Fashion Show At Ashlar Added Flash And Flair To Residents' Day

By Kendra Bobowick

Erin Baier was the first "model" to walk through the community room at Ashlar of Newtown on June 5 during "Rhinestones & Bowties," a special fashion show by NHS National Honor Society members that had been coordinated by Golden Opportunities. The event for the residents of Ashlar showed off the fashions worn to the students' senior prom a few weeks earlier. Escorting Erin was Neil Culhane, one of the advisors for the National Honor Society chapter. -Bee Photos, Hicks

Newtown High School students brought fashion and flair to Ashlar of Newtown residents with the hope of conjuring some forgotten memories. Through the work of outreach organization Golden Opportunities and the efforts of National Honor Society students, a prom show took place at the Toddy Hill Road retirement home Tuesday, June 5.

"It's wonderful. The young ladies and gents will spark memories of dance hall days and will renew and inspire vitality for them," said Susan Judge, the facility's therapeutic recreation manager.

"Seeing the girls in their formal attire will hopefully bring back happy memories of the fun and excitement the residents experienced at special occasions in their own lives," said Managing Director of Golden Opportunities Knettie Archard.

Nancy Taylor, the organization's program administrator, had been anticipating the event for several weeks.

"They'll be excited about getting to see young people, it's always stimulating, and here come the girls in their fancy dresses and hair," she said.

The idea came together as Ms Taylor worked with the society and NHS advisor Neil Culhane. Also the director of guidance, Mr Culhane spoke with students including, Erin Baier who got into her pastel yellow and green dress last week. She said, "It's exciting because the residents get to see it."

The business plan of Golden Opportunities includes working with Ashlar of Newtown and several other area facilities that identify which residents would benefit from outreach. The nonprofit is also built on compassion.

"Our mission is to serve those who are lonely or isolated," Ms Archard had said in an interview earlier this year. "They may not be old, but just don't have someone to visit. I know there are a lot of people who could benefit."

Services include visitation and interaction, wish granting, participation in purposeful projects, and respite programs for caregivers, according to a recent release. The outreach relies on volunteers.

Ms Judge values Golden Opportunities.

"They provide us with quality volunteers who meet with residents who do not normally get family visits," she said, adding the visits provide encouragement and meaningful leisure to the residents. "[The volunteers] become the son or daughter and provide a consistent relationship which is missing from many of their lives."

Volunteers are carefully matched with individuals.

"One volunteer brings a resident offsite to a farm and the resident enjoys animals and farming," she said.

Ernie Curran was all smiles when all of the girls stopped to say Hello to him after the fashion show.

Prom Fashions

Billed as "Rhinestones & Bowties," the June 5 fashion show was a perfect opportunity for 15 members of Newtown High School's National Honor Society chapter to put on their prom gowns and jewelry (or jackets and ties in the case of three young men) one more time.

With Ms Taylor arriving early to make sure the residents arrived in the third floor community room at Ashlar, NHS math teacher Mike Powers and NHS counselor Neil Culhane - who are the faculty advisors for the local Honor Society chapter - made sure the students arrived ready to put on a good show for the two dozen or so gathered for the fashion show.

By way of introduction, Mr Culhane reminded the Ashlar residents that to be a member of the Honor Society each student must maintain a 90 average and remain active in school and community events.

"These kids are so busy, it's incredible that they get anything done," he said.

Mr Culhane even served as the escort for the afternoon's first model, Erin Baier. NHS senior Ethan Breitling served as the emcee for the event, offering color commentary that kept the event moving at a pace that was enjoyable for its attendees.

Each girl walked through the community room once, but the young men took turns serving as escorts for the different girls. The young adults seemed to loosen up and have more fun as the show progressed, too, with girls pausing to smile at residents and their escorts holding their hands up so that each girl could twirl around at least once.

In addition to Erin and Ethan, the fashion show participants were Meghan Barbour, Gina Bonacci, Sarah Harmony, Dayton Horvath, Will Mahoney, Andie Maret, Charlotte Manos, Kayla Moore, Harriet Morgan, Sarah Peck, Bridie Rubino, Candice Woods, and Jon Zigman

The efforts of the students were very much appreciated by the Ashlar residents. As the dresses and suits were modeled in front of them, residents smiled and applauded each outfit. Many friends were seen chatting about the outfits they were seeing, and many positive comments were overheard.

"It's so nice to see something like this," Ashlar resident Betty Baldour said after the show's conclusion. "It's nice to see kids who are beautiful and intelligent. This was very nice."

(Bee Associate Editor Shannon Hicks contributed to this story.)