What A Day!

By Rikki Levine

We were going to see the flags. Just because I go on most trips - I went. And then I saw them… thousands of American flags and a few of foreign countries, spread across the grassy hilltop. Each flag represents one person who perished on that day – all billowing in the breeze. The impact sets in – the meaning of what we are looking at – the remembering and the horror of 9/11/2001. The bus stopped so that we could alight and contemplate. There was complete silence, photos were taken. Some surreptitious tears wiped away. I visited the 9/11/2001 site exactly a year to the day.

Later, it was surrounded by protective wire and people had hung photos of loved ones and messages of caring – but not one sound was uttered. Earlier we visited the Weisman Museum on the Pepperdine campus. The exhibit was of photography of contemporary reality with digital imagery – a nascent art form. This

was unique photography that provides a totally different perspective to what you would ordinarily observe. In all – the breathtaking scenery as you drive through the canyon to Malibu, and what we had experienced made this a very special day.

The Educated Voter

By Joy Picus, Guest Reporter

Fountainview residents score at the top when it comes to casting an educated, informed vote. The November ballot was long and complicated, but our residents weren’t daunted by it. And we had lots of help. Candidates for the 27th State Senate District, Henry Stern and Steve Fazio, both spoke to us. The seat is an open one, as State Senator Fran Pavley is termed out. Sandy Wolber of the Los Angeles League of Women Voters did a masterful presentation of the Pros and Cons of

the ballot measures. She covered the most important and difficult to understand of the 17 State Propositions and the 7 local measures. I did a review with our residents a few days later, simplifying them even more, and indicating the major organizations that supported or opposed each one. Our residents were generous with their thanks, and satisfied they were able to cast an intelligent vote

A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Residents

Esther Esbin George Gross Renee Tenenbaum Dorothy Watenmaker

Fountainview at Eisenberg Village Reseda, California Autumn 2016

www.fountainviewjha.org/fountainview-living/publications

Walk of Ages XVII

By Lil Baker

Founded in 2000, this exciting activity – the Walk of Ages - was created by the LA Jewish Home to help raise needed funds. Many of our Fountainview residents, their families and friends, joined in the 5K walk each year at Eisenberg Village and also volunteered in the booths to hand out goody bags to all the participants. In 2014, when the event moved to Woodley Park, Fountainview created an auxiliary event on the same day – right here at Fountainview - so that more of our residents could participate without leaving home! The weekly fitness classes get us in shape so that we can take part in this morning-long event! Whatever we do is just a part of our desire to make life better for those who want to live at the Home. Fountainview donors and active participants contribute their efforts to the fun of the day, everyone wearing their t-shirts, anticipating the medals and goody bags they receive at completion of their fitness class, as well as the nutritious snacks, too! At its conclusion, we are members of a happy group who feel well rewarded for taking part in making the Jewish Home so fine.

The Strutters are Magnificent!

WOW! The Fountainview

“Strutters” did it again….they blew the

roof off all the goals set for this year’s

special “Walk of Ages” event here at

Fountainview! 80 residents registered to

participate – the most ever! Physical

fitness classes taught by Terese,

Shoshana, and Palmer were packed with

residents ready to sweat. The DAKIM

computers – for brain fitness - were busy

all day. And nearly $3,600 was raised for

the special programs offered by LAJH.

Congratulations to our amazing residents

for a job MORE than well done!

Expanding Our Universe

By Rikki Levine

The Fowler Museum is located on the UCLA campus. It was attended by a full busload of Fountainview art aficionados, and they were not disappointed. The structure is rather small but it accommodated three exceptional exhibits. The docent was a recipient of an MA from Sotheby’s in London (I didn’t know that Sotheby’s awarded MA’s). A Cuban artist - young and gifted - did a complex series in black, grey and white. I can’t tell you more because I didn’t understand it. Everyone said they loved it, but no one could explain it to me??? However, the West African Wood Sculpture was superb. They were animals both real and surreal, mythical figures and the female form. The masks were spectacular, however, you’d never hang them in your home, because they’d scare the hell out of the grand kids. The tapestries were amazing – colorful and unusual. They looked and felt like fabric. (I touched it when the guard wasn’t looking). But they were made of various types and sizes of metal. The hallways displayed Cuban posters of old American films. They love American movies. The eclectic collection is most unusual for a limited museum. There were no paintings. The gift shop was small and inviting and, fortunately, there wasn’t much time to shop, although Ruth Waller bought a stunning woven African basket. Our trips are all so worthwhile. The planning committee puts forth suggestions and the residents are most receptive. During the drive home our hunger is alleviated with Sue Richter’s indescribable cookies. This time there were brownies, light and chocolaty. I suggest a special award be bestowed upon Sue and - as always - thank you, Lauri.

Murray Geller… …represents Fountainview veterans at our observance of Veteran’s Day 2016.

Shimmy and Shake

By Evelyn Bauer

Wow! She almost touched the chandelier with her high kicks! “She” was Palmer Davis, our statuesque chair dance exercise instructor who performed on Saturday night, September 24. Also on stage were the Fountainview back-up singers and dancers resplendent in black with colorful boas. The two intrepid guys, Elie and Marvin, were so handsome and agile in their black tuxedos. Palmer, who is a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette, was spectacular in three different costume changes. In a program billed as “Broadway Kicks Cabaret” she sang and danced her way through some of our favorite show tunes. Her vibrant personality came through not only in song and dance but also in the introductions and patter throughout. During a costume change, Loretta and Palmer’s charming husband Greg, entertained with “Tea for Two”. Joy and Palmer were so cute with a rendition of “I Can’t Say No”. The backup singers and dancers Evelyn, Joyce, Loretta, Marvin, Joy, Shani, Elie, and Ilene did three numbers with Palmer leading: “Singing in the Rain”, “All that Jazz”, and the Latin “Quizas, Quizas, Quizas.” We had loads of fun, not to mention exercise, preparing for this extravaganza. We have hopes that Palmer will be a regular entertainer here at Fountainview, and that more of us will join in the chorus line.

Marvin Freedman: A One-Man Dynamo

By Ruth Orbuch, Editor

Marvin Freedman moved to Fountainview a year ago. Ever since he lost his beautiful wife Sidi to cancer, his supportive children Pamela, Gary, and Shari and their families, encouraged him to sell their childhood home and investigate residential living. I didn’t have to assign a VIEW reporter to interview Marvin since we have known him for 50 years: first as Lanai Road parents and then as a barber shop pal and

friend, as well as my volunteering at Skirball with Sidi. Marvin has originated many start-up activities here at Fountainview: Saturday Movie Matinee Discussion, the Men’s Club (or Jewish Journal Review group) and Thursday Poker. Come on MEN (and women)!! Join Marvin in his endeavor to help fill your days with joy and friendship.

A Labor Of Love, A Sukkot Wall Hanging

By Joyce Edelman

Fountainview's popular art teacher, Stephanie Gale –who teaches residents water color techniques—undertook another type of project. She designed a TREE OF LIFE wall hanging to be hung in the sukkah for the holiday of Sukkot. The project was executed by a group of fifteen residents who collaborated to produce it. After the 36" x 30" drawing was created by Stephanie, it was divided into twelve 12" x 10" rectangles and transferred to the same size pieces of purple felt. Bella Bergman, Charlotte Markus, Chickie

Opper, Florence Candee, Ilene Zuckerman, Irene Starre, Joanne Candiotti, Joyce Edelman, Lillian Gabriel, Lois Fink, Reggie Scheer, Ruth Bader, Shirley Lazar, Susie Byers, and Toby Treitman then diligently worked for ten consecutive weeks painstakingly gluing beautiful glass beads, donated by Florence Candee, to the design. This process took patience and dexterity. The finished sections were cleverly assembled and finished by Shoshana and Irma, two talented artisans associated with Fountainview through the fitness program. After the sukkah was taken down, the new TREE OF LIFE wall hanging was installed in the Creative Arts studio for all to enjoy throughout the year.

My Favorite Things

A “Funny” Found and Recommended by Shirley Lazar

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings. Bundles of magazines tied up in string These are a few of my favorite things. Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses. Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings These are a few of my favorite things. When the pipes leak, when the bones creak When the knees go bad. I simply remember my favorite things, And then I don’t feel so sad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions. Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring These are a few of my favorite things. Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin’ Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin’. And we won’t mention our short shrunken frames, When we remember our favorite things. When the joints ache, when the hips break, When the eyes grow dim. Then I remember the great life I’ve had And then I don’t feel so bad!!!

Mother Nature’s Challenge

The holiday of Sukkot would not be the same at Fountainview without the challenges of Mother Nature! Our lovely sukkah – decorated by the residents and filled with their artistic treasures – was rained upon, almost blown away, scorched by the hot sun, and then soaked again…all in the span of 8 days.

Residents and their guests, however, still managed to enjoy festive meals, quiet reading and fun games “outdoors” in this significant holiday symbol that has become a highly anticipated and beautiful tradition. It would just be nice if one year Mother Nature would cooperate!

Glendale Series – Another Theatrical Delight!

By Rikki Levine

Three p.m. and all is well. Those at Fountainview who are habitués of theater are settled in their seats anticipating the very dated, but still delightful “Anything Goes”. How could it not be with Cole Porter’s score? The talent was “off–Broadway caliber” – the kind of huge production numbers that graced the stages in the 40’s – but can no longer be afforded. It was a cute, but corny plot that kept your interest and invoked frequent applause. With Lauri serving drinks as we enter and her constant watchfulness for our well-being, we sit back and luxuriate for a special afternoon at the Theater.

the VIEW Staff

EDITOR: Ruth Orbuch

REPORTERS: Lillian Baker, Evelyn

Bauer, Joyce Edelman, Shirley Lazar,

Rikki Levine, Shirley Rosenberg, Harry

Shragg, Rabbi Mervin Tomsky, Ruth

Waller

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mike Maroko and FV Staff PROOF READER: Bob Steres STAFF SUPPORT: Shelley Smilen, Concierge Team PRODUCTION/DESIGN: Cary Haskin

Angel Perez – Director of Dining Services

By Mickey Mandell, Guest Reporter

As a young boy, Angel Perez spent many hours standing beside his beloved grandmother watching, learning and happily acting as her ‘sous chef’ while she prepared Mexican food at her small neighborhood restaurant in Tijuana. He credits her for awakening in him a life-long love of cooking. Not long after his eighteenth birthday, he joined family members in Los Angeles hoping to find work as an actor, a dream he had for many years. It wasn’t long before he realized how elusive that dream was. His search for employment led him to repeated success in fast food restaurant management, but the theatrical dream was too strong to ignore, so he returned to Tijuana to complete his education in Liberal Arts and Drama. A return to Los Angeles – in hopes that the entertainment world would be more welcoming – turned out to be a disappointment.

With excellent recommendations and referrals, a food management position was always available but Angel remembered how much he enjoyed cooking and baking with his mother and grandmother. He enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at Santa Monica City College where a friend told him of an opportunity at Grancell Village. He was hired as Kitchen Manager and began his career with the Jewish Home. He had no idea what a Kosher kitchen was until then. After 3.5 years, he was promoted to Dietary Manager at the Eisenberg Campus and then – in 2015 - promoted again to the position of Director of Dining Services here at Fountainview. Recently, Angel introduced the long awaited new Riverview Lounge menu, generating very favorable comments from our residents. Improving the efficiency of the kitchen and training the servers is an on-going project. To better appreciate the workings of the entire kitchen staff to please the palates of our residents, one only needs to attend a meeting of the Food Committee the last Thursday of each month in the Private Dining Room. As with everything, Angel declares that his primary goal and that of his staff is to insure that the Fountainview dining experience be a pleasant, positive one for all of us. With us, Angel has truly found a home for the artistry and flair that once motivated him to follow his dream of becoming an actor. His creative menus, beautiful buffets, and the unique touches he adds to special events at Fountainview are outstanding and truly worthy of a round of applause, as well as a curtain call! And, oh yes, dessert is the item Angel most enjoys preparing! And his favorite type of food? Mediterranean!

BOW-WOW

By Ruth Waller

Until one has loved an animal, a part of your soul remains unawakened. Studies have shown that pet ownership can lower blood pressure and calm anxiety. Just caring for a pet can boost self-confidence. Not to be overlooked is the sociability afforded to ownership and, for some, just touching a pet can reduce stress. Additional benefits to humans are also enumerated in studies under way at the University of Washington, School of Medicine for longevity research. Countless rehabilitation facilities across the nation that are dedicated to the disabled, blind and mentally challenged use dogs for their healing qualities. Equestrian schools for autistic children are prevalent in Los Angeles. Our own former residents, Aileen (z”l) and Arnold Cohen, visited local rescue shelters for dogs. Although pet ownership at Fountainview was not for them, they enjoyed the idea of petting and playing with puppies. As for me, if I could be half the person my dog is - “Amber” - I would be twice the human I am.

Creative Writing Program

By Ruth Orbuch, Editor

Since most of the presenters at the Sunday, November 6, program are also reporters for the VIEW, I am encouraged to comment on and commend them for their entertaining and lively presentation to a full audience in our Theater. From Lillian Baker’s rhythmic exposition of Ravel’s “Bolero” to Mickey Mandell’s cliff-hanger tome – it was a rousing production, worthy of the applause they received. Thanks to Shirley Lazar for organizing this memorable program.

Creative Writing Performance

By Lil Baker

The Creative Writing Group, headed by Shirley Lazar, presented to a theater-filled audience a program of original stories. Jay Seidman read one story by deceased member, Sam Berman, which introduced most of the group and its goals. Jay joined members Mickey Mandell, Joan Kagan, Evelyn Bauer, Joyce Edelman, Ruth Waller, Zita Gluskin, Lillian Baker and Shirley Lazar who read their delightful creations of humor, sadness, biographies, poetry and fiction. Enjoyment was high. Shirley issued an invitation to those interested in participating to join the fun group.

A Bi Gezunt (As long as you’re healthy) By Harry Shragg

We all moved into Fountainview as “independent residents” as advertised, or so we thought. We all planned to remain here to the end. But what is our future here? We must be realistic, and fortunately the Los Angeles Jewish Home is. They developed a program called “Connections to Care”, an innovative approach to meeting our diverse and complex health care needs with a variety of facilities on two campuses. There are two campuses comprising the LAJH complex. Fountainview is located on the Eisenberg Village campus surrounded by a variety of facilities. The other location is called Grancell Village located at Sherman Way and Tampa. They have a variety of facilities there also. At some point in our stay here, some of us will encounter the need for some assistance. It may be as a result of a fall, or an accident, or an illness, or simply as a result of the aging process or as I define it, simply “degeneritis”. For the simpler problems, some assistance in your residence by a caregiver is provided by Fountainview for which you will be charged an hourly rate. For a more serious situation, such as from an injury or illness requiring hospitalization and follow up care in a rehabilitation unit, you will need a bed at the Taper unit located on the Grancell campus. Additional costs will apply. These costs will vary depending on a variety of factors. Other facilities are available for Alzheimer’s patients and residential facilities. Additional information will be provided in this quarterly column or by personal presentations in various forums in the FV Theater.

Meet Norma Del Cid—New Director of Health Services

By Shirley Rosenberg

There are approximately 300,000 active nurses living in California and about 75,000 of those are in the Los Angeles area. I know, I looked it up. So, when you consider all the possibilities, we can be thankful to have Norma Del Cid here at Fountainview as our new fulltime Director of Health Services. Born in Guatemala, she came to the United States as a five-year-old and grew up in North Hollywood. At the urging of her mother, Norma volunteered at Kaiser in Woodland Hills, where her mom also worked. It was during that time she became determined to work in the medical field. That was way back when she was in junior high school. Today, at the ripe old age of 27, Norma is the first person in her family not only to have a professional career, but also the first to graduate from college. Her LVN came from the Annenberg School at the Jewish Home, where she graduated with honors. Then came a skilled nursing position at Goldenberg Ziman for six years. At the same time, working and taking classes, she earned her BSN, completing a four-year course in only three years. Ultimately her goal is to become a nurse practitioner, which will require at least three more years of medical training.

Among her responsibilities at Fountainview are handling medical assessments for new residents as well as the annual assessments all of us go through. So eventually everyone will have the opportunity to meet her. As Director of Health Services, she also

handles scheduling, billing and maintenance of medical records. Working with senior citizens was not a long-time career goal for Norma, but as with careers for most people, things just worked out that way. And she’s glad they did. “Working with the people here has been rewarding,” she said, “and I love the people-to-people contact. I’m really gratified to have the chance to work with the residents as well as the staff.” Norma is very close to her family, including her mother and her older sister. Her parents divorced a number of years ago.

Her father remarried and had a son, Norma’s half-brother with whom she has a very close relationship. Since she began her nursing career, she’s also become much closer to her father. Norma says she’s blessed to be here at Fountainview and is looking forward to a long future with us. We wish her all the best and join her in looking forward to a prosperous, rewarding career.

Parsha with Malkah

By Rabbi Tomsky

On October 18th, we residents of Fountainview were most

warmheartedly treated to a wonderful session on Biblical learning

with Malkah Schulweis. She had us reflect on the High Holy Days

Biblical readings dealing with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar and

Ishmael, which then led to the inclusion of other Biblical personalities - namely Esau and Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, and

Solomon.

The session was most engaging and led to our understanding as

to how reconciliation can overcome conflict; how hatred and threat

to life can lead to a re-uniting and to the resolving of tension. What

powerful lessons for our day.

This past week, Malkah graciously lead us in another session,

this one of the opening parashiot of Genesis - encompassing the

portions of B'reshit and Noah. We are fortunate to have these

opportunities to learn how our ancient Biblical tradition can give us

insight into the modern day problems of our own human society!

Top Player of the Month: DAKIM

The following resident knocked it ‘out of the ballpark’ in playing DAKIM during the last quarter! Congrats to Irene Nathan who was at the top of the list each month for most number of games played. Wow!

August: Irene Nathan! September: Irene Nathan! October: Irene Nathan!

In Memoriam

We recall the names of our recently departed dear friends Lillian Rosenthal and Marty Farkas. May their memories be a blessing.