Senior Living News, August 2025
Monark Grove Greystone
Newsletter
Around the world with Atlas - August 2025 - England
Resident's Birthdays
9th Lee Quintana
21st Barbara Burks-Hauss
21st Joy Zimmerman-Mankey
23rd Ann Robbins
27th Hal Davidson
30th Regina Pettis
Celebrating August
National Wellness Month
4th – Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
6th – Root Beer Float Day
13th – National Prosecco Day
15th – National Relaxation Day
21st – National Senior Citizens Day
27th – National Peach Day
30th – Bama and Auburn play 1st football game of the season!!
Events Spotlight
National Wellness Month
21st – Senior Citizens Day
13th – Birthday Lunch
21st – Senior Prom: “A Night in England”
27th – New Resident Welcome with Donna McGuffie Entertainment
The Tudor Rose
A timeless symbol of unity, the Tudor Rose combines the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York—emblems of rival houses during the Wars of the Roses. When Henry VII united the two through marriage, this floral symbol became a lasting emblem of peace and the English crown.
Associate of the Month
Linda Bigham
Our Associate of the Month is Linda Bingham, LPN. She has worked in Monark Grove Greystone’s Memory Care for 9 months and has over 15 years in this field.
Linda grew up in Chilton County in Clanton and attended Verbena School. After high school graduation, Linda attended George Wallace Community College in Selma where she received her LPN.
Linda loves her residents and feels like the Monark Grove Greystone community is truly like a family where “we love, we play and we cry together.” Linda says, “it’s a great place to be while we call it work.” Linda enjoys being involved in the different activities throughout the day on Memory Care and is happy to share her ideas to keep things exciting.
Linda lives in Clanton, but dreams of living in Florida. She has 3 children and 5 grandchildren who are her greatest happiness. She has a son in the Marines in Japan who is getting ready to retire in 2026, a son in Missouri who works for the government, and a daughter that works in the Distribution Center at Hibbitts.
Linda loves God, her church, her children and travel. She especially likes to be near water, mountains and great friends.
English Heart
Alexa play The Bewlay Brothers" from "David Bowie"
Eerie, poetic, and elusive, “The Bewlay Brothers” closes Hunky Dory (1971) like a dream you’re not quite sure you had. With surreal lyrics and a whispered outro, Bowie weaves a strange tale filled with fractured identity and buried emotions. Many interpret it as a cryptic nod to his relationship with his half-brother Terry, but Bowie always left its meaning deliberately obscure. The result is one of his most haunting creations — unsettling, intimate, and unforgettable.
Self-Care Opportunities at Monark Grove Greystone
What’s more important than taking good care of yourself? This August, we encourage you to take a step back from your daily routine and practice some self-care, eat healthier, and get some physical activity into your day.
Monark Grove Greystone provides a range of opportunities for residents to engage in self-care and incorporate physical activity into their daily routines, all within the community. The following scheduled activities are available:
*Water Aerobics – Every Monday @10am
*Chair Exercise – Every Saturday @ 10am
*Chair Aerobics – Every Tuesday @ 2:30pm
*FREE Manicures – Every Monday @ 3pm
*FREE 10-Minute Massages – Every 4th Tuesday @11am
*Health education programs and classes – every other Wednesday @ 10:30am with FOX Rehab
*Ballroom Dancing/Classes – Every Wednesday @ 2pm
*Salon is open every Wednesday for scheduled hair appointments.
*Manicures, pedicures and a wide range of personalized beauty services are available by appointment in the Salon.
*Heated Pool – Open 24/7
*Gym – Open 24/7
*Pickle Ball Court
*Bocce Ball Court
*Walking Trail
Welcome to England
Around the World with Atlas
England’s story begins long before it was called by that name—when Celtic Britons inhabited its misty hills and Roman legions reached the edge of their empire in a land they called Britannia. Though Rome left its mark with roads, baths, and Hadrian’s Wall, the far north—home to fierce tribes and enigmatic druids—remained unconquered. After the Romans withdrew, waves of Saxon settlers shaped a new identity, giving birth to a nation where myth and history often blur.
At the heart of this early tapestry is the legend of King Arthur, the once and future king said to have united Britain with the help of Merlin the wizard, the sword Excalibur, and the noble Knights of the Round Table. Whether myth or memory, these tales reveal England’s deep-rooted fascination with destiny, honor, and the magic of storytelling—traditions that would shape its greatest literary voices.
From the poetic grandeur of Shakespeare to the epic realms of J.R.R. Tolkien and the modern wizarding world of J.K. Rowling, English literature has enchanted readers across centuries. And in music, few countries have left such a global imprint. With sounds ranging from the rebellious rock of The Rolling Stones to the dreamscapes of Pink Floyd, and the timeless genius of The Beatles and David Bowie, England’s cultural output is as powerful and enduring as its history.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We are hosting the 2025 Senior Prom: “A Night in England” on Thursday, August 21st from 4:00-6:00pm.
If you would like to donate items, services, or help for the 2025 Senior Prom “A Night in England,” please call or text Cindy Widdig, Director of Life Enrichment, at 601-750-8876.
• Decorations – Items and decorating day of event
• Table Centerpieces – Items and decorating day of event
• Props and Arches – Items and Setup
• Goodie Bags or Party Favors – Items and putting together bags
• Photo Booth Setup and Photography
• Ticket Booth Setup and Collection
• Greeter and Host
• Bartender
• Server
• Entertainment – music
• Art/Graphics – Table cards, banners
• Etc.
Music Performances Loved by Residents
We love getting positive feedback from residents and family members about the variety of activities offered at Monark Grove Greystone. The Memory Care Activities Coordinator recently received this note from a resident’s family member – –
Lawanna, it was good to see you while Donna McGuffie was performing today! All the residents enjoyed it so much. I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate how often y’all offer music performances- music is something that my mother is still able to enjoy and remember!! I see you and the caregivers helping the MC folks get there and back safely, and I am so grateful for the effort and care. Keep those musicians coming!!!
– Misti Steed, Pat S’s daughter
More Articles
Memory Care Two Bedroom | 2.4 | 601 sq. ft.
Memory Care Two Bedroom 2.4 Two Bedroom | 1 Bath | Up to 601 Sq.Ft
Memory Care Two Bedroom | 2.3 | 496 sq. ft.
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Recipe Spotlight:
Easy Strawberry Eton Mess
When life gets messy, turn to Eton mess. The classic British dessert, filled with pops of sweet red strawberries, is a satisfying, totally underrated treat you can whip together even (especially) when life is feeling particularly crazy.
What Is Eton Mess?
Eton mess is a combination of just three ingredients: meringue, strawberries, and whipped cream. Think of it as a deconstructed strawberry shortcake — crunchy meringue cookies stand in as a delicious alternative to cake, and instead of stacking, you get to toss everything together.
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
SERVES: 4
INGREDIENTS:
· 1 pound fresh strawberries, or 4 cups thawed frozen strawberries
· 1/2 medium lemon
· 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided · 8 to 16 store-bought or homemade baked meringue cookies (depending on the size of the meringue)
· 2 cups cold heavy cream
Resident of the Month
Joan Greene
Our Resident of the Month for August is Joan Greene. She was born on March 8, 1952 @ Princeton in Birmingham, AL. Her parents, Wallace and Edith James, moved a lot with her dad’s work. He worked with Graybar Electric. She has lived in Gulf Shores, Mobile, Montgomery, Gardendale and the Calcedonia Community.
Joan has 3 grown children – Jenny, Amy and Jeff – and 5 granddaughters aged 2 to 14.
After high school graduation, Joan worked at South Central Bell as a phone operator. One day while working, she received a call from a man who asked her how to get out of the building. She found out he was downstairs in the same building she was working in. She proceeded to direct him from the guard’s desk to the elevators, etc., etc. “No, operator!” the man laughed. “I just wanted to know how to dial out of here, not how to get out of here!”
Her goal while working at South Central Bell was to save enough money to attend nursing school. Joan received a scholarship from Baptist Medical Center and was accepted into the Carraway Methodist School of Nursing program where she received her R.N. degree.
Joan loved nursing. She worked in Med Surg, ER, ICU, etc. as well as a Home Health Agency. She also worked at Health South Rehab Hospital in Montgomery as a Case Manager and the Alabama Department of Health as a Case Manager for the HIV/AIDS Department.
Joan submitted a “pluggerism” (cartoon) to Tribune Media Services in Chicago and it was selected to appear in newspapers from Boston to San Francisco, Chicago to Dallas and Fort Worth and cities in between.
She is a member of Meadowbrook Baptist Church. She loves nature and painting. She is involved in arts and crafts workshops, painting classes, exercise classes, etc. She loves to dance and is participating in the weekly Ballroom Dancing classes.
You can see Joan throughout the day helping and encouraging other residents who live at Monark Grove. She says she “finds great joy in giving back!! Monark Grove is a great choice for me. I’m glad to be here.” We are glad to have Joan as a resident and appreciate everything she does to make others feel welcome.
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