Volunteers Needed for Assisted Living Virtual Reality Project
In ancient history - before the pandemic, that is, the Tech Forum purchased a virtual reality (VR) headset to explore potential uses at Sunnyside. They are now trying to restart some of the programs they were working on at that time. There is a considerable body of research suggesting that Virtual Reality can be very useful in senior living facilities for both entertainment/enjoyment and for therapeutic applications.
Assisted Living is one area of particular importance. Valerie Jackson who is the Life Enrichment Coordinator (i. e., Activities Coordinator) for Assisted Living has been working with the Tech Forum to explore setting up a program. The initial idea is to explore some travel related applications that will build on some similar programs they are currently running.
Volunteers Needed for Assisted Living Virtual Reality Project
In ancient history - before the pandemic, that is, the Tech Forum purchased a virtual reality (VR) headset to explore potential uses at Sunnyside. They are now trying to restart some of the programs they were working on at that time. There is a considerable body of research suggesting that Virtual Reality can be very useful in senior living facilities for both entertainment/enjoyment and for therapeutic applications.
Assisted Living is one area of particular importance. Valerie Jackson who is the Life Enrichment Coordinator (i. e., Activities Coordinator) for Assisted Living has been working with the Tech Forum to explore setting up a program. The initial idea is to explore some travel related applications that will build on some similar programs they are currently running.
Birds and Bees at Sunnyside
You have probably noticed that there are a lot fewer birds and insects now than when you were younger. Remember all the bugs around lights and splattered on the car windshield? Now there’s hardly any! A study in Science found a 45% decrease in insects over the last 45 years. A Cornell study found that there has been a decrease of 3 billion breeding adult birds in North American in recent decades.
The two are closely linked, as birds depend largely on insects for food, especially for their young. Most bird chicks can’t eat seeds and 96% of birds raise their hatchlings on insects, primarily caterpillars. Insects also serve an indispensable role in pollinating many of our plants and crops. Over 75% of food crops depend upon insect pollinators.
There are multiple reasons for these declines including climate change, loss of habitat, and widespread use of pesticides. Part of the habitat loss is due to the American practice of landscaping our yards with grass and imported ornamentals. The result is that a diverse native habitat is replaced with a very limited collection of species of grasses and plants with greatly reduced variety.
This is critically important because we have learned that many insects require specific “host” plants for nectar and food for their caterpillars. The monarch butterfly and milkweed is a prime example. Native fauna and flora have evolved together over many thousands of years, resulting in a complex and interdependent relationship. Thus, the loss of native host plants leads to a loss of insect populations which, in turn, leads to a decrease in bird populations and pollinated crops.
Sunnyside’s grounds are a prime reason many of us have chosen to make this our home. Those grounds, particularly with the addition of the golf course property, make Sunnyside an ideal place to foster the welfare of birds and bees, as well as other wildlife. One of the primary ways to do this is by planting native, rather than imported plants. By choosing plants that serve as host plants and food sources for birds and bees, the Sunnyside community can contribute greatly to the welfare of our insect and bird populations. Our wellbeing depends upon it. Without insects, there are no birds and no food crops, and there are no insects without the essential host plants! It is an intricate web of interactions and we can contribute to the health of that web by planting native species.
The Green Committee recently presented a program on this topic with a presentation by Doug Tallamy, Professor and Chairman for entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware. If you missed it, it’s available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/WY4aV5hqkxY You may also want to read Dr. Tallamy’s popular book, Bringing Nature Home.
A good place to find native plants locally is the Natural Garden at www.thenaturalgarden.net. An online source is American Beauties Native Plants at www.abnativeplants.com. Other informative and useful resources include;
National Wildlife Foundation, www.nwf.org Virginia Native Plant Society, www.wnps.org. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, www.dcr.virginia.gov. Virginia Cooperative Extension, www.vt.edu and search for “Backyard Wildlife Habitats”.
Sunnyside Tips
Good and Quick Marmalade
Magnifier/Reader Next to Highlands Library
Next time you are visiting the Highlands Library, on the third floor of the Highlands building, be sure to check out the new magnifying reader. As you come off the elevator, it will be on your right, on a table next to the restroom. This device is great is you need help with a newspaper, magazine or book. Bring your own or try this with one of the publications at the Library! If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Boothe, 8629.
Eastern Bluebirds at Sunnyside
On Wednesday, February 23rd at 2 PM resident Gail Fisher will present a program from the North American Bluebird Society titled, Welcome Back the Bluebirds! This program will include information about why we care about bluebirds, bluebird biology, how you can help, predators and competitors and links to more information. She will also share with how residents are helping the bluebirds right here on campus and invite you to be part of the 2022 monitoring season. There will be time for questions following the presentation. Residents are welcome to attend in person at the Chapel or tune in to channel 971. The program will be recorded and posted on Res Apps, Go Green, afterwards.
Musings from the Sunnyside Library - April
National Library Week—April 3-9
We recently learned about National Library Week and are doing a few things this week to recognize our Sunnyside Library.
Be sure to pick up a bookmark on the counter at the Highlands Library.
Assisted Living residents will get their bookmark at their dining table in the Eiland Center
Look for individuals who are wearing a Library Volunteer Name Badge this week. Take a minute to thank them for their volunteer service.
On Wednesday, the Mobile Book Cart will be decorated and have a special treat for all who come to check it out.
Be watching for library volunteers at lunch time in the Eiland Center and dinner time at the Highlands.
And we hope that you will use this week to find your way to the 3rd floor Highlands Library and the 3rd floor newly renovated Eiland Center Library. Check out our nearly 3000 books, magnifier readers, magazines and enjoy resting in our chairs as you breathe in the smell of books!
Eiland Center Library
We have several new titles in our main library room. Be sure to check them out.
Highlands Library
We are continuing to work on new signage for the Highlands Library. Please give us a feedback on its helpfulness to you. Have you tried the magnifier/reader? If you have, please let us know. We have placed a magazine by the reader, so you can experiment a little.
Book Clubs
Sunny Readers
April 13, 3:00 p.m., 1570 Glenside Dr.
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
May 11—Trip to Richmond to the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site and the Virginia Women's Monument: Voices from the Garden is planned.
June 8, 3:00 p.m., 1020 Glen Lea Lane
The Rent Collector, by Cameron Wright
Shenandoah Readers—9:30 a.m., Shenandoah Room
April 26, The Island by Elin Hildebrand
May 24, The Merlot Murders by Ellen Crosby
Who Dun It Club—1:30 p.m. Sunnyside Room
May 4, Mr. Flood's Last Resort by Jess Kidd
June 1, Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker
July 6, The Polish Officer, by Alan Furst
Happy New Year! Happy New February?
Babybear; Oh, it must have been a Sir or Ma’am. Maybe they left it for you.
Babybear; Mamabear, I think you should put it on. It’s not draggledy. It’s beautiful. I’m glad I found it.
Babybear: Oh, Mamabear! You are the best We can help keep the woods clean AND have sparkly!
New Residents
| Ron and Becky Gheen | Nov 5, 2021 | 1089 Hickory Cove | 8602 |
| Shelia Moorman and Helen Moore | Dec 3, 2021 | 1151 Vista Glen #2 | 8837 |
| Wayne and Libby Taylor | Dec 9, 2021 | 4058 Woodside Dr #24 | 8652 |
| Pat Rea | Dec 13, 2021 | Highlands 419 | 8512 |
| Diane Guzzi | Dec 13, 2021 | Highlands 205 | 8582 |
| James "Jim" Hariston | Jan 3, 2022 | Highlands 109 | 8722 |
| Wolfgang and Uta Drueen | Jan 14, 2022 | 4290 Grattan Price Dr | 8618 |
In Memoriam ...
Evelyn F. White, 16 Mar. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Meredith Chapel at Sunnyside with Chaplain Jeff Carr officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the ASPCA (aspca.org/ways-to-give), PO Box 96929, Washington, DC 20090-6929 or the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, 96 Laurel Hill, Verona, VA 24482. Click here for a full obituary.
Harold Kenneth Heaton, 30 Mar. A private graveside service will be conducted at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens in Harrisonburg, Pastor Todd Pruitt of Covenant Presbyterian Church officiating. A memorial service will be held at a late date. Memorial contributions may be made to The Marshall Andrew Jacobsen Memorial Scholarship Fund at Redeemer Classical School (www.redeemerclassical.org). Click here for a full obituary.
Norma Arlene Caplinger Bowman, 27 Mar. A memorial service will be held at Cooks Creek Presbyterian Church on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Gerald Harper officiating. Click here for a full obituary. The family has requested no flowers, however, contributions made to The Fellowship Fund at Sunnyside Communities, 600 University Boulevard, Suite L, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, in her memory, will be appreciated.
Louise Patricia Box Heaton, 23 Mar. A memorial service will be conducted 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 540 West Mosby Rd, Harrisonburg, VA with Pastor Todd Pruitt officiating. Burial to follow at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens in Harrisonburg at 2:00 p.m. Click here for a full obituary. Memorial contributions may be made to The Marshall Andrew Jacobsen Memorial Scholarship Fund at Redeemer Classical School (www.redeemerclassical.org).
Louise P Caldwell, 14 Feb. A memorial service will be held at a later date in the Caldwell Family Cemetery in Bristol, Tennessee. Memorials may be made to the church or charity of your choice. Click here for a full obituary.
Kenneth Gray "Bob" Thomas, 9 Feb. The family will host a viewing Sunday Feb. 13, 2-4 PM, at the Meredith Chapel, Sunnyside Retirement Community, 3935 Sunnyside Dr, Harrisonburg. A graveside service will occur Friday Feb. 18, 1 PM at Sherwood Memorial Park, Salem VA. Click here for a full obituary.