Afleveringen
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Host: Ray Loewe
Guest: Margaret (Muggs) Frentz
Description: For this latest episode in Life Under the Willow Tree, Ray Loewe interviews Willow Valley resident Margaret "Mugs" Frenz,, discussing her discovery of a black swallowtail caterpillar she named Fatty McFatty. This encounter inspired Mugs to learn about butterflies and their host plants, leading to the formation of the Parsley Project. This project aims to engage fellow residents in raising swallowtail butterflies from eggs, with support from the Willow Valley community and environmental groups, encouraging residents to become citizen scientists and contribute to local butterfly populations. The podcast highlights a photo exhibit and upcoming presentation to further promote the project and educate residents on the butterfly life cycle. -
Sneakers, Scholastic Aid, and Santa: Supporting Lancaster’s Kids
Host: Dale Johnson
Guest: Cori Steiner
Description: The focus of the podcast is the Willow Valley Community Outreach Program, which was established in
1998 to assist children in need in the greater Lancaster community. They discuss three main annual
initiatives: a cornhole tournament supporting high school seniors' post-graduation plans, a "Sneakers for
School" project providing new shoes, and a holiday gift-giving program, including an annual event at
Dutch Wonderland. The podcast highlights the impact of resident and team member involvement in
these programs through volunteering, donations, and providing support, with a strong emphasis on the
intergenerational connections fostered and the significant accomplishments over the years. -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Host: Ray Loewe
Guests: Elaine Gross, Betty Ann Sweet, and Holly Bachman
Description: This year, Nurses Day falls on May 8th. We interviewed ten amazing nurses, trying to capture a piece of their lives, careers, and unique experiences. This is the story of three of them: Elaine Gross, Betty Ann Sweet, and Holly Bachman. The others will be released on future podcasts. Stay tuned. -
Host: Don Helin
Guest: Esther Jacoby
Description: In this podcast, we showcase Esther Jacoby’s background and experiences, which include her musical and her scholastic education. She discusses her family, as well as what she refers to as her role as an “Accidental Accompanist." A highly talented musician, Esther is now the accompanist for the Willow Valley Chorale and the musical group Bridget and Friends -
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://wvbikeclub.wordpress.com/
Bike Club Video: https://youtu.be/NplGjkyURu0
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Host: Carol MacAllister
Guest: Dick Coyne
Description: Dick Coyne and his wife moved to Willow Valley in 2019 after a substantive career in the US Department of Health and Human Services. He spearheaded the program that ensures children enter public school with the key vaccines that prevent highly contagious, devastating childhood diseases. Then he created a system within the Department that put evidence-based medicine and medical equipment in front of Medicare for the betterment of all mankind. What a legacy. After retirement he became a tour guide for several years and then the Coyne’s moved to Willow Valley where Dick immediately joined the Resident Council for the North. When that tenure was done, he led the WV Team Member Appreciation Fund, reaching record contributions even without full resident participation. What’s next? Listen and find out. It will amaze you -
Host: Candy O’Donnell
Guest: Ray Loewe
Description: In this podcast, Ray Loewe describes the Conference Event that he is planning for June 12th, 2025, at the Willow Valley Conference Center. The purpose of this conference, The Magic Continues, is to learn about tools and techniques to live life to the fullest. This conference, similar to Mr. Loewe’s Conference Event held last year in 2024, is part of a series of conferences started 30 years ago by Mr. Loewe. This year, the Conference will have two speakers, followed by lunch at the Willow Valley Conference Center Ballroom. The first speaker, Tracey Gates, who wrote a book entitled “ The Power of a Few Kind Words,” will describe her project of writing one letter of gratitude a day for a year, and what she gained from this. The second speaker, Deborah Brandt, the Producer of Fig Magazine Lancaster, explores what we can do and who we can meet in Lancaster to help us live life to the fullest. Afterwards, there will be a lunch, which will allow people to network, to meet speakers, and to bounce ideas off others at the conference. Ray’s Goal is to continue this conference event a few times a year, to be held at Willow Valley. -
Ray Loewe interviewed Morgan Poillon and Lauren Renehan about the Willow Valley Marlin and Doris Thomas Memory Center. The Center's web page is foundation.willowvalleycommunities.org You can find the live camera at the construction site on the web page.
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Host: Ray Loewe
Guest: WV Pastor Garrick Fleming
Description: What happens when a life event gets in the way of living your life? And, more importantly, how do you get back on track? Host Ray Loewe & guest The Reverend Garritt Fleming discuss four valuable concepts that work: The Rope of Hope, The Power of Faith, The Power of Community, and The Importance of having Accountability to someone. -
Host: Carol MacAllister, Clinical Social Worker, retired
Guest: Erika Snitzer, Licensed Associate Professional Counselor
Description: Erika is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor at the Samaritan Counseling Center in Lancaster. Willow Valley is contracted with her through Samaritan, to provide counseling services to WV residents in need of professional support as they navigate the many transitions that are the reality of aging including changing residences, losing a spouse, a child, friends, one’s health and/or mobility, independence, and facing death. Erika uses a holistic, collaborative approach, fostering self-awareness, personal growth, and resiliency. Her WV campus office is in the Manor building, behind the Concierge desk, but she can also see clients in her office at the Samaritan Counseling Center, 1803 Oregon Pike. There is a reasonable hourly change. Appointments must be made by calling the main number at SCC, 717-560-9969. No drop-ins, please. -
Host: Carol MacAllister
Guest: Barbara (Bobbie) Walsh
Description: Today, we all take vaccines for granted, and some even ignore them, but most seniors remember the diseases that plagued our childhoods and for which vaccines were miracle cures. Bobbie Walsh was one of those unsung heroes who worked tirelessly for 32 years creating vaccines for many diseases, but notably smallpox, which killed 300 million people in the 20th century alone. This is the story of how the smallpox vaccine was created in our central PA backyard (the Wyeth Labs in Marietta). On May 8, 1980, the World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated worldwide. But if it should rear its ugly head again, the CDC still has enough vaccine to stop it. -
Host: Carol MacAllister
Guest: Jane Armstong
Description: We welcome Jane Armstrong, a SouthPointe resident, who has mastered the art of ventriloquism to enhance her teaching skills and connect with others in a fun and engaging way. Don't miss this lively and fun presentation as Ms. Armstrong shares the stage with her firefighting Dalmatian dog, Tops. -
Host: Ray Loewe
Guest: Brittany Hemperley, Mgr. of ......
Description: Brittany Hemperly manages Pursuits, the new Willow Valley shop that opened in North last October, in the space previously occupied by the Pharmacy/Drugstore. Rose Bahurka helps her during weekday shop hours from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Brittany describes the wide array of products available at Pursuits. Interviewer Ray Loewe could pick up cough syrup for his ailing wife. Cards, chocolates, candy bars, and other edibles such as cheese, crackers, and meats are sold there. Gifts like jewelry, purses, and bags are available. Dog leashes and cat toys are also sold. Best of all, several flavors of Fox Meadows Ice Cream are big sellers. Best of all, Resident suggestions for other products to be sold are taken into consideration. -
Host: Carol MacAllister, Lakes Resident
Guest: Glennda Hart, Willow Valley’s VP of Resident Services
Description: Today, Glennda Hart tells host Carol MacAllister of her long career at Willow Valley, beginning at the Willow Street Restaurant and Smorgasbord owned by our WV founders, John and Florence Thomas, who also had an adjoining motel. Folks came from all around to enjoy the delicious food and stay to explore the Lancaster County attractions. It was hospitality where you were "treated like family, " which has been WV's ethic ever since. Glennda started in 1978 and was witness to the building of both campuses, taking positions first in the skilled care side and then, where she is now, in the large and growing independent living sector on both the Lakes and Manor campuses. Glennda shares her personal and professional philosophy of pragmatic empathy for the residents and her staff, balancing the needs and wants of the residents while ensuring this WV enterprise continues and thrives for all of us. She welcomes emails at [email protected] -
Host: Dale Johnson & Ellen Haas
Guests: Mystery
Description: Our podcast team recently experimented with a new AI tool called Notebook LM by Google. We fed it five of our previous episodes where residents discussed life at Willow Valley Communities. The software then generated a new 10-minute podcast based on these insights. Join Dale & Ellen as they delve into the details of this experiment, highlighting key points to listen for in this AI-crafted episode. -
Guest: Marian Yoder, WV resident
Host: Dale Johnson
Description: Spring Run resident Marian Yoder has spent her life forging her own path, redefining expectations to create the life she truly wanted. Raised in a conservative Mennonite community on a dairy farm in Lancaster County, she remained deeply committed to her faith while grappling with the cultural constraints of her upbringing. Her choice to separate faith from tradition led her on an extraordinary journey—one that diverged from the conventional path she was expected to follow as she entered adulthood. -
Host: Dale Johnson
Guests: Ed Mitchell & Peter Keller, WV Spring Run Residents
Description: This podcast features an interview with two Willow Valley residents, Ed Mitchell and Peter Keller, about their newly formed Environmental Interest Group. The group's goals include environmental stewardship, engaging residents in environmental initiatives, and leaving a positive legacy. Their activities involve educational talks, nature walks, and collaborations with other organizations and retirement communities. The podcast also discusses the community's green master plan and the process of forming resident groups within Willow Valley. Ultimately, the interview highlights the residents' passion for environmental conservation and its potential to attract new members to the community. -
Host: Don Helin
Guest: WV resident Phil Fretz
Description: In this podcast, WV resident Phil Fretz shared his journey through prostate cancer, from his discovery of its presence to the final treatment, a period covering ten months. A WV resident for less than two years, Phil found out at a routine visit to his urologist. The diagnosis followed a PSA count that jumped from 3 to 8. His treatment options settled on high-dosage radiation (5 treatments over two weeks) followed by hormone treatment. The whole process was delayed by scheduling conflicts, but in the end, it was successful. Phil shared his journey, hoping it would help other men see their urologist yearly and pursue treatment if necessary.
Phil has written a book about his experience with prostate Cancer: One Man’s Prostate Cancer, which will be available on Amazon in February 2025. If you have questions or would like to speak to Phil, you may email him at [email protected] or call at
610-291-3709. -
Host: Don Helin
Guests: Phil Fretz and Stone Stafford
Description: Art in the Morning: A Renaissance Program is designed to bring new meaning to displays of art in many art forms — paintings, drawings, quilts, photographs, or sculptures, as well as writings inspired by those pieces of art and readings by individual writers. The artist will have an opportunity to explain the motivation for the art. A monthly program will be held to discuss art and writing. For more information: [email protected] -
Host: Carol MacAllister
Guest: Shelly Hockenbrocht, Lead Morning Hostess and Mentor
Description: Shelly Hockenbrocht is the kind of employee HR Directors dream of hiring. Eager to work hard and learn everything, Shelly started at Willow Valley at age 17, still a Junior in high school. In her Senior year, she worked full-time in WV in culinary, afternoons and evenings. Thirty-nine years ago, when the total WV staff was about 50 and residents maybe 300, Shelly served in the dining room at Manor. Dining was formal in the early days: staff wore white nursing dresses, clean and crisply ironed, with matching nursing shoes. Resident men wore dress slacks and suit jackets; resident ladies wore dresses, hose, and heels. All practiced good manners, soft voices, and proper comportment.
The staff all knew each other, became friends, some found spouses, and hung out together after hours. It was a family. And when weather or illness resulted in short staffing, the administration pitched in, sometimes bringing their entire families to do whatever was necessary—serving meals, washing pots and pans, or mopping the floors. Shelly fit right in and has ever since. Always in culinary, Shelly has served and prepared food, cooked breakfast, and been the morning hostess. When her personal life hit bumps, the administration adjusted her job or hours to help her out, always committed to keeping a good employee…. and that is still the case. And from the beginning, WV has always handed out Christmas bonuses, in those early years it was cash, now it is checks. As Shelly says, WV is a great employer. Getting to know the residents is her greatest joy, and losing them is her greatest sorrow.
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