Month: June 2021

Kathy Szary

Mayflower Resident Kathy Szary Receives Special Award

Kathy Szary and her husband Tom moved into a Harwich Terrace patio home at The Mayflower Community in August 2016. During the summer of 2016, Kathy, then recently retired from her position as Medical Staff Services Coordinator/Executive Assistant at UnityPoint Health–Grinnell, completed training to became a volunteer counselor for the Iowa Department of Insurance’s Senior

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Mercedes Varela Volunteer with Sallie Verrette

Mercedes Varela Volunteer with Sallie Verrette

Mercedes Varela, a May 2021 Grinnell College graduate, has been volunteering at Mayflower in the Health Center as a conversation companion to resident Sallie Verrette. The two women have been speaking French and Spanish with each other since Mercedes started “visiting” weekly via Zoom in February 2021. Once visitations were allowed by state and federal

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group of ladies dining on Nancys pation

Mayflower Takes Another Step Out of Pandemic

In a June 24th letter to residents and staff of The Mayflower Community (Grinnell IA), Executive Director, Steve Langerud, announced changes to the face masking and visitor policies. Citing guidance from regulators along with the improving status of the pandemic, Langerud noted that Mayflower is relaxing a few precautions that have been in place. Because

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picnic diners on courtyard patio

Picnic Time in the Buckley Gardens

On Tuesday, June 22nd, Mayflower residents and a few guests enjoyed a BBQ picnic lunch served on the Buckley Courtyard patio. The 88 diners ate outside at tables or inside in the Buckley Dining Room. The entrée was a choice of grilled pork chop or barbequed chicken. Side dishes included potato salad, coleslaw, and watermelon.

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Dennis Perry playing guitar and singing

Dennis Perry Plays the Mayflower “House”

On Tuesday, June 15th, country music singer and guitarist, Dennis Perry played two gigs in The Mayflower Community—one in the Beebe Circle and one in the Health Center Courtyard. A Marshalltown area native, Dennis learned to play guitar while in the Army. When he came home, he talked his younger brother into playing drums with

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Men's coffee club

Mayflower Men’s Coffee Group

On Thursday morning, June 17th, the Mayflower Community Men’s Coffee Group cooled off with homemade ice cream. Active before the start of the pandemic, the group began meeting again a few months ago as they maintained social distance. They are now back in their regular meeting area—the Buckley building third-floor lounge—and reconnecting over coffee and

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Healthy Iowans logo

Opportunity to Participate in State Health Assessment

The Mayflower Community is encouraging residents, employees, and friends to participate in the Iowa Department of Public Health(IDPH) survey, “Iowa Health Assessment,” that is being conducted locally by UnityPoint Health—Grinnell. Since prior to the pandemic, Mayflower has been involved in the “Healthy Grinnell Initiative” grant, a program to promote health and well-being in the local

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Valerie Wedgeworth playing flute in Health Center Courtyard

Flutist Performs at Mayflower

On Tuesday, June 8th, Fluitist Valerie Wedgeworth performed in The Mayflower Community’s Beebe Circle and in the Health Center Courtyard to a warm and appreciative crowd of residents. — Bob Mann, Sales & Marketing Director

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Dinner in Des Moines via Lester the Bus

Mayflower Outing

On Thursday, June 3rd, a group of Mayflower independent living residents boarded Lester the Bus (our modern shuttle) and headed for the Des Moines area to enjoy supper together. The idea was hatched at a Memorial Day cookout when they decided to take a road trip. Eleven Mayflower residents enjoyed dinner at Johnny’s Steakhouse in

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Mayflower Homes Walking Group

Group Walking Again in The Mayflower Community

Even though the weather has been a little uncooperative, Mayflower residents led by Katie Pickul, Mayflower’s Community Life and Wellness Coordinator, have reinstated “Walking Groups.” There are two levels of walkers—fast and casual. Each group meets two days a week to walk together around the Mayflower campus when the weather is conducive. For the faster

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