Next week it will be a very special morning at Renaissance North.
We’ll be treating our residents to a Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Day! on Thursday, February 16th. Donuts, bagels, coffee and hot cocoa will be catered from Dunkin’ Donuts and distributed as residents head out to work.
Thank you, Guirlaine from Wicker Park Renaissance for this great idea! 
Lyndale Place has been going through a lot of change in recent months. In October, we welcomed Mark Masaracchia as our new Assistant Manager. Mark came to us from Renaissance West after nearly a year knocking it out of the park as Leasing Agent. After splitting much of his time between both Renaissance West and Lyndale Place, he’s now begun spending the majority of his time here, and has enjoyed getting to know all the residents, old and new. Whenever there is a work order needed or a request to be fulfilled, Mark is on the case!
The guys here have been very welcoming, and glad to have Mark on the team. Take a look – isn’t this an impressive roster? Igor, Mark, Mike and Tony – give ‘em a hand! 
Also, last month we said goodbye to Renee as our Building Manager. We wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors. And we’re thrilled to have Michael Rice assisting us as our Interim Building Manager. He’ll be in command here at Lyndale and at Renaissance West. Once we have named a full-time permanent Building Manager, we’ll be back here to let you know. In the meantime, it is business as usual… and at moment, even better than usual at Lyndale Place.
Lakeview’s residents and visitors are being treated to a beautiful new art gallery, featuring diverse collections of work, when they stroll down Belmont avenue. Gallery 1501 now occupies the west window at Renaissance Saint Luke. The gallery will display artwork created by seniors 55+, and will regularly feature work from the artists that call Renaissance Saint Luke home. What a chance for our folks to strut their stuff!
Paintings by resident Art Sorensen have inaugurated the window. Art has been painting for over 50 years, and his work features vibrant colors, abstract images and relatable themes. The gallery and Art’s work were unveiled during a ceremony and reception on January 27th.
When you’re in our neighborhood, make sure you check out Art’s art and the new gallery. If you’re an artist 55+ and you’re interested in having your work displayed in the gallery window, please call Wayne at 773-975-1501.
Listen up Everyone! Contest Time at TRC
What is the contest, you ask? It’s to reward the first person to correctly guess who’s wearing the jeans! 
Each month, we’ll send an email to everyone announcing a new pic is up of a Jeans Day participant. This will be someone who is taking part in Jeans Day – and you’ll have to guess who it is! Be the first one to correctly guess who wore the jeans – and post your guess to the blog!
The winner will receive a surprise gift card
Are you ready?
Let’s begin! See if you can tell who this is…
We’ve implemented our employee Jeans Day, which means that we’ll be asking for our teammembers’ support in donating to our chosen charity. We are encouraging employees to donate a small – or large! – amount out of their paychecks every two weeks. In return, participants get to wear their favorite work-appropriate jeans on payroll Fridays. What a great, fun program!
Our teammembers’ generous donations being collected for the first six months will be sent to the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation. The Foundation is geared towards supporting persons with CHARGE Syndrome, and their families. This one hits close to home, since a member of the TRC family is part of a Charge Syndrome family. Janay Hayes-Mohamed, our Property Manager, was gracious enough to introduce this great charity to us and has shared some information about her daughter Rasha, along with some great pics! 
Teammembers – donate if you can! The Charge Syndrome Foundation proudly reports that over 90% of each dollar goes to the actual mission of the charity, and helps over 800 family members and children attend a special informational conference every other year. To check out more information on CHARGE please visit www.chargesyndrome.org.
Come be part of the solution.
One of the many things that sets Greenview Place apart from other Supported Living Facilities is our intergenerational programming. Saint Luke Academy is on our campus, and the members of the prestigious elementary school often work and play with our residents. 
Each week, members of our Greenview family take advantage of the many ways to get involved with the Saint Luke community. Every Wednesday, the Seasonings program brings elders and children together. R, esidents are offered the chance to eat lunch with a class of students at Saint Luke, and they spend some time socializing and having fun while they work together on a project.
Throughout the month, we offer additional chances to enjoy the company of the students as they visit our building. Today we had that very opportunity. We started our day with a smile as the preschoolers gave a concert just for us! Our residents were serenaded with fun classics such as “Mr. Sun” and “You are my Sunshine.” Many folks were overheard commenting how the children were “adorable” and “so cute to watch.”
Seeing the enthusiasm and joy of the children as they sang, and in the faces of our residents as they listened was truly beautiful. Programs such as these are such a valuable and special part of what Greenview offers.
Illinois National Guard Spc. Paville Simpson was proclaimed a Chicago Hero For a Day after he prevented a robbery at the CTA Red Line station at North & Clybourn Avenues on January 7th. Paville reacted to a bad situation swiftly and adeptly. Three teens were attempting to steal a CTA customer’s iPhone –but they didn’t count on Paville being there.
“It was just a reaction,” Simpson said. “(The victim) yelled and needed help, so I just helped him.” Paville handcuffed two of the teenaged robbers together, and held the third at gunpoint before police arrived. Simpson credits his Army National Guard training and his work as an armed security guard.
Great Job Paville! We’re so proud to know you, and we thank you for your service.
Sources: Chicago Tribune and Fox Chicago
