Meet Noble's New Social Worker, Nurses Need Heroes, 50th Update...

June 21, the longest day of the year, is around the corner, and given the explosion of campus activities, we welcome the extra daylight! On Tuesday, a group headed to Canaan's Caddie Shack for lunch and ice cream, while others remained on campus to create a colorful Flag Day cake adorned with strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and whipped cream (pictured herein). Also featured is Noble team member Danielle Bailey serving a freshly grilled lunch with lettuce grown from seeds residents planted in April. Their gardens are flourishing, offering delectables such as herbs, carrots, radishes, and tomatoes, not to mention a colorful variety of flowers that will be displayed throughout Noble all summer long.

In addition to community trips, these late spring days have been animated by picnics, birdwatching, corn hole, fishing, and croquet. Of course, the most popular diversion is simply walking Noble's beautiful campus, whether around the ponds, along the trails, down the sidewalks, or amidst the gardens popping riotous color. We hope you will be enjoying the final days of spring before summer's heat settles in!

Meet Noble's New Social Worker

We are thrilled to introduce Danielle Mastracola, Noble's recently appointed social worker. Danielle comes to Noble with over 22 years of experience in skilled nursing. "I really wanted to be in a smaller scaled environment, where I could spend more time and be more involved with residents and family,” explains Danielle. “When I came to the gorgeous campus and met the people here – I was sold. Everyone at Noble is warm, welcoming, and very helpful.”

As a social worker, Danielle fulfills several roles at Noble. She works closely with residents and their families, serving as their advocate and liaison between health care providers and social service agencies. She also fosters policies and routines to maximize each person's individuality, independence, and dignity. "I want to be...compassionate and helpful in any way I can." Read more

You're Invited to the Party of the Summer!

A hardworking committee of dedicated volunteers has been busy planning the event of the summer! Noble's 50th-anniversary Community Picnic on July 12 promises to be the highlight of summer 2022. Guests will enjoy festive music from the Salisbury Band, and a sneak preview of Noble's 50th-anniversary video featuring more than 30 community members sharing their memories of Noble's first half-century. Legislative Representative Maria Horn and Salisbury Selectman Curtis Rand, both of whom had parents at Noble Horizons, will join us as will Noble staff from the last 50 years. We are especially grateful to Sharon Hospital/Nuvance whose generous sponsorship of the picnic is a valued testament to our close 50-year partnership. More details and table reservations are available here.

Summer Reading with Friends!

If you love to read and learn, don't miss the Hotchkiss School's Carita Gardiner's latest book club. Carita, who holds the school's Class of 1942 Teaching Chair, earned a B.A. from Amherst College, an Ed.M. from Harvard University, an M.A. from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing, will lead a guided discussion of Vanessa Riley's Island Queen. Acclaimed by The New York Times as “Riveting and transformative, evocative and immersive…by turns vibrant and bold and wise, discovering Dorothy’s story is a singular pleasure,” the class begins June 22, from 5-6 pm and runs weekly on Wednesdays through August 3.

Island Queen is a remarkable, sweeping historical novel based on the incredible true-life story of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, a free Black woman who rose from slavery to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful landowners in the colonial West Indies. Click here to learn more and to register.

Nurses Need Heroes, Too!

Noble is proud to celebrate National CNA week, June 16-23, the theme for which is “I’m still standing." This year's CNA week recognizes the critical contributions of CNAs amidst the many personal and professional challenges of the last three years.

Director of Nursing Autumn Cockroft expressed her gratitude to Noble's CNAs, "We could not be prouder to work with such driven, caring, and compassionate individuals. We have created our own CNA week theme which is “CNAs: Because Nurses Need Heroes Too." We all come together to care for our beloved residents, and I thank you for all that you do! In recognition of CNA week Jessica (Ass't. Director of Nursing) and I will be handing out “goodies” next week. Happy CNA week to all!"

Administrator Bill Pond added, "In recognition of CNA week, the Ice Cream Emergency truck is visiting. The Ice Cream Emergency Truck is a whimsical emergency rescue vehicle disguised as an ice cream truck that will rush to Noble to “save” us with gourmet, super-premium ice cream. You haven’t seen ice cream until you have seen this huge ice cream bus! Congrats to all and thank you. You are all heroes!"