Category: News

Last week, Executive Director, Rick Karges surprised all the staff and residents with a “treat”.

On Thursday, he instructed us to dress warm for the next day. On Friday, we were greeted with horse drawn hayrides from the Hopewell horses, Bess and Belle. We had a bon-fire to roast hot dogs and marshmallows complete with baked beans and hot apple cider prepared by the kitchen staff. The event was a wonderful gesture and great event to kick off the New Year!

For everyone who did not want to be outside, there was lunch in the dining room. We also met in the dining room at 1:00 p.m. to sing karaoke and enjoy cake. Although the event was spectacular in nature, Rachel McLaughlin, Admissions and Marketing Director brought her dog, Jake and he stole the show. The residents and staff alike enjoy the companionship he provides when he visits.

The Hopewell staff was delighted to attend The Cleveland Psychoanalytic Center Benefit to show our support for L. Douglas Lenkoski, M.D. who was honored at the event.

Dr. Lenkoski’s Bio: Born in North Hampton, Massachusetts, Dr. Lenkoski received a B.A. in Biology from Harvard College in 1948 and his medical degree in 1953 from Western Reserve School of Medicine. From 1943-1946, he served as an Army Air Force B-17 navigator stationed in Italy.

After completing his military service, he interned at Univerisity Hospitals of Cleveland from 1953-1954. He served as Assistant Resident in Psychiatry at Yale/ Grace New Haven Hospital and University Hospitals (1956- 1957). He served as Chief Resident at University Hospitals from 1957-1958.

As faculty in Psychiatry at CWRU from 1960 until his retirement in 1992, Dr. Lenkoski has held numerous positions, including Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Director, Substance Abuse Center, School of Medicine. He served as Chief of Satff and Director of the Department of Psychiatry at University Hospitals. He also served as Director of Psychiatry at MetroHealth.

In 1992, he was appointed Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry. During his years as Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at CWRU, Dr. Lenkoski built and nurtured a department nationally recognized for excellence in the treatment of the mentally ill, in education of medical students, residents and other mental health professionals, and for excellence in research in the neurosciences.

The Hopewell Band recently concluded recording their 2nd CD…a version of the song “Moondance”, made famous by artist Van Morrison. The recording session was conducted at the Kick-A Mix studio in Orwell, Ohio, where Tom Schimley is owner and operator.

Having recorded their first song, a version of the hit “I Can See Clearly Now” earlier this year, the Band is adding this newest song to what eventually promises to become their first album. The Hopewell Band songs are featured on Hopewell’s website and can be heard as the “music on hold” on their (our) telephone system.

The six member band is comprised of both Hopewell residents and staff. At Hopewell, music plays an important role in day-to-day programming and assisting residents in their recovery process.

Christmas is always an exciting time at Hopewell. Every year we embrace the season with crafts, decorations and one of our all-time favorite activities, hand selecting our Christmas tree.

This year was no different. Ten residents with three Hopewell staffers spent half a day at Manner’s Pine Tree Lodge in Jefferson, Ohio selecting two beautiful pines. The residents had to cut down the tree, load them on a sled and haul them back to the barn to be bailed before being loaded in the Hopewell truck.

It was a lovely experience complete with hot cocoa and warming near the fire. We will be sure to share pictures of our finished tree once the spirituality group is done decorating.

Hopewell’s creative art center has been working fervently on beautiful items for the Farm & Craft Market. There will be a holiday open house from 9am – 5pm on November 21 and 22 and also November 28 and 29.

Some of the items include holiday tree ornaments and gifts, repurposed art, antiques and hand-crafted wood items. Our own maple syrup, made right right here on the farm, is also available. All of the holiday items are made by our residents and dedicated staff.

Many of our residents have an artistic eye and feel that art keeps them focused so that they can stay on their path to healing. Please stop by Hopewell’s Farm & Craft Market and support our therapeutic community.

Without much warning, the Cleveland area was hit with Lake Effect snow last week. This is the first major snowfall of the season, and Mesopotamia received nearly eight inches of the fluffy white stuff.

Because Hopewell is a working farm with livestock, special wintertime accommodations have to be made for the farm’s animals. Norman Wengerd, Hopewell’s Farm Manager, said that all of the animals have shelter to protect them from the elements. While the chickens are able to stay outside in -20 degree temperatures, Hopewell’s farm crew makes sure that the barn doors are closed at night or on windy days. Heaters are even installed in the water tubs to keep the water from freezing. Hopewell’s resident farm crew also helps to feed hay to the animals.

In the summer, however, the cows, horses, sheep, goats and chickens have the opportunity to graze on Hopewell’s green grass during the day.

Only 122 more days until Spring!

The nature group is always exploring and looking for their next adventure. Recently, the nature group helped transport wood via horse and buggy to the sugar house to prepare for next year’s maple sugaring that we are very excited about.

Norm, Hopewell’s farm manager agreed to give the nature group some of the wood by the Wellman pond fire pit for the next camp out for the extra help. While the group was waiting for the horses to bring back an empty cart to refill with wood, they found a safe, strong grape vine hanging from a tall tree and took turns swinging. They also began to gather logs and sticks that were down to build a teepee in an upcoming nature group.

Lots of laughing and work was completed successfully. The whole group exhibited great cooperation.

Some members of the Hopewell staff attended New York’s Chautauqua Institution to hear Dr. Weinberger speak about his research on the role of abnormal brain development as a risk factor for Schizophrenia.

Dr. Weinberger’s lab has recently identified the first specific genetic mechanism of risk for schizophrenia, and the first genetic effects that account for variation in specific human cognitive functions and in human temperament.This research is especially interesting for our clinical staff. Hopewell outcome studies have discovered that the Therapeutic Farm Community model of treatment is effective in reducing the severity of symptoms associated with Schizophrenia.

After listening to his cutting edge presentation, some of the staff was able to join extraordinary ambassadors, advocates and philanthropists Jim and Kathy Pender for a delicious lunch and touching conversation.

A couple weeks ago, we were blessed with a nice, warm day, so what better to do than gather the residents and staff and get creative while tie-dying shirts?

Hopewell purchased white t-shirts for participants to design to their liking. We used a high quality commercial solution that consisted of 14 different vibrant colors. The residents followed templates to get the look they wanted. They would bunch up the shirt and wrap it with a rubber band. Depending on the effect they were looking for they could wrap it tightly, loosely, pull more of the shirt through or just use a small bunch of the shirt.

Once they wrapped the shirts with the pattern they desired, they squirted the commercial solutions all over the shirts. The t-shirts were put in plastic bags to sit overnight. The next day we rinsed the shirts in cold water to “set the color”, washed and dried them, and then they were ready to wear.

It was a messy process but a lot of fun, plus we all have a keepsake to remember the good time had by all. They turned out great, wouldn’t you agree?

Jack Childers, Hopewell’s Program Service Supervisor, took three residents apple picking. Unfortunately, this was not a good year for apples as we were only able to get about 3 bushels. The apples were picked at an Apple Orchard that supporters of Hopewell own and we appreciate them inviting us out every year to pick.

We are looking forward to making applesauce, apple cider, and apple butter in the next few weeks but since there were such a low number of apples, we won’t get to make much. Jack said “last year we had an entire truck full of apples, it varies every year depending on weather.” Guess this was not the year for apples!