Last Updated on June 20, 2025
Legend: GS: General Services; ME: My Erickson website; BCF: Benevolent Care Fund; E: Electronic; CR: Community Resources Dept.; RL: Resident Life; QR: Quick Response; cci: Charlestown Community Incorporated; BYOB: Bring your own booze; FH: Fountain Hill; TS: Treasure Sale; CTS: Charlestown Square.
1. The General Services Call Center’s phone number and current hours are listed under General Services Communications on our website. If you need something fixed or repaired, call, or for non-urgent requests, residents may utilize a Request a Service Work Order online under the ME icon forms. If there is an emergency after hours or on weekends, call Security for help. There are GS Comment Forms on ME to report on your service call from GS, and staff are handing out QR forms as they complete their tasks for easy usage. Congrats to Jason Dennis for his promotion to General Services Director and Bres’che Jones, the new Assistant Security Manager.
2. Recurring Opportunities for Voicing Concerns are listed on our website under Campus Info>Getting Things Done and Getting Started. The monthly Neighborhood Chat schedule is published in the Sunburst under Campus Connections. Our website’s Council Communication Form icon alerts the Council to a problem. Also, the Administration welcomes comments; please send them to ccifeedback@erickson.com.
3. Resident Directory Info: The latest printed version, June, can be obtained by asking at the lobby desks. The only E-directory is on My Erickson, which is password-protected. Changes to both directories should be referred to the Res. Life Asst., Deanna Booker, at Ext. 601-8230.
4. ccicharlestown.org: The Tech Bar on June 4th was a great success, 68 Residents attended. The Report to the Community Regarding CapEX26 Proposals from Art Johnson, Finance Committee, is now posted under News and the Finance Committee. An updated photo of the Executive Team is now posted. The Charlestown Continuing Care Monthly Newsletter for June is posted. Add a photo of your pet to the Pet Gallery posted on our website, or send a photo to Betty Elder or Hope Tillman. The website is constantly adding information as sent by Club leaders. Hope is creating a team of residents to assist other residents with using computers; those interested in helping can reach out to her. Questions or suggestions for the website may be submitted on the Home Page, or join us for the next Website Subcommittee meeting on July 26th at 1:30 pm via Zoom. Contact Hope for the address.
5. BCF: The next TS is scheduled for July 24-26, 2025. There is an ongoing list of volunteer needs for various TS tasks; please contact Casey at 410-737-8892. Philanthropy reminds us to “Leave your legacy at Charlestown” by designating the BCF in your estate plans or as the beneficiary of all or a percentage of the entrance deposit to ensure the promise of a “Home for Life”. The Pickup Line is open, the Treasure Chest, the Ladies Boutique, and the Furniture Store (30% Off Sale) are open Tuesdays. Anyone interested in joining the BCF committee should contact Virginia Antevil, the Chair, to attend a meeting. If you wish to donate your car to Cars for Care, contact Bette Holub at 410-314-7958. All funds raised through Cars for Care go to BCF
6. CR: CC is seeking magazine and coffee table books for Memory Care and prize donations for CC Bingo. Volunteers are also needed in CC to share their talents for CC activities and card players. Jennifer Tillett’s Summer “Arts Alive at Charlestown” newsletter is now available on My Erickson under Resident Resources. Upcoming events are Party Bingo on July 10th, a Midsummer Noon Tea on July 31st, and a Paint Night on August 27th in the Conference Center. Sandy Mack will lead the latter event, providing supplies for a fee to accommodate up to fifty people. Finally, the CGO Expo is scheduled for September 12th.
Res. Life: Kudos to the Staff for the Summer Solstice Festival! Tapestry events are being planned for October. Marie Skane leads the monthly Dine Together Program for new residents, and 32 residents were present on 6/2. The next is July 7 at 5:15 PM. Cathy Stevens is the Chair of the Dining Ambassadors and has been reaching out to Harbor View and Caton Ridge residents. Cathy is also the co-chair of the Dining Services Committee of the Resident Council and is running again for the Council. The Ageism and Ableism Group has changed its name to Accessibility and Inclusion to better reflect its current mission. A new brochure, showing items that can be installed in apartments to improve handicap accessibility, is available at Lobby desks. The Low Vision Group is planning to hold quarterly sessions, similar to Tapestry, starting in November. Margaret Vincent is recruiting volunteer “cub reporters” to help feed her Newcomers Weekly newsletter. Contact her via e-mail.
7. Medical Center: The New COVID-19 vaccine and Flu shots are still available if you have missed the clinics. A Mask may be required at the Medical Center if a resident is symptomatic. Stay healthy by washing hands—keep others healthy by not going out if sick. Call the medical center if you are not feeling well. Those who have Primary Care Physicians at the Medical Center are encouraged to sign up for the new Medicare APCM initiative. Also, new residents need to sign up for the Care Path Program, even though you may have your doctor off-campus, in case of emergencies, so the Medical Center has your particulars. If you are going to the hospital on your own (i.e., elective surgery), please let security know. All hospital stays should be followed by a transitional doctor visit to help prevent readmission.
8. The Move-out Process at the End-of-Life helpful article has been updated on our website in the Blog area with the name of the coordinator, Trina Butler. The Article will also be posted in the July Sunburst. As the posting states, BCF is asking us to inform families that we offer our volunteers to pack up any donations left behind in loved ones’ apartments and that there is no charge for removing approved larger items left for donation to the Treasure Sale. Our volunteers work quickly because they realize time is of the essence. Call Casey Bassler, Coordinator – 410-737-8892.
9. Housekeeping special: Cost $350, ends September 26th, 2025. “ADDED BONUS” Included two rooms of carpet shampooed. Michele is working on an Electronics Recycling event in the future. The Committee asks if you see something that needs clean-up attention, say something, please!
10. Home Care: Home Care info is listed on our website. They are celebrating National Certified Nursing Assistants Week. They are spoiling their caregivers all week! We couldn’t provide the excellent care to our residents without our caregivers!
Extras: Brittany is looking for backup Birthday Angels in all the buildings and volunteers to color birthday cards. Archives is looking for anyone who took pictures at the softball tournament to send copies to the archives. They’d also welcome anyone who would like to do (or has done) a short write-up of the tournament to send it to: (Charlestownarchives17@gmail.com). Note: Archives expects to move to a new location near the reception desk in Building 7. Contact John Yoder. The Medication Disposal events are on Aug. 25, and Nov. 24 from 1-3 pm in Cross Creek and Fireside Lobbies. The resident-run Cancer Support Group, led by Ann MacKay, will not meet again until 9/8/25 at 2 PM, in CTS Classroom 216 Breakout Room. A new Group is forming for Widows and Widowers of Charlestown, and will meet on Tues, June 24 at 7 PM in City Lights for wine and cheese; contacts are Joe Carrick or Kathy Bauman.
The Resident Council Nominating and Elections Committee has arrived at 12 candidates for our Residents’ Council for a three-year term to help navigate our continued way of life in our great Community. These brave nominees are vying for a seat at the table in the room where it happens. Look for their bios and photos to be emailed and posted on our website in July and placed in cubbies for those who are not E-Preferred.
Happy 4th of July!!
Charlie Eichenlaub
Communications Committee