York Town News
Join Sentry Hill for music, memories and golf in the days ahead
By Virginia L. Woodwell
Musician Al Ashley of Kennebunk entertained residents at Sentry Hill at York Harbor with old-time songs on Monday afternoon, Sept. 11, for the first day of National Assisted Living Week. More entertainment is to follow throughout the week, in keeping with a "Hearts and Harmony" theme.
Photo by Virginia L. Woodwell
This week, starting on Monday, Sept. 11, the senior-care facility has been celebrating National Assisted Living Week with a series of in-house daily entertainment that has also been open to the public.
At the end of the week, on Friday, Sept. 15, Sentry Hill is staging the Fourth Annual Michael Dolan Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the Maine chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
And, on Saturday, Oct. 7, Sentry Hill will join 13 other Maine sites in sponsoring a local "Memory Walk," also to benefit the Maine chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
National Assisted Living Week was established in 1995 by the National Center for Assisted Living as a time set aside to permit senior-care residents, families, staff, volunteers and the community to gather together and celebrate each other.
This year, that week runs through Sept. 16, and the theme chosen for it is "Hearts and Harmony."
Appropriately, Sentry Hill has scheduled a series of daily concerts this week, each presented by a local-area musician.
Kicking off the series at the center at 2 p.m. on Monday was a performance by Al Ashley of Kennebunk, who accompanied himself, singing, on, alternately, electric guitar and electric violin. Between songs - nostalgic love songs, ballads and old folk favorites - Ashley delivered a humorous running patter that illustrated a sympathy for and sensitivity to the plight of the aged and infirm. Mike and Bev Rogers, accompanying "sweetheart songs" on guitar and harmonica, were slated to perform on Tuesday.
Other area musicians scheduled to perform this week are Peter Mezoion, playing banjo tunes today, Wednesday, Sept. 13; a piano performance by Virginia Higgins in the morning on Thursday with and another by Alan Thomas that afternoon, and Ryan O'Hara singing favorite love songs to guitar accompaniment on Friday.
Additionally, the facility has planned a "Sweetheart Tea" this morning, Wednesday, Sept. 13.
The Fourth Annual Michael Dolan Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at the Cape Neddick Country Club and begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15.
Registration for the tournament is at noon on that day, and registration forms may be obtained via the Internet at www.mainecare.com or from Amy Fuller, director of social work at Sentry Hill, by calling 363-5116.
The cost of play is $85 for individuals and $340 for a foursome and tee sponsorships are available for $75. Tickets cover all greens fees, golf cart rentals, mementos and a barbecue to follow. Tickets to the barbecue may be purchased separately, at $15 each.
Format for the tournament will be "scramble," with each team starting at a different hole, and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places. A putt-off will be held in the event of a tie.
Prizes will also be awarded to golfers hitting the longest drive on the third hole, and to women coming closest to the pin on the sixth hole and to men coming closest to the pin on the 11th-hole. A "casino hole" will be played on the eighth hole. Additionally, Dick Bournival Dodge, Inc., is sponsoring a "hole-in-one" car for possible award on the second hole, where the distance is 170 yards for men and 160 yards for women. Corporate sponsorships have been arranged in "eagle" ($3,000), "birdie" ($1,500) and "par" ($750) categories, and all proceeds from the event will go to benefit the Maine Alzheimer's Association.
Last year, the tournament raised over $8,500 for the association.
The late Michael Dolan, for whom tournament was named, was an avid golfer, a member of the Cape Neddick Country Club and a resident of Sentry Hill's adult day-care and Alzheimer's unit. His daughter, son and stepson traditionally play in the tournament, and his widow attends the tournament banquet.
Looking to October, the Memory Walk will provide another chance for the public to assist the association. Last year, Memory Walks held statewide raised nearly $312,200 for the Maine Alzheimer's Association.
This year's statewide goal is $320,000, and Home Instead Senior Care in Kennebunk is teaming up with Sentry Hill to sponsor the local walk with a goal of $12,500 or more.
For more information, contact Amy Fuller at Sentry Hill by calling 363-5116.
