May 2018

Reside ~ Reflect ~ Relax

1805 E. Remus Road, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 ~ (989) 772-3456

greenacresmtpleasant@rlmgmt.com ~ www.rlmgmt.com

A monthly publication of Green Acres Community

Mt. Pleasant Times

The desire of Retirement Living is to honor God by providing the elderly with a

lifestyle that values their identity, their independence, and their dignity.

WELCOME SPRING!

Wagging

tails always

makes for a

welcome

visitor!

Spring was taking it’s time

getting here so...we started

crafting with bright colors to

usher it in!

Mt. Pleasant Times

May 2018 Activities All activities and times are subject to change

May 2018 Highlights:

3rd : Gertrude the Dog Visits @ 1:00

4th : Scenic Drive w/ Sara @ 2:30 - Building 1/2

6th : Services w/ The Central MI Christian Church @ 2:00 - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

7th : Bingo! @ 2:00 - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

@ 3:30 - Location: Building 3/4 Activity Room

9th : Music w/ Mark & Mark @ 2:00 - Location: Building 3/4 Activity Room

12th : Ladies Brunch & Tea w/ Musical Entertainment @ 10:00am - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

13th : Happy Mother’s Day!

14th : Bracelet Making @ 10:30 - Location: Building 3/4 Activity Room

@ 2:30 - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

15th : Coffee Hour w/ Cops & Donuts @ 2:30 - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

@ 3:30 - Location: Building 3/4 Activity Room

16th : Men’s Breakfast @ 8:00am - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

18th : Music w/ The Heftones @ 2:00 - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

20th : Services w/ The Wesleyan Holiness Chapel - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

21st : Bingo! @ 2:00 - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

@ 3:30 - Location: Building 3/4 Activity Room

22nd : Menu Committee @ 1:00 - Location: Building 1

@ 2:00 - Location: Building 2

Music w/ Suzuki Music Studio @ 5:15 - Location: Building 3/4 Activity Room

23rd : Music w/ Lee Warren @ 2:00 - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

24th : Resident Council w/ Katie @ 1:00 - Location: Building 1

@ 2:00 - Location: Building 2

25th : Piano Recital @ 4:30 - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

27th : Services w/ Howard Lilly @ 2:00 - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

28th : Coffee Filter Flowers @ 10:30 - Location: Building 3/4 Activity Room

@ 2:30 - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

29th : Lunch Bunch Outing to Bennigan’s @ 11:30 - Let Sara know if interested!

30th : Scenic Drive w/ Sara @ 2:30 - Building 3/4

31st : May Day Happy Hour w/ Mocktails @ 2:00 - Location: Building 1/2 Activity Room

@ 3:45 - Location: Building 3/4 Activity Room

Wednesdays : Salon Day

Thursdays : Activity with Jill from HHH @ 2:00 in Building 1/2 Activity Room

@ 3:00 in Building 3

Calendar including day-to-day activities of each building will be posted in pharmacies, as well as delivered to each resident. If

you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Sara.

Mt. Pleasant Times

Resident Spotlight Classy and gracious, Peg Crapo enriches the lives of neighbors and staff alike here at

Green Acres. Peg, who is often accompanied by her canine friend, Miss Millie, and

family members who clearly mean the world to her, is quick to share an encouraging

word and ready smile.

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Peg grew up in Midland where her father, inventor

Herbert Browne, worked at Dow Chemical after being “hired away” from the Upjohn

Company in Kalamazoo. She and her older sister, Barbara, had a pleasant upbringing

with a devoted mother who “saw to it” that they received piano lessons, which she

enjoyed immensely; and a father whom she remembers as “brilliant” in his work with

plastic. “Everything was in his head,” she marveled. “He never wrote anything down. I

bet a lot of people wish he had!”

After graduating from high school, Peg moved to Columbia, Missouri, to attend

Steven’s College, an all-girl school where Barbara had begun her studies two years

prior. Peg, who majored in foreign languages and minored in secretarial work and

stenography, says she had a wonderful experience. “I enjoyed everything I studied; I did

it and I was happy.” She found great satisfaction in studying Spanish, French, and German. “I liked to know them all,” she said,

admitting, “I just couldn’t roll the r’s.” While attending Steven’s, Peg joined the Alpha Phi sorority. Good grades were a strict

prerequisite for involvement, and the group did much to benefit the community. The school had plenty of rules, one of which

prohibited students from riding in cars, but Peg did not find them overly confining. “I loved college,” she said. “I had so much fun

there.” Peg completed her education in Midland and later worked at Dow Chemical as a private secretary.

Peg met Bob Crapo, a Mt. Pleasant resident and navy sailor, through their sisters, who had become friends. The two were

married and started their life together locally where Bob worked for his family business, Crapo Insurance Agency. She stayed

home to raise their three children, Nanette, Stephanie, who has passed away, and Michael.

Peg has fond memories of the years bringing up her children. All the neighborhood kids knew they were welcome at the Crapo’s

anytime, even sometimes taking in children who had trouble at home. The family spent many enjoyable summer weekends at her

in-law’s cottage at Houghton Lake. Peg continued to play piano into adulthood, and encouraged Stephanie to take it up as well.

The two often entertained family with duets, especially during Christmas celebrations. Stephanie became highly accomplished,

winning a full-ride scholarship to University of Michigan while attending the Interlochen Academy of Music and Arts.

Peg is a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant, and nurtured her children to develop a faith in God. She and

Bob were married 47 years when he passed away in 2000. They have four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

“Mom beamed with pride when it came to her kids,” said Michael, who is the fourth generation owner of Crapo Agency, and

works alongside the fifth generation in the family business: son, Ted. Nanette, who now resides in North Carolina, had traveled

many years doing relief work; including a season in Australia.

Peg and Bob enjoyed travel, and visited Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland; took ski trips to the Rocky Mountains in

Aspen, Vail and Sun Valley; and regular jaunts to Charlevoix and Elk Rapids for boating on Lake Michigan. Peg appreciated the

trip to Australia with its vastly different scenery and culture; especially treasuring the time with Nanette.

Peg recalled another trip – one she took to Ireland as a young woman - one she hadn’t been ready to see end, and had always

wanted to repeat. “The surroundings were quaint and home-like,” she said. “You felt at ease wherever you went. Everyone was

just so nice.”

Through the years, Peg has always had a dog. “Each one was a favorite,” she said. “They were all different. I loved them all.”

“Mom loved kids and dogs,” agreed Michael, recalling a humorous situation which demonstrates his mother’s heart: when the pet

dog, which accompanied them boating on Lake Michigan, would need to take a “tinkle,” Peg would request Bob return to shore,

interrupting a beautiful day on the lake. Eventually he asked her to teach it to use the back of the boat/sea drain to relieve itself.

Peg also loved the thrill of downhill skiing. “I just liked the height of the mountain… it was always a new experience, and you

wondered if you’d could get through it and get down to the bottom.” Bob liked to tease her about her “skiing prowess” as she was-

n’t an exceptional skier. He referred to the bunny slope in Aspen as the “parking lot,” quipping, “Peg skied the parking lot today.”

However, family says she got the last laugh one day when her chair lift companion, who happened to be actress Jill St. John,

proposed they ski together!

While she enjoys reminiscing about adventures through her lifetime, Peg is all about family. “Family is the most important thing

to her,” says daughter-in-law Barbara.

We are blessed by Peg’s warm, welcoming heart here at Green Acres.

Mt. Pleasant Times

Employee Spotlight We had the pleasure of enjoying a temporary addition to our activity staff, Jordin Wegner, who joined

the team from February through April. A Milford native, Jordin will graduating this May with a

bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation and a minor in Psychology. In the few months she served

had our residents, Jordin not only spread joy to those she came into contact with, but experienced a

tremendous measure of joy in return. “I am so blessed I get to work here, “Jordin reflected. “(Residents)

are the fun in my week.”

Jordin grew up in a close-knit family, the second-oldest of four - she has two sisters and one brother.

The Wegners thrive on activities, from annual family camping trips at many gorgeous Michigan

locations, to cycling and running; all with dogs (German shorthair pointers) in tow. Living on a canal

affords many opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. “Leisure brings our family together,” she said. A

student of ballet and jazz from age three until 14 or 15, Jordin played flute during her middle school

years, and while attending Walled Lake High School participated in track and cross country, took a

leadership class, and served as secretary of the student council for her senior year, graduating in 2014.

A self-proclaimed “people person,” once attending CMU, Jordin joined Sigma Kappa sorority. One of

the organization’s philanthropies is dedicated to dementia and Alzheimer research, which is something Jordin values. Jordin

volunteered to help special education students with homework after school through PEAK, and held a few jobs during her college

experience as well: working for an apartment complex as a community assistant, giving tours and contributing to business aspects of

the company. Initially hesitant about working amongst those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, Jordin has found the experience here at

Green Acres both invaluable and, happily, different than what she had expected. As one whose favorite activity is getting to know

people and finding ways to impact others positively, Jordin thrills to hear the stories of an older generation, to learn from them, and to

make them feel important. She also gets excited about helping memory care residents enjoy life. “I think it’s so important for people

to feel loved and to be loved,” she said, adding that she believes she is fulfilling her “God-given purpose” in loving this group of

folks. “I hope that I have made them feel good, because they make me feel really good,” Jordin said.

Jordin likes to travel: Colorado, where her older sister lives, is her favorite destination. To her delight, the family has spent the past

three Christmases nestled in the Rocky Mountains. She would like to visit New Orleans and Nashville one day. Come September,

Jordin will be sharing her talents with traumatic brain injury patients at Detroit Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. Further plans

include attending nursing school in 2019. Wherever she goes, Jordin is sure to bring joy and appreciate new experiences along the

way. We are thankful for the impact you made at Green Acres, Jordin!

Volunteer Spotlight A wise young person recognizes the rewards cultivated from time spent in the company of his or her

elders. CMU’s “Adopt-A-Grandparent” program, which pairs older community members with college

students, is a catalyst for encouraging intergenerational relationships and all the benefits that arise from

them. Several Green Acres residents participate in the program and enjoy friendships and companionship

as a result. Grace Richardson, a junior from Owosso, is an “adopted” granddaughter who delights in the

connection she has with her Green Acres grandparent. A student of public health and nutrition, Grace

explains why she joined and how it has impacted her life:

I became involved in the Adopt-A-Grandparent program because I love to volunteer and make people

happy. Also, I have a very close relationship with my own grandparents so when I am away from them at

school, I thought it would be nice to go make a new grandparent. My real grandfather and I had an

extremely close bond. He was my favorite person to play jokes on, but sadly, he passed away a couple

years ago and I was heartbroken. When I chose to participate in Adopt-A-Grandparent, I was placed with

the perfect resident. I look forward to visiting my adoptive grandparent weekly because he is a great listener and we like to share a lot

of laughs together. Our favorite thing to do together is go down to the restaurant “Cheers” and enjoy a nice lunch or supper. Also, I am

never allowed to leave my grandparent’s room empty-handed, meaning when he has chocolate I have to take some, and when I say

some I mean a whole pocket-full of Hershey’s chocolates just for me. Another thing we love to do, when it’s warm out, is visit all the

parks together and go on nature walks. I never knew Mt. Pleasant had so many parks! My adoptive grandparent and I have become

very close; he makes my day brighter, and I know I make his day brighter as well.

Grace, who plans to graduate from CMU in 2019, completed high school in Chesaning in 2015. The youngest of three children in

her family, she was raised on a “little family farm” complete with chickens, beef cows, pet dog “Beans,” and barn cats. In high school,

Grace was the team captain for tennis and number one player. In addition to her class load, Grace works part-time at JCPenney and

keeps active in the community through a variety of pursuits. Thank you, Grace, for your time spent at Green Acres!

Mt. Pleasant Times

May Birthdays 3rd - Margaret E.

6th - Lyle S.

7th - Vera G.

10th - Pat V.*

11th - Kayla Y.*

16th - Leslie W.*

18th - Anna T.

*denotes a staff member

Dining at Green Acres . . .

Dining room meal service begins at:

Breakfast 8am*

Lunch 12:30pm*

Dinner 6:00pm*

*Those dining in their apartments will be served after

the dining room.

We welcome guests to dine at Green Acres and kindly

request a least a 24 hour prior reservation.

Guest meal requests can be made to any staff member or

with the kitchen directly.

No reservation? Ask as soon as possible, if supply

allows, we welcome you to join.

The cost for guest meals are as follows:

Breakfast $5.00, Lunch or Dinner $7.00

Meals are as planned on the menu, at times an

alternative for guests may be available.

PLEASE JOIN US…

Ladies Brunch & Tea

In Honor of Mother’s Day

Saturday, May 12th

@ 10:00am

In Activity Room 1/2

Please RSVP by 5/7/2018

“May, more than

any other month of

the year, wants us to

feel most alive.”

- Fennel Hudson

Mt. Pleasant Times

1805 E. Remus Road

Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858

Phone: 989-772-3456

Fax: 989-772-4675

Email: greenacresmtpleasant@rlmgmt.com

“IT’S THE PLACE TO BE”

We’re on the WEB!

www.rlmgmt.com

The desire of Retirement Living Management is to honor God by providing the elderly

with a lifestyle that values their identity, their independence, and their dignity.

Green Acres of Mt. Pleasant is a Retirement Living Management

Facility. Other Retirement Living locations include:

Green Acres - Allendale, Cadillac, Cedar Springs, Greenville,

Ionia, Lowell, Manistee, Mason, Standale, Fremont and Wayland

Nottingham Place - Midland

Royal View - Mecosta

Aspen Ridge - Gaylord

Turning Brook - Alpena

Chestnut Fields - Muskegon

Tawas Village - East Tawas

Announcement

Be sure to look inside for details and RSVP information about

our Ladies Brunch & Tea!

Also, read our employee and resident spotlights to get to know

your neighbors! Additional details and information related to

facility announcements inside.

Green Acres of Mt. Pleasant

Management Team

Administrator: Kathy Onweller

Resident Care Coordinator: Jill Gilbert, LPN

Life Enrichment Coordinator: Sara Darling, CTRS

Home Manager: Katie Ball

Maintenance Manager: Wally Bontrager

Kitchen Manager: Julie Recker

Retirement Living Management Owners

Paul Wyman and Doug Maas

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are always welcome at Green Acres. If you can spare

some time and share a talent with our residents, please give us a

call. Volunteers can participate in a variety of activities like

music, games, reading, crafts, devotions and worship. If you are

interested in sharing your time and companionship, please

contact Sara or Kathy to learn how you can become a part of our

family.