time s mer tion Sum bra ele C

- Trips to the beach - Never having to mow pull weeds again or - No housework - Winery tour and da y trips - Month to month lea utilities included se with - Picnics in the park - Ice-cold lemonade

So many things to d

o. . .
- No need to clean the g utters - Carefree days - Ice cream socials & p icnics in the park - Music, Music, M usic - Tend to f lowers in th e garden - Move to Pines Villa ge Apartments

Wish You e! ere Her W

Judy Bornstein
Resident Spotlight
Joy is Judy Bornsteins favorite word. And as far as joy is concerned, its clear she gives as good as she gets. Judy describes herself as almost 75 going on seven, because I have so much fun in life. Its like Im at recess all the time. The Meridian Woods resident is up at four-thirty each morning to enjoy the quiet promise of a new day, ready to bound enthusiastically from one activity to another. Her primary passion is singing. I dearly love to sing, she says. I would rather sing than eat and I love to eat. She turned to hospice singing following the death of one of her daughters. Judy is a volunteer member of the Visiting Nurse Associations hospice choir. I know that music can often soothe people when the spoken word cannot, she says. In addition to singing, Judy is active at the Valpo Methodist Church where she gives her time and talents in 11 ministries or groups. She draws and paints in an art class offered through Pines Village each week at the Campbell Street Caf. She could never draw a straight line with a ruler, and is amazed to have mastered shadow and perspective through pencil drawings, watercolors, acrylics and oil paintings. In her free time she walks, rides her bike, reads, knits, and relaxes with family and friends. She is so busy, in fact, that she doesnt have time to write the two books she has started including one titled Joy in the Journey. Those will have to wait until her sedentary years, she says with a delighted laugh. old. Attitude is everything, Judy says. I love being She moved six months later, with the satisfaction of knowing that shed never again have to worry about maintenance in her Meridian Woods home. Judy exchanges about a dozen emails a day with friends and family. Shed like to knit and read more, but those, like her writing, will have to wait. I have a TV, she says. And all I do is dust it. I dont have time to watch it! My life at Meridian Woods is magical, she says. We moved here as strangers, became friends and now are family, To have neighbors who are friends is a gift that I never take for granted. For Judy, life is one endless opportunity. You can see the glass as half empty or half full. In my case, I see the glass and I smile at the possibilities, she says. My glass is overflowing with the joy of being content. As we age, the best gift we can give our children and grandchildren is the peace, joy, and contentment with which we live our own lives, she concludes.

Meet Sharon!
Volunteer Spotlight
Twice a week, Pines Village residents get a little extra treat with dinner. Live piano music. And its not just any music. Volunteer Sharon Costas presents favorites from the 1920s to the 40s. The standards, she says. I dont have a history with these songs, I just like them, Sharon says. But the residents actually have connections with them. Thats what neat for me, to see that these songs are so meaningful for them. These people have all lived through the Great Depression. All the positive music that came out of the Depression is amazing. When youd think theyd be singing gloom and doom, theyre singing Blue skies, smiling at me, nothing but blue skies do I see or Oh, we aint got a barrel of money, maybe were ragged and funny, but well travel along, singin a song--side by side. I enjoy being a part of that. And thats Sharons little secret: as much as she loves her music, its not her only gig at Pines Village. As with most volunteering, Sharon says she gains even more from the experience than she puts in. The piano is really just a cover -- an in to create a connection and get to know the residents. Ive met so many great people, Sharon says, her face shining as she describes her visits. They look forward to it, and Id better not be a no-show without a good reason! The idea to play dinner music came to Sharon during the opening reception for Pines Villages milestone 2010 renovation. She noticed the piano being played in the lobby was of good quality and portable. A long-time pianist, she had recently started jazz piano lessons with a teacher in Chicago and thought she could contribute to Pines Village by sharing her new talents. And she thought right. She loves playing and residents get to hear songs they may not have heard for years. For me it was just a perfect fit, she says. Sharon recalls tears on the face of resident Irene Malasto during her rendition of the World War II-era favorite Ill Be Seeing You. For Irene and her husband Art, it had been their song. Id have to say thats the highlight learning to play songs that the residents request, and hearing why this music is special to them. Music runs in Sharons family. Her maternal grandparents both played the mandolin, and she has fond recollections of the duets they played together. Her mother at what Sharon calls a young 82 still plays cello with the LaPorte Symphony Orchestra. And at home, in addition to Sharons own playing, daughter Hayley sings, writes music, plays piano and plays guitar. Her two sons also play guitar, as does husband Jon during time off from his duties as the citys mayor. We have a very noisy house, Sharon concedes. And if it ever gets too noisy, she knows she now has a home away from home at Pines Village. The friendships, the people Ive met here, she says, they are just wonderful.
To read the Judys and Sharons story in their entirety, please go to www.PinesVillage.org

While visiting her daughter and son-in-law in 2007, she surprised even herself by making a down payment on an unbuilt lot in Meridian Woods. Since she had lived in Valpo in the mid-to-late 60s, she learned about Pines Village and its excellent reputation in senior living options and services.

Ive met so many great people, Sharon says

Pines Village Retirement Communities 3303 Pines Village Circle Valparaiso, Indiana 46383

We Celebrate Life & ate welcome you to celebr the summer with us
Experience Pines Village Retirement Communities notfor-profit difference first-hand where we put people before profits. Quality, not earnings, is how we measure our success. Stop by for a cool drink, talk to the residents, meet our staff and relax in the summer breeze. Call Kathy Sheely anytime at 219.465.9918 or email us at info@PinesVillage.org. Mark your calendar: Sunday, June 5, 6 different seating times beginning at 11:00 am Celebrate Family & Friends Brunch. Gather your family & friends for this special brunch Saturday, September 17 Swinging Sounds Supper Club 6:00 10:00 pm, Porter County Expo Center Citylights featuring vocalist Beccy Schneider The rebirth of the supper club, - cocktail hour, delicious food, dancing and entertainment. Reserve now by calling Amy Page at 219.465.1591 Please visit us at www.PinesVillage.org for more detailed information and event updates.