Therapy Animal Update

Many of you know I am a BIG proponent of Animal Assisted Activities and Animal Assisted Therapy. I am so pleased that our own Mandel Manor has taken on the responsibility of their own dog. Princess is a beautiful addition to the Mandel Family. We also have our therapeutic horseback riding program, where the residents get to ride, pet and love our three therapy horses, Thor, Sunday and Cheif. In March, Rocky, Pistol and Maddie will be back at the riding program. Barney, the certified therapy Golden Retriever, visits Garrison home, while Seymour the Labrador mix visits our on campus homes. I am very hopeful that we will have one more therapy dog, named Sasha, joining the team in the next month or so. She will visit the off campus homes. Dogs and Horses rule!

February activities

February will be a fun month at the Ridge. Not only will we participate in valentines activities at Party Pardners and Crossroads church, but we will be having our own valentines activities right here. In addition, we continue our monthly activities, including TRAP rhythm sessions, horseback riding, fitness groups, game nights, birthday celebrations...there is always something to do!
See everyone at the parties!

Walk for Kids

As members of the 100 Mile Club, Peppermint Ridge will be participating in the Walk for Kids on March 14th 2009 from 8Am to1:30 PM at Chavez Elementary School in Corona. All chapters will receive 10% of their pledges back to offset costs next year! Brochures for the walk are available at the Ridge, or by contacting me at ckeehan@peppermintridge.org

See ya at the walk!

Rejoicers

The Rejoicers choir is made up of residents that love music. We sing at churches throughout the area. This year, we have been invited to participate in the First Congregational Church of Santa Ana 120th anniversary celebration. The celebration takes place on Sunday, January 18th in Santa Ana. We will have a practice before the event on Thursday, January 8th at 6:15 PM in Angel Hall. All residents are welcomed and encouraged to join the Rejoicers!

Happy New Year!

We are preparing for our annual New Years Eve celebration! It should be tons of fun, with dancing, drinks and food, and of course the midnight countdown (well, we will countdown at 7PM...it will be midnight in Santiago, Chile!)

Let's hope that 2009 is prosperous for us all!

Rhythm sessions at the Ridge

Back in November, we were fortunate to have Eddie Tuduri, founder of the Rhythmic Arts Project, here at the Ridge to train us. Since then, we have been holding our own rhythm sessions. We are having so much fun with this, while at the same time developing and improving our counting skills, rhythm, proprioception, balance...and so much more. I am so pleased we have this dynamic program at the Ridge!

Merry Christmas

Hard to believe that it is almost Christmas! What a year we have had at the Ridge. Our residents have enjoyed our clubs, including the horseback riding team, the fitness group, the 100 mile club, the Rhythmic Arts Project, Boy Scouts, Peppermint Queens, Groups with the fabulous Tom T, etc, etc.

As the New Year approaches, the Ridge looks forward to meeting our new Executive Director. We have been so blessed to have Jean P back at the helm, once again. I am looking forward to a happy, healthy, prosperous new year!