"From my very first days at Crown Center, I learned the meaning of community," according to Sylvia Slotkin. "As I tried to find my way to the lobby the first time,
it became a group project. 'A little to the left,' someone said, 'You're almost there, Sylvia,' another voice added. Sylvia is blind, so she had a double challenge learning how to navigate in her new surroundings, but with a little help from a lot of new friends. Sylvia could rejoice at her accomplishment and bask in the warmth of so much good will.

Faye Stickney moved into the community in 2007 and expresses her feelings about living at Crown Center in this way: "My stress level is down, my health is up, I have lost weight, and I'm happy and comfortable. It's this place!

When asked by one of our 2008 social work graduate interns if she ever gets bored being alone in her apartment, a resident answered, " When I close my door, I like privacy, but if I want company I just have to open my door and a community is there."

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Wii came to Crown Center in June of 2010 with residents getting a preview of how to play bowling, tennis, baseball, and track and field. Testing their skills in
friendly competition took concentration, but brought much fun and laughter.

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Residents enjoyed an "indoor picnic" in January 2009.

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A Chinese choral group, made up of residents and friends from the community, entertained at Crown Center in December 2009, along with the Crown Chorus and Cantor Sheri Nathanson from Bnai Amoona Congregation.

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Cinco de Mayo brought residents together for a brown bag lunch, salsa and chips,
and a travelogue, "Mexico to the Max."

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Spring 2009 has generated much activity from our Garden Club and
created lovely plantings in our courtyard.

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Volunteers at Crown Center were honored at a party in April 2009. Below are residents
and community volunteers celebrating at the event.

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Crown Center residents celebrated the holidays with a Winter Concert in December 2008
at which choral groups and bell choir performed.

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A Harvest Lunch was one of the highlights on the October 2008 schedule of events at Crown Center. Residents brought a variety of foods to share and enjoyed both the cuisine
and the companionship.

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Crown residents won an elliptical exercise machine by collecting over a billion (fake) dollars
in a St. Louis Post-Dispatch Millionaire Money Contest which ran in the newspaper for several months, summer of 2008. They used the "money" to bid in an auction and are seen below
at a ribbon cutting event to celebrate this wonderful addition to our Exercise Room.

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Residents enjoyed the annual trip to pick peaches at a Eckhart's, a local orchard
in Illinois in August 2008.

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July 4th, 2008 was celebrated at a brown bag lunch party with drinks and watermelon supplied by
Crown Center. Special features were a contest for best decorated hats, clothing, or walkers
and a watermelon seed spitting competition with prizes awarded to the winners.

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Crown Center has several knitting groups at which all are welcome, beginners,
intermediate, expert, and observers.