John Montgomery, Colfax Street, has taken a personal interest in Miller's Merry Manor's plans to add two aviaries to their facilities.

The employees at Miller's took care of Montgomery's wife for four years when he no longer could. In August, Hilda Montgomery died from Alzheimer's disease. He said he wants to give back to Miller's and to the patients who may be in a situation similar to his wife's.

"I'm trying to get a bird aviary for the nursing home. They need some focus of some kind. It's too late for my wife but there's a lot of people out there," Montgomery said.

An aviary is a large cage or building for keeping many birds.

"I'm out there doing all I can," he said. "I'm grateful for the people who took care of my wife when I couldn't."

He said he sympathizes with the residents at Miller's Merry Manor and can't wait to get out there every day to talk to them and help them out. Hilda, he said, would have enjoyed an aviary at Miller's.

Administrator James Schmitt, Miller's Merry Manor, said they are hoping to have two aviaries for the residents, one at each end of the building. Plants and animals are an important part of the healing process, he said.

"It's just our way of creating a home-like environment for our residents," Schmitt said.

Residents will be able to watch birds hatch and grow in the aviary. Many health care facilities throughout the state have aviaries, he said.

Miller's Merry Manor is continuing to raise money for the aviary. Car washes, bake sales and other fund-raisers have helped them raise a portion of the money needed. But no matter what, Schmitt said, Miller's Merry Manor will get the aviaries for their residents.

Mancino's restaurant will hold a fund-raising event for the aviary soon. The time and date have not been set, but it is expected to be on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, a spokesperson for Mancino's said. Ten percent of the day's proceeds will go toward the aviary. [[In-content Ad]]