Heritage Green and Heritage Park recently celebrated their 20th anniversaries of being part of Heritage Ministries.

Local officials, including state Sen. Catharine Young, R-C-I-Olean, a representative from U.S. Rep. Tom Reed’s office, state Assemblyman Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown, County Executive Vince Horrigan, Mayor Samuel Teresi and other local officials were present to help Heritage celebrate the occasion.

On Jan. 1, 1995, Heritage Ministries acquired two health care centers in the Jamestown area, formerly the Fenton Park Nursing Home in Jamestown and the Greenhurst Nursing Home in Greenhurst. Fenton Park Nursing Home became what is known today as Heritage Park and is located on Prather Street in Jamestown. The Greenhurst Nursing Home became what is known today as Heritage Green and is located on Route 430 in Greenhurst. In 2015, Heritage Ministries officials say the acquisition of both centers has been a successful move for the organization.

The anniversary ceremony took place at both locations with a simulcast link to connect the gatherings together.

“It was important for the celebrations to be connected, because both facilities joined our team on the same day in history. Since technology now allows us to connect between facilities easily, we thought that was an important aspect of the occasion,” said Doug Justham, director of development and marketing.

The ceremony opened at Heritage Park in Jamestown. David Smeltzer, executive director of Heritage Ministries, shared some opening remarks about the acquisition of Greenhurst Nursing Home and Fenton Park. In 1994, the board of Heritage Ministries had to take a leap of faith in order to see the potential of acquiring both facilities. At the time, the facilities were bankrupt and in need of updates. Over the next two decades each facility saw strides made with regard to the quality of care of the patients and the quality of the facilities. Smeltzer then turned the microphone over to Teresi.

Teresi shared a vivid memory about the changeover of ownership of Heritage Park. He recounted that in 1994 the city was worried about what would happen if Fenton Park were to close. He said they were worried about the loss of business, the loss of care for the residents and what would happen to the big empty building. He said that what Heritage Ministries has done for Heritage Park and for the city of Jamestown was great. He wished Heritage an emphatic happy anniversary.

The ceremony continued at Heritage Green with County Executive Vince Horrigan making some remarks. Horrigan reflected on his personal connection to Heritage Ministries. Years ago, his father received care at a Heritage Ministries Rehab & Skilled Nursing facility. The staff of Heritage showed his father a great quality of care. He went on to explain that it is the staff at each one of the Heritage Ministries facilities who help to make Chautauqua County a stand out in terms of the level of quality long-term healthcare provided. Horrigan congratulated Heritage Ministries and wished them many more anniversaries to come.

The ceremony returned to Heritage Park and Young took the podium.

“Heritage Ministries, the dedicated staff of nurses, social workers, dieticians, and physical, occupational and speech therapists that make up the teams at Heritage Park and Heritage Green are a tremendous asset to our community. For 20 years now, they have been providing the care and specially tailored services each resident needs emotionally, physically and spiritually. Simply from the smiles on the faces of residents you can tell everyone at Heritage Ministries truly lives up to their mission of promoting ‘hope, dignity and purposeful living.’ It is was an honor to join in this celebration and I wish everyone at Heritage Park and Heritage Green another 20 years of success and great care,” Young said.

With a return again to Heritage Green, Goodell said, “We are blessed to have Heritage Ministries here in Chautauqua County, enhancing our quality of life and well-being. I am honored to help Heritage Green and Heritage Park celebrate 20 years of caring for the citizens of our community.”

Again, the ceremony returned to Heritage Park and Jacqueline Chariot, a representative from Reed’s office, shared some of the congressman’s thoughts.

“I am pleased to recognize Heritage Ministries on the 20th anniversary of operating Heritage Green and Heritage Park. I thank them for their service to the greater Jamestown area,” she said. “Their positive contribution to the community through compassionate and resident-centered care is something to be celebrated. I applaud the work done at these facilities and wish them many more years of meaningful community care.”

Smeltzer, executive director of Heritage Ministries, thanked all of the speakers for sharing the day’s events with him and with the facilities. Then he presented each employee who worked for Heritage Park or Heritage Green on Jan. 1, 1995, and remains employed with Heritage Ministries with a commemorative certificate. He thanked each employee for their support in making Heritage Ministries what it is today.

Heritage Ministries was founded in 1886 and is a non-profit, human-service organization serving the Western New York and employing nearly 800 employees. Independent- and assisted-living residences for seniors are located at Heritage Village Retirement Campus in Gerry and at The Woodlands (on Southwestern Drive) in West Ellicott. Rehabilitation and skilled-nursing services are provided at Heritage Village in Gerry, Heritage Park in Jamestown, and Heritage Green in Greenhurst.

For more information about Heritage Ministries, call 763-5608, visit www.heritage1886.org or like Heritage at facebook.com/HeritageMinistries.