In this issue, meet VIP Sarah Shlakman. Get to know this fascinating lady (and future neighbor) and find out why she chose The Outlook. Take a quick survey to let us know if you’d like us to create a resident directory. Plus, get the latest updates on construction and get caught up to speed on some recent VIP events (Couldn’t make them? There are more coming, so mark those calendars.). Also, did you know August 3 is National Watermelon Day? Learn how to make the perfect slice.
Perhaps you know someone who’d like to learn about The Outlook at Windhaven. If so, contact Rachel at (972) 996-3887 or RMcGowan@nullForefrontLiving.org and you will both benefit! Our VIP referral rewards program has been revamped. See details.
Meet Your Future Neighbor
Sarah Shlakman
Sarah Shlakman grew up in a farm-adjacent home in the “Garden Spot of America,” Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She got to ride horses and bear witness to all of the interesting activities of the large farm next door. “It was a very idyllic childhood,” says Sarah. Sarah and her brother were adopted, and when she was in her twenties, she found her birth parents. In recent years, she developed an interest in tracing her roots and hired a professional genealogist who found that Sarah’s ancestors were among the first to settle in southeastern Pennsylvania in the early 1700s. Amazingly, the home where she grew up is only five miles from her “ancestral home”—the land originally deeded by William Penn to her ancestors. “I truly ate from the soil of my ancestors!” she remarks.
Sarah attended Bryn Mawr College, majored in Art History, and has great memories of having a “wonderful liberal arts education.” After graduating cum laude, Sarah trained as a paralegal and worked in Philadelphia. She then moved to Washington, DC, where she worked for two prominent law firms. She met her husband Richard at one of these firms in 1978 and married in 1985. Sarah was Richard’s second wife; he had two daughters from his previous marriage, with whom Sarah is very close. She also has two beloved grown grandchildren from these special relationships.
Sarah eventually went to work for Electronic Data Systems (EDS). While working for them, she took accounting courses and became a CPA. She then went to work for an accounting firm but in time returned to EDS as an accounting supervisor. Richard also ended up working at EDS, and the firm moved him and Sarah to Dallas in 1989. Richard was tasked with setting up a world-class in-house law firm for EDS, which was both a great honor and a particularly challenging career move! Sarah took some time off to counter the stress of so much change. Ultimately, Richard moved to the business side of EDS and retired from there. While he lived with a progressive neuromuscular disease, Richard never let that define him. Sadly, he passed away in November of 2022.
Meanwhile, after being a student of yoga for 20 years, in 1998 Sarah embarked on a career as a yoga instructor. She enrolled in a two-year course and taught yoga for nearly 20 years after that, traveling all over the Dallas area to yoga studios, community colleges, and even corporate locales. She also had an in-home studio for private lessons.
Because of Richard’s declining health and his interest in seeing both himself and Sarah comfortably settled, the two started to look at senior living communities. One of these places was The Outlook at Windhaven, which was just half a mile from their home. They both loved it, and Sarah feels fortunate that they already had their plans for The Outlook in place when her husband passed.
Sarah is excited about the move. She has already downsized and would “move in tomorrow!” if given the opportunity. “The smaller community fits me to a T,” says Sarah. She already has a few friends who are also Outlook VIPs with whom she has attended events and has enjoyed meeting others. “I am just so grateful that they are creating a community before there’s an actual building,” she says.
Sarah will be joined at The Outlook by her two cats, Gizmo (15) and Charlotte (3). Charlotte was reported to be 11 when she was adopted two years ago, but Sarah learned at the veterinarian that she was, actually, a youthful one-year-old. “So Gizmo has a personal trainer… Charlotte keeps him young, and he keeps her in line,” laughs Sarah.
In 2018, Sarah was ready to try something (kind of) new. She had taken piano lessons as a child but gave it up in rebellion when she graduated from high school. With a renewed interest in learning to play, Sarah rented a piano and took lessons. She found a teacher she adores and now just loves learning, practicing, and playing in recitals twice a year. (She would like her future neighbors to know that her current piano does have a practice pedal!)
In addition to music, Sarah has recently been exploring the visual arts, trying her hand at drawing and painting. She lives quietly and prefers intimate gatherings to large parties. She loves walking, doing puzzles, and spending time in meaningful conversation. As you can tell, Sarah’s interests and talents are varied and many!
The genealogical research Sarah had done revealed that she comes from a line of very long-lived people. Taking this to heart, her goal is to live to the age of 97! She laughs, “I hope The Outlook is ready for me because they’ve got me for another 30 years!”
We want your input:
Online Resident Directory
We’ve had requests for and are considering creating a resident directory that would be available only to VIPs. Before we do this, we want to know if you are interested. Please take our simple “yes” or “no” survey below and let us know.
Construction Corner
See the great construction progress we are making. Take a look at our most recent time-lapse video as of July 11, 2023:
Save Your Tires
We know how exciting it must be to see your new home under construction, why spoil it with a flat tire? Until The Outlook is ready for you to move in; it is an active construction site and may not be safe—so please do not drive on site.
Welcome to Inside The Outlook, an educational and lifestyle series created especially for you—our VIPs. Below is a list of upcoming events as well as some photos and recordings of recent events—either way, we don’t want you to miss a single thing going on at The Outlook!
Save-The-Date
for these Upcoming Inside the Outlook Exclusive Events
Questions about any of these events? Give us a call at (972) 996-3887.
Levels of Living at The Outlook
Wednesday, August 16
11:30 am & 1:30 pm
Information Center
4017 Preston Road, Suite B520
Plano, Texas 75093
Learn more about the assisted living and memory support programs that will be offered at The Outlook.
Wine & Cheese Mingle by Floor Plan
Wednesday, August 23
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Information Center
4017 Preston Road, Suite B520
Plano, Texas 75093
Watch for an invitation to this Happy Hour exclusively for those of you who selected a two-bedroom/two-bath apartment home, specifically the Dove, Eagle, Gadwell or Goldfinch floor plan.
BBQ & “Barn Hall” with Forefront Living Leadership
Monday, September 11
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Haggard Party Barn
5948 McKamy Trail
Plano, TX 75024
A tradition from Presbyterian Village North that will be carried over to The Outlook at Windhaven is the Town Hall with residents. Join us for our first town hall-style meeting and get an update from our leadership on all things Forefront Living/The Outlook, followed by a fantastic BBQ lunch. After lunch, shuttle buses will be available to take you across to the construction site for a drive-thru look at construction progress.
What’s in the Fine Print?
Thursday, October 12
10:00 am
Webinar
Join us for this informative webinar with Scott Polzin, Chief Operating Officer at Forefront Living, who will review Forefront Living’s approach to continuing care through its unique contract.
Scared Fearless: An Unlikely Agent in the US Secret Service Presentation by the Author and Book Signing
Wednesday, October 18
3:00 pm
Forefront Living
12467 Merit Drive
Dallas, TX 75251
In this event for VIPs and potential VIPs, Kathryn Clark Childers, one of the US Secret Service’s first five female Special Agents, shares her life’s simple but powerful message crafted after many years of fascinating choices and reinvention.
Books will be available for purchase, or bring your own copy for a personal message from the author.
Wine & Cheese Mingle by Floor Plan
Thursday, October 26
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Information Center
4017 Preston Road, Suite B520
Plano, Texas 75093
Watch for an invitation to this Happy Hour exclusively for those of you who selected a two-bedroom/two-and-a-half-bath apartment home, specifically the Heron, Kingfisher, Mallard or Martin floor plan.
What are you grateful for?
Wednesday, November 1
10:00 am
Stonebriar Country Club
5050 Country Club Dr
Frisco, TX 75034
As the calendar turns to November, we are often reminded of all we have to be grateful for. Join Reverend Jarod Cooper, M. Div., Chaplain at Forefront Living, and Rabbi Howard Wolk, Community Chaplain at Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas, as they lead us in our 3rd annual discussion on gratitude.
Recent Events
Taste of The Outlook
At this VIP exclusive event, more than 100 VIPs gathered in historic downtown Plano for an exclusive presentation about The Outlook’s culinary program with Ke’o Velasquez, Corporate Director of Operations at Forefront Living. The delicious tastings provided by the Presbyterian Village North culinary team were representative of the fantastic dining options that will be available in the bistro, wine bar, and main dining room. The tastings menu included:
Salmon Pops with Lemon Twists & Citrus Dill Mignonette Sauce (gluten-free) or Roasted White Grape & Herbed Goat Cheese Crostini (vegetarian) paired with Chenin Blanc
Mini Chicken Club Slider or BBQ Jackfruit (vegan) paired with Local Buzz Golden Ale
Deconstructed Beef Wellington Canape & Horseradish Crema or Dive-Free Scallops & Sunchoke Pea Puree (vegan/gluten-free) paired with Classic Mint Julep
Strawberry & Raspberry Tart or Rainbow Macaroons (gluten-free) or White Chocolate Mousse & Lemon Curd Parfaits (vegetarian and gluten-free) paired with Lemon Drop Martini
Previous Inside The Outlook Events
If you missed previous events, click on a video below to access the recordings of these engaging sessions. They will provide you with further insight into the exciting developments and future of The Outlook.
If you missed this presentation, stop by our office to collect your complimentary exercise band.
Fun Fact
Did you know that 350 trees of various sizes will be planted at The Outlook—that’s 3 times the amount that had to be removed for construction!
Frequently Asked Question
Patio Door Locks: We’ve had several questions about what type of lock will be used on patio doors of ground-floor apartment homes. We’re pleased to report that these locks will feature an easy-to-use keypad. Simply type in your code and the door will unlock. The patio door locks will work independently from your key fob, so no need to carry your keys for a quick walk on the trails.
Welcome to another Outlook VIP
Bonnie Kauffman
Refer a Friend and Get Rewarded
With more than 80% of residences reserved, it’s time to recommend The Outlook at Windhaven to a friend or family member. Because what could be better than getting to choose your neighbors? For a limited time, your potential new neighbor can take advantage of construction pricing and benefits while some amazing apartment homes are still available.
IF YOUR FRIEND RESERVES A RESIDENCE, YOU WILL RECEIVE A $500 GIFT CARD RIGHT NOW.*
AFTER YOU AND YOUR FRIEND MOVE IN, YOU WILL RECEIVE A CREDIT OF $3,500 & THEY WILL RECEIVE $2,500.*
Contact us at (972) 996-3887 or TheOutlook@nullForefrontLiving.org
*Offer valid for new referrals only. Effective through 12/31/23.
August 3rd is National Watermelon Day!
Nothing says summer like a refreshing slice of delicious watermelon. While so many of us love to eat it, we don’t necessarily enjoy slicing it—and cleaning up the mess that often follows. Not anymore! Check out this quick video tutorial below to learn the easiest way to tackle the task—and start enjoying perfect slices of watermelon, every time. Now you’ll be ready when the big day arrives!
On the Forefront
Want to know more about Forefront Living and how we actively serve seniors across all our nonprofits? Click here to view the July 2023 On the Forefront newsletter.
