Community Updates Week of 3/1/2021

Calm, Proactive Preparedness

March 5, 2021: Update to Residents

Lorain County Remains  Level 3 Red

Gov. Mike DeWine gave his most confident signal yet that the end of the pandemic is near, declaring Thursday that he will lift all COVID-19 public health orders “when Ohio gets down to 50 cases per 100,000 people for two weeks.”

DeWine set the benchmark in a statewide address Thursday, his third primetime speech since the COVID-19 pandemic began a year ago. The governor said Ohio is currently reporting 179 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, a rate that’s fallen precipitously from 731 cases at the beginning of December when the state began vaccinating residents.

Although DeWine declared Ohio is “now on the offense with this virus,” residents aren’t likely to see restrictions disappear anytime soon. As of Wednesday, just one county–Holmes County in Amish country northeast of Columbus–is below that 50-case threshold.

“The end of our fight is now in view, but we must continue pressing forward in these final days,” DeWine said. “We want all Ohioans to complete this vital mission together.” –Ideastream

Mitch Dandurand, Epidemiologist with Lorain County Public Health, shared yesterday with us on our Afternoon Exchange that Lorain County’s numbers are improving, and he expects we will be down-graded to Level Two Orange within a couple of weeks, given current trends.

Gardening and Use of Masks

Since February 25, Kendal residents have been able to gather unmasked in groups of 6 or less in each other’s homes. As gardening season approaches, New Normal was asked if residents could work together in gardens, also unmasked. We determined that the patio and garden are an extension of the resident’s home and being together unmasked was OK. However: If gardening is happening near walkways or areas where other residents might be walking, we should continue to be masked out of consideration for residents who may be hesitant to be with others who are unmasked.

Again, out of consideration for residents who may be hesitant to gather unmasked, we should mask up when approaching others on the perimeter walkway. The covered walkways are considered public areas in which we need to remain masked. There is still an Ohio mandate in force requiring masks in public areas such as New Russia Township Park.

Purchasing Spring Plants

With residents now fully vaccinated and the public increasingly so, our Grounds team cannot afford the time to facilitate ordering and delivering spring plants for everyone on campus. We encourage you to use a curbside service such as Thome Farm on Rt. 58, shopping early and avoiding areas with other shoppers. Remember by being part of Kendal’s “Ride-Share” Program, you can ask for services to get your curbside groceries or garden supplies.

In Loving memory of Erika Pilisy

Card and notes of condolence to Ann Pilisy may be left in Toni Merleno’s mailbox in the Heiser Community Center.

In Loving memory of Erika Pilisy

Card and notes of condolence to Ann Pilisy may be left in Toni Merleno’s mailbox in the Heiser Community Center. 

Reminder: Pet Pampering

Nail trimming will be available on Saturday, March 5, starting at 10:00am at Kendal’s front entrance.

Stephens Care Center Indoor Visitation in the Education Center Conference Room 

Link for SCC Visitation Guidelines – this is essential for your visit: COVID-19 Guidance for SCC Indoor Visits 

Indoor Visits are conducted in the Education Center Building – Guests are health screened in the Education Center Building

Visitation reserve times are available for Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. We appreciate everyone wanting to visit their friends living in the SCC. Please make sure that your friend in the SCC is also wanting a visit with you and is aware of your reservation time. Please make sure you leave plenty of open slots for families to reserve a visit.

Reservation Link – Visitation Phone: 440-935-0542

Stephens Care Center Indoor Visitation Liaisons:

• Delaney Kelly – (Sundays, Tuesdays, every other Saturday)
• Tammy Sladewski – (Wednesdays, Fridays, every other Saturday)

Vehicle Battery Jumping

If your vehicle needs a battery jump, we are permitting Roadside Services, such as AAA, to come onto campus to provide that service.  Please notify Facility Services at 440-775-9899 during business hours (weekdays 8:30am-4:30pm) or 440-396-5349 during all other times to let us know your Roadside Service is coming. All attendants will be health screened at the Front Gate. You will need to maintain all COVID safety protocols while this service is provided. We also recommend you sanitize all hard services of your car once this service is complete and then drive your car for 20-30 minutes so that your battery gets fully charged. If you do not subscribe to a Roadside Service, the Facility Services team will be glad to assist you by calling those same phone numbers. 

Cleveland MetroParks Zoo “Browse” Pick-Up

We were lucky enough today to be able to coordinate with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to pick up 3 large truckloads of “green waste” (browse) that included branches from our pruning efforts and 4 invasive Callery Pears that were removed from Wildflower Hill. The Zoo horticulturists (which included my husband) were very appreciative of our help providing food for the Zoo’s animals and complimented our beautiful campus. Our Grounds team also benefitted from the collaboration–we loved receiving all the help removing so much brush from our too-wet-to-drive-on Wildflower Hill! A true win-win! And a shout-out to Grounds team member Brendan Ortiz who was part of our team and offered to take the photo. –Shared by Rachel Duncan

Your Off-campus Medical Visits

To provide you the most appropriate medical care and support at Kendal at Oberlin:

• Please notify the Health and Wellness Clinic in advance of any medical procedures you plan to have, including diagnostic tests and in- and out-patient surgeries, no matter how minor.
• Please ask for an Office Visit Summary of every medical appointment you have off-campus and bring it to the Health and Wellness Clinic after every off-campus appointment you have. Kendal is able to get some medical information via electronic medical records; however, the Office Visit Summary often provides more details.
• Please notify the Health and Wellness Clinic any time you have a change in diagnosis or change in medication so we can update our records. This is especially important if Kendal needs to respond to a medical emergency to assist you. Not only is it important for Kendal to know this information, but also it is important for the responding Emergency Medical personnel and receiving Emergency Room team.

Such notices may be sent to Julie Carpenter, RN Health and Wellness Clinic Manager, or call 440-775-9807.  Thank you!

Reminder: Celebrating a Legendary Civil Rights Lawyer: Fred Gray 

Monday, March 8, at 7:15pm on Zoom and KOTV –  Join Zoom Meeting

Thursday Afternoon Zoom at 4:00pm

Just a reminder that our Zoom link is the same each week – Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 921 4392 7958 – One tap mobile +13126266799,,92143927958# US (Chicago)

The next meeting with a special guest is on Thursday, March 18, when Oberlin City Manager Rob Hillard will be with us. He will be addressing the process underway to create a new City Comprehensive Plan. Melissa Reed and Barbara Thomas are on the planning committee for this year-long effort.

Dining: A Phased Re-Opening

On yesterday’s Afternoon Exchange, Greg Zehe was able to share a little bit about the first phase of our dining rooms’ reopening. Kendal at Oberlin is in Phase 3 of our reopening now that everyone has been offered the vaccine, and we are past the 2 weeks from the final shot. So the first phase of Dining Opening is called Phase 3A.

On March 18 and 19, new residents (and their mentors) who moved in during the pandemic will be the first guests in the Fox and Fell. It will be a relatively small group of eligible residents having the first waited service and new style of The Fox and Fell. This dining room will only be open for dinner on weekdays, from 5:15-6:30pm and by reservation only. Our Dining Team will share a more complete written plan on the reservation system to be used and available to all residents. This first phase will last from March 22-April 18 when we will move to Phase 3B.

Our Fox and Fell has limited seating spaced so each table is positioned to be 6 or more feet away from another table. Our regulations are based on spacing rather than a percentage of seating capacity. This reduces seating significantly. Stay tuned to learning how you will be able to make reservation requests. Delivery of meals will continue until April 19 when residents will be able to pick up their meals in Langston or on occasions make a reservation for the Fox and Fell Dining Room. We anticipate reservations during Phase 3A and 3B will only be possible about 2x-3x a month if most residents participate. We will need to grant reservations on an equitable basis.

Today’s Statistics

Kendal at Oberlin (KaO)

Lorain County (as of 3/4/2021) – Level 3 RED

Cuyahoga County (as of 3/4/2021) – Level 3 RED

State of Ohio (as posted 3/4/2021)

March 2, 2021: Update to Residents

Lorain County Positivity Rate Drops to 7.4%

Good news: our County Positivity Rate has dropped to 7.4%, the lowest since early November 2020!  This is down from 9.5% last week.  This number continues to be watched closely as an indicator of what is happening in the greater Lorain County community. Remember, stay safe, wear your mask, sanitize your hands and stay socially distanced. As we do that collectively, we will keep this number low.

Celebrating a Legendary Civil Rights Lawyer: Fred Gray  

Monday, March 8, at 7:15pm on Zoom and KOTV Join Zoom Meeting

Fred Gray has represented Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, the victims of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, freedom riders, and sit-in demonstrators. He played a major role in four landmark Supreme Court cases and helped to obtain the federal court order that allowed the Selma-Montgomery Voting Rights March to take place after Bloody Sunday.

Kendal resident Jonathan Entin has taught and written about many of Mr. Gray’s cases and is honored to count him as a close friend. –Shared by Carol Conti-Entin

Pet Salon This Saturday

Plan now–March 6–to get your cats and small dogs pampered at the front gate. Call/email Priscilla Steinberg (440-774-7423) to set up an appointment.

Lorenzo’s Pizza

Our Day 2 orders will be delivered on Wednesday. Don’t hesitate to call Priscilla if there is anything missing in your order and our drivers will track it down.

Fitness Center Update – Jill Tvaroha

Here are the links for the Fitness Center for March. You can sign up for the Equipment Room and the Fitness/Relaxation room immediately. Poolside relaxation will start next week and you can sign up for that immediately. If you have trouble signing up, call the fitness center at 775-9851.

Sign up for the Pools (2 days a week, please, for the lap pool) will begin on Weds, 3/3 at 11:00.

• Lap Pool
• Therapy Pool
• Pool Side Relaxation
• Equipment Room
• Fitness Room Relaxation

Health Care Guide for Independent Living

Find the guide at the Kendal at Oberlin Resident Association Website (KORA). The link will get you there best: https://www.kaores.net/reshdbk.pdf  Health Section is found on pages 89-116. If you don’t have this link, you need to be signed on to the Kendal Resident Network. When on the main page, scroll to the bottom of the page and under “noteworthy,” the last option is the Resident Handbook. For your personal copy on PDF, email Stacy Terrell.

Don’t Be Alarmed by this COVID-19 Vaccination Side Effect That Could be Confused with Breast Cancer – Our Expert Explains Why Swollen Lymph Nodes Happen–The Cleveland Clinic

Note! New Schedule for Kendal’s Salon PS – Effective Tuesday, March 2

If you had an appointment scheduled that will be affected by this change, you will be contacted by the salon stylist to reschedule. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Pool Maintenance

The pool area will be closed March 1-5 for usual maintenance. The Equipment Room will be open and the restroom outside the Equipment Room will be available for use. Classes will continue to meet. The locker rooms will be closed.

Today’s Statistics

Kendal at Oberlin (KaO)

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

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

State of Ohio (as posted 3/2/2021)