March 2023 | Page 10

By KERRY PHILLIPS

Spring is often associated with new beginnings , renewal and growth . It ’ s also the perfect time to consider rightsizing your life with a move to a senior living community . Marilyn Owens , a resident of SpringRidge at Charbonneau , made the decision four years ago this March and says she has no regrets !

“ It wasn ’ t an overnight decision so I ’ m glad I was healthy and active enough to play a role in downsizing my home in McMinnville ,” she explained . “ I was tired of worrying about home repairs such as my roof and sprinklers . I wanted a maintenance-free lifestyle where I could spend my day doing things I enjoy .”

Marilyn says she understands the apprehension her peers may feel at the thought of downsizing from a home filled with treasures , family heirlooms and memories .

“ You take the memories wherever you go ,” she advised . “ Your house is only the four walls . When you leave , you take the things that make that house a home , like the things that remind you of your marriage and raising children .”

Marilyn says she brought many of her possessions , which remind her of her travels and work , including a large coffee

table designed in the shape of oversized books , paying homage to her career as a librarian .

She took the suggestion of SpringRidge ’ s marketing team and worked with a downsizing expert familiar with the active retirement community ’ s many floorplans . Danielle Richardson of Friendly Move Management used a scale model of Marilyn ’ s SpringRidge residence to help her visualize furniture placement and help her decide what items would make her feel most at home .

“ I asked Danielle if I needed to be at my apartment to await the movers and was told no , so I went to lunch instead ,” she said . “ When I returned home , they had unpacked and put away everything ; even my paintings were hung !”

Marilyn ’ s neighbor , Shirley Treadwell , recalls a similar experience . She says she was “ flabbergasted ” when she walked into her SpringRidge residence to find

Marilyn Owens has no regrets about moving to SpringRidge four years ago .

COURTESY PHOTO : KERRY PHILLIPS

her clothes in the closet , dishes put away and towels hung in the bathroom .

She also used Friendly Move to help her prepare to move to SpringRidge . Danielle patiently went from room to room in her McMinnville home to help her decide what to keep and what items to donate . Danielle also works with local charities and antique dealers and assists with estate sales .

Shirley said attending one of SpringRidge ’ s monthly Lunch and Learn events helped her visualize how others furnished their residences and gave her ideas on how to personalize her new home . She encourages older adults considering a move to a senior living community to take a tour and ask to see actual residents ’ apartments .

“ I think people end up taking way more things than they need ,” she explained . “ You have to be honest with yourself and think about the rooms you use most in

your current home . Yes , you may have a big house , but are you truly using all the rooms ?”

Christine Holloway , SpringRidge ’ s director of sales , concurs . She said that , although residents are downsizing from larger homes , it is important to remember the entire community becomes an extension of their residence .

“ Residents don ’ t have to worry about bringing lots of pots and pans thanks to our onsite restaurant , which is open 12 hours daily and provides delicious chef-prepared options ,” she said . “ There are also numerous amenities , such as a fitness center , eliminating the need for residents to bring their own exercise equipment . Plus , with so much to do , such as engaging classes , live entertainment , fun outings , and opportunities for social engagement , residents find they are not making a sacrifice moving to SpringRidge . On the contrary , they are gaining so much more !”

In addition to the monthly Lunch & Learn events , SpringRidge offers a “ The Upside of Downsizing ” seminar , providing helpful tips for navigating the decluttering process and rightsizing one ’ s home . The next seminar is at 1:30 p . m . Thursday , March 30 . To RSVP , please call 503-446-6250 .

The SpringRidge at Charbonneau campus offers a comprehensive menu of lifestyle options , including CARF-accredited assisted living and memory care services at SpringRidge Court . For more information or to schedule a personal tour , please visit SpringRidgeatCharbonneau . com .

By MARGIE WIESENTHAL

In the late 1800s many children were wandering alone on the streets of New York City because they had been abandoned by their parents or had come to the US

WIESENTHAL by themselves . Many of these children were taken off these streets and shipped by rail to areas in the West , the farthest being Portland . The trains stopped along the way so that children could be bought by anyone wanting them as free labor .

COURTESY PHOTO

Joan and Murm Vedder enjoy a previous crab and rib dinner .

Jason was one of these children . He was , however , among the most fortunate because he was taken in by the Boys & Girls Aid of Portland . He was fed and

cared for and finally became a foster child to a good family . This agency was the first of its kind because it was committed to caring for boys and girls . On a tour through the Pittock Mansion several years ago I discover to my delight that Mrs . Henry Pittock was an early volunteer for Boys & Girls Aid . This information was in a newspaper article on the wall of the upstairs hallway . Her husband Henry was a long time publisher of the Portland Oregonian . Fast forward to the year 2023 — my fellow members of the Cypress Branch of Boys & Girls Aid and I are preparing to raise funds to help other Jasons and many girls to have the care that is given by this marvelous organization . How are we doing it ? We are doing it in part with our Crab and Rib Dinner and Auction . This is the latest of many such dinners but this year it will not be held at the club house because of the renovations . It will be held at the Willamette

Valley Country Club in Canby . The menu will include planked salmon and steak and be sure to enjoy the great desserts . There will be a cash bar .

On that evening we have many gift baskets for your silent bidding delight and a wine and whiskey wall to browse . Be sure to bid on the golden ticket : an airline trip for two anywhere in the U . S . We expect to see you there : 5:30 p . m . Saturday , March 25 . Tickets are $ 75 per person . To find out more about Boys & Girls Aid and for a link to the Crab and Rib Dinner , go to : http :// www . boysandgirlsaid . org or www . cypresonline . org .

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Boys and Girls Aid : � www . boysandgirlsaid . org Charbonneau Cypress Branch :

� www . cypressonline . org