Blog

To increase the safety of our visitors and staff, a new camera has been added to the building, allowing us to keep an eye on the parking lot. We are keeping the trees trimmed to allow all the parking lot lights to shine bright.  With visitors and staff coming at going throughout the day and evening – safety is our priority!

Summertime is meant for relaxing.  Residents are spending time in our courtyards soaking in the sun.  This season we have all new comfy cushions for the chairs and two big umbrellas to beat the heat! Residents are enjoying all the birds coming by to eat from our feeders. . .  but the biggest kick the residents have is watching our maintenance man Mike chase away the squirrels stealing the bird feed!

Please join the Cottage in welcoming our new Resident Service Director, Rebekah Valkavitch! Rebekah began working with us at the end of June.  She brings to the Cottage over 20 years of nursing experience.  In Rebekah’ is not here spending time with residents and staff, you will find her spending time with her grandchildren.  Rebekah enjoys gardening and being outside whenever she can.  She is also an amazing baker and we are all excited to try one of her delicious cakes!  Please feel free to stop on by and say hello!

Dreams are quite complex, aren’t they? The other morning, I awoke from a deep sleep and remembered sitting by a small lake in Erie, Pa with my grandfather. It was a sunny afternoon day in August and Pop-Pop decided to take my brother and I to the local fishing hole. Well, the fish were not biting so my brother and I quickly found other things to do – like skipping stones on the water. We had a competition to see who could skip the farthest and who had the most skips. Well, I came in last and was quite upset since I was the only one who plays baseball. Since Pop-Pop won, he said he had something special for us. My dream skipped around for a bit, but I remembered us going into my grandfather’s church and we all started to set up for a dinner event. My brother and I had to wash down the tables and set up chairs. After that, we were asked to peel the carrots and potatoes. My dream then took a weird turn and the last thing I remembered was that I was running to school to take a math test which I hadn’t even studied for…. Crazy, right? I share this quick story because it reminded me of the saying, “…like the ripple effect when a stone lands in a lake, so your kindness extends beyond your own initial effort...”. Basically, when you do something for someone else, you forget about your own troubles. That’s the thing about giving – making that positive difference for someone today leaves a legacy of kindness that can be passed on to others. Making a difference in someone’s life can be as small as sitting down and talking to someone or as big as volunteering to build a much-needed community project. Therefore, I encourage us all to examine the positive difference you make in other’s lives, and begin to build your legacy today!

Once in a while, if you’re lucky, you’ll cross paths with someone really special who makes you laugh a little louder, smile a little brighter and enjoy each day a little more.  Here at the cottage in Wyomissing we have a few of those, one of whom is Norma Mangual. Norma has been employed by Columbia cottage since 2014 which is when I had the pleasure of meeting her; one of the things that stuck out for me with Norma is her smile and her easy-going spirit.  Norma is known to sing around the cottage lifting the spirits of both residents and staff.  Norma is a very spiritual person and often has led us in prayer at cottage events.  Another thing, Norma is known for is her ever changing hair color. It is no small feat for Norma to go from a brunette to blonde in a 24-hour period, while looking good doing so! Norma goes the extra mile for our residents, during covid when we were without a hairdresser Norma gave haircuts to our men, she washed and styled our ladies hair in her attempt to lift their spirits; if just a little. We here at the cottage are saddened to see such a person leave us, although we understand that this is just the next chapter in Norma’s life.  Norma will be moving to Georgia with her husband Phil, who will begin a next chapter in his military career. Norma will be working towards her professional growth by taking the Georgia state board to obtain her LPN license. We wish you all the best in your new beginning, the cottage won’t be the same without you. - Robin and the rest of your CC family

The Columbia Cottage Baby Boom continues! This summer will welcome a little girl for Nurse Angie and a little boy for Melony! Both first time mommas were showered with love from all of us! We can’t wait to add two new babes to the family! Who is next….?

The handpan is a rare new kind of mesmerizing musical instrument invented in the 21st century. The handpan's lenticular shape looks like a UFO, a wok or a turtle shell. Part art and part instrument, the handpan is often referred to as a "sound sculpture". Each handpan is handcrafted and unique. You can see hammer marks from its artisanal making process across the instrument. The relaxing tones and intuitive playing style of the handpan make it a gateway instrument, accessible to anyone. Come to the next event with Donna and hear the beautiful sounds of the Handpan. Donna will return on 7/26!

You can catch Pastor Earl Binkley’s singalong show at the Cottage the 2 nd Friday of each month. We always have a great crowd for his program. Our residents especially enjoy the spiritual music and the stories he shares.

Residents and staff at the Hershey Cottage enjoyed a visit from 3 six-week-old baby goats! The babies, Ivan, Iris, & Isaac, had a lot of fun. They kept busy hopping around, playing, and drinking bottles. They also enjoyed cuddles in between playing sessions!

We added this 6-foot coloring poster to the wall in our staff break room. Coloring is an excellent way for our staff to unwind during their break. Experts say that coloring can ease tension, reduce stress, slow our breathing, and clear our minds. It seems we have a lot of talented and creative staff who are enjoying their time to reduce their stress before heading back to work.

On May 25, Columbia Cottage staff and residents had two special guests come to see us. Aldinger Farms brought us two baby kangaroos. Abby is the biggest one at seven months; the little one has no name and is three months.   I have never seen so many smiles and cuddling going on. This was a welcome break for all since we had our annual state inspection the day before.

This month we celebrated the birthday of the Blue Jean (May 20 th). We collected blue jeans from staff and recycled them into a collaborative art piece: hanging denim feathers off a stick. The tedious task brought lots of conversation time, laughter, and fine motor skill exercises. The end result was beautiful and can be seen on the front office door. Be sure to check it out next time you visit!