Drum Hill Seniors "Our Life Stories" Reading and Cocktail Reception

“LIFE STORIES” READING and Cocktail Reception

Featuring Drum Hill Senior Living Writer / Residents

June 21st at 7:00PM

Free and Open to the Public

May 18, 2012, Peekskill, NY: Drum Hill Senior Living will host a “Life Stories” Reading and Cocktail Reception featuring writer/ residents, ages 70 – 98,  of Drum Hill on Thursday, June 21st at 7:00PM at the Drum Hill Senior Facility. Participants of the “Life Stories Writing Workshop”) will read from their book “Life Stories” which includes selections of their original writing -- stories, essays and poetry related to their life experiences. Cindy Beer-Fouhy, workshop facilitator, will introduce each of the senior poets and writers who will share their work out loud.  Drum Hill Senior Facility is located at 90 Ringgold Street, Peekskill, NY 10566. For directions, call (914) 788-8860.  The reading is free and open to the public. www.drumhill.org

Participants from Drum Hill include:  Martina Bole; Lenny Harris; Frances Manacher;   Dorothy Margolies; Thomas P. McConnell; Marguerite Norgren; Bob Pierce;  Margaret Pierce; Doris Pope; Edith R. Shapiro; Miriam Smith;  and Sara Weinstein.

The stories, essays and poetry in this collection represent a small portion of the work completed by students in the Drum Hill Life Stories Workshop.  The twelve students, who met weekly for 1 ½ hours for 20 weeks, wrote diligently every week and completed over ninety pages of stories.

According to Drum Hill Resident Edith Shapiro, “Twelve of us registered for this course not knowing what to expect. Some of us are in our 70s, many are in our 80s and several residents are in their 90s. In the first class I wrote a poem! How did this happen? I never wrote a poem in all my years.  These classes have changed my life at Drum Hill. I feel good about myself and my newly discovered ability and I look forward to each class.”

The  writings in  the  book  are responses to essay and poetry prompts and discussions on topics including: First Time Memories;  My Mother’s Kitchen;  A Scary Experience; Transformational Moments;  Advice to My Teenage Self;  Spring Memories;  Unsent Letters;  Friendship ; A Part of my Body Which Most Represents Who I Am; The Things We Keep;  and other topics.

Participants in this workshop have been courageous and honest with their words and have written from their hearts.  Their experiences, written and recited out loud, evoked memories and inspired others to write about events and feelings long forgotten.

“As a group, we laughed, shed tears, and applauded each other’s accomplishments in life and on the page.  We learned about our similarities and accepted our differences,” says Mrs. Beer-Fouhy who created the workshop and believes that, for seniors,  writing  has the potential to stimulate the memory, spark the imagination and keep cognitive thinking sharp.  

Mrs. Beer-Fouhy adds that she is grateful to Melissa Deak, Drum Hill Activities Director and Kathy Herrmann, Drum Hill Executive Director, for supporting the workshop and for valuing the importance of a writing workshop for residents of Drum Hill.

 “Melissa and Kathy understand the importance of introducing creative activities to our elderly population to help to sharpen mental capacity, physical abilities and the senses, boost self-esteem and encourage positive social interaction.”  

The writing workshop will resume in the fall, 2012. For information about Life Stories Writing Workshops, contact Cindy Beer-Fouhy at cindyf@bestweb.net