Around the world with Atlas - March 2025 - Italy
Resident´s Birthdays
Betty Chapman 3/1
Bill Durham 3/2
Cecial Nalley 3/2
Betty Fry 3/5
Patrick Doney 3/8
Mary Swafford 3/11
Ann Smith 3/12
Millie Norman 3/18
Norma Vogel 3/29
Celebrating March
Humorists Are
Artists Month
Women’s History Month
Save Your Vision Month
Women in
Construction Week
March 2–8
Learn What Your
Name Means Day
March 5
World Plumbing Day
March 11
Quilting Day
March 15
St. Patrick’s Day
March 17
French Bread Day
March 21
Quirky Country Music
Song Titles Day
March 27
Events Spotlight
Meet & Greet Family Mixer 3/6
Wellness Director
Heidi was born in Easley, South Carolina, and then moved to Detroit, MI. She has lived on the East and West coast. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix AZ. She has been an RN for 10 years and in healthcare for over 20 years. Although she has worked in various healthcare settings across the country, she is passionate about seniors and is excited to be back home in South Carolina. She has 3 children, 2 cats, a dog, chickens, and dwarf frogs. She loves to travel in her free time and her favorite memory is taking her Mom to see all 50 states. She is excited to be a part of the Atlas family and looks forward to serving Oakview Park.
Italian Tradition
Alexa play "The Ecstasy Of Gold" from "Ennio Morricone"
Barbie Beyond the Box
On March 9, 1959, the Mattel toy company unveiled the first Barbie doll at the American Toy Fair. Ruth Handler, cofounder of Mattel, was inspired to create the doll after observing her daughter prefer paper dolls of adult women over baby dolls. Barbie became the first adult doll for kids—and the star of the first TV ad aimed at children. While Barbie has faced criticism for promoting gender stereotypes and unrealistic body proportions, the toy has generated over $1.5 billion in sales.
In 2023, Barbie’s cultural impact reached new heights with the release of the Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig. The film’s vibrant visuals, sharp humor, and exploration of identity captivated audiences worldwide, cementing Barbie’s status as both a toy and a cultural icon.
Italian Legacy
Around the World with Atlas
A Timeline “From the grandeur of Roman amphitheaters to the visionary works of Renzo Piano” Italian architecture is a living testament to art across ages. Timeless. Rome, the Eternal City, remains an open-air museum. Walk its cobblestone streets to see the Pantheon, Roman Forum, and fountains that whisper stories of empire and art. Italy remains an eternal source of inspiration.
Marching to a healthy beat
March is Nutrition Month, a month to ditch the junk food, add exercise, and take on healthier habits. An easy place to start is to eat more fruits, whole grains, and vegetables.
Having fresh fruit and vegetables in your home is a simple way to add healthy vitamins and nutrients to your diet. Another excellent step is eating food in reasonable portions, as well as eating a variety of foods.
A daily exercise routine, even something as simple as a daily walk, increases fitness. Studies show that as fitness increases, mood improves, energy increases, stress decreases, we have the strength and endurance to do the things we enjoy, and we look and feel our best. Perhaps it is no coincidence that March is also Quinoa Month (pronounced KEEN-wah). This ancient seed, harvested high in the Andes Mountains, is one of nature’s most perfect foods. In 1955, researcher Philip White wrote, “While no single food can supply all the essential life sustaining nutrients, quinoa comes as close as any other in the plant or animal kingdom.” That’s high praise for an often-overlooked food.
Quinoa is called a grain and is cooked like a grain, but it is not a grain at all. From a botanical point of view, quinoa is more closely related to beets and spinach. It is a complete protein, gluten
free, and rich in potassium. The ancient Incas called it the “mother of all grains” and considered it sacred. It can be found today in breads, crackers, granola, beverages, pasta, and even shampoo. It’s a nutritive powerhouse.
Chasing Cherry Blossoms
It lasts for only two weeks, but what a beautiful two weeks it is. Hanami is
the Japanese term for enjoying the spring beauty of blossoming flowers. The most spectacular show of all is the viewing of the cherry blossoms, known as sakura by day and yozakura by night. It begins at the end of March.
The practice of hanami began in seventh-century Japan, when wealthy elites and members of the Imperial court would gather to view plum blossoms. Soon, though, cherry blossoms became more highly regarded for their beauty. Before long, members of the “samurai class” joined in the viewing, and finally the practice became widespread among all people—rich or poor. The cherry blossom has even become Japan’s unofficial national flower.
The blossoming of the cherry trees also ushers in an entire season of hanami parties. Many rush to parks and reserve spots, relaxing under the blossoming trees with blankets. The most popular spot in the country for hanami is Tokyo’s Ueno Park, where there are more than 1,000 flowering cherry trees. Japan’s best hanami location may be the mountaintop town of Yoshino, where thousands of cherry trees burst into bloom and a veil of pink flowers resembling clouds slowly floats down the mountainside. The tiny lanes of this sleepy village become packed with visitors.
America’s most famous version of hanami begins every March in Washington, D.C. In 1911, the city of Toyko gifted 2,000 cherry trees to the U.S. Sadly, those trees were infested with insects and had to be destroyed. But Tokyo mayor Yukio Ozaki was undeterred. He sent a new shipment of 3,020 cherry trees, which arrived in Washington on March 26, 1912. Visitors have flocked to D.C.’s Tidal Basin to enjoy the cherry blossoms ever since.
Italian Masters
(Renaissance Amazing Facts)
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa isn’t just a painting—it’s a mystery. Using sfumato, he created a lifelike, shifting expression that changes depending on where you look. Stare at her mouth, and she seems neutral; focus on her eyes, and a subtle smile appears. This optical illusion showcases Leonardo’s brilliance as both an artist and scientist. He carried the painting for years, perfecting it until his death in 1519, suggesting it was more than a commission—it was deeply personal. Today, her gaze still captivates, proving Leonardo’s genius in capturing the essence of human perception.
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Recipe Spotlight:
Ragù alla Bolognese
Ingredients:
1 medium onion, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 small carrot, peeled, chopped
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. ground beef chuck (20% fat), patted dry
Kosher salt
3 oz. thinly sliced pancetta, finely chopped
1 cup dry white wine
⅓ cup tomato paste
1 bay leaf
Pinch of finely grated nutmeg
2 cups (or more) homemade chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup whole milk
1 lb. fresh tagliatelle or pappardelle, or dry rigatoni
2 oz. finely grated Parmesan (about ½ cup), plus more for serving
Directions:
Finely chop onion, celery, and carrot in a food processor. Brown ground beef in olive oil, then set aside. Cook pancetta until crisp, then soften the onion mixture in the same pot. Return beef, add white wine, and cook until evaporated. Stir in tomato paste, bay leaf, and nutmeg. Add chicken stock, milk, and salt. Simmer on low for 2–2½ hours until thick and tender. Cook pasta until al dente. Toss pasta with sauce, Parmesan, and pasta water.
Serve with extra Parmesan. Enjoy!
Resident of the Month
Peggy Brimberry
Peggy was born and raised in a suburb of Chicago Illinois. As a child, she enjoyed vacations with her parents and her sister on the shores of Lake Michigan. Peggy enjoyed playing violin and achieved first chair in her high school orchestra. She attended Iowa State University where she graduated with a degree in dietary management. Upon graduating, she was hired by Stouffer’s Restaurants to work at their Detroit Michigan location. There, she met her husband Jim, who was the manager. They lived in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois while working for Stouffer’s. They had 2 children, a son Tom and daughter Sue, along with four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Peggy loved to bake desserts and host parties for family and friends. After Jim passed, Peggy went to work at a nursing home complex in Illinois as a dietary manager. She retired in 2017 after 25 years and moved to South Carolina to be closer to her daughter. She has been residing at Oakview Park since October 2019.
Associate of the Month
KiKi
Kiki is our March associate of the month! Originally from Florida, Kiki found her way to South Carolina. For many years she was a preschool teacher. Kiki poured her whole heart into teaching kids. They taught her so much in that amount of time and that was her passion. When she moved to the upstate, she found her second love, working with seniors. To know Kiki is to love Kiki. She is one of a kind. Her co-workers expressed how wonderful and dependable she is. Kiki is always up for the task no matter how big or small and is 100% a team player. She treats the residents like her own mother, she is resident driven. Kiki is the best, she has a servant heart and treats everyone with the respect they deserve. We are so lucky to have her as a part of our Oakview Park family!
Collaborators
Jennifer Klein
