The Sippican Healthcare Center in Marion has been renamed this week. The new name is the Sippican Royale and she is a cruise ship heading out of Marion Harbor to the ports of call of Bermuda and Hawaii. The ship departed on Monday, March 19 and will return on March 23.
“It’s been a long winter and we brainstormed for ways to break up the monotony of the winter and came up with a cruise theme,” said Activities Director Anne O’Connell Bishop. “Our residents can’t go on a cruise ship or to a casino, so we brought the ship and the casino to them.”
In the lobby sits an impressive seven-foot ship named the Sippican. Crafted by artist Tom Lynch, it’s made of cardboard egg crates. The ship has portholes, flags, a smokestack and a colorful deck.
Residents wearing sailor hats with nautical decorations admired the ship along with the other decorations, which included buoys and life preservers. A red carpet leads the way to the dining area, with colorful parrots dangling from the chandeliers. Residents will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with the captain, Rosemary Carlson, Administrator at the health care center.
“The whole building is involved, including the food service,” said Food Service Director Randy Frazier.
According to Frazier, the facility will go all out on Thursday, March 22, when the ship docks in Hawaii, and will offer a buffet with a captain’s table, ice sculpture and carving stations for ham and a turkey.
“Residents can choose whatever they like, instead of the usual planned meal,” said Frazier.
Candida Rose, a talented vocalist will entertain with a Love Boat theme during the buffet dinner. Rose’s godmother is a resident and when she heard about cruise week, she volunteered to sing at the Thursday dinner event.
Residents will be served pink drinks and enjoy karaoke before the buffet. After dinner, they will head to the casino to try their luck at the roulette, blackjack tables and slot machines.
The activity room has transformed into a casino with real slot machines and a blackjack table where staff act as dealers, with vests, chips and cards. The room has been dubbed the “high roller casino” and has large playing cards, hula dancers, palm trees and seashells as decorations. Residents carry homemade passports and must present them when asked.
“I won with 19 out of 21,” said resident Loraine Laverviere, beaming at her win as volunteer Joe Kelly dealt another round of blackjack.
“When we posted our cruise idea to the staff, they all got involved, with our two real slot machines being loaned to us by one of our nurses. Others brought in lava lamps, lighted palm trees, life preservers, hula skirts and many of the decorations in the various common rooms. We wanted to lift spirits and the planning and organizing of this week was so much fun for our residents and staff. You can feel the excitement,” said O’Connell Bishop.
By Joan Hartnett-Barry
