As basketball fans across the country get swept up in the annual March Madness frenzy, one Springwell Living resident is watching with a unique perspective. Meet Frank Cutko, a former college basketball referee with 35 years of experience officiating some of the biggest games in the country. From Patrick Ewing’s first game at Georgetown to David Robinson’s debut at Navy, Cutko has seen it all. But Frank’s basketball expertise doesn’t end there. In 1972, he attended the Olympic training camp in Colorado Springs, where he taught the U.S. team international rules and rubbed shoulders with legenda ..read more

For some of us, finding our calling can take years—if not decades. But Evaghelina Ciobanu, Springwell’s current Musician in Residence, knew exactly what she wanted at age of 6—when her parents bought her her first cello. “I was born into a musical family. I tried other instruments, but I soon realized that I would love to play cello.” Since then, music has been at the center of Eva’s life. In 2000 she began music school in her home country Moldova, and moved to the United States in 2014 to pursue an upper education in music. “I was considering going either to Europe or the United States. I kne ..read more

Hi! I’m Archie. I turn one this month. I’ve been coming to Springwell since I was two months old, and I think it’s the most wonderful place. I’m a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. I’m also known as a “Staffy” or the “Nanny Dog” because I love children so much. Actually, I love everyone I meet and I’ve been told that I’m “full of enthusiasm.” My vet says when I’m full-grown I’ll weigh between 28 and 38 pounds. That’s hard to imagine, but I just hope I don’t get too big to sit in laps. I thought you might be interested in how I spend my days at Springwell. While each day is a different adventure, the ..read more

It’s no secret that different age groups have different interests. An 8-year-old is not necessarily interested in the same things as someone nearing 80 … nor should they be. But when it comes to the holidays, it’s time for finding activities that every family member can participate in and enjoy. We’ve put together a list of family-friendly activities that everyone can appreciate, no matter how young, old or mobile they are. Bake/decorate Food brings people together, and holiday baking has a special appeal for all ages. Whether you cook together for hours creating sticky buns or latkes, or yo ..read more

Chef T’s appreciation for food began with hot tea. As a child, she consumed great quantities of it, garnished with loads of cream and sugar. In fact, it led her to gain the nickname “TT,” supplanting her given name, Toleether Williams, and following her into her professional life. The name became so entrenched that even those around her may not know her real name. “Only one person at Springwell uses my real name,” says Chef T. But the most important part of her name isn’t “T” … it’s “Chef.” Chef T began her kitchen career in Buffalo, New York, where she attended culinary school. “It was a cult ..read more

When Gigi Gafny retired from his landscaping business, he knew he wasn’t ready to quit working altogether. “I was ready to use my people skills,” says Gigi. When he considered the options, he decided driving was a good fit. He also determined that he wanted to work with seniors. “I applied to several senior communities for driving positions, and I was accepted at all of them. But when I checked the reviews from the residents and staff, they weren’t very good. When I applied to Springwell, though, the reviews were excellent. So that’s where I chose to go.” And after three months on the job—driv ..read more

If Janet Kurland has learned anything in life, it’s that “A sense of gratitude is necessary in order to feel happy.” And she was brimming with gratitude when she found herself on the Springwell veranda on a warm summer night singing with 15 other residents accompanied by a ukulele. “There is something special here. You can feel it,” Janet says. After a career in elder care management in Baltimore, she was well aware of the Springwell community, and she knew it was the place for her long before she moved in. “For me, [Springwell] is absolutely the right place.” Janet knows a thing or two about ..read more

Tavon Rosber has been named Director of Dining Services at Springwell. In his new role, Rosber will oversee all aspects of dining services, including healthy dining, employee motivation, standards compliance, inventory control, and customer service. A Baltimore International College, School of Culinary Arts graduate and guest instructor, Rosber is known for creating innovative dining experiences as well as mentoring high performance culinary teams in senior living settings. With more than 20 years of culinary experience, Rosber joins Springwell from Normandie Ridge in York, Pa. where he introd ..read more

Elaine Yozsa knows precisely what she wants: “My plan is to live until I’m 103.” And anyone who spends any amount of time with 75-year-old Elaine wouldn’t doubt that she will get there. Serving as Springwell’s Delegating RN since 2015, Elaine sees evidence everywhere of why her goals are achievable: “Working at Springwell, in addition to people my age, you are around 102- and 103-year-olds who are walking around and socializing. It’s inspiring, and they make me feel like I’m middle-aged.” Elaine began her career in 1976 as a critical care nurse, and she stayed in that field until her retiremen ..read more

Few people are lucky enough to discover their passion at a young age, and even fewer are able to follow it. But Henry Sellinger is beating the odds. This past spring, Henry joined Springwell as an intern during his last semester at Friends School of Baltimore. And by all accounts, his internship was a great success. Phil Golden, executive director of Springwell, said, “To see Henry so well received by the residents and staff, doing something he wants to study more in college and making such a difference here at Springwell, it was just the icing on the cake. I know the residents and their stori ..read more