There’s no place like Hearthstone at Wildwood. At least that’s what residents echoed after screening “The Wizard of Oz,” on St. Patrick’s Day.
The assisted living community hosted an interactive dinner and a movie event on March 17. Residents were met with hot-air balloons and flying monkeys hanging from the ceiling and staff dressed as characters from the classic 1939 film.
Sam Grow, Hearthstone at Wildwood activities director, said it was a way to celebrate the holiday while also enjoying other familiar folklore and fan favorites.
“We were thinking of the Emerald City and their love of the color green,” he said. “We were thinking ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ and the tie between rainbows and Irish folklore. We also wanted to pay tribute to Judy Garland. It’s all a way to make the event more enjoyable for our residents.”
Dressed as the Scarecrow, Grow wore a green sweater and brown pants, with straw peeking out of both.
He and other members of the staff, including Kayla Knight, Jacqueline Ramos, Lori Gamoke, Carrie Stalbaum, David Seymour and Jennifer Mulligan, dressed as characters from the film, surprising and entertaining residents as they waited to enter the activity room before the movie began.
Helga Sharp, a Hearthstone at Wildwood resident, was excited to attend since she is a fan of all classical movies and fun moments.
“It’s the festivities of it all,” she said. “We have always enjoyed these special events.”
Resident artwork was showcased around the room, from the all-green Styrofoam Emerald City against the wall, the field of red poppies behind the television and six colorful mini Munchkin homes stationed at the head of each dining table.
Rainbow-colored tulle, paper hot-air balloons and rainbow LED lights filled the ceiling of the activity room, making the entire experience immersive for all.
Planning the menu, preparing staff costumes and setting up decorations residents made were all part of the setup, Grow said.
“We’ve been planning this for over two-and-a-half months, since before the Polar Express movie night in December,” he said. “The residents helped with the building of the Emerald City, decorating the Munchkin homes and making the field of poppies. I hope residents and their families leave with a smile on their face and in their heart.”
Deb Divine, a resident of Hearthstone at Wildwood, was joined by her husband, John, of Wildwood.
“It’s just the fun of it all,” Deb said. “Earlier today, I went out and had lunch with my friends. Now my husband and I are going to have dinner together. I like being together and celebrating the traditions. I wore all my green.”
John said green was Deb’s favorite color.
The couple agreed they were excited for the movie night because events at Hearthstone tend to be a unique experience with good food.
“It’s always fun when Deb and I get to do special events together,” John said. “We are also from Kansas. We are looking forward to having a great dinner and it will be fun to see who we are sitting by.”
Dressed as the tornado that sends Dorthy to Oz, Collin Ogorman, a volunteer with the assisted living community, spun through the room as residents ate.
After the action was over, Ogorman said he enjoyed the opportunity to make people smile.
“I see all the joy that Sam brings to everyone,” he said. “It’s a day’s worth of tiredness that’s worth a week of remembering how happy it made people.”
Kim McCoy, Pinnacle Home Care care coordinator, dressed as a tree and playfully threw small plush apples during the scene Scarecrow and Dorthy were being hit with apples in the movie.
The evening’s menu included a choice of a savory Tin Man or Scarecrow meal and sweet Flying Monkey Bread for dessert. To wash it all down, guests were served a special green Emerald City Punch. The pear-flavored punch was served in a cup featuring a green glitter rim and sherbet to tie it to the Emerald City. It was topped with cotton candy that melted once it hit liquid, like the film’s antagonist, the Wicked Witch of the West.
Kayla Knight, Hearthstone at Wildwood’s head chef, said inspiration for the menu came from memories of her great-grandmother and knowledge of Southern cuisine.
“When I think of the South, I think of yummy biscuits,” Knight said. “We put a little poppy flower on the cheddar biscuit. For the Tin Man dish, we made rainbow pasta with chicken and a cream pesto sauce that had a corkscrew shape. The Scarecrow meal was brown rice served Haystack style, with barbecue ranch pork, corn, black beans, shredded carrots, tomato and cheese.”
Jordan Six, Hearthstone at Wildwood’s sous chef, enjoyed creating a cohesive experience for residents and bringing Grow and Knight’s ideas to life.
“I think we always try to one-up the last event, but it’s all about the residents and we try to bring a smile to their faces every time,” he said.
Tracey and Ray Grow, Sam’s parents, joined in on the fun by dancing a special jig during “The Lollipop Guild” performance by the Munchkins.
The pair, who traveled from Illinois, said they were excited to see their son’s hard work come together.
“He wanted us to come very badly,” Tracey said. “I’m also a big fan of ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Sam did such a great job with the decorations and I hear it’s always a lot of fun.”
For more information about HearthStone at Wildwood, call 352-644-9239 or visit hearthstonelivingfl.com/communities/wildwood.
