In the News

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The tour is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the retirement facility, 2901 I St. NE. The tour offers the opportunity to better understand the mental and physical challenges that those living with dementia experience through a virtual simulation. Trained facilitators will guide participants throughout the exercise, which will emphasize completing everyday tasks while patented devices alter the senses in a way that closely resembles the effects of dementia on the mind and body. This experiential program was designed to benefit caregivers and loved ones by allowing them to better understand and relate to those with dementia, which ultimately fosters communication and efficient delivery of care. Macular degeneration, arthritis, neuropathy and hearing problems are some complications of the disease. The simulation opens the door to increased empathy and patience. For more information about the Virtual Dementia Tour or the Village Concepts senior living communities, visit villageconcepts.com or call 888-548-6609. " ["post_title"]=> string(83) "Village Concepts offers Virtual Dementia Tour at Brannan Park Retirement on Jan. 17" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(76) "village-concepts-offers-virtual-dementia-tour-brannan-park-retirement-jan-17" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2017-12-27 08:38:06" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-12-27 16:38:06" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=8921" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [1]=> object(WP_Post)#2973 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(8842) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2017-12-26 15:11:28" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-12-26 23:11:28" ["post_content"]=> string(1675) " [caption id="attachment_8843" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Members of the BPCI contracting company are joined by Woodland Village employees and residents during a ceremonial groundbreaking on Thursday, Dec. 14, in Chehalis.[/caption] A remodeling project at the Woodland Village senior living facility in Chehalis began this month and is intended to turn the space into a “state-of-the-art assisted living and memory care” facility, according to a news release. The project is being undertaken by Village Concepts, a third-generation, family-owned business. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on Dec. 14. The facility is expected to open in 2019 and will be a “resident-focussed community” offering “independent living apartments, duplexes and townhouses.” It will also include 24 new assisted living rooms and 19 memory care rooms, which will allow residents to transition to a higher level of care as they need it, according to a press release. “We are excited to bring this new development and investment for seniors into Lewis County,” said Stuart Brown, chief operating officer at Village Concepts. The project is projected to cost $7.1 million and is intended to meet the increasing need for senior living in Lewis County. The facility is expected to create 20 or more jobs. Village Concepts owns and manages 17 communities in the Puget Sound area offering on-site programming, personalized care and an emphasis on fostering relationships, according to a press release. " ["post_title"]=> string(84) "Construction Begins on Remodel for Woodland Village Senior Living Center in Chehalis" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(74) "construction-begins-remodel-woodland-village-senior-living-center-chehalis" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2017-12-26 15:11:28" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-12-26 23:11:28" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=8842" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [2]=> object(WP_Post)#3020 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(8827) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2017-12-22 15:01:42" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-12-22 23:01:42" ["post_content"]=> string(3916) " [caption id="attachment_8828" align="alignleft" width="300"] Tamae Delaney, a Brannan Park Retirement community resident, tends the Eldergrow garden with the help of instructor Kristin Herrington-Albrecht. MARK KLAAS, Auburn Reporter[/caption]

Seniors’ therapeutic horticulture takes root in Auburn

Some embrace watching nature grow from seed to sunshiny day. Others simply don’t have much of a green thumb but enjoy good company. Regardless of skill and familiarity, seniors at the Brannan Park Retirement community have welcomed a new program that brings them together as they talk, prepare and treat crops harvest-able for the dinner table or manage plants worthy as blossoming companions. Eldergrow, a Seattle-based startup, teaches and builds relationships with residents through ongoing enrichment classes on horticulture, culinary and garden art. “Besides just the food, it’s kind of the camaraderie and the sense of community that we build,” said Kristin Herrington-Albrecht, who comes twice a month to the north Auburn retirement facility to lead classes on a variety of topics. “It’s sitting down with someone, breaking bread and preparing food together. … It’s this very instinctual thing that you feel comfortable, you open up, and we start talking and reminiscing. Those are always my favorite classes.” Brannan Park is one of six South Sound retirement communities that Herrington-Albrecht visits to show seniors the beauty and effect of healthy, home-grown food and interesting plants. Participants come away more knowledgeable about gardening. Many especially enjoy what they discover in the popular culinary class. “Every culinary class we’ve done, new residents have joined us,” Herrington-Albrecht said. Classes are educational and interactive. Seniors come to a roundtable to see how produce is prepped for a meal, for instance, or participate in an engaging arts project. “It was fun,” said Audrey Franson. “It’s fun to see what other people do. They have a variety of things to do here.” On Monday, it was all about chard, mint and other ingredients that helped Herrington-Albrecht and her pupils assemble a fresh-fruit-enhanced Christmas tree salad. “We enjoy the class, and we enjoy this young lady,” said Dorene Fox, 84, who has lived in Auburn for 65 years and avidly joins Herrington-Albrecht to learn more about the garden. Brannan Park launched the pioneering, therapeutic horticulture program this year through a garden partnership with Village Concepts, a third- generation, family-owned business that helps seniors thrive in retirement and in assisted living communities throughout the state. As Stuart Brown, Village Concepts chief operating officer, explains: “Residents will be able to experience the satisfaction of creating and nurturing their own garden, just like at home, while attending classes and enjoying the fruits of their labor complete with arts and cooking activities.” Residents enjoy the benefits of sensory stimulation and connecting with nature while they choose plants and herbs to transplant into the therapy garden, which occupies a space by the kitchen and dining area. Gardening also brings seniors back to simpler days. “We try to bring nature indoors, for one,” Herrington-Albrecht said. “And because a lot of people were gardeners in the past, we want to provide them past times when they had a lot of fond memories. … A lot of people talk about gardening with families … and growing up helping their parents.” The class also offers a chance to soak in the soil. “We do want them to get their hands in the dirt,” Herrington-Albrecht said. ‘That’s a huge component.” " ["post_title"]=> string(25) "Watch, learn how it grows" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(17) "watch-learn-grows" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2017-12-22 15:01:42" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-12-22 23:01:42" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=8827" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [3]=> object(WP_Post)#3021 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(8802) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2017-11-13 10:56:20" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-11-13 18:56:20" ["post_content"]=> string(2770) " [caption id="attachment_8803" align="alignleft" width="364"] Mary Reid of Port Angeles, 90, a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, shows of one of her many caps that distinguish her service to her country. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)[/caption] PORT ANGELES — Among her fellow Korean War veterans, she’s affectionately known as “Queen Mary.” At 90 years old, Mary Reid attracts quite the attention as the only woman in the Olympic Peninsula Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 310. That’s how she adopted the moniker. Reid, who now lives at Park View Villas, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a nurse from Nov. 7, 1950 to Dec. 31, 1951. “I volunteered for the excitement,” Reid said. “I hadn’t had much fun in my life.” Growing up in the Great Depression, Reid lived simply. She lived alone with her mother after her father died, and two subsisted off one can of salmon, one egg and a handful of oats for two, sometimes two and a half, days at a time. She performed well in school and decided upon a career as a teacher or nurse. “But I had no hope for further education,” she said. So, Reid enrolled in the necessary classes for both professions, acting as though options did exist. Then, presented with the opportunity to join the cadet nurse core, Reid marveled at the prospects: free lodging, food and a stipend. Reid passed the exam without incident and began training. Then, the Army presented Reid with the opportunity to go to South Korea. “I felt obligation and I thought also it would be fun, she said, adding incredulously, “to serve in the Army!” When Reid arrived, she couldn’t fathom the conditions. “I couldn’t believe my eyes,” she said. She and the other 49 nurses watched as gangs of homeless South Korean children, ranging from 4 to 10 years old, wandered the streets, doling out shoeshines for pennies. “It was impossible to feel as though you weren’t going to cry,” she said. Of her legion of memories, that one stands out in vivid detail. She has recorded those memories in her privately published book, “A Nightingale in Korea: One Bird’s Eye-view,” which published about 1,000 copies. Reid has given away all but a few. She didn’t talk about her experiences in her youth, as she said few veterans do. “While they’re young, they don’t talk about it,” she said. “It’s when you’re old that you talk about it all the time.” “It’s most outstanding thing you can do in your life — being in a war,” Reid continued. “It’s a whole new level of life.” " ["post_title"]=> string(47) "‘Queen Mary’ tells of Korean War experience" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(38) "queen-mary-tells-korean-war-experience" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2017-11-13 10:56:20" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-11-13 18:56:20" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=8802" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [4]=> object(WP_Post)#3133 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(8799) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2017-11-03 11:30:54" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-11-03 18:30:54" ["post_content"]=> string(1016) " [caption id="attachment_8800" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] About 100 kids from Evergreen Academy Montessori School in Issaquah trick-or-treated at Spiritwood at Pine Lake, an Issaquah assisted living and retirement facility, on Halloween morning. Nicole Jennings/staff photo[/caption] Close to 100 youngsters from Evergreen Academy Montessori Preschool in Issaquah brought some Halloween cheer to the residents of Issaquah assisted living and retirement facility Spiritwood at Pine Lake by Village Concepts on Tuesday. Witches, firefighters, princesses and superheros between the ages of 2 and 6 trick-or-treated with the residents of Spiritwood, many of whom also donned costumes for the holiday. Afterwards, the kids sat down for pumpkin-themed story-time with Tracy Willis, corporate development director at Village Concepts. " ["post_title"]=> string(63) "Evergreen Academy tots trick-or-treat with Spiritwood residents" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(55) "evergreen-academy-tots-trick-treat-spiritwood-residents" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2017-11-03 11:30:54" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-11-03 18:30:54" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=8799" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [5]=> object(WP_Post)#3122 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(8781) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2017-10-10 11:55:19" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-10-10 18:55:19" ["post_content"]=> string(7783) "[caption id="attachment_8782" align="alignleft" width="316"] Village Concepts CEO and president Steve Brown with his son, company COO Stuart Brown, Photo by Jeff Caven[/caption] Family Businesses Take Pride in Their Work "Let’s build something cool together” could be a good motto for any business, but it’s an especially apt one for family-run companies. And in an era when giant corporations seem to be taking over the world, family-owned businesses still make up two-thirds of all enterprises around the globe, including in the United States. Every business seeks to provide a livelihood for its owners and employees. Family-run enterprises can also be an excellent vehicle for transferring values, both within the family ranks and beyond. “Doing things right seems to be more of a cultural obsession in these companies,” family business expert John A. Davis told The New York Times. Here are three family businesses that show the variety and vitality we have in our region. Village Concepts  It takes a village to raise a child, so the African proverb says. The same might be said for elders: Older people often thrive best when living in community. Village Concepts owns and manages 17 communities in the Puget Sound region, with “creating a village that feels like family” as the company motto. “That is what is happening inside of our buildings,” says chief operating officer Stuart Brown, who is the grandson of founder Bill Brown. “They create a village of people that are their extended family, whether it’s in our independent affordable senior apartment buildings where residents do that among themselves or our assisted living where the staff is an extension of that.” Bill Brown built El Dorado West in Burien in 1975 to offer an alternative to traditional nursing homes. “He saw he could build a place for seniors who were more independent and active,” says Stuart Brown. Bill’s sons, Steve (now president and CEO) and Rick, grew the company during the 1980s and 1990s. Village Concepts now employs 475 people and is updating its older properties to meet what people want now, often including a range of living choices in one community. “We’ve been in continuous operation since 1975, but we have a building that’s only three years old,” Stuart Brown says. In fact, Bill Brown was among the first residents of the remodeled El Dorado West. “It was a nice full circle for him that he was able to move into the place he originally created and it was a brand-new facility,” the grandson adds. It also gave the family personal insights about what it’s like to have a loved one move into senior housing. Stuart Brown shows a photo of himself and his uncle, dad, and grandfather sitting at a restaurant, having lunch —and says that’s how he learned a lot about business, simply through the generations working together. “We always had a very good relationship,” he says. Steve Brown adds, “One of the concerns of bringing a son on board to work in your business is ‘will he succeed?’ It was always upfront that if you’re not doing the job, you’re going to have to bow out and do something else. But Stuart has more than done the job and exceeded in our expectations of him. I don’t think we’ve had any major arguments. We were always able to work out our ideas and compromise.” “We wouldn’t be a very good reality TV show,” adds Stuart. “There’s not a lot of drama.” Continental Mills  You may not know the name Continental Mills, but there’s a good chance its products are in your pantry right now. The company got its start helping a Seattle women’s bridge club market a pie crust mix, and it remained a small enterprise for several decades. “We’re talking about in-the-garage small,” says John Heily, current CEO and chair, who recently marked 50 years with the company. It had fewer than 20 employees when he took over from his dad. Today, Krusteaz baking mixes are part of a growing Continental Mills portfolio that includes Alpine spiced cider and licensed brands Ghirardelli and Red Lobster. The company now employs more than 850, with its corporate offices and warehouse in Tukwila and a manufacturing plant in Kent, plus additional plants in Illinois, Kansas, and Tennessee. John’s son, Andy, now serves as president (with several other family members on the board of directors). Both men have done everything in the company from laboring on a factory line to setting policy. Although Andy thought he might work elsewhere following college and graduate school, “after spending some time here, I became consumed with it. We have amazing people and we have really cool brands and assets we can leverage.” He’s also assumed leadership at a time of rapid and exciting change in the food industry. “We’re going where the marketplace is going and trying to get out in front of it as much as possible,” he says. “It’s never been this dynamic.” For instance, Continental Mills has added new brands in what it calls “better-for-you-snacking,” including Wild Roots and Buck Wild. “The greatest pride I have in having a legacy and having my son follow me is that the passion he has is the same passion I have,” says John. “It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve experienced in my life, and I believe he will take the business to places that I have just dreamed about.” Everest Kitchen  For many people, a restaurant is the classic family business. Mohan Gurung draws on both his family’s heritage and current family ties as he serves up the savory tastes of Nepal, India, and Tibet at Everest Kitchen, his restaurant in the Lake Forest Park Town Center. Gurung’s father was a healer and herbalist in Nepal who often used food to help people attain their best health. Gurung himself worked in the healthcare field as a young man in Nepal and after immigrating to the United States in 1993, juggling several jobs as a medical assistant to get his two now-grown children through college. Once he’d achieved that goal, he wanted to help people stay healthy, but he didn’t have the credentials to advance in American-style medicine. Instead, drawing on both his father’s lessons and the wisdom of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”), Gurung opened a restaurant. The Everest Kitchen’s tag line is “Eat well, feel well, live well.” Adds Gurung, “This is the most important part of the health field.” Gurung’s son-in-law, Mike (whose last name is also Gurung), is his partner in the venture. Mohan manages the daily operations and Mike focuses on marketing. Near the cash register is a showcase of jewelry made by Smriti Gurung (Mohan’s daughter and Mike’s wife), who mainly works as a nurse but is also active in American-Nepalese programs that assist children in rural Nepal. A portion of the proceeds from jewelry sales—as well as that of photos by Cora Edmonds on display—benefit relief efforts in Nepal. Food and community are closely tied at Everest Kitchen. Gurung says he enjoys providing wholesome food to his neighborhood and creating jobs, too. Seven people work in the restaurant, and Gurung would like to forge a culinary training partnership with a local high school or community college. Meanwhile, Gurung is happy he and his family have been able to promote healthy living without having an M.D. or a Ph.D. by his name. “If you’re healthy, you can do anything," he adds.  " ["post_title"]=> string(25) "Building Value and Values" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(21) "building-value-values" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2019-07-03 21:36:19" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2019-07-03 21:36:19" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=8781" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [6]=> object(WP_Post)#3004 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(8762) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2017-09-21 14:31:31" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-09-21 21:31:31" ["post_content"]=> string(2384) "
[caption id="attachment_8763" align="alignleft" width="400"] From left, Sound Vista Village residents Kathleen McGilliard, Barb Krause, Maria Scott, Mickey Donnan and Ester Fisk perform a reading of “The Brazilian Cat’ By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Saturday at Sound Vista Village.[/caption]
The sleek, 11-foot long, ebony-black Brazilian Cat was the focus of attention Saturday afternoon at the Sound Vista Village. According to Everard King, the Brazilian Cat is “one of the most treacherous and bloodthirsty creatures on earth.” He explained, “They prefer humans to game.”

King was the malevolent character in the play, “The Brazilian Cat,” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1922. The Sound Vista Storytellers so effectively interpreted the play that the audience was horrified when they learned that Everard trapped his niece, Lucinda, in the same room with the hungry Brazilian Cat. Could Lucinda possibly be saved, they wondered?

The audience was mesmerized as the storytellers spun the tale. Under the guidance of their teacher and coach, Kathy McGilliard, the five actors successfully narrated the piece and personified the characters. The actors, ranging in age from 72 to 92 years old, were King, McGilliard, Ester Fisk, Barb Krause, Mickey Donnan and Maria Scott.

McGilliard, herself an actress, has been directing drama groups and promoting performances in the arts in the Gig Harbor area for more than 40 years.  With enthusiasm and energy, Mcgilliard gently guides her novice actors during the many rehearsals before each performance. “It pleases me to stimulate the residents,” said Mcgilliard following the well-received performance.

The Sound Vista Storytellers begin rehearsals immediately for the next performance, “The Christmas Carol.” The public is invited to attend. Contact Sound Vista Village at 253-851-9929 for the performance date and time.

" ["post_title"]=> string(44) "Sound Vista Storytellers Bring Plays to Life" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(41) "sound-vista-storytellers-bring-plays-life" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2017-09-21 14:31:31" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-09-21 21:31:31" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=8762" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [7]=> object(WP_Post)#3247 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(8755) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2017-09-06 09:21:29" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-09-06 16:21:29" ["post_content"]=> string(889) " Excitement is in the air! Village Concepts at Woodland Village believes the thrill of learning should never be limited by age or ability and that learning new things together and discovering the world beyond our borders brings a broadened understanding of our world and our place in it. Because of our shared philosophy of life-long learning, Sharon Ripp, Program Coordinator, is launching Village Concepts University (VCU) a program first conceptualized by Tracy Willis, Community Development Director for Village Concepts. Integrating university-style classes that educate, inspire and engage our residents of Woodland Village with classes in art, music, history, English literature, agriculture, science technology and spiritual and religious studies that will keep our seniors mentally and physically engaged as we strive to……Bringing retirement to life at Woodland Village! " ["post_title"]=> string(59) "Woodland Village Launches “Village Concepts University”" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(53) "woodland-village-launches-village-concepts-university" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2017-09-06 09:21:29" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-09-06 16:21:29" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=8755" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [8]=> object(WP_Post)#3248 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(8733) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2017-08-24 09:41:38" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-08-24 16:41:38" ["post_content"]=> string(2465) " Warrick Borgue assisted the Apollo 11 mission to put a man on the moon. It’s been nearly 50 years since 97-year-old Warrick Borque helped put a man on the moon. This week Borgue, a retired Boeing engineer on the Apollo program, got to see a tribute to its history for the first time. The Museum of Flight’s newest exhibit, Apollo, takes a look back at the space race. “I went through the first launching which was quite an experience because as you know it was the largest rocket that was ever fired by a human being,��� Borque said. “I was at NASA for the first four Apollo launchings. But I was there for the first two manned launchings and then I went back to Seattle.” Borque spoke of the stress involved with the project, but he also acknowledged how nice it is to have been involved with this significant project in history. At the time he was working for Boeing, who worked for NASA. He remembers when he was first asked to work on the project. “They asked if I would I consider going to the Apollo program and moving to New Orleans? And I said of course if there’s an appreciable salary raise,” Borque said with a laugh. “The experience was a very enjoyable, but strenuous time, because we were always dealing with stuff that could kill you.” At one point, the power changed hands. Borque worked for Boeing who worked for Nasa, but after a cockpit fire killed three astronauts, Nasa worked for Boeing for a short time. “One day I was getting instruction and the plan of the day from NASA and the very next day I was telling NASA what the direction of the day was,” Borque said. Borque admits that, at 97 years old, it was tough for him to leave his assisted living home to make the trip to see the exhibit at the Museum, but when it was all over he expressed his gratitude that this is on display. “It was quite exciting and quite adventurous, and I’m glad to see the museum bringing a lot of it to life so people can see what actually went on,” Borque said with a smile. The Museum of Flight’s Apollo exhibit is now permanent. In two years they will welcome the Smithsonian’s Apollo 11 exhibit as well. " ["post_title"]=> string(67) "Riverside East resident, Seattle Retiree Helped Put Man on the Moon" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(59) "riverside-east-resident-seattle-retiree-helped-put-man-moon" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2017-08-24 09:41:38" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-08-24 16:41:38" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=8733" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } } ["post_count"]=> int(9) ["current_post"]=> int(-1) ["before_loop"]=> bool(true) ["in_the_loop"]=> bool(false) ["post"]=> object(WP_Post)#3124 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(9234) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2017-12-27 08:38:06" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2017-12-27 16:38:06" ["post_content"]=> string(1372) " Village Concepts, a third-generation family-owned business helping seniors thrive in retirement and assisted living communities throughout the state, hosts a Virtual Dementia Tour event at the Brannan Park Retirement community in Auburn on Wednesday, Jan. 17. The tour is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the retirement facility, 2901 I St. NE. The tour offers the opportunity to better understand the mental and physical challenges that those living with dementia experience through a virtual simulation. Trained facilitators will guide participants throughout the exercise, which will emphasize completing everyday tasks while patented devices alter the senses in a way that closely resembles the effects of dementia on the mind and body. This experiential program was designed to benefit caregivers and loved ones by allowing them to better understand and relate to those with dementia, which ultimately fosters communication and efficient delivery of care. Macular degeneration, arthritis, neuropathy and hearing problems are some complications of the disease. The simulation opens the door to increased empathy and patience. For more information about the Virtual Dementia Tour or the Village Concepts senior living communities, visit villageconcepts.com or call 888-548-6609. 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