ORANGE PARK – Residents welcomed their family and friends to enjoy some Christmas cheer at Palagio’s Winter Wonderland. Music, hot chocolate, s’mores and a Christmas tree scavenger hunt were some of the festivities at the senior living community last Thursday.

The Festival of Trees scavenger hunt led participants through the lobby, the dining hall and up the elevator to the second and third floors to find all 17 Christmas trees and vote which ones they liked best. The Clay Today Christmas tree rested in between the elevators on the first floor, right before you stepped in.

The 17 Christmas trees, Clay Today’s included, were donated to senior families in need after the event.

The Winter Wonderland event kicked off on the third floor, where residents and their guests enjoyed appetizers and live Christmas music performed by local singer Kristen Lee. With dinner ready downstairs, the carolers were corralled to the dining hall on the first floor. Santa Claus greeted families in the lobby.

At Palagio Senior Living, special events and a vibrant community are why more than 80 residents proudly call the facility home. Palagio is also decorated with Best of Clay accolades for first place in senior living, assisted living and memory care.

“It’s about being fun and festive in a safe way,” said Director Tiffany Doreste.

“It’s fun to watch them smile with their grandkids. Some families come for the event and then take them home afterward. So, it’s our sendoff event, in a way,” said Doreste.

Residents staying at the facility through Christmas can look forward to a Palagio Pajama Party, she said.

“We’re also planning more quarterly events,” she said.

Chef Sandy Bernard’s theme for dinner and dessert was “retro Christmas” which featured old-fashioned classics such as beef wellington, deviled eggs, fruitcake, marzipan and walnuts with nutcrackers. Prime rib was one of the main entrees.

More than anything, Bernard loves cooking for her residents and letting her creative side shine through.

“They love comfort food, but they’ll try anything, and they’ll definitely let you know how they feel about (the dish). It’s fun for us. This is what I was made to do,” she said.

Carol Pangborn is a resident who has settled into her new home at Palagio. She enjoyed her meal in the company of new friends, whom she was thankful for. She described transitioning to life in her new home.

“I picked up the phone when I saw the signs go up. I kept calling, and then we (Pangborn and a Palagio representative) met at an Urban Bean Coffeehouse – great place by the way – to talk about reserving my spot. I said, ‘Sign me up!’ I wanted my spot reserved,” Pangborn said.

“I’m a widow. I had a good-sized house that was 42 years old. Sitting alone in your home as you age is not healthy. I needed to socialize. When my husband died, I went into a bit of a downslide. My friends here helped me out of it.”

She looks forward to holiday events throughout the year and movie nights every Friday.

“The programs we have here are great,” she said. “The people (residents and staff) are kind. They say, ‘we’re here for you” and they really mean it. If there’s a problem, they’ll fix it. That’s why I like it here.”

She enjoys Christmas at Palagio, because Christmas isn’t meant to be celebrated alone; it is meant to be celebrated with others.

“(My favorite part of the holiday season) is to be here and to enjoy the company. That is the most important part of Christmas. Gifts are great, but that’s not what Christmas is about. Christmas is about putting other people first.

“Life needs to be funny. It needs to have joy. Enjoy everyone, no matter how grumpy they can be. You can always find good in anybody,” she said.