Ashlar Honors Its Centenarians As Part Of Nursing Home Week

By Steve Bigham

Five residents age 100 and up were honored last Friday at a ceremony at the Ashlar of Newtown convalescent home on Toddy Hill Road. At least three of them have lived in three different centuries.

The five Ashlar residents 100 years of age and older are Mildred Frampton, Mary Pullan, Elsie Roskos, Russell Johnson and Ethel Hoffstedder.

The keynote speaker for the luncheon was Selectman Joe Bojnowski, who proclaimed the week of May 14-20 Nursing Home Week in Newtown. May is also considered Older Americans Month nationwide.

Mr Bojnowski credited Ashlar and its staff for their dedication and caring attention it gives to the elderly. And, reading from the proclamation, he stated, “the community spirit shared between the Ashlar staff, civic volunteers and nursing home residents sets a positive and nurturing atmosphere.”

“We encourage and promote continued participation and enlightened support of such services now and in the future,” the proclamation reads. “We value the dignity of all individuals in our community and extend our best wishes to all older Americans and most especially the residents of Ashlar as vital threads in the fabric of our community.”

Mr Bojnowski explained that town officials are working hard to make Newtown a great place elderly residents to live. For example, he said, the town is currently creating an elderly tax relief program to help certain elderly homeowners absorb the large tax burden currently facing the town. Under the plan, senior homeowners with a certain income level can earn up to $1,000 in tax credits.

“Personally, I think that Ashlar and Lockwood Lodge do a fine job. My mother is there and I am very impressed with the care that is given at that institution,” Mr Bojnowski said. “I think it’s important for the community to recognize the work that they do to care for these people.”

Recent statistics indicate that there are only 55 people in the state of Connecticut who are 100 years old or more. Ashlar is proud to be home to 10 percent of them.

Elsie Roskos, 103, is the senior member of Ashlar’s Century Club and has been a resident there for more than 13 years. She and Mary Pullan, the youngest of the group, are both members of the Ashlar bell choir, which goes out and performs within the community.

Mary remains very active and says her only ailment is her arhtritis.

“If I get to be 100, I want to be like Mary Pullan. She’s fabulous,” noted Carl Anderson, Ashlar’s therapeutic recreation manager.

Russell Johnson is among an elite group of men who reach the 100-year mark. Ashlar has only had two other 100-year-old men among its residents.