Emporia Community Matters – April 2023

Staff Spotlight: Brad Krehbiel

Brad Krehbiel may be new to Emporia Presbyterian Manor, but he isn’t new to the Presbyterian Manor staff. He joined the Emporia team as the new Environmental Services Director around the end of January, a move he made from about 87 miles up the turnpike.

“I spent the past seven years at Aberdeen Village (a Presbyterian Manor community in Olathe, Kan.) and was the maintenance supervisor there. I had been wanting to move closer to Wichita, that’s where my family is. This spot opened up and was at least half-way there. I jumped on the opportunity,” said Brad. Just about six weeks into his new position, Brad’s favorite part of the job is the people.

“The staff here are extremely cooperative and pretty much take to heart our mission,” said Brad. “It is so resident-oriented here. I find that very refreshing. I totally enjoy establishing new relationships with residents. I’m still pretty tight with a number of them at Aberdeen Village, we correspond.”

Originally from Olathe, Brad attended Colby Junior College and volunteered a couple of years with the inner-city mission organization World Impact where he built houses in Florence, Kan. and cabins in Lake Hughes, Calif. He and his wife are avid cooks. They have two daughters and two granddaughters. u

EDITOR’S NOTE: In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we regularly feature a column from a PMMA® chaplain in our newsletter. This month’s column comes from Robert “Bob” Griffin, chaplain at Topeka Presbyterian Manor®.

APRIL FOOLS’No Foolin’!

By Robert Giffin

What is it about the first day of April that brings out the “prankster” in people? You know, things like putting a rubber snake on the bathroom floor; taping open the handle on the kitchen sink sprayer; being sent on an errand to retrieve a left-handed pipe wrench; or with a straight face, telling a coworker there is an IRS agent in the lobby asking for them (that time of year you know!). You’ve probably been the victim, the perpetrator, or both, of pranks on April Fool’s Day!

I know I have been. My dear wife loves garage sales. So, when I saw my neighbor doing some “spring cleaning” in his garage on April 1st, I told her that that our neighbor was having a garage sale. She went right over to the neighbors’ home and started looking at the items from his garage sitting out on the driveway. In a few minutes, our sweet neighbor let her know he was simply cleaning out his garage!

Chaplain–continued on page 4

Bob Griffin

Brad Krehbiel

PMMA celebrates history with Founder’s Day

PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®) employees will observe the founding of the senior living system this month as the company celebrates its 74-year history of serving seniors in Kansas and Missouri.

PMMA’s roots go back to 1947. Alice Kalb, a widow from central Kansas, appealed to a Presbyterian Church organization to establish a home for seniors. Her vision laid the foundation for the first Presbyterian Manor community in Newton, Kan., and inspired others to do even more. Through the many decades, PMMA® remained true to the spirit of Alice’s vision, providing quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Each Founder’s Day, staff members re-commit to live our mission by signing the “WE PROMISE” board that lists the pillars of the mission: respecting that seniors retain their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; assisting residents with specific needs; providing compassionate service; serving as a trusted resource; and advocating for seniors.

“Our nearly 2,000 employees view

what they do as a calling,” said Bruce Shogren, president and CEO. “Our dedicated employees make it possible for us to sustain PMMA’s mission, as well as its heritage. I believe Alice is watching over us today knowing that we’re carrying on the legacy that she established more than seven decades ago.”

Alice Kalb’s dream has turned into a network of 15 senior living communities and two hospices across Kansas and Missouri. A new senior living community is under construction in Colorado Springs.

PMMA remains true to its core and mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. u

executive director

marketing director

Alice Kalb, the visionary who imagined a home for seniors.

Alice Kalb participated in the groundbreaking of the first Presbyterian Manor.

How about a delicious cake this Easter?

“My family makes a really good and super easy Easter cake, and I have a recipe of it,” said Andraya Taber, marketing and sales director.

Maybe you’ll want to try it out this Easter.

Ingredients

• 15.25-ounce box white cake mix

• ingredients needed to make cake: eggs, oil and water

• 15 ounce can cream of coconut

• 8-ounce container COOL WHIP, thawed

• 8-ounce package sweetened flaked coconut

• Green Food Coloring (Optional)

• Jelly Beans (Optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare and bake white cake mix according to package directions for a 9x13-inch baking pan.

2. Remove cake from oven, and while still hot, poke holes all over the top of cake using a straw.

3. Open can of Cream of Coconut (making sure to stir it first) and pour over warm cake.

4. Evenly coat the whole cake and spread it around. It will soften and sink into the holes as you spread it over the warm cake.

5. Let cake cool completely then frost with whipped topping.

6. Take a drop or two of food coloring and color the flaked coconut.

7. Evenly top cake with flaked coconut.

8. Add a few jelly beans on top (Easter Eggs) for decoration.

9. Chill cake in fridge for a few hours and serve. u

Andraya Taber with her delicious Easter cake.

2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6636

Chaplain – continued from page 1

I love popcorn. Being honest, I don’t think anyone makes a better perfect batch than me. Seizing an opportunity to even the score, my same sweet wife added vinegar to my special popcorn cooking oil and, boy oh boy, did I regret sending her to my neighbors’ house!

According to “History.com”, April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582 in France when some people were slow to convert to a new calendar system. So, instead of celebrating New Year’s Day on January 1, they celebrated it on April 1. They became the butt of jokes and hoaxes and were called “April fools.” Over time, the fun, the pranks, and the jokes spread throughout Europe and eventually to America where there is apparently no end, or limit, to the April Fools’ Day pranks. They happen in baseball, politics, and fast food! History.com records:

“In 1985, Sports Illustrated writer George Plimpton tricked many readers when he ran a made-up article

about a rookie pitcher named Sidd Finch who could throw a fastball over 168 miles per hour.

In 1992, National Public Radio ran a spot with former President Richard Nixon saying he was running for president again…only it was an actor, not Nixon, and the segment was all an April Fools’ Day prank that caught the country by surprise.

In 1996, Taco Bell, the fast-food restaurant chain, duped people when it announced it had agreed to purchase Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell and intended to rename it the Taco Liberty Bell.”

Those are fun and innocent pranks that make people look foolish. On April 1st, make sure you are not the fool by the way you talk about others. In the Bible, Proverbs 10:18 (NIV) says: “Whoever…spreads slander is a fool”. If you talk bad about others, the joke will be on you! u

Resources: https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/april-fools-day