Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

• 2 • The Pinecone | January 2021 ON THE PINECONE COVER Happy NewYear! We can finally say goodbye to a year filled with so many challenges and losses; and say hello to a year filled with hope and optimism. I remember thinking on Valentine’s Day how loving my siblings and their children are to me, and that Spring would soon surround us all with the beauty of nature that God sends to us each year. That felling of new growth and beauty quickly diminished as the world came face to face with a challenge bigger than many had ever faced before. However, with faith in hand and love in our hearts we found our own way of staring the challenge down. Resident artists, eager to show their talents, went from an art opening with wine and cheese, to an art program brought to everyone on our live in- house television station. Truly giving more the opportunity to learn about the works they had created as they listened to resident artist being interviewed and describing their inner passion for creating each piece, which then was hung for all to stop by and see every six weeks. Resident sewers began making masks almost immediately. Giving some away and selling others in the Blossom Shop. Sharing their creativity and concern for a healthy community for us all. Our house Chaplin, Don Johnson, began using our Shortel telephone system to give a morning devotional to all employees. His words of encouragement and prayer, then and now, continue to help staff push through when the odds sometimes feel heavily stacked against them. It 's a New Year a t K i r b y P i n e s Michael Escamilla, Executive Director, Kirby Pines Looking Forward to 2021 at Kirby Pines Kirby Pines Retirement LifeCare is managed by: BOARD OF D I R ECTOR S Dr. James Latimer, Chairman Mr. Rudy Herzke, President Mr. Berry Terry, Secretary/Treasurer Mr. Larry Braughton Rev. Richard Coons Mr. Jim Ethridge Ms. Linda Harrington Ms. Mary Ann Hodges Mr. Rusty Linkous Mr. Boyd Rhodes, Jr. RCA S TA F F Charlie Trammell President, RCA Michélle Vincent Senior Vice President, RCA Tim Cox Senior Vice President of Finance, RCA Laura Cornwell Vice President of Finance, RCA Stephanie Barrow Director of Sales & Marketing K I RBY P I NE S S TA F F Michael Escamilla Executive Director, Kirby Pines Annette Marlar Director of Medical Services and HR Mike Abutineh, M.D. Medical Director Anna Bradford Nursing Home/Assisted Living Administrator Linda Huston Director of Accounting Don Johnson Chaplain Chuck Neeley Director of Maintenance Mike Rayder Director of Grounds & Landscaping Jada Mullins Director of Environmental Services Calvin Sims Director of Security Alisa Stokes Director of Transportation This magazine is produced by RCA 6465 N. Quail Hollow Rd., Suite 400 Memphis, TN 38120, 901-794-2598 Electronic version of The Pinecone is available at www.kirbypines.com It is January 2021, time to celebrate a new year and start fresh. I think all of us are beginning to feel a sense of relief that 2020 is over. It was definitely a challenging year. We have learned to adapt to situations and find new things to entertain us. We have found dif- ferent ways to communicate and stay connect- ed. And we have grown stronger because of the challenges we have had to face. So now it's time to look forward to things to come. Start that exercise class, take up paint- ing, read a new book, join a new club or group, all of which can be done right here at Kirby Pines. Our front cover features Sydney Wagner toast- ing the New Year in her apartment with spar- kling cider, letting us know that everything is going to be okay in 2021. Her smile says it all! Residents volunteered to deliver mail and packages to those self-isolating; to call on local religious leaders to serve as guest speakers for Vespers, now attended by so many more again utilizing our in-house television station; and others secured local artist to perform on stage in the performing arts center, to a mostly virtual audience. These acts of kindness resulted in Kirby Pines once again being voted the Best Retirement Community by the readers of the Commercial Appeal. Making this our 14th consecutive year to receive this honor. This holiday season has been the perfect time to pause and remember the best that Kirby has to offer, and to remember those in our hearts, but no longer among us. As I begin my 19th year of service to you and the employees of Kirby Pines, I wish everyone a better and Happy New Year. Remember, Spring and its beauty is just around the corner. Our back cover reflects on the past year and the wonderful people who live at Kir- by Pines. Because of the residents and staff, it is really is a special place. Sydney Wagner Bringing In 2021