Vets Gazette - August 2013 - STATES

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EVERYONE LOVES RAYMOND I GRILLED HIM AND HE CAME UP WITH A BANQUET Raymond Sienko was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut 78 years ago, and in recent years moved to Newport. During the Berlin crisis, he was called up from the Army Reserves. He was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and became a sergeant assigned as mess steward in charge of meals for 200 men. In between meals Ray played the organ for his battalion. He spent ten years in the US Army during the Berlin crisis. The facilities available to Ray and his associates were barracks used to hold prisoners during WWII. The cooking equipment included coal stoves. In spite of the limitations caused by the outmoded cooking appliances, the food was basic and good. Pizza was not yet as popular as it is today, and this was not on the menu. When military duty ended, Ray went back to Newton, CT tor work as a cook at Raymond's, the family restaurant. He left this venue to seek something different and spent six years managing a department store section of jewelry, greeting cards and stationery items. Ray then went into food catering for three and a half years, serving as many as 250 people on some occasions. His last venture before coming to the RI Veterans Home was running the kitchen for seven years at Sisters of the Holy Family. This operation provided meals for 65 Sisters during the week and as many as 250 meals on weekends. The food was prepared by Polish workers for polish sisters and Polish guests. The kitchen crew was Polish, too. Examples of the food served were pierogi, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage and borscht, and if that ain't Polish, what is? Ray produced Polish meals for 2500 people at lawn festivals. The meals involved sour cream and dill amongst other things, but never, let me repeat that, never did they use garlic. At one point in his experience, Ray owned and operated a florist shop, and during another time, he was an assistant kitchen manager of an assisted living home for sixty people. Currently Donna O'Donnell (Activities) has this to say, "Raymond is a delight to have in activities. He answers phone calls and when not doing so joins in card games with other residents." But can he cook? He sure can. With a capital C! Al Benharris 3
IT DOES EVERYTHING BUT FLY The Veterans Home - a simple little operation you say, eh? Sure – some medical, a kitchen, cleaners and what else – ah yes, our beloved activities. But that's not at all accurate. More precisely, the Veterans Home operation is made up of: Infection Control Credit Union Labor Department Maintenance Drivers Painters Stockroom Medical Equipment Laboratory Service Business Office Telephone Operators Staffing Services Ward Secretaries X-ray Department Computer Support Pharmacy Security Medical Records PT/OT Dental Services Barbershop Administrators Sanitary Department Social Services Activities Volunteers!! We are being provided with a large well-trained care and medical ensemble. There is more - no resident is left behind!!! And all this is functioning in a collage labeled a Veterans Home, constituted of patient quarters as well as many rooms unknown to the majority of residents stocked with equipment and records kept in above ground catacombs. The building itself is a marvel. Due to its shape, General Baccus refers to it as a starship. Sure he does. He's admittedly a Trekkie. Al Benharris SOUNDS OF SIMCHA The word simcha means happiness, enjoyment. Every Wednesday at 1:30 downstairs in our library, Stanley Freedman, the leader of the Sounds of Simcha band, along with pianist Anthony Pisano, join our own Harris Ullian in practicing and preparing for presentation of the music of "Harris and the Boyz." Stanley provides music for religious and commercial groups. A graduate of Brown University, he has studied saxophone, guitar, and it all started when he sat down and shared the piano with his piano teacher mother. Stanley has done everything that he wanted to do in the musical field. He taught music and created a small band at Hope High School from 1965-1990. One of his students sang with Burt Bachrach and he played for three years at an assisted living facility. Anthony Pisano, Freedman's co-band member is a Providence College graduate. He was a teacher and a former principal of North Providence High School. He was discouraged by his father, a pianist himself, to play the piano, but he persisted and is still going strong. His father had been the top pianist with the band at the Warwick Tent, playing for the world's top show people. Stanley is always there offering his music. He also offers his religious knowledge which is very gratefully accepted. 4
Page 1 and 2: The Vets Gazette August 2013 Depart
Page 3: Welcome New Residents July 2013 Jos
Page 7 and 8: Amputee First to Pass Rigorous Cour
Page 9 and 10: CREATIVE CORNER The Vet’s Gazette
Page 11 and 12: It was a perfect evening to enjoy t
Page 13 and 14: HEARD IN THE CORRIDOR Lexophiles -
Page 15 and 16: Colt State Park in July 14
Page 17 and 18: IT'S MY BELIEF EVERYONE'S LIFE IS F
Page 19 and 20: GOD GAVE ME MY SMILE So says CNA Ge

Vets Gazette - August 2013 - STATES

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