VillageVoice www.masonicvillages.org
Fall 2013 Vol. 23, No. 4
A publication of the Masonic Villages
Village Voice Fall 2013
The Village Voice is published four times per year.
The Masonic Villages include the Masonic Village at Dallas, the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, the Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill, the Masonic Village at Sewickley and the Masonic Village at Warminster. Members of:
LeadingAge LeadingAge PA Kairos Health Systems Masonic Communities and Services Association
Admissions to the Masonic Villages are approved or disapproved primarily on the basis of need. Decisions concerning admission, the provision of services and referrals of residents are not based upon the applicant’s race, color, religion, disability, ancestry, national origin, familial status, age, sex, limited English proficiency or any other protected status. The Masonic Villages is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Village Voice Staff
Debra L. Davis editor/public relations coordinator, Elizabethtown Editorial Board Trudy Plunkett executive assistant, Lafayette Hill Karen Hammond activities supervisor/concierge, Sewickley Cynthia B. Hollinger supervisor, volunteer services, Elizabethtown Trisha Lamb activities director, Warminster Linda Tressler executive assistant, human resources, Elizabethtown NEXT DEADLINE: Submissions for the winter issue of the Village Voice are due Nov. 4. Public Relations Department Masonic Village One Masonic Drive Elizabethtown, PA 17022 pr@masonicvillages.org For more information, call 717-367-1121, ext. 33383. On the cover: Masonic Children’s Home residents in 1930 and 2012.
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A message from
Joseph E. Murphy, N.H.A., chief executive officer
When I consider the more than 2,000 individuals who have lived at our Masonic Children’s Home over the last 100 years, I often think about the type of person each one of those children has grown to become. I know some are doing very well and have lived happy, fulfilled lives because they have returned to Masonic Village as employees and residents. Read more about two of these individuals on pp. 12-13. Learn about and see photos of current happenings at the Masonic Children’s Home online at www.facebook.com/ MasonicChildrensHome. The Masonic Health Care Center at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown has been undergoing renovations since 2011. We are completing the renovations in phases in order to provide the least disruption possible to our residents. In July, Wohlsen Construction received the Project of the Year Award and an Excellence Award for a Renovation Over $5 Million from the Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors for its work on the two Ben Franklin neighborhoods.
View a five-minute video to see the effects of the transformation in the Masonic Health Care Center at www.masonicvillages.org/ elizabethtown/nursing.html. You can also watch a video highlighting renovations and construction to Masonic Village at Sewickley’s Sturgeon Health Care Center at masonicvillages.org/sewickley/ nursing.html. The renovations to both buildings provide a beautiful new environment and a pleasant place to live and work. Masonic Villages’ Mission of Love is exemplified inside and out every day, encouraging each individual to enjoy life his or her way. Be sure to also view the video at www. masonicvillages.org/elizabethtown highlighting our residents’ unique, vibrant and fun lifestyle.
In this Issue Autumn Day........................................ p. 3 A Calling to Help Others............... pp. 4-5 In Full Bloom................................. pp. 6-7 Village Happenings........................pp. 8-9 Health Update................................... p. 10 For a Job Well Done.......................... p. 11 Making a Splash................................ p. 11 Celebrating 100 Years of Caring for Children................................ pp. 12-13 Monitoring Bluebirds in the Back Mountain........................................... p. 14
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Tech Tips........................................... p. 15 Staff Spotlight: Sherry McLean......... p. 16 Lifetime of Love................................ p. 17 On the Road to Safe Driving............ p. 18 A Saving Grace................................. p. 19 Increase Your Retirement Income..... p. 19 Masonic Villages’ Wish List............... p. 20 Memorial Gifts............................pp. 21-22 Honorarium Gifts.............................. p. 23 Hospice Care Gifts............................ p. 23
Delicious food, music, clowns, classic cars, model trains, tours, farm animals, kids’ games and activities, Masonic family organization booths, and hand-made merchandise were just a few of the highlights of Autumn Day on Saturday, Sept. 21. In honor of the Masonic Children’s Home’s 100th anniversary, we appreciate everyone who
participated in the Jerry Migrala Children’s Home Centennial Health Walk. Money raised during the walk will support youth at the children’s home. Thanks to everyone who joined us from across the state and all who helped with the day’s festivities!
See more photos from Autumn Day at www.facebook.com/masonicvillages.
From our orchards: peaches, apples & pears Fresh apple cider, hardy mums & asters Pick-Your-Own apples Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Follow us on Facebook.
The holidays are coming fruit baskets and gift boxes make great presents! We ship boxes anywhere in the U.S.
MasonicVillage FARM MARKET
Hours: Mon. - Sat., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until Dec. 31) Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Sat., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Jan. - March) 717-361-4520 • MVfarmmarket.com • Located on the grounds of Masonic Village at Elizabethtown
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A CALLING TO HELP OTHERS
Masonic Village received several recognitions at the annual Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Society Awards, honoring the efforts of staff and residents who help others to enjoy life.
Do-si-do Paul Andrews, a resident of the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, turned his lifelong passion for square dancing and square dance calling into an opportunity to bring smiles to the faces of hundreds of individuals residing in the Masonic Health Care Center. While this alone brings him more than enough gratification, his efforts also earned him the Volunteer of the Year award from the Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Society (PTRS) on June 6. Cynthia Hollinger, supervisor, volunteer services, asked Paul and his wife, Velma, to attend the PTRS Awards luncheon so they could meet some other volunteers. Much to Paul’s surprise, when the emcee began describing the Volunteer of the Year, she started by saying, “There is an 89-year-old …” “I was the only 89-year-old there, so I knew it was me,” he said. “Up to that point, I had no idea what was going on. The realization that it was a state award made it even more special.” Paul’s love of square dancing began in the 1950s after he attended a family banquet through his employer. One of the activities was square dancing. He and his first wife, Lois, thought it was fun and took lessons. They were instantly hooked. A man in their class asked Paul if he’d like to become a caller, a person who prompts dance moves, often injecting humor and surprises into the mix. Paul played the French horn in high school and was an auctioneer by trade, so he had the right musical and voice background. He decided to give it a try. He took classes and voice lessons, including spending several 12-hour days with accelerated instructors in New England. “You have to practice, and you have to stay with the beat,” he said. “There has to be a natural flow from one move to the next.”
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He has called dances up and down the East Coast for crowds of all sizes, the largest being 25,000 people at a national convention. He belonged to square dance clubs throughout Pennsylvania and judged dances at the Pennsylvania Farm Show for seven years. “He’s been called the Lawrence Welk of square dancing,” Velma said. “He’s very well-known in the square dance world. When we first met, I thought, ‘Who am I dating?’ He has taught hundreds of people to square dance and round dance, which is a type of ballroom dancing.” When Lois moved to Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s Masonic Health Care Center in 1998, Paul invited square dancers to entertain residents. After seeing how much residents enjoyed it, and learning that many of them were former square dancers, he started calling monthly square dances designed especially for people in wheelchairs. To help the dancers spin and promenade, Paul asked his friends to volunteer as “transportation engineers.” “People will say, ‘but I can’t dance,’ and I tell them ‘you don’t have to. We’re going to push you,’” Paul said. “Just to see them smile is the reward I get. Square dancing invigorates people and brightens their lives. Calling is something I have the ability to do, and many people are instrumental in helping me. Without them, it wouldn’t happen.” Lois passed away in 1999, and Paul continued the wheelchair square dancing. He moved to Masonic Village at Elizabethtown in 2005. The first Thursday of every month (except for the summer), from 2 to 3 p.m., he hosts a dance in the Masonic Health Care Center’s Roosevelt Assembly Room. When he first started, he led two squares of dancers. As more residents discovered how much fun it was, this number increased to four and, sometimes, five squares. Neighborhoods within the Masonic Health Care Center
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rotate each month so everyone has a chance to participate. Paul brings his own equipment, including more than 100 CDs of music. He ends with the Chicken Dance, adapted for people in wheelchairs. “It’s an activity with music that makes your body move whether you think you can or not,” he said. “It’s a physical and mental activity, and the big thing is the enjoyment people get out of it.” “He entertains people,” Velma said. “He says hello to everyone and gives hugs. He has a personal touch.” Velma and Paul met at a bereavement support group and were married in 2002. They both learned to cope with the loss of their spouses by keeping busy. Paul occasionally works as an auctioneer, tends his garden and serves on the Retirement Living Residents Association’s executive board. He and Velma volunteer for Masonic Village Hospice and Hospice and Community Care in Lancaster.
Committed to Her Profession and People Becky Kandrac, certified recreation therapist specialist, received the Robert Griffith Professional Service Award for her commitment to advancing PTRS through demonstrated quality performance, professional growth and enthusiasm for therapeutic recreation. She has served on the PTRS board of directors for 10 years as membership secretary and one year as recording secretary. “It’s important for me to be involved in PTRS because I believe in the betterment of our profession,” she said. “I’ve had the opportunity to network with therapists who may be experiencing similar situations. Together, we share ideas and solutions.” After interning as a rehabilitation therapist, Becky joined Masonic Village in 1994, where she works with residents in the Lafayette East memory support neighborhood. “When I was deciding on a career, I wanted to do something that would help rehabilitate/maintain an individual, as well as have fun while doing my job,” she said. “At Masonic Village, I sparked an interest in persons with dementia when I met one resident who had such an enthusiasm for life. I found out quickly that I had a special gift when working with this resident, as I was able to get her to participate in tasks that many others could not get her to do. I really enjoy working with people. “Having the residents smile, and knowing that I make a difference in their lives on a daily basis is what motivates me. I let the residents give me ideas on what they want to do and develop my programming around that. I always try to have fun,
but maintain a therapeutic goal in mind, to help them improve or maintain their social, physical, cognitive and psychosocial wellbeing.” Becky designed and teaches the Orientation to Dementia Training I and II to employees. She co-authored and presented “A Practical Guide to Planning and Programming for Persons with Dementia” for PTRS. She also received a Presidential Citation for her dedication to chairing the Therapeutic Recreation Institute’s Exhibit Hall, and coordinating the PTRS basket raffle, which raises money for the PTRS Memorial Scholarship. She has raised more than $6,000 over the past five years. Becky is equally dedicated to her pursuits outside of work. As a volunteer firefighter with the Londonderry Fire Company, in mid-August, she took time off to work 14 consecutive 16-hour days battling a blaze in Idaho. She is one of less than 400 people certified through the National Forestry in Pennsylvania to fight wildfires out west. Becky experienced a unique fire in Idaho. As one of the first responders, she worked during every stage of fighting the wildfire. Her responsibilities included direct fire attack, following a hotshot crew to put out fire lines and rehabilitating the area by clearing bulldozer lines and spreading grass seed. Smoke will continue to rise from the fire until Idaho receives substantial rain or snow. “Some of the bad fire experiences teach us to live life to the fullest. Every day is a gift, and you never know when will be your last day,” Becky said of the life lessons she has learned. Also at the PTRS Awards luncheon, the Friendly Village Neighborhood of the Masonic Health Care Center was acknowledged with an Honorable Mention Special Event for its Community Service Project to benefit the Humane League of Lancaster. Hildebrandt Learning Centers, manager of the Masonic Village Child Care Center, received the Agency Award for its involvement in the therapeutic recreation department’s intergenerational programming.
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In Full Bloom Elvira Hand and Nancy Heffley create a birdbath during the Back to Nature program.
Ruth Hostetter works on her garden.
Ken Schnabel and his garden.
Gardening brings out nature’s best – providing nourishment, beauty and joy. For humans, it takes a little practice and a little love, but when that first seed pokes its head out, the feeling is victorious.
Back to Nature Since 2008, Nancy Heffley, recreation coordinator, has organized the Back to Nature group in the Freemasons Building personal care residence in Elizabethtown in a successful union of nature and humans. Residents observe gardening demonstrations, combine with a ceramics class to create garden gnomes and butterflies, and design stepping stones and birdbaths in cement. “So many residents say, ‘I used to have a garden.’ Some can’t do what they used to do, so this program enables them to enjoy the outdoors and gardening,” Nancy said. Just outside the Freemasons Building, to the left of the Masonic Life Center’s entrance, stand a dozen wooden benches handmade by members of the Rooster’s Corner Woodworkers. On the benches sit plastic grow pots with green plants and vegetables reaching into the sky. Residents purchased the pots with proceeds from crafts they made and sold, as well as from a yard sale held in April. Ken Schnabel has been farming since he was a teenager on his uncle’s farm in New Jersey, where they raised dahlias and gladioli. He and his wife, Irma, have lived at Masonic Village for 23 years and maintained one of the original garden plots where the Ford, McKinley and Monroe Drive and Taft Court cottages now stand. He continued gardening after the plots were re-located to the hill on Commandery Road. Ken was known for sharing his produce with others. In addition to vegetables, he grew 20-30 orchids in his Buchanan apartment window. He and Irma later moved to the Freemasons Building. “When we left [Buchanan], our friends didn’t miss me, they missed my tomatoes!” he said in jest. Ken continues to care for a few orchids and also waters flowers around the outside of the Masonic Health Care Center. He is responsible for the first box in the row of gardens outside the Freemasons Building. He grows tomatoes, sweet banana peppers and red bell peppers, which he eats or shares with others. “I love plants,” Ken said. “I watch them grow from nothing to something beautiful. It keeps me out of trouble.” His secret to a green garden? “You have to talk to them,” he said. “Tell them to grow or they’ll end up in a mulch pile.”
Gardening Reaches New Heights Staff recently added raised gardens to the Roosevelt Courtyard of the Masonic Health Care Center in Elizabethtown. The gardens are raised at two heights: one for those in wheelchairs and one for those who are standing. Both enable individuals who are no longer able to lean over or kneel down to garden. Designed by Therapeutic Recreation and Landscape staff, the gardens “allow residents to engage directly in gardening rather than just watering or Olin Brubaker with his tomatoes.
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Village Voice
Dottie Dzink works on a raised garden bed in Elizabethtown.
Hope Day, Jean Graveline and Rose Jingozian work on raised garden beds in Lafayette Hill.
watching the garden grow,” Kirk Rakos, therapeutic recreation supervisor, said. Dottie Dzink has been gardening her whole life and now spends several hours a week watering and pulling out dead flowers in the raised garden beds. “I love everything about gardening,” she said. “I like to bring flowers inside to enjoy.” Olin Brubaker was not much of a gardener until he moved to Masonic Village and planted tomatoes in one of the raised garden beds. He can be seen headed outside to care for his plants almost every day. Olin not only loves to grow them, he loves to eat them – by the bowl full! He also shares with staff. The raised gardens were partially supported through the Arline M. Hughes Caring Fund. This fund expands recreation and therapeutic programs that promote wellness and creative expression, grants special requests and wishes, and provides for specialized items that allow residents to enjoy life more fully, but cannot be provided through other financial means. For more information about the Arline M. Hughes Caring Fund, please contact the Office of Gift Planning at 800-599-6454 or visit www.MasonicCharitiesPa.org. Residents of the Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill are also flexing their green thumbs in stand up planters recently donated by Lodge No. 2, Philadelphia. Once a week, residents interested in gardening head outside to maintain the planters which include a variety of herbs – basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, sage, fennel, rosemary and mint – and a few flowering annuals – marigolds, geraniums, scaevola, lantana and hyacinth bean. Residents will harvest the plants to use for cooking, crafts and sensory stimulation.
Garden to Fork program coordinator Dave Halliwell with Melna Bailey enjoying produce grown by Jim Tarman.
“The height of the planters allows residents to work comfortably from a seated or standing position, eliminating the strenuous bending or kneeling of traditional in-ground gardening,” Jennifer Grassi, recreation coordinator, said. “They have given residents an opportunity to participate in meaningful work, connect with nature and enjoy fresh air. Gardening has numerous benefits such as maintaining motor skills, giving opportunities for decision-making and creative expression, as well as instilling hope and anticipation.”
Garden to Fork A recent partnership between Elizabethtown resident gardeners and the Food Services Department brings fresh, extremely local vegetables to residents’ plates. Resident Dave Halliwell, who maintains one of 35 garden plots on campus, knew many gardeners had an overabundance of produce which they typically placed on a table for anyone passing by the garden plots to freely take. Aware of Masonic Village’s history of growing most of its own food, he thought using residents’ produce in the dining venues on campus would bring this tradition full circle, while helping Food Services reduce costs and giving resident gardeners even more purpose in their daily craft. About 10 residents have shared lettuce, spinach, herbs, string beans, beets, squash, tomatoes, onions, peppers and raspberries. Staff wash the produce before placing it on salad bars, adding it to entrées or using it as garnish. Gardeners receive recognition on a sign placed near their produce. Staff and residents just implemented the Garden to Fork program, but they already see potential for growth. Next year,
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In Full Bloom continued on p. 15
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Village Happenings
The Grey Lions of Elizabethtown, Masonic Village’s Penn State Alumni Interest Group, awarded a $750 scholarship to Megan Leitzell, server and past volunteer, who just started her junior year at Penn State Main Campus with a major in public relations and a minor in business. Shown above (l-r): David Halliwell, president, Grey Lions; Arlene Von Nieda; Ann Layfield; Megan Leitzell; Carrie Leitzell, gift planning administrative assistant and Megan’s mother; and Art Wert.
Residents in Warminster put their taste buds to the test as part of a soup contest. After sampling five soups, residents selected hamburger soup made by Mellina Leary, laundry worker, as the winner. The prize was a gift card for a local restaurant. Judges included: Kaye Benson, Jack Wisnoff, Bill Sayres, Patty Kostas, Eleanor Bauer and Audrey Hartenstine.
During the Memorial Day Service in Elizabethtown, veteran Ed Miller (right) takes a carnation while veteran Chester Brown watches.
Lafayette Hill celebrated Father’s Day with the annual Beef and Beer event. Shown above, Joe DiLucca, Howard Mack and Fred Goldblatt, and left, Joseph Hoch. Participants at the Adult Daily Living Center embraced the Hawaiian culture with a luau. They enjoyed games, food and festive attire.
Residents in Sewickley gathered for the William Slater II Master Masons Club’s 9th annual picnic. In addition to picnic fare, attendees took a swing at Baggo (bean bag toss). Above left, Sherwood Lennartson and Donald Brainerd sign up for Baggo. Above right (l-r): Bob Lyons, Mike Duff, Dave Rees, John Ferguson, Dick Irwin and Bruce Myers.
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On June 20, Jim Stark; his wife, Fran; and two of their children, Sandra Shields and Tracy Gambino, unveiled a plaque at the Masonic Children’s Home Donor Recognition Garden in memory of their son and brother, James “Jim” William Stark, Jr., who entered eternity on Nov. 23, 2012.
Members of Elizabethtown’s Rooster’s Corner Woodworkers presented a check to Rev. A. Preston Van Deursen, director of pastoral care, for the Employee Outreach Assistance Program. This program provides help for employees struggling to pay their utility bills. The woodworkers raised money through sales of handcrafted items.
Prince William and Kate gave birth to baby George Alexander Lewis on July 22. Having celebrated the couple’s marriage, residents in Warminster were excited to throw a royal baby shower complete with games, cake and favors. Top photo: Patty Kostas and Marge Widger. Bottom photo: Bea Thomas and Stoli Gjeka, housekeeper/porter.
Residents in Warminster joined with family members for an annual summer picnic, and despite a re-location indoors, the food was delicious and the company was great! Shown left, Alice Lawless and her son, Tom Aiken. Also in Warminster, members of the Advisory Board showed appreciation for staff with a special luncheon. Among the many reasons to celebrate staff: for the third year in a row, the PA Department of Health’s annual unannounced visit in July resulted in a deficiency-free survey! Shown right, Indeera Ennis, housekeeping supervisor; Shirley Parrish, dietary worker; and Ruth Carr, housekeeper/porter.
Residents and staff in Lafayette Hill celebrated July 4th with the Mummers Quartet, Lady Liberty, Uncle Sam and Betsy Ross. Staff helped residents display patriotic pride with flags and memorabilia. Above, Lynn Christ, director of social services, and Tom Guest.
Despite Martinis on the Patio being moved indoors due to the heat, Sewickley residents Bob Poxon and Lue Bartlett (left) and Walter Borsett and John Francis (right) enjoyed a night of delicious drinks and the sounds of Steve Tori.
Right, friends and neighbors met for the annual cookout in Dallas’ villa neighborhood. Above, Harold and Carolyn Hartley.
Lancaster Senior Games participants in Elizabethtown celebrate their achievements.
Rep. Mary Jo Daley, 148th Legislative District, hosted Lafayette Hill’s 801 Compass Club, along with their guests, at the capitol in June.
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Health Update by John J. Mast, M.D., C.M.D., associate medical director, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown
Taking the Right Measures
Part one in a series about preventative care for individuals age 50 and older To stay healthy, what regular testing do you need? The answer is complicated, and it changes as new research improves our understanding of illness. Preventative testing is beneficial when it provides help and not harm. The tests need to be accurate, and the illnesses need to be relatively common. Doctors don’t want patients to suffer with falsely positive screening tests – this can lead to unnecessary testing. Including a screening test in the preventive schedule is the result of a complex interplay between risk and benefit. The side effects of testing and treatment is included, as well as the number needed to treat (NNT), which is the average number of patients who need to be treated to prevent one additional bad outcome. Advice for screening comes in the form of statements and recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). USPSTF gives recommendations a letter grade, from A to D. “A” grade advice is the best, for everyone. “B” and “C” grade advice is okay, and “D” grade advice is uncertain and controversial. Visit www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org for more information.
Men: Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men in the United States. Men have a 16 percent risk of prostate cancer, and the risk of death from prostate cancer is 2.8 percent. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening is quite controversial. It can reduce prostate cancer death by 20 percent, however; PSA testing has an over diagnosis rate of 17 to 50 percent. Current testing doesn’t indicate which forms of prostate cancer need to be treated and which do not. In a recent study, the NNT equaled 49, which means to save one life 10 years after the screening, 48 men had treatment and suffered side effects with no benefit. Treatments for prostate cancer can cause pain, infections, urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Over treatment results in a moderate probability of early and
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persistent harm from treatment. USPSTF advises against PSA screening for prostate cancer, giving it a D grade. Men 75 and older in most circumstances should not get the screening test. However, black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer are at greater risk for prostate cancer, and the benefit of testing in this subset is unknown.
Women: Breast Cancer Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer). It is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women of all ages. As many as one in eight women will get breast cancer. Mammograms are the best method of detecting breast cancer in an early, treatable stage. Newer digital technology may be more accurate and less painful than older technology, and in the future, the MRI scanner may be used instead of X-rays. Breast cancer screening can reduce death from breast cancer by 15 percent in women from age 40 to 70. After age 75, mammograms aren’t as beneficial because cancers are often slower growing in older individuals. New medications are available that stop the growth of most types of breast cancer with few side effects. Women should get mammograms every other year from age 50 to 74, and USPSTF gives this advice a B grade. Current evidence is lacking for the risk and benefit of an annual breast exam, but many medical providers feel it is a good idea. It is not enough to just do breast self-exams, since they have not been proven to help. Many providers no longer teach breast self-exams, and they are considered grade D advice. Your annual Medicare wellness visit is the best time to talk about these tests and other important screenings that are vital for your health. This is a time to focus only on prevention. Part two of this article will cover testing for osteoporosis, cholesterol and colon cancer. Look for it in the winter issue of the Village Voice, published in January.
Village Voice
For a Job Well Done and a Life Well Lived
People choose a career to make a living, but it can end up influencing other aspects of their life. Residents of the Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill and members of the High Twelve Club presented Dr. Timothy Reekie, medical director, with an Award of Merit “in recognition of valuable contributions to the health and well being of the residents of the Lafayette Hill Masonic Village.” “I was really humbly surprised,” he said. “It’s wonderful to be recognized for this … for work I feel I need to do. “I feel what I do is very useful. I’m seeing residents where they reside, and I can form a real connection. They are full of life, yet limited in mobility and by frailty. I’m inspired to participate in the lively aspect and help them maintain a degree of independence and personality as long as they possibly can.
I’m inspired to be able to take part in helping them live life on a daily basis.” Dr. Reekie chose to pursue geriatric medicine after spending much of his post-graduate time working with older adults. He has been working with Masonic Village since the early 1990s. “It is a warm and caring place,” he said of Masonic Village. “The staff are considerate, compassionate and kind. The residents are caring and down-to-earth. I can tell they have been hard working people over the course of their lives.” Dr. Reekie belongs to Friendship-Williams Lodge No. 400, Jenkintown, and Chestnut Hill High Twelve Club No. 50. He joined the fraternity through the influence of a patient. “He greatly loved the organization, and we had a close-knit relationship and shared the same values, so I wanted to share that experience,” Dr. Reekie said. “I connect with a basic set of values – honesty, integrity, spirituality, hard work – all values of the fraternity that seem to reconnect in my own heart.”
Making a Splash
Jean Foley, Lore Crawford, Marge English and Edith Moore use an indoor swimming pool. Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill residents enjoy many amenities on their campus including a wellness center and fitness classes, wood shop, bowling alley, putting green, model railroad club, creative arts, billiards, entertainment, and the list continues. Thanks to an agreement with a neighboring retirement community, residents can now add a swimming pool to their list of leisure activities. Staff were looking for a pool residents could use without having to pay for a membership at either a fitness center or
YMCA. Through conversations with Dennis Koza, chief executive officer/president of neighboring Cathedral Village, Adrienne Staudenmayer, executive director, worked out a plan for our residents to enjoy the use of their pool. On Mondays, from 1 to 3 p.m., a shuttle takes an average of 14 residents down the road to access Cathedral Village’s pool. Adrienne is also working on the possibility of their residents using our bowling alley. “We are always looking for ways to partner with other local retirement communities to enhance opportunities for our residents, as well as theirs,” she said. “Our residents are having a great time,” Kara LaFreeda, wellness manager, said. “It’s a very nice facility. Aquatic exercises are good to incorporate into your lifestyle, and I hope others take advantage of this opportunity. “Swimming increases cardiovascular endurance. Paddling with a noodle, doing exercises in the water or swimming laps are all great workouts. All of these exercises are good for arthritis. Water gives you gentle support for your joints and offers a different resistance. You can move in ways you can’t on land.”
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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF CARING FOR CHILDREN
by Justin Walker, public relations volunteer
Since Nov. 12, 1913, when Edith H. De Vore, a widow of Bro. William H. De Vore, Bellevue Lodge No. 530 (now Avalon Lodge No. 657, Pittsburgh), arrived with her four children, the Masonic Children’s Home in Elizabethtown has impacted the lives of more than 2,000 children. In 2013, the children’s home is celebrating its centennial and is looking toward the future for another 100 years of service to the community. The landscape of the children’s home has changed both in policy and location since 1913. Between 1913 and 1928, the children moved from Guest House No. 1 and Guest House No. 2 (presently located on Bainbridge Road) to the W. Harry Brown Home for Boys, John Smith Home for Boys, an annex to the Smith Home, the Louis H. Eisenlohr Home for Girls and the Charles J. Eisenlohr Dormitory for Girls. By 1930, 118 children resided at the children’s home. Beginning in 1994, the children transferred to the top of Eden View Road, where up to 40 youth live in five ranch houses. They have easy access to paths to ride bikes, a playground, basketball courts and a new outdoor fire pit. The Brown, Smith and Eisenlohr Homes now serve as retirement living apartments. Discipline over the years has transformed from a military-like program for the boys to a less rigid but still structured environment. In earlier years, children completed chores and worked in the orchards, nurseries and fields at Masonic Village (then Masonic Homes) to learn skills and responsibility. Today, children complete chores and hold part-time jobs. Staff have always placed an emphasis on studying, and since the 1920s, youth have received financial support to attain higher education, if they so choose. The Masonic Children’s Home has consistently provided many activities for the children, including music programs, libraries, swimming pools and playgrounds, and opportunities to participate in sports, art lessons, the religious worship of their choice, intergenerational activities and volunteer programs. Over the last 100 years, the children’s home has strived to help youth grow into responsible and productive members of society. Joanne Westafer can attest to the benefits of a disciplined upbringing at the Masonic Children’s Home.
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Happy to be Home
At age 14, Joanne arrived at the Masonic Children’s Home in 1945 with her younger brothers, Donald and Kent. Many children who lived there were younger and did not experience a life before the children’s home. Joanne adjusted quickly since she came from a home with a large family, although she was not used to sharing a bedroom. The Masonic Children’s Home instilled a strong sense of routine. An average day for Joanne started with a “gong-like” bell that rang in the morning. The children woke up, dressed in clothing to do chores and then started their chores, or what Joanne referred to as “detail.” This detail included making their beds, mopping the floor, dusting, running the carpet sweeper and cleaning furniture in their bedrooms. They ate breakfast and continued with chores throughout the rest of the home, such as cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, study rooms and sewing room. After their detail was complete, they dressed for school, which they walked to in Elizabethtown. Joanne noted that the youth from the children’s home were by far the best dressed kids in school. At lunchtime, the kids quickly walked back to the children’s home and then rushed back to school to finish the day. Capable of handling so much responsibility at home, the children excelled in school. They had a mandatory study hall after dinner, during which the matron wouldn’t even allow reading as
Village Voice
the youth completed their homework. Between arriving home from school and dinner, unless the girls had responsibilities in the kitchen, they had a little time to relax. “I remember hiding in the music room a lot and reading,” Joanne said. This sense of duty and routine carried Joanne throughout her life, prompting her mantra, “Work like crazy!” She left the children’s home and attended Millersville University to study biology. The summer after her freshman year, she returned to Masonic Village and worked in the Masonic Health Care Center (then known as the Philadelphia Freemasons Memorial Hospital). Graduating in three and a half years, Joanne moved to California where her husband, Jack, whom she met in class at Elizabethtown, was stationed during the Korean War. They returned to Elizabethtown, and Joanne worked as a reading teacher for 28 years. The couple has three children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Life took Joanne and Jack to Florida after retirement. Joanne’s brother worked at Masonic Village and recommended they consider moving to the retirement community. Joanne already loved the grounds, and they made the easy decision to return to Elizabethtown. Jack passed away in 2009. “I’m very happy here. I love it!” Joanne said since her move 14 years ago. “I love the safety provided, the care and ease of mind in case of a medical emergency, and of course, the libraries.” Joanne likes eating lunch with friends and finds herself in her sunroom for other meals enjoying the serenity of her cottage. “Masonic Village is perfect for anyone,” she said, “whether you’d like to do everything or nothing. There’s no excuse to be bored.” Considering the 2,000+ lives that have been impacted by the Masonic Children’s Home during their formative years, it is not surprising to see some of them return as residents to enjoy life again at the Masonic Village. This also can be said for those who return as employees to provide care for others.
A Caring Perspective For the past 35 years, Melanie Miller has been providing care for residents of the Masonic Health Care Center. Before this time, however, she received care at the Masonic Children’s Home. Arriving in 1970 at the age of 6, Melanie found the transition from her home with family to the Masonic Children’s Home to be a tough adjustment. Her sister, age 3, was the youngest child to move to the children’s home, and her brother attended the Thomas
Ranken Patton Masonic Institution for Boys. Melanie’s daily routine didn’t differ much from Joanne’s, even though their stays at the children’s home differ by more than 20 years. A bell still rang each morning to wake the children, and they still attended to their chores before breakfast and school. Melanie recalls fond memories of her time at the children’s home, including a carnival held by the Shriners in the Village Green area in the early 1970s and going to the pool to cool off each day. She graduated from Elizabethtown Area High School, where she met her husband, Cliff. Since the age of 17, she has worked at the Masonic Health Care Center as a nursing assistant. “The care provided to me by the Masonic Children’s Home gave me a strong work ethic and a sense of structure to apply to everyday tasks,” Melanie said. She works in the memory support neighborhood in the Masonic Health Care Center, where she finds her work incredibly rewarding. The many years she spent in the children’s home gives her a great perspective on what residents need and how to best care for them as individuals. “I enjoy seeing the small everyday improvements of residents, and I’m glad to have a hand in their quality of life,” she said. Joanne and Melanie came to the Masonic Children’s Home at different times, but can both easily attribute part of their successes later in life to the help and guidance they received at the children’s home. Whether it is 1945, 1970 or 2013, one thing always remains the same: the Masonic Children’s Home provides high quality child care and a loving home which enable children to lead successful lives. To read favorite memories of current residents of the Masonic Children’s Home, visit Masonic Villages’ Enjoy Life Your Way blog at www.masonicvillages.wordpress.com.
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MONITORING BLUEBIRDS IN THE BACK MOUNTAIN
article by Rosalie Cunningham and photos by Al Exter, residents of Masonic Village at Dallas
One of the first things that I remember after moving to the Masonic Village at Dallas was the large number of bluebirds. The sighting of a bluebird was very rare where I grew up in Maine. Later, many people began to build bluebird houses, and it became more usual to see occasional bluebirds. When my husband and I decided to move to the Masonic Village at Dallas, one of the gifts that our daughter gave to us was a beautiful cedar bluebird house. We put it on one of the rail fences in the Village. Two broods of bluebirds were born there each year. Then we had a very bad winter, and that spring, the bluebird house had fallen to the ground. I brought the bluebird house back to my villa and was trying to decide what to do with it when my neighbor, Al Exter, offered to repair it and put it in front of a small evergreen tree behind my villa and in front of the beautiful pond on the golf course. The bluebirds were shortly examining their new home. There were again two broods. There is a door in front of the bird house that allows one to pull it down and very clearly see the nest, eggs or any babies. The first time that I looked at the baby birds, they looked very lethargic. I searched online and found the North American Bluebird Society website. There I found out about blowfly parasites that can weaken or even kill baby bluebirds. The next time that I checked the nest, the birds had fledged. Upon cleaning out the nest, I found a few larvae and since have been aware of the problem with the blowfly. After a bluebird house is cleaned out from the previous tenants, many will come to examine the available quarters. The birds will winter in the deep woods and come again in the spring and start building their nest. This year, armed with all the information online, I started to monitor the nest and Al started taking pictures. During the first week of March, the bluebirds were inspecting the birdhouse. Nesting began the week of April 7th. By April 12th, the nest was almost complete. From April 20th through April 24th, there were five eggs lain in the nest, one each day. Incubation began on April 25th. On the 8th of May, the chicks had hatched. Al took pictures of the baby chicks. Within two weeks time, the birds were very large, had more feathers and were overflowing the nest. The male and female bluebirds are often seen feeding the chicks with mealworms and other insects. Within a week, the chicks had fledged. In one or two days, I cleaned out the birdhouse, removing the nest, and shortly saw a male bluebird and a female bluebird inspecting the bluebird house. As I am writing this, there has been a new batch of bluebirds, making this the second brood this summer, which is normal. Masonic Village at Elizabethtown resident and blogger Mary Ellen Tarman described the bluebird boxes located throughout the Elizabethtown campus in an Aug. 9, 2012 article, “Bluebirds Aloft!” Find her “Ready for THAT!” blog at www.masonicvillages.wordpress.com.
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Village Voice
by Justin Walker, public relations volunteer
Seeking the
Truth on the Internet
Google - transitive verb: to use the Google search engine to obtain information on the World Wide Web When we want to know something in this day and age, we instantly think to use Merriam Webster’s favorite 21st century verb, “google.” This, however, can produce varied results. As a 21-yearold growing up with this technology quite literally at my fingertips, I have come to distinguish which sites you can trust from those you cannot.
Wikipedia.org is one of the first sites to emerge when googling any topic. Wikipedia is a site that you both can and cannot trust. It is a valuable resource when used properly. All of its content is user-generated, meaning that anybody can make changes to the articles. A college educated person with first-class knowledge on the subject may be writing the article you’re reading, or it could be an 8-year-old with an iPad. Wikipedia is the fifth largest website in the world, serving 500 million users and is only staffed by 150 people. There are plenty of people who do not work for Wikipedia who help edit articles. The best way to determine if a Wikipedia article is trustworthy or not is to scroll to the bottom of the page where you can see the source material. The more sources listed, the more likely the article is accurate. The sources should have links or include the information for any websites or books used to write the article. This is where Wikipedia is useful. When doing research, whether for personal or professional use, you can refer to the bottom of a Wikipedia page to at least kick-start your project. Remember
to always double-check Wikipedia facts before sharing them as truth.
FactCheck.org
is a nonprofit project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The site’s mission is to be a “nonpartisan ‘consumer advocate’ for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases.” You can browse articles or ask your own questions. FactCheck’s Viral Spiral page lists false or misleading viral rumors along with a summary of the facts.
Snopes.com
is another great place to debunk myths in a fun and joking manner. If you hear someone say something like, “keeping batteries in the refrigerator makes them last longer,” or “sending cash through the U.S. Postal Service is illegal,” verify it on Snopes. This website is also useful if you’re trying to confirm information in those chain emails your friends forward in bulk. Not only does Snopes list debunked myths, but it has articles about those myths which contain a lot of valuable information. Barbara and David Mikkelson, founders of the San Fernando Valley Folklore Society, run the site, and anyone may post pictures and questions. Visit Snopes to gain the knowledge you need the next time someone tries to sneak a wacky-sounding myth by you!
In Full Bloom continued from p. 7 residents will also share produce with youth at the Masonic Children’s Home, and the children may help with the harvest. “The response from residents is excellent,” Dave said. “While most of us grow 30 to 40 different vegetables, it wouldn’t take much to figure out what would be more helpful to Food Services, and modify our surplus. I hope we can coordinate an annual planning with the chefs, so the gardeners can accommodate their needs. It demonstrates a level of sustainability, which is popular in the
farming culture.” “The program promotes fresh produce grown on our campus, and the growing relationships between the staff and residents that make Masonic Village the special community that it is today,” Greg Thomas, culinary services manager, said. “For the residents, it also gives them an opportunity to share what they’ve proudly grown with their neighbors.”
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Staff Spotlight: Sherry McLean
There When You Need Her
Sherry McLean, care manager, comes to work each day at the Masonic Village at Sewickley prepared for anything. She has several daily responsibilities, but one of her most important roles is to be ready at any minute for a call from a resident who may be facing an emergency. This is when her skills as a nurse and her ability to remain calm help her excel in her position. She had an inkling from the time she was in grade school that she wanted to take care of others. “I was taught CPR and first aid, and I was fascinated with it,” she said. “I didn’t know I was capable of doing it until I helped care for my husband’s grandparents. I knew if I could do it for them, I could do it for others. I really like helping people.” She attended nursing school at the Community College of Beaver County and began working at a personal care home. She heard good things about Masonic Village from her coworkers, and 14 years ago, she had the opportunity to tour the community. This was right after Masonic Village purchased the property from the Valley Care Association of Sewickley, and the Star Points Building personal care residence was under construction. “People were very personable,” she said during her tour. “I didn’t even know what it was going to be like when it was built, but I could tell it was going to be grand.” Sherry joined Masonic Village in 2000. She helps residents in the retirement living area manage their medications, follows up with anyone who has recently been injured or ill, arranges medical appointments and meets with new residents. At all
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times, she is flexible should any urgent needs arise. “I know each day is going to be different,” she said. “My routine tasks fit in around the urgent needs. Residents come first. I’m here for them.” One unexpected role occurred after a resident with whom Sherry was close passed away. The woman had a cat – a beautiful Scottish breed with big eyes and tiny ears. The resident’s family was allergic to cats and unable to take it. “I was sick at losing this resident and sick about what to do with her cat,” Sherry said. “I ended up finding another resident who was an animal lover, so I connected them and they formed a beautiful relationship. It was a happy home for the cat, and the resident had something she enjoyed taking care of.” Bonding with residents is one of the many perks of Sherry’s job. “One of the things I like most is the friendships built among residents, co-workers and myself,” she said. “We don’t just talk about medical issues. We cover adjustments to moving in here – the difficulties of reorganizing their lives and downsizing. We talk about our families and loved ones. It’s much more than what’s going on with them health-wise.” Sherry’s family includes her husband, Dan; three grown children; and her first grandchild, all who live nearby. The family spends a lot of time together and enjoys gathering for picnics. Sherry also likes to work on home improvement projects, spend time in her garden and is often seen as a passenger of her husband’s Harley motorcycle. Every Monday morning, though, she looks forward to heading back to work. “I think Masonic Village is a great place to work. I’m very happy working here,” she said. “To me, the Mission of Love means considering residents’ feelings and concerns and making them my concerns. It means supporting them in what they need to be as individuals and not lumping them into one group. They should have all the enjoyments out of life that they want.”
Village Voice
A Chance Encounter Leads to a
Kenneth Curtiss, a young U.S. Navy seaman, was preparing to board his ship in Philadelphia in 1943 when a friend invited him to accompany him on a blind double date. Knowing he was leaving soon, Ken had no expectations of starting a relationship. His friend later asked how he liked the girl, and Ken replied, “That’s the woman I’m going to marry.” After the date, Ken shipped out with his unit and spent his days supervising seamen and maintaining boats and decks. He served in conflict in the South Pacific while defending the Wake Islands against Japan. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle’s B-25s took off from his ship, the USS Hornet CV-8, on their way to bomb Japan. The Hornet was eventually sunk, and Ken spent hours in the water. Ken returned to Philadelphia a few months later for a shakedown cruise of the USS Princeton carrier. He wanted to see Lillian, but learned she was on vacation in Atlantic City. He asked for some time off and went to find her. Once reunited, the two knew they wanted to wed before Ken shipped out again. They found a chaplain, who waived the three-day waiting period, and were married on July 7, 1943. After the sinking of the USS Princeton, which once again left Ken in the ocean where he had to share a life jacket with two others while awaiting rescue, he received a 30-day leave in Florida and saw Lillian for the first time since their nuptials. He was discharged from the service in late August. The couple returned to northeast Philadelphia
Lifetime of Love
where Ken eventually served as a fireboat engineer with the Philadelphia Fire Department, and Lillian worked as a secretary at the Frankford Arsenal. They have three children, four grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. In 1953, Ken joined St. John’s Lodge No. 115, Philadelphia. He later transferred to Harry A. Houseman Lodge No. 717, Bristol, and also joined Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, Elizabethtown. He joined the fraternity, not to gain something from it, but to see what he could do for others. Lillian has belonged to Palestine Chapter No. 250, Order of the Eastern Star, for more than 50 years. The Curtisses moved to Masonic Village at Elizabethtown in 2008 to lighten their household responsibilities. One of their favorite things to do is take bus trips to see the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia. On Sunday, July 7, 2013, Ken and Lillian celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with family. They were grateful for a surprise visit on the Friday before their anniversary, which included cupcakes made by resident Rosemary Merwin, balloons, a heart made by staff and a card with messages from more than 30 of Masonic Villages’ Facebook followers. Ken shared his advice for a long and happy marriage: “You have to be willing to change. Both parties have to change. Every marriage has disagreements somewhere along the way. Don’t go to sleep at night until you make up.”
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On the Road to Safe Driving Traffic jams and aggressive drivers aside, hopping in your car and hitting the road can be an invigorating experience. Whether you’re taking a road trip or picking up groceries, it’s important for you and your car to be road-ready at all times. “Safe driving is a challenge for everyone,” Bill Pearson, AARP Driver Safety deputy state coordinator, said. “For older drivers, risks to safe driving may arise from changes in vision, hearing, reaction time and judgment/cognition.” The Masonic Villages at Sewickley and Elizabethtown each host free programs throughout the year which help drivers learn how to make driving safe and easy. At the most recent CarFit event in Sewickley, 14 residents received tips for adjusting their vehicles for optimum safety and comfort. The American Society on Aging developed the program in collaboration with the American Automobile Association (AAA), AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. CarFit technicians educate attendees on how to make adjustments to maximize their safety as a driver, such as finding and operating the levers to adjust their steering wheel or headrest. A few tips from the technicians include: 1) Properly adjusting mirrors can greatly minimize blind spots for drivers who may wish to change lanes: a) Before starting your vehicle, adjust the rearview mirror so it shows as much of the rear window as possible. b) While in the driver’s seat, place your head near the left window and adjust the left side-view mirror so you can just see the side of your vehicle. c) Then position your head near the middle of the vehicle, above the center console, and adjust the right side-view mirror so you can just see the side of your vehicle. 2) Good foot positioning on the gas and brake pedals is important. If you are reaching with your toes to press on the pedals, it can cause leg fatigue and slowed reaction times. 3) You run a risk of serious injury if you are sitting closer than 10 inches to the steering wheel. You should also have a clear line of sight over the steering wheel – at least three inches above the top of the steering wheel.
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(L-R) John Sparvero, AARP Driver Safety zone 2 coordinator, instructor, CarFit technician and trainer; Dick Molinari, AARP Driver Safety zone 3 coordinator and instructor, CarFit technician; resident Deane Hillegass; Nancy Dubuar, occupational therapist, CarFit event coordinator; Heather Cox, occupational therapist; and John Baldridge, occupational therapy assistant “Aging is often accompanied by physical changes, such as arthritis or vision changes, that affect someone’s ability to drive a car, or even get in and out of a car easily,” Nancy Dubuar, occupational therapist, CarFit event coordinator, said. An occupational therapy (OT) practitioner at each CarFit event works with drivers to compensate for these physical changes by recommending equipment which can simplify pulling a seatbelt or getting in/out of the car. Equipment may include seat belt extenders, visor extenders, steering wheel covers and seat and back support cushions to relieve back pain or improve line of sight. Visit www.car-fit.org for events near you. AARP’s Driver Safety Program is designed to help participants understand the effects of aging on driving and learn driving strategies that account for these effects. Participants learn to identify the most common crash situations faced by older drivers and how to reduce chances of having a crash. They update their knowledge of today’s traffic laws, vehicles and other road users, and learn to identify when driving may no longer be safe. In addition to increasing safety, participants who complete a driver safety course in Pennsylvania may receive premium reductions from a number of automobile insurance companies. Check with your insurance company for specific details. For Driver Safety classes near you, call toll-free 1-888-227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/drive.
Village Voice
A Saving Grace
In 1998, Margarite and William Selby were both retired from their government jobs and had some concerns with William’s health, so they began looking into retirement communities. After a fire damaged their home and Bill had a heart attack all in the same night, the search became urgent. They saw an ad for the Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill, and after one visit, they fell in love with the community. They soon moved from Philadelphia to their new home at Masonic Village. “Bill liked the hospitality and having nursing care right there on the premises,” Margarite said. “Everyone, the staff and residents, were very congenial. When Bill had another heart attack, our next door neighbor came and helped. When I went to church at night, I would tell the night duty security guard, and he would meet me at the door when I returned.” Margarite and Bill enjoyed attending exercise classes, and she liked to read books in the campus’ library.
Bill passed away on Sept. 3, 2005. As much as she loved Masonic Village, Margarite knew it was too long of a drive for her family to visit. She moved to Maryland and lives with family on the farm her father bought 76 years ago. She tries not to keep too busy, but likes to exercise and visit neighbors and church members. “I tell them to keep on pushing and don’t give up,” she said of anyone who is experiencing a difficult situation. Masonic Village left an enduring impression. She keeps in touch with friends she made, including residents and staff, and visits when she has an appointment with Dr. Timothy Reekie, medical director at Masonic Village, who is still her primary physician. She also carries on her husband’s wish to support the Masonic Villages financially. “My husband gave to the [Masonic] Charities before he died, and I wished to continue his donation,” she said. “My three brothers are Masons, so it is fitting.” At a very difficult time in her life, Margarite found the help her husband needed and an extended family at Masonic Village. Her gift, in return, will help others find the same. Although she is separated from Masonic Village by miles, she remains connected by heart.
Increase Your Retirement Income
Did you know you can make a gift to one of the Masonic Charities of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and actually increase your retirement income? If you have CDs that are maturing and you are reluctant to take out another one because of the low rates, a Charitable Gift Annuity may be for you. Consider the attractive gift annuity rates listed on the table to the right. For a minimum gift of $5,000, you can receive income for life. In addition, because a gift annuity is irrevocable, you will receive a federal income tax deduction and receive a portion of your payments tax-free for a period of time. You can also enjoy satisfaction in the knowledge you have provided a gift that will strengthen and enhance the important work of the Masonic Charity you have selected, making a difference in the lives of others. Depending on your circumstances, you may find a gift annuity to be an ideal way for you to realize important personal,
as well as charitable, objectives. For more personalized information regarding the benefits of a gift annuity, at no cost or obligation, please contact the gift planner in the geographical area nearest you:
Central Pennsylvania 717-367-1121, ext. 33437 or 800-599-6454 Western Pennsylvania 412-741-1400, ext. 3011 or 866-872-0664 Eastern Pennsylvania 610-825-6100, ext. 1348 Out-of-State 717-367-1121, ext. 33312 or 800-599-6454 SAMPLE GUARANTEED LIFETIME RATES For One Life For Two Lives Age Rate Age Rate 70 5.1% 70 & 75 4.8% 75 5.8% 75 & 80 5.3% 77 6.2% 85 & 85 6.7% 81 7.0% 85 & 90 7.3% 85 7.8% 90 & 90 8.2% 90+ 9.0% 90 & 95 8.8% Note: This is a partial listing. Rates exist for any combination of ages.
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2013
MASONIC VILLAGES’
WISH LIST ITEMS
Masonic Village at Elizabethtown Qty. Item 10 Aromatherapy starter kits 1 Bariatric ceiling lift 5 Bariatric mattresses 5 Computer tablets 3 Digital blood pressure monitors 12 Digital cameras 1 Digital keyboard accessories 5 Electric lift recliner 1 Eva pneumatic platform walker 1 Golf cart with weather cover 1 Hospitality cart 7 Hydraulic sinks for hair salon 5 iPads 3 Low beds 1 Pulse oximeter 3 Refrigerators 2 Rock & Go chairs 1 Snoozelin equipment 10 Specialty mattresses 6 Thermometers 1 Treadmill for Rehab Dept. 6 Televisions - living rooms 1 Vital sign machine 1 Washer/Dryer set 3 Wheelchair - scales 15 Wheelchairs - specialty w/customizations 1 Sleeper chair Bleiler Caring Cottage 1 Blu-ray player 1 Computer 40 Curtains 1 Garden hose and reel 1 Gazebo
Cost per Item $220 $2,500 $1,600 $700 $750 $150 $1,000 $1,200 $1,800 $3,500 $500 $3,795 $600 $1,600 $125 $900 $1,500 $2,000 $1,000 $650 $10,200 $1,300 $3,200 $1,200 $2,000 $1,500 $2,169
1 Outdoor carpet 1 Refrigerator 1 Washer/Dryer Set Masonic Village at Dallas 1 Gazebo 2 Handicap accessible picnic tables 1 Bocce equipment 1 Horseshoe set 1 Golf fund 1 Portable fire ring 1 Rooftop patio 1 Wii game set Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill 28 Televisions Drama lessons/activities for residents Baltimore Aquarium w/lunch & trans. 1 Sit to stand lift, power base Broadway Shows w/trans. Masonic Village at Sewickley 1 Hand rail tilt and roll scale 2 Outdoor tents (20’ x 20’) 1 ARJO Sit to Stand lift 1 4 Channel E Stimulation (electric) 1 ARJO Maxi lift
$500 $1,300 $1,200 $10,532 $900 $300 $75 $500 $190 $14,940 $300 $400 $3,000 $3,150 $3,500 $3,700 $1,550 $1,800 $4,100 $4,400 $7,400
$100 $600 $50 $100 $2,500
Please note that if funds donated for any item listed are over subscribed, the funds will be used for additional wish list items or needs in the same service area.
Thanks to all the generous donors who purchased Wish List items, including Lodge No. 2, Philadelphia, which provided the funds for a Spirit of Philadelphia cruise for residents of the Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill.
OFFICE OF GIFT PLANNING 800-599-6454
Financial information about Masonic Charities can be obtained by contacting us at 1-800-599-6454. In addition, Masonic Charities is required to file financial information with several states. Colorado: Colorado residents may obtain copies of registration and financial documents from the office of the Secretary of State, (303) 894-2680, http://www.sos.state.co.us/. Florida: SC No. 00774, A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA. Georgia: full and fair description of the programs and activities of Masonic Charities and its financial statement are available upon request at the address indicated above. Illinois: Contracts and reports regarding Masonic Charities are on file with the Illinois Attorney General. Maryland: For the cost of postage and copying, documents and information filed under the Maryland charitable organizations laws can be obtained from the Secretary of State, Charitable Division, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, (800) 825-4510. Michigan: MICS No. 11796 Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Masonic Charities may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp.htm#charity. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. New York: A copy of the latest annual report can be obtained from the organization or from the Office of the Attorney General by writing the Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-888-830-4989. Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Masonic Charities may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Virginia: Financial statements are available from the State Office of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218. Washington: The notice of solicitation required by the Charitable Solicitation Act is on file with the Washington Secretary of State, and information relating to financial affairs of Masonic Charities is available from the Secretary of State, and the tollfree number for Washington residents: 1-800332-4483. West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. REGISTRATION IN THE ABOVE STATES DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION OF MASONIC CHARITIES BY THE STATE.
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Village Voice
Memorial Gifts May 1 - July 31, 2013
Below is a list of individuals (names are shown in red) whose loved ones have made a gift in their memory to one of the five Masonic Villages located at Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill, Sewickley or Warminster. Great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness of the names listed below. We regret any errors or omissions. If an error has been made, please contact the Office of Gift Planning at 800-599-6454, 717-367-1121, ext. 33003, or by emailing giving@masonicvillages.org. Thank you. Anna May Acker Thomas and Barbara Chung Deborah A. Gualtieri Thomas and Rita Rafferty Gary L. Rowe Elis C. and Elizabeth Adams Ellis C. L. Adams George P. Alexas Sunset Lodge No. 623 Mary Ellen Allen Amy M. Fairand Barbara Green Laura L. Mangold Martin G. Schreiber Norman and Adrienne Schreiber Ardith E. Thompson Henry (Hank) Allyn Betsy Allyn Doris Ammlung Barbara Shields Marie T. Anderson Jeannette M. Milos Charles (Jim) Andrews Russell and Elsie Maynard, Sr. Emma S. Argue Barbara Shields Vincent W. Attaviano Marion F. Attaviano Harriet Z. Bachman Allen S. Zimmerman Anthony Bauer Leota B. Bauer Norman F. Beyer Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 Mary Jane Bogatay Granville and Peggy Beam Herbert M. Bohner Lee E. Clark, Sr. Kenneth and Doris Miller Joseph Bondi, Jr. Juniata Lodge No. 282 Yvonne E. Bosserman Clarence L. Bosserman, Jr.
Matthew P. Boyd Edward M. and Jeanne Messner Horace H. Brachman Edith M. Brachman Merville C. Broadbent Bruce M. Broadbent Jacquelyne (Jackie) Brubaker Richard and Jo Ann Keller Jerry and Pat Kemmerer Lou and Sophia Miller Jack and Marie Moeller Betty C. Burgess Gary R. Burgess Jeffrey Case Farrington C. Case, Sr. Gaylon C. Cathcart Michael L. Cathcart Theresa Cherry Richard H. Cherry Donald S. Clark George F. Clark Robert Steven Clift, Sr. Doris M. Clift Richard and Sharon Prim Joseph G. Cook Edith M. Cook Frederick Cornell Maureen Cornell Margaret E. Cornell Co-workers of Sheryl Cornell Ann Duncan and Allen Gould David Grabeman Brian Jones Catherine A. Miller Paul, Lauren, Michael and Stephen Seplowitz Lester A. Danenhower Mary E. Danenhower Raymond R. Davis Frackville Lodge No. 737 William E. Dayton Phyllis L. Dayton
Herbert E. DeMart Herbert C. DeMart Marian E. Derk Chester A. Derk, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Chester A. Derk, Jr. Ronald Douglas, Sr. Eileen Douglas Ellen Marie Doyle William J. Doyle Max E. Doyle Donald L. and Glenda R. Rothermel Russell H. Dupuis Bernice E. Eichman Charles R. Dutill Delores K. Dutill Nancy L. Eberly Carroll and Mae Rickert Donald L. Eckert The Bridge Club Joy Bevington Connie Brandenberger Margaret Kellman Sina Murphy Carol Raida Thea Stover Ginny Templeton GEM Group Bryan and Judy Pritchard Jane B. Russell Donald L. and Ruth M. Eckert Jean V. Eckert and Family Linda N. Ferguson George A. Emrick Edna E. Emrick Richard E. Enck Esther A. Enck Charlotte Fehl Jacob H. Fehl, Jr. Robert (Palsy) Ferguson Lynne C. MacMath Robert L. Filer Helen Filer Ruby Jane Fisher Joseph M. Fisher
Fall 2013
John Fredrickson Ray and Marty Buzzelli Jane Coleman Charles and Candy Foreman Gail L. Fraser Merle Horowitz Rosemary McCarthy Donald and Dede Strumpf Mary K. Sweet Joan Wilson Roger E. Fries Whitfield Lodge No. 622 Betty B. Fry James R. Fry Robert Frycklund James C. Getz Barbara E. Garnes Charles A. Garnes Russell and Mary Ellen Gehris Marilyn E. Sheldon Jack L. Gillmore Vicki Gillmore Harry and Doris Longenecker Richard S. Givens Sam’s Club Michael E. Turk Roy Glass Don and Madeline Hennon Merle Glazier Barbara Shields Edward Clyde Gleason, Jr. Doric Lodge No. 630 Alfreda Goldblatt Fred Goldblatt Alfred W. Goodyear Robert R. Cassel Laura Gouge W. Douglas Gouge George E. Graefe, Jr. Mary C. Graefe Marion Graham Barbara Shields James L. Graveline Barbara Shields
Alfred J. Grime Esther G. Grime Delmar R. and Betty J. Grove Harold and Jill Bucks Warren E. Guttendorf McKinley-Stuckrath Lodge No. 318 James F. Hahn Frackville Lodge No. 737 Byron A. Harriger Doric Lodge No. 630 Frank T. Harrison Nancy Smith-Harrison Barry Lee Hassinger Joan Hassinger Mary B. Henneman Suzanne E. Anderson Sidney S. Hersh Joel H. Hersh John E. Hoffman, Sr. Robert T. Hoffman Robert L. Holliday Charles A. Garnes Art and Shirley Rowley June Beyer Homan Carl D. Homan Jane F. Hornberger Jim Hornberger Pauline Hornberger Merle and Phyllis Slotterback James M. Hubler Robert A. Miller James W. Hull Chartiers Lodge No. 297 Richard G. Ingram Lucy Ingram Vera Inshetski Donald D. Evans Florence E. Jacob Einar and Dolores Lund Gerald and Marion Mullen Charles B. and Charlotte E. Jarvis Larry and Barbara Snyder
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Robert Jack William B. Bliss Betty Lou Jordan Carl Jordan Marie V. Karchner William D. Karchner, Sr. Donald E. Kauffman Harrisburg Lodge No. 629 Carl E. Keener Shirley A. Keener Raymond C. Keener Dale R. Stump Dennis J. Kearns Dennis J. Kearns, Jr. Dorothy R. Kern Kern Family Robert E. Kerns Juniata Lodge No. 282 Edward Kimelheim Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 Harry Kline Frackville Lodge No. 737 Arlene Koppenhaver Dean E. Koppenhaver Dorothy (Dottie) Koser Robert L. Koser William S. Krash Frackville Lodge No. 737 Guy N. Kratzer Gary G. Kratzer Ronald F. Krieder Eureka Lodge No. 290 Robert J. Kristoff Joan Kristoff Mary Laney Earl W. Laney Paul R. Lindsey Juniata Lodge No. 282 Dominick Lizzi David Lizzi, Sr. Anna J. Lohoefer Craig B. McCollum, Sr. Sarah Jean Luebbe Harry C. Luebbe, Jr. Irene Lutz Susan E. Wagner Lorrayne S. Martin Reiner Family Florence E. Maugans Michael P. Maugans Jean Donaldson McClester Furman South, III Joy A. Meck Donald L. Meck, Sr. Barbara A. Menear Donald E. Menear
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Floyd W. Mensch Robert H. Williams, III Thomas H. Mercer, Jr. Helen Mercer Edward J. Messner Edward M. and Jeanne Messner Paul E. Meyers Donald C. Meyers Carole Lee Miller Richard and Barbara Best George H. Fox Grove Memorial United Methodist Church Alex and Joyce Haywood Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Reeder, Sr. and Family Rutter’s Corporations Henry and Ann Wildasin Herbert Miller Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 Karl H. and Evelyn L. Miller Terry L. Miller Robert C. Miller Juniata Lodge No. 282 Samuel L. Miller Betty M. Snyder Lloyd I. Morris Robert A. Morris Vernon W. Morton Alvin L. Morton George W. Morton Mildred N. Muffley William K. Muffley Archie H. Muir David G. Roberts, Jr. Jean L. Myers Jerry B. and Anne W. Lauer Richard E. Myers Howard W. Myers James C. Nickle Thomas and Terry Kamerzel Milton E. Nylund Evelyn H. Nylund Joyce B. Okerson Helen Mattson Rusty and Sara Olson B. Howard Fyock William (Jack) Oliver Mary D. Erickson Lois Nelson Kathryn M. Painter Michael W. Chapman
Emerson Blaine Pletcher Nellie M. Pletcher Robert E. Raffensperger Maxine L. Raffensperger Zetta Raub Kenneth G. Raub, Sr. Benjamin D. Reed Mr. and Mrs. Julius Iacocca Russel G. Reiner Ted and Jean Plott Evelyn S. Seekamp Ray and Kathryn Reiss, Sr. Ray M. Reiss, Jr. Rena R. Renshaw Ronald R. Renshaw Sandra L. Rothermel Donald L. and Glenda R. Rothermel Rose Samans Frank Family Jack and Roberta Herring Schuchrt Family Rubin D. Weiner Lillian B. Sanders C. Vernon Sanders Billie J. Savickas John S. Savickas John M. Savickas John S. Savickas Fern L. Schade Robert J. Schade Charles Schliffer Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 William O. Schmid Otto R. Schmid John H. Schmidt Charles F. Schwender Helen L. Schneider Richard and Linda Armbrust Kenneth and Elaine Bleiler United Gilsonite Laboratories Arthur and Dorothy Wert Carl and Neda Mae Wert Otto S. Schneider George B. Scheerbaum J. Carlton Schuldt Gerald and Madeline Schuldt Walter Dale Seese Dorothy A. Seese
Village Voice
Robert Stephen Sekera Victoria P. Sekera Mary Louise Shallcross Dorothy Breida Margaret Breida Mary Breida Michael and Terri Breida Manka Family William and Mary McAuliffe Diana M. Pirritano Elvira J. Shank Porter County Education Services - M-Team Eileen F. Shanor Mr. and Mrs. Rudolfo Espinosa Leonard and Mary Newman Evelyn M. Shertzer Richard H. Shertzer Leo and Tillie Shlachtman Mark H. Swartz Irvin E. Silverman Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 Anita Smith Helen Mattson Charles Smith Dorian G. Toth Joyce E. Smith Kenneth and Elaine Bleiler Stuart L. and Barbara G. Brown Bill and Roxana Enterline Carolyn A. Kaltreider Tedd A. Keefer, Jr. Mary Anne Klemkosky Mr. and Mrs. Wayne C. Kramer, Jr. Curt and Connie LaCoe Charles and Janet Leicht Jane L. Long Barry and Carolyn Myers Ed and Linda Reeser Joyce Schrum Tom and Karyn Sloat Tall Cedar and White Rose Clown Club Arthur and Dorothy Wert York Chapter No. 169, OES Yorktowne Cedarettes, TCL
Rose G. Smith Gary L. Fleming Elliott H. Loden Lillian P. Wanner Marvin M. Wedeen Florence S. Snyder David L. and W. Joyce Merkel Linda Penn James P. and Lynette J. Reaser David and Barbara Regar Michael G. and Denise M. Schoenewald Norine J. Snyder Charles J. Snyder, Jr. Robert Spangenberg Larry J. and Carol S. Wolford Pauline Spangler Fern E. Skinner Helen I. Staman Jane and William Staman William Stellwagen, Jr. Southampton Square Club George W. Sterner Jim Heckman Dean R. and Brenda L. Miller Sherwood L. Steward Whitfield Lodge No. 622 Sonya G. Stiffel Arthur Stiffel Walter Stivason Scott A. Heilman John J. Storrick Sunset Lodge No. 623 Richard F. Stott Janet H. Stott Richard W. Stranix Frackville Lodge No. 737 Lawrence H. Strayer P. Sidney Strayer Melvin P. Strayer P. Sidney Strayer Harry Homer Stuart Scott A. Stuart Benjamin and Ethel Swartz Mark H. Swartz Samue Tait, Jr. Gale M. Koerner Leon Thurston Thomson Doric Lodge No. 630 Marlyn Tomlinson Harry A. Houseman Lodge No. 717
Mildred G. Traister Clarion Chapter No. 267, OES Phil and Doris Kiser Thomas and Lois Mattlin, Sr. Patricia A. Summerville William M. Trimmer Minerva K. Trimmer
Gertrude M. Tyler Linda T. Rutt Richard M. Warne Harry A. Houseman Lodge No. 717 Elvin M. Warner, Jr. Shirley R. Seldomridge E. Nelson Weir N. Bruce Weir
Ada L. Wentz William R. Wentz David E. Winter Loretta M. Winter William W. Wrigley Joseph P. Wrigley Lorraine Young Gloria L. Alcorn Joan H. Blank Frank and Carol DiRienzi
Guilford Chapter No. 141, OES Helen M. Henofer Lisa A. Kantner Gregory Maurer Vincent and Carol Mitchell Ann M. Myers Glenn L. Unterberger
Harry F. Zeigler Michael A. Mineo Robert H. Zima Douglas H. Zima
Honorarium Gifts May 1 - July 31, 2013
Below is a list of individuals (names are shown in red) whose loved ones have made a gift in their honor to one of the five Masonic Villages located at Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill, Sewickley or Warminster. Great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness of the names listed below. We regret any errors or omissions. If an error has been made, please contact the Office of Gift Planning at 800-599-6454, 717-367-1121, ext. 33003, or by emailing giving@masonicvillages.org. Thank you. Our Sons Harry and Carolyn Thomas Kenneth A. Bachman Nevin R. Bachman, Jr. Louise M. Bachman William B. McIntyre, Jr. DeMolay Ellis C. L. Adams
Chester A. Derk, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Chester A. Derk, Jr. Gary George Lancaster Commandery of Knights Templar #13 Our Children Susan and Steven and Grandchildren Richard and Barbara Zell
Paul W. Hess Judith A. Hess Bertha Kennedy Robert P. Hoffines All Mothers David and Betsy Williams Gertrude K. Myers Charles L. Myers
William and Gilda Sayres Wendy Riggall Stephen M. Shaffer Claude A. Shaffer Staff and Aides at the Masonic Health Care Center John R. Rapp
William T. Staman Jane V. Kennelly Paul A. Leitzel Thomas K. Sturgeon Harrisburg Lodge No. 629
Hospice Care Memorial Gifts May 1 - July 31, 2013
Below is a list of individuals (names are shown in red) whose loved ones have made a gift in their memory to Masonic Village Hospice Care which is offered at our Elizabethtown location. Betty J. Auker Sarah M. Graybill Merlin Dean Bordner, Sr. Michele L. Bleacher Jodi L. Howe Annette A. Nowalk Scott A. Smith Herbert S. Ford Mark McCulley Gerald D. McMaster Vida Lee McMaster
Thomas S. Merwin Anne Marie Boisjolie Stephen and Beth Hallowell and Family Janet E. Lineberger Suzanne Patterson Kathleen D. Raidy Margaret H. Scheider Hon. and Mrs. Donald A. Smith, Jr. and Family Julia E. Register Carl J. and Carol D. Willis
Loretta J. Smuck Robert and Sharon Rohrback Marjorie A. Yellets Marguerite Wert Donn Corban Irene B. Wieber Frances M. Comly Gary L. Dimmig Jean F. Lucas Perkiomen Chapter No. 318, OES Howard and Sandra Pees Elizabeth S. Stauffer
Fall 2013
Janet W. Yost John J. Baker Allen and Shirley Fisher Carl and Virginia Gregson Jim and Peggy Howard Frances Knapczyk Joan L. Murray Donald and Margaret Virtue Richard Wise
Hospice Care Honorarium Gifts Helen Heidelbaugh Ludwig United Methodist Church Rosemary Merwin Margaret F. Giannetti
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Masonic Village
County Fair
Come late summer, county fairs across the state are a favorite pastime for many individuals. Residents of the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown enjoyed their fill of fun at the second annual County Fair on Aug. 1 and 2 in the Masonic Health Care Center. Residents visited farm friends at a petting zoo, browsed handmade exhibits and sampled fair food. Games included a ring toss, shooter target, candy wheel, fishy pond and a dunk tank with the chance to soak staff. An Old Time Photo Booth, like the ones seen on the boardwalk at the beach, provided each resident a keepsake. Games were free for residents who wished to play, and staff were asked to make a donation to the Arline Hughes Caring Fund, which provides items and programs that enhance residents’ quality of life.
Erma Slok a with Ma ry Stoudt, ho usekeeper/ Jane porter
Masonic Villages One Masonic Drive Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Dottie Kostelec with Peter Ogilvie, nursing assistant, and M. Lorraine Moyer, Jolene Sc laundry hweer recreatio s, therapeutic worker n coor and Sally dinator, Weaver
Doris Briscoe, Jane Geib, Barb Will and Rhonda Conaway, recreation coordinator Barbara McMillan
“I have been a Mason for 54 years and have been donating to the Masonic Charities for most of these years. I live by my oath and obligation. I didn’t join the loyalty club program for the benefits I get, but rather I wanted my monthly support to benefit someone who needs it.” - Robert Wetzel, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown resident Thank YOU to our members of the Masonic Charities Loyalty Club! Loyalty Club members receive benefits that an annual donor doesn’t receive: • Meet annual giving level with ease by making smaller monthly gifts instead of one large annual gift. • No worries of checks getting lost in the mail. • Receive a year-end statement of monthly giving for ease of tax preparation. • Annual recognition in the Masonic Charities Annual Report. • No longer receive annual Spring and Fall appeals. For additional information or to join the Loyalty Club, please email giving@MasonicCharitiesPa.org or visit www.MasonicCharitiesPa.org to view each of the Masonic Charities.