MANHATTAN, KAN. – Effective Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 7 a.m. all traffic coming to Meadowlark’s campus will be screened at a newly established check-point station located at the Tuttle Creek Boulevard entrance. Meadowlark closed the Kimball Avenue entrance on Thursday, March 19. There is no date set to restore either entrance.

MANHATTAN, KAN. – Meadowlark, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in Manhattan, is preparing for possible cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus). While eight cases of COVID-19 have been identified as presumptively positive in Kansas, no cases have been suspected in Manhattan community and adjacent areas. Much about the virus is still unknown, but it is known that the population Meadowlark serves – older adults with underlying medical conditions – are at the highest risk for the most serious forms of infection associated with this new disease.

   The question remains, can we place additional recycling containers in common areas, such as the Game Room, Billiards Parlor and Kansas Room & Pub and to encourage even more recycling? My short answer is no, but my explanation is a little more lengthy.

All four members of the Duggan family participated in the tenth annual Speedy Pd Race for Parkinson’s Disease on Saturday, Aug. 25, at Tuttle Creek State Park. Murphy Rose was delighted with her halfmile family fun run performance and celebrated with a delicious sno-kone at race headquarters. She looks forward to “her” race every year and I enjoy watching her determined face as she sprints toward the finish line.

Don Rasmussen, Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program participant and resident at Meadowlark Hills, is feeling good these days. It’s August and for the tenth year in row it means the season for the Speedy Pd Race for Parkinson’s disease is in full swing. The event is the main fundraiser for Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program, which provides services for the Flint Hills region to improve the quality of life for all those affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD).

I remember my grandfather’s mother. She was beautiful, worldly and raised five boys. I recall spending time with her and that I felt happy and engaged when doing so, although I don’t remember a single thing we ever talked about. We called her Grandma Ruby.

We’ve been  learning the art of practicing patience at the Duggan household. This new found focus was driven by the annual raising of our family Christmas tree which lent itself to housing wrapped and tempting presents at its base. Murphy is three-years-old and this is her fourth Christmas, however, it is her first Christmas she has started to connect that some of the gifts under the tree are for her.

Welcome to one of the best times of year—the Holiday Season. There are many ways to celebrate, but one of my favorite ways to ring in Christmas is by watching the  best of the best holiday movies. Listed below are my top five favorite Christmas movies! Watch the Grosh Cinema Movie Listing for Sarah’s Pick! through the month of December.

#5 ~ The Family Stone (2005): This one is a tear jerker and I am a sucker for crying in movies. Holiday gatherings make already functionally dysfunctional families at little bit more crazy and the Stones are no exception.

Getting out the door to go anywhere at my house is an extreme sport played over what feels like several hours. After all the organizing, dog feeding, kid dressing and teeth brushing, I may have five minutes to pick a clean outfit and splash on some make up for myself. It doesn’t seem to matter what time I get up—it always comes down to five minutes.

Meadowlark is the new owner of Autumn Hills Memory Care Home.

Autumn Hills, a HomePlus model for senior living with a focus on memory care, currently has two locations; one in Manhattan and one in Riley. Effective Dec. 1, Meadowlark will be the owner and operator of both Autumn Hills locations.