by Cara Fitzgerald, Staff Writer -

Democrat and Chronicle

Friday, July 09, 2004

Residents of Kirkhaven, a local nursing home, laughed through whipped-cream-covered smiles Thursday during a Banana Split Relay in the Kirkhaven courtyard garden.

"It's a lot of fun because they go so fast," said resident Lucy Kirkham. "So many people can come enjoy this."

As an audience of more than 50 residents, staff and family members cheered them on, four teams of staff members raced to build their sundae concoctions, competing to be the first team to finish.
It was a sloppy scene of ice cream, chocolate syrup, cherries - and of course, bananas.

From their front-row seats, 92-year-old twins Dorothy McClenathan and Margaret Ehle, both Kirkhaven residents, recalled fond memories of their trips to the local ice cream shop where they grew up in Buffalo.
"We had to take a big silver bowl to the ice cream store and ask them to fill it up," said McClenathan, wiping splattered chocolate off her glasses. "I don't think they had cartons way back then."

"I always had to have vanilla," said Ehle, recalling a playful point of contention. "We both liked cherry, but she always got that."
Both enjoyed sundaes with cherry topping Thursday during an ice cream social celebrating the winning team's victory over the reigning champions.

"We try to come up with spontaneous, fun activities, the kinds of things that just randomly happen in our own homes," said Duane Girdner, vice president of marketing and public relations and honorary member of Thursday's winning team. "I can picture my own kids doing this."

The Banana Split Relay, an annual competition in its third year, is just one of more than 100 resident activities on Kirkhaven's summer schedule. They include sing-alongs, a van trip to a Rochester Red Wings game and the Water War Party, a particular favorite.

"These events give us an opportunity to giggle, not only at each other, but with each other," said Amanda Brown, associate administrator of Kirkhaven.

"Today isn't just any party. It's a reflection of the relationships we've formed here."