"Forever Proud"

Juniper at Williamstown has enjoyed a wonderful ending to an event filled summer.  We completed our summer events with a joint community fund raiser event, "Back To School -Book Bag Event" with Gloucester Community Church. At this event the ticket in the door was a brand new book bag, notebook and pens to be donated to the inner city school children in Camden, NJ. We all celebrated with great music from the Dejavu Band, a wonderful B.B.Q. feast and dancing and desserts with all of our residents, families, friends, care partners and local community members. It was a huge success and we collected over 100 brand new book bags.  Pastor Ron of Gloucester Community Church was so happy and the school's teachers receiving the bags were so filled with joy for the children!  Then we celebrated "Assisted Living Week" from September 11th - 16th with the theme "Forever Proud". We began the week with a Memorial Service Prayer and Worship Service in memory of "9/11", with Scott Martin and his ministry team.  Then on September 12th, we enjoyed music and "The Voices of Legends" of the best of the American Singers with Eric Kearns of P.A. He dazzled the crowd with a special tribute to one of our residents as "Bobby Vinton" singing one of his most memorable love songs and presenting her with a rose and a kiss!  This resident, Doris Stoffel was actually kissed by the real Bobby Vinton over 30 years ago and received a rose and still talks about that memory daily!  It was a wonderful day!  Moving on in the week, we celebrated each day with a presentation by every branch of the service and service men that represented different eras in the service.  We had Petty Officer Jim Cava, a Viet Nam Vet come and give a presentation and honor our wonderful vets here.  In addition, we had Colnel Jim Scully, U.S. Army, and his young son give a beautiful presentation to our vets and he went around and greeted each of them and thanked them for their service and their example of what responsibility and commitment truly represents.  There was not a dry eye in the house.  Then we were honored with our very own Williamstown Police Departments and Fire Departments coming out and giving very special presentations to our residents, families, care partners and friends....... It was a very "proud" and honoring celebration for everyone!  We were also very excited to have our very own, Leslie Drummond , D.O.W. and her husband founders of the "Yellow Ribbon Club" and some of their Yellow Ribbon Club Members come out and give a presentation and welcome home some of our guests, residents and presenters that had never received their proper welcome homes after their service!  It was truly beautiful!   In closing out our assisted living week, we celebrated the "Grand Opening" of our Fox Rehab now on site at Juniper with a party and we had a huge turn out and everyone had a wonderful time as we cut the ribbon in their beautiful new therapy location on site in the Village.  As we ended the month of September we celebrated with a "Best Friend's" You, Me And A Martini Party with the smooth, sexy sax sounds of Mr. Ron Bass.  Everyone had a beautiful time enjoying delicious martinis and kicking back with their best friends! 

We have a lot in store for October and can't wait to blog about that.....Make sure to stop by at Juniper of Williamstown to enjoy the wonderful, festive fall celebrations and events!

Stand In Integrity at Williamstown

Juniper Village at Williamstown has enjoyed a fun filled July season with many summer outdoor events! We all shared many moments joy and laughter at our July family B.B.Q. event great food, games and music for all ages!  We also created many lasting memories with our Care Partners in our community along with residents, families, friends and guests from the South Jersey area for our "Walk & Roll In Safety" Powerwash event on July 16th.  The residents enjoyed great summer music with Music D.J.,  John C. He kept everyone singing and dancing during the entire event while they were served hot pretzels, Italian ice, gelato & ice cold beverages!

Guests and residents brought their walkers and wheelchairs on site to be first inspected for safety and then powerwashed and thoroughly cleaned by Dennis (Maintenance Director) along with Chef Jose, Concierge Joe, our volunteer Steve, our care partners and Juniper staff!  All of our Partners in Caring - Fox Rehab, Acclaim Therapeutics, Samaritan Healthcare, Meadowview Nursing & Rehab and Home Instead were integral in this event and worked closely together with Juniper to provide refreshments and manpower to provide this service to our community! It was a gorgeous summer morning and the residents, family and community had a great time! 

On July 20th we celebrated our theme of Volunteerism with the "Nurturing The Spirit Award" & Volunteer Luncheon!  This was a beautiful event to honor recipients of the "Nurturing The Spirit Award" and celebrated many special acts of kindness these wonderful people have given to others in their community!  We were treated to a beautiful luncheon, and classical piano concert provided by Mr. Jim Barber husband of our volunteer, Marie Barber. In addition we were inspired by many beautiful stories of living a life rich with the spirit of giving!  Our volunteers are sensitive to the needs and struggles of others and how that type of life always comes with a blessing of great joy! A little giggle of the day was when the Juniper staff began to serve our volunteers at their luncheon, we could not keep them in their seats.  They all were jumping up trying to serve and assist with serving the other guests! I had to continuously send them back to their seats, reminding them that this luncheon was being held in their honor and they were the special guests to be served...This just shows the heart and true innate gift of a person with the spirit of volunteerism, they cannot help but to always be in the mode of service to others.  We love them all and they are truly very special in our hearts!

Let Wellbeing Thrive in Celebration with Family & Friends at Juniver Village of Williamstown!

Let Wellbeing Thrive this season at Juniper Village of Williamstown, NJ. As a component of our Alive in All Seasons Program, Juniper celebrates all of life's most special occasions with family & friends!  This season we honored our most precious service men & women and all of our Veterans with a Blow Out Memorial Day Event!  This event was Amazing! It was led by the "Yellow Ribbon Club" which was founded and organized by our very own, Director of Wellness, Mrs. Leslie Drummond! The opening of the event was a full on Motorcycle Parade of over 30 motorcycles from 3-4 different clubs including Road Warriers, Riders of The Lamb, Yellow Ribbon Riders etc.  The residents & family members & Juniper Veterans welcomed them with waving American & Military Flags in Salute!  This was followed by an opening prayer and the special honors of three of our veterans, "Being Pinned"; Mr. Nelson Santos, Mr. William McCartney, and Mr. Robert New for there years of service & dedication in the military!  This was not only beautiful but very tearful! Leslie gave a beautiful speech honoring all veterans and the importance of Welcoming Our Veterans Home whether or not we believe in the conflict they are engaged in! The family of Mr. Christopher Ianacone also received honors and a certificate for his years of service as well!  It was so touching!  We then celebrated with great fun foods and beverages & a dancing extravaganza with our band Dejavu!!!!  Everyone is still talking about the event and how beautiful it was and what fun they had dancing the entire day!   This wonderful event brought so much honor to our veterans and their families and also was a great demonstration of love, family, community and honor that the young children and grandchildren will foster and incorporate into the fabric of their lives and futures as well!  We celebrate our Veterans and we celebrate the U.S.A and the freedom that came with such a high cost! Join us at Juniper as we continue to Celebrate Life!!