was evendeclared extinct in 1979. Captivebreeding programs have helpedreintroduce about 300 ferrets toCanada, Mexico and the U.S.

7

Common Cold MythsWhile there is no cure for the

common cold, much folkloresurrounds the illness, from how it’sspread to home remedies. Here aresome popular myths and the truthbehind them.

The cold causes a cold. Have youever heard someone say to bundle upor you’ll get sick? People do tend tocatch more colds in winter, but frigidair is not to blame. We spend moretime indoors and in closer contactwith others during this time, causinggerms to spread more easily.

Coughs and sneezes are the onlyway colds are spread. Airborne germscan make others nearby sick, butstudies show that hand-to-handcontact is the biggest culprit inspreading viruses.

Hand sanitizer works as well assoap. Gels are fine in a pinch, butscrubbing with soap and water is thebest way to rid your hands of germs.If sanitizer is all that’s available, itneeds to contain at least 60 percentalcohol to be effective.

Feed a cold, starve a fever. Thetruth is simple: Eat if you are hungry,but don’t force yourself. Stayinghydrated is important when you are ill,so be sure to drink plenty of fluids.

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

ACROSS

1. Beach surface

5. Writing surface

10. Taj Mahal’s site

14. Parts of small intestines

15. Composure

16. Word in an address

17. Particle

18. Refueling ship

19. Word with muscle or dial

20. Seasonal wind

22. News

24. Big game

25. Addicts

26. Old

29. Pilot’s direction: abbr.

30. River mammal

34. Clothing

35. See 21 Down

36. Address

37. Sharp tool

38. Finds repulsive

40. Single thickness

41. Colored

43. Charles, for one

44. Cowboys or Indians

45. Join

46. Marsh

47. Largest Greek island

48. Receded

50. Mai __

51. Sts. Peter & Thomas More

54. Boils a little

58. Toward shelter

59. Crooked

61. Word with box or man

62. Zoom skyward

63. Like a corrupt o�cial

64. Being: Lat.

65. Clothing edges

66. Talk to a crowd

67. Action

DOWN

1. “The King and I” setting

2. Choir member

3. Marquee light

4. Fairy tale misses

5. Ghost

6. Cut of pork

7. Feel miserable

8. Disease-carrying insect

9. Uncanny

10. Skilled person

11. Hired thug

12. “You __ ?”; Lurch’s line

on “The Addams Family”

13. Hot day drinks

21. Cry of support

23. Fumbles, in football

25. Escorted to a pew

26. New York, for one

27. Poison

28. Representative

29. Part of a wk.

31. Sioux shelter

32. Dazzling e!ect

33. Sound similar

35. __ Cross

36. Animals’ home

38. Head topper

39. Word with Juan or José

42. Appears unsteady

44. Edged

46. Become ulcerated

47. Machine wheel

49. See 21 Down

50. Sir or Madam

51. Long-running TV show

52. __ vera

53. Enlarge an opening

54. Bench piece

55. Alleviate

56. Stand

57. Item with runners

60. “__ pig’s eye!”

Crossword Puzzle1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19

20 21 22 23

24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

34 35 36

37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44

45 46 47

48 49 50

51 52 53 54 55 56 57

58 59 60 61

62 63 64

65 66 67

SANDSLATEAGRA

ILEAPOISEROAD

ATOMOILERTONE

MONSOONTIDINGS

ELKUSERS

STALESSEOTTER

TOGSRAHSPEECH

AXEDETESTSPLY

TINTEDRAYTEAM

ENTERFENCRETE

EBBEDTAI

MARTYRSSIMMERS

ALEEATILTMAIL

SOARVENALESSE

HEMSORATEDEED

1892: With music composed by

Peter Tchaikovsky, “The Nutcracker”

ballet premieres in St. Petersburg,

Russia.

1913: The nation’s first drive-in gas

station opens in Pittsburgh.

1923: U.S. President Calvin

Coolidge’s speech to a joint session

of Congress is the first presidential

address broadcast on radio.

1932: Radio City Music Hall opens in

New York City.

1941: British Prime Minister Winston

Churchill visits Washington, D.C., to

discuss war strategy with U.S.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1956: Weighing 4 pounds, a baby

gorilla is born at Ohio’s Columbus

Zoo. Named Colo, she was the first

gorilla born in captivity.

1964: Civil rights leader Martin

Luther King Jr. accepts the Nobel

Peace Prize at ceremonies in Oslo.

1972: Astronauts of Apollo 17

complete NASA’s last mission to

the moon.

1989: The animated TV series “The

Simpsons” premieres. It is now the

longest-running American sitcom.

1997: “Titanic” opens in movie

theaters nationwide. The epic

romance about the doomed

ocean liner went on to win

11 Academy Awards and remains

the second-highest-grossing film of

all time.

2000: Colin Powell becomes the first

African-American secretary of state.

2004: Taiwan’s skyscraper Taipei 101

is inaugurated and stands as the

world’s tallest building at 1,666 feet.

It held the record until 2010.

2007: The New England Patriots

become the first NFL team in

35 years to finish the season

undefeated.

DECEMBER

Documents

American House Zephyrhills · in Springfield, MA, on January 24, 1978, but moved to Largo, FL, when she was 10, followed by a move 6 years later to Dade City. A 1997 graduate of Pasco