Granny Horton was not thrilled when the little ones used her bifocals as a Peloton
They met at a party, danced, and now they're married. But Cinderella and the prince have nothing else in common
The Fendlemans were widely known as the new Fred and Ginger
Selkirk disliked it when staff left a radish in the toaster
Missy always packed a nice lunch for the three of them
Art and photos by Jane Hart
Art and photos by Sheila Benedis
OCTOBER 16: NATIONAL DICTIONARY DAY
National Dictionary Day commemorates the birthday of Noah Webster, the father of the dictionary we Americans know it today. Noah Webster, was born in 1758, in Hartford, CT. He came from a typical, middle-class colonial family. At 16, Noah set off for Yale, CT’s first college. Law was too expensive to pursue, so he chose teaching. Then he began to reform the burgeoning American academic system and language. His first textbook, in 1783, covered the grammar of the English language. Because its cover was blue, it was known as the “blue-backed speller.” In its time, it became the most popular book in America.
Refining teaching English and the education system wasn’t enough for Noah. He believed the US “should be as independent in literature as she is in politics.” In 1801 he began to define many of the terms that set American English apart from the language in England. Webster believed English spelling rules were unnecessarily complicated. In his dictionary, he introduced American English spellings. Example: “musick” became “music” (though, of course, he never dreamed there’d one day be “muzak”). Webster also replaced “colour” with “color,” “waggon” with “wagon,” and “centre” wit “center.” And he added American words such as “skunk” and “squash,” not included in British dictionaries. Some of his changes failed to catch on, however. Example: dropping the silent “e” at the end of words such as “imagine”
Webster’s first dictionary defined 37,000 words. In 1806, he produced A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, but did not stop there. To evaluate the etymology of words, Webster learned 26 languages, including Old English (Anglo-Saxon), German, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Arabic, and Sanskrit. The next 22 years were dedicated to editing and adding new words. Eventually, in 1828, at the age of 70, Webster published his new dictionary of 70,000 words — 12,000 had never before appeared in a published dictionary. Webster took a phonetic approach in the development of his dictionary, even though that word didn't appear in his final tome. However, of the 70,000 entries, the word “phonics” is included. The dictionary sold 2500 copies. In 1840, the second edition published in 2 volumes.
After Webster’s death in 1843, the G&C Merriam, Co. purchased the rights to his An American Dictionary of the English Language. Merriam continued to refine Webster’s dictionary, eventually producing the Merriam-Webster Dictionary we know today.
But Noah Webster was not just a word maven. He was also a supporter of both the abolition of slavery and universal education. And, in his spare time, he helped found Amherst College.
OCTOBER 17: INFORMATION OVERLOAD DAY
As the name suggests, Information Overload Day is for taking a step back from the amount of information we’re faced with daily. From social media and online news to emails and text messages, we’re constantly bombarded with information. On this day: take a break!
Information Overload Day was created by Jonathan Spira in 2009 when his research firm, Basex, cited information overload as their “Problem of the Year.” As a way to generate more awareness about the issue, the company held “Information Overload Awareness Day” on August 12. Because many people tend to be on vacation in August — i.e. not overloaded with information — the day moved to October in 2010.
Both scientists and historians estimate the average modern person has to mentally process thousands of more pieces of information than people did in the past. We are so connected to the internet, a computer, and a smartphone. New information continually comes in through emails, text messages, instant messages, social media, and websites. With so much, less time is spent on each piece, and relevant information — like Kendal’s Residents Website — gets clouded by the not-so-necessary or less-important. It becomes difficult to sift through it all, and people become overwhelmed and overloaded. They have a harder time processing, making decisions, and completing tasks. There’s little time to reflect, think, and generate new ideas.
The pressure to know and be known is something we all face on a daily basis. Information Overload Day is a reminder to disconnect and go back to basics.
OCTOBER 18: NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE DAY
National Chocolate Cupcake Day celebrates the sweetness and joy of small chocolate cakes. With a dollop of frosting, one sweet serving satisfies chocolate and cake lovers.
A recipe for chocolate cupcakes was first found in 1796 in Amelia Simmons’ American Cookery cookbook, where it called for “a cake to be baked in small cups.” Since then, the cupcake has grown into a worldwide craze and dessert staple. While Simmon’s cookbook provided the first recipe, the earliest known in-print use of the term “cupcake” was in 1828 in Eliza Leslie's Seventy-five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats cookbook.
Cupcakes have also been called: fairy cakes, patty cakes, and cup cakes. That last one differs from “cupcakes.” A cupcake was baked in a container that looked like a cup. A cupcake’s recipe called for ingredients to be measured out by the cup, instead of being weighed (ala “pound cake”).
Bakers initially baked cupcakes in heavy pottery cups. Today cooks use individual ramekins, small coffee mugs, large teacups, or other small ovenproof pottery-type dishes. Of course, the most common cupcake tool is the muffin or cupcake pan, which includes multiple cups in one device.
Cupcakes use the same basic ingredients as regular cakes, topped with frosting and other decorations, and even filled. Today is a day for the popular chocolate variety of these treats!
The cupcake craze may have peaked in the mid-00s, with a famous Manhattan bakery making a cameo in the Sex and the City movie, but chocolate cupcakes still make appearances in every baking show, contest, or competition, and are a staple at the majority of office birthday or holiday parties. Whether you’re dozing off to the Great British Bake-Off, just trying to impress your friends, or in the Bistro, chocolate cupcakes have so joyously woven their way into our lives they deserve their own holiday.
OCTOBER 19: INTERNATIONAL GIN AND TONIC DAY
International Gin and Tonic Day, celebrating the cocktail, has been around for over 10 years. But the drink’s creation goes much further back. In the 17th century, Spanish explorers found the inhabitants of present-day Peru treating fevers with cinchona bark; quinine is its active ingredient. They brought the bark to Europe to treat malaria and found it also prevented the disease. Meanwhile — also in the 17th century — in Holland, a precursor to gin — genever — was created using juniper, as well as botanicals like coriander seed and star anise. The British learned of it when fighting on Dutch land during the Thirty Years’ War. They brought it home and the creation of gin followed.
Fast forward to 1857 when India became a British colony, and colonists, soldiers, and passers-through often had to deal with malaria, so they took quinine to help them survive. One problem was: quinine, a flavor component of tonic water, had a bitter taste. Soldiers began to mix the quinine/tonic mixture with sugar, lime, and gin. The combination became popular. Soldiers and other colonials took the drink back home, and soon people all over Great Britain — and all over the world — were enjoying gin and tonics. By WWI, gin and tonics were staples in British clubs and bars. In Post-WWII America, they became a favorite of the country club set. But they receded to the background when classic cocktails lessened in popularity in the 1970s and '80s, and when gin took a backseat to vodka as the clear spirit of choice.
Gin and tonic reemerged in the 21st century, and we celebrate it today on International Gin and Tonic Day, and to honor one of its great proponents, Mary Edith Keyburn, who passed away in a hospital at the age of 95, on October 19, 2010, with her favorite drink by her side. The gin and tonic had been smuggled in in a water bottle and was being served in a teacup. Two of Mary Edith's grandchildren came up with the idea for International Gin and Tonic Day, on which gin and tonics are toasted and drunk in Mary Edith's memory.
The International Gin and Tonic Day Facebook page hosts a virtual party each year. Participants post photos of themselves the drink on the Facebook page and note their country. Photos of celebrants from around the world illustrate the “international” nature of the day. Since 2010, the celebration has expanded to 25 countries.
OCTOBER 20: INTERNATIONAL SLOTH DAY
International Sloth Day is held on the third Saturday in October. Don’t be in too big of a hurry to celebrate these slow-moving mammals. Instead, hang out and have fun learning about these interesting mammals, native to South and Central America.
There are two different types of sloths. These include the two-toed and three-toed sloths. Among these, there are six species:
Pygmy three-toed sloth (critically endangered)
Maned sloth
Pale-throated sloth
Brown-throated sloth
Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth
Hoffman’s two-toed sloth
And here are some other interesting facts about sloths:
Sloths are great swimmers and can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes underwater.
Sloths only go to the bathroom once a week and when they do so, it’s in the same exact spot.
Algae and fungus grow on a sloth’s course thick fur.
Thanks to extra vertebrae in their spine, sloths can rotate their head 270 degrees in either direction.
Sloths have protruding finger bones that are four-inches long.
Sloths love their alone time and don’t spend a lot of time with other sloths.
On average, sloths live between 20 to 30 years.
Sloths mainly subsist on a vegetarian diet, eating leaves, shoots, and fruit.
A sloth’s stomach has four compartments and it takes up to a month to digest one meal.
Sloths mainly subsist on a vegetarian diet, eating leaves, shoots, and fruit.
What’s not to love?!
The sloth faces several of threats. When they periodically venture to the forest floor, they can do little to protect themselves from predators. That’s partially due to the fact that their limbs are adapted only for hanging and grasping, not for supporting their weight. Muscles make up only 25 to 30 percent of their total body weight — compared to 40 to 45 percent for other mammals. Sloths’ health depends on our tropical rainforests — which remain at risk. The World Wildlife Fund works with communities, governments and companies to encourage sustainable forestry. Without them, sloths will lose their shelter and food source. The biggest threat that sloths face today is habitat destruction. They’re also targeted by the exotic pet trade and are killed by people who present them to tourists to have pictures taken with them.
International Sloth Day is all about admiring sloths. It raises awareness about them and aims to help preserve their habitat and keep them from being harmed. The day was created by AIUNAU, a non-profit foundation based in Columbia that focuses on wildlife and conservation. The day came out of the “first international meeting about the wellbeing, rehabilitation and conservation of sloths,” held in 2010 in Medellin, Columbia.
OCTOBER 21: NATIONAL PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE DAY
National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day ushers in the flavors of fall. Cheesecake is one of America's favorite desserts. By adding pumpkin we celebrate the essential flavoring of the season. Fall screams pumpkin — pumpkin pie, Halloween, pumpkin spiced latte, pumpkin-patch dates — and pumpkin cheesecake is yet another way to win any pumpkin-addicted American’s taste buds.
This sweet dessert mixes fresh soft cheese, cream cheese or cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar to create a base. The crust is made from crushed graham crackers, crushed cookies, pastry, or sponge cake. Pumpkin may be added to cheesecake recipes in various ways: swirled throughout, mixed thoroughly with all ingredients, or layered. Cheesecakes can be both baked or unbaked.
An ancient form of cheesecake may have been a popular dish in ancient Greece. The earliest attested mention of cheesecake is by the Greek physician Aegimus in the 5th century BC. He wrote a book on the art of making cheesecakes. This essentially consisted of cheese pounded with honey and flour, and cooked on an old-timey griddle. It was known as the plakous meaning flat mass.
The cheesecake was elevated in late medieval England, where it emerged with a tart-like pastry base. It spread rapidly across the region. Given its popularity in England, cheesecake soon made an appearance in American colonies. Cheesecake bakers here began to experiment with several different currants and spices as infusions, however, American cheesecake truly took a new form when cream cheese was introduced. James Kraft developed a form of pasteurized cream cheese in 1912. In 1928, Kraft acquired the Philadelphia trademark and marketed pasteurized Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Cream cheese made the base creamier and sturdier than it had ever been before. This new and improved cheesecake became all the rage in the 1930s when Arnold Reuben (the creator of the Reuben sandwich) introduced the “New York cheesecake.”
Now to the pumpkin part. Pumpkins are a type of winter squash native to North America. Historians consider it one of the oldest domesticated plants, going back 7,000 – 9,500 years.
Bakers have for quite a while been experimenting with different cheesecake flavorings and toppings — blueberry, strawberry, chocolate. The combination of pumpkin and cheesecake is a relatively new one, most likely started with by pumpkin spice craze Starbucks created in 2015. No one really knows when it reached cheesecake, National Pumpkin Cheese Cake Day is still a holiday to celebrate when an autumn kind of mood takes over.
OCTOBER 22: EAT A PRETZEL DAY
Eat a Pretzel Day is about indulging in this popular snack that comes soft or crunchy, sweet or salty, twisted into a knot or straight, large or small, salted or plain, served with mustard or cheese.
Pretzels may be the world's oldest snack. Legend has it that an Italian monk invented the soft variety in 610 AD when he rolled and baked thin strips of dough into the shape of arms folded in prayer, and gave them to children who learned their prayers. The monk called them pretiola, the Latin for “little reward,” and parents of the children called them brachiola, meaning “little arms.” When they made their way to Germany, they became known as bretzels. Around the same time, the Catholic Church adopted strict rules on fasting, which helped the popularity of pretzels grow. Since pretzels’ main ingredients are bread and water, they came to be seen as a penitent food in lieu of more-substantial meals. They became known as symbols of good luck. On New Year’s Day, German children have traditionally worn pretzels around their necks as good-luck charms.
Pretzel baking remains popular in Germany, particularly in the region of Franconia and surrounding areas. Many varieties are made for same-day consumption, sold in bakeries and in stands or booths on downtown streets. Often they’re sliced horizontally and buttered — known as “butterbrezel” — or are served with slices of cold meat or cheese. German soft pretzels are made with assorted flours like rye, spelt, or whole wheat, and are topped with melted cheese, bacon bits, or sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, sesame, or poppy seeds. Many local varieties of pretzels are made throughout Germany. In Bavaria, they are often served alongside the main dish, such as Weisswurst sausage.
Although Germany is the European country most associated with pretzels, the snack has left a mark on other countries. In 16th-century Austria, they were put on Christmas trees and were hidden on Easter morning along with hard-boiled eggs. The Swiss, who came up with the phrase “tying the knot,” use the pretzel in wedding ceremonies. Couples make a wish and break a pretzel, sort of like a wish bone (except highly edible).
Soft pretzels were introduced to North America in the late 18th/early 19th century by German immigrants, who (incorrectly) became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch. Handmade pretzel bakeries sprang up in the PA countryside. The popularity of soft pretzels spread. By the 20th century, soft pretzels were particularly popular in cities such as Philadelphia, New York, and Chicago. It was common to serve brown mustard alongside them in Philadelphia. Until the 1930s, soft pretzels were handmade, with workers being able to twist about 40 of them a minute. The Reading Pretzel Machinery Company introduced the first automatic pretzel machine in 1935. This meant large bakeries could make 245 pretzels a minute.
The hard pretzel seems to have originated in Lititz, PA, in 1850, baked by Julius Sturgis, who Sturgis, who opened the first commercial pretzel bakery 11 years later. By the 20th century, hard pretzels were being produced on a large scale, and were even more widespread by the 1930s and 1940s. Hard pretzels come in a variety of forms: shaped like miniature soft pretzels, braids, loops, and sticks. Thicker and longer sticks, known as Bavarian pretzels or pretzel rods, are also made. Hard pretzels may be dusted with salt or other toppings, or they may be coated with chocolate, yogurt, or something else.
Over $550 million worth of pretzels are sold in the US each year, 80% made in PA. The state is also first in consumption—Pennsylvanians eat about 12 pounds of pretzels a year per person while the average American eats close to 2 pounds per year. But on Eat a Pretzel Day, people everywhere eat pretzels. It’s the chance to catch up to Pennsylvanians.
It doesn’t get much better than — when the announcement of your appointment as CEO is made — the entire audience breaks out in spontaneous cheers of approval, along with wild applause, and even a standing ovation by many.
And that’s exactly what happened last Tuesday, October 3, when Kendal Board Chair announced that Jean Eccleston — effective immediately — is our new CEO. YAY!!! To say the community approves is a definite understandment — and then some. Congratulations, Jean! We’re delighted!
Photo by Rita Benzer
Photo by Harry Bloomfeld
If you remember, gentle readers, a good deal of Marianne Bloomfield’s summer was spent with a broken foot (or, to be specific, a busted 5th metatarsal). Like an ill-parked car, she was booted. Well, she’s served her time — and now the boot’s been booted! The parting was amicable, however. Marianne gave it a bouquet of flowers to say, “Farewell.”
If you missed it last Friday, following are some of the entries in the Adirondack Art Show.
Photos by Sandra Sandico
Photo by Harry Bloomfeld
Out and About came in Near and Far varieties this week.
Harry and Marianne Bloomfeld journeyed to Kingston, NY, for their annual Bloomfeld Family get-together. There they found an appealing autumn farm stand, perfect for photographing.
Photo by Harry Bloomfeld
This year, Hildegarde Gray and John Vacher were able to fulfill a pre-pandemic promise (and joy) of including granddaughter India on a trip to Vienna and Prague. Hildegarde started out first, visiting old school buddies in Regensburg, then met John and India in Vienna before traveling to Prague. India left them in Prague, and John and Hildegarde went on to Dresden before taking the train to Frankfurt for the flight home. The captions are (mostly) from Hildegarde.
Regensburg
Bear [aka Sugarbear, the family Dachshund] would have liked the Dachshund museum in Regensburg
Hildegarde, trying really hard to smile after walking up the 479 steps to the Walhalla monument in Regensburg. Clearly it's not easy to get to Walhalla!
Vienna and Prague
Waiting for the opera to start in the grand Vienna Opera House.
John on one of the grand stairways of the Vienna Opera House.
Lots of stunning art in Vienna, this one was kind of jaw dropping (pun intended). Good place for John and India to take a break.
India and Hildegarde, aka Mutt and Jeff, on the Charles Bridge in Prague.
Some unusual instruments, also on the Charles Bridge
Dresden
This is the War history museum in Dresden. The piece jutting out kind of like an arrowhead was designed by American architect Daniel Libeskind. Instead of giving you a chronological view, in that part of the museum, each floor presents a theme like war and music, war and technology, or war and sorrow. I have to admit I had very little interest in going to this museum with John, but ended up being very moved by the exhibits.
Photos by Hildegarde Gray and John Vacher
On September 25, Frank Neuwirth turned 100. While he dismisses it as inconsequential, the rest of us say, “Happy Birthday, Frank! A life truly well-lived!”
We look forward to your laugh, your bell, your sly wit. The President of the United States sent Frank congratulations, with thanks for his service in WW II.
Now Frank starts anew. Next year, his birthday cake will have only one candle on it, just like in 1924.
The Birthday Boy
The Birthday Cake
Photos above by Martin Smolin
The newest and oldest Neuwirth, Miriam and Frank.
Photo by Robert Neuwirth
"There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will." Albert Einstein, 1932
"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." Decca Recording Company on declining to sign the Beatles, 1962
"Rail travel at high speed is not possible because passengers, unable to breathe, would die of asphyxia." Dionysis Lardner, 1830
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM 1943
"Everyone acquainted with the subject will recognize it as a conspicuous failure." Henry Morton, president of the Stevens Institute of Technology, on Edison's light bulb, 1880
"The horse is here to stay — the automobile is only a novelty, a fad." Michigan Savings Bank’s president advising Henry Ford's lawyer not to invest in the Ford Motor Co., 1903
"Television won't last because people will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night." Darryl Zanuck, movie producer, 20th Century Fox, 1946
"There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home." Ken Olson, president, chairman, and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), at a 1977 World Future Society meeting in Boston.
"If excessive smoking actually plays a role in the production of lung cancer, it seems to be a minor one."W. C. Heuper, National Cancer Institute, 1954
"I must confess that my imagination refuses to see any sort of submarine doing anything but suffocating its crew and floundering at sea." HG Wells, British novelist, in 1901
"It'll be gone by June." Variety Magazine on Rock n' Roll, 1955
Contributed by Jane Hart
Ellen Ottstadt sent around valuable information on the ubiquitous spotted lanternfly we’ve been seeing in droves everywhere. We thought it valuable enough to repeat it here, along with a link to the NY Agriculture Department’s website information on lanternflies and how to get rid of them.
From Ellen Ottstatd:
I have attached and listed below the information that the Administration has gotten from the county on the lanternflies. The best advice is to kill them or vacuum them. Unfortunately, there is nothing an exterminator can do to eliminate them.
Westchester County Parks Department Fighting Invasive Spotted Lanternflies
Spotted Lanternflies have been invading Westchester County Parks for weeks. An invasive pest from Asia, these bugs have “become a nuisance — and a potential threat — in the county,” says Westchester County Executive George Latimer.
Distinguished by their black or red spots, which turn red with moth-like wings before transitioning into adults, these bugs feed on sap of over 70 plant species. They can also fly and jump, laying their eggs on trees, plants, fruit trees, hops, maples, grapevines, firewood, furniture, stone, and even on cars.
To combat this growing issue, the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation has been using high-powered vacuums and exploring the use of non-toxic sprays. They will also be employing trained dogs to help sniff the eggs before any hatching.
George Latimer noted, “The steps and suggestions recommended by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation should be taken seriously. I urge the community to come together to help reduce this initiative.”
According to the New York State Department of Agriculture signs of Spotted Lanternfly infestation includes oozing sap on tree trunks; brownish-gray, one-inch-long egg masses (may also be waxy and mud-like); or a large honeydew build-up under plants.
While they are a nuisance to trees and the overall health of the forest, they do not bite or sting.
If you happen to see a Spotted Lanternfly, Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation suggests using power washers and vacuum cleaners or you can email them at parksinfo@westchestercountyny.gov with pictures and details of the sighting.
Where do forest rangers go to “get away from it all?”
What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?
If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?
Would a fly without wings be called a walk?
Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?
If a turtle doesn’t have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?
Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines?
How do they get deer to cross the road only at those road signs?
Contributed by Barbara Wallach
This is what Jupiter looks like from the bottom.
Contributed by Simone
The Following Funny Bone Contributions Were Made By Donald Butt
Creativity Artist Book
Newly retired, Nick was heavily into pickle ball
Annie and Dobbin wondered if people look like their pets and vice versa
Stimson always left the games with ketchup, mustard and soda stains
Much to young Betsy's disappointment, Dixon was not what the Studio had in mind for a remake of National Velvet
Betty Lou wore her heart on her sleeve
Art and photos by Jane Hart
OCTOBER 9: INTERNATIONAL BEER AND PIZZA DAY
There’s no better day to throw a pizza and beer party than International Beer and Pizza Day. A combo of a frosty glass of beer and a warm slice of pizza is one of the world’s best food pairings. Right up there with great champagne and caviar — maybe even ahead of it.
Beer is one of the oldest drinks produced by mankind. It’s brewed from cereal grains, which contain starch sugars that produce ethanol and carbonation during the fermentation process. Beer consumption dates as far back as 5000 BC, in Iran. Recorded first in the history books of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the brew eventually spread around the world. In the Middle Ages, the beer-brewing process was a craft passed down as a family-oriented activity. By the end of this period, the beer production moved from a small-scale domestic industry to a large-scale export industry. The Industrial Revolution introduced a more controlled and mechanized process for brewing beer as technology developed in countries like Britain and Germany.
Pizza has a similar legacy based on cereal grains. In the case of pizza dough, the cereal grain is ground up together to make flour. The origin of pizza can be traced to ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. However, the modern birthplace of pizza is a Greek settlement in Italy founded in 600 BC. Back then, pizza was an inexpensive food that could be consumed quickly: a favorite of the working poor in the ancient city. The same is true now, except the formerly lowly pizza’s grasp on the human appetite has expanded to range from the slice-on-the-corner to some of the hottest-shot menus in the world.
As immigrants spread from Europe to the US, pizza, likewise, made the journey. Today, beer is made at small craft breweries and big corporate ones. It is drunk at bars, at get-togethers, at breweries, and at sporting events. Pizza is made in establishments ranging from small family pizzerias to big national chains, and can also be purchased frozen in grocery stores. It is enjoyed at parties, by the slice while on the go, and as a simple meal at home.
Pizza and beer definitely seem to be made for each other. Many would agree that certain types of beer taste especially good with certain types of pizza. This is because pizza and beer enhance or contrast flavors with each other. For example, Margherita pizza pairs well with a pale ale. The malt flavor of the ale complements the pizza’s toasty crust. Light beer, on the other hand, works well with a classic cheese pizza. Mushroom and spinach pizza? Try a stout. And many swear by the combo of pepperoni pizza and India Pale Ale. But let’s face it: any kind of beer plus any kind of pizza equals pretty close to Nirvana. Don’t drink alcohol? No worries. Pizza even tastes great with non-alcoholic beer.
OCTOBER 10: INTERNATIONAL STAGE MANAGEMENT DAY
On International Stage Management day, buy a ticket to see a theatre production in honor of the unsung heroes of the stage. International Stage Management Day celebrates and recognizes all the work that Stage Managers do behind the scenes. It’s also a day to learn more about what Stage Managers do.
Remember the last time you went to a live performance? Chances are, while you were watching, you didn’t think much about what was happening behind the scenes. How thrilling and exciting is it to be at the theatre watching actors sing, dance, and perform on stage with various props and equipment. You have Stage Managers and stage management to thank for that. What you sit and watch for a couple of minutes takes a lot of dedication, planning, prioritizing, and management to put together.
The people who do behind-the-scenes jobs are called Stagehands and Stage Managers. The show simply could not go on without them. Stage Managers don’t just manage the physical stage, they coordinate and support the different teams involved in the day-to-day running of theatre production — furniture and props; arranging costume fittings; liaising with theater departments, producers, actors, and technical crews. from rehearsals right through to performances — and then all post-show tasks. The more actors there are, the harder this is to do.
To do their job well, Stage Managers must possess the following skills:
Have excellent communication
Work well under pressure and deadlines
Be a motivator
Possess flexibility
Be able to organize the work of others
Stage Managers must also have knowledge of audio, lights, and other technology necessary for a performance. Because Stage Managers oversee each performance, they often know all of the actors’ lines. With all that they do, it’s no wonder Stage Managers are the director’s right-hand staff.
Stage management was a fairly new concept in the 1300s and only emerged as a distinct role in theatre in the 1600s. Stage management facilitates the organization and coordination of an event or theatrical production. Stage Managers juggle many balls during all phases of production. They’re planners, organizers, multi-taskers, and level-headed individuals who understand the importance of diffusing a stage crisis and maintaining a cool head.
International Stage Management Day has been observed annually since 2013 to appreciate the efforts of the stage management crews and to bring awareness to their importance in theatre production. After all: there would be no theater without them.
OCTOBER 11: INTERNATIONAL TOP SPINNING DAY
International Top Spinning Day occurs every second Wednesday of October to the delight of lovers of spinning tops around the world. The observance was initiated by the — believe it or not — Spinning Top & Yo-Yo Museum in Burlington, WI. They created this day in 2003 to spread the word about how much fun it is to play with a top and to highlight its historical significance.
Spinning tops are some of the oldest toys ever to be discovered by archaeologist. A clay top that’s over 5,520 years old has been found in modern-day Iraq. A wooden top found in King Tut’s tomb was carved in 1,300 BC. In the 8th century BC, the ancient poet Homer sang about the spinning top.
A spinning top is a toy with a squat body and a sharp bottom that is designed to be spun on its vertical axis. Tops come in different shapes, sizes, and colors, but they all have the characteristic of being able to defy gravity in exactly the same way: the gyroscopic effect that uses inertia, gravity, momentum, and centrifugal force. A spinning top gets held upright by angular momentum. Some tops can spin for over 50 minutes! According to Judith Schulz, Director of the Spinning Top & Yo-Yo Museum, “The earth spins around a single axis, just as toy spinning tops and yo-yo's do.” Today is meant to recognize and celebrate this scientific fact.
Throughout history, tops were made from a variety of materials. Usually, people carved them from wood, often with a metal tip. However, indigenous tribes made spinning tops from fruits and nuts. Historically, tops appear to have originated in different parts of the world but all have the characteristic of being set in motion by pulling a string or cord attached to their axis or by rotating it by holding its tail — usually the narrower part of its whole body — between your longest finger and thumb and sending it into a spin.
Tops appear to have originated on their own in different parts of the world. Besides being used as toys, they have also been used for prophecy and gambling. They are set in motion by pulling a string or cord attached to their axis or, rotated by holding its tail — usually the narrower part of its whole body — between your longest finger and thumb, and sending it into a spin.
Today, spinning tops are often made with plastic or metal, and are constructed in such a way that a pull string is no longer necessary. They also have been improved to often include a small hard tip made of ceramic or tungsten carbide. These are known as bearing tops.
Popular all over the world, spinning tops across the globe include:
Dreidels — Jewish communities use these four-sided tops during Hanukkah.
Koma — Japanese spinning tops, a traditional toy in Japan for thousands of years.
Gasing — found in Malaysia and Indonesia, painted with unique decorations.
Trompo — popular in Latin America, trompo championships are held throughout the region.
Kreisels — this kind of top is made in Germany, a country that produces high-quality wooden toys, including the spinning top.
OCTOBER 12: INTERNATIONAL MOMENT OF FRUSTRATION SCREAM DAY
Disappointment and displeasure are common in our highly pressurized, fast-moving world. Frustration is as common — a reaction to recurrent, unresolved stressors. And nothing good comes from frustration. It can come out in many ways: losing your temper, feeling on edge, getting easily annoyed or irritable, anger, depression.
One of the most important reasons for International Moment of Frustration Scream Day is the opportunity to let your aggravations out. Don’t use today to add to your frustrations. And whatever you do today, don’t find new things to fret over. This day was created so that you can scream your frustration out to avoid any buildup of negative energy. Go outdoors at noon, Greenwich Mean Time (that’s 8am, our time), and scream for 30 seconds. Yes, that’s right. Just let it out. You might just feel a lot better. That’s the goal: for everyone to feel better afterwards. (Note: the creators of the day also fear that all that screaming may cause the earth to fall off its orbit. Meh.)
The day was created by Ruth and Thomas Roy of Wellcat Holidays. It is co-sponsored by something called the Low Thresholders of the Earth League. (Yes, there’s a website. It’s, uhm, basic.) The holiday was inspired by The Scream, the iconic painting by expressionist artist Edvard Munch. The exact year of the observance’s founding is unknown, but we do know it has been around for at least 10 years. Little did the founders know that 2020 and 2021 would serve up 2 such wildly stressful, anxious year that people all over the world would quickly wish every day Moment of Frustration Scream Day, whether they realized it or not.
Hopefully, one International Moment of Frustration Scream Day, you’ll feel better after your 30 seconds of release and have let out your deepest frustrations. Indeed, there is some evidence that screaming may let off some steam and relieve stress. Shouting and screaming have long been used to relieve stress and are often touted as ways to battle stress and anxiety. It's natural, it’s healthy, and for some people, it's a part of their day-to-day routine.
Psychologists recommend going to the forest to scream, rather than into the void, and imagining a situation or person that causes stress or anger. Luckily, we just happen to have a “forest” right next door. Do note: though shouting has been known to reduce stress, it is important to choose a place to do it where you won’t frighten passers-by. That could result in a call to the police — which can be very frustrating, thereby canceling out the very thing one was working to get rid of. And then you’d have to wait another year for International Moment of Frustration Scream Day.
Here’s wishing you a very happy post-Moment of Frustration Scream Day. As an old song goes, Don’t Worry, Be Happy!
OCTOBER 13: NATIONAL M&M DAY
It’s National M&M Day, so get ready to celebrate a world-wide favorite. Created in 1941, this iconic candy has been a staple for over 80 years. Kids love ’em, adults feel nostalgic eating them, and they won’t melt in your hand, just in your mouth.
First, consider M&M’s foundation story. It’s the 1930s and Spain is in the middle of a civil war. Enter Forrest Mars, Sr., son of Mars candy company founder Frank C. Mars. What he was doing in Spain, who knows? But while there, he came across a candy enjoyed by British volunteer soldiers: chocolate pellets with hard tempered chocolate shells — shells that helped keep the candy from melting. Good for war time, but, figured Forresst Mars, also for warmer months in peace time. Mars used this candy as a model for M&M’s. Back in the US, as WWII started, Mars reached out to Bruce Murrie, son of William Murrie, an executive at Hershey. Mars was concerned there might be a shortage of chocolate in the conflict ahead. Partnering with Murrie, he figured, would guarantee a supply. Murrie and Mars became partners and the candy was named M&M’s in their honor.
A patent for M&M’s was received in March of 1941 and production of M&M's Plain Chocolate Candies began in Newark, NJ, using Hershey’s chocolate. The candy was packaged in cardboard tubes. Colors were orange, yellow, red, brown, green, and violet (tan later replaced violet). Once the US entered World War II, M&M’s were sold exclusively to the military and included in soldiers’ rations. They brought a love for M&M’s back home following the war, and the candy became a hit with the public. In 1949, Mars bought out Murrie’s share of the company for $1 million. But that second “M” stayed on.
In 1950, an “m” started being stamped into the candy so that consumers knew it was the “real thing.”Although the slogan now most associated with M&M’s is “melts in your mouth, not in your hand,” the phrase of the time was “look for the ‘m’ on every piece.” Originally black, the stamp was changed to white in 1954. That same year, M&M’s Peanut Chocolate Candies were born, the first change for the original M&M’s. At first the peanut version came only in tan, but in 1960 it began being made in the same colors as the originals.
Colors have changed throughout the years. From 1976 to 1987, there were no red M&M’s, after FD&C Red No. 2 was banned by the FDA because of a supposed link to cancer and fetal death. Orange M&M’s were introduced to replace red. Even though Mars didn’t use Red No. 2, the company figured there was no reason to alarm consumers. Red M&Ms were came back in 1987 when Red No. 2 was found not to be carcinogenic. In 1960, Red — along with yellow — M&M’s were introduced as the M&M’s “spokescandies.”
M&M’s have made their mark in history. In the 1980s, M&M’s began being sold in the Asia Pacific, Russia, Europe, and Australia. In 1981, they became the first candy in outer space, when they were included on the first space shuttle voyage. And M&M’s were the official snack food of the 1984 Summer Olympics.
The M&M’s family has continued expanding beyond plain and peanut. In 1989, M&M’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies debuted. M&M’s Minis Milk Chocolate Candies came in 1997. Blue M&M’s replaced tan in 1995. M&M’s Caramel Candies debuted in 2017. In 2004, M&Ms offered personalized message M&M’s. In 2008, they offered image-personalized M&M’s. M&M’s fans could upload a picture of their faces or even their dogs’ to create custom M&M’s, making them a “natural” for individual expression and as favors for birthdays, weddings, and all sorts of other occasions.
OCTOBER 14: NATIONAL DESSERT DAY
There’s always room for dessert! Thankfully, there are 54 specific dessert holidays. We celebrate them more as a tradition than an extra treat. Sort of a responsibility, if you think hard enough about it (and we do, we do!) In fact, it would almost be rude to pass on a creamy cheesecake if it’s July 30, National Cheesecake Day. If the holiday insists, we must simply abide and take an extra slice. In the name of duty, of course.
All those specific celebrations of different sweets come together on National Dessert Day! Celebrated by way of the local bakery, grandma's house, or chocolate shop, desserts include candies, pies, ice cream, fruits, cookies, pastries, cobblers, and donuts, too. No specificity to this day. Just go for it! (And, oh, by the way: this holiday shouldn’t be confused with Eat an Extra Dessert Day on September 4 each year. Just think of that as a warm-up period.)
The term “dessert” originates from the French word desservir, which translates “to clear the table.” That’s because dessert is served after a main meal’s dishes have been cleared. But that’s much further into the history of simply a sweet course after a nutritious meal than the actual existence of official desserts. A sweet course existed long before there was a proper title for it. As an act of worship, ancient civilizations would offer dried fruits and honey to their gods. In Ancient Greece, a special sweet bread was made with nuts and honey to make an almost cake-like dish called plakous. Indeed, it’s believed that Ancient Greeks may have also invented pie, as Aristophanes mentions sweetmeats and pastries filled with fruit in his plays. All hail, Ancient Greeks! A final, sweet course got its actual name around the 15th century, however, when chefs were adding a lot of sugar to savory dishes. Which is probably why desservir would eventually be associated with sweet treats.
The available ingredients of a region effect the range of its desserts. The very first desserts of ancient cultures were more focused on the nutrition for survival. Over the years, desserts have changed from natural candies and nuts to complex soufflés and multi-layered cakes. In modern culture, there are many more options available in desserts.
From the 19th century on, there were a variety of desserts that became popular in the US. In Boston during the 19th century, for example, a vanilla sponge cake filled with vanilla cream and topped with chocolate glaze became popular — otherwise known as Boston Creme Pie. About the same time, Key Lime Pie was introduced in Florida — probably because a century earlier the Spanish had planted an abundance of lime trees. Actually, the US has given birth to quite a few sweet after-dinner treats, such as Baked Alaska and the Banana Split. During the 1904 World’s Fair in St.Louis, the ice cream cone was invented. By 1912, cheesecake was king in New York City. Not all desserts have stayed the course of popularity, including Blum’s Coffee Crunch Cake, Marionberry Pie, and Bananas Foster (though that final one may be experiencing a resurgence).
When did this holiday start? Who knows? But its birthplace is clearly known: the US. And, really, who cares when it started? As long as it continues on . . . and on . . . and on.
OCTOBER 15: NATIONAL GROUCH DAY
National Grouch Day sends out notices to all the grouches of the world to be their truest grouch. If you’re a grouch, today is your special day. This is a day to celebrate all the grouches we know — or to embrace the grouch that lives inside all of us. On this day, no one can stop us from complaining, being irritable, or wallowing in misery. Because that is what grouches do! Also, this day teaches us that it’s good to spend time processing our negative emotions.
Sometimes grumps give backhanded compliments. “Your hips don’t look so fat since you stopped wearing plaid.” Other times they say anything at all. Noise, silence, general activity makes a grouch generally unpleasant. It’s a skill.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, describes a grouch as:
a person who complains frequently or constantly
a habitually irritable or complaining person
It seems that a grouch may be happy (although they would never admit it) only when others are unhappy and grouchy. It is then that they feel most comfortable with having others share in their grumpy, cantankerous, surly world with them.
This holiday was created in the late 1950s as a way to recognize and appreciate grouches everywhere. It's an opportunity for us to take a break from our daily lives and indulge in some grumpiness. Whether you're feeling down in the dumps or just plain ornery, this is the perfect day to let it all out. So grab your favorite blanket, get comfortable, and enjoy all the grouchiness that comes with being a true Grouch! The day was “created for and inspired by” Alan Miller, a retired teacher from Clio, Michigan, who also happens to be the Chairman of the Board of something called the National Association of Grouches. Sesame Street Magazine picked up on the day at some point, embraced it, and made its readers aware of it by the easiest means possible: the Sesame Street character Oscar the Grouch.
The expression "to have a grouch on" dates to 1890, and the definition of a grouch as an “ill-tempered person” dates to 1896. Oscar the Grouch is perhaps the most famous grouch. He’s said to be fictional, but ask any 5-year-old and they’ll tell you the truth: Not only does Oscar live on Sesame Street, but he’s not the only one. A whole species of these furry creatures populate territory around Sesame Street. These grouches live close to garbage — in places like city dumps and broken down houses — and, in Oscar’s case, in a garbage can. They live for being as grouchy as possible, and to spread that feeling to everyone they meet. Additionally, they “enjoy” smelly, dirty, and rotten things, such as broken appliances, foods that people tend to avoid, out-of-tune songs, and mud baths.
Today we honor all grouches — both fictitious and real — and let them be their usual cranky, miserable, and grouchy selves. And if you, yourself, bear the moniker “Grouch,” you should know the Grouch Anthem. If you wish to learn it, embrace it, and sing it loud and clear, click here for instruction from the grouchiest grouch of all: Oscar.
HEADS UP! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
THE ACTIVITIES FAIR IS COMING SOON TO A BISTRO/FDR NEAR YOU!
As the saying goes: “Life at Kendal Is Great, Especially If You Participate!”
Participate in what? How? When? Where? The opportunity to find out is coming soon!
Drawing by Shelley Robinson
Around Sunset at the Harbor
Leaving New York Harbor
Photos by Joe Bruno
Recently, Art and Lynn Brady visited Untermyer Park and Gardens in Yonkers. The park is an historic 43-acre city public park overlooking the Hudson River. It is, a remnant of Samuel Untermyer's 150-acre estate “Greystone,” given to the city of Yonkers for the enjoyment of all.
Photos by Art Brady
There is a light-hearted person in the Transportation Security Administration who restores faith in the soul of our bureaucracy. To add it here squishes it down to the illegible. Click here for the moment of gentle humor.
Contributed by Joe Bruno
1. Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.
2. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
3. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
4. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?
5. The main reason that Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
6. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, “Where’s the self-help section?” She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
7. What if there were no hypothetical questions?
8. If a deaf child signs swear words, does his mother wash his hands with soap.
9. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?
10. Is there another word for synonym?
Contributed by Barbara Wallach
This is what a tree farm looks like.
Contributed by Simone
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Photographs of life at Kendal on Hudson are by residents.
