Friday, December 31, 2010

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



Thursday, December 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!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

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





Monday, December 20, 2010

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.

Friday, December 17, 2010

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



Thursday, December 16, 2010

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!