Kendal at Ithaca Recognized as a "Sign of Sustainability"
In December 2009, the Sustainable Tompkins Board of Directors recognized Kendal at Ithaca as a “Sign of Sustainability” in Tompkins County. The nomination was for its Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Project, in the category of planning.
“Kendal at Ithaca completed its Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Project to celebrate Earth Day," read the citation. "The project identified ways to reduce the carbon emissions of the senior community by more than 2 million pounds per year, including changes to the energy management system, addition of insulation and energy recovery ventilation, and use of photosensor controls to maximize use of natural lighting. These changes are projected to reduce natural gas use by over 100,000 therms and electricity use of 732,000 kWh. Estimated annual savings are close to $225,000.”
Dubbed ‘the Energy Project’, this effort was initiated with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, NYSERDA, to discover potential energy conservation measures that would reduce energy consumption or costs. The costs and savings associated with each potential energy-saving measure were evaluated and a plan was developed based on these investigations.
Two local business partners in this effort, Taitem Engineering and Performance Systems Development, provided technical expertise in studying energy efficiency and developing specific engineering changes. Taitem Engineering produced the detailed design drawings and specifications necessary to implement the project. Performance Systems Development provided technical assistance during the construction phase and will undertake monthly utility analysis for the next 12 months to ensure that anticipated savings are realized.
The 2009 budget for electricity was decreased 24% on the expectation of savings, and the gas budget was adjusted for a 3% decrease. As of October 2009, the energy cost savings beyond that was $24,555. Work will finally be completed in the first quarter of 2010, and then a real comparison can be made.
Kendal at Ithaca used the loan program for energy projects of NYSERDA to fund its project as part of the New York Energy $mart Multifamily Performance Program. Kendal at Ithaca also received a grant from Kendal Charitable Funds to support this project under its Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability initiative. Kendal Charitable Funds was incorporated in 1989 to raise, receive, manage, invest, and expend funds in support of the Kendal system of communities and services for older adults.
Sustainable Tompkins is a citizen-based organization working towards the long-term well-being of our community by integrating social equity, economic vitality, ecological stewardship, and personal and civic responsibility. Each year it seeks out and recognizes individuals and organizations doing their part to help advance community sustainability. In 2009, 140 efforts were recognized.
Nate Goodall, Taitem Engineering, and Betsy Schermerhorn, Kendal at Ithaca, attended the event which was held at the Women’s Community Building. A Kendal at Ithaca resident, Al George, was also present to represent Cornell University’s project “Redshift”, which developed a vehicle that exceeds 100 miles per gallon fuel economy.
Kendal
at Ithaca Reaches Out to the Community With Support From Kendal Charitable Funds
Makes Grant to Powerful Tools for Caregivers Program
Through a grant from Kendal Charitable Funds, Kendal at Ithaca has been able to reach out to the wider community through Thompkins County's Office for the Aging. In late 2008, Kendal fulfilled a request from the Office for the Aging for $5,000 for their Caregivers Resource Center.
The center sought support for its "Powerful Tools for Caregivers" Program which was developed by Legacy Caregiver Services for family and friends caring for older adults who have stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease or similar long-term conditions. The program, which has been replicated in communities throughout the United States, teaches caregivers to use community resources, manage their stress, to communicate effectively with friends, family, and healthcare providers, and to cope with difficult emotions so that they can better care for themselves while caring for someone else.
As of August 2009, and since the inception of the program in January of 2008, 81 caregivers have completed the program. Participants report feeling less anger, guilt and depression. They also have indicated improved communication skills, an increased ability to cope with the difficult challengs of caregiving, and better self-care. Kendal at Ithaca residents and staff have completed this program and have directly realized its benefits. Upcoming classes will begin at the end of September. For information on the classes, call Marilyn Roberts Chase at the Tompkins county Office for the Aging at 607-274-5488.
Cornell Students and Kendal at Ithaca Residents and Staff Collaborate on Dining Services Design Project
 On November 29th, four teams of Cornell interior design and behavioral science students presented results from an extensive, three-month assessment and planning process conducted with Kendal at Ithaca residents and staff to address dining service program needs at the community. The project included having meals and conversation with residents in the dining rooms at Kendal and conducting focus groups to identify patterns of use, problems with design, and resident and staff needs. Students learned about Kendal, the values by which the community operates, and about the continuing care lifestyle. The project was significant in that it enabled students to identify real-life issues and develop practical solutions that can be budgeted for and implemented at the community. Residents were pleased with the opportunity to provide significant input into the process of identifying solutions. The program model, established by Cornell faculty member Gary Evans about 13 years ago, looks for special populations with which to work. They have worked with Boys Clubs around the country and this is the first year to work with older adults. READ MORE
 Kendal Resident Artist Opens Exhibit at Kendal
Lori Schleisner was born in Cologne, Germany in 1925. She began learning to paint at the young age of 6, when a man who sold paint powder rented a room in her family’s large apartment. The man taught Lori to mix the powder with linseed oil and brush the paint onto pieces of plywood. At the age of 10, Lori began to study portrait sketching with the famous expressionist painter, Ludwig Meidner.
As a young girl Lori would sew dresses for her dolls and aspired to become a dress designer. When Lori was 13, the Nazis seized Germany and Lori and her family escaped to Belgium and Brussels. During this difficult period Lori continued to study art and clothing design. Lori was also able to begin her career and establish herself as a dress designer. In 1949, she moved to New York to work for the Simplicity Pattern Company and study with the Art Students League. The following year she met her husband, Joseph, “we clicked right away” says Lori. They were married in 1950.
When Lori had her two children she made a decision to give up her job as a designer to focus on her painting. When her daughter and friends expressed an interest in learning to paint Lori decided to open her own art school. The school held the first art show in 1964. Her school was very successful “every child in the neighborhood was in the class”. Lori had a very successful 40 year career running this school. Lori’s students have gone on to become art teachers, designers in fashion and advertising and freelance painters. Lori has loved the opportunity to teach children. On occasion her former students have traveled from New York City to visit Lori at Kendal at Ithaca.
A particular focus in her work was her “striped paintings” which portrayed people of color behind stripes on the canvas. “I was trying to show that they are in jail, behind a gate, you could call it.” In her later paintings, she lost interest in painting “politically” preferring to “be free and unrestricted”. Lori’s artwork has won many awards, including first place recognition by the Malverne Art Association.
Submitted by Maria Giampaolo Director of Theraputic Recreation
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