Bickford of Bloomington

We are feeling thankful that the roads are clear and that we are safe and sound inside our warm and cozy Bickford House! The local children have been busy building igloos and snowmen after shoveling a few driveways. I may even get to go sledding this winter after all! This beautiful picture was taken just down the road on Washington Street in Bloomington.

They say laughter is the best medicine and while it might not cure your cold or flu, it will make you feel better at the end of a long week.

Join us for a good laugh at our Comedy Funnyraiser to benefit the Challenger Learning Center's Scholarship Fund and enjoy comedy monologues from our six amateur comics who'll be vying for trophies from the crowd and our panel of comedy experts. Here is our line up:

•Dr. Jay Ansher
•John Bishop
•Nora Dukowitz
•Doug Minter
•Mitch Stebel
•Joe Strupek

Our brave and notoriously funny comics will attempt to tickle your funny bone this

Friday, March 1 at HCC Campus Café.

The evening begins with a social hour from 6:00pm-7:00pm where you can catch up with friends, co workers, family and enjoy pizza and sandwiches from Rosati's. At 7:00pm our first comedian hits the stage (figuratively not literally...we hope) and the laughs don't stop until 9:00pm.

Awards will be given for Judges' Choice and Crowd Favorite (remember it is a fundraiser and audience members can use coins, bills, checks and credit cards to vote for their favorite comedian). Also, audience members have an opportunity to come up on stage to perform their best comedy routine/jokes in an attempt to win a trophy as well.

A super silent auction will also offer some great packages including three dozen cookies and $100 gift certificate for a cleaning from Molly Maid, two tickets to the Lincoln Presidential Museum and a chance to be a page for day in Springfield, plus an amazing basket filled with treasures from Uptown Normal businesses!

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $20, online, by stopping by the CLC office or at the door for $25.

Special thanks to our friends at Vital Wellness who sponsored the entertainment at our family night Saturday evening. We had a great time with good friends, great food as we danced the night away! Stay tuned for more pictures! For more information about services provided by Vitall Wellnses, check here: http://www.vitalwellnessinc.com/homehealth.php

Congratulations to Bickford of Bloomington’s Director, Jennifer Gray for being named the 2012 Director of the Year! Out of four nominees, Jennifer was chosen for exemplifying Bickford’s Performing Culture, consistently displaying strong Vital Signs throughout the year, and has been employed with Bickford as a Director for twelve months. Stop by and visit the branch of an award winning Director. Congratulations Jennifer!

We are so happy to announce that our Director, our Fearless Leader, Jennifer Gray has been named Bickford Senior Living Director of the Year! Please join us in congratulating Jennifer on this big award. We all have seen her time and time again burning the midnight oil, working hard to enrich the happiness of not only the people that live here at Bickford, but each and everyone she encounters! Way to go Jennifer!!!!!

I saw this information on Northwestern Mutual's Facebook page discussing the benefits of long-term care insurance: One year in a nursing home: $90,000. One year at Harvard: $53,000. Does the cost surprise you? Good thing assisted living is a more affordable and homelike alternative to a nursing home.