I love baking cookies, so when Linda Robitelle, the activities director at the Chenango Valley Home, told me I would be baking cookies with the residents, I was excited. But when I arrived at the Canasawacta Street location and started preparing recipes I’d never seen before, I was thrilled.

While snow was flying outside on Thursday afternoon, I was warm and cozy in the activities room rolling out dough for a holiday party for the residents, their family and the staff.