VOLUME TWENTY SEVEN, NUMBER 1
JANUARY 2013
Above, because grandchildren are the brightest stars of the holiday season, we bring you Maggie Elizabeth Hall, 21 months, and her grandfather Kent Hall, Maintenance. To our readers, all the children who visit us, and the parents who bring them: HAPPY NEW YEAR, with love. At right, the publisher (left) and the editor of the Beaumont News at Louise Hughes’ Christmas Social. For more Christmas pictures, see Pages 4 and 5. For another granddaughter, see Page 7. Photo above by Janice Hall, Maggie’s mother; photo at right by Kim Norrett.
CEO offers lessons in methods, rewards of going green By Isaac H. (Quartie) Clothier IV
In November Beaumont had the opportunity to see and hear a PowerPoint presentation by Douglas Tweddale, CEO of Foulkeways (Joe Fortenbaugh’s counterpart) on “The Path to Going Green at Foulkeways.” On that day Foulkeways—a leader in the greening of retirement communities—was celebrating its 45th anniversary, so we were most fortunate that Doug agreed to share his time with us. The Green Path, he said, began at Foulkeways with its residents, many of whom are Quakers. Alarmed by the statistics warning of growing energy consumption worldwide and the dwindling of existing energy sources that cannot be renewed, residents prompted
and pushed the Foulkeways Board until it came up with a strategic plan. It empowered a special committee, similar to our Green Committee, to make recommendations to the Board. The first step was to hire an engineer specialized in energy conservation to make energy audits of Foulkeways’ existing greenhouse gas emissions, and then suggest ways of reducing and even eliminating wasted energy so as to become energy neutral. To achieve this goal, the Foulkeways Going Green leaders have worked on educating the entire continued on page 8
A new face in Health Services spent several years as a hospitalist in Bryn Mawr Hospital, Dr. Streletz is dedicated to improving the communication among and between all different levels of health care providers. (A hospitalist is a physician designated by the physician practice to see all hospitalized members of the practice on a daily basis. This improves continuity of care, consistency and communication and eliminates the problems connected with hospitalized patients’ being seen by a different doctor each day.) Dr. Streletz cherishes her time at Beaumont. Her time here allows her to get to know her patients as people, she says, and not just their medical problems. She says she appreciates the opportunity to see people in their homes and to learn their life stories. She is eager to teach new residents the importance of continuity of care and to pass on her enthusiasm for the unique challenges and rewards of treating a geriatric population. As this was written, exciting things were happening in the Streletz household. Mom and Dad Streletz were busy preparing for Christmas for their three Santa Claus-believing children: Eric, 9; Anna, 5; and Cameron, 4. But even more exciting was the fact that Dad Anthony had just returned from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan and had announced his retirement from military service. In March, Anthony and Deborah will become a civilian family and be able to put down roots to make Pennsylvania their permanent home.
By Linda Lemisch, Vice President of Health Services There is a new doctor in our midst! Deborah Streletz joined us in July to round out our staff of primary care physicians. She is part of Bryn Mawr Family Practice and spends every Monday here at Beaumont. Dr. Streletz comes with an interesting past. She graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from St. Bonaventure University in New York and then went on for her MD from the Photo by Louise Hughes Uniformed Services Dr. Deborah Streletz University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Married to an Army Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Streletz has moved with her family several times at our nation’s request. Texas, Kansas, Hawaii, and even the United Kingdom, as well as Pennsylvania, have been called home. As a member of the teaching faculty in the Bryn Mawr Family Practice Residency program, Dr. Streletz hopes to integrate a teaching rotation for new Family Practice physicians here at Beaumont. Having
The deadline for the February 2013 issue of the Beaumont News will be January 7 The News publishes 10 editions a year from October to July. Please sign your story and either turn it in at the front desk or better, if you can, e-mail it to Mary Graff at graffs@msn.com and mgraff@BeaumontRetirement.com. Please keep a copy for yourself! For back issues, please go to our website, www.BeaumontRetirement.com
The News enthusiastically welcomes letters from readers, including non-residents. We ask you to sign your own name, though requests for anonymity in print may be honored. Letters need not be typed (though typing is appreciated), but please write as legibly as possible and include your phone number (for the editors’ use only). Letters will be published or not, in full or in part, at the discretion of the editors.
BEAUMONT NEWS The Beaumont News is published by the residents and staff of the Beaumont Retirement Community, 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Managing Editor Production Editor
E-mail letters to Mary Graff at both of her two e-mail addresses: graffs@msn.com and mgraff@BeaumontRetirement.com, or mail to her in care of Beaumont at 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr 19010.
Editor Emeritus and Historian
Louise Guthrie
Photo Editor
Louise Hughes
Events Manager Proofreader Circulation Manager
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Mary Graff Christine Johnson-Hall
Kim Norrett Jennie Frankel Barbara O’Brien
Melissa: A big smile and the will to succeed By Mary Schnable
This was an entirely new experience for me. I was asked to interview someone for whom a third party was required. The third party was to be an interpreter. It was an exciting prospect but also one that gave me a few anxious hours. The subject of the interview was to be Melissa Graham, a young woman who has been employed here in our kitchen for the past eight years. Melissa was born hearing-impaired. Before this interview took place and even before I was personally introduced to Melissa Graham, a couple of weeks of preliminaries had to be completed. Luckily, I learned that Melissa’s mother is also employed here, in our Personal Care Unit. Donna Pink is a Certified Nursing Assistant and is someone we all probably know by sight, if not by name. While Donna does interpret for Melissa frequently, she chose not to in this instance; preferring us to keep things on a professional level. Therefore I was referred to the Deaf Hearing Communications Center (DHCC), in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. After what seemed Photo by Louise Hughes an inordinate amount of red tape, I was able to Though severely hearing-impaired, Melissa Graham deals with life as she finds set up an appointment with Melissa and the it—from cutting celery in our kitchen to caring for a baby at home. interpreter she requested. One afternoon at 3, when Melissa finished work in the kitchen, I met her and Maggie Fabrizio, from there on to the Model Secondary School for the the interpreter from the DHCC. We needed a private Deaf, operated by the famous Gallaudet School in place to talk because of the hand gestures which Washington, D.C. Undeterred by her impairment, she Maggie would have to use for this occasion. Audrey went next to the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Culinary Walsh’s office back in Administration proved perfect Art School, where she earned an Associate’s Degree. Melissa has been working here since December for us. It was there I met Melissa, a pretty girl with a big 2004, at first part time and then full time in the smile and a firm handshake. Maggie was a good kitchen. She is the single mother of a little girl, choice to be our go-between. Relaxed and kind, she Abriella, who will be a year old on Jan. 24. The baby’s father is also deaf. But Abriella, tested in the hospital, immediately made me feel at ease. But I soon realized what a different situation I was is not impaired. Both mother and daughter live with encountering. I had a list of questions and started grandmother Donna, but Melissa has separate quarters with the first and most obvious. After a few minutes I in her mother’s house. She is proud of being independent, can drive, and was looking over my notes and more or less mumbling to myself about what would be next. Everything can hear her daughter cry, thanks to a special device I said, even the “um’s” and the “ah’s,” were passed on she wears. In fact, the thing that amazed me most is to Melissa. Maggie wasn’t going to let her miss a how very well she fits into life. I asked several of her co-workers whether they had difficulty communicating thing! After a very short time, Melissa sized up the situa- with Melissa. “No problem,” they said. They all tion and produced a handwritten resumé. This was mentioned how adept she is at lip reading. When we had finished the interview she said her thoughtful and helpful. Melissa wrote that she was born in Jamaica and mother was picking her up. “But how will she know came to the U.S. as a little girl. She first attended the when you are ready?” I asked. “I text her,” she told Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Germantown and me, through Maggie. 3
Beaumont jingle By Mike Bailey It was December 24th. On Ithan Ave I seen a man chilling with his dog on the lawn I approached very slowly with my heart full of fear looked at his dog, oh my gosh a reindeer I was chillin’, because the man had a big white beard A bag full of goodies, 12 o’clock was near So I turned my head and the man was gone He left his wallet smack dead in the garden I picked up the wallet and then I took a pause Took out the license and it said Santa Claus A lunch ticket in it, for a sandwich to eat Enough for a buck cause the juice is free Still went to Santa, cause that ain’t right Dropped it in the mail so he can get it that night Got home and bugged cause under the tree Was a letter from Santa he replied to me. Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way ohh what fun it is to ride in the pickup every day heh… Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle all the way ohh what fun we have at the job with residents every day heh…
Top: Resident Services’ Louise (Weezie) Hughes, whose Christmas “social” wowed all Beaumont, with her dancing elves. From left, all from Housekeeping: Jake Joyce, Keith Green, Mike Bailey and Howard Barron. Below, Howard gives Peggy Wolcott a whirl and Keith takes his turn at the podium with Mike’s Christmas Rap. (Top photo by Kim Norrett; others by Louise Hughes)
It’s Christmas time at Beaumont again so let’s Decorate from the front to the end Check the fireplace for filled hung stockings Beneath the mistletoe, as we drink egg nog The rhymes you hear are the rhymes we did together But each and every year we sing Christmas carols Rhymes so loud and proud you hear it It’s Christmas time and we got the spirit Jack Frost working, so the frost is out And that’s what Christmas is all about The time is now, the place is here And the whole wide world is filled with cheer Thanks to Weezie with the mic in my hand I’m chilling and coolin’ just like the snowman So open your eyes, lend us a ear, we want to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
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Christmas Social continued With a “Ho Ho Ho” and a “Come to Santa, Baby,” President Joe Fortenbaugh joined the festivities beard a-flow and knees at the ready. Among those taking advantage were, top (from left): Cally Wheeler; Anne Gruenberg; Sue Charest (from Outpatient); middle row, Susan Woolford, left, and Sally Herd; Dr. Clayton Kyle (after Santa hurriedly straightened his knees); Caitlin McDevitt (Resident Services), left, and Lakia Archer (Front Desk); bottom row, from left, Giuliana Calabi, Pat Nardizzi (Grounds) with Gracie Webb. Photos by Kim Norrett
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Beaumont to the rescue! By Peter Binzen
Travel is broadening. Travel is fun. We Beaumonters love to travel, but packing up is a bore. Suppose something is forgotten. Something important. That’s another matter. In November, I joined a tour organized by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of Portland, Maine, for nine days in sunny Italy, visiting Sorrento, Naples, Pompeii, the Isle of Capri to Amalfi Drive, the Vatican Museum Charlie Koch Joe Gunn and the Sistine Chapel in Rome. A marvelous trip. I flew to Portland one day ahead of time Photos by Audrey Walsh and Mary Wells to prepare for the adventure. It was close to midnight on Nov. 8 when my host- on time, Joe Gunn drove to its office in King of Prussia the next morning. He had my papers in hand ess suggested I make sure I had my passport. and FedEx took it from there. MY PASSPORT! OMG! I And on the morning of had totally forgotten it. Yet the MY PASSPORT! OMG! I had November 10, four hours travel instructions bore the before the start of my tour, I warning: “Valid Passport totally forgotten it. Yet was good to go. Required.” Beaumont staffers consisIn less than 40 hours, the the travel instructions tently and cheerfully meet the tour would start. Without my bore the warning: needs of residents. So I passport, there was no way I suppose there was nothing could leave the country. Yet I “Valid Passport Required.” special in the rescue of my couldn’t lay hands on the prepassport. cious document. In the middle But this was really something special for me. of the night, my case seemed hopeless. Then I thought of a possible way out. I did what Thank you, Charlie, and thank you, Joe. any of you would have done in such a crisis. I telephoned 610-526-7000, Beaumont’s front desk. Going green . . . . continued from page 8 Charlie Koch, Director of Security at Beaumont, answered the phone. He said, in effect, not to worry, to those adopted at Foulkeways. Beaumont was one of the pioneers in having a that he would deal with the problem. He went to my Austin apartment and found the passport in the top geothermal system. However, being among the first means that our geothermal system may not fully comply drawer of my dresser. Then Charlie and Joe Gunn, a Beaumont guard with current engineering standards. Your Green who was working that night, tried to arrange a FedEx Committee is taking a hard look at our system to make pickup. They reached the firm’s automated after-hour sure it is accomplishing what we should expect and decide how we can further improve its efficiency. phones and left the message. Beginning now, with little financial cost to our Automated messages sometimes get garbled. To residents, we can harvest the low-hanging fruits listed make sure that FedEx made the delivery in Portland above. In doing so, Beaumont should realize almost immediate financial benefits. Our committee members are prepared to lead the way by making changes in IN MEMORIAM their own apartments or villas and at the same time encourage others to do likewise. If Foulkeways can do Russell Hodges - Dec. 2 it, so can we. Betty Sherwin - Dec. 12 Ann Louise Strong is chairman of the Green John S. Dixon - Dec. 22 Committee. The other members are Richard Maass, George Miller, Giusto (Tino) Pizzini and Charles Wood, Members of the Beaumont Community extend residents, and Joe Fortenbaugh, Mark Hritz and Brock deepest sympathy to their families and friends. Nichols, staff. 6
Resident Services director tells what’s doing in her group By Kim Norrett
comfortable and intimate, and restarting the Block Parties. Committee members are informed of new moveins by the Marketing Department. Each new resident is contacted within a few days of moving in by what the committee refers to as a “First Greeter” bearing a gift bag full of goodies and information. We don’t just leave the bag with them, but sit down with the resident and go through all the information and explain it. From that notice on, each member makes a commitment to contact our newcomer: a visit, an invitation to get together for dinner, an offering of baked goods, a date to meet for a cocktail, and so on. Our co-chairs are Mrs. Jeanne Cortner and Mrs. Susan Woolford. Completing this energetic, committed group are Mr. Peter Binzen, Mrs. Betty Bole, Dr. John Carson, Mrs. Barbara Clothier, Mrs. Fytie Drayton, Mr. Ray Freudberg, Mrs. Eloise Gretz, Mrs. Lil Lefevre, Dr. Jay MacMoran, Mrs. Nell Mecray, Mrs. Elizabeth Royer and staff members Louise Hughes and myself.
I was on vacation in July of 2011. As much as I try not to carry my job with me at all times, I find it hard not to check in periodically. I happened to do this one day sitting on the deck at the beach. I checked my Beaumont e-mail, and found I had one from a resident who was also on vacation. The core of the e-mail was the lack of “red carpet hospitality” in welcoming and enlightening our new residents. What became of this e-mail correspondence was Beaumont’s enhanced Resident Services Committee. By September we had gathered an exceptional group of both seasoned and relatively new residents to join the committee, and what a committee it has turned out to be! Our group now has a year under its belt and is doing a stellar job. At each monthly meeting we brainstorm for new ideas to involve and educate our new neighbors. From these sessions we have developed a number of positive actions that are proving to be successful. Among these have been establishing the Club Table in the Grill Room, changing the New Resident Reception and Dinner to twice a year instead of once, making it more
Granddaughter inherits hard-core Phillies gene By Ann Wood
passed, but I am still an avid sports fan and watch lots of Phillies games. There are lots of hard-core sports fans here at Beaumont, and we often check with each other after a game, especially if it was very good. You can imagine my excitement when our granddaughter called from Atlanta to say she and some of her Emory friends were going to the Braves and Phillies game. They would be sitting in the fourth row behind the Phillies’ dugout! I was so excited that I missed much of the game on TV trying to get a glimpse of Margaret. I even had trouble finding the dugout, and when I did it seemed that everyone looked like my granddaughter. I never really saw her on the screen although her father spotted her on his TV so we knew that she was there. It was a close and great game and the Phillies won in the last inning! Of course the dugout went wild as did all their fans. The Emory crowd behind the dugout were all hanging over the fence cheering and waving. The next morning Margaret called to tell us that one of the Phillies rolled her a baseball over the fence. Like grandfather, like granddaughter, I said to myself.
Growing up in a university town it was natural to be a sports fan even if you were very young and especially if your sister and brother were in college there. The town of Charlottesville, Virginia, in the early 1930s, with around 15,000 population, followed, cheered, and supported all the sports of the University of Virginia in much the same way as the big cities of today follow and support their big-league teams. If you didn’t get to the sporting event at the university, you followed it on the radio, and the excitement and the fever of the game spilled into the room as everyone sat around and listened. This was where many a sports fan was born. My husband and I grew up in such an atmosphere, so it was only natural when we married and lived in Boston that we were big Red Sox fans. Our apartment was near Fenway Park, and with the windows open, helping us escape the summer night’s heat, one could hear the crowds roar when a home run was scored. We got lots of games especially when the Yankees came to town. One night my husband went over to a game in the ballpark and came home with a ball he had caught that Ted Williams hit over in the left-field stands. He was so excited and proud. Sixty some years have 7
Going green . . . .
continued from page 1
Foulkeways community to change their behavior habits. They also have engaged themselves further in more energy audits, changed lighting, studied renewable energy possibilities (e.g. geothermal systems), and have looked into water conservation opportunities as well as waste reduction and composting. In making its decisions, Foulkeways has followed the pathway to sustainability. (The United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainability as:“The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”) Foulkeways realistically took measures that not only reduced energy waste but at the same time gave valued financial benefits back to its residents. Using their new strategies, Doug said, Foulkeways has saved approximately $200,000 a year in utility costs over the last six years. In his presentation, Doug used the illustration of an apple tree. Projects can be low in cost, involving only changes in human behavior, and still have immediate results. Such measures are like picking apples off a tree from low branches. Greater energy-saving measures are possible, requiring some financial outlay, and are like picking apples off the higher branches from a ladder. Then at the very top there may be even greater energy savings but also greater cost. Some examples of the “low-hanging fruit”: 1. Converting all lighting to fluorescent or LED lights; 2. Turning off water when brushing teeth or shaving; 3. When waiting for hot water, capture the cold to water plants; 4. Possibly, converting to water-saving toilets; 5. Washing laundry in the early morning to avoid peak periods when electricity is more expensive; 6. Washing clothes in cold water instead of hot; 7. Because a plug left in a socket uses energy even when considered to be “off,” try using a surge protector with multiple outlets. A surge protector requires only one switch to turn off everything plugged into it. For example, a computer, printer and side lights could all be governed by one switch. Second-tier efforts include major energy saving by changes in building operations. At Foulkeways, one of these was the installation of geothermal “earth heat” units with very deep wells for all apartments and villas. It is generally agreed that underground water is approximately 55 degrees all year round. Thus if the
Owls and other birds decorate the tree in Hannah Henderson’s unusual Christmas display, which also includes a moose and a deer, all made of birch bark and other natural materials.
temperature outside is 90 degrees, it is cheaper and more efficient to convert 55-degree water to inside airconditioning at 70 degrees than to make the conversion through the ordinary method. Conversely, if it is 32 degrees outside and the desired heating is 68 degrees inside, the geothermal way of converting 55degree water is far more efficient than a gas- or oil-fuel system. Another second-tier strategy, Doug said, is air-infiltration testing in apartments and cottages. Leakages not only waste energy, but also they increase the cost of energy. Foulkeways has found that reducing leakage by the various means available has paid off significantly. Top-tier innovations, such as solar energy conversion, unit metering, and thermal storage, all require further investigation which is currently in process. Like Foulkeways, we at Beaumont have a Green Committee. That committee, of which I am a member, is dedicated to taking Beaumont down the Green Path by establishing energy management systems similar continued on page 6
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