Those of you who have read these annual summaries of life at Ann’s Choice over the years may remember that shopping carts (as in "not enough of…”) have been a recurring subject. This year’s review is no exception, but there’s good news: more shopping carts arrived in 2018! Will this be the end of 15 years of resident complaints about the availability of carts? Stay tuned….
Meanwhile, two anticipated major changes at Ann’s Choice were already hot news in 2018 even though it would be 2019 before we saw their resolution. The first was the construction of Chestnut Pointe, expanding assisted living options. As the project moved forward, updates about the new facility were the first agenda items at many of the 2018 Town Hall meetings. Construction continued through the year and by December Ann’s Choice had received the permanent certificate of occupancy. Furniture was being ordered, staff were being hired, and the connecting bridge from the second neighborhood to the new facility was under construction. Of course, there was that little matter of the concrete delivery truck that struct the bridge, but all was resolved and additional height clearance was included as part of the repairs.
The other big news was the change in our pharmacy provider. It was announced that the CVS pharmacy chain, which serves all of the other Erickson communities, would be replacing Horsham Square Pharmacy. Tom Friedman’s team has served our community since 2003 when the pharmacy/market was located in exceedingly cramped quarters in the lobby of Village Clubhouse. The actual change wouldn’t take place until 2019, but anticipation of it kept Executive Director Chris Donati busy answering important questions such as if CVS would continue with “Doggie Days” on Saturdays. No one can say we don’t have our priorities in order here.
What else happened in 2018?
- Long-time residents gathered to celebrate our community’s 15th Anniversary and the launch of the resident 15-Year Club.
- Prospect Hill Library’s main library benefitted from life cycle renovations as part of the updated look in Liberty Commons Clubhouse.
- MyErickson, a new Ann’s Choice-managed campus website, got its start.
- We had zero/zilch/no apartments available in independent living in November, a first for our community.
- The Ann’s Choice Halloween Parade was back on the October calendar after several years of more modest Halloween celebrations. It was a spooktacular success!
- Dawson Terrace’s Doris Fina was the first resident to hit the 3000 workout milestone at the Fitness Center. Congratulations, Doris!
- Rose Gardens’ third floor was converted to a Memory Care unit.
- New recycling protocols were instituted. (If this is news to you, call General Services for more information!)
- ACTV’s electronic bulletin board (Channel 978) was totally revamped.
- A new word was added to our vocabulary when the “pickleball” court opened in June.
- Thirty-three of our student employees became the newest beneficiaries of Ann’s Choice scholarships funded through the generosity of residents and staff. 177 students from the classes of 2015 - 2018 received $262,027 in scholarship payments.
- The Ann’s Choice Tribute Tree sprouted outside the Performing Arts Center, providing a new way to remember a loved one, honor a friend, and contribute to the Benevolent Care Fund.
- 100% of our employees completed Diversity & Inclusion Training.
- “Swift911”™️ was implemented for emergency text alerts.
- We donated over $370,000 to the Staff Appreciation Fund.
- A.C.T. (Ann’s Choice Theatre), founded by new Ivy Glen residents Jean and Bill Brenner, provided another theatrical option for resident performers and audience members.
- Forbes Magazine recognized Ann’s Choice as a “Great Place to Work.”
We wished “happy retirement” to two long time leaders and friends, Dr. Peter Schwartz of our Medical Center and Peter Cataldi, Director of Resident Life. Among the new faces on campus: Chad Couture, Associate Executive Director; Christa Segal, Senior Resident Services Manager; George Millili, Assistant Director of Dining Services; Crystale Withers, Memory Care Manager; and Anthony Petalino, Executive Chef, Signatures Restaurant; and Dr. Rita Reichard, Medical Center. Denise Cattalo was promoted to Director of Nursing. Vince Scala moved from his position as Associate Executive Director to be Director of General Services.
And that’s just a taste of 2018!
The Fitness Center continued to offer new ways to get our bodies in shape while ACLLA’s courses did the same for our brains. We donated food, toys, backpacks and even blood, and gave our time and treasure to countless organizations. We were wowed by the work of artists who exhibited at the new Gallery at Ann’s Choice in Liberty Commons. Not to be outdone, residents also created beautiful items to sell at our craft shows to benefit the BCF. We honed our driving skills through the AARP Smart Driver courses; borrowed hundreds of books, DVDs and magazines from our three campus libraries (always open!); benefitted from free tax help thanks to our resident AARP volunteer tax preparers; and enjoyed hours of films, concerts, lectures and home-grown entertainment in our PAC. We strutted our mutts and stretched our minds…made new friends and mastered new technology…danced and dined and discovered new ways to lead fulfilling lives…all without ever leaving our beautiful campus in this, our fifteenth year of community living.
Resources:
2018 Annual Report, Annagram, Erickson Tribune,“From the Desk of…” Newsletters, Cubby Chronicle
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