spring s orchestra · spring’s orchestra by lenore hetrick march is such a blustery month—and...
TRANSCRIPT
March 14, 2020 — March 20, 2020 www.lathrop.kendal.org
Spring’s Orchestra
by Lenore Hetrick
March is such a blustery month—And yet I think I hear, Beneath the clamor a little voice, crying, “Oh, be of cheer! This medley of terrific sounds, this banging far and near,
Is just the orchestra of spring, announcing she is here.”
It is the overture that heralds a sweeter melody, You know how it is with a piece of music, a march or a symphony.
The opening notes are very loud, triumphant as can be, The orchestra blares forth with might, and shouts its mounting glee.
But in a moment there is heard a sweeter, softer tune, A melody that hints of birds, and of an April moon,
A melody that whispers sweetly flowers are coming soon, Apple blossoms bud and daisies mingle with this tune.
So when I hear the banging sounds with which March comes and goes, I only smile for now, you see, I know why this wind blows.
He is the orchestra of spring that heralds the bud and rose. When he has finished his overture, then March packs up and goes.
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Saturday, March 14th Soup: Italian Beef Soup
Salad: Italian Mushroom Salad
Entrée 1: Breast of Chicken Saltimbocca
Entrée 2: Blackened Scallops Served Over Scallion Cream Sauce
Side Dishes: Beets, Wilted Swiss Chard, Wild Rice Pilaf
Dessert: Lemon Cake
Sunday, March 15th Soup: Pork, White Bean & Spinach Soup
Salad: Marinated Artichoke Salad
Entrée 1: Seared Red Snapper with Pineapple Salsa
Entrée 2: Roast Tenderloin of Beef with Sauce Charcuterie
Side Dishes: Grilled Asparagus, Mushrooms with Red Pepper, Roasted Potatoes
Dessert: Strawberry Short Cake
Monday, March 16th Soup: Italian Wedding
Salad: Cucumber Salad
Entrée 1: Grilled Swordfish with Lemon Caper Butter
Entrée 2: Pork Medallions with Cider Pepper Glaze
Side Dishes: Broccoli, Corn O’Brien, Confetti Rice
Dessert: Boston Cream Pie
Tuesday, March 17th Soup: Curried Cauliflower Soup
Salad: Fresh Fruit Salad
Entrée 1: Craw Fish & Chicken Thighs with Creole Sauce
Entrée 2: Corned Beef with Carrots & Cabbage
Side Dishes: Green Beans, Succotash, Boiled Red New Potatoes
Dessert: Banana Pudding
Wednesday, March 18th Soup: Golden Borscht
Salad: Balsamic Tortellini Salad
Entrée 1: Baked Haddock with Dill & Herb Blend Crumb Topping
Entrée 2: Chicken Marsala
Side Dishes: Peas, Parsnips & Green Onions, Pesto Farfalle
Dessert: Chocolate Decadence Cake
Thursday, March 19th Soup: Tarragon Beef Mushroom Soup
Salad: Marinated Vegetable Couscous Salad
Entrée 1: Grilled Marinated Breast of Chicken
Entrée 2: Barbeque Baby Back Ribs
Side Dishes: Wax Beans, Roasted Zucchini, Sweet Potato Fries
Dessert: Raspberry Trifle
Friday, March 20th Soup: Maryland Crab & Corn Chowder
Salad: Caesar Salad
Entrée 1: Pan Fried Trout with Orange Glaze
Entrée 2: Roasted Chicken with Sherry, Honey & Thyme
Side Dishes: Brussel Sprouts, Butter Glazed Carrots, Roasted Walnut Couscous
Dessert: Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
In addition to the daily special, there is a
selection of other items that are always available.
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WELLNESS MATTERS
LATHROP IN THE TIME OF
COVID19
By Rob Olmsted
I suspect like me you have heard more than
enough about the threat and response to the
continuing outbreak of Corona virus Covid19.
The endless loop of guidance threatens to over-
whelm, and yet I feel compelled to review and
reinforce some important facts as we know them
now. In addition I want to reflect on our commu-
nity’s strengths and how we can apply those
strengths to weather these next challenging
weeks or months. To begin, I will suggest we
stick to the basics and find ways to disconnect
from the “panic” while connecting with the things
that nourish and sustain us. One thing we are
certain about – anxiety and stress reduce our
immune response!
What Else Do We Know? Clearly, due to the
realities of aging, this virus poses greater risk
for residents of our community than to the popu-
lation on average. But we also know that Lath-
rop residents benefit from access to greater re-
sources and from having an above average
level of education essential to understanding
this challenge. I also believe that this community
has a highly developed social ethic and a well
lubricated community support network. These
are important qualities on which to base our
personal plans of action. Much of what follows
summarizes what you can find at the CDC link
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html.
Lathrop management has formed a response
task force, including residents who are retired
medical professional. We are continuing to
monitor the evolving information and shaping
our response to support the community.
How To Reduce Your Risk: 1) Limit your trav-
el and exposure to large groups. 2) Avoid
those who are sick and practice social distanc-
ing (6ft where possible) 3) Screen your contacts
for the risks they pose – have they traveled re-
cently to places where community transmission is
likely? Have they or their family members re-
cently experienced any of the relevant symp-
toms below? 4) Clean high touch surfaces often
and urge others to do the same. 5) And most
importantly, WASH IN AND WASH OUT –
wash your hands thoroughly
whenever you leave and again
when you return home, and
whenever you are out in public.
This virus is spread from respirato-
ry droplets which have been shown to remain
on certain surfaces for days (likely 2-3 in some
cases). But, it is also fairly easy to kill, and it is
not clear how virulent it remains with time on
surfaces.
How To Prepare: 1) Strengthen your communi-
cations and support network – know who is most
likely available to support you should you need
help. Start with your lanes and make sure you
have each other’s contacts. Better still, work to-
gether to make a plan to help with supplies and
communications. Both Resident Councils are or-
ganizing to make decisions about community
access policies. 2) Stock up on basic food stuffs,
personal necessities and cleaning supplies, as
well as medications, especially fever reducers.
(clearly this is getting more challenging with
“panic” buying and creates a conundrum as to
getting out even now to public grocery stores
etc.)
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Help Break The Chain Of Transmission: 1)
Stay home if you are sick! This of course is
always the right choice; 2) Cover your mouth
with a tissue or your sleeve if you cough, then
dispose of the tissue; 3) and WASH YOUR
HANDS OFTEN! (Can that be said enough?)
Alcohol hand sanitizer of > 60% is adequate.
Despite all our efforts, some of us will catch this
virus. We know that the testing regimen is in-
adequate. We have some connections with the
Cooley Dickinson infectious disease team and
are doing what we can to find out more. We
also have an insider at Valley Medical Group
who should be able to help us understand their
protocol, but many will become symptomatic
and likely not receive a confirmed diagnosis.
The response is the same with a clear diagnosis
or not- stay home until you are better. (Staff
protocol is 48hrs post fever and no active
cough. Should someone have a positive test,
clearance will be determined by public health
authorities) Most who become ill will stay home
and recover at home. Some will need hospital
care.
What To Do If You Become Ill: 1) Notify your
doctor. They will likely not urge you to come in
to risk infecting others. 2) Notify your support
team. 3) Notify the Lathrop Wellness nurse 4)
Do as you’ve always done with viral illness:
take fever reducers, keep warm, get plenty of
rest and fluids, and eat light meals.
Standard symptoms of this infection are sore
throat, fever (we will screen at >100.3), cough
and shortness of breath. It invades the lungs,
so runny nose and allergy symptoms are likely
not it. But of course each individual may pre-
sent differently. The complication is pneumonia,
which is fluid and fibrous consolidation of the
lungs. This will need hospital care. That choice
will need to be yours. Lathrop staff will not be
able to provide direct assessment or care once
you become ill. Of course, the aides have ac-
cess to on call support from the nurse until
10pm nightly through the front desk. Cooley
Dickinson is holding a panel today and we
should understand more about how admissions,
isolation and treatment are planned.
It is clear that we are facing a real test to the
resilience of our community, as well as to our
willingness, and to that of the greater communi-
ty to do the fundamental things we need to do
to take care of ourselves and others. Lathrop
of course is required to protect the health of
staff, and by extension their families, and we
do not have the kind of safety equipment to
provide medical support. Nor can our modest
team risk a cascade of extended absence. In
the same way, our staff understands that they
have a responsibility to protect your health by
self-monitoring and following infection control
best practices in the course of their duties. Our
task force will continue to explore how Lathrop
staff can step in to provide support for resi-
dents. Together we will make decisions about
limiting access to areas of our community.
Transportation and shopping support are im-
portant decision points. Please remember, this
is a fluid situation, highly charged but manage-
able with diligent effort and good communica-
tion. As always, please reach out to Thom
Wright or myself with questions and con-
cerns.
Riddle: It walks east, west, north and south, Has a tongue, but nary a mouth.
WELLNESS MATTERS
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What’s That Quacking?
If you walk the paths on the east campus
or in the Fitzgerald Lake area that abuts
the north campus these days, you may
hear a loud quacking sound. It’s not
ducks—it’s wood frogs.
These little frogs lay eggs in water. But
in streams or permanent ponds, fish
would gobble up all these caviar snacks,
so wood frogs lay their eggs only in ver-
nal pools, which, by definition dry up
every few summers, so no fish can live
there.
But how do the babies survive when the
pool dries up? Wood frog tadpoles develop
lungs and legs, and then hop out into the sur-
rounding forest where they live during the sum-
mer, eating flies and worms and such. They hi-
bernate in winter, buried in the leaf litter. Their
hearts and lungs actually stop; their bodies
produce antifreeze to keep cells alive.
Right now our wood frogs are thawing out and
heading for the vernal pool where they were
born, which is becoming a very hot dating site.
The frogs make quite a show, lustily quacking
and scooting around in the water, the males
clasping any frog (they have to clasp it to see
whether it’s a female or another male), and,
when they find a female, scrambling onto her
back and gripping her tight, fighting off other
males, and then releasing sperm as she releas-
es her eggs.
Our east campus trail map identifies where the
vernal pools are located (see the Land Conser-
vation Committee website:
www.LathropLand.Wordpress.com, and click
on” trails.” The Fitzgerald Lake trail map,
available through the same site, does not iden-
tify the location of vernal pools, though there
are some there.
The human-made drainage pond on Teaberry
is not a natural vernal pool, and it has a rubber
bottom, but you will hear wood frogs there.
When that area’s drainage is redone for the
road to the new homes, the town’s Conservation
Commission will dictate strategies to protect
wildlife in that area as much as possible. Mas-
sachusetts is among the strictest states in regu-
lating its wetlands, streams, and ponds.
Remember that the little critters are traveling
through the forest as well as in the pools. Don’t
walk in the pools or too near them, or let your
dog do so, and keep your dog on a short
leash.
OUR LATHROP LAND
Mating wood frogs. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
File:Rana_sylvatica_SC_2.jpg
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Meeting House Activities Saturday, March 14 10:00 Guided Meditation Sunday, March 15 2:00 Movie: Knives Out Monday, March 16 (Trash and Recycling) 10:00 Art Studio—LL 11:00 Yoga 11:30 Bridge Lessons w/Judy Hyde-Library 2:00 Healthy Bones and Balance 3:15 Mahjong– Library Tuesday, March 17 9:00 Foot Clinic 10:00 private LIR Seminar 12:00 Foreign Film—The Secret of Kells 12:00 Computer Class w/Mateo—Library 3:30 English Country Dancing Wednesday, March 18 1:30 Handcrafts 2:30 Pool at the Blue House 4:00 Tai Chi Thursday, March 19 10:00 Errands Van Trip 10:00 Men’s Group-Library 10:00 Art Studio 11:00-2:00 Larissa Lynds Office Hours 2:00 Healthy Bones and Balance 5:45 Dine at The Inn Friday, March 20 9:30 Just-sitting Silent Meditation 10:00 Poker 11:00 Yoga
On the MH Big Screen this week! Sunday, 3/15: Knives Out Director Rian Johnson dusts off Agatha Christie, with help from Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, and a flock of familiar faces. A deliciously entertain-ing whodunnit.
Tuesday, 3/17: The Secret of Kells A young and brave medieval monk, a sacred book, a fabled monastery — this magical animation film is special for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s gorgeous, captivating, and unique, just like the Book of Kells, that precious relic of medieval Celtic Ireland. **For Irish coffee and
soda bread, come 15 minutes early
We are the lucky ones. As the virus starts to close in around us, we have each other. Yeah! This is where living in community really helps. We can support each other and find ways to connect. A big thank you to Judy Bruder for the wonder-ful Women Behind the Camera film festival that is going on all month. Great films, wonderful discussions, good opportunities to interact. Dave will continue the twice weekly films in April. We are on the look-out for local programs that are being streamed. For instance, this week, the Smith Noon Hour concert was available on YouTube. We could show it at the Meeting House or you can view it at home. On Tuesday, the Program Committee developed a list of ideas for programs and connection possibilities using in-house talent. The Council is scheduling a special meeting to talk about ways we proceed with smaller groups and build more ways to support those who might need to stay home for any rea-son. The daffodils will soon be up. Who might be cheered by finding a bouquet at his or her door?
Need to Shop from Home? Mary Hirschel on Butternut is my in-house guru for shop-ping on line. She uses Peapod https://www.peapod.com/ which brings groceries to your door from Stop and Shop. Minimum order is $60 and there is a delivery charge based on the size of the order which can include produce, dairy and meat. Mary also recom-mends Walmart https://www.walmart.com/ for such items as soap, toilet paper, shampoo, canned or bottled goods and over the counter meds—nothing fresh. Prices are good. Mary reports: no delivery charge for orders over $35. Alaire Rieffel on Crabapple has uses Imper-fect Foods https://www.imperfectfoods.com/. They deliver a box of food to your door that includes produce and other food items that may not look good enough for
the produce aisle but are fresh and healthy.
NORTH NEWS
Office Hours: Jen Davis Tuesday 1:00 ~ 3:00 Wednesday 10:00 ~ 11:00 Thursday 10:00 ~ 12:00 Suzie Dickson Moyer Wednesday 1:00 ~ 4:00 Rob Olmsted Monday 1:30 ~ 3:30 Wednesday 1:30 ~ 3:30 Friday 1:30 ~ 3:30 Frank Sansom Monday 1:00 ~ 4:00 Thom Wright Tuesday 8:00 ~ 4:00 Thursday 8:00 ~ 4:00
Answer: A Shoe!