Kare Bears’ Korner

Bake Sale at Artists’ Fest – Saturday, December 5

Sue White

Kare Bears is sponsoring a Bake Sale at the PebbleCreek Artists’ Holiday Fest on Saturday, December 5.

We need your help in providing the baked goods. Please deliver your items to the Art Room in the Creative Arts Center between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4 for pricing. Please do not bring any goods on the day of the festival.

We ask that you label all your items. In addition, due to medical issues for many, please include the following information:

– if the goods have nuts

– if the goods are sugar-free

– if the goods are gluten-free

Hard plastic containers or zip-lock type bags are preferred for packaging as disposable plates make it difficult to handle goods neatly.

Bob and Hope Ewest are the chairpersons again for this annual event. They and Kare Bears truly appreciate your continued generosity in donating your wonderful creations. All proceeds from this sale are donated to the Kare Bears organization to help support the programs and services which Kare Bears provides to all PebbleCreek residents throughout the year. Help us make this year our biggest yet!

Many thanks to all!

Kare Bears holiday program

Sue White

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 16, 2015, to join in on the Kare Bears Holiday Program! This special event will take place at the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom at 11:00 a.m.

Entertainment will include Jerry Layne, Emcee and Puppeteer. Also some members of the PebbleRock Band, Dance Fusion, the Tedettes, Muriel Gail and one or two of her students will be performing. Four horn players will be in the entrance of the lobby to greet you.

There will be soft refreshments in the lobby prior to the show.

There is no charge for this program! It is usually well attended, so get there early and grab yourself a chair.

Come on and join in on the holiday spirit with your fellow Creekers!

Donation acknowledgement

The Kare Bears Board of Directors wishes to acknowledge various donations received in October from the following residents and groups:

Contributions were received from Samuel and Colleen McMaster, Georgia Weinstein, Don and Jackie Belonax and the PebbleCreek Senior Softball Association.

Equipment Use Donations were received from William and Donna Duncan, Marilyn Palmatier, Martha and Robert Woodhams and George and Margaret Philippon.

Memorial Contributions were received from Knimble Kneedles in memory of Ruth Donaho, Bob and Hope Ewest in memory of Tommy Kiesling and Richard and Lorelie Kula in memory of Carlton Lee.

A Transportation Use Donation was received from Elaine Powell.

The generosity and thoughtfulness of these residents and groups will enable Kare Bears to continue to serve the needs of our PebbleCreek residents.

AARP Safe Driving class

Sue White

An AARP Safe Driving Class will be held on Tuesday, January 26 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom for all PebbleCreek residents. Cost for AARP members is $15 and for non-members the cost is $20. Checks for the class should be made payable to AARP.

Safety techniques and driving principles will be explained in the class. Some auto insurers do give a discount upon completion of the class, so please check with your insurance carrier. It is well worth the time and cost. A certificate of completion will be distributed at the end of class.

A sign-up sheet will be in the Kare Bears folder at the Community Information Mailbox across from the Eagle’s Nest Pro Shop after December 26.

Any questions, please call the Kare Bears house at 623-536-1200.

Kare-ing volunteers needed! 10 reasons why you should be one

Sue White

PebbleCreek is a special place to live! Just ask any Kare Bear volunteer and they will agree. What a wonderful asset the 20 year old Kare Bears organization is for our community. We would not be the successful organization we are without our wonderful volunteers—think about it, you too could be part of this elite team of volunteers. Come on and join our team—we would love to have you!

And in David Lettermen’s words, “Here are the top 10 reasons why you should volunteer with Kare Bears”:

1. You contribute to the wellbeing of your neighbors.

2. You just feel good knowing that you have helped another.

3. You work with the best collection of volunteers ever.

4. You get to meet your neighbors, whether next door to you or other parts of the community.

5. You see your efforts pay great dividends in helping neighbors.

6. You walk with a little more pride knowing that you have helped.

7. You work with a great collection of Kare Bears Board of Directors ready to help you accomplish more goals.

8. You share your talents with others in the community.

9. You will be knowledgeable on all the activities that Kare Bears offers.

10. You join in on the fun with other Kare Bears volunteers at the Kare Bears Spring Fling.

We have many volunteer activities available, such as working a shift in the Kare Bears House, transporting neighbors to medical appointments, baking goodies for our monthly presentations, stepping up to be a Kare Bear coordinator or serving on the Board of Directors.

What do you want to do new in 2016 and make a difference in your and a neighbor’s life? Come on over to the Kare Bears House and find out what we have available. We would love you to be on our Kare-ing Team!

Any questions, call the Kare Bears House at 623-536-1200!

Calendar of events

December 3 – Estrella Estates Tour

December 4 – Bake Sale – Drop off between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. at Creative Arts Building.

December 5 – Bake Sale at Creative Arts Building

December 16 – Holiday Program – Eagle’s Nest Ballroom – 11:00 a.m.

December 17 – Abrazo Hospital Tour

January 21 – Abrazo Hospital Tour

January 22 – AED/CPR Class – Tuscany Falls Ballroom – 8:30 a.m.

January 26 – AARP Safe Driving Class – Tuscany Falls Ballroom – 8:30 a.m.

January 28 – Pathways Tour

February 13 – Health Fair – Eagle’s Nest Ballroom

Abrazo Hospital Tour

Sue White

Kare Bears has scheduled a tour of Abrazo Hospital, formerly West Valley Hospital, on Thursday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m. We are offering a tour and lunch to the first 16 people to sign up.

Please call the Kare Bear House at 623-536-1200 to make a reservation. Your name must be on the list to attend the tour.

If December is full, you may sign up for the next tour on Thursday, January 21.

We know you’ll enjoy this tour and appreciate all the much needed information. The hospital has undergone tremendous new construction which we feel everyone will be pleased to see.

This is the nearest hospital to PebbleCreek offering a Level 1 Trauma Center, accredited chest pain center, cardiac arrest center, joint commission certified, primary stroke center and board certified physicians.

Abrazo Hospital is located at 13677 W. McDowell Road. We will meet at the hospital’s main entrance for the tour just before 10:00 a.m.

Assisted living facilities tours set

Sue White

On Thursday, December 3 we will tour and lunch at Estrella Estates. Estrella Estates is located at Indian School and Wigwam Boulevard. We will meet at the main entrance on Wigwam Boulevard at 11:30 a.m. Estrella Estates is a retirement living facility.

On Thursday, January 21 we will tour and lunch at Pathways Assisted Living Community. Pathways is located on PebbleCreek Parkway at Indian School Road. We will meet at the main entrance at 11:30 a.m.

These communities offer all utilities (except phone), 24 hour staff on duty, weekly housekeeping, dining, full activities program and scheduled transportation. Join us on the tours to see the complete list of amenities for each community.

Please, don’t wait until you need to find somewhere to get assistance—be prepared!

Space is limited; don’t delay!

You can sign up by calling the Kare Bears House at 623-536-1200.

AED/CPR class – January 22

Sue White

Have you always wanted to learn CPR but never took the time—well, here’s you opportunity to learn a lifesaving technique. The class will be held on Friday, January 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom.

The AED/CPR defibrillator and resuscitation class is open to all employees and residents of PebbleCreek. The certified instructor does an excellent presentation with hands-on training in all equipment and techniques.

The cost is $30 for residents and can be paid with cash or checks to AZ Pro CPR and First Aid LLC at the beginning of the class.

A sign-up sheet will be in the Kare Bears folder at the Community Information Mailbox across from the Eagle’s Nest Pro Shop after December 22.

Any questions, please call the Kare Bears house at 536-1200.

Source Book™ delivery update

Sue White

Kare Bears will be delivering your 2016 Source Book to your front door. The date of delivery is pending; however, we expect it to be in late January or early February, 2016. Your Source Book will be left at your front door in a plastic bag, one book per house. After home delivery, additional Source Books will be available for purchase at the Kare Bears house.

If you are not going to be home or are unable to retrieve the book from the door, please inform your neighbor or person watching your home to take care of it. This is your information guide to residents and facilities in PebbleCreek.

Specific information on home delivery dates will be made available via eGroup announcements as soon dates become available. If you have questions, please call Arlis Legler at 623-234-4709.