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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2017)
THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM ❘ / SIUSLAWNEWS ❘ C ELEBRATING S COUTING W EEK INSIDE — 4B @ SIUSLAWNEWS WEDNESDAY EDITION Siuslaw News Coast Life ❘ FEBRUARY 8, 2017 ❘ SECTION B SENIOR NEWS CALENDAR INSIDE — 6B Chef kicks it up a notch Chef Richard Boultinghouse’s Cordon Bleu training makes for a tasty experience for Singing Pines Café diners B Y M ARK B RENNAN Siuslaw News F lorence runs on volun- teers. It’s a common refrain at nonprofit 501(c)3s in town from Florence Foodshare to the Friends of the Florence Events Center to the Florence Community PTA. Nearly all of the clubs and public service organizations in the area count on the talents and experi- ence of residents that are not paid for the work they do. In many cases these volunteers are not only the backbone of the organization, they are often the face the public sees as well. In addition, there are a small num- ber of volunteers that have a very specific skillset that they share for the benefit of the other members of the community. One of these individuals is now sharing his talents in a very tasty way at the Florence Senior Center, 1570 Kingwood St. Chef Richard Boultinghouse and his wife Teresa are working together to pre- pare meals at the center. Richard is classically trained and has an extensive background cooking in large venues for high profile individuals. “I am a certified Chef with Le Cordon Bleu in couple of days in the kitchen, his time there is divided between overseeing the preparation of the Senior Center meal program and instructing his team of vol- unteers. “What I really like is the teaching end of it. It really is the volunteers that make this happen. And while we try to make this close to a restaurant experience, it’s not — this is all done with volunteers, some of whom have health issues of their own, that they are dealing with,” Richard said. Teresa recently became a part-time employee at the Senior Center. Her posi- tive attitude and seemingly eternal smile have added a sense of fun to the work in the kitchen. Both she and Richard think that the work they do is not only enjoyable but Senior Center visitors dine on Chef Boultinghouse’s fine cuisine at Singing Pines also meaningful. Cafe twice weekly. Lunches are $7, and reservations are encouraged. “For some of our seniors, this is the Paris, and I have cooked professionally they were youngsters and continue to only sit-down meal they will have. And for many years,” he said. “I’ve cooked on both work and live together. for some of our seniors, this is the only the concert circuit for Ray Charles, Pink “We are high school sweethearts,” meal they have for that day,” Teresa said. Martini, Los Lobos and Joan Baez. And I Teresa said with a big smile. “We went to The Boultinghouses encourage all have done a lot of corporate cooking, high school in Santa Cruz and we’ve members of the community to join them serving hundreds of meals in a very short been together for 34 years and counting.” for lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays at The two had a couple of food-related time.” the Senior Center Singing Pines Café, Health issues have constrained his abil- establishments in Portland, but an unan- where lunch is $7. ity to work the often-grueling schedule of ticipated health emergency caused them Florence Senior Center is always look- a professional chef, but his talents are not to make a change to their life plan. ing for volunteers. Richard said, “I contracted a virus in going to waste. His desire to contribute to For more information about meals or vol- my heart and it was diagnosed as the community and his love of food unteering or to place lunch reservations, call has turned out to be a win-win situa- Viral Cardio Myopathy. My heart 541-997-8844. tion for all. was operating at 10 percent efficien- cy, so I had no choice, I had to stop Richard and Teresa have taken over the management of the kitchen working. I am now at 30 percent and I still can’t work full time. So I and meal programs at the Senior work two days a week here and I Center to rave reviews. take a nap when I get home to The first thing one notices when talking with the couple is the affec- recharge my heart, but the two tion they have for one another. The days is all I can do at this point.” two began their relationship when Although Richard only spends a Senior Center volunteers work with Chef Boultinghouse to create meals, serve guests, clean the kitchens and make the commercial kitchen run smoothly and efficiently. New memory care facility celebrates grand opening lorence Area Chamber of Commerce Amb- assadors, led by Mike Bones, attended the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Northwest Refl- ections Memory Care facility Jan. 28. Northwest Reflections is locally owned and operated by Melinda Gitnes, Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP). For the last several years, Gitnes has been providing in-home Medicare Health assessments for members in the community. As an ANP, she worked at the Riverstone Clinic and Corvallis Manor and Hillside Heights skilled nursing facilities. F individualized care. Also, as a registered Northwest Reflections nurse, Gitnes had the offers onsite fulltime opportunity to work as the health care and ongoing health services coordinator medical treatment to resi- at Elder Health and Living dents. The inside of the in Springfield, Ore., and at home is decorated with the Oregon State Hospital comfortable furnishings, in Salem. artwork chosen to soothe Northwest Reflections is and create an uplifting a person-centered residen- environment and personal tial care facility for men touches, such as memory and women with dementia. boxes for the residents to The brand new five-bed- bring personal mementoes room, two- bath home is that are meaningful and situated on 1.75 acres of helpful to them. both forested and land- COURTESY PHOTO Gitnes said her personal scaped grounds, including an enclosed back yard with Chamber Ambassadors help Melinda Gitnes cut the rib- experience, along with her paths, fountain and sitting bon at the grand opening of Northwest Reflections passion for helping people with dementia, has moti- areas for eating outdoors Memory Care. or just enjoying the Residents are able to secured home environment vated her to create a warm scenery. enjoy living in a safe and where they will receive family environment that will help foster independ- ence, individual interests, mobility and health through coordinated activi- ties and experiences. “Family members are encouraged to schedule regular visits with loved ones and to join them for special activities, holiday celebrations and specially designed meals,” said Gitnes. “Our mission for the facility is that all resi- dents should have a normal home life experience.” Northwest Reflections Memory Care is located at 5292 Harvard Ave. in Florence. For more information, call 541-997-5002. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK PHOTOS BY MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS Chef Richard Boultinghouse does it all at Florence Senior Center Singing Pine’s Cafe. From using fresh ingredients and seasonings, teaching volunteers how to make pastries and serving up gourmet meals, his experience and training brings something a little new to the community center’s diners on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
