Jasper Nursing holds June bride event

Newsboy photo/ Sharon Kerr WILLIAM HOFFMAN spins a tale to get residents talking about their own weddings.

Every day is a good day for a party at Jasper Nursing and Rehabilitation, but activities director William Hoffman likes to come up with a theme for the events he plans for residents.

The latest was a June Bride event last Friday, June 29. Hoffman's enthusiasm was not in the least dampened by the fact that no one was getting married and the center only has one married couple in residence.

Hoffman baked a two-tier wedding cake with sugar-free, fat-free icing. Anurse loaned floral arrangements and decorations from a recent family wedding, and the dining halls was festooned with white and blue balloons.

The real centerpiece, however, was the fanciful tale Hoffman spun about a wedding couple who couldn't agree on any detail of the wedding, so they ran off and eloped and donated the reception for the seniors to enjoy.

It brought smiles and laughter and memories bubbling up like the "champagne" fountain.

Hoffman has more big plans in the works according to Sylvia Prince, assistant director at the home.

"William is planning a senior prom for all the nursing homes in the area," Prince said.

It will be held at the civic center in Newton Oct. 12. Hoffman has already arranged for a Mary Kay representative and the beauty school to do all the ladies' hair, nails and makeup.

"William is collecting gowns already, and I'm going to be a chaperone," Prince said.