Springmoor Starts Work for Stop Hunger Now

By Stacey Axler, intern

Chaplain Phyllis Mayo with the 50,000 meal award

Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community is gearing up for Stop Hunger Now, a meal-packaging program that will aid international hunger-relief efforts.

Feb. 14 marks the third year that Springmoor residents will host a Stop Hunger Now event.

“This is the third year we hosted Stop Hunger Now on Valentine’s Day because it is Springmoor’s way to give our love back to the world,” Springmoor Chaplain Phyllis Mayo said.

Local Eats: Springmoor Residents Can Feast Mediterranean-style at Nearby Neomonde Baking Company

In the 1970s, the Saleh family (mother, Cecelia, and sons Sam, Joe, Mounir and DeGaulle) left war-torn Lebanon for a better life and the opportunities that the United States could provide. They searched around the Raleigh, N.C., area, but could find nothing resembling the bread they gathered around the table to eat at home. So, with a converted pizza oven, a rental space in a strip mall, help from an uncle, and a pita recipe that had been passed down through generations, Neomonde Baking Company was born.   

The Saleh family founded the Neomonde Baking Company

New Year, New Plants!

By Thom Morgan

Springmoor Landscape Manager

Here are a few new plants on the market that are sure to brighten your garden, and your year:

Windcliffslaty blue Lenton rose

Recipe Share: The Easiest Bark to Place Under the Tree

‘Tis the season for holiday parties, gift exchanges, and get-togethers with family and friends. It’s all fun and festive, but makes for a very full calendar. If full scale holiday baking doesn’t fit into your schedule this season, then this is the recipe for you! 

Made up of only three ingredients, this Pistachio and Cranberry White Chocolate Bark comes together in just a little bit more time than it takes to melt the chocolate. It’s an interesting twist on traditional holiday peppermint bark, with a creamy white chocolate base and festive flecks of red and green.      

It’s easy enough to make a few batches to keep on hand for gift giving, unexpected guests, and holiday parties. Everyone appreciates a little something homemade this time of year!

Springmoor Floral Focal Points: Landscaping the new Wellness Center

By Thom Morgan, Springmoor landscape manager

Thom Morgan

It’s a November morning, and I am standing in front of what will be the entrance to Springmoor’s new Wellness Center. Piles of dirt, broken concrete and construction materials surround the area. Large machines sit parked ready for another day of work. Somehow this soon will be a finished landscape, inviting residents, guests and employees in to use the new center. Where to start? There are no sidewalks in yet, which would indicate where plant beds go. There will be walkway lights, and other utilities that I must avoid covering with plants. There is a transformer box that will need to be hidden, and access to an existing transformer will need to be provided. I make note of other utilities such as a water faucet, which could come in handy. I know the sun will reach the area most of the morning, and into the early afternoon in summer. The main entry of the Wellness Center is on the southeast corner of the Valley building, so it will be well protected from cold winds in the winter. Fortunately, the builder provided me with a plan that indicates where the sidewalks, parking spaces, and lights go, and where windows and doors are located on the building. I now know how people will walk into and out of the building, as well as see into, and out of it. There is a large existing Willow Oak that should be saved. 

This is the inventory, and analysis phase of the design now for a concept. It was very hard to come up with a design, but I wanted to simply match the purpose of the building--wellness--to the landscape.  All of the plants in the plan can be used, or were used, for medicinal, herbal, or culinary purposes. The exception is a specimen Japanese maple, and some Encore azaleas--it’s OK to break some rules and not completely follow the concept; I can justify using the azaleas since they tie in nicely with what we have throughout campus. The Japanese maple--when matured--will have a peaceful, sculptural shape to it.  Now it’s time to locate the plants on the plan. I will start out with the trees first, and choose those that meet the criteria for the wellness concept. I place the trees where they will provide shade from the hot summer sun, and also where they will be noticed as people walk into, and out of the building.

Ready to Feast? Thanksgiving Dining Options Aplenty!

Every Thanksgiving, Springmoor puts on a traditional meal in each dining room from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. If that’s not on your agenda this year, there are plenty of other places to get together with family and friends. Over the past few weeks, both The News and Observer and WRAL have compiled their lists of restaurants with Thanksgiving hours and even those with carry-out options. 

"Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure"

By Kari Richie
Springmoor Health and Fitness Director

Kari Richie

Wellness is more than the absence of disease or sickness. It is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. If we embrace this process and educate ourselves, we are choosing to live a lifestyle of prevention rather than treatment.

One very easy, simple way to prevent disease is to keep on top of health exams and screenings that can help detect issues before they become serious problems. Checkups can also help find problems early, when your chances for treatment and a cure are better. By getting the right health services, screenings and treatments, you are taking steps that help your chances for living a longer, healthier life. Your age, health and family history, lifestyle choices (i.e. what you eat, how active you are, whether you smoke) and other important factors impact what and how often you need healthcare.