Community Update for week of 4/3/2023

April 5, 2023

Update to residents on 4/4/2023

Latest info about home test kits for COVID

Free COVID Home Tests still remain available through the Federal Government and can be ordered at https://www.covid.gov/tests. We expect that this free support will end after May 11, so now is the time to order. Home tests kits are readily available at most local drug stores and discount stores.

Note that, according to a resident’s report, if you have already ordered through the United States Postal Service (USPS) then you will be told you have gotten all your free tests, and no more will be provided.

Coffee Hour is next week

Wednesday, April 12, at 9:30 a.m. in the Langston. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend! (A Zoom link will be sent out in next week’s News Update if you prefer to join via Zoom.)

Dining Focus Groups

Thank you everyone who participated in the Dining Focus Group meetings (for people on the 0-10 Meal Plan.) We will be carefully reviewing all of the input and ideas!

“Preserving Today’s Landscapes for Future Generations”

Kate Pilacky and Andy McDowell of the Western Land Conservancy will address progress made on significant projects in the region, especially at the 63-acre Oberlin Preserve. Monday, April 10, 7:15 p.m. in Heiser Auditorium and on KOTV.

CandooTech Update

The first Group Lesson for CandooTech has been scheduled for Thursday, April 13 from 1:30-2:30 PM. The lesson topic is Online Safety and will cover avoiding scams and security threats, strong passwords, steps to take if you think you have been hacked, etc. 

The group lesson will be presented virtually via Zoom; however, we have reserved the Education Center Training Room for those residents who would like to gather together for the lesson. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88640164622. Meeting ID: 886 4016 4622

Please note that you do not have to be registered with CandooTech to participate in the Group Lessons!  All residents are invited to participate.

Also, we still have 5 Group Lessons available through our pilot program to schedule. Don and Judy will be placing information in your mailboxes that outline the different topics to choose from.  Please review the topic information and provide your top 3-5 choices to Don Mulica and/or Judy Miller. You can provide that information via email, a note in our open mailbox or a telephone call. Any questions, please contact either Don Mulica or Judy Miller.

2023 Black Quaker Lives Matter film festival: Celebrating the 125th birthday of Paul Robeson

Saturday, April 8 at 1pm via Zoom (pre-registration required.)Quaker descendant Paul Robeson, the “beleaguered leader” and “artist as revolutionary,” was a groundbreaking film, theatrical, and music star. Join this to see the Academy Award-winning short documentary, Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist (1978), narrated by Sidney Poitier, and The Proud Valley (1940), Robeson’s personal favorite in which he starred. Afterwards, two eminent Robeson scholars, Dr. Gerald Horne and Dr. Charles Musser, will join fellow Robeson advocate-researcher-lecturer, Dr. Harold D. Weaver, in a discussion of the incredible life and impact of this renaissance man.  Register here.  Attendees will receive a confirmation email upon registration and a Zoom invitation to join the event 24 hours in advance. Registrants are invited to join the webinar at 12:40 PM EDT for a prologue of Paul Robeson songs.

The Fitness Center Open House

The Fitness Center Open House was well attended given the difficult weather and other major events happening. We had 28 residents and 7 staff in attendance. We appreciate all who came and there will be more chances for those of you that missed it. The grand prizes winners of $50.00 visa cards are Frankie Long and Karen Wright. There was one prize randomly chosen for residents and one for staff. You had to attend to be in the raffle. So come on out to the next one if you missed it! We enjoyed tasty snacks from the staff wellness platform recipe catalog, a wellness activity, and class demonstrations, as well as a lot of good conversation.  

If you haven’t tried it yet, come out before dinner and try Claire’s Shallow Aqua fit class. It is every Wednesday from 4:15-5:00. If you are looking for a one-on-one experience, come to the pool between 9:30-10:30 to meet with Donna, who will be there to help with any of your swimming needs or questions. Claire is in the equipment room for one on one feedback or fitness assessments on Mondays from 3:00-4:30, or on Wednesdays from 9:00-10:00. We are here to help empower you to meet your goals! – Jill Tvaroha, Wellness Coordinator & Certified Holistic Life Coach

Newly seeded meadows

Near Lot 7 and at the base of Wildflower Hill, should begin growing soon. These areas will remain fairly sparse into summer and will not produce blooms this season. They will be mowed a few times this year, to prevent fast-growing weeds from outcompeting our shorter, slower-growing native wildflowers and grasses. As the summer progresses, the young seedlings should fill in the bare soil and look more like a green carpet and we should be going into next winter with a full ground cover. For more information on what to expect in our “first-year prairies”, check out: https://www.prairiemoon.com/blog/are-you-mowing-your-1st-year-prairie. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Rachel Duncan, rduncan@kao.kendal.org, or Dan Baker, drbaker@kao.kendal.org. (Shared by the Horticulture Committee, and Master Landscape Planning Steering Group)

COVID NEWS / STATISTICS:

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

FDA to okay second omicron-targeting booster

FDA to okay second omicron- targeting booster for some, officials say: (from the Washington Post. Shared by Linda Lannom.) The Biden administration is moving to make the shot available for older people and those with impaired immune systems. Read the article here:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/04/03/covid-booster-shot/