Events Recap
Valley Center

KING 5’s own Ciscoe Morris helped seniors swing into spring in May at Chateau at Valley Center.  Residents spent a special sessions with the venerable local gardener and media personality learning about container gardening.  They had an opportunity to proudly show off their own patio gardens and a sustainable community P-Patch planted with flowers to resemble the American Flag!

Events Recap
Chateau Bothell Landing

Chateau at Bothell Landing residents hand-made these soft, summer-weight quilts for Evergreen Hospice, associated with Evergreen Hospital.  They presented them to Evergreen Hospital in June.  “It feels wonderful to do something to help out others,” says resident and quilter Laverna Cobb (pictured second from right).  The residents were joined in their charitable quilting project by Activity Director Judy Hamilton.  “We really bonded over this—and what a neat thing to do,” says Judy, who is known for her talent and handy-craft and often teaches jewelry making classes at the Chateau.  “Evergreen Hospice was truly grateful for our quilts, and I feel it is important to have activities of this sort that give back to the community”, observes Judy.  “These are truly kind-hearted and generous residents.”  Judy and the resident quilters hope to continue to make quilts for all seasons and present them again to Evergreen Hospice later in the year.

Michael & Michael’s Column

“Truly Inspired” to be “Involved in the Community”

Hello! We’re excited to pen our first “Michael and Michael” column for The Chateau Gazette. As the second generation of leadership for a local, family-owned and operated company that has been in business for over 20 years, we are honored to be able to use this forum to discuss our passion: finding creative, innovative ways to provide the ultimate in retirement lifestyle choices for the residents we serve. Not only do we seek to create and operate communities with premier services and amenities, we constantly strive to make a measurable, positive impact on the day-to-day life of our residents in our communities. Through exceptional events, activities, educational opportunities and community partnerships, we desire to be a destination and resource for our own residents and retirees throughout the Puget Sound region.

As a company we are committed to be “involved in the community”. Our core values speak to corporate responsibility, outreach, integrity and service—to our own residents as well as to the larger neighborhoods in which we are located.

In April, we forged a neighborhood partnership with The Center for Living and Dying when we co-hosted an event called “Courage to Care” featuring guest speaker Dr. Charles Garfield, Clinical Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the Univeristy of California School of Medicine at San Francisco and internationally recognized founder of Shanti, a widely acclaimed volunteer organization.

Dr. Garfield addressed a large audience of providers caregivers in our Bistro auditorium do address such questions as: “How do we live with illness?” “How do we come to terms with the process of dying?” “How can we stay present in the moment?” and “How do you care for yourself?”

Attendance was strong and the community response was incredible. But it wouldn’t have happened without the patient leadership, inspiration and vision of Bonnie Letinich. Bonnie Letinich, MSW, LICSW is Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work and Executive Director of The Center for Living and Dying. Bonnie recently received the XYZ award for her passion for excellence and compassion in end of life and palliative care.

When Bonnie came to us with her ideas for the Courage to Care Conference, we knew our values closely aligned and a friendship and partnership would ensue. However, at the time, we had no idea that we would be able to provide a home office for the Center for Living and Dying on our very own Chateau at Bothell Landing campus!

In July, The Center for Living and Dying moved into their new headquarters in Building C at Chateau at Bothell Landing. “We are truly delighted, you have no idea,” says Bonnie. “The Center for Living and Dying is committed to doing something different—something that can only be done in community. From the beginning, we’ve sensed a kinship with Chateau and shared commitment to these ideals. We are excited to be a resource and partner for the Chateau as we plan future events and constantly find ways to better serve the elders in our community.”

We couldn’t say it better!

Michael and Michael

Sherrelle Collingridge
Executive Director

Chateau Retirement Communities is proud to employ a uniquely large number of loyal, dedicated, long-term professionals.  We have many stories of team members building remarkable careers with us.  As a local, family-owned and operated company, we place a high value on promoting from within to foster exceptional talent and vocations.

In a slightly tongue-in-cheek way, Chief Operating Officer Michael Schaedig often describes Chateau’s core leadership team as “the embarrassment of riches”—an embarrassment we’re proud of to be sure!  One of the jewels in this treasure of talent is Sherrelle Collingridge who was recently appointed Executive Director of Chateau Pacific.

Since joining our team 10 years ago in October 2000, Sherrelle has been a key player in helping to shape and execute the company’s vision and leadership.  Sherrelle has held several senior positions in our company’s culinary department, with her most recent title that of company-wide Culinary Services Director.

Sherrelle’s Chateau career in the culinary department began at Chateau Pacific.  In 2002 she helped open Chateau at Bothell Landing, and soon thereafter stepped into a corporate role where she has helped shape Chateau’s respected, choice-rich restaurant-style dining program. She particularly enjoyed setting up the menu and service model for The Bistro at Chateau at Bothell Landing, which opened in summer 2009.

Sherrelle’s operational acumen and keen management expertise make her ideal for the role of Executive Director at Chateau Pacific—a position of oversight that takes her full circle from her first job in the culinary department of CP held a decade ago.  With extensive industry experience and operations/culinary training from North Seattle Community College, Sherrelle is thrilled to expand her instincts for good management to take on the joys and challenges of running our most established community.

“When the offer was initially put to me, I was a bit surprised”, says Sherrelle.  “I’ve always loved being a hands-on manager in the culinary arena, addressing resident concerns and raising the standard for our dining and culinary programs.”  After careful consideration, Sherrelle acknowledged what senior management instantly recognized in Sherrelle: she’s a naturally talented, hard-working and dedicated leader. 

“I am so excited to expand my horizons—to be able to ensure not only that Chateau Pacific has a top-notch culinary program, but that all other departments are well run and operating to their highest potential in service to our residents,” remarks Sherrelle.  I love taking on new challenges, and I’m lucky to inherit such a loyal, dedicated team at Chateau Pacific.”

Sherrelle is currently working with former Executive Director Jackie Requa-Hall to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition.  In her new role overseeing all assisted living and memory care services for the company, Jackie is an ideal transition partner for Sherrelle.  With Memory Care opening at Chateau Pacific in conjunction with a post-remodel, grand reopening this fall, Chateau Pacific is being guided by very talented managers indeed.

“It’s a great time to be a part of the renewed community of Chateau Pacific”, says Sherrelle.  The community feels alive with the excitement of the remodel and the addition of Memory Care.  The residents make up a truly superb and wonderful community.  I feel so privileged to be able to serve them as their Executive director as we enter a new era.”

Keeping up with the Goulds

Meet Sue and Ray Gould. The Goulds moved into Chateau at Bothell Landing’s Building A about two years before the opening of Buildings B & C. The Goulds were one of the first couples to excitedly move into one of the new apartment homes on the expanded campus. As a past president of the Chateau at Bothell Landing resident council, Sue Gould, together with her husband Ray have helped pave the way for a fully integrated, campus-wide community. “We believe the prospect of so many new neighbors with varied life experiences can only enhance the already vibrant and active life of this community,” says Sue. In addition, Ray is still active on several management-resident committees.

Back when Sue ran for resident council, she was uniquely qualified for the position by virtue of her civic service as a Washington State senator in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During her term in office, Sue made gains on issues related to energy and education, chairing the Senate Energy Committee in 1983 and co-sponsoring the Basic Education Act in 1977.

Indeed, Seattle’s hallowed halls of learning have provided the backdrop for significant milestones in Sue’s life. It was at Roosevelt High School where Sue met her husband Ray, and was inspired to continue her education in an age when many people, especially women, did not go on to college.

The Goulds attended the University of Washington together. Ray took a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, and Sue a Bachelor’s in chemistry. They were married in 1950 and later raised three children; Kevin, Meredith and Keaton.

The Goulds raised their family in Edmonds, where Sue became actively involved in the League of Women Voters. “I credit my involvement with them as planting the seeds for my civic and political aspirations,” says Sue. “With the League of Women Voters, I had friends with shared interests and intellect, and we were able to have conversations about relevant topics that were important to us.”

The Gould’s continue to maintain varied interests and active involvement in things that interest them. Ray is still active on several resident-management councils at the Chateau. He has also published two books on making and restoring cane fly-fishing rods. His third book, “Fly Fishing for Kamloops Trout” is due out this fall, and reflects decades insights on fly-fishing on the Canadian Kamloops river where he still maintains a cabin. Anyone who stops by the Gould’s lovely apartment today would find the kitchen table wrapped in Visqueen, Sue diligently assembling a an elegantly-detailed and well-appointed dolls house—a hobby she’s enjoyed for years.

“We have everything we need,” say Ray and Sue together. “We truly enjoy our elegant, spacious new apartment and keeping up with our active lifestyles. But the residents and compassionate, professional staff are what make this community a place we truly love to call home.”

May Events

Chateau Valley Center
Please call 425.251.6677 for more information and to RSVP.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR!
CONTAINER GARDENING WITH CISCOE
May 23, 2010 @ 2:00 pm
Stop on by for a free seminar on container gardening, hosted by local green thumb expert Ciscoe! Refreshments will be served followed by a Q&A session so you can get the most out of your garden this Spring.

Chateau at Bothell Landing
Please call 425.485.1155 for more information and to RSVP.

Selling Your Home with the Badgley Team
May 4th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
This father and son Windermere realtor team specialize in helping retirees sell their homes, even in a down market. Both are licensed “Associate Brokers”. Each holds the Senior Real Estate (SRES) designation. Both are graduates of the Real Estate Institute (GRI)

Mother’s Day Tea with Fashion Show
May 8th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Featuring women’s fashions by designer Carol Anderson.

Swingtime in Springtime
featuring the “Mood Swings”
May 15th, 2010 from 2pm to 4pm
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, this acclaimed 17-piece all-female jazz ensemble will have you swinging to the groove in double time!
$12.00 / Person Appetizer Buffet.
Beer & Wine Available

Meet Me at the Bistro

Everybody wants to live in a neighborhood with a great, corner Bistro. Not only is it the kind of place you can easily get to for a fresh, made to order meal; it is also the neighborhood gathering place—the place you meet your friends, your family, your loved ones. It’s a place to relax and hang-out; a place to sit back and enjoy good food, good company, good conversation and maybe even a great glass of wine.

When Chateau St. Laurent opened on the Bothell Landing campus last summer, it brought a wonderful new “corner Bistro” to the neighborhood. In so doing, an old tried and true favorite became an innovative new amenity in one of the areas most forward-thinking retirement communities.

Residents love the Bistro for the beautiful setting it offers for lingering over a made-to-order meal. On any afternoon or evening, wander into the Bistro and you’ll see residents enjoying a meal with their neighbors, friends, children and grandchildren. Together with its adjacent theatre auditorium, the Bistro offers a gathering spot with intergenerational appeal. Now residents can enjoy spending time with friends and family in a “restaurant in their house”. Gone is the need to travel somewhere else to spend an enjoyable evening in the company of loved ones.

Bistro Director Jason Johnson is thrilled by the opportunity he had to develop the Bistro from the ground up with Chateau Culinary Director Sherrelle Collingridge. “I have put so much of myself into it,” says Jason Johnson, who has culinary training and restaurant experience. “I love that we are able to offer restaurant-quality made-to-order meals as an alternative option to our residents.”

Jason believes the Bistro offers a truly unique culinary program, with a varied menu featuring fresh seasonal favorites and offerings from local vendors (start your morning right with a barista-made Fidalgo Bay Coffee espresso drink and a maple bar from the legendary Hillcrest Bakery (a locally-owned, multi-generational Dutch family bakery). Favorite menu items include The Bistro Burger (you gotta try it) and the fresh salmon salad with homemade parmesan cracker. In addition, residents and guests can enjoy a glass of beer or a wine pairing with their meal.

The Bistro is also fast becoming a favorite venue for members of the public. Jason has noticed several lunchtime visitors, and plans to cater several upcoming events. But, most rewarding, he says, is the opportunity offer special catered experiences to residents and their families.

Stop by the Bistro yourself sometime and see just how rewarding an experience it can be!

ELIZABETH SHIER, CVC
Do Your Own thing
There is a palpable buzz at Chateau at Valley Center. The minute you walk through the door, you feel drawn in by the friendly energy and lively activity. This warm, inviting vitality is part of the signature Chateau experience, with each community maintaining its own distinct atmosphere and personality.

One of the key players in CVC’s success is Elizabeth Shier. Elizabeth joined us almost three years ago as an Activity Assistant. She quickly assumed the title of Activity Director, and after two years of building on and expanding the depth and quality of the activity program, she recently decided to devote her tremendous talent and energy to the oversight of CVC’s Memory Care Community. Elizabeth credits her career growth the encouragement and support she feels both from her CVC colleagues and the Chateau organization as a whole. “In many ways, Chateau is a unique work environment in that it fosters career growth and makes it safe for employees to take on new roles and job challenges, such as the large responsibility of directing Memory Care.”

To meet Elizabeth is to meet a boundless well of enthusiasm, energy, creativity and professional dedication. For Elizabeth, enriching the daily lives of the residents she serves is more of a vocation than a job. As Activity Director, her vision for the program was to create a diverse array of events and activities that, in her words, “could not be found at your typical retirement community.”

Additionally, as Activity Director, she felt it was her duty to exceed resident expectations. “While at the end of the day my duty was to foster a sense of fun and playfulness for our residents, I was also convinced that my job was to stretch, stimulate and challenge, not just placate,” says Elizabeth. Elizabeth constantly collaborated with residents to create new and exciting activities. As resident Shirley Bruce puts it, “Our activity program is unbeatable. If you want to go somewhere or try something new, we know we can ask our Activity Director to try it and she will.”

Working and collaborating with residents on a daily basis is a natural extension of Elizabeth’s earlier career working with children. “What I loved about working with kids, I also love about older adults “Both early and later in life, values are clear and unfettered. You can learn a lot about friendship, interpersonal relationships and genuine kindness from people at both ends of the age spectrum. And it goes without saying, kids and seniors don’t take any bull from anyone—I admire that!”

These insights are key to Elizabeth’s philosophy for Memory Care. “The residents we serve in Memory Care still have much to teach us.” Elizabeth made the move because she wanted to demystify some of the misunderstandings around dementia and make the community more approachable and accessible. “When we spend time with a dementia resident, we bring joy to their life and they can bring joy to ours,” she says.

Jerry Rutherford
In conjunction with Bothell’s Centennial Celebrations, meet Bothell Landing resident Jerry Rutherford. Jerry traces a familial connection to Bothell as the granddaughter of Mortimer “Mort” Thrasher, founder of Thrasher’s corner in north Bothell.

A former reporter for the original Eastside Journal, Jerry is an avid local historian who still gives talks at Chateau, community and senior centers and local libraries. Although her expertise is the Juanita area, she’s no stranger to Bothell history and culture. To meet Jerry is to encounter a bright, lively intelligence. With a twinkle in her eye, she relayed stories of what it was like to grow up in this area during the great depression, when traveling to “remote” Thrasher’s Corner from her childhood home in North Seattle was a bumpy, arduous ride through then densely forested countryside in the back of an old Model T truck.

The bumpy old Model T truck was the vehicle by which Jerry’s grandfather prospected for land. Little did he know the land he cleared off the Bothell Everett highway to build a little grocery store and gas station eighty years ago or so would still bear his name and be the busy junction it is today.

Jerry fondly remembers her family weekend getaways (with occasional pit stops for fruit at the Yakima Fruit Market—still standing today) to what is now called Thrasher’s Corner. In those days, says Jerry, “Family wasn’t restricted to kin—it involved the community as well.” Folks from all over the area would travel to grandpa’s place for community pot lucks and dances. Mort Thrasher was a square-dance caller, and Jerry learned to dance at a young age at these family events. Her passion for dancing is right up there with her passion for writing, although she admits it’s easier for her to keep up with the later these days.

Jerry warmly invites you to stop by Chateau at Bothell Landing for a chat sometime. She can often be found in the front lobby and is always happy to strike up a conversation. She’ll regale you with tales of old Bothell. “What’s wonderful about this area, is that while it has certainly grown, Bothell has preserved its friendly, neighborly vibe that I remember from my childhood.”