Summer Activities Make Way for Fall Holidays and Celebrations
As summer makes its way to the beautiful fall, we look back on warm memories and fun activities that kept our residents entertained and engaged, Our Life Enrichment team made sure there was plenty of fun to go around, both indoors and out. And the fall weather has been beautiful!
Here’s are highlights from the last few months:
Corn Shucking and Baking Cookies
Our Annual August Corn Shucking festivity was another hit. Our residents at the Home spent a morning shucking the corn and enjoyed hot buttered corn at an afternoon corn on the cob social. Residents were smiling ear to ear!!
Homemade cookies were also in demand. Baking cookies from scratch brought back so many wonderful memories for everyone. The sweet aroma of freshly made cookies in the oven was simply irresistible.
Monthly Veteran’s Gatherings Continue
Each month our resident Veterans gather with Veterans from the community, for a morning of socialization and camaraderie. Our residents cherish these moments to deepen friendships and share new stories each month.
Annual Hawaiian Night Luau a Festive Celebration
Our Annual Hawaiian Luau was a high point of the summer. Residents donned festive attire, enjoyed Hawaiian-themed foods and decorations. For music, everyone sang along to the lively tunes of Irving Lewis. A great time was had by all! Many thanks to our Board members who joined us in the festivities!
Labor Day Brought a Sweet Surprise
On Labor Day our residents at The Home and Sosin Center for Rehabilitation enjoyed red, white and blue Strawberry/Blueberry Yogurt parfaits. What a sweet and patriotic way to celebrate the many achievements of American workers.
Rosh Hashanah Brings Families Together to Celebrate the New Year
Rosh Hashanah services were live streamed from Central Synagogue in New York City. Our Rosh Hashanah dinner was a beautiful celebration of the New Year. Services were led by Reverend David Aminia, at the Home and Ruth’s House. Reverend Aminia blew the shofar, a ram’s horn, to awaken people’s spiritual reflection. Family members joined with loved ones to reflect on the past and celebrate the coming year.
Music Feeds the Soul
Musical entertainment is a mainstay at JGS, lifting spirits and feeding the soul. We continued to enjoy the beautiful duets of Lisa Pernice and her husband Dave. Residents loved singing and clapping along. Other performers included Jimmy Mazz and Irving Lewis. We were thrilled to bring the high-spirited music of area performer Sarah the Fiddler to the Gloth Family Auditorium! Michael Leidwig offered a beautiful evening piano concert at Ruth’s House that was enjoyed by all! And Ruth’s House resident, Johnny Scalia, better known as “Johnny Rocket” continues to act as DJ and put on musical concerts for the residents at Ruth’s House! Johnny’s passion for music is not only a personal source of joy but also a gift he shares with fellow residents, creating a vibrant and uplifting atmosphere. We are looking forward to having him come to the nursing home and entertain our residents!
Ruth’s House Celebrated Assisted Living Week
Between September 8-12 Ruth’s House was alive celebrating with different activities each day of the week! Monday was “50’s Day” with music performed by Freddie Marion. Tuesday was “Ice Cream Truck Day”. Wednesday was “Popcorn and Candy Day”. Thursday was “Massage Therapy Day”. And Friday culminated with the “Resident Choice Awards”. Residents were engaged and expressed their gratitude for Ruth’s House and its community of caring.
Annual Meeting honors Rabbi Devorah Jacobson with Chair’s Service Award and Recognizes the Longstanding Support of David and Ruth Katz
Over 100 people gathered for our 2025 Annual Community Meeting on Thursday, October 9th, to acknowledge recent accomplishments, discuss future plans and honor the contributions of Rabbi Devorah Jacobson, our former Director of Spiritual Life. David and Ruth Katz were also honored for their extraordinary leadership, generosity and support. Please read about the meeting elsewhere in this newsletter.
Sukkot
We wish to thank the students from B’nai Torah who visited along with Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe, to help us decorate our beautiful sukkot at the Home and at Ruth’s House. At Ruth’s House, The Michele and Stuart Anfang Sukkot was abuzz with activity, as residents, families and staff enjoyed meals in the sukkot and activities, as well as moments of quiet contemplation.
Rays of Hope – Fundraising and Friendraising
JGS Lifecare is a longstanding supporter of The Rays of Hope Walk and Run Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer. Our own Cheryl Gumlaw, Director of Life Enrichment at the Home, chaired this year’s volunteer initiative. To help raise funds for the effort Cheryl and her Life Enrichment Team, together with members of our Staff Morale Team, baked goodies and held a bake sale enjoyed by residents and staff alike. Through the sale of cupcakes, cookies and treats of all shapes and flavors, together with t-shirt sales, a quilt raffle, and sponsorship commitments – over $3,500 was raised by the JGS community! Thank you, Cheryl and your team, for raising so much awareness and support! And congratulations to our raffle winner Katie Morneau! We hope you enjoy the beautiful quilt made by Gabrielle Thomes, social worker at the Home.
As fall unfolds, we eagerly anticipate the season of Thanksgiving. There is so much happening at JGS Lifecare that we are thankful for, and we look forward to creating new and enriching experiences for our residents!
