Documentary on UP Home

The CNN documentary featuring Washington Middle School students and United Presbyterian Home residents using the Google Virtual Reality Goggles is now ready for viewing through: https://youtu.be/XV1oe6Pbnbw This four-minute video shares the intergenerational project filmed last September in Washington, in which history meets technology and vice versa. Students assisted residents in viewing various places of interest using the latest technology and residents shared precious moments of history while CNN filmed the entire process. Hours of film are reduced down to a short story of the two generations at opposite ends of the spectrum learning from each other and sharing stories and it will warm the hearts of all who watch.

Biannual fitness assessments began last week with 36residents participating so far. Residents perform a series of exercises to determine upper and lower body strength, flexibility, balance, agility and walking endurance. Five participants took the test for the first time and one member took it for the 29th time. Individual results are compared to the previous year which provides members with their strengths and weaknesses in order to set goals for the coming months.

Dorothy Widmer treated friends, neighbors and staff to doughnuts Friday morning in celebration of her Saturday birthday.

Residents met for Saturday movie night to watch On Golden Pond. A summer on Golden Pond is filled with conflict and resolution involving both generational friction and the fear and anger at growing old. This movie has an all-star cast including Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn and Jane Fonda.

Weather-related no-school days this week allowed the opportunity for young people to practice their reading to the delight of residents. Sydney Williams and Sophia Lujan read books filled with the importance of character in front of a live microphone. The microphone added that special touch building their self- esteem when speaking in front of an audience.

Residents make the most of the frigid temperatures by exercising in the Fitness Center and then sharing coffee with friends in the Town Center.

Classics Et Cetera for Jan.24, 2019, included the overture to 'The Council of the Gods” by Franz Joseph Haydn; 'Some Enchanted Evening” by Rodgers & Hammerstein, performed by Ezio Pinza; 'Anitra's Dance” from 'Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 by Edvard Grieg; 'Souvenir of Puerto Rico” by Louis Moreau Gottschalk; 'Tango” from 'Scent of a Woman” by Carlos Gardel; 'Leave the Dishes in the Sink, Ma” performed by Spike Jones and His City Slickers; 1st Movement of Symphony No. 3 ('Rhenish”) by Robert Schumann; 'The Free Lance” march by John Philip Sousa.

The German composer Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was assured by his piano teacher that he could become Europe's finest concert pianist. That expectation was dashed, however, when Robert permanently injured his hands by using a self-made device to stretch his finger-thumb span. Seemingly undaunted, he turned to composition instead. For several years he wrote only for piano, but his wife, who was his teacher's daughter and a pianist herself, lovingly persuaded him to compose for orchestra. It was some of the best advice he ever received; his four beautiful symphonies are considered among the best in the Romantic repertoire.