January 2012

Chestnut Lane

1219 NE 6th StGresham, OR 97030

Telephone: (503) 674-0364

Chestnut Lane AssistedLiving for the Deaf

and Deaf-BlindSherry Andrus E. DirectorMeg Cassinelli Bus. DirectorJanet Tomberg RN NurseSandra Kindblade Wellness Co.Carol Willis Dietary DirectorAnne Marie Perdriau LEDShelly Bertling LEDTim Kindblade MaintenanceJaycie Morin Concierge

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

A Note From OurExecutive Director

Happy New Year! Hard tobelieve another year has comeand gone. As I was making myNew Year’s resolutions, Ithought it would be fun toresearch where our New Year’straditions came from and shareit with you. Resolutions: It isbelieved that the Babylonianswere the first to make NewYear’s resolutions, and peopleall over the world have beenbreaking them ever since. Theearly Christians believed the firstday of the new year should bespent reflecting on past mistakesand resolving to improve oneselfin the new year. Noisemakingand fireworks on New Year’s eveis believed to have originated inancient times, when noise andfire were thought to dispel evilspirits and bring good luck. TheChinese are credited with

inventing fireworks and usethem to spectacular effect intheir New Year’s celebrations.

So, with that, I shall go andwrite my New Year’s resolutionsand look forward to anotherawesome year.

Executive Director Sherry Andrus (secondfrom right); residents Dennis Crowley and

Debbie Jones; and concierge JayceeMorin (first from left) listen to Christmas

carolers before the end of the year.

1219 NE 6th Street, Gresham, OR 97030

Kitchen News byCarol Willis

Brand-new month,brand-new year.

Time flies here at ChestnutLane! Old friends have left us,new friends came to join us.Isn’t that what time is all about?Change. Through the holidays,family and friends gatheredaround food, as we always have.The little ones get bigger, the bigones get smarter (we hope). Anyway you look at it, the applenever falls far from the tree!

We are looking forward to anew year at Chestnut Lane. TheFood Committee meetings havehad great turnouts. Lots of goodideas pop up at these meetings.Please join us this year as wediscuss our meal plans. YourChestnut, your food. HappyNew Year!!

Dietary Manager Carol Wllis made amandarin orange cake for the Winter

Cakewalk. Peggy Pitts is drooling over it inthe background.

Many thanks to Terry DeCamp (in the redshirt) and other supervisors who brought

to Chestnut Lane deaf children who signedChristmas carols to our residents.

Resident Esther Aheroni was so moved bythe carolers that she signed along with

them.

A student read out a Christmas storybookin sign language for the residents.

The children signed popular Christmassongs such as “Jingle Bells.”

More carolers!

Resident Council President Mark Hill tooktime to speak with the students.

The students sat and listened during storytime with our residents and as Mark Hill

spoke to them.

A boy went over to play games with RitaMonson.

Pat Crowley took time to chat with astudent as well.

A student gave a candy cane that hemade to Ruth Eversaul.

Before the students left, we treated themto a visit with our Chestnut Lane rabbits.

A signing snowman also came to visit withthe kids and residents!!

Resident Della Martin also posed with thesnowman for a photo.

M nth

Team Memberof the

In the Words ofSandra Kindblade...

This month, I was verysurprised and honored to havebeen chosen Employee of theMonth again. My first time wasabout two years ago, and I didnot expect to be picked againthis year. Thank you all forchoosing me.

After working at Chestnut foreight years, I was promotedfrom Medication Technician toWellness Coordinator lastAugust. The promotion has beena good challenge and experiencefor me. I really enjoy chattingwith the residents and sharinghumor. I consider everyone heremy family.

Speaking of family, I havebeen married to my wonderfulhusband for 32 years and havebeen blessed with four grownkids. No grandchildren yetthough. On the side, I also enjoywalking, biking, snowshoeingand socializing with friends.

Sandra Kindblade (left) participated in ourresidents’ Winter Cakewalk fundraiser.

WINTER IS HERE by JanTomberg, RN

With the cold of winter, weoften feel like we would like tohibernate like bears. It is definitelya good time for indoor activities. Itis a wonderful time to enjoy ourpets. It is scientifically proven thatstroking a cat or dog can lowerone’s blood pressure. And, wecertainly get lots of fresh airwalking our dogs. We are happy tosee people layer up their clothes tostay warm if going outside. I

thought it would be fun to look atsome fun facts about winterand pets.

Did you know your fingernailsgrow faster in winter? How aboutthose busy squirrels getting readyfor winter gathering nuts? They saythey forget where they hide half oftheir nuts! Dogs and cats can hearultrasound, like that test to seeyour baby when newly pregnant.Of course, they use ultrasound tosee into other parts of the bodyalso, like when checking for breastlumps.

We know cats can jump, as acat can jump 5 times as high as itis tall, and a domestic cat cansprint about 31 miles per hour.The reason kittens sleep so long is

that growth hormone is onlyreleased during sleep. It has beenfound that cats lose almost asmuch fluid while groomingthemselves as they do throughurination. This is why they needso much water to drink. My catinsists that her water be very freshand changed daily. And, thecostliest cat ever is named LittleNicky and cost his owner $50,000.He is a clone of an older cat. Whatpeople will do to keep their pet!