The Village at Orchard Ridge Announces Nominees for 2021 Stellar 7 Over 70 Awards

September 23, 2021

Awards ceremony will be held October 14 at the historic George Washington Hotel in Winchester, Virginia

The Village at Orchard Ridge–A National Lutheran Community unveiled the nominees for the 2021 Stellar 7 Over 70 Awards in a ceremony on September 16 held at The Chapel at Orchard Ridge, A Center for Faith and Community Life. 

Preceding the nominee announcement, team members from The Village at Orchard Ridge and its parent organization, National Lutheran Communities & Services (NLCS) addressed the audience, explaining why this awards program is a needed asset to the Winchester community. Sales Director and Event Chair Rebecca Lipscomb opened the ceremony with a poignant remark on aging: "Impact is ageless. That is a really powerful phrase. The Village at Orchard Ridge and National Lutheran Communities & Services understand that and believe in our hearts that impact is ageless. Our nominees are living, breathing examples of that and that is why we are here.”

Orchard Ridge’s Executive Director John Loop stated “There is an all too common belief that when one ages, the ability to make meaningful contributions in our society declines. This is simply not the case, and it is demonstrated daily at The Village at Orchard Ridge and within our greater community. We are passionate about dismantling the myths about aging in our society and producing a new dialogue about older adults’ capabilities and opportunities regardless of age.”

NLCS’ Chief Operating Officer Regina Figueroa added, “NLCS is pleased to support the Stellar 7 Over 70 Awards because they demonstrate advocacy and thought leadership in action, core values to all of us. We live these values by empowering our team members to identify challenges or barriers facing those we serve. We then empower and support our team members in developing creative solutions and programs such as the Stellar 7 Over 70 Awards to overcome or bring awareness to those challenges for the greater good of all older adults.”

The Stellar 7 Over 70 Awards are open to all older adults in Winchester, Frederick and Clarke Counties. Award categories align with seven areas of wellness and successful aging: intellectual growth, fitness and health, social and community involvement, spiritual expression, creative engagement, environmental awareness and vocational connectivity.

The nominees for the 2021 Stellar 7 Over 70 Awards are:

• Mrs. Rhoda Kriz – Founder and leader of The Flying Fingers at The Village at Orchard Ridge, providing knitted and crocheted items throughout the local community, including over 200 hats, scarves and earmuffs for underserved children.
• Ms. Rosalie Lewis – Trained RN, serves on the Board of Directors for the Adult Care Center of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, as baby cuddler for infants in the Winchester Medical Center NICU and has provided assistance to Christ Episcopal Church on safety measures throughout the pandemic.
• Mrs. Nancy Mozeleski – Founder of the Plarners group at The Village at Orchard Ridge. Plarn is a plastic yarn, made from grocery store bags. The Plarners group brings together residents of all ages and capabilities to weave the plarn into sturdy, highly portable sleeping mats for unsheltered homeless individuals and underserved preschoolers.
• Mr. Mike Perry – Repairs and restores used bicycles to donate to local organizations and donated to individuals who need transportation to work. Mr. Perry also collects, cuts and delivers donated fire wood to local homes for heat during the winter months.
• Mrs. Cheryl Reames – Trained at Johns Hopkins University, Cheryl serves as volunteer coordinator for the Greater Winchester Area Parkinson’s Support Group. She also coordinates the annual Walk for Parkinson’s Disease and has served as a Little Sisters mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
• Mrs. Karen Shipp – Helped found Wheels for Wellness, originally known as Faith in Action. Through her longstanding service with the Winchester Royals, she serves as a host for players and is a past board member. Oversees fundraising efforts with her church to support the Frederick County Department of Social Services.
• Mrs. Tricia Simpson – Member of the Rotary Club of Winchester for over 30 years. During the pandemic, she helped provide food for people staying at an emergency COVID shelter and donated baby items for struggling families.
• Mr. Raymond Steele – Former Mayor of Middletown and dedicated advocate for veterans. He chaired the committee that build the town’s Veteran’s Memorial and continues to coordinate the annual Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day services.

Read more about our nominees here. 

On October 14, the final awardees will be announced at a ticketed luncheon at The George Washington Hotel in downtown Winchester. Tickets can be purchased online at here.