Burning NYC

No one can say that we do not have interesting people who live here at Kendal.

Nat Brandt, an Adirondack resident at Kendal since December, has an impressive background --veteran journalist for CBS News and the New York Times, former managing editor of the American Heritage Encyclopedia of the U.S., and Editor-in-Chief of Publishers Weekly.

During his career, Nat became intrigued with the Confederate plot to start fires throughout New York City on what was then a popular city holiday, Evacuation Day, which celebrated the leaving of all British troops at the end of the Revolution.

 On Monday evening, March 11 at 7:30 pm, Nat will tell us the story of how rebel escapees from Union prison camps, who had fled to neutral Canada for safety, reached NYC by train, took rooms in various hotels in downtown Manhattan and tried to set them on fire.  Nat’s book The Man Who Tried to Burn New York, which won the 1987 Douglas Southall Freeman History Award, reveals why the plot failed and what happened to the only conspirator who was caught, Robert Cobb Kennedy of Louisiana.

Dan Bloom to Speak at Phelps Breakfast Club Mar. 14 instead of Mark Britton

Ellen Woods writes, “Unfortunately due to a schedule conflict, our planned speaker Mark Britton is not available to give a talk on technology to help seniors age-in-place.

Fortunately, Dan Blum, President and CEO of Phelps Hospital has rearranged his schedule and will give a presentation of the changes at Phelps and in health care.  This is a great opportunity to find out the vision of health care in 2019 and beyond. 

Please join me in welcoming Dan to our Breakfast Club on Thursday, March 14.” Contact Ellen Woods if you would like to attend.

Vision Help Committee

The Vision Committee at Kendal on Hudson is a recently formed Committee of the Residents Association. It seeks to help residents with visual issues. The Committee shares common concerns and interests so that laypersons as well as experts can address, guide, and help to find solutions for them.

 This is accomplished by:

  Discussing particular challenges of specific interest to its members and the community;

 Seeking the most current information from experts, media, reading lists, and other available resources;

 Presenting information and examples of new visual assistance devices; and

 Viewing videos about relevant topics.

Amelia Augustus, the founder of the new group, noted that thanks are owed to the perseverance of Patty Munson and Dot Bone who helped in the formation of the Committee.

Everyone at Kendal is welcome to attend the meetings and to participate.

Great Decisions Program

The next session of Kendal’s Great Decisions Program will be held on Monday, March 4 in the Private Dining Room beginning at 10:00 AM.

The very timely topic will be: "United States-China Trade Relations." A discussion will be held, following a presentation by Kendal’s own Len Andrew.

Luzerne Center Concert

This will be something special!!!

On March 10 at 3:00 pm violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn, students from the Luzerne Music Center, and pianist Barbara Podgurski will appear at Kendal for another exciting concert in the Gathering Room.

Violin virtuoso Elizabeth Pitcairn is one of America’s most beloved soloists. She has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Academy of Music and later gave her New York debut at Alice Tully Hall with the New York String Orchestra.

Passionate about youth and education, she is in her eighth year as President and Artistic Director of the Luzerne Music Center.

Ms. Pitcairn is an American classical violinist and heiress to the PPG fortune. She has concertized widely as a soloist and is noted for performing on the 1720 Red Mendelssohn Antonio Stradivari violin that is said to have inspired the film The Red Violin.

Recycling News

There is news on the recycling front here at Kendal— a new Recycling Committee Chairperson.

Deb Wood has stepped back from the helm after many years of shepherding Kendal residents into an efficient recycling program that will become ever more central to our lives in the future.

Deb and her committee have supported efficient recycling at Kendal and worked tirelessly to encourage recycling with “show and tell” sessions of dos and don’ts and many proposals developed and pursued.

All Kendalites join the committee in thanking Deb for her years of service on behalf of us all.

Ursula Hahn has agreed to continue Deb’s work and invites others to join the Recycling Committee and help plan a sustainable future. You can help by speaking to Ursula and volunteering to help.

Another New Trip

What can you say about the Trips Committee? Like the Energizer Bunny they never seem to run out of steam.

They have now arranged for a new trip on Wednesday, April 3 to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York. It includes a tour of this huge cathedral, more than 125 years old but unfinished, which is Episcopal and a center for persons of many faiths and communities. Learn about its history, architecture, art and programs.

In addition there is space available for the Wednesday March 13, Museum of the Dog, New York visit; the Wednesday March 20, Bruce Museum, Greenwich excursion; and a short wait list for the Wednesday, March 6, trip to the American Museum of Natural History, New York.

Sign up for all trips in the Trips Book located in the Activities Alcove.

Phelps Vitality Programs for March 2019

For the March 2019 Vitality Calendar, Click here.

For the Breakfast Club, Click here. The talk this month is “An Overview of Technologies that Encourage Thriving In Place More Independently, Safely and Responsibly.” Please let Ellen Woods know (914-366-3937) if you plan to attend the Breakfast Club.

Two Art Classes Offered

Kendal has new two art classes scheduled.

On March 7, 14, 21, 28 April 4 and 11, a PAUL JEFFRIES WORKSHOP on DRAWING AND PAINTING will be offered. It deals with “How to express what you see and what you feel while learning techniques to capture them with paint.”

To participate residents should write a check for $80 to KoH Residents Association with Jeffries Class on the memo line. Put it in Ann Holloway’s cubby. Questions? Speak to Ann.

In addition a COLLAGE WORKSHOP with ANN LASUSA will be offered shortly (date to be determined)

Ann will provide Residents with an informal, hands on workshop on the art of paper collage.

It will be limited to 6 people. Questions? Speak to Ann.

Kendal Goes To The Dogs

The Trips Committee has come up with an outstanding new trip which will give us something to bark about.

On Wednesday, March 13, there will be an excursion to the Museum of the Dog, in N.Y.C.

Residents will be able to visit this new museum that opened Feb 8th with a large, beautiful collection of dog art.

It is owned by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Its collection includes paintings, sculptures, figurines and posters of movie stars like Lassie; a 2,000 year-old paw print; a 30-million-year-old dog fossil; plus interactive features like “Find My Match” (the dog breed that looks most like you), “Meet the Breeds” and digital displays; library and shop.

No dog whistles here. In order to sign up, you’ll have to do so in the Activities Alcove. That’s the leash you can do.

BTW - The Feb. 20 trip to the NY Historical Society has been rescheduled for Feb. 27.

Space is still available and/or a short wait list for the March 6 trip to the American Museum of Natural History and the March 20 trip to the Bruce Museum in Greenwich.

Questions? Speak to the Trips Committee Chair Jan Myers.