Blog

The Holidays generally are a time of celebration and joy, as well as one of reflection as we ponder our resolutions for the New Year. Columbia Cottage has had a great year and many reasons to celebrate! The thing that most of us are thankful for is the privilege that each resident and family provides us in caring for our residents. The residents and families bring us great joy and we appreciate your trust in us and thank you for the continued opportunity to care for our residents. As for our residents and families, we continue to be most thankful for your support, and confidence in our care, for truly the Cottage does not exist without the residents and families who continue to believe in our philosophy and continue to sing our praises in the community. We thank you and feel blessed to have you as part of the cottage family. Additionally, we would like to thank all of our staff for their dedication and hard work. We sincerely appreciate the love and care you provide to our residents and understand what a great job each of you do to make Columbia Cottage a Home and not just “another facility.” We would also like to thank the Home Health Agencies, Hospice Organizations, Reading Labs, Mobile X-ray, and Eucabeth Ouma, CRNP, who bring their services to the cottage, as well as the many physicians and their staff in the local community whom work together with us to provide great care to our residents. We certainly appreciate your collaborative efforts in bringing the residents of Columbia Cottage absolutely fine care. We also wish to thank the many visitors and volunteers who add a ray of sunshine to the residents lives each time they are here visiting. We sincerely believe we have been blessed with a great place to work, and with excellent co-workers. We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, and A Happy New Year that is filled with an abundance of blessings.

Violet has been a resident of Columbia Cottage since Aug. 21, 2017. She was born and raised in Schuylkill Valley in 1931, on her great-grandfather’s farm. She has four brothers, two of which are deceased. Violet married the love of her life Stanley Sampson, in 1952. Violet and her husband traveled around the world while he was in the US Navy. Violet and her husband were stationed in London, Ireland, and Norfolk, VA. Violet’s husband tragically died two days prior to their return to the U.S. in a freak accident after a softball game. Violet and Stanley did not have any children, however Violet “found” many children to love, she was lovingly called Aunt Vi by her eight nieces and nephews. Violet spent many years as a secretary at St. Joe’s Hospital, a receptionist at an eye doctor’s office, and then the office director at a car dealership. Violet loves to read and her favorite author is Nora Roberts, currently she is enjoying the Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel.

Hello, my name is Noreen Krymski, MSW, MHP. I am 45 years old and originally from Pittsburgh, PA. I have one older sister and a younger brother. I graduated high school in 1992 from Hampton High School, I enlisted in the Navy right after high school, I was an Aircrew Survival Equipmentman (I was responsible for all lifesaving gear for aircrafts and aircrew) My time in the Navy sent me to lots of places including, two different islands in Japan, Italy, Germany, London and I was deployed to Uganda, Africa in 1997, all while being stationed in Hawaii. I served 6 years and after I separated from the Navy, I moved to Whidbey Island, WA (state) where I worked as a camera sales person for a few years. I then began my journey working for one of the many Northwest Indian tribal casinos where I was a table games shift manager for 15years. During that time, I was blessed with the opportunity to complete my degree’s, my Associates in Human Services with a specialty in Chemical Dependency I continued my education with Trinity Western University and obtained my bachelor’s degree in psychology, and finally completed my master’s degree from the University of Southern California. I graduated with my master’s in social work, obtaining both my MSW and MHP with specialties in Mental Health and Military and Families. I am the new Administrative Assistant and the Activities Director. In my spare time I am an Ambassador for a non-profit organization called Mission22, which works to reduce the rate of Veteran suicide and I also love my fur babies my 9-year-old Pomeranian and my 7-year-old cat PIA. I look forward to getting to know each of you!

Columbia Cottage staff members gathered on the afternoon of December 12th to celebrate the holidays together. Staff were presented with gifts from the President of Columbia Cottage, Jim Burnham. Together they enjoyed a lunch catered by Three Brothers, a local Mexican restaurant. The staff would like to thank all the residents and their families for providing the opportunity to care for the residents of the Cottage. They are, after all, are the reason our staff are here. They would also like to thank all those residents and their families who kindly donated to the Staff Appreciation Fund. We are so grateful for your kindness.

On the evening of December 5th, Columbia Cottage hosted a festive and joyous holiday party for the residents and their families. A delicious dinner was served including prime rib, cheddar mashed potatoes, and green bean almandine. The array of desserts included cheesecake, white chocolate raspberry cake, chocolate mousse cups, and an assortment of freshly baked cookies. The entertainment provided by Erich Cawala and Cliff of the Uptown Band had our residents, staff, and families up dancing and singing. Thank you to Tom Kershaw, Columbia Cottage’s Maintenance Director, who was kind enough to dress as Santa. Also, a big thank you to Peter Devers, Food Service Director, Cheryl Mullins, Food Service Coordinator, and all the staff who put in the extra hours to make the night a success.

November 11th at 3:00PM Veterans ceremony - Family welcome November 17th at 6:00PM Christmas Bazaar - Open to the Public December 5th at 2:00PM Staff Christmas Party December 12th at 5:00PM Resident Christmas Party Apartments #1-21 December 19th at 5:00PM Resident Christmas Party Apartments #22-42 New this year, we have decided to have two separate Resident Christmas parties. The first date is for Apartments #1-21 and the second date is for Apartments #22-42. The limit is three guests per room and you must RSVP by December 3rd. Call 717-630-9178 to confirm your reservations.

Family and Friends - please join us on November 17th for our Christmas Bazaar. This event is open to the public. Start your Christmas shopping here with the friends and family of Columbia Cottage.

The family of the month for November is Betty Reichart. Betty was born in January of 1922 in Adams County around Brushtown. Betty was 1 of 4 children. She has one brother and two sisters. Betty and her family grew up on a farm in Brushtown. On the family farm they grew many vegetables but mostly potatoes and corn. They also raised dairy and beef cattle, chickens and sheep. Betty mostly helped with milking the cattle and feeding the animals. Betty attended Locust Grove school which was a two-bedroom school in Brushtown. She graduated from Hanover High School. Betty worked in the dress factory from about 1930-1962. When Betty was about 22 she met Dillard Reichart at a picnic at St. David’s. They started to date each other, and he then left for the service. He served with the Navy for two years. When he returned home in 1947, they decided to get married. Dillard was an automotive mechanic. Betty and her husband belonged to the Gettysburg Region of the antique car club. They often went to many different events with their 1939 Graham Paige. They often enjoyed each other’s company by going to the beach or dinner and a movie. We welcome Betty in to our Columbia Cottage family.

Hi, my name is Alyssa Kehr. I feel that working at Columbia Cottage has been a rewarding and amazing experience. The residents make coming to work a joy. I have formed many bonds with the residents that I will never forget. The best part about working here is I have already picked out a room for my mother-in-law when she gets older.

On November 9th we will be Celebrating Our Veterans. Representative Frank Ryan and Commissioner Robert Phillips will be here to recognize and honor our veterans. Elizabeth Houser - US Army Nurse William Price - US Air Force World War II Orville Hetrick - US Army World War II Richard Tayvinsky - US Navy Reserves Carl Gacono - Lt. Colonel US Army Korean War Marcus Gainer - US Marines Korean War Walter Hauser - US Navy World War II John Lylo - US Army Les Knecht - Army National Guard

We raised $590 of the total $5,537 raised by the Horst Group for the Alzheimer’s Association! Every dollar raided benefits those affected by Alzheimer's disease in our community. The Alzheimer's Association is a global organization, working to advance care, support and research across the world. From face-to-face support to online education programs and promising worldwide research initiatives, the money you raise makes a difference in the lives of those facing Alzheimer's. Thank you for your contributions!

Natalie Shovlin never tells her age but mostly identifies herself as a retired Navy wife. Natalie was a Dental Assistant until she met her husband Daniel, which she met at a dance that her friends talked her into going to. It was love at first sight. In fact, he told her that first day that he was going to marry her! She spent 27 years by her husband’s side in the military, although he was out to sea nine months out of the year. She smiles when she says she followed him with kids in tow, moving every two years throughout the country. They were married 50 years before he passed away 20 years ago. She has spent the last 20 years seeing her family grow. Her one son is an engineer in New Jersey with a wife and two of her grandchildren, a girl in high school and boy in his first year of college. She also has a son in Germany who is a web designer and has lived there for over 20 years. Her daughter, who lives in Hershey, is a retired corporate communicator and interior designer. She raised Natalie’s first granddaughter who is named after her grandmother and is in her second year of medical school in Chicago, studying to be a doctor. She’s undecided as to what type of doctor. Natalie’s life has always revolved around her family. She loves to face-time with her grandchildren when her daughter comes to visit. Natalie’s hobbies are going out to lunch, watching Wheel of Fortune and golf. She is a devout Catholic and is looking forward to a trip to visit St. Joan of Arc Church where she was a parishioner for over 45 years. She really likes the staff here. “Everyone, here at Columbia Cottage has been so nice to me. Thank you, so much!”