A taste of Greece at The Fountains

A taste of Greece at The Fountains

Katina Catron, a caregiver at The Fountains in Millbrook, proudly serves authentic Greek meals cooked and prepared right on the patio.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLBROOK — Residents of The Fountains, a Watermark Retirement Community, were transported to Greece on Friday, June 13, during an authentic cooking demonstration on the patio that filled the air with Mediterranean aromas and a relaxed, resort-style ambiance.


 

  Leland Sommer, a member of the maintenance and grounds crew, poses with resident Janet Robinson.Photo by Aly Morrissey

The event was part of the ongoing educational and social enrichment series known as Watermark University. This installment, titled Taste of Greece, was led by staff members Irene Brooker and Katina Catron, both proudly Greek and bonded by a shared love of traditional family recipes passed down from their grandmothers.

The afternoon menu featured grilled shrimp, chicken, beef and lamb, alongside classic Greek side dishes like orzo salad. Manning the grill was Paul Stubing, The Fountains’ food service director and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.

  Fountains resident Joe Bonanno with his authentic Panama Jack hat and his wife, Diane, enjoying a greek meal following the demonstration on Friday, June 13.Photo by Aly Morrissey

The event drew a crowd far larger than anticipated. “We planned for 25 residents, but they just barreled through,” laughed Lisa Rieckermann, community life director at The Fountains, noting that this is one of the most popular programs they offer.

As community life director, Rieckermann ensures a wide variety of stimulating programs are available. “This was a wonderful cultural experience for our residents,” she said. “Many of whom have traveled to Greece, so this brought back great memories.”

Latest News

Test MN Newsletter - CH

Keep ReadingShow less
When the guide gets it wrong

Rosa setigera is a native climbing rose whose simple flowers allow bees to easily collect pollen.

Dee Salomon

After moving to West Cornwall in 2012, we were given a thoughtful housewarming gift: the 1997 edition of “Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs.” We were told the encyclopedic volume was the definitive gardener’s reference guide — a fact I already knew, having purchased one several months earlier at the recommendation of a gardener I admire.

At the time, we were in the thick of winter invasive removal, and I enjoyed reading and dreaming about the trees and shrubs I could plant to fill in the bare spots where the bittersweet, barberry, multiflora rose and other invasive plants had been.Years later, I purchased the 2011 edition, updated and inclusive of plants for warm climates.

Keep ReadingShow less
A few highlights from Upstate Art Weekend 2025

Foxtrot Farm & Flowers’ historic barn space during UAW’s 2024 exhibition entitled “Unruly Edges.”

Brian Gersten

Art lovers, mark your calendars. The sixth edition of Upstate Art Weekend (UAW) returns July 17 to 21, with an exciting lineup of exhibitions and events celebrating the cultural vibrancy of the region. Spanning eight counties and over 130 venues, UAW invites residents and visitors alike to explore the Hudson Valley’s thriving creative communities.

Here’s a preview of four must-see exhibitions in the area:

Keep ReadingShow less