News and information for residents, friends and volunteers

Sept/Oct 2013

Your StaffExecutiveDirector Dr. Robert J. McCannAssociate Director Monique KolonkoHousing Director Glori HoustonRegional Manager Jason MathenyRegional Manager Rich Roberts

Important NumbersCatholic Charities (509) 358-4250Housing Office (509) 456-2279

Relocation Coordinator AssistsResidents During

Delaney Renovation

Linda Hunt

After 103 years,the Delaney is gettinga face-lift! Actually,it’s a majorrenovation -- all of theapartments, officesand common areasare being remodeled.

The work began in August and will lastapproximately ten months. For such alarge undertaking, CHC brought onRelocation Coordinator, Linda Hunt,to assist residents with temporarymoving logistics.

“The Delaney stopped acceptingnew tenants last January,” explainsLinda. Vacant units were “saved” to beused as temporary apartments forresidents while their units are underconstruction for four to six weeks.When completed, each remodeledapartment will have new flooring,windows, kitchen cupboards andappliances and will have renovatedbathrooms and central airconditioning. “They’ll be like brand

new places!” says Linda.Linda has charts all across her

office wall showing which floors will beunder construction each week andwhere tenants will be temporarilyhoused. She’s busy distributingmoving boxes and coordinating withcare-givers, family members and staff.She’s taking care of details liketelephone service, mail delivery, keyexchanges and important issues likebeing sure a resident’s Life Alertsystem stays in place during thetransition.

Linda’s role during the remodelingproject is to facilitate as smooth atransition as possible for all of theresidents. Having long worked in theretirement housing field, Linda feelsit’s important to keep the sense of“community” at the Delaney. She’slooking forward to the end results ofthe renovations, saying “I really wantto see these people have somethingright for themselves at this stage intheir lives.”

Pretty Cool LadiesThe basketball team from Partners

for Community Living at BernadettePlace made an appearance atHoopfest again this year. They werewinners of their consolation bracketand, according to Jesuit VolunteerAnnie Boyle, were “champs throughthe heat and storms and showed greatsportsmanship.” Way to go ladies! Pretty Cool Ladies at Hoopfest 2013

CHC Is Dedicated to Meeting All Your Property Management and Social Services Needs

GLORI’S JOYSDid you feel it this morning? The

air was crisp and cool, not hot. Didyou notice that the colors of the leaveson the trees have really started tochange? Or maybe you saw anotherlarge V-shaped flock of Canadiangeese flying overhead, off on theirjourney south. It doesn’t take a rocketscientist or a meteorologist to knowwhat’s going on. Fall is finally here!

How does autumn make you feel?For a fun, creative activity considerkeeping a special fall journal whereyou can write down all of the changesyou notice over the next few weeks.Write down which trees change colorsfirst. What colors did you see andwhere? How quickly did the leaveschange? Add drawings of leaves ordescriptions of the weather, what thelocal wildlife is up to, the first house orapartment in your neighborhood todecorate for Halloween, etc. Think ofdescriptive words and phrases andwrite your own autumn poem. Becreative! Have a great fall!

~ Glori

John Pendell (center) showed his artwork to fellowresidents at Cathedral Plaza in June

Artist Showcase atCathedral Plaza

Residents displayed originalartwork at Cathedral Plaza in June tokick-off a new monthly event toshowcase resident talents andcollections. Social Services

Coordinator Vivian Lynch shared that“It was a wonderful way for the artiststo display their work and network, andfor other residents to discover theartists who live at Cathedral Plaza.” Ashowcase of handmade andcollectible dolls was held in August,and a display of rocks and preciousstones is planned for September.

Roberta “Bobbie” Parkay displayed her paintingsat the Cathedral Plaza “Showcase”

Social Services Coordinators -Here to Help

Social Services Coordinators enjoyed training andfellowship at Manito Park this summer

The Social Services Coordinator(SSC) at your property is there toassist you in many ways, fromconnecting you with communityresources to planning potlucks andother resident get-togethers.

Recently a CHC resident receivednotice from a collection agency abouta large unpaid medical bill. Thatresident’s SSC did some checking

and discovered the medical facilityhad neglected to bill the resident’ssecondary insurance. The SSC gotthe matter resolved, to the relief ofthe resident!

In recent months, CHC propertieshave held special presentations onSTA mobility training, how to avoidscams, summer skin care, Medicareconcerns, and more. The SSCs hopeyou will take advantage of thevaluable and informative programsthey bring to your communities.

A counseling presentation on “Grateful Minds” atthe O’Malley in June

Summer Is Barbeque Time!Summer may be BBQ time, but the

weather does not always cooperate!Rain forced the Delaney residents andguests inside on their annual BBQday. The food was cooked outside,though, on a new grill generouslydonated by Dr. Mark and Ann Ryder inmemory of former Delaney residentJoe Gondolfo.

Dave Sorensen, (center) Delaney MaintenanceManager, was chief griller, aided by Jared Glanzer(right), maintenance at Delaney, and Richard Corn,

maintenance at the Fahys

“Come and get it!” - Delaney staff ready to serve!

Better weather greeted guests atthe Fahy Community SummerBarbeque. Maintenance staffer TonyCarlton cooked up the hamburgersfor residents of both Fahy West andFahy Gardens while they mingled withfriends and relatives.

Canopies shaded Fahy guests at their BBQ

Sunshine also showed up for theannual BBQ at Partners forCommunity Living at BernadettePlace. With “Cat in the Hat” themeddecorations, residents and guestsenjoyed food prepared by RockwoodLane’s chef, Tim Cake. Entertainmentwas provided by Cecil the Magician -some residents even got in on the act!

BP resident Marion (left) enjoys the BBQ alongwith PCL/BP Co-Coordinator Isaac Henson

Many family members and friends came to enjoythe day with the Bernadette Place residents

Bernadette Place resident Cheryl Holmes has alaugh as she assists Cecil the Magician during theBBQ festivities. Behind Cheryl is PCL staff member

Tina Adams

MONIQUE’S MUSINGSAh Fall!....It’s time to gather our seeds and

nuts for the winter, or at least that’swhat the squirrels in my neighborhoodare working on right now. At CatholicHousing Communities we are workingon preparing for winter and beginningtwo new projects in our housingproperties.

One project is the renovation of theDelaney Apartments in downtownSpokane. The Delaney is over 100years old and will look completely newon the inside when the renovation iscomplete. In the apartments, we areenlarging the bathrooms and installingnew appliances in the kitchens. Weare installing a new heating andcooling system, replacing thewindows, painting and adding newflooring. In the community areas, weare painting, adding flooring andchanging office locations. We will becleaning the outside of the buildingand adding new signage as well. Iwant to extend a special thank you tothe residents and staff of the Delaneyfor their patience and understanding inthis process.

We are also working on the finalplans and architectural work for thehousing we are building on Fort WallaWalla in collaboration with theVeteran’s Administration and severalother partners. We are renovating twoexisting historical officers’ quartersand building two new buildings thatwill house chronically homeless, witha preference given to veterans. As achild of the military, I am extremelyexcited about this project. I will keepyou updated on the progress.

I trust you will enjoy the last daysof long light and begin to gather yourseeds and nuts for the winter.

Happy Fall, Ya’ll!~Monique

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBERSEPTEMBERStone: Sapphire -- Flower: AsterNational Honey MonthSept. 2: Labor DaySept. 4: Rosh HashanahSept. 8: International Literacy DaySept. 8: National Grandparents DaySept. 11: Patriot Day and National Day of Service

and RemembranceSept. 13: International Chocolate DaySept. 17: VFW Ladies Auxiliary DaySept. 26: Johnny Appleseed Day___________________________OCTOBERStone: Opal -- Flower: SnapdragonNational Stamp Collecting MonthOct. 2: International Day of Non-ViolenceOct. 4: Blessing of the Animals DayOct. 4: World Smile DayOct. 10: World Mental Health DayOct. 11: Southern Food Heritage DayOct. 14: Columbus DayOct. 14: Native American DayOct. 30: National Candy Corn DayOct. 31: Halloween

Harvest of Washington apples begins in mid-August and generally endsin early November. Each year, Washington harvests over 100 millionboxes of apples, each weighing about 40 pounds. Red Delicious applesmake up about 35% of Washington’s apple crop.