Lawrence Presbyterian Manor
AUGUST 2019
Featured artist Rick Prosser gives modern style to art Rick Prosser became a well-known name around Presbyterian Manor after he first participated in the Art is Ageless® competition in 2015. His large work, “Universe in Motion,” won Best of Show that year, and he has continued to take home ribbons ever since. Our community celebrated Rick’s work when he was our featured artist in June. “The people at Presbyterian Manor have always been friendly and seem to really appreciate my work. During the reception they had for me at the end of June, they had a lot of questions. Many of the ladies related to the needlepoint “Serenity” an acrylic painting by Rick Prosser. I had done. And in the past, the men have talked about the acrylics and where I was coming from,” said Rick, artist and Lawrence resident for more than 50 years.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s coming to Lawrence for the first time
The Alzheimer’s Association’s annual fundraiser—Walk to End Alzheimer’s—occurs in more than 600 communities across America every year. For the first time ever, the walk will take place in Lawrence on Sunday, Sept. 29. “Our chapter—Heart of America —has been hosting Walk to End Alzheimer’s in communities for the last 25 years. It is time to increase the awareness of Alzheimer’s and the Alzheimer’s Association in the Lawrence community, and the Walk is the perfect way to do that,” said Laura Blatter, project chairman with the Alzheimer’s Association Heart of America chapter.
Rick’s career as an artist started out with pen and ink during college at Drury University in Springfield, Mo., where he got his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. He also attended KU’s graduate school of communications. He later moved on to painting with acrylics, which he did for many years, before he discovered his interest in needlepoint.
Curtis Jones, sales and marketing director at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, is serving as a committee member for the event after seeing how the disease has impacted others.
“I became ill with cancer and spent quite a bit of time waiting in doctor’s offices. This was before cell phones, and I got tired of magazines and books, so I started doing some needlepoint. And then I started
“I served as an administrator at a memory care community and saw how devastating the disease
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Lawrence Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Residents tour Jayhawks on Parade In 2003, the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau created “Jayhawks on Parade” as a community art exhibit and fundraiser.
Thirty individuals and businesses purchased 5-foot Jayhawk sculptures that were painted by local artists and then displayed around town. After being put on parade for all to enjoy, some Jayhawks were purchased and donated to the University of Kansas and others were placed in businesses and homes around Lawrence.
Cyber Café & Brunch: August 15 Don’t miss the second part of our Cyber Café two-part series on Thursday, August 15, at 10 a.m.
In 2008, Activity Director Linda Flyer was curious about those sculptures and asked, “Where are they now?” After extensive research to learn where each of the birds had landed, she organized a tour around town to see the sculptures that remained for public viewing. The event was so much fun that residents requested a second tour, which Linda organized for residents earlier this summer. On June 19, Linda took a van full of residents along with Sales & Marketing Director Curtis Jones, to see the 16 birds on public display around Lawrence.
Come with your questions and you’ll be sure to leave with answers and a better understanding of how emails, digital photos and mobile apps work. The seminar speakers are Curtis Jones and Angela Fonseca with Lawrence Presbyterian Manor. The Cyber Café Part 2 is part of Presbyterian Manor’s ongoing Just Ask lifelong learning series focusing on issues of interest to seniors and their adult children. RSVP to Curtis Jones at 785-841-4262 or cjones@ pmma.org by August 12.
Above: Beth Brown and Brower Burchill check out one of the Jayhawks on parade. Top right: This colorful Jayhawk features stripes and check designs. Right: Margaret Bearse, left, and Kathryn Roblee pose with a Jayhawk on parade. Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
LAWRENCE Presbyterian Manor 785-841-4262 ◆ Fax: 785-841-0923 1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 LawrencePresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2019
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizaton.
To submit or suggest articles: afonseca@PMMA.org Christie Patrick, executive director Curtis Jones, ind. living marketing dir. Angela Fonseca, health care marketing dir.
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
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can be for the individual and also the family. I was also made aware of the lack of understanding of just how the disease works and how the individual is affected. That is where we need to start. We need to understand that this is not just about someone losing their memory. This is about a disease of the brain. There is so much more to it than memory loss,” said Curtis. Hosting the Walk to End Alzheimer’s
in Lawrence is a great place to educate others about the disease and encourage people to talk about it. “Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a wonderful community event for all ages. Getting people to start talking about Alzheimer’s and telling their stories is imperative to helping increase awareness. Although Alzheimer’s is a fatal disease (today), life does not end with diagnosis. People will form Walk teams,
families will unite, friends and coworkers will support fundraising efforts—the entire community will come together and that is extremely important when you are dealing with a devastating disease like Alzheimer’s,” said Blatter. There are a number of ways to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s—walk, volunteer, sponsor a walker or make a donation. “We could always use more volunteers—whether you volunteer to walk at the event or you volunteer to help,” said Curtis. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Lawrence will take place on Sunday, September 29, at South Park (1141 Massachusetts). Registration begins at 8 am., the ceremony starts at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:15 a.m. This is a “no-fee” event, however, walkers are encouraged to fundraise. Those who raise at least $100 receive an event T-shirt. Learn more at alzwalklawrence.org.
Lawrence Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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LAWRENCE Presbyterian Manor
1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
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exaggerating on them—enlarging them into my own designs. Even if I started with something on the canvas, I eventually made it my own. Initially, I was embarrassed doing it in front of men, but then people started asking me about it. I started making my own pictures— somewhat modern—I’d done pictures on pillows, foot stools, dining room chairs and Christmas stockings … of course, you can’t produce as much, but in the beginning, I was extremely fast. I carried a briefcase with my needlepoint stuff in it everywhere I went,” said Rick. Rick credits his wife Charlotte for being his inspiration. “I like to think of Charlotte as my secretary, but she’s the one that keeps me together. I like for her to come in my man’s room—even if she’s reading a book or sleeping—I thoroughly enjoy her presence. She doesn’t say much, and she isn’t critical, but I can tell by her eyes if she likes something or not,” said Rick.
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2019
“Horse of a Different Color,” a needlepoint by Rick. He took up needlepoint while spending time waiting in doctor’s offices while battling cancer.
Charlotte joked, “I tell him to keep working! I’m his worst critic or best critic—I’m not sure which.” The couple will celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary on August 27 and have three children and seven grandchildren. Lawrence Presbyterian Manor resident, Betty Jo Miller, knows the family well after having taught Rick and Charlotte’s children piano for many years.