Watch our Garden Grow

The Garden of Hope started as the seed of an idea. It sprouted thanks to the generosity of its supporters, and is now blossoming into the dream we envisioned so many months ago.

Located at the corner of Hampshire Road and Townsgate Boulevard in Westlake Village, the garden will be an outdoor sanctuary for cancer patients and their families who come to The Wellness Community for programs of support, education, and hope.

You can see photos of the progress on our Facebook page.

Thanks to Reyes Masonry, the Tribute Wall of Hope is taking shape. Mr Bob Reyes and his team constructed the footings and poured the foundation on Saturday, October 31st. On November 7th a team from Reyes was back at work volunteering their time to build the tribute wall. Special thanks to Reyes Masonry, Angelus Block, Gold Coast Steel & Supply, and State Ready Mix for donating the materials and labor to make this dream come true.

The Gazebo has been constructed, and badly-needed repairs to the south wall of our building were completed, thanks to Oltmans Construction and Agoura Sash and Door. Thanks also to Milgard for providing our new windows at a discount.

Conejo Complete Landscape has worked with teams of volunteers to maintain our grounds and prepare the site for installation of the irrigation system. They will contribute their time and expertise to install the irrigation system once the wall construction is complete. Installation of the walkway will follow. Hunter Industries has generously donated all of the irrigation equipment.

If you have an opportunity, please support these great companies who are making a difference in the lives of families affected by cancer and giving the gift of hope.

If you would like to volunteer and help lay the bricks or the sod, please let us know.

Time is running out! Only a few naming opportunities are available in the Garden. Please contact Maddy Sattler to learn more about naming opportunities in the Garden. You can also download the order form, or buy a brick at our website. Please note that quantities are limited.

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

We are gearing up for our 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event on November 17! Chefs from our favorite local spots are bringing their amazing gingerbread creations to The Wellness Community. Last year, folks had a blast taking in each unique and awe-inspiring house. This is also a fun event for kids, who will get to make their own gingerbread houses to take home (reservation required; call 805.379.4777). And be sure to enter the Opportunity Drawing to take home a chef-built house.

In anticipation of the Gingerbread House Event we bring you a healthy and scrumptious recipe from the Wellness Kitchen at the California Health and Longevity Institute, Four Seasons Westlake Village. (Their gingerbread house from last year is pictured.) Bon Appetit, and we'll see you on November 15!

Apple Cranberry Crisp


2 pounds (about 6) of Granny Smith or Pippin apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

½ cup dried cranberries

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. flour

1¼ tsp. cinnamon

1 Tbsp. orange zest

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray.

2. Toss apple slices with remaining ingredients in baking dish.

3. Sprinkle oat topping over apples (recipe below).

4. Bake for 30 minutes, until topping is brown and crisp.

5. Serve warm with lite whipped topping or lite ice cream.

TOPPING

1 cup of rolled oats

½ cup of brown sugar

½ cup of flour (can use ¼ cup of whole wheat plus ¼ cup of white flour)

½ cup no trans fat margarine.

1 tsp. of cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl with fingers until crumbly.

Serves: 8

Calories per serving: 250

Calorie equivalent: 1 carbohydrate, 1 fruit, 1.5 fats

Why We're Celebrating Thanksgiving Early

We're taking this opportunity to give thanks to the contributors to our October fundraising events. Who better to do that than the event organizers themselves?

Past participants Bob Ferber and Steve and Karen Furnari worked hard as co-chairs to create a fun, successful event with the first-ever Paws 4 Hope charity dog walk. We are delighted to present a Guest Post from Karen Furnari:

Walking with your dog on a sunny day in the park! What could be better? However it takes on a whole new meaning when you think about doing it as an event with lots of people and lots of dogs. When Bob Ferber, my husband Steve and I went to Berniece Bennett Park last spring to scope out and plan, we crossed our fingers that all would work out. And it did!

To everyone who helped to make the recent Paws 4 Hope Dog Walk successful, my eternal thanks and gratitude!


Our volunteer committee took on the big tasks, calling on vendors, distributing brochures, and packing goodie bags, as well as lots of duties on the big day. It was such a thrill to see the actual walk around the park begin, with proud owners and their dogs with Paws 4 Hope bandanas. My heart was pounding and tears welled in my eyes to see it all come to fruition.

The Wellness Community was literally a lifesaver for me and Steve many years ago, when he faced a six-month terminal diagnosis from Stage 4 malignant melanoma. In desperation we turned to The Wellness Community to help us deal with our fears, questions and a quest for alternative treatments. Over the years, we learned to share with and support our fellow group members every week. We became strong and Steve continued to battle the illness with humor and optimism. Now 15 years after that diagnosis, we both know that we would not be where we are today if it had not been for Wellness. We are committed to doing what we can for this amazing group of people so that their good work carries on forever.

And don't forget to come next year to the 2nd Annual Paws 4 Hope!

You can see photos from Paws 4 Hope at our website.


Merv Kopp pulled off another successful and hilarious Stand Up for Cancer Survivors Comedy FUNdraiser, due in large part to his tireless efforts and passion for finding the humor in life. We are pleased to bring you a Guest Post from Merv:

As a cancer survivor, I originally did a tremendous amount of research after my diagnosis to find an organization that could provide the social and emotional support we survivors need when we're diagnosed, during treatment, and just as importantly, after treatment ends.Further, instead of reading the verbs stricken, battled, died, when newspapers write about cancer, the words I would rather see are diagnosed, treated, survived. And I think we should add another word: SUPPORTED. Yes, supported. And that's why I came to The Wellness Community, because that's what they do - they support their participants in a marvelous fashion, at no cost to them.

Another reason for producing the Comedy evening is that so many people only talk about cancer in the most serious and negative manner. I prefer to approach cancer with humor, with comedy, with laughter, and with a smile on my face. Ergo, the "Stand Up for Cancer Survivors Comedy FUNdraiser."

The success of the October 8th show is due in great part to the fabulous support given to me by The Wellness Community's wonderful, dedicated and hard-working staff and volunteers; Thank you very much!