The residents at Kendal were witnesses to two meaningful parades in the last week. Yes, parades!
At the end of the week, the staff at Kendal paraded around the campus to the cheers of the residents. It was wonderful to see and show appreciation to those who are charged with caring for us. The relationship between staff and residents deserves a place in the book of loving labor relations.
As if that wasn’t enough, a parade of vehicles used by first responders started at Phelps Hospital, came down the hill and then circled the Kendal campus. There were police, fire, EMS vehicles, and ambulances numbering 40 or more. Again, it gave our residents the opportunity to wave and cheer the people who keep us safe. Don’t miss Arthur Brady’s video of it on the Home page of this website.
Kendal's New Director Arrives
Kendal on Hudson’s new Executive Director Pamela Klapproth took up her position on April 1.
The Residents Website wants to add its voice to those welcoming Pamela. She arrives at one of the most difficult times that this venerable CCRC has experienced in its 15-year history.
Pamela seems to be made of tough stuff. She has dug right in, and the level of information sharing, so necessary to our residents, has grown quickly since her arrival. Her utilization of staff, especially the senior and experienced hands, seems to have things running as smoothly as possible, given the difficult times in which we live.
All of us at Kendal wish Pamela well and look forward to working with her in the future.
Links to Some Online Religious Services this Week
For Catholic Mass, click here.
For services at the Episcopal National Cathedral, click here.
For the Quaker Center Meeting, click here.
For online services for other denominations, put the denomination name you seek into the search line of Google or whatever other search engine you use.
Happy Passover from the Israel Philharmonic
Click here to listen to the Orchestra.
Discussion Goes Zoom
Whatever else Kendal residents are precluded from doing, talk and discussion are not on that list.
In last week’s edition it was pointed out that since group meetings had to be limited to five people, the weekly Contemporary Issues Discussion Group (CIDG), which meets every Thursday morning, would split itself up into mini-groups of that number. Shortly after the groups were organized, it was decided by Kendal leadership that no more than two people could combine and, even then, they had to be six feet apart.
Never to be dissuaded from an interesting exchange of ideas, the group has now decided to meet on the Internet through the Zoom program. There were a few supercomputer problems but this group has overcome more serious problems in their lives; they will be “interneted” until the emergency is over and they can go back to face-to-face verbal exchanges.
Library Closure
The coronavirus suspension of almost all activities and important centers at Kendal has finally come to our own library.
It has been announced that the Kendal Library is officially closed until further notice and will not be staffed. Residents may run in to get a book, sign it out and leave, but they are encouraged to take advantage of the carousels and special collections for reading material placed throughout Kendal’s four buildings.
When it comes to our library and its staff, awesome is an understatement.
Our Beloved Interim Executive Director Leaves
Steve Fishler, Kendal’s much loved Interim Executive Director has retired from Kendal and has gone home to his wife and, once again, a normal life. During his nine-month term in office, he found a place in the hearts of our residents. Our very talented Anne White, who serves as the Treasurer of the Residents Association, expressed in poetry what all of us feel.
“Ode to Steve on the occasion of his departure from Kendal-on-Hudson” by Anne White
You came, you saw, you healed our wounds, the deep distress at loss of longtime staff, the sense of Kendal values swept away.
You came, you listened carefully to voices loud and timid, seeking out the essence of our Kendal culture.
You came, you gained our trust, repairing tears in Kendal’s fabric of community and caring.
You came, you steadied us, you led with confidence, articulating clearly what you could and could not do.
You came, you built a brilliant team to lead us forward, residents and staff and board aligned.
You came, you won our hearts with empathy and competence, good humor, steady leadership and vision.
Now it’s time to say goodbye. In crisis mode, no gathering, no party with champagne and caviar. Instead, we offer thanks in pen and ink for all you’ve done to keep us safe and build
a stronger, more resilient Kendal by the Hudson.
Movies at Kendal
Kendal’s own internal TV channel 1970, which is available to most residents on their TV set, continues to provide quality films every night at 7:30 pm. The lineup for the coming week follows:
Mon 4/06 The Philadelphia Story (1940, 112 min.) Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, James Stewart. Romantic comedy.
Tue 4/07 Cinderella (1945, 84 min.) Ginger Rogers, Walter Pidgeon, Celeste Holm. Rogers and Hammerstein musical, fantasy, romance.
Wed 4/08 Les Miserables (2012, 157 min.) Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe. Musical.
Thur 4/09 A Dog’s Purpose (2017, 100 min.) Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid. Drama.
Fri 4/10 Booksmart (2019, 102 min.) Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein. Comedy.
Sat 4/11 Mary Shelley (2018, 2 hrs.) Elle Fanning, Douglas Booth. Drama based on real life.
Sun 4/12 It Happened One Night (1934, 105 min.) Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert. Classic comedy.
David Hockney Has Made a Gift to the World
Click here to see what else he’s given us.
KoH Morning Stretch Class is now on YouTube, Plus Alternative Exercises and Theraband Exercises
Click here to see David on Video for stretch and balance. Click here to see him do seven alternative exercises to the machines in the fitness room. Click here for Fitness Center theraband exercises with Cathy and David.