Top 5 Events of 2021
Groundhog Day
On February 2nd, Members at Osprey Village celebrated Groundhog Day! Members wanted to participate in a fun little celebration to honor the Grandmaster of Gobbler’s Knob – Punxsutawney Phil! Community Member, JoAnn went to high school in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and dressed up as Phil’s little-known Florida-dwelling cousin, Phyllis! So in the morning, everyone gathered to learn Phyllis’ weather prediction for 2021. Unfortunately she did see her shadow and there will be six more weeks of winter. Those who came out to learn about Phyllis’ prediction enjoyed warm coffee, groundhog donuts, and some fun games!
New Pool Grand Opening
After a much-anticipated wait, Osprey Village hosted the Grand Opening of their new pool on April 9th. It was a fun-filled afternoon as the community gathered to celebrate the opening of this exciting addition to the community. Executive Director, Matthew Bareger spoke and shared the steps that had gone into construction and making this new amenity a reality. The Osprey Village Wellness Team hosted a fun ‘swimwear’ competition for Members and spoke about the new aquatic programs that will take place.
Viva Italiano Signature Experience
On June 9th Osprey Village hosted the Viva Italiano Signature Experience and the highlight of the day was the entertainment by Opera singers and performers, John Tibbets & Victoria Isernia. This duo has been entertaining on Broadway and in different Opera Houses around the country! They put together a song list that included Opera as well as some Italian favorites like “That’s Amore”, “Mambo Italiano” and after receiving a standing ovation it was fun to hear attendees singing “O Sole Mio” as they were exiting the concert and heading home for the evening!
Zoo Outing
Members at Osprey Village enjoy exploring the local area and the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens are an excellent day trip to enjoy the outdoors! In May and October, Members spent the day getting their steps in, learning about each of the animals, petting stingrays, admiring the blooms and taking in the fresh air. Attendees enjoyed a “Behind The Scenes” Tour from Guide, Charley, who is in charge of the care of the animals. Exclusive access on this tour meant that attendees watched as keepers fed the elephants and got a backstage tour of the African Plains exhibit.
Wild, Wild West
On October 23rd, Members of Osprey Village brought the sandy shores of Amelia Island to the west in their Wild, Wild West Signature Experience. Members brought their cowboy boots and hats for a day filled with boot scootin’ boogie! The day began with a line dancing class to get everyone’s feet ready for all of the dancing later in the evening. Attendees stepped out into our parking lot to find a steer to lasso, shoot cans with a rubber band pistol, slingshot, play horseshoes, line dance, and dancing! The Whiskey Heart Band played wonderful Western tunes to get everyone up on their feet! Our Dining Services Team served up a hearty meal fit for a dinner on the range with smoked pulled brisket, BBQ chicken, baked beans, cowboy caviar, cornbread, and bread pudding. There were barrels filled with beverages and everyone came in their Western attire and had a great time in the Wild, Wild, West!
Veterans Day
It is a privilege to honor the Veterans who call Osprey Village their home. On Veterans Day, the community hosted a celebration for those individuals. The day began with a golf cart parade as participating vehicles were decked out in red, white, and blue.The parade weaved through the cottages, past the villas to the care services building where everyone was outside with flags and pom-poms! Veterans day ended on a high note with a dinner dance. Sass ‘n Brass started the evening off with a tribute to each branch of the service and those that served stood while everyone joined in the singing. After a delicious meal of Carved Beef Tenderloin or Seared Sea Scallops, the dance floor was the place to be – dancing to the oldies but goodies. Everyone closed out the evening by standing and singing “Proud to Be An American”.
