Senior Living News,
August 2025
Oakview Park Greenville
Newsletter
Around the world with Atlas - August 2025 - England
Resident´s Birthdays
Betty Tyler 8/3
Lannie Brown 8/12
Joyce Tollison 8/13
Peggy Brimberry 8/18
Mary Robbins 8/26
Celebrating August
Read a Romance
Novel Month
What Will Be Your
Legacy Month
Homemade Pie Day
August 1
Farmers Market Week
August 3–9
Coast Guard Day
August 4
Bowling Day
August 9
Vinyl Record Day
August 12
Mail Order Catalog Day
August 18
Poet’s Day
August 21
Kiss and Make Up Day
August 25
More Herbs, Less Salt Day
August 29
Events Spotlight
Menu Chat
August 1st @ 2 PM
Resident Council August 4th @ 2 PM
A&W Root Beer Floats: VIP Welcome Event August 6th @ 3 PM
Cooking Demo with Dining Department August 20th @ 2 PM
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
Sonya Major
Sonya Major is our August Associate of the Month! Sonya has been a caregiver for seventeen years and previously in the past did private sitting for seven years. She has currently been at Oakview Park for five months as a caregiver. Sonya is a people person and loves keeping the residents happy, smiling, and satisfied. You will always find her staying busy and continuously bringing the residents down for activities. Sonya loves Texas Roadhouse and going to the beach! She has one granddaughter and is a mother to two girls and a boy. We are so happy to have Sonya be a part of our family here at Oakview Park!
English Heart
Alexa play "Paranoid Android" from "Radiohead"
Unfolding like a rock opera for the alienated, “Paranoid Android” shifts moods without warning — from whispery paranoia to electric rage to ghostlike calm. It’s unsettling, beautiful, and deeply human. Released as the lead single from OK Computer, it shattered expectations with its complexity and emotion. In a world speeding toward digital overload and social disconnect, this song didn’t just predict the chaos — it captured the feeling of being lost inside it.
When Tomatoes Fly
The story goes that during Buñol’s traditional parade featuring Giants
and Big-Heads figures (costumed characters prominent in Spanish festivals, dating back to the 16th century), a playful scuffle broke out among some young people. When a participant lost his temper and started hitting things, nearby vegetable stalls became the battleground. Tomatoes flew, and a chaotic food fight erupted, which police had to stop. The following year, the youngsters deliberately brought their own tomatoes to recreate the fun, and La Tomatina was born.
Though the festival was banned in the early 1950s by the Spanish government for lacking religious significance, the locals protested passionately. In 1957, they held a “tomato funeral,” carrying a coffin with a giant tomato through the streets accompanied by funeral music. This clever demonstration convinced the authorities to allow the festival again, and it officially became part of Buñol’s annual festivities.
Today, La Tomatina, the last Wednesday in August, attracts over 20,000 participants from around the world. The event kicks off with a slippery pole climb called palo jabón, followed by an hour-long tomato battle where trucks unload around 150,000 overripe tomatoes onto the streets. Participants gleefully throw the squishy fruits at each other, turning the town square into a red, messy playground.
More than just a food fight, La Tomatina celebrates community spirit, spontaneity, and fun. It has grown from a local prank into an internationally famous festival, recognized as a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest. Whether you’re young or young at heart, La Tomatina is a joyful reminder that sometimes it’s good to let loose and enjoy a little harmless mess.
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.
Black Cats in a New Light
Does a shiver run down your spine when a black cat crosses your path? Do you instantly think of witches on broomsticks when you see one? Black Cat Appreciation Day on August 17 is your chance to revise your superstitious notions. For example, in Scotland, Great Britain, and Japan, black cats are considered good luck and signs of prosperity. Some even believe that a woman who owns a black cat will have many suitors. Long ago, sailors would choose a black cat as their ship’s cat to protect their ship and bring good fortune. Shelters offer another reason to appreciate (and adopt) black cats: they go well with any outfit.
Cents & Sensibility
It’s one of those things you don’t appreciate until it’s not there—the Take a Penny/Leave a Penny Tray. What luck when the tray is there, brimming with shiny pennies so you don’t have to pocket a handful of change. Do your part and keep those penny trays filled on August 8—Take a Penny, Leave a Penny Day.
There are many who deem the lowly penny a useless denomination of currency. In the United States, it costs 3.7¢ to make one penny. In 2012, Canada decided a penny wasn’t even worth minting. Their lowest denomination of currency is now 5¢. Such a change in currency won’t help the U.S., however, where it costs a whopping 13.8¢ to mint one nickel. Why does it cost so much to make these coins? It all depends on the price of copper, a component in coins. Even when the price of copper fell in 2014—saving the U.S. Mint $29 million in overall production costs—it still lost money minting pennies and nickels. It seems that coins are becoming more of a financial burden than a practical currency in today’s economy.
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Recipe Spotlight:
Classic Shepherd’s Pie
A warm and comforting English favorite, perfect for sharing. This dish layers seasoned ground lamb (or beef), soft vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes — then bakes to golden perfection.
Ingredients:
1 lb ground lamb or beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup peas and carrots (frozen or cooked fresh)
2 tbsp tomato paste
Salt, pepper, and a pinch of thyme
2 cups mashed potatoes (prepared with butter and milk)
Directions:
In a skillet, cook meat and onion until browned.
Stir in tomato paste, vegetables, and seasonings. Simmer 5–10 minutes.
Spread mixture in a baking dish. Top with mashed potatoes.
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.
Resident of the Month
Debbie Frary
Debbie was born in Dayton, Ohio. As a teenager, her first job was at the Toot Drive-In, where she waited tables and worked the register. Her second job at Pasano’s Pizza, where she took orders and helped prepare food. Debbie attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and earned her undergraduate degree in math and science. She later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her Master’s degree in Math Education. She went on to teach middle school math in Virginia and North Carolina. Debbie met her husband Steve at college, and they were married in 1976 and enjoyed 46 years together before Steve passed away and went to be with the Lord. They enjoyed bird watching on their vacations. In 2022, Debbie moved to South Carolina. She enjoys crocheting, doing Sudoku puzzles, and playing Phase 10.
Pawsitive Days of Summer
July 14 is International Town Criers Day. In olden times, when much of the populace could not read and newspapers weren’t widely available, it was the job of the town crier to stand in the middle of town, ring his bell, and shout out the important news of the day. Town criers also shouted “Oyez! Oyez!”—the Anglo-Norman form of “Hear ye! Hear ye!”
Today, the sight of someone wearing a tricorn hat, a powdered wig, and a ruffled collar while ringing a brass bell and shouting the day’s news might be strange. But some towns still carry on the tradition of town crying. The American Guild of Town Criers was founded on July 5, 1997, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The North American Town Crier Championships, first held in Canada in 1983 and in the United States in 1991, have been held each year to promote “the ancient art of town crying.” Though the position is ceremonial, town crying is a source of both pride and joy for many communities.
Collaborators
Jennifer Klein
