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DREAMS FULFILLED

HAVERHILL - Irene Durgin has always loved being on the water, and vowed she would ride on a boat again before she dies. Durgin, who this year turned 103 and is one of the oldest residents at Penacook Place Nursing Home, was able to fulfill her wish yesterday with the help of the home's Tree of Dreams program. Durgin and 15 other Penacook residents took a riverboat cruise o the Merrimack River - something she said, with a wide smile, was "really swell."

Tricia Horgan, director of community relations at Penacook, said Durgin often talks about how she used to go boating with her husband before he died, describing those times as some of the happiest of her life. Penacook Place is the only nursing home in Greater Haverhill to participate in a national program for nursing home elders that fulfills their dreams, said Beth Torla, rehabilitation technician at Penacook. "We want to give our patients the best care they can get," she said, adding that other examples of fulfilling residents dreams include taking them deep sea fishing, to the theater and to a Lowell Spinners' baseball game.

Neither Horgan nor Durgin could say how long it had been since Durgin had been on a boat -- except that it has been years. Durgin moved to Penacook in May, after living at home with extended family before that.

"Irene has often said she would like to go on a boat again before she sees the angels," Horgan said. The Tree of Dreams program is similar to the national Make A Wish Foundation. Residents create a list of things they would most like to do, and through donations from the community, the staff at the nursing home turns the dreams into reality. The Tree of Dreams got the riverboat tickets donated -- at a cost of $10 per person - for Durgin and the other residents who went on the river cruise.

"I had a wonderful time. I liked the beautiful scenery," Durgin said of seeing the city from the water rather than the window of a nursing home. "I enjoyed that."

Penacook gained national media attention in April 2001 when it was featured on the national Fox News Channel in a program called "Champions of Industry." The show highlights outstanding businesses across the country, and selected Penacook Place as an example.

Pat Summerall Productions organized the show, which looks across the country at businesses that are leaders in their field. The show profiles companies ranging from manufacturing to health care. The producers said they chose Penacook Place because of its caring staff and what the show called dedication to the "golden rule" - treating others the way you would want to be treated.

Penacook Place made another dream come true for one of its residents when it arranged for Ardash Chillingirian to have a special meal with his wife, Zarty at their favorite restaurant, Bishop’s.

 When Ardash learned that the land­mark 60-year-old restaurant, known for its Lebanese cuisine and its belly dancers, was closing its doors, he said that he wished he could visit Bishop’s one final time. That’s when the Tree of Dreams wish-makers kicked into high gear. They made all of the arrangements, including cake and flowers, so that the Chillingirians could celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary.

 Among other recent dreams, Joe Gilmore was able to visit his old home and the baseball field on which he played in Merrimac. Other residents visited Hampton Beach, ate a lobster dinner and went deep sea fishing.

(The Haverhill Gazette - March 8-14, 2001)

Penacook Place resident Fred Janvrin, 60, attended a guitar exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston as part of the nursing home's new Tree of Dreams program. Staff members are finding out what residents dreams are and are helping make them come true. A former guitarist, Janvrin, used to play in area clubs and sang under the name Fred Gentry. A country western fan, Janvrin's favorite performer is Hank Williams. The trip to Boston was Janvrin's first time out of the nursing facility in over a year. Penacook Place is looking for community support for the program. Donations can be sent to Penacook Place, Tree of Dreams Program, attention: Patricia J. Horgan, 150 Water St., Haverhill, MA 01830.

Rudy Clavette, Leo Boivin, and Everett Bailey went on a deep sea fishing trip on the Captain Lady’s II, which left from Plum Island, MA on Wednesday, September 5, 2001.  The boat stopped at five or six spots along the MA and NH coastline in the Atlantic Ocean to try to catch some fish. The gentlemen thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful day although no one caught a fish. Rudy was the closest.  He hooked a dogfish, but it got away before he could reel it in. Pictures were taken though so there was proof! Everett used to be an avid fisherman, but hadn’t been out on the water in over 25 years.  He even filled out his own Tree of Dreams Ballot.  Rudy was also a fisherman by trade when he lived in Canada. “That’s what I did to make a living,” said Rudy.

Barbara Redman attended a slide presentation about the Panama Canal on Thursday, September 27, 2001 at Northern Essex Community College with Penacook Place employee, Kim Donahue (CNA). It has been Barbara’s life long dream to attend college. She stated, “I never had the chance to go to college as I was raised by the ladies in the church and there wasn’t enough money for me to use for college. After attending the slide show Barbara said, “This was a good afternoon. I really enjoyed myself. It was so good to go for a ride to somewhere different and see different people.” Kim Donahue drove Barbara around the vicinity of the college for a sight seeing tour. They drove by an old castle and it’s grounds. After returning to Penacook Place Barbara was all smiles and said, “I had a really good time today. Thank you so much.”