Juniper Berry Winery

Happy Holidays! From the berries of nature to the loving hands of our Residents...the Residents of Juniper Village prepared this wine for their Doctors this Holiday Season. Last Spring we brought some creativity to the monthly theme based Alive in All Seasons event with a home-made wine making class. What started out as an event for the Greater Meadville Community, turned into a Juniper Village favorite! There was much interest on behalf of our resident population when the community members arrived for their session. Several Residents expressed interest in joining the educational session.

Jennifer Musone, Connections Director, did not hesitate to entertain this request. She coordinated the Resident's 6 week wine making class with Rich Pittner, from Windy Hill Wine Making. The first batch was an enormous success and was enjoyed at the Resident Friday afternoon Happy Hour for many weeks. When deciding upon the holiday gift for their doctor's, it only seemed natural to offer something home-made. So Jennifer embarked on another adventure in the Juniper Berry Winery located in the Historic Lafayette Tavern. Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 was created.

I hear the next batch will include elderberries...It could be ready just in time for Valentine's day, if we time it right. Perhaps some of our six couples who reside here, will take advantage of this over a romantic Valentine's Dinner. Strange to be thinking of February already, when Christmas is only a few days away. Speaking of Christmas, stay tuned for tomorrow's article on the Friends and Family Holiday Dinner. It was a smashing success...nearly 200 Residents and guests were in attendance.

To read the articles on the wine making class, search the blog at the bottom of the page with keyword: WINE.

Celebrating Mexican Traditions

Jennifer Musone, Connections Director, leads the afternoon into Celebrating Mexican Traditions as we continue through December celebrating the little things. The residents first enjoyed chips and salsa con queso and margaritas as Clay and Jennifer hung the pinata!

Helen Livermore steps up to the plate to take the first swing...what a hit Helen! Who is that?!? Is that a new resident's smiling face? No, it's Paul Reese captured in a funny moment!

Next, is Barbara Schnell...another great hit! Juanita Vaughan takes a crack at it...Success!

Sharline Peterson was up next. Way to go Sharline! Great hit!

After Sharline took a few swings... the entire couch cleared out...just in case the Pinata took flight. Sharline has quite the arm! Jean Wood then hit it so hard, one of the Rays of sun went flying!

It's a good thing, because, no sooner did they move, that June Turner took a swing and there ya have it...one setting sun! Tomorrow the Residents will be celebrating German traditions...I wonder if there will be sausages!?!

Friends and Family Holiday Dinner

A picture says a thousand words! Satisifed, content, and stuffed are a few that describe the ladies pictured! As Jean, Amy, Juanita and Eva all take a moment of relaxation last week out side of the Reynolds Dining room following our Annual Friends and Family Holiday Dinner. The evening began around 4:30pm as friends and family traveled near and far to be with their loved ones as almost 200 were served on this occasion. Guests enjoyed wine and hors D'ouvers in the Lafayette Tavern as holiday music could be heard throughout the community. It has been years since the old David Meade Inn had seen so many guests to dinner! Tonya Moyer, Administrator, gave a beautiful thank you to all those who made the dinner possible, followed by Marci Williamson's Christmas Prayer.

Chef Erin and her culinary assistants prepared a Delicious Christmas ham dinner. We are so fortunate to have the large community space that we have, as we needed to utilize every single room. From the ballroom to the bistro, families were sharing in the Holiday festivities.

Through dinner there was a presentation by Marci, our own Connections Assistant. She performed Silent Night in sign language accompanied by an interpretive dance.

Jennifer Musone, Connections Director, invited Nicholas, a 15 year old fine young musician who played music as all gathered round the fire place in the living room. It was standing room only!

Some members of the Leadership Team, pause to take a photo...It was hard getting us to all stand still long enough to pose! Pictured from left to right: Mandy Maruska, Tonya Moyer, Jamie Kinder, Tammy Foulk, Jennifer Musone. Chef Erin Gredler and Clay Erford not pictured...They must have been off working harder than us :) Probably knee deep in clean up at this point, because when I turned around after taking family photos in the ballroom, the entire community had already been cleaned!

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The Hipple Family, Pictured Right, one of our many families who joined us this holiday season to Celebrate the Little Things!

Dorris Smock enjoys the fireplace as she winds down from the exciting evening...it wasn't long after the residents were all snug in their beds...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Food Drive Finale!

Totaling over 800 pounds, the well needed food donation was picked up by the Center for Family Services last week. The Food drive continued through the end of November as Residents, Families, Staff and Community members brought in their donations. Those who donated goods received a complimentary Juniper Tote as a Thank you for the kindness and to further lessen the impact of plasic bags on the environment.

We all wondered who received the food donations and if it would be enough. We pondered how to thank all those who donated to our Meadville Community. We were wondering...could we have done more? JUST as we were reflecting, Tonya Moyer, Adminstrator at Juniper, and I took pause to peer out the window at the beautiful snowflakes. We saw a gentleman exit his car, Juniper Tote in hand. It brought a smile to our faces, proving to us that kindness is everywhere. "I wonder if he donated to the food bank!" Tonya exclaimed. We giggled at the timing and glowed with pride at the impact our Juniper Family may have made on another family this Season.

When Diane Byrne, Vice President of Program, Development, Training and Operational Oversight, outlined to each Juniper Village, the expectations for the community food drive, we never imagined our small community would give so much. Diane has a way of explaining, even a seemingly unsurmountable task, in a way that inspires one to want to succeed. Those who know Diane, know it to be true that she believes in her local community, our Meadville Community and the Juniper Family culture. What a wonderful way to give back! Thank you for inspiring us, Diane.

Meadville took the food drive challenge and we all knew we could make a difference for local families. I observed individuals giving of themselves, who did not have much to give and local businesses rising to the challenge. Byham's Insurance brought in over 100 pounds of food alone. It inspired our Juniper Community to want to give more. We challenged eachother to bring more, and to give of ourselves more. So, although we fell slightly short of our goal, we feel good about the work we put forth to bring in the donations. After all, it is about the Journey, right?

When Tonya and I saw the gentleman on the street, sporting his Food Drive tote, we were reminded that kindness shows up at the least expected moments. Slow down and Celebrate the Little Things : Cherish the Journey...had we not stopped to appreciate natures blanket of snow, we would have missed that Joyful moment.

Those wishing to still donate to the Center for Family Services Food Pantry can contact them at 814.337.8454 or take their donations to the Food Pantry located at the old Talon building on Arch Street. Happy Holidays!

Celebrate the Little Things

Recently, I was reminded of one of my own family traditions around the Holiday season...The Sears catalog wish list adventure! I wonder if this tradition extends clear back to 1886 with the catalog creation itself?


Certainly, in the 1800's, the catalog was created out of necessity for rural Americans who needed an option against the higher priced goods in department stores, not for children's wish lists... However, out of supply and demand, the catalog grew to include household items, sewing machines, building supplies and even toys. In 1908, the first home catalog was sent out. In this home catalog pictured, you could buy an entire house for $725. These Sears homes still stand in many areas of rural America.


I was neither thinking about the impact of the ingenuity at age 7, as I eagerly anticipated the arrival of the Holiday catalog, nor was I thinking about how generations before me had done the same thing. So, today when one of our Residents brought this catalog to me to share in his memories of his catalog adventures, I was taken by his familiar story and my own memories came back sharp and clear. O' the excitement I had as I would feverishly open the catalog and create my Holiday wish list for Santa Claus! I rooted through mom's desk and found a hearty pen/marker to start circling my dreams. Somehow, I thought Santa would see it, doesn't he see everything? And every year, as Christmas Eve approached, I would remind my parents that they might want to look at the Sears catalog, JUST IN CASE there was something they needed...in hopes they would see my wish list too!


Sears got it right when they marketed to Americans to bring affordable household goods to rural America. As my friend and I glanced at the catalog and we discussed the days when a tricycle was $1.25 and a baby doll was .50 cents, we both chuckled about ordering our Christmas gifts out of THIS catalog. The Sears catalog has come a long way in the past 100 years, but what remains the same is how it moves people to dream and elicits memories through the ages.


As we Celebrate the Little Things with our Juniper Family this December, remember those little things that brought your families together as children. Bring in some photographs and memorabilia to share with your loved ones on your next visit and just see what happens. Because, although 63 years separate my friend and I, we found today, as children, our dreams weren't so different. Celebrate the Little Things! Happy Holidays from our Juniper Family to yours.

The Juniper Spirit lives in us!

Juniper Village at Meadville Celebrates dedication, compassion, and the desire to Nurture the Spirit of Life! Juniper Communites, Lynne Katzmann, President and CEO arrived to deliver the Juniper Spirit Award, the Giraffe Awards and Staff Appreciation awards for years of service. Residents, Family Members and Associates gathered in the Allegheny Ballroom with great anticipation of who the Juniper Spirit Award winner would be...The ceremonies began with introductions by Tonya Moyer, Executive Director. Lynne Katzmann welcomed the group as she reminisced about the Ballroom itself. Not much more than a year ago the Ballroom was occupied as a storage room until the Meadville Leadership Team breathed new life into the space. On this day, the room was witness to new memories in the making as Donald Breneman, Director of Operations, speaks from the heart and announces the accomplishments of the Juniper Village Meadville Associates ranging from one year of service to over 10 years of service!

You may wonder what those pins actually look like...Well, we have brought you a birds eye view, compliments of photographer Chef Erin, as I share with you my service pin for my year of service. It seems like only a few months ago that I began my journey at Juniper Village, and nearly one and a half years later, I sit proudly as I see my fellow associate, Terry (photo left), collect his pin for over 10 years of service! Terry has seen a lot of wonderful changes here at this community, but there are a few things that haven't changed; his dedication to his job and our residents, and his commitment to his fellow associates. What an accomplishment! Yes, it was quite touching...is that a tear of pride and joy you are wiping from your cheek, Don Breneman?

The ceremony continued with the Giraffe awards by Lynne Katzmann; The Giraffe Awards are Lynne's special recognition to Juniper Associates. In true giving spirit, Lynne began her presentation with this humble statement: "There is not a whole lot I do by myself at Juniper Communities...and this is something I do..." She was referencing the efforts and dedication of the entire Corporate Leadership Team who fulfill the company mission. The Giraffe awards are something Lynne has cherished as her own way of giving back to her associates. Lynne truly believes it "takes a village" but also recognizes individuality within the team approach. She proceeded to acknowledge special accomplishments of staff members at Juniper, in a way that some families in attendance described as "inspiring and memorable." Lynne began Juniper Communities with a concept over 21 years ago; to Nurture the Spirit of Life in each individual we touch. The concept became the mission statement, and the mission statement unfolded as the words became a reality and continued to cultivate into who we are today. As employees, we are all nurtured in our own ways and encouraged to fulfill our creative outlets. Our personal journey's are important to Lynne, and she never fails to ask about our families, our children, and our personal goals. The Giraffe award is a way for Lynne to recognize associates when they "stick their neck out". Why a giraffe? Giraffes have large warm hearts to pump the blood up through that especially long neck of theirs; big warm hearts and the willingness to stick their necks out, are what our associates have in common with the giraffe. Plus, Lynne was able to wear that fantastic giraffe print coat that we all coveted...

One highlight of the event was when Michael Maruska, resident at Juniper Village, and my loving grandfather, proudly delivers a bottle of Juniper's own home made Strawberry Merlot wine to Lynne. The wine was made at the most recent wine making class held in the Lafayette Tavern. Michael was there every step of the way during the preparation of the spirits. And speaking of Spirit...

Drum roll please...And the moment we had all been waiting for arrived. The Juniper Spirit Award! Perhaps, it wasn't a surprise to the many that know and work with Amy Vanderhoff, when she was announced the winner of the Juniper Spirit Award. I think we all somehow knew in our hearts that she was the winner. Her 6 years of dedicated service and professionalism and continued drive to Nurture the Spirit of Life is what won her this prestigious award. I think Samuel Rogers, 19th century poet, said it best: "to know her was to love her." Amy, your continued dedication to the Juniper Village Family is evident. To know you is to love you and we are all so very proud of you!

A special thanks to Tonya Moyer, Jennifer Musone, Donald Breneman and Lynne Katzmann for delivering a beautiful ceremony for the recipients of the awards, our Families in attendance and the Residents who graced us with their presence. We are all here for one common mission: To Nurture the Spirit of Life in each individual we touch. Thank you again Amy for touching our lives so deeply with your compassion.

Food weighing in at over 520 pounds...

It was an exciting Saturday, as Amy and Luella took time to tally the most current donations. The donations were overflowing in the gathering area, and the girls took the initiative to count the bounty. Almost 200 pounds of food from the previous few days had poured in as we added Saturday's total poundage to almost 400 pounds. Today, the staff weighed another 124 pounds, bringing our to-date total to 521 pounds. We have exceeded the halfway mark and all look forward to hitting our 1,000 pound goal by November 30th. Thank you for your continued support to benefit our Meadville Community Food Pantry!