January
Spring Park Travelers Rest
Newsletter
Around the world with Atlas - January 2025 - Brazil
Resident´s Birthdays
Gilbert Hernandez – 2nd
Bill Peacock – 5th
Laura Childs – 10th
Anita Duncan – 15th
Ann Forrest – 18th
Maria Clarke – 30th
Month´s Celebrations
New Year’s Day – 1st
Martin Luther King Day – 20th
Family Night – 28th
Chinese New Year – 29th
Events Spotlights
Family Night – 28th 5:30 pm – 7:00
Associate of the Month
Stephanie McLaurin
This month, we are excited to shine the spotlight on one of our wonderful Med Techs, Stephanie McLaurin! Stephanie has been a valued member of the Spring Park family, where she consistently provides dedicated and compassionate service. We feel fortunate to have Stephanie’s caring and loving presence enriching our community!
Stephanie was born and raised in Travelers Rest. She has a background in the culinary arts, having worked for 15 years as a pantry chef. Her commitment to healthcare stems from a lifelong passion for nurturing others, and she feels healthcare is her true calling. Her goal is to become a mental health counselor to help those struggling with mental health challenges and addiction.
Stephanie is a proud mother of two daughters, Alaze and Angelliyah, and one son, Antwon. She also has three grandchildren, with one more on the way this holiday season! Outside of work, she enjoys painting, spending time with family, and caring for her grandmother.
Please join us in celebrating Stephanie for her dedication to healthcare and her positive impact at Spring Park! Her kindness and fun-filled personality bring a wonderful energy to our community.
BRAZIL
Around the World with Atlas
Brazil, the largest country in South America, is known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and stunning natural beauty. Home to the Amazon Rainforest and Christ the Redeemer statue, it offers breathtaking landscapes and iconic landmarks. With diverse influences, lively music, samba, Carnival, and soccer, Brazil is a global symbol of celebration and passion.
Protecting Our Seniors: Recognizing and Avoiding Scams
As we grow older, we gain wisdom, but we can also become more vulnerable—especially to scams. Many fraudsters target seniors, exploiting their trust and unfamiliarity with modern technology. Here’s a quick guide to common scams and how to stay safe:
Common Scams:
Prize Scams: Unsolicited messages claim you’ve won a prize but ask for personal details or fees. Never share information without verifying the source.
Impersonation Scams: Scammers pose as officials or relatives, creating urgent situations to demand money. Always verify before acting.
Financial Scams: Fraudulent investments promise high returns. Consult a trusted advisor before making decisions.
Medicare Scams: Callers pretend to be from Medicare, asking for personal information. Never share details with unexpected callers.
Tech Support Scams: Scammers claim your device has issues and ask for remote access or payment. Contact companies directly to confirm problems.
How to Stay Safe:
Be Skeptical: Avoid acting quickly on unexpected calls or emails.
Verify First: Contact the person or company directly to confirm any claims.
Protect Your Information: Never share personal details with unknown contacts.
Report Scams: Report suspicious activity to the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov) or the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.
Stay Informed and Alert
Awareness is the best defense. Take your time, trust your instincts, and never feel pressured to act immediately. At Spring Park, we prioritize your safety and well-being—let’s stay vigilant together!
BRAZIL
Around the World with Atlas
Brazil is the most successful soccer team in history, winning a record five FIFA World Cup titles. Known for its skillful players, creative style, and attacking flair, Brazil has produced legends like Pelé, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho. Its deep passion for the sport and rich talent have made Brazil a dominant force in international soccer.
New Year, New Beginnings: Meaningful Resolutions for Seniors
The start of a new year is the perfect time to set goals that promote health, happiness, and personal growth. At Spring Park, we believe it’s never too late to embrace positive change. Here are a few inspiring resolutions for seniors:
1. Focus on Health
Stay active with walks, fitness classes, or stretching.
Eat balanced meals rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Prioritize rest to feel energized and refreshed.
2. Explore New Interests
Try hobbies like painting, gardening, or learning an instrument.
Take a class to learn new skills or join clubs to meet people.
3. Strengthen Connections
Reconnect with loved ones through calls, visits, or video chats.
Volunteer to give back and build community bonds.
Attend social events to stay engaged and make new friends.
4. Embrace Technology
Learn to use smartphones, tablets, or computers to stay connected.
Explore online resources for learning, entertainment, and news.
Stay safe by practicing online security habits.
5. Support Mental Well-Being
Practice mindfulness or meditation to reduce stress.
Set realistic goals that align with your values and bring fulfillment.
6. Reflect and Show Gratitude
Keep a gratitude journal to focus on positive moments.
Celebrate accomplishments, no matter how small.
Looking Ahead
A new year means new opportunities for growth and joy. Whatever your goals, Spring Park is here to support you every step of the way. Wishing you a happy, healthy, and fulfilling year ahead!
This Month in South Carolina History
• January 1, 1863: African Americans celebrated Emancipation Day at Camp Saxton in Port Royal, South Carolina, on the day President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect
• January 14, 1868: The South Carolina Constitutional Convention met in Charleston, and the new constitution included many democratic principles, such as the abolition of race as a limit on male suffrage
• January 1985: South Carolina experienced its lowest recorded temperature of -19 degrees Fahrenheit at Caesars Head State Park
• January 4, 1790: The legislature met in Columbia for the first time
• January, 1766: The German Friendly Society was established
• January, 1760: A smallpox epidemic swept the Lowcountry, but Alexander Garden inoculated over 2,000 people in a two-week period, saving thousands of lives
Some other events in South Carolina history include:
• The first golf club, the South Carolina Golf Club, was formed in 1786
• The first cotton mill was built on James Island in 1789
• The first fireproof building was built in Charleston in 1822
• The first state intercollegiate football game took place on December 14, 1889
• The first African American to serve in the United States Congress was Joseph Hayne Rainey, 1869-1879
Welcome Teresa! Our New Lifestyle Assistant!
Spring Park is excited to welcome Teresa Uzzell as our Activity Coordinating Director for our Memory Care residents and their families. Teresa previously worked with Spring Park several years ago, but after much thought, she made the difficult decision to take some time away to enjoy her family and grandchildren. While she truly cherished her time here, Teresa is now thrilled to return, reclaim her old office, and bring a host of new and exciting activities to enrich the lives of our residents. Her goal is to not only bring joy to our residents but also to build meaningful relationships with their families, helping create happy and fulfilling daily routines for their loved ones.
A bit about Teresa’s background: She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has 30 years of experience in senior healthcare. This includes serving as a Director of Assisted Living in the Atlanta market before returning home to the Carolinas. Teresa has extensive training in dementia and Alzheimer’s care, including both medical and non-medical home health. She has worked closely with hospital case managers and conducted patient assessments for placement in Assisted and Memory Care facilities.
Teresa is passionate about working with Memory Care residents and looks forward to utilizing her skills and expertise to bring happiness and fulfillment to both our residents and their families at Spring Park.
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Share our good news:
Recipe Spotlight:
Lemon Buttermilk Pie
with strawberry toping
Ingredients:
1 cup buttermilk
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp grated lemon zest
2 cups fresh Louisiana strawberries, sliced
2¼ cups sugar
1 tbsp flour
pinch of salt
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small mixing bowl, combine sliced strawberries with ¾ cup sugar, stir, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. This should be done at least 6 hours prior to serving. In a large mixing bowl, combine remaining sugar, flour and salt. Blend well. Add eggs and egg yolks, and using a wire whisk, cream into sugar mixture. Once blended, add buttermilk, vanilla, lemon juice and zest. Whisk well to incorporate and dissolve sugar. Pour into pie shell and place on a cookie sheet. Bake 50 minutes or until pie is lightly browned and filling is just set. Remove and cool a minimum of 30 minutes prior to serving. Top each slice with a generous portion of sugared strawberries.
Resident of the Month
Anita & Archie Duncan
This month, we are delighted to shine a spotlight on a lovely couple who holds a special place in all our hearts at Spring Park. Please join us in celebrating Anita & Archie Duncan, our January Residents of the Month!
Anita and Archie (also known as Pete) Duncan met in Charleston when Anita was in nursing school at the Medical University of South Carolina, and Pete was at The Citadel. They were married in 1956. Pete graduated from The Citadel with a degree in Electrical Engineering and served four years in the Army in Virginia, where he trained new recruits. Anita worked as a newborn nursery nurse at the hospital.
Afterward, they moved back to Charleston, where Pete took a job with Westvaco Pulp and Paper Company, and Anita worked at Roper Hospital. When they had their daughters, Angela and Beth, Anita decided to stay at home as a full-time mom. Pete was later transferred to Connecticut to work for Westvaco at their New York City office, which kept the family in the North for 18 years. In the early 1980s, Pete was able to move the family back home to Charleston, where he worked for several more years in the boat business at Duncan’s Boat Harbor.
Once back in Charleston, Pete became very active with the church, serving as a deacon at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. He also worked for many years with Kiwanis, serving as Lieutenant Governor of the Carolinas Clubs, volunteered with SCORE, and worked with The Citadel Alumni Association. Anita stayed busy with her hobbies, helping with the grandkids, sewing, gardening, and bargain hunting at yard sales and thrift shops.
Their daughter Angela is now a retired pediatrician and has two grown children: one is an architect, and the other a pediatric dentist. Their daughter Beth is a physical therapist and has three children: the oldest has a PhD in Chemistry, the middle child just completed his Master’s Degree in Computer Game Design, and the youngest is a senior at Converse College.
Anita and Pete moved to Spring Park two years ago to be closer to their daughters, who live in the upstate. They will be celebrating their 69th wedding anniversary this January! Congratulations, Anita & Pete – thank you both for being such inspiring and cherished members of our community!
Collaborators
Lisa Hawkins
