Welcome to 
The Golden View
May 2022 Edition

Volunteer Service
​Integral to Stonehill Communities
by Christel Tatro, 
Stonehill Communities Marketing Coordinator

Volunteer Pearl Stecher gives a manicure to Rose Huseman

The value of an hour of volunteer service may come in at a national average of $28.54, but Stonehill Communities knows that the true value of volunteer service is immeasurable. 

Over the last year, more than 50 unique individuals gave freely of their time and talents to make a difference in the lives of those served by Stonehill and their community. Their service included: escorting residents to internal and external appointments; distributing communion; playing music at daily Mass; conducting art classes; assisting with birthday parties and other celebrations; providing nail care; offering lectures, presentations, and musical performances; serving on governing and advisory boards and committees; managing the gift shop; holiday decorating; and more.

“Most of our volunteers are here once a week, for a couple hours,” said Lori Pottebaum, Volunteer Coordinator, “But those hours add up and really help Stonehill.”

Pearl Stecher has been a volunteer at Stonehill for more than 10 years, visiting once a week to provide nail care for the residents. “I like getting out of the house and the people are nice. It makes you feel good,” said Stecher. 

Volunteer Blake Riffel visits with Rita Noel

In a time when nearly all non-profits are faced with workforce challenges, volunteers help ensure residents continue to receive not only high quality healthcare, but also the social, spiritual, and educational opportunities that are an essential part of life. They offer friendly faces, helping hands, and kind words. 

Blake Riffel, a Seminarian at Loras College, does just that, visiting with residents, offering companionship and a listening ear, and praying with them as a part of his training. 

“I think I’ve been formed more than forming residents – helping with discipleship, praying with people, and growing in my priestly role. I think I’ve gotten a lot more out my time with the residents than anything I could offer them.” 

Stonehill is looking to grow its volunteer program. Volunteer opportunities range from daily, weekly, or monthly to one-time events.

“If someone is interested in volunteering, we encourage them to reach out. There is an opportunity to fit everyone’s needs, skills, and schedule,” said Pottebaum.

​To learn more about volunteering at Stonehill Communities, call Lori Pottebaum, Volunteer Coordinator at 563.557.7180 or visit
www.stonehilldbq.com/volunteer/

Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Presents Season Finale: A New World Together
by Kathleen Hoeper, 
​ Director of Marketing and Community Relations,  Dubuque Symphony Orchestra

Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Principal Flute, Timothy Hagen

The Dubuque Symphony Orchestra presents the final in its 2021-22 Classics series: A New World Together, May 21-22 at Five Flags Theater, downtown Dubuque. 

“We end the Classics Series with dance-like music by Asian American Composer Michi Wiancko, a beautiful piece by local composer Tracey Rush, a stunning flute concerto featuring our Principal Flute Timothy Hagen, and the ever-popular “New World” Symphony by Dvořák” states Music Director and Conductor William Intriligator. “Dvořák wove American roots music into this vast symphonic canvas, drawing on African American spirituals and Native American lore. You will truly be moved by this soul-stirring performance!”

The concerts will be held at 7:30 pm Saturday, May 21 and 2:00 pm Sunday, May 22 at Five Flags Theater, downtown Dubuque. 

Tickets ($18-87) are available through the Five Flags Box Office, (corner of 4th and Locust) open Mon-Fri from 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm or www.dubuquesymphony.org (Ticketmaster fees apply to online purchases). The Five Flags Theater lobby ticket counter opens 1 hour prior to each performance.

Pre-concert events include a Sound Bites luncheon at the Dubuque Golf & Country Club from 11:30am-1pm on Friday, May 20. Cost is $17 per person and open to the general public. Register by calling the DSO office at 563-557-1677 by Noon on Wednesday, May 18. There will also be a free pre-concert Musical Musings lecture presented in Five Flags Theater on Sunday, May 1 at 1:00pm.

This concert is made possible by the generous support of concert sponsor MidWestOne Bank; and guest artist sponsor Tim & Christine Conlon.

COVID Phone Scams

Thieves and scammers will do nearly anything to help us part with our dollars. In the latest one, as I write this, the thieves want to help me get the free COVID tests the government is sending out.

I signed up months ago and received my shipment of four tests. The scammers, however, think I should have more on hand and have offered to help me order them ... for a small handling fee. That handling fee for the free tests? Thirty dollars, and giving them my banking information.

No, I don’t think so.

We need to be on our toes with these thieves. No matter what topic is on the news, they’ll find a way to turn it into a scam.

You might get a call supposedly from a COVID contact tracer who asks too many personal questions, such as for your banking information. You might get a call saying we’re now supposed to get an additional booster and you can be put at the head of the wait list for a small fee. Or you might get a call saying you’re due to get another government relief check, but you have to pay the taxes first out of your checking account.

Why, oh why do they target seniors? The answer is that we are perceived to have lots of money and that we’re not likely to report fraud. We’re also, unfortunately, too trusting and too polite.

If you don’t recognize the phone number when someone calls, don’t answer. If someone hasn’t left a message, don’t call them back. If someone does get you on the phone and the conversation involves any pressure, time-limited offers or questions about your personal information, hang up. Remember, you are not obligated to be polite!

​© 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Experience the Dubuque Chorale’s
​50th Anniversary
by Danielle Phillips, Dubuque Chorale

The Dubuque Chorale turned 50 last year and a celebration is overdue! Previous Directors Dr. Bob Demaree (2009-2018), Fran Vogt (2006-2009), and Founding Director Dennis Williams (1971-2006) will join Artistic Director Dr. Amanda Huntleigh (2018-present), Associate Director Than Chesher, and Children’s Choir Director Karmella Sellers to lead the Chorale, Cadenza, and Dubuque Chorale Children’s Choir in their upcoming 50th Anniversary Concert. Each director will conduct music related to their tenure with the Chorale in a program including classics (like the “Hallelujah Chorus”) as well as contemporary pieces.

“My favorite piece…is the second movement of…Amendment: Righting Our Wrongs,” remarked Huntleigh. “It starts with this really driving rhythmic section, and then we have some back-and-forth…it just makes it really fun to rehearse, and really fun to sing.” Amendment: Righting Our Wrongs, a consortium-commissioned piece composed by Melissa Dunphy, sets American political texts to music and will be performed in the concert’s second half.

Dubuque Chorale Children’s Choir

Asked about music the Children’s Choir is performing, Sellers replied, “I think the [piece] that moves me the most...is ‘Inscription of Hope.’ It’s a setting of a poem…found on a wall in Cologne, Germany, during the Holocaust…the setting is just absolutely beautiful and I think the audience will be moved, not only by the words, but by the kids’ rendering of it.”

But wait, there’s more! Performing with orchestra was fundamental to the Chorale’s mission, so an instrumental ensemble will join them for the concert. As Chesher stated, “I think with all the pieces, when you’re singing with an orchestra…having that opportunity to sing with fantastic musicians across all the different musical performance media…is just a really great experience.”

​Experience the Dubuque Chorale’s 50th Anniversary Concert Saturday, May 14, at 7:30 pm, or Sunday, May 15th, at 2:00 pm, at the Grand Opera House, 135 W 8th St, Dubuque. For tickets, contact the Grand Opera House Box Office at 563-588-1305 (Monday-Friday 12 pm-4 pm) or thegrandoperahouse.com. Adults $15; students free.

Hospice of Dubuque
Tree of Life Memorial Service
by Tiffany Stietz,
​Community Relations Coordinator

Hospice of Dubuque invites members of our tri-state community to gather at the annual Tree of Life Memorial Service. This special event will take place on Tuesday, May 24, at 7:30 pm, in Washington Park. That evening, we will come together as a community to remember loved ones, and we will gain strength by recognizing that we are not alone in our experience of being separated from those we love.

The Tree of Life Memorial Service will include a personal story of healing and hope, plus reflection, prayer, and music. At the conclusion of the service, the Tree of Life display will be illuminated. Each light on this special display will represent loved ones who have touched our lives and our hearts. The Tree of Life will remain lit through Memorial Day weekend, serving as a reminder that love endures.

If you would like to remember someone with a light on the Tree of Life display, send a tax-deductible gift of any amount, along with the name of the person who has touched your life, to Hospice of Dubuque, 1670 JFK Road, Dubuque, IA 52002 or donate online at hospiceofdubuque.org. Names received by Friday, May 19, will be included in the printed Tree of Life program. Your gift to the Hospice of Dubuque Tree of Life Memorial Service supports care for patients and families at a vulnerable time in life, while also memorializing your loved ones. All donations enable Hospice of Dubuque to deliver care throughout the tri-states and continue the mission of providing compassionate care for the terminally ill and their loved ones.

​In case of rain, the event will move to Joliet Event Center, 781 Locust Street. Rain or shine, bring a lawn chair. A special thank you to Behr’s Funeral Home, this year’s Tree of Life advertising sponsor. For more information, call 563.582.1220 or email cr@hospiceofdubuque.org.

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