Super Foods (and Snacks) for Seniors

Nutrition Workshop

Friday, April 29^th at 1:30 pm

New herbal supplements, health foods, and diet guidelines are released every day. It’s exhausting to keep up with it all, and who has the time?  Luckily for you, we’ve invited Margaux Rathbun to discuss authentic, healthy foods and snacks for seniors on Friday, April 29^th at 1:30 pm.

Ms. Rathbun will separate fact from fiction in this popular workshop on exactly what constitutes a healthy, authentic lifestyle.  Fun and informative,  attendees will receive valuable health information handouts after the presentation.  That way you won’t have to sorry about remembering all of her great information!

As a Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Ms. Rathbun is the author of the popular nutrition website Authentic Self Wellness. It’s full of recipes, articles, and information to encourage people to live an authentically healthy life. She’s also a writer, motivational speaker and is featured as a “nutrition expert” in national media on a regular basis. She hosts a variety of nutrition workshops and programs for corporations, schools, churches, non-profits, and assisted living communities across the United States.

Don’t wait to discover your authentic, healthy lifestyle! Grab your neighbor and head over to Cornell on Friday, April 29^th at 1:30 pm. We look forward to meeting you!

This event is free and open to the public. For more information,  please call (503) 640-2884.

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SMART – Learning to Read, Reading to Learn

Illiteracy is an ugly word.  It’s often connected to ignorance, poverty, and starvation.  And it’s mostly talked about in relation to the “Third World” countries: Africa, parts of Asia, even South America.

It’s also a problem in Oregon.

According to the Oregon Department of Education, 70,000 students in the 3^rd grade or below are under the minimum required reading level for their age.

Take a minute to think about that number. By the time they reach the 4^th grade, 70,000 children will be unable to learn from their textbooks due to poor reading skills.  Luckily for Oregon, volunteers like the residents at Cornell Estates and elsewhere throughout the state are swinging into action to reduce that number.

Every week, several of our residents travel to nearby Mooberry Elementary School to read, or be read to, by children struggling with reading skills.  They are a few of the 10,000 volunteers across Oregon, all of whom belong to SMART: Start Making a Reader Today.

SMART’s premise is simple: by the third grade, students must have learned to read in order to spend the rest of their lives reading to learn.  Our SMART volunteers spend 30 minutes each week during the school year reading with, or to, a student who needs assistance.  The students also receive 2 books per week to take home and enjoy.

The program is a win-win situation for both local children and our volunteers.  Children benefit from the direct one-on-one attention, and from a relationship with their volunteer. Their self-esteem increases, as do their reading skills and joy in reading.

If possible, the benefits are as or more fantastic for our volunteers. Many of our Cornell volunteers are retired teachers, so SMART provides a great way to continue to use their skills and experience.  But more than that, it’s an opportunity to be involved in our local neighborhood. After all, Mooberry Elementary is just four blocks away from our campus.  Who could resist the opportunity to help a child grow, learn, and become self-confident?

One by one, our volunteers are giving back to their community, and receiving so much in return.  One by one, we’re slowly reducing that daunting number of 70,000 illiterate children in our state.  As Margaret Fuller once said, “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”

Photo by flickr user lumero

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New Lecture Series!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Model Train Presentation & Display

Friday, April 22^nd

Display: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Presentation: 1:30pm

“It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a – model train?”  That’s right!  Cornell is excited to launch its new Planes, Trains, and Automobiles lecture series in April. The first event is a combined presentation and lecture on model trains on Friday, April 22^nd. Stop by anytime between 11:00 am and 4:00 to view the model trains on display, and be sure to catch the presentation by local aficionado Ned Loos at 1:30 pm!

Ned is a lifelong modular train enthusiast, and a member of the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club. Along with the trains on display, he’ll show you how the trains run and discuss the various gauges and how to assemble a working railroad.  And of course, no presentation would be complete without the history of our railroads and the different types of engines.

The Beaverton Modular Railroad Club is home to several modular train buffs like Ned.  Some of the club’s members take pleasure in the artistry of bringing the scenery to life. Others specialize in building or detailing the locomotives, while still others are looking for a space big enough to build a working system. Whatever their passion, these model train lovers gather every Friday night to enjoy this fascinating niche genre.

We invite all train spotters, friends, and family to join us for this fascinating presentation on Friday, April 22^nd at 1:30 pm.  And stop by all day to view the model trains in action!

This event is free and open to the public.  For more information,  please call (503) 640-2884.

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Outsourcing Your Next Move

No one likes moving.  It’s a hassle to pack up all your belongings, throw away or donate unused stuff, hire a moving van (and maybe movers), arrange for vacation time to help a family member . . . the list is endless.  It’s especially difficult if your family members live in a different city or state, or if you’re moving from a house into an apartment.

But fear not. There are alternatives to the headaches, backaches, and general frustration of moving and downsizing.  They’re called Senior Move Managers, and they do everything from helping you sort through your possessions, to packing, moving, and unpacking your belongings. One Senior Move Manager laughing referred to herself as a “rent-a-daughter.”

To learn more about the benefits of Senior Movers, click the link below for a special radio report from American Public Media:

You can also read the story here.

For recommended Senior Movers in the Hillsboro area, visit the Services section on our Community Partners page.

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Educational Travelogue: African Safari

Friday, April 15^th at 1:30 pm

Throw away your umbrella, slip on your sandals, and hop aboard your private Land Cruiser for an African safari! Join local Hillsboro resident Gayle Darr and her three grandchildren on an unforgettable trip through Tanzania on Friday, April 15^th at 1:30 pm at Cornell Estates.

After landing in Kilimanjaro Airport, your tour begins in Arusha, Tanzania’s second largest city.  Conveniently, it’s also close to many of country’s most famous attractions, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, and Mount Kilimanjaro.

First, let’s head out to the 8^th wonder of the world: Ngorongoro Crater.  Once a volcano, it’s now a collapsed crater 2,000 feet deep and 10 miles wide.  It’s also teaming with wildlife, from lions and zebras to hippos, flamingos, and more. But breathe easy as you explore the basin: there are no crocodiles here!

Step into history as you travel on to Olduvai Gorge, considered the seat of humanity and the site of the oldest known species of pre-historic humans. The site was made famous by archeologists Mary & Louis Leakey in the 1950s. The Leakeys discovered human footprints that are 3 million years old!  Their descendents continue the evacuation work there to this day.

Round out your safari in the Serengeti, home to 70 large mammal and 500 bird species.  Most recognizable, however, are the lions.  Once you’ve seen them up close, it’s no surprise that Disney modeled The Lion King on these impressive animals!

Before you head home, stop by Cornell Estates to experience more of this great trip. Meet the local Maasi and 2 other primitive tribes, sleep in safari tents, and sample the local food and culture.  These stories and pictures are waiting for you on Friday, April 15^th at 1:30 pm. We’ll see you there!

This Educational Travelogue is free and open to the public.  The series runs each month and covers the travels of residents, staff and community members. For more information,  please call (503) 640-2884.

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The Art of Imagination

Most people I know do not consider themselves artistic.  At best, they classify themselves as “enjoying art.” And yet, art is all around us. It’s on billboards, the Internet, in newspapers and magazines.  It’s at Cornell too, with water color classes, special craft sessions, and guest artists.

Several of our staff members are amateur artists, from photography to sculptures and mosaics.  In fact, one of our artists was featured at Hillsboro’s Sequoia Gallery & Studios in March.  When news of his exhibit reached Cornell, residents and staff alike were buzzing about attending the reception on opening night.

That got me thinking. If most of us aren’t “artistic,” why were the residents and staff so excited to attend the grand opening?  Of course, they were excited to support one of our staff members. But it had to be something more than that.  What, exactly, touches us when we make or appreciate art?

I found the answer in an unlikely source: an article in Science magazine by neurobiologist Semir Zeki.  He wrote: “The acquisition of knowledge . . . is the primordial function of art.”  We acquire knowledge by being curious, creative, and imaginative, skills which are also used when we create or study art.

Art connects (or re-connects) us with the non-verbal, intuitive side of our brain. It’s the side that lets us think outside the box to discover new ideas about ourselves and the world around us.  It not only relaxes us, but can also be done alone or with a group, is a uniquely individual experience, and allows for self-healing.

It’s easy to see, then, why the art exhibit generated so much interest among our residents and staff. Art is an integral part of our creative process, a process that lets us learn and dream at the same time.  That process never ends, no matter if we’re painting our very first picture or attending an art gallery on our 80^th birthday.

Perhaps philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer said it best: “In art, something, and the ultimate thing, must always be left over for the imagination to do.”

Picture provided by flicker user Dublin City Public Libraries

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Amadeus Jones: A Musical Presentation

Thursday, April 7^th at 6:30 pm

Are you looking for an excuse to clap your hands and enjoy some classical jazz, Irish ballads, or folk music?  If so, grab your toe-tappin’ shoes and head over to Cornell Estates to see Amadeus Jones on Thursday, April 7^th at 6:30 pm.

As its name implies, Amadeus Jones is a hodgepodge of musical styles.  From grandfathers of jazz like “Bewitched” or W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues” to an old Irish ballad like “Red is the Rose” or an American folk classic like “Ashoken Farewell,” Amadeus Jones will set your hands to clapping and your toes to tapping.  Their greatest inspiration and joy is to play these great songs to an appreciative audience.

The four members of the Hillsboro-based quartet first met through St. Matthew’s church before taking their act on the road.  Nancy Hursh (vocals and piano), Rick Tinling (classical guitar), Cam Clitheroe (flute, harmonica, penny whistle and vocals) and Greg Clemmons (string bass) have been playing at parties, art galleries, weddings, and farmers’ markets for the past several years.

Nancy Hursh studied vocal music for many years under Dr. Gert Muser.  She has been a soloist with the Peninsula Chamber Singers and is also an accomplished pianist.  Rick Tinling’s classical guitar and his ability to make a relatively generic melody into a contemplative ballad are the basis of the band. He plays a classical music solo act on Wednesdays at the Rimsky-Korsakoffee House in east Portland.

The “go to guy” in the band is Cam Clitheroe. His versatility and easy-going manner enable him to adapt to all musical styles whenever necessary. His current primary instrument is the flute, although his can also play the oboe, penny whistle, and harmonica, as well as lead a hand on vocals as a tenor.

Anchoring the group on string bass is Greg Clemmons. Greg’s musical roots come from his father, who played piano in Kansas City jazz clubs back when Count Basie was playing in the same bars. Greg has played with philharmonic orchestras in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Mexico, as well as blue grass, jazz and a Tijuana Brass take-off back when he was in high school.

This event is free and open to the public.  Cornell Estates is located at 1005 N.E. 17th Avenue, Hillsboro.  For more information,  please call (503) 640-2884

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