BY CAROL ANN AFFOURTIT
As we start a new year, let’s reflect on the beauty of the holiday season at Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home. The start of December found staff and residents helping to “Deck Our Halls.’’
Led by Susan Kenyon, personal care staff and residents trimmed our four indoor trees; while Frank Miller and Gary Wadsworth lit our 3 outdoor trees and “stellar” crab apple trees with light aglow.
Doorways and chandeliers were decorated in holiday style and The Clark Greenhouse poinsettias graced our rooms and entrances, the outdoor wreaths and garlands were as lovely as ever.
Dec. 5 started the season off with a visit from Cooperstown Fire Department Santa and friends. Residents gathered in the Living Room and memorable photos were taken.
On Dec. 13, the Annual Board of Directors Christmas Party was held and the weather co-operated. The Kitchen and Dining Staff did a lovely job with preparations for this wondrous, festive gathering of Board Members, residents and their families and guests.
Laurie Blatt, Administrator, Kathy Lindberg, Dining Services Manager and all staff present, made the evening memorable.
Dec. 15 was Christmas shopping day for our adopted “Family.’’ Residents and staff collected $950 to make this Christmas very special for a mom and her children. Shopping was done by Mary Butler, Darcey Schilling and Sheila Jones.
On Dec. 16, The “Clara Welch Elves’’ began the joyous wrapping of gifts for our family which were delivered by Mary Butler, Kristen Hext and Leon Rathbun. What a wonderful feeling shared by all who participated in this event.
Surprise Wednesday activities continued through December and includedChristmas sing-a-longs in the library and living room, Christmas songs bingo, Tongue Twister Wheel of Fortune and Bird Watchers Pine Cone Ornaments.
On Dec. 17, our staff/resident Potluck Dinner was held and special guests, Santa and Mrs. Claus were present to share in our culinary delights!
December held its spiritual moments, by visits from Christ Church and St. Mary’s ministers for communion, Bible Study with Sue Drake, Ecumenical Service with Rev. Elsie Rhodes from the First Presbyterian Church and Christmas Eve service with Father Mark Michael from Christ Church.
Every year we are blessed with Christmas Concerts. This year brought the angelic voices of “Ah-Coopella,” the sweetness of the third graders from Milford School, the Kris Kringle Carolers of Cooperstown, and the amazing Cooperstown Central School choir “Harmonia” led by Sal Salvaggio.
Dec. 20 was the Staff Christmas Party. Laurie and Fred Blatt cooked a lovely meal of traditional and veggie lasagna, tossed salad, bread and cookies. Staff Secret Santas exchanged gifts; certificates of service were announced and Laurie’s gifts to staff were received.
What a lovely way to celebrate together.
We would like to honor our Dec. birthdays: residents Ralph Veenema, Dot Gardner, and Peg Hage along with staff member Joyce Haney who after 29 years will be retiring soon. Felicitations to all.
On Christmas a very special meal was shared by resident and family members, while others took off for time with loved ones.
On Dec. 31, a New Years Eve Happy Hour was celebrated with champagne and shrimp cocktail.
on New Year’s Day all of us in our Thanksgiving Home family celebrated the new year with the hope of good will, good health, peace and happiness.
May God Bless us all, keep us safe and strong, and may the joy and love we experience in our home, extend to you and yours.
Columns
Home Notes: December was a busy month at the Home
- Columns
-
-
Attack on Sacket's Harbor
Sacket's Harbor, near the beginning of the St. Lawrence River from Lake Ontario, was the principal American naval base on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812.
Continued ... -
Once again, hope springs eternal ...
We are happy to report that although Mother Nature did her best to thwart the annual Upper Pioneer Street Block Party, she was not successful.
Continued ... -
Local performs costumed recitations of Casey at the Bat
Since 1996, I have had the privilege of doing costumed recitations of Casey at the Bat as part of my job at the Baseball Hall of Fame. I’ve performed the poem an estimated 2,000 times in 22 states, at ballparks, conferences, classrooms, Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies, weddings and other events.
Continued ... -
E-readers come in handy when traveling
I recently took a trip to California and it was the perfect time to make use of my e-reader. While I'm still devoted to actual books, I must admit that traveling with a thin, lightweight computerized device beats dragging along one or two bulky hard copy titles. The only issue is finding the right e-books to take on the airplane
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: Arriving at the last bend in the River
The month of May is the height of the summer in India, a time best spent indoors with a good book and a sliced mango for company.
Continued ... -
Cooperstown election and law
On Tuesday the 18th inst. [May], the following persons were elected officers for this village for the ensuing year: --
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: Exchange has taught me to love my flaws
Hello from Germany! I'm currently on my second Euro Tour visiting and exploring most of Europe.
Continued ... -
Passing along advice of seeing the humor
The best advice given to me many years ago when I started teaching had nothing to do with my discipline, English. Rather, a former mentor insisted on the necessity of having a sense of humor
Continued ... -
The week that was ...
For a number of years now, we have not been in Cooperstown for the spring season. And we must admit that we had quite forgotten what it is like. But since we decided that travel was not on the docket for this year, we have become reacquainted with the Cooperstown spring. And we must say we rather enjoyed it with the possible exception of occasional uncalled for snow and seemingly frigid temperatures.
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: Mother's visit was a benchmark for this year
Last week, my mother made the 25-hour plane trip out to Thailand to visit her son, me, after nine months of having only choppy Skype sessions and scattered emails to give her an idea of what I look and act like since having left home last August.
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: World traveler calls Euro-Tour experience of a lifetime
While I've had a great time throughout my entire exchange, I can say hands down that the month of April brought me the best memories of my exchange if not some of the best of my entire life. What kind of wonder would bring me to say this? Simple. Euro-Tour.
Continued ... -
Maryland port attacked
Havre de Grace, May 3. "This morning, a little after the break of day, a British armed force, under cover of armed vessels which anchored in front of this town ... landed below a small breast work which had been roughly thrown up, and in which were one 9 and two 4 pounders, manned by 50 militia.
Continued ... -
Memoir reflects on 'roller-coaster life and career'
Apparently, the third time wasn't the charm. The way Reynolds described him, the third husband was worse than the first two combined and that's saying a lot. Eddie Fisher literally walked away from Reynolds and their two infant children to chase a sex goddess. At least he got his just desserts when Elizabeth Taylor tossed him aside for Richard Burton.
Continued ... -
Imagine what might have been ...
A while back we got a telephone call from a reader of this column wanting to know why we had not written a column in support of Otsego Manor continuing to be owned and operated by Otsego County. And even though we have followed the debate over this issue in the newspaper, we readily admitted we did not feel we knew enough about the situation to take a stand.
Continued ... -
Herpes virus brings harness racing to a halt
I've been going to harness horse race tracks my entire life. My family has been in the business for years.
Continued ... -
Time, if not traffic, moves on ...
It is with sadness we note the passing of two people who we have known since moving to Cooperstown in 1982.
Continued ... -
Canadian capital captured
Dear Sir, I have just returned from Fort Niagara, where I saw a Captain of the United States' navy. He is just from little York, the capital of Upper Canada, and gives the following account, which is confirmed in official dispatches from Gen. Dearborn to Gen. Lewis ...
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around The Globe: Exchange is like a life in a year
All exchange students realize the credibility of this statement. Like all lives no exchange is the same, all are incredible unique exchanges. The metaphor of life, from baby to old age, extends to every part of the exchange.
Continued ... -
Movie depicting legendary Jackie Robinson does not disappoint
Going to the movies is not something I do often. I can count the number of times I have gone on my fingers, unless you include trips to the drive-in. And even so, it took me years before I made it to one of those -- going for the first time two summers ago.
Continued ... -
'Dubious' about weather, Hawkeyes 'suitable' nickname
Unfortunately, it seems to us that this spring has, thus far, been anything but spring like. In fact, we are still more than happy to stay bundled up in our polar fleece.
Continued ...
-
Attack on Sacket's Harbor
