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The fountains at RiverVue in the News
Tuckahoe, NY - Tuckahoe veterans are sharing life lessons learned in service as part of a nationwide project spearheaded by Watermark Retirement Communities. The local veterans all live at The 
Fountains at RiverVue, One RiverVue Place, where services are planned to honor area veterans this Veterans Day.
Helen Voris was a volunteer in the service during WWII. Helen explained that she drove the ambulance and the motor car that transported service men and women to and from the boat yard. She was stationed in this Lido Beach Hotel where she received her orders.
World War II revitalized the hotel. The Navy used it as a discharge station when the war ended.
Helen said the life lesson she learned in service is: “Never stop caring.”
Betty Caputo was a Member of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps, or WAAC, in WWII. She said women of today should join the service for the "wonderful experiences…you make a lifetime of friends."
Sal Sgroe served in the Army from 1941-1945. He said the Army changed his life. “Makes me appreciate the fact that I can do something for my country,” he said. Sal is pictured at left in uniform with his wife.
Dozens of sage life lessons from veterans coast to coast are published for public viewing at www.watermarkcommunities.com/veteransday. Stories and comments from other veterans are also welcome there.
The Fountains at RiverVue welcomes the public to visit the community and meet resident veterans on November 11th. There will be a Remembrance Ceremony at the Parkway Oval at 11:00am along with visits from veterans from the American Legion. At 2:00pm, veterans from the Knights of Columbus will visit. At 3:00pm, The Fountains will host an old fashioned Veterans Day Dance with entertainment and refreshments. The public is welcome with advance reservations. Call 914-768-6000.
Matchsticks are no match for Sal Sgroe, 95
Tuckahoe, NY -- Even in this age of “green living,” discarded and disregarded still describe the destiny of so many common household items--unless, of course, Sal Sgroe, can get his hands on them. And get his hands on them he does.
At The Fountains at RiverVue, the Tuckahoe retirement community where Sal lives, this nonagenarian recycles common materials such as matches, stones, cigar boxes and cardboard into the most amazing creations, much to the delight of his neighbors and friends.
“Mr. Sgroe’s enthusiasm for his hobby is truly inspiring,” said JulieAnn Vedovino, community life director for The Fountains. “But he is not alone here in his enthusiasm,” she added. “The Fountains at RiverVue is full of residents who, like Sal, are having the times of their lives discovering new hobbies and doing the things they enjoy most.”
So prolific is Sal with his glue gun, an entire corner of a main floor room of The Fountains has been dedicated to a display of his work. Not surprisingly, the gallery of miniatures has become a favorite stop on tours of the community.
Sal, who serves on his community’s welcoming committee, enjoys telling guests about his hobby. The most fortunate visitors catch Sal in the act. By summer’s end, Sal expects to add the final straw to his current project: a horse and buggy with handcarved wheels.
Earlier this year, Sal completed a miniature replica of a baseball stadium, complete with players on the field and fans in the stands. The piece will be featured in an upcoming edition of Expressions, a calendar celebrating active aging and the arts, published by Watermark Retirement Communities.
Among Sal’s other pieces on display are a windmill, lighthouse, merry-go-round, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, biplanes, boats, Eiffel Tower, and a well, to name a few.
The display is a good reason to visit The Fountains at RiverVue. But it’s not the only reason. The true masterpieces are its residents. Like the materials Sal uses for his art, these seniors are re-purposing themselves in a variety of ways, taking advantage of a vibrant community atmosphere and opportunities for brain and body fitness.
Resident Max Yablon, for example, is teaching French to peers in classes available on site through Watermark University. His student, Judith Adwokat, who had been facing speech challenges, is thriving in class, writing and enunciating in her new-found language. Like the French class, many Watermark University classes are free and open to area seniors.
If you go: The Fountains at RiverVue is located at One RiverVue Place in Tuckahoe.
To tour the community and see Sal’s work, along with other residents living life to the fullest, or to get a current course catalog for Watermark University, call 914-768-6000.
Sal Sgroe, 95, displays his Field of Dreams, one of many projects he’s constructed from everyday items like matchsticks.
Tuckahoe, NY, April 20, 2010 – Five local moms with years and years of experience are among 150+ mothers nationwide who are speaking out in time for Mother’s Day. Even though they raised their own children decades ago, the sage advice of these moms is just as meaningful today as it was some sixty years ago. In between managing today’s hectic family schedules, working, carpooling, cooking PLUS diaper changes, young moms in 2010 can use all the advice they can get.
The collective advice ranges from tips on raising kids to advice for the moms’ personal lives. For example, Tuckahoe resident Mary Pinto, who raised 10 children in the Bronx, advises: “Give each child equal care. Let your children be a part of both your daily activities and the special things you do. This will make your children feel important. When they make “mistakes” just smile and say ‘you won’t do it next time, it was only an error.’ Remember to reward them for their good deeds with a hug and a kiss.”
Advice of all five Tuckahoe mothers follows in its entirety:
Look, listen and participate is the best advice I can give to young mothers of today. We need to know who our children’s friends are and the places they frequent. Make time to be at that baseball game or be a Girl Scout Leader. Be creative to help your children use their free time and allow them to think. Children need to put down the computer games and shut the televisions. Last of all remember to take time for yourself. -Anne Soll – Mother of 3 – Raised in Bronx, NY
My advice to young mothers is to listen and observe your children. Seek out help if you feel a need in raising your children. As a working mother I rarely had time to myself. My husband and I would go away on weekends with our children and have them participate in activities that we enjoyed. By doing this the children were exposed to activities that they would never have tried. I found this a great help being a working mother. -Jeanne Bravata – Mother of 3 – Raised in Brooklyn, NY
I am a mother of two totally different children, an Indian and a princess (both girls). It is important to pay attention to their individual needs. The best advice I can give to young mothers is to know your children’s friends and where they are at all times. Many young mothers forget that they need some personal time. Your spouse can be helpful in this department – even if it is just for an hour to meet a friend for a cup of coffee and some adult conversation. As a young mother I would take time to pamper myself – have my hair done, get a manicure or just to take a leisurely bath without interruption. -Esther Magid – Mother of 2 – Raised in Brooklyn, NY
It is important for a young mother to stay involved in your children’s activities and to know who their friends are. Show them love and support! Remember to take time for yourself. In my home Monday night was mom’s night. I would go bowling with a group of friends while my husband held down the fort. My children knew that at 9pm on Monday it was their job to Plug in the Coffee Pot – after bowling, mom would be home for a cup of coffee and an evening social hour with the bowling team. Friends can be a wonderful support group! -Betty Caputo – Mother of 5 – Bronx, NY
Give each child equal care. Let your children be a part of both your daily activities and the special things you do. This will make your children feel important. When they make “mistakes” just smile and say “you won’t do it next time, it was only an error”. Remember to reward them for their good deeds with a hug and a kiss. When my children said they were bringing an unexpected guest for dinner, instead of getting upset I would say “add a little more water to the soup”. So remember, when things get a little crazy you can always add more water to the soup! -Mary Pinto – Raised 10 Children – Bronx, NY
All five of the local senior mom experts interviewed for this project reside at The Fountains at RiverVue, the full-service retirement community located at One RiverVue Place.
April 1, 2010, Tuckahoe, NY – April Johnson has rejoined The Fountains at RiverVue, One RiverVue Place, as Executive Director, announced Mike Hughes , a Managing Director with Watermark Retirement Communities. The reappointment coincided with Watermark’s March 1 return, resuming property management after a hiatus of nearly five years. Sunrise Senior Living managed the community from July of 2005 through February of 2010.
“April is a seasoned leader who is a great match for The Fountains at RiverVue, and we’re delighted to have her back” said Hughes, who first placed Johnson in the position back in November 2002.
Johnson has a dozen years of experience in the health care/senior living industry, having received her first appointment as executive director for a community in New Jersey at the age of 25. She earned her MBA in Management from Farleigh Dickinson University in 2001 and her BS in Health Management from Howard University in 1997. She became a Certified Assisted Living Administrator in New Jersey in 2000, and a New York Adult Home Administrator in 2002.
“I am delighted and excited to lead the Fountains at RiverVue again as Executive Director. The banner on my door proclaiming ‘Welcome back’ as well as all the hugs from residents and associates made me feel like I was coming home to a family reunion,” Johnson said.
“Watermark is a growing company with a gold standard,” she added. “I look forward to enhancing our standing in this area by ensuring that we offer a unique brand of superb care and training. In an extremely competitive market, I believe Watermark’s return to the helm gives us a distinct edge.”
The Fountains at RiverVue offers living choices that include assisted living services at the Inn and memory support care at The Gardens, both located at One RiverVue Place. Watermark emphasizes choice and individuality, along with vital programming for brain and body fitness. For more information, call 914-768-6000.Watermark Retirement Communities Reappointed as Manager for Fountains Portfolio
Watermark Retirement Communities, Inc., formerly Fountains Retirement Communities, has been reappointed as manager for 16 retirement communities previously managed by Sunrise Senior Living, announced David N. Barnes, President/CEO of Watermark Retirement Communities.
“Watermark was the obvious choice for managing the Fountains portfolio because we know the communities so well,” said Barnes.
After selling 18 properties within the Fountains brand to Sunrise in 2005, Fountains Retirement Communities was renamed Watermark Retirement Communities. Over the past four years, with his partner David Freshwater, former Fountains CEO, Barnes has grown Watermark’s management portfolio to 11 communities plus three home health agencies in six states. The addition of the Fountains portfolio brings Watermark’s total managed communities to 27 in 16 states.
“We very much look forward to the coming weeks and months as we personally welcome back so many former residents and associates into the family of Watermark communities. It feels like we’re putting the band back together,” stated Barnes.
Watermark Retirement Communities has owned and operated successful, innovative senior housing communities for more than 20 years. According to Barnes, Watermark is committed to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive and a culture where everyone is encouraged to express their creativity, passion and inner child – to express their true selves. As a result, Barnes says, Watermark communities are full of spirit, character, compassion and adventure.
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The Fountains at RiverVue | One RiverVue Place | Tuckahoe, New York 10707 | 1-914-574-2393
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