When May Danberg talks about her cooking days, it’s hard not to salivate from the descriptions. So she has generously shared a recipe from her file that will fill our house with fragrance. We are told that the cookies will keep for a long time, as if that would ever be something we’d need to do at Cadbury Commons. Watch for this program on a Sunday afternoon, and we’ll make them together. And we’ll also put them away….at a social hour afterward.

Beat together:
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs

Combine:together:
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp Baking soda
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Add dry ingredients to wet mixture. Mix well.

Wet hands and form balls from dough. Roll in sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool & enjoy!

Dear Staff,
The recent earthquake in Haiti has been a devastating natural disaster on the world scene. It has saddened me to hear about the widespread destruction across this country. I know that many of you have family and friends living in Haiti, and I wanted to extend my wishes to all of you and your families who are working through this difficult time. Please know that during this time, we at Cadbury Commons are wishing you all the best and our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Best regards,
John Moniz, Executive Director

Ed. Note: Relief efforts following the January 12 earthquake that struck Haiti and left 3 million people in need of emergency aid are worldwide and local. Those wishing to donate may contact a local agency or church, or the American Red Cross at PO Box 4002018, Des Moines, IA 50340-2018, indicating your designation on the memo line of the check

by Susan Burgess
Here we are in a new decade of the 21st century in a world that has so much to offer and so little time to take it all in. So, why wait to try out something new? The time is now and we’ve been cooking up more than Tom Licciardello’s Minestrone Soup and May Danberg’s Peppernut Cookies. Here’s what we’ve come up with—so far: And the year is still young!

Starting on January 22, a new—and ongoing—group called The Writing Connection will meet on a regular basis.  This is a creative writing group that will use a catalyst—in this case an object—to generate the writing process, As Bruce Chandler, Program Assistant, puts it, “Simply stated, this will be an exploration and dialogue between our selves and the object of attention.”

On Friday, January 22 we began a six-session weekly course based on Betty Edwards’ seminal workbook entitled: Drawing On The Right Side of the Brain: Guided Practice in the Five Basic Skills of Drawing. However, rather than a drawing program, this will be primarily a brain-fitness program, in which participants will also learn how to draw as a secondary benefit!  Step-by-step exercises will switch our brains from our linear thinking mode to a spatial, intuitive mode. At the same time, we will learn the methods that contribute to achieving the first of five basic skills of drawing: The Perception of Edges. Each week builds upon skills learned in the previous session. As the facilitator for this course, all I can say is: “If you can not draw a straight line, all the more power to you!”

Another ongoing group also started at the end of January— The Photography Group—for anyone with an interest in photography. The group will share critical reviews of professional and individual work, offer creative and technical support to the picture-taking process, learn more about photography from resources and speakers and participate in group or individual shows of photography. Much will be shared by those who know with those who would like to know more! Working with Resident photographers, the group will be facilitated by Sandy Burkhardt, Program Assistant.

In addition to these new groups, we have already embarked upon one new DVD course, The Darwinian Revolution, on some Thursday afternoons, and will look forward to a literature course entitled Life Lessons from the Great Books in a few weeks when Masterpieces of Art from the National Gallery comes to a conclusion. So, sit back and enjoy the winter semester! The weather may be cold outside, but we’re really cooking here at Cadbury Commons!

Back in May of 2006 when Rose Maloof moved to Cadbury Commons, she had lived in her Belmont home for 32 years. As a child, she lived in a neighborhood of Boston’s South End that she describes as ‘all mixed up’, where children from all sorts of ethnic backgrounds played together and were friends. While her parents were born in Lebanon, Rose was born here. She married a man who came from Lebanon when he was only six and had a wonderful life with him.

Over the years, Rose has contributed time, talent and resources to many worthwhile causes, and was awarded the Cross of Jerusalem, the highest honor a layperson can receive in the Eastern Rite Church. At Cadbury Commons, Rose has been a person from whom others find understanding, empathy and support.

Nowadays, she looks with pride more upon her family and their achievements, among them her husband’s listing in Who’s Who in the East, her two daughters, nine grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren (at last count), as well as many nieces and nephews in medicine, law, and business. In fact, Pemberton’s Market and Pemberton’s Farm and Garden Center are two local businesses owned and operated by Rose’s family members. On Sunday, January 31, her family and friends joined Cadbury Commons’ to celebrate 100 very good years—so far—and a bright future ahead.