Community Updates Week of 2/8/2021

Calm, Proactive Preparedness

February 12, 2021: Update to Residents

Lorain County Remains Red, Level Three

Lorain County remains Red, Level Three, but there is encouraging news as our numbers statewide continue on a downward trajectory. There are no Level Four Purple Counties and 4 Ohio counties have been downgraded from Level Three to Level Two Orange.  Lorain County’s current positivity rate as listed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is 11.8%. This will be updated on Monday, February 15.  Once we get below 10% and continue with no new positive COVID tests among staff or residents, we will be able to plan indoor visitation station visits for residents in the Stephens Care Center. We are hoping that such visits can resume on Tuesday, February 23.

Good Reads

Health Experts Examine Reasons for Drop In COVID-19 Cases – After a massive surge this fall and winter, new daily coronavirus cases in the U.S. have dropped dramatically and COVID hospitalizations have plummeted by more than 50,000 in under a month. Will Stone reports on what experts think is going on.

WILL STONE, BYLINE: The waning winter surge is not a mirage. The last time cases were this low, it was the beginning of November. When Dr. David Rubin looks at pandemic numbers across the U.S….

DAVID RUBIN: It’s hard to find a county that has me concerned. That’s pretty striking.

STONE: Rubin runs the COVID modeling group at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He says respiratory viruses typically surge during colder months and then begin to wane. And coronavirus appears to be doing the same. –from NPR

The Oberlin Review – “Kendal at Oberlin Finishes Series of Vaccination Clinics, Celebrates Success”

Ella Moxley interviewed several residents (Gary Olin, Alan Lockwood, Don Parker) for today’s story in the Oberlin Review.

Another Good Read: “Masks Up” – With new coronavirus variants on the U.S. pandemic scene, experts say brace yourself for another surge — and mask up.

FAVA’s Outreach to the Oberlin Community…

Learn about FAVA’s efforts during the COVID Shutdown, including collaborations with Kendal. Kathleen Jackson, CEO. Monday, Feb. 15, at 7:15pm

At 7:15pm on Zoom + KOTV – Join Zoom Meeting – Meeting ID: 837 0135 4824, One tap mobile  +13017158592,,83701354824# US (Washington D.C)

Fitness Center News

There will be a pool down week March 1-5. During this time, the pool area will be inaccessible. The restroom at the end of the hallway will be available for use.

There are 2 spots left for the Vitalize 360 group coaching with Jill. The group will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30am-12:30. Contact Jill for more details.

Honoring Rey Carrion as a Lorain County Difference Maker

We were so pleased to learn late last year Leadership Lorain County had selected Rey as a recipient of their Excellence in Leadership Award to be recognized at their annual Difference Makers Gala (virtual) on Friday evening, February 19. The Lorain Morning Journal had a great picture and article about this. We congratulate Rey for his excellent contributions to the City of Lorain in past years, but also to his recent efforts as Lorain’s Councilman (6^th Ward), and of course for his valued leadership and good efforts in our community’s Facility Services operations. Congratulations Rey! Story and photo from The Morning Journal.

 Meeting with your Tax Helper?

As residents get organized to submit their taxes, we remind you there are many open spots available to meet in The Penn. If you are not able to make your own appointment on SignUpGenius, just call our receptionist who can help reserve a spot. They are trained and willing to help anyone who needs it. At this time, residents may not bring outside service providers into your cottage or apartment for such a service. As an option, you can also go to the professional’s office, but do first verify their safe practices for the time you spend there, much like the banks.

Notary Service Needed?

Remember you can make an appointment with Buckeye Community Bank on Wednesdays. Please contact Sarah Smith at (440)-233-3925.

Big Brothers-Big Sisters Volunteer Opportunity

If you missed the Afternoon Exchange on Thursday, there is an initiative with Kendal at Home to train volunteers to work virtually with children in Lorain County. Anne Elder will be posting information on the upcoming training should you be interested.

House Calls from your Vet?

A resident recently related that her cat had her annual shots last year given right here at Kendal by their vet’s doing a house call. She mentioned she planned to do the same thing this year using her patio enclosure. Yes, that is acceptable. It’s probably less traumatic for your pet, and some vets are happy to accommodate visits here at Kendal. Just send your vet the pass like you do for other visitors.

New Bulk Mail Service for Resident E-Mail Blasts

Judy Miller is excited to tell you that we will soon be introducing a new bulk email platform over the next few weeks. This will change the way we send emails to residents but will ensure timely and accurate delivery. Currently we send out emails in three distinct groups: SCC residents; IL Resident Group 1 and IL Resident Group 2. The new service will allow one large group to go out at one time.

Caution about Hose Bibs

We are still very much in the midst of freezing winter conditions. We recently had a hose bib pushed aside, hose attached, and water valve turned back leading to a flood when the line cracked with thawing. Please, these hose bibs need to stay in place until winter conditions are past.

Today’s Statistic

Kendal at Oberlin (KaO)

Lorain County (as of 2/11/2021) – Level 3 RED

Cuyahoga County (as of 2/11/2021) – Level 3 RED

State of Ohio

February 9, 2021: Update to Residents

Johnny Comes Calling This Coming Week

Orders are delivered Thursday at 10am in front of Heiser. You might still be able to get in an order by calling Terry on Wednesday at 440-774-8215. (Sorry for the late notice.)

Encouraging News!

• We have now gone nearly two weeks with no new positive staff cases!
• New cases throughout the State and in Lorain County continue to trend down. New cases in Ohio in the last 24 hours (2/8) were 3,207! Over 1,000 lower than the 21-day average. Numbers in our stats are from Sunday-Monday, which are typically lower.
• Lorain County’s positivity rate has dropped to 11.8%, down from 19.8% the second week of January.
• We have 119 people signed up for getting their Pfizer BioNTech vaccination on Thursday, February 11, in the Heiser Auditorium, beginning at 9am. For those residents and staff members that received your first dosage three weeks ago and have not received your appointment time, please notify:
  • Independent Living Residents – Natasha Miller at 775-9816
  • Staff Members – Michele Tarsitano-Amato at 775-9890
  • Stephens Care Center Residents will receive theirs mid-to-late morning on Thursday.

Keep up the good work Kendal at Oberlin!

Good Read

The one crucial vaccine trial result that could end our COVID nightmare – “Here’s my best-case scenario for the coronavirus pandemic: With existing vaccines, we turn COVID-19 into an illness akin to the seasonal flu. The virus might still be around and infect people. Some who get it might still end up sick. But COVID-19 no longer leads to overwhelmed hospitals and terrifying death tolls, and by the end of 2021, we can resume much of our pre-pandemic lives.” –The Washington Post, shared by Kari Inglis

Kendal at Home Coffee Hour

Norman Rockwell & Civil Rights – February 12, 11am

America’s beloved visual historian had a deep connection to the fight for social justice. Join Tom Daly, former curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA as he discusses some of Rockwell’s most iconic images, the activism they inspired, and their relevance today. Thomas Daly, former Curator of Education for The Norman Rockwell Museum at Stockbridge MA, now an Independent Curator focusing on Norman Rockwell as well as Material Culture. Daly has nearly 30 years’ experience as a museum professional. He has lectured at college campuses and museums around the country about Mr. Rockwell’s work, life, and times. During his 20-plus years with the Norman Rockwell Museum, he had a number of different roles, all of them adding to his knowledge of the work of America’s favorite illustrator. Thomas has written many articles about Norman Rockwell and the work that Mr. Rockwell created during his nearly 70-year career as an illustrator. You must register in advance for this webinar.

Weekdays at 5

Due to the conflict with Barbara’s Exchange, Weekdays at 5 will be suspended on Thursdays. It will continue all other weekdays at Join Zoom Meeting.

Afternoon Zoom Exchange

Thursday at 4pm, the meeting will be covered on Kendal TV channels and Zoom. Join Zoom Meeting – Meeting ID: 921 4392 7958, One tap mobile, +13126266799,,92143927958# US (Chicago)

For February 18: Planning Ahead – Questions welcome! If you have areas of interest you’d like to hear about when we have a guest visit from Collington, a Kendal Affiliate in Maryland, please feel free to submit them.

Art Gallery News

The Art Committee has installed three new shows for all of us to enjoy. Coincidentally, two of them involve the medium of ceramics. In the display window outside the Admissions Office are ceramic works created in the Kendal Art Studio by some of your fellow residents. In the Kendal Gallery between the Auditorium and the Library are ceramic (and a few bronze) works inspired by nature and created by Marty Huehner, an artist who lives in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Please join us for an artist’s talk with Marty this Friday, February 12, starting at 4:00pm on both Zoom and KOTV. Then in the Community Gallery outside the Health and Wellness Clinic are photographs of wildlife by Rebecca Cardozo. Please take time to look at–and appreciate–all of these exhibits.
-–from Robert Taylor

Zoom Topic: Artist Talk – Time: Friday, February 12 at 4:00PM. Join Zoom Meeting – Meeting ID: 814 7157 0532  Passcode: 933001

Soul Collage: Positive Affirmations Zoom Class

Open to Independent Living residents and Stephens Care Center residents. Next Class is Sunday, February 14, from 4pm to 6pm. Topic: “What I love about myself is my ability to   ____ .” Join Zoom Meeting – Zoom ID: 959 9240 1188 

You will need to bring magazine images and words. You can be provided with scissors, glue, and card stock. Please contact Claire Donofrio, Ursuline College Counseling and Art Therapy Master’s Student at claire.donofrio@ursuline.edu with any questions or to let her know you will need materials.

Today’s Statistics

Kendal at Oberlin (KaO)

Lorain County (as of 2/5/2021) – Level 3 RED

Cuyahoga County (as of 2/5/2021) – Level 3 RED

State of Ohio (as posted on 2/8/2021)