Kendal Reporter - Kendal Crosslands Communities

Kendal Reporter
The
Published by the
residents of Kendal at Longwood
Vol. XLII, No. 3
March 2016
A Well-attended Forum Provided Answers
to Residents’ Questions
If the Broadway smash hit Hamilton had booked
a performance at Kendal,
the seats in the auditorium
and the lounge could not
have been fuller. But this
audience was not there to be
beguiled by musical interpretations of America’s history. The residents who
came on February 22 were there to hear updates
from Phil DeBaun and Meg Lemley about our home
at Kendal, in one of their regularly scheduled Forum
events.
Phil started the evening off with updates on various projects around campus. Work on the front entrance, delayed for a couple of year s while awaiting various state and township approvals, will start
this spring, when the weather is more suitable for
asphalt. The Auditorium Committee is also making
good progress in determining what changes should
be made to the auditorium to make it more suitable
for the wide variety of events held there. The group
recently visited Foulkeways, a Quaker retirement
community in Gwynedd that is similar to ours, which
had completed an auditorium renovation. Other such
trips are planned.
Efforts to realign our mix of cottages also continue, as appropriate spaces become available for combinations and renovation. The ratio of “small” to
“larger” is based on the actual number of inquiries
and sales over the past several years.
The hiring process for a new director of health services continues; three candidates have been selected
for a second interview. With the return of Marianne
McCarthy from maternity leave, temporary assignments have ended and staff are back in their original
jobs in Resident Care.
Meg reported that our overall occupancy at the
end of January was 86%--with a number of new residents scheduled to join us in Mar ch.
March 2016
Installation of bright new sheet flooring in the
café/coffee shop has begun and will take place at
night to minimize disruption.
The library will have new carpeting, a process
that will close the room for a few days. The newspaper tables will be moved to the back of the lounge
during this process and the book drop box will be in
the main hallway.
The Q and A portion of the Forum began with a
question about the move-in process for new residents.
Concern has developed over reports that cottages
were just not ready for new residents at the time of
move-in. Meg said that while there is a check list to
be followed, there have been some oversights and
delays, and the Facilities group is making an effort to
assure that everything is completed when a move in
is scheduled.
A resident asked, how is staff evaluated? Meg explained that each employee has an annual written performance review that answers several questions. For
example, does the employee’s behavior conform to
Kendal’s values? A portion of the evaluation rests on
demonstration of central job skills and progress toward individual goals. Meg also noted that if performance reviews are not completed by the date expected, pay increases for that group are held up,
providing a powerful incentive to get the job done!
Repairs and management of the walkways is important to Kendal walkers and cart drivers. How is
that work scheduled? Meg will refer the issue to
Mark Swick for an answer. Finally, a resident asked
what is Kendal’s policy on flu shots for staff? Meg
said that staff have one more year for voluntary compliance, which is about 70%, but next year shots will
be mandatory for all.
For those who did not come to the meeting, or
others who want to hear it again, it was recorded and
may be viewed on the resident web site, kalresweb.org.
Faith Wohl
1
In Memoriam
Helen Brinn 2-11
Elizabeth Wildman 2-20
Constance Nichols 2-21
Moves within Kendal
Julia van Ravenswaay 199 to 328
Violet Richman 95 to 332
Susan Angry 358 to 425
Leona Pollack 359 to 443
New Residents
Jane Lamont and Kay Strosnider Apt. 159
Renee Betts Apt. 18
The Reporter welcomes articles of general
interest by any member of the community.
E-mail copy (300-word limit) to
[email protected]
or place in Box 49, marked
“For the Reporter”
Material must include your name, and may
be edited as necessary.
Playreaders Present
“Bell, Book and Candle”
The Kendal Playreaders present a play
by reading the script with feeling and character, but
do not move around on the stage. They sit at a long
table facing the audience, with microphones so we
can hear them well as they read their parts.
“Bell Book and Candle” is a play which first appeared on Broadway in 1950, but is best remembered
for the movie version starring Kim Novak and Jimmy
Stewart.
In the February 13 presentation there were five
roles: Gillian Holroyd, read with good inflection and
a warm reasonable sounding voice by Mary Lou
Hale; Gillian’s aunt, Miss Holroyd, read with a fluttery innocent tone by Shirley Thompson, Shepherd
Henderson, whose likable expressive voice was Dave
Mooberry’s, Nicky Holroyd, Gillian’s brother, given
a lively reading by Dave Elder, and Sidney Redlitch,
read with authority and importance by David Feldman. Marj McCann was the narrator and her voice
was resonant and carried well. Kudos to Carole Smith
who produced the show! Oh, and one can’t forget
Pyewacket, the magic cat who only mewed, but did
the magic.
The Holroyd family are magical, and can do all
sorts of tricks like opening locked doors, changing
telephones etc., but they can’t fall truly in love as
long as they have this magic ability. After Gillian loses Pyewacket, her magic cat, she and Shep changed
their voices. She now has real feelings that come
through and she discovers true love, finding a happy
ending that is had by all. It was an excellent presentation by the cast!
Annie Hazard
Deadline for April issue:
March 23
The Kendal Reporter
Published by and for the residents of
Kendal at Longwood, P.O. Box 100,
Kennett Square PA 19348
Editor and layout: Ter r y Engeman
Reporters: Annie Hazar d, Faith Wohl,
Kay Rosier, Al Zalon
Proofreaders: Peg Allen, Mar gie Gr iest,
Eleanor Pearson
Toward the end of her life, Sarah
Bernhardt had a wooden leg and
often wore it on stage. The “Divine
Sarah” slept in a coffin, owned her own railroad
car, and played Juliet when she was 70.
James O’ Neill, father of playwright Eugene
O’Neill, acted in the play The Count of Monte
Cristo no less than 5,352 times, an average of
one performance a day every day for 14 years.
—2201 Fascinating Facts
Distribution: Raoul Leuter itz, Peg Allen
March 2016
2
New Art Works Line the Alcove
Helen Robinson is the latest artist to display her
work in the hallway alcove. Different techniques are
represented here; lino prints and etchings are the two
main categories. The three hanging on the left are
lino prints which, Helen said, is probably her favorite
technique. She starts with a linoleum block which is
gouged and carved out with X-acto knives and then,
using a special roller, she applies print making ink to
the carving. Then she prints it, using a printing roller,
on good paper. She emphasized the importance of
good paper. She uses Arches 100% rag count paper,
which is bought at a specialty art store. She folds and
rips the edges, doesn’t cut them with scissors! “Your
paper is your friend!” she says.
Embossed frames on wet paper add a nice touch. The
Celtic print (from the Irish Book of Kells) has an embossed frame and a block printed center. Other examples of this technique hang on the right.
Her examples of etchings are the “Trilobite,”
which was an experiment with preparing a plate but
not an etching, rather, mixed media. “The Tree” was
drawn with a stylus and then etched with acid on a
metal alloy or copper plate. The “Collection of Rhinos” tries for different effects in each one.
The large picture of “Seagulls” was a combination
of techniques; the blue is inked on matting board, the
white of the gulls is embossing, and the dark and
light grey are inked separately, each using two pieces
of paper. The shape of the gulls shows wonderful
movement!
Helen started learning about these techniques back
in the 1970s when she took a class at the Community
Art Center in Wallingford, Pennsylvania and fell in
love with printing techniques. She hasn’t done anything recently, since she needs a press. But we’d love
to see some more!
Longwood Fountain Renovation
Is Making Steady Progress
Kendal residents are well aware of the beauty and
fame of our neighbor, Longwood Gardens, one of
the premier botanical parks in the world. On February 1, Colvin Randall, a duPont Fellow and employee since 1977, used slides to review the history and
future of the magnificent fountain display in front of
the conservatory. Powered by an elaborate system of
underground conduits and pumps, it was first turned
on by Pierre duPont in 1931.
To create it, Mr. duPont traveled to France, Italy
and Spain, making note of particular features that he
would later incorporate into his own display. He especially enjoyed “water
jokes,” in which unsuspecting visitors
were suddenly sprayed or squirted as
they strolled past. One especially mischievous example was a stone table surrounded by stools on which guests would be seated,
only to find themselves sitting atop sudden jets of icy
water!
After many decades the plumbing had deteriorated
to the point where the entire complex needed to be
replaced and upgraded, at a cost of $90 million and
three years of intensive labor. While much will remain the same, new features will be added, such as a
stairway connecting the arcade and the topiary garden above it. A grotto with trickling water will
soothe weary spirits and a new, state of the art pump
house will supplant the old one, which will become a
museum. At times the fountains will be illuminated
from within, and may even briefly have plumes of
fire erupting from their crests.
The work is painstaking and won’t be completed
for another year. On Memorial Day, 2017, Pierre
duPont would have rejoiced to see his project newly
opened to the public with statuary, lawns and hedges
conforming so closely to his original dream. Will
there be a water joke? You’ll have to find out for
yourself!
Terry Engeman
Annie Hazard
March 2016
3
The Impact of Natural Gas Exploration
On Our Area
“Natural Gas: A Game Changer for Southeastern
Pennsylvania” was the title of the Monday Night
Topics presentation on February 15 by Dr. Roberta
Winters, a retired school teacher who, as a leader in
the League of Women Voters, has studied the influence of the extraction of natural gas in this area for
some time.
Her presentation reviewed the history of southeast
Pennsylvania and specifically the Eddystone/Marcus Hook area, where Sunoco
alone has 500 acres of refineries along
the Delaware River. There are many out
of work in this area, and they are anxious
to get more jobs.
The whole field of gas/liquids is a balancing game between the economic advantages of
more jobs, especially in construction, production,
manufacturing and transportation, versus the environmental concerns of air, water and land contamination,
“incidents,” noise, and the eco system in general.
What happens depends, among other things, on
the legislature, who has the money, and climate
change and how people react to it. The balancing depends on many things, too. The legal battles in Pennsylvania are concerned with the issue of eminent domain, that is, can an area be used for private profit at
the expense of the environment and citizens.
Another legal battle is concerned with Pennsylvania’s constitutional rights, the public versus economic interests. What are the limits? Some mitigating
risks are: siting, safety, air quality, noise and water.
Look to county-wide regional development planning,
pipeline problems such as the age of pipes, environmental justice issues, and monitoring health impacts.
What can we do? Participate;
Help prevent;
Be prepared!
The Hannigans Excelled
on Flute and Piano
What could J. S. Bach have been
thinking when he produced the B Minor Flute Sonata? To begin with, the
flute was a primitive wooden gadget
in his day, and this was probably
composed for an equally primitive
recorder. This sonata, however, is immensely complex and challenging. Beautifully performed on the
modern flute as it was on February 10 by Mary Hannigan, one can only assume that Bach was writing for
the future. The keyboard is a true partner in this sonata, and as played by Barry Hannigan, every nuance
was observed. The complexity of the ideas, the
slightly altered entrances, even the surprising bridge
material, keep the listener alert and involved. The
subsequent movements were equally satisfying. The
thoughtful largo followed by a dazzling two-piece
presto brought matters to a lively close.
Debussy’s Syrinx for flute solo bears the instruction that it be played in total darkness. For safety reasons our lighting was untouched, but with closed eyes
Kendal listeners could approximate. It is a relatively
brief free-form essay, languidly atmospheric, and Ms.
Hannigan laid it out beautifully.
Giving his partner a breather, Mr. Hannigan
launched into two Intermezzi and a Ballade by
Brahms, all brilliantly played, with particular tenderness addressed to Opus 118, No. 2.
The music of Howard Hanson, the American composer (1896-1981) is not heard as often as it should
be. His serenade Opus 35 is a lyric one-movement
essay, technically very challenging and well worth
attention. Finally, as a sort of dessert, John Rutter’s
Suite Antique trotted out a musical tray of sweets
which varied wildly between a really touching Aria
and a Waltz of glorified lounge tackiness. Hannigans...more Bach, please!
Al Zalon
Check the computer sites for information: also The
Chester County pipeline Information Center.
Annie Hazard
March 2016
Terry Engeman
Join the Weaving Group!
Have you ever thought about learning to weave?
Stop by our spacious, light-filled Weaving Room on the lower level and see the
variety of small and large looms available
for use. Our weaving team is ready to
help anyone who would like to learn this
modern, ancient and timeless craft! We encourage
residents and staff to visit: contact Gabrielle Kimmel
(Ext.1581, or Box 290).
If snowdrops come, can spring be far behind?
4
Photographers Illustrate
Q to Z
In April of 2015 the Kendal Photographers presented their photos illustrating
letters I through P. That was a while ago. On February 11 the end of the alphabet was finally reached
with the presentation of letters Q through Z.
Surprisingly, each of the ten participants managed
to find examples in their own oeuvre to fit the category, some recent, some years old. Barbara Hallowell,
for example, unearthed an ancient, one-sided Victrola
record, a relic of her childhood
Of course, some letters were more challenging
than others. An umbrella was the obvious choice to
illustrate U, or Q for quarter (coin), but what can you
use for, say, X? Frank Czeiner found one in a sort of
elongated pincer historically used to remove disruptive dogs from a church in Wales!
Rainbows, ships (the Ticonder oga on Lake
George), a chasm in Utah, a Zodiac rubber dingy...the
audience enjoyed each new example of the photographers’ imagination and ingenuity.
As usual, the enthusiastic participants embraced
the assignment they were given, and produced a fascinating program for our enjoyment. What might
their next assignment be...?
Terry Engeman
The Gateway Shop Needs You
Most residents are aware that if they need a stamp,
a greeting card, a roll of toilet paper, or a Dove dark
chocolate bar, they can find it in The Gateway Shop.
We also have an attractive selection of jewelry, and
some stylish clothes, and small gift items.
The Shop is open on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. and on Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Now, the Gateway Shop is in need of volunteers,
as several former salespeople have
retired. There is a variety of jobs:
working at the counter, helping a buyer, and counting the daily money intake for example. Even a couple of
hours a month will help.
If you can help, come in and leave your name on
a piece of paper with the volunteers at the counter, or
call Nancy Latham (610-793-2064) or Joanne
Sencindiver (x1321).
Annie Hazard
March 2016
It’s Not About Money!
To businessmen, safety is about the cost of
Workman’s Compensation. To attorneys, safety is
about liability and fees. The medical and pharmaceutical industries stand ready to heal—and invoice.
Insurance companies offer seniors long-term
healthcare and liability coverage.
Thankfully most of us, other than those who still
drive, no longer have to think about safety in dollar
terms. Your Resident Safety Committee (RSC) considers Pain, not dollars.
Preventing one accident can save a
resident some —maybe a lot—of Pain.
Let’s face it, seniors hurt more easily
and recover more slowly. Some, more
than others, adjust the way we live to lower risk.
The very fact that we live at Kendal reflects the
practical, intelligent first step we’ve all taken in that
regard.
However, simply moving to KCC is not enough.
Fact: aging correlates with accidents caused
by balance and other health issues.
Accidents lead to Pain. These occurrences are
inevitable only if we deny the possibility that they
could happen and refuse to prepare.
That, however, is what the RSC runs up against:
The “It won’t happen to me…” or “I’m fine, I don’t
need to change yet…” excuse. We’ve moved to
Kendal whose wonderful staff will pick us up and
nurse us after an accident. We hope the Pain will
diminish or we’ll get the “good stuff” to manage it.
But why not anticipate, and make the effort to avoid
the need to be picked up in the first place?
Last year the RSC focused on raising risk awareness, urged the wearing of “call for help” pendants
and whistles, and encouraged rearranging furniture.
The 2016 Falls Survey will tell us if, after four years,
falls have diminished.
Remember, it’s not about
it’s about
Cal Calvache for the RSC
The Yap islanders in the South
Pacific use 18-ft high stone rings
as money. The stones sometimes
weigh as much as 15 tons, which
means that when someone is paid
in such currency, he goes to where the money
is, not vice-versa.
5
The Growth Of An Idea:
The Kendal Crosslands Arboretum
Electronic Magic
On February 17 John Poth of Sage Vision Technology introduced Low Vision group members to a
variety of magical electronic experiences, such as a
program that enlarges a text and then reads it to you.
We saw collapsible and foldable screens and portable
hand-held electronic magnifiers. Sage Vision has
over 100 models of electronic products, large and
small. Some of us were so dazzled by this brush with
vision technology that we would like to try all of
them!
Sally Griffith
Communications Survey
More than 200 residents of Kendal took part in
the Communications Committee survey this past
month. Now, looking ahead to the end
of March, it will report the survey results and corresponding future plans.
At a meeting scheduled for Monday
evening, March 28, the Committee will
review the answers to the survey’s 13
questions, designed to measure residents’ reviews of existing communications.
This survey was accomplished electronically
through SurveyMonkey, an outside research firm that
collects and analyzes information from thousands of
research projects all over the world. Using this method allowed answers to be collected online, with rapid
tabulation and analysis available .For those without
email and/or not comfortable with using the computerized process, paper copies were available and used
by about 50 people. The questions took the measure
of Channel 9, Bulletin Boards, the Reporter and, of
course, the web site, whose first birthday was celebrated in January.
The Committee plans to review the survey results
at the meeting and share its own reactions to residents’ answers. A brief discussion of future plans for
the Committee’s work will also be provided. Finally,
to give Kendal residents a glimpse into the world of
social media, a quick discussion of Facebook and a
demonstration of Skype will round out the program.
Many residents already use these as a way to keep up
with family activities and to have conversations face
to face with distant grandchildren.
Faith Wohl
March 2016
In the fall of 2012, six residents (three
from each community) met to talk about how the
hundreds of trees on our combined campuses could
become an accredited arboretum.
In the spring of 2013, that goal became a reality
when the original small group expanded and the
combined campuses met the Morton Register requirements for accreditation as an arboretum.
In the following three years, a joint committee of
Kendal and Crosslands team members, in liaison
with the KCC Horticulturist, has:
 confirmed its Mission Statement and overall
goals
 developed policies and procedures
 established a gift tree program via the
Arboretum Fund
 created a web site www.kcarboretum.org
with tree photographs
 organized six loop walks, tree lists and
maps for self-guided tours
 developed a set of bylaws to govern and
guide future activities
The KCA Joint Committee has adopted the concept
that all residents of Crosslands and Kendal at Longwood are members of the KCA. As such, you are
urged to read the first set of bylaws, which can be
found in the library, on the community bulletin board
and at www.kcarboretum.org. Please attend the
KCA annual meeting on April 20 when these bylaws
will be offered for your approval.
We are grateful to those who have contributed to
the Arboretum Fund—we believe that the celebration
of our trees is but one way to celebrate life itself!
Thank you for the support which has allowed the
growth of this idea.
Kendal Crosslands Joint Committee
Jennifer Allcock
Will Luginbuhl
Peggy Bowditch
Bonnie Marcus
Judy Czeiner
Joan Schmitt
Ruth Galantino
Dee Stevens
Roger Parish
Eve Thyrum
Maralyn Gillespie
Bill Wells
Harry Hammond
Martin Wells
Peter Lane
Ellen Wilkinson
Crosslands
Kendal
Kendal
Crosslands
Kendal
Kendal
Crosslands
Kendal
Crosslands
Kendal
Crosslands
Crosslands
Kendal
Kendal
Crosslands
Kendal
6
Meet Our Staff: Angelo Burgos
In the January Reporter, we promised occasional
articles on the staff heroes who carry on their shoulders the job of making Kendal a great place to live.
This is the third in that series.
The biggest smile on the Kendal campus belongs
to Angelo Burgos, a member of the Housekeeping
staff. And he wears that smile whether he’s pushing
a vacuum or lifting stacks of chairs to rearrange the
auditorium, or just stopping to say hello.
Angelo has only been with Kendal for the past six
years, but his always-smiling demeanor has won him
support and friendship from Kendal residents. Originally a native of Villalba, Puerto Rico, he came to
the United States in 1965. He first lived in the
Bronx in New York City where he held a series of
jobs, eventually finding his way to Chester County
where he worked for mushroom grower C.P. Yeatman and Sons for 35 years, ending as a supervisor
before he retired.
He then applied for a job at Kendal in the housekeeping department in 2009. As a member of the
department he cleans apartments, shampoos rugs and
participates in the continual rearrangement of chairs
in the auditorium to set up for the many programs
held there. He enjoys his job and pointed out that he
has “been working all my life.” He said, “I always
try to do my best,” following the simple principle of
“don’t cause a problem.” He enjoys “working together.”
Angelo married his wife Amelia Baez in 1985.
They have one son who lives in Miami. He comes
from a big family (he had eight brothers and four
sisters!) and enjoys having lots of family and friends
around him. He now lives in Newark, Delaware.
While talking about his upcoming second retirement in July, Angelo commented that, “From the
bottom of my heart, I’m going to miss Kendal. It’s
been like family to me.”
Angelo, we will surely miss your cheerful smile
as well!
Faith Wohl
According to the Greek historian Herodotus,
Egyptian men never became bald. The reason
for this, Herodotus claimed, was that as children Egyptian males had their heads shaved,
and their scalps were continually exposed to
the health-giving rays of the sun.
March 2016
How the Franklinia Got Its Name
Thanks to King George III’s stipend for service as
Royal Botanist in North America, Philadelphia Quaker John Bartram and his son William, undertook in
1765 a botanical expedition through Georgia. John’s
journal mentions coming upon “severall curious
shrubs, one bearing beautiful good fruite” (sic) on the
banks of the Altamaha River.
Twenty years later, Humphrey Marshall, another
Quaker botanist, listed that newly-discovered species
in his Arbustrum Americanum: The American Grove,
the first published compendium of North American
trees. William had asked cousin Humphrey to name
the tree after his father’s friend, Benjamin Franklin.
This was four years after William played the key role
in the survival of that species. He had returned to
Georgia, located the same grove of trees—none had
been seen elsewhere—gathered seeds, planted them
at his father’s farm (now Bartram’s Garden, in Philadelphia, near the University of Pennsylvania), and
enjoyed the first flowering of his young trees.
Thanks to George, John, William, and Humphrey
(who distributed seeds to colonial and European botanists), the species survives. But not in Georgia;
Humphrey’s nephew Moses confirmed in 1790 that
the Franklinia alatamaha (a later spelling of the
river’s name) had become extinct in Georgia.
It’s still rare. Our arboretum has five of the 2,000
known to exist. In light of the world’s 3.4 trillion
trees, having even one Franklinia is a blessing.
On the next nice day head
for cottage #162 and walk
to the center of the courtyard, where you’ll be able
to see new buds and old
seed pods on and under
Kendal’s five Fanklinias.
Notice how they opened, in
a zig-zag way.
Then come back often
between August and October to enjoy the size and
length of bloom (3 inches wide, into the fall); fragrance (orange-like, some say); and autumn color
(deep oranges and reds). Notice that one was planted
in memory of Ted Reinke’s dad.
Franklinia seeds or seedlings can be purchased locally. Give the seedling adequate drainage, afternoon
shade, and water it during dry spells. (A suggestion:
while watering, sing “Georgia On My Mind.”) With
luck, the tree will in due course thank you with dazzling white, camellia-like blooms!
Harry Hammond and Judy Czeiner
7
A Bulletin Board
Request
Have you ever struggled to
read the fine print on a list or make out vague times
and places listed on the bulletin boards? Most of us
have. Those with vision impairments are challenged
almost every day.
Our bulletin board guidelines are well thought-out
and clear. “Please consider using a larger font, at
least 18 point, on your notices to enable those
with low vision to read them.” Those of us who have
no vision problems will be able to read them more
quickly. If space won’t allow bigger, try bolder.
That helps too. Larger, and bolder, together
really help.
You’ll soon see some of these differences in the
daily reports on Westmorland and Cumberland resident lists. Larger, brighter type and clearer lists will
help all of us read the Board more quickly so we can
move on to other things and reduce congestion
around the bulletin board areas. Help our Committee
do its job—make your notices clear, concise and
easy to read!
Peggy Draegert
A Scary Lesson Learned
“No, I don't need that yet.” Sound familiar? I feel
youthful, strong, walk well and a lot, have no balance
issues, wear sensible shoes and have no history of
falls. My feet always have been very loyal to me,
that is, I have never tripped because of them.... until
last night.
It felt like an out-of-body experience. I
saw myself going down in slow motion,
face forward. Nothing broke, just minor
bruises and luckily I did not need to use
the emergency cord or the phone, because
neither was within reach. Had I not been
able to get myself up, I would have been on the floor
until the morning check-up call.
Of course anyone, old or young, can suffer a fall.
Last night might have been a fluke. But what if it
happens again? Will that be the time when 'yet' becomes 'now'? Not for me. My 'now' is now. No more
illusions about being too young and healthy for the
pendant!
The next morning a trip to Resident Care to get the
pendant, and a stop at The Gateway Shop for a whistle to keep in my pocket completed my "shopping
spree." I am prepared.
Terry Gonzalez
March 2016
Book review
Excellent Daughters: The Secret Lives
of Young Women Who Are
Transforming the Arab World
by Katherine Zoepf
This is a puzzling title, but the subtitle tells it all. The author spent a decade traveling and living in the Arab
world, and has explored a startling variety of societies, attitudes and lives, all of which are forms of the
basic Islam religion. She had just begun her work as
a young research assistant at the New York Times
when the 9/11 attack shook the city and aroused her
interest in the Islamic world. She began learning Arabic and, as a “stringer,” spent a decade living and
traveling in Muslim countries, particularly Saudi
Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and the United Arab
Emirates, making friends and sharing the daily lives
of Muslim families. Having been brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness, Zoepf could easily understand
women’s struggle to reconcile childhood values with
a changing world.
Readers will be astonished by the diversity of ways
in which Muslim women are treated and how they
have responded. In Saudi Arabia, by far the stricter
culture, she found a surprising lack of interest in
changes. Women there are allowed access to Facebook and may attend a (female only) college, but the
country maintains a very strict separation of sexes:
“Adult Saudi men and women have had almost no
contact beyond their own immediate families.”
By contrast, Lebanon has the most “religiously diverse population.” In Christian neighborhoods she
has seen “tighter jeans and higher heels than anywhere else in the world.” Obviously this is not true
throughout the country, but the variety in Lebanon
offers women chnces impossible elsewhere.
In Syria everyone is brought up to believe in
“honor killings”; it is acceptable for a male family
member to kill a relative who has defied the strictly
required, chaste behaviors.
Egypt’s recent uprising has created a variety of opportunities for women there, but they can also be
forced to endure brutal virginity tests aimed at silencing their political voices, and many are circumcised!
as everywhere else, women are beginning to organize, resist oppression, and demand their rights.
Author Zoepf has observed and experienced a
great variety of repression of Muslim women, all of
which should make American women grateful for
their opportunities—and admiring of the courage
Muslim women are now developing.
Kay Rosier
8
New Books At the Library
Non-Fiction
Bell-Scott, Patricia. The Firebrand and the First Lady: Portrait of a Friendship : Pauli Murray, Eleanor
Roosevelt, and the struggle for social justice. 973.91 BE
Brooks, Mary Uhl. Threads of useful learning: W esttown School samplers. 746.4 BR
Bryson, Bill. The road to Little Dribbling : more notes from a small island. 914.2 BR
Clark, Ceri. A simpler guide to email: an unofficial user guide to setting up and using your free
Google email. 004.16 CL
Dickey, Jeff. Empire of mud: the secret history of W ashington DC. 975.3 DI
Engel, Richard. A nd then all hell broke loose : two decades in the Middle East. 956 EN
Kalanithi, Paul. W hen Breath Becomes A ir. 616.99 KA
Lowenstein, Roger. A merica’s bank: the epic struggle to create the Federal Reserve system. 331.2 LO
Mayer, Jane. Dark money : the hidden history of the billionaires behind the rise of the radical
right. 973.932 MA
Muir, Nancy C. iPad for dummies. 004.67 MU
Owens, Owen D. Spiritual help in hard times: the Bible’s hope for life on earth. 261.8 OW
Rosensweig, Gary. My iPad for seniors. 004.67 RO
Sakamoto, Pamela. Midnight in broad daylight : a Japanese A merican family caught between two
worlds. 940.53 SA
Tolan, Sandy. The lemon tree: an A rab, a Jew, and the heart of the Middle East. 956.9 TO
Visual Steps. W indows 10 for seniors: get started with W indows 10. 004.67 VI
Visual Steps. W indows 10 for seniors for the beginning computer user: get started with
Windows 10. 004.67 VI
Zoepf, Katherine. Excellent daughters : the secret lives of young women who are transforming the
Arab world. 956 ZO
Biography
Birkel, Michael Lawrence. A near Symphony: timeless Quaker wisdom of John W oolman. Q B WO
Buckley, Paul. The essential Elias Hicks. Q B HI
Kavanagh, Jennifer. New light: 12 Quaker voices. Q B KA
Mankiller, Wilma Pearl. Mankiller: a chief and her people. B MA
Swaim, Barton. The speechwriter : a brief education in politics. B SW
Fiction
Amis, Martin. Zone of Interest.
Ferrante, Elena. The story of a new name: book two, the Neapolitan novels youth.
Flynn, Gillian. Dark places.
Lethem, Jonathan. Motherless Brooklyn.
Martel, Yann. The high mountains of Portugal.
McCann, Colum. Thirteen ways of looking: a novella and three stories.
Mina, Denise. Blood, salt, water : A n A lex Morrow novel.
Rosenblatt, Roger. Thomas Murphy.
Strout, Elizabeth. My name is Lucy Barton.
Continued on next page, col. 1
March 2016
9
Coming Events
New books at the library, continued
Mystery
Eastman, Brian. Rosemary and thyme: “and no birds
sing.”
Gerritsen, Tess. Playing with fire : a novel.
Mina, Denise. Blood, Salt, W ater : A n A lex Morrow
novel.
Rankin, Ian. Even dogs in the wild : a novel.
Seymour, Gerald. V agabond: A Thriller.
Shaw, William. A song for the brokenhearted.
Steinhauer, Olen. A ll the old knives.
Winspear, Jacqueline. Birds of a feather.
DVDs
The Barbarian Invasions
Remy Girard
The Royal Tenenbaums
Gene Hackman
Up Close & Personal
Robert Redford
The Dish
Sam Neill
October Sky
Jake Gyllenhaal
Mr. Holmes
Ian McKellen
Half Past Autumn (documentary) Gordon Parks
Midsomer Murders: Series 12
John Nettles
Into the Storm
Janet McTeer
A Walk in the Woods
Robert Redford
For Richer, For Poorer
Jack Lemmon
Two Days, One Night
Marion Cotillard
Mud
Matthew McConaughey
Danny Collins
Al Pacino
Mediterraneo
Nicola Lorussso
The Intern
Robert DeNiro
The Parent Trap
Dennis Quaid
Results
Guy Pearce
I Love Trouble
Julia Roberts
Mr. Turner
Timothy Spall
Georgia O’Keeffe
Joan Allen
Bridge of Spies
Tom Hanks
Music from Another Room
Jude Law
An Unexpected Intervention
Recently, as I was finishing my dinner in the cafe, the
young server mistakenly placed someone else’s dessert in
front of me. Although I am no longer allowed to have
sugar, out of habit—and the delicious aroma!—I cut off
a piece of the French apple pie and was lifting it to my
mouth when I felt the server’s hand on my shoulder.
“Mrs. Page, you know you shouldn’t be eating sugar!”
she gently scolded me. I reluctantly returned the morsel
to the plate, while reflecting on how fortunate we are,
at Kendal, that even the youngest employees have our
best interests at heart and are not afraid to speak up.
My table mates were amused, but we all appreciated
the universal watchfulness that keeps us healthy in our
community.
Jeannette Page
March 2016
February 29– March 3
The library will be closed for carpet replacement
and other reorganization. Newspapers are on a table
in the lounge.
March 4: The Contemplative Pr ayer gr oup will
gather in Activity Central from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. to
evaluate this popular series and to discuss possible
topics for sessions that will be forthcoming. We welcome any who participated in one or more of the
morning prayer sessions to assist us with comments
as we consider topics for future sessions of “Creating
a Life with God.” Watch for more information on
the bulletin boards and/or call Kathleen McAleer at
Ext. 3044 for additional information.
Jerri Olszewski
Spiritual Life Committee
March 5: Pr e-Kendal
Memories
March 7: Monday Topics
“Sacred Attention: Walt Whitman’s Spirituality”
will be the subject given by Dr. Robert L. Davis,
professor of 19th and 20th century American Literature at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.
He has been published widely in American literature
and has been the invited speaker at national and international academic conferences.
Ed Brubaker
March 14: Monday Topics
The role of African-Americans in the Underground
Railroad. Michele Sullivan & Megan Delmar, from
the Kennett Underground Railroad Center.
March 21: Monday Topics
Jeff Groff, Director of Interpretation at Winterthur,
will speak about “Philadelphia Industrialists and Financiers, 1865-1940: Their Country Estates Along
the Main Line and in Chester County,” an illustrated
lecture that tells the story of the leading financiers
and manufacturers after the Civil War up until the
time of WWII and their residences.
Eva Verplanck
10
March
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
9:00 Prayer group
in Activity Central
Library closed for reorganization
7:15 Pre-Kendal
Memories
6
7
8
9
10:30 Quaker
Meeting for Worship, library
10
11
12
3:00 Quaker
Business Meeting
in training room
7:15 Monday
Topics: Walt Whitman’s Spirituality
13
14
10:30 Quaker
Meeting for Worship, library
10:00 KRA Board
Meeting
Quaker Tea, 45:30, Activity
Central
7:15 Monday
Topics: Underground Railroad
20
21
15
7:15 Concert:
Wister Quartet
7:15 Kendal Photographers Photo
Essays
16
17
Daylight Saving
begins tonight!
7:15 Film
18
19
9:00 Prayer group
in Activity Central
7:15 Armchair
Travel
22
23
24
25
26
10:30 Quaker
Meeting for Worship, library
7:15 Monday
Topics: Philadelphia
Industrialists 18651940
27
28
7:15 Concert:
Jennifer Campbell, piano
29
30
7:15 Saturday
Night Live: Jazz
31
KRA Listening Post
March 2016
11