Let There be Light!

Despite gloomy skies, it was a very bright week at NCC. Electricians have been working diligently wiring and installing light fixtures. After a long week we are excited to flip the switch and reach a milestone in the large construction project…. Let there be light!



The hallways are illuminated as light fixtures are hung inside... not a bad paint job either!





Nurses Station getting closer - ready for lights!



Beating the Winter Blues

By: Jessica Bahny
Activities Assistant, NCC

As everyone can tell, the weather recently has been less than wonderful.  Here at NCC, we don’t let that get us down!  We’ve been finding places to go and things to see to break us all out of the winter doldrums.  In the past couple of months, we’ve had some very successful outings to some local, yet under appreciated places.  My co-worker Kari, our leader, Amy, and myself have been putting our heads together planning at least one larger outing each month.  This allows our clients to get out in a group with both Kari and me.  This is something that’s proven to be great, because it allows our clients to experience that sense of camaraderie.  Plus, the more the merrier, right?!  Some of our most recent trips have been as close as Ann Arbor, and right “next door” in Belleville.  Kari and I took some of our clients to the University of Michigan museum of Natural History.  We saw some of Michigan’s signature critters, like bobcats, various species of wild birds, and even a wolverine!  We were able to read about the different dinosaurs, and other ancient people that may have inhabited our local area millions of years ago.  We also took two clients to the Matthai Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor.  What a treat!  Nothing breaks your case of winter blues like tropical trees and plants!  Imagine seeing a banana tree, cacao tree, and pineapple plant in the middle of winter!  Not to mention various flowering cactus plants and beautiful olive and fig trees.  We also went for a good dose of aviation history by visiting Yankee Air Museum right here in Belleville.  We learned that Willow Run Airport actually built the planes used for combat in WWII.  We were able to see several WWI, WWII, and Vietnam-era planes and helicopters.  Our clients Gardy, Brandon and Richard K. even had their picture made in the cockpit of a WWII jet!  The staff at Yankee Air museum were knowledgeable, friendly, and very accommodating.  They even invited us to the air show this summer, which we’re hoping to attend.  As I write this, Spring has sprung, and we hope the weather cooperates soon!  Next up- Tiger’s games, a trip to the Monroe Historical Museum, and of course the annual Spring Fling!  I’ll keep everyone posted on our travels and happenings- stay tuned!

You Can Huff and Puff, but You Can't Blow our House In

Wow! Those bricklayers are fast. They are making such amazing progress at NCC, we feel like we are in a fast-motion video. It's also putting us in nursery rhyme mode. Although we never attempted to build the NeuroCare Center out of straw or sticks, the construction does resemble the third little pig’s house--strongly constructed with good solid brick. Our masonry team has been busy laying brick around the exterior and in the three-season room, leaving a stunning and structurally impressive building. They even did an superb job matching it up to the brick on the existing NCC building, so the connection between the two is seamless.

So go ahead and try big bad wolf. You can huff and puff, but you can’t blow our house in!

A look through the courtyard showing the newly bricked building



The three-seasons room looking beautiful with brick



This wall plus more went up in just one day! Amazing.

Spring's In the Air

Spring must be in the air, because things at the new NCC are starting to bloom.  Inside, the nurses' station is taking shape and the first coats of paint have been rolled out. Outside we're seeing shingles make their home on the rest of the roof and brick laid. Not too bad for a week's work!

A view of a client room



Brick is laid at the base of the building

The nurses' station

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

We keep moving forward with the new NeuroCare Center. This week drywall was taped and later primed. Now, many of the interior walls are ready for paint.  So roll up those sleeves and put out some paint rags- we’re ready to roll (some paint!)



Walls are primed in preparation of paint in the new service corridor



Drywall being taped... check out that view!

A Diva's Valentine's Day

Break out the bubbly and the chocolate- Special Tree’s Divas have struck again. But unlike other divas, there was no drama; rather it was a celebration of love. This all women, client peer group have formed some fierce friendships through their monthly Diva outings.

The most recent? The girls gathered for a Valentine’s Party that was full of sassy fun. Manicures, pink bubbly (cherry 7-up) and even a chocolate fountain highlighted the evening as the ladies were entertained by the onscreen divas from Sex and the City. Great job by all of The Divas, staff and clients alike, for a girl-powered party!

Delicious goodies

Love is in the air

Look at that mocktail!