Art and photos by Jane Hart
In and Around Kendal
Happy Birthday, Bill
Photo by Harry Bloomfeld
Happy New Year: 5785!
Night of the Living Goats
Made In NYC: Brands, Trends, and Inventions That Began in the Big Apple
The LP
The LP (long-playing record) was a major force in popular culture, shifting the way we consumed music from the song to the album and opening up fresh territory for creativity. LPs were also a major economic mover, responsible for 300 million units annually in the format’s heyday. CBS Laboratories (CBS Records logo is above) gets credit for the innovation, which took place at 485 Madison Avenue. Research scientist Peter Goldmark led the way, with the LP unveiled at a press conference at the Waldorf-Astoria on June 21, 1948.
The Safety Pin
It’s hard to believe that prior to 1849, this device didn’t exist. The safety pin is a New York City original, invented by Walter Hunt of New York City. He sold his patent for $400 to W. R. Grace and Company, which was headquartered in the city for many years before moving to Maryland.
The Stroller
Sure, there were baby buggies going way back, but the stroller design came directly from New York City. Charles Burton got the idea in 1848, with his innovation that you would push instead of pull—that’s a follow-up patent above. We all know what happened in the long run. (In the short run, New Yorkers found the device unwieldy, and Burton had to go to England, where the royal family’s interest in the “pram” led to eventual success.)
Source: “Made In NYC,” by Ethan Wolff, March 2024, City Guide New York
Contributed by Bobbie Roggemann
Fun Day Is A-Comin’
Put Aside the Troubles of the World!
Enjoy an afternoon with:
What's So Punny?
Did you know muffins spelled backwards is what you do when you take them out of the oven?
I was walking in the jungle and saw a lizard on his hind legs telling jokes. I turned to a local tribal leader and said, “That lizard is really funny!” He replied, “That’s not a lizard. He's a stand-up chameleon.”
I tried to come up with a carpentry pun that woodwork. I thought I nailed it, but nobody saw it.
Singing in the shower is fine until you get soap in your mouth. Then it’s a soap opera.
Then there was the time Fruit of the Loom took Hanes to court . . . it was a brief case.
How much does a chimney cost? Nothing, it’s on the house.
Contributed by Mimi Abramovitz
I Didn't Know That . . .
From the Sissman Chronicles: Some Structural History
As Project Refresh nears its implementation, I thought it would be interesting, especially for those of you with a historical bent, to recount some of the past structural changes to our campus.
The first was a negative one. The original plans for our buildings envisioned each to have one story more than were actually built. They aroused considerable opposition from many local institutions and individuals who felt that this height impinged too strongly on the natural vistas of the Hudson River; so, the top floors were deleted.
Another manifestation of opposition to our original plans came from some residents in Sleepy Hollow Manor, who objected to what they thought would be undue noise from traffic along our southern border. These concerns led to the installation of two white metal swinging gates on this road that were closed when there was no urgent entry. A couple of years later, when these neighbors moved away, these gates would remain open at all times.
Steps to blend our buildings into our sur-roundings included the planting of rows of trees along our northern and southern borders, and the decision to permit the trees between our western wall and the river to grow and expand. One undesirable side effect of growth was to block river views from some of our apartments. I know of one resident, living in a western apartment, who asked the administration to reduce his river view monthly fee to that of a non-view one; his request was denied.
A small early change occurred in the Hudson Room that now houses our ping-pong table. Originally this room was a wood-working shop, full of large and small equipment donated by residents. It was open for use by all residents who could not only work there but could borrow tools they might need for home projects. Two residents manned the shop almost daily and would do furniture refinishing and repairs at a small cost, which they then donated to Kendal. One day one of these men tripped while getting onto a ladder; he injured himself, but fortunately not seriously. Ever sensitive to the possibility of lawsuits, our then CEO, Pat Doyle, immediately closed down the shop.
The most extensive physical changes to our buildings came via Project Renew, which was completed in 2015. This construction added new apartments in Adirondack, built the Sunnyside ward, relocated our library to its current spacious sunny location, and built a porte cochere over our front entrance; all highly desirable changes. Although there was considerable obstruction to some normal resident passageways during the building work, they were relatively easily traversed. Incidentally, contributions from residents were solicited to help finance Project Renew. Those who responded positively often arranged that the amount donated be simply subtracted from the refund due to their survivors when their apartments were vacated.
So, new changes are coming. May they be as valuable and efficiently carried out as the past ones!
Norman J. Sissman
For Your Funny Bone . . .
Contributed by Barbara Bruno
Climate Change Weaving, by Sheila Benedis
Art and photo by Sheila Benedis
Art by Hart
Art and photos by Jane Hart
In and Around Kendal
The 2:30pm Bistro Coffee Gang
Rockwood Roadwork Ahead
A Walk in the Woods
Photos by Carolyn Reiss
Out and About
‘Tis the Season
Voting: it’s at the core of our democracy. And one of the core activities of the League of Women Voters (LWV). The LWV of the Rivertowns hosts voter-registration tables all around our area, at schools, stores, and municipal events. Maria Harris, a Rivertowns LWV member, is often there, decked out and inspirational to citizens who wish to register—or reregister if they have moved—to vote. She’s picture perfect for the mission.
Wandering ‘round Stonecrop Gardens: a Kendal Trip
Barbara Wallach recently led a Kendal trip to Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring. Originally the joy of a private home, Stonecrop became a public garden in 1992. It’s stated mission is to “uphold and demonstrate the highest standards of horticultural practice and to promote the use of such standards among amateur and professional gardeners through aesthetic displays and educational programs.”
After a stroll around Cold Spring, the group lunched at Hudson House River Inn before meeting up with a Stonecrop docent who led the way around the plantings. Flowers are arranged by color, brought in off season, and replanted every year. Each plant is identified by a number by which a visitor can reference all 400+ plants.
Kendalites in the News
Muriel Fox helped make history in her critical role in the fight for women’s equality and rights in the US. This year she’s been back in the news with her new book The Women’s Revolution: How We Changed Your Life, which Kirkus Review called both “revealing” and “inspiring.”
Recently Muriel spoke with WPIX’s Ben Aaron about the book and her life’s achievements. You can listen to it by clicking on the button below.
Join the Soft-Plastic Brigade!
Spearheaded by Teddy Pulerwitz, the signs have been up and Kendal residents have responded: collect your soft plastic! Teddy also has an agreement with CTown and CVS to donate their soft plastic, along with ours. Given all that, we already have 497 pounds logged in (and Teddy is striving to get those final 3 pounds in, too) for this week’s load. The end goal: 1,000. The end result: a bench to enhance our surroundings.
All this “stuff” is light-weight and easily handled, but it requires 2 steps:
Sorting
Transporting
Once sorted, the plastic is bagged (see picture below), tossed into the back seat or trunk of a car and driven the 5-ish miles to the Ossining Stop-and-Shop for delivery at their information booth (aka Customer Solutions).
Teddy’s looking for volunteers for sorting, transporting (the number of bags is up to you), or both if you are so inclined.
Any questions, contact Teddy (x 1902).
Want to volunteer, contact Teddy (x 1902).
Made In NYC: Brands, Trends, and Inventions That Began in the Big Apple
The Donut Machine
The US sells 10 billion donuts every year, but they might not sell so quickly were it not for this Manhattan-born invention. Russian immigrant Adolph Levitt came up with the first donut machine, based on his experiences at his bakery on 125th Street. There were previous patents for a similar device, but it's Levitt's Doughnut Corporation of America that turned the treats into the cultural force they remain today.
Home Security Systems and CCTV
Over 12 million Ring-style video doorbells are sold every year. They owe their existence to Jamaica, Queens, where homeowners and innovators Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert Brown patented the first video home security system. They installed the first system in their home at 151–158 135th Ave. and received their US patent on December 2, 1969. Their idea is also the forerunner of the CCTV that now encircles the globe.
Corrugated Cardboard
175 million tons of corrugated cardboard are produced globally every year. The innovation came from a New Yorker, Albert L. Jones, who patented it as an improvement for packing (it provided more cushioning and opened up the world of Amazon boxes that we live in today). December 19, 1871 was the beginning, with Jones’ patent. It’s hard to imagine how we ever lived without it.
Source: “Made In NYC,” by Ethan Wolff, March 2024, City Guide New York
Contributed by Bobbie Roggemann
Coming Soon: GreenDrop Donations for the Purple Heart Foundation
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What's So Punny?
I once dated a guy who broke up with me because I only have 9 toes. Yes, he was lack toes intolerant
I’ve started telling everyone about the benefits of eating dried grapes. It's all about raisin awareness.
I’ve started investing in stocks: beef, vegetable, chicken. One day I hope to be a bouillianaire.
If you boil a funny bone, it becomes a laughing stock. Now that’s humerus.
I accidentally rubbed ketchup in my eyes. Now I have Heinzsight.
Contributed by Mimi Abramovitz
I Didn’t Know That
The Oldest Recorded Customer Complaint Is From 1750 BCE
Customer dissatisfaction is far from a modern phenomenon; in fact, the oldest recorded complaint dates back 3,773 years. The grievance was etched into a tablet that was rediscovered during excavations of the Sumerian city-state Ur in the early 20th century. Dating back to 1750 BCE, this tablet was written by Nanni, a dissatisfied customer whose ire was directed toward a copper merchant named Ea-nasir. In the complaint, Nanni expressed dismay over the quality of copper they received, accusing the trader of poor treatment and demanding money back. The translated text includes exasperated statements such as, “Who am I that you are treating me . . . with such contempt?” Nanni also wasn’t the only customer who felt slighted by this Ea-nasir — there’s archaeological evidence of other Sumerian individuals who expressed frustration over the quality of copper from the same merchant.
The complaint tablet was one of several fascinating discoveries uncovered during British archaeologist Leonard Woolley’s excavations of Ur between 1922 and 1934. Woolley and his team dug out 1,800 burial sites, including the spectacular tomb of Queen Puabi, one of the few female rulers in ancient Mesopotamia. Much like the Egyptian tomb of King Tut, Puabi’s tomb was largely intact and included a headdress worn by the queen, made of lapis lazuli (a blue gemstone), ribbons, and gold. Woolley also uncovered layers of water-laid clay, which likely formed during a great flood. Some theories suggest that this ancient flood may have influenced writings about the deluge of water described in the Bible’s Book of Genesis, though these theories are difficult to confirm.
Source: historyfacts.com
Contributed by Jane Hart
For Your Funny Bone
Art by Hart
Art and photos by Jane Hart