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May 2017 Number 425

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!

Ah, ha! There was no monument on our campus

acknowledging the service of the many men and

women residents who have served our country. Thus

began an effort to erect such a tribute.

Designed by architect and Joyce Hall resident

Bob Eckblad, the monument is under the large

live oak tree north of Monie Chapel, adjacent to the

flagpole. Pavers bearing the names and service

See Veterans on p.2

After months of anticipation, the PVN Veterans

Monument is approaching completion. A formal

dedication is scheduled for Memorial Day in May. It

was a lucky day when Dr. John Gremmels of the

PC&S Foundation walked into the Corrigan

Building and met John “Lucky” Luckadoo waiting

for the campus shuttle bus. As they visited, Dr. John

asked Lucky where he would find the PVN Veterans

Monument. “What monument?” Lucky asked.

2 Bugle May 2017

THE VILLAGE BUGLE Presbyterian Village North

8600 Skyline Drive, Dallas, Texas 75243

Ron Kelly, Executive Director

David Lodwick, Village Council President

THE VILLAGE BUGLE STAFF

Editor: Gary Carson

Editorial Board: Joyce Forney, Frank LaCava, Noel Pittman, Bill

Schilling, Mark Schweinfurth, Jim & Sally Wiley

Copy Editor: Sally Wiley

Assistant Copy Editor: Jim Wiley

Photography Editor: Joe Brockette

Reporters: Barbara Baker , Bill Branson, Noble

Crawford, John Drake, Joyce Forney, Kathleen Gleason,

Marion Goodrich, Frank LaCava, Nancy Miller, Craig Millis,

Judy Morris, Noel Pittman, Betty Rogers, Kathy Rotto, Mark

Schweinfurth, Audrey Slate, Tom Standlee, Christi

Thompson, Tom Wilbanks, Jim Wiley

Typist:….….................................................Dor is Anschuetz

Photographers: Barbara Baker , Joe Brockette, Lar ry

Miller, Joy Upton

Desktop Publisher:……………..………...…Letty Valdez

Proofreaders: Betty Chan, Noble Crawford, Nancy

Miller, Dolores Rogers, Bill Schilling, Shirley Scott

Meetings:………………………….………Doris Anschuetz

Distribution: Chester Bentley, Betty Chan, Betsy Green,

Shirley Scott, Irma Sendelbach, Martha Wertheimer

Archivist:..…………………………….…….....Pat Pittman

VETERANS (continued from p. 1)

branch of all PVN veterans, past and current,

surround a five-sided pedestal topped with a

majestic eagle, a gift of the Presbyterian Village

North Foundation. Why five-sided? Each side

honors one of the five branches of the U.S.

Military—Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and

Coast Guard. On these sides, plaques will be placed

acknowledging donors to the monument. Blank

pavers will allow for addition of future resident

veterans. Along the sides are two benches—one

engraved with the oath each inductee takes on

joining the military, and one engraved with the oath

taken by officers as they receive their commission.

The veterans monument is a joint effort and gift

of PVN Foundation, PC&S Foundation, and

Linbeck Construction. Linbeck supplied the

materials as well as the actual construction as a

tribute to veterans. In addition to John Luckadoo

and Bob Eckblad, other residents who assisted in

the project, which included compiling the list of

PVN veterans, were Dee Forrest, Bill Schilling and

Arthur Wood. Frank Pike, our Master Gardner ,

also contributed his expertise with design and

location matters. Our heartfelt thanks go to all those

who have contributed in some way to this beautiful

and well-deserved monument to the valiant PVN

men and women who placed country above self in

their service to our nation.

Barbara Baker

Council Corner

PICK THE FRUIT

Some years ago, my pastor relayed this story told

by noted theologian John Claypool. I haven’t

forgotten it. In fact, each of my long-standing

“News of the Week” letters to my family includes

the gentle suggestion, “Pick the fruit.”

Here’s Claypool’s story:

A beautiful plum tree had stood for decades in

his grandparents’ farmyard. It was his

grandfather’s prize. But when a devastating storm

swept through the area one summer day, it left the

tree uprooted and lifeless—damaged beyond

repair. After the storm had passed, a few neighbors

gathered in Claypool’s grandparents’ yard, sadly

looking at the remains of a once-lovely plum tree.

Finally, someone asked, “What are you going to

do with that tree now?” Claypool’s grandfather

paused for a moment and then replied, “I’m going

to pick the fruit and burn the rest.”

John Claypool used that story to illustrate his

thoughts about dealing with the roller coaster of

life’s triumphs and travails. Pick the fruit. Burn the

rest.

May I pass along the wish I have for my

family? Look for the fruit in your days. Savor

those juicy plums.

David Lodwick

Our seven Area Representatives are problem

solvers and leaders. They conduct business

meetings of the residents in their areas, facilitate

resolution of neighborhood concerns and problems,

and bring community problems to the attention of

appropriate PVN staff members or Standing

Committees of the Village Council as needed.

They are members of the Executive Committee of

the Council and serve as liaisons between the

residents of their areas and the Executive

Committee. Hats off to these servant leaders.

David Lodwick

Left to Right: Connie Jenkins, Gerry Unsell, Shirley

King, Nancy Simpson, Frank Pike, Glynn Childers.

Connie Jenkins will be replaced by Dr. Sam Riley.

Bill Branson (not in picture)

3 Bugle May 2017

Leo Charles Lee is a “True Texan” if I ever met

one. He is of the sixth generation; he and Jerry have

added two more generations to that claim. He has

every right to feel his Texas Pride. Leo and his two

brothers grew up in Allison, Texas, where their

father was the high school principal. His scouting

started at an early age; little did he know then that

the Boy Scouts would become his career and

passion. He became an Eagle Scout at sixteen; his

two sons and two grandsons are also Eagle Scouts.

At the Village Council in March, we enjoyed the

Channel 8 clip of Leo and his Boy Scout career.

Leo’s family moved to Austin. It was here he

became acquainted with Jerry, as they both played

in the high school band (she was the talented one he

added). Their dating continued through their years

at the U. of Texas, where Leo majored in Business

Administration and pledged Alpha Phi Omega, a

service organization for those who had been active

in the Boy Scouts (that is not the focus of the

organization today). They both graduated and were

married in 1954, making his bride Jerry Lee Lee.

Leo’s 33-year career with the Boy Scouts of

America ended in 1988 with him as the Scout

Executive of the Cherokee Area Council. He told

me that the smartest move the BSA ever made was

to move their home office from New Brunswick,

New Jersey, to Irving, Texas, in 1979! Irving being

in the Central Time Zone meant that

communications were not a four-hour difference

from coast to coast, and that travel time to

destinations was shorter.

The Lee cabin in South Fork, Colorado, is

where their family goes each summer to enjoy and

celebrate life. This cabin was inherited from Leo’s

grandfather Charles, who also started the collection

of license plates that were nailed to the wall,

beginning with 1930, the year Leo was born, to the

present. Leo has used these license plates to write

his life story. The two booklets were presented to

his four children and seven grandchildren in 2014,

when the Lees celebrated their sixtieth wedding

anniversary. As I read them, I imagined Leo

humming Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips

Away.” as he recorded the events and happenings

of each of those years. Leo and Jerry came to PVN

via Cedar Creek Lake, where they had lived for the

past 22 years. Along with the Boy Scouts, we too,

can be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly,

Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty,

Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

Kathy Rotto

SPOTLIGHT ON LEO LEE

THE TROUBADOUR AT HILLCREST

MAKING TWINKIE BUNNY CARS

IN FOREST GLEN

Leo Lee

4 Bugle May 2017

This is the second in a series of articles on key

aspects of healthy living, focused on matters that

fit our PVN residents. Our first article described

the eight parts of the Cooper Clinic definition for

healthy living: Nutrition, Exercise, Weight

Management, Stress Control, Annual Physical,

Alcohol in Moderation, Smoking Cessation, and

Supplements. The first article also discussed the

role of Exercise (strength training) in reducing

stumbling and falling. (People of all ages can

benefit from strength training.) Here we discuss the

value of strength training for improving arthritis, or

at the least maintaining good functionality.

“My arthritis keeps me from exercising.” In

fact, the right kind of exercise is probably a way to

lessen your arthritis. Dr. Henry S. Lodge, an

authority on aging and exercise who practiced

geriatric medicine at Columbia Presbyterian

Hospital in New York City, cites research showing

that arthritis is not a barrier to strength training. On

the contrary, stronger muscles and improved

balance protect the joints from further damage and

permit them to heal. Patients reported a significant

reduction in pain and limitation after several

months of training. In some cases, minor arthritis

disappeared completely. Dr. Lodge recommends

that persons with arthritis, particularly acute

arthritis, talk with their doctor before attempting

strength training and then work with excellent

trainers and therapists like those here at PVN to

see if judicious exercise will help them.

Aging versus Decaying. Dr. Lodge draws an

important distinction between aging, which is

inevitable, and decaying, which is a lifestyle

choice, generally as a result of sedentary living.

Dr. Lodge’s message: “Some exercise is good, and

up to a point, more exercise is better. And strength

training is an essential part of an effective exercise

program. Not everything in life is controllable, but

it is up to us to do the best on what we can

control.” “Why Bother with Wellness

habits?” Dr. Cooper at the Cooper Clinic makes a

similar point when he talks about “squaring the

curve” by striving for healthy living habits. His

point is to increase your health span, and that may

be even more important than increasing your

lifespan. Your health span is the number of years

in which you feel healthy and are relatively pain

free. He uses hypothetical numbers to illustrate the

point in a chart contrasting “decay habits” and

“wellness habits”:

The end result is the same but the difference

between the blue and the red lines is how much

better you feel while getting there! And it is never

too late to start “squaring the curve.”

John Drake

Happy Birthday! `Elizabeth Rogers 05/02

`Venetta Cronin 05/03

~Aleda Joyce Osborne 05/03

~Marilynn Cole 05/04

`Uel Crosby 05/04

`Jane Rogers 05/05

`Jo Ann Norton 05/05

`Loretta Dunbar 05/10

`Hazel Risch 05/12

`Janel LaCava 05/15

`Nelma Shaw 05/15

`Doris Jackson 05/20

`June Metcalf 05/21

`Warren Rutherford 05/22

`Vicki Carey 05/24

`Cris Oliver 05/27

~Betty Stewart 05/30

In Memoriam -Ruth Law 04/05

-Robert Martel Ruff 04/08

-Arthur Sank 04/15

-Healthcare

~Assisted Living

`Independent Living

RESETTING YOUR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK

5 Bugle May 2017

The PVN Fitness Center

is one of many amenities

that attracted my wife

and me to PVN. With

our physical prowess

waning, we were intent

on sustaining our

enjoyable quality of life.

When the PVN fitness

center opened, we

jumped right into the

pool and classes. Once

the exercise machines

were in place we were

among the first to be

instructed on their use. I

gleefully jumped aboard

one of the elliptical

training machines, expecting a long and lasting

relationship—NOT! Immediately I entered a

twilight-zone of taffy-pulling machines thrashing

me about with arms flailing and legs spinning.

“Escape and withdraw!” a fearful inner voice

shouted. After no little effort, I extricated myself

and retreated. Despite this rude first encounter, the

allure of the elliptical did not fade. I sought to

understand why. I looked up “ellipse” on my

dictionary app. First definition: “Pertaining to an

ellipse”—no help there. Second definition:

“Tending to be ambiguous, cryptic, obscure”—

that’s for sure. Third: “A plane curve such that the

sums of the distance of each point is its periphery

from two fixed…yada-yada” Ho-Hum!

My inevitable return to the elliptical trainer

weeks later convinced me that I had misjudged it.

There were compelling reasons for not giving up.

Seasoned Texans had warned me that road biking

during Dallas summers can be less than idyllic.

Aerobic exercise on the elliptical helps in recovery

after heart disease and may even prevent heart-

related problems. It helps to control high blood

pressure. Its nonimpact workouts decrease the risk

of joint, tendon, and muscle injury. Some people

with past injuries of these types or with arthritis

benefit significantly. Being unlikely to fall off, you

will be safer than on other exercise apparatuses. As

for burning calories, fat and carbohydrates, it’s

right up there with swimming laps and performing

aerial acrobatics, but without nose clips and nets.

Such a deal!

AN ELLIPTICAL ENCOUNTER

The PVN Fitness Staff kindly explained to me

what led to my elliptical-anxiety: failing to heed

their instructions. Their sage advice, when heeded,

will provide you with a pleasant first elliptical

encounter. Let them show you how to mount and

dismount, where best to hold the moving bars, and

how to coordinate the resistance between upper

and lower body musculature (without flailing).

You do not have to hold the moving taffy-pulling

bars; there is a pair of stationary handles right in

front of you that allow for an effective leg

workout. Add the upper body to your workout

later. Start slowly! Plan only five minutes per visit

over the first weeks. Gradually work up to twenty

minutes three or four times a week; this will lower

the risk of injury from muscle overuse. Keep your

shoulders back, head up, and abdominal muscles

tight. Lean not on thy handles but let thy lower

body support thy weight. STOP if you experience

knee-joint pain; discuss this with the fitness staff.

Muscles burning is a good sign—joint pain is not.

For the initial weeks keep the resistance settings

on the low side. Stretch both before and after the

session. Stay hydrated. Grab a drink of water

whenever you’re feeling exhausted, dehydrated, or

generally goofy.

Give the elliptical trainer a try. It is physically

and emotionally as beneficial as road biking. You

will not be faulted if, upon mounting this Smart-

Car-sized machine, your inner voice resembles that

of Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone, “Don’t be

afraid now!”

Tom Standlee

THE TERRACE FAMILY AT COTTON-

WOOD PARK FOR DONUTS AND COFFEE

Chelsey Pyror on the

Elliptical

6 Bugle May 2017

CHAUTAUQUA: HORN QUARTET

PVN residents will be

afforded an unusual

musical experience on

May 23, when David

Cooper, principal

French horn player of

the DSO, visits us once

again—this time with a

horn quartet. The horn,

as the French horn is

called, is the only brass

instrument that blends

equally well with brass,

woodwinds, or strings.

This is because its

backward-facing bell

creates a subdued sound in contrast to the more

piercing quality of the trumpet. Both pitch and

volume can be affected by the position of the hand

in the bell of the horn, allowing a wide dynamic

range and timbre (quality of sound).

There is an abundance of chamber music

repertoire for horn. It is widely used as a member

of the wind quintet and the brass quintet. It is also

combined with the piano and the violin to form a

trio. The Chautauqua performance, however, will

feature the horn by itself to form a horn choir. This

is made possible because accomplished players

can negotiate a range of four octaves which allows

many possibilities sonically over a wide range.

Listeners will enjoy the unique beauty of the

sound of the horn unencumbered as well as the

variety of effects made possible in such an

ensemble.

The quartet includes three of David's friends

from the horn section of the Dallas Symphony

Orchestra: Alex Kienle, Joe Assi, and Kevin

Haseltine. The program planned for us includes

some traditional horn quartet arrangements of

classical pieces, such as Mozart’s Ave Verum,

Bruckner’s Te Deum, and some works by Wagner

and Beethoven. After a short pause, we will also

hear in a new way, a selection of more familiar

songs written for four horns. They include Fly Me

To the Moon and Moonlight Serenade.

All in all, another PVN Foundation-sponsored

program not to be missed.

Frank LaCava

BACH ANYONE?

All has been revealed. There are indeed many

serious music lovers residing at PVN. No less than

sixty-five have committed to attend the six

concerts by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra

included in the package negotiated with the Group

Sales Office of the Orchestra. At the March 14

meeting when I discussed the selections offered in

the package, I also spoke of a concert to be offered

on Thursday, March 22, consisting of the six

Brandenburg concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach.

I love talking about music with friends and I

mentioned that I intended to attend this concert

which was not included in the package, but I

wasn't certain how many would enjoy Baroque

music. It happens that Bach is my favorite

composer, but his music is not as lyrical or

sentimental as the compositions of the Romantic

period.

Bach was a composer born in a period of

musical history when a specific musical style was

in vogue. He advanced the well-known and

accepted style of the day to a level far exceeding

anyone who came before him. This traditionalist

style was studied by all serious composers who

followed Bach and is still a strong influence to the

present day.

Keep in mind that the brass and wind

instruments we know today did not exist in Bach's

time. They were primitive versions yet to be

developed. So, in this context, the six concertos he

composed to present to his Royal Highness,

Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-

Schwedt, were a marvel of that time. These

concertos used the "widest spectrum of orchestral

instruments...in daring combinations" as Christoph

Wolff has commented. "Every one of the concertos

set a precedent in scoring and every one was to

remain without parallel." The orchestra consisted

of twelve to seventeen performers.

I would like to know if you are interested in

this all-Bach concert. If so, please let me know by

email or a note in my mailbox (3108). If enough

are interested, we will ask for a bus.

I have also negotiated a price of $15.00 per

ticket for the Big Brassy Christmas concert on

Monday, December 4, if as many as twenty

residents are interested. There will be a sign-up

sheet in the Black Book near the Reception Desk

for this one. These are good seats in the orchestra

section.

Frank LaCava

David Cooper

7 Bugle May 2017

NEWCOMERS TO JOYCE HALL

Dr. Louis Lane came to Joyce Hall on

March 27. Born in

Port Arthur, he soon

became an Okie by

moving to Broken

Bow. He attended

Oklahoma State U. on

a music scholarship,

playing the

saxophone (to say he

likes jazz is a big

understatement).

From OSU he

attended graduate

school, studying Dentistry at Missouri, then

transferring to Baylor U. Dr. Lane stayed in Texas

where he had a 45-year practice in Preston Center.

He has two daughters and a son. Twins run in the

family and he loves to tell of his two sets of twin

grandchildren. Welcome, Louis, to PVN and Joyce

Hall.

Helen Bruant joined

the residents of Joyce

Hall on March 30,

when she moved into

her apartment on the

second floor. She was

born and reared in

Northeastern

Pennsylvania, the

oldest child in her

family. Since 1972,

she has lived in

Dallas, where she

taught junior high

English and history for eight years. Helen

managed the VNA Meals on Wheels for twenty-

two years in Dallas County and retired as Vice

President of Aging, Nutrition, and Volunteer

Services at the VNA of Texas. Helen is very

sociable, and we hope to make her feel welcome

on Campus and at Joyce Hall.

Marion Goodrich

A SPECIAL PROGRAM AT JOYCE HALL

Snowball, a member of the Rev. Brent and

Heather Ashby family, was the program feature

at the March Residents Council meeting.

Peacefully snuggled on the left arm of his "daddy,”

Snowball looked over all his audience as Brent

summarized his life for the past two years.

When Heather heard that a therapy dog was

needed at the new Terrace Building, she and Brent

went to the dog rescue in Rockwall just to look,

mind you, just to look. Brent had never had a dog

because of his allergies. After meeting snowball,

Heather shocked Brent by saying "Yes we will

take him.” They had no food, no carrier, no leash,

no collar, no bed—nothing. On the way home with

Snowball, they took care of his needs. After the

first few nights of sleeping in his own carrier,

Snowball moved to Brent's side of the bed while

Brent was out of town. He now sleeps between

Heather's pillow and Brent's each night. Spoiled?

No, not at all! He guards the house every day

while the Ashbys are away, by perching on the top

of the sofa in front of the big picture window. He

barks at everything. He loves cheese and receives

all his medications in cheese. And what’s more,

Brent is not allergic to him. He is a full-bred

Bichon Friese and does not shed. He will be six

years old this coming May, which will give

Heather another occasion to buy him a new outfit.

As to being the Terrace therapy dog—forget it.

He's much too active for that.

Marion Goodrich

Helen Bruant

Dr. Louis Lane

Rev. Brent and Heather Ashby

8 Bugle May 2017

There are ten Standing Committees prescribed in

the bylaws of the Village Council. They are

“standing” (that is permanent), since each covers

an area of enduring importance to the people of

PVN. The committees are Building and Grounds,

Communications, Dining Services, Landscape,

Memorials, Newcomers and Orientation, Safety

and Security, Social Activities, Spiritual Life, and

Volunteers. The President of the Council, with

concurrence of the Executive Committee, appoints

the Chairpersons of these committees who then

select the members of their respective committees.

The Bugle plans a series of articles covering

the work of each committee, beginning with

Communications. In a general sense this

Committee is responsible for ensuring that people

have the information they need about important

activities and events at PVN. As you might expect,

this work did not just crop up yesterday. Some

things have been going on for many years, such as

publication of The Village Bugle and oversight of

the library hall bulletin boards. Further, the

Committee does not duplicate communications

issued by other entities, such as PVN Management

and Staff, and the PVN Foundation.

Under the leadership of Chairwoman Molly

Stewart, the overall 2017 goal of improving

communications at PVN has been adopted. The

initial project of the Committee will be to update

and improve the Independent Living “Resident

Handbook.” The Committee selected the Facilities

section as the test section for the redo. Mike

Mondoux serves as the Director of Facilities, a

large and important area of service to residents,

and the first area encountered by new residents

moving in. Knowledge of this area is thus an

important part of resident service at PVN.

Committee member Dolores Rogers improved

and clarified that section of the handbook. Those

improvements should lead to updating and

clarifying the rest of the handbook.

You may keep up with the work of the

Communications Committee by contacting Molly

or one of the pictured committee members.

Molly Stewart and Gary Carson

SPRING HAS SPRUNG AT PVN

Did you know that the PVN campus is almost as

large as the Dallas Arboretum? The Arboretum has

sixty-six acres, and PVN has sixty-four. And while

PVN doesn’t equal the Arboretum in flowers, we

have our own places of beauty here. Tulips in the

spring have been a sort of signature at PVN for

years, and this year about 4,500 were planted to

add to the beauty of the campus.

One of the new areas added this spring is a

round bed across from the Future-Resident

Information Center. Water is a precious resource

and this area features low-water-maintenance

plants such as cactus, native plants such as Salvia,

and large decorative rocks.

One member of the Landscape Committee

hopes that bluebonnets can be planted around the

lake. Interestingly, one sprig of bluebonnets,

already there, might, if allowed to go to seed, be a

harbinger of things to come!

One thing that impresses many of us is that

PVN really is a village. Unlike some of the high-

rise retirement places, we are blessed at PVN with

trees, flowers, a lake, and walking trails, all of

which indeed make for a lovely village.

Tom Wilbanks

STANDING COMMITEES

COMMUNICATIONS

Left to Right: Judy Morris, June Cornell, Joan

McClure, Kathy Rotto, Heather Ashby, Molly

Stewart, Dolores Rogers, Bill Schilling, Loretta

Dunbar, and Jim Spell

9 Bugle May 2017

For resident Janice Bentley, crafts and beautiful

fabrics have been a passion since she was a little

girl. “I’ve always enjoyed crafts and working with

fabrics. My grandmother taught me to crochet

when I was 10,” recalls Janice. “My mom made

clothes from feed sacks and we shopped for the

sacks made of the prettiest fabrics. My sister

Carolyn and I made our own clothes when we were

growing up.”

After a career as a registered nurse, Janice

retired from Baylor Hospital in 1998. A friend

invited her to join a quilting group at the Garland

Senior Center in 1999. She never looked back.

Janice began quilting by hand but then heard

about Richard Larson, a master professional

machine quilter. He now does all her quilting and

that allows her more time to focus on making the

tops. Her first entry into competition was in 2004

at the Dallas Quilt Show. The quilt pattern was

Stained Glass Flower Garden. When she took it to

Richard to be quilted he asked if she was entering

it in the show. “I’d never thought of that but he

said I must,” says Janice. The quilt won Honorable

Mention.

Since then Janice has entered fourteen shows

and won awards in thirteen of them. Most recent

First Place at the Dallas Quilt Show in March for

her colorful “Water Lilies” quilt.

A tour of Janice and husband Chester’s home

reveals innumerable large and smaller quilted wall

hangings. Three quilts made to fit their king-sized

bed are changed out from time to time. Some quilts

she has given away and a few have been sold.

JANICE WINS AGAIN

One of Janice’s favorite patterns is Baltimore

Album because each block has an appliquéd floral

design with embroidery. Larson taught her to

appliqué and told her she would either hate it or

become addicted. “I’m addicted,” she admits.

Resident Ann Foster returned from a trip to

Alaska and brought back a quilting book with

patterns for Alaskan wildflowers. Janice currently

is working on one of the patterns featuring

embroidered flowers and batik fabrics in many

colors. She colors the flowers with crayons then

embroiders around them. “I’m making it for the

Dallas Quilt Show next March. Appliquéing will

have to wait until I finish this embroidered one,”

she says. “I’m constantly thinking about what I’m

going to do next. I do like to read, but I’d rather be

working on a quilt.”

Nancy Miller

All PVN residents and staff express

heartfelt thanks to Janice and Chester

Bentley for housing this activity in

their home for the past many months.

Sew & Sews at work on the 2nd floor of Corrigan

on April 11

“Water Lilies” Quilt

Janice Bentley

10 Bugle May 2017

MAKING THE MOST OF A NEW LIFE

Technology today goes a long way to ease some of

the inconveniences that plague our aging

population―which is growing exponentially each

minute. Retirement living communities frequently

offer wider doors and hallways. They raise toilets

a few inches, add grab bars, and sometimes install

ramps for easy access. And there seems to be no

end to "assistive technology" to keep us

independent; to forestall a move into an assisted-

living community.

However, on a more personal note, there are

several invisible handicaps that easily go

unnoticed among our acquaintances―sometimes

isolating us unnecessarily. For instance, when I

first moved to a retirement community, I

encountered a few neighbors who seemed a bit

indifferent to a new face in the crowd; not

particularly interested in starting a conversation. I

didn't take offense, as I confess to being somewhat

of a 'loner' at times.

In fact, I was struggling to accept life in a no-

longer-independent environment myself. It took

some months to detect that―like me―many of

my neighbors were quietly experiencing loss of

hearing, eyesight, balance, and all manner of

invisible physical or psychological disorders. I

finally realized that hearing loss can cause us to

avoid conversations with a stranger; that failing

eyesight might prevent us from recognizing a

person until up-close-and-personal. If you happen

to be bashful, that’s a real barrier to starting a

conversation with someone new. Add to that,

dozens of new names to remember; just

remembering first names was challenging.

Relocating to a retirement environment simply

isn't for the faint of heart.

So, if I fail to wave to you from a distance or

to respond to your 'hello' from a few feet away,

remember that my 'invisible' disabilities are the

same as your own―it is not my intention to ignore

you. I did devise a way of remembering new

names: I gave each new acquaintance a famous

last name―mine is Young―Loretta "Young"―I

bet you'll remember me. I now count Marie

"Osmond," Jackie "Onassis," and Al "Capone,"

among my acquaintances. Aging can be a

challenge―make the most of it and have fun.

Loretta Dunbar

BALLERINAS WOW PVN AUDIENCE

The troupe of Ukrainian ballerinas opened their

performance at PVN on April 3 by dancing to the

Ukrainian folk song that is called “Carol of the

Bells” in the US. An ode to spring complete with

garlands of flowers closed the thrilling evening. In

between the two, the young dancers held the

audience in the palms of their hands.

Through a translator, the ballerinas’

choreographer, Valentyn, was complimented on

the original, creative dances, particularly for “Let

My People Go.” He replied, “You’ve never seen

anything like it and you never will again.” Still,

PVN residents already look forward to a return of

the poised, talented young dancers.

Nancy Miller

Hannah Sanderford, Great-Granddaughter of

Joyce Sargent

11 Bugle May 2017

PVN FOUNDATION FACTS

By the time you read this, the April 20th Grand

Opening Celebration of the Jim & Bess Blanchette

Lifestyle Fitness Center in the Corrigan Building

will be history. What isn't history, but very current,

is the ongoing use of the café, pool, spa, and

exercise areas by PVN residents.

The ceremony featured the Blanchette

daughters and brief words of welcome, followed

by champagne, a ribbon-cutting, and a reception.

Jim Blanchette had served on the PVN

Foundation Board. In addition, he and Bess were

active members of the PVNF’s Gateway Society.

Jim held undergraduate and law degrees from UT

Austin and an MBA from Harvard. Unsolicited

gifts to PVNF made in his name by his friends and

clients substantially assisted in the growth of the

Foundation and made possible many of our

endeavors.

The PVN Foundation is grateful for all the gifts

that have been received through the years and will

continue to appreciate your gifts and support.

Margaret Ann Thetford,

EXTRA, EXTRA, EXTRA!

Most of our PVN residents know to call Susan

Chavez or Jami Ellis (Facilities Department) if

they have problems with light bulbs, heating,

plumbing, air conditioning, fireplace, roof,

electricity, landscaping, trash pickup, window

cleaning, tree trimming, planting, filter

replacement, dishwasher, refrigerator, or washing

machine.

What you might not know is:

If electrical power is lost, Mike Mondoux will

immediately call Oncor and, because we are a

health care facility, we will get priority

treatment

If you need to go somewhere within a 5-mile

radius, you can ask for a ride from the Front

Desk

Security will boost your car battery if it is dead

A high pressure air hose is available outside

the Facilities Office to air up tires

If you need a notary to sign a legal document,

Connie Scott will accommodate you

Nancy Menton at the Front Desk can answer

nearly any question you can think up.

Any of the following will be happy to print

your airplane boarding pass and send or receive

faxes: Admissions; Accounting; Life Enrichment;

the independent resident Wellness Clinic; and,

Connie Scott, Executive Assistant to Ron Kelly.

Our Pharmacy (214-355-9080) not only fills

prescriptions, but has a large supply of over-the-

counter, non-prescription medications. If they do

not have what you need, they will provide it

overnight, except on weekends.

Now, let’s discuss safety for our residents. In

addition to the “punch buttons we must ‘punch’

before 10:00 AM”, we have pull cords if

immediate assistance is needed. Large hand rails

keep us safe in the shower. Further, security

officers routinely patrol our neighborhoods.

Spring flowers decorate gardens outside our

homes. Landscaping purchases them at wholesale

prices. We choose the flowers we want and buy

them at those low prices. They prepare the garden

where we direct and plant the flowers for us at no

extra cost.

These are just a few of the EXTRAS we receive

as residents of PVN.

Al Cloud

The Blanchette Daughters cutting the ribbon to the

Lifestyle Fitness Center

Shannon Radford, Wellness Manager speaking at

the Jim & Bess Blanchette Lifestyle Fitness Center

Grand Opening

12

Spring Fling 2017