American House Grand Rapids2619 Kalamazoo Avenue SE | Grand Rapids | Michigan | 49507

Office: (616) 248-3499 | grandrapids@americanhouse.com | americanhouse.com

April 2016Your Friendly American HouseGrand Rapids Staff

Executive Director Theresa BursleyAssistant Executive Director Belinda WernerLife Enrichment DirectorSupervising RN Deb WachmenHead Chef Bonnie ClarkHousekeeping Supervisor Karie BeaudinMaintenance Supervisor Bob HoornHairstylist Georgia OliverOffice Support Katie Robertson

Important Phone NumbersMain Office (616) 248-3499The Medical Team (616) 916-7958Life Enrichment Office (616) 248-9889Dietary Services (616) 248-0283Ridelink (616) 774-1288GO! Bus (616) 456-6141Senior Meals (616) 459-3111Calder City Taxi (616) 454-8080Walgreens (616) 452-4870Meijer (616) 452-9651

5 Things About: Butterflies• Butterflies can be found fluttering around every

continent except Antarctica.• The insects feed on nectar and pollen

from flowers.• They taste with their feet• A butterfly’s two eyes have 6,000 lenses each.• Their wings are transparent and covered with

thousands of tiny scales. Light reflecting off thescales creates the colors and patterns we see.

Director’s CornerHappy Spring! We are very excited to start up our

Resident Garden Club this year. We will be plantingannuals and perennials around the community. If youare interested in helping, please stop by theMain Office.

Theresa Bursley, Executive Director

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Trivia Whiz

World’sRainiest Places

The next timeyou’re feeling thoserainy day blues,consider what itmight be like to live inone of the Earth’ssoggiest spots.

Mawsynram,Meghalaya, India.Residents of thisvillage live in thewettest place onEarth, according toGuinness WorldRecords. Theyreceive an averageannual rainfall of467 inches, mostof it duringmonsoon season.

Cropp River,New Zealand. Whilerainfall in NewZealand is aboveaverage, the CroppRiver really raisesthe bar, gettingsoaked with453 inches of the wetstuff each year.

Mount Waialeale,Kauai, Hawaii.This mountain,which means“overflowing water”in Hawaiian, receivesrain nearly every dayand averages450 inches annually.

Interesting Apple FactsBy Brian K. Rosso, R.D.I hope you find the following apple

information interesting and informative.• Eating an apple can brighten

your smile.• Apples are a source of

antioxidants, which can fightcancer. Researchers believe thateating apples on a regular basismay limit the development ofAlzheimer’s disease andParkinson’s disease.

• One apple has only 50 calories, 2grams of fiber and no fat.

• The apple blossom is the stateflower of Michigan and Arkansas.

• Apples can be kept for up to twoweeks in a refrigerator (outside ofany packaging).

• The state of Michigan grows morethan 20 different kinds of apples.Last year, Michigan farmers soldmore than 20 million bushels ofapples. Here are a few: Paula Red,McIntosh, Jonathan, Empire,Idared, Rome and Honeycrisp.

Fresh apples are available at allAmerican House locations.

Thank You, AH Grand RapidsI would like to say that my time here

at American House has been awonderful journey! I have thoroughlyenjoyed getting to know each of youand your families. You have made myexperience one to remember as Icontinue on. Please don’t ever forgethow special you are and that your smallacts of kindness can make a hugeimpact on your community and thosearound you!

In Health,Katie Clark

America’s PoetsThe list of talented and

accomplished American poetscould fill thousands of pages.Celebrate National Poetry Monthin April by remembering some ofthese writers:

Walt Whitman. Widely praisedas one of America’s mostinfluential and innovative writers,Whitman had a career as ajournalist before publishing hislandmark collection “Leaves ofGrass” in 1855. It includes thepoems “I Sing the Body Electric”and “Song of Myself.”

Emily Dickinson. Known forher solitary devotion to her craft,Dickinson wrote nearly1,800 poems, but few werepublished during her lifetime.Her unconventional use ofpunctuation and capitalizationwere unique to the mid-19th century.

Robert Frost. Often depictingrural life, Frost’s poems—such as“The Road Not Taken,” “MendingWall” and “Stopping by Woodson a Snowy Evening”—areregularly studied in literatureclasses. Before his death in1963, Frost was considered theunofficial poet laureate of theUnited States.

Maya Angelou. Belovedthroughout the world, Angelou’sinspiring strength and courageis reflected in poems such as“Still I Rise,” “Caged Bird” and“Phenomenal Woman.” Shereceived many honors during herlifetime, including the PresidentialMedal of Freedom in 2010.

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DaisyF LO W E R O F T H E M O N T H | APR IL

Loyal love and purity

April BirthdaysApril 2, Lois H. 214April 5, Annie S. 257April 9, Jeanne T. 213April 9, Mary Jean B. 223April 12, Joyce V. 235April 14, Ivory J. 145April 15, Cindy H. 119April 17, Alan S. 343April 20, Sandy S. 153April 21, Rick S. 340

Grand Rapids EventsAmerican House Grand Rapids will

be taking another visit to the GrandRapids Downtown Market! Come tothe Market to discover local,independent businesses owned bypeople who came from near and farto be here. Grab a coffee and stay awhile, sample some wine and cheese,or have a bite to eat from a variety offood options. The Market Hall hosts aculinary collective of butchers,bakers, and more. You will find allthings fresh and items that were likelymade that morning. Feel free to shoparound or kick back and enjoythe space.

American House is proud toannounce a special event comingnear you! The Grand RapidsSymphony has decided to performfor the American House WestMichigan campuses on April 13 at theKroc Center in Grand Rapids! Thereis no cost for this event and friendsand family are encouraged to attend.

Wit & Wisdom

“Clouds comefloating into my life,no longer to carry

rain or usher storm,but to add color to

my sunset sky.”—Rabindranath

Tagore

“It is only in sorrowbad weather mastersus; in joy we face the

storm and defy it.”—Amelia Barr

“There are somethings you learn best

in calm, and somein storm.”

—Willa Cather

“I’m not afraid ofstorms, for I’mlearning how tosail my ship.”

—Louisa May Alcott

“It is not light that weneed, but fire; it is not

the gentle shower,but thunder. We need

the storm, thewhirlwind, and

the earthquake.”—Frederick Douglass

“If you spend yourwhole life waiting for

the storm, you’llnever enjoy

the sunshine.”—Morris West

Copyright © 2015 Uhlig LLC

April 2016Grand Rapids

EntertainmentOutings

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

110:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion1:00 Euchre1:00 Artist Studio Class with Debbie

Bell3:00 Happy Hour with Bob

Deyoung

210:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Love The

Coopers

310:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

410:00 Coffee Hour11:00 Walking Club1:00 Cribbage1:00 One-On-Ones3:00 Hooked On Books Club3:00 Scrabble

510:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Meijer

7:00 Bingo

610:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Blood Pressure & Weight

Checks1:00 65 Game3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

79:30 YMCA Veggie Van

10:00 Coffee Hour1:15 Meijer3:00 Fall Prevention with Pure Home

Health Care

810:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion1:00 Euchre3:00 Happy Hour with Eddie

Francisco

910:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Suffragette

1010:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

1110:00 Coffee Hour11:00 Walking Club

1:00 Cribbage1:00 One-On-Ones2:30 Great Lakes Caring: Chronic

Disease Management in DiningRoom

3:00 Scrabble

1210:00 Coffee Hour2:45 Easter Seals Class7:00 Bingo

1310:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Meijer10:30 Blood Pressure & Weight Checks1:00 65 Game1:30 Grand Rapids Symphony

Performance3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

149:30 YMCA Veggie Van

10:00 Coffee Hour1:15 Meijer3:15 Men’s Hour

1510:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion

1:00 Euchre1:00 Sonus Hearing Care Professionals

Visits1:00 Artist Studio Class with Debbie

Bell3:00 Happy Hour with Bing Higbee

1610:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Ant-Man

1710:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

1810:00 Coffee Hour11:00 Walking Club1:00 Cribbage1:00 One-On-Ones3:00 Scrabble3:00 Hooked On Books Club

1910:00 Banks/D&W10:00 Coffee Hour1:15 Meijer7:00 Bingo

2010:00 Resident Meeting10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Blood Pressure & Weight

Checks1:00 65 Game3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

219:30 YMCA Veggie Van

10:00 Coffee Hour1:15 Meijer

2210:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion

1:00 Euchre3:00 Happy Birthday Happy

Hour with Eddie Francisco

2310:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Everest

2410:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

2510:00 Coffee Hour11:00 Walking Club1:00 One-On-Ones1:00 Cribbage3:00 Scrabble

2610:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Cracker Barrel

1:15 Meijer2:45 Easter Seals Class7:00 Bingo

2710:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Gun Lake Casino10:30 Blood Pressure & Weight

Checks1:00 65 Game3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

289:30 YMCA Veggie Van

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Michigan Blood Blood Drive

2910:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion

1:00 Artist Studio Class with DebbieBell

1:00 Euchre3:15 Happy Hour with Chris

Sloan

3010:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Minions

Copyright © 2015 Uhlig LLC

April 2016Grand Rapids

EntertainmentOutings

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

110:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion1:00 Euchre1:00 Artist Studio Class with Debbie

Bell3:00 Happy Hour with Bob

Deyoung

210:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Love The

Coopers

310:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

410:00 Coffee Hour11:00 Walking Club1:00 Cribbage1:00 One-On-Ones3:00 Hooked On Books Club3:00 Scrabble

510:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Meijer

7:00 Bingo

610:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Blood Pressure & Weight

Checks1:00 65 Game3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

79:30 YMCA Veggie Van

10:00 Coffee Hour1:15 Meijer3:00 Fall Prevention with Pure Home

Health Care

810:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion1:00 Euchre3:00 Happy Hour with Eddie

Francisco

910:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Suffragette

1010:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

1110:00 Coffee Hour11:00 Walking Club

1:00 Cribbage1:00 One-On-Ones2:30 Great Lakes Caring: Chronic

Disease Management in DiningRoom

3:00 Scrabble

1210:00 Coffee Hour2:45 Easter Seals Class7:00 Bingo

1310:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Meijer10:30 Blood Pressure & Weight Checks1:00 65 Game1:30 Grand Rapids Symphony

Performance3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

149:30 YMCA Veggie Van

10:00 Coffee Hour1:15 Meijer3:15 Men’s Hour

1510:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion

1:00 Euchre1:00 Sonus Hearing Care Professionals

Visits1:00 Artist Studio Class with Debbie

Bell3:00 Happy Hour with Bing Higbee

1610:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Ant-Man

1710:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

1810:00 Coffee Hour11:00 Walking Club1:00 Cribbage1:00 One-On-Ones3:00 Scrabble3:00 Hooked On Books Club

1910:00 Banks/D&W10:00 Coffee Hour1:15 Meijer7:00 Bingo

2010:00 Resident Meeting10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Blood Pressure & Weight

Checks1:00 65 Game3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

219:30 YMCA Veggie Van

10:00 Coffee Hour1:15 Meijer

2210:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion

1:00 Euchre3:00 Happy Birthday Happy

Hour with Eddie Francisco

2310:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Everest

2410:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

2510:00 Coffee Hour11:00 Walking Club1:00 One-On-Ones1:00 Cribbage3:00 Scrabble

2610:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Cracker Barrel

1:15 Meijer2:45 Easter Seals Class7:00 Bingo

2710:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Gun Lake Casino10:30 Blood Pressure & Weight

Checks1:00 65 Game3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

289:30 YMCA Veggie Van

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Michigan Blood Blood Drive

2910:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion

1:00 Artist Studio Class with DebbieBell

1:00 Euchre3:15 Happy Hour with Chris

Sloan

3010:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Minions

6

Talk About It

Comedic Q&AAmerican journalist

Mignon McLaughlinwrote, “A sense ofhumor is a majordefense againstminor troubles.”Use the followingquestions to talkwith your friendsand neighbors aboutwhat tickles yourfunny bone.

Who is the funniestperson you know?What is their sense ofhumor like?

Do you consideryourself a funnyperson?

Were your parentsor other familymembers funny?

What kind ofhumor makes youlaugh? Are you a fanof puns, riddles,tongue twisters,limericks, slapstick,or another form ofcomedy? Which isyour favorite type?

Are there anystyles of comedyyou don’t like?

Describe a timewhen you laugheduntil you cried.

What is thebest joke you’veever heard?

Resident Highlights

Springis here!

7

Parkinson’s DiseaseAwareness

Approximately 7 to 10 millionpeople worldwide have Parkinson’sdisease, a progressive nervoussystem disorder that affectsmovement. During Parkinson’sDisease Awareness Month in April,show your support with these ideas:

Seasonal symbol. In 1980, ahorticulturist with Parkinson’sdeveloped a red and white tulip andnamed it after Dr. James Parkinson,who first recognized the disease.Since then, the tulip has become asymbol of support and research.During the month, use this motif in anyway you can—make a pin to wear,hang a wreath or banner, or send abouquet to someone you knowwith Parkinson’s.

Creative cause. Several years ago,hundreds of people created panelsfor the Parkinson’s Quilt Project,organized by the Parkinson’s DiseaseFoundation. Sections of it can berented to display at an event, but youcan also gather to make your owncommunity quilt.

Meaningful meal. The University ofVirginia hosted the first Pancakes forParkinson’s event in 2004. Join forcesto host your own pancake breakfastand donate the proceeds to aParkinson’s foundation.

Ballpark HighlightsThey have been called shrines,

cathedrals, temples and monuments.Some Major League Baseballstadiums are as iconic as the sportitself, and each one has its uniquefeatures. Here are some that makegame days even more memorable.

Wrigley Field. The Chicago Cubs’century-old home is full of nostalgicfeatures, and one of the most famousis the ivy that covers the brick walls ofthe outfield. It was planted in 1937and grows so thick, baseballs getlost in it.

Fenway Park. Standing 37 feet highand stretching across the left field ofthe nation’s oldest MLB stadium is thefabled Green Monster, a fence thatgot its name when it was painted in1947. Boston Red Sox fans can nowwatch the game from seats atop it.

AT&T Park. The Giants’ ballparksports views of the San FranciscoBay. The water is so close that fanscan boat and kayak in a cove just offright field in hopes of catching homeruns, or “splash hits.”

Chase Field. The ArizonaDiamondbacks make their home in thedesert city of Phoenix, so it’s fittingtheir stadium has a seating sectionwith a swimming pool and a lifeguard.

Tropicana Field. A first for a sportsvenue, the Tampa Bay Rays havetheir namesake mascot swimmingalongside them in a 10,000-gallontank in right field. Fans can eventouch and feed the 30 cownose rays.

Safeco Field. Because of the city’srainy weather, Seattle Mariners fansare used to umbrellas, and its ballfieldis outfitted with one, too—aretractable roof.

Laugh Lines

Q: What is aqueen’s favorite kindof precipitation?

A: Reign.Q: What is a king’s

favorite kind ofprecipitation?

A: Hail!Q: What do you

call it when it rainschickens and ducks?

A: Fowl weather.Q: Can bees fly in

the rain?A: Not without

their yellow jackets.

A store manageroverheard a cashiertell a customer, “Wehaven’t had it for awhile, and I doubtwe’ll be getting itsoon.” The managerquickly intervenedand assured thecustomer the storewould have the itemshe wanted by nextweek and usheredher out of the store.He then turnedand scolded theemployee, “Never tellcustomers that we’reout of anything; tellthem we’ll have itnext week. Now,what did she want?”Bemused, the clerkreplied, “Rain.”

April 2016

The Next Big Thing

Since the early days of television, the search for talented new stars has

been the focus of dozens of shows. Amateur performers sometimes

launch successful showbiz careers after appearing on these programs.

Here are some popular TV talent shows and the year they debuted.

Year TV Show

1948 “Ted Mack and the Original Amateur Hour”

1948 “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts”

1976 “The Gong Show”

1983 “Star Search”

2002 “American Idol”

2006 “America’s Got Talent”

2011 “The Voice”

1700: Playing pranks, tricksters in England begin popularizing the tradition of April Fools’ Day.

1803: The U.S. agrees to pay France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory. The Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the size of the U.S.

1912: Fenway Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, opens for its first game.

1939: Famed opera singer Marian Anderson performs before a crowd of 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial.

1948: U.S. President Harry S. Truman signs the Marshall Plan into law. It provided more than $13 billion in economic aid so that Western Europe could recover from World War II.

1959: NASA selects its first astronauts. Among the Mercury Seven are John Glenn, Gus Grissom and Alan Shepard.

1964: The Rolling Stones release their debut album.

1972: Polaroid introduces its folding instant camera, which produces self-developing photos.

1984: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar becomes the highest-scoring player in NBA history. The star center remains the league’s all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points.

2001: “The Producers” opens on Broadway. The Mel Brooks musical would go on to earn a record 12 Tony Awards.

2006: Construction begins on a new skyscraper at the site of the former World Trade Center in New York City.

APRIL