Island spirit arrives at The Terrace at Grove Park

Warm tropical breezes. Cool, refreshing punch. Fresh fruit. A decorative backdrop. The relaxing sound of a steel drum filling the air. A conga line. A limbo stick.

Those were the ingredients that made for a fun-filled August afternoon at The Terrace at Grove Park. The staff and residents of the The Terrace closed out a summer filled with activities by enjoying the sights and sounds of a tropical luau.

Dan (The Pan Man) Farrell of Pantastik Academy provided the musical backdrop that led members of the staff to engage some of the residents creating a conga line through the dining room. Their efforts drew applause from residents who opted to enjoy plates filled with fruit and other finger foods. A cool, tropical punch provided the crowd-pleasing liquid refreshment for the event.

The braver members of The Terrace staff, led by their executive director, Mark Godwin, showcased their skills in mastering the limbo stick. Their efforts brought smiles of delight to the faces of the residents. The loudest applause of the afternoon saluted their efforts.

“We like to have luau in August,” said Sheila Bryan, “Kila” in Hawaiian, assistant director of The Terrace, as she explained the reason behind the activity. “It’s a fun thing for the employees and the residents.”

Bryan, Marilyn Starling, Sharon Lee and other members of The Terrace staff began planning the event two months ago and set about collecting the decorations and flowers that were needed to set just the right mood for the luau. The Friday afternoon event capped a two-day summer celebration.

“On Thursday night, we had an event for the cottage residents,” Ms. Bryan said. “This event (Friday) was for the assisted living residents. Most of our 48 residents were able to attend.”
Pulling off the undertaking was a collaborative effort.

“All of our department heads helped out in making it a successful event,” Ms. Bryan said. “Our dietary department created the meals, which were Hawaiian food.
“Our home health people also helped us.

“And, we were very happy to have Dan Farrell come and play for us.

“Overall, it was just a fun event - one of those things you can run with to perk up the residents.”