Making Memories

The residents were kept busy all last week by creating memory books with Amy. Amy is a nursing student who chose Eden Heights for her community project. She enjoyed learning about the residents lives, both past and present. The residents enjoyed using their own special touches into creating their books, while reminiscing about their childhood, families, friends and their life at Eden Heights. Everyone had such a wonderful time, they decided to get together again and create a memory book of Eden Heights for families and visitors to see. Please visit our website @ http://www.edenheights.com/eden.html

2011 Memory Walk

On Saturday, some of our residents, staff, family and friends from Eden Heights participated in the Memory Walk to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. To raise donations we sold paper elephants, had a hot dog sale during our Classic Car Show and held an afghan raffle, made by one of our residents. Everyone had a great time helping out such a worthwhile cause. Please visit our website at http://www.edenheights.com/eden.html

Classic Car Show

Saturday was our Classic Car Show and Hot Dog sale to benefit the WNY Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk. Families and friends had a great time showing off their favorite cars and reminiscing about the past. Mr. Winter was proud to display his Model T Ford while wearing his hat and tails. Charles was all smiles to take a country ride in this Model T Ford. Thank you to all that participated!

Back to School Day

Monday we went Back to School. Our first class was Yoga with Ms. Darlene, then History with Ms. Roush were we discussed the various Wars of our country and trivia, next Creative Writing with Mrs. Crosier in which the class created stories and headlines on various topics. After lunch break it was off to Science class with Mr. Paul who demonstrated an experiment for the class. The day ended with awards and report cards. I am happy to report that everyone passed and no one got sent to the principals office. Please visit our website @ http://www.edenheights.com/eden.html

A Variety of Programs

In addition to our 9/11 Ceremony and our Back to School Day it has been a week filled with a variety of programs for Assisted Living Week. Tuesday we reminisced by watching our 2011 Prom film that was so graciously put together by one of our family members. It was great to see the wonderful dinner and dancing with the Gowanda High School Students, Wednesday it was Family Bingo Night, Thursday a silly sock contest which had everyone smiling all day by watching all the colorful & crazy socks walk by and Friday a program by Denise Richard who performed a portrayal of Amelia Earhart’s life. On Saturday we will end the week with a Classic Car Show and Hot Dog Sale to benefit the Erie County Alzheimer’s Association 2011 Memory Walk. Please visit our website @http://www.edenheights.com/eden.html

Remembering 9/11

On Sunday our residents, staff and families took part in a Memorial Service to honor and remember the victims of 9/11. Our service included a 9/11 flag raising, hymns, prayers, a candlelight vigil and a poem titled “The Names” by Billy Collins that we would like to share:

The Names – Billy Collins

Yesterday, I lay awake in the palm of the night.
A soft rain stole in, unhelped by any breeze,
And when I saw the silver glaze on the windows,
I started with A, with Ackerman, as it happened,
Then Baxter and Calabro,
Davis and Eberling, names falling into place
As droplets fell through the dark.
Names printed on the ceiling of the night.
Names slipping around a watery bend.
Twenty-six willows on the banks of a stream.
In the morning, I walked out barefoot
Among thousands of flowers
Heavy with dew like the eyes of tears,
And each had a name –
Fiori inscribed on a yellow petal
Then Gonzalez and Han, Ishikawa and Jenkins.
Names written in the air
And stitched into the cloth of the day.
A name under a photograph taped to a mailbox.
Monogram on a torn shirt,
I see you spelled out on storefront windows
And on the bright unfurled awnings of this city.
I say the syllables as I turn a corner –
Kelly and Lee,
Medina, Nardella, and O’Connor.
When I peer into the woods,
I see a thick tangle where letters are hidden
As in a puzzle concocted for children.
Parker and Quigley in the twigs of an ash,
Rizzo, Schubert, Torres, and Upton,
Secrets in the boughs of an ancient maple.
Names written in the pale sky.
Names rising in the updraft amid buildings.
Names silent in stone
Or cried out behind a door.
Names blown over the earth and out to sea.
In the evening — weakening light, the last swallows.
A boy on a lake lifts his oars.
A woman by a window puts a match to a candle,
And the names are outlined on the rose clouds –
Vanacore and Wallace,
(let X stand, if it can, for the ones unfound)
Then Young and Ziminsky, the final jolt of Z.
Names etched on the head of a pin.
One name spanning a bridge, another undergoing a tunnel.
A blue name needled into the skin.
Names of citizens, workers, mothers and fathers,
The bright-eyed daughter, the quick son.
Alphabet of names in a green field.
Names in the small tracks of birds.
Names lifted from a hat
Or balanced on the tip of the tongue.
Names wheeled into the dim warehouse of memory.
So many names, there is barely room on the walls of the heart.

June 24, 2005 | Permalink

Boating and Fishing Trip

This week the residents enjoyed a scenic boat ride and fishing trip on Lake Erie. John was our captain aboard the Excalibur boat. It was a good time that brought back many memories. Please visit our website at http://www.edenheights.com/eden.html