Pictured from left, Board Member Marian Conway, Board President David Deming, St. Johnland CEO Mary Jean Weber, Board Members Heather Spehr, Mike Agnes and Arlene Vermylen at the ribbon cutting.
The library at the new assisted living facility at St. Johnland.
The outdoor dining area at the new assisted living facility at St. Johnland.
Photo from St. Johnland
Photo from St. Johnland
An aerial view of the new facility at St. Johnland.
St. Johnland recently held a celebration to commemorate the newly completed Assisted Living Facility on their Kings Park campus. The Assisted Living facility is the newest addition to St. Johnland which was founded in 1866 and since then has been providing care and support for the community.
Located in a serene woodland setting, the 100-bed facility will provide homes for individuals that are Medicaid eligible. They will also accept residents who are depleting their resources to become Medicaid eligible. The focus is to provide a residential and social setting where all residents can receive the care they need in order to maintain their optimal level of function and freedom while knowing they are supported by the residential services, medical supervision and personal care assistance they need.
The facility, which came about to meet the pressing need for expanded Medicaid Assisted Living Program capacity, will welcome residents who are ambulatory but may need assistance with daily care and medical services. The newly-formed St. Johnland Licensed Health Home Care Service agency will help secure treatment and services for residents. Residents who need more care as time passes will have the option of transferring to the Nursing Center, allowing the opportunity to age in place and have continuity of care.
For information about admission, please call 631-663-4444.
Gurwin Healthcare System recently held a celebration to commemorate the newly completedFountaingate Gardens Independent Living complex, now fully open on their Commack campus.
Photo from Fountaingate Gardens
The $115 million. 129-luxury apartment Life Plan Community is a unique concept in senior living, the newest such community on Long Island, and the final piece in Gurwin’s full continuum of care for seniors. Fountaingate Gardens opened for limited occupancy in May with the completion of The Terraces residential building and the 20,000+ square-foot Clubhouse. The Parkview, the largest residential building on the complex, was the last to receive a certificate of occupancy, representing full completion of the project.
With more than 200 guests in attendance, Stuart B. Almer, President and CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System offered a champagne toast, celebrating the milestone for the organization.
“We are thrilled to celebrate with our community members, staff, board members and those who have worked tirelessly to bring Fountaingate Gardens to life,” said Almer. “We have worked so hard to complete this long-envisioned Life Plan Community for Gurwin and we are honored to be offering Long Islanders a way to truly age in place with peace of mind.”
Throughout the celebration, which took place within the state-of-the-art Clubhouse, guests toured the facility by following a “wellness path” through a variety of rooms demonstrating the community’s Blue Zone-inspired lifestyle. The Blue Zones — areas throughout the world where people live the longest — encourage a lifestyle aimed at improving health and longevity through specific habits. Each room also featured giveaways, various Blue Zone-inspired menu items prepared by the talented in-house culinary team, and activities including a performance by the Aqualillies, synchronized swimming entertainment, in the Clubhouse’s heated saltwater pool.
“It is amazing to celebrate this official opening,” said Ryan Grady, Executive Director of Fountaingate Gardens. “It’s wonderful to see members proud of and excited to show off their new home, thrilled to start this new and exciting chapter of their lives. We are pleased to be able to offer this unique retirement lifestyle to help Long Islanders live the best of their lives!”
Pictured in photo in stofrom left, Ryan Grady, Executive Director of Fountaingate Gardens; Jennifer Kennedy, Vice President of System Integration at Gurwin Healthcare System; Stuart B. Almer, President and CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System; Bert Brodsky, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Gurwin Healthcare System; and Cary Wolf, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fountaingate Gardens.
Visit www.FountaingateLI.org or call 631-715-2693 for more information.
This year's Wet Paint Festival will be held at the Sherwood-Jayne Farm in East Setauket.
Photo courtesy of Preservation Long Island
By Melissa Arnold
Since 2004, Gallery North’s annual Wet Paint Festival has invited artists from far and wide to revel in nature’s beauty. For a week or a weekend, artists enjoy each other’s company and a healthy dose of plein air painting — the tricky, constantly changing art of working outdoors.
This year’s festival, scheduled for June 4 and 5, will be held at the historic and picturesque Sherwood-Jayne Farm on Old Post Road in East Setauket and seeks to build upon past events where visitors can watch the artists work and ask questions about their creative process. There will also be the opportunity to tour the Sherwood-Jayne House, go bird watching, enjoy live music and more.
An artist paints plein air at the Sherwood-Jayne Farm. Photo from Preservation Long Island
“The landscape of the show has changed in a variety of ways over the years, not just in location but in the way it’s structured,” said Ned Puchner, executive director of Gallery North. “During the pandemic, people could paint remotely for a two-week period. Last year, we had a few different locations to choose from. This year, we’re returning to the traditional style of having a specific site where everyone will come together and paint for a weekend, with some additional activities for the public to enjoy.”
The Sherwood-Jayne Farm was originally slated to host the Wet Paint Festival in 2020, and planning for the event was nearly complete when the pandemic shut things down.
“Gallery North reached out to us a few years ago looking to change up the festival from the way it was done in the past,” said Elizabeth Abrams, Assistant Director of Operations and Programs for Preservation Long Island, which cares for the property. “We used to team up with the gallery for an apple festival, and considering we are just down the street from each other, it was natural for us to work together again.”
Preservation Long Island is a multifaceted not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting Long Island’s history and culture. Founded in 1948, their focus is on education, advocacy, and the stewardship of historic buildings and artifacts.
Abrams explained that the Sherwood-Jayne House was built in 1730 as an early colonial, lean-to salt box dwelling. The house and surrounding farmland were cared for by the Jayne family for more than 150 years. In 1908, it was acquired by the founder of Preservation Long Island, Howard Sherwood, who lived in the home and displayed a variety of antiques there.
Throughout the weekend, the Sherwood-Jayne House will be open for tours with Preservation Long Island curator Lauren Brincat. Keep an eye out for the Tallmadge wall panels, and the incredibly beautiful wall mural in the parlor that’s meant to look like wallpaper — they are very rare to see, especially on Long Island, Abrams added.
“The house contains a large portion of Howard Sherwood’s personal antique collection and other bits of history from colonial Long Island. This area had a foundational role in American history — exploring the house and its collections are a unique way to learn more about that important time period,” she said.
There will be plenty of outdoor inspiration for the artists at the festival as well. The property is also home to a variety of outbuildings and trails, gorgeous old-growth walnut trees, an apple orchard, and all kinds of wildlife.
The Four Harbors Audubon Society will lead tours exploring the wildlife and ecology of the area, with a particular focus on local birds. If the barn is open, you might be lucky enough to meet some goats, a few sheep, or an old, sweet white horse named Snowball.
Visitors are free to wander the grounds at their leisure, watch the artists work or ask questions, Puchner said. For those who are feeling shy or not sure what to ask, an artist will offer a guided tour and lead discussions once each day.
“The whole objective of the Wet Paint Festival is to help people understand what goes into the process of creating a painting, and to meet local artists. It’s a great way for someone who has no artistic experience to learn how it all works,” Puchner said.
Nancy Bueti-Randall, pictured in her studio, will join over 40 other artists at this year’s Gallery North Wet Paint Festival. Photo by Heidi Sutton/TBR News Media
Over 40 artists will be participating this weekend including Nancy Bueti-Randall of Stony Brook who began to paint outdoors as a way to recharge while raising her three children. She’s spent more than 20 years creating and showing her work, which runs the gamut from pictorial to abstract, figures and landscapes. Most of the time, though, she’s painting in her garden or other familiar surroundings.
Sometimes, she’ll start a painting with the idea to focus on one thing, but something else in a landscape will catch her eye instead.
“There are a lot of challenges with plein air painting. It’s very fleeting — a landscape is always changing, even from day to day,” Bueti-Randall explained. “You have to be fast and responsive to what’s going on around you. It’s about becoming engaged with the thing you’re painting. I can get overwhelmed by beauty, and I try to capture the essence of what I’m seeing in a process of give and take.”
Marceil Kazickas of Sands Point considers herself an artistic late bloomer. She started drawing and painting to cope with a health crisis, and found that when she was being creative, she wasn’t in pain. Kazickas prefers to work in oil, which she loves for its luscious, sensual properties.
“When you go outside, there’s an overwhelming amount of information to take in — the views are always changing, the clock is running, and you want to get your design done quickly because the light and shadows are constantly evolving,” she explained.
“I’m not as focused on painting exactly what I see … People can get caught up in producing a finished, frameable piece of art, but for me it’s exciting to be outside and come up with whatever I can in the short time I’m out there, even if it’s nothing. It’s about the painting process.”
Puchner hopes that the variety of activities, including a scavenger hunt for kids and live music from the Keenan Paul Zach Trio and Tom Killourhy, will appeal to all kinds of people.
“These new additions will give the public the opportunity to enjoy nature, the arts and history all in one place, and our artists will have a fun new location to experiment and be creative in,” he said.
The 18th Annual Wet Paint Festival will be held June 4 and 5 at the Sherwood-Jayne Farm, 55 Old Post Road, East Setauket from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain date is June 18 and 19. The event is free and open to the public.
All participating artists will have their festival work on display in an exhibit at Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket, from July 7 through Aug 7. A free opening reception will be held at the gallery from on July 7 from 6 to 8 p.m.
For more information about the festival or to register to paint, visit www.gallerynorth.org or call 631-751-2676. Learn more about Sherwood-Jayne Farm at www.preservationlongisland.org.
The Smithtown Senior Center is now featuring an interactive BINGO experience for members. The recent addition of the jumbo electronic BINGO flash board is a result of a purchase from Siena Village Senior Living community. Senior Center members can enjoy in the BINGO fun every Friday starting at 12:15 p.m.
“We were looking for ways to improve the services and activities for our membership in addition to a selling point, to encourage new enrollment. BINGO is a much-loved form of entertainment… It has been a popular pastime for generations. My hope is that this new addition, and the lineup of fun activities, crafts and clubs will entice new membership and improve the experience for the community members who we see daily,” said Doreen Perrino, Smithtown Senior Citizens Department Program Director.
In addition to the new BINGO Fridays program, the senior center has expanded clubs such as the Knitting & Crochet group, (every Monday from 10 a.m. to noon.) The Knitting & Crochet group makes hats, scarves and mittens for local shelters, baby hats for hospitals, lap blankets and shawls for senior residency homes and much more. Members can use supplies, yarn and tools provided by the Senior Center or bring their own from home.
The Senior Citizens Center offers a wide array of activities, clubs and programming geared towards improving quality of life for our wiser, elder residents. Every day, the center offers a full schedule of arts, fitness, and wellness programming. Members can choose to join a variety of clubs, from gardening, quilting and book clubs to one of seven social clubs, featuring Casino & Theater outings, luncheons, parties, community advocacy and volunteer opportunities. In addition to a wealth of entertaining programming, the Smithtown Senior Citizens Department offers a variety of at home maintenance and repairs services.
The Eugene Cannataro Senior Citizens Center, 420 Middle Country Road, Smithtown, is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (July & August Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) Lunch is served daily. Transportation is also available for membership. For questions or additional information, please call (631) 360-7616 or for Transportation: (631) 265-8811.
On January 14, Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich and Councilwoman Jane Bonner were honored to officiate at the swearing in ceremony of the incoming officers of the Port Jefferson Senior Citizen Club. The installation ceremony was held at the Rose Caracappa Senior Center in Mount Sinai.
The incoming officers of the club were presented with a Certificates of Congratulations from the Town acknowledging their selection as officers and the outgoing officers received Certificates of Appreciation for their service to the club. Pictured left to right are Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich; Club Secretary Annette Okula; Treasurer, Joanne Daube; President, Edythe Budke; First Vice President Phyllis Rosen; Second Vice President, Sharon Goodman; Club Leader, Shirley Hudson and Councilwoman Jane Bonner (right).
“Thank you to current and past officers of the Port Jefferson Senior Citizen Club for their service. It’s important that we continue to support our Senior Clubs and I look forward to working with them to improve our community and meet their needs,” said Councilmember Kornreich.
“It’s always a pleasure to meet with the Port Jefferson Senior Citizen Club members and I am happy to see them enjoying our senior center again. Congratulations to the newly installed officers and a thank you to the outgoing officers for their service to the club,” added Councilwoman Bonner.
President Barack Obama talks with Betty White in the Oval Office, June 11, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
By Barbara Anne Kirshner
We thought Betty White would live forever. Long after the other Golden Girls left planet Earth, White, with that mischievous glint in her eyes accompanied by clever quips, was ever present and breaking new ground.
Betty White was a staunch advocate for animals. Photo courtesy of Fathom Events
Like the Energizer Bunny, Betty White kept going and we expected her to always be there. White passed away in her sleep on Dec. 31. She was 99.
This month People Magazine had planned a celebration of White’s 100th birthday which was to happen on January 17. We were certain she would make it to centenarian status, but White probably felt it was time to join her husband, Allen Ludden, and all of her animals who had passed before her. She had even said in an interview that when she arrives in Heaven, Ludden would have to stand in line while she reunited with her much loved pets.
Born on January 17, 1922, in Oak Park, Illinois, Betty Marion White was the only child of Horace Logan White and Christine Tess. The family moved to Alhambra, California in 1923 and later to Los Angeles during the Great Depression. White graduated from Beverly Hill High School in 1939. As a child, she wanted to be an opera singer and took voice lessons. After graduating from high school, due to her love of animals, she aspired to be a forest ranger, but that path was not open to women in the early 1940s. Instead, she discovered acting and the rest is history.
In the 1940s, she went on to land roles in the first two plays she auditioned for, Spring Dance and Dear Ruth, before performing on radio in The Great Gildersleeve, Blondie, This Is Your FBI and became the sidekick to popular local DJ, Al Jarvis, on his daily radio show Make Believe Ballroom. White’s television career took off when that radio show moved to television under the title Hollywood on Television. Next came Life with Elizabeth for two seasons from 1953 to 1955 followed by The Betty White Show on NBC in 1954.
Allen Ludden and Betty White. Photo from Wikipedia
White went on to become the first lady of game shows in the 60s, appearing on Password, What’s My Line?, Match Game and Pyramid. She met her third husband, Allen Ludden, on Password and has been quoted as saying he was “the love of my life.” They were married from 1963 until 1981 whenLudden died following a battle with stomach cancer. It is poignant to note White’s assistant told longtime friend and fellow colleague, Vicki Lawrence, that the last word White uttered was “Allen.”
She was a staple of late night talk shows with decades long appearances on The Tonight Show.
In 1973, White appeared as the “man-hungry” Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the role became a favorite winning White the Emmy for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1975 and again in 1976.
The Golden Girls launched in 1985 through 1992 and White won the Emmy in 1986 for her role as the ditzy but good-hearted Rose Nylund. It is interesting to note that White was first offered the role of Blanche but director Jay Sandrich felt that character was too close to the role of Nivens, so he decided that White should play Rose instead.
White was celebrated with more awards in 1995 when she was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and in 1996 she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for The John Larroquette Show.
2010 was big for Betty White. It started on Jan. 23 with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. On Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7, White appeared in a Snickers commercial that skyrocketed in popularity. After a successful fan campaign on Facebook, White hosted Saturday Night Live‘s Mother’s Day episode at 88 ½ years of age, becoming the oldest person to host SNL.
At the start of her monologue White marveled, “I can’t believe I’m hosting Saturday Night Live! I’m 88 ½ years old, so it’s great to be here for a number of reasons.” She went on to thank Facebook for the campaign that brought her to the show then wisecracked, “I didn’t know what Facebook was and now that I know, it sounds like a huge waste of time.”
Musical guest Jay-Z dedicated his performance of “Forever Young” to “the most incredible Betty White.” After her death, Seth Myers tweeted “The only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party. A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed ’til the bitter end.” That hosting gig was awarded on August 21, 2010, with a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her guest host spot.
Betty White at the 1988 Emmy Awards. Photo from Wikipedia
On January 1, 2022, as a special tribute, SNL re-aired her hosting episode. White went on to the role of Elka Ostrovsky in Hot in Cleveland (2010-2015). She was in her 90s by the time that series ended.
In 2012, White won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t). She was recognized by the Guinness World Records for longest TV career for a female entertainer. (74 years)
In 2015 White won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards and in 2018 she was honored at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards for her more than 80 years in show business.
White enjoyed a highly accomplished and celebrated career, but her passion was animals. She has said that they have made a huge difference in her life. She was devoted to animal welfare and supported numerous animal-related nonprofits throughout her career, from donations and volunteering to fundraising and recording public service announcements.
A documentary paying tribute to Betty White’s life and career will be screened at select theaters nationwide on Jan. 17 which would have marked her centennial birthday.
Titled Betty White: A Celebration, the film will feature White’s final interview and a behind-the-scenes look at some of her most iconic sitcom roles. It also includes interviews with dozens of celebrity friends.
Rest In Peace dear Betty White. Thank you for all the laughs and for being there for us. You are a national treasure. This crazy world shone brighter with you in it and you are truly missed.
Miller Place resident Barbara Anne Kirshner is a freelance journalist, playwright and author of “Madison Weatherbee —The Different Dachshund.”
The Smithtown Senior Citizens Department has announced that it has recently expanded its Medical Alert Program. In addition to offering in-home medical alert monitoring services, residents now have the option to choose a GPS enabled system that travels where ever they go. The program is open to all residents age 60 and older.
This Medical Alert Program allows seniors to live independently, with the comfort and peace of mind, knowing that help is just a touch away. Through a partnership with American Medical Alert Corporation (AMAC), a Connect America Company, residents simply wear a lightweight, touch activated system that can be worn as a pendant or on the wrist (home based system only). Once an alert is activated, trained emergency operators respond to help with the situation, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Our objective with this personal emergency response system is to ensure the well-being of our seniors and enable them to remain safely in their homes. Perhaps just as important is to provide seniors with the peace of mind knowing that if they ever need help they will get it,” said Doreen Perrino, Smithtown Senior Citizens Department Program Director.
Residents who are interested in obtaining a Connect America Medical Alert system can inquire through the Smithtown Senior Citizens Department at 631-360-7616. The service is available for a low monthly monitoring fee of $18 for the in-home system and $30 for the GPS enabled system. There are no installation fees, long term contracts or cancellation penalties.
For more information on this and other Smithtown services, please contact Smithtown Public Information Officer Nicole Garguilo at 631-360-7600 or via email at [email protected]
Members of the Smithtown Senior Center's Thursday Quilters club. Photo from Town of Smithtown
Smithtown residents belonging to the Senior Center’s Thursday Quilters club embraced the giving season with a heart-warming plan to spread tidings of joy to the Town’s wisest of residents.
The group of talented quilters handmade lap blankets, which were then delivered by the Smithtown Senior Citizens Department to eight center members who turned 100 or older this year. The quilts were stitched with love, and packaged with a holiday greeting card, wishing each recipient a happy birthday and holiday season.
Smithtown Senior Citizens Department employee Mae Inzone came up with the idea to present to the Thursday Quilters Club, which they happily embraced. The eight community members were deeply honored by the special delivery.
“The Senior Center is a very special place, where we all care for one another like family… which means celebrating all of life’s victories, big and small. I’d like to commend Mae Inzone for this very thoughtful idea as well as our talented members in the quilting group who devoted countless hours to making these timeless gifts, which will be treasured and enjoyed for years to come,” said Doreen Perrino, Smithtown Senior Citizens Department Program Director.
Members of the Senior Center celebrating 100 years or more in 2021 include Mattie DiSpaltro (102), Fran Miller (101), Rita Maffe (100), Orlando Marotta (100), Janet DeVries (100), Lillian Guerriero (100), Mae Letsch (100) and Theresa Sanders (100).
“I’m deeply moved by this gesture given by the talented quilters and an incredible team at the Senior Center. I would like to formally wish our wisest and longest living residents a very happy birthday & hope for a memorable, healthy holiday season with good friends and family,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim.
The Town of Smithtown Senior Center has announced the full reopening of the Eugene Cannataro Senior Citizens Center. In person programming began last month, with the partial reopening focused on center clubs and activities. Rigorous cleaning and safety precautions were also implemented to ensure the health and wellbeing of the membership. The Senior Center will begin full scale operations, including meal services, on Monday, June 28.
“It is an honor to officially welcome back our residents to the Eugene Cannataro Senior Citizens Center. This could not be possible without Laura Greif, and the dedicated, compassionate team at the Senior Center… Registration is on the rise, with 22 new members signed up just this week. People are eager to safely socialize and gather again. I am truly grateful for this day and look forward to seeing many smiling faces enjoying all the center has to offer,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim.
A welcome back Karaoke party is scheduled for June 30. Additionally, the annual July 4th celebration is set for Friday, July 2. Senior Center Program favorites including Zumba, quilting, gardening and strength training are all featured on the monthly calendar. Clubs have also begun to conduct their bi-weekly meetings. The Senior Center staff is currently in the process of planning outings and trips for the membership to take advantage of. Coffee & bagels and Lunch services will be offered effective June 28th. The pool room is currently open.
In March of 2020, the Eugene Cannataro Senior Citizens Center was required, under New York State Executive Order, to close its doors to the public, at the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Supervisor Wehrheim worked closely with Senior Center Director Laura Greif and her team to arrange for weekly meal delivery for those residents who relied on the meal programs. Under Greif’s leadership, the Senior Center staff worked diligently to set up a number of services and programs to assist the most vulnerable of Smithtown’s population as each resident was forced to shelter in place.
Harris Friedman and the Transportation Unit worked to drive senior residents to grocery stores, and doctor appointments/wellbeing visits. Patty Bornhoft maintained the edible garden last summer, and delivered the weekly harvest of vegetables, fruit and herbs to the Garden Club members. In addition to checking in on the membership, regularly, Victoria Rice made over 400 face masks for distribution. Home Repair crews focused on facilitating outdoor projects, and minor exterior home maintenance.
Senior Center Director Laura Greif began daily ZOOM meetings to connect with the membership on a more personal basis. Then in January of 2021, a massive coordinated effort between the Supervisor’s Office, NY State, St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center and the Senior Center began in order to arrange vaccine appointments for Senior Citizens in the Community. In Spring, the Town of Smithtown conducted two vaccine sites; in Kings Park and at the Senior Center in Smithtown, successfully vaccinating close to 600 residents.
Eugene Cannataro Senior Center hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm through July 1st. Summer Hours (July 1st – August 31) are Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Eugene Cannataro Senior Center is located at 420 Middle Country Road in Smithtown.
Stuart B. Almer, President and CEO of the Gurwin Healthcare System (left), leads the ceremonial “turning of dirt” at Fountaingate Gardens’ Groundbreaking Ceremony.
Long Island legislators and local community members joined board members, future residents and staff of Fountaingate Gardens independent living community at a ceremonial groundbreaking event for Long Island’s newest Life Plan Community on the campus of the renowned Gurwin Healthcare System in Commack recently. The 129-unit, resort-style apartment complex, complete with indoor saltwater pool, state-of-the-art fitness gym and cultural arts center, is designed to provide a vibrant and socially active community environment for adults age 62 years and better. The promise of financial security and a unique safety net of care option for on-campus healthcare services is what sets the innovative community apart from other senior living choices on Long Island.
Rendering of Fountaingate Gardens Life Plan Community located on the Gurwin Healthcare System campus in Commack.
In addition to the ceremonial turning of dirt, Fountaingate Gardens founding depositors compiled a time capsule of memories, capturing the legacy they have been part of during the inception of the community, including photos of ZOOM meet ups and other friendship-building events. In recognition of the global health challenges faced over the past year, press clippings, a face mask and a spent vaccine vial were also included in the capsule as a means of closing the door on 2020 and looking ahead toward a bright and hopeful future with new friends and neighbors at Fountaingate Gardens.
“The addition of Fountaingate Gardens increases the breadth of Gurwin’s services for Long Islanders, creating a full continuum of care Life Plan Community on our beautiful 34-acre campus,” said Stuart B. Almer, President and CEO of the Gurwin Healthcare System. “Members of our unique community are able to truly age in place — with guaranteed accessed to other levels of healthcare, such as assisted living, short-term rehabilitation or skilled nursing care — when and if needed. We are pleased to be able to offer an innovative option to those who are seeking a vibrant lifestyle backed by a financial and healthcare safety net and 30 years of healthcare experience that only Gurwin can provide.”
Fountaingate Gardens is slated to open in the Spring of 2022.
About Fountaingate Gardens:Fountaingate Gardens is a not-for-profit Life Plan Community, also known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community or CCRC, being built in Commack, Long Island, NY. The community is an extension of the renowned Gurwin Healthcare System, adding independent living to current offerings that include assisted living, skilled nursing and short-term rehabilitation, among other services. Fountaingate Gardens is a community for seniors who wish to continue their active, independent lifestyle without the burden of home ownership and with the added security of knowing a full continuum of care is available on-site when and if ever needed. For more information, please call (631) 715-2693 or visit www.fountaingateli.org.