Tel Hai Retirement Community invites the community to participate in the ‘Annual Tel Hai Food Drive’ now through March 31, 2016, benefiting the Twin Valley Food Pantry in Morgantown, Pa. and the Honey Brook Food Pantry in Honey Brook, Pa.
In conjunction with National Nutrition Month, Tel Hai is requesting the donation of non-perishable food items and supplies including canned tuna, peanut butter, cereals, pasta, rice, canned fruits & vegetables, laundry detergent, dish soap, bar soap, paper towels and toilet paper. Tel Hai is also accepting monetary donations of any size for the Honey Brook Food Pantry.
Non-perishable food and supply donations can be dropped off at the Garrett Community Center, on the campus of Tel Hai, located at 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook, Pa. Additionally, check donations can be made payable to the Honey Brook Food Pantry, of which Volunteer Services at Tel Hai will collect on their behalf.
One in six Americans find it difficult to physically and financially access foods and supplies that may nourish their body and keep them healthy. Food insecurity is a reality for our neighbors in the community in which we live and work. Hunger is not a short-term problem; lack of nutrition can create long-term problems from diabetes to heart disease.
Join Tel Hai today and help families in the Chester County community.
Tel Hai Retirement Community, an accredited nonprofit continuing care retirement community, has provided high quality and compassionate care since 1956. The campus is located at 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook, PA., three miles east of Route 10 off Beaver Dam Road. For more information or directions, please visit www.telhai.org.
Founded in 1956, Tel Hai Retirement Community is a non-profit, 501(c)3 continuing care retirement community located in the rolling countryside of Chester County in Honey Brook Township. Tel Hai offers the full-continuum of aging services including residential living, personal care, skilled nursing care, , home care and rehabilitation services. Tel Hai is dedicated to providing high quality care and services to enhance personal dignity, autonomy and lifelong enrichment as a demonstration of Christ’s love for all persons, including more than 800 residents and 500 staff. Tel Hai is nationally accredited by the independent Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities-Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CARF-CCAC.)
Registration is now open for a spring ‘Oil Art Class’ hosted by Tel Hai Retirement Community starting Tuesday, March 15, 2016 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Classes meet for five weeks consecutively each Tuesday, and two sessions will be offered. The class will be led by the multitalented and well-known local artist John Esworthy. The fee for a five-week session is $50 per person (Tel Hai Residents) and $60 per person (Community Members).
The class will be held in The Art of Everything room in the StoneCroft Commons on the campus of Tel Hai. Register today by contacting Judy Schweitzer at 610-273-9333 ext. 2154 or jschweitzer@telhai.org
Tel Hai Retirement Community, an accredited nonprofit continuing care retirement community, has provided high quality and compassionate care since 1956. The Art of Everything is located in the StoneCroft Commons, on the campus of Tel Hai, three miles east of Route 10 off Beaver Dam Road. Follow Beaver Dam Road to the campus of Tel Hai, then turn onto Tree Line Drive and follow signs to StoneCroft. Parking is available adjacent to the StoneCroft commons main entrance. For more information or directions, please visit www.telhai.org
February is American Heart Month, so here are some of the latest things this physician would like you all to know! This information in this blog may be completely new to you (but hopefully not new to your physician):
1. The Meat and Potatoes Diet wasn’t bad because of the meat or the potatoes. It was bad because of the lack of fruit, vegetables, fish and olive oil. Those who eat more of these foods lower their risk for coronary artery disease (think heart attack, bypass surgery, angioplasty), stroke (large and medium arteries) and colon cancer. (There’s a nice bonus.) Modest meat and dairy in your diet is ok as long as half your plate is vegetables (Yes, you read that right: half).
2. Exercise is great for your heart, brain, and kidneys. How much? Well, studies in older individuals show that the intense, strenuous exercise is no more advantageous than gentle exercise like walking and swimming
3. Treatment of cholesterol with statin medications is now based more on other risk factors than your cholesterol level. Here are the risk factors: LDL Cholesterol 190 or higher; hypertension; diabetes; a strong family history of coronary artery disease; and having had a stroke or cholesterol blockages anywhere in your body previously. If you are on a statin, and you have none of these risk factors, please talk with your physician.
4. If you have never had a stroke or a heart attack, taking aspirin a day doesn’t help prevent one. We don’t know why, but study after study shows this.
5. Taking an aspirin a day carries a risk of major bleeding (think hospitalization) of 1-2% per year. It may not seem like much to you, but I see bleeds frequently. So if you have not been prescribed daily aspirin, avoid it.
6. The adult low dose 81 mg of aspirin works as well for thinning your blood as any other dose. Hopefully, it carries less risk for bleeding (but I have not seen any evidence for this claim).
7. Fish oil capsules do not lower the risk for heart disease or stroke. Eating fish does. And the more fish you eat, the lower the risk. Any fish counts.
8. Under and overtreatment of high blood pressure are big problems. You should be averaging 120-140 on the top number. (There are a few exceptions.) The bottom number should be below 90.
Dr. Richard Satriale, MD
Tel Hai Retirement Community, Medical Director
Tel Hai Retirement Community will host the 20th Annual High School Student Art Show in the new StoneCroft Center for Worship and Performing Arts on Friday, February 19 and Saturday February 20, 2016, located at 4000 Tree Line Drive, Honey Brook, Pa. The artwork will be available for the public’s viewing and enjoyment from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM on Friday and 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM on Saturday. The event is free and open to the general public.
Local high school art teachers were invited to select student works for display at the show, hosted by Tel Hai. Participation includes art works from students in the Coatesville, Downingtown, Pequea Valley, and Twin Valley School Districts and the Conestoga Christian High School. Tel Hai is always eager to welcome the exhibit on campus; it is a long-time favorite of residents and the local community.
Guests are invited to vote for their favorite art work for “People’s Choice” honors. Awards will be presented to the top vote-getters. Juried artists, Loretta Englerth and John Esworthy will review the installation and select works to receive honors in accordance with published Scholastic Art Awards categories.
These include: ceramics & glass, design, drawing, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.
Tel Hai Retirement Community, an accredited nonprofit continuing care retirement community, has provided high quality and compassionate care since 1956. Directions to the campus located three miles east of Route 10 off Beaver Dam Road are available online at www.telhai.org; using your GPS please enter the 4000 Tree Line Drive physical address. For more information or directions, please visit www.telhai.org.
Tel Hai Retirement Community invites the community to participate in a ‘Freedom from Smoking’ educational program starting Tuesday, March 1, and running through April 12, 2016, on the campus of Tel Hai.
The 7-week class is held March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and April 5 & 12 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the auditorium/chapel. The group class offers adults tools to become tobacco free.
To register, call 1-888-544-4636 or visit www.lghealth.org/classes
Offered in conjunction with Penn Medicine and Lancaster General Health, the program is offered free of charge through SouthEastern Pennsylvania Tobacco Control Project, a program of the Health Promotion Council and funded through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Offered in conjunction with Penn Medicine and Lancaster General Health, the program is offered free of charge through SouthEastern Pennsylvania Tobacco Control Project, a program of the Health Promotion Council and funded through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Tel Hai Retirement Community, an accredited nonprofit continuing care retirement community, has provided high quality and compassionate care since 1956. The campus of Tel Hai is located at 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook. We are only 3 short miles east of Route 10 off Beaver Dam Road. For more information or directions, please visit www.telhai.org.
Join Tel Hai Retirement Community for ‘Heart Health Education Day’ with dynamic, educational programming on Friday, February 19, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM in the Garrett Community Center’s ‘Gathering Room.’
Rajesh K. Reddy, DO
First up is Dr. Rajesh Reedy, DO, a cardiologist from Brandywine Valley Cardiology from Noon to 12:45 PM. He will be presenting on the anatomy of the heart and the many conditions that affect the heart. Dr. Reddy’s presentation will conclude with a question and answer session from the audience.
Next, Tel Hai’s Clinical Dietitian, Sybil Oswalt, RD, CSG, LDN, will be presenting on how to keep your heart healthy through diet and exercise from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM. Sybil will also be available for a Q&A session after her presentation.
This ‘Heart Health Education Day’ will be brought to you by Tel Hai Retirement Community and Brandywine Hospital. Questions? Please contact Sarah Wysocki, Director of Wellness Services, at 610-273-9333 x2129 or swysocki@telhai.org for more details.
Sybil Oswalt, RD, CSG, LDN
Life at Tel Hai Retirement Community is enriching and rewarding. We welcome the greater community and public to participate in this event! See you soon on the campus of Tel Hai!
Event is hosted in the Garrett Community Center on the campus at Tel Hai, located at 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook. We are only 3 short miles east of Route 10 off Beaver Dam Road. Follow Beaver Dam Road to the campus of Tel Hai, then turn onto Tel Hai Circle.
Tel Hai Retirement Community’s Life Enrichment Committee invites the public to attend an educational lecture titled “Creation: This is My Father’s World” on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 1:00 PM in the auditorium/chapel on the campus of Tel Hai. This event is free and open to the public.
The lecture is provided by Tel Hai resident Dick Sauder, who will explore God’s creation of our existence through truths seen in physics, mathematics, and science!
Tel Hai Retirement Community, an accredited nonprofit continuing care retirement community, has provided high quality and compassionate care since 1956. The campus is located at 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook, PA., three miles east of Route 10 off Beaver Dam Road. For more information or directions, please visit www.telhai.org.
I bet you would never know that some of the beautiful wooden benches on campus were once painted and almost discarded because of their discoloring and weather-worn look. That was until some of them were taken to our campus wood shop to be stripped of their paint, sanded and stained to look like the beautiful teak wood they are today. To look at this transformation you would think it must’ve taken an employee hours and hours of hard work to make them beautiful again. Well you are right about one thing; it did take hours and hours of ‘blood, sweat and tears’ to make the benches beautiful again, but it was done by the hard work of our faithful wood shop volunteers! Many would be surprised what this fleet of 25 volunteers has accomplished on our campus and that is why we spotlight them this month!
Who Are the Wood Shop volunteers?
Resident & Wood Shop Volunteer Gayle Kerr
We thank our talented volunteers including: Virginia Allen, Tom Barker, Arlan Bond, Jack Burmeister, Bill Butler, Mark Cauffman, Mac Chandler, Andy Cruse, Ken Davis, Bob Davis, Walt Derkacz, Skip Emery, George Fleet, Paul Givler, Herb Horikowa, Russell Hyde, Gayle Kerr, Bill Kocher, Annie Law, Don Ludwig, Bruce McCleary, William Miller, Rod Muthard, Bob Palmer, Tom Parke, Ed Ritti, Carl Rogers, Rich Toscano and Bob Witters!
Why Do They Volunteer?
When asked how long they have been working with wood, many of the volunteers simply looked around the room as if to say, ‘I can’t remember a time when I WASN’T working with wood.’ Realistically, they have been working with wood anywhere from 84 years, 40 plus years, all the way to a brand new volunteer who has been learning the craft for 2 weeks.
One member remembers looking through a magazine and seeing something and saying, “Yea; I want to make that! And I ended up making 13 more of them for family and friends. From there, the rest is history.” Another member mentions he saw his father working with wood for most of his life and he started to dabble in it. He became even more serious while in the war and he saw others around him working and decided to become serious about learning the trade.
Resident & Wood Shop Volunteer Rod Muthard
The wood shop is open to new craftsman as well as the seasoned wood worker and everyone in between. “I find I come to the wood shop when I need help finishing a project. It’s nice to know people are here to help me if I’m not 100% sure on how to complete my work. All the guys are nice like that.”
Most of the members would agree that the wood shop helped draw their attention to Tel Hai and was helpful in making their decision to make Tel Hai their home. “I wouldn’t say it made the decision for me, but it definitely helped to know that I would have somewhere to go when I wanted something to do with my hands.” Most want something to do with their time that doesn’t include sitting behind a desk, rather sitting in front of a block of wood and knowing that in a few short weeks that block of wood will be a jigsaw puzzle for some child to play with.
Other members admit they joined the wood shop because they don’t have the typical wood working tools in their homes anymore and it’s so convenient to come in whenever they have something that needs fixed. “My wife let me bring most of my tools from home, but some were just too big or too messy. Since I’ve become a member of the wood shop, I don’t have to worry about the mess in my own home; I can just come here and work.”
What keeps these volunteers coming back for more saw dust? “Camaraderie; it’s really nice to have a place to go with people who have similar interests and where you can talk shop.” All the volunteers agree it also feels great to accomplish something. “It’s really nice to start with large pieces of wood, knowing I want this to turn into a bed or a sign and working through the whole process; it’s really good for the mind and soul.” They also claim they like to sit and listen to each other’s stories, time and time again. “If you sit in here long enough, someone will tell you 10 times how they made a particular piece, and we just like to razz on them about it.” Camaraderie? I would say so! Other volunteers added they like that the wood shop is a place to share information and they learn new things all the time.
What Do They Do?
Resident & Wood Shop Volunteer Rich Toscano
Many residents would be surprised by all the projects the ‘elves’ in the wood shop have helped with. A small listing of their handy work includes general repairs for residents, refurbishing benches on campus, wooden podiums for the pools, fix lamps, fix chairs and tables, fitness room materials, re-do chairs in chapel, build ships, personal projects, suggestion boxes for staff, shelves, vacation form boxes, wooden signs, decorative pieces, physical therapy practice stairs, bird house, many other personal projects and whatever else comes their way from their neighbors and friends.
The wood shop volunteers can be found in the wood shop 7 days a week with varying hours, but you’re guaranteed to find someone there accepting items in need of repair every Tuesday morning from 9am-12pm. “This is the time residents can bring something in need of a fix to the shop and we take a look at it. Almost all of the time we are able to help them and fix it the right way instead of them having to go purchase something new.”
Some of the projects are a team effort. “Sometimes a chair will come in that needs repair and I can do the seat part of it and someone else can do the back part of it. It’s nice to be able to work as a team with other members to get things fixed.”
Resident & Wood Shop Volunteer Don Ludwig
Staff praises!
The wood shop volunteers help residents BUT they are also a big help to many staff, as well.
“The wood shop has helped Residential Living by making wooden boxes for Social Services and the Wellness Nurse to hang outside their office. They also have made wooden boxes for both resident business centers for vacation forms, which is greatly appreciated! I love our wood shop volunteers- they are GEMS!” stated Katie Dougherty, Social Services – Residential Living.
“We love the folks in the wood shop! They are always willing to help! They never say no to a job! Specifically, Rod Muthard was very willing to take on the task of creating the wooden signs for StoneCroft resident storage areas. He made 105 wooden signs with numbers,” stated Karen Cochran, Administrative Assistant – Residential Living.
“Rod Muthard made this beautiful stand in my office that I love it to stand and work at. The woodshop even comes in very handy when doing Christmas shopping. Rod made a puzzle for my son that was from the movie Frozen and Bill Butler painted a beautiful picture for my daughter of her favorite horse,” stated Jessica Martin, Administrative Assistant – Residential Living.
While these 25 volunteers quietly work in a cloud of saw dust, listening to the same stories while laughing and making beautiful wood pieces, most of Tel Hai is blissfully unaware of all the great things happening in the lower level of the Hertzler Apartments.
Resident & Wood Shop Volunteer Bill Butler
Next time you are able to travel around the campus of Tel Hai, take a look and take a seat on one of the nice wooden benches and admire the new finish. Next time you’re signing in for water volleyball, take a look at the podium that was crafted just for that pool. Next time you’re submitting a vacation form, take an extra minute to look at the box to admire the hours it took volunteers to make. Many items have been crafted or repaired by our wonderful volunteers in the wood shop and that is why this month we are saying thank you and spotlighting our Wood Shop Volunteers!
The Cochranville Fire Company is truly a family. One member of that Cochranville family is Richard Stephen ‘Murph’ Murphy.
As part of Tel Hai’s “Wishing Well Program,” Murph was recently honored with a visit by ‘Bertha,’ a now-retired fire truck once used by the Cochranville Fire Company. The “Wishing Well Program” facilitates the granting of wishes for personal resident events or life renewal goals made known by residents, family members and staff through referrals. Murph’s wish was made possible through the cooperation of his wife Nancy and the Company.
Murph will tell you— he knows many stories about Bertha and the Cochranville Fire Company. He has been apart of the fire company family since he was born. The fire company was chartered in 1946 when Murph was 5 years old. As the son of the first fire company president, he truly grew up in the firehouse. Joining the company as soon as he was old enough, he followed in his father’s footsteps to become the 4th president. With maturity and quiet wisdom, he later led Cochranville Fire Company as fire chief.
Murph served on the carnival committee and spent many hours in the trailer on a large lazy boy recliner managing the carnival. At the end of the night, carnival workers would come to the trailer to see if the committee had time to help them and they always did.
Murph was instrumental in retro fitting the compartments of old 27-5, affectionately known as Bertha, to make them deeper to carry more tools. Murph was also responsible for creating the hose wheel cart that is used when packing 5-inch hose. He made the design, had his
block plant employees build it, and it is still used today. He was instrumental in putting in the dry hydrant which started as a sketching of idea on a bar napkin while brainstorming ideas with several other firefighters.
Challenging nights for Chief Murphy included the night 3 barns and 2 houses were on fire all at once. Also, a tire fire once burned for 7 days and involved 15 companies with 15 additional companies on standby.
The respect neighboring companies had for chief Murphy was evident. In fact, nurturing relationships was especially important to Murph. He stressed the need of working together and formed longstanding relationships with neighboring companies that still resonates today. His line officers knew he had their backs and they were sure to have his.
Murph nurtured and gave wisdom to anyone that would listen. However, it’s not like his listeners had a choice… if Murph had something to say, you were going to listen. He often let his line members know when he didn’t approve of their behavior, even outside of the firehouse. His nickname of “Big” fits him as he is a gentle giant with a big heart.
Throughout his leadership as head of the Cochranville Fire Company, he has always been the man that was there to help anyone and everyone. No matter how big or small, whether to lend a hand or a listening ear, or just a shoulder to lean on, Murph never turned down anyone that needed his help. He has left a giant legacy for all to carry on and is very much loved by those that continue on since his retirement.
Murph moved to Tel Hai Retirement Community in February 2013 from his home in Cohranville, and resides in Meadows Health Care Center.
Tel Hai Retirement Community, an accredited nonprofit continuing care retirement community, has provided high quality and compassionate care since 1956. The campus is located at 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook, PA., three miles east of Route 10 off Beaver Dam Road. For more information or directions, please visit www.telhai.org.
Tel Hai Retirement Community recently hosted a celebration birthday party in honor of Isabel Needham, who turned 106!
Isabel was born on December 22, 1909 in the Northwest bedroom of the William Tenbrook Long farmhouse. Isabel was born as the ninth generation from Madame Marie Warenbuer Feree, who was granted land in 1712 from William Penn. That land is now part of Paradise, Pa. If you ride the Strasburg Railroad, you will hear the conductor point out Carpenters graveyard where Madame Ferree is buried.
Isabel’s father was a telegrapher for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and her mother was a homemaker. Isabel attended college at Williams College in Chambersburg, Pa., with a bachelor’s degree in science and minors in English and education. Upon graduation, Isabel secured a teaching position at Valley Township School District. Throughout her long teaching career, Isabel touched many lives and is still recognized by former students, including a Tel Hai staff member.
Isabel met her husband, George Needham, while home from college through a friend in 1931. George was the President of CURAS society, sponsored by the Coatesville YMCA. The CURAS Society was a group of young people who joined together for cultural and religious, and activities. George and Isabel were engaged in 1934 and married in 1935 in Coatesville Presbyterian Church. They shared 56 years of marriage.
Isabel has two daughters Nancy Grace and Virginia Isabel. Isabel moved to Tel Hai Retirement Community in 1993, where she currently resides.
Tel Hai Retirement Community, an accredited nonprofit continuing care retirement community, has provided high quality and compassionate care since 1956. The campus is located at 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook, PA., three miles east of Route 10 off Beaver Dam Road. For more information or directions, please visit www.telhai.org.