Left to right: Kare Bears annual Award Winners are Ray Garcia, Mark Pelletier, John Kopier, Jenny Shafer and Grace Cooper; missing from the picture is Linda Glazer.
Kare Bears’ annual Fall Luncheon and Awards
Sue White
On November 12, 2014, Kare Bears held their nineteenth annual Fall Luncheon. The theme was Autumn Blessings. Table centerpieces were beautiful fall flower arrangements from Thompson’s Flower Shop. Thompson Funeral Chapel, LaLoma, Estrella Estates, The Groves, Pathways and Freedom Plaza sponsored the cost of the centerpieces.
This was Kare Bears’ largest luncheon so far with a total attendance of 380. Joe Chimera was emcee for the event. He and his wife Corrine escorted the award winners to the stage to receive their awards.
Ray Garcia of Arizona Pro CPR and First Aid LLC was awarded the Friends of Kare Bears award for all his work to install AEDs in PebbleCreek and keep them ready for use should they be needed. Ray also teaches AED/CPR classes to PebbleCreek employees and residents on a quarterly basis.
Kare Bears recognized Linda Glazar, Jenny Schafer, John Kopier and Grace Cooper for their many hours of work as Kare Bears volunteers by honoring them with the Kare Bears Exceptional Service Award. These four people perform a variety of tasks for Kare Bears including chairing the annual luncheon, updating our computer data base and tracking insurance coverage for our drivers in the transportation program as well as maintaining our medical equipment. It takes a lot of dedicated people like these individuals to keep our Kare Bears programs running smoothly.
The Founders Award, in honor of Kare Bears Founder, Rayma Scalzo, is given each year to a PebbleCreek resident who volunteers not only in PebbleCreek but in the Goodyear community and surrounding area. This year Mark Pelletier was given the award for his volunteer work with many organizations including the City of Goodyear, Kare Bears, PebbleCreek Channel 22 ,Model Railroad Club, Hiking Club and Computer Club and the Three Rivers Historical Society, to name a few.
The luncheon was made possible through the efforts of the following individuals:
Chairpersons: Grace Cooper, Sandy Donovan and Jenny Shafer
Awards: Thelma Lindhorn and her committee, Dru Bacon, Ken Kurtz, Laura Measles, Janis Korba, Hank Malioux, John Cassiola, Corrine Adams and Jane Bacon
Decorating Committee: Chairpersons and their committee, Joanie Baird, Lucy Kramer, Joan Suriano, Marni Millikan, JoAnne Smith and Peg Janssen
Greeters and Hospitality: Joan Suriano and committee members Ann Abke, Ken Kurtz and Tony Suriano
Ticket Sales: Arlis Legler, and her committee, Linda Grabau, Mary McMahon, Linda Glazer, Janis Korba, Bev Bass, Judy Ayers and Donna Frole
Program and Posters: Rayma Scalzo and Jenny Shafer
Raffle: Gladys Mabey and her committee, Jane Bacon, Judy Quattrone, Phyllis Kennedy, Carol Jarvis, Barb Ranta, Joey Arnold, Betsy Crosson, Janice Rossi and Sharyl Perkett
Raffle Ticket Sales: Jan Cosgrove, Nebbie Braun, Karen Murphy, Barb Parker and Kate Schimelpfening
Photographer: Cheryl Brodbeck
Kare Bears would like to thank all of those who supported us by attending the luncheon and our Raffle Donors.
We would also like to thank our great volunteers who devote many hours throughout the year to help their neighbors. These include coordinators, advisors, trainers, special volunteers, house volunteers, drivers and Share Bears Volunteers.
Annual Health Fair 02/14/15
The Annual Health Fair for PebbleCreek residents will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom. The fair will consist of approximately 55 professional doctors, dentists, chiropractors, orthopedic specialists and health service specialists. They all will have information to cater to everyone’s special needs, some of which will be breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. These concerns regarding health, special services, in home help, facilities for special needs and products to aid health issues will be answered. Some of the services will be able to perform minimal checks, such as hearing, eye exam and blood pressure checks.
More information will be available in the February Post along with the PebbleCreek email Yahoo group.
We look forward to seeing you at the fair!
AED/CPR class
Have you always wanted to learn CPR, but never took the time? Well, here’s your opportunity to learn a lifesaving technique. The class will be held on Friday, January 23, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 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 technique.
The cost is $30 for residents and can be paid with cash or checks to Arizona Pro CPR and First Aid LLC at the beginning of the class.
A signup sheet will be in the Kare Bears folder at the Community Information Mailbox across from the Eagle’s Nest Pro Shop.
Any questions? Please call the Kare Bears house at 536-1200.
AARP safe driving class
An AARP Safe Driving Class will be held on Friday, January 16, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the Sienna Room at Tuscany Falls for all PebbleCreek residents. Cost for AARP members is $15 and for nonmembers, 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 the class.
A signup sheet will be available in the Kare Bears folder at the Community Information Mailbox across from the Eagle’s Nest Pro Shop.
For any questions, please call the Kare Bears house at 536-1200.
Dates to remember
January 15 – The Groves Tour
January 16 – AARP Safe Driving Class
January 23 – AED/CPR Class
February 12 – Estrella Estates Tour
February 14 – Annual Health Fair
February 19 – Hacienda Del-Ray Tour
Dr. Sameer Keole of Mayo Clinic will be the speaker for Kare Bears Monthly Meeting on January 21, 2015.
Come learn about proton beam therapy
Sue White
Kare Bears would like to invite you to hear Dr. Keole Sameer of Mayo Clinic speak at the monthly meeting on January 21, 2015, at the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom at 11:00 a.m.
Dr. Sameer Keole is a senior associate consultant in the department of radiation oncology at the Mayo Clinic since December 2012. He is the medical director of the proton beam therapy program for the Arizona campus. Dr. Keole had 15 years of treating patients with Hadron Therapy and over eight years specifically with proton beam therapy. In 2004 he was the first clinical hire for the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, where he spent nearly five years. Following that, he spent four years at the ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Oklahoma City, serving as its medical director. Dr. Keole was instrumental in the development of additional proton centers in Illinois, New Jersey and Washington State. He is a founder of Proton Collaborative Group, the industry’s leading research group for proton beam therapy. He has authored, or co-authored, over 40 papers, articles or book chapters on proton beam therapy
His presentation is titled: Proton Beam Therapy: The Future is (Almost) Here.
Highlights of his presentation will be:
1. A general overview of radiation therapy, specifically in the overall continuum of care for patients with cancer.
2. Description of the differences between proton beam therapy and other forms of radiation therapy.
3. Examples of how/when proton beam therapy might be able to help you or your loved ones.
We look forward to seeing you on January 21 at 11:00 a.m. at the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom.
Tours of Senior Living Communities
Kare Bears is happy to offer tours and lunches for three new Senior Living facilities near PebbleCreek.
The first tour will be at The Groves Senior Living Community, located at 2655 N. PebbleCreek Parkway which is directly across from PebbleCreek’s Field of Dreams on the corner of Virginia and PebbleCreek Parkway. We will be meeting at the main entrance of The Groves on Thursday, January 15, at 11:30 a.m. The Groves will be preparing a light lunch for us. The tour and lunch has a limited number of spaces available.
In February we will be having two tours. The first tour will be at Estrella Estates, 14930 Wigwam Boulevard, next to Millennium High School, on the corner of Indian School and Wigwam Boulevard. The tour and lunch for the PebbleCreek residents is on Thursday, February 12 at 11:30 a.m.
Another new assisted living facility we want everyone to get the chance to tour is Hacienda Del-Rey behind Albertsons Grocery at 12917 W. Las Cruces Drive on Indian School in Litchfield Park. Our tour and lunch has been set up for Thursday, February 19 at 11:30 a.m. They have both assisted living and memory care in Hacienda Del-Ray.
If you can’t make any of these dates, we will be offering each tour again!
Most of us are not in need of these facilities at this time of our life: however, it’s always wise to be prepared and know what each facility offers so when we do need them we’re familiar with what each one offers.
You may sign up for any of these tours by calling the Kare Bears House at 536-1200.