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.

Grow Strong Daily: May Events

Welcome to May where we will be dancing around the May Pole on May Day; donning opulent hats for the Kentucky Derby and sombreros for Cinco de Mayo; honoring our mothers on Mother’s Day and our fallen heroes on Memorial Day. What a fantastic month of celebration! In addition to observing these holidays, Juniper Village will be focusing on this month’s Alive In All Seasons theme “Grow Strong Daily” with an emphasis on fitness.

Studies show exercise is an effective treatment for many chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease and diabetes and can also help people with high blood pressure, balance problems or difficulty walking. Stress management, improved mood and cognitive function are other benefits of regular exercise. This is why Juniper Village makes exercise a part of every day! We are completely dedicated to whole person wellness and “nurturing the spirit of life” for each individual we touch by encouraging an active body, an engaged mind and a fulfilled spirit.

Join us here at Juniper Village at Chatham for our Teddy Roosevelt Comes Alive presentation featuring Peter Small on May 8^th at 2:00 pm; our Brookside Bells Choral Group performance on May 9^th at 2:30 pm; our Exploding American Intelligence Community Lecture by Doctor Doug Simon on May 20^th at 7:00 pm; or our Road to Victory over Japan Memorial Day Program by Paul White on May 22^nd at 10:30 am. See our newsletter calendar for a complete listing of events and come visit us during any that suit your fancy!

Easter Egg Hunt and Games

What a beautiful day for our annual Easter Egg Hunt!!!  The residents
and families enjoyed the sunshine, and those kids were so excited to
hunt for those eggs (the older kids had to find only the camouflaged
ones).  Games and prizes followed:  pin the tail on the bunny,
potato sack race, egg/spoon race, and the elephant walk relay.
Everyone had a great time!

Women in Art

This week we had the pleasure of having a guest speaker come to
Juniper from the Newark Museum.  The presentation was entitled "Women
in Art", and it covered both how women were portrayed in classic art,
as well as the evolution of women as artists.  The program was
extremely interesting, and very well attended.  We all are looking
forward to next month's program, which will be "Coming to New Jersey".