Senior Living News,
July 2025
Oakview Park Greenville
Newsletter
Around the world with Atlas - July 2025 - United States of America
Resident´s Birthdays
Louise Jacks 7/8
Bob Zitek 7/12
Mary Hull 7/20
William Sexton 7/22
James Nichols 7/25
Barbara Keplinger 7/26
Celebrating July
Grilling Month
Family Reunion Month
Share a Sunset with Someone
You Love Month
Canada Day
July 1
Tom Sawyer Days
July 1–5
Independence Day
July 4
Collector Car
Appreciation Day and
Cheer Up the Lonely Day
July 11
Everybody Deserves a
Massage Week
July 13–19
Moon Day
July 20
Hammock Day
July 22
Paperback Book Day
July 30
Events Spotlight
Fourth of July!
One of the most enduring symbols in the United States is the bald eagle—a majestic bird chosen in 1782 as the national emblem.
With its fierce gaze and powerful wingspan, the bald eagle represents strength, courage, and the soaring ideals of liberty that define the American identity.
Associate of the Month
Emma Stewart
Emma Stewart works diligently as a caregiver at Oakview Park. She is a hardworking, dedicated mother with three wonderful boys. In her free time, Emma enjoys drag racing, playing pool, and bowling. She and her boys go every weekend to the drag strip, cars and racing mean so much to her because her Papa introduced her to it. Emma’s three sons, Braiden, JR, and David are their mama’s biggest supporters. She loves to cook and help other people and has an incredibly kind heart. Emma loves to see the good in people when they don’t believe in themselves and encourage them to do great things. Residents and staff have absolutely loved having Emma here at Oakview and always enjoy seeing her bright happy face from the time she walks in, to the time she leaves.
Jazz Masterpieces
Alexa play "Take Five" from "Dave Brubeck Quartet"
From the 1959 Album, Time Out, this groundbreaking tune in 5/4 time became the best-selling jazz single ever. Its unusual rhythm and catchy piano riff helped jazz cross over into mainstream popularity.
Rock & Roll
Hall of Fame
Alexa play "All Shook Up" from "Elvis Presley"
From the 1957 album, Loving You, a #1 hit and cultural flashpoint, this song sealed Elvis’s reign as the king of rock & roll. Its upbeat rhythm and playful lyrics defined the youth culture of the 1950s.
The Birth of a King
On July 18, 1953, a young man named Elvis Presley walked into the Sun Records studio in Memphis, Tennessee, to make his first record. The resulting acetate disc, with just two songs—“My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin”—was supposed to be a gift from Elvis to his mother. Rumor has it, though, that the Presleys did not even own a record player.
And besides, his mother’s birthday had long passed. Many speculate that the recording was an attempt by Elvis to get the attention of Sun Records owner Sam Phillips. Apparently, Elvis made an impression, because he was invited back to the studio a year later, on July 5, 1954. At first, the session was uninspiring. The band was about to give up when Elvis began fooling around, goofing off, and singing. That sound was exactly what Phillips was looking for, and the King of Rock ’n’ Roll was born.
Welcome to the United States of America
Around the World with Atlas
The United States of America is a vast and diverse nation, shaped by a bold spirit of freedom, innovation, and cultural fusion. From towering skyscraper cities to serene national parks, from the sounds of jazz and rhythm & blues to the electrifying pulse of rock & roll, the U.S. radiates a restless energy that has left a lasting cultural impact around the globe.
More than a global superpower in terms of industrial influence and technological innovation, the United States is also a leading force in the arts and cultural development. It has played a central role in shaping the modern world as we know it. The rise of Silicon Valley and the culture surrounding today’s tech giants is the result of a long legacy of American ingenuity and creative drive.
- The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued over 11 million patents since its founding in 1790.
- Among the most famous early patents: the light bulb (Edison), the airplane (Wright brothers), and the telephone (Bell).
- Home to world-leading research institutions like MIT, Harvard, and Stanford.
- The Internet, GPS, and personal computers were all developed in the U.S.
- The birthplace of jazz, rock & roll, blues and hip hop.
Eye Catching Diversity
While only one out of every 100 people experience this rare genetic trait, everyone is invited to celebrate Different Colored Eyes Day on July 12.
This genetic phenomenon is most common in cats, dogs, and horses. But humans, too, can experience heterochromia, or two different colored eyes. Our eye color develops shortly after birth due to the pigment melanin. More melanin means darker eyes, and less melanin means lighter eyes. It just so happens that sometimes two eyes develop differently. In fact, sometimes one eye can have two different colors, such as a blue iris with a brown ring around the pupil, or a completely brown eye with a splash of green. This is just one way that we are each a unique work of art.
Kiwi Christmas
Magic New Zealand’s Festival of Christmas brings a unique twist to holiday celebrations, transforming the small town of Greytown into a winter wonderland each July. This monthlong extravaganza, aptly nicknamed the “happiest festival in New Zealand,” offers a delightful blend of festive cheer and ingenuity. Although it began only five years ago as a pandemic initiative, the Festival of Christmas has quickly become a beloved tradition, drawing visitors from across the country. The event’s timing in July, which is winter in the southern hemisphere, allows New Zealanders to experience a more traditional chilly Christmas atmosphere, complete with the (unlikely) promise of snow. The festival boasts an impressive array of activities and attractions. Visitors can marvel at spectacular light displays, participate in workshops, and celebrate the Māori New Year. The program also includes vibrant night markets, lively parties, and an abundance of festive food and drinks, including the warming winter favorites of mulled wine and gin. One of the festival’s unique features is how it embraces a “Fire and Ice” theme, creating a captivating contrast that adds to the event’s charm. Attendees are encouraged to don Christmas sweaters and gather around braziers (portable outdoor firepits), fostering a cozy community atmosphere despite the winter chill. But the Festival of Christmas isn’t just about entertainment; it’s a community effort that brings together families, school children, and local groups. This collaborative spirit is evident in the diverse range of events, from art classes and author talks to “Books at the Bar” reading parties. While the festival primarily takes place in Greytown, it has put the region of Wairarapa on the map as a winter destination. The event has grown to attract people from all around New Zealand, boosting local tourism and showcasing the region’s hospitality. With its unique blend of traditional Christmas elements and distinctly Kiwi touches, this midwinter celebration offers a fresh perspective on holiday festivities, proving that the Christmas spirit thrives in New Zealand, summer orwinter.
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How Memorial Day Lives On in Senior Communities 2025
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Recipe Spotlight:
Iconic Peruvian Ceviche
Fresh, zesty, and effortlessly elegant, this is Peru on a plate.
Ingredients (serves 2):
250g fresh firm white fish (sea bass, corvina, or halibut), diced
Juice of 4–5 limes
½ red onion, very thinly sliced
1 small red chili or ají limo, sliced
Salt to taste
A few cilantro leaves, chopped
Optional: cooked sweet potato and corn (for the traditional side)
Directions:
Combine fish, lime juice, salt, and chili in a bowl. Let marinate for 10–15 minutes until the fish turns opaque (“cooked” by the citrus). Add red onion and cilantro just before serving. Serve cold, with sweet potato and Peruvian corn if available.
Resident of the Month
Frances Black
Frances Phillips Black was born in Greenville County on February 19, 1930 She has resided in the Powdersville Community all her life. She married Heyward Black, and they were married for 69 years. Frances and Heyward were blessed with three children, Ann(Ted) Don(Libby)and Jake(Carol) They have ten grandchildren and seven great-grand children.
Heyward and Frances were members of Siloam Baptist Church and then Rock Spring Baptist in Church. They enjoyed participating in activities and going on trips with people from church. Frances and Heyward liked to play golf, travel, and took much enjoyment and pride in maintaining a beautiful yard and growing daylilies. Frances delighted in hosting and cooking delicious meals for family and friends.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
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
