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!