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Retirement Community

S O M M E R S E T

Mar/Apr/May 2014

Valarie Reed Resident Serv. Coord.Rachelle Mitchell Marketing Rep.Olivia Saber Admin/Leasing Consult.Gurcharan Singh Dining SupervisorMirna Perez-Sosa Head CookCliff Lynch CookDoug Mauz Maintenance SupervisorAna Molina Housekeeping Supvr.Charles Brehm Security SupervisorMelissa King SecurityJoanna Aubin SecurityTerill Fields SecurityFrank Rodriguez Bus DriverCharles Brehm Maintenance/Bus DriverJeff Sanderson SecurityTony Reyes SecurityJacque Thompson SecurityMegan Packard Part-Time AssistantMary Zorich Hairstylist

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT: SONIA DAVILAMother, Grandmother, Writer, Trendsetter, BusinessWoman, Analyst, Mentor, Artist, World Traveler

BIRTHPLACE: Caguas, Puerto RicoRole model of the ’90s, one of only a few Hispanicwomen in high-level management positions.

FAMILY: Youngest of six siblings, married highschool sweetheartA son - Celso, and 2 daughters - Sonia and Anamari,and 11 grandchildren, including recent newest additionof twin boys David and Noah.

CAREER, EDUCATION: University of Puerto Rico,BA Education Psychology, Public Relations, PressRelease Analysis, Public Speaking, Analyst -Policy and Public Health, Public Speech WritingJOBS: Peace Corps Camp Director, School Owner &Director, Department Store Manager, Department ofCommerce, Bureau of Census, National Aeronautics &Space Admin (NASA) - EEO Recruitment, Departmentof Health & Human Services, Public Health Service,White House Fellowship - Office of Public Liaison forVP, Congress - Senior Policy Analyst and Public HealthSenior Program Development Analyst.

Highlights and influences in her life: MyFaith - My Strength, My Mother’s Teachings -Endless, My Children - Strength and Behavior,Grandkids - Love and Understanding, MySiblings - Love and Unity, nieces and nephewsgrew up together, mentors along the way of mycareer/life - Giving, and Lifetime Friends -Understanding and Love.

Hobbies include writing - poetry and shortstories, crocheting, painting, and traveling. Sheis active, and loves dancing and having fun.

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In This Issue

Res. Spot. 1-2Welcome to 4Birthdays 4Health Notes 5Holidays 6Places & Events 7

“Happy 2014”New Year’s Eve

Sonia when she worked at NASA

Sonia is an achiever, her story ofa Hispanic female, single mother ofthree, who came to the U.S.determined to succeed, and she didjust that.

Her involvement in communityoutreach included volunteeringwith Girl Scouts, Peace Corps, PTA,National Conference of PuertoRican Women - President, NationalAssociation of Federal EmploymentManagers, Mentor on employmentissues/resume/interview skills/placement, and State of Maryland

President of IMAGE.She moved from county

government to federalgovernment and allthroughout her career keptan outstanding performancerecord. She was able tocombine her family role, hercommunity volunteer roleand her professional role.Her personal dream ofwriting was culminated inthe publication of a bookand a collection of shortstories for children.

Sonia at various outings anddancing

One of Sonia’s paintings

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Get HappyAccording to the National

Institute on Aging, the greatestthreat to a healthy senior mindis depression. Hobbies,socializing and exercise are allgreat anti-depressants. If youregularly engage in theseactivities and still feeldepressed, talk to your healthcare provider. There’s help outthere—all you need to dois ask!

BINGO! Tuesday nights atSommerset, come out and play!

Healthy Lifestyles

Irish BlessingMay your

Blessings outnumber theShamrocks thatgrow, And maytrouble avoid youwherever you go.

TeatimeDrinking tea

regularly mayreduce your riskof developingAlzheimer’sdisease, diabetesand some cancers.Tea is full offlavonoids, a typeof antioxidant. It’sbest to drinkfreshly brewedtea.

Cheers!Toast like the

Irish on St.Patrick’s Day bysaying “Cheers” inGaelic: “Sláinte”(pronouncedslaan-cheh).

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Happy Birthday

Happy

Birthday

MARCH06 Phoebe Myers06 Werner Peritz21 Sonia Davila

APRIL01 Juanita Keys02 Ethel Brown02 H. Loeffler03 A. Magee05 Don Evans07 Miriam Green15 George Kaplan29 Helen Bryant

MAY11 Thomas King15 Sandra OBrien17 Diane Grassell17 Mary Sutkus27 Kaye Pittman30 George Kaplan

Welcome Home!111 Nancy Piercey117 Ralph Moore211 Alfred & Barbara Bowers213 Daphne DaCosta233 Emily Flack310 Henry & Alba Nelson333 Nina Broughton

Refer a Friend!Refer a friend to Sommerset

and receive $250 if that personbecomes a new resident. Askmanagement for details.

Feeling Well?The week of the third

Monday in March is WellderlyWeek, celebrating seniors whodon’t act their age. (16-22 Mar)

Happy Easter!It’s a time of rebirth and

renewal. Whether you’recelebrating the arrival of spring,bunnies bearing eggs or thereligious significance of Easter,our staff wishes all of you awonderful holiday.

Girl Scouts BeginsJuliette Gordon Low founded

the Girl Scouts of America onMarch 12, 1912, in Savannah,Ga. In 2012, Low wasposthumously awarded thePresidential Medal of Freedom.Look for Girl Scout Cookies inMarch from our own EthelBrown (and granddaughter).

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Health

The Best MedicineFind little things that make you

laugh every day. Laughter lowersblood pressure, reduces stresshormones and can relieve pain.

Energize With ExerciseIt may be the last thing on your

mind when you’re tired, butexercise can often fight fatiguebetter than a nap or cup of coffee.The next time you feel drowsy inthe middle of the day, take abrisk walk to perk you up.

Fitness Tip: Mend MusclesWith a Massage

If you’re prone to sore musclesafter a workout, stop poppingpainkillers and get a massageinstead. According to a 2013study, even a short, 10-minutemassage can significantly reduceinflammation, as well as relievetension and pain. Massagingmuscles also boosts production ofmitochondria, which are animportant part of healing.

Emotional EatingIf you eat when you’re stressed,

find healthier ways to calmyourself. Try exercise, yoga,meditation or soaking in a warmbath. An apple a day...

A Friendly WalkAt AARP.org, psychiatrist Gary

Small says walking with a friendis a triple threat againstAlzheimer’s disease: It gives you acardiovascular workout,stress-relieving social interactionand mentally stimulatingconversation.

A Friend IndeedStaying in touch with friends is

good for your heart. Researchershave linked social support with alower risk of heart disease. Also,people who do have heart attacksmanage better if they have asocial network.

A Paws-itive InfluenceIf you’ve ever had a pet, you

know the special kind of joy theybring to your life. But did youalso know that interacting withanimals can improve your healthand longevity? More and morestudies are proving both thepsychological and physiologicalbenefits of pet therapy.

Avoid FallsAs you grow older, you are at

greater risk for head injuries fromfalls, which in turn increases therisk for Alzheimer’s disease anddementia. Balance exercises canincrease coordination and helpyou avoid falls. HelpGuide.orgsuggests yoga and tai chi.Sommerset offers both Yoga andTai Chi - see the calendar!

To Your Health!

Feline FlexDo stretching

exercises whenyou wake up. Thispractice will boostcirculation anddigestion, and canease back pain.

Feed Your BrainOlder adults

don’t always getall the nutrientsthey need fromfoods because ofchanges indigestion as weage. In addition,some medicationscan interfere withthe absorption ofnutrients. Avitamindeficiency, inparticular vitaminB12, can affectbrain health,impairingreasoning andmemory, reportswww.AARP.org.Check with yourhealth careprovider if you areconcerned aboutvitamindeficiencies.

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SPECIAL EVENTS

CookingWhat’s

Sommerset’sfirst annualPotluck Soup-a-Thon, - thanks toall participants,mmm, good!

Clinical

Corner

Fox RehabAssessments areongoing, get withthe plan and getoff the couch!

ReviewRestaurant

ZeffirelliClydesO’FalionsWarrenton -

Claires at theDepot

Battletown InnPier 7Red LobsterJackson’sRed Fox Inn

Charlie Bustle

It’s That Time Again ...Remember that daylight saving

time begins on Sunday,March 9. So move those clocksahead one hour before you go tobed Saturday, so you won’t belate! If you’re grumpy aboutlosing that hour of sleep, keep inmind that daylight saving time isa sign that spring arrives soon!So look forward to longer daysfilled with sunshine!

In MemoryAs we enjoy the beautiful

spring weather, take time onMemorial Day to remember yourloved ones who have passed onand those who have given theirlives in service to our country.

Happy Mother’s Day!“A mother’s love for her

child is like nothing else in theworld.”—Agatha Christie

Mother’s Day is set aside tohonor and celebrate mothers,grandmothers and mothers-to-be. Shower the special womenin your life with love, hugs,maybe a card or a beautifulbouquet! From all of us in theoffice, we wish all the momswho call our community homea very Happy Mother’s Day!

Wit & Wisdom“Women are like tea bags.

We don’t know our truestrength until we are in hotwater!” —Eleanor Roosevelt

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WHERE WE’VE BEEN

About

Out &

December was full of outingsand in-house entertainment. Weattended Broad Run HS JingleBell Banquet and also enjoyed anouting to hear the LoudounSymphony Orchestra! The Lightsof Bull Run Festival of Lights wereamazing as well as a trip to seethe Mormon Temple Lights,which were truly beautiful. Welistened to Thomas Pandolfi onpiano and enjoyed otherentertainers such as Dale Jarrettand Just Friends. New Year’s Evewas celebrated in high style withentertainment by the Senior Staff.

January saw both warm andcold days and snow cancellations,a trip to the Botanic Gardens inD.C. and lunch at Pier 7.

In February we enjoyed theValentine Tea and Harp music.We attended the VA GrandMilitary Band Concert and wenton a couple of lunch outings.

WHERE WE ARE GOINGMarch will be full of in-house

entertainment, socials andexercise opportunities. We willhave St Patrick’s Day lunch out atO’Falions. And we will see the VAGrand Military Band Concertand see the cherry blossoms inD.C. when they begin to blossom.

April will take us out foranother turn around the cherryblossoms and the monuments aswell as a visit to the NationalCathedral and the Newseum inD.C. Continued lunch bunchoutings to Battletown Inn andJackson’s, and possibly a trip toCharlestown Races/Casino.

May will bring ThomasPandolfi back for a Mother’s Dayspecial on the piano. Trips areplanned for Warrenton withlunch at Claire’s at the Depot,Occoquan Shops and lunch out,and off to the LoudounSymphony Orchestra in Ashburn.We will be off to Fredrick, MD,for Senior Day with the FredrickKeys Baseball Game, then windup the month with a MemorialDay remembrance.

Event Highlights

MARCHDavid TroupSt. Patrick’s

Lunch O’FalionsVA Grand

Military BandConcert Trip

SmithsonianBallroom DanceC. DrapkinCherry Blossom

Drive thru DC

APRILMemorial &

Cherry BlossomCruise Trip to DC

Lunch OutingNewseum DCOccoquan

Shops & LunchCharlestown

CasinoDale JarrettRed Fox Inn

MAYPandolfi PianoMother’s DayLunch BunchBattletown InnVisit Warrenton

Depot Claire’s Atthe Depot - Lunch

LoudounSymphony

Fredrick KeysMemorial Day

Mar/Apr/May 2014