Thanksgiving and Christmas Meals

The holidays are here! Our traditional Thanksgiving

meal will be on November 22nd at noon. The cost

for this meal is $15 per guest and your RSVP is

needed by November 19th.

We will also have a traditional Christmas meal on

December 25th at noon. The cost for this meal is $15

per guest and your RSVP is needed by December 20th.

Resident and Family Christmas Party

Our resident and family Christmas party will be on

Tuesday, December 4th at 4:00 p.m. starting with

entertainment followed by dinner at 5:00. There is no

charge for this meal and adults and children are

welcome to attend. Due to the popularity of this event,

we are asking families to limit their RSVPs to four

people. A formal invitation will be sent to all family

members in the next week or two with RSVP date by

December 20th.

The Blessing Tree

Although the holiday season is filled with joy, it can also be difficult for

those struggling with the loss of a loved one. The Blessing Tree,

presented by Hospice of Michigan on Friday, December 7th at 2:30

p.m., gives those in attendance the chance to remember loved ones in a

supportive environment. Everyone will receive a special ornament to

commemorate their loved one each holiday season. Please RSVP to

Michelle Pietrzak at (989) 705-2500.

November-December 2018

Administrator’s Notes ~Dawn DeForge Collins~

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and we are excited to

share this time of year with friends and family. Everyone is

welcome to join their loved ones for parties, special musical

performances, presentations and more. It’s exciting to have so

many guests brightening our residents’ days, and we look forward

to seeing many familiar faces, along with meeting new

friends. Your RSVP to larger events will ensure proper seating

for everyone, so please let Michelle know when you can join us.

Also keep in mind that daylight savings time ends on Sunday, November 4th, which means it’s

time to “fall” one hour behind. Due to it being darker earlier in the evening, we will be

locking our doors earlier (by 7:00 p.m.). You are still welcome to visit Aspen Ridge after that

time, but please ring the door bell at the front of our building or call ahead and let staff know

when you will arrive. We appreciate your understanding and hope this does not cause any

inconvenience. Have a blessed holiday season and we look forward to seeing you in the

upcoming months!

Resident Birthdays

November December Barb Olson - Nov. 18 Gus Papke - Dec. 2

Joan Westerman - Nov. 20 Jan Fournier - Dec. 14

Kim Nolde - Dec. 18

Gary Lucas - Dec. 22

LeRoy Fitzek - Dec. 28

Holiday Gifts and Goodies

While your generosity is always appreciated, please keep in mind that staff are unable to

accept personal gifts, gift certificates, or money as a thank you during the holiday season.

Gifts that may be shared by the entire staff or cards are appreciated, but your kindness and

love is thank you enough!

Glamour Shots We will be taking Glamour Shots of each

resident beginning on Thursday, November

15th! Glamour Shots make a great holiday

gift and any profit from this is used for

resident entertainment.

The cost for photos is:

4X6 - $1.00; 5X7 -

$3.00; 8X10 - $5.00.

If you would like to

have a family photo

taken during the

Glamour Shots dates,

please contact

Michelle to set up a

time.

Resident Spotlight ~ Joan Westerman

Joan Westerman was born in Cortland, New York on November 20, 1925.

Close friends and family delighted in calling her "Joey". She was raised by

her parents, Thomas and Ruth, along with three brothers and one sister.

She has fond memories of being together with her family. Joan attended

elementary school at St. Mary's Parochial and graduated from Cortland

High School. When she was eight years old she had a photo taken of her

for a photo contest and she had won! She still has this photo today! Joan

attended Syracuse University and earned a degree in nursing. It was there

Joan met the love of her life Robert or fondly known as "Westy", at a Cortland College

event. They later married in 1947 and were married for 57 glorious years. She spent many

years as a VA (Veterans Affairs) nurse while Westy served in Okinawa, Japan as a Marine during

World War II. In 1958, they moved to Battle Creek, Michigan where they raised their three

children, Cynthia, Janet and Robert. Family vacations involved visiting family members out

east and in Minnesota. Shortly after retirement in 1980, Joan and Westy moved to New Port

Richey, Florida where they enjoyed attending art fairs, musical performances and loved having

family members visit. Joan's entire family are all very near and dear to her heart.

Veterans Day

Ceremony

Join us in

honoring Aspen

Ridge Veterans on

Thursday, Nov.

8th at 3:30 p.m.

The event will include a pinning ceremony

to recognize our Veterans, courtesy of

InTeliCare. Aspen Ridge Veterans are:

Arnold Hofer, Harry Johnson, Norm Olson,

Gus Papke, Robert Scott, John Selesky,

Russell “Pete” Shorkey, and our

Administrator, Dawn Collins. Family

members are welcome to attend.

Aspen Gift Store

Our 2017 Aspen Gift Store was a huge success, so we

would like to open for Christmas shopping again! Residents

will have the opportunity to select gifts to give to friends

and family with assistance from volunteers and staff. Our

store will consist of items provided by the activity

department or donated by friends and family. With your

help, we are hoping to have a variety of gifts to select from

(coffee mugs, picture frames, stationary, scented lotions,

soaps, perfume, cologne, figurines, knick knacks,

inexpensive jewelry, and any other items you think would

make a nice gift for any age). Keep in mind items do not need to be brand new, but only lightly used.

We will begin accepting donations at the end of November. Please contact Michelle Pietrzak if you

have questions or items to donate.

Aspen Ridge Retirement Village

1261 Village Parkway

Gaylord, MI 49735

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

10:30 Ooh-La-

La Gals

2:00 Name that

Tune w/Jerry

2 9:30 Beauty

Shop

1:30 Veteran

Thank You

Cards

3:30 Dice

Game

3 Independent

Activities,

Games &

Movies

1:30 One-on-

One Visits

4

8:00 St.

Mary’s

Cathedral

(Channel

3)

5 10:30 Balloon

Ball

1:15 Thankful

Tree

3:15 Catholic Svs.

6 1:30 Sing

Along

3:30 Prayers

and Devotions

7

10:30 Pastor

Jim

1:30 One-on-

One Visits

3:00 Bingo

8 10:30 Exercise

3:30 Veterans

Day Program w/

InTeliCare

9 9:30 Beauty

Shop

10 Independent

Activities,

Games &

Movies

Glamour Shots

11

8:00 St.

Mary’s

Cathedral

(Channel

3)

12

10:30 Balloon

Ball

1:15 Linda &

Karen’s Quilt

Show

3:15 Catholic Svs.

13 10:30 Dog Visit

with Ben

1:30 French

Marines

3:30 Dog Visit

w/Eddie

14 10:30 Pastor

Dan

1:30 One-on-

One Visits

3:00 Bingo

15 10:30 Grace

Baptist Church

1:30 Glamour

Shots

3:30 Music w/

Spirit of St.

Andrews

16 9:30 Beauty

Shop

3:00 Kings

Corners Card

Game

17 Independent

Activities,

Games &

Movies

2:00 Movie

18

8:00 St.

Mary’s

Cathedral

(Channel

3)

19 10:30 Balloon

Ball w/ Stars &

Moon Daycare

1:15 Dice Game

3:00 Birthday

Party w/Culver’s

20 1:30 Music with

Judy & Suzy

3:30 Wheel of

Fortune

21 10:30 Great

Courses with

Melanie

2:00 Catholic

Mass

3:00 Bingo

22 12:00

Thanksgiving

Dinner

Thanksgiving

Day

23 9:30

Beauty Shop

Christmas

Decorating

Day!

3:00 Sing

Along

24 Independent

Activities,

Games &

Movies

1:15 One-on-

One Visits

3:15 Prayers and

Devotions

25

8:00 St.

Mary’s

Cathedral

(Channel

3)

26

10:30 Balloon

Ball

1:15 Christmas

Tree Decorating

3:15 Catholic Svs.

27

1:30 Dog Bones

3:30 Dog Visit

w/Eddie

28

10:30 Dog

Visit w/Diesel

1:30 One-on-

One Visits

3:00 Bingo

29

10:30 Exercise

1:00 One-on-

One Exercise

1:30 Ukulele

Ladies and A

Laddie

30

9:30 Beauty

Shop

2:30 Kings

Corners Card

Game

November 2018

Please check the bulletin boards or call for updates and changes to the activity schedule.

The harvest season was full of fun! We enjoyed the fall colors around Gaylord, made

decorative candle holders with InTeliCare, hosted Fly & Remember with Hospice of

Michigan, hosted New Vision for eye glass maintenance, made new friends from Green

Acres of Cadillac, and enjoyed our Fall Family Potluck!