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Logan Square in the News
Winner Thelma Segal, resident of The Watermark at Logan Square, began painting in retirement.
Honorable Mention was earned by resident Bernard Cohn, a multi-media artist.
Philadelphia, PA (December 1, 2011) – It’s a ritual for many at the start of every year: hanging a fresh, new calendar with inspiring images. For Center City resident Thelma Segal, her 2012 calendar includes a month featuring her own original watercolor that was selected in a national art competition. “Outdoor Colors,” a still life in a garden featuring an intense palette of fiery reds, rich blues and luminous yellows, highlights the month of September in the 2012 Expressions Calendar.
Segal was among over 150 semi-finalists whose work was submitted for the calendar contest by residents of 27 Watermark Retirement Communities around the United States. Another resident representing the Watermark at Logan Square, multi-media artist Bernard Cohn, earned an Honorable Mention for his stained glass panel depicting a sunny vine of intertwined flowers.
In all, ten artists from the Center City community were referred to the national competition last May by a local panel of accomplished artists from the nearby Moore College of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The Watermark at Logan Square, centrally located just a short distance from those distinguished schools, other studios and world-class museums, attracts retirees who choose the community in part for its ready access to the fine and performing arts.
The national Expressions Calendar is designed to be a source of inspiration and a call to adventure for all who see it. A showcase for the creative output of retirees in Watermark communities from coast to coast, the 2012 calendar presents a wide range of media depicting exotic travel, imaginative abstract compositions and striking renderings of familiar animals like a cat and a squirrel. Some winners had extensive backgrounds in art, while others found their talents later in life. From painter to carver, the artists embody the philosophy of Watermark Retirement Communities: to express themselves and continuously learn and grow as individuals.
Winning artist Thelma Segal, born and raised in Philadelphia and a resident of the Watermark at Logan Square since 2009, was one who developed her art talents after retirement. Segal had served on the staff of the American Friends Service Committee in the United States and abroad for nearly 30 years. Then with her work years behind her, Segal enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts where she majored in painting. Additionally, she has studied at the Barnes Foundation in Merion, PA, the Fleisher Art Memorial and the Woodmere Art Museum, both in Philadelphia. Segal has works in group exhibitions in Delaware Valley galleries, solo shows, and in a number of private collections. It is her second time being selected for the Expressions calendar.
Honorable Mention artist Bernard Cohn is an immigrant from Europe. While art was never Cohn’s career, he produced creative work in a variety of media for decades, while running a series of businesses around the world. A former resident of Florida who moved to The Watermark at Logan Square in 2003, Cohn continues to explore his artistic passion through photography, stained glass and sculpture in the media of Lucite and metal. He has also written short stories about his life and travels.
This mother campaigned for her beloved son and others like him.
Ask Eleanor Elkin about gratitude on this, her 95th Thanksgiving, and she doesn't miss a beat. "I'm enormously grateful for my son Richard's life," says the Logan resident. "He was a blessing, a gift. He taught me what matters - and it's love."
Eleanor and her late husband, Philip Elkin, married before WWII but did not have children. By 1948, they were determined to adopt. Through the Doylestown juvenile court system, a 2-month-old boy was placed in their arms. They named him Richard.
Born prematurely, Richard had survived without the sophisticated NICU equipment and preemie care available today. He looked frail and sort of floppy, Eleanor remembered recently during a chat at her Watermark condo. To Eleanor and Philip, he looked like a miracle.
Eleanor still remembers her husband's words as they stepped outside with their new son: "I'll give you odds that he's not normal, but it's going to be all right."
Soon enough, it was clear that Richard was indeed different from other babies his age. He developed motor skills very late, and he had low muscle tone. "Give him back," friends advised the couple when the baby was 6 or 7 months old.
"That was impossible," says Eleanor. "I'd fallen madly in love with him by his second day with us. He was ours."
Richard was diagnosed with an intellectual disability (what was then called "mental retardation") before his first birthday.
Eleanor Elkin didn't rail at the fates. Instead, she began a campaign to ensure that her son would not be denied opportunities because of his disability.
Back then, kids with IQs under 50 were routinely excluded from Pennsylvania schools. Eleanor and other frustrated parents began the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded and Handicapped Children (now the Association for Retarded Citizens of Pennsylvania) to organize and gain access to services for their children. The result: In 1954, the law permitted public schools to provide classes for kids with under-50 IQs.
This determined mother went on to change the grim educational picture in the city, then the state, and ultimately the nation, for kids with developmental disabilities. ARC's tireless advocacy led to major changes in education such as the 1972 guarantee of free public school education for all school-aged children, which laid the foundation for the federal law that today guarantees individualized education programs for all children with disabilities.
Loves of her life : Eleanor Elkin's husband, Philip. daughter, Margot Arden,… (ASHLEE ESPINAL / Staff Photographer)
Friday, October 28th, 2011
by Liz Matt on Living Around
At the age of 34, Jennifer Tapner made a drastic, healthy, change in her morning routine. The Executive Director of The Watermark at Logan Square, a continuing care senior community in Philadelphia has gone from sedentary to swift and svelte by starting every single day with 90 minutes of running or biking.
Now 40 pounds trimmer, muscular, lean and energetic, in just 3½ years she’s evolved into an accomplished competitive runner, marathoner and tri-athlete. Tapner still has the senior executive responsibilities that include spending time at a desk and computer. But, she is sure that the physical challenge she added to her pre-work routine improves life both for herself and for her large community, which includes 450 residents and 300 staff associates.
“That 90 minutes helps me better prepare for what I walk into each day,” explains Tapner. “I’m more grounded. It relieves anxiety. I have a clear mind and it gives me the endurance and the stamina to take what the day brings. I’m a better leader. It’s sort of like meditation. The days I don’t exercise, I’m not as focused. I can feel it.”
Rain or shine, frosty or humid, she’s out the door starting at 5 a.m., covering miles of her neighborhood in Voorhees, N.J. This is from a woman who literally couldn’t run a block at the beginning of her fitness campaign. Remembering initial days of her running program, Tapner recalls setting very small goals. “I started out with my block, then ½ mile, then ¾ mile. I built up my stamina and my ability. It’s taken years, but I’m proud to say that this year, I’m in multiple triathlons. I am also running two ½ marathons in Philadelphia in training for two full marathons out of town… one in Washington DC and another in Florida at Disney World.”
Tapner is an R.N. who applies her medical expertise to senior care. She recognizes that her own healthier approach to life has inspired the community of retirees and associates at The Watermark at Logan Square. Many have been part of The Watermark community for years, and have watched her physical transformation over the months since she began. “I hope I’m a role model for our residents, demonstrating that people can change and be more active. I was in terrible shape when I began working here. I don’t expect them to take on road races, but I do hope I encourage them to work at their ability, to walk around the block if they can, and to keep moving.”
Tapner likes to connect that inspiration with a word that defines the mission of all 27 Watermark retirement communities nationwide. That word is “thrive”. “In our free Watermark University classes, we have yoga and stretching classes and a full service gym. We encourage mental fitness as well. Our seniors can learn chess or tackle a foreign language. Learning to knit for the first time is very beneficial mental exercise. Wii bowling doesn’t use a heavy bowling ball. But there’s actually very challenging hand-eye coordination involved to make the controller hit a strike or pick up a spare. All these opportunities offer the residents different ways to find their passion. At The Watermark at Logan Square, we constantly remind each other that we are all capable of developing in some way and that it’s never too late to try something new. That’s the ‘thrive’ mindset.”
Still, for the residents of The Watermark at Logan Square, catching sight of their limber, fleet executive director zipping along courses that pass right through their neighborhood in Center City is an exceptional treat. “They come out on the street by the Logan Circle fountain and cheer for me when I run in local races,” explains Tapner. “Or they ask to see the medals I’ve won in other events. They take it very personally and you’d think they’d run with me! And it inspires them to keep moving, to get off the couch and try new things.”
Senior Relocation Experts Offer Advice To Residents Of The Watermark At Logan Square And Share A Simple Three-Step Strategy To Help Seniors Pass Along Sentimental Treasures
Philadelphia, PA (October 18, 2011) -- Most retirees who have moved into The Watermark at Logan Square, the continuing care community in Center City Philadelphia, have edited their beloved belongings to match their current lifestyles. It's a process called "right sizing," that helps to re-organize and prioritize a lifetime of accumulated possessions. When it comes to selecting holiday décor, special tableware and linens, experts advise that keeping just a few cherished pieces --- and passing along all the rest --- makes the remaining keepsakes even more precious.
"It's amazing how the sight of a few sentimental items can conjure up a whole lifetime of happy memories, " explains Adele Fine, a Center City interior design consultant whose clients include retirees moving out of larger homes. "A few key pieces can still fill a room. Not with possessions but with stories and conversation." According to Marlene Stocks, a principal of Senior Transition Services of Huntingdon Valley, PA, "When empty nesters use the holidays as their opportunity to pass along cherished items, it can be a happy time that fits right in with the spirit of the season."
Both experts acknowledge that items associated with family traditions carry extra emotional freight. "Confronting what to do with decades of sentimental possessions can be daunting," says Stocks, who has assisted clients in their moves to The Watermark at Logan Square. "Yet, from a purely practical point of view, seniors admit that holiday items and special tableware can be physically hard to manage, no matter where they live. Often, they're prized pieces that require high maintenance or they're packed-away much of the year and elders need help carting them out and putting them away again."
Adele Fine and Marlene Stocks offer this three-step approach to making the process of "right sizing" successful and less stressful. Each tip is designed to put into action during this 2011 holiday season to set the stage for simpler joys in 2012.
A good first step is identifying the things that are impractical. Adele Fine says that this often helps seniors work through the sentimental stage more quickly. Here is her advice:
· "If you can't lift it easily anymore, you probably don't need it anymore" says Fine, about large roasting pans, sturdy carving boards and massive serving platters. "If you've made enough 20-pound turkeys over the years, by now some of your past guests would surely love to return the hospitality."
· Open up the "good china" and keep four place settings, six at most. Keep only one "everyday" plate and favorite mug for each person in the household and pass long the rest. "It's your time in life to treat every day as a special occasion."
· After editing the sterling silver, use it every day. "It's an old wives' tale that you can't put it through the dishwasher."
· Select only one set of linens that fits the current table and let the others go. "Display it every day," instead of putting it back in the drawer.
· As for holiday décor itself, Fine suggests Christmas celebrants keep the tree-topper and one or two meaningful ornaments. For those observing Hanukkah, one menorah and one dreidel can link all the happy holidays of the past with those yet to come. "A few pieces allow them to touch some joy in the transition," says Fine.
The second step involves strategies for passing on the extra items. Marlene Stocks, an expert in senior relocation, shares a few of her recommendations:
· For those who typically make baked goods for loved ones and deliver them in tins from the dollar store, she suggests, "Present them in your beautiful vases, as if they're elegant cookie jars, or displayed on your decorative platters. Explain that you're passing on your heritage as part of your gift."
· Open up that box of favorite ornaments and wrap the special ones as presents. "Explaining to an important person why you selected this particular piece for them is a delightful way to pass on a treasured item."
· When drying the dishes after the next holiday meal, seniors should have the storage cartons and tissue paper ready to pack up the extras, right then and there. "Since you're handling it all anyway, this presents an ideal opportunity to get a head start on 'right-sizing' for the future," Stocks explains. "Just return a reduced set of dinnerware to the hutch and box up all the additional china, stemware, linens and silver you really don't need. Now it's all ready to pass along, sell for cash or donate to a worthy charity."
Reflecting on the process, Stocks comments, "I have so many clients who look back on their hesitation and say 'Why did I wait so long?' I hear it all the time."
The third step is encouraging seniors to find gratitude in their hearts for all that those possessions have meant and enjoy the prospect of simplifying their lives. "If you've enjoyed giving to others throughout your lifetime, then recognize that simplifying your surroundings can be a gift you give as well," explains Fine. "You give your family peace of mind. You give yourself freedom. Plus, you give yourself the satisfaction of knowing what became of things you have treasured. You managed it yourself. And that can be very satisfying."
Two Tyler alumni, both retired and living at The Watermark at Logan Square in center city, are still active working artists who recently participated in a national competition for residents of Watermark senior communities. Their original artwork won local recognition and has been submitted for the 2012 Expressions Art Calendar contest, which will feature works from 25 Watermark communities around the United States.
Myer Schulick (MFA Painting), a lifelong Philadelphian, paints the iconic buildings of his hometown as a commitment to his personal philosophy: “How Do I Thank My City?”. His painting of “Boathouse Row” is one of two pieces that earned the juror’s recognition. The other is a large and intricate scale-model of a famous sailing ship, the whaler “The C. W. Morgan.” Schulick’s paintings are in various public and private collections throughout Philadelphia, including the office of Mayor Michael Nutter, law firms and The Waterworks Restaurant.
Fran Schatz (BS Art Ed) worked as an Elementary Art school teacher in the School District of Philadelphia & School District of Moorestown, NJ. Her artwork has appeared in several art shows including Perkins Art Center of New Jersey, Wayne Art Center, Bryn Mawr Rehab & Princeton Hospital. She works in watercolor and mixed media, including fabric.
The Summer semester of Watermark University opens the worlds of brain and body fitness with fun classes from yoga to foreign languages for Philadelphia seniors who are seeking activity and new friends. Held at The Watermark at Logan Square in Center City from May through August, Watermark University provides an exciting menu of over twenty-five programs designed to engage mind, body and spirit, available on a daily basis and open to area seniors. Most courses are open to the public and free of charge.
Students can enjoy “armchair adventures” to Paris and Rome, and learn how to order meals in French and Italian in Watermark University classes in foreign language conversation. Others can explore their “Inner Shakespeare” in the lighthearted Senior Stage Workshop. And the “Wide World of Wii Sports” makes every day the perfect weather for golf, bowling, tennis, baseball or boxing…and anyone can play.
Watermark University is an important aspect of life at The Watermark at Logan Square, providing both residents and associates the opportunity to take (or teach) brain and body fitness classes on subjects they are passionate about. Whether it’s a one-time class or an ongoing series, the opportunities are endless. All area seniors with course ideas are encouraged to call 218-240-8915. For information call or visit www.watermarkcommunities.com/logansquare.
April 21, 2011 (WPVI) -- She has devoted her life to ensuring the civil rights of special needs children and adults; that in itself, is admirable, but at age 95, it's beyond extraordinary!
Her name is Eleanor Elkin, a resident of the Watermark Retirement Community at Logan Square in Center City. She's been an advocate for the developmentally challenged for more than six decades.
It all started, when Eleanor Elkin and her husband adopted a child in 1948.
"They called us one day and said, 'we have your baby!'" said Eleanor.
The little boy she named Richard, looked different, but initially, Eleanor didn't realize he was mentally challenged.
It wasn't until they adopted a daughter, Margo, that they recognized the full extent of Richard's disability.
A local doctor gave Eleanor the best advice.
"He said, 'you've got a nice normal retarded kid; enjoy him,'" explained Eleanor.
And she did! And Richard lived a full and active life!
And along the way, Eleanor set her sights on changing the misconceptions about children like her son.
"You treat them like an individual, not like somebody that's different," Eleanor said.
Eleanor has long volunteered at the Cultural Arts Center at the Philadelphia Developmental and Disabilities Corporation where her son attended workshops.
She has investigated the abuse at Pennhurst State Hospital, and testified before Congress, setting in motion, life-improving changes for these men and women.
But, she says, more needs to be done.
"There's still difficulty for them getting work," said Eleanor. "We have a huge waiting list for students that have gotten out of school, special needs students, and no place to go."
Eleanor is 95 years old, and she hasn't stopped.
When asked what keeps her going? Eleanor said, "Because I'm interested. If someone asks me to do something, and I can do it, I do it."
Sadly, Richard died two years ago at the age of 60, but his mother's work continues.Listen to the broadcast.
RECOGNIZING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND WHAT TO EXPECT
From Experts at The Watermark at Logan Square
Philadelphia, PA (May 26, 2010) – As individuals age, it is common for them to forget where they left their keys or lose a train of thought on occasion. However, if this is something that frequently occurs, it may be signs of early memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease. Adult children should be aware of signs in their parents or other loved ones in order to help battle what could potentially be a serious medical condition. Vanda Johnson, an expert at The Watermark at Logan Square, a continuing care retirement community in Center City Philadelphia, has compiled information to help individuals care for their loved ones. For those already facing Alzheimer’s or memory loss, The Watermark at Logan Square holds a monthly support group for caregivers – more information can be obtained by calling 215-240-8915.
Below are some questions people should ask themselves to help about a loved one – if there is any doubt about an individual’s mental health, please seek medical advice from a trusted doctor.
Questions adult children should ask themselves about parents or aging loved ones:
- Do they remember old friends/family that they haven’t seen recently?
- Are their hygiene habits good?
- Do they seem to forget their train of thought?
- Do they misplace items often?
- Do they repeat the same questions or thought?
- Are they secluding themselves?
- Do they get lost or forget where they parked the car?
- Do they forget that a loved one has died and speak about them in the present?
- Are they eating properly?
- Are they taking their medications?
- Are they keeping scheduled appointments?
Keep in mind that each individual case of Alzheimer’s disease can vary and can often depend on the stage of the disease. Symptoms tend to become more severe as the disease progresses. For families facing the disease, it is important to be prepared for what might happen to a loved one. Below are three stages of Alzheimer’s along with common symptoms:
- Mild Alzheimer’s: in this stage, people seem healthy, but they have trouble making sense of the world around them. Often, symptoms can include:
- Difficulty learning and remembering
- Difficulty managing finances
- Difficulty taking medication
- Trouble planning meals
- Signs of depression
- Moderate Alzheimer’s: the damage to the brain worsens and can affect language, reasoning, thought, and sensory skills. Often, symptoms can include:
- Forgetting old facts
- Repeating stories or asking questions many times
- Difficulty performing daily tasks
- Difficulty using a toilet or showering without assistance
- Agitation, restlessness, wandering, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations
- Loss of reasoning skills
- Lack of concern about appearance or hygiene
- Severe Alzheimer’s: this is the most difficult stage for family and friends, and usually full-time care is necessary. Often, symptoms can include:
- Not speaking clearly, mumbling, groaning, or screaming
- Refusal to eat
- Inappropriately cries out
- Inability to recognize family and friends
- Inability to perform essential activities of daily living
Located in Center City Philadelphia, The Watermark at Logan Square tailors programs to meet and exceed the expectations of each resident. Living at The Watermark at Logan Square comes with abundant choices and opportunities. Comprised of Independent and Assisted Living apartments, a Skilled Nursing Center, and a Memory Care Center, The Watermark at Logan Square offers a full continuum of care in a luxurious, maintenance-free setting. Recently, the building underwent a $15 million renovation which included environmentally-friendly designs. The Watermark at Logan Square is located at Two Franklin Town Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103. For more information, call 215-240-8915 or visit
Moms with years and years of experience are speaking out in time for Mother’s Day. Even though they raised their own children decades ago, experienced mothers offer tips to young moms because the advice is just as meaningful today as it was some sixty years ago. In between work schedules, carpooling, cooking and diaper changes, moms in 2010have even more hassles and frustrations and can use all the advice they can get.
These senior mom experts are all residents of the Philadelphia-area Watermark Retirement Communities. Their advice ranges from tips on raising kids to advice for the moms’ personal lives. Here is sound advice from women who know:
Gloria Heller:
Tell your children they have your love – no matter what they do. Learn to deal with disappointment with humor and grace and do things that make you proud of yourself.
Lorraine Brown:
Don’t lose your sense of humor; you’re going to need it!
Sylvia Aarons:
Teach your children at an early age to respect their elders.
Selma Braid:
Take care of you, the mother by making a couple of good friends. It’s wonderful to have someone to share your feelings with.
Sylvia Lisman:
Don’t let your children get used to sleeping in bed with you.
Marilyn Dickason:
Hold them and love them, because they grow up so fast.
Muriel Keeler:
Teach them right from wrong and The Golden Rule: do to others what you would like to be done to you.
Margaret Darling:
Spend as much quality time with all your children, no matter how old they are.
Angela Catrambone:
Be honest with your children and be careful with the teachings that you give them, because it stays with them for the rest of their lives.
Phyllis Loughran:
Give them a lot of love and listen to what they have to say.
Betty May:
You’re lucky if you have twins – they keep each other busy and take care of one another.
Mildred Haight:
Don’t go running every time you hear the baby cry. If they get used to that, you’ll be in big trouble.
Philadelphia, PA (March 29, 2010) – It might seem impossible to memorize a list of 13 items backwards and forwards without writing them down, but “The Memory Man” Gilbert Sherr will teach seniors just how to do that! Sherr will present “Improving Your Memory at Any Age” at The Watermark at Logan Square on Wednesday, April 7 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The course is designed for those ages 50 to 100+ and is open to the public, but reservations are required as space is limited to 150 participants. To RSVP, call 215-240-8915. Light refreshments will be served.
In the course, Sherr will teach participants how the mind works, and how to use this knowledge to improve their memories. Most people don’t understand that the mind works in pictures. Once a person can picture something in their mind, it’s much easier to associate a second item with the first one, thus making memorization easier. An example of this technique: people remember faces better than names, so when a person makes a new acquaintance, an easy way to remember the new name is to picture their face with the face of an old friend who shares the same name.
“The most exciting part of teaching people how to strengthen their memory is when I work with seniors and boost their confidence,” Sherr said recently. “Often, their fear of ‘senior moments’ diminishes dramatically when they realize their memories can improve rapidly with the techniques I teach.”
Sherr has been teaching his memory techniques since 1991 and has become a sought-after expert around the United States. He has visited over 180 retirement communities and taught his methods to more than 10,000 seniors. Additionally, Sherr has offered ongoing courses at universities and colleges in the Atlanta area, where he is based.REJUVENATE THE MIND AND BODY... The Club At The Watermark At Logan Square Great Opportunities in an Exclusive Health and Wellness Center Open to Area Seniors
Philadelphia, PA (March 9, 2010) – The Watermark at Logan Square is committed to providing the most innovative opportunities in brain and body fitness to its residents. Now, with The Club, The Watermark can offer its premier health and wellness services to seniors living in the area. The Club is a visionary senior wellness center with everything a person needs to stay fit, healthy, and have fun at the same time. Members of The Club enjoy access to state of the art wellness center and fitness classes, innovative brain and body fitness courses, a 20% discount on services at Indulge Salon and Spa and The Gallery Café, plus invitations to educational and social events.
When seniors purchase a membership to The Club they gain instant admittance to all five areas of The Club: Indulge Salon and Spa, Vitality Fitness Center, Renew Wellness Center, Watermark University brain and body fitness courses, and the Gallery Café. Memberships are available to seniors 55 and older on a monthly basis, and cost $39 for individuals and $59 for couples. Additionally, members receive invitations to educational and social events, and many other opportunities to enhance health while having fun. To learn more about the benefits of The Club or to obtain an application, call The Watermark at 215-240-8915.
Indulge Salon and Spa is an Aveda salon managed by Rizzieri’s and features a wide menu of services for guests to enjoy including haircuts, coloring, waxing, manicures, pedicures, massages, facials and more. It is one of the only elegant and luxurious salons in the Logan Square neighborhood.
Vitality Fitness Center was created with seniors in mind. It is complete with state-of-the-art workout equipment, a new yoga and Pilates studio, and The Watermark’s Personal Trainer, Joe Enoch. Personal training is available to optimize seniors’ efforts in their health and fitness goals. The fitness center is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Renew Wellness Center connects all aspects of The Club to optimize positive outcomes. Here, friendly experts make recommendations across the entire wellness spectrum, providing advice on nutrition, exercise programs at Vitality Fitness Center, brain and body fitness classes at Watermark University, and massages and spa treatments at Indulge Salon and Spa. The experts at Renew Wellness Center help establish personal wellness goals, offer counseling and coaching, and host ongoing Wellness Chats on a variety of topics such as medication interaction, exercise and nutrition.
Watermark University offers a course catalog each semester that is filled with an array of brain and body fitness courses. These classes range from Chess to Patchwork Poetry, Pilates to Conversational French, and many more. These courses each have specific goals in mind: to challenge seniors’ brains and keep memories sharp, and to encourage getting in better physical shape. Members of The Club may enroll in as many classes as they like, getting the most of their memberships with a true taste of The Watermark culture and lifestyle.
The eco-friendly Gallery Café is a place where people gather and connect at The Watermark. Here, seniors can read the newspaper, surf the Internet, join friends, have gourmet coffee and a scone, a delicious hand-made Panini, or a decadent double chocolate brownie for dessert. In addition to the fresh and delicious food, everything at the Gallery Café is served in environmentally-responsible corn-based packaging. All members receive a 20% discount on food and beverage purchases at the Gallery Café.You'reNnever Too Old to Want Peace
By Ruth Rovner
For The Home News
On a recent Monday afternoon, six women were seated around a table. Although they were energetic and animated, they were no youngsters. The youngest was 82; the oldest, 97.
On the table were pens, a stack of postcards, and long lists of U.S. senators and representatives. The Grannies for Peace, as they call themselves, were busy writing messages on postcards to be mailed to the lawmakers.
In the cyberspace age, these Grannies do not send e-mails. They don't send text messages or use cell phones. Instead, they practice old-fashioned democracy as they voice their opposition to war.
"How does this sound?" asked one, as she read her message. "Enough is enough! Bring our boys home!"
"Don't say 'boys'" advised another Granny. "There are females, too."
They continued to write, just as they do every Monday afternoon starting at 3 p.m., when a small but dedicated group meets in the library of the Watermark, a retirement community on Logan Square. Each week, they write one handwritten postcard after another, signing their own names and adding, "Granny for Peace."
"We don't need fancy stationery to make our point," said Gerry Schneeberg. At 82, she's the youngest, and she's teased about being "the baby" in the group.
Their methods may be old-fashioned, but the Grannies firmly believe in their mission. "Contacting our elected officials is a very important activity," said Schneeberg, one of the founders of Grannies for Peace. "They represent us and we want them to know our views."
"It feels good. We're doing something to speed the efforts for peace," added Bea Freundlich.
The Grannies have been sending postcards every week since their first meeting on Dec. 4, 2006. It all began when a citywide group of peace activists, the Granny Peace Brigade, gave a presentation at Watermark. The Brigade is a national group with a Philadelphia chapter. They participate in marches, petition drives and other anti-war activities.
Their presentation inspired a group of four Watermark friends, all firmly anti-war, to do something for residents in their own building.
"We had often talked about the war and our opposition to it, and we decided to do something on our own," said Lorraine Brown.
Besides Brown and Schneeberg, the other two founders were retired lawyer Carla Morgan, and Florence Cohen, who was chief of staff to her late husband, City Councilman David Cohen.
At first, the group met monthly but soon they began to meet every Monday afternoon. Early on, they decided to focus on writing messages, mostly to legislators, voicing their opposition to war and their concern about the treatment of veterans.
"We're armchair activists," said Schneeberg.
The other Grannies attending the recent meeting were Clara Jellinek, Bea Collier, Bea Freundlich and Margery Wile. They've had varied occupations. Clara Jellinek is a retired attorney; Doctor Wile is a retired psychiatrist; Gerry Schneeberg is a former teacher, and Lorraine Brown was manager of the Register-News in Bordentown where her husband was publisher. Most Grannies are in their 80s. The oldest is Wile, who is 97.
Despite their name, the group is open to any Watermark resident. "We encourage men to join us, " said Schneeberg. But so far, it's still an all-Granny group.
During their session in the library, they kept busy with pens and postcards, but interspersed their writing with lively conversation. These politically minded Grannies were especially eager to share reactions to the recent Supreme Court decision to allow unlimited campaign contributions.
At the end of an hour, they had a stack of over 40 handwritten postcards ready to mail. Each Granny sends her own message, although they are often similar in content.
By now they estimate they've sent more than 1,000 postcards. At first, they were mainly protests against the Iraq War. But now they're focused on the war in Afghanistan, and on adequate care for veterans. Although most cards go unanswered, they do get some replies.
For instance, Freundlich was delighted that a congressman from New Mexico replied to her at some length. "He sent me two pages about what he's doing for the veterans," she said. Moreover, he's written to her several times. "We call him her gentleman friend," joked Clara Jellinek.
Other legislators who have replied include Sen. Diane Feinstein, U.S. Representatives Joe Sestak and Brad Sherman.
However, they didn't expect a reply from Sen. Joe Lieberman when they sent him cards with this message: "We are ashamed of you!" Clearly, these Grannies don't mince words or sugarcoat their succinct messages.
But they were more diplomatic when they sent postcards to President Obama telling him they "strongly oppose" the surge in Afghanistan.
Not all the messages go to legislators. Recently, they wrote postcards to New York Times columnists Thomas Friedman and Bob Herbert, praising them for recent columns opposing the war in Afghanistan.
Although the postcard-writing is their ongoing activity, the Grannies also plan and sponsor peace-oriented programs for the entire Watermark community.
These programs feature guest speakers and often films, too, and are held in the auditorium. To publicize the programs, the Grannies place flyers in mailboxes and also put announcements in the Watermark newsletter. Although not every resident comes, the turnout is high. Sometimes as many as 80 people attend.
At one of the early programs, anti-war activist Celeste Zappala was the guest speaker. Zappala's son, a member of the National Guard who never expected to be deployed to a war zone, was killed in Iraq. Zappala founded an anti-war group, Military Families Speak Out, which now numbers over 3,000. "We were all very moved by her talk," said Schneeberg.
Another program featured two attorneys for detainees at Guantanamo, Mark Wilson and Christopher Huber. "They were marvelous!" enthused Brown.
On Veterans Day this past November, the program featured Watermark residents who were veterans from different wars. The Grannies encouraged them to share their experiences. One resident, John Gallagher, went further and took two anti-war films and edited them down to one shorter film.
"It was very powerful," said Schneeberg. "We're always seeking films that will move people to become active."
Another film which generated much interest was Voices of Patriots: Why Are We in Iraq? It was a film that Lorraine Brown secured from her granddaughter, Sonya Ekstrom, who was involved in a group called Teach Peace. "It was so well received that several Watermark residents requested that we show it again," said Brown.
Like others in the group, Brown, 87, was a peace activist long before she helped start Grannies for Peace. During the 1960s, she and her late husband, Hershel Brown, went to anti-war marches in Washington, and she's been firmly anti-war ever since. So have her children and now her four grandchildren, especially Sonya. "She's very excited about my activities with Grannies for Peace," she said.
Schneeberg also was a longtime peace activist before she moved to the Watermark four years ago. During the Vietnam War era, she was a member of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. While living in Elkins Park, she attended peace rallies and participated in marches in Washington and Harrisburg.
Her husband, Dr. Arthur Schneeberg, was involved in social activism as a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility.
During one anti-war march in Washington, Schneeberg's daughter Sara, who lives in Washington, joined her in the march, and so did Sara's infant son, Michael (who is now 24). So three generations marched against war that day.
Now Schneeberg's two daughters, son and five grandchildren cheer her on in her new role as "armchair activist."
And this grandmother relishes the role and the satisfaction it brings. "It's good to work with a group of like-minded women," she said. "We're doing what we can to bring an end to involvement in war. "
Brown feels a similar sense of purpose. "We're working for a valuable and necessary goal- to end war," she said.
Like Schneeberg, she also enjoys the camaraderie of these activist Grannies. "It's wonderful to work with these women!" she said. "They're so eager to work. They're active and smart, and they're full of energy."
For more information on Grannies for Peace, contact Lorraine Brown at 215-575-9694.
From left: Jean Collier, Lorraine Brown, Clara Jellinek (seated), Gerry Schneeberg, Bea Freundlich and Margery B. White. Photo: Matt Godfrey.
To Roth or Not to Roth… The Pros and Cons of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
A Free Lunch and Learn Program At The Watermark at Logan Square
Thursday, March 25
Open to the Public
Philadelphia, PA (February 25, 2010) – As part of their commitment to seniors in the area, The Watermark at Logan Square will host a Lunch & Learn seminar on March 25 at 11:30 a.m. The seminar, “To Roth or Not to Roth…and other Important Details Regarding Your IRA Accounts,” will be presented by Senior Support Services, Inc. The free program is open to the public and will address the positive features of the Roth IRA as well as the drawbacks to converting from a Traditional IRA account. To attend, please RSVP by calling The Watermark at 215-240-8915.
The Roth IRA was first introduced in 1998, and this year, the $100,000 income ceiling has been lifted from conversion rules, meaning that individuals whose gross income exceeds $100,000 are now able to convert to a Roth IRA. However, conversion is not for everyone and the decision depends on a number of factors for seniors, recent retirees, and those approaching retirement. During this Lunch & Learn, these issues will be discussed and attendees will have their questions answered.
Bon Jour …. Beginner’s French for Seniors… You’re Never Too Old to Learn!
Free Classes through Watermark University at The Watermark at Logan Square
Tuesdays at 2 p.m. in February
Open to the Public
Philadelphia, PA (January 27, 2010) – Someone is never too old to learn something new and, for many people, the French language is brand new! Free and open to the public, French lessons are being offered through Watermark University at The Watermark at Logan Square. Starting Tuesday, February 2nd, seniors are invited to take beginner’s French in the beautiful library at The Watermark.
Jenny Goinden, Watermark University director, teaches the basics of French language, with each lesson expanding on the previous one. Individuals can attend all four classes in February, or can come and try just one, to get a taste of the benefit of continued learning. During the first few weeks of the course, senior students will review nouns and verbs in their singular, plural, masculine, and feminine forms. Following this, will be short sentences, short conversations, and short stories. The goal of the course is to enable individuals to hold a simple conversation, make requests, and order from a French menu. The final course of the semester (held in April) will be an outing to a local French restaurant where everyone will try out their skills. Additional fees for lunch may apply. This course is free and open to the public. To learn more, for a complete course catalog for all Watermark University classes, or for seniors with course ideas, call The Watermark at 215-240-8915.
Watermark University is an important aspect of life at The Watermark providing opportunities for continuous learning (and teaching). With life-long learning, there are opportunities for all seniors to enjoy free brain and body fitness, stimulating both mind and body. In addition to the opportunity to learn, seniors can teach a Watermark University course, too. Whether it’s a one-time class or an ongoing series, the opportunities are endless.
Located in Center City Philadelphia, The Watermark at Logan Square tailors programs to meet and exceed the expectations of each resident. Living at The Watermark at Logan Square comes with abundant choices and opportunities. Comprised of Independent and Assisted Living apartments, a Skilled Nursing Center, and a Memory Care Center, The Watermark at Logan Square offers a full continuum of care in a luxurious, maintenance-free setting. Recently, the building underwent $15 million renovations which included environmentally-friendly designs.
By Melissa Dribben
Inquirer Staff Writer
Doris Grossman is not one of those fluttery white-haired women who shy away from life's harsher truths.
"I don't know if it's empathy or anger because we're involved in two wars," she says, "but I feel this is the right thing to do."
For the last two years, around Christmas, Grossman has been knitting socks for war amputees. Yesterday, the 82-year-old former assistant manager for a senior-citizen complex in Ventnor, N.J., was working on an oatmeal-tweed one, her 12th in the latest batch destined for the Philadelphia veterans hospital.
"This is something our soldiers more than deserve," she said while comfortably ensconced in a damask couch in the sunny library of the Watermark at Logan Square. She moved to the Center City retirement community when her husband died seven years ago.
"The doctors and vets call them stump socks, but the ladies in our knitting group don't like that name, so I suggested calling them amputee socks. They still don't like that," she said with a shrug. "But a rose is a rose is a rose."
The widespread use of improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan has sent thousands of American soldiers home with missing limbs. In the last three months, there has been a sharp increase in amputees among the estimated 1,000 troops injured in Afghanistan.
Grossman's friend Lorraine Brown persuaded her to take on the project. Brown, 87, has long been politically engaged. In the 1960s, she marched against the war in Vietnam, she said. And she remained antiwar during the years she and her husband ran the Bordentown Register-News.
Shortly after she moved to the Watermark four years ago, she attended a presentation by the local activist group, the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia.
After the talk, she and her friend Florence Cohen, widow of City Councilman David Cohen, decided to form a group of their own, "not to go to rallies, but to write letters and make phone calls to our congressmen."
They held monthly meetings. Once, they hosted lawyers who represented Guantanamo detainees. Another time, they showed a film that Brown's granddaughter had sent from a group she belongs to in California, called Teach Peace.
Somehow, someone must have heard about the Watermark grandmothers, because Brown received a request for knitted stump socks for the troops. She can't remember who asked for her help, but she clearly recalls that the first person she thought of was Grossman.
"You are amazing," Brown told her friend yesterday.
"Oh, stop," Grossman said with a dismissive wave.
Grossman learned to knit when she was 14 and lived in Logan. "We had open porches, and I would watch my next-door neighbor, Richie Goldstein, knitting. She was the one who taught me."
When Grossman's three sons and eight grandchildren were growing up, she knitted them umpteen afghans and sweaters.
"But the knitting I've done since I came here is more intense," she said. A huggable woman who prides herself on blunt honesty, she was decked out on Christmas Eve in a Santa hat with silver glitter in the white fuzz, a red wool jacket embroidered with holly, and a Jewish star on a gold chain.
For years, Grossman has led the Watermark's knitting club. "Recently we'd lost a lot of members to arthritis and illness," she said. Then, a few months ago, a group of women from Roxborough arrived - all skilled knitters.
"Now," she said, "we're back in business."
The pattern for amputee socks is similar to the one she's used to knit hats for chemotherapy patients.
There are two sizes. "These are for the thigh," she said, patting a pile of plush beanie-shape caps. "And these are for the lower limbs," she said, picking up a narrower version.
"Most women in the knitting club find it too hard to think about what they'll be for," Brown said.
"It hurts me to do it," said Grossman. "But it's gratifying to know I'm doing something that's needed and appreciated."
With each sock, she slips in a note that says, "You are my American hero. Love, Mommom."
"This is quite a thing, kid," Brown said, patting her friend on the back. "Quite a thing."
The Watermark At Logan Square Has Partnered With The Jewish Federation Of Greater Philadelphia
To Provide Quality Jewish Programming For Seniors
Philadelphia, PA (September 30, 2009) – The Watermark at Logan Square and the Jewish Federation of Philadelphia have partnered to provide area seniors with quality programming with a Jewish focus. The Jewish Federation will present six programs at The Watermark, each one covering a different topic pertaining to an aspect of Jewish life. Programs are free and open to the public. Registration is requested in advance by calling The Watermark at 215-240-8915.
“The Jewish Life Cycle” will be a four-part series related to Jewish life cycle events. The first session, held on October 5 at 1 p.m. in the Auditorium will focus on birth rituals. Topics will include baby naming and circumcisions, among others. The second part in the series will be held on October 19 at 1 p.m. in the Auditorium. This will revolve around coming-of-age ceremonies, most specifically Bar or Bat Mitzvahs. The third session, held on November 2 at 1 p.m. in the Auditorium, will focus on weddings, conversions, and divorce. The fourth and final session will be held on November 16 at 1 p.m. in the Auditorium and will focus on deaths and funerals in the Jewish tradition. Rabbi Shira Stutman will lead this three-part series of discussions.
The next Federation seminar, entitled “Federation 101, and What is a Will, and Why do I need one?” will be held on November 30 at 1 p.m. in the Auditorium. The first half of the session will provide attendees with an overview of where dollars go when they are contributed to the Jewish Federation. Specific topics will include Federation’s funding priorities, allocations process and all three centers (Center for Social Responsibility, Center for Life and Learning, and Center for Israel and Overseas). Additionally, attendees will learn about programs that have been funded during 2009. During the second part of this program, presenters will discuss the basics of wills – what a will actually is, why people need them, what happens if a person doesn’t have a will, and how to make changes to a will. Rachel Gross, Esq., Director of Planned Giving and Endowments and Jennifer Brier, Esq., Endowment Officer will present the program.
The final seminar of the collaborative series will be held on December 7 at 1 p.m. in the Auditorium and is called “The Basics of Planned Giving.” The program will explain the fundamentals of planned giving, the “what, why and how” of endowments. Rachel Gross, Esq. and Jennifer Brier, Esq. will discuss with attendees various planned giving vehicles, such as charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, restricted and unrestricted funds, and donor-advised funds.
Philadelphia, PA (September 14, 2009) – In celebration of the changing seasons, The Watermark at Logan Square will host “A Sunday Afternoon Tea and Fall Fashion Show,” with fashions by Gabrielle & Co. of Ocean City, New Jersey. The free event will be on October 4th, 2009 from 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Open to the public – and the ideal event for generations of women – tea, finger sandwiches and petit fours will be available as guests enjoy a delightful fashion show with clothing ranging from casual wear to black tie dresses -- even with an organic line! Models of all ages, from children to seniors, will strut down the runway in the latest styles for all ages, sizes, and tastes. Dori Lenz, former Public Affairs Director of WPHL-TV, Channel 17, will welcome guests.
Space is limited. To ensure a seat, RSVP to The Watermark at Logan Square at 215-563-1800 by September 28, 2009. The first 100 attendees will receive complimentary, exclusive gift bags from Gabrielle & Co.
Philadelphia, PA (September 14, 2009) – Social Networking – it’s good for all ages … from the youngest technology guru to the oldest! As part of the mission to encourage brain and body fitness, Executive Director Kathy Wise of Blue Bell Place – a Watermark community with assisted living and memory care in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, had an idea for the community that really took off this summer: a Watermark University course in Facebook and Social Networking. As a result, the course she created will launch at all the other Watermark Retirement Communities in the Philadelphia area. These additional communities include The Watermark at Logan Square (Center City Philadelphia), Woodbury Mews (Woodbury, New Jersey), Rockland Place (Wilmington, Delaware), and Rose Tree Place (Media, Pennsylvania).
Wise created the first Facebook and Social Networking course at Blue Bell Place through Watermark University, the brain and body fitness programming available at each of the Watermark Retirement Communities. The four other Philadelphia area communities will also launch their courses through Watermark University, using Wise’s as a model. First, each community will hold an introductory class on the subject, with a teacher using his or her own Facebook page as an example. Seniors, through the instructor’s demonstration, will learn how to “friend” people on Facebook, find family members and acquaintances, upload photos, and keep their Facebook friends updated on their lives. They will learn how easy it is to communicate with their children and grandchildren! Also part of the course is a discussion of general safety and personal privacy online, and how to utilize the Facebook privacy options so that the seniors feel secure using the site.
“The response was overwhelming!” Wise said recently of her introductory course. “Residents absolutely loved the idea of Facebook once they saw how easy it is to touch base and stay connected to friends and family, especially their grandchildren, anywhere in the world.”
After the initial class, seniors who are interested can continue to work with the instructors one-on-one so that they can build their individual pages. Wise decided to structure the course in this manner to help seniors improve their computer skills and to ensure their ability to easily navigate Facebook and other Social Networking sites. All the Watermark Retirement Communities will follow this same approach, as it has been proven successful at Blue Bell Place.
“We strive to be innovative in our approach to retirement, and always look for ways to ‘break the mold,’” said Jill Hofer, Director of Communications and Public Relations of Watermark Retirement Communities, based in Arizona. “Kathy’s success in teaching these Facebook and Social Media skills to residents is a wonderful demonstration of the educational programming available at all Watermark Retirement Communities. We’re thrilled that all our Philadelphia area communities will offer this same class in the upcoming Watermark University fall semester.”
Watermark University course registration at all of the communities is open to the general public. Anyone is welcome to enroll in the Facebook and Social Networking course or any of the Watermark University fall semester courses at Blue Bell Place (Blue Bell, Pennsylvania), The Watermark at Logan Square (Center City Philadelphia), Woodbury Mews (Woodbury, New Jersey), Rockland Place (Wilmington, Delaware), and Rose Tree Place (Media, Pennsylvania).
“I never would have thought I would be using a computer to talk with my brother-in-law and making lunch dates,” said Phyllis Shisler, Blue Bell Place Resident. “I can’t wait to share pictures of my upcoming cruise with family and friends on Facebook.”
Watermark Retirement Communities has owned and operated successful, innovative senior housing communities for over 20 years. Watermark is committed to creating a culture where everyone is encouraged to express their true selves. These communities are full of spirit, character, compassion and adventure and are located in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and Arizona. For more information, please visit HYPERLINK "http://www.watermarkcommunities.com" www.watermarkcommunities.com.
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Philadelphia, PA (April 3, 2009) – -A continuing care retirement community located just off the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Center City, The Watermark at Logan Square offers seniors an active, enriching lifestyle with options for a full continuum of care that will meet their needs now and in the future. As a rental community without the typical large entry fee, The Watermark offers flexibility and choice not often available in senior housing.
The Watermark at Logan Square is built on a culture of choice. With the continuum of care, residents can choose from four distinct levels of care -Independent Living at Town Center, Assisted Living at The Inn, Memory Care at The Gardens, and Skilled Nursing Care at The Springs, each with customized care and options based on every individual’s needs and preferences.
At The Watermark, daily programs are numerous and varied, based on the interests and passions of the residents. “Watermark University, our free brain and body fitness program, offers residents and area seniors the opportunity to do or learn something new every single day,” said Jenny Goinden, Community Life Director. “Because Watermark Residents have such worldly and diverse experiences, we invite them to share their passions and expertise as faculty, as well.” There are programs that range from Conversational French to culinary explorations, from physical fitness to developing a new hobby with friends. Additionally, there are a variety of clubs for residents and non-residents to join including bridge groups, a drama club, Residents’ Council, and more, which empower them to do the things they love with people who have shared interests.
“We offer our residents the best of Philadelphia through luxury living in a beautifully updated building, a wonderful selection of community programs, and transportation around the city and beyond,” said Jennifer Kelley, Executive Director of The Watermark at Logan Square. “Our residents let us know what vibrant seniors want and we deliver. Many like to volunteer and be involved in the community, which we can help arrange. They have easy access to the culture and excitement of the city, and the fun and convenience of living in a maintenance-free environment.”
Delicious cuisine is one of life’s great pleasures. At The Watermark at Logan Square, residents enjoy a variety of options, some with breathtaking views of the Philadelphia skyline. With menus changing daily, the skilled culinary team prepares a wide variety of options – from enjoying a steak grilled to order in The Mark, the recently opened upscale restaurant to having breakfast, lunch or dinner in the main restaurant, or a casual bite or a panini just how they like it in the Gallery Café. Customized parties can also be planned in the private dining room. Wherever residents choose to enjoy a meal, choice is always on the menu.
In June 2009, a full-service salon and luxurious spa will open as one of the few high-end salons in the Logan Square area. Available to the public, the spa offers a full spa and salon menu, from haircuts and coloring, to manicures, pedicures or even a relaxing massage. Residents and Club Members can take classes in the beautifully designed yoga/Pilates studio, work out in the fitness room and take advantage of personal training and rehabilitation expertise.
There is also weekly housekeeping, utilities including basic cable, apartment and building maintenance, and much more. Associates are in the building 24 hours a day, and there is a complimentary shuttle bus to take residents around Center City and the surrounding areas to popular locations, like the Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, fine restaurants, Longwood Gardens, and many others.
In Independent Living at Town Center, the luxury apartments are available in studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom sizes, plus a penthouse option, so seniors have a variety of choices for living space. With various floor plans, each apartment has a full kitchen and seniors can choose their own color scheme. Before they move in, the apartment is freshly painted and carpeted, and design experts are at the ready to work with residents to customize their space.
For seniors who need support on a daily basis, there is Assisted Living at The Inn. Here, residents can get the assistance they need based on their lifestyle and personal preferences. Residents at The Inn can have meals when they like, or cook their own food in the kitchenette provided in each apartment. Perhaps one of the best features differentiating The Watermark at Logan Square from other communities is the wireless call system. There are no intercoms or call bells in assisted living apartments. Instead, new technology is in place to improve services while simultaneously making the community truly feel like home. However, as expected in an assisted living apartment, there is 24-hour monitoring, health care management, medication administration and Watermark University brain and body fitness classes.
If residents or outside patients need skilled nursing or rehabilitation, Skilled Nursing at The Springs is available. Designed to feel far from “medical,” The Springs offers the best of care and comfort tailored to each person’s needs and preferences. Like the rest of the community, the culture at The Springs is based on choice – when, how, and where a person receives therapies or care is up to them! The top-notch dining, state-of-the-art technology, and wireless communication system is available here in sunny, cheerful rooms. Residents in The Springs have private or semi-private suites, access to the assortment of daily activities programs, plus all the medical support one would expect from a Dually-Certified Medicare and Medicaid care center.
For families who need help caring for a loved one with memory loss, Memory Care at The Gardens is the perfect environment. The Watermark takes an unconventional look at Memory Care and creates a warm, home-like environment filled with amenities and activities many do not expect, including Watermark University brain and body fitness courses tailored to slow memory loss. Best of all, it is an environment where associates always focus on what residents can do, never what they cannot. , the Watermark at Logan Square provides residents with simply the best.
The Watermark at Logan Square is the only continuing care retirement community in Center City offering a complete spectrum of care in close proximity to everything Philadelphia has to offer, including the best physicians and health providers. Recently, The Watermark at Logan Square underwent $15 million renovations which included environmentally-friendly designs.
Living And Learning In Twilight Years
By KatieRose Keenan, Times Staff Writer
You're never too old to learn is the philosophy that has inspired many of the services offered by The Watermark at Logan Square, a continuing-care retirement community in Center City.
Watermark, which opened in 1985 at Two Franklin Town Boulevard, proves at first glance that it isn't your typical stale assisted-living facility characterized by monotonous bingo games and bored residents in wheelchairs.
Without a doubt, Watermark is an opulent alternative, and that's the image it promotes -- the retirement community resembles an upscale hotel, with its metropolitan location giving residents easy access to such nearby attractions as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Free Library of Philadelphia.
"I go out the door and walk to just about anywhere I like," said Eleanor Elkin, 92, a Willow Grove native who has lived at Watermark for 20 years. "I love it here, and I have never been sorry that I came here. I always wanted to live in Center City, and now I do. "
The facility, owned by the Freshwater Group, an Arizona-based operator of more than a dozen retirement communities around the country, has evolved on the belief that today's generation of seniors is more active and desires a continuing-care lifestyle in more upbeat surroundings.
As a result, the housing choices range from studio apartments to swank penthouse suites. The menu is much more than meat loaf, and a broad offering of activities and services is designed to keep residents stimulated and on the go.
For those who may have trouble walking from place to place or would like to venture farther into the city, Watermark has transportation readily available, with a shuttle bus that takes residents on everything from weekly grocery-shopping excursions to entertainment trips at venues like the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
In addition to various choices of restaurant-style dining, the retirement center has housekeeping crews and even personal laundry service. The staff provides 24-hour monitoring for residents who both desire and need extra care or assistance.
But what stands out most significantly, perhaps, is the Watermark University program. This educational project mimics a real college program -- it consists of three semesters and invites seniors to enroll in different courses. For the most part they take place once or twice each week, with the broad course choices including current affairs, yoga, chess and beginner's Spanish.
"It is important for seniors to stay mentally and physically active as they get older," said Jenny Goiden, director of community life and transportation.
She also teaches an introductory computer course at Watermark. In fact, staff members and residents who are knowledgeable in particular subjects are encouraged to teach courses as volunteers.
"I have a degree in Greek language," said staff member Olga Stathakopoulos. "My position here is move-in coordinator, but I decided to volunteer my time teaching Greek to interested residents as well."
The course schedule is developed with topics that may prove beneficial or of special interest to seniors, such as line dancing and health and well-being classes. These classes are coordinated by Watermark and taught by certified staff hired by the retirement facility.
"When a new resident moves into Watermark, we give them an orientation and interview to learn what they like to do," Goiden explained. "That way, we can make sure we have programs that cater to their interests."
Also, much like a college, Watermark University offers a number of extracurricular activities, such as a drama club and volunteer opportunities at nearby places.
"I came to the Watermark a little over two years ago," said resident Claire Kretchman, 82, a Bustleton native.
"The activities here get you out of your apartment and give you plenty to do. I spend a lot of time doing activities with the flower-arranging club, and also volunteer at the Free Library."
Another educational offering is Watermark's lunch-and-learn sessions, which combine a catered lunch for seniors and a lecture on a specific subject. It is free to residents, and is open as well to family members and potential Watermark residents.
During a Jan. 22 session, residents enjoyed a Chinese New Year celebration and learned about Chinese culture. The event featured a Chinese cooking class taught by Sandy Ko, Watermark's human-resources director.
Ko, who was born in Beijing, China, also teaches a cooking class to residents twice a week.
"I've been teaching Chinese cooking since I came to this facility in July 2008," Ko said. "I wanted to be able to do something more for residents, so I decided to teach them Chinese cooking since it was part of my heritage."
Ko also helped the administration plan the event and the lunch menu for the day.
"Sandy helped us to identify what Chinese dishes would go nicely together and told us what were the best ingredients to use," explained Theresa Altopiedi, director of sales and marketing. "That way, we were able to make sure we could give residents as authentic a menu as possible."
As part of the celebration, residents were treated to a watercolor art class taught by Zhe Zhou Jiang, who is well-versed in Chinese ink and watercolor creations.
Jiang, a native of China who has lived in Philadelphia since 1984, is an acclaimed artist who has studied at the Beijing College of Fine Arts and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
"I agreed to do a demonstration for residents because the new year is a very big celebration for the Chinese, and also it would be a way for people to learn more about the culture," said Jiang, 55.
Future lunch-and-learn programs will include a presentation by a rabbi from a local synagogue, tips to help seniors reduce tax burdens, and advice on how to deal with health-care finances.
Special Rooms for Traveling Medical Patients
Monday, November 03, 2008 | 9:52 PM
By Ali Gorman
Philadelphia - November 2, 2008 (WPVI) -- Philadelphia is home to many top-rated hospitals with very specialized doctors. Because of that, people come from miles, even days away, to get medical care. So now a Center City retirement home is hoping to make their stay a little easier.
Jack and Renee Stewart live in Dallas, Texas. A few weeks ago, they got bad news. Jack has a rare melanoma tumor on his left eye. "So it was very scary so we just had to take it a day at a time," Renee said.
And they had to make a trip to Philadelphia. Jack was recommended to see a specialist at Wills Eye. They could have stayed at a nearby hotel but instead their doctor recommended the Watermark Concierge Suites.
Executive director there, Jennifer Kelley, said it's a retirement building that now has special rooms for medical patients. "We really wanted to give folks the opportunity to truly recover and not have to worry about some of the things you would at home or in a hotel," she said.
The cost is comparable to center city hotels at $165 per night, but Kelley said it's their amenities that set them apart.
There's free transportation to and from medical appointments, two meals a day, a kitchen in the suite and a wellness center. Plus, there's two doctors on staff and nurses available around-the-clock. "They can do dressing changes, call the physician, we have a lot of pharmacies we deal with locally, if they need medication in the night we can assist with that, also just basic assessment," Kelley said.
And if there's an emergency, the nurses can quickly get help. "It was reassuring, we didn't have to use it but it was very reassuring to know they were here," Renee Stewart said.
Kelley said they're seeing an increasing need for these special rooms. Right now they have six and they plan to open at least 20 more.
The Stewarts said Jack's prognosis is good. They'll be back in Philadelphia for a check up in a few weeks.
(Copyright ©2009 WPVI-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
July 17, 2008
Edition: CITY-D
Section: FEATURES MAGAZINE
Page: D01
Topics:
Index Terms:
Inq Daily Magazine
Going for the global Sudoku contest
Author: Howard Shapiro; Inquirer Staff Writer
Article Text:
The Philadelphia Inquirer, which last year sponsored the first national Sudoku championship, is shooting for the biggest numbers game of them all - the World Sudoku Championship.
The world championship draws the best players from about 40 nations, and The Inquirer is campaigning to host the 2010 contest in Philadelphia. "This appeals to our audience and to us. Our local ownership group loves to have the world's attention on Philadelphia and the whole region," said Inquirer publisher Brian P. Tierney, chief executive officer of Philadelphia Media Holdings, which owns The Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com.
Tierney made the announcement yesterday at a news conference at the company's Broad Street headquarters, with Mayor Nutter and puzzle master Will Shortz, who emceed last fall's national competition here and will do so again Oct. 25 at the Convention Center.
The first competition drew more than 1,100 contestants and spectators from 35 states (and one from Canada), and awarded $18,000 in prize money. In addition to the main competitions in easy, intermediate and advanced puzzles, entrants also vied in age categories. The youngest competitor was 6, the oldest, 87. Shortz called it the largest live puzzle tournament ever held in the United States.
"We loved when we saw in the research the broad range of people who enjoy this game," said Tierney, who also laid out details for this year's national contest, which will feature additional Sudoku puzzles and $20,000 in prize money.
It will also feature a special guest: Maki Kaji, president of Nikoli, a major Japanese publisher of puzzles. Kaji is the man who gave Sudoku its name, taking pieces from the bland Japanese title - "Only Single Numbers Allowed." Sudoku actually was born in the United States in 1979, in Dell Pencil Puzzles & Word Games, under the name "Number Place."
Last year's big winner was Thomas Snyder, 27, from Palo Alto, Calif., a postdoctoral student in bioengineering at Stanford University, who pocketed $10,000. He had already won the world championship in Prague, and he captured this year's world title in India.
Sudoku, which employs logic but requires no skill in mathematics, has spread across parts of the world in the past decade, so wildly popular that it became a staple of newspapers here and in Europe within months. It's among a package of six puzzles The Inquirer runs in the daily Magazine section on weekdays and Saturdays.
"We want this championship here in 2010," the mayor said yesterday, "and leading up to that, we're working on some other championships," referring to the city's professional sports franchises, especially the Phillies, currently in first place in the National League East.
Nutter said that Shortz, the New York Times puzzle editor and National Public Radio's puzzler, "added prestige to our efforts." He jokingly entreated Shortz and other New Yorkers to come here for such events and to stay, alluding to the city's declining population. In a conversation with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Nutter said, it was obvious that "he has more than enough New Yorkers, and would be more than happy to send a hundred thousand or so. New York would not even miss them."
Nutter took the podium as six contestants from last year's competition were plowing through a one-star Sudoku - that's the easy category. Jonathan Kustina, 14, of Huntingdon Valley, polished it off in 1 minute, 46 seconds. His grandmother had taught him to play, Kustina said later, "and as soon as I saw it, I just knew I wanted to do it."
Millions are hooked on Sudoku, whose object is to fill in all 81 squares in a grid. (You can play today's puzzle on Page 9 in this section.)
Each row, column and box of nine spaces must contain a digit from one through nine. Puzzles come with 17 to 33 squares already filled with a number, and players finish the game by determining which numbers go in the remaining spaces.
Shortz, considered America's leading puzzle expert, spent part of the afternoon giving tips to residents at Watermark, a retirement community on Logan Square, near 18th Street and the Parkway. "First rule - use a pencil, not a pen!" he told about 45 residents who were attempting the puzzle Kustina had solved so quickly.
Shortz showed how he arrived at filling in a few of the blanks, then went around to check the players' progress. In the back of the room, Ron Abrams, 76, who attacks Inquirer puzzles each day, dispatched the Sudoku with precision and was helping Ella Reiter, 97, who sat beside him.
Reiter does all The Inquirer puzzles except Sudoku, she said. "I know there's got to be something that you follow to do it," she said. "Now I see thereis a system."
"It's trial and error," Abrams said. Then, like a renegade: "AndI do it with a pen."
Sudoku Championship
The second annual Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship will take place Oct. 25 at the Convention Center, 11th and Arch Streets. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., competition at 11 a.m.
Entrance fees. To enter, adult Inquirer subscribers will pay $35; students and seniors (age 65 and over), $15; spectators, $7. Non-subscriber adults will pay $5; students and seniors, $20; and spectators, $10.
Pre-registration. Entrants can pre-register for the championship competition, or for a reception with other Sudoku enthusiasts, from 6 to 9 p.m., Oct. 24, at Independence Seaport Museum. Find details on the championship at www.philly.com/sudoku. Contact staff writer Howard Shapiro at 215-854-5727 orhshapiro@phillynews.com.
Caption:
Puzzle master Will Shortz helps Ida Honowitz (left) with her Sudoku puzzle while Mae Alfin works on hers at the Watermark retirement community. The Inquirer is seeking to host the 2010 World Sudoku Championship.
Photograph by: Feed Loader
Photograph by: Feed Loader
Photograph by: Feed Loader
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