VARENNA VOICE

“Social Media is

the new thing”.

- Paula Becerra

Varenna’ s Facebook

Businesses are using social media more and more every day to connect and advertise. More than 1.8 billion people use Facebook every month to connect with friends and family and to discover things that matter. Marketing on Facebook helps businesses find new customers and build lasting relationships with them. Businesses using Facebook can build a presence, create awareness, generate leads and help accomplish sales and attendance goals. When you like a page or post an event, your Facebook friends will see your interests instantly, allowing your message about that business to travel faster than by word of mouth. And, it’s all with a click of a button on your phone or computer. Here at Varenna, we want to share with the world and potential future residents just how wonderful life is at our community. You can help us by signing a media release allowing us to share photos of you, your friends, and your neighbors enjoying our wonderful activities and events. The media form is available at the concierge desk; contact Paula Becerra with questions.

Paula Becerra, Activity Director

In This Issue

Varenna’ s Facebook

A Note from our Executive Director

What’s Growing on at Varenna?

Health & Fitness News

A Note from our Nurse

Maintenance Updates

Marketing News

Upcoming Events, Activities & Excursions

Dining Services Announcements

Employee News

Varenna lakeside view.

March 2017

A Note from the Executive Director Rain, Rain, go Away…I have an active 5-year old at home… Dear Varenna Family, I have never been so excited to see a few days of sun. It has been a very wet winter. According to Weather Underground, the record for rainfall in Santa Rosa in January was 18.45 inches in 1909 and we received 18.95 inches this year. Don’t get me wrong, I love the rain. We definitely need it, but I think we can safely say that the drought is over and it is time for the sun to come out!

The significant rain definitely exposed leaky areas of the main building roof and several casitas. With nice weather over the next several weeks, we will make the necessary repairs to ensure we are prepared when the next storm rolls through.

I love to be outside playing soccer and riding bikes with my son, Caeden. We have exhausted all of the indoor games that I know and built far too many Legos-the pieces all look the same to me

now…☺ We are both very excited and hopeful for

a Fair Weather March so that we can spend more time outside.

I hope that you all take advantage of the sunny days and explore the beautiful grounds at Varenna. If we all make a concerted effort in March to get a little exercise outside in the sun and fresh air, I think Varenna will be an even happier place

than it already is. ☺

Please continue to wear your name badges as much as possible and feel free to swing by my office and say hi anytime. All the Best, Nathan Condie, Executive Director

What’s Growing on at Varenna?

Winter is prime time for citrus, and our 16 Meyer lemon trees surround-ing the main building entrance are no exception. They are loaded with bright yellow, juicy fruit in the hun-dreds!

In past years I’ve always harvested the lemons and left them in the café for residents to enjoy. This year we’re doing something a little differ-ent. Paula, our Activities Director, had the wonderful idea to use the lemons to make Limóncello - the popular Italian liqueur.

I’ve harvested over 200 lemons to accommodate this fun and refresh-ing activity. Believe it or not, that’s only about half of the crop this year!

These trees are not only attractive and inviting, they are also wonderful producers year after year. I hope you all will get a chance to use some of our lemons to make your very own bottle of signature Varen-na Limóncello. Check the activities calendar for class details. I’ll see you around the property, cheers!

Heather Moore, Landscape Director

Page 2

Nathan and his son, Caeden.

Health & Fitness News

March into Fitness! Join us for one of our new classes or health lectures, or join us in the fitness center and get fit, healthy, and happy.

March Healthy Habits Lectures: Please join us for this informative lec-ture about Varenna’s Care program, led by our Wellness Nurse Celestine Mumah. We will review Varenna’s Care Program and medication man-

agement program.

Varenna Care, Medication Management, and You presented by: Celestine Mumah When: Wednesday, March 22nd Where: Great Hall Time: 2:00 – 3:00pm

Varenna Salon & Spa Services* -Hair Salon by Kim Ngyun Complete hair and nail salon for both men and women. Contact Kim at 707-490-9318.

-Massage Therapy with Mariko Variety of Massage services available. Contact Mariko at 707-481-3187.

-Skin Care by Katy Nordby Full suite of esthetician services availa-ble. Contact Katy at 707-953-4828.

*Pricing posted in the Salon Lobby.

Jenny Latourette, Health & Fitness Director

Kidney-Friendly Tips CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease)

Keep your blood pressure below 140/90 mm

Hg (or the target your doctor establishes for

you).

If you have diabetes, stay in your target blood

sugar range as much as possible.

Get active—physical activity helps control

blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Lose weight if you're overweight.

Get tested for CKD regularly if you're at risk.

If you have CKD, meet with a dietitian to cre-

ate a kidney-healthy eating plan. The plan

may need to change as you get older or if

your health status changes.

Take medications as instructed, and ask your

doctor about blood pressure medicines called

ACE inhibitors and ARBs, which may protect

your kidneys in addition to lowering blood

pressure.

If you smoke, quit. Smoking can worsen kid-

ney disease and interfere with medication that

lowers blood pressure.

Include a kidney doctor (nephrologist) on your

health care team.

Celestine Mumah, Health Services Director

Page 3

Maintenance Updates: The sunshine is allowing the maintenance team to work on outdoor projects. Pictured to the right, see mainte-nance team leveling the pavers in the Porte Cochere.

Tony Ruiz, Maintenance Director

A Note from our Nurse

Employee News

February Employee of the Month: Dustin Garza

New Hires: Fatima Aquino - Wait Staff Gabriel Cabrera - Cook Alex Cuevas - Wait Staff Maria Nakasinde - Care Provider Crystal Taylor - Cook

Kera Strong, Business Office Manager

Marketing News

We have had a busy month! Ken and Shirley Goodin moved into Casita 7, Jackie Ruelle moved into M222, Luana Pinasco and Norman Main moved into S207, Bob Schefter moved into M231, and Bob and Barbro Gregory moved into N202. Whew! Please take a moment to introduce yourselves to our new residents. “In March, Varenna and Villa Capri will host a joint art show for waitlisters, prospective residents and current residents, to showcase resident art. More information, including date and time, coming soon.” We look forward to seeing you around the community.

Andi Johnson, Marketing Director, Michael Simpson, Marketing Director

Upcoming Events / Activities / Excursions

Page 4

Dining Services Announcements

On March 17th, 2017, Varenna’s

Lakeside Dining Room will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. We are offering a 4 course, 36-point dinner which includes 1 compli-mentary glass of beer. This spe-cial dinner will be from 5:00 pm –7:15 pm. Please contact the host stand to reserve a table. We are also offering a 13-point boxed dinner for take-out. Check with the host stand for to-go op-tions – 707-522-2478.

If you have any questions or con-cerns, please contact Justin Do-miniak, Dining Services Director at 522-2470.

Music in the Living Room: Mar. 1st - Tom Shader Mar. 8th - Lloyd Smith Mar. 15th - Ambiance Trio Mar. 22nd - Nancy Berger

Lectures: Mar. 5th - Passport to Santa Fe-Gary Smith Mar. 12th - Passport to Caribbean-Hans Bader

Activities: (Sign up at the Concierge Desk) Mar. 16th - Bingo - Activity Room Mar. 28th - Floral Classes - Hobby Shop

March Excursions: Mar. 3rd - The Five Irish Tenors, GMC Mar. 9th - Hedda Gabler, Rialto Mar. 12th - Best of Broadway, LBC Mar. 14th - de Young Museum-Bouquet to Art, SF Mar. 16th - Lunch: Moylan’s, Novato Mar. 20th - Country Drive: Bodega Bay Tour Mar. 22nd - The Artist’s Garden, Rialto Mar. 23rd - Shopping at the Barlow, Sebastopol Mar. 24th - Arturo Sandoval, Pianist, GMC Mar. 26th - SR Symphony: Bring on the Strings, GMC Mar. 29th - Met Opera: Idomeneo, Rialto

Paula Becerra, Activity Director