by Barbara Booras

I surmise that many can recall their first day as a new Resident at Cadbury Commons. Maybe there was great sense of excitement, a feeling of joy to be close to a family member in the area, or back in the community they lived in for years. Perhaps, a Resident’s inner ‘great explorer’ was eager to venture out into the city to visit one of our many spectacular museums or to go on a long walk in the vast neighboring Danehy Park.

At the same time, I wonder if some of those same Residents might have felt anxious or overwhelmed. Not dissimilar from one’s first day at school, many Residents may just yearn to feel accepted and at home. As the former Dining Room Manager, I frequently observed that ‘first arrival’ of new Residents in the Dining Room.

A few months back during an intimate Food for Thought meeting, a fairly new Resident suggested the formation of a Welcoming Committee. I saw this as a great opportunity to smooth what can sometimes be a tough transition. In my new role as Director of Hospitality, I can assist with that transition.

Ideally, I would love to hold a casual Committee meeting within the week of a new Resident joining Cadbury Commons. Then, when the new Resident arrives, he/she will be invited to attend a ‘Welcoming Social.’ This will be an opportunity for a small group of current Residents to meet the new arrival and introduce themselves. The more seasoned Residents can share what they feel might be pertinent information and pointers for living in the community.

I look forward to facilitating these socials and to making our new Residents feel right at home. Our first social will be at the beginning of this month. I would greatly appreciate Resident participation and feedback as we develop this concept further. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the Welcoming Committee, please contact me directly. Cheers!

by Milton Sutton

From the New York Times to books on crime

From Newsweek, The New Yorker, The Economist and Time

From biographies of the rich and famous as well as novels galore

When you finish laughing and gasping, there is plenty more.

Yes, read the papers in your comfortable library chair, or take out a book or two from the varied shelves for reading in your apartment. The Cadbury library puts at your command a world of pleasure and wonder. And you may have noticed this: the people you admire most at Cadbury often have a book at their bedside day and night. Supplementing these volumes is our magazine rack, kept up to date and orderly by the dedicated efforts of Roberta Selleck.

Ed. Note: Each month a different group of books is featured on the library table for reading. Residents interested in joining the Library Committee are invited to contact Milton Sutton..

On April 28, Dr. Tom Licciardello was recognized for The Resident Spirit Award at the Annual Awards Dinner by the trade association of Assisted Living communities across the state for “making a difference as a positive and gentle example of selfless giving of his time, his ideas and support” to the Cadbury Commons community. His generosity of spirit has brought comfort to so many.

We are all grateful that our lives have been touched by our nominee who truly embodies the spirit of giving from his heart.

An interview with Marie Curcio, Cadbury Commons’ Director of Resident Support, will be broadcast live on Saturday, May 8 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. by Dan Perkins and Michael Schleipfer of ACP Home Medical Products. Listeners can catch the show on WFEA, 1370 AM. Dan and Michael are hosts of Talking About Health, which focuses on local and national healthcare issues and features live interviews with physicians, local organizations and healthcare facilities, specialists, and other quality patient care providers to bring listeners the latest information that impacts them.

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.

by Susan Burgess
The new Cadbury Art Gallery opened in December of 2009 with the exhibit of  NoCA artists Janet Hobbs, Catherine Ezell, David Levitt and Steve  Barylick as part of The Winter Gathering show, also sited at the Brickyard Atrium. Their watercolors, oils, portraits, abstract acrylics and photographs were a welcome sight for the month of December to Residents and the public alike. And what of future plans? Resident Bob Gardner will take the torch from the four NoCA  members into 2010 with a showing of his watercolors, opening with a Reception on Sunday, January 17, 2010  from 2 to 4 p.m.

An idea whose time has finally come, Cadbury Commons has installed track lighting and a professional hanging system in what used to be the first floor hallway and transformed it into a space to showcase art, both by artists from the Cambridge and surrounding communities, as well as from within the Cadbury Commons community.

Cadbury Commons is no stranger to artists. One of its first Residents was Adelaide Crossman, whose opening of a show of large abstracts occurred in November of 1996. A few years later, another Adelaide—Adelaide Sproul—enjoyed a retrospective of her paintings, drawings and sculptures at the Cambridge Arts Association shortly after moving to Cadbury Commons and taught some inspired art classes at Cadbury in the ensuing years. The hallway was also used by Resident Andy Towl to exhibit  a selection of his handsome, enlarged photographs.

Recently, artist Bob Gardner moved to Cadbury Commons with his wife Betsy and hasn’t missed a beat, making quick watercolor sketches in the neighborhood. Bob is a self-taught artist with a fresh, vigorous and expressive style, who specializes in watercolors. However, his methods are unorthodox by traditional standards, since he scans his small paintings into his computer, digitally alters  the image as he sees fit, prints it on watercolor paper and—here’s the key—uses watercolors again on the ’aquagraph’ to finish it off. His show, Town and Country, will be on display through the month of February, daily 10am-5pm.

SAVE THESE DATES!

OPENING RECEPTION
Town & Country:
Watercolors by BOB GARDNER
CADBURY ART GALLERY,
Sunday, January 17, 2010
from 2 to 4 p.m.

CADBURY PRESENTATION
for Healthcare Professionals
by Maureen Spencer, RN, M.Ed.
Infection Control: MRSA & MSSA
On Thursday, January 21, 2010
At 2:30 p.m.
No Charge. Qualifies for 1.0 hrs. CEU’s        Register at (617) 868-0575