Time for Spaghetti

September is Friendship Month at Juniper Communities and what better way to celebrate friendship than with a brother or sister. Juniper Village at Brookline hosted a Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser to benefit the Big Brother/Big Sister program through the Youth Service Bureau (YSB) in Centre County. This national program provides local children an opportunity to connect with others while developing positive relationships. "One caring adult can make a significant difference in the life of a child" (ccysb.com).

Juniper Village dished up more than 60 dinners to community members, Juniper staff, and residents throughout the evening with dine in and take out options. Guests enjoyed spaghetti with freshly made meatballs, salad, baked dinner rolls, and house made cupcakes. All attendees were also entered into a raffle to win a fall-themed gift basket. At the end of the evening all money raised was given to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program for a grand total of $659.25. "Thank you so much for this event. This is wonderful!" said Zach Barton, Centre County Big Brother/Big Sister Program Coordinator who was present for the event and to receive the check.

Be sure to check out the Juniper Village at Brookline monthly calendars for more information on other fundraisers throughout the year.

For more information on the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program through the Centre County Youth Service Bureau, please visit www.ccysb.com.

Wellspring Memory Care Collects Donations for Furry Friends

Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care loves furry friends! They play with us when we’re feeling silly, offer snuggles when we need a hug, and are a comfort when we’re blue. To celebrate the joy that animals bring to our lives, Wellspring residents, family members, and staff collected pet supplies throughout the summer for Pets Come First, a local animal shelter in Centre Hall, PA. Not only was the pet supply drive a great way to give back to our community, but it also helped to draw attention to the shelter’s needs. The items collected were simple things:  crisp paper towels, fresh kitty litter, lip-smacking snacks, extra-strong garbage bags. However, these everyday items are vital for keeping a shelter running smoothly and providing a safe, clean, healthy environment for animals that are awaiting their forever homes.  

Community members who are interested in learning more about Pets Come First and their mission of “facilitating the placement of stray and unwanted animals into loving homes,” are welcome to join Wellspring residents for a furry friends meet-and-greet on September 16! The event will be held at 610 W. Whitehall Road in State College from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, and will feature some of the animals that are available for adoption.  Delicious homemade snacks will be served for both the humans and the four-legged friends in attendance!

September 2016 Events in State College, PA: Spread Your Joy

As the air begins to cool and summer wanes, Juniper Village ends our “Stay Connected” series by recognizing Friendship and Joy. What is it that brings you joy? Is it the wet nose of a newborn pup? The smile of your first grandchild? The taste of a triple chocolate ice cream cone? Whatever it is we invite you to share that joy with others at Juniper Village this month.

Much attention has been paid to studies regarding the effects of stress on your health, but what about the effects of joy? The landmark “Nun Study,” as it's often known, revealed that positive emotion is correlated with longevity: 90% of the most cheerful quarter of nuns was alive at the age of eighty-five, whereas only 34% of the least cheerful quarter lived to that age. Similarly, 54% of the most cheerful fourth was alive at age ninety-four, versus 11% of the least cheerful. Of the 678 sisters in the original study about four dozen are still living. So go ahead, grab that triple chocolate cone it might just extend your life!

Join us this month as we celebrate friendship and staying connected with calendar events such as our annual daffodil planting and our home warming, birthday party and Best Friend initiatives.

Our fabulous September 2016 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care include our:

§  Sip and Paint Night Fundraiser with Benchmark Therapies as we enjoy an evening of networking with fellow healthcare professionals while Amanda Kunkle, owner of Happy Valley Sip & Paint, guides the class through one-of-a-kind masterpieces on September 8th from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. (Please RSVP to Jill at 814-235-2041. Tickets are $35; proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.)

§  Pets Come First Meet and Greet as we team up with Pets Come First to host a meet and greet for some of the furry friends up for adoption at this incredible, non-profit animal shelter with their mission of “facilitating the placement of stray and unwanted animals into loving homes,” we hope to help by raising awareness of the positive impact of pet adoption, and friends, family, residents, and the greater community are welcome as there will be homemade snacks for both the humans and four-legged friends in attendance on September 16^th from 2:00 pm to 4:15 pm.

§  Weekend Winedown to taste for a cause at this annual fundraiser event and silent auction to benefit bound to get your taste buds going wild, featuring signature dishes from local eateries alongside Seven Mountains wine at the winery on September 23rd at 6:30 pm. (Please RSVP to Liz at 814-234-3135. Tickets are $40 each or $70 per couple; proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.)

We look forward to sharing our September 2016 events in State College, PA at Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care with you as you Spread Your Joy.

Juniper Partners to 'Paint the Park Purple' for Alzheimer's Awareness

Batter up!  On August 17, Juniper Village at Brookline partnered with Home Instead Senior Care and the State College Spikes to Paint the Park Purple for the Alzheimer’s Association. The event provided a fun way to raise awareness and fight for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, as the State College Spikes battled the Williamsport Crosscutters. To show their support, Spikes fans and staff sported purple shirts, and the first 1,000 guests received free purple Spikes caps! With over 3,000 tickets sold, the stadium was a sea of lavender, grape, and plum.

Juniper Village at Brookline came out in full force for this very special night, greeting sports fans at the main gate and rooting in the stands. Special guests for the evening included former Penn State and NFL quarterback, Wally Richardson, and State College Idol winner, Rachel Moon, who sang the National Anthem.

“The association wouldn't grow without the support of sponsors like Juniper and Home Instead, and the partnership with the Spikes,” said Lissa Wise, Constituent Events Manager of the Alzheimer Association’s Greater Pennsylvania Chapter. “It was an overall great time and the number of people who came to the ballgame was very impressive! Not only did we answer a lot of questions for community members seeking support, but we also registered 10 new teams for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on October 29.”

To learn more about how you can get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association Greater PA Chapter, visit www.alz.org/pa.

Quite an After Hours

On August 11th Juniper Village at Brookline partnered with Penn State Health and B Events to host the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) Business after Hours. Over 150 members and guests of the Chamber attended this networking event. Guests were treated to live entertainment by local string band, Strait and Miller. Attendees also enjoyed in fare prepared by Juniper dining including a large antipasto bar, chicken pops, and chocolate fountain. Featured beverages were provided by Otto's Brewery, Barrel 21 Distillery, and Seven Mountains Winery. During the evening, Dr. Kevin Paul Black, MD Vice President of University Park Regional Medical Campus welcomed attendees to Juniper Village and promoted the developing partnership between Juniper Village and Penn State Health. He shared that Penn State University Park is embarking on a full medical school program for students which will highlight collaboration with area health providers, including Juniper Village at Brookline, to provide rotational sites for medical students to learn and develop hands on experience with older adults.
        
Networking and relationship building amongst community based providers is the foundation for Partners in Caring, which is one of nine Juniper Communities signature programs. Juniper Village at Brookline was thrilled to create such a warm and welcoming opportunity for this level of fellowship to occur and is eager to continue to provide this level of community service.

Special Quilts Stimulate Senses

Unique quilts were recently donated to Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care. Made from an array of fabrics and filled with interesting items such as zippers, buttons, spools, and laces, these “fidget quilts” are as therapeutic as they are fun. Designed to stimulate the mind as well as the hands, fidget quilts are a useful tool for people living with dementia. Simple things, like weaving the lattice on a soft felt pie or buttoning small corduroy pockets can help to soothe stress. “The comfort that these quilts bring to an anxious resident is instantaneous,” says Kaitlin Hoover, Connections Director. “Pairing this with our Music and Memory program truly helps us in our mission to nurture the spirit of life in our Wellspring community.”

These special quilts were generously donated by a local woman who was inspired to make them in memory of her father who was diagnosed with dementia.

Book Sale Supports Great Cause

Recently, Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care hosted a book sale to benefit the Women’s Resource Center in State College. The fundraiser was planned to highlight Juniper’s theme for the month: Stand in Integrity with Volunteerism. Over the last year, team members throughout Juniper Village collected more than 300 books spanning a wide array of interests. There were topics for everyone, including best sellers, mysteries, biographies, cookbooks, classics, how-to-guides, novels, and even books for children! With the help of Juniper team members and interns, a summer bookstore was set up on the front lawn of Wellspring Memory Care. Community members and Juniper residents alike enjoyed searching through the inventory to find hidden gems that piqued their reading interests. "The book sale is a wonderful way to connect our residents and community while supporting a great cause," said Liz Plozner-Chalfa, executive director at Wellspring." The event was a success, raising $200 for the local Women’s Resource Center, which provides support to women, men, and children who are victims of domestic and dating violence.