Live in Wellness: June Events

The month of June is named after the Roman goddess of marriage, Juno. It is no wonder that so many weddings occur during the month of June. As is such, Juniper Communities will be reminiscing about and celebrating weddings throughout the month. June is also the month with the longest daytime hours of the year in the northern hemisphere. Make the best of the extended days by celebrating wellness!

Can the choices you make really affect your health and wellness? Absolutely! Cancer, heart disease, lung disease, stroke and injury, the major causes of death and health problems, can all be prevented by choosing a healthy lifestyle. Simple changes like choosing not to smoke, seeing your doctor regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising and getting enough sleep all contribute to longer life.

This month we finish our quarterly Alive In All Seasons theme of “Let Wellbeing Thrive” by engaging in activities focused on food and nutrition. Look for our consistently health snack and juice options at our hydration stations and dietitian presentations. Our H’Art and Soul of Dining Program will also be showcased as we implement the addition of more regional favorites – focusing on fresh and scratch made, our signature soups and muffin of the day as well as the new grill menu.

Our fabulous activity offerings this month include our Kosher Cooking demonstration with Rabbi Newfield on June 12^th at 1:30 pm; our “Water Up, Fire Down” presentation with Greg Quinn on June 18^th at 10:30 am; our “Italy” presentation by the Morris Museum; a performance by the New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra on June 22^nd at 3:00 pm; and our “Reading Food Labels” explanation with Dietician Monique Hanson on June 24^th at 6:30 pm. Join us this month as we Live in Wellness.

Busy Month of May!

May was a jam-packed month for us at Juniper Village.  Some of the
highlights were a visit from Teddy Roosevelt (a.k.a. Peter Small),
Mother's Day Makeovers for four lucky residents, and a serenade from
the third graders at the Kent Place School.  Those kids sang
beautifully, and the residents just loved interacting with them!

Branch Brook Park Trip

How lovely was our annual trip to Branch Brook Park?  It was a
spectacular day for a spring picnic and viewing of the cherry
blossoms!  Although some of the trees were past their peak, there were
still enough to enjoy.  The park's display is said to rival
Washington's, and we are so lucky to have this treasure of a park so
close by.

The Eli Ripple Effect: An Unassuming yet Powerhouse of a Woman at Juniper Village at Chatham

Things were different when Jean White, born in 1918, grew up in a family along with three other sisters. At the turn of the century, options for women  were usually limited to being a teacher or nurse, getting married, and raising children.   But for Jean, she never let the lack of choices hold her back.

Jean was the first resident to move into Juniper Village at Chatham when it opened its doors thirteen years ago.   At 95 she is still quick-witted, not afraid to speak her mind, and as interesting as ever.  Although unassuming and reluctant at first to share her illustrious history, she is anything but usual, both in the paths she has taken and her commitment to others to play it forward.

Jean attended Duke University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1940 with a degree in English.  She went on to pursue a graduate degree in library science.  She subsequently cut her studies short  after the United States entered World War 2  when her father encouraged her and her three sisters to sign up for WAVES, or Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. Initiated in 1942, WAVES grew out of the need for additional military personnel during the war.

 Jean first underwent training with other WAVES' enrollees at Smith College, where she graduated first in her cohort.  She then relocated to Manhattan, where she held a top secret job in the U.S. Naval Office of Cable Censorship, censoring any suspicious communications.    It was through her service in the military that, in 1943, she met and soon thereafter married Lupton White.  Together they raised three sons
.
Jean credits the navy with teaching her that she could do anything she set her mind to, and she took that lesson to heart.   While her kids were growing up, Jean worked as a librarian, surrounded by the books she loved so much.  Not content with the usual duties of a librarian, she augmented her responsibilities by teaching children at the library how to read and write.  Her love of helping children extended to her church, where she spent years volunteering in Sunday school, teaching religious classes and bible study. And during her many years at Juniper Village at Chatham, she has served as a new resident ambassador, started a drive to collect soda can tops to support the Ronald McDonald House, participated in the communities annual  food drive, and is Chatham's only resident bird feeder!

Jean is a shining example of all that we value here at Juniper Communities, a woman with a generous heart who is always there to give others a helping hand.