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the monthly newsletter for rivercourt residences
Independence DayIndependence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a fed-eral holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring indepen-dence from the Kingdom of Great Britain (now officially known as the United Kingdom). Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, con-certs, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United
States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States.During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Con-gress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its princi-pal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding gen-erations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.Adams’s prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.Historians have long disputed whether Congress actually signed the Declara-tion of Independence on July 4, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adop-tion, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.
ContactsSusan Whitty-Kennedy ext. 242 Executive Director [email protected]
Sharon Amadon ext. 234 Resident Care Director [email protected]
Kim Landi ext. 227 Reflections Program Director [email protected]
Karen McKenzie ext. 222 Director of Marketing [email protected]
Trisha McCaig ext 223 Office Manager [email protected]
Kathy Santiago ext. 240 Activity & Volunteer Director [email protected]
8 West Main StreetGroton, MA 01450www.rivercourtresidences.comp: 978-448-4122 f: 978-448-4133
July 2014
TheLeatherboard
Welcome New ResidentsMarjorie Shea Virginia Warren Bessie Sifakis Mike Gust
In a remarkable coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but another Founding Father who became a President, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831, thus becoming the third President in a row who died on this memorable day. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872, and, so far, is the only President to have been born on Independence Day.• In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired in salute, once
at morning and once again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would
find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continen-tal Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white, and blue bunting.
• In 1778, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artil-lery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, Ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.
• In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday. The holiday was cel-ebrated on Monday, July 5.
• In 1781 the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.
• In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina, held a celebration of July 4 with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled The Psalm of Joy. This is recognized as the first recorded celebration and is still celebrated there today.
• In 1791 the first recorded use of the name Independence Day occurred.
• In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.
• In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.
Luna Lander
An 1825 invitation to an Independence Day celebration
Independence Day continued
BrendaSkehan, RA
One resident wrote: I feel my physical and psychological
improvement has a lot to do with the care received from Brenda! I have seen and
experienced her love and compassion for the res-idents. I feel respected and cared for by her.
Another resident wrote: Brenda is a super individual who is always ready with a cheerful disposition to help me. And she’s very
good at helping with Teds too! She is very empathetic to me and I have heard others say the same.
And another: She is always cheerful and smiling. She’s GOOD!
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Beautiful sun catchers were made by the residents using plastic pony beads. They designed their own patterns with the beads in a metal pan. They were then baked in the oven until the beads melted, cooled off, and then they were ready for the residents to either hang them up or put them in their windows.
Bowling at Harvard LanesWalter, Joe and Bill had a very close game up until the second to the last frame, when Walter got the only spare of the game and then won!
Reflections: Out and About
Assisted & Independent Living
Wellness Dehydration
Summer is upon us! I am sure that many of us were feeling as if warmer days were not approach-ing fast enough! One thing that I would like to point out that is extremely important during these hot summer days is hydration. Many peo-ple do not realize just how important it is to drink fluids, preferably water to stay ahead of dehydra-tion. This is especially important for our elderly population because they are more susceptible to dehydration, which if left untreated can lead to much more serious complications. A recent Uni-versity of Chicago Medical Center study found that 40% of heat-related fatalities in the U.S. were among people over 65. Dehydration is also one of the top ten causes of hospitalizations (www.aplaceformom.com).Dehydration is caused by several different things; the first is simply from lack of adequate fluid intake. Other causes include sweating which we all too often fail to realize just how much fluid we lose in the summer months, through sweat. Some medications such as diuretics or more commonly called the “water pill” can also cause dehydration if you are not drinking enough while taking it. And of course vomiting or diar-rhea also account for fluid loss which often can result in dehydration.Symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth and tongue as well as feeling like your saliva is thick. Headaches, fever, dark or deep urine, cramping in the arms or legs, weakness or a general feel-ing of being tired, dizziness, and the inability to urinate are also some of the common symptoms of dehydration. With this being said fluid intake is key! Healthy older adults should aim for 1.5
– 2 liters (6 – 8 glasses) of liquid intake per day. You should try and avoid beverages such as soda, tea and coffee as they contain caffeine which acts as a diuretic causing you to lose more fluid. So
while we are enjoying these warmer months please treat yourself to a tall glass of water and have a great summer!
–Nicole Young R.N., CDP
The Wellness Clinic is held every Friday from
10:30–11:30 in the Fitness Center.
Special Events and Entertainment at RiverCourt
Massage Therapy ........................................Monday’s 1–4
Manicures/Pedicures/Massage.................3rd & 4th Tuesday from 9–3
Tai-Chi .........................................................Thursday’s at 1:15
George Parker on Classical Guitar ..........7/1 at 2:30
Ceramics with Diane .................................7/2 & 7/16 at 10:45
Resident Council .......................................7/2 at 1:30
Steve Stains on Piano ................................7/3 at 12:00Independence Day Celebration
Tour of America with Marty Sawyer .......7/6 at 11:00
Art Class with Linda ..................................7/9 & 7/23 at 10:45
Andy Ross on Guitar .................................7/12 at 11:00
Matt McCabe on Piano .............................7/17 at 2:30
Book Club Meeting ...................................7/17 at 4:00
Honky Tonk Piano.....................................7/24 at 2:30
Dick Sawyer on Piano ...............................7/25 at 2:30
Lowell Spinners Game ..............................7/29 at 10:00
Birthday Party with Heather Marie .........7/29 at 2:30
Ladies’/Men’s Luncheon ............................TBA
On a beautiful May afternoon some of the Reflections resi-dents went on a van ride to Earl’s Farm in Groton. Earl lives on Lost Lake in Groton. He kindly lets us visit with his animals, which include goats, llamas , ducks, and rabbits. We were able to feed the animals and hold some baby bunnies that were born this spring.Bill enjoyed a dance with a turkey name “Dinna.” Earl said he would never be that!While visiting we could hear the classical music he plays daily for his animals! What a great afternoon. Earl also has a museum called, Carter Myseum (spelling cor-rect) of Groton History.
Earl N. CarterLone LaneGroton, MA617-823-5757
We had an ice cream social, and we were all singing “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.” Who doesn’t remember that when we were young! And, we were reminisc-ing about the good old days when a Brigham’s ice cream cone cost 25¢ and you could ride on the tailgate of the station wagon while enjoying your cone. Those were the days.
A few of the residents went fishing over the railing at the waterfall. While they were fishing, there was also a Blue Heron fishing on the other side!
On Thursday, June 12th, we had a cookout for our RA’s. We wanted to let them know how very much we all appre-ciate all their hard work and dedication to both residents and staff. I said to one RA, “I don’t know how you guys do it!” and she replied,” Stay calm and carry on.” They do, and we appreciate it so much. We have the BEST RA’s. Thanks for ALL you do.
For the past five years we have been hosting “Casual for a Cause.” Donations provide funding for the care, sup-port, and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. Originally it was just for the month of September. Now it is a year round fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association. Employees at RiverCourt Residences are able to purchase a sticker weekly for $5 and then
“Go Casual” for that Friday by wearing their favorite jeans!Since starting “year round” in September of 2013 we have donated over $900 to the Alzheimer’s Association in mem-ory of residents and friends that have passed from this disease. We will continue to raise money to fight this.
Around and about with our RAs
Our father Joe is a man of few words, but a million friends. To this day, he makes friends easily everywhere he goes. That skill, as well as his sharp intelligence, made him a great businessman. After serving in the Army, where he was stationed in the Philippines during WWII, he became the manager of Palm Grain Company in Lowell, Mass., and the owner of Bruckmann’s Hardware in Lawrence, Mass., a successful business which he ran for over 30 years.Joe’s passions in life are his family, especially his beloved wife Rose, as well as jazz, poker, and sports. He still loves watching the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics. He and Rose traveled all over the world. Among their favorite trips were their visits to Ireland, where they became very close to the Irish branch of the Broderick family. The only things in life Joe really doesn’t like are snow and vegetables. He hates snow so much he walked out of the movie Dr. Zhivago because he couldn’t stand to look at Omar Sharif ’s frozen mous-tache. And he faithfully gave up broccoli and spinach every year for Lent. Joe put all four of his children through college, helped them get started buying homes and establishing careers, and is the most generous man we have ever met. His favorite saying, which amuses us all, is ”Make believe you like me.” We don’t have to make believe, Joe. Your four children, four grandchildren, and your new great granddaughter Charlotte all love you very much.
—Lorraine Broderick
Resident Profile: Joe Broderick
Susan’s CornerFor many the Fourth of July reminds them of cookouts, parades and getting together with family. I too have very fond memories of spending the day with my whole family to include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and lots of cous-ins. My Dad was one of five children and they all married and had lots of children. A good Irish Catholic family. The day would start off with the parade in our town of Canton, followed by all my relatives coming to my home for a cookout, badminton, horseshoes, and croquet. My uncles and Dad, all four of them would have us all laugh-ing about stories of their childhood. Then we would all go to another parade in Norwood with fireworks to fol-low. As I grew older we all went separate directions—in the military we would have grand celebrations at the Air Force bases where I was stationed. My immediate family continued to grow but the parties of my childhood faded away. Everyone is spread all over the country and they now have their own celebrations. Today, my husband and I love to camp and so this year we will be in Mystic, Connecticut in our trailer enjoy-ing a cookout, a parade, and watching fireworks. I miss the
“GOOD OLD DAYS” but as time moves on we make new memo-ries. We are so blessed to live in this great country, to be Free to spend this holiday anyway we wish. Enjoy . . .
Exploring the AreaGroton Historical Society & Museum 172 Main St. 978-448-0092Kimball Farms 400 Littleton Rd., Westford 978-486-3891Gibbet Hill Barn and Trails 61 Lowell Rd.Townsend Military Band Concerts Town Common–Thursday eveningsFitchburg Art Museum, free passes available at front desk 978-345-4207 The Natural Market 148 Main St. 978-448-5075Bliss Bakery 134 Main St. 978-855-7562Gibbit Hill Grill (American) 61 Lowell Rd. 978-448-2900The Herb Lyceum (New American) 368 Main St. 978-448-6499Filhos Cucina (Italian) 235 Main St. 978-448-5664Main St. Café (Friday Night Entertainment ) 159 Main St. 978-448-9634
Lunch at Barber’s Crossing
Blue Heron by the falls
July BirthdaysJack Freeberg July 2Bessie Sifakis July 2Roy Cooke July 6Rose Gilbert July 15Linda Larsen July 15John Testa July 15Molly Junkala July 16Betty Pletschke July 17Robbie Greenbaum July 22Michael Gust July 23Isabel Bohne July 27Laura Waz July 29Marjorie Shea July 30
“Life’s a beach, enjoy the waves!”
Staff Profile: LeeMy name is Leandro (Lee). I am a full time housekeeper here at RiverCourt. I enjoy being around the residents and having a great time sharing laughs and stories with them and fellow staff members. You may find me sometimes on the piano creating music. I feel that music is the best way to express yourself when words cannot. People often ask me where I learned to play or if I could play a certain song, and in truth, I am unable to read music or play by ear. I also work at a camp here in Groton where I am the host for conference groups and weekend retreats. I have been with that camp for about 21 years and I bring my love for working with people here at RiverCourt. My main goal in life is to put a smile on someone’s face each and every day. Come and hear me play!
Take Me Out to the Ball GameOn Father’s Day a group of us went to see a Lowell Spinners Game. We had a lot of fun . . . so much fun that we are going again on July 29th ! We hope you will join us.
Sun Catchers Catching the Sun
