Community Life at Willows Landing | Monticello, Minnesota

Ken

Ken spent 42 years as a University Professor and during that time he served as the official bell ringer for the university’s annual outdoor track and field event. Ken and his wife Betty are still avid fans of track and field, and were excited when Jaybird’s Dare To Dream program offered them the opportunity to attend last year’s meet. While there, Ken reunited with many of the officials he worked with at past events, and they helped make his dream come true – ringing the track meet bell one more time.

Merlin

Merlin, or Senator Hulse, as he’s known around the community, enjoyed his Dare To Dream where he was honored by his high school alma mater for the countless hours he has committed to supporting non-profit organizations over the years. Merlin even wore his 1941 high school sweater to the ceremony where he received his Service Award. Thoughtful as always, he remembered his friends back home at Prairie Hills, and made sure to bring home enough cake to share. It was a terrific day and Merlin shared his pride in being recognized at coffee hour.

Georgie

This afternoon, residents taking part in a program on the second floor were surprised to see a Police car pull into the parking lot. They could scarcely believe their eyes as they saw one of our residents, 90-year-old Georgie, being escorted to the police car by two officers!

They soon realized that one of the officers was Georgie’s grandson, and the police had come to take Georgie on her Dare to Dream outing–a ride in a real police cruiser with its lights and sirens on!

After riding through town, talking on the radio with Dispatch, and even passing by the county jail, the officers brought Georgie back home. Some of her fellow residents asked her if she had been “frisked,” and of course Georgie had to answer, “No!”