I Never Knew That . . .

Q:  Why does the moon appear larger when it is on the horizon than when it is directly overhead? In considering your answer, keep in mind that the actual size of the moon and its distance from the earth are invariable.

A:   A decade or so ago I read a report of an experiment on this subject by a group of psychologists. Their conclusion was surprising because it did took into account no physical feature of the horizon, such as whether it consisted of buildings, mountains or a line of trees. Their explanation for the “moon illusion” is that all humans have an innate conception that the distance to the universe is shorter out to the horizon than directly above us; thus, the moon appears larger because it is conceived to be closer!

Q:  When, where and how was the raglan sleeve introduced into the design of clothing?

A.   Fitzroy Somerset, the First Baron Raglan, was a general in the British Army. During the Battle of Waterloo, in 1814, he received so severe a wound that it required an amputation of his left arm. After his return to London, he discovered that the seams of his shirts and sweaters rubbed his amputation scar and were painful. Off to his tailor, who created the new sleeve form in which the seams were not in contact with his scar. Of course, it was named after the Baron and not his employee who actually created the new style.

Contributed by Norman Sissman

The Day the Earth Went Dark . . . Almost

The Sun and Moon Come Together

Solar eclipse through a telescope

Photo by Maria Harris

As the day grows dark.

Photo by Greg Lozier

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

The People— At Home

Thanks to The Rapaports, Kendalites — staff and residents — turned out in droves to view the almost-total eclipse of the sun. They chose their spots, their seats (or not), their excitement (or not). And they took pictures—of the eclipse and of our community in awe of it (or not).

Photo by Harry Bloomfeld

Photo by Tom Wolzien

Photo by Jo-Ann Rapaport

Photo by Harry Bloomfeld

Photo by Joe Bruno

Photo by Joe Bruno

Photo by Joe Bruno

And Away

Maria Harris attended the Spectacular Super Solar Eclipse Viewing Party art the Hudson River Museum to get her view of the event.

And to Top the Week Off…

Look close: there’s a double one right above it, too…

Photo by Harry Bloomfeld

Lexophilia . . . or, Maybe, the Opposite . . .

Venison for dinner again? O deer.

How does Moses make tea? Hebrews it.

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

I tried to catch some fog, but I mist

They told me I had type-A blood, but it was a Typo.

I changed my iPod’s name to Titanic. It’s syncing now.

Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.

I know a guy who’s addicted to brake fluid, but he says he can stop any time.

I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, and then it dawned on me.

This girl said she recognized me from the vegetarian club, but I’d never met herbivore.

When chemists die, they barium.

I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can’t put it down.

I did a theatrical performance about puns. It was a play on words.

Did you hear about the cross-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn’t control her pupils?

When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble.

Broken pencils are pointless.

What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus.

I dropped out of communism class because of lousy Marx

I got a job at a bakery because I kneaded dough.

Velcro — what a rip off!

Don’t worry about old age; it doesn’t last.

 

Contributed by Barbara Bruno

"Elegant Paper" Sculpture and Poem, by Sheila Benedis

Elegant paper sculpture

easily I slide into a meditation

on beauty and intricacy

found in natural world

 

each curve each shape

of a unique leaf

unfurled   by a  gingko tree

 

whispers a tale

a tactile and visual journey

a medium for story telling

 

my natural material

handmade paper

embraces my transformative touch

 

textures echo nature’s own handiwork            

my respectful collaboration

with the organic world

 

marriage of craftsmanship and nature

produce an elegant paper sculpture

Art by Hart

Somebody convinced the wildlife that they’d be safer in a gated community

Grandpa kept the chicks amused so that they wouldn’t look up at the darkening 3:00 pm sky

It was dress rehearsal for the new Birth of Venus tableau

Pilates did wonders for Marcel’s flexibility

The Whittles’ clutter finally won

Art and photos by Jane Hart

Duck!

Oh, Joy, oh Rapture! It is getting close to that time again. That time when the world opens up bright and shiny and they arrive. So squeezy, so colorful, so ready for action. Yes, it’s true. It’s . . .

. . . or, anyway, getting close to it.

Saturday, April 27 is the day — and it starts at 11 am (though the duckies really race a little later).

How important is this vaunted day? Well, Kendal on Hudson is one of the two Presenting Sponsors (the highest rank of sponsors). Ponder that!

Why is this day of all days important? It’s a major support for the Rotary Club of the Tarrytowns and all the good work they do. What good work? Click here to learn more.

Rubber Ducky Derby Day (which, if you practice, will come trippingly off the tongue) happens in Patriots Park right at the border of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown. There are booths. There are excited children. There are rubber duckies. What could possibly be better? Only one thing could be: donate!

Yes, it’s true, you, too, can back one or more duckies and have skin (or feathers) in the game. One ducky will cost you $10. But, wait, there’s more! A Six Quack can be yours for $50. And — be still, my heart — a Tub o’ Ducks comes in at $100. And — here’s the best part — you can name your ducky(s)! If you think you can stand all this excitement (or even if you can’t) click here for more information. Yes, that’s right, you can back your ducky(s) online.

Only 3 more weeks to plan! Better get ready to get your ducks in order!

Daphne's Demise: Part 2

Ranger Su, Susan MH Lewenz, the community relations ranger at Rockefeller State Park Preserve,  has posted a eulogy of Daphne, the Rockwood Park “Lady Tree” who was felled with recently by a powerful wind storm. It includes some information about her life, and references to Kendal’s name for her. She also has included a photo and a sketch of Daphne by our own Linda Herring. 

A EULOGY FOR OUR GRAND DAME

On Monday March 11, 2024, sometime in the afternoon our Rockwood "Grand Dame" succumbed to sustained winds of over 48 mph. She withstood many challenges in her long life, but she could stand no more and her magnificent form fell.

I speak of the one of the most beautiful and largest trees in the Preserve. She lived her life providing a shady respite to visitors who enjoyed a spectacular views of the Hudson River and the Palisades shielded beneath her boughs.

The Grand Dame was a giant red oak. Our Park Manager Peter Iskenderian believes she may have been over 300 years old.

“I feel like I lost an old friend,” said Melissa Rinzler, who watches over all the residents of Rockwood as part of the Preserve's Guardian program.

"I loved seeing her on my walks, and especially the image of the lady" said Linda Parker, Office Manager of Rockefeller State Park Preserve.

Several ladies from Kendall on Hudson told me the tree had been known by many as “Daphne” because of its likeness to the Daphne of the famous “Apollo and Daphne” sculpture which many saw in her trunk.

The great lady’s broken form will take many days to clear. Our team is hard at work respectfully clearing her remains from the trail.

Feel free to give them a wave as you pass, but please keep a good distance for your own safety.

More pictures to come of the massive removal and cleanup project. And, of course, the ultimate planting of a new red oak which we hope will grow up to be, one day, the new Grand Dame.

Rest in Peace, Grand Dame. You are gone but not forgotten. And, like all our fallen trees, you will continue to nourish and provide shelter for Preserve residents for many years to come.

And a Post Script: “Thanks to Kendal Resident, Carolyn Reiss  for help with this post.”

Linda Mahoney Herring’s memorial to Daphne, including her portrait and a little piece of her rescued from where she met her demise:

Words, Words, Words . . .

  • Parking Lot sign: Remember what the valet who parked your car looks like because we do not have valet parking.

  • How do you milk sheep? Bring out a new iPhone and charge $1500 for it.

  • To get rid of unwanted junk during the holidays, put it in an Amazon box and leave it on the porch.

  • Interviewer: “So tell me about yourself.” Me: “I’d rather not, I kinda want the job.”

  • When one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison.

  • When I say “the other day,” I could be referring to any time between yesterday and 15 years ago.

  • I don’t mean to interrupt people; I just randomly remember things and get really excited.

  • I had my patience tested. I’m negative.

  • When I ask directions, please don’t use words like “East.”

  • My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.

  • If you answer the phone with, “Hello, you’re on the air!” most telemarketers hang up.

Contributed by Jane Hart

Art by Hart

Old Sol was pleased with the advance publicity for his upcoming disappearing act

Dylan thought it was funny to hide Rhetta’s dragon

Coffee was the sweet spot in Bentley’s morning

Spring storms were looming

Daphne liked to get an extra day out of her Easter bonnet

Elsie’s MRI was surprising

Art and photos by Jane Hart

Art and Poetry, by Sheila Benedis

creativity  

is there a future for the world

devastation of autocracy

climate change

destruction and displacement of people in Gaza

Russian invasion of Ukraine

democracy threatened

 

creativity should be the

color of mist

written by the wind

a sparkling feeling

an original idea

soothing to the body

sense of inner beauty

inspiration for all individuals

 

hopeful

exciting

to our nonfunctioning world

make people feel safe

make people feel healthy

make people feel happy

may creativity uplift

Ocean Sparkling with Life

In and Around Kendal

Egg-stra Special

Joe Bruno snapped this picture of a possible visiting prospective resident. He’s been around long enough for Kendal! We remember him from when we were children.

Spring: Not Only A-Comin’ . . . She’s Here!

Photo by Joe Bruno

Photo by Gerry Mahoney

Spring: When a Young Man’s Fancy Turns to Thoughts of . . . Mulch, by Mimi Abramovitz

Seen on the River

Joe Bruno spotted a handsome working ship making its way up the river, perhaps on its way to Albany to assist in installing wind turbines . . .

Later, near evening, Peter Sibley saw it going home again . . .

Memorial to a Fallen Giant

A couple of weeks ago, we documented the tragic demise of Daphne, the Lady Tree in Rockwood Park. Linda Mahoney Herring has constructed a memorial to her dear friend.

Photo by Linda Mahoney Herring

Puzzle Solved

Clermonters take pride in their most resent victory over a jigsaw juggernaut.

Photo by Peter Sibley

The Art of Supporting Art

For 2 days last week the Art Committee set up shop, selling hand-made cards, running a silent auction of matted paintings, and coaxing well-earned cash though lovely beaded lanyards. And the community had a ball! The sale was a record-breaking success. So win-win all around. Congratulations, Artists!

Members of the (rather unofficial) Sales Department

Members of the discerning and buying public

Photos by Carolyn Reiss

April is Earth Month in Sleepy Hollow

Saturday, April 6, 9am-12pm 

Compost Giveback Day at Sleepy Hollow High School

Grab your empty bins and buckets, and join us to take home the compost that has been produced by the Tarrytown & Sleepy Hollow Food Scrap Recycling programs. Stop by before or after your trip to the TASH farmers market to take free compost for your home garden, and stop by our educational tables to learn more about compost initiatives in our schools and throughout our villages. Click here for more info…

Sunday, April 7

Community Garden Cleanup and Prep Day (Family Friendly).

We will need helpers with digging, weeding, adding compost, and more. BYOGS (Bring your own gardening supplies) and choose one of these sites:

9am-11am: meet at John Paulding School community garden beds

10:30am-12pm: meet at Sleepy Hollow Village Hall 

Saturday, April 13, 9 - 11 am

Saturday Academy at Washington Irving School 

Join us for a “Plastic or Planet”-themed science experiment, and enter the raffle for a gift basket of replacement items for common single use plastic offenders!

Sunday, April 14

TWO Fun Family-Friendly Nature Walks

1pm-2:30pm, Wilson Park Drive Lot: Nature walk around Tarrytown Lakes–check out some newly blazed trails with lakes expert Mark Tornello.

10:30am-11:30am, Douglas Park entrance: We’ll observe the spring flora & fauna and identify some fun plants along the way–bring a camera or sketch book if you’d like to document observations.

Saturday, April 20, 8:30am-10 am

Family-Friendly, Tree Walk around Tarrytown Lakes with Redmond Tsai, local arborist: Meet at the Lakes Parking Lot (Neperan and Sunnyside)

Saturday, April 20, 10am-1pm

Celebrate Earth Day in Beautiful Neperan Park (43 Neperan Rd, Tarrytown):

Activity 1: Save a Park tree from choking vines. Vine squad participants should wear long sleeves, gloves and sturdy footwear. Participants must sign a waiver (onsite) before commencing work.

Activity 2: Plant pollinator friendly annual seeds. We will be giving away pollinator friendly seeds as well as planting small containers that you can take home. Great activity for the kids!  

Saturday, April 20, 11am-2pm

Sleepy Hollow 150th Anniversary Celebration at Sykes Park

Bring the family to celebrate the village’s 150th birthday with food trucks, a bouncy castle and music. At about noon, local arborist Peter Strom will plant the first of 150 trees that will be planted across Sleepy Hollow this year. Local environmental organizations will be on site offering information about how you can get involved.

Sunday, April 21, 10am-12pm

Clean Up 10591! Meet at Patriots Park and we’ll send you out from there on assigned routes around the two villages.

Saturday, April 27, 9am-5pm

10591 Free Day: Sleepy Hollow Residents are invited to put usable items you no longer want by your curb. Browse your neighborhood for treasures. If anything is left by your curb at the end of the day, please bring it back inside.

April 28, 10am-2pm

Repair Café at Sleepy Hollow Senior Center

Bring those fix-it items collecting dust in your home to our second annual Repair Café! Repair Cafés are free community events that aim to keep our stuff out of the trash through volunteer fixers, menders, tinkerers, and people who just love to take things apart and put them back together again. We will have volunteers on hand to repair bikes, lamps, jewelry, textiles, appliances, electronics, and much more.

May 4, 10am-12pm

River Sweep with Riverkeeper

From Losee Park to Kingsland Point Park, we will sweep plastic and other waste out of the river and into the right place!

May 16, 6pm-8pm

Tarrytown Climate Adaptation Workshop at Warner Library

The Village of Tarrytown is continuing to explore ways to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Come learn about the findings of the Climate Adaptive Design Studio study on the Tarrytown waterfront, and bring your questions, concerns and ideas about how to address extreme weather events.

For more information, contact earthmonth10591.org

Art Imitating Life

Did you see the film Shirley in the Gathering Room last week?

If you saw the film about the great Shirley Chisholm, you surely remember the young college student — one Robert Gottlieb — who had to call his parents about taking a break from college in order to become her National Student Coordinator. That student was and is the very own son of Kendal’s very own Doris Gottlieb.

Here he is with the actor (Lucas Hedges) who plays him.

If you missed the movie, you can still see it on Netflix.

To Ponder . . .

1. If the No. 2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still No. 2?

2. Why do we press harder on the remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?

3. Why are you “In” a movie, but “on” TV?

4. What was the best thing BEFORE sliced bread?

5. Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?

6. Why do “fat chance” and “slim chance” mean the same thing?

7. Why do British people never sound British when they sing?

8. At a movie theater, which arm rest is yours?

9. When does it stop being partly cloudy and start being partly sunny?

10. When French people swear do they say “Pardon my English”?

11. Why do people say “heads up” when you should duck?

© Kendal on Hudson Residents Association 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 all rights reserved.  Please do not reproduce without permission.

Photographs of life at Kendal on Hudson are by residents.