Happy New Year!

Wow, who would have imagined we'd get this far with the project by the end of 2010?!  Check it out!



South view, 10-8-2010



South view, 11-9-2010

 

South view, 12-30-2010



North view, 9-29-2010

  


North View, 11-3-2010

North View, 12-30-2010



North view (closer in), 12-30-2010

View from Existing Parking Lot, 9-28-2010

View from Existing Parking Lot, 11-3-2010

View from Existing Parking Lot, 12-30-2010

New Entrance, 11-3-2010

New Entrance, 12-30-2010

Go Buckeyes!

Although she loves football, it’s not always easy being a fan. When most of us tune in on a Saturday to catch our favorite college team play, we usually gear up in green and white, or maze and blue. But Elizabeth, a client at Moravian West, stands out. She is a fan that proudly sports scarlet and gray. Born and raised in Ohio, she will proudly tell you she’s a Buckeye fan, and has been all her life.

Despite being such a die-hard fan, Elizabeth had never been to a game. Of course she wanted to and often spoke about it to Moravian West Residential Program Manager, Beth W. One of the impressive things about Special Tree’s residential staff is their passion for taking client’s interests to heart. This was the case when Beth surprised Elizabeth with tickets to the OSU vs. Penn State game. Just as impressive were the RSTs who traded in their Spartan gear for, gulp, the forbidden colors of the Buckeye to travel to Columbus, Ohio with Elizabeth for her first Ohio State football game.

It was an early morning and a long trip, but Elizabeth will enthusiastically tell you it was worth it. Walking into Ohio Stadium was a dream come true. Dressed in her OSU best, she cheered on her team to a victory of 38 to 14 against Penn State. A victory that she’s still smiling about.

Now when Elizabeth tunes in to watch the Buckeyes play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, she’ll watch the game from a different perspective. She can now tell her fellow viewers that she’s stood among thousands of screaming fans as the Buckeyes stormed the field and personally felt the excitement of a victory. Go Buckeyes!

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays everyone!

View from the South End

 

Construction of the Northwest side of the roof



Workers shingle the roof above the front entrance

 


Same view, a little further away

 

A view from the old parking lot

A look down the hallway, client rooms to the right and left

Inside the lobby area looking North



Wayne County Festival of Lights

By Jessica Bahny

Activities Team

NeuroCare Center              

It’s that time of year again! Nothing welcomes the season like some great holiday lights! Each year we plan to take our clients to the Wayne County Festival of Lights at Hines Park, and the past few years, it seems as though the floods have kept us out! That hasn’t been the case this year. Each Thursday night this month, we are planning outings to see the lights. On the 2nd, my coworker Kari took Clay G., and Gardy B. to the festival. They both enjoyed it. Last Thursday, I took Brian O’K and Gaylor F. What a blast it was! We bundled up, cranked up the holiday tunes, sang at the top of our lungs, and beheld the greatest spectacle of lights since Chevy Chase lit up his house in “National Lampoon’s”! We saw a spinning dreidel, Santa playing basketball with his elves, and the newest exhibit- some really colorful dinosaurs. The clients were so excited, and I think we all felt like kids again. I left NCC that night feeling very fulfilled, and grateful to bring a little holiday cheer. I’m still smiling thinking about it!

Good Weather Keeps us Moving Right Along

Concrete for the last section of the interior floor is being poured this week, a big “check mark” on the to-do list! Underground work continues for water, sewer, plumbing, electrical, and the like. The boardwalks along the nature trail over the wetlands came out beautifully last week, and crews continue to work on that and other campus amenities in tandem with the building construction. The fishing pond has been carved out and this week multiple deliveries of clay arrive which will line the bottom. Infrastructure for the lighting along the new drive off Hannan Road has also begun. Looks like good weather – good news for the team!



View from South End (Week 7)



Boardwalk over wetlands in nature trail




Boardwalk over wetlands in nature trail




Path near pond areas



Drive off of Hannan Road to new entrance for campus.

Snow? No problem!

Wow! This week we saw our first real snow, not to mention a dip in the temperature. We have to hand it to the Douglas construction team, for they persevered despite weather. Plumbing and electrical work continues. We've also started to see the roof take shape, even as far as the shingles on one section. Getting the roof up will obviously be an important milestone as the winter weather worsens. Meanwhile, the IT staff are busy mapping out network and internet connections. The new building will include a Family and Visitor Business Center with wireless access.

Keep warm :)



A snowy view from the South End (Week 12)

 

View from inside the hallway



First look at the new PT gym



Out of the Chair and Into the Air

Earlier this month a group of clients from the Cottage and Webster Court ventured down to Tennessee for a trip filled with shopping, museums and sightseeing. Taken in by the beauty of the Smokey Mountains, clients Ed, Joe and Mark expressed interest in seeing things from a bird’s eye view. In the spirit of Living the Science of Caring, our staff inquired if it were possible to get the clients, two of whom were in wheelchairs, aboard for a helicopter tour ride.

It was an act of true teamwork as staff members Devin and Melissa lifted Ed and Joe, one by one, into the helicopter. Inside, RST Tonya pulled them through and helped maneuver them into the seats. Without a chest strap in the helicopter to keep Ed upright, Tonya held him up with her arms through the entire ride so he could see out the window. The dedication it took to get everyone into the helicopter was remarkable, but it couldn’t compare to the eight minutes and sixteen seconds they spent taking in the amazing view of the city and the Smokey Mountains.

When they landed and went to get their souvenir pictures the scenic tours staff confessed they had never seen a group so devoted to what they do. Tonya proudly responded, “That’s because we Live the Science of Caring.”

They certainly do!

Windows are going in!

Windows and interior walls are starting to make it all seem so real! Very exciting to get the windows installed and framing begun on the "inside" of the building. Excavators are working to install a water main in what will be the new staff parking lot; what a big project. The parking lots are taking shape as well as curbs are being installed.

Our construction hard hats are also off to our clients and therapy staff. What a great job you've done keeping your sense of humor while work is being done around the therapy area. Thanks for being such good sports!

An early view of the new entrance

Curb Installation



Water Main work in the new staff parking area



One wing of the new building taking shape

Raise the Roof

This week we saw a giant crane come through to set our roof trusses in place. Now we're busy constructing the roof. Plumbers and electricians are continuing work underground. Masons have begun prep work for the walls which will house the oxygen panels. The new building will include advanced in-wall respiratory hook-ups in 27 rooms. Great work everyone.

View from the South End (Week 10).

Trusses are set in place.

Workers begin to construct the roof.

The Divas

When you hear of a diva, it’s easy to envision a sassy fashionista who takes a liking to shopping, makeovers and the latest Hollywood gossip. This is true of some of the world’s most famous divas, and is also the case for Special Tree’s all women, client peer group. Appropriately named…. You guessed it, The Divas.

But this month The Divas took a break from their usual pampering and fashion filled agenda. They rolled up their sleeves and put their manicured hands to work creating holiday gifts at Special Tree’s Wabash Ceramics Studio. When the afternoon of paint and clay was over the girls felt better than after a day at the spa. After all, they had spent time in good company, were up to date on the latest, and had some holiday gifts for their friends and family in hand.

So what’s next for The Divas, who meet monthly? Probably back to catching up over tea and fashion. At least until they want to raise eyebrows again. After all, isn’t being a diva about making everyone wonder what you’ll do next?