Granite Farms Seniors Line Dance, Create Jewelry, Ceramics

The Granite Farms Lapidary Club consists of about a dozen seniors who are artistically skilled at making one-of-a-kind jewelry. And we’re not just talking about beading—handmade pins, necklaces, earrings and bolas were recently featured at their annual benefit.

The retirement community boasts lapidary machinery, used to cut and shape rocks into beautiful semi-precious stones for jewelry and other objects. Betty M. Smith and Miriam McFadden are co-leaders and are always willing to demonstrate how to use a diamond saw to cut through the rocks, then grind, shape and polish stones.

Smith has been teaching at the Tuscarora Lapidary Society and Society’s Media location for 20 years. The group actually came into being in 1995 and has been growing strong ever since.

Most of the rocks come from the Western United States, Africa and Brazil. Classes are held weekly, and if you are interested in learning more, Granite Farms is the only retirement location in Delaware County that features this type of club on the premises. Just ask Helen Green or Jay Eaton.

In addition to the talented lapidary club, Granite just opened a spacious new arts and crafts room where the ceramics group creates masterpieces. Fitness Director Missy Scheer is available for personal training and exercise classes suited for seniors in the new fitness room. There’s a line dancing group, men’s club, quilting crew, bridge, bowling, Bible study and knitters.

All residents are encouraged to bring their new ideas for classes, projects and groups to Jan Bradley, the full time resident services director who coordinates a full program of activities each and every day, both on and off-site.

Granite Farms Estates is part of the not-for-profit life care family of 23 ACTS Retirement-Life Communities in eight states and an industry leader in accreditation and financial stability. Located in Media at 1343 W Baltimore Pike, call Cary or Susan for a free luncheon tour at 610-361-8221 and find out about this worry free lifestyle, CCRC tax benefits and the continuum of care on campus in assisted living or skilled care without an increase in the monthly fee.