Archive: Mar 2014

1. Ballerinas and the County Police

   March 28, 2014 1:13 pm 1 Comment

   The title of the blog this week is a bit of a teaser.  While writing the blog, each time I look at its title, I think it must be a good read on the front page of the Daily Progress or the name of a new sitcom.

   Typically, ballerinas and the County Police would be unrelated.  This week, however, they have something in common in that they were both at The Lodge at Old Trail.

   

   Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance. Court musicians and dancers collaborated to provide elaborate entertainment.  A ballet of the Renaissance was a far cry from the form of theatrical entertainment known to audiences today.  Ballet slippers and pointe work were not yet used. The choreography was adapted from court dance steps. Performers dressed in fashions of the times. For women that meant formal gowns that covered their legs to the ankle.  Early ballet was participatory, with the audience joining the dance towards the end. –Wikipedia

    

   

   The beautiful ballerinas of Crozet Arts shared several of their “Seasons” performances with Lodge residents and staff.

   The girls’ ages ranged from 6 to 17, and their experience varied, but they were able to convey so much emotion with their dance, and held their audience captive.

    

   

   If you would like to see these lovely young ladies for yourself, visit:  www.CrozetArts.org.

   To find out more about ballet, visit the NPR website or read Apollo’s Angels by Jennifer Homan.

    

    

    

   Also paying a visit to The Lodge at Old Trail this week was Officer Steve Watson, Crime Prevention Specialist, at the Albemarle County Police Department.  Officer Watson came to conduct a free public workshop to give knowledge of local scams and teach our residents how to avoid falling victim to them.

   

   Officer Watson discussed the mistakes most people make when someone is trying to run a scam.  He also covered the various ways to protect yourself from scams and fraud.  This workshop was sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care and The Lodge at Old Trail.

   To get more information, visit: www.albemarle.org, read the Albemarle County Police Department’s pamphlet on Common Scams and Fraud, or view and print the Scams Against Seniors handout (.pdf).

2. St. Paddy’s Day at The Lodge

   March 21, 2014 4:41 pm Leave a Comment

   It was a snowy Monday, as The Lodge at Old Trail residents celebrated the holiday that signifies the start to Spring.  Strange that we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as an Irish Holiday when the real St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish. He was born in Britain around 390 A.D. to a Christian family.

   At 16, Patrick was kidnapped and sent overseas to tend sheep as a slave for seven years in the mountainous countryside of Ireland.  He escaped and returned to his family in Britain only to get ordained as a priest from a bishop, and went back to spend the rest of his life trying to convert the Irish to Christianity. Nothing good came of that as he was not treated well by the residents of the island.

   St. Patrick died on March 17, 461 AD.  Folk lore eventually grew about Patrick and he was later honored as the patron saint of Ireland.

   

   Fast forward to 2014 where Lodge residents kicked off their St. Patrick’s Day festivities the right way, with bagpiper, James “Jim” Bond.   Jim entertained all of The Lodge residents and staff and made himself available to answer questions about traditional Irish music, the bagpipes, and his kilt.

   Lodge Chef, Jesse Kaylor, prepared a traditional Irish dinner with a Guinness beef stew and Corned beef and cabbage.

   Happy Hour in Gregg’s Pub had Irish whiskey and Guinness for those wanting to partake.

   

   A leprechaun was even spotted with some of the Piedmont Assisted Living residents.

   

   Interested in more information about St. Patrick’s Day, St. Patrick, shamrocks or snakes in Ireland?  If so, check out the National Geographic website.  If you are interested in more information about The Lodge, visit our website, give us a call at 434.823.9100, or email kristinapare@lodgeatoldtrail.com.

3. So Much to Say…

   March 17, 2014 4:36 pm Leave a Comment

   The Lodge at Old Trail doesn’t just publish its own newsletter,
   The Blue Truck Express. There is also a publication designed, written, and edited by our very own Lodge residents, known as The Lodger.

   

   The Lodger is produced every two months and contains interesting articles such as the Resident Focus and Staffer Spotlight that both give keen insight to our wonderful residents and staff.  You can catch up on all that you have missed by visiting our News and Press Releases page.

   March’s issue of The Lodger is now posted.  Happy Reading!

4. Getting back to it!

   March 5, 2014 6:09 pm Leave a Comment

   Well, after 1 year of not writing on this blog, it is time to re-engage.  We haven’t had the opportunity to write because we have been so busy at The Lodge with all of our new residents moving in, coupled with our continuous events.

   

   Our Independent Living Residents in The Ridges, Piedmont Assisted Living and Seasons Memory Care neighborhoods all have a full schedule of activities provided by our amazing Life Enrichment staff.

   We also act as a community gathering place when we host our monthly Third Thursday events.  We have hosted authors, wine makers and story tellers, and have shared all of it with the surrounding community.  Visit our website for more information on The Lodge or Lodge events.

   Also, take the opportunity to visit our other blog:   www.seniorlivingincharlottesville.com.  It focuses on the life of seniors in Charlottesville.  We will be posting helpful and informative pieces from Lodge team members and residents.  Take a moment to look at past posts and continue to check back regularly.