United Presbyterian Home

New Year?s Eve was celebrated at the United Presbyterian Home all day long. Up with Day Care children had a party with Health Center residents complete with snacks, party horns and funny glasses, which delighted all ages. Dietary staff prepared baked goodies for an afternoon of socializing to a crowd of coffee drinkers in the Town Center. They later organized an evening social with wine, cheese and hors d'oeuvres for those wanting to toast the old year?s end and celebrate new beginnings. Many residents and guests returned on New Year?s Day to dine on the delicious buffet of food prepared by Chef Cory and his staff.

Liz Terrones shared birthday treats with neighbors and friends in the Town Center on Friday to celebrate her belated birthday. Liz was a New Year?s baby born on Jan. 1.

Maxine Carris welcomed the 2015 New Year?s baby born at the Washington County Hospital to her family. Marin Grace Hilterbrand was born on Jan. 1 to parents Jennifer and Drew Hilterbrand of Ninilchik, Alaska. Marin?s grandparents are Vern and Melody Hammes of Keota, and Maxine is her great-grandmother. Jennifer and Drew are fishing guides in Alaska and spend time in the winter months visiting family in Iowa.

Esther Bordwell continued her 90th birthday celebration with an open house on Sunday afternoon in the Main Dining Room of the United Presbyterian Home. Esther?s children, Richard Bordwell of Washington, John Bordwell of Coon Rapids, Minn., Millie Youngquist of Washington, Bill Bordwell of Geneseo, Ill., and Lynda Bordwell of Cedar Rapids hosted the party in honor of their mother. Esther was surprised and delighted by all of her friends and acquaintances who braved the cold temperatures to wish her a happy birthday.

Mildred Statler celebrated her 100th birthday with family on Tuesday. Mildred?s daughters, Phyllis Ladehoff, Janice Gibson and Joyce Hardy along with her sister, Marjorie Kyle, shared birthday cake on special china plates that Mildred painted by hand. They are beautiful plates with light pink floral designs and a beautiful sentiment to share with family on such a special occasion.

The Fitness Center sponsored a weight management challenge done through the holidays as a motivational technique to help people make healthy choices during one of the most indulgent times of the year. The main goal was to help people maintain their weight by staying active and making smart food choices while enjoying a friendly little competition. Many of the participants still had fun enjoying treats of the season but made up for that with additional exercise sessions. The top weight loss percentage for residents went to Marion Turnipseed, with Lucy Landon in second place. Paula Brinning was first for employees, with Trevor Tschantz in second place.

Classics Et Cetera for Jan. 8, included an overture to Gaîeté Parisienne by Jacques Offenbach; Selections from ?The Snow Maiden Suite? by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; ?The Shepherds' Farewell? from ?The Childhood of Christ? by Hector Berlioz; ?If My Friends Could See Me Now? played by Quaker City ?Mummers? String Band; 1st Movement of ?Trout? Piano Quintet by Franz Schubert; ?Annen-Polka by Johann Strauss II (with the Vienna Choir Boys); ?The Fire Bell? polka mazur by Josef Strauss; ?Auld Lang Syne? played by the 1st Brigade Band.

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) composed a three-minute organ piece in 1850 titled ?The Shepherds? Farewell? depicting the shepherds saying goodbye to the holy family as they left for Egypt to escape the coming massacre of the children by King Herod. Berlioz kept adding to the small piece until he had an entire oratorio called ?The Childhood of Christ.? After adding a chorus to his original piece he played a hoax by performing it as though it were written by an imaginary 17th century composer named ?Ducré.? Critics who hated Berlioz?s music praised it highly. One lady went so far to say, ?Berlioz would never be able to write a tune as simple and charming as this little piece by old Ducré."