November 19, 2009 Upcoming Events Thursday, Dec. 17 Last day of training for Fall Semester Friday, Dec. 18 Marbridge Christmas Program & Open House See article at right for times and details You can now find the current month's calendar of events at http://www.marbridge.org/calendar/ Our Village cottages are ready for Christmas! We purchased trees out of our operational budget Your donations are helping us defray this yule time expense Many thanks to all for generously giving to our Trees, please? effort to pay for Christmas trees and decorations for each Village cottage. Our residents love their new trees! They were excited to participate in planning the decorations, and volunteers from Frost Insurance Agency helped residents assemble each tree, string each with lights and hang the ornaments. Everyone had a great time and we all got into the Christmas spirit. Additional funds are still needed--will you consider a donation, please?  We appreciate your financial support! Make a donation online! Marbridge depends on donations to close the gap between the services we provide and the revenues we receive. Your support helps ensure we can continue our mission to provide A Whole New Life to adults with intellectual disabilities. It's time for the Annual Christmas Program and Open House! Clockwise: Lana Levins, left, works with a Oak Leaves volunteer to figure out how to attach garland to the front banister; Mark Rodriguez, a member of our facilities team, hangs garland from the high beams; Oak Leaf volunteer Bonnie Tilton, left, and Sandy Lantz, our admissions coordinator, take a well deserved break; Oak Leaf volunteer Karen Little cuts ribbon for the finishing touches on a string of garland. The Oak Leaves help decorate the chapel each year, and we sincerely appreciate all they do! Our elves have been busy getting the chapel and Senior dorm ready It's the final countdown to the Marbridge Christmas Program 2009! We hope everyone will come enjoy the excellent program our residents have been rehearsing since October. We also hope you are planning to come to the Open House. We'll have food and exhibits that will provide helpful information about Marbridge. We can't wait to see you there!  Marbridge Christmas Program & Open House Friday, December 18  3:30pm - Employees & Volunteers Program 5pm to 7pm - Open House in the Senior Dorm 7:30pm - Family & Friends Program   We have a new gazebo at the Village! Many thanks to the Heberts, the Cartwrights, the Hamakers and the Buchanans for making it possible! Residents love the new gazebo. This photo was taken just after construction was completed, when residents were about their daily activities. After mealtimes and in the evenings, the gazebo has already become a popular spot to hang out. Residents at the Village are all a buzz about their new gazebo. It will be completed this week, including newly poured sidewalks leading up to it from three directions. It adds a picture-perfect gathering spot to the large lawn area in front of the Village Community Center. "We are so appreciative of the donations we received that allowed us to construct the gazebo," said Michelle Levy, vice president of development. "It is a charming addition to the Village and provides a welcome gathering spot where residents can socialize and grow friendships." Other finishing touches include landscaping and sod around the gazebo and a fresh coat of paint. Come see it! Many thanks to Denis and Catherine Hebert, Steve and MariBeth Cartwright, Jerry and Joy Hamaker and Don and Judy Buchanan for the generous donations that made the construction of the gazebo possible! LIFE Lines is published for family, friends, volunteers and staff members of Marbridge, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that provides training and residential care for adults with cognitive challenges.