Halcyon House News

Pastor Jason W. Collier with the Churches of Ainsworth and Crawfordsville led our weekly service on Sunday. The sermon was titled ?The Highlight of Heaven? and included Scripture readings from Matthew 5:14-16. Linda McNiel provided piano music for the service.

Avalon House residents have been celebrating the month of July and the Independence and birth of the United States of America as an independent nation by singing patriotic songs at the Sing-Along. Some come to sing and others just enjoy listening to the music. Monday night at the movies was ?Many Rivers to Cross? starring Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker. It?s love at first fight as Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker star in this adventure comedy packed with woodsman gumption, battle-of-the sexes spunk and battle-for-survival skirmishes with Shawnee warriors.

With RAGBRAI scheduled to roll into town on Friday, during trivia at Movers and Thinkers we shared some fun facts and history of how RAGBRAI got its start. In the beginning, when a few friends got together for a casual bike ride across Iowa in 1973, no one imagined that a tradition would be born, let alone that it would become the longest, largest and oldest bicycle touring event in the world. The route this year at a total of 419.9 miles (is the third shortest route in history) and is the 15th easiest route in history (based on mileage and feet of climb). To the delight of the residents we have been enjoying the nice weather with a picnic on the Garden View Patio. Monday, 17 residents enjoyed ham and cheese sandwiches with chips, fruit, and homemade mint chocolate brownies for dessert. On Tuesday 19 residents decided that peanut butter and pickle or jelly or banana sandwiches along with fruit, chips, and dessert was what they wanted on the menu for another enjoyable day outside. On Thursday, Avalon House and Independent Living residents enjoyed musical entertainment with Keys and Squeeze.

Halcyon House residents, team members, and the greater community made their fourth stop on the Blue Zone journey to Loma Linda, California, Wednesday, July 27, in the Morrison Center at Halcyon House. Blue Zone participants enjoyed Californian wine, while listening to Genie Newbanks, New Pioneer Coop, Customer Relations Representative, present information regarding products that are locally and organically grown sold at a grocery store in Iowa City. Genie brought food samples, quinoa salad, cheese, peaches, cherries, purple carrots, smoked fish and lots more for the Blue Zone participants to sample. People who live in the Blue Zones have been recognized as being the longest - healthiest-living people in the world. Blue Zone residents have a diet high in plant-based foods. Genie shared information about the healthy style of residents of Loma Linda, California, a Blue Zone recognized community.

Marylin Weatherman recently celebrated her 80th birthday when her family got together on Sunday, July 17. Her sons from North Liberty and Mt. Pleasant along with her daughter from Houston, Texas, all joined her to celebrate the occasion. Her big gift was going to see Dolly Parton in concert on the night of her birthday, in Cedar Rapids.

Lois Greiner also enjoyed several days of celebration with her family. Daughter, Teresa from Urbandale; Sons Ken and Russ of Keota; son Ben and his wife Kim of Edmund, Oklahoma; son Matt and his wife Janet of Kennsington, Maryland along with her 10 grandchildren were all in Washington for a big birthday celebration. Granddaughter, Kathryn turned 7; son, Russ turned 50; and Lois celebrated 75 years. The 18 of them spent four days together and a lot of fun, games, food, and more food!! They had family pictures taken during their time together. The best part of the weekend was going to the fountain in Central Park and the kids running around and around it as Lois used to do when she was young. They were joined for lunch on Sunday by Lois? sister and her husband, Joan and Roger Waggoner and niece Linda Fountain from Davenport.

Family visitors in July at MaryAnn Hennigan?s apartment were Lindley and Ann Godwin with sons Robert and Daniel of North Carolina over the Fourth of July weekend. A week later grandson Micheal and wife Holli from Nashville, Tennessee, stopped by for a visit. July 15 - 20 daughter Barbara and son Joe came for a six-day visit. Another granddaughter Mary Catherine Hennigan and friend stopped on July 22 for lunch at the Applewood Bistro.

Halcyon House is happy to welcome Rose Mary Worley to her new townhome on campus. She comes to us from her home in Washington.