In this issue meet your future neighbors Carol and John Finnerty. The Finnerty’s are excited to call Plano home after living in Estero, FL for 20 years. Just down the road, Dallas native Justin Hugh will join The Outlook as its new Wellness Coordinator. Read more about Justin and other exciting arrivals in Kristen’s Korner. What to do with all those cherished photos? “Dear Rachel” offers a suggestion. We all eagerly await The Outlook’s official opening, but let’s not put a dent in the excitement—or yourself or your car. That’s why our crew has kindly requested you stay out of their active work site. Plus, get the latest construction updates as well as learn about exciting events—past and upcoming!
Meet Your Future Neighbors
John and Carol Finnerty
The Finnertys path to The Outlook at Windhaven is a bit different from most of its VIPs. They are not from, nor do they currently reside in, the Plano area. Originally from New York, Carol and John have lived in Estero, Florida for over twenty years.
Carol and John both grew up in Merrick on Long Island and were high school sweethearts. Carol then pursued her teaching degree at SUNY Oneonta, and John studied management at Hofstra University. They got married after college in 1969. Carol went right into teaching; she taught grades 4-6 and especially enjoyed teaching math. Carol taught for 19 years. She had great students, loved teaching, and misses it dearly but also enjoys her very full and rewarding post-career life.
After college, John did management training at a bank in New York. He ended up staying there for 27 years, commuting from Long Island to Manhattan and Jersey City. Both he and Carol went to graduate school at Adelphi University in Garden City while they were working full time. Carol got her master’s degree in education, and John got his in banking and money management. They are active Adelphi alumni: both have won awards from Adelphi for outstanding service, and John served on The Board of Governors for a number of years.
Before retiring at age 49, John served as Executive Vice-President, Human Resources & Administration, for a top-20 commercial bank. He was a member of the bank’s policy and executive committee, as well as Office of the President. In 1996, John co-founded WJM Associates, a recognized leader in executive development consulting. He provided top-level coaching to executives from Home Depot, Mercedes, Merrill Lynch, and Pepisco, to name a few. John has been commended for his charitable and philanthropic contributions and has served on various public and private boards. He is particularly proud of his work with Folds of Honor, an organization that provides scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military. He has helped raise over a million dollars for Folds of Honor through an annual charity golf outing in Garden City, NY.
After ten years as president of WJM, John and Carol moved to Florida. John became vice chairman of his firm and continued to work remotely for a while. He had always enjoyed playing golf, but Florida helped him realize it is truly one of his passions. He plays at least four times a week, and in February John got his eleventh hole in one! Carol also likes to play golf and is out on the links at least twice a week. In addition, she is an avid game player, playing mahjong and canasta regularly. Carol also does water aerobics, plays bocce, and is active in a book group. “We’ve been very fortunate to have a great life down here in Florida,” says John.
When they moved south from New York, Carol’s mother simultaneously moved to a senior living community in Coppell to be near Carol’s sister in Dallas. Carol would often visit, but when their mother passed away, she thought the trips to Dallas would be fewer. However, the Finnertys soon got word that their daughter would be moving to Frisco for her husband’s work. John and Carol like to plan for the future and realize that golf may not always be a daily option. (Johns laughs, “The minute I can’t play golf, I am out of here!”) Hence, the two started thinking about finding a spot in a senior living community near their family in Texas. As she was planning a recent visit, Carol asked her sister to take her around to visit a few senior living communities. Some last-minute research caused Carol to find The Outlook at Windhaven, and she added it to the list of places to see. They were very impressed by The Outlook and its staff. “I was blown away with what they had to offer for the price they were offering compared to what we have down here in Florida,” says John.
Though they had not planned on signing on to a place so soon, they reserved an apartment home at The Outlook and are very excited! John and Carol will continue living all over for the time being, keeping their primary residence in Florida, spending part of the summer in Maine with family, and spending several months a year at The Outlook.
“We’re lucky enough to have two great kids,” says John. Their son and his family, including two college-aged grandchildren, live in Winchester, Massachusetts. As mentioned, their daughter and her family live in Frisco. They have two high school-aged children who are avid athletes, so you are sure to find Carol and John on the sidelines at Frisco High School soccer, football, and basketball games in the near future!
Carol and John have regretted the fact that they haven’t been able to attend all the Outlook functions and meet their new neighbors. They are looking forward to the next episode of their retirement in Plano and making new friends!
Apartment Opening Timeline*
If you haven’t read our most recent communication to you, here are the updates to the apartment opening timeline.
■ North Apartments Timeline
Floors 1-5, apartments ending in 119 & 121 – 142
(examples 2119, 3123, 4132 & 5140)
■ South Apartments Timeline
Floors 1-5, apartments ending in 100 – 117 plus 120
(examples 2101, 3108, 4112 & 5117)
Summer
Common areas open: Lobby, Guest Services, Administrative Offices, Dining, Bistro, Wine Bar, etc.
Assisted Living and Memory Support open for licensing by the state
Late September/October
Wellness wing open: Fitness Center, Pool, Yoga/Dance Studio, Therapy Gym
■ November/Early December 2024
Move-ins to North Apartments begin
■ Late September/October 2024
Move-ins to South Apartments begin
*Subject to change and based on current construction timelines
From the Executive Director
Kristen’s Korner
I’m thrilled to introduce you to Justin High, our new Wellness Coordinator.
He was born and raised right here in Dallas, TX and is a lifelong athlete. He swam for 2 years at Syracuse University and then transferred to Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY with a B.A. in Sociology and B.S. in Kinesiology. After graduation, he returned home to Dallas and began attending Concorde Career College to obtain a license as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Justin holds certifications/licenses in: Assisted Stretch, Corrective Exercise, Personal Training, and Trauma Support Coaching, as well as being a 200hr Yoga Teacher.
These days you can find him spending time with his daughter Jayla, his fiancé Dawn, his dog Z, and his cat Palo. When he is not home with family, he enjoys traveling out of the country, hiking, working out, reading some sort of nonfiction, playing a video game with friends, or going to a local sporting event.
What does Justin look forward to most while working at The Outlook?
“The great opportunity to build an amazing program for a population of people that understands what it means to LIVE and make the most of their lives. Building connection and bringing a sense of community to all residents. I look forward to helping rebuild confidence in self, trust in the relationship we have built, and truly becoming a large extended family. I’m grateful to have been chosen to be a part of this team to lead you all to be the best version of the current you.”
Also, I’m so excited to announce that our exercise machines for our fitness center have been ordered! To decide which equipment would be the best fit for Outlook residents, we consulted with our sister community, Presbyterian Village North. They let us know which equipment gets used the most and is the most effective at keeping us fit and flexible. The brand we selected, HUR, “uses an alternative form of strength training which simulates the natural movement of the body and is easy on the joints and muscles, making strength training safe and effective.”
“I started strength training for the first time in my life because we have HUR equipment. Before, I was a bit intimidated. The HUR Smart technology takes all the guesswork out and gave me the confidence to go for it. Today, I feel stronger than ever. I can even do push-ups! It’s especially nice to get in a workout that targets every muscle group in just 35 minutes!”
Ann
Resident, Presbyterian Village North
We have also acquired a new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, which will be used for Outlook Outings to a variety of social and cultural activities.
Great news!
Per the Plano Fire Marshall, you CAN have electric grills on your apartment patio.
Property Values Surge in Collin County
Whether your goal is to be rid of property taxes altogether or to get the best price possible when you sell your house, this article is a great reminder of why The Outlook at Windhaven is a great value at a great time. Click here to read the article from Local Profile.
Packing and Moving Tips for a Smooth Move
by Brenda Thompson
CEO / Managing Broker / Owner of HomeSmart Stars
Welcome back to our series of articles helping you to prepare for your move to The Outlook at Windhaven. If you are planning to manage your own move and are not planning to use a full-service move manager, here are some practical tips and personal insights to help make your move as seamless as possible. Click here to read the full article.
Move-In Planning with Dear Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I’m grappling with a dilemma during the downsizing process: What should I do with my beloved photos and albums? They hold countless memories, but they’re taking up a significant amount of space. Do you have any suggestions for how I can handle this?
Sincerely,
Photo and Memory Keeper
–
Dear Photo Keeper,
You’re not alone in facing this challenge. I’ve had extensive discussions with fellow VIPs during their home visits, where we’ve admired numerous photo albums filled with life’s memories. However, as we begin the process of downsizing, it becomes apparent that these physical albums occupy valuable space and often remain unviewed for extended periods.
Recently, I tackled this issue with my own photo collection, including my grandmother’s. I hired a professional photo-scanning company to digitize our pictures. This decision not only freed physical space but also allowed us to display our memories on digital picture frames. Now those cherished moments no longer sit forgotten on shelves or in cabinets; they gracefully scroll through our digital frames, offering daily reminders of all our otherwise forgotten memories.
One company that provides this service is Doorstep Digital, which is local to the DFW area. Their services include photo, film, slide, and document scanning, all conducted with care and efficiency. With their white-glove service, you can rest assured that your precious memories are handled delicately and preserved for years to come.
Founded by Jack Perry, Doorstep Digital understands the profound value of safeguarding memories. Jack’s personal experience of losing his home to fire underscores the importance of preserving our precious moments for the future. His dedication to helping families preserve their memories led him to establish Doorstep Digital, a testament to his commitment to “Save Yesterday for Tomorrow.”
Doorstep Digital
doorstep-digital.com
(800) 406-4650
3620 N Josey Ln., #103
Carrollton, TX 75007
Sincerely,
Rachel
Social Events for Cottage Residents
New Outlook Residents have been having a great time attending a variety of social events organized by Director of Resident Services Katie Snezhkova. Here are just a couple…
Kentucky Derby Social
May 4
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
May 5
This just in…
New research finds that older adults in senior living communities live longer, healthier lives than those who do not. Click here to read the full article on Lument.com.
Questions?
Do you have questions about the Resident Handbook, or a topic covered in it? If so, our Resident Services email will be the hub of Q&A. Please submit your question to TheOutlookatYourService@nullForefrontLiving.org and someone will get back to you with the 411.
Construction Corner
See the great construction progress we are making. Take a look at our most recent timelapse video as of May 2024:
In the next six weeks, The Outlook at Windhaven construction progress will include:
- Nearing completion of the following spaces in Commons building: living room, administrative and dining areas, commercial kitchen and back of house spaces
- Continue finishes in residences and common spaces of Assisted Living/Memory Support (AL/MS) building
- Continue finishes on first and second sets of Independent Living (IL) apartments
- Continue finishes on Fitness Center
- Finish framing and mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) rough-in of pool enclosure
- Nearing completion of landscaping and hardscaping of Community Courtyard, located between Commons and AL/MS buildings
- Continue landscape and hardscape around Commons building and IL Pool Courtyard
DO NOT ENTER!
While the cottages at The Outlook are now open, the rest of the community is still under construction and that’s why our crew has requested you stay out of their active work site. We take your safety seriously, which is why we have live security onsite as well as 24/7 surveillance. We’re all eagerly anticipating the official opening of The Outlook, and the last thing we want is harm to you or damage to your car.
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 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.
Small group meetings to discuss timeline updates
Wednesday, June 5
10:00 am
Thursday, June 6
10:00 am or 1:00 pm
Friday, June 7
10:00 am or 1:00 pm
RSVP to Info@nullTheOutlookAtWindhaven.org or (972) 996-3887.
VIP Social Mixer
Thursday, June 13
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Mi Cocina
4001 Preston Road, #502
Plano, TX 75093
All VIPs are invited to join us on June 13th for a social mixer at Mi Cocina. Meet your neighbors while enjoying appetizers and drinks.
RSVP to Info@nullTheOutlookAtWindhaven.org or (972) 996-3887.
Drive-Thru Donation and Shredding Event
Monday, June 24
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Information Center Parking Lot
4017 Preston Road, Suite B520
Plano, Texas 75093
Join us for a VIP donation event where we’re making a positive impact on the environment and supporting those in need in addition to helping you clean house! We will be accepting donations of the following items:
- Old paperwork and sensitive files (shredded on-site by professional shredders)
- Old tennis shoes
- Clothing and accessories
- Small electronics
- Small furniture (no mattresses, please)
RSVP to Info@nullTheOutlookAtWindhaven.org or (972) 996-3887.
Meet The Outlook Department Heads
Friday, July 26
3:00 pm
First United Bank
3930 Dallas Pkwy,
Plano, TX 75093
RSVP to Info@nullTheOutlookAtWindhaven.org or (972) 996-3887.
Previous Inside The Outlook Event
Fifth Floor Social
May 23
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 May 2024 On the Forefront newsletter.
Welcome Select New Outlook VIPs
David Stokey and Sharon Erikson
Mike and Judy Johnson
Carol Mathews and Ray Bittel
Perhaps you know someone who’d be ideal for The Outlook at Windhaven?
If so, let us know at (972) 996-3887 or Info@nullTheOutlookAtWindhaven.org and get rewarded now—and in the future! Click here to learn more. Current program ends 06/30/2024.
