Cambridge Times Winter 2021 Newsletter

1
Gracious Country Retirement Living
CAMBRIDGE TIMES
WINTER 2020
B
Warmer
Together
CAMBRIDGE RETIREMENT LIVING

2 COMPANY
3
STAFF
Cambridge Retirement Living
Chief Operating Officer
MICHAEL LOCURCIO
Director of Sales & Marketing
REBEKAH STRATTON
Director of Operations
SUSAN DEMEIO
Marketing Manager
LANCE KNICKERBOCKER
Cambridge Warren
Activities Director
PAM MAIN
Cambridge Corry
Activities Director
LAURA MCCOY
Cambridge Ebensburg
Activities Director
CAROL DIETSCREEK
Cambridge Pointe
Activities Director
NANCY YATES
Cambridge Creekside & Hillside
Community Life Director
DEBBIE MARSICH
OUR PLACES
OUR LEADERS
Cambridge Warren
Executive Director
RONALD DUEZ
Cambridge Corry
Assistant Executive Director
MONICA POPHAM
Cambridge Creekside &
Hillside Executive Director
LISA DALLABETTA
Cambridge Ebensburg
Executive Director
APRIL ADAMS
Cambridge Falls &
Pointe Executive Director
SUSAN DEMEIO
Cambridge Riverview
Executive Director
DONNA SOWCIK
Cambridge Riverview
Assistant Executive Director
JENNIFER WILLIAMS
Sales Manager Cambridge
Falls & Cambridge Pointe
KATHLEEN FRICKANISH
OUR BELIEFS
We believe in home, that it should be a
place of comfort, rest, and security.
We believe families are sacred--the ones
we inherit and the ones we create.
We believe in seeking balance between
productivity and rest and learning to
find contentment in both.
We believe in human kindness
and the power of working together to
accomplish big goals.
We believe in courage, in moving past
comfort zones and honestly seeking
knowledge from mistakes.
We believe that each day is a gift
and miracles are visible if
only we look for them.
CAMBRIDGE WARREN
706 Penn Ave W
Warren, PA 16365
(814) 723-8300
CAMBRIDGE CORRY
771 East Columbus Ave
Corry, PA 16407
(814) 664-4691
CAMBRIDGE POINTE
160 Chapel Rd
Beaver, PA 15009
(724) 728-6257
CAMBRIDGE FALLS
599 Norwood Dr.
Wampum, PA 16157
(724) 359-5990
CAMBRIDGE HILLSIDE
400 4th St
North Charleroi, PA 15022
(724) 483-5818
CAMBRIDGE CREEKSIDE
1275 Lincoln Ave
Charleroi, PA 15022
(724) 489-1562
CAMBRIDGE EBENSBURG
4848 Admiral Peary Hwy
Ebensburg, PA 15931
(814) 472-6868
JUST JOINED!
CAMBRIDGE RIVERVIEW
100 Narrows Rd
Larksville, PA 18651
(570)-719-0763

Letter From
The Editor
Dear Readers,
“All done,” I said to myself. I had
spent the morning wrapping gifts, writing
cheerful holiday cards, and fitting presents
carefully into brown cardboard boxes with
names and addresses neatly marked in big
black letters. Christmas was happening a
little differently this year.
I looked over the group. Texas.
Kansas. Spain. Life had moved us away
from one another, and the pandemic
put a stop to any travel plans.
I tried not to think about it. Instead, I decided
it was time to gather up and deliver Christmas
into the hands of the United States Post Office.
Had to make it before the big snowstorm.
I parked and groaned to see the line stretch
down the block of the USPS building. It was cold
and the sun was going down quickly. I worried I
wouldn’t get in before closing time. In the street,
the cars splashed grey slush into the gutters. I
watched a string of holiday lights on the narrow
brick row houses and I counted the missing bulbs.
My holiday mood was beginning to sour,
but I made it inside. I watched those at the
windows smiling and chatting to the postal
workers like there wasn’t a line out the door of
shivering customers.
“Merry Christmas!” A gentleman said as
he tottered out the door. I said it back, but my
heart wasn’t in it. I was hungry. I was cold, and
there were still seven people in front of me.
Next, please. Finally. I put my packages on
the counter. “GOOD EVENING!” I moved
the boxes a bit careful not to knock them over
to reveal the man behind the voice. The postal
clerk was wearing a bright red Christmas
sweater and a little hat with reindeer antlers.
“Merry” was stenciled on his face mask.
“Welcome back Mr. Knickerbocker!
Christmas Presents?!?”
Had we met before? I didn’t think so, yet he
addressed me like we were old friends.
“Hi, how are you?” I said dimly. After
months of quarantine, I wasn’t ready to meet
his level of enthusiasm.
“Let me guess. Present for Mom? Mom’s
always tough--just don’t get her
another apron, right? Huhah!”
Whoever this guy was,
the holidays were clearly
his thing. He was having a
great time.
EDITOR’S LETTER
“Ohhhh this one’s heavy! It must be good.
Huhah! Mmmm she deserves it--marrying into a
family with the last name Knickerbocker and all.”
I’d only been at his counter for a minute and
he’d made me feel like the holiday spirit was a
secret only he and I shared. Now I understood
the transformation of folks from the waiting
line to the counter. I was taken in by his joy.
“She had eight kids, too.”
“Oh, my golly. Which are you?”
“Number six.”
“Hmmm. That makes you Blitzen. No that’s
not right. Cupid. Huhah! I’ll bet that Dasher’s
a handful huh?
We continued like this chatting and laughing
like old pals as he entered my packages into the
system. I was amazed. This man wasn’t young,
but his spirit was so youthful. Despite a job
that pitted him against some dire frustrations,
he remained bright and cheerful.
So what did I have to be grumpy about?
I was filled to the brim, so full I wasn’t even
hungry anymore. I was radiating this feeling of
joy, gratitude, and patience right back to him
and to the rest of the people too. If that isn’t
holiday magic, I don’t know what is.
“Happy Holidays!” I grinned at those still
waiting in line. I understand why they all said
it as they left. They were full too.
I hope as you look back on the holidays, you
find moments like these to help you carry the
Christmas spirit through the rest of the year. I
hope this issue of the Cambridge Times helps
you look back with gratitude on a wonderful
season of joy and giving.
5
All the best,
Lance Knickerbocker
Editor, Cambridge Times

6 RESIDENT FEATURE 7
CONTENTS
Say Hello to Helen, 101!
A Life Of Christian Service Leads
To Cambridge Corry’s Door
4 FROM THE EDITOR
a holiday story
7 RESIDENT FEATURE
20 CAMBRIDGE EBENSBURG
new renovations & virtual tours
22 HOLDIAY WRAP-UP
The first thing you should know is she loves the Bible.
Helen taught Sunday school for many years and she
even started the local bible club movement. So cool!
Never married or had children her "children" were
those she taught while she was a Missionary.
say hello to hellen, 101
merry christmas from cambridge
8 COVID UPDATE
24 JADE VISITS CAMBRIDGE
what’s going on?
10 WARM SOCKS DRIVE
coming together, giving back
12 FALL FESTIVAL
looking back
14 JUST ROLL WITH IT
smoke em’ up at
cambridge ebensburg
16 STAFF FEATURES
welcoming new staff
18 AUTUMN FESTIVAL
showing off our senior stars
miss teen brings cheer to
cambridge corry
25 RESPITE STAYS
staying happy & healthy
26 NOW OPEN
new memory care at
cambridge riverview
27 ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
happy valanetines day
to our seniors
28 HOLIDAY WORD SEARCH
finding your holiday spirit
one word at a time
She went to seminary at
Baptist Bible College in New
York and graduated with a
degree in Bible Theology in
1941. If it had to do with the
Bible, Helen taught it. You
name it--history, analysis--
Helen taught the good word
far and wide. The Bible even
led her to teach beyond the
country’s borders!
Helen taught up north in Nova Scotia for nineteen
years. A particular snowy winter in Nova Scotia
she got up early to shovel around her car. As she
finished, a snowplow went by. Helen jumped in her
car and followed it the whole way to school.
“The teacher had told the kids I wouldn't be able
to get there, so when I made it to school they all
cheered,” Helen remembers.
When she returned to Corry in the 1970s she
began organizing Bible clubs once again. She had
Bible clubs in her home or others in Clymer at
the Methodist and Abbe churches and in Corry
churches as well.

COVID UPDATE 9
COVID-19
Winter Update
appy New Year! As we begin 2021, we are
excited about what the new year will bring;
from a vaccine that we are all hoping will usher
us all back to some normalcy, to our continued
commitment to delivering the same consistent
care and support you have entrusted us with. Our
staff continues to find a balance between COVID-19
compliance with The Department of Health and
Human Services guidelines, the needs of our
residents and families, and to the best of our
ability, maintaining a physical environment that
ensures the health and safety for all of the above.
As you are aware, we decided to transition from
the Phase-3 Re-opening Implementation Plan
back to Phase-1 at all our facilities. This decision
was in response to not only rising COVID-19 cases
in Pennsylvania over the holidays, but also due to
positive COVID-19 cases at a couple of our facilities.
As disappointed as we all were in having to dial back
to Phase-1, it was a decision that had to be made
to mitigate the potential effects of the coronavirus.
Through contact tracing, it appears the virus was
introduced by asymptomatic individuals, we believe
one was a healthcare partner providing resident
services and the other was a staff member. Neither
had a fever or any other symptoms yet tested
positive during our regular testing at the facility.
By no means do we see this as a failure. Without
the commitment from everyone involved, we
would not have been able to remain COVID free
for as long as we did. I’d like to commend everyone
in our community, including all residents, staff,
and families. In fact, it took an even greater level
of commitment from our staff to follow the added
procedures we have in place for a COVID positive
environment. Their dedication literally saved lives
and, without their willingness to show up and
perform, the results may have been different.
Thankfully, the COVID-19 vaccine is being
distributed throughout the state. The process has
been a bit slow, but we’ve already had the first
round of vaccinations at some of our facilities and
we’ve been notified and scheduled at most others.
This is exciting news as we are confident that
the vaccine will provide added protection for our
residents and staff. If you have specific questions
regarding vaccinations at your facility, please reach
out to the Executive Director for further details.
For the time being, we will remain in Phase-1 of
the reopening plan as we continue to focus on
the health and safety of our residents and staff.
At this time, only in-house staff will be permitted
regular entrance, having their temperature taken
upon entry and participating in regular baseline
COVID-19 tests. We will also allow a once a month
visit from care specialists such as podiatrists
and beauticians who provide a recent negative
COVID test. Otherwise, facilities have postponed
visiting hours and outside services unless a
resident requires hospice support. If an End-of-Life
scenario impacts your loved one, and the facility
is COVID free, you will be notified and given more
information on how to safely conduct a family visit.
We will continue to focus on the health and
wellness of our residents and staff as our first
priority and we are grateful for the patience and
support we have received from family members.
As we receive direction from the Department
of Health and Human Services and continue to
evaluate other professional recommendations, we
will update our policies and procedures accordingly
and in the interest of our residents. As always, if
you have specific questions regarding your facility,
please reach out to the Executive Director.
*Cambridge is providing occasional email
updates to those who provide an email address.

10 WARM SOCKS DRIVE 11
Cambridge Warms Holidays
with ‘Cambridge Cares’ Drive
Cambridge Retirement Living spread the holiday spirit far
and wide this year with a new tradition of giving.
This year Cambridge asked friends and
local businesses to drop off new warm winter
clothing. Each facility kept a bin right outside
the front door so people could drop off any
time--day, night, or weekend.
Facilities partnered with charities, schools,
and nonprofits to deliver a wardrobe warm-up
before Christmas Day.
In Warren, folks kept it blazing with hundreds
of pairs of warm socks for the kids of Warren
Area School District.
In Corry, the donations kept coming. The
blue bin in front Cambridge Corry filled often,
and LifeCare Ministries picked up multiple
times! New coats and clothes went to a "Free
Rack" at a small thrift shop run by the ministry.
Clothing donated to Cambridge Hillside
and Creekside went to the Hands and Feet
Project in Belle Vernon, a group delivering free
clothing to "those who could use a little help."
Cambridge Ebensburg's clothing drive was
nearly over when Kim Burkett jumped in the fray.
Casey Fisher (LifeCare Ministries) and Monica Popham
(Cambridge Corry) with the donation box at Cambridge Corry.
Kim saw Cambridge Cares sign and remembered
her Harris Computer coworkers had not found
a service project for the holidays. (Apparently
Harris Computer employees, like us, look eagerly
for ways to give back during the holidays!)
Cambridge Ebensburg staff-led by Carol
Deetscreek-added the Harris Computer coats
to a sizable collection of their own that included
more than one hundred handmade hats from
Nancy Faralbaugh down in Nanty Glo.
Together it made for a BIG donation to three
partners: Johnstown Women's Help Center,
Salvation Army Ebensburg Chapter, and the
Ebensburg Men's Clergy Support Group.
Johnstown Women’s Help Center picks up
their warm clothing donation.
The coat donation from INFOCON/Harris.

FALL FESTIVITES 13
Scarecrows
Come To Town
A New Competition Puts A Twist On A Fall Favorite
A bumper crop of Scarecrows appeared at Cambridge facilities this year.
It was quite a spectacle. You could see classic raggedy scarecrows.
Scarecrows in hunting gear or military fatigues. Spooky scarecrows.
Scarecrow nurses. Senior scarecrows. Even stylish scarecrows with
some Hollywood inspiration!
These Scarecrows were guests of Cambridge and had been
assembled under special invitation during our first ever Scarecrow
Small Business Competition.
Local business teams competed at three Cambridge locations.
Each designed and assembled their very own Scarecrow.
Cambridge supplied the hay stuffing and a few picnic tables.
The teams brought the rest!
It was an opportunity for office people to flex their creative
muscles. There were a variety of participants from hospice
caregivers, to banks, and scout troops.
Cambridge Ebensburg Administrator, April Adam,
even dressed up like a scarecrow for a day!
Residents judged the best scarecrow and awarded
winners their very own coffee and donut partyperfect
treats for the cold weather!

FALL EVENTS
15
JUST ROLL
WITH IT !
Smoke Em’ Up At Cambridge Ebensburg
we wrapped up 2020,
we could not help but be
proud of everywhere we’ve been
despite the many challenges and
curveballs the Pandemic threw our
way. We just rolled with it!
Last year started with the hope of
monthly events and open houses to
showcase our beautifully renovated
buildings to welcome in the community.
Once the effects of COVID became
widespread and restrictions were put
in place we shifted gears and focused
on finding safe ways of bringing the
community to us by holding outdoor
events weather permitting once allowed
under the state’s reopening plans.
Food truck Fridays, our 1st Car Cruise,
and Parking Lot festivals were just a
few of the ways we were able to stay
connected with the community.
We love supporting small
businesses like Smoke ‘Em Up BBQ
in Ebensburg and Barista’s Roast in
Corry, while still having safe, socially
distanced fun.
Everyone seemed to love these
events so much, we are looking
forward to continuing these outdoor
activities every year!
Look for Food Truck Fridays to come
back to a Cambridge Parking Lot
near you in the Spring and the Car
Cruise to return to Cambridge Falls
the 3rd Sunday in September.
Our team is always
sharing ideas and
thinking outside the
box for new ways
to share the
Cambridge Spirit.
We are looking
forward to hosting
many more fun
ways to connect
with YOU in 2021!
Follow us on
Facebook to
stay up to date
with upcoming
Cambridge
Community
Events!

16 STAFF FEATURE: SAVANNAH & LISA
STAFF FEATURE: NEW TEAM MEMBERS 17
CAMBRIDGE REVIEW
We Talk Career And Senior Care with Savannah
Martin and Lisa DallaBetta
CAMBRIDGE REVIEW
A Big Welcome To Our New Team Members At
Cambridge Riverview
Cambridge Warren, LPN
What is your favorite thing
about your career?
Hearing their stories how they met their spouses, where they
worked, about raising their kids, also silly stories from their
childhood. I can’t forget just being able to be there when no one
can, even if that means staying over hours off the clock to hold the
hand of the dying so I know they aren’t alone or giving a hug when
they need one. I honestly cant put a favorite on any of it. I love and
live for what I do. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.
Donna Sowcik
Donna is our Cambridge Riverview Executive Director!
Donna loves to travel to England, where she takes in the
old castles and streets. She loves history, and the British
Royal Family is a particular object of her interest. She can’t
get enough of the Royals! She was even at Westminster
Abbey the week prior to Kate and William’s marriage. So
cool! Thanks for being our leader, Donna!
Cambridge Riverview Executive Director
What do you love about Senior Care?
I have been in this industry for decades and every year my love
for our seniors gets stronger and I grow more determined and
passionate about making their days happy. It’s simple, a hug, a
smile, and of course chips and chocolate. Remembering they
are still the same amazing people with memories and stories
we should embrace. The older I get the more I realize that the
Cambridge Pointe
Activities Director
simplest things are the most valuable.
WELCOME TO THE
CAMBRIDGE POINTE TEAM!
Introducing our new Cambridge Pointe Activities
Cambridge Hillside &
Creekside Executive Director
Director, Nancy Yates. Welcome to the team, Nancy!
JUST JOINED
OUR TEAM!
Cambridge Riverview
Assistant Executive Director
Jennifer Williams
Barbara Dyke
Barbara’s been in kitchens for over thirty years! The
last three she’s spent cooking up healthy deliciousness
for Cambridge Riverview residents. Barbara loves kids.
Time with the grandchildren is her favorite -all twelve of
them! Gingerbread is her favorite thing to bake, and little
gingerbread people always strike her fancy. “You can make
them so individual,” she says. Thanks, Barbara!
This year we are grateful for Jennifer, Cambridge Riverview’s
Assistant Executive Director! Always willing to go the extra
mile and help in any capacity, Jennifer is the Cambridge
Riverview Jill of All Trades, our go-to person and institutional
memory bank. She’s worked with folks here for ten years
and we don’t know what we’d do without her!
Cambridge Riverview Kitchen Manager

18 FALL FESTIVAL RECAP
Falls Autumn Festival
Shows Off Senior
Living & Senior Stars
By Kathleen Frickanish
Cambridge Falls and Cambridge Pointe held the First Annual Autumn
Festival on October 25. The autumn celebration took center stage
in the Cambridge Falls parking lot and across the lawn. Brown and
orange trees provide a beautiful backdrop to the day’s excitement.
There was food, crafters, prizes, and live music. It was a
fun-filled day, the result of months of preparation and
community cooperation.
We asked all the craft and food vendors we could
find if they would like to participate. What an
overwhelming response we received! Everyone
wanted to get involved!! In all, we had fifty-eight tables
of vendors. So much creativity was on display! We are so
thankful for every vendor that attended our event!
There were homemade cookies, candies, and other sweet
treats. It was a brisk and chilly day, so we made sure there was
plenty of free coffee to warm everyone up!
We also had a special live performance for everyone. Vaughn Hudspath
arranged the New Castle Playhouse Mini Stars to perform. Vaughn is one of
the teachers at the playhouse.
Oh my, the amazing talent these young people had. The visitors, the vendors, and
I were all singing and dancing along with them. The mini stars range from the age
of 8-18 years old. I had so many of the singers and their families thank Cambridge for
having them perform.
These young people truly love to perform. This year was difficult for everyone, but especially
so for the senior singers—the senior concert, their last concert performance as high school
students, was canceled this year. On this afternoon, however, they got to shine!
The feedback from the vendors and people that attended was excellent. We even got to show off
our brand-new personal care home facility to those who wanted a tour. The Autumn Festival was
fun, entertaining, and I even got a jump on my Christmas shopping!

20 21
Cambridge
Ebensburg
NOW YOU CAN TOUR
CAMBRIDGE EBENSBURG
VIRTUALLY! USE YOUR
PHONE TO SCAN THE QR
CODE AND YOU’LL BE
TAKEN TO OUR VIRTUAL
TOUR ON YOUTUBE!
CAMBRIDGE
COMMUNITY
BEAUTIFUL
RENOVATIONS
FRIENDLY
STAFF
MEMORY
CARE
COMING
SOON!
LIFE SIZE
CHESS BOARD
MOVIE
THEATER
Tour our newly
renovated facilities
without leaving home!
How it works: Use your
smartphone camera to take
a picture of the QR code.
Then you’ll be redirected
to our tour videos!

22 23
A VERY MERRY
CHRISTMAS
From Cambridge
Retirement Living

24 JADE VISITS CAMBRIDGE
25
Miss Teen Brings Cheer to Corry
Taken before COVID
Miss Teen Pennsylvania visited Cambridge Corry for
the second time this year! Unfortunately, round two
was a little different (she wasn’t able to come inside due to
COVID), but Cambridge Corry residents still appreciated
the sweet Christmas Cards she brought to them.
They remembered Jade Shae McElravy and her big smile
from earlier in the year, when she personally dropped off
Valentine’s Day Cards. It seems like so long ago now, but
memories here are better than you’d think—especially
when kindness is involved.
Jade is pursuing her dreams of becoming a nutritionist
and physical therapist. One day she hopes to have her
own line of athletic wear. Jade is also busy launching her
Pass on the Smile Project which promotes kindness and
literacy for all ages.
That’s great, Jade! Just don’t stay away too long! When this
COVID-19 thing goes away we’ll look for you again!
Winter Got Your Angel Down?
Ask about Respite Stays, short all-inclusive stays at one of our facilities.
Respite Stays give caregivers a break and provide a chance for loved
ones to recharge in a safe and loving atmosphere.
Call 814-205-0948 for more information.
Respite Stays: Three Points
IMPROVE COGNITIVE FUNCTION
Social activities keep seniors sharp
and mentally engaged
IMPROVE PHYSICAL HEALTH
Rest and relaxation can be as beneficial
as connecting with others
BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM
Studies show seniors who stay engaged with
others, and life around them, have higher levels
of immune system function
Taken before COVID

26 27
NOW OPEN!
New Memory Care At
CAMBRIDGE RIVERVIEW
They’ll call it home, you’ll call it peace of mind.
• 24 Hour Resident Care
• Furnished Bedrooms
• Housekeeping Services
• Private Accomidations
• Fresh, Healthy Meals Daily
• Daily Activity Program
• Courtyard Access
• Respite Stays Available
$1 MILLION
RENOVATION
PROJECT IN
2021!
Conveniently located on the West side of the
Susquehanna River on Route 11, Cambridge
Riverview residents enjoy waterfront views for
dining and resident accommodations, spacious
common areas for activities as well as a secured
courtyard and walking track all while having
access to onsite therapy, X-ray, and lab work services,
physician and podiatry visit plus the peace of mind
that comes with knowing that Wyoming Valley
Health Hospital services are just minutes away.
Visit us at www.cambridgeliving.org
Our Memory Care neighborhoods are designed
to ensure the dignity, happiness, and safety of
each resident, happiness, and safety of each
resident; all residents receive individualized allinclusive
24/7 support for Dementia, Alzheimer’s,
and other memory-related diagnoses. There is
no substitute for compassionate, in-depth care.
For more information, contact
Rebakah Stratton at 570.754.9212
Don’t forget to send
flowers! Contact your
Cambridge Executive
Director for details!

28
Holiday Word Search
ANGEL
COLD
GIFT
STARS
BAUBLE
COOKIES
HANNUKAH
STOCKINGS
BLIZZARD
FAMILY
LIGHTS
SWEET
CANDY
FIREPLACE
MENORAH
TOYS
CHOCOLATE
FROZEN
SEASONAL
TREE
CHRISTMAS
GAMES
SNOW
UNWRAP