Out and About

Strollin’ in the Winter ‘24

For the past four years, the Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown Chamber of Commerce has hosted a Winter Stroll throughout the two towns in the afternoon and evening, benefitted by a trolley for easy (and warm) wandering. There are costumed characters, special store and vendor events, music, and even an ugly sweater competition.

Special picture-taking

Treats of the season

Santa and Mrs. Claus were there, as was . . .

St Nicholas!

And special decorations

Photos from FaceBook

A Kendalite Experiences The Winter Stroll

Anne White enjoyed the Stroll this year, and sent along some pictures to show it:

Ice sculpture was one event . . .

Toasting marshmallows, another

And a bit of warming up all around.

It was freezing outside, so Anne went into The Sleepy Hollow Bookshop to warm up and found lots of parents and children reading and making paper lanterns. She reports that it’s one of her favorite spots, where Leah, the owner, will seek out the perfect present for each grandchild, matching not only their levels of reading (or being read to), but their interests and personalities.

Checking out the books in The Sleepy Hollow Bookshop. You might call it market research . . .

Creative activities include parents as well as their kids.

While strolling Sleepy Hollow’s Beckman Avenue, Anne came across quite a number of snowflakes—of the non-melting variety. A variety that Kendal folks helped create—60 of ‘em to be exact.

On the Beekman Avenue mural . . .

in store fronts . . .

on the Morse School playground fence . . .

even in the Village Board Room.

Photos by Anne White

Lexophilia: In Just So Many Words

Lexophilia: Although not in the dictionary, it is reported that “Lexophile” describes a person who loves sentences such as, “You can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish,” and “To write with a broken pencil is pointless.”

An annual competition is held to see who can create the best original lexophile. This year’s submissions:

I changed my iPod’s name to Titanic. It’s syncing now.

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes.

This girl today said she recognized me from the Vegetarians Club, but I’d swear I’ve never met herbivore.

I know a guy who’s addicted to drinking brake fluid, but he says he can stop any time.

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.

I got some batteries that were given out free of charge.

A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.

A will is a dead giveaway.

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

Police were summoned to a day-care centre where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.

A bicycle can’t stand alone; it’s just two-tired.

The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine last week is now fully recovered.

He had a photographic memory, but it was never fully developed.

When she saw her first strands of grey hair, she thought she’d dye.

Acupuncture is a jab well done. That’s the point of it.

I didn’t like my beard at first. Then it grew on me.

Did you hear about the crossed-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn’t control her pupils?

When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble.

When chemists die, they barium.

I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, and then it dawned on me.

I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can’t put it down.

And Barbara’s Personal Favorite:

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

Contributed by Barbara Wallach

New Year's Eve: Keepin' It Kendal

Just a Reminder:

We love our New Year’s Eve Program. It’s fun, it’s silly, and—most important—it is for Kendal residents and only Kendal residents. The New Year’s Eve Program, begins at 8 pm on the 31st, and the Gathering Room is fully packed with both Independent Living and Assisted Living residents. There isn’t even wiggle room to accommodate guests. 
The Program will be televised live on Kendal Channel 970. If you have guests that evening, you and your guests are invited to watch the show in your apartment. Added incentive: there you can serve popcorn (or whatever) with the show!
At Kendal Midnight (9 pm) after the ball drops, the Kendal New Year’s Eve Gala launches—again for our residents only. 

The folks who make the fun, the frolic, and the food all possible thank you for your understanding!

Good News: It's Back--CIDG, the Contemporary Issues Discussion Group

A Message from Gene DuBow, CIDG Co-ordinator

After a seven-month hiatus, Kendal’s Zoom discussion program is scheduled to return on Thursday morning, January 9, 2025, at 10:00 am.

What Is CIDG, and How Does It Work? CIDG (pronounced see-dig) is a time-honored Kendal discussion program. This forum was founded almost 20 years ago as an “in-person” exchange in one of Kendal’s meeting rooms. With COVID-19, face-to-face exchanges became impossible. But Zoom made it possible to switch over to using the Internet, allowing many more residents to participate.

The program is now bimonthly (held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, at 10:00 am).

What is discussed and how are the topics chosen? Over the years, I have listened carefully to my fellow residents and chosen topics that seemed to be of prime interest. I am always open to suggestions, choosing two each month for open discussion. CIDG is open to all residents so they can share their own thoughts and feelings about the issue of the day. In addition, they can gather in the thoughts of their fellow residents. CIDG does not aim at conclusions or adopting shared positions. 

The first discussion in 2025 will be on January 9, when we will talk about health care. The second will take place on January 23, at which time, to kick off discussion, we’ll receive a direct report from Deidre Berger, the former NPR and AJC director in Berlin.

How to sign on: On the Sunday before the Thursday discussion, you will receive an email from me outlining the discussion topic for the coming Thursday. At times, it will contain some suggested reading. A reminder notice on Tuesday will follow the Sunday email. Now! This is important! On Thursday morning, the day of the discussion, by 9:00 am, you will receive another email with the link (written in blue and underlined). Click on the link, and you will become part of the discussion group.  That’s it! Simple! You will get (via email) both a meeting notice (Sunday) and a reminder (Tuesday). On Thursday, at 9:00 am, you will get an email with the link to the discussion. Click on it and you’ll be part of the group. The actual discussion lasts one hour. It starts at 10:00 am and runs until 11:00 am.

I hope to see you and hear what you have to say.

I Didn't Know That

The Medieval Origins of Eggnog

The next time you take a sip of eggnog, you should know: you’re indulging in a centuries-old tradition that traces back to medieval Britain. This sweet concoction—made from milk, cream, sugar, spices, and eggs—is the modern descendent of posset, a fixture of festive gatherings in the Middle Ages. Posset recipes vary, but most combine wine or beer with cream, sugar, and eggs, and are topped with a thick gruel made from bread, biscuits, oatmeal, or almond paste. To separate the drink from its rich topping, it was served in specialized “posset pots,” teapot-like vessels with two handles and a spout. These unique pots were passed around at English celebrations, particularly weddings, to toast prosperity and good health.

Several centuries later, the drink made its way to the American colonies, where it became a hallmark of holiday festivities. Colonists added rum, making it more potent, which paved the way for the modern recipe as we know it. By 1775, the term “eggnog” was part of the American-English vernacular.

Etymologists pose two theories about the word’s origin. The first suggests that “nog” comes from “noggin,” meaning a wooden cup, while others speculate it comes from “grog,” a strong beer. The origin of the word “posset” is more mysterious, possibly from the Latin word posca for a drink made of vinegar and water. The term endures to this day in the world of British baking, although it now refers to a cold cream-based dessert.

Source: interestingfacts.com

Contributed by Jane Hart

Made In NYC: Brands, Trends, and Inventions That Began in the Big Apple

The Q-Tip

Leo Gerstenzang claimed he invented the Q-Tip after watching his wife attach wads of cotton to toothpicks to clean their infant’s ears. The truth is a little less bootstrappy—he actually bought the patent rights from Mrs. Hazel Tietjen Forbis. In any case, Gerstenzang ended up being the first person to mass-produce the cotton swab; and his Q-Tip would go on to sell 25 billion units a year. The place of origin was 132 West 36th Street nearly a century ago.

The ATM

Credit for the first automated teller machine goes to New York City. Its first iteration was for deposits only, patented by Luther George Simjian, a New York inventor. Called the Bankograph, a trial version was launched in 1961 by City Bank of New York. Alas, it was ahead of its time—after 6 months it was pulled due to lack of use, and Simjian never made a penny from his invention.

The Remote Control

The miniature ship above was the very first object in this world to be manipulated by remote control. Nikola Tesla, a long-time Manhattan resident, invented the device and provided its first public demonstration. On December 8, 1898, at Madison Square Garden, Tesla astonished spectators, most of whom didn’t even know of the existence of invisible signal-sending radio waves. (And you could argue this invention isn’t just remote control; it’s also the beginning of the drone.) Unfortunately for Tesla, the invention took a long time to catch on—decades after its original patent expired.

Source: “Made In NYC,” by Ethan Wolff, March 2024, City Guide New York

Contributed by Bobbie Roggemann

Art by Hart

Rollo thought that “Catch of the Day” meant popular with the ladies

Whether she was an exotic micro mini elephant or a field mouse, Cecelia nested happily in a satin Dior purse

Alberta Spruce always got her needles done for the holidays

Dobbin heard rumors of a bridle party

Missy suspected that Endicott was toying with her

Art and photos by Jane Hart

Out and About

Wandering the Wilds—in the City

Visiting her sister in Newbury, MA, recently, Carolyn met her niece and nephew for brunch in South Boston, where local birds hung out, then walked in Castle Island park with views of Logan Airport as well as uninhabited islands. An amazing place—right smack there in the big city!

Photos by Carolyn Reiss

Shout Outs and Recognition for KoH Staff

Yeah, I know, the notice above is a might-bit small, but its heart is big. Here’s the gist:

Let’s Celebrate Our Amazing Staff! How? Send an email to either:

or

Sometimes a staff member does something fantastic, and we might want to commend that person for that particular deed. At other times, a staff member is simply fantastic at what they do—all the time: we delight in seeing them every day; they’re always upbeat; they always add pleasure to our day.

So, why not say so? In an email. How? Here’s the email format in bigger type than in the notice above:

Subject: Shout-Out for [Staff Member’s Name]

Body of email:

  • Your name (the person submitting the recognition)

  • The Staff member’s name being recognized

  • A short paragraph describing a positive action, behavior, or contribution by the staff member

You can always do this, but keep in mind that the Staff Holiday Party happens—gasp!—Wednesday, December 18. So today might be just the day to do this. If not, any old time during the year. The emails always work!

New Year’s Eve—Keepin' It Kendal

We love our New Year’s Eve Program. It’s fun, it’s silly, and—most important—it is for Kendal residents and only Kendal residents. The New Year’s Eve Program, begins at 8 pm on the 31st, and the Gathering Room is fully packed with both Independent Living and Assisted Living residents. There isn’t even wiggle room to accommodate guests. 
The Program will be televised live on Kendal Channel 970. If you have guests that evening, you and your guests are invited to watch the show in your apartment. Added incentive: there you can serve popcorn (or whatever) with the show!
At Kendal Midnight (9 pm) after the ball drops, the Kendal New Year’s Eve Gala launches—again for our residents only. 

The folks who make the fun, the frolic, and the food all possible thank you for your understanding!

December 16: The Winter Holiday Wine Bag Sale—Just in Time for Christmas and in Support of the Tuesday Morning Club

If you missed it the first time—or if you want to add to your trove—here’s your chance!

THE WINTER HOLIDAY WINE BAG SALE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 5-6:30

Holiday-themed wine gift bags with attached ribbons are priced at $5:

 Two-bottle wine tote bags with a handle cost $20:

 Cash and IOUs are accepted.

All proceeds support the Tuesday Morning Club, an innovative and popular weekly program run cooperatively by Independent Living and Assisted Living residents.  

Plan to come early! They disappear fast!

I Didn't Know That

THE SISSMAN CHRONICLES 

Delicious (for Some), Nutritious (for all), and Efficacious 

Recently, after a fine dinner at Bistro 146, one of the best seafood restaurants in our area, my curiosity was piqued (after my appetite had peaked) about the naturaland unnatural history of a component of my appetizer: the lonely oyster. Here is what I discovered.

* * * * * * * * *

Nowadays, oysters are rare and relatively expensive. A glance at the menu of the venerable Grand Central Oyster. Bar & Restaurant (very accessible for Kendal residents who commute to the Big Apple by train) showed the price of a single oyster to range from #3.95 to #5.95 each.

However, this was not always the case. When the Dutch first colonized what we now know as New York and its environs, they were disappointed that the local oysters did not produce pearls, but they observed the popularity of the mollusk as a food among the Leni Lenape. Archeologists confirmed this later by discovering hidden large piles of discarded shells (called middens).

An oyster midden in Manhattan

Later, in the 19th century, Manhattan was the home of dozens and dozens of small “oyster bars” where almost everyone could afford to stop for a quick snack. The underlying reason for this affluence was that New York’s harbor and the banks of the lower Hudson were home to one of the largest colony of oysters in the world.

Oyster Stand in Fulton Market

Oysters were eaten not only for their taste, but for their high nutritional value. They are rich in protein, B-12, ojmega-3, and minerals. And oysters were not only consumed raw on the half shell but are the ingredients of a significant number of cooked recipes, such as oysters Rockefeller, fried oyster po-boys, oysters Kilpatrick, and various other fried preparations.

So, in what ways are these small briny critters “efficacious”? By their ability to filter and “clean” large volumes of water. A single oyster takes in and discharges about 50 gallons of sea water a day, absorbing the nutrients it needs and solidifying baneful substances to be deposited harmlessly on the ocean floor.

Our large oyster beds collapsed by the beginning of the 20th century, due, of course, to humankind’s fondness for unregulated predation and contamination of natural resources.

In 2014, two young New York entrepreneurs set out to remedy the appalling status of oysters in our harbor. They established the Billion Oyster Project (shall we call it BOP?). They have enlisted thousands of volunteers (mostly high school students) to attach embryonic oysters (called spat) to wooden poles that area then immersed in cordoned off areas along the shore until the little guys have matured to the point of having shells. With this natural protection against predators, the “teenage” oysters are then seeded along the banks of our harbors. So far, about 1.2 million oysters have been planted.

Billion Oyster Project volunteers work to replenish Manhattan’s oyster population,

 I wish them continued success, primarily for the oysters’ beneficial effect on the environment, but also for the salutary influence that increased numbers may have on the price of one of my favorite foods.

Norman Sissman

           

The Benefit of Plastic Around Us—Yes, Really!

Thanks to the energy and persistence of Teddy Pulerwitz and her loyal band of gatherers, sorters, clippers, and transporters, all the soft plastic that we have dutifully been depositing in the designated receptacles (along with that which Teddy et al have been collecting from CVS and such) is about to hit the high mark!

If you’ve been watching the Soft Plastic Collection thermometer on the easel across from the Main Street bulletin board, you’ve seen it rise slowly but steadily. At the recent Residents Council meeting, Bob Abramovitz announced a new high as of December 8: 920 pounds!

Our reward once the magic 1000 pounds of soft plastic is reached (beyond getting rid of the soft plastic, that is): a new brand new bench (as pictured above)!

To help with that final 80 pounds (and beyond!), new and larger receptacles have replaced the littler ones:

Hey, the holidays are upon us. There will be an abundance of soft plastic coming our way. Load up those new bins!

And if you want to become part of Teddy’s Plastic Posse, just give her a call (x1902) or an email (teddypulerwitz@yahoo.com). She’d be delighted to have you join in.

© Kendal on Hudson Residents Association 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 all rights reserved.  Please do not reproduce without permission.

Photographs of life at Kendal on Hudson are by residents.