From the September 14, 2004 edition of The Northeast News Gleaner Deer Meadows celebrates milestone in grand fashion By George Tomezsko A stilt walker wandered through the crowd, greeting young and old alike. A group of clowns charmed and amused everyone with their antics. There were games and spin art for the children, music for the adults, and food for one and all. As an added touch, a Mummers string band worked its own special magic. It was all part of The Deer Meadows Retirement Community's celebration of its 135th birthday. Staff, residents and guests, several hundred persons in all gathered under a glorious September sun and threw a birthday party, complete with cake. "A good, old fashioned birthday party," said Michael Jacobs, CEO of Deer Meadows. "It's a real honor and privilege to host this event." There were actually three cakes, each shaped like one of the numerals making up the number 135. And, as was right and proper on such an occasion, there were speeches. "Who's ever been to an event at which someone gets to blow out 135 candles," asked Jacobs at the start of his speech. Jacobs (left, serving hot dogs to guests) then told those present that each of the numerals indicating the Community's present age reminded him of the importance of Deer Meadows. The number one, he said, was significant because Deer Meadows is the number one retirement community in the area. The number three, he also said, stood for the three reasons why he loves coming to work: the cheerfulness of the residents, the support of the board of directors for the mission of Deer Meadows, and the dedication of the staff. The five in the 135 represents the five core values that Deer Meadows strives to uphold, he also said. "We're out to meet the needs of senior adults in Northeast Philadelphia," Jacobs said. Prior to his speech Jacobs said that facilities like Deer Meadows are currently facing a stiff challenge finding sources of funding during this time of escalating costs. He said he was pleased to learn that Gov. Rendell had recently pledged to make state funds available for nursing homes statewide retroactive to July of 2003. "It's important to have those payments for all nursing home providers in the Commonwealth," Jacobs said. Lisa Sofia, chief operating officer and community administrator for Deer Meadows, had a birthday wish for the retirement community. "My wish for Deer Meadows is for continued prosperity and success in all you do," Sofia said. Sofia also said that Deer Meadows has launched a community outreach program to attract more young people to the nursing profession. In the nine months since the program was started, Deer Meadows has already partnered with five universities and nursing schools. She also said that a longer-term goal is to reach out to grade schools to get students at younger ages to think about possible careers in the healing professions. "Deer Meadows does need to be a community advocate and Deer Meadows is proud to be part of that education process," Sofia said. Board member Laura Visco told those present that there were three reasons that made Deer Meadows a special place. "A fantastic staff, a great facility, and wonderful residents," she said. More than one speaker chose the occasion to look to the future and to predict that Deer Meadows would see at least another 135 years. And once all the speechmaking was aside, it was time to sing "Happy Birthday," and all, or nearly all, within earshot joined in. For simplicity's sake there were only three candles, one large one atop each of the aforementioned cakes. At the appropriate moment, they were snuffed out by three "longest" affiliated with Deer Meadows: Harry Hilger, the longest-serving board member; Howard Hinkle, the longest-term resident, and Richard Reynolds, the longest-serving (and also the oldest) employee. Then, a choir of staff and residents gathered under that warm September sun to sing an energetic rendition of the Deer Meadows theme song, "Welcome." In the background, three gold-colored balloons, shaped to form the numeral 135, danced in the breeze, almost in time to the singing. Deer Meadows was founded in 1869 and was originally located in West Philadelphia. It soon outgrew that location and moved to 17th and Norris Sts. It moved to its present location on the Boulevard in 1926. It currently houses 206 nursing care residents and another 180 in its independent and assisted-living units. To see more photos, click here.