WC Features Blog
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Bonnie Miles – Bat Whisperer
December 2, 2024 - Most people recoil at even the mention of Bats, but not Bonnie Miles. A resident of Riverside since 2023, Bonnie has a vast knowledge about bats and works with them, and for them. She was a permitted rehabilitator of bats for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. About 200 bats of several species were cared for in her laundry room before she moved to WC. She has given over 125 power point presentations on bats in seven (7) states and two (2) foreign countries.
Bonnie was recently called upon because a bat appeared on the 5th floor of Brookhaven. She responded quickly to the call with her leather “bat gloves” and a small towel. (She is fully vaccinated against rabies.) The bat was on the hall floor which was initially concerning as bats prefer to be in high places always. The bat had a bit of a white nose causing concern that it might have White-nose Syndrome, but that proved not to be the case. It was very healthy and active. If it had been possible, the bat would have climbed to a high place in order to be able to take flight. Bonnie gently picked it up.
After examinations, this bat was identified as a big brown bat, commonly found in Virginia. Currently, Virginia is home to 17 species of bats. In spite of the name, these bats are small, with a wingspan of 12.8-13.8 inches and weigh in at about an ounce. They prey on beetles and moths and eat many crop pests.
Examining the bat, Bonnie determined that it seemed to be healthy. It was active and showing fight in trying to get away. The bat was taken to the 3rd floor balcony and released. It flew away with no problem, apparently happy to escape the confines of WC.
Where did Bonnie’s passion for bats come from? It went back to her parent’s home in Delaware. They found a colony of bats roosting in their attic. The called an exterminator who came and poisoned every one of the bats: males, females and pups! It was horrible and is now against the law. This event prompted Bonnie to begin learning about these amazing animals. She joined Bat Conservation International and thus began her journey with bats.
Once retired, Bonnie finally had the time to study, work for and with bats. She immediately signed up for her first bat workshop in Arizona, followed by others in Kentuckly, Texas and recently in Thailand. These workshops include hands-on interactions with bats of may species.
Fact: Bats are essential to the ecosystems of the world for insect control, for seed dispersal, and as pollinators.
Bat trivia: Only four (4) states have a state bat: Texas, Oklahoma, California and Virginia. Our state bat is the Virginia Big-Eared bat. It is on the Federal Endangered Species List.
Submitted by Web Reporter Margaret Mundy with assistance from Bonnie Miles
Photo Credit: Bill Gayle
2024 Employee Christmas Party
Every December we celebrate all of Westminster Canterbury's non-administrative staff members and thank them for all they do to make our lives at Westminster Canterbury Lynchburg comfortable, safe and fun. Plans are already underway for this year's celebration:
_________________________________________________
EMPLOYEE CHRISTMAS PARTY
Given by the Residents of Westminster Canterbury
Wednesday, December 11th
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
The Bridge and Commons
Our guests of honor, our awesome employees, are first in line for refreshments.
Santa will make an appearance!
Entertainment will be provided by staff and residents.
Please join us as we gather to thank and celebrate those folks who allow us to live
Life Refreshed
Here
at
Westminster Canterbury Lynchburg
Wear your festive best!
VES and Westminster Canterbury
Have you ever wondered how and why Westminster Canterbury (WC) in Lynchburg is in this lovely setting?
It’s a wonderful story that links WC and Virginia Episcopal School (VES) closely.
VES was here first. The first Bishop of Southwest Virginia, Robert Carter Jett, was determined to establish a school for boys, after several years of immense effort, he identified an appropriate location for a school on the outskirts of Lynchburg. The Volney E. Howard farm consisted of 106 acres. The $18,000 purchase price required donations from many Lynchburg residents to complete. VES opened with one building in 1916. The unique brand of education fostered at VES focused on nurturing mind, body, and spirit. This requires faculty to foster relationships with students seven days a week, both inside and outside the classroom.
Aerial View of the Wyatt Faculty Housing (site of current Westminster Canterbury - bottom) & V.E.S. (top) from 1973 VES Yearbook.
[ Provided by WC Resident, Susan Wyatt ]
With lofty ideals, VES thrived but the world changed. The 70’s, as most of us remember, was a time of rebellion and upheaval. Deferred maintenance and enrollment dominated by commuting students, tested the financial strength of VES. A new headmaster, Lee Sanford (Sandie) Anislie, Jr arrived with new ideas and determination to right the ship. He instilled discipline of daily chapels, required athletics, seated family-style meals on weekdays, coats and ties and reasonable compromise on style and length of hair (remember the 70’s?). This new discipline established VES as a “safe” place to send boys. Women were not admitted until 1987. In the meantime, VES was still facing revenue shortfalls.
In 1974, a committee searched for property on which to build WC. For the first time in June of 1975, the founders mentioned purchasing property in Lynchburg, Chaplain Hobbs mentioned to Headmaster Ainslie that part of the VES property would be a great place to build WC. Both the faculty and the VES Board of Trustees endorsed the proposal. 22 acres between Williams Road and VES Road were sold to WC for $150,000.
In a decision all resident can applaud, the board decided to model the WC buildings and campus after a model resort rather than the as an “old people’s home”, common at the time. The heights of WC buildings was set 779.3 feet above sea level or not to exceed the height of Jett Halll on the VES campus. In addition, to accommodate the elevator housing, 13 feet were added. WC demolished two faculty homes to prepare the site for new construction. These were replaced with two new faculty houses on the VES campus at a combined cost of $100,000. Additional land was acquired from orphanage next door, the Presbyterian Home and now known as HumanKind.
Groundbreaking for WC occurred in December 1978. On October 18, 1980, the buildings were dedicated. The first 46 residents moved in on July 14, 1980. The original buildings included Brookside and Creekside as well as the Healthcare Drinkard building, now known as Riverside. The original plans did not include the Bridge, which was suggested by the wife Ebo Fauber, a local architect, the bridge was added during the original construction so that the buildings were connected.
Life during those early years was a bit different. Coats and ties were required for men in the dining room, which only consisted of a dining room in the area of the current Café. Served family style, food was delivered to the tables. Breakfast was the only meal that was “almost” self-serve. There were two (2) shifts for meals to accommodate all the residents even though it took several years to fill the facility to capacity.
The world had yet to develop convenient alarm system for use in each apartment, so the Hostess in the Cafe served as the gatekeeper. To assure that all residents were accounted for daily, the Hostess checked residents in for meals.
The original board was geographically diverse with members from Staunton to Bluefield and South to Martinsville. Westminster Canterbury of Richmond served as welcome advisors while the planning was completed.
Early planning and operation WE called upon the talents of several current resident of WC.
Joe Payne worked for many years in Development. John Payne, his father, was on the original board of directors.
Susan Wyatt, a resident of Brookside, is the daughter of the former headmaster of VES and grew up in one of the houses torn down to build WC.
Ruth Tergeson, a resident of Creekside contributed to this history and been a resident since 2001.
Charlotte Fischer was a board member for many years and the best recruiter. She reports that at one time, 47 residents followed her advice to move to WC.
Sharon Ainslie is a resident of Riverside. Sandy Ainslie passed away on October 22, 2023. Their son, Garth, is the current headmaster of VES.
Many other residents or their family members have been associated with VES over the years so the above list is not definitive. A book about the history of VES, Our Centennial History: Toward Full Stature by Mary Molyneux Abrams is still available for purchase at VES. Published in 2016 during the Centennial year, the book tells the history of the school and the social environment of the times.
Submitted by Margaret Mundy with assistance from Susan Wyatt
December 4, 2023 - “It was a dark and stormy night,” Oops! Wrong beginning. While Tricia and I lived in Atlanta, I was fortunate to be able to build a toy train layout in our basement. I called it the Pumpkin Junction Railroad. It had to be dismantled for our move, but lives on in YouTube videos on my PumpkinJunctionRR YouTube channel.
When we moved to Lynchburg, we found that Westminster Canterbury had always had a Christmas train layout, but would not be doing one this year. It has been a privilege to step in and be able to continue the tradition. We do hope you enjoy the new WestminsterCanterbury Christmas Train Display. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Paul's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PumpkinJunctionRR**
December 1, 2023 - Again this year Foster Fuels sponsored a collection drive for coats to give to needy children and Westminster Canterbury residents and staff were very generous with their donations. We donated 209 coats!
November 1, 2023 - Thanks to Resident Life & Dining Services for another great party. Everyone really got into the spirit of Halloween on Wednesday, October 25th.
September 4, 2023 - More than 215 residents and guests attend the Luau on August 16th. They came prepared for merriment, good food and wonderful music. The Westminster Canterbury staff once again delivered above expectations.
Did you try some of the 70 pounds of bar-b-cue pork? How about the decorations, which included 128 balloons? And have you ever seen as much Hawaiian wear away from a visit to the Islands themselves? Did you see Walter dance?
If you were at the Luau on August 16, you had a chance to see see Walter join his workmates, many residents and guests and even Sean dress for the occasion and enjoy the great food and music. Setting up for the event took 4 workers from environmental service, Katrina from the Activities department and four dining employees. The event itself keep seven (7) cooks and four (4) bartenders busy serving at the party while Keith and three (3) cooks labored in the kitchen.
While residents had fun dressing for the occasion, Crimora Ayers and Norman Hammer were recognized for their particularly stunning outfits.
The band, Caravan, is a favorite of WC residents and once again added to the festive atmosphere. The dancing really got going after the buffet dinner. Old favorites saw toes tapping and dancers moving to the dance floor. At one time, a Congo line snaked around the room adding participants as they wound the way around the room.
Remember, sign up for the next party. It’s fun and the staff does an outstanding job creating the atmosphere and a menu as well as great service. The next day you can return to the “normal” menu and dining venues.
Submitted by Margaret Mundy
June 28, 2023 - The Buster C. Baldwin and Lucille T. Drinkard Legacy societies’ annual celebration event was held on June 27 with over 70 guests attending. It was a special gathering hosted by the WCL Foundation to thank existing members of the two societies as well as recognize and welcome six new donors into this prestigious group. The guests were entertained by the Piedmont Jazz Quartet featuring vocalist, Gus Miller.
Membership in the Bernard C. “Buster” Baldwin Society recognizes donors who have given at least one monetary gift, to any fund, each year for at least 10 consecutive years. These steadfast, annual donors help the Foundation continue to support the needs of residents, employees and programs. There are 72 members in the Baldwin Society. The Lucille T. Drinkard Legacy Society was established to honor her in perpetuity and to recognize the generous planned gift contributions of our residents. We currently have 32 Drinkard Society members.
To learn more about these two societies see Marianne Sanford in the Foundation office at ext. 3507 or msanford@wclynchburg.org.
June 1, 2023 - John P. Burch, WWII Veteran was the Guest of Honor at the 2023 Memorial Day Observance Ceremony held on Monday, May 29, 2023 at the Lynchburg City Armory.
John, a Westminster Canterbury resident since September of 2022, participated in the D-Day landing with the 82nd Airborne and was awarded the French Legion of Honor.
April 28, 2023 - Westminster-Canterbury has a special treasure located on the Garden Level of Woods Edge. That treasure is a small yet fully equipped wood shop available for use by WC residents! The wood shop has gone through varied stages of use and neglect over the years but it’s in the great shape it is today because of the work of several dedicated WC residents. In 2015 Chuck Steffen and Kent Webster did yeoman’s work cleaning up and organizing the shop. With the help of Susan Thornton from Resident Life and Wellness, a sale was held of surplus tools and completed projects discovered in boxes. The sale raised over $200 and became the seed money for the wood shop fund used for repairs and the replacement of consumables such as saw blades, sand paper belts, etc.
After the big shop cleanup, Chuck worked on getting a dust collector for the shop by borrowing a 2 hp collector from Building & Grounds. He bought various hoses and connectors as well as built special fixtures to use with the shop sander which was a major source of dust in the shop. As a result, Chuck was declared shop steward as the original steward, Ralph Coffing, had passed away.
When Charlie Driscoll moved to Westminster-Canterbury, Chuck quickly recognized his talent as an organizer. Charlie made use of existing peg boards in the shop and he and Chuck added more peg boards so that the tools could be easily displayed and, thus, easier to find. Chuck got Charlie named shop steward to help keep the shop clean and organized.
New residents moving in have frequently donated significant pieces of equipment, as well as many hand tools, clamps and specialized layout tools to the shop. One look at the shop’s equipment web page shows just how well outfitted this little shop is as a result of residents’ generosity. Today, under the stewardship of Chuck Steffen and Charlie Driscoll, the shop is a showcase as a small shop with practically every piece of woodworking equipment and tools any woodworker would need.
For safety reasons, the shop stewards control users’ access to the shop by requiring that new users go through a short orientation. Once this orientation is complete, a steward gives the user’s name to Gwen Pope in the Resident Life & Wellness Office. Gwen then requests that the user’s fob be updated to open the shop doors and has the user sign a required waiver form. Once that is done, the resident can enter and use the shop when they want.
The things residents have made in the wood shop are as varied as the residents themselves. One of the major users of the shop several years ago was Harold Hankins. Harold designed and built beautiful crosses that he made from three different woods which represented the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Harold made and gave away nearly one hundred of these crosses. There is an example of one in the Weissart Chapel. Charlie Driscoll is a furniture maker and has made small rocking chairs for their grandchildren, custom tables, as well as a feeding stand for their dog Bella. Chuck Steffen has become known for wooden toys he has made. He is also the king of door stops cut in the shape of animals and common items like a shoe. Sam Mizener, a former shop teacher, used the shop after he and his wife moved in to make some shelves for their den. George Paulson has repaired and painted several dining room chairs they brought with them when they moved in. Bill Gayle, along with Charlie, is known for his bird houses. Bill Booz makes square coasters with grooves to catch glass condensation and small trays that can be used as valet trays or hors d’oeuvres trays.
This small room on the Garden Level is, indeed, a treasure as well as a tremendous source of pleasure and satisfaction for those Westminster-Canterbury residents who take advantage of it. It offers a whole new hobby to many who haven’t touched woodworking tools and equipment since middle or high school. As resident, who recently moved in, says, “I had no idea I could make the things I’m making. I haven’t used equipment like this since I was in the 8th grade, some sixty-five years ago!”
Gardening simply does not allow one to be mentally old, because too many hopes and dreams are yet to be realized. – Allan Armitage
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. – Greek Proverb
Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them. – A.A. Milne
April 3, 2023 - We are fortunate to live in a wonderful community with beautiful outdoor space to enjoy. The grounds crew, under the leadership of Chris Duff, does a wonderful job with the big things and flowering annuals, but does not have time to focus on the individual garden areas along the walkways. When Fran Albertson moved to WC in 2018, she discovered that the landscaping installed when WC was built in the early ‘80’s was getting a bit sad. Fran volunteered to upgrade and maintain the garden along the walk from the parking area to the front door. She removed periwinkle, an invasive plant, and replaced it with plants appropriate to the shaded location, hostas and Lenten roses. By dividing plants and receiving donations, the renovation of the garden was accomplished. While there is not a particular fund to support the garden, that first effort prompted 34 people donate to enhance the landscape.
From that beginning, a number of Garden Angels have volunteered to help with the gardens and more are welcome. Volunteers agree to care for and upgrade existing plots, such as to the right of the front door and behind the activity room on the Terrace level. The plan is that the lead volunteer will develop a list of the plants and their care so that others can join to support maintenance of the garden spaces.
Garden Angels and their assigned garden areas are described below.
A new resident in Riverside, Mary Ruth Mizner, has developed a detailed plan for the area outside the Cafe. She is looking forward to upgrading the landscape over the next year. And her husband, Sam signed up to dig the holes for the shrubs.
Other new resident, Barbara Rogers will manage the ground level area behind the activity room. Toni Piggott has signed up for the area outside Woods Edge. Marilyn Hartman will address the triangle area outside the Marketing office, while Sydna Street is committed to maintaining the garden area under the dogwood tree. Stevie Dovel will address the garden bed in front of the brick wall that borders the truck unloading area. Helen Ann Spessard will work on the small garden in the Terrace area outside the Activity Room on the Terrace Level, while Bill Hobbs accepted the challenge of looking after the area under the maple tree to the left of the front entrance. While Annette and Ken Slusher will oversee the garden which borders the memory care unit.
They will all need help both for the renovation and maintenance of the garden areas. Other areas are still available for adoption. If you would like to help an Angel or adopt an area of your own, please contact Fran! Some residents have donated plants from their gardens as they prepared to move to WC, such as Stevie Dovel and Joanie Fix. Some of you may have children with plants that need to be divided. Remind them that WC accepts donations of plants as well as funds to support our landscape. So, if you are ready to “play in the dirt,” contact Fran Albertson, she is anxious to see that all areas have a Garden Angel to make our Westminster-Canterbury even more beautiful.
Submitted by Fran Albertson and Margaret Mundy
March 31, 2023 - Plans are in the works for a friendly pickle ball match between WC Lynchburg and WC Charlottesville. In anticipation of this inaugural competition, an appropriate team name was needed. Judy Gayle solicited suggestions, and, after a close vote, the winning name that will appear on team shirts is Wishful Dinkers. (A “dink” is a low soft shot at the net designed to make it difficult for the opponent to attack.) Voters also chose black as the official color for the new shirts.
Currently, date, location, format, and specific team make up are uncertain. Nevertheless, the Wishful Dinkers can be found on the courts every Friday afternoon and on the weekends honing their skills and polishing their dinks in anticipation of the upcoming tournament.
Sources, who have asked to remain anonymous, tell your investigative reporter that TV and podcast rights to the broadcast of this extravaganza are still being negotiated.
Date and time for this first ever playoff between Cvlle Westminster-Canterbury and Lynchburg Westminster-Canterbury will be announced as soon as the Cvlle team has secured a location for the match. Stay tuned.
March 29, 2023 - Our WC campus is one of the best places to enjoy The Wonderful World of Nature! Let's "Spring into Birding" with your fellow resident bird watching guides! You will see birds on our campus, on our Nature Trail, and as you window watch on Bishops Lane. For this exciting bird watching event your guides will be Bets Hooss, JoAnne Pierce, Ann Richards, Frank Troy, Susan Wyatt, Laura Morrison, and Wanda Yoder.
We strongly encourage you to bring binoculars to get a good look as we identify our feathered friends. There will be two sign-up sheets. One is for the walking tour and the other is for those who would rather sit and enjoy the experience at Bets Hooss' cottage on Bishop's Lane. Fortunately, for those who are walking, you will end up on Bishop's Lane window watching briefly. Before we begin, you will be given a brochure and list of birds that we may see around our area. For a wonderful bird identification app on your smartphone, check out the Merlin app.**
Sign up at the Wellness Board in the lobby. See books and information on birds in our WC Strickler Library.
Tuesday, April 4th
Meet at the Woods Edge Entrance at 8:30 AM
RAIN DATE
Wednesday, April 5th - same time
March 23, 2023 - The exhibit, many threads, one love, brings to Sweet Briar College the quilts, practices, and voices of quiltmakers based in Kathmandu, Nepal. A collaboration with Quilts for Kids Nepal, a non-profit organization in Kathmandu, the show is curated by Quilt for Kids Nepal’s manager and Sweet Briar College student, Ravina Kaur (Class of 2023).
The exhibition celebrates the idiosyncratic color and pattern choices, as well as the social and cultural bonds the quilting community generates. Each piece reveals both the choices of its maker and the influences of quilting and stitching conventions that cross borders, generations, and faiths. Many of the quilt-makers immigrated from India to Nepal as young women, hoping to build a better life for themselves in their new home. Quilts for Kids Nepal supports women’s economic development and children’s education in Kathmandu by facilitating both the making and selling of these quilts.
Each of the 86 quilts in the exhibition is for sale, and the proceeds from all sales go directly to sponsoring the education of girls and to empowering young women in Kathmandu.
The exhibition will be open to the public Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12 to 5 pm, through April 15, 2023.
Quilts priced from $270 to $290 and available to view, select, and purchase in Pannell Gallery or online. Follow link on right.
Image credit: Lilly Murphy, 2017
March 19, 2023 - Dining Services did it again! They provided WC residents with a fun-filled - not to mention food-filled - evening to celebrate Mardi Gras 2023. The Bridge and Commons were filled to capacity and Dining Services staff manned the seven different food stations replete with a variety of Cajun food. The band, "CARAVAN," which has played for our parties before on several occasions, was wonderful and many guests took advantage of the large dance floor to kick their heels.
March 19, 2023 - Annual Council elections were held in December and the three new members assumed their 3-year seats on the Council at the Council's first meeting of 2023 on Wednesday, January 4th.
The Residents' Council provides a forum for making recommendations to Administration and for reacting to proposals from Administration. The Residents' Council is comprised of nine members who meet on the first Wednesday of every month.at 9am. There are 30 minutes reserved for welcoming and listening to any resident who comes with concerns. Signed suggestions or comments for Council consideration can be placed in the mailbox marked “Residents' Council” located in the Independent Living Lobby across from the distribution boxes. Minutes of each meeting, and a report of all committees can be found in the Strickler Library.
[ Do you have stories to tell? Please contact us! ]