Recent News and Events

August 2010

Dorotha Hawk does her best to cheer her fellow bowlers on to victory.		Ashley Cooper, the amazing entertainer, charms the residents with his sweet crooning voice and outstanding foot work.
Resident Jean Branson is captured in this shot as she is on the way to winning the weekly traveling trophy.		(left to right) Lucy Herschell, Dorotha Hawk, Owner Scott Averill, and Norma Lauback hold hands in preparation for an uplifting song at a recent UP Gathering.

BRC Residents and Staff Members Enjoy the Osage City/Overbrook Fair

Bruce Sisson takes Myrtle Brown on a golf cart ride to enjoy the fair.		Bonna Aaron and Lucy Herschell find spacious time to enjoy the fairgrounds.
Russell Israel celebrates a quiet moment with Quality of Life Coordinator, Deborah Brown.		Merlin Smidt and Tracy Dunnaway show some high-flying spirits as they cruise the fair in a golf cart.
Al Aaron and Bruce Sisson, good old fishing buddies, can find fun at the fair as well.		Wanda Sieber and Executive Director Levi Davis have the time of their life in a golf cart.
Myrtle Brown finds a spot of shade to beat the fair time 100 degree heat.

(left to right) Jean Branson, Merlin Smidt, and Wander Sieber experience the conviviality that only good friends share.

Jo Thompson's 100th Birthday Celebration

James Vandeveer, Jo Thompson's nephew-in-law from California, who has sang in 12 operas, been on a 1979 television tribute to John Wayne, been a member of the Grammy-award-winning Los Angeles Chamber singers, wows the 75-plus relatives and friends of Jo with "It's No Secret," "How Great Thou Art," "Brighten the Corner," "In the Garden," and "Precious Lord." Dale Beaulieu, BRC's Director of Communications, accompanies on the piano.

Lauren Strasser, Jo Thompson's great-granddaughter, dazzles and charms the crowd as she wears Jo's bridal dress.

Heartland Hospice entertainment

A rousing, appreciative BRC crowd applauds such old-time favorites as "New York, New York," "Beer Barrel Polka," and "Somewhere My Love."

Heartland Hospice piano player, Chaplain, Ed Farris, wows residents with the jazzy "11th Street Rag."

BRC Patriotism Keeps Keepin' On: Our 3rd of July Pomona Lake Fish Fry

(left to right) Our residents were treated to excellent and caring service from Tracy Dunnaway, Sharon Longyear, Phyllis Reekie, and BRC Executive Director, Denise Hoback.
BRC resident, Ruth Kitt, smiles with anticipatory delight as she waits for the soon-to-be delivered fried food and fixin's.		Max Friesen assists Dee Friesen, his bride of more than 60 years, with some fried fish. When asked if she did any fishing, Dee said, "No, I waited for the fish to jump from the lake right onto my plate."
Mary Ann Seeberger enjoys a meal, topped off by out-of-this-world peach cobbler baked by Brenda Gentry.		Traci Imes sings "I Will Always Love You," "The House that Built Me," "Delta Dawn," and "White Liar" as burgers, hotdogs and fish are grilled in the forefront.
In a rare, once in a lifetime moment, the Averill's dog, Tuff, actually sits still long enough to pose. Susan Averill, BRC owner, smiles with pleasure at her canine companion.

BRC celebrates Sixth Anniversary Extravaganza

Tracy Dunnaway passes around the red-white-and-blue spinners in the crazy romp of our anniversary fete.
Residents lounging under BRC's shady trees keep an eye on badminton, karaoke, and other anniversary festivites.
Madison Swisher and Danielle Bradley are all grins as they lovingly sandwich resident, Gerri Wiedeman.		Stephanie Bedford, Sandy Harris and Ruth Trask enjoy the karoake singing and merriment.
Andrea Hoke dances with the The Honorary Sixth-Anniverary Ladies' Man, Vern Richmond.		Myra Geer and Lindsey Swisher sandwich Vern Richmond in a huge dancing embrace as "Silver Wings" is sung in the background.
Karaoke emcee, Bruce Sisson, greets Vern Richmond. Bruce said, "Songs this day may be prettier, but those old country western standbys--those tell the real stories. You know what you get when you play a country western song backwards? First you get your dog back, then you get your car back, finally you get your girl back.		Merlin Smidt, second only to Vern Richmond in the Ladies' Man contest, spins Brookside owner, Susan Averill around the parking lot dance floor to the tune of "Crazy"--the Patsy Cline song which Bruce said is the most requested juke box song of all time.
Dorothy Finlay's son, Bill Finlay, greets his mother with love at the anniversary celebration.		Cook, Joetta Wyatt, and Billing Coordinator, Shannon Petersen, embrace while working the snow cone stand.
Culinary Director, Tammy Nash, bends to check out the progress of her smores.		Shade' Downs plays wiffle-basket-ball with son, Logan Koropatny.

Kansas Army National Guard Concert - June 21, 2010

The 35th Infantry Division Band "The Governor's Own", conducted by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Steve Patterson

Flutist and soloist, Specialist Demetree Gaines, sings "The National Anthem" with the color guard surrounding him in full patriotic splendor.
Overbrook Mayor, Don Schultz, prays the invocation for the night and along with the United Methodist Church receives the Hometown Hero Award for outstanding service.
The energetic crowd of approximately 200 at times clapped their hands and rocked a rhythmic Glenn Miller Medley, West Side Story Medley, "America the Beautiful," and the concluding show-stealer National Marching song, "Stars and Stripes Forever."
BRC Lifestyle Coordinator, Sandy Harris, sings "Daddy's Hands"--a show-stopping, tear-jerker in reminiscence of Father's Day.		Topeka native, Traci Imes, energizes the crowd with rousing renditions of "Stand By Your Man," "God Bless the U.S.A.," and "Let Freedom Ring."
The Rotary Club sells ice cream sandwiches and brownies to raise funds to stop the spread of polio.		Overbook PRIDE sells snacks, chips, hot dogs, water and beverages to the hungry and thirsty crowd.
Sergeant Becky Harris and Specialist E-4 Sarah Hart dig into grilled hamburgers, hotdogs and potato salad prepared with great care by our Assisted Living master-chef, Joyce Ferris.		Kenny Houston, Maxine Exline, (back), Stephanie Bedford, Jenae Schmidt and Madison Swisher enjoy the Country Western karoake of Traci Imes, Jon Wilhite ("For the Good Times"), Bruce Sisson ("Rockytop Tennessee") and Mike Gowin ("Crazy Arms" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken.")
Lisa Ferrell, our jack-of-all-trades housekeeper and superb universal worker, trips the light fantastic with resident, Merlin Smidt.		Janae Schmidt and Madison Swisher dance in a spirit of uncontained delight during Bruce Sisson's rendition of "Rockytop Tennessee."
Merlin Smidt and Carl Heberling still find reason to smile with a heat index temperature of more than 100 degrees.		Al and Bonna Aaron demonstrate delight at hearing the contemporary, Country Western and patriotic songs of our karaoke singers.

Other June 2010 events

Andrea Davenport (piano/vocal) joins her mother, Mary Stimatze (violin) in playing such favorites as "The Tennessee Waltz," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and "Home on the Range."
Residents laugh and boost their energy and balloons into the air in this staff-and-resident favorite activity, the parachute toss.
Johnny Dayton and Mary Rich from Holden, Missouri, members of the Swinging Be-Bops, sing favorites like "My Teddy Bear" and "When I'm 64."		A packed dining room greets the Swinging Be-Bops as the residents and staff love these tunes from yesteryear.

May 2010

(Left to right) Thelma Immenschuh, Kris Downs, Ruth Kitt, Jo Thompson, Jeremy Testerman, and Kenny Pribbernow play cards on Casino Day.
Merlin Smidt matches wits with Levi Davis in a battle of chess during our Casino Game day.
Victor Solberg poses with Emilou Goldenput, a puppet modeled to tell the stories of confused residents by Kareen King, from the Golden Experience.		Bob Carrier poses with Emilou Goldenpuppet who made the day for several of our residents.
Denise Hoback, BRC Administrator, dances with Bonna and Al Aaron to kick off our Friday night dance.		Billing coordinator, Shannon Peterson, has a blast tripping the light fantastic with Pat Morgan during our Friday night Happy Hour and dance.

National Nursing Home Week 2010

Residents gather in the dining room on a cloudy day to receive a blessing from Don Schultz. They also prepare ballons to release skyward in a few moments.

Balloons float away in a celebrative eruption as BRC launches National Nursing Home Week.

Easter 2010

Bill Traphagan colors his Easter egg.		Geneva Groves, staff member, Jill Wechsler, and Thelma Immenschuh color eggs.
The Easter Egg bunny kneels to greet Logan Koropatny, grandson of Denise Hoback.		Quinton Testerman poses with the Easter bunny. Our pancake feed and egg hunt were a fundraiser to support Quinton, who was recently diagnosed with b-cell lymphoma. We raised more than $2000. If you would like to make a donation, send a check to BRC made out to "Let's Help Quinton."

Pancake Feed

The pancake feed was festive, fun with a flood of goodwill toward Quinton and his family.

Creative Cooking Event

Barbara Sandridge shows off the pasta salad which she helped make.		Thelma Immenschuh takes her time cutting up purple onions for Jean Branson's pasta salad recipe.
Al Aaron cuts up some purple onions for the pasta salad.		BRC Executive Director Denise Hoback watches delightedly as Jean Branson puts finishing stirring touches on pasta salad.

St. Patrick's Day 2010

The shamrock-green coated dining room floods the residents presence with color as they enjoy both treats and gaming.
Charles Hamner gets a snack and shows his commitment to shamrock green.		Bryan Averill has a great time with his derby and the BRC residents.
Dorothy Riggs greets visiting baby goat.

Valentine's Royal Court 2010

Valentine Royal court 2010 consists of [left to right] Kenneth Houston, Maxine Exline, Jean Shrimplin, Ila Willard and Jean Branson.
Kenneth Houston and Maxine Exline are Lilac Lane lovebirds.		Jean Shrimplin poses with son, Chris, on left, and two beautiful young women.
Jean Branson poses with a beautiful flower arrangement. Jean was Valentine's Queen for Evergreen Plaza.		The audience has a great time enjoying comments and laughter from the Valentine Royal Court.

New Year's 2010

CWL celebrates the New Year with fun, gaming and conviviality.

Halloween Party 2009

Al Aaron & Chelsi Anschutz as candy		Tammy Cruella De Ville Conklin and her Damation pup, Brayden Conklin
Alex Rodriguez as a nurse		Tracy Dunaway poses as a German wench.

Fifth Anniversary Memorial Event

Christan Cooper, CNA, trips the light fantastic with Evergreen Plaza resident, Marjorie Eylander, at BRC's Fifth Anniversary/ Army Band Concert gala.		Fun-filled rolin inflatables, provided graciously by Occuational Assistant Boni Butel, make the children's afternoon a blast.
Shade Koropatny has some dancing table top fun with one-year-old son, Logan.		Ice cones, provided by the hard-working Snow Cone-ettes, Cook, Joetta Wyatt, and Paula Wilson, CWL Homemaker, really help residents and loved ones beat the heat.

Movers and Shakers

Resident Bob Ireland and Lifestyle Coordinator, Sandy Harris, take a swirling dance spin amidst a sea of colorful, twirling sticks held by residents and staff member salike.

Residents enjoy our Movers & Shakers for the old tunes, movement and rhythm that gets their energy flowing right before lunch Mondays through Saturdays.