New Year's Eve Preparations

Make your plans early for this year’s gala New York’s Eve celebration on Friday, December 31.

A festive dinner in our dining areas will have seatings from 5:00 until 6:30 pm. Seating for the Gathering Room show will be from 7:30 to 8:00 pm. A large crowd is expected. All must wear masks.

Residents with Mobile Devices are reminded to display their names prominently on their devices, so that ushers can connect you with your device promptly after the show. Enter on the left side (left facing the stage) for easy seating. Residents in Wheelchairs should enter on the right side, where ushers will escort the residents to sit along the right wall. Our intrepid ushers, led by Shirley and Jack Miller, will include Janet Schloat, Sally Kellock, Peter McCuen and Eleanor Leyden.

Muriel Fox, who chairs this celebration for the 11th time, promises a reprise of the 2011 Men’s Water Ballet. Sally Costa and Sharry Lukach will chair the lavish Champagne and Caviar Reception in the Residents Lounge.

Performers in our show will include Norman Sissman, Harry Phillips, Bill Rakower, Peter Limburg, Marian Dunn, Caroline Urvater, Llyn Clague and Frank Neuwirth. Eugene DuBow will lower our traditional Glittering Ball at Kendal Midnight (9 pm).

Bob Singleton will again lead a Singalong in the PDR at 9:45 pm. Bob will also lead the Kendal Singers, accompanied by Linda Herring, to open the show. They include Dot Bone, Sofia Wentz, Ed Hanin, Norman Sissman, Rema Sessler, Jane Beers, Deb Wood and Sylvia Hawes.

As a special treat, Jo-Ann Rappaport has donated packets of “Kendal 2022” M&Ms for the celebration.

Staff Appreciation Fund

Thank you for your generosity in giving to the Staff Appreciation Fund. Donations totaled $78,835, with an almost 100% participation. A special thank-you goes to those new residents who also contributed to the fund.

It is a very fitting way to express our deep appreciation for the contributions every staff member of our community makes day in, day out.

Some residents wrote brief notes that were shared with the staff and produced big smiles.

The grateful committee members are Maria Harris, Gene DuBow, Jacky Cummings and Jane Hart.

COVID Update

This COVID update was received from the Kendal Administration on December 13.

Governor Hochul has announced a new mask mandate, which is effective today. In light of the  rising cases and hospitalizations, and in alignment with the CDC’s recommendations for  communities with substantial and high transmission, masks are required to be worn in all indoor  public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement. The mandate is set to expire on January 15, 2022.  

For Residents: While the mask requirement does not apply to private residences, it does  apply to common areas of residential buildings including senior housing. Independent  Living residents need to abide by the masking mandate.  

Guidance is being clarified for “Assisted Living”: Kendal’s Adirondack and Sunnyside. Residents  will be encouraged to wear masks in common areas, but it is not yet clear if it is mandated while within the neighborhood(s). If assisted-living residents leave Adirondack and Sunnyside,  masking is required. Independent Living residents traveling into Assisted Living must be masked, as they are considered “visitors”.  

Currently, we are not making any changes to dining at Kendal. The Infection Control Team will  continue to review this area and will advise immediately if any changes are instituted.  

For Visitors: All visitors must always wear masks while in public/common spaces. In private independent living residences, visitors may unmask at the discretion of the resident(s) who  lives there. Visitors to Adirondack, Sunnyside and Clearwater must always remain masked.  

For Staff: Personnel in all areas of Kendal continue to be required to wear masks  commensurate with their job responsibilities. Masks are distributed regularly to each  Department Head to ensure compliance with our current protocols.  

Current recommendation: all, regardless of vaccination status, remain masked in group  activities or meetings.

PLEASE be patient with each other. Everyone is concerned about the health and safety of our community, but it is easy to become distracted and forget masks or to socially distance. If you see someone without their mask, do not scold, but gently remind them to mask up. Supplies of masks are generally available at the front desk and in the Bistro. “In a world where you can  choose to be anything, choose to be kind.”

Discussion Group Topic: The Importance of Rituals

On Thursday morning at 10:00 am the Contemporary Issues Discussion Group (CIDG) will turn its attention to "The Importance of Rituals."

Anne White suggested the topic noting “We all have family rituals related to Hannukah, Christmas and New Year's — how we celebrate, who brings what food or drink, who sits where. Ritual is an important element of all religions. And groups often have rituals to begin meetings, to welcome newcomers. Here at Kendal, we have many rituals that help us navigate the descending spiral of life we've chosen to ride together.”

Thursday morning discussions have become sort of a ritual at Kendal. Questions about getting on the invitation list? Contact Gene DuBow.

A Celebratory Toast!

It is not often that we get a chance to celebrate a Commitment Ceremony at Kendal.

We’re about to have one, and you are invited to partake of a “Celebratory Toast”
to Jane Hart and Steven Price in a post-commitment ceremony event on Friday, December 17 from 5 pm -7 pm in the Gathering Room.

All of us wish Jane and Steve health and happiness.

Saturday Opera

Kendal’s Saturday Opera presentations will continue on December 18.

Amahl and the Night Visitors is the selection for next Saturday. 

Gian Carlo Menotti wrote the music and libretto as the first television opera.  It premiered on December 24, 1951, and was telecast live from the NBC TV studios.  

Residents are welcome to join in the viewing on Saturday at 1:00 pm in the Gathering Room.

Lecture: "Croton Water"

On Monday, December 13, Croton Historian Marc Cheshire will talk on “Croton Water” at 7:30 pm in the Gathering Room.

Marc was appointed Croton Village Historian in 2018. His interest in local history began when he first moved to Croton and met his next-door neighbor, who was then the Village Historian. When told that the foundation of his house was made of stone left over from the construction of the New Croton Dam, and that a Native American skeleton had once been discovered at the end of his driveway, he became fascinated by the rich history of the Croton area.

His talk “Croton Water” tells the story of how a mighty river was dammed, diverted, and sacrificed to save New York City from fire and pestilence and create the great metropolis it is today.

Holiday Gift Bags

It wouldn’t seem like the Holiday Season without the possibility of purchasing lovely Gift Bags from the Tuesday Morning Club.

The sale will take place on Friday, December 17, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm in the Residents Lounge. The bags sell for $5 and, as usual, IOUs are acceptable. 

All the proceeds are used for craft supplies and other items like song books. The participants take some of the craft items home, some decorate the bistro window and some go to the Meals-on Wheels trays. 

The group that produces them offer their thanks to everyone for the support of their program!

Kendal's Final Concert of 2021

On December 19 at 3:00 pm, Cris Groenendaal and Sue Anderson will present “Holiday Cabaret” in the Gathering Room.

This will be our final concert for 2021. It will feature tenor Cris Groenendaal and pianist Sue Anderson. Their program will conclude with a sing-a-long of well-known holiday favorites.

Cris played the title role in Phantom of the Opera in some 860 performances in New York, Toronto, and the Canadian National Tour. Sue worked with the Broadway and national touring companies of Pirates of Penzance, Me and My Girl, and Cats.

The couple has entertained Kendal residents over the years to rave reviews.

A Note of Thanks

This is a heartfelt thank you to the scores of Kendal residents and staff who visited my late wife Pat during her illness and lengthy stay in Clearwater. I know that she was deeply touched by the many people who visited her, spoke especially kind words, prayed for her, and held her hand.

As for me, her husband of 58 years, I’ve been overwhelmed by the dozens of condolence cards and scores of sympathetic hugs I’ve received.

On Friday, December 10, a celebration of Pat’s life will take place in the Gathering Room at 1:30 pm.

Peter Seldin