I LOVE the people that live at Meadowlark Hills. We are all different but similar, and that makes for a great place to live.
"Big Why" Fall Lecture Series: Enriching Our Lives by Facing Some of Life & Our Community's Big Questions
October 3, 2025
Blog
When Vern Gannon speaks, people listen. The local auctioneer’s talent for fast talking will be on display Saturday, Sept. 10, at the 2nd annual Meadowlark Hills Benefit Auction planned for the Utopia Room at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 2900 Kimball Ave. Proceeds benefit the Meadowlark Hills Foundation’s Good Samaritan Fund, which assists residents in Meadowlark Hills healthcare households who have outlived their financial resources. Once again, Gannon is donating his time and that of his staff members so that more auction revenue will go toward the fund.
Prairie Star
As the weather (hopefully!) begins to cool down, I hope to see more people out enjoying the patio adjacent to our lovely Prairie Star Restaurant. Once out there, I encourage patrons to take notice of the beautiful sculpture in the middle of the patio called Prairie Star – the piece the restaurant is named after.
For many weeks we have been surrounded by the photosynthetic fecundity of green plants. With cooler weather this process mostly will have reached fruition for this growing season. But, stay tuned for 2017!
Submitted by Polly Ferrell
Two years ago, five grocery style shopping carts were purchased for our use. Some residents looked at the shopping cart and said, “Oh great! This is just what we need.” Others said, “No, I like the old ones.” But, as with many things, the new has now become the cart of choice for most residents.
Construction for a new cottage located on Meadowlark Valley will begin fairly soon. Vehicles from the construction company will be on Meadowlark Hills campus while construction is being completed.
Prime Real Estate
It’s not often that I am asked what is going to happen with the empty space in the Community Center. For my faithful readers, you have read previous articles of mine that reference the limited real estate in the common and storage areas on campus – especially in the main building. But I know we all want to know what in the world is going into the alcove adjacent to the entrance to Prairie Star Restaurant that was once occupied by display cases…
Submitted by Polly Ferrell
Meadowlark Hills Singers invites you to come sing with us. Summer is vacation time for the Singers; however, Michael Old Father, Director, is busy reviewing and selecting new songs to challenge us and increase our joy of singing in a group. Meadowlark Hills Singers usually perform three times each year. Our first concert in December will usher in the Christmas season. That means when weekly practice begins Monday, Aug. 15, Christmas melodies will be in the air.
The top-rank poet, Maxine Kumin, while cleaning out her horse barn one day, got the idea for her "Excrement Poem." Basically, she honors what drops from us because it means "we go on." This is true for all animals, but that could develop into a problem.
House Warming Party
Last week we had a great turnout at the Hallway Party – A Small Meal with a Big Reveal! The big reveal was the official unveiling of the newly renovated Honstead and Sloan Houses in our long-term care living area at Meadowlark. These two houses are the oldest houses at Meadowlark – they turned 36-years-old in June!
Submitted by Sue Hunt
With the oncoming week, predicting some cool down in the weather, now would be a good time to ride or walk for a visit to Leons Glen.
On a recent walk, I spotted a lot of different flowers. There was a lot of tiny white blossoms (fleabane) golden coreopsis and cone flower. There was a spiky purple verbena and small lavender puff balls on sensitive cats claw, bee balm and wavy leaf thistle.
On the upper path, lots of purple poppy mallow. When you visit, take your time and look into the Glen.