A few snips of a giant ribbon wielded by Executive Director Laura Pulsifer ushered in a new era of assisted living and memory care for the Borough of Newtown as Church Hill Village officially opened its doors.
Starting with a ceremonial ribbon cutting and reception packed with dignitaries and borough and town officials Friday, January 24, grand opening festivities continued through the weekend.
Dozens of visitors and prospective residents were welcomed by Church Hill Village staff who cooked and served food in various locations while harpist Rebecca Swett played softly.
Visitor Jane Sugden was tickled as she got to know “Newtown” the community's “adopted” robotic dog — who lounged beside his purring feline robot companion "Rooster."
The friendly and responsive robo-pets are part of the facility’s broad variety of assistive tools. Recent studies have shown that animatronic pets provide therapeutic support to seniors and people with dementia by helping them be less depressed and agitated, as well as reducing their reliance on psychotropic medications for calming.
Staff members Amanda Rowan and Tom Sheehan were stationed in a lower level community kitchen setting, educating visitors about another therapeutic Church Hill Village initiative called “Thymeless" — which engages residents through planting, growing, harvesting, prepping, and finally enjoying various garden fresh treats.
Just up the hall, Angelina DeLorenzo showed off an arts and crafts center that was also fitted with huge video screens on which residents could play entertaining and memory challenging video games.
Food service staffer Dennis Simonson worked with colleague Chris Capozza and Chef Juan Nova to be sure everything was perfectly presented and tasted superb, while RN Christine Tyrrell and Janice Dorozio stationed themselves in the Church Hill Village physical therapy gym to explain the services they provide.
The Friday ribbon cutting featured certificates from the State General Assembly and US Congressional Rep Jahana Hayes welcoming the new community to Newtown. Both were presented by State Rep Raghib Alie-Brennan.
The brief opening ceremonies also included remarks from Newtown Chamber of Commerce Vice President Judith Miller, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, Borough Warden Jay Maher, Ms Pulsifer, Health & Wellness Director Andrea Stambone, Sales Director Tim Bailey, and Bill Donahue from Teton Capital Co.
The reception closed with a blessing from Msgr Robert Weiss from neighboring St Rose of Lima Catholic Church, and Dr Jennifer Glaze Montgomery from Trinity Episcopal Church.
For more information on the facility, visit www.seniorlifestyle.com/property/connecticut/church-hill-village/.
The long-awaited grand opening of Church Hill Village, an assisted living and memory care community at the corner of Church Hill Road and The Boulevard, happened over the weekend of January 24-26, beginning with a public ribbon cutting and reception on Friday. —Bee Photos, Voket
From left, State Rep Raghib Allie-Brennan reads a General Assembly proclamation welcoming the opening of Church Hill Village as Executive Director Laura Pulsifer, and First Selectman Dan Rosenthal llok on. Rep Alie-Brennan also brought a similar Congressional certificate from US Rep Jahana Hayes to the grand opening and ribbon cutting festivities January 24. The event was attended by numerous Town and facility staffers and officials including, from far left, Newtown Chamber representative Helen Brickfield, Newtown Selectman Maureen Crick Owen, Borough of Newtown Warden Jay Maher, and Chamber VP Judith Miller. —Bee Photo, Voket
Staffer Chris Capozza, left, hustles to attend to a guest service inquirey as Church Hill Village visitors enjoy a light luncheon during January 25 open house activities. —Bee Photo, Voket
Memory care specialist Amanda Rowan welcomed guests to a community kitchen January 25, inviting folks to sample the bounty from Church Hill Village’s “Thymeless” program, which engages residents through planting, growing, harvesting, prepping, and finally enjoying various garden fresh treats. —Bee Photo, Voket
More tha 80 guests, dignataries, local officials and Church Hill Village staff gathered in the community lobby for remarks and refreshments ahead of January 24 ribbon cutting ceremonies as the assisted living and memory care facility officially launched its grand opening weekend. —Bee Photo, Voket
Fairfield resident and harpist Rebecca Swett provided soothing music during open house activities January 25 at Church Hill Village. —Bee Photo, Voket
Sales & Marketing Director Tim Bailey not only participated giving emotional welcoming remarks during ribbon cutting ceremonies January 24, but remained busy all weekend giving tours of the newly opened Church Hill Village assisted living and memory care community. —Bee Photo, Voket
Church Hill Village food service staffer Dennis Simonson oversses the cozy private dining room where guests and visitors can enjoy intimate dining on special occasions. —Bee Photo, Voket
Church Hill Village visitors Joe Sugden and sister Anne Kipp watch as their sister Jane Sugden gets to know “Newtown” January 25 during open house activities at the assisted living and memory care community that just opened at #2 The Boulevard. The facility has “adopted” Newtown — a robotic dog — and a feline robot companion named Rooster (lying on adjacent armchair). The friendly and responsive robo-pets are part of the facility’s broad variety of assistive tools. Recent studies have shown that animatronic pets provide therapeutic support to seniors and people with dementia by helping them be less depressed and agitated, as well as reducing their reliance on psychotropic medications for calming. —Bee Photo, Voket
