Community Update for week of 4/24/2023

April 25, 2023

Update to residents on 4/25/2023

Afternoon Exchange

Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 26 at 4 pm in the Auditorium and on KOTV. We’ll introduce new residents, have a mini-play (written by John Elder) about “Thoughtful Health Conversations,” and our anticipation to look ahead at our next phase of “new normal” starting later in May, when the Government has declared an end to the COVID Pandemic. We’ll also have a brief look at some of the key deliverables by being a part of the Kendal System. We have many residents who have arrived in the 6-8 years unfamiliar with the benefits we gain by not being a standalone community.

Legacy Circle of Friends Appreciation Event and Tree Dedication 

On Friday, April 28, at 2PM, we will say a special thank you to members of the Kendal at Oberlin Legacy Circle of Friends. These are members of our community who have made a planned gift to Kendal at Oberlin—charitable trusts, charitable gift annuities, bequests, naming Kendal in their will—or have reached a significant level of lifetime giving at Kendal. We welcome anyone who would like to attend the Special Tree Dedication Ceremony at 2:45PM on the lawn, near the glass corridor between Heiser and the Apartment (south side). We’ll be inside if we have inclement weather.

Spring Fling

Saturday, April 29, at 7:15 pm in the Auditorium (and on KOTV.) Don’t miss this “Spice of Life” production featuring 17 segments. The acts are both pre-videotaped and live. There will be a cookie and cider reception afterwards in the Heiser Lounge – a welcome step back toward normalcy. We look forward to seeing you there!

REMINDER: Amazon deliveries may only come to 600 Kendal Drive, Heiser

Please note we do not allow deliveries directly to a resident’s cottage or apartment for obvious security concerns. Kendal cannot assure background screening and we do not want delivery people wandering around our campus looking for cottages/apts. In fact, there is a “homing device” installed in Heiser that is supposed to guide all Amazon delivery trucks directly to our front door. Better for Amazon and better for Kendal residents. When having packages delivered, the address style to use is your name, 600 Kendal Drive, Unit# ___, Oberlin OH 44074.

“Joy, Sense of Purpose and Frustration: A Survey for All Ages”

Link-age Connect recently conducted focus groups on the topic “Joy, Sense of Purpose and Frustration” and the results were very interesting. The focus group participants ranged in age from 75 to 95. With a brief 2-minute survey, we now want to compare those results with data from all other age groups. We are sharing this survey (link below) with residents, family and friends, and staff, of ALL ages. We will be publishing the results at the conclusion of the survey. The survey period will close on Friday, May 12. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/joypurposefrustration

Staying Safe Online video

The Candoo Tech class about “Staying Safe Online” that was held on April 13, 2023 was recorded. You can now watch it on YouTube. This is an important topic for all residents and anyone who uses the internet. https://youtu.be/YtD6FDkbMSg

Change in Grounds Management

Effective 5/25, Grounds Manager Dan Baker has resigned from Kendal at Oberlin. Dan has been with Kendal since 8/23/2021 and during his time here he has led our Grounds team to improve the quality of our community’s naturalized grounds. The search for a new grounds manager is already underway, and in the interim I will be overseeing grounds operations after Dan leaves. We send him off with our best wishes. – Ryan Stalzkowski, Facility Services Assistant Director

Other Announcements

Bicycle Spring Checkup

Oberlin Bike Show will be here to do spring check ups. Wednesday, April 16 at noon in Parking Lot #4.

A Night at The BEE

Friday, April 28, Give good wishes – or come along to cheer! – our Wordly Wise spelling team at United Way’s signature fundraiser. Robin Lauren, Mary Behm, Kathleen Cerveny, and Kim Preston will be competing in pursuit of retaining the trophy. Event proceeds will support local education initiatives for preschool and middle school age children.  Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at https://uwloraincounty.org/thebee2023 and click “Ticket to the Event.” Event tickets are $45 per person and include dinner and one drink ticket. Sign-up by open mailboxes for a ride. We leave at 4:30 pm as doors open at 5 pm at the Emerald Event Center in Avon.

The Oberlin Big Parade

Saturday, April 29 at noon. Don’t miss the Big Parade and the Kendal Precision Lawn Chair Team! Join the fun on Tappan Square. Best viewing is on West College Street by the Conservatory.

Herb & Handmade Fair

Enjoy a fair featuring a variety of vendors selling homegrown herbs and plants and handmade décor, body products, and food items. Sponsored by the Lorain County Metroparks. Free. At the Vermilion River Reservation (Mill Hollow Side) on Saturday, April 29, from 11 am – 4 pm.

Fitness Center Update

Come do some gentle movement and share stories about your lifelong relationship with movement with Dr Jennifer Shults’ Body Re-education Class at Oberlin College on Monday, May 1 in the Warner Dance Studio, 10-11:50 am. The students, a diverse group with many dancers and musicians, have been exploring optimal movement through many lenses all semester and would love to learn from you! Contact Jill for more information or to arrange transportation. 440-775-9851

Pool Closure

Just a reminder that the pool (and locker rooms) will be closed from May 1 to May 5. The entire area will NOT be open due to the type of work being done. Please remove all belongings from the lockers and if you store toiletries under the sink, please make sure they are in a toiletry bag that has your name on it. All items will be removed to clean during the down week.

A reminder that residents and staff are the only people permitted to use the fitness area. No guests and no family at this time.

Election Day

Next week on Tuesday, May 2. Kendal will once again be a voting location from 6 AM until 8 PM. Note that set-up in the Auditorium takes place on Monday afternoon (May 1) and early morning on May 2. The Auditorium is not available for other use during this time.

Field Trip

Kate Pilacky of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy will lead a tour of the Oberlin Preserve on Wednesday, May 3. Sign-up clipboard at the open mailboxes. Car pooling. Gather at 9:45 AM at Heiser entrance. (Shared by Ted Wolner)

Book Donations

Effective May 1 until further notice, the Friends of the Oberlin Public Library are no longer accepting book or media donations. Questions about this policy change may be emailed to fopl.oberlin@gmail.com. The new policy does not affect donations to the Kendal library. Please continue to give your books and media to the Kendal library. (Shared by Robin Lauren)

Missing Jacket

I’m wondering if anyone has an unfamiliar lightweight, tan, man’s jacket, size L, brand name Aberdeen (I think) as a new and unexplained item in their closet. I wore mine, by that description, to dinner at Fox & Fell on Thursday, 4/20, and hung it on a peg in the F&F coat room. Unfortunately, my jacket left without me. The jacket and I would be grateful for any help in finding its way back to a coat room peg soon. My best, -Del Mason  

Coyote Sightings

A coyote has been seen on Kendal’s campus recently. That’s not unusual these days, and it is part of nature around us! Coyotes are not dangerous to humans. Coyotes typically hunt small mammals such as mice, voles and rabbits. If given the opportunity, they will also make a meal of a cat, tame or feral. Small dogs are also at risk, although attacks on them are exceedingly rare. Coyotes are generally more active after sunset and at night. Make a loud noise to scare them away, or report them to FS if you wish.

COVID NEWS / STATISTICS:

Governor Mike DeWine’s regular COVID Press Conferences: https://ohiochannel.org

Here’s the latest on COVID’s new variant

Medscape News article, April 17, 2023

(Shared by Don Parker.) The new COVID-19 strain known as “Arcturus” has increased in the U.S. so much that it has been added to the CDC’s watch list. Arcturus is a subvariant of Omicron… causing 7% of U.S. coronavirus cases, landing it in second place behind its long-predominant Omicron cousin XBB.1.5, which causes 78% of cases.

Arcturus is more transmissible but not more dangerous than recent strains, experts say. It has been causing a new symptom in children: it seems to be causing conjunctivitis, or red and itchy eyes, in young patients…

More than 11,000 people in the U.S. remained hospitalized with COVID at the end of last week, and 1,327 people died of the virus last week, CDC data show. To date, 6.9 million people worldwide have died from COVID. Of those deaths, more than 1.1 million occurred in the U.S.