Celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day, National Grandparents Day was originally created in 1970 to encourage young people to set aside a day to visit with their elderly relatives. Today, grandparents and even great-grandparents who live at The Watermark at Logan Square say they're often the ones with the energy and time to reach out first. Some use technology to establish, develop and maintain those special relationships and bridge the distances within their mobile extended families. As the occasion approaches on September 9, 2012, seniors in this retirement community in Center City Philadelphia share some of their proven tips for connecting with the special loves of their lives, their children's children... and their kids too.
Leila Frankford is a dedicated ceramicist who loved the process so much, she once sneaked the installation of high-powered professional potter's kiln into the basement of her family's Main Line home --- surprising her husband, who had underestimated both her resolve and talent. Now one of the art-making residents of The Watermark at Logan Square, the continuing care retirement community in Center City, Frankford joins a select group whose exceptional creativity has earned them a spot in a national art competition. Their original artwork has won local recognition and has been submitted for the 2013 Expressions Art Calendar contest, which will feature works from 27 Watermark communities around the United States.
Media as diverse as sculpture, photography, oil and watercolor painting, fiber art and jewelry design illustrate the creative vitality within The Watermark at Logan Square community. Living in the museum district of Philadelphia, Watermark residents discover that inspiration is literally just outside the door, with the new Barnes Museum and the reopened Rodin Museum bringing the treasures of Europe within blocks and respected art schools in walking distance.
Representing The Watermark at Logan Square for 2012 are Leila Frankford, Gil Karash, Phyllis Oram, Fran Schatz and Thelma Segal. Whether composing in the camera lens or seated before a canvas, these artists embody the philosophy of Watermark Retirement Communities: to express themselves and to continuously learn and grow as individuals.
The local winners were chosen in May by a panel of jurors who surveyed a temporary gallery of works submitted by residents. As an example of the vitality of the art community at The Watermark, two of the paintings displayed were works-in-progress that were literally not even dry, yet the artist was eager to present updates on his creative output. As expected, some of the 2012 recognized artists have spent a lifetime in the studio. Yet others had connected with their creative talents primarily as hobbies or discovered their interests later in life. Here are some of their stories:
Leila Frankford
Leila Frankford unexpectedly discovered her talent for creating glazed ceramics while joining friends to take night classes offered at the Main Line Art Center while she was a Wynnewood mom raising two children. She started by painting and firing the pre-made casts at the Art Center but quickly progressed to making original art and firing it in a kiln she had installed in her home. Over the years, her work has included functional vessels like Passover plates and a serving dish embellished with gold leaf. The figure of "The Rabbi", which is submitted to the Expressions art contest, was created in a multi-step process that began by sculpting in clay, forming the figure's contemplative pose. The 7" tall piece was then cast and carefully painted and glazed in a color palate inspired by the fine Spanish collectibles of Lladro.
Gil Karash
Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Gil Karash practiced dentistry for 56 years in suburban Philadelphia and formerly was a resident of Lower Merion. An active man, Karash has many hobbies "but photography tops them all," said Dr. Karash. "I enjoy taking pictures on traveling vacations, of my family, different scenes and anything that strikes my eye. Most recently, I've begun experimenting with forms, colors, impressions and abstractions." His photography has been referred to the Expressions contest several times since he became a resident of The Watermark. Dr. Karsh's 2012 submission is an untitled photograph of a rustic marshland. Dr. Karash prefers to leave his compositions untitled so the viewer can decide for themselves what it means to them.
Phyllis Oram
Phyllis Oram is a new resident of The Watermark at Logan Square, having relocated from Scranton, PA just weeks before the art contest for 2012. Oram earned a Bachelor of Art degree at George Washington University in her hometown of Washington D.C., back when the university's painting classes were taught at the District's august Corcoran Gallery of Art. As the wife of a busy family doctor in Scranton, and mother to two daughters, she had set painting aside for many years, but eventually went back to the easel for her creative pleasure. She is very interested in returning to active art-making as she becomes settled in her new life in Center City Philadelphia. She has already joined the Philadelphia Museum of Art and has begun exploring the art in the vicinity of her new home. Oram submitted two landscape pictures for the show. The oil painting selected for the Expressions contest is called "Continental Divide" and depicts a deeply shaded mountain forest and is based on a setting she saw on a tour of the West.
Fran Schatz
Widely admired in South Jersey for her creativity as a retail interior designer for 25 years, Fran Schatz is a life-long professional fine artist. A native of Brooklyn, NY, she obtained her first art degree at Brooklyn College - City University of New York. She continued her studies and earned a Masters in Education from the famed Tyler School of Art at Temple University and taught art in elementary schools in the school districts of Philadelphia and Moorestown, NJ. Her art has appeared in numerous shows including the Perkins Art Center of New Jersey, the Wayne Art Center, and hospital shows at Bryn Mawr Rehab, Moss Rehab and Princeton Hospital. Schatz is still studying art at Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia and has expanded her media beyond painting to include fiber art. Her watercolor that has been commended to the Expressions contest is entitled "New Found Lake, NH" and was painted in the open air three years ago.
Thelma Segal
Thelma Segal's paintings are continuously recognized for their excellence and have been commended to the nationwide Expressions contest many times. A native of Philadelphia, Segal lived and worked in Europe during a career at The American Friends Service Committee, where she served in the United States and abroad for nearly thirty years. Upon retirement she was admitted to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts where she majored in painting. She has also studied at the Barnes Foundation, the Fleisher Art Memorial and the Woodmere Art Museum. Segal has been granted awards by The Plastic Club --- Philadelphia's historic art club for women, of which she is a member --- as well as by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, The Main Line Chamber of Commerce and numerous watercolor society events. Her paintings have been shown in many group exhibitions, galleries and solo shows and are included in a number of private collections. The watercolor selected for this year's Expressions contest is entitled "Parrots & Magnolias, After a Stained Glass by Tiffany".
Located close to cultural attractions in Center City Philadelphia, The Watermark at Logan Square tailors programs to meet and exceed the expectations of each resident. Living at The Watermark at Logan Square comes with abundant choices and opportunities. Comprised of Independent and Personal Care apartments, a Skilled Nursing Center, and a Memory Care Center, The Watermark at Logan Square offers a full continuum of care in a luxurious, maintenance-free setting. The Watermark at Logan Square is located at Two Franklin Town Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103. For more information, call 215-240-8915 or visit www.watermarkcommunities.com/logansquare.
Watermark Retirement Communities has provided successful, progressive and engaging senior housing across the country for more than 20 years and is committed to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive. For more information, please visit www.watermarkcommunities.com.
"Etty," a powerful first-person Holocaust story based on diaries and letters of a young woman who perished in Auschwitz in 1943, was experienced by a rapt audience of residents of The Watermark at Logan Square on July 2, 2012. Performed by Princeton-based actress/writer Susan Stein, the one-woman show draws all of its words from the personal writings of Etty Hillesum, a young Jewish intellectual from Amsterdam who heard the unimaginable on a BBC radio broadcast --- that the Nazi ethnic cleansing campaign was actually an extermination machine. Stein is touring internationally with this affecting theater piece that she was inspired to create after picking up a book about Hillesum by chance at a yard sale. "Etty" was directed by the esteemed Broadway theater director Austin Pendleton.
Performances of "Etty" raise money for a foundation that supports sharing the messages left behind in Etty's words, insights and convictions, which reach out from the Holocaust and allow contemporary audiences to see the power of hope and individual thought in the most extreme circumstances.
Located close to cultural attractions in Center City Philadelphia, The Watermark at Logan Square tailors programs to meet and exceed the expectations of each resident. Living at The Watermark at Logan Square comes with abundant choices and opportunities. Comprised of Independent and Personal Care apartments, a Skilled Nursing Center, and a Memory Care Center, The Watermark at Logan Square offers a full continuum of care in a luxurious, maintenance-free setting. The Watermark at Logan Square is located at Two Franklin Town Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103. For more information, call 215-240-8915 or visit www.watermarkcommunities.com/logansquare.
Watermark Retirement Communities has provided successful, progressive and engaging senior housing across the country for more than 20 years and is committed to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive. For more information, please visit www.watermarkcommunities.com.
The Watermark at Logan Square, the retirement community in Center City Philadelphia, offers opportunities for seniors to plan their lives wisely at two free Lunch & Learn programs in July. One program focuses on moving to smaller quarters and the other is ideal for those concerned about their retirement investments.
Marlene Stocks from Senior Transition Services of Huntingdon Valley presents her popular tips and strategies for de-cluttering on Wednesday, July 11 at 11:30 a.m. "The 4 P's of Downsizing: Process, Pills, Paperwork & Pictures" focuses on managing common items that tend to accumulate. "People often get overwhelmed and they literally don't know where to begin," explains Stocks, whose business guides families in the process of relocating from larger homes to smaller residences. "I present a manageable, step-by-step process for starting early, keeping it simple and tackling small tasks first. I'll show attendees how to keep the big picture in mind while focusing on attainable tasks that show progress and make them feel successful. When people have tried it, they get so excited about losing the burdensome clutter, they often tell me they don't know why they didn't start sooner!"
"Taking Control in Turbulent Times: An Economic Update & Game Plans for Success" is the topic of the Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, July 24 at 11:30 a.m. Henry B. Bennett, LUTCF, a financial services professional for New York Life, provides an up-to-date overview on the economic events impacting retirement investments. He'll provide perspective on what's changing and reasons seniors may need to reassess their financial strategies and choices.
Both Lunch & Learn programs are free and open to the public. Seating is limited and advance registration is required. The Watermark at Logan Square is located just off the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at Two Franklin Town Boulevard in Philadelphia. To attend or learn more, please call The Watermark at 215-240-8915.
Located close to cultural attractions in Center City Philadelphia, The Watermark at Logan Square tailors programs to meet and exceed the expectations of each resident. Living at The Watermark at Logan Square comes with abundant choices and opportunities. Comprised of Independent and Personal Care apartments, a Skilled Nursing Center, and a Memory Care Center, The Watermark at Logan Square offers a full continuum of care in a luxurious, maintenance-free setting. The Watermark at Logan Square is located at Two Franklin Town Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103. For more information, call 215-240-8915 or visit www.watermarkcommunities.com/logansquare.
Watermark Retirement Communities has provided successful, progressive and engaging senior housing across the country for more than 20 years and is committed to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive. For more information, please visit www.watermarkcommunities.com.
The Summer semester of Watermark University opens the worlds of brain and body fitness, with fun classes that energize seniors in such as activities as stretching and Wii bowling, foreign languages and book clubs. Held at The Watermark at Logan Square in Center City, Watermark University provides an exciting menu of over twenty-five programs designed to enrich the senior mind, body and spirit. Most courses are open to the public and free of charge. Whether it's a one-time class or an ongoing series, the opportunities are endless. All area seniors with class ideas are encouraged to contact The Watermark at Logan Square at 215-240-8915.
Several participants shared their response to taking Watermark University classes, demonstrating the many ways active seniors thrive when they exercise, energize and socialize in Watermark University programs. Here's what Suzanne Isaacs and Edith Freeman, both residents of The Watermark, had to say.
"My favorite Watermark University Class is Wii Bowling because I like to socialize with my team mates," said resident Suzanne Isaacs. "I like the rush I get when I try to get strikes or knock down the spares. It's a great way to meet new people and continue my fitness regimen. It gives me energy."
According to resident Edith Freeman, "My favorite Watermark University class is current events. We discuss the daily issues in the local papers, as well as the global issues. It offers a stimulating conversation and I enjoy socializing as well."
Watermark University provides both residents and associates the opportunity to take or teach brain and body fitness classes on subjects they are passionate about. Georgia Andreadis, an associate who serves as the Hospitality Manager, has taught a jewelry making class. She recalled, "While teaching, I was surprised at the level and depth of conversation our class fostered. The residents and associates opened up about memories of their youth and fond recollections about family members. And at the end of each class, they had each created a small token of their bonding session."
Located close to cultural attractions in Center City Philadelphia, The Watermark at Logan Square tailors programs to meet and exceed the expectations of each resident. Living at The Watermark at Logan Square comes with abundant choices and opportunities. Comprised of Independent and Personal Care apartments, a Skilled Nursing Center, and a Memory Care Center, The Watermark at Logan Square offers a full continuum of care in a luxurious, maintenance-free setting. The Watermark at Logan Square is located at Two Franklin Town Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103. For more information, call 215-240-8915 or visit www.watermarkcommunities.com/logansquare.
Watermark Retirement Communities has provided successful, progressive and engaging senior housing across the country for more than 20 years and is committed to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive. For more information, please visit www.watermarkcommunities.com.
The wisdom of mothers is in ample supply 365 days of the year at The Watermark at Logan Square, a Center City continuing care retirement community, but it's never more poignant than at this time of year when mothers are celebrated. With the approach of Mother's Day 2012 on May 13, several mothers shared heartfelt advice, learned "on the job" in the most important work of humankind.
Below are words of wisdom that all generations of mothers can follow:
• "It's important to be a good listener, not judgmental. Don't expect them to be you."
Resident Charlotte Harris, who raised two sons and one daughter, has lived around the world, from Levittown, PA to Augsburg, Germany and Baltimore. Charlotte puts a priority on respecting the individual experiences that formed each of her adult children.
• "The best gift you can give your children is you."
It was marriage that brought Bronx, NY native Arline Schwarzman to Philadelphia, where she raised a household of sons in suburban Philadelphia. This resident of the Watermark at Logan Square hopes new mothers recognize that material things mean less to children than some may think.
• "The greatest gift a mother can give is love. There is no love like a mother's love. After losing your own mother, it pushes you to not only love your children unconditionally, but leave them with an everlasting memory of that love that you gave."
Evelyn Trader, a Dining Associate at the Watermark at Logan Square, has raised three sons in West Philadelphia. Her beliefs were inspired by her own mother and she thinks a great deal about imprinting her children with lasting, happy memories.
• "Remain optimistic and take time to listen to your children and to celebrate moments together."
Jennifer Tapner R.N., Executive Director of The Watermark at Logan Square, says she taps the treasure trove of experience in her community every day, and applies it at home as the mother of a young adult daughter and son.
"I have the greatest teachers in the world around me, every day" said Tapner. "It's a magnificent community of sharing here."
Located close to cultural attractions in Center City Philadelphia, The Watermark at Logan Square tailors programs to meet and exceed the expectations of each resident. Living at The Watermark at Logan Square comes with abundant choices and opportunities. Comprised of Independent and Personal Care apartments, a Skilled Nursing Center, and a Memory Care Center, The Watermark at Logan Square offers a full continuum of care in a luxurious, maintenance-free setting. The Watermark at Logan Square is located at Two Franklin Town Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103. For more information, call 215-240-8915 or visit www.watermarkcommunities.com/logansquare.
Watermark Retirement Communities has provided successful, progressive and engaging senior housing across the country for more than 20 years and is committed to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive. For more information, please visit www.watermarkcommunities.com.
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