President`s Message Champagne Ball Phelps Star Awards

Nov-Dec 2009
Now on the web at http://www.phelpshospital.org/auxiliary/index.php
President’s Message
by Rose Marie Parisi
A very special volunteer, Eva Marie Dahling, has retired
from her volunteer duties at the James House Mansion. We
will miss you very much and wish you and Gunter all the
very best. We offer our congratulations to Susan Bodansky
who will be assuming the position of Chairperson of The
James House Mansion. We wish Susan all the very best and
know she will do a wonderful job in her new volunteer
position.
Thanks to all those who helped with the September bake
sale and 50/50 raffle, from everyone who baked and served
to all those who purchased! The next bake sale is scheduled
for December 17th.
The winter clothing drive will be held November 9th
through the 12th. We will be accepting new or gently used
coats, hats, gloves and sweaters. The bin will be located
outside the hospital cafeteria. Thank you for helping those
less fortunate this season. Please see the enclosed flyer.
As we gather together with family and friends this
season let us be thankful to those who have helped us when
we needed it. Let’s show our gratitude by giving back. Please
contact the Phelps Hospital Volunteer Services at 914-3663170 if you are interested in helping with the clothing drive.
Thanks for your Help!
EDITED by JIM REIDY
Champagne Ball
by Jim Goldsmith
On October 1, promptly at 10 AM., Pat Makai once again
determined the fate of those who submitted their entries in
our annual Champagne Ball lottery for free tickets.
For the past several years, your Auxiliary has taken a table
and has given ten lucky winners the chance to attend for free,
as long as they were paid up members of the Auxiliary at the
time of submitting their entry. As is also the custom, last
year’s winners were excluded from the first round of
drawing, but could become alternates if their names were
drawn.
This year’s winners were (clockwise from the front) Helen
Chanowsky, Muriel Ruchti, Pat Horner, Nancy and Victor
Eichorn, Jane Forstenzer, Marguerite Klein, Jim Chalmers,
Jim Reidy and his wife, Pat Jehle.
The evening started with a cocktail hour including a silent
auction and delicious hors d’oeuvres. After a few speeches
from prominent representatives dinner was served, followed
by hours of dancing to the music of a terrific band.
If this sounds good to you, get your names in next year and
maybe you, too, will get to attend.
Anita Watson, John Rizzo, Donna Yetman, Lori Kruppenbacher and Alyssa
Kruppenbacher at the Champagne Ball registration table
The Development Office would like to thank Anita Watson
(Infection Control), John Rizzo (Environmental Services) and
Donna Yetman (Employee Health) for their help with
registration, auction spotting, customer service, and other
tasks in making the Champagne Ball a great success. We’d
also like to give a BIG thank you to Donna and Jim
Goldsmith for all of their hard work on the Ball Committee.
Phelps Star Awards
by Jim Reidy
Congratulations to Lynne Hansen and John LeVar on being
chosen for the Star Award for exceptional service to the
Phelps Community. We apologize for this minimal article but
we promise to expand on this in the January issue with photos
and information of their contributions to Phelps.
A Little Local History
by Dennis Corcoran
The Quadricentennial of the Hudson River - Part V
The Hudson River played a major part in the Industrial Revolution. The War of 1812 was the impetus for the Hudson
Valley’s industrial development as the largest and most modern iron foundry, The West Point Foundry, was established at Cold
Spring in 1818. Cold Spring was an ideal choice because of its proximity to the river, being surrounded with forests, and its
closeness to West Point and their military brass, an ideal resource in the making of artillery. Robert Parrott, an experienced
artillery officer and graduate of the Military Academy, spent 20 years as the superintendent of the foundry and developed a
cannon that bore his name and was used extensively during the Civil War. The Foundry also produced iron pipes for the New
York City water supply and cast the engine for the country’s first locomotive, “The Best Friend”.
A devastating fire in 1835 in New York’s financial district that destroyed most of the wooden structures increased the demand
for bricks for building construction. The result was the establishment of some 83 brickyards along shoreline communities to
produce bricks including local areas such as Croton, Verplanck, Montrose and Haverstraw.
Eventually the twentieth century would produce new industries along the Hudson River including a General Electric plant in
Hudson, a General Motors auto plant in North Tarrytown (Sleepy Hollow today) and a major IBM facility in Poughkeepsie.
All this growth and industry had a negative effect as well, especially in New York City during the nineteenth century. Cholera
was a major health problem for people because of polluted drinking water, which was resolved when the Croton Aqueduct was
opened in 1842. John Jervis, an engineer we will read more about in Part VI, designed the High Bridge that helped deliver water
from the aqueduct to Manhattan. It can be seen from the Cross Bronx Expressway and today they’re trying to open it as a public
park.
Many industrialists and other wealthy people built beautiful estates along the Hudson River because of the scenic beauty, a
source of inspiration for the Hudson River artists as well. A man most people are unfamiliar with came along and helped develop
an appreciation of scenic beauty for everyone to enjoy rather than just the artists and estate owners. He was A.J. Downing, a
landscaper from Newburgh who wrote the book, A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening. This book had a
tremendous influence on many people including Frederick Law Olmstead. Downing believed that everyone should be able to
enjoy nature, which would refresh their spirits and have a civilizing effect by exposing people to natural beauty. He, along with
the poet, William Cullen Bryant, helped to get legislation passed in New York State that set aside 500 acres in New York City for
the building of a public park. Downing was tragically killed in a fire aboard the steamship The Henry Clay before Frederick Law
Olmstead submitted the winning proposal for the building of Central Park. Olmstead became the country’s leading landscape
designer. In addition to Central Park he was also responsible for Yosemite Park, Riverside Park in New York City, Prospect Park
in Brooklyn and the master plan for a place we’re all familiar with, Tarrytown.
DONATIONS!
Submitted by Nancy Eichorn
We would like to recognize those members who, in 2009, not only renewed their Auxiliary membership or
joined the Auxiliary but also enclosed something extra to help keep the organization in good financial health.
It’s through their generosity, combined with our normal fund raising programs, that we are able to provide
the basis for our contributions to the hospital. Thanks once again for your help.
Marie Abramson
Susan Aguado
Robert and Betty Albertson
Ruth Baer
Florence Brown
Angelina Burns
Anne Caldara
Marie Case
Ginger Cass
Joan Lyons Ceconi
Helen Chanowsky
Georganne Chapin
Hsin Chao, MD
Mariela Colon
Elaine Cooney
David Coulam
John and Connie Curran
Carol Cusick
Mary Delfino
Bonnie D’Emidio
Martha Dugan
Victor and Nancy Eichorn
Barbara Epstein
Ruth Fenton
Joan Fiorito
Sara Geyer
Jim and Donna Goldsmith
Andrew and Donna Grass
Alice Marie Hales
Lynne Hansen
Joan Hartney
Norma Herguth
Iris Hill
Helen Jones
Rosalie Kavy
Frances Kelly
Mary Jean Keenan
Joan Kent
Barbara Klapkowski
Marguerite Klein
Ilene Kreilsheimer
Sylvia Krell
Mary Ann Lawlor
Nancy Leddy
Joan Lederman
Frances MacEachron
Kathy Mackie
Patricia Maddalo
Barbara McGrath
Ellen Melvin
Karen Mendelowitz
Wilma Mendelowitz
Maria Mussili
Harold Newman
Mary Kay Olson
Rose Marie Parisi
Jim Reidy and Pat Jehle
Joan Rodenberger
Janeth Rosenthal
Regina Rubenstein
Muriel Ruchti
Keith Safian
Al and Doris Saias
Joan Scumaci
Betty Seideman
Louise Siebel
Martha Staffiera
Alice Stafford
Lore Strauss
Valerie Stimpson
David Swope
Ofelia Ticker
Marie Timmings
Drusilla Van Hengel
Joyce Weiser
Carol Zegarelli
G IFT S H OP L O BBY S AL ES
Schedule courtesy of Iris Hill
Pam’s Corner
by Pam Cardozo
November
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Tues
Thurs
Fri
Mon
Tues
11/6
11/9
11/11
11/13
11/17
11/19
11/20
11/23
11/24
Exile C.D.’S
Activewear Plus
Classy Karat Jewelry
Tupperware
As Seen On T.V.
Full Of Sheets
A Creative Touch
Leather Outlet
Sock Exchange
12/3
12/4
12/9
12/10
12/11
12/14
12/18
12/22
2nd Story Interiors
Lillian Wetzel Jewelry
Silver Dreams Jewelry
Framed Fabric Art
Classy Karat Jewelry
Melvia Sportswear
D & D Jewelry
Exile C.D.’S
December
Thurs
Fri
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Mon
Fri
Tues
Welcome to our newest volunteers!!
Courtesy of Pat Makai
Jean Blackman
Victoria Bonsignore
Gloria Cooper
Barbara Fixler
Mary Gallagher
Donna Goldsmith
Eva-Marie McGinnis
Amy Hendler
Virginia Hong
Eileen McArdle
Marlyn Moshier
Gail Shepherd
George Slocum
Judith Toich
Scarborough
Pastoral Care
Lake Carmel
Pastoral Care
Briarcliff Manor
Pastoral Care
Tarrytown
Newborn Hearing
Ossining
Pastoral Care
Ossining
Cherry Door
Briarcliff Manor Atrium Ambassador
Elmsford
Pastoral Care
Scarsdale
Transport
Ossining
Gift Shop
Harrison
Pastoral Care
Ossining
Pastoral Care
Ossining
Library
Croton-on-Hudson
Administrative
Welcome to our Newest Auxilian
Submitted by Nancy Eichorn
Barbara Fixler
Upcoming Auxiliary Board Meetings
Nov 18th and Dec 16th at 9:00AM in the Board Room.
News and Notes Nov-Dec 2009 Vol. XI No. 5
Editorial Staff and Contributors
Jim Goldsmith Nancy Eichorn
Pam Cardozo Dennis Corcoran
Pat Makai Iris Hill Jim Reidy
*** Photos courtesy of Jim Reidy and Jim Goldsmith ***
News and Notes is published by the Phelps Memorial Hospital Auxiliary,
Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. Contributions, comments and suggestions are
welcome.
Please call the Volunteer Office at (914) 366-3170.
Kendal-on-Hudson Health Fair - On
October 15, three of our volunteers, Fran
Kelly, Shirley Lobenthal, Anna Mae
O’Leary, and myself participated in the
Kendal Health Fair at Kendal-on-Hudson. It
gave us a wonderful opportunity to meet
new people and explain our volunteer
services. Several people stopped by our table and may be
joining our volunteer team.
New York Life has designed a beautiful
poster “A Gift from Us to You” which will
be placed over the book bin in the
Emergency Department. This continues to
be a wonderful collaboration and our young
patients really appreciate leaving the
Hospital with a book specially selected for their age group.
Flu Vaccine – A big Thank You to all our
volunteers who responded so quickly in
getting their seasonal flu shot. We have
almost completed our mission of making
sure all volunteers are vaccinated.
In Memoriam
LUCY RUSH
Lucy, a long-time employee and volunteer here at Phelps,
passed away on October 12th after a courageous battle with
cancer. Lucy was a nurse at Phelps for 17 years, a member of
the Auxiliary and served as Assistant Secretary on the
Auxiliary Board. She was a volunteer for a total of 20 years,
working in Hospice and doing special administrative projects
for the Hospital. Lucy’s smile and warm and caring manner
will be sorely missed.
PATRICIA (PAT) LANE
Pat quietly slipped away in her sleep at Rosary Hill Home in
Hawthorne on August 30th after a year long fight with her
cancer. She was 72 years old, born in NYC to Frank and
Camille Stella on May 2,1937. She was a schoolteacher in
NYC and then worked as manager of a credit union until
retirement. After retirement she worked at the Information
Desk as a volunteer at Phelps Hospital. We will miss her
smiling face and warm greetings.
HARRIET SAFIAN
Harriet, the mother of Phelps President and CEO, Keith
Safian, passed away on Saturday, October 17th. Our
sympathies are with the family during their time of grief.
FIRST CLASS
MAIL
PLACE MAILING
LABEL HERE
PHELPS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AUXILIARY
SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY 10591
Our Grateful Appreciation to a True Phelps Volunteer and Auxilian
by Pam Cardozo
Phelps Memorial Hospital Center recently said “Goodbye” to a long, long-time volunteer, Eva-Marie
Dahling, who resigned in June of this year after having completed 23,882 hours of volunteer service.
Eva-Marie has been a volunteer at Phelps for over 34 years, serving in many different capacities. Her
roles included Tour Chairperson, Special Services Chairperson, Care Chairperson, Emergency Room
Chairperson, Golf Classic Chairperson, Cherry Door Thrift Shop Chairperson, 1 st VP of the Auxiliary,
Asst. Treasurer, Coordinator of the Phelps Fair and, perhaps as most of you knew her best, Chairperson of
the James House Mansion. She guided many clients from start to finish and worked with numerous
nervous brides as they planned their special event, ensuring that no stone was left unturned.
Eva-Marie’s artistic talents are second-to-none. We are all wondering how we will manage without her, especially when it’s
time for the Auxiliary Board Meeting, the Volunteer Supper and Auxiliary Holiday Party. Every year, she prepared afternoon tea
for the annual Auxiliary Board Meeting and we always looked forward to her special cream cheese and chutney sandwiches, not
to mention her beautiful floral arrangements, designed for the occasion.
Many of you have commented on the shadow box displayed outside the Volunteer Office. Eva-Marie has always created
exquisite themes for various special occasions throughout the year, all reflected in the shadow box. After our Volunteer Supper
every summer, a beautiful photograph gallery of our volunteers enjoying the festivities of the evening has been displayed in the
box, carefully arranged by Eva-Marie.
Eva-Marie’s generous contributions to Phelps over the years, in many, many different ways, have done so much for our
Hospital – too much to put into simple words. It will definitely not be an easy task finding a replacement for her as a valued
Board member of the Auxiliary and Chairperson of The James House Mansion.
Thank you for everything, Eva-Marie! You have left a truly indelible legacy!
Another Successful Sale
by Jim Goldsmith
We added a new wrinkle to the latest bake sale, a 50/50 lottery that proved to be popular. Advertisements will be added to our posters at the next bake sale and hope to make
even more money. We were also aided by the generosity of Ann Palm Reibel who graciously donated ten copies of her latest children’s book “How Pearl Discovered Henry
Hudson’s Shoe” for us to sell at the bake sale. We sold seven of them.
We were extremely shorthanded, both with help and baked items to sell. I sound like a
broken record on this, but we really need the Auxiliary to step up and help. It is always
the same 10 or 12 people who help. Other Auxilians think they have sent their $20 dollars
of dues and need not bother to do anything else. That is so wrong and “Un-Auxilian”.
The Auxiliary continually needs your help, so baking an item or two four times a year
can’t be a great imposition. Our next bake sale will be on December 17th. Please start
thinking now about how you can help!!