93 Manalapan Avenue • Freehold, NJ 07728

An Assisted Living Community

March 2016AdministrationJulia Fraser Executive DirectorEileen Pegut Assistant Executive DirectorBride Forde-Lynch Resident Service DirectorDebra Benishti Marketing DirectorMarylin Crivello Dir. Community RelationsCecilia Prinke Rose Lane I DirectorMaureen Boyle Rose Lane II DirectorSusan Fabian Activities DirectorBrad Sargent Director of HousekeepingTeresa Spinicchia Business Office ManagerJeff Fabian Director of MaintenanceShuie Kohn Executive ChefMaureen Thomas Dining Room ManagerKati Cohn Sales and MarketingBarry Stettin Resident Council President

Happy Birthday Greetings!Luna G. March 3Sally S. March 4Sondra W. March 4Barry B. March 5Florence K. March 8Jack M. March 12Helen B. March 14Sonia A. March 16Sylvia W. March 19Tessie R. March 20Adele L. March 26

A Letter From Julia...To all Residents, Family and Friends;“A son’s a son till he takes a wife, a daughter’s a

daughter the rest of your life.” I’m conflicted about thissaying. Maybe it is because I am so close with my Momthat I feel this is true. But then, I don’t have a daughter,so I hope this isn’t true. I have to admit that I am veryblessed to look around The BrookSide and see as manywonderful examples of loving sons taking care ofparents as I do daughters. Having just returned frommy sister and I taking Mom on a little vacation, I cantell you two things: My Dad did ok staying alone withsome support from neighbors and family. And I didn’trealize how much I really missed my Mom. I do see her1-2 times a week and I speak with her at least daily. Butthis “Vacation Mom:” relaxed and funny and witty andeven a little bit inappropriate- THAT is the Mom I’vebeen missing. Somehow she got lost amid taking careof Dad, but I am oh so glad that I got to spend almost afull week with her. We’ve already booked another girls’trip for next year. I am already looking forward to it!

Julia FraserExecutive Director

Activities- Not Just Bingo!Our Activities Staff is made

up of a dedicated number ofindividuals each bringing theirown special brand of caring tothe residents of the BrookSide.Our calendar contains a widevariety of of choices.

Every activity is carefullythought out. Every trip must beresearched. Though the ultimategoal is to provide the residentswith fun, safety is a priority.Before a trip to Duke Farms orWalmart is scheduled, everyeffort if made to assure thateveryone has a safe and fulfillingexperience.

We provide a fair amount ofphysical activity such as dailyexercise, volleyball, bowling,yoga, and tai chi. We go out ofour way to assure that there issomething for every level ofphysical ability and encourageeveryone to participate.

Our live entertainment,though enjoyed by all, is only asmall part of the fun that’s instore for our residents. Theyenjoy time together at Ladies’Club, and more recently, Men’sClub. We have Socials, HappyHours, Wine Tasting, and even aFashion Show with residentsshowing off their fine appareldown the runway.

Activities Department doesnot just provide fun. Itencourages a healthy lifephysically, spiritually, andsocially. Find something youmight like, bring a friend, andjoin us.

DESTINATION: IRELAND

Ireland is called the “EmeraldIsle” because of its lush greencountryside. The Atlantic Oceaninfluences Ireland’s weatherpatterns, and the abundantrainfall is responsible for theisland’s flora.

Ireland is also famous for itsmusic, folk dancing, andproduction of beer and whiskey.The Irish consume an average131.1 liters of beer per year.Famous Irish breweries areGuinness, Smithwicks, andHarp Lager.

The three most famoussymbols of Ireland are the harp,the Celtic cross, and the greenshamrock.

The city of Dublin receivesmore visitors than any other cityin Ireland. Dublin is the hometo the Guinness Storehouse, apopular tourist destination, thatincludes a museum, a bar, and alarge shop.

Many tourist flock to Irelandto view their famous castles. Themost famous is Blarney Castle,home of the Blarney Stone.According to tradition, if youhang upside down to kiss thestone, you will be blessed.

Join us at the Brookside inMarch as we armchair travel tobeautiful Ireland!

Come On, Get Happy!March 20 is recognized

annually as the InternationalDay of Happiness; however, youdon’t have to settle for just oneday. Here are some ways youcan nurture contentmentyear-round.

Make a connection. Studiesshow close social connectionscan bolster the immune system,speed recovery from illnesses,and even increase longevity.

Do something new. Those whoengage in new and challengingtasks boost their pride andself-esteem. Explore a newhobby, learn another game, ortravel to an unfamiliar place.

Remember when. Reminiscingabout good times from daysgone by can enhance youroutlook about today and thefuture. Experts say the comfortthat comes from experiencingnostalgia promotes optimism,and they recommendsurrounding yourself withsentimental photos and objectsto remind you of your past.

Treat someone else. Donatingmoney and time to others is arewarding experience, butsomething as simple as buying afriend a cup of coffee alsoproduces a jolt of happiness.Any act of kindness can delightthe giver, as well as the receiver.

M nth

Team Memberof the

A big congratulations goesout this month to OliviaColeman, an exceptionalmember of our Dining ServicesTeam! Olivia has been lightingup the dining room with hersmile since October of 2014when she joined the Brookside.The manner in which she servesour residents is second to none,and her outgoing ways areinfectious. Residents & staff alikeenjoy being in her presence &we are so pleased to have her onboard. Keep smiling, Olivia!

Many of you ask about my daughter,Madison. For her 100th day of school, shedressed like a 100 yr. old lady. Full of lifeand exuding fashion, I drew inspiration forher costume from our beautiful & young atheart lovely Brookside ladies! ~Eileen

Cursive Handwriting:A History

An ongoing debate ineducation today is whether tocontinue teaching penmanship.With the focus shifting tocomputer keyboarding afterlearning basic printing, thetradition of learning cursivehandwriting in the classroom issteadily fading.

Cursive writing has beenaround since Roman times, butit lacked a standard until the1800s, when handwritingteacher Platt R. Spencer createdan elegant and ornate script.The most famous example ofthis style can still be seen todayin the Coca-Cola logo.

In the late 1800s, Austin

Norman Palmer developed thePalmer Method, a quicker, moresimplified form of Spencer’scursive. Soon, this method wasthe most popular one usedin schools.

After World War II, theZaner-Bloser method becamemore common. It taughtchildren how to print “ball andstick” letters before introducingcursive. At its peak, somestudents spent up to two hours aweek on the curriculum, but thisbegan to wane after the 1970s.

Wit & Wisdom“Fortune favors the bold.”

—Virgil

“Luck is not chance, it’s toil;fortune’s expensive smile

is earned.”—Emily Dickinson

“No man ever wetted clay andthen left it, as if there would bebricks by chance and fortune.”

—Plutarch

“Live as brave men; and iffortune is adverse, front itsblows with brave hearts.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero

“An aim in life is the onlyfortune worth finding.”

—Robert Louis Stevenson

“Too much good fortune canmake you smug and unaware.Happiness should be like an

oasis, the greener for the desertthat surrounds it.”

—Rachel Field

“A wise man turns chance intogood fortune.”

—Thomas Fuller

“Industry is fortune’s right hand,and frugality its left.”

—John Ray

“Your life will be no better thanthe plans you make and theaction you take. You are thearchitect and builder of yourown life, fortune, destiny.”

—Alfred A. Montapert

TAKE IT SLOW Science and common sense show us thatsometimes it’s better to slow down.

The next time you’re ready to get out of bed in themorning, take it slow! Linger in bed, enjoy waking up

slowly, and then take your time getting out of bed.Sometimes the older brain and the body can’t keep up,increasing the risk of a fall from light-headedness or a

stumble due to painful joints or a cramp. So, slow down!Try this stretching exercise while still in bed:

”Thread the Needle”Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on thebed. Lift your left leg and cross your ankle over the top ofyour right thigh above the knee. Next reach under your

right thigh and pull gently toward you... feel it? Hold forfive deep breaths.

Two stretches each side. This exercise will loosen your outerhips and hamstrings, two areas that get notoriously tighter

with age.Nursing, PT, Medical Equipment, Hospice, Social

Workers/Case Management, Private Aides * 732-333-0857

The BrookSide Assisted Living93 Manalapan AvenueFreehold, New Jersey 07728(732) 303- 8800