The time has come for the large transportation bus to head to the mechanic to have the new engine installed. Starting Monday July 23rd, the bus will be down for approximately two to three weeks. Please be patient during this process and remember to call in your reservations for ALL outings as seating will be limited to 14 people per trip. All trips will require residents to call x12905 for reservations.*
Next to traffic collisions, falls kill more people than any other kind of accident. Nearly 6,000 people die each year as a result of falls on the job or someplace other than their home. Falls can become costly accidents when you consider the suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and lost production. At work, most falls result from slips or trips at floor level, not from high places.
Avoid slips. Keep an eye out for hazardous walking conditions including hidden steps, smooth surfaces, wet, icy or oily surfaces, and loose flooring, carpets or rugs. Avoid trips. Keep your work area neat and orderly, watch for things such as furniture in high traffic areas, items on floors, drawers left open, electrical cords in open areas, and objects left on stairways. Avoid falls. You can prevent falls by being aware of your environment and by removing potential hazards when you see them. Ensure lighting is sufficient in the area. Avoid “makeshift” step stools like boxes or furniture. Use a stepladder. Repair or replace worn stair treads or unraveled carpet. Lower yourself gently from high areas such as flatbeds or work stages. Never jump. Be aware of the length of your hems and cuffs so they don’t get caught while walking.
Know how to use a ladder. Follow these tips to prevent ladder falls:
When it comes to preventing slips trips and falls, your state of mind in approaching a situation can make the difference. Falls occur because people don’t expect them. The more you anticipate and guard against falls, the fewer you’ll have.
Our 3rd Annual Resident Art Show is just around the corner and if you have never been to our resident art show, you won’t want to miss it! From wood work to ceramics, photography to acrylic/water paintings, sewing to knitting and much more, it’s always such inspiration to see the talent. The art show will be taking place on Thursday, February 9th from 10AM-4PM and Friday, February 10th from 10AM-2PM in the Life Center. Please take time to pass on through and enjoy the art show with your neighbors. Some pieces will be available for purchase. 30 percent of all sales are then donated to the Resident Assistance Fund on campus. We hope to see you there!
Valentine’s Day is here! Join us for our Dancing with the Stars dinner on Tuesday, February 14th in the Life Center. We will be celebrating with the 11 piece Havin’ Fun Band with dinner included. Tickets are limited and must be purchased before the dinner (prior to Feb. 13th). You can find tickets at all dining venues on campus beginning Tuesday, February 7th for $11.00.
If you missed the first Game Classes for All with Marc Adelman, be sure to make the next one! Marc will be teaching folks how to play Rummy Cube. If you would like to join the group and just play, that’s fine with us! The next class will be taking place on Wednesday, February 15th at 10AM in the Recreation Center. No sign up required, just show up.
Interested in showcasing your furry friend at our upcoming Dog Show? Please contact Didi Cruz at x18473 for details. This is a fun event with resident judges, treats for your pet and prizes to win! We’d love to have you!
A few changes have been made since our February Synopsis was distributed. The Paradise Valley Community College Readers Theatre Group performance of “Misconceptions” scheduled for Friday, February 24th, has been cancelled.
Also, the movie and lunch trip scheduled for Tuesday, February 28th has been cancelled due to the Black History Month Celebration taking place on campus the very same day. This trip will be rescheduled in March. Please make note of these changes and we look forward to bringing them back to the calendar.
For any questions, please call Didi at x18473 or Monica at x18526.
Machu Picchu by Georgianna Palmer
(We climbed with friends the stones of Machu Picchu, one of the Wonders of the World.)
In the late 1970’s, my husband Mike and I were members of the Paradise Valley Racquet Club. We met interesting couples there with whom we played tennis and with whom we socialized.
We became very close friends with one of the couples that we met. Suresh was a physician who was born in India; his wife Trudy was a vivacious redhead born in Germany.
They had two bright and charming children, Miriam and Robert, both of whom I adored.
Suresh was invited to attend a conference of physicians to be held in Lima, Peru. Suresh and his family urged us to accompany them. We jumped at the chance, not only to enjoy the company of our good friends, but to enlarge our experiences of the world.
We had never seen such poverty as we saw in Lima. Children followed us everywhere begging for a handout. Young mothers sat on blankets cradling their tiny babies, holding their hands out, their eyes entreating pitifully. Our guide warned us not to be too generous or they would tell their friends and we would have no peace. Miriam and Robert could hardly believe what they saw. They had been raised in luxury with private schools, tennis, and riding lessons. They were learning about how others in the world lived. It was an education for us all.
We also got the opportunity to see in the Andes one of the Wonders of the World–Machu Picchu–a city built by ancient Inca tribes on the top of a high, steep mountain.
The Incan civilization began in the 13th century until they were conquered by the Spanish in 1572. Their religion was centered around the worship of Inti, their sun god. They built Machu Picchu in honor of this god. They mined stones from a quarry at the site, lined them up and shaped them to fit together perfectly, so perfectly that they have remained in place for centuries without the help of mortar.
To be able to visit this ancient city we traveled by bus which spiraled the steep mountain roads. There was a young boy who stood silently by the door of our bus as we boarded. He could have been about 10 or 11 years old. He watched us with sad eyes. We saw him again on the next level of our spiral up the mountain, and we realized that he had run straight up the mountain to wave at us in the bus as we turned through the hairpin curves.. On the next spiral level, there he was again. He was wearing rubber goulashes. He appeared again every time we made our turn all the way to the top.
After our tour, we boarded our bus and spiraled down. We saw him again each time we circled the mountain on the way down. At the bottom, there he was with his hand out as we stepped out the bus door. Of course, everyone gave him at least a dollar and smiled at him appreciatively. This enterprising young man must have gone home with what was to him a fortune.
We returned to Lima and took some pictures of the city and the natives. Everyone on the street seemed to be carrying bags of wares to sell to the tourists. We noticed that many of the men and women wore distinctive hats with high crowns. These hats, we were told, designated a special status of which they were particularly proud. They were mestizos, which means half-breeds. They walked proudly, aware of their specialness.
The trip was quite an adventure. My husband seemed to enjoy that everyone on the trip assumed that he was a doctor, letting him pretend and enjoy a special status of his own. He gave fleeting thought to changing careers.
Spring is in the air and that means our next Buzy Bee bazaar is coming up shortly! The sale will take place on Thursday, April 14th from 10AM-2PM outside the Bistro facing Plaza North. The Buzy Bees have been working hard at creating new crafts for the sale that you surely won’t want to miss. Not only will we have crafts available but there will also be ceramics for sale and those yummy baked goods. This is the time of the year that we ask for baked good donations from residents and staff on campus. If you are interested in donating one of your specialties, we ask that you call Didi at x8473 or Monica at x8526 and let us know what you will be contributing for the sale.
Not only is the sale taking place but there is so much more to come in April. We all know the song “Take Me Out to The Ballgame” right? The Diamondbacks’ regular season is also upon us and we will be hitting Chase Field on Wednesday, April 6th to see the D-Backs take on the Colorado Rockies. Boarding passes for this trip will be available at the Welcome Center for $45.00.
Arizona Broadway Theatre Presents: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – we will be heading to the Broadway Theatre on Saturday, April 16th to catch this fun musical. Boarding passes are available at the Welcome Center for $68.00. Lunch is included in the fee. Ready, Set.. GO get those tickets!
Are you a Veteran from WWII? If so, we will be hosting our very first organizational meeting Saturday, April 2nd at 2PM in the Admin. Conference Room. No need to sign up, we want to welcome you and meet together.
Look for all the other upcoming events such as…
Fashion Square Mall, The Chinese Cultural Center, The Phoenix Symphony Pops & Coffee Classics, The John Waddell Sculpture Garden in Cornville, Arizona, Cliff Castle Casino, Wells Fargo History Museum and much more! Look out for the synopsis sheets as well that are distributed the first week of the month. These sheets have all the details about the trips, including where to sign up, if a boarding pass is needed and numbers to call with any questions. They are located in the main lobby of your building where the weekly sheets are placed.
As always, if you have an idea, suggestion or want to join in on creating the fun, slip a note in our idea box located outside of the Recreation Office. Happy Spring! *
