Friday was Daily Companions Annual Holiday Luncheon. This event is much anticipated all year long. It is a time for all DCI Members, their families, and staff to enjoy a relaxing, joy filled afternoon, over plates of good food. Old friendships were renewed, family news was passed on, and each of us felt a little closer to one another. In this day and age of constant rushing, deadlines to meet, things to do, places to go, how relaxing to come together for this brief but important time of reconnection. For those whose circumstance did not permit them to attend, we send our warmest regards. Of course, we are already thinking about next year! To view pictures from this event, please visit our facebook page.
Author Archive for Janice Anderson – Page 5
Most of us harbor a secret dream, to wow audiences with our musical ability either through singing or playing an instrument. Who of us does not wail out songs in the shower, play that “air” guitar, or unconsciously tap, hum, or sing along to music? (You’ve done it, jamming” in the car, and suddenly you realize that everyone around you is watching? Um hmm, me too!) Music is an integral part of all our lives. Music is used to help those that suffer from pain, to ease emotions, to excite, to transport us away from the everyday. What a sad, dismal world it would be without music.
DCI Members enjoy music immensely. Whether it is singing along to the radio, dancing, or playing an instrument, music is a prominent part of their lives. Thanks to Kat Hagedorn, Service Coordinator, and Ms. Cloughfeather, CEO, Daily Companions has teamed up with Kimmon Waldruff of “The Rock Room” in Winchester for music exploration.
Kimmon has been involved in music since, well, forever! In his high school days, he would team up with different friends that were budding musicians, pool their knowledge, hone their skills, and just have a rocking good time! Later he played professionally, traveling and being immersed in the world of music. Now he, as a music teacher, is excited about sharing that same sort of passion with DCI Members.
When asked about his music sessions with DCI Members, Kimmon answered enthusiastically. “That passion for music really sustains a person all through their life. The give and take, sharing what you know with others and learning from them is priceless. I love that DCI Members are so open and expressive with music. They are not afraid to take chances, they will just jump in and try any instrument, sing along, and let the experience just carry them away. This experience has given me back all those feelings I had in high school, the thrill, the joy, the cohesiveness of experiencing music”.
Ms. Cloughfeather would like to extend an invitation to any Waiver Member that is interested in joining Daily Companion’s Fun Monday Community Day to call our office Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8am and 4pm for more information.
Daily Companions, Inc. will be offering a variety of activities to help you beat those winter blues! Need some help looking great in that party outfit? Just need to relax from all the stress? Then come to Daily Companions every Wednesday afternoon, 1:30 until 2 for Yoga. All that is required is a yoga mat; no pre-registration or appointment needed.
Find the winter days long, dark, and maybe lonely? Are you being home schooled and looking for activities to integrate with the community? Daily Companions, Inc. will be having a variety of activities, free and open to the public, every Thursday morning, 10am until 11am. starting Thursday, November 17. The First Thursday of every month will be “Games Day”. Come prepared to pit your wit with a variety of activities such as Scrabble, Domino’s, Uno, cards, and puzzles. The Second Thursday of each month will be “Movies”; each month a different genre will be featured such as Mystery, Comedy, Westerns, Animated, Drama, and Oldies but Goodies. The Third Thursday of each month will be “Thursday Trivia Times”. Get your teams ready! History, geography, literature, and a whole lot more will be “on the table”. Come show us your skill and lead your team to victory! The Fourth Thursday of each month will be Life Skills, geared toward young adults, dealing with topics such as home life, dating, work, bullying, gossip, etc.
Have a skill you want to perfect? Need an audience to practice on? Singer, song writer, musician, comedian, amateur magician? Call and ask about giving a free performance on our Thursday mornings. We would love to help you out.
Daily Companions, Inc. is also building a Revolving Library. Donate a book or books, choose from our selection, read it, bring it back and swap it out. No fees, no membership, just for the fun and joy of reading. For more information call Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8am and 4pm and ask for Janice.
Daily Companions Members held their Annual Halloween Party on a Friday. All week preparations had been underway to out do last year’s decorations! They dressed the door up like a mummy, hung spider webs, and made ghosts for each table. Pumpkins were decorated and placed on each table. Many of DCI Members elected to dress up, which added to the general atmosphere of merriment. Games included “Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin”, a Pumpkin toss & bowl, and “Pop the Balloon”. DCI Members had planned out some great refreshments to include vegetables and dip. Daily Companions, Inc. provided pizza, which is a universal hit. Lots of music and dancing went on too. Everyone agreed it was a spooktacular Friday!
DCI employee Cathy Irizarry Barron has passed her Certified Employment Support Professional exam. This makes her the only CESP in the Eastern Panhandle of WV. As an employer in the Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan counties, please contact Cathy for information on how you can enjoy the benefits of hiring someone with disabilities.
Love to fish? Ever caught a big Rainbow or Golden Trout? Where did it come from?
DCI Members traveled to the Albert Powell Trout Hatchery to get answers. The Albert Powell Hatchery raises both rainbow and golden trout. The hatchery receives about 450,000 eggs (that’s a lot!) from a private supplier. The eggs are then hatched into “fingerlings” (small fish). Some of the fingerlings are stocked directly into Maryland waters to enhance the trout population. (A ha! that’s where they come from!). Some fingerlings are supplied to other state facilities where they are grown to catchable size. And some are raised to adult size and used for put & take stocking and fishing rodeos.
So, if you have fished in Maryland waters and caught a lovely rainbow or golden trout you now know how the story began. For more info be sure to visit the website for the hatchery and watch their video. Who knows, maybe you would like to visit too.