Month: December 2021

Bell Choir practicing

The Mayflower Bell Choir is Back in Business

Recently, The Mayflower Community Bell Choir, directed by Karen Phillips, invited residents to come listen to their rehearsal. They are back at it after a two-year hiatus, the result of a pandemic precaution. The Bells now have their own practice space in the Edwards building “Basement Craft Room.” Their secured storage area is a former

Continue Reading
Christmas dinner celebration

Mayflower Christmas Luncheon

On Christmas Day, December 25, 2021, Grinnell’s Mayflower Community hosted a traditional dinner at noon. The menu included roast beef or ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, scalloped corn, cranberry pear salad, fruit compote, dinner rolls, and cheesecake for dessert. Residents enjoyed the food…almost as much as the Christmas cheer! Pictured above: The

Continue Reading
Christmas caroling

Christmas Caroling

As Buddy the Elf says in the movie Elf, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” That’s what happened on the evenings of Sunday, December 19th and Wednesday, December 22nd in The Mayflower Community. Members from the Calvary Baptist Church (on Sunday) and the Westfield Community Church (on

Continue Reading
John Ashby Speaks at Forum

Mayflower Forum Hosts CoSI Speaker

On Tuesday, December 14th, John Ashby of Grinnell spoke to a group of Mayflower Community residents about CoSI, Community Support for Immigrants. The program was part of the Mayflower Residents Association monthly education series about events of local interest. John holds a masters in divinity from the Theological Union, Berkeley CA, and a masters in

Continue Reading
Margaret Morey presents for Wellness Warriors

Partnership Between Grinnell College and Mayflower

As one of the volunteer roles played by Grinnell College students in The Mayflower Community, SLWS students take on various activities with Health Center and Beebe Assisted Living residents. The Student Leadership Work Study (SLWS) program requires prospective volunteers to apply, be interviewed, and be selected to be accepted into the program. Organized by Mayflower’s

Continue Reading
Vox Feminae performs for Mayflower residents

Women’s Vocal Ensemble Performs at Mayflower

After an absence of almost two years, Vox Feminae (“voice of woman”), an all-female a cappella vocal group from Grinnell returned to The Mayflower Community to perform a holiday concert for a crowd of more than 60 residents. The members, all vaccinated and wearing masks, sang more than 13 songs, ranging from carols such as

Continue Reading
Jacob Staroska Preparing Treats

Jacob Staroska Receives Dietary Manager Certification

Jacob Staroska, Foodservice Supervisor for The Mayflower Community, has been licensed as a Certified Dietary Manager (CDM). He recently completed the necessary testing requirement after meeting the educational and experiential requirements. A Grinnell native, Jacob began working in The Mayflower Community as Foodservice Supervisor in December 2020. He is a graduate of the Des Moines

Continue Reading
Kayley Ronnkvist

Grinnell College/Mayflower Research Study Collaboration

Kayley Rönnkvist (she/her) is a third-year student at Grinnell College originally from St. Peter, Minnesota, a town of about 10,000 people in south central Minnesota. She is majoring in French and Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies. Kayley began volunteering at Mayflower in 2019 when she helped coordinate the Adopt-A-Grandparent program between healthcare residents and Grinnell

Continue Reading
Grinnell College Fresh Flutes concert at Mayflower

Sweet Flutes at Mayflower

On Thursday, December 9th, the Grinnell College “Fresh Flutes” ensemble performed a mini-concert tonight in The Mayflower Community Buckley Dining Room to a gathering of about 40 residents. Fresh Flutes has been a staple ensemble of the Grinnell College Music Department since the early 1990s. Always seeking repertoire that covers a range from traditionally Classical

Continue Reading
MRA Town Meeting

Mayflower Community “Hybrid” Meeting

In a continuing effort to get out from under pandemic limitations and to enhance resident communications, Grinnell’s Mayflower Community held a “hybrid” meeting on Monday, December 6th. More than 70 residents “attended” the semi-annual Mayflower Residents Association (MRA) Town Meeting. Some tuned in via Zoom. Some attended in person in Mayflower’s Kiesel Theatre. Using a

Continue Reading