Commun ty Matters Salina Presbyterian Manor
June 2015
Mary’s Musings June is the month in which we celebrate Flag Day and the first day of summer. It is also a month when families gather to celebrate graduations, weddings and Father’s Day. I believe that “family” is more than just our biological family or our birth family. Often people who work together consider themselves a work family. I often talk about our “Manor family,” which encompasses our residents and our staff. I think of myself as a child of God, and God’s family encompasses people of all races, religions and ages. People of differing physical and mental abilities. The rich and the poor of every socioeconomic status. As humans, I believe, we have more things in common than differences. In her poem published in 1985, Anita Robertson describes “family.” We are a family We were born in the mind of God eons before our physical existence became a reality. He carefully planned every detail of our being — the color of our eyes and hair, a dimple here, a freckle there — making us unique individuals who would fit perfectly into His plan for our family. MUSINGS, continued on page 5
Expert woodworker John Miller built this crane and scissor lift in honor of his son’s construction firm, Miller Construction Co. in Wichita.
Wooden wonder
Working crane made of wood is tribute to resident’s son To look at the wooden crane John Miller designed and built, you might assume he was some kind of engineer. The 4-foot boom is expertly balanced by the cab and engine and rotates 360 degrees. The crane can lift and lower a modest load, and the machine can crawl on its caterpillar tracks. But Miller’s astounding creation – and its companion, a wooden scissor lift – are the products of a master woodworker’s skilled hands and a mind for planning. “It was a shoot from hip sort of thing,” said Miller, a resident of Salina Presbyterian Manor. “I started building that crane and it just kind of grew. I didn’t have any plans or diagrams.” Miller created the pieces in honor of his son and daughter-in-law, who own Trinity Sales, a construction equipment firm in Wichita. The models WONDER, continued on page 2
WONDER, continued from page 1
are usually on display at their office. “On a daily basis there are people who come in and marvel at it,” he said.
sales for a construction and paving firm in Wichita, where they had lived for 25 years. In Arkansas, he says, he made a little of everything. He sold some items and gave others away. The golfers loved his miniature golf carts, and he built three porch swings for his children and grandchildren.
This spring, the pieces were carefully transported to Salina for display in Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless exhibit. Miller estimates the crane took about 400 hours to build over a period of four or five years. “My dad was a trim carpenter, “I should have made four, so I’d have one to keep,” he so I think maybe that rubbed off on said. me,” Miller said. He took woodworking in high school. After he and his wife, Jan, retired to Bella Vista, Arkansas, in the 1990s he was finally able to have his own workshop. John worked in
up woodworking around the same time, but he keeps a photo album to remember his projects over the years — including the big crane. “It was made with a lot of love, and it was time well spent, in particular with the kids enjoying it now,” Miller said.
The Millers, who have been married for 69 years, moved to Salina about three years ago to be near their daughter. He had to give
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Salina Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Bradley Radatz, executive director Kim Fair, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Kim Fair, kfair@pmma.org. Telephone: 785-825-1366 Fax: 785-825-6554 Address: 2601 E. Crawford, Salina, KS 65401-2595 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. SalinaPresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters June 2015
Resident potluck dinner a huge success Because the Chamber event occupied the dining room April 30, a pot luck meal was provided in the lower level. Activity Director Karen Larsen and her husband, Brian, grilled steak and chicken kabobs.
my opinion. I don’t think I’ve ever had any that were that good. Karen really outdid herself last night.
“I’m glad I went, and when she repeats that menu, I’ll go again. That was the best meal I’ve had since One resident emailed to say, “The I’ve lived here ... any place ... and I potluck supper last night was want to give credit to Karen and her superb. The kabobs were delicious and couldn’t have been any better, in husband for it.”
Salina Presbyterian Manor
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River Festival and Big Band Dance at Salina this month The annual Smoky Hill River Festival is Thursday through Sunday June 11 to 14.
Presbyterian Manor will provide transportation to the River Festival for those who wish to go. The organizers are allowing us to drive the bus right into the festival grounds, so you won’t have to walk too far to enjoy this Salina tradition. The bus will make several trips daily to and from Presbyterian Manor.
Festival buttons are required for admission and are available in the business office for $10 prior to the start of the festival. After June 11, the price will be $15.
Presbyterian Manor will again sponsor the Big Band Dance featuring the Bobby Layne Orchestra on Friday night of the festival from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Marketing Director Kim Fair needs three or four volunteers to help
with the entry table. Volunteers can be employees or residents, and Kim will provide each with a River Festival button. The big doors open at 6:30 p.m., and we need to be ready to check for buttons or sell buttons. After the second short break, Kim and one or two others can manage the traffic in case some would like to go home after the rush. Please see Kim if you are interested.
Health care happenings in June
• Art Discovery: Sun painting. Paper cut-outs are fastened to special paper and left in direct sunlight. After time the cut-outs are removed and a pattern remains on the paper. • Scrabble • Marriage Humor: Now that sounds interesting! • Cooking: Residents are asked on a regular basis what they haven’t eaten for a while that they would like to have. Those special foods are prepared by residents and activities staff. We all like to enjoy favorite foods. This month will include: pan fried cabbage, cold cucumber soup, Old Hickory Nut Cake, buttermilk donuts, cinnamon rolls, and brown sugar rhubarb pie. • A craft this month will be “Father’s Tie.” Health Care activities assistant, Joann Stubby, had a knee replacement recently. We wish her well and excitedly look forward to her return.
Father’s Day celebration
Father’s Day will be celebrated on Friday, June 19, at noon in the lower level. The theme will be “casino” and a special meal is being planned.
Travel & Taste June will take us to Exit 14 restaurant in Gypsum, Kansas. We are in the process of booking the adventure for prime rib night. Stay tuned and watch SAMN for the date and time.
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Community Matters June 2015
Salina Presbyterian Manor celebrates 35 years of service Salina Presbyterian Manor hosted a Chamber After Hours event April 30 as part of our 35th anniversary celebration. It was well attended and highly rated for the food we served, the lovely environment and the availability of the veranda around the dining room. Many thanks to Laine Norris and Keith Brown, who prepared all the food, including croissant sandwiches, vegetable shooters and homemade potato chips. Some guests suggested we add catering to our services. Residents welcomed guests to Presbyterian Manor and invited them to help themselves to food and beverages at the door of the MUSINGS, continued from page 1
He did not create our diverse personalities to push us into conflict but to give balance to our lives by drawing from each other’s strengths as well as complementing each other’s weaknesses. Knowing we would need each other to accomplish His special purpose for our lives, He wove certain traits & characteristics into each of us to benefit the entire family. As we place our complete trust in the Lord, He helps us grow, nurture, share and love. Take every opportunity to spend time with those you call “family.”
Ivory Keys Café & Coffee Bar. Another circulated throughout the dining room and veranda greeting people and asking if they needed anything. Thank you to our resident volunteers: John and Jan Miller,
entry greeters; Ken Jennison, Ivory Keys greeter; and Dale Anderson, who “worked the crowd.” You have demonstrated again how vibrant our community is.
Employee of the Month Congratulations to Jamie Bonilla, Employee of the Month for May. Jamie has worked at Presbyterian Manor for two years. Jamie has three children: Sierra (21), Shailyn (20) and Dakota (19). She enjoys going to rock concerts, reading, hiking, helping others and spending time with her children. She is an avid Oakland Raiders fan. One thing we probably don’t know yet about Jamie is that she originally wanted to be an aerospace engineer — it never crossed her mind to go into health care.
She loves her job at Presbyterian Manor. Her goal every day is to make every resident on her hall smile. Salina Presbyterian Manor
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Dinner theater The outing Saturday, May 2, to the Ellsworth Correctional Facility was a hit. Residents attended their Spiritual Life Center’s annual dinner theater presentation, “Regrets Only.” Those attending had a great time and said the food was wonderful.
Whoo’s Whoo
Famous puzzle group strikes again The Salina Presbyterian Manor jigsaw puzzle workers have become famous. A woman delivered a puzzle on Monday saying she had tried without success to complete it. She heard from a friend about our group that completes very large and difficult puzzles. The puzzle is unique and has no straight edges to serve as a border. It was finished in 2-3 days. Good work, folks!
Thanks to all who attended the inaugural Whoo’s Whoo, a monthly meet and greet on the second Monday. Everyone is invited to attend. The group gets together to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and to meet our newest neighbors.
Coming Up in Community Matters Everyone has a story to tell... We’ll be talking about education in an upcoming edition of Community Matters. Were you a teacher or a school administrator? Do you have fond memories of what school was like when you were young? Are you amazed at the changes in schools now that your grandchildren and great-grandchildren are attending?
If you’d like to share your thoughts or memories, contact Marketing Director Kim Fair and your story may be selected for inclusion in an upcoming Community Matters newsletter.
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Community Matters June 2015
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