Fort Scott Presbyterian Village
APRIL 2022
Let it grow! Let it grow! Let it grow! We are finally done with cold, snowy days and ready to dig in the dirt. Many of us have gotten a jump on our starts, and we are ready to get planting. Fort Scott Presbyterian Village has many gardening enthusiasts and even started its very own gardening club. In preparation for the gardening month of April, Presbyterian Village invited Austin Bolinger, the horticultural therapist for Tri-Valley Developmental Services of Fort Scott, to speak to residents and the gardening club. He offered them the best tips on how to start their gardens. “There are many reasons for starting seeds indoors,” Austin said. “These include a head start on your plants for the growing season, larger harvests and a larger variety of plants to put in your garden. Plus the added enjoyment of watching your plants grow!”
Gift driven by a lifetime of example Throughout her life, former Fort Scott Presbyterian Village resident Bettie Duvall instilled in her daughter a deep sense of community and the importance of helping others. “I’m a believer in helping organizations that give care to other human beings,” said Bettie’s daughter, Tanya Duvall-Haubein. “I’ve always been like that. My mother and father taught me that. My father was community-minded and for its betterment, whether it was the community college, Chamber of Commerce, the old fort - I grew up with that. My mom was involved with church, the Girl Scouts, PEO, the fair board and the extension office. We had someone in the family in a nursing community all the time, and mom always helped take care of them.”
Austin brought soil pods, along with a variety of different seeds, and went through a step-by-step process of getting the starts going. Location, soil, and plants are the key elements to a successful garden. “You need to get your starts going before the end of March,” Austin said.
Bettie Duvall
We took a trip to Tri-Valley Greenhouse last year
Let it grow! – continued on page 2
When Bettie began suffering the effects of memory loss, she called Giving – continued on page 3
Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org/covid-19.
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Let it grow! – continued from page 1 “Tomatoes and peppers you can hold off until a little later on.” Residents had their notepads filled with great information from all of the advice Austin gave in answer to the residents’ many questions. Fort Scott is in the U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness Austin Bolinger hands out soil pods zone 6. Knowing your zone years and helped create the program can help when deciding what plants to build the greenhouse. Austin says will grow best. Austin plans to come back this month sharing his knowledge of plants and to assist with transplanting our starts flowers is something he truly enjoys. to the soil. Austin has a true passion not only for plants but also helping people. He trained under horticultural therapist Barbara McCord, who recently retired after 16
If Austin is not available, another great resource to answer your gardening questions is Garden.org. Here you can find the answers to almost any question you may have about gardening. There is also a detailed guide on what to plant and when. In early May, Tri-Valley will host its annual plant sale located at 4305 Campbell Dr. in the greenhouse. Here you can find a variety of plants, flowers and vegetables. Residents Minnie Lou and Georgie went last year and can’t wait to see what they will have this year. u
Pat Scott is excited about planting season.
Did you know? Back in the 1980s, the National Garden Bureau worked with 23 cosponsoring national horticultural organizations to legislate National Garden Week. President Reagan signed the proclamation on April 18, 1986. National Garden Week was first celebrated April 12 to 18, 1987. In 2002, the National Gardening Association extended the week to encompass the entire month.
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Community Matters 620-223-5550 u Fax: 620-223-7800 2401 S. Horton Fort Scott, KS 66701 FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | April 2022
is published monthly for residents and friends of Fort Scott Presbyterian Village by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: mbrillhart@pmma.org Ginger Nance, executive director Megan Brillhart, marketing coordinator
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
PMMA celebrates history with Founder’s Day PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica®) employees will observe the founding of the senior living system this month as the company celebrates its 73-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 recommit 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 would very proud.” 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 development in Colorado Springs.
PMMA remains true to its core and mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. For more information about Fort
Scott Presbyterian Village, contact Megan Brillhart, marketing director, at 620-223-5550 or mbrillhart@pmma.org. u
Alice Kalb participated in the groundbreaking for the first Presbyterian Manor.
Giving – continued from page 1 Fort Scott Presbyterian Village home for more than a year. After that, she moved to be near her daughter in Missouri. “Mom appreciated her time at Fort Scott,” Tanya said. “They took very good care of her.” When the time came to make a financial gift in her mom’s name, extending the capacity of the caregivers at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village seemed like a natural choice. “It was because of the appreciation for and the care needed for our caregivers — and what we’ve seen the past two years and what they do for our senior population,” Tanya said. “The gift to the Village was in appreciation for what they do for everyone I know who is there and the people who help our residents. I’m very impressed with everyone involved. I wanted to do something for them, especially after the past two years. Mom would agree with that — and it was an opportunity for her to show appreciation for everyone there.” Tonya said her mom and dad were raised during the Great Depression. They began their married life renovating old homes at the end of a long workday. “I didn’t know what a vacation was until I was in college,” Tanya laughed. “Mom was a homemaker, and she was involved in things that were important to her, all while keeping a nice home and garden.” By making a gift in her mom’s name, Tanya feels like she is able to carry out the mission her mother taught her so well. “She was supportive of all the things I did,” Tanya said. “I’m following in my father and mother’s footsteps and belief in giving back.” u Fort Scott Presbyterian Village | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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2401 S. Horton Fort Scott, KS 66701 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Is assisted living tax deductible? If you or your loved one is in an assisted living community, there is a good chance that part, or in some cases even all, of your assisted living costs may qualify for the medical expense tax deduction. According to the IRS, any qualifying medical expenses that make up more than 7.5% of an individual’s adjusted gross income can be deducted from taxes. There are certain qualifications that must be met, so it is important to consult with your tax advisor before making any of these deductions. For a detailed list of medical deductions, you may visit the IRS Publication 502 Medical and Dental Expenses which also includes qualifying services at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irspdf/p502.pdf. Considering assisted living but still have questions? Contact Megan at 620-223-5550 or mbrillhart@pmma.org to set up your appointment.u
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | April 2022