THE GIFT OF AN AMISH FRIEND - Homewood Retirement Centers

CHATTER
Homewood at Frederick
The
Volume 15 Number 8
August 2014
THE GIFT OF AN AMISH FRIEND
Cathy Stull
About 20 years ago, a longtime friend and her husband retired and moved to New Holland, Pennsylvania. They had
spent years enjoying weekend camping in the community. After selling their home in Gaithersburg, Maryland, they
purchased a piece of farmland outside New Holland and built their dream retirement home. I, of course, really
missed my dear friend, Joann; but through the years, I visited her in her new home during many weekend trips.
During these visits for almost 15 years, Joann and I visited
many local Amish businesses and attended craft shows and
Amish markets. I quickly learned about the difference
between the tourist attractions and authentic local life. I
always avoided the attractions. I bought eggs and bedding
plants from “the plain women,” and learned to love the
hand-crafted soap sold from the small kitchen of a young
Amish bride. I purchased pumpkins and gourds during the
fall months from Amish farm wagons parked on muddy
lanes.
About five years ago, I also learned from Joann, an
“English woman,” about Leah, an Amish woman, whom
Joann had met at a local auction and who had become a
dear friend. During many subsequent visits, I would hear
heartwarming stories about Leah’s many talents and
kindnesses toward my friend.
I began to borrow books about the Amish from a room filled with books on the subject at Joann’s house. The more
I read and the more I heard about the friendship between Joann and Leah, the more I realized what a rare
relationship it was; friendship between an English woman and an Amish woman was not an everyday
occurrence. Joann had surgery and found Leah at her side. As she recovered at home, she found Leah in her home
preparing meals, doing her laundry and hanging clothes on the line to dry. When Joann had to face yet another
surgery, she awoke to hear Leah singing to her in her hospital bed.
About five years ago, as I arrived for one of my many weekend visits to New Holland, Joann said to me, “Leah has
asked to meet you….and wants you to come to dinner at her house this evening.” Leah’s “haystacks,” a sort of taco
pile-on, was a wonderful meal and the beginning of a magical friendship. Since then, I have been blessed with
many dinners at Leah and John’s home. I have met their 13 children and over 40 grandchildren. Leah has shared
“sisters’ day” with me, and has come to Frederick because she wanted to see where I work. She and her husband,
John, toured Homewood with me and were nearly speechless over the look and feel of our campus. I felt
overwhelmed with gratitude on that tour day when these two old-order Amish people came and had a meal at my
house before leaving Frederick to return to New Holland. Our goodbyes included many hugs, smiles and promises
to get together again very soon.
Friendship is always a blessing and this one is no exception. The gift of an Amish friend brought with it a gift of
learning and vision into a community and a lifestyle that I could otherwise never have imagined. But the real gift
from my new-found Amish friend was a lesson about unconditional, selfless, truly-committed love.
Nichols’ Notes
Eric T. Nichols, Executive Director
The dog days of summer are upon us here in Frederick. We have been fortunate enough to have a wet summer this
year with the various storms coming through our campus several times a week. It has not been a good year for many
of our trees on the campus between these summer storms and the ice we had this past winter. Both have done damage
to our trees.
Work on Willow Road should have started by the time you read this article. The bypass road is in place and will
provide a bypass of two-way traffic around the area of Willow Road where box culverts will go in. This work will
take approximately three months to complete. The next section of Willow Road will be the roadway from the
Crumland Farms front entrance to the bypass road. This work will begin after the culvert work is completed. Lastly,
Willow Road work will be completed on the last section out to Willowbrook Road. All of Willow Road work will last
approximately six months; but when it is completed, we will have a nice new road from Route 15 to Willowbrook
Road.
The last 12 patio homes along Route 15 are moving along very nicely. Construction will be completed with those that
are leased during the month of September. Right now seven of those 12 have leases on them. Beginning August
18th, the roadways of Willow Ponds, that are currently construction-paved, will have the final paving completed
which will provide a nice finished look to those roadways.
Our Health Care Center staff has been undergoing a lot of training over the past months as we get ready to go to
electronic medical records. The vendor that was chosen for all the Homewood campuses is called AOD (Answers on
Demand). This new software, along with some new computers and kiosks, will provide a new way for us to document
the care that is being provided to the residents of the Health Care Center. Later this year, or early next year the
transition to electronic medical records will also occur in Assisted Living.
ON DEMAND: Electronic Medical Records
Vicki Keriakos, RN, DON
Homewood has started training the Health Care Center nurses and aides to transition from paper charting to
electronic charting. Through June and July, the staff trained extensively, learning how to use a system called
“Answers on Demand.” The HCC will initially activate the new system during the week of August 18, 2014.
Kiosks will be installed on the walls throughout the HCC for aides to document resident information. The headsets
that the staff currently wears will not be used after September. The nurses will have laptop computers installed on
their med-carts and new computers will be added to the nurse’s station; the new electronic charting will allow the
nurses to have access to resident’s information while they are passing medications without going to get the paper
chart.
Making the transition is a two-part process: the first, which the staff is doing now, is to learn the charting of nurses’
notes and assessments. The second part, which will take place sometime next year, will teach the entering of
physicians’ orders into the computer, and the signing of medications and treatments electronically.
WORK ORDER PROCEDURE
CORRECTION
Stan Schweinfurth
In the Family Council article in the July 2014
issue of The CHATTER, I may have misled the
reader about the length of the training course for
the nurse’s aides employed by Homewood. In
fact, the State of Maryland requires nurse’s aides
to complete a 75-hour course and pass a test. In
addition, to work in a retirement health-care
facility, they must take an 8-hour course of
geriatric training and pass a test. These two
requirements are minimums; some certified
nurse’s aides have more training than the
minimum.
Greg Lescalleet, Maintenance Director
If you need Maintenance staff to do something in your
dwelling, please fill out a Work Order form. The
procedure is very simple: either ask for a Work Order
form at the front desk, fill out the form, and leave it with
the receptionist; or call the front desk at X 6000 and a
receptionist will graciously complete a form for you. If
you have a true emergency (fire, water overflowing, no
air conditioning, no heat), please call the front desk and a
receptionist will contact Maintenance staff.
Many folks have called my office to leave a work
request, but I suggest that you use the front desk. Many
days, I’m not in my office for long periods of time, and
leaving phone messages only delays the Work Order
scheduling process. We will always strive to provide
you the best service possible and this is one step to
improve the process. I thank you in advance for your
cooperation.
Safety Tip
The reception desk in the Community Center
has coverage during the week Monday-Friday,
7:30 am-8:00 pm, and on Saturday, Sunday and
holidays, 8:30 am-8:00 pm.
Jo Gilbert
If you have an emergency Maintenance/
REMINDER:
SIGN-UP FOR MEALS
When you wish to eat dinner in the Dining Room, or
to order Take-Out, please sign-up by 3:00 pm on the
day you want service, whether for Specials or items
from the menu. Signing-up is also necessary for the
Sunday meal beginning at 11:30 am. For Sunday
choices, order before 10:00 am on Sunday morning.
You may place any orders by telephone to the
Reception Desk, still observing the deadline times.
Food Committee
Security problem during the uncovered hours,
please dial X 6000. The call will be answered
by personnel on the Meadows who will contact
the Maintenance/Security person on duty to
handle your problem.
Do not hesitate to use your Lifeline Medallion
for security or for medical emergencies.
NEW RESIDENTS ……………………………….
JeAnne and Bill Burg
moved to Willow Ponds
at
Homewood
at
Frederick in May 2014
from Bluffton, SC.
They have one son and
one daughter who lives
in Arlington, VA.
JeAnne and Bill were both born in Nebraska. JeAnne
received a M.S. in math at Eastern New Mexico State, a
M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Nebraska and
a PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Cincinnati
where she was also on the faculty. She was a
commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service
for 26 years.
Bill received a B.S. from Colorado State University, a
M.S. from the University of Nebraska and a PhD from
Kent State in chemistry/environmental health. He
taught chemistry in New Mexico, Louisiana and Ohio.
Bill served in the U.S. Army and owned a consulting
business in Atlanta.
Both JeAnne and Bill have been active in church work.
JeAnne’s interests include Mahjong and exercise, and
Bill enjoys racquet ball.
The Burgs moved to
Homewood upon the recommendation of friends.
Joining us from New
Market, MD at Willow
Ponds in June 2014 are
Phyllis
and
Allan
Heuerman. They have one
daughter, one son and four
grandchildren.
Phyllis was born in Buffalo,
NY, and received a B.A.
from State University of NY
at Buffalo and a Certificate in Management from
Harvard University.
She was employed as a Human Resources Manager by
the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Office of Personnel
Management. Phyllis is active as a Master Gardener in
Frederick City; she belongs to Green-Walled Garden
Club, Homemakers and the Frederick Evangelical
Lutheran Church.
Her hobbies and interests are
gardening, travel, cooking and music.
Allan was born in Faribault, MN, attended Technical
High School in St. Cloud, MN, and received a B.A.
from St. Olaf College and a MPA from the University
of Southern California. He served in the U.S. Army.
Allan was employed by the Office of Personnel
Management, U.S. Civil Service Commission. He is
active at the Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church,
and enjoys traveling, gardening and reading.
After comparing retirement communities in the area,
they liked the new patio homes and chose Homewood
at Frederick.
We welcome Nancy and
Bill Holmes to Cottage 1
in the West Village and
who moved from Silver
Spring, MD in May 2014.
They have two sons and
six grandchildren, and
five members of their
family live in the area.
Nancy graduated from
Roosevelt High School in St. Louis, MO; Hendrix
College in Conway, AR; Southern Methodist
University in Dallas, TX; and audited courses from
Union Theological Seminary in NYC. She worked
part-time at the National Catholic Educational
Association in Washington, D.C. Nancy was active
with the League of Women Voters in Texas, church
groups, book clubs and a sewing club. Her hobbies
include working jigsaw and crossword puzzles, and
flower arranging.
Bill graduated from Little Rock High School, and
received a B.A. from Hendrix College in Conway, AR.
He received a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins
School of Theology in Dallas, TX, and attended Union
Theological Seminary in NYC. Bill’s career as an
ordained minister in the United Methodist Church
spans some 46 years; he was the senior minister at
National United Methodist Church, Washington, D.C.
for 24 years. Somewhere along the way Bill served in
the U.S. Merchant Marines, and served his
Washington, D.C. community on the Ethics Advisory
Committee as a Trustee at Sibley Hospital, on the
Lawyers Guild and as a missions volunteer. His
current interests include reading, writing and
following the Washington Nationals baseball team.
………………………………………. Shirley Erdmanis
Nancy and Bill decided on the Homewood destination
when they added their names to the waiting list over 25
years ago.
Ray Rankin moved to
Willow Ponds in June 2014
from Rockville, MD. He is a
widower who was born in
Edgewood, PA. Ray has one
son, two grandchildren and
two great-grandchildren; two
family members live in the
area. He attended high school
in PA and Bell Vocational
School in Washington, D.C.
for an engineering course of study. Ray was employed
by the National Geographic Society in Washington,
D.C. as Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds.
Among the organizations he has actively served in the
Maryland and D.C. area are the Masonic Order, Naval
Lodge No. 4; Order of the Eastern Star; Scottish Rite;
and Almas Shriners. Ray also served in the U.S. Army.
In his spare time he enjoys photography and
woodworking.
Ray selected Homewood as his retirement community
because his daughter-in-law’s mother resided here so he
was familiar with the location which enabled him to be
close to his family.
In June 2014 Joe and
Ginger Ward moved
into Cottage 35 from
Frederick, MD. They
have two sons and six
grandchildren. All of
their family live in the
area and Ginger says,
“Hurray!”
Ginger was born in
Cleveland, OH. She attended Western High School in
Baltimore City, and received B.A. and M.L.A. degrees
from Western Maryland College. In Baltimore County
Ginger was a teacher, a nursery school assistant teacher
and a substitute teacher; she was an education assistant
at Mt. Olive UMC in Randallstown, MD for 13 years.
Ginger has been active serving in her church, PTA,
Scouts, Great Decisions and Great Books. She enjoys
babysitting, crafts, needlework, gardening, reading, exercise and cooking, although she hasn’t had much time for
such things while preparing to move, she says.
Joe was born in Tyler, TX, and graduated from Tyler
High School. He received a B.A. from Rice University
in Texas, a M.P.A. degree from George Washington University, and a M.A. in public policy from UMBC. Joe
spent 34 years with the Social Security Administration as
a claims representative, disability reviewer, computer
programmer and analyst, Branch and Division Director
and Deputy Office Director. He has worked with the
Frederick School of Religion and the Great Decisions
programs. Joe’s interests include public policy, poetry,
science, music and blogging.
After talking with Homewood residents and friends, and
comparing retirement communities in the area, the Wards
found Homewood to be “the best.”
Another new addition to the 4th
floor in Apt. 445 is Marcell
Howell, who moved from
BelAir, MD and Whittier in
Frederick in May 2014. She is
a widow with two daughters,
three grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren.
One
member of her family lives in
the area.
Marcell was born in North Carolina. She graduated
from Rising Sun High School, and attended classes at
Harford Junior College and Towson State. She was a
teacher hired by Cecil and Harford Counties for the
Title IX program in 1967. Marcell was a volunteer in
the Pinkie program at Frederick Memorial Hospital,
making surgical and neck pillows for patients. She was
a member of AARP 636, Red Hat Club, Gambrill Park
Homemakers and taught Bible study at a nursing home.
Her interests and hobbies are growing flowers,
attending craft shows, sewing and reading.
After undergoing rehabilitation at Homewood, Marcell
chose Homewood for retirement because she “liked it
very much.”
WHY DO WE CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY?
Pat Morgan
Lest we forget, Frank Lesure, assisted by his wife, Nancy, gathered a group of 10 residents on the morning of July
4 in the Café Library to read aloud The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America. The
opening words of the second paragraph are familiar: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
On July 4, 1776, a group of patriots assembled…not concerned with wearing red, white and blue, nor to plan a picnic
menu, nor to design a firecracker display. America’s founding fathers agonized over the many reasons why “it is
their right, it is their duty, to throw off” a form of government which they described as “an absolute tyranny over
these states.” In what would clearly be recognized as a dangerous act of treason, they declared “that these united
colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states.” By signing the document “in the name, and by
the authority of the good people of these colonies,” these representatives of the United States of America, convening
as the General Congress, figuratively but courageously, shook their fists in the face of King George III of Great
Britain. “We must all hang together,” said Benjamin Franklin, “or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
Frank’s plan is to schedule for next year, and annually, a reading of The Declaration of Independence to gratefully
remember why we celebrate the 4th of July. Hear! Hear!
90th Birthday Celebration
Bev Cleaver/Pat Morgan
Bev Cleaver, the first cottage resident at Homewood in 2000, celebrated her 90th birthday in June. Her immediate
family, some 25 strong, hosted her remarkable event at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Alexandria, VA. They traveled
by plane and automobile from the states of Washington, California, Colorado, South Dakota, Texas, North Carolina,
Ohio, Virginia and Maryland to be with Bev. The youngest of the Cleaver clan who was present for the occasion
was only nine months’ old and the oldest was age 69! Bev’s daughter, Joy Miller, who was formerly employed at
Fort Detrick in Frederick, was in charge of the arrangements, assisted by Bev’s three sons, Harlan, Brent and Kurt,
and by Bev’s best friend, Pat Dawson. Bev and Pat were Homewood cottage neighbors before moving into IL
apartments.
Lunch opened with “An Eastern Prayer” from the Middle East; Bev’s children grew up in Saudi Arabia. Each family received as a party favor an antique silver thimble from an heirloom collection representing family members, still
living or deceased. The theme for Bev’s special day was “Stitching the Family Together,” complete with the memories that go back to the Depression years on a South Dakota tenant farm and migrating to California for wartime
jobs.
An Eastern Prayer
I pray the prayer the Easterners do:
May the peace of Allah abide with you.
Wherever you stay, wherever you go,
May the beautiful palms of Allah grow.
Then in your days of labor, and your nights of rest,
May the peace of Allah make you blessed.
So I touch my heart as the Easterners do:
May the peace of Allah abide with you.
SMITH ISLAND TRIP
Vernon Rippeon
Eleven Homeland residents made the trip to Smith Island,
Somerset County, Maryland in July. We left at 7:00 am,
stopping in Cambridge for breakfast. We boarded “The
Twister,” a passenger ferry, for the one-hour ride to the
Island. The Chesapeake Bay was calm; the day was
sunny; the temperature was moderate. The ladies worked
on their tans and no one got seasick.
Our driver, David Burke, had made lunch reservations at
the Dock Side Restaurant where we were served family
style. Dave ordered a special lunch for each of us that
included two crab balls, clam fritters, and various side
dishes, with the famous Smith Island Cake for dessert.
The cake is composed of 10 very thin alternating layers of
yellow cake and chocolate icing.
I have heard about Smith Island since I was a kid, but,
alas, modernization has arrived! We discovered a lot
more vehicles on the narrow macadam streets than we
anticipated; many of them were rental bikes and golf carts.
The community features one Methodist Church, and
according to the graveyard, many families named “Evans”
have lived there.
Two artesian wells supply the
community’s water; electricity comes from the mainland
by underwater cable; and there is a sewage treatment
plant. The homes for about 52 families, according to the
last census, are generally small, white, weatherboard
bungalows. Serving the children’s educational needs is
one small school on the Island for Grades K-6; for
secondary school, the students ride the ferry for the onehour trip twice each school day, to and from the mainland.
Visitors may tour their beautiful and modern museum for
a charge of $3.00.
NEW BOOK: WENNER’S CIVIL
WAR HISTORY
Stan Schweinfurth, Library Committee
Fred Wenner has generously donated a copy of his
2012 book on Frederick history to the Homewood
library’s history collection. The title of the book is The
Civil War Comes to Frederick’s Churches 150 Years
Ago. The book is subtitled “Reflections on Slavery,
Theology and the Bible--including the stories of
Stonewall Jackson and Barbara Fritchie and how
Frederick became ‘One Vast Hospital’ following the
battles of Old South Mountain and Antietam in
September 1862.” This book will be prominently
displayed on the library counter of the second floor
Café Library. It will be available for borrowing, just as
are all of our books on history. Please, however, do not
keep this new book for more than three days at a time.
NO BOOKMOBILE SERVICE
Freda Litman, Library Committee
In response to our request, the Frederick Public
Library System (FPL) advised that it is unable to
provide bookmobile service to the Homewood
community. The budgetary constraints that caused
the discontinuance of the bookmobile some years
ago have not changed, and FPL does not have
sufficient resources to re-establish the service
We stopped at the Bay Bridge for a travel break and
supper before returning to Homewood at 9:00 pm after a
truly delightful trip!
SATURDAY NIGHT MOVIES
(Subject to change)
August 2
August 9
August 16
August 23
August 30
Nancy McIntyre
Flight of the Phoenix 1965
Money Ball 2011
Lincoln Lawyer 2011
I Remember Mama 1948
The Edge 1997
MEET OUR SOCIAL SERVICES STAFF:
Cathy Stull
Linda Procter, Social Services Director, joined the staff in
1982 as Resident Relations Coordinator in Homewood at
Frederick’s original location at the old FSK hotel in
downtown Frederick. In 1989, Linda left Homewood to
work at Frederick Memorial Hospital in the Home Health/
Hospice Department, and in 2003, she returned to
Homewood as a Social Services Coordinator for the
Meadows Health Care Unit.
working with people with memory impairment. She
recalls spending lots of time at the nursing home
where her mother worked. Dore now is in charge of
Willows/Meadows Court which is a 45-bed unit.
She is married with two children, a dog and a cat; the
family resides in Myersville, Maryland.
In 2013, Linda was promoted to Social Services
Director. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Hood College
in Social Work and is a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker
(LBSW). Linda works with residents who live on
Meadows for long-term or rehabilitative care.
Linda serves as an advocate for residents and works
closely with their families for individualized care
needs. She assesses cognition and conducts mood
assessments, in keeping with the federal and state
regulations. Linda works with residents who are returning
home as well as those facing end-of-life issues. She helps
to coordinate the weekly interdisciplinary care planning
meetings and provides education regarding support
services and community resources.
Linda appreciates Homewood’s various levels of care,
providing optimal support as resident’s needs change.
She is involved with planning the new Lunch & Learn
session, providing an opportunity for residents and
families to be more prepared for these changes.
Linda is married with three grown children and lives in
Braddock Heights.
Dore Ackerman, Social Services Coordinator, Willows
and Meadows Court, joined Homewood in 1996. During
this early time, Dore was wearing two hats since she also
was serving as the Senior Center Coordinator for the
Department of Aging. She received a Bachelor’s degree
from York College in Behavioral Science.
Dore is responsible for providing education regarding
community resources to residents and their families as
she coordinates the care for the residents in Willows and
Meadows Court.
Dore provides counseling about
residents’ health status and offers assistance with
Advanced Directives. She says she particularly enjoys
helping with the one-day orientation for new Homewood
staff.
Dore’s mother was a nurse, and she has always loved
Mimi Brady has worked for Homewood at Frederick
for 16 years. After serving as part-time staff in the
Activity Department and as the Volunteer
Coordinator, in 2004 she became Social Services
Coordinator in The Woodlands. Mimi brought her
degree in Gerontology from the University of
Maryland to her position.
Mimi oversees the admissions and discharges, as well
as marketing for The Woodlands. As the Social
Services Coordinator, she assists residents and their
families with the adjustments that come with
transitioning into assisted living, and then with the
often difficult challenges with transitioning out of
assisted living when another level of care is needed.
Mimi’s door is always open to assist residents and
their families with any problems or concerns they may
have. In the Woodlands, 56 rooms are occupied by 60
residents; of that number, 43 are women and 17 are
men, including four couples.
Mimi anticipates an upcoming 4-day training class for
learning the new resident data computer system that
will provide a more efficient and current method of
maintaining resident records. She considers working
with and getting to know residents very rewarding and
a great privilege.
ALOHA QUILTS
Avadna Coghill
Flo Martin, a former and beloved Homewood resident, had
dreamed of an exhibit of quilts with residents sharing stories
of their origins, personal meaning, historic significance, etc.
The ALOHA luncheon on June 27 fulfilled her dreams and
was especially enjoyed by all who attended.
Three of Flo’s own family quilts were the central focus,
surrounded by others belonging to more than 20 residents.
It was a wonderful variety of old traditional quilts and more
modern quilts with new materials. From bedcovers to wall
hangings, jackets and purses, many creations were included.
Sharing stories of the quilted creations continued as
ALOHA members stayed to talk and listen even after the
meeting adjourned.
[A tip from Sue Wirths: Quilted creations, especially if old, are
delicate and worthy of preservation. To avoid fabric and thread
deterioration, store them in an acid-free environment. Wrap them
in clean, white muslin, or a bed sheet, but not in paper or plastic.]
Since ALOHA (Active Ladies of Homewood Association) will
vacation until September, we thank Pauline Flanagan for leading
our programs this year.
RIPE TOMATO REPORT
On June 20, 2014, Jane Dertzbaugh reported that the
first tomato of this summer season had appeared…big, red
and ripe…in her garden outside her apartment across from
the gazebo. Vernon Rippeon was subsequently dispatched for The CHATTER, partly to record on film this
wondrous event, and partly to prevent Charlie Rickman
from making the claim, Jane says, like he did last year,
Jane says, of producing the first tomato of the season,
when Jane claims she did. So let it be written. So let it be
done. Now let the games begin!
** On June 24, Jane reported that
she ate the first tomato and “it sure
tasted good!” To her delight, a second tomato is forming.
Volunteer News
Cathy Stull, Volunteer Coordinator
Sunshine Readers Needed
The Volunteer Office seeks additional volunteers who would like to help improve the reading skills of elementary
school children in our community. Classes resume in Frederick County next month, and the Homewood bus will
again travel to Walkersville Elementary School each Tuesday morning, and to Brunswick Elementary School each
Thursday morning.
The Sunshine Readers at Homewood at Frederick began in 2001 as a small once-a-week group of Homewood
resident volunteers serving one school. The team had a strong interest in enhancing the literacy program in
Frederick County. Thirteen years later, the Sunshine Reader team has over 40 members, serving two schools and
over 488 students!
The Sunshine Reader Booster Team of three volunteers recognizes student birthdays with special cards, and assists
with special events at both of our sister schools. They spread their own very special kind of sunshine!
Our current Sunshine Reader schools, Brunswick and Walkersville Elementary Schools, are designated by the FCPS
under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as Title I-eligible schools. Under this act, these two schools are
able to take advantage of invaluable grants designated for schools with a high number of free and reduced meal
students. Specially designated students (for example, struggling readers) will benefit. Grants provide additional
federal money to create more learning opportunities for students.
Our Sunshine Reader Program mission is to…
 enhance the reading and communication skills of Frederick County students;
 make contributions through an intergenerational support program;
 increase the self-esteem and confidence of the students.
For more information or to sign up to be part of this very rewarding program, please contact the Volunteer Office, X
6046, or [email protected]. Watch for upcoming information about our Annual Sunshine Readers Kick-Off
Reception…a fun opportunity to learn more about the program and meet representatives from our schools.
Friendship Circle
The Friendship Circle is a group of volunteers who
are resident escorts, help at mealtime, deliver the
mail, visit with residents, bring out the
convenience carts, help the Activity staff each day
and bring their pets to visit our campus. The group
numbers 65 who reside in the IL areas at
Homewood and in the Frederick community.
During the summer months, student volunteers are
part of the unique, caring program that enhances
the lives of Homewood residents and delights them
in many different ways.
For more information about the Friendship Circle,
contact the Homewood Volunteer Office, X 6046,
or [email protected].
Student Volunteers,
Summer 2014
Beginning soon after the end of the school year,
Homewood residents may have spotted the
student volunteers, ages 14-21, in the hallways.
Their names are Caitlin Davis, Tyler Martin,
Thomas Morris, Bethany Norris, Jeremy
Warrenfeltz, Molly Weber, Daniel Yoon and
Edward Yoon.
Let them know that we
appreciate their assistance.
Chaplains’ Corner
Chaplain Shelley Weakly
What a month July was for local history buffs! Thanks to the amazing efforts of local historians, volunteers and
staff at Monocacy National Battlefield, the Battle of Monocacy, fought a century and a half ago, virtually came to
life just a few miles up the road from my Urbana home. Almost every day in mid-July, the kids and I found an
excuse to head up the Urbana Pike so we could hike battlefield trails, examine artifacts from a long-ago slave
plantation, listen to lectures about ransom notes, and hear a deeply moving concert of spirituals and freedom songs
by Kim and Reggie Miller of Philadelphia. My oldest son even ran into Homewood’s own Fred Wenner on one
hike!
All of this stirred up some conflicting feelings and debate in a family that hates war but loves history and freedom.
One of the oddest moments for me came in the basement of the gracious hilltop Worthington House. For this
particular occasion, we were allowed to descend the stairs and look through the window where little six-year-old
Glenn Worthington, himself the son of a slave-owning Confederate family and later the author of Fighting for
Time: The Battle of Monocacy, peeked out to watch the battle raging in his front yard. As I watched my own little
boy look through that window, I had to stand in the shoes of a lady I found easy to judge. I wondered about the
strange things God sometimes calls us to do. What would it have been like for Mrs. Worthington to have to learn
to get along peaceably with neighbors who had taken up arms against her way of life? What would she do now that
her way of life was changed forever and so many relationships were different?
We like to hear the exciting stories of battles and Underground Railroad escapes, but often it’s the less dramatic
stories of how we interact with people on a daily basis that define who we are. All this history reminds me that I
may never be asked to hide a runaway slave or care for a wounded enemy soldier, but I am tasked daily with letting
the grace of God transform my relationships regardless of political differences. That’s more than enough for me to
deal with!
One small way to let God’s grace transform the lives of Frederick children is to remember the Religious Coalition
school supplies drive. A bin is available in the chapel for your donation. Please make checks payable to the
Religious Coalition. Thank you very much!
LUNCH & LEARN SUMMER SERIES
Pat Morgan
I should note for readers, in advance, that the following is an “I story,” that is, a personal experience. I am totally
overwhelmed by the critical and valuable information that has been provided by the Homewood staff for the
benefit of Homewood residents. I have been present (accompanied, thankfully, by my appointed health care agent)
for two of the three scheduled Lunch & Learn programs.
My reason for using words like “overwhelmed,” “critical” and “valuable” is because they’re the closest I can come
to honestly describing my own feelings about what I have learned and expect to learn. Especially about how
Medicare works…that the current system is nothing new…it’s been happening for years…right under my nose…
and I wasn’t paying attention. I think I was too busy, too complacent, too detached, to learn about federal
regulations for providing health care and maintaining facilities, and to understand their meaning and costs for me.
I must take charge of my future. I need to change. I must stop thinking that I’m “covered...so I’m okay.” But that
may not be good enough. I don’t remember growing older…do you?
I urge residents to attend on August 11, the last in the Lunch and Learn summer series, when the topic will
be “Transitioning from Health Care back to IL or AL.” The leaders will be from Homewood’s Rehab and
Social Services Departments. Be sure to sign up for the lunch meal beginning at 12:00 noon in the MP
room.
THE RESIDENT OPTIMIST
Guest, Nancy Lesure
This poetry is dedicated to the “many people moving
now,” and offers comfort for the sadness of what we all
leave behind when we must move on.
“No looking back.” I closed the wicket gate
For the last time; then turned to look once more….
I wept, for every brick and stone and leaf
Was charged with memory….
The old house spoke: Child, here is naught for grief—
Change works no ill, and time is but a name;
What the heart loved it keeps. And all is well.
From Old House, by Nancy Byrd Turner
Bethany Norris, Julie’s daughter, recently
had the amazing opportunity to sing at
Carnegie Hall. She was nominated and
chosen to be part of the National Honors
Junior Performance Choir. There were 165
middle school students chosen from the
U.S., Canada, China, Korea and Guam.
SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER
Group
Date
Time
Place
Visionaires
Tues., 9/2
10:30 am
ILAC
How & Why?
Mon., 9/8
7:00 pm
ALACT
HOBOs
Thurs., 9/18
12:00 N
MP
Music Listening
Thurs., 9/18
3:00 pm
ALACT
ALOHA
Fri., 9/26
12:00 N
MP
CONTACT INFORMATION
THE CHATTER NEWSLETTER STAFF
Editor……..……………………………..Pat Morgan
Reporters………Shirley Erdmanis, Vernon Rippeon
Final Proofreader………………………Paul Mellott
Circulation Manager………….....Marlee Richardson
Photographer……………………….....…..Lane Hart
Production Manager……………….……Julie Norris
Ex-Officio…..…………..President, Residents Ass’n
To make comments or suggestions, or to submit
original articles, photographs or other newsworthy
items from cited sources for publication, contact:
Pat Morgan, Editor
[email protected]
IL Apt. Box 213, Phone X5810
The deadline for publication in any issue is the
15th of the preceding month.