REFLECTIONS
ROCKING THE BAY…
“Mark Cassara and Friends” drummer (and Maplewood employee) Ron Alessi was very fired up! “Ron was ready to play weeks ago,” chuckled Activities Director Gary Sacco. “He’d tell anyone who listened, ‘we’re going to swing the place!’”
He wasn’t kidding! On a perfect afternoon of Thursday, June 3, a huge Maple Bay Café crowd was thrilled by an hour of eclectic music, some favorites and other songs/genres far less familiar. The band, featuring vocalist/sax player Mark Cassara, keyboardist Mike VanEllen and drummer Ron Alessi (holding it all together), really cooked. Cassara’s front-man presence rivaled even the most gregarious performers. This was foreshadowed in a pre-concert exchange with resident Harold F. Harold, known for his wit, began “heckling” Mark the second he arrived. Then something interesting happened. “Mark started heckling Harold back, which created an extended good-natured banter,” observed Sacco.
The crowd, sipping soft drinks, beer and wine, were borderline rowdy. They clapped, or tapped, along to the music and showed approval of numerous instrumental solos with applause. They snacked on Cucumber Lemon Sandwich wedges while the band repeatedly wowed them.
Mark did slow down the pace a few times with popular ballads. However, this trio took a number of musical chances. Their risk taking was rewarded with acclaim. First of all, they played with copious volume, sounding like a jazz/rock fusion outfit. While Len Hawley and Dick Leschhorn brought amplification here a long time ago, this group really pushed the envelope.
More amazingly, the trio played extended sax, keyboard and drum solos that jazz combos thrive on. This produced an edgy tint to the performance and residents embraced it. Others were driven outside for a look. Business Manager Laurie Zazzara snuck out, as did Administrator Greg Chambery. “When the staff comes out and stays a little while, that is the mark of a really good concert,” Sacco stated.
This concert seemed to be a historic moment in the young history of the Maple Bay Café. “I looked out at our community during the show and thought, this is what the Café can become,” insisted Sacco. He is convinced that this was a glimpse into the future. “We plan on trying a lot of different ideas at various time slots just to see what happens,” he explained. Café staffers are elated with the already increased traffic at Maple Bay really early in the season.
“We think we’re learning how to market this great space to attract more interest, and consequently, patrons,” Sacco pointed out. Re-booking “Mark Cassara and Friends” might help that cause! Just ask the drummer!
CAR SHOW 2010
While the sun was high on the morning of Saturday, June 19, the forecast wasn’t so encouraging for that afternoon’s 2nd Annual Car Show. Organizers, including Good Time Oldies members Bob and Donna Baumgartner, had hoped to draw at least 75 cars. An army of Maplewood staff worked to prepare for a big crowd. While the ominous clouds and ensuing showers kept some car owners away (or chased a few home) they didn’t stop the spectators. The extended Maplewood Community came out in large numbers, as did many visitors. Approximately 25 classics and hot rods were on display.
The Maplewood team doggedly worked to prepare. Maintenance Supervisor Tim Barbosa and right-hand man Paul Clocksin readied the parking lot. Mike Fall’s Dining Services Staff stocked Maple Bay Café and prepped the food court. Activities, helped by the Baumgartners, presided over parking arrangements and traffic flow. Volunteers, led by Neil Strollo and Joe Grizzanti, served as tour guides for Maplewood residents. Boss Greg Chambery, along with sons Nick and Colin, also showed up. Director of Social Work Lisa Davies also dropped by. “We had everything covered; it was a real team effort,” pointed out Activities Director Gary Sacco. “Mike asked if I could step in and grill. I enthusiastically accepted and it was fun.”
The vehicles steadily began rolling in around 1:30pm. “We were on a fantastic pace; then, the clouds thickened,” explained Sacco. However, admiring spectators (many not connected to Maplewood) ignored the sky. Residents were hearty, too. Connie B. stayed for nearly the entire show, snapping pictures. Clair R. waited all week for this event. He hung out with friend Colin Pinkney and his 1971 Maverick. Other options existed for show goers. The last five eastern most spots in the Business Office parking lot were converted into a food court. The menu consisted of traditional picnic favorites hot dogs, hamburgers and Italian sausage smothered with peppers and onions. Sides of corn and macaroni salad were also available. “I was having a blast interacting with friends and strangers while bopping around to the Duke of Earl’s music,” laughed Sacco. The Duke, also known as Earl Beideck, spun 60’s and 70’s car-themed tunes. He plays many of the local cruises, adding a party-like atmosphere to the scene.
Maple Bay Café opened and flourished during the show, packed with patrons. Bartenders Brandon Pensgen and Scott Ross kept the cold drinks flowing. “I have no doubt that the car show crowd, including owners, really like the venue,” insisted Sacco. “While the cars were the stars, we offered so much more. I think many rode out the quick shower by going to the Café for a drink, then returned to look at more cars.”
Shortly after 4pm, the last car, aside from Baumgartner’s Mustang and The Duke’s van, rolled away. While the Baumgartners disappointedly apologized for (of all things) the weather, Sacco informed them that Maplewood was very satisfied. 2010’s event was impeccably planned; everything was accounted for except the one factor uncontrollable, the weather. “We at the Maplewood would like to thank everyone who worked, planned, attended and brought their cars on Saturday,” stated Sacco. “Everyone is invited back next year.” Well, maybe not the clouds!
FREEDOM
By Janet Pater, Resident Columnist
“Mountains, and all hills, fruited trees, fowl… Let them praise the word of the Lord.” (Psalm 148:9)
En route to Florida on our honeymoon, we stopped at every historic spot as we traveled southward. It was then I became aware that my wonderful husband had this yen to travel, especially to historic sites. While sharing his interest for visiting new places, I was never the history buff he was.
Throughout our marriage we extensively toured our nation, including Alaska and Hawaii. One of our favorite Sunday afternoon journeys from our residence in Troy was to drive over the Mohawk Trail and into Williamstown, Massachusetts. Naturally, we had to stop at the clearing where the huge Indian statue stood, and enjoy a picnic lunch. Afterwards, the kids would carefully cross the highway to the gift shop that sold maple sugar candy and a variety of small trinkets.
When we arrived at Williamstown’s Village Green, every colonial house facing it displayed Old Glory! This always sent shivers down my spine. Its message was a simple, glorious declaration that WE ARE PROUD TO BE AMERICANS. In our Penfield home, Russ went out every morning to display the flag.
We were also so fortunate to tour much of Canada, Europe and the Holy Land. After visiting our college children in Michigan, a large portion of the journey home traversed Canada. After crossing the border, I was always glad to be back on American soil. I remember too well heavily armed soldiers marching in front of Greece’s government buildings. I can also recall the armed soldier who entered a small Café in Italy, eating with his rifle close by. Years later in Mexico, an armed soldier, gun pointing towards the pedestrian crossing, was stationed at a busy intersection.
Most people who turn in for the night actually sleep. However I have one of those odd temperaments that rarely allow me to completely relax. In fact, I do a lot of my best thinking in bed. While writing this article, it occurred to me one night that I could not recall our first 5 freedoms! That morning my aide and I tried to think of them but could only come up with 4. This bugged me! I queried the young Terrace Room servers as most are still in school. NOT ONE of the servers could name one. Then a nearby aide interjected that we don’t remember them because we take our freedoms for granted.
Ashamedly, I think she is correct. Can any of you name our first five freedoms? If you cannot, may I suggest you do your homework. I’ll provide one helpful hint; freedom of speech is the first one!
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen as his own inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12)
NURSING NOTES
By Yvonne Arnold, RN, ADON
The annual Lifespan Certified Nursing Assistant Luncheon was held on June 10. Greg and I were proud to take (featured L to R: Yvonne Arnold) Patricia DeLella, Megan Harriff, Kristina Thompson, Kathy Sherman, Carol McCarthy and Richelle Powers (Greg Chambery on right) to be honored at this event.
The featured speaker, Sarah McRae Rowen, referred to nursing assistants as Certified Nurturing Angels. Sarah’s husband Joseph suffered with Alzheimer’s disease for many years. She eventually turned his care over to a nursing facility. It was during this time she observed Nurturing Angels in their role. Her spiritual insight into the heart of being caregiver was truly inspirational, “Do words make you feel celebrated or just tolerated?” A wonderful thought for all of us to keep in the forefront of how we live and work every day!
Congratulations and thank you to all of the Certified Nurturing Angels at Maplewood!
SUNNY START FOR THE BAZAAR
By Activities Director, Gary Sacco
There was very little Bazaar planning activity in the early spring. Various Committee members were distracted with their own health issues and I pre-occupied myself with Maple Bay Café plotting. Recently, action has started to pick up. Resident Committee participants Connie B., Ruth G. and Shirley F. are itching to organize another meeting in the very near future. The Holiday Bazaar (occurring on November 18, 19 and 20) seems to be falling into place.
This doesn’t happen by accident. Careful preparation is the key to success, measured by how much cash we can raise for Hope House and The Bivona Child Advocacy Center. The vendor chart is exploding with returnees. I’m planning on, with the urging of Connie, to re-measure the Garden Room. We’ve another configuration in mind that may increase the number of tables available. The combination of our incredible retention rate, and interested new vendors, is a blessing and curse. Returning are Audrey Johnville, Sue Moreton, Amy Gulick and many others! There may be several openings for Saturday, 11-20!
I’ve just started communicating with last year’s raffle prize donors and am encouraged. With an eye on businesses that haven’t participated yet, I can happily report that so far, “Kittelberger’s” and “Color Me Mine” have definitely committed again. This is news that my colleagues will be glad to hear. Ruth, Shirley and Connie sell most of the raffle tickets, a big difference maker in the bottom line. While our altruistic community and friends will support the charities, lining up an excellent array of prizes can only accelerate sales! A strong prize roster will also enable Connie to pursue her idea of silently auctioning off a couple of wine baskets, with Committee approval of course. This represents another stream of charity revenue!
With the bright sun glimmering off of anything it hits and summer’s heat just arriving, it seems peculiar to write about an event that happens a week prior to Thanksgiving. The Bazaar Committee starts this process in January and slowly builds towards the big event, only five months away!
JULY’S MAPLE BAY CAFÉ EVENTS
WELCOME HOME’S TRIVIA AT MAPLE BAY W/ GARY
Thursday, July 1, 4:30pm
Maple Bay’s founder welcomes everyone home with a challenging late afternoon round of drinks and trivia! He’ll be armed with dozens of difficult questions on a variety of topics. They’ll be a few prizes available for the best answers!
THE DR. NICK AND GLORIA SHOW
Friday July 2, 2:30pm
Popular Duo comes rolling ashore to play an hour of familiar energetic music. They’ve already played a handful of successful shows at Maplewood. Activities Director Gary Sacco looks forward to seeing them for the first time. Drinks will be available.
WELCOME HOME’S CARRIBBEAN AFTERNOON FEATURING JULIE HALL
Thursday, July 8, 4:30pm
Patrons will feel Bahamian, snacking on Chicken Jerk Pineapple Skewers, soaking up the sun and sounds of Julie Hall’s Steel Drum. Maple Bay fans can look forward to more entertainment at the ever increasingly popular Welcome Home Happy Hours!
WELCOME HOME’S “NAME THAT TUNE” AFTERNOON W/ JOE AND NEIL
Thursday, July 22, 4:30pm
Enjoy a drink and Chef Juliana’s latest offering at another relaxing Welcome Home Happy Hour. This time, bring your musical acumen as our famous “A-team” of volunteers tries to stump you. Joe Grizzanti plays piano while Neil Strollo serves as the dynamic front man. Sing along, but don’t sway your drink hand too much, or you’ll soak your neighbor!
SUMMERFEST CONCERT W/ THE B-SHARP TRIO
Thursday, July 29, 2:30pm
The guys, along with flutist Carolyn Griswold-Garman, attempt to shake the bad weather karma that has followed their last three appearances! Maplewood’s house band is itching to plug in at Maple Bay for the first time in 2010!
FROM THE HEART OF THE KITCHEN
By Executive Chef Juliana Stojanova
Summer is finally here, and it's time to celebrate sunshine, Independence Day, and the grilling season! As the warm weather starts to become a regular here at Maplewood, take a moment to enjoy the sunshine at our outside Patio Maple Bay Cafe. We will be hosting many events, such as BBQ's, cooking demos, during these summer months; so get your sunglasses and sunscreen on and enjoy our amenities with your family right at home.
Here are some Fourth of July Favorites you can make and enjoy this year!
GRILLED SOUR CREAM AND ONION BURGERS
Serves 8
Ingredients:
2 pounds of ground beef
1 small onion finely minced
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1 cup sour cream
1/4 teaspoon ground onion
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 freshly baked rolls of your choice
Lettuce and freshly sliced tomato if you would like
and all your favorite toppings
Procedure:
1. Heat up the grill to 400. Then while grill is heating, sauté onions until they are soft. In a medium size bowl mix ground beef, onions, and all dry ingredients mix until well incorporated. Shape into 8 patties.
2. Grill patties on grill with cover down for 10 to 15 minutes (5 minutes on each side or until desired doneness).
3. Serve on roll with lettuce, sliced tomato, and your favorite toppings!
SUMMER FRESH BERRY PUDDING
Serves 8
Ingredients:
12 slices firm white bread (crust removed)
2 cups fresh blueberries
2/3 cups granulated sugar
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
2 cups fresh raspberries
1 cup fresh blackberries
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (or half a fresh vanilla bean- seeds scraped out)
Procedure:
1. Arrange bread slices on wire racks to dry out when making filling.
2. In 3-quart saucepan, combine blueberries, and granulated sugar. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring often; boil for one minute. Stir in strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries cooking for one minute longer, stirring while cooking. Remove from heat. Cool berry filling to room temperature.
3. Line deep 1½ quart bowl with plastic wrap to extend over side of bowl. Line bowl with 4 bread slices. Spoon half of berry filling on top of bread. Cover with another 4 slices of bread and top with remaining filling. Top with the last 4 slices of the bread. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one day with a plate with a heavy can or weight on top.
4. After 24 hours, remove weights (cans) invert pudding onto plate. Remove plastic wrap and spoon any excess juices over pudding.
5. For whipped cream topping place 2 cups heavy cream in a mixer with whip attachment and whip for 5 minutes on low speed. Slowly add in the confectioners sugar and vanilla, and whip until stiff peaks start to form about another 5 minutes on a higher speed.
6. Serve pudding with whipped cream.
EMPLOYEE MILESTONES
Congratulations to:
Brandon Pensgen, Evening Server, for 5 years of service. Brandon also works at the Maple Bay Café. Thanks, Brandon!
Lynn Dorfner, RN, Nurse Manager, for 5 years of service. Lynn works days on the Eastman Unit. Thank you, Lynn!
Sandy Dostman, CNA, for 5 years of service. Sandy works on the Eastman Unit. Thanks, Sandy!
Ebony Way, CNA, for 5 years of service. Ebony works on the Lakeview Unit. Thank you, Ebony!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Maple Bay Café is really hopping in July! In addition to the great events already listed in the MBC handout, which everyone will hopefully put on their refrigerators at home, 4:30pm “Welcome Home” Happy Hours continue, on Thursdays and Fridays. Wake up outdoors on Tuesday morning, July 27, at the popular Coffee Bay Café. A cup of coffee, a snack from Savoia’s bakery and the bright, shining sun are a winning combination anywhere. Summer vacation lasts only so long! Enjoy Maple Bay.
Affable Fiddlin’ Lynn Arnold returns to a more familiar venue than the Terrace Room! An enthusiastic Garden Room crowd awaits another original show by the well-known fiddler the morning of Monday, July 5. Arnold’s hour set features a variety of tunes, some identified with his instrument and others that veer from that description. Ever hear a fiddler tackle Stevie Wonder? Arnold usually pulls out an interesting version of “My Cherie Amour.”
Mary Jane Proschel threw a curve ball at residents last month, baking cookies from Carolyn S.’s recipe. It is tough to predict what food item to expect at Cooking with Mary Jane on Friday morning, July 9. Participants can count on a loose atmosphere, quality time with Mary Jane, an interesting narrative and an excellent finished product. “We’re always proud to highlight our talented volunteers,” stated Activities Director Gary Sacco.
Maplewood residents resume there regular outings to Donuts Delight with an excursion that on the afternoon of Friday, July 9. A couple of eager passengers pile in the van for quick ride to the iconic eatery. The experience has always been pleasant. The legendary pastries are diverse and delicious. So far, Apple Fritters seem the most popular among the Maplewood crowd. Residents always return in a great mood from this unhurried journey back to the 50’s!
Valerie Wroblewski’s popular visiting Irish Setters will seize the chance to show off athletic prowess on Thursday afternoon, July 15, at the Gazebo grounds. The Maplewood Community will gaze at “Alaistar” and possibly “old man” Chandler leaping, weaving and cutting on a very challenging agility course precisely set up by Wroblewski. This event begins at 10:30am. It will be moved inside if the weather is uncooperative.
Dick Leschhorn fires up the electric organ and races his way through decades of songs! The mega-star will perform for a packed Garden Room throng on Friday morning, July 23, 10-30-11:30am. Sometimes, the crowds are so large Leschhorn has to delay his show’s beginning to give everyone time to arrive! “I consider Dick a friend of Maplewood’s,” opined Activities Director Gary Sacco. “He has played hundreds of concerts here over the past 15 to 20 years and was on of the first mainstream musicians to give nursing home venues a shot.”
We taste summer beers at the Café on Saturday afternoon, July 24, from 2-4pm. Maplewood is trying to work with local microbrewers for this fun event. The unfamiliar really need to attend in order to learn the concept of seasonal beers! Plus, they taste really good, and nothing is more refreshing on a torrid day. Maybe some beer trivia can spice things up.