Commun ty Matters Manor of the Plains
A of
October 2015
LOVE
MUSIC.
Manor of the Plains residents have heard John Westmacott sitting in on snare drum when the Ford County Band plays here every month. In fact, John, who is the Manor of the Plains’ accountant, has a long career in music that took him from the clubs of Kansas City to the stages of New York. In high school, John was a charter member of the Salina Silver Sabres Drum and Bugle Corps. He was performing with swing bands around the region as a teenager, joining the Salina musicians’ union at age 16. And yet John wanted music to remain a hobby, not a career. “I didn’t want to major in music because I was not interested in teaching,” he said. John took a job in 1975 with the Social Security Administration in Kansas City. Soon he was plugged into the city’s jazz and swing scene, performing at country clubs, hotels and weddings. Eventually he had his own trio, The Kansas City Sound. He also played gigs sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund, which brought live music to places such as nursing homes or veteran’s hospitals. DRUMMER, continued on page 2
“Whoa! There They Go” by Richard Long.
Art is Ageless®
Local artist to be featured in 2016 calendar Not many people could take a bundle of copper wire and pistachio shells and turn them into a work of art. Richard Long of Dodge City has been building crowd-pleasing scenes out of these household materials for more than three years. It all started when he was eating some pistachios and realized the two rounded halves of the shell looked like insect wings. “I started making butterflies on sticks, to go in plants,” Richard said. “I made angels and little white doves, little bees. That went pretty good, so I started selling them at craft shows.” Richard’s mixed-media sculpture, “Whoa!! There They Go!” has been named a winner in this year’s system-wide Art is Ageless competition. Winners were chosen from the top local entries at all 18 Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America communities. Richard’s piece will be featured in the 2016 Art is Ageless calendar, along with the works of more than 50 artists age 65 and older throughout Kansas and Missouri. The sculpture depicts three pheasant eluding a hunter on the side of the road. The birds, made of painted pistachio shells and real pheasant feathers, bob on lengths of welding wire. Richard also tucked a dog, a raccoon, a rabbit and other birds into the scene among bushes made of wire. ART, continued on page 2
DRUMMER, continued on page 2
“It was an opportunity to give back, and I always kind of enjoyed that,” he said. In 1982, John saw an ad in a trade publication: the Military Academy Band at West Point was holding auditions. He sent an audition tape and eventually was offered a job, which he would begin upon completion of boot camp. “I was 30 then. I was older than my drill sergeants,” Westmacott said. He and his wife had two small children at the time, and a third daughter was born in New York. The West Point band’s mission is to support the cadets, and
Community Matters
they performed for government functions and funerals. John played the big concert halls in New York City, including Radio City Music Hall and Lincoln Center, and marched in many parades. “It was probably the best job I’ve had in all my life,” he said. In 1997, John returned to Kansas to be near his wife’s family in Dodge City, and he came to work at Manor of the Plains. Since then, he and his wife, a flute and piccolo player, have
played with the Municipal Band, and they volunteer in the pit orchestra at Dodge City High School. John also teaches drumming parttime at Dodge City Community College. But he has the most fun with his classic rock band, Jury. “It gives you the opportunity to get some energy going and relieve some stress, particularly when you’re outdoors and you can really get to wailing,” he said.
is published monthly for residents and friends of Manor of the Plains by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.
ART, continued on page 3
To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Kurt at klampe@pmma.org.
Richard likes to include moving parts, such as a hummingbird dipping into water or swaying flowers. He uses a bandsaw to cut the shells down to the sizes he needs. His scenes are perennial winners at the Ford County Fair, and last year, a bowling-alley scene won People’s Choice at the Kansas State Fair.
Jerry Korbe, executive director Kurt Lampe, marketing director Lisa Montoya, activities director Jacque Soltero, health care activities director
Telephone: 620-225-1928 Fax: 620-225-3982 Address: 200 Campus Dr., Dodge City, KS 67801-2760
Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. ManorofthePlains.org
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Jim Johnson, Bruce Hartnett, John Westmacott and Chuck Riley play monthly at Presbyterian Manor with the Ford County Band.
Community Matters October 2015
“It’s a scene that I remember in my own mind, having done that,” Richard said.
People enjoy his art, and to Long, that’s success—in a nutshell. In addition to Richard’s work, three other artists from Manor of the Plain’s exhibit will be featured in the calendar: Mary Anne “Off to Work” by Mary J. Ford. Hendrix, painting, “Off to Work”; Mary J. Ford, painting, “Haystack Rock, Oregon Coast”; and Dawn Habiger, quilting, “Sacajawea Quilt.”
Fall in love with
Manor of the Plains
This autumn could be the best season yet to become a resident at Manor of the Plains. Because during our Season of Savings, the sooner you move, the more you’ll save.
Select your independent living residence and save*:
25% off
your entrance fee when you move in by October 1, 2015
20% off
your entrance fee when you move in by November 1, 2015
15% off
your entrance fee when you move in by December 1, 2015
OR
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Move in by October 1, 2015, and save 50% on your monthly fee for 3 months
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Move in by November 1, 2015, and save 50% on your monthly fee for 2 months
1
Move in by December 1, 2015, and save 50% on your monthly fee for 1 month
*Specials applicable to Independent Living private-pay prospects only.
Plus, enjoy a special allowance for moving expenses. And as always, you’re sure to fall in love with our maintenance-free, amenity-rich lifestyle. Call us today at 620-682-9813.
200 Campus Drive | Dodge City, KS 67801 ManorofthePlains.org Manor of the Plains
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Manor of the Plains 200 Campus Dr. Dodge City, KS 67801-2760 Return Service Requested
Everyone has a story to tell Christmas will be here before we know it, and we’ll be talking about celebrations and traditions in an upcoming issue of Community Matters as we celebrate the holidays. Does your family have a special tradition? Is there a song that immediately conjures up memories of Christmases past? Do you have a memorable Christmas story to share? Contact Marketing Director Kurt Lampe, and your story may be selected to appear in an upcoming Community Matters.
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Community Matters October 2015
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