Posts Tagged ‘Oak Park Arms’

The Monday Night Concert Series continues with The Fleurs de Chanson Recorder Trio at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

Rose Mattax of Forest Park, Alice Muciek of Oak Park, and Ann Masur of Oak Park are three women who together make The Fleurs de Chanson Recorder Trio.

The recorder’s roots lie in the flute family. It’s melodically blissful tunes have fluttered as far back as the 14th century. The recorder is recognized by its simple, but proficient framework. It is composed of a whistle mouthpiece, seven finger holes on the front of the instrument, and by the thumbhole on the back side. Though often made of plastic in the hands of children, the instrument is typically made of wood and even, in medieval days, ivory.

Rose fell in love with the recorder after her husband had given her a gift certificate for lessons nearly a decade ago. Then nine years later Mattax teamed up with Muciek and Masur to form their trio.

This performance for The Fleurs de Chanson Recorder Trio has personal sentiments. Rose’s mother, Roberta Pullman, is a resident at Oak Park Arms Retirement Community.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. Call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

The public is invited to an afternoon of movement-based learning with Brain Gym® with Aimee Edwards at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

Brain Gym movements, exercises or activities refer to the original 26 Brain Gym movements, sometimes abbreviated as “The 26.” These activities recall the movements naturally done during the first years of life when one is learning to coordinate the eyes, ears, hands and whole body. There are four categories: midline, energy, deepening attitudes and lengthening.

The 26, along with a program for “learning through movement,” were developed by educator and reading specialist Paul E. Dennison and his wife and colleague, Gail E. Dennison.

For more than two decades, clients, teachers and students have reported the effectiveness of these simple activities. Although it’s not yet clear why these movements work so well, they often bring about dramatic improvements in areas such as:

•    concentration and focus
•    memory
•    academics: reading, writing, math, test taking
•    physical coordination
•    relationships
•    self-responsibility
•    organization skills
•    attitude

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear, an all volunteer radio reenactment group, will perform “The Cinnamon Bear,” live at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, at the Oak Park Arms Retirement Community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the extremely popular holiday radio program broadcast on WGN radio.

WGN radio first aired The Cinnamon Bear radio show in 1938, broadcasting an episode every night between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Cinnamon Bear, stole the hearts and imaginations of listeners across the country with the adventures of young Judy and Jimmy Barton.

Twins Judy and Jimmy are searching the attic for the Silver Star that belongs atop their Christmas tree when they meet a stuffed bear with shoe-button eyes and a green scarf – Paddy O’Cinnamon — who offers to help them. The Cinnamon Bear teaches the twins how to “de-grow” so they can fit through the attic tunnel and flies them off to the weird and wonderfully enchanted world of Maybeland.

With only a month to find their star, the clock is ticking for the trio. Along the way they encounter other memorable characters such as the Crazy Quilt Dragon (who tries repeatedly to steal the star for himself), the Wintergreen Witch, Fe Fo the Giant, and Queen Melissa.

Eventually Judy, Jimmy and the Cinnamon Bear make their way to the North Pole and the adventure ends on Christmas morning with a special visit from Santa Claus himself.

The show was recorded in just a few weeks by a group of merchants as an advertising promotion and was first broadcast in 1937. Its immense and immediate appeal has sealed its legacy as a traditional holiday classic.

In 1951 WGN-TV produced and aired a TV series of “The Cinnamon Bear.” Judy, Jimmy and all the other characters were transitioned to the screen as hand puppets and the transcription disc recordings of the radio program were used as a soundtrack. The series was aired on WGN-TV until its final season in 1954. It was sponsored by Wieboldt’s Department Store.

Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear Performers

Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear is composed of Chicagoland actors who share a common interest – to perform old time radio programs for the community. Each actor and technician donates talent and time for free.

Group founders, Ben Dooley and Pam Turlow, husband and wife, established a connection with The Oak Park Arms in September of 2002, when Turlow’s father became a resident. They’ve been volunteering/performing at The Arms ever since.

Dooley and Turlow’s group performs only once every two months due to the considerable challenges involved in creating a show. They browse through thousands of old time radio episodes, select a favorite, listen and type out the script. Many shows are not available in print and have to be painstakingly transcribed. Then they gather sound effect, rehearse and mount the show.

Sound effects were an important part of live radio shows, and the group performs them live. They have a real door for slamming, buzzers, a sound board and shoes for footsteps, and doorbells.

The shows are very popular with residents and people from the community. Some even bring their children and grandchildren to show them what entertainment was like before television.

“Since the entire cast donates its time and energy, we can only do shows six times a year,” Dooley said, “but we strive to make sure that it’s well worth the wait.”

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The radio show is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

The public is invited to a “Winter Wonderland Variety Show” and a reception to follow at 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

Hosted by Desi Vasquez, social director at the Arms, the event will be several performances blending into a colorful holiday celebration.

Entertainment will include the Oak Park Arms Chorus, the Resident Reader’s Theatre and members from the monthly tap dance workshop. The Triton Singers, the Mills Orchestra and the Flower’s Reader’s Theatre Group will also perform.

Refreshments will be served following the show at a reception in the Patio Room.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

The Oak Park River Forest High School show choir will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

The choir, known as “Noteworthy,” is made up of a highly selective group of singers, dancers and live band members.

Under the co-direction of Amber Hooper and Cameron Burgess, the group is now in its second year and has over 30 members. Often compared to the popular TV series “Glee,” the talented teens of Noteworthy belt out pop tunes while dancing to choreography on stage.

The group performs in the Oak Park and River Forest communities and Chicago.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. Call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

Taught by Roberta Kulik, the Oak Park Arms’ monthly tap dance workshop takes place at noon, Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

Kulik will teach 15 minutes of basic tap moves that can be done either sitting or standing. Tap shoes are welcome, though not required.

This type of dance is a left-brain/right-brain workout great for coordination, balance and memory.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

A wine and cheese reception will take place for the opening of a new art installation from 2– 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, in the Narrow Gallery, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

Photos from members of the Oak Park Photography Club (OPPC) will be debuted and displayed. In addition, a one-day sale will allow guests the unusual shopping opportunity to purchase photographers’ pieces.

The OPPC is a diverse group which spans three generations and all skill levels. But all members share a passion for photography. Together, they sharpen their skills and share their knowledge and experience.

In monthly meetings the club hosts guest photographer presentations and uses other mediums, such as group discussions, to allow members to learn from one another through an informal setting for critique.

The gallery can be viewed daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Friday, Feb. 1st.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The reception is free and open to the public. The works will be on display until Friday, Feb. 1. Call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

Melanie Siedlinski, RN, MSN, a certified diabetic educator, will present a program on diabetes at “Breakfast with the Docs,” at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease in which there are high levels of sugar in the blood. Two common types of diabetes are: Type 1–an auto-immune disease where the body destroys insulin and Type 2—a disease characterized by insulin resistance.

Over 20 million Americans are affected with diabetes with over half of those cases occurring in people 55 or older. In fact, one in four people over the age of 60 have diabetes.

As people age, management of diabetes changes. Treatment involving a combination of medicine, diet and exercise helps control blood sugar and prevents symptoms and problems.

If left untreated, complications may include:

•    Trouble seeing, light sensitivity or blindness
•    Sores and infections on skin and feet that could result in amputation
•    Nerve damage in the body
•    Kidney disease
•    Higher blood pressure and cholesterol
•    Heart disease and stroke

Siedlinski, a certified diabetes nurse educator at Adventist GlenOaks Hospital, will present the latest information on the impact of nutrition on diabetes and demonstrate how patients can take control of their diabetes through diet and proper nutrition.

With over 32 years of experience in diabetes management, Siedlinski leads and oversees the Corporate Hyperglycemia Collaborative, which provides outpatient diabetes management classes, individualized patient follow-up and extensive outreach in the communities within the organization’s service area. Her outpatient services focus on older and lower-income clients.

She has coordinated a grant from the Glendale Heights Chamber of Commerce targeted toward diabetes screening for 200 students within community elementary schools and she provides semi-annual screening and education to hospital employees.

Siedlinski also provides quarterly lectures to seniors in the community, and has coordinated diabetes screening at numerous local events.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. And it’s not called “Breakfast with the Docs” for nothing. Participants who attend will also be served a healthy breakfast. Reservations are requested by Friday, Nov. 30.

For more information, or to reserve a seat, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

Roberta Kulik will teach a World Folk Dance workshop at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

In this genre of dance, folk dances from different ethnic groups are performed by the same dancers. Kulik will teach basic dance steps of folk dances and give participants the opportunity to test out the steps in “user-friendly” choreography.

Dance is a left-brain/right-brain workout great for coordination, balance and memory.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

Mary Maryland, PhD, RN, will present a talk titled, “Cancer Awareness” at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. Dr. Mary, as she’s known, will present important information about cancer awareness.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the U.S., exceeded only by heart disease. Half of all men and one-third of all women will develop cancer in their lifetime.

Anyone can develop cancer. About 1,500,000 new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2011. Since the risk of being diagnosed with cancer increases as individuals age, most cases occur in adults who are middle-aged or older. In fact, about 77 percent of all cancers are diagnosed in people 55 years and older.

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Mutations in the genetic blueprint of cells—the DNA—cause them to become abnormal. About 5% of all cancers are strongly hereditary, in that an inherited genetic alteration confers a very high risk of developing one or more specific types of cancer. However, most cancers do not result from inherited genes, but from damage to genes occurring during one’s lifetime.

Genetic damage may result from either internal or external factors. Internal factors include hormones, inherited mutations, immune conditions or mutations that occur from metabolism of nutrients within cells.  External factors such as tobacco, infectious organisms, chemicals, sunlight and radiation can also damage cells.

Cancer is caused by both internal and external factors. These causal factors may act together or in sequence to initiate or promote carcinogenesis. If the spread of these cells is not controlled, it can result in death.

Years ago, people diagnosed with cancer didn’t have very long to live. Today over 13 million people in the U.S. are either cancer survivors or currently battling the disease.

Cancer is treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.