Community Update for week of 6/5/2023

June 6, 2023

Update to residents on 6/6/2023

“Good Morning Oberlin!”

Sponsored by Oberlin Business Partnership, will take place in the Heiser Auditorium on Thursday, June 8, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.  All are welcome. *

Topics include: The new “Experience Oberlin” website. Transportation initiatives in Lorain County.  The Oberlin Enrichment and Activity Center. Oberlin’s 16th annual Chalk Walk. Oberlin College and the Bonner Center for Engaged Learning. Summer in the city – and more.  Coffee, tea, and light refreshments included. 

*RSVPs are helpful but not required. To RSVP, go to www.oberlin.org, click on Programs and Events and then on Good Morning Oberlin.

IMPORTANT Smoke Detectors Safety Issue

With the recent testing of our smoke detectors on campus, it was noted that we had a few residents covering their smoke detectors so they would not go off. This is a reminder that under no circumstances should you cover your smoke detectors to prevent them from going off. This is a fire hazard for you, your neighbors and Kendal. Please contact Facility Services with any questions or problems with your smoke detectors.

We Care Connect Surveys

Thank you for your continued effort to complete the “We Care Connect” surveys. Remember, you won’t be contacted ahead of time to alert you to an upcoming survey. Instead, just know that the surveys happen very near your Kendal anniversary (i.e., when you moved into Kendal; or for staff, when you started working here) and again 6 months later, for twice a year total.

We are pleased to report 96% of residents and 91% of staff have completed at least one survey.  Keep up the feedback to help us know what we are doing well and where we can improve. Just a reminder, a “pulse” survey allows you a few areas to write in comments (areas going well, or other comments you’d like to add) but cannot allow comments for each question. Use of We Care Connect allows us to benchmark against other senior living communities in valuable ways with excellent data analysis. The data analysis is the best I’ve ever seen for senior living communities (BT).

COVID Booster Clinic coming soon for SCC Residents

COVID Booster shots will be provided to residents living in the Stephens Care Center on June 23 via a partnership with Walgreens. SCC staff are working to prepare for this day.

For Independent Living residents, if you are able to get a COVID bivalent booster vaccine from your healthcare provider – or at any of the local pharmacies that are offering it — please do so. As always, be sure to share a copy of your COVID Vaccine Card with the Health and Wellness Clinic so that we can (again!) update our records.

If you are an IL resident and don’t have a way to get to a local pharmacy, there may be a limited capacity to provide a COVID booster shot on June 23. Dale Preston is keeping a wait list; please contact him to be added to the list. Thank you!

Heiser Lounge is a Multi-Use Area by design

A concern was expressed recently by a Resident about multiple activities happening at the same time in Heiser Lounge (card games, conversations, piano playing, etc.) creating what they perceived as a noisy or chaotic environment; and could Administration create sign-up sheets to better regulate or schedule such activities? The answer is: no!  Heiser Lounge is meant to be used by everyone as you wish, and multiple use is a sign of the vitality of our community. If someone is being too loud or distracting, please speak directly to them respectfully; or move to another area; or close a meeting room door, etc. And smile that we have so much going on!

Dining Update

Greg Zehe, Director of Hospitality Services & Assoc. Administrator

Meal Plan choice due soon

Please Follow the link below to select your new meal plan for June 19, 2023-through September 18, 2023. Note that the Holiday buffets during this period are the 4^th of July Picnic ($16.95) and Labor Day Picnic ($16.95). Meal plans should be selected by June 13 at 4pm!  https://fs10.formsite.com/97rJJN/1k6apw9hj7/index.html

Housekeeping/Laundry Update

A request from your housekeeper: on hot days, please consider turning on your air conditioner before your housekeeper arrives. It makes the hard work of cleaning much more pleasant! Thank you.

Other Announcements

Cactus are in Bloom

The cacti in the SCC Courtyard are in full bloom. They’ll only last a week or so and are not to be missed!

CandooTech Group Lessons – New Topics and Dates

In early April, we asked for feedback about which CandooTech Group Lesson topics you would most like to learn about. The choices have been tallied from the answers we received. Here are the Group Lesson Topics along with the date and time of each session:

·         Cloud Backup                    Wednesday, June 14 at 1:00 PM

·         Windows 10 Basics          Wednesday, July 5 at 1:00 PM

·         iPhone Basics                    Wednesday, July 12 at 1:00 PM

·         Using the Libby App        Wednesday, Aug 2 at 1:00 PM

·         Password Manager          Wednesday, Aug 9 at 1:00 PM

The group lessons will be presented virtually via Zoom; however, we have reserved the Education Center Training Room for any residents who would like to gather together for the lesson. Once we receive the Zoom Links, we will forward them to you. If you are unable to attend the live sessions, recordings will be made available for future viewing. Please note that you do not have to be registered with CandooTech to participate in the Group Lessons. All residents are invited to participate. Staff, too. Questions? Contact Judy Miller.

Update on “Welcome to Oberlin” sign

The City of Oberlin has decided the overgrowth of vines and thistles at the “Welcome to Oberlin” sign at Maple/Rt. 58 called for another approach than planting. The sign has been weeded, sprayed, and will be retreated throughout the summer. Getting it under control will allow a better effort next year for flowers and perennials. So, we won’t be needing volunteers for planting after all this for this season, but we look forward to Kendal adopting this welcome sign next year with a fresh start. The “Welcome to Oberlin” sign was designed by former Kendal resident Paul Arnold.

Summer Concert Series

Friday evening concerts return to Tappan Square starting June 23. Come out for live music from 6-8 pm on Friday evenings through July 28. They are free! For more information, email info@CityOfOberlin.com or call 440-775-7217.

Looking for Bocce Participants

Enjoy the summer tradition of Bocce (a venerable Italian version of lawn bowling) at Kendal at Oberlin. Our venue is the grass area adjacent to the Serpentine walkway leading up from the Employee Parking Area to the Heiser entrance near the William Penn. This sport is played by teams of two competing with each other. A tournament is being organized (sign up on the sheet posted at the open mailboxes), or you can play anytime using the equipment stored in the hallway outside the William Penn. For further information please contact Phil Pritchett.

Looking for Oberlin Ride Share driver

The Ride Share program is by and for Kendal residents. Started in 2016, it provides rides to medical appointments that are outside of Lorain County. While many Kendal residents already give rides to friends and neighbors, the Ride Share program does the same thing but in a more formalized way. If you think you might be interested in being a driver – or using the Ride Share as someone needing transportation – please reach out to Kenneth Cheek, mailbox #114.

Health News/ Statistics