By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

Tucked away on the south side of Bucyrus is a small community that has quietly served the seniors of the area but next weekend they will be opening their doors to the public. Orchard Park Assisted Living and Villas will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on June 13.

The staff at Orchard Park has organized a carnival-themed event that includes a petting zoo, country line dancers, music, games and lunch. Music will begin at noon and the country line dancers will perform at 1 p.m. The event is open to the community.

“It’s a big celebration trying to get more people out here,” explained Orchard Park Activity Director Tami Sulser. “We hear – still at 10 years – nobody knows about us. We’re in that total cubbyhole. We’re still trying to get the community more involved in knowing that we’re out here.”

Sulser is one of a few people who has been at Orchard Park nearly as long as the doors first opened. She has clocked in nine years at Orchard Park.

“There were only seven residents here when I started,” Sulser said. She acknowledged the numerous changes she has seen over that time, including seeing number of people choosing to call Orchard Park home increase to nearly full capacity.

The assisted living facility and villas is a 24-hour care center that offers villas, two-bedroom apartments, and assisted living. The facility can house just under 50 people at one time.

“We are a different assisted living because we can take just about anybody and we also take Medicare people,” Sulser said.

“I love being here; I love working here,” said Sulser. “This is my second family . . . we just all work as one big family.”

Orchard Park has been recognized by the state as being deficiency-free for seven out of the last ten years, a record that also features deficiency-free recognition for the past five years straight.

Orchard Park was previously owned by Sheila and Nathan Sabo for six years before it was sold to Premiere Senior Living, a company based out of New York that runs 11 other senior facilities including Westbrook Assisting Living and Memory Care in Upper Sandusky.

Orchard Park Assisted Living and Villas is located at 500 Wedgewood Court, Bucyrus. For more information on Orchard Park contact 419-562-6080.