The
Leatherboard
October/November
2016
The Season of
Pumpkins and
Jack-O’-Lanterns
Contacts
Sharon Amadon
ext. 242
Rya Bennett
ext. 234
Kim Landi
ext. 227
Karen McKenzie
ext. 222
Trisha McCaig
ext 223
Cheryl Young
ext. 240
Executive Director
[email protected]
Resident Care Director
[email protected]
Reflections Program Director
[email protected]
Director of Marketing
[email protected]
Office Manager
[email protected]
Activity & Volunteer Director
[email protected]
8 West Main Street
Groton, MA 01450
www.rivercourtresidences.com
p: 978-448-4122 f: 978-448-4133
The word pumpkin originated from the Greek word Pepõn which
means large melon. The word gradually morphed by the French, English and
then Americans into the word “pumpkin.” Pumpkins and squash are believed
to have originated in the ancient Americas. These early pumpkins were not the
traditional round orange upright Jack-o’-lantern fruit we think of today when
you hear the word pumpkin. They were a crooked neck variety which stored well.
Archeologists have determined that variations of squash and pumpkins were
cultivated along river and creek banks along with sunflowers and beans. This
took place long before the emergence of maize (corn). After maize was introduced, ancient farmers learned to grow squash with maize and beans using the
“Three Sisters” tradition.
The Three Sisters are squash, corn and
beans which grow and thrive together.
Corn serves as the natural trellis for the
beans to grow on. The beans roots set
nitrogen in the soil to nourish the corn.
The bean vines help to stabilize the corn
stalks on windy days. The squash plants
shelter the shallow roots of the corn and
shade the ground to discourage weeds
and preserve moisture. Truly a symbiotic relationship. The early Native American farmers were practicing an early form of sustainable agriculture.
These early Native Americans roasted pumpkin strips over campfires and used
them as a food source, long before the arrival of European explorers. Pumpkins
helped The Native Americans make it through long cold winters. They used the
sweet flesh in numerous ways: roasted, baked, parched, boiled and dried. They
ate pumpkin seeds and also used them as a medicine. The blossoms were added
continued back page
the monthly newsletter for rivercourt residences
Reflections’ Happenings
What a surprise, our friend Michelle stopped by with
her furry friends to visit one morning
Groton School
Visits RC
Pat meets Groton School students Michael and Tyler
Joe works on finishing the large
puzzle with Elle
Lois works on a puzzle with one
of the students
Mary and Nico (her Music and
memory student) had a nice visit
conversing in French!
Weegie and Pat help make cookies for our furry
friend Mr. Wilson’s birthday. He couldn’t wait to
try one, he could smell them as soon as he entered
the building!
Reflections In, Out, and About
The RiverCourt “Rollers” enjoy an afternoon of bowling at
Harvard Lanes
The RiverCourt Singers held a Sing-a-Long at Apple Valley
Center in Ayer
Our lunch-out trip was to Barbers’ Crossing in Sterling. A
feast was had by all, and there’s always room for dessert!
Linda was our “CPC” (clean
plate club) winner!
Carnival Day—With cotton candy, spin art, ice cream treats, giant Connect 4, corn hole, face painting, and
prizes for all who came, the hit attraction was the dunk tank and a chance to send someone into the pool of
cool water. The warm weather brought some unexpected volunteers to the target seat and kept the crowd of staff,
residents, and families cheering throughout the fun-filled afternoon.
Sharon’s Stories—Autumn
I thought for this month’s newsletter, I would share
some of an article that I read and enjoyed very much.
Joy and happiness are up to us. We come from joy; as
babies we come into life with a natural joy. Joy is inherent in every one of us, however, sometimes our physical
selves forget we are meant to be joyful creatures. We
need to rediscover that natural joy.
We seem to be searching for our joy outside of ourselves.
If only we could remember we carry it inside us.
When we share joy and happiness, we give two of the
most powerful healing medicines in the world.
Speak with Joy—How do you respond when someone
asks, how you are? Do you demur, “been better,” or
“still standing, not bad?” We are terrified to say, “I’m
fabulous, thank you very much.” We don’t want people
to think we are arrogant. I often pause for a moment,
then respond with “out of 10, about a nine-and-a-half.”
This will evoke a laugh from the other person, and they
will respond in kindness. Affirm your joy with words.
Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used
by mankind.
–Rudyard Kipling
Dueling Pianos
Classical pianist Adam Bergeron faced off with honky
tonk pianist, Ethan Stone as they challenged each other
to play out of their usual style while also showcasing
their strengths with solo pieces. The chemistry and
humor of the two longtime friends added to the evening’s enjoyment as well!
Protect your Joy—If you watch the 11 o’clock news
before you go to bed, stop right now. You won’t miss
anything you can’t learn in the morning, you will sleep
better and you will feel more joyful when you wake up.
Eat Joyfully—Eat sensuously, take small bites, and enjoy
food so much more. Joy affects our metabolism. When
we eat slowly, we get full on far fewer calories. Want to
keep your brain happy and joyful? Eat mindfully.
Choose Joyous Company—Stay away from people who
make you feel you need to wear your emotional raincoat.
Your mission over the next three weeks, if you choose to
accept it, is to find out how much joy your friends can
stand coming from you.
Shared by Pat Nichol and extended to all
Staff Profile: Scott Turner, Maintenance Assistant
As often happens with connecting, Scott became aware of RiverCourt Residences through a
coworker whose mother works here. Scott was working at Hanscom Airfield as a flight line
manager when he learned of a job opportunity just around the corner from his new home
in West Groton.
He applied for and found a good fit for the job that entails much more than just maintenance repairs and upkeep.
Scott also found a connection in his early years, in Lowell, through Tom Kinney, our maintenance director. Just a few years apart the two learned they grew up in the same city and had many friends in
common, and both share a passion for music in playing drums and bass guitar.
Scott was born in Pachaug, Long Island, NY and his family, including older brother and sister, moved to Lowell where
when he was just 6-months old.
Scott spent many years working in the construction trade before his time at Hanscom in Bedford, where he and his
wife Kerry lived with daughter Abigail and their son Lincoln. In 2014 Scott and Kerry, who is a Real Estate Broker,
bought a home just around the corner from RiverCourt.
Besides his music hobby, Scott enjoys kayaking with a favorite spot being Pawtuckaway State Park in Raymond, NH.
Groton’s Finest
Senator Eileen Donoghue addressed
the crowd of seniors gathered at the
Groton Fire Station for a lunch to
honor our first responders of the
Fire and Police Departments on the
anniversary of 9/11. A very yummy
meal was prepared by Groton
residents Ebi and Desiree Masalehdan, with music by John Murphy.
For the service and dedication to
the seniors of Groton this was one
small gesture to celebrate
Groton’s Finest.
•
Game On
On the first day of classes a group of students from the Groton
School came to spend their afternoon with our residents. After
introductions and sharing their varied backgrounds the students and seniors were challenged to a friendly game of Name 5.
Both teams were challenged by a timer to come up with answers
to some pretty unusual topics but in the end the score was tied.
Perhaps next visit, a Trivia challenge?
Resident Profile: Annemarie and Tom Boyden
Tom Boyden and
Annemarie
Powers
both grew up in Brattleboro, Vermont in
the 40s and 50s. In a
small town they both
knew of each other,
and through their
grandmothers learned they were indirectly related.
Both graduated from Brattleboro high school and
Annemarie went on to nursing school at Cooley-Dickinson Hospital in Northhampton, MA. Tom joined the
Coast Guard and spent four years of service stationed
in Boston.
Jordan Marsh then the Lechmere Company, retiring in 1995 from his position as director of personnel.
After retirement Tom took up motorcycling again and
rode across country six times on his ever-improving
Harley Davidsons. Annemarie was very supportive of
Tom’s adventures and explored her own love of cars by
acquiring a string of convertibles over the years as well
as getting into part-time auto sales.
While working in Boston one weekend, Annemarie
was in need of a ride home and called Tom as he was
living there at the time. Something clicked on the ride
home to Brattleboro and Tom asked Annemarie for a
date. After five years of dating they married in 1968.
Annemarie and Tom lived in Watertown for forty years
and raised their two daughters, Debbie and Kim. Today
they are proud grandparents of four.
Annemarie and Tom remained in their South End
condo after her retirement and frequented “the country” where their daughter Kim lives with her family
while appreciating the area, the activities with their
grandchildren, and the quieter pace of living. In March
of 2016 Tom and Annemarie made the move from Boston to Groton along with Tom’s nineteen-year-old cat
“Wookie.”
Annemarie returned to nursing at St. Elizabeth’s in
Brighton after the girls were grown. Tom worked for
Tom and Annemarie, you are a welcome addition to
our community!
Soon after moving to their South End condo Tom
became instrumental in organizing neighbors for fundraising, cleaning up, and revitalizing a neighborhood
park named the Childe Hassam Park after the Impressionist artist from that area. (Hassam’s work Rainy Day
depicts the area of 1885.)
October Birthdays
Alfred Martino
Bob Whittemore
Caroline Cummins
Sarah Bosley
Mary Cooke
Pearl Tucker
Atherleen Brady
Oct. 4
Oct. 10
Oct. 11
Oct. 18
Oct. 21
Oct. 24
Oct. 27
Nancy Smith Ervin Delisle
Madeline Sergi
Lynn Neal
Dr. Mary Curnen
Wendall Finneault
Nov. 2
Nov. 8
Nov. 13
Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Nov. 25
November Birthdays
Annemarie Boyden
Charlie Elwood
Ethel Dalton
Jerry Callahan
Lois Watt
Pru King
Assisted & Independent Living
Lobster Fest
Our annual Lobsterfest filled every room
available with diners enjoying the full array of
food, drinks, and desserts available. To set the record
straight, lobsters have ten legs, so with 125 lobsters (and
not counting the additional twenty-two lbs. of lobster
meat served.) That’s a lot of legs!
Lots of human legs were moving furiously behind
the scene to fill orders as well. What a
great job, kitchen team!
Harpist, Rebecca Swett....................................................................Tue, Oct. 4, at 2:30 p.m.
The Music of Andy Ross.................................................................. Sun, Oct. 9, at 2:00 p.m.
Memorial Service with Father Bob............................................Wed, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m.
Jazzy Pianist, Ethan Stone............................................................ Thu, Oct. 13, at 2:30 p.m.
The UpBeats Band......................................................................... Mon, Oct. 17, at 2:30 p.m.
“A Closer Look at Germany and Austria” with Ron Falong...... Tue, Oct. 18, at 1:30 a.m.
October Birthday Party with Ted Powers...................................Tue, Oct. 18, at 2:30 p.m.
OctoberFest Celebration with The Eastern .................................Sat, Oct. 22, 2–3:30 p.m.
Sound Orchestra
Special Halloween Silent Movie/Costume Parade.....................Tue, Oct. 25, at 3:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Middlesex Bank’s 10-year Anniversary
PumpkinFest Celebration............................................................. Thu, Oct. 28, at 2:30 p.m.
Guitarist, George Parker................................................................ Tue, Nov. 1, at 2:30 p.m.
“A Closer Look at Veterans Day” with Ron F............................. Tue, Nov. 8, at 10:30 a.m.
The Traveling Boutique..................................................................Wed, Nov. 9, 1–3:30 p.m.
Veterans Day Ceremony.................................................................. Fri, Nov. 11, at 1:30 p.m.
The Music of Andy Ross................................................................Sun, Nov. 13, at 2:00 p.m.
Classical Pianist, Adam Bergeron..............................................Mon, Nov. 21, at 2:30 p.m.
Art Matters Presents “The American West”............................ Tue, Nov. 29, at 10:30 p.m.
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October is National Bullying
Prevention Month!
Historically, bullying was viewed as an unfortunate “childhood
rite of passage” that somehow made kids tougher. However,
bullying can have devastating, long-term effects, such as the
loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety, and depression. While
the topic of “bullying” may appear to be an odd choice for
our wellness column, it is an important one!
Bullying is a valid concern for seniors, especially those
living in senior communities. Researchers find that seniorto-senior bullying tends to most often take place in senior
centers, nursing homes, or assisted living facilities. These are places where
seniors spend a lot of time together and share both space and resources, including seats in
the dining room and at activities. It is estimated that 10–20% of seniors have experienced some type of
senior-to-senior aggression in these community settings. Men and women are equally likely to experience bullying and to exhibit bullying behavior. Women tend to gossip and whisper while men tend to
be more direct and “in your face.”
Bullying impacts those that are the target of the unkind behaviors, as well as those that witness these
behaviors. If someone feels that they are being singled out unkindly, or sees someone that is being
singled out, they should bring their concerns to a nurse or to a member of the management team.
On Wed, October 19, 2016, individuals across the nation are invited to participate in Unity Day, where
they can send out a message of support, hope, and unity. By wearing the color ORANGE on October
19th, you will make the statement that you are not only against bullying, but that you believe in promoting kindness, acceptance, and an attitude of inclusion amongst people of all ages.
The Ladies Lunch-out group enjoyed the
menu at the Phoenix restaurant in Shirley
recently while the men took in the sights
and menu at Nancy’s Café at the Minuteman Airfield in Stow. Chinese cuisine is
the next request.
The Wellness Clinic is
held every Thursday
in the second floor
living room.
continued from page 1
to stews. Dried pumpkin could be stored and ground
into flour. They dried the shells and used them as bowls
and containers to store grain, beans and seeds.
Indians introduced pumpkins and squashes to the Pilgrims. Pumpkins were an important food source for the
pilgrims, as they stored well, which meant they would
have a nutritious food source during the winter months.
It is documented that pumpkins were served at the second Thanksgiving celebration
When mentally picturing an early Thanksgiving, we
usually think of a Pilgrim woman in a bleached starched
white apron holding a pumpkin pie with a perfectly
fluted crust . The truth is in fact, quite the opposite. The
Pilgrims cut the top off of a pumpkin, scooped the seeds
out, and filled the cavity with cream, honey, eggs and
spices. They placed the top back on and carefully buried
it in the hot ashes of a cooking fire. When finished cooking, they lifted this blackened item from the earth with
no pastry shell whatsoever. They scooped the contents
out along with the cooked flesh of the shell like a custard.
Without pumpkins many of the early settlers might have
died from starvation. The following poem is a testament
to the Pilgrims dependence upon pumpkins for food:
For pottage and puddings and custards and pies
Our pumpkins and parsnips are common supplies,
We have pumpkins at morning and pumpkins at noon,
If it were not for pumpkins we should be undoon.
–Pilgrim verse, circa 1633
There are many theories as to the origins of Jack-o’-lanterns and Halloween. Early Jack-o’-lanterns were carved
from turnips and potatoes by the Irish and Scottish and
carried in Celtic celebrations. The English used beets.
Lumps of coal were lit on fire and placed inside the hollow root vegetables. When European settlers arrived
in America, they found that our American pumpkin
varieties were well suited to being carved as a “Jack’s”
lanterns.
In America a traditional Jack-o’-lantern refers to a variety of pumpkin grown for its suitability for carving. They
are fairly large in size, have upright strong walls, and
most importantly a large hollow cavity.
In the late 1800s there was a movement to turn Halloween into a celebration emphasizing community and
neighborhood activities and parties. This is the Halloween we know and celebrate today, abound with
pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns
Welcome New Employees
Welcome New Residents
Andrea Fei, Reflections RA
Heather Holmes, server
Suzie Nesbitt, housekeeper
Rachel Adams, concierge
Marilyn Guest-Harris, Apt. 278
September
Chase Hertog
Server
Pat teDuits, Apt. 14B
Jim and Caroline Cummins, Apt. 211
Joe and Mardell McDonald, Apt. 206
Susan Titus, activity assistant
In the seven years that Chase
has worked at RiverCourt he has
Kathi Crowley, outreach marketing
proven to be a dedicated, hard-working
employee who shows great empathy and
compassion for our residents. He is always willing to cover other shifts even at the last moment. He
is wonderful with the residents and other employees and
always on time for work.
October
Gail Chalmers
Reflections Porter
Gail
Chase
Gail goes the extra mile to respect, care, and love the residents, each individually. She
finds what makes each resident smile and does all she can do to make them feel at home.
She is patient, understanding, and overall a great person to have around. She takes the saying
‘it’s the little things’ to a whole new level. She not only brightens the residents’ day, but brightens
the day for just about everyone. She always laughs with the residents and gives them hugs which they
love. You can tell she truly cares for the residents and is very compassionate.
Employees of the Month