In this issue, get to know Outlook VIPs the Humbles as well as two more board members of Forefront Living. Plus, find out the results from our recent VIP survey about electric cars. Be on the lookout for your invitations to an exciting lineup of exclusive events this fall—everything from a don’t-miss Zoom webinar to kick off the residence Personalization process to a festive, Halloween-themed social, and more!
Perhaps you know someone who’d like to learn about The Outlook at Windhaven. If so, contact Sara Massoudi at (972) 996-3887 or smassoudi@nullforefrontliving.org and you will both benefit! Our VIP referral rewards program has been extended. See details.
We asked.
You Answered.
We recently sent out a survey to you, our VIPs, asking about electric cars. Curious about others’ responses? Check out the results below.
Q. Do you plan to bring a car to The Outlook?
A. 44% of you plan to bring one car and 52% plan to bring two.
Q. Do you plan to have an electric car at The Outlook?
A. Only about 12% of you currently have an electric car.
Q. If no, are you considering purchasing an electric car (in the next 5 years)?
A. About half of you are considering purchasing an electric car or hybrid model as your next vehicle.
Rest assured, The Outlook apartment homes will have secure underground parking and multiple electric charging stations for your convenience. And, of course, each cottage home will have an attached two-car garage.
Meet Your
Future Neighbors
Bill and Mary Ellen Humble
Newlyweds Bill and Mary Ellen Humble met while taking part in their church orchestra, she on the alto sax and he on the clarinet, but they truly hit their stride (pun intended!) when they began taking dance classes together in 2019. Numerous dance classes and a pandemic later, they decided to tie the knot and find a new home together.
Mary Ellen was born in a small city along the Ohio River called Martins Ferry. She had a nice, stable upbringing—living 28 years of it on the same street! Most of her family is still in Ohio around Lake Erie, but two siblings remain in Martins Ferry. Mary Ellen’s first career was as a teacher. Ohio University opened a teacher training branch within her high school, so she was able to take her first two years of college within her high school building.
Teachers were desperately needed at the time, so this teacher cadet program allowed its students to start teaching after two years of college. Mary Ellen became involved in a federally funded program in her hometown that was a follow-up to Head Start. The University of Georgia (UGA) sponsored the program, and when they started a new venture in Pocatello, Idaho, Mary Ellen went there to help the school district sort things out. She continued to work with UGA for a few years, traveling to help with various programs. She met her first husband while in Georgia and they moved to Lufkin, TX in 1973; she has lived in Texas ever since.
Initially, Mary Ellen taught and substituted in Lufkin and her husband worked at Angelina College. Eventually, both were ready for a change. Mary Ellen’s husband began working as a technical writer for Texas Instruments, and the couple moved to Plano. Then Mary Ellen learned the technical writing trade and also worked for Texas Instruments. She was there for about seven years when her division was sold to Air Liquide. She stayed for a while, doing contract work at Lockheed Martin for three years before retiring. Mary Ellen’s first husband passed away in 2015. Through him she has five stepchildren who are spread all around the country.
Bill was born and raised in San Antonio. He went to junior college there for two years before transferring to the University of Texas at Austin (Hook ‘em Horns!), where he completed a degree in engineering. He did a bit of graduate school but then got married and moved to Dallas to work for Southwestern Bell. He spent ten years at Southwestern Bell. After Southwestern Bell, Bill went to work for Westinghouse on a contract for the U.S. Navy. He spent five years in Idaho Falls, Idaho in the early 1980s teaching sailors how to start up, shut down, and handle casualties on naval nuclear reactors. Bill found the work to be great fun. After his stint in Idaho, he transitioned to working in commercial nuclear power and was an engineering supervisor for 27 years for South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company in Bay City (about 90 miles southwest of Houston). He retired in 2011, and he and his wife moved to Plano to be closer to their grandkids. Bill’s wife died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 2016; they had been married 46 years. They have three children and eight grandchildren who live in Orlando, Dallas, and Denver.
A few years after Bill’s wife passed away, he decided he would try his hand at dancing and got hooked. In 2019, he asked his friends in the church orchestra if any of them would like to take a group ballroom dance lesson. He and Mary Ellen had been in the orchestra together for about seven years, and she said she’d like to give it a try. So they embarked on the dance lessons but spent time together doing other things as well. The pandemic took hold and they hung out even more. As soon as life opened up again, they went to all manner of dance classes. They’ve done all of the ballroom styles, line dancing, folk dancing, and are currently involved in a square dancing class. (As a side note, Mary Ellen has been doing folk dancing since the 1960s; she fell in love with it right after college and has been doing it ever since!) Right now, the couple’s challenge is trying to hold themselves to one extracurricular activity a day—their dance cards require some advanced scheduling skills.
Before Mary Ellen and Bill began dancing and dating, they were separately considering their choices for downsizing and moving. Mary Ellen started visiting different places and was drawn to the continuing care model. It gave her a sense of security, and she liked the thought that she could be as active as she liked but that there were also options for when your level of activity might slow down. Bill also had been weighing his options, knowing there would be a time when he was no longer interested in keeping up his home. He sang in a choir that visited various senior homes once a month, and this was a good way for him to do some comparison shopping—discerning what he did and did not like about the different places.
Bill was drawn to communities where the residents were very active, and Mary Ellen liked the ones with indoor swimming pools, among other things. About the time they started thinking seriously about committing to each other, they were getting marketing materials from The Outlook at Windhaven. Bill proposed marriage, and the process of looking for a place to live together became more of a priority. They began the process of downsizing with Bill moving into Mary Ellen’s home and decided The Outlook would be where they eventually landed as a couple. They wanted to be in Plano near their church, First Baptist Plano, and close to the activities they love—including dancing at the various venues and recreation centers and attending community theater shows.
Mary Ellen and Bill have enjoyed getting acquainted with fellow VIPs at Outlook get-togethers. They are looking forward to simplifying their lives through downsizing and are excited about potential activities at The Outlook. And who knows? They may just be the ones to lead The Outlook’s inaugural line dancing class!
Farewell, Alyssa &
Welcome, Sara!
We’d like to wish Marketing Assistant Alyssa Landa the very best as her last day at The Outlook was Friday, August 26. She and her fiancé are beginning an exciting new journey as they return home to the cool Colorado climate. “You have helped me grow both professionally and personally, and taught me things that I will carry with me,” she says. We’ll miss you, Alyssa!
With Alyssa’s departure, Sara Massoudi (who happens to be our own Angela Morgan’s daughter!) will be filling in as our Marketing Assistant until a permanent replacement has been identified. Sara is a recent graduate of Oklahoma City University, and we know you will be in good hands while she is with us. Please join us in welcoming Sara to The Outlook team!
Interim Marketing Assistant
Forefront Living
MEET THE BOARD
Meet some of the volunteer board members of Forefront Living below in the latest of our series, “Meet the Board.” The Outlook at Windhaven is owned and will be operated by Forefront Living, located in Dallas, Texas. The Forefront Living Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the organization focused on raising, investing and distributing funds that further the mission and support the goals of each of the members of the Forefront Living family, which in addition to The Outlook also includes Presbyterian Village North, Faith Presbyterian Hospice and The T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center. The organization, governed by a local Board of Trustees, strives to empower individuals to live their lives to the fullest and does this by providing a standard for excellence, premier training, quality services and care. All entities of Forefront Living are committed to making each moment matter for those we serve.
Brad Nitschke is Associate General Counsel for Parkland Health in Dallas, Texas, one of the largest public healthcare and hospital systems in the United States. He supports Parkland’s operations, compliance, regulatory, and risk management functions and is a member of the Ethics Committee. He was formerly a trial and investigations partner at Jackson Walker LLP. Mr. Nitschke received his J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law and a B.A. in Psychology from Texas A&M University.
Dr. Rebecca Gruchalla received her Ph.D. and medical degree from UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. After completing internal medicine training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and allergy and immunology training at UT Southwestern, she joined the UT Southwestern faculty. She is professor of medicine and pediatrics and she holds the Dr. William A. and Joyce M. Sellars Distinguished Chair in Allergy and Immunology. In addition, Dr. Gruchalla directs the allergy and immunology division in both the departments of medicine and pediatrics.
Refer a Friend by September 30
and get rewarded
BECAUSE great friends
MAKE great neighbors
Offer extended through September 30! There is no better time to recommend The Outlook to a friend! And what could be better than getting to choose your neighbors? Even though The Outlook is more than 70% reserved, we still have some wonderful residences available.
So, if you know someone who would like to learn more about retirement living or life at The Outlook, let us know and your referral can lock in special Construction pricing. And you both win!
When your friend reserves a residence, you will receive a $500 Visa® gift card right now as a thank-you.
Then, when you and your friend move in, you will receive $3,500 credit toward your monthly service fee, and their credit will be $2,500!
Refer your friends today! Contact Sara Massoudi at (972) 996-3887 or smassoudi@nullforefrontliving.org.
Offer valid for new referrals only through 09/30/22.
Construction
Update
Construction is underway at the corner of Windhaven Parkway and West Spring Creek Parkway, including completion of the garage excavation. Utility pipes have been delivered to the site, and underground utilities are underway.
Strength and
STABILITY
Strength. Stability. Security. Three of the most important things to look for when choosing
a retirement community. Not only the community itself, but also its roots. At The Outlook
at Windhaven, those roots run deep. Owned by Forefront Living, an organization with a
60-year history of excellence in senior living, residents of The Outlook can enjoy strength,
stability, and security only a financially stable organization can provide. The Outlook is
proud to be the newest member of the Forefront Living family. Click here to learn more.
Save
The Date
Watch your mail and email for invitations to the events below.
September
Fourth-Floor Mingle
Wednesday, September 7
Have you reserved an apartment on the 4th floor? Join us on September 7 and get to know your fellow 4th-floor neighbors over a glass of wine. Fourth-floor VIPs will receive an invitation by mail.
Tips on Downsizing
Tuesday, September 13, 10:00 am
As founder of MOVE Method, Texas’ premier move management resource, Cheryl Morgan has been sharing her expertise with clients and supporting their downsizing efforts for many years. Now, she’d love to share it with you. Join us and get helpful tips and resources that can take your own decluttering experience from overwhelming to empowering.
Gleneagles Country Club
5401 W Park Blvd
Plano, TX 75093
Zoom Webinar: Personalization Kick-Off/Meet the Personalization Team
Thursday, September 15, 10:30 am
During this webinar, we will explain what you can expect during the Personalization process, including the timeline. For many VIPs, this is one of the best parts of moving into a brand-new apartment or cottage home. You will also be introduced to some of the key players on the Personalization team. Can’t make it? A link to a recording of this webinar will be sent via email.
Groundbreaking Celebration
Thursday, September 29, 10 am
Edith’s French Bistro
The Boardwalk at Granite Park
5864 TX-121, Plano, TX 75024
Join your fellow VIPs and leaders from The Outlook and Forefront Living as we toast to celebrate our biggest milestone yet—the start of construction.
Brunch buffet, mimosas, Bloody Mary bar, and more. Complimentary valet parking.
October
Fifth-Floor Mingle
Wednesday, October 12
Have you reserved an apartment on the 5th floor? Join us on October 12 and get to know your fellow 5th-floor neighbors over a glass of wine. Fifth-floor VIPs will receive an invitation by mail.
Halloween Dessert and Pet Costume Contest
Wednesday, October 26
Join us on October 26 for a fall-themed dessert and costume contest for your 4-legged best friend. Costumes are optional for humans.
November
What are you most grateful for?
Wednesday, November 16, 11 am
Around the holidays, we’re often reminded of all we have to be grateful for. Mingle with your fellow VIPs and join Reverend Jarod Cooper, M. Div., Chaplain at Forefront Living, as he leads a discussion on gratitude.
Easy as Pie Referral Event
Friday, November 18
Bring in your referrals and leave with a pie.
Dates and times subject to change.
