It’s the end of summer…and we plan to make the most of it with theme days and outdoor trips that everyone will enjoy.  We’ll be kicking these off with a summer staple:  ice cream!

     On Monday, August 17, we will enjoy a treat at ColdStone Creamery at the Basketball Hall of Fame.  And the following day will be spent visiting our friends at the West Springfield ADH site for entertainment with Laurie Festa, a lovely and eclectic singer.  Our lunch this month will bring us to Westfield’s Stanley Park, on August 25th.  In addition to enjoying a picnic among the trees, participants will have the opportunity to leisurely explore the Japanese and Flower Gardens.  We will close that week witha round of miniature golf at Fenway Golf.  Our final trip of the month will be to the Titanic Historical Society’s Museum in Indian Orchard.  During this week, we will prepare for our visit by watching the most recent film  about the Titanic’s fateful voyage.

     August at our program means LUAU!  Break out your Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts, because August 19th is Luau Day.  The festivities will include Armchair Travel to Hawaii, theme crafts, Musical Parrot and contests including hula and limbo.

Happy 4th of July!

A note  from June: As many of you know, we celebrated our second “Senior Prom” this past month. Consumers and staff played games and danced the afternoon away- a good time had by all! We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 2009 Prom King and Queen Johnny B. and Linda B., as well as all of our award winners of the day.

We will be kicking off the new month by celebrating Canada Day, in honor of our several consumers of that origin. We will learn about the official July 1st holiday, as well as famous Canadian personalities, and Armchair Travel to the north. The following day, Thursday, July 2nd, we will be celebrating our Independence Day with patriotic-themed groups and an indoor picnic. We will be closed on Friday, July 3rd, in observance of the 4th of July.

In addition to our monthly park walks and bowling trips, we will be visiting the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, Mr. Cone in Chicopee for an ice cream cone, the Dollar Tree, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and the Springfield Science Museum. Please remember that consumers will now be billed for trips attended at the end of the month. However, they are responsible for bringing their own spending money for the Dollar Tree and the Eric Carle Museum gift shop on the day of the trip, if desired.

On Monday, July 20th, we will be welcoming Jeff Snow back to the program. Mr. Snow is a singer and guitarist who was thoroughly enjoyed by both consumers and staff last year. We look forward to his performance.

Start warming up your singing voices, because Hawthorn Idol returns to the Springfield site on Wednesday, July 29th. We have invited the Chicopee and West Springfield sites to join us for a fun-filled afternoon of karaoke and friendly judging. Please see the attached announcement for details, and to sign up. And feel free to call Jess at (413) 787-0606 with any questions you may have.

Brenda, Jess, Karen, Mike,

Mary Ann, Luz & Mary