Balloon Volleyball Tournament

October 11^th marked the 1^st Annual Juniper Village Balloon Volleyball Classic. Teams from Juniper Village at Mount Joy, our sister community, Juniper Village at Lebanon, Mount Zion Retirement Community and Moravian Manor Retirement Community gathered to volley to victory!  Teams were made up of three residents each and played single elimination rounds to crown a champion.  The “stands” were packed with spectators cheering on their teams with pom-poms and signs of encouragement!

The completion was fierce and the scores were close.  In the end, the home team, Juniper Village at Mount Joy was the winner!  The winning team, Dan Einfalt, Jamie Reider and Bob Boyce, were awarded first place medals!  Following the games, all participants and guests enjoyed a lively “Sportsmanship Social”.  What a wonderful afternoon of community and healthy competition!

Harvest Rodeo Day

Residents and guests at Juniper Village at Mount Joy galloped on down for a rootin’, tootin’ good time on October 5^th.  Harvest Rodeo Day offered a  jam-packed afternoon of country fun.  The event kicked off with a “Modern Cowboy meet and Greet with champion bronc rider, Tim Kent.  Tim is a real, local cowboy and spoke of his training, competitions and thrills of riding.  Next, Tim and his wife, Jeanie (a professional singer) entertained us with “frontier” songs.  The “Sips & Suds” Saloon Happy Hour kept the fun going and eased us in a themed dinner meal of slow roasted brisket and country fixin’s. 

October 2016 Events in Mount Joy, PA: Show Your Colors

As we say good bye to Indian summer, we welcome the cooler air and slower pace of the autumn season. From warm apple cider, everything pumpkin and end of season hiking trips, there are so many reasons to enjoy autumn. William Cullen Bryant says it best, “Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.” With the seasonal changes now in full swing we see fall flowers appearing where summer blooms once stood and leaves changing into vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red. The evening air has a slight chill and carries the scent of campfires, leaves and cinnamon spice. Our activities turn from swimming and baseball to raking leaves and football. Not only is Mother Nature showing her colors, but we begin to show our team colors with a focus on sports! Join us throughout the month as we bond over sporting events while cheering on our favorite teams, complete with tailgate parties and snacks.

Throughout October we will show our colors as we sponsor and support local sports teams. We will honor our associates who show their colors by “nurturing the spirit of life” with The Juniper Spirit awards. Alas, October would not be complete without celebrating the season with our annual Halloween Costume Party, which is open to ghosts and goblins of all ages. Join us this month and Show Your Colors!

Our fabulous October 2016 events in Mount Joy, PA at Juniper Village at Mount Joy include our:

§  Harvest Rodeo Day so gallop on down to Juniper Village at Mount Joy for a rootin’, tootin’ good time, and this exciting themed afternoon is free and open to the community with events including a Modern Day Cowboy meet and greet with Champion Bronc Rider Tim Kent, Frontier Songs with Jeanie and Tim, as well as Sips & Suds Saloon Happy Hour on October 5^th from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. (RSVP by October 3^rd to 717-492-9692.)

§  Balloon Volleyball Tournament with teams of three from local retirement communities who will volley for victory and the championship title of the 1^st Annual Juniper Village Balloon Volleyball Classic where team members and guests will enjoy a “Sportmanship Social” and we’ve got our brackets ready, so you are encouraged to come and witness history as residents join together in competition for the ultimate title on October 11^th from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. (RSVP by October 7^th to 717-492-9692.)

§  Halloween Spooktacular as Ghosts and goblins of all ages are welcome to join us for a fun-filled afternoon at this inter-generational event that will feature face painting, games, crafts, an exciting candy scramble and a few spook-tastic surprises with delectable tasty treats and refreshments provided and costumes are encouraged at this free fun event on October 21^st from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. (RSVP by October 17^th to 717-492-9692.)

We look forward to sharing our October 2016 events in Mount Joy, PA at Juniper Village at Mount Joy with you as you Show Your Colors.

Pizza Pizza with Girl Scouts

Fun was had by all on the evening of Thursday, September 16th.  We were joined by Girl Scout Troop 70027 out of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mount Joy for an inter-generational pizza party!  Ten young ladies, along with their troop leaders, sang songs, played games and ate pizza with Juniper Village residents.  Connections Director, Renee Heiser, facilitated the gathering with an opening “ice breaker” activity to get everyone introduced and ensured there were enough slices to go around.

Mount Joy and Haven Behavioral Health Hospital Offered CEU Class

Juniper Village at Mount Joy once again partnered with Haven Behavioral Health Hospital of Eastern Pennsylvania to host an informative Continuing Education program for healthcare professionals on Tuesday, September 13th.  Nurses, social workers, administrators and the like from area hospitals, retirement communities and home health agencies joined together for the workshop.  The topic for the day was “Assessing Common Psychiatric Disorders in Older Adults” and was presented by Joanna Zigerell, BS, CDP, who serves as a Clinical Liaison for Haven Behavioral Hospital.  Twenty plus attendees received CEU (Continuing Education Unit) credits which are a requirement for many healthcare workers to keep licenses and accreditations current.  Juniper Village is proud to be a part of ensuring continued training for the professionals caring for our area seniors.

September 2016 Events in Mount Joy, PA: Spread Your Joy

As the air begins to cool and summer wanes, Juniper Village ends our “Stay Connected” series by recognizing Friendship and Joy. What is it that brings you joy? Is it the wet nose of a newborn pup? The smile of your first grandchild? The taste of a triple chocolate ice cream cone? Whatever it is we invite you to share that joy with others at Juniper Village this month.

Much attention has been paid to studies regarding the effects of stress on your health, but what about the effects of joy? The landmark “Nun Study,” as it's often known, revealed that positive emotion is correlated with longevity: 90% of the most cheerful quarter of nuns was alive at the age of eighty-five, whereas only 34% of the least cheerful quarter lived to that age. Similarly, 54% of the most cheerful fourth was alive at age ninety-four, versus 11% of the least cheerful. Of the 678 sisters in the original study about four dozen are still living. So go ahead, grab that triple chocolate cone it might just extend your life!

Join us this month as we celebrate friendship and staying connected with calendar events such as our annual daffodil planting and our home warming, birthday party and Best Friend initiatives.

Our fabulous September 2016 events in Mount Joy, PA at Juniper Village at Mount Joy include our:

§  CEU Program for Healthcare Professionals as we partner with Haven Behavioral Hospital to offer a local, low cost, continuing education opportunity with 2 Contact Hours offered with training presented by Joanna Zigerell, BS, CDP, Clinical Liaison, Haven Behavioral Hospital on September 13^th from 11:30 am to 2:15 pm. (CE fee for Social Workers is $15.00 for NASW-PA members and $25.00 for non-NASW-PA members, payable to NASWPA Chapter after the event; no charge for Nurses and PCH & Nursing Home Administrators Contact Hours. Please RSVP to 610-406-4362 or  nzimmerman@havenllc.com by September 9^th.)

§  Inter-generational Pizza Party as we offer a unique dining experience to our residents by combining two of their favorite things….kids and pizza; we will be joined by Girl Scout Troop 70027 out of Mount Joy, as the girls are looking forward to spending time with our residents, and we invite other area seniors to join us on September 15^th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. (RSVP to 717-492-9692 by September 12^th.)

We look forward to sharing our September 2016 events in Mount Joy, PA at Juniper Village at Mount Joy with you as you Spread Your Joy.

A Mid Summer's Evening at the Opera

On Wednesday August 3^rd Juniper Village at Mount Joy hosted “A Mid Summer’s Evening at the Opera”.  Residents and guests delighted in the vocal talents of mezzo soprano soloist, Ms. Jeanie Kent.  Ms. Kent  earned a BA in music with a focus on vocal performance from Millersville University and then went on to study at the Institute for European Studies in Vienna, Austria where she honed her mezzo soprano skills.  She is an accomplished recording artist, teaches voice lessons and provides music therapy for patients diagnosed with various forms of dementia.  Ms. Kent graced us with dramatic arias and an explanation of each style in a candlelit setting while decadent desserts and refreshments were served.  Opera lovers were amazed and  skeptics transformed by Ms. Kent’s talent.