The current issue of "The Visioneer," a publication of Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio, is now on The Icon. The lead article follows. To view the entire issue open the attachment at the bottom of this story.

Phil Kingsley, author of the following reflection, communicates using smart technology. “My speech generation computer enables me to (communicate) with blinks of my left eye,” he states.

As ALS has diminished his speech, his ability to communicate is now made possible with his computer. Working with Forbes Rehab Solutions, Kingsley, his family members and the staff at Willow Ridge of MHCO, where Kingsleys lives, have also been able to integrate the nurse call system at Frieda House with his computer. This allows him to call a Shahbaz for assistance with a wink of his eye.

One of the goals of the Green House Project is to utilize “smart technology” to empower elders to continue living their lives to their greatest potential. Kingsley’s computer is one example of how smart technology is making a difference.

Kingsley, president of the Swiss Community Historical Society,  invited the board of directors to meet in his home for a meeting on Feb. 24.

With assistance from his “speech generation computer,” Kingsley welcomed the board with the following historical reflection.

Vilkomen to Frieda House!

This is a place with a rich history of interesting people who have lived here, particularly to us in the Swiss Community Historical Society (SCHS). To mention some of them, I have to begin on a personal note. My mother lived here a short time and passed away here a little over a year ago.

Long-time SCHS supporter and recent donor of our foot-treadle lathe and workbench in our workshop (and many other historical items), John Moser also lived here at the end of his life.

And of course each person who has lived here in the short time Frieda House has been in existence, some of them no doubt your relatives, lived through a particular historical period and had their own interesting life story.

The original old farmhouse which stood on this site, and the surrounding farmstead (barn, sheds, pens, etc.) was part of the Amstutz farm. The last Amstutz resident of this farm, I believe, was Wilhelm Amstutz, school teacher, community stalwart, one of the founders and active early members of the SCHS, and great uncle of Malinda Bennett who has been donating to us tools and other artifacts from the Amstutz farm.

So while I'm honored that you came to meet where I live, it turns out that there are some other good reasons to meet here at Frieda House.

Welcome!