From the Desk
of Jody Thomas
Fun at the Fair
Fun Fall Facts
Meadowlark
The
FUN
at the
October 2015
FAIR
Melrose celebrated 13 years with an anniversary party people
are STILL talking about nearly a month later. From the dining
room to the parking lot, Melrose was transformed into a true
County Fair, complete with games, concessions, prizes and even
a livestock pavillion. The event kicked off with a dinner of county
fair food - pork burgers and corn dogs (a new food for many of
our residents!), then continued to a silly photo op complete with
funny props. Outside in the front parking lot, residents and families
were greeted by colorful banners fluttering in the breeze, the
aroma of popcorn and cotton candy in the air, and the sounds of
music and carnival games being played. Fitness
Coordinator Casey brought her family and their
animals! Residents got a chance to pet a 4-H
calf as well as a mama goat and her adorable
baby. (All were first-prize winners in our book.)
Residents and families threw darts at balloons,
tried their luck with Pick-a-Duck, won delicious
desserts at the Cake Walk, and more. It was a
beautiful evening and the
perfect way to celebrate
13 years - thank you to all
who helped make it such
a success!
Check out the Melrose Meadows Facebook page to see more photos and a video of the fair!
Page 2
From the Desk
of Jody Thomas, RN
Melrose Meadows Executive Director
In October we recognize our Dietary Department during National Health Care
Food Service Week. Led by our Culinary Coordinator Jim Siewert and the rest of
his staff, our Dietary Department is responsible for keeping
our (roughly 100 residents) fed every day of the year. Between
our Assisted Living and Independent Living, Jim and his staff
prepare 1825 meals per year; this can be a daunting job trying
to keep everyone happy and satisfied at meal time! Jim has
been with Melrose since we opened back in 2002 and he and
his staff continue to do an outstanding job in the kitchen.
Please take a moment to thank Jim and his staff the next time
you see them.
On October 24, 2005 Mike Thomas began working at Melrose as
the new Maintenance Coordinator. This month we celebrate and
thank Mike for 10 years of apartment/building maintenance as
well as keeping our grounds and landscaping looking beautiful
throughout the year. He keeps our sidewalks clear of snow and
ice in the winter months and provides us with beautiful outdoor
decorations during the Christmas holiday. We will celebrate
Mike’s anniversary at Morning Brew on Friday October 23rd in the
Common Ground. Please join us in thanking Mike for a job well
done!
On October 30th April Marvin will host a Halloween party in the
Wellness Center from 3:30 to 5:00. It’s that time of year to dig out
your Halloween costume and enjoy the party! That morning we
will have our annual visit with the kids from Graceland Preschool. They will arrive at 10:30 and Trick or
Treat in the Wellness Center so you can see the various costumes and give them your “treat”.
Enjoy the beautiful colors the autumn season brings!
Fun Fall Facts!
October 2015
We might be enjoying an Indian Summer, but Autumn is upon us!
Enjoy these fun facts about nature’s most colorful season.
1. The first day of autumn is known as the autumnal equinox. On this day, the number of hours
of daylight and darkness are equal. This is because the sun is aligned with the center of the
Earth between the north and south of the planet. The other equinox occurs in the spring, which
May 2015
arrives in the third week of March in the Northern Hemisphere.
2. In Greek mythology, autumn was the time when Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, was
abducted by Hades, the god-king of the underworld. During this time, Demeter, the goddess of
the harvest, was distraught and the ground grew sparse and cold. When Persephone returned
in the springtime, plants and life bloomed anew because of Demeter’s happiness.
3. Those who live closest to the equator, which is the center of the planet, never experience the
season of autumn. Around the equator, the temperature remains consistently warm.
4. Yellow, orange and variations thereof always reside in the pigmentation of tree leaves, but
they are overpowered by the abundance of green from the chlorophyll in the leaves. Come
autumn, when the sun weakens and days grow shorter, the amount of chlorophyll in leaves
diminishes, allowing the other pigments in the leaves to show through.
5. Red and purple leaves are actually caused by the presence of sugars from sap that is
trapped inside of the leaves.
6. Fall is a peak migration time for many species of birds. During autumn, birds will fly to other
areas seeking more hospitable climates. The Arctic tern journeys about 11,000 miles each way
for its annual migration. That is like going all the way across the United States about three and a
half times
7. Contrary to popular belief, squirrels who have spent the entire autumn collecting acorns and
other foods do not hibernate for the winter. Rather, they spend the majority of their time in nests
they built to shelter them from harsh weather. When squirrels do come out in winter, they are
usually tunneling under the snow to find the food they buried during the fall.
8. Several cultures have ancient traditions that coincide with autumn. For example, the Chinese
celebrate the Moon Festival to give thanks for a successful summer harvest.
9. Halloween is a large part of autumn. The concept of wearing masks and costumes hails from
ancient Celtic tradition. The Celts believed ghosts roamed on Halloween, and people wore
disguises to hide from the spirits.
10. You’re bound to see pumpkins as part of autumn decor. The pumpkin was first named by
the Greeks. They called this edible orange item “pepon,” which means “large melon.”
11. Evergreen trees will not lose their leaves like deciduous trees. Their leaves, also called
needles, are covered with a thick wax. This wax protects the inner components of the needles,
preventing them from freezing.
12. Autumn also signals another colorful spectacle apart from the tree leaves. The aurora
borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, tends to be visible this time of year. This is because
geomagnetic storms are about twice as likely to occur during the fall thanks to cool evening
weather.
Courtesy of Richmond.com
350 Dublin Drive, Iowa City
319/341-7893
October Memories
Memorie s
Melrose
Residents and staff got serious about their quarterly water
volleyball match - then got silly for a group photo.
Resident Marty Roesch reads to a
preschooler from Prince of Peace Preschool
during the group’s recent visit.
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