VOLUME TWENTY THREE, NUMBER EIGHT
DECEMBER 2009
Christmas tree on the farm in Adams County, southeastern Pennsylvania, where the author grew up, as she remembers it. Drawing by Carol O. Allen
Cold Christmas, warm memories of family farm By Carol O. Allen
It was cold on the farm. Hay and straw had been harvested and stored in the barn, the winter wheat sown. The smell of rotting leaves and the crackle of dry cornstalks were replaced by the call of the pheasants and shots aimed at all manner of game—squirrels, rabbits, pheasants and deer, all gleaning leftovers of the harvest—and the occasional wayward barn cat. Schools and businesses were closed so that men and boys could go deer hunting. Then winter set in with a low, pale, lemon-colored sun, long cold nights, sparkling night skies and steaming breath. Noises were magnified in the crisp dry air. The house was cold; there was no indoor plumbing except for the “dry” sink in the kitchen—water was piped in to
a metal basin with no drainage. Wood had to be brought in for the stoves in the kitchen and the living room. The door to the attic was sealed for the winter. The smell of wood and kerosene burning pervaded the house and yard. In the evening, the kerosene heater threw lacy shadows on the ceiling continued on page 7
INSIDE: Holiday fire safety, Page 2 Catching up with new residents, Page 3 Fresh fish, not only on Fridays, Page 6 Dressing up for dinner, Page 8
Fire safety tips for safe holidays By Mark Hritz
Before lighting that Hanukkah Menorah or Christmas candle, stop—look all around—and think. Is there a curtain or a holiday card or decoration or anything else flammable nearby that might catch fire, especially in a breeze? Don’t leave a room with an open, unprotected flame. According to statistics kept by the U.S. Fire Administration, more than 3,000 civilians lost their lives and 17,000 were injured in fires in the United States in 2007. Eleven hundred Americans ages 65 and older died as a result of fires in the home. As you age, your risk increases significantly. Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths. Using alcohol or medications that make you sleepy compound this hazard. Never smoke when you are feeling drowsy, always use deep ashtrays, and never walk away from lit smoking materials. Don’t trust your guests to be careful; watch them. Cooking is also a leading cause of fire deaths and the leading cause of injuries among people ages 65 and older. You should never leave cooking unattended —hard when you have guests, but don’t do it anyway. And it’s a recipe for serious injury or death to wear loose clothing (especially hanging sleeves) in the kitchen while cooking. Always keep paper towels and potholders away from the stove area. It only takes seconds for a serious fire to start. You should never use your range or oven to heat your home. Doublecheck your kitchen before you go to bed. If a grease fire starts on top of the stove, smother it immediately with a pot lid, sliding it over the flame from the side. If a fire starts in the oven, close the oven door
Photo by Kim Hritz Volunteer Deputy Fire Chief Mark Hritz, ready for action.
immediately and dial first 911 and then Security. Beaumont has built-in fire protection systems and is equipped with automatic alarms, heat detectors, smoke detectors and automatic sprinkler systems. Nevertheless, residents should report any unusual odors or conditions to Security immediately. Inspect electrical cords for frays or cracks; Maintenance will be happy to help. And a holiday warning from Beaumont Facilities Director Warren Gillings: Lower Merion Township strongly discourages the use of live Christmas trees indoors; also live wreaths indoors or even outside on the front door. Mark Hritz, Beaumont’s Director of Grounds, is a volunteer Deputy Fire Chief with the West End Fire Department in Stowe, Pa.
Welcome home, Elizabeth and Deron. We’re grateful for your service. Beaumont has recently welcomed home from Iraq —Liz Dornberger two of our dining services staff. Both are sergeants in the Army Reserves out of Northeast Philadelphia. BEAUMONT NEWS Sgt. Elizabeth Donnelly served for a year in The Beaumont News is published by Baghdad in the Civil Affairs unit, processing leaves, the residents and staff of the transfers, evaluations, awards, and promotions. Beaumont Retirement Community. Sgt. Deron Dixon was deployed for 8 months to 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 Kuwait and Baghdad as a driver of a Stryker vehicle.
From Beaumont to Iraq and back
Managing Editor Production Editor Editor Emeritus and Historian New Resident Editor Circulation Manager Medical Advisers
Sgt. Donnelly (left) Sgt. Dixon (right) Photos by Louise Hughes
Photo Editor Events Manager Proofreader
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Mary Graff Christine Johnson-Hall Louise Guthrie Jean Kirk Bea Goldstein Dr. Jay MacMoran Dr. Herbert Diamond Louise Hughes Kim Norrett Jennie Frankel
Catching up with new residents By Jean Kirk
Dr. John (Jack) Carson never strayed far from his roots. He came to Beaumont last July from around the corner on Great Springs Road, where he had lived for 48 years. He was born in Bryn Mawr Hospital, grew up in Upper Darby, and graduated from Swarthmore College and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, where he also did his internship and residency in anesthesiology. His late wife, Pat, was a nurse at the Hospital of the Dr. Jack Carson University of Pennsylvania, and their two daughters and a son were born there. He practiced at Bryn Mawr Hospital for 25 years and was also on the staff at the University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson University hospitals. Jack enjoys gardening and living in a villa with room for out-of-town family to visit. He has six grandchildren.
childhood. She enjoys gardening and bridge, though she has retired her former hobbies of sculpture and needlepoint. She has three sons and four grandchildren. * * * Ann and Dr. Kaighn (pronounced Cane) Smith, both native Philadelphians, spent their first night here in June—but what with summer travel, feel they didn’t really move in until midOctober. Ann graduated from Shipley and the University of Pennsylvania. After raising a family she went into the ministry, training at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA, and the Lutheran Seminary in Mount Dr. Kaighn Smith Airy, where she received a master of divinity degree. She was ordained in 1991 and served as an assistant priest at the Church of the Advocate in North Philadelphia for 10 years. Her greatest joy, she says, was being able to officiate at the weddings of two granddaughters. She and Kaighn have two daughters, a son, and four grandchildren. Kaighn graduated from Harvard and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he also did his internship and residency. He practiced at HUP and at Lankenau Ann Smith Hospital, where he was chairman of obstetrics and gynecology for 22 years. A sailor all his life, he enjoyed ocean racing for 35 years in his 38-foot sloop, once winning the famous Newport to Bermuda race. He was also Commodore of the prestigious Cruising Club of America. The boat now resides in Northeast Harbor, ME, where the Smiths spend most of the summer.
* * * Devereux (Devie) Andrews, a resident since last April, has lived within a few miles of Beaumont since she was 12 years old. She graduated from the Shipley School and was married to Stuart Andrews, a banker, for 58 years. She has been a volunteer at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for 54 years and was on the Women’s Board there for 34 years. She has been a volunteer at the Philadelphia Devie Andrews Antique Show every year since its inception, and was chairman for four years. For five months in the summer, Devie can be found in Northeast Harbor, ME, where she has been going since
Photos by Louise Hughes
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Dear author, Kindly keep out of my book By Barbara O’Brien Am I the only reader of Victorian novels who is somewhat annoyed to find the author intruding into my book and telling me what to think about what I am reading? I’m in the middle of “Vanity Fair,” but I’m not alone: On almost every page Thackeray is with me, reminding me to read carefully and fully experience his satire of 19th Century English society as part of the great “Vanity Fair” of life. Can’t I just enjoy his prototypes of the saucy minx, the sad sack, the dandy, the miser, and the rich, not very nice old heiress and her sycophants, without being reminded to see Photo by Louise Hughes them as puppets in the hands of the puppeteer? The Beaumont Book Club, arguing a point at a meeting in the Card Room. To move from Thackeray to Emily Bronte, can’t I suffer and swoon over the problems of Heathcliff and Cathy without the filters of Ellen, the old housekeeper, and Mr. Earnshaw? How do I know that any of it happened, except for their say-so? Thomas Hardy is always gloomily warning about “fate.” When Tess dies, Hardy tells us that the Gods “had had their sport with Tess.” Oh dear, couldn’t poor By Anna Roberts Tess just die peacefully: Her life has been hard enough Have you heard the good news? Beaumont has a without being a pawn in someone else’s “Game.” Even reading group. It’s brand new and welcomes members in Eliot’s “Mill on the Floss,” the reader has a bad who love to read. In fact, it is so new we haven’t feeling about poor Tom and Maggie from the start, that decided exactly what to do next. Consensus is hard to they are pawns in some larger scheme, and all will come by, so we sympathize with Congress. How often come to a bad end. Not surprisingly, it does. shall we meet? Who is the alpha reader? Do we favor Is this manipulative hand in the Victorian novel, Danielle Steele or Plato? How can we find the chosen compared with the refreshing lack of it in most Jane books? Austin novels, the reason she is still appealing to us Some of these earth-shaking questions have today? She presents all the usual types without, most already been discussed. We’ll meet once a month. of the time, intruding on the narrative. We have all One member will be “in charge” each month, a different known the bossy young girl (Emma), the interfering inmember each time. Participation is to be encouraged. law (Mrs. Norris), the unfortunate gentlewoman (Mrs. The best news of all is Kim Norrett’s agreement to Smith), the naïve young learner (Catherine) and her order our chosen book each month, and bill us through eager tutor (Henry), the disenfranchised (Elinor and Beaumont. What a gift, especially to those who don’t Marianne), and their greedy brother (John), and the know how to reach Amazon.com. spirited daughter (Elizabeth). Believe it or not, we have already had two lively Austin’s characters are all familiar to us, because meetings, including one in which we read, discussed, they are funny and fallible and are rooted in human and heard about life today on a Navajo reservation. nature, whether 1815 or 2000. They are not puppets, Our second meeting took us back to post-WWI with but lively and memorable. Austin cannot help a few Ernest Hemingway. Both books are novels, and neither weak moments when she falls into the Victorian trap of is claimed by Danielle Steele or Plato. generalizing about her characters, but if only she had Ahead we see a winter of sparkling discussion, realized that it was unnecessary for her to follow these fascinating material, and our Beaumont friends. conventions! We enjoy her work best without her. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Book club plots new beginning
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In today’s shorthand world, how to define literacy?
Save a Tree–Text! By Dr. Dean Snyder
(English) Hello friend. Great big hug. Hang in there and keep smiling. Laughter is healthy! (Translation) Hi Pal gr8 big H HIT m kip :-) lafta S HLTY (Text Language) Hi pal.gr8 big H. HIT m kip :-). Lafta S HLTY.
By Dr. Dean Snyder
Webster defines literacy as the ability to read and write. Fair enough? No. Grossly inadequate in today’s world. Take this text message: hi pal gr8 big H. HIT m kip :-) lafta S HLTY. Is the person who can translate this message into English literate? Is the person who can’t translate it illiterate? Or what? Clearly the person possessing expertise in comprehending the texting language may very well be unable to conjugate a verb or construct a proper English sentence. In other words, able to read but sadly lacking in writing ability. Where does this person fit into the job market? A recent column in The Philadelphia Inquirer quoted a training manager at the Philadelphia shipyard as saying, “More than 50 percent of job applicants from Philadelphia could not pass a literacy test.” Does that mean they could not build a ship? How, one may ask, does one advise today’s job seeker? Much to my surprise, a little research revealed that the question of literacy has been addressed by a wide range of special interest groups whose members have recently published their findings. These include the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, the National Institute for Literacy, the U.S. Census Bureau, a group called ProLiteracy Worldwide, the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, and the Pennsylvania State Literacy Survey Education Testing Service. Their common definition of literacy is, essentially, the ability to use printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential. It is comforting to know that there are those who care and are willing to actively address the subject of literacy. But while this definition is wordier than Webster’s, is it really better? Now I am sorry that I ventured into this whole quagmire. I should care? I am through parenting.The last of our brood is on the way to a Bachelor’s degree, and frankly, labor productivity is someone else’s problem.
* * * Oh for the life of an English student. Imagine not having to learn sentence structure, how to construct a paragraph, or spelling. To me, texting appears to be a very loose incorporation of phonetics and symbols minus all the staid rules of construction. While text sentences are still delineated by periods, I have yet to learn when to use capital letters–but not to fear, as there are several dictionaries standing by on the Internet ready to assist in translating Text to English or vice versa. Count me in. I want to be a convert. Just look at the ingenious way a texter can avoid the headache of trying to spell great. Great/grate/gr8. Which is the most expedient? Grt wins the prize. No matter if one is a speed typist or a hunt-and-peck artist, any time one can reduce a word from five pecks to three we have a winner. Now take a look! The message in English contains 14 words and occupies about twice the space used by the text language. Based on this example, I hereby extend an invitation to the mathematicians residing in Beaumont to calculate the potential savings in terms of standard sheets of bond paper. As for the trees, I will lean on the front office to find us a retired paper mill professional to calculate the number of trees that could be saved. Savings could be in the trillions! Jst w@ r we w8n 4?
IN MEMORIAM Mr. Frederick Etherington, November 12, 2009 • Mr. John Guy, November 12, 2009 • Mrs. Kathryn Leslie, November 21, 2009 Members of the Beaumont Community extend deepest sympathy to their families and friends. 5
Chef Mark Robison carves part of a loin of mako (Webster’s: “a large, swift, dangerous mackerel shark”) into steaks while Sous-Chef Barrington Hill observes. Photo by Louise Hughes
Catch of the day—from ocean to our plate By Dick Maass
to get local fish whenever possible; for example, shad when they are running. He stays within a budget that allows him to buy fish at an overall wholesale cost of about $7 a pound. For example, bluefish, another Beaumont favorite, costs about $4.50 per pound, while red snapper runs in the $9 to $10 range. A normal serving weight is about 7 ounces before preparation. The kitchen will adjust the serving size on request to accommodate the most delicate or the most robust demand. Preparation is something else. Baked fish gets a little wine in the pan to enhance the natural flavor. Sometimes gentle herbs are used to add tasty variety. Nothing gets salt-and-pepper seasoning, as there is no need to mask the fresh flavor of the fish we get. Those who must know what the master himself prefers need go no further. It’s grouper from Florida’s west coast, grilled, with only a little olive oil for moisture preservation.
More and more of us want fish for dinner. But there’s good fish and bad fish. Our Executive Chef, Mark Robison, intends you to get the good fish, and nothing fishy about it. The sequence from ocean catch to dinner plate is complicated, but Mark takes control. Shipments arrive every two days from our trusted long-time vendor. The Beaumont kitchen team inspects and weighs the catch before accepting it. Smaller fish are in fillet form; larger ones in what is called “loin” form, meaning they have to be cut into serving size pieces. Hawaiian butterfish, which is popular on the menu here, comes in loin form. Loins are stored below 40 degrees; fillets are packed in ice and stored in pans that allow the ice melt to drain away, maintaining sanitation and flavor. Because fillets are more delicate, they appear earlier on the menu. Mark refuses to accept any fish on the endangeredspecies list or to use farm-raised fish. This requires constant monitoring, however, as variable world political and economic factors confuse the market. He also tries 6
Sipping sherry, nibbling cookies around bright tree . . . continued from page 1
Snow and debris were shaken off the tree; it was measured and the trunk sawed to just the right height for the living room. Trimmed branches decorated the house, inside and out. The smell of baking and fragrant cedar warmed the house. As we got older, we went to church for Christmas Eve service. We came home to admire the bright blinking tree in the otherwise dark room. We opened our gifts in turn while sipping sherry and sampling our cookies. Then we went to bed with no rush to open gifts in the morning. After a leisurely morning, we had a festive dinner and friends dropped by to visit. Cold inconvenience sharpened our gratitude for the beauty of the farm and the joy of family at Christmas.
and walls. Before dawn, Dad and my brother set traps for muskrats along the creeks. They stretched and sold the pelts. Snow and Christmas brightened our days and nights. Television and telephones to spread announcements of school closings were not yet available, so we watched the road from our upstairs windows. If no cars or headlights were sighted driving along the road, then school in the one-room schoolhouse would be
The excitement of Christmas in a family of six ushered in the acquiring, hiding, and wrapping of gifts for each other as we pounded up and down the stairs, loudly opening and quickly closing bedroom doors for privacy. We collected and cracked nuts for the cookies Mother baked. canceled. If the snow was deep enough we would sled down the hill across the creek from the house, and if we went too far, could end up in the icy creek. Hot chocolate warmed us as we came home, cold and wet from tramping in and shoveling snow from the walks and porches. Steers and sheep had to be fed and watered. Dad and my brother forked hay and straw down from the mows and broke the ice in the troughs. Each day they released the animals from the protection of the barn into the meadow for exercise and fresh air. A hog butchered in the driveway provided bacon, sausage, scrapple and roasts for immediate use and the freezer. Wandering ducks were caught year-round and slaughtered as needed. Starting with asparagus in the spring, vegetables were frozen and canned through the summer months, enough to last until next year’s harvest. We ate well, even in winter. The excitement of Christmas in a family of six ushered in the acquiring, hiding and wrapping of gifts for each other as we pounded up and down the stairs, loudly opening and quickly closing bedroom doors for privacy. We collected and cracked nuts for the cookies Mother baked. Eventually, while Mother ran the house, I baked cookies. Dad and the younger kids went up to the slope where cedar trees had taken hold and chose a tree for the house. It was cut and dragged home.
Photo by Kadeen McNish
Super Phan The Phillies didn’t win the Series after all, but Cecily Clark was a winner at Beaumont’s Halloween costume party. 7
What’s cool for the young can leave Grandma cold By Mary Schnabel
Here’s a question. What do we do when a guest . . . usually a child or grandchild . . . arrives to join us for a meal here in our dining rooms and is dressed in a way that makes us cringe? It has happened to me. Certainly we are not to blame, but that doesn’t make us less embarrassed by the inappropriate attire of someone who is here at our invitation. Alas, by the time they are already here the damage is done. If the Grill Room is open, there is our salvation—since the dress code there is more forgiving than it is in the Mansion rooms. But if, as is the case on Brunch Sunday, the Grill is closed, then what? Now it’s up to us to decide whether we want to brave
Photos by Christine Johnson-Hall What not to wear. In his standard teen-age attire, Nick Hall is a prime candidate for Beaumont take-out.
the disapproving looks from fellow diners and tough it out, or think of another solution. In the most dire case, when the appearance is truly awful, we can always decide on take-out and feed the group in our own apartment or villa. It has been done. This extreme case probably doesn’t happen often, but it would certainly impress the young culprit to shape up next time. We know kids like to be cool. I think they usually are aware that our residents . . . their grandmothers and grandfathers, aunties and uncles . . . are definitely not cool. So a word to the wise, bestowed a short time before they are to visit us for a meal, ought to be enough to encourage them to dress up, not down, when the destination is Beaumont.
A spruced-up Nick is appropriately dressed to enjoy Brunch Sunday.
The deadline for the January 2010 issue of the Beaumont News is December 7. Please sign your story and either turn it in at the front desk or e-mail it to Mary Graff at graffs@msn.com and mgraff@beaumontretirement.com. Contributions, suggestions, and comments from all are welcome and necessary for our success. The editors reserve the right to edit all copy in keeping with News standards. HOW TO GET A COLOR COPY OR LARGE PRINT EDITION OF BEAUMONT NEWS To get a color copy go to our website, www.beaumontretirement.com, click Skip Intro at the bottom of the page, then click Read this month’s newsletter, and print. If you would like to receive the News in large print, please leave your name at the desk in the front lobby. A copy will be placed in your in-house mailbox. 8