Lillian Hillman receives the Distinguished Resident Accomplishment Award.

WEST HARTFORD — Lillian Hillman, a resident of Hoffman SummerWood in West Hartford, received the inaugural Distinguished Resident Accomplishment Award from the Connecticut Assisted Living Association (CALA) at the organization’s annual gala at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville in December. Hillman, 105, has been an active member of “Senior Voices,” SummerWood’s poetry writing program, since she moved to the senior living community in 2012. Since then, she has been featured, and her poetry has been published, in several publications, including the Connecticut Jewish Ledger. In addition to Hillman’s award, at the gala SummerWood was presented with CALA’s Best Practices Award for its new marketing initiative.