Betty Kusler, a retired school teacher and resident of Touchmark at Meadow Lake Village, shared her experience teaching second grade in the 1940s at the historic Pine Street School in Meridian, Idaho. Due to overcrowding at the Meridian Elementary School, two temporary buildings were used as classrooms, with Betty teaching in one small building for 10 years, longer than originally intended. The Meridian Press recently interviewed Betty about her experience teaching at the Pine Street School.

1. TOUCHMARK AT MEADOW LAKE VILLAGE
THE{FULL}LIFE
July 2014
One-room schoolhouse museum
filled with local history
During a visit to the historic Pine Street School, retired school teacher and resident Betty Kusler talked
about this local iconic school. She shared that in the mid-1940s, the Meridian Elementary School had
become too crowded. To accommodate the larger class sizes, the school took two “temporary” buildings
out of storage and put classrooms in each. Betty taught second grade in the small school, which the
school district intended to use only one year. But for Betty, the small building served as her second-grade
classroom for 10 years! The Meridian Press recently interviewed Betty and shared her story.

2. Find your {FULL}
Life at Touchmark
Featuring the Washington
floor plan, this cottage is
move-in ready and is available
for purchase or lease. The
sunlight-filled home features
granite kitchen countertops, a
gas fireplace, and patio. Call
today to schedule a tour of this
1,346-square-foot, two-bedroom,
and two-bathroom home.
Cottage Homes
Retirement Resort
For illustration purposes only. Square footage, actual room
sizes, and features may vary. See construction documents.
Main 1,346 sq. ft.
Garage 578 sq. ft.
TWO-CAR GARAGETWO-CAR GARAGE
C.
C.
C.
If you read the title and said to yourself, wait a
minute, it’s July: July is the time to celebrate
independence and unification. As countries and as
individuals, we are keenly attracted to the notion
of independence. Research tells us that it’s our
lifestyle—things we do and choices we make—that
determines how we will age.
According to research done at California State
University, Fullerton by C. Jessie Jones and
Roberta E. Rikli, a key element in maintaining
independence later in life is sustaining one’s
“fitness capacity (strength, endurance, agility,
and balance).” Simple, right? So why declare
interdependence? Because life happens.
Appointments, other priorities, injuries, and many
other reasons all serve to interfere with or distract
our attention from exercise. Encouragement and
accountability can be essential to sticking with a
fitness program.
In our office, several team members go to the local
YMCA to exercise at noon. Sometimes, we join
a group exercise class together, and other days
we each do an individual program; regardless,
we check in with each other. We carpool. We
rearrange schedules.
During this month when we celebrate unity and
independence, ask someone to start a walking
group with you. Join a class. Walk around the
corner and visit a friend. Ask a Life Enrichment/
Wellness team member about steps you could take
with others to improve your fitness capacity.
Declare interdependence—and gain more
independence!
For more information about Touchmark’s Life
Enrichment/Wellness program or the research
regarding standards for maintaining physical
independence in later years, email me at FullLife@
Touchmark.com.
Declare interdependence!
Brian Pryor
Executive Vice President

3. CAPTURING DELIGHT{FULL} MOMENTS
Look for more photos on Facebook.
Taking advantage of the beautiful
weather, residents enjoyed
several outings. A group cruised
up the Snake River, stopped
to shop at Charming Charlie,
visited the Basque Museum (and
enjoyed lunch at the sidewalk
café), and started the fishing
season at Horsethief Reservoir,
taking in the fresh mountain
air, eating a picnic lunch, and
catching fish off the pier.

4. 149957 © 2014 Touchmark, LLC, all rights reserved
TOUCHMARK AT MEADOW LAKE VILLAGE
Full-service Retirement Community
4037 E Clocktower Lane • Meridian, ID 83642
208-888-2277 • Touchmark.com
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Contact a Full Life team member for additional details,
including registration, transportation information, and
participation requirements.
Thursday, July 3, 6:45 pm
Watch Yankee Doodle Dandy. This 1942 film
features James Cagney as George M. Cohen, the
“man who owned Broadway.” Start celebrating
the Fourth of July early.
Friday, July 4, 9 am
Flag-Raising Ceremony, followed by a
patriotic concert by the Village Voices. Later that
day, enjoy a traditional Fourth of July barbecue,
and at 2 pm, watch a showing of The Great
Escape in the Coeur d’Alene Room.
Friday, July 4, 6:35 pm
Boise Hawks game. What better way to end
the Fourth of July than with a traditional home-
town game? Cost: $10 per ticket. Seats limited.
Sign up in the Grand Lodge.
Tuesday, July 8, 10 am
Tour of Boise. Dr. Arthur Hart, director
emeritus of the Idaho State Historical Society, will
show off local historical sites, including Harrison
Boulevard, Warm Springs Avenue, and the
Oregon Trail trailhead. No cost. Seating limited.
Sign up in the Grand Lodge.
Thursday, July 10, 10 am
Part 1: Ribbon of Jewels tour of Boise
Greenbelt Parks. Discover sites on the east
side of the ribbon and learn about the Alta Harris,
Marianne Williams, Donna Larsen, and Julia
Davis parks. Picnic lunch in Julia Davis Park
along the river.
Thursday, July 10, 7 pm
MacBeth, presented by Boise’s Encore
Theater. See this classic Shakespearean play at
Touchmark. The show will last approximately 90
minutes. No charge. Open to the public. Coeur
d’Alene Room.
Wednesday, July 16, noon
The Men’s Club. Outdoor barbecue and bocce
ball game at the golf club house. Feast on burgers,
bratwurst, potato salad, beer, pop, and dessert.
Sign up in the Grand Lodge.
Wednesday, July 16, 7 pm
Boise Community Band will perform their
Summer Concert in the Park. Listen to familiar
Sousa marches, Broadway tunes, and pop music
from this 40-plus member community band
under the direction of Fred Dart. Touchmark
residents are also part of the group. Courtyard,
weather permitting.
Tuesday, July 22, 7 pm
Janet Worthington presentation of character
Mary Ingels (1732-1815). As part of our river
theme this month, Janet will transform into
this American pioneer and early settler of
western Virginia and share about her abduction
by Shawnee warriors, subsequent escape, and
harrowing trek over hundreds of miles to return
home. Coeur d’Alene.
Thursday, July 24, 10 am
Part 2: Ribbon of Jewels tour of the Boise
Greenbelt Parks. Explore the sites of the future
Esther Simplot Park, the Bernardine Quinn Park,
and the new Boise River Park for paddle sports.
Finish the day with a picnic in Ann Morrison
Park.
See the full calendar online:
TouchmarkMeridian.com/pdf/community-
event-calendar.pdf