From the Executive Director's Desk at North Hills

Spring has always signified new beginnings for me. We must recognize and respect our past, but move forward with a new attitude: a warm attitude that embraces our day-to-day occurrences. Maybe this spring you will make a new relationship by saying hi to your neighbor on the elevator...or helping a friend who needs your advice. Maybe you will start attending an activity that you have never gone to. Maybe you will take your first ride on The Bristal Bus and realize how much fun is to be had out there!! Whatever your new beginning is, make sure that you put yourself into the action whole-heartedly knowing that you will be a better person for it. Did you enjoy our debate on Healthcare Reform as much as I did? The debate was well mediated and well attended! There are some very intelligent residents among us who made us all think a little deeper about our points-of-view. I would also like to take this time to say just how much I enjoy getting to spend the holidays with you. Our Passover Seder was as spiritual as it was wonderful and I’m glad that so many residents who are not very religious or who are of different faiths attended the Seder and were able to learn about the holiday. I look forward to spending Easter Sunday with you and coloring Easter eggs! Happy holidays to my Bristal family.

Warmest Regards,
Winsome

A Note From the Recreation Director at Lynbrook

April showers bring May flowers. Hopefully we won’t get too much rain. Happy Easter to you and your families. Please join us for our Easter Egg hunt on Easter morning. It will be a lot of fun. We have some great events planned this month. We have started a book club on Monday mornings. Please join us. For all of those that are in our play, check your calendars for the dates and times of the next practice. We have all been working very hard on this and I think that we are just about ready for show time. I found a beautiful poem that I would like to share with you. Springtime by Blanche Black: “In the glow of the dawn, Welcome a new day, Greet the golden sunlight or rain, Nature in all its subtlety. Whip of the wind, Earth unfolds, Softly falling rain, Growing plants and buds blossoming. Visions of the earth, with glories of nature, Beauty of the daffodils, Sunshine and rain from a rainbow, Awe! Nature in full bloom.” Happy Spring!

With Love,
Michelle

Special Event Memory Scrapbook

East Meadow's Resident of the Month - May Johnson

It is with pleasure that May is our Resident of the Month for April. May lived in Elmont for about 50 years then moved to East Meadow before residing at The Bristal for the last four months. May shared some stories from her past, including how she was engaged and then just two weeks later her fiancé went into the service for three years. Upon his return, they were married. She is proud to say her son was also a Veteran of Vietnam. Besides her son and two daughters, she has five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren with one on the way. May’s younger years were very busy with family, church and work. She was employed at The Department of Social Services as a clerk typist for many years. For over 50 years, May’s family was an active member of Evangelical Church in Floral Park. Her husband was the Deacon and she was a Sunday school teacher and the pastor’s secretary. May enjoyed being a part of the weekly Choir and Bible Study. May also belonged to the Friendship League, which hosted the congregants of the church the last Friday of the month for family night dinners. May is enjoying her “new lifestyle” at The Bristal by being active in exercise, reading Reader’s Digest Condensed Stories, trips and most importantly becoming a member of the Bristal Choir. Congratulations May, we are lucky to have you as part of our community.

Massapequa's Employee of the Month - Nadine Benjamin

Nadine has been a member of the Bristal, Massapequa staff since January 2007. She is an integral part of the Reflections team with a signature smile and bright and bubbly personality that is contagious. It is quite natural for Nadine to be who she is, she has been around people her whole life. Born in Clarendon, Jamaica, Nadine has nine brothers and sisters including two sets of twin girls. Six of the Benjamin children live in New York. Nadine and her sister Edna, who works in the dining room as a member of the wait staff, live together with two of her brothers, her Dad and her sixteen year old son, Fabian. Before coming to New York Nadine lived in Turks and Caicos for nine years and took care of children. When Nadine is not working at the Bristal she is also a hairdresser. She often creates her own hairstyles does her sister Edna’s hair as well. “Nadine is a hard-working and dependable individual. She is well-liked by the residents and staff and her pleasant attitude inspires us all,” remarks Kate Schneider, Reflections Director. Nadine takes pride in herself and the work she does. “I am responsible for the Reflections kitchen. I keep the kitchen stocked, I bring my list and I go shopping,” remarks Nadine. The residents depend on her because she is versatile and flexible. She interacts with them easily. Nadine attributes the ease with which she gets along with the residents to the experience she has had working with children. It is said that there takes a special type of person who can work with children and the senior population. It is Nadine’s gift to share of herself with others. Her loving personality is one that others are inspired by and many emulate. Nadine sees it another way. “I love what I do. I love the residents. If I am sad, they cheer me up and give me advice. They give me the energy to keep going.”

Hannah Kroner – Resident of The Bristal at North Hills for Two Years

I felt insecure in my house in Bay Terrace, actually not safe, living alone. My daughter lives very near The Bristal North Hills, but we looked at other communities too. Now I’m not alone anymore. I have company at meals. I’ve met a lot of people of different backgrounds. I have a neighbor who also drives and we sometimes go to concerts and lectures together.

Music and dance are the center of my life to this day. I drive to my dance studio a couple of times a week where I continue to teach advanced ballet students. We have developed so many professionals over the years, more than any other Long Island dance studio.

I founded my school, Hannah Kroner’s School of Dance 60 years ago. Today we’re in Albertson and a former student of mine who was a Rockette runs the school! I currently teach exercise classes at The Bristal, where I live, once a week.

The people who look after us here are so warm and supportive. I had a family tragedy last year and I couldn’t have gotten along without them and my dear friends.