Sentinel 9-19-12

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Sentinel Celebrating10 Years The Shorewood

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

ONLINE More news at shorewoodsentinel.com

Vol. 17 No. 41

Enterprise Publications • www.shorewoodsentinel.com

The Timbers of Shorewood celebrates its tenth anniversary By Sherri Dauskurdas Staff Reporter

The Timbers of Shorewood marked its tenth anniversary this month, and true to form, the entire community was invited to join in festivities. The Timbers, an active retirement community, has built a reputation across the greater Shorewood area for its programming as much as its accommodations, offering the public and its residents a plethora of offerings, from music and dancing to lectures and book chats, sing-alongs, egg hunts and even a haunted house, designed to create an intergenerational group of attendees. “We have a social model of inclusiveness with the community at large,” said Faith Varga, executive director. “Opening the Timbers events to the community creates a diverse intergenerational group of attendees. Being inclusive creates great energy and many new friendships have been formed.” From weekly exercise classes, top-

“Opening the Timbers events to the community creates a diverse intergenerational group of attendees. Being inclusive creates great energy and many new friendships have been formed.” Faith Varga, executive director notch musicians and entertainers, award-winning authors and artists, local elected officials, and healthcare experts, Special Events Director Shelly Goggins fills the schedule with an endless variety of daily activities, which draws residents of all ages from Shorewood, Plainfield, Minooka,

Channahon and Joliet. “We like to think of our community as a cruise ship that never leaves the dock,” Goggins said. Still,at its roots,Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments as well as a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer, designed especially for seniors who may need brief assistance, or just want a taste of Timbers life before making the decision to join the community permanently. Opened in 2002 by local residents William DeWaoskin and Manny Kramer, Timbers of Shorewood has two sister communities, The Oak Park Arms in Oak Park, IL and The Kenwood in Minneapolis, MN. Nearly 200 residents live in the 186 one and two bedroom apartments at the Timbers of Shorewood community, in both independent living as well as assisted living environments.

Even without the greater public, that’s a big audience for Goggins to keep entertained. But she doesn’t plan it alone. The planning process is as inclusive as the event schedule itself. The residents provide feedback about the type of entertainment that they like.And nearly all the events offered to residents are also free and open to the public, unless they are fundraising for a local charity. “Our monthly ballroom dance with a live orchestra is always a big hit with residents and the community,” Goggins said “Our Seniors’ Senior Prom, Easter Egg Hunt, Christmas Party, and Halloween Spook House are annual events that draw really big numbers and everyone has blast.” Upcoming events include ballroom dancing with the Del Bergeson Orchestra on Sept. 20 and Oct. 31. The Halloween Spook House takes place on Oct. 26 and 27. Admission to the Spook House is $5, and entrance to the Halloween Game Room is $3. Funds raised are donated to the Kiwanis Club of Shorewood and Leeza’s Place.


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