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SPRING 2015HAPPY SPRING !

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Priscilla Offen

My grandfather always said that there was no suchthing as strong coffee, only weak people. Mygrandmother felt the same way and always carrieda small jar of instant coffee in her purse so that shecould strengthen the coffee which she was servedat a restaurant.

I personally think that the hospital cafeteria makessome of the best coffee in the area and at a perfectstrength. So allow me to invite you to samplesome at the auxiliary’s Volunteer Recognition andNew Member Tea to be held on Thursday, April23 at 2 PM in the third floor conference room ofthe hospital. Here I am going on about coffee andinviting you to a tea - Blue Mountain HealthSystem will provide cake, tea and coffee, and theauxiliary board members will supplement the cakewith a variety of finger sandwiches and bakedgoodies. Believe me, you don’t want to misssampling these wonderful treats.

Most importantly we will extend a welcome to thenew members who have joined us since April oflast year and we will recognize the volunteers whohave reached a milestone in their hours. Thesepins are a very small reward for dedicated serviceto our hospital - hours are accrued at the NearlyNew Thrift Shop, at the Owl’s Nest Gift Shop, atthe Adult Day Service, by delivering mail in thehospital, by making the Huggy Bears, by doingclerical work within the hospital, or byvolunteering at one of our annual events such asthe Strawberry Shortcake Stand or the SpringA' Fair. Some Internet sites valuate volunteer workat $22.55/ hour which means that we havecontributed over $200,000 to the health systemwith our volunteer work during the 2014 calendaryear. However as BMHS VP Terry Purcell said atone of our functions, we don’t put a value onvolunteer work because it is priceless!

So whether or not you are a new member andwhether or not you are to receive a pin, please joinus for coffee and tea on April 23. The more themerrier and I promise you that a good time will behad by all!

After more than 30 years of marriage, mygrandfather looked at my grandmother over thebreakfast table one day and said, “You don’t takecream in your coffee, do you?”!

All the best,

And speaking of treats, the envelope attached maybe used to order your Krispy Kreme Donuts—theorder form is on page 17 of this newsletter. Pleasenote that we had to schedule the donut sale forWednesday, May 6. The Spring A' Fair plantsale will take place as usual on the Thursday andFriday, May 7 and 8.

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WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

We are ready to . . . . "Let It Go" - referring to thewinter months of 2014 - 2015. Spring is upon usand in our step. We see a new brightness in thehospital noticeable in the March 12th sale ofMindy's Jewels - hand crafted silver jewelry byMindy Davies. If you missed the event don't fret -she will return later in the year. Watch for theannouncement.

Our first Uniform Sale of the year is slated forThursday, April 16th, 7 AM - 4 PM in thehospital third floor conference room. Come seethe new line.

NEWS FLASH - The Krispy Kreme Donut salehas a new date. It will be Wednesday, Wednesday,Wednesday, May 6th from 9 AM - 12 noon. Thatmorning the front lobby will have the tantalizingaroma of a donut bakery! Come have anirresistible sniff!

April showers bring May flowers - lots of them - tothe hospital in the form of our Spring Plant Saleheld this year Thursday, May 7 andFriday, May 8th from 9 AM - 4 PM in the mainentrance area of the facility. ChairwomanElisabeth Leshock promises a beautiful array ofcolorful plants and flowers for your choosing.

Already the Christmas in July committee is hardat work gathering intriguing items for this majorauxiliary fund raiser. It's fun - but the main funwould be to win a prize! This may be YOURyear!

The Ways and Means committee tries each year toprovide interesting, worthwhile activities as ameans to gather funds benefiting our all-importanthospital. Do you have an idea that we couldpossibly implement? If so, let us know. Contactany committee member from the list below.

Perma Berger, Emily BradburyCarol Heffelfinger, Lovey IrvinBrenda Mull, Priscilla OffenJenny Serfass, Irene ShinsecCarol Simmons, Violet StricklandJudy Walck, Carol Ziegenfuss

Many warm and happy spring wishes from all ofus to all of you,

Emily Bradbury, Ways and Means Chairman

(from left) Vinita Horinko, PastPresident Jenny Serfass and Ways &Means Chairman Emily Bradburyget ready for the hungry hoards atlast year’s Krispy Kreme donut sale.

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We sent out letters around Valentine’s Day askingfor prizes for our “Christmas in July” raffle, and Iam always astounded by the generosity of thepeople in our community. Now we have morethan 30 wonderful prizes for our ticket. HagerFurniture, TrueSpa, Country Harvest, BlueMountain Ski Area, Country Inn and Suites andBecky’s Drive-In always contribute great gifts.The Palmerton Pool is giving a season familymembership, and the Allentown Art Museum isproviding a one year household membership. BlueShamrock Golf Club is providing weekday greensfees for four. We have restaurant gift certificates -Morgan’s (donated by Dr. Louis Sportelli), theRiverwalck Saloon, Bowmanstown Diner. Wehave passes to the Carbon County Fair, to Americaon Wheels, to an Iron Pigs game, to Zoellner ArtsCenter and to Act I at DeSales. We have passes to

the Lehigh Valley Zoo, to Carmike 16 Cinemas,and to Longwood Gardens. Jeanne Stemler isdonating one of her lovely paintings, CarolThomas and Helen Snyder are each giving abeautiful afghan and Sandy Engle is providing ababy quilt. The list goes on, and we will have agreat raffle ticket once again.Two tickets will be included in the May mailing toour members. Tickets are $5 each or you maypurchase 5 tickets for $20. (Extra tickets will beavailable at the Owl’s Nest Gift Shop and at theNearly New Thrift Shop.) Of course you are underno obligation to participate but your generosity isgreatly appreciated!We always need people to help us sell the ticketsaround the town so let Carol Heffelfinger ormyself know if you are interested. Louise Zatorissets up times and locations for us - we sell ticketsfor a 3 hour shift and then usually go out forlunch!The drawing will take place on Friday, July 17at 1 PM in the hospital cafeteria. (Winners neednot be present.) We always have fun drawing thenames, and maybe you will be a winner. So asyou are putting away those snow shovels and bagsof salt, think about Christmas in July!

Priscilla Offen, Co-chairperson

ON-GOING ART SALELooking for something to brighten upyou home after a long tedious winter?The next time you are in the lobby of thePalmerton Hospital, take a moment andvisit the on-going art exhibit located inthe hallway by the main elevators.

As of March 26, 2015, twenty-one itemsfrom our ongoing art exhibit have beensold. There will be a change-over of ourart and photography work in the hospitallobby on Tuesday April 14th. Pleasestop by and take a look at our refresheddisplay which will remain though-out thespring and summer months.

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Each year we hold a party in honor of thewonderful staff of Palmerton Hospital. This is ourValentine to them - thanking them for their supportof our projects throughout the year and alsothanking them for all their hard work which makes

our hospital such a caring place. So on February13th we served cake, punch, coffee and a wideassortment of home-made goodies to theemployees. Thanks to everyone who madesomething special for this fun event.

EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY

We served many deliciousgoodies to our hard-workinghospital employees.

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VOLUNTEER HOURSCongratulations to all those volunteers receivingawards this year. The Palmerton HospitalAuxiliary has always been pleased and proud ofour dedicated members who give of their time,talent and money to serve our community hospital.The Awards Program is our way of recognizingthose volunteers who have reached a particularmilestone and are awarded with a pin attesting totheir new achievement. Given also with this pin isour deep appreciation for all your efforts. Wear itwith pride!

Those awardees advancing to a new level maydrop off their “old” pins in the Owl’s Nest. Webelieve in recycling and besides it saves us money!Thanks for your cooperation.

The Auxiliary loves to brag to others in PAHAabout how many total hours we accumulate! Ourvolunteers recorded over 9,000 hours last year.Most people remember to write their hours in oneof the volunteer books when they are working atthe Nearly New, the Owl’s Nest, delivering themail or in the Adult Day Center, but they mayforget to record the hours working on specialprojects like the Strawberry Shortcake stand.Please remember to also record those hours as wellin one of the books.

HONORING OUR VOLUNTEERS

Tea and Crumpets—You’re Invited!

Maybe we don’t know what a crumpet is,but nonetheless you are invited for tea andcrumpets (?), cake and coffee, fingersandwiches and other goodies. OurVolunteer Recognition and New MemberTea will be held on Thursday, April 23 at2 PM in the third floor conference room ofPalmerton Hospital. Please come!! BlueMountain Health System will honor ourvolunteers and provide the beverages and

the cake. The wonderful bakers on theAuxiliary Board will add some home-madegoodies to the table. Volunteer pins andcertificates will be awarded, and we willhave a most pleasant time a la DowntonAbbey.

Those awardees who are absent from this programmay pick up their pins in the Owl’s Nest Gift Shopat any time after the program.

OUR NEW MEMBERS

We have added the following new members since last spring - Welcome!!

Tammy Berger Sheila LannakAmy Breiner Patricia MoyerAlice Buskirk Irina SkrapitsDeborah Higgs Brenda SmellowskyJoanne King Becky SteigerwaltPhyllis Kreiss Kimberly WentzDottie Lang

Did you know that you get a free meal at the PalmertonHospital cafeteria when you put in a two or three hourshift? Who said that “there is no such thing as a freelunch”!

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NAME PAST HOURS 2014 HOURS TOTAL HOURS AWARDAhner, Kathy 198 56 254Allen, Renata 52 4 56Andreas, June 160 120 280Balliet, Ella 1039 90 1129Behler, Ann 13 3 16Berger, Perma 1012 320 1332Blynn, Shirley 30 6 36Borger, Clayton 2353 2 2355Boskey, Kacie 260 109 369Bradbury, Emily 2972 183 3155 3000 Hour Pin & Plaque

Bray, Doris 11 2 13Bredbenner, Lucille 2319 260 2579Browne, Don 165 20 185Browne, Linda 1386 100 1486Campton, Nan 3634 294 3928Christman, Jeanette 2171 22 2193Clark, Patrick 300 120 420Costenbader, Carol 0 3 3Curcio, Carol 473 343 816 500 Hour PinCyr, Honey 3619 242 3861Dailey, Eileen 949 4 953DeSousa, Ethel 1670 113 1783Elliston, Kathy 380 60 440Fabian, Honey 905 83 988Federanich, Marjorie 0 2 2Frable, Alice 7481 356 7837Gallagher, Mary 164 16 180Geiger, Marge 7710 81 7791George, Dorothy 5 2 7Greene, Belva 3344 164 3508Gursky, Karen 317 45 362Gursky, Tracey 1147 71 1218Hall, Kit 984 4 988Hallman, Frances 0 3 3Heffelfinger, Carol 2260 143 2403Hook, Betty 7759 160 7919Horinko, Vinita 118 25 143Huszar, Pat 1686 92 1778Irvin, Chic 526 100 626Irvin, Lovey 2410 160 2570Irvin, Laura 80 3 83Jordan, Lillian 73 5 78Kaiser, Karen 2175 339 2514Kercsmar, Joann 511 303 814Kleintop, Bernice 3137 6 3143Kreiss, Phyllis 0 18 18Kresge, Tudy 2594 144 2738Kuhet, Margaret 2947 61 3008 3000 Hour Pin & Plaque

Kunkle, Mary 0 4 4

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NAME PAST HOURS 2014 HOURS TOTAL HOURS AWARD

Lang, Dottie 0 3 3

Lannak, Sheila 0 70 70 50 Hour Certificate

Leshock, Elisabeth 594 50 644

Levendusky, Mary 393 255 648 500 Hour Pin

Light, Iren 194 100 294

Mackes, Donna 657 56 713

Melo, Lucy 318 50 368

Miller, Vivian 650 36 686

Morgan, Janet 1278 257 1535

Morrison, Susan 0 17 17

Moyer, Patricia 0 3 3

Mull, Brenda 961 334 1295 1000 Hour Pin

Offen, Priscilla 3544 579 4123 4000 Hour Pin

Papay, Carol 130 49 179

Plechavy, Evelyn 1225 73 1298

Rehrig, Lois 5283 132 5415

Ritter, JoAnne 3887 148 4035 4000 Hour Pin

Rodgers, Marion 0 60 60 50 Hour Certificate

Rooney, Annette 185 24 209

Samok, Leanne 4 3 7

Sander, Helen 5442 62 5504

Schaber, Joyce 406 30 436

Schaffer, Vera 2051 66 2117

Serfass, Jenny 705 148 853

Sheckler, Dorothy 414 70 484

Shinsec, Irene 3011 4 3015

Showak, Arleen 704 3 707

Simmons, Carol 1721 91 1812

Skrapits, Irina 0 49 49

Smale, Beverly 1666 35 1701

Steinmetz, Joan 525 4 529

Stemler, Jeanne 348 25 373

Strauss, Janice 21 102 123 100 Hour Pin

Strickland, Violet 8809 560 9369 9000 Hour Pin

Strohl, Lillian 649 4 653

Symons, Rachel 219 171 390

Thomas, Betty Jane 130 115 245

Waitkus, Elaine 2694 67 2761

Walck, Judy 2197 260 2457

Wert, Debbie 16 156 172 100 Hour Pin

Ziegenfuss, Carol 57 4 61

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Auxiliary volunteers are always needed for anumber of on-going projects. If you would like tovolunteer, please give Priscilla Offen a call at 610-377-0977 or one of the people listed below. Newvolunteers go through a very short interviewprocess and must sign the confidentiality statement.

· Owl’s Nest Gift Shop: The volunteerswait on the customers in the shop and each workshift is three hours long. DeeDee Owens, themanager of the shop, trains new volunteers onhow to use the cash register, etc.We especially need volunteers to cover thefollowing hours:Monday 10 AM to 1 PMFriday 10 AM to 1 PM

(twice per month)Friday 1 PM to 4 PM

(twice per month)You can work as many or as few hours eachmonth as you like, you don’t have to work a setschedule either if you would prefer to substitutefor someone at a short notice. Call Brenda Mullat 484-274-0816 or Priscilla at 610-377-0977 ifyou can help out.

· Nearly New Thrift Shop: The volunteerswait on customers in the thrift shop and againeach work shift is only three hours long. Ourwonderful Monday work crew sorts through themany donations and organizes the shop but helpis needed during the week, especially forsubstitutes at relatively short notice. Karen

Kaiser (610-826-6133) is the manager of theshop, Lucille Bredbenner (610-377-1377) is theassistant manager, and Perma Berger (610-509-8638) is the volunteer scheduler. Call if you areable to help!

· Mail-room: Volunteers sort and deliverthe mail within the hospital on weekdays. JudyWalck is the mail-room manager and makescertain that the new volunteers are trained. Thisjob does require a certain amount of walking andtakes approximately two hours. Call Judy at610-826-5769 if you are interested.

· Adult Day Service: Volunteers help withgames and activities and serving the meals to theclients under the direction of Nicole Kuneck(610-379-4880).

We also have several special groups of volunteerswith specific tasks.

· Mailings: Volunteers send out mailingsfor the auxiliary and also some other mailings insupport of the Blue Mountain Health System.We can always use an extra hand here.

· Huggy Bears: Jeanette Christman andBeverly Smale and their committee sew thebears and make certain that the patients in thehospital are supplied with home-made HuggyBears. Perhaps you would like to help out withthis wonderful worthwhile project?

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Statement of Commitment and ConfidentialityI understand that a volunteer is a person who willingly offers to serve without expectation of

compensation or payment. I authorize Palmerton Hospital to make inquiries as to my references and any information provided herein.

I agree to participate in the necessary orientation and training provided by the hospital. I will perform my assigned tasks as outlined in my assignment guide to the best of my ability on behalf

of Palmerton Hospital. I am aware that staff is depending on me to arrive on the scheduled day and time and I will be conscientious in reporting all absences. I will attempt to find a substitute if possible.

I understand that all patients, clients and staff of Palmerton Hospital have a right to expect thatall medical, personal and financial information is confidential. Therefore, I will not discuss

anything I see, hear or read concerning a patient, client or staff member with other employees, volunteers, family members, friends, or anyone. I understand that a breach of these terms will result in immediate termination of my services.

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SO HAPPY ITS SPRING!After the endless winter, the Owl’s Nest iswelcoming the new season with happy and uniquemerchandise. If you want to dress up your home,add color to your patio or garden, find a specialgift for a special someone, or are in need of a littlepick-me-up for yourself, the Owl’s Nest is theplace to shop.

We stock a wide variety of products - cards,jewelry, baby and children items, candles, totes,Willow Tree angels, wind chimes, floral wreaths,stuffed animals and birdhouses. These are only asample of the things we have in stock.

Please stop by and see what we have to offer, I donot think you will be disappointed.

Thank you for your support and patronage.

DeeDee Owens, Owl’s Nest Manager

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The Palmerton Hospital Auxiliary has received thisvery special photography donation from the familyof the late Larry Gianettino (1956-2002) titled

“Hippopotamus With Bubbles”.It is one of a series of photographs from hiscollection named “Close Friends”.

Larry’s love of art began at a very young age, andlater in his life, photography became his destiny.Most of his earlier bodies of work consisted ofoutdoor landscapes and black and whiteabstractions taken from nature. He usedinnovative techniques to obtain his desired results.

Larry surrounded himself in life and in art withintensity, color, and objects. His works have beenwell known in the art world, having had soloexhibitions at various galleries in NYC, Los

Angeles, Paris, and the Newark Museum. They arealso in permanent collections of the San FranciscoMuseum of Modern Art and the MetropolitanMuseum of Art in New York.

In recognition of Larry’s skillful talent, we arevery pleased to offer “Hippopotamus WithBubbles” for sale in support of our on-going artsale for the benefit of the Palmerton Hospital.

We wish to thank Patrick and Cynthia Goldrick fortheir support and generous gift.

The related book “Close Friends” can be found inthe Owl’s Nest Gift Shop and is available forpurchase.

Linda Browne, Art Committee

Larry Gianettino’s closeup photographsof tiny toy creatures, some no biggerthan a pencil eraser. As the legendaryW. M. Hunt says in his introduction toGianettino’s book, “Close Friends,”

“Things are different here - enchantedand colorful and a little scary.” Here’sa peek into Gianettino’s world.

Goofy Duck, 1997

Wide-Eyed

Pig, 1995

Hippopotamus With Bubbles

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PAHA STATE HEALTH PROMOTION REPORT

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) - including heartdisease, stroke, and high blood pressure - is thenumber 1 killer of women and men in the UnitedStates. It is a leading cause of disability.Having a close relative who has heart disease putsyou at higher risk for CVD. Many CVD deathscould have been prevented through healthier habits,healthier living spaces, and better management ofconditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.As you begin your journey to better heart healththat can last a lifetime, KEEP THESE THINGS INMIND:Try not to become overwhelmed. Every stepbrings you closer to a healthier heart, and everyhealthy choice makes a difference!

· Partner up. The journey is more fun - andoften more successful - when you havecompany. Ask friends and family to joinyou.

· Don't get discouraged. You may not beable to take all of the steps at one time.Get a good night's sleep - also importantfor a healthy heart - and do what you cantomorrow.

· Reward yourself. Find fun things to do todecrease your stress. Round up somecolleagues for a lunchtime walk, join asinging group, or have a healthy dinnerwith your family or friends.

Monitor your blood pressure. High blood pressureoften has no symptoms, so be sure to have itchecked on a regular basis. You can check yourblood pressure at home, at a pharmacy, or at adoctor's office.Get your cholesterol checked. Your health careteam should test your cholesterol levels at leastonce every 5 years. Talk with your health careprofessional about this simple blood test.Eat a healthy diet. Choosing healthful meal andsnack options can help you avoid CVD and itscomplications. Limiting sodium in your diet canlower your blood pressure. Be sure to eat plentyof fresh fruits and vegetables - adults should haveat least five servings each day. Eating foods lowin saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol and highin fiber.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight orobese can increase your risk for CVD.Exercise regularly. Physical activity can help youmaintain a healthy weight and lower cholesteroland blood pressure. The Surgeon Generalrecommends that adults should engage inmoderate-intensity activity for at least 150 minutesper week. Remember to incorporate exercise intoyour day in different ways: take the stairs insteadof the elevator, or rake the yard instead of usingthe leaf blower. Exercising with friends andfamily can be a great way to stay healthy and havefun.Don't smoke. Cigarette smoking greatly increasesyour risk for CVD. If you don't smoke, don't start.If you do smoke, quit as soon as possible.Limit alcohol use. Avoid drinking too muchalcohol, which can increase your blood pressure.Men should stick to no more than two drinks perday, and women to no more than one.Manage your diabetes. If you have diabetes,monitor your blood sugar levels closely, and talkwith your health care team about treatment options.Take your medicine. If you're taking medication totreat high blood pressure, high cholesterol,diabetes, or another condition, follow theinstructions carefully. Always ask questions if youdon't understand something. If you have sideeffects, talk with your health care team about youroptions.References

Go AS, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, Benjamin EJ,Berry JD, Blaha MJ, et al. Heart disease and strokestatistics—2014 update: a report from theAmerican Heart Association. Circulation. 2013[Epub ahead of print].

CDC. Vital Signs: avoidable deaths from heartdisease, stroke, and hypertensive disease—UnitedStates, 2001–2010. MMWR. 2013;62(35);721–7.

Jeanne M. TilghmanEastern Region PAHA

Health Promotion Chairman

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THE NEARLY NEW SHOP

Hopefully, by the time you receive this, we areinto a warm Spring. We are in the final weeks ofour Winter Sale and hope to transfer toSpring/Summer clothing on March 30.It would be nice if we could schedule a Springmeeting. It's always nice to get together to air outissues and have a social time. If it's not possible,please remember a few items we stress whenvolunteering at the Nearly New Shop:

If you can't make your shift, please call PermaBerger to reschedule (we need to keep the storeopen as much as possible)

when you start a shift, check the store to seethat it is neat

make sure your envelope and shift card matchand write the amount on the front of the envelope

try not to leave $20 bills for the next shift - it ishard to make change with a $20.

We are all volunteers! I've told everyone manytimes before, the only pay I can give you is

"Thank You", and I sincerely appreciate all thatyou do.

Vera Schaffer has retired! And we sincerely thankher for her many years of volunteer time at theNearly New Shop. We will miss you Vera. Wealso mourn the passing of two ladies with very bighearts and very strong personalities whovolunteered at the Nearly New Shop for manyyears, and will be sincerely missed in thePalmerton community. God Bless you PermaSnyder and Marilyn Ord; we will keep you in ourhearts.

Happy Spring!Karen Kaiser, Shop Manager

THE AUXILIARY HEARTBEAT NEWSLETTER IS ON THE INTERNET

The Auxiliary Heartbeat is available for viewingon the Internet in a full-color magazine styleformat. This Spring 2015 issue, as well as severalprevious issues, are displayed at the Issuu.comweb site.

The Palmerton Hospital Auxiliary also has apresence on Facebook! If you are a Facebook usercome take a look at our page. We are new at this

so any suggestions or additions would be morethan welcome. If you have any thoughts please letme know at pjc1009@ptd.net

Patrick Clark, Newsletter Editor

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The Annual Spring-A’Fair Plant Salefor the

Palmerton Hospital Auxiliary 2015

Just in time for Mother’s Day!

Plants will be sold at thePalmerton Hospital main entrance135 Lafayette Avenue, Palmerton

Thursday, May 7 from 9 AM until 4 PM Friday, May 8 from 9 AM until 4 PM

The Auxiliary Krispy Kreme doughnut sale will be heldWednesday May 6 only from 9 AM until 12 Noon

Pick up your advance ordered doughnuts or stop by and purchase individualdoughnuts in the hospital lobby.

We accept cash, checks, credit cards or employee payroll deduction.Thanks are due once again to Elisabeth Leshock and Lucy Melo for running our plant sale.

Thanks also to Jenny Serfass for coordinating our doughnut sale.

Many quality plants for saleincluding Hanging Baskets,Potted Plants, Flats of BeddingPlants, Annuals & Perennials,Herbs and More

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April 18, 2015Woodstone Country Club, Danielsville, PA

Would you like to say thank you to one of the physicianbeing honored at this year’s Silver Gatsby Gala? If so,you can make a donation to the Health System in theirhonor and we will be sure to make them aware of yourgenerous donation.

No gift amount is too small and all of the proceeds go tobenefit our Charitable Mission to Carbon County and its

Make Checks Payable to“BMHS FUND DEVLOPMENT”211 N. 12th Street,Lehighton PA, 18235

For larger contributions or event sponsorship information contact Joe Guardiani by calling (610)377-7183 or email him at Jguardiani@blmtn.org

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