PRESORTEDPLACE La Conner Retirement Inn News STANDARDSTAMP HERE US POSTAGE PAID 204 N. 1st St. LA CONNER,WA La Conner Retirement Inn & Assisted Living Newsletter — June 2016 PO Box 1087 PERMIT #3 La Conner, WA 98257

Resident of the month: Dee Molenaar Left, Dee went on a climb with Bobby Kennedy Happy Summer! Retired for some 30 years from the U.S Geological Survey, From Lena Dee, at age 97, spends much of his leisure time painting alpine landscapes and pictorial landform maps, and prepar- ing sketches that appear in numerous climbers guidebooks and autobiographies. Born to Dutch immigrant parents in Los Angeles in 1918, Dee Molenaar spent his youth exploring the seashores, mountains, and deserts of Southern California. He extended his climbing horizons to the Pacific North- west where he spent several years as summit guide and park ranger at . After climbing Rainier some 50 times via 15 routes, including three “firsts,” and traveling the park’s high country for many years, in 1971 he authored The Challenge of Rainier, the award-winning and continually updated definitive work on the peak’s climbing history. In 2011 the book was redesigned for a Special 40th Anni- Administrative Staff: versary Edition. During World War II Dee served as photographer in the U.S Coast Guard in the Aleutians Jennifer Dennis and Western Pacific. In 1950 he earned a B.Sc. in geology at the University of and a “Big W’ in Executive Director Gisele Ostrofe pole-vaulting. He then served briefly as civilian advisor in the Army’s Mountain and Cold Weather Train- Community Relations Director ing Command at Camp Hale, and Camp Drum, New York. His career in geology took him to Alas- Tammy Ashley ka, Colorado, , and Washington, where he retired from the USGS in 1983. Dee climbed mountains Resident Care Coordinator throughout the western U.S., Canada, , the Alps, and Himalayas and geology and map oriented Laura Novak treks to Mount Everest and Peru. He participated in major expeditions in 1946 to Alaska’s 18, 100 foot Asst. Executive Director Mt. St. Elias, world’s highest coastal peak, and in 1953 to , on the famed but tragedy-marred American Katie Kramer attempted by Dr. Charlie Houston. An important part of Dee’s climbing pack has been a small box of wa- Registered Nurse Gina Williams tercolors, with which he has painted mountain scenes from blow sea level in Death Valley to 25, 000 feet Dietary Director on K2 the world’s highest Earth bound artistic effort. Dee’s love of the high, open world of rock and ice Tony Bjornstad and fringing meadow zone is reflected in his watercolors, oils and pencil sketches, which are in private col- Maintenance Director lections throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Russia, and China. BJ Johnson Activities Director Dee was recently honored by The American Alpine Club by induction in to the club’s “Hall of Mountaineer- Our mission is to create and ing Excellence” and in May by club in Seattle by presentation of the Lifetime Achieve- sustain comfortable, caring ment Award. Dee and Colleen, his long-supportive wife of 61 years, his daughter and two sons, and Contact us at: environments for those granddaughter and three grandsons. 360-466-5700 who depend on us.

8

Getting to know you: Ashley Small Coming Events Ashley works in the dietary department Where are you from? I was born in Sedro-Woolley. What was your first job? Waitressing at Hal’s Drive-in, I was there for 8 years. What are your hobbies? Hanging out with friends, gardening and walking. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Hopefully I’ll have a family, kids, by then. Where have you always wanted to go? Australia, I want to see the animals. What is the funniest thing you ever did? Going to Maui- it was pretty awesome . I’d live there if I could. What do you want people to know about you? I just finished my hunter safety course, I shot a clay pigeon. Also I graduated from cosmetology school recently.

Go Team Go! Wish us luck. On Monday June 6th the Radiant Raiders, the Inn Volley- ball team will go to Mt. Glen for a match, it is our plan to come home winners! Welcome to our newest residents Ted Jones and Malla Pizzuto June Educational Event Ken and Buttons La Marche Welcome to our newest staff.. Tuesday June 14 at 4:00 join us for another wonderful travel presentation Jennifer Dennis Executive Director by Jerry Anderson. Jerry came earlier this year to talk about his time in Charity Flippo Dietary Aid England. He will take up this upcoming presentation as he leaves England Jordan Yeager Med Tech and crosses on the ferry to Holland. There he will tell us more travel sto- Gail Renouard Receptionist ries with a real personal search. Tracing family and learning more about Laura Shank Housekeeping family roots. This will be an enjoyable arm chair travel trip. Afterwards, Kaitlyn Sparks Med Aid join us for wine and tasty treats, and spend some time with Jerry Jessica Harlte Dietary Aid

2 7

Three Areas of Focus for Our Mother’s Better Home Safety Day Tea was a wonderful Our homes are our fortresses, the place secure in our most vulnerable moments. Here at La event Conner Retirement Inn we value home safety and the safety and comfort of our residents and staff. Three areas of focus that anyone can use to aid in securing their safety at home: Focus One: Reducing Internal Risks According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one out of three people aged 65 or older experience a fall each year. Falls may happen due to external factors, but many falls may be prevented with focusing on identifying and preventing internal risks include visiting the doctor for checks on hearing and eyesight as well as regular exercise to promote balance and mobility. Focus two: Reducing External Risks Using preventative measures inside the home may also help secure home safety. Ways to reduce external risks such as trip hazards fire-safety issues or cuts include removing clutter and improving lighting. Focus Three: Protecting Against Others Finally, it is important t protect the financial security of our home by being diligent in pro- tecting your information and monitoring accounts. Ways to increase home safety against oth- ers include being scam savvy by not giving out personal information over the phone, via email Deception Pass Tours Or by mail and by monitoring personal financial accounts. Focusing on these three areas will aid in feeling secure at home. The month of June is desig- We are planning a boat trip nated National Safety Month. Join us in focusing on our home safety throughout the month! On June 30th at 2:00. We will travel through the whirl- This month enjoy celebrating the following holidays and observances: pools of Deception Pass Father’s Day will bring two special events. On  The start of Strawberry season!  Nursing Assistant’s Week (June 12th— June 18 we will be having a pre-Father’s Day BBQ 18th) aboard the “Island Whaler” and there will be some snazzy cars on display cour-  National Safety Month tesy of the Snohomish Street Rod Association. The  Flag Day (June 14th) and hear awe-inspiring his-  National Rose Month fun starts at 12:00, with some great burgers and  Father’s Day (June 19th) torical tales of the region. fancy fixin’s. Then on June 19 we will have a won-  Great American Brass Band Week (June derful brunch from 10:00 to 1:00. So make sure to 2nd through 5th)  First Day of Summer (June 20th) Cost is $15.00, make pay- join us for these special salutes to Dad! ment to BJ by June 10th  Men’s Health Week (June 12th-19th)  World Handshake Day (June 21st)

6 3

June BIRTHDAYS

Happy Birthday !!!

Residents Judy Miller 6/5 Elaine Collins 6/9 Maxine O’Leary 6/11 Norm Collins 6/14 Nan Fritzler 6/26

Staff Sandy Camby 6/1 Jaimee Hancock 6/1 Laura Novak 6/5 Tammy Ashley 6/7 Joshua Temple 6/22

4 5