535 E. North St., Suite E
Bradley, IL 60915
815-935-1992
www.gardant.com
At A Glance
Pumpkin Mug Cake Recipe
Cambridge Fall Festival
Managed by
NOVEMBER 2019
From the Desk of the CEO
Rod Burkett
I recently attended a national assisted living industry
conference, and the opening keynote speech was entitled,
“Superhero Leadership – How Everyday People Can Have an
Extraordinary Impact”. The speech was excellent, and it
reinforced something for me that I know happens every day. It’s the fact that
we have superheroes among us, performing their amazing feats of courage in
our assisted living communities every day. You may not notice their
superhero capes at first, but look closely and they are definitely there.
Our nurses, nurse aides, culinary staff, housekeepers, maintenance staff,
activities staff and administrative team are performing great feats of love,
compassion and connection on a daily basis! They carry out challenging and
detailed tasks and services daily, and sometimes this may stretch them to their
limits… but their focus is always on helping someone else. That is the short
definition of HERO.
The dictionary definition of hero is: a person noted for courageous acts or
nobility of character; or a person who, in the opinion of others, has special
achievements, abilities or personal qualities and is regarded as a role model or
ideal. This description fits the hundreds of staff members that engage with our
residents and families on a daily basis. Our company’s purpose is to invite
these people to join a daily mission of doing something extraordinary
together.
The speaker also incorporated into his presentation the stars we see in the
nighttime sky. He stated that the stars we see don’t get thank you notes for
doing what they do… they just keep shining. For many years, our company
has honored our heroes as “shining stars”. These human shining stars also
aren’t giving of themselves for the recognition or notoriety… they do it for
the benefit of others. We are forever grateful that they connect our mission
with their passion for caring on a daily basis, and that they keep on shining!
Cambridge House of O’Fallon
844 Cambridge Blvd., O’Fallon IL 62269
(618)624-9900 / www.gardant.com/cambridgehouseofallon
CAMBRIDGE CALLER
IN THE NEWS Counting Our Blessings
Rick Banas
This year, we celebrate Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 28.
It is a time to express our gratitude and give thanks for our many blessings.
Did you know that . . .
The first Thanksgiving was a Harvest Festival that reportedly lasted for three days.
The woman behind “Mary Had a Little Lamb” apparently is responsible for Thanksgiving Day being
recognized as a national holiday. Poet Sarah Joseph Hale wrote letter after letter to President Abraham
Lincoln until he declared in 1863 that the fourth Thursday in November would be “a day of Thanksgiving
and praise”.
The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades featured singers, celebrities, puppets riding on floats, and
animals from the Central Park Zoo. The first giant helium balloon did not appear until 1927.
Only male turkeys gobble.
The traditional cornucopia was a curved goat’s horn filled with fruits and grain.
Black Friday is not only a busy day for shoppers. It is reportedly the busiest day of the year for plumbers.
There are two towns in the United States named Turkey - Turkey, Texas and Turkey, North Carolina.
There also is a Turkey Creek, Arizona and a Turkey Creek, Louisiana. Turkey, Texas, which is located 100
miles southeast of Amarillo, is the home of the Bob Willis Museum.
Pumpkin pie is not the most popular Thanksgiving dessert. The American Pie Council says more
individuals in the United States prefer apple pie.
The first broadcast of a Thanksgiving Day football game took place in 1934. The game pitted my
hometown Chicago Bears against the Detroit Lions. The game was played at a stadium located on the
campus of the University of Detroit, my college alma mater. The Bears won 19 to 16.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving 2019, we express our thanks to all of the residents of the senior living, assisted
living and memory care communities that Gardant manages for placing your trust in us. We also express our
thanks to all of the staff members who are dedicated to providing residents with the Love, Compassion and
Dignity they deserve in addition to the help and assistance they need.
Be sure to take time on Thanksgiving Day and throughout the year to count your blessings and give thanks.
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WELLNESS Diabetes Awareness Month
Stephen Harris
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the
United States. One in 10 Americans have diabetes — that’s more
than 30 million people. Another 84 million adults in the U.S. are at
high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. To raise awareness about
diabetes and healthy living, Gardant Management is proudly
participating in American Diabetes Month.
Depending on your age, weight, and other factors, you may be at
higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The good news is you can
prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. All you have to do is decide...
Decide to stay at a healthy weight. Decide to eat well. Decide to be
active. If you’re at-risk, paying attention to living a healthy lifestyle
or getting early treatment can, for some, actually return blood sugar
levels to a normal range. So, take a breath—and then take action!
To help prevent type 2 diabetes:
Watch your weight
Eat healthy – Choose items from our Eat Smart Live Strong
menu.
Participate in our exercise program
Your risk for diabetes is greater if you have one or more of the
following:
Are 45 or older
Are Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American,
or Pacific Islander
Have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes
Are overweight
Are physically inactive
Have high blood pressure or take medicine for high blood
pressure
Have low HDL cholesterol and/or high triglycerides
Had diabetes during pregnancy
Have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
For more information, ask your nurse about diabetes.
Recipe Corner
Pumpkin Mug Cake
1 egg
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Pinch of salt
Directions Crack egg into a microwave-
safe, large mug. Whisk in
brown sugar, flour, pumpkin
puree, white sugar, vanilla
extract, cinnamon, ginger,
nutmeg and salt. Whisk until
well blended.
Cook in microwave on high
until puffed and golden, about
1 minute 15 seconds.
Top with whipped cream for
presentation.
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LIFESTYLE
NOTICE
2020 Income and Insurance Documents
Please submit copies of all 2020 income award letters and insurance
premium notices to the business office and/or Move in Coordinator
no later than December 15, 2019. Social Security award letters will
be arriving in the mail over the next month. Please contact your
pension, annuity, and supplemental insurance company to request
copies of 2020 notices if not received by the deadline.
Please contact the Business Office Manager, Move in Coordinator,
or Administrator if you have any questions or concerns.
Birthdays & New Arrivals
Resident Birthdays:
Mary V. 11/7
Robert (Mac) M. 11/13
Jackie G. 11/13
Doyle W. 11/16
Jackie B. 11/21
La Verne F. 11/23
Sharon P. 11/24
Peggy C. 11/24
Shirley A. 11/28
Dottie S. 11/28
Shirley A. D. 11/28
Betty R. 11/29
Welcome Home
New Residents:
Daniel Simunich
Lauretta Tornatore
Eugene Layeski
A Note from the Administrator
Scott Douglas
We are all patiently awaiting the work to be done on the parking lot.
They will be stripping and laying new pavement sometime this fall
but we don’t have an exact day yet.
We are also getting new pipes in the attic for the fire sprinkler
system very soon. This means we will be seeing lots of workmen
around the building and those of you who live on the third floor
may hear noises coming from above.
We will send notices to all residents as soon as we know when these
projects have a definite date.
Thank you all for your patients.
We would like to thank Sandy Hangsleben for
being our Secret Shopper for October. Sandy
chose housekeeper, Cathy Kerns as the Golden
Ticket recipient for all the kind, caring and
considerate work she does for the residents.
Congratulations Cathy!
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WHAT’S HAPPENING Horoscope
Aquarius (1/20-2/18)
You have an increased need for
change and excitement.
Pisces (2/19-3/20)
Extra charisma and sexual magnetism
make this a good time for your love
life and social life.
Aries (3/21-4/19)
Initiate the final stages of long-term
goals to achieve them!
Taurus (4/20-5/20)
Choose your battles carefully. A
compromise may be best.
Gemini (5/21-6/20)
Step back from uncertain situations
and take the time to think.
Cancer (6/21-7/22)
An inner calm and balance will add
harmony to your relationships.
Leo (7/23-8/22)
A buildup of tension may lead you to
assert yourself.
Virgo (8/23-9/22)
Watch your tendency towards laziness
Libra (9/23-10/21)
Use your self-confidence and positive
attitude to make a good impression.
Scorpio (10/22-11/21)
Channel aggression into passion.
Sagittarius (11/22-12/21)
Use your birthday as a time for a fresh
start. Harvest that energy.
Capricorn (12/22-1/19)
Your competitive, yet cooperative
attitude make this a good time to start
new projects.
Cambridge Fall Fest Welcomes Neighborhood Friends
Cambridge House of Swansea
Cambridge House of Swansea is nestled among acres of
neighborhoods and subdivisions that have blossomed within the past
10 years. There is a natural, friendly neighborhood feeling and
comradery that permeates our tiny section of the world. Each year
when fall arrives, the parking lot at Cambridge is swarmed by kids,
young people, adult and older adults looking for good ole fashion
fun... chili, funnel cakes, balloon animals and live music! It’s the
Cambridge Annual Fall Fest! For two hours, this tiny lot brings
together the people-next-door for good ole fashion harmonious
fellowship. In a world that can be full of chaos and turmoil, it is
refreshing and wholesome.
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Happening in the House Activities for November
Door Decorating Contest: All November long
Get out the leaves, nuts and turkeys Make a display on your door and be judged. You can go traditional,
elegant or quirky. Just have fun! We will be going around to judge the Fall Decorated doors on November 27th
with the winner to be announced on November 29th at the Start Off the Holidays party with Dave Sheppard.
Prizes are gift cards from Walmart.
Stay Active All Year with the YMCA: Friday, November 1st at 2:00p.m.
Come down and discover if you qualify to attend the Water Walking or the Aqua Tone Classes at the YMCA,
for FREE. We will be discussing the Silver Sneakers program that many of the insurances companies pay for
to keep their clients healthy. Is your insurance one of them?
Looking Glass Playhouse Presents ”Rumors”: Wednesday, November 6th at 6:30p.m.
Join us for a wonderful comedy about the mishaps at a dinner party. The LGPH players always give us a great
time.
Trip to the Butterfly House: Thursday, November 7th at 9:30a.m.
We will be going to the Butterfly House at Faust Park in Chesterfield. Admissions for Seniors 65 and older is
$5.00 we will have lunch at a restaurant to be named later. (I’m still looking)
Veteran's Day Parade : Monday, November 11th at 12:30p.m.
We will drive in the Veteran's Day Parade, you do not have to be a Veteran to ride along just a proud
American.
Pre-Holiday Planning Party : Tuesday, November 12th at 3:30
I have had a lot of residents who have said they want to do Secret Santa this year and many would like to have
a Cookie Exchange. If you would like to get in on these and other Holiday activities please show up to this
party where we will get the Holidays off to a great start.
SUDOKU PUZZLE
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SUDOKU ANSWERS
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