Kendal at Oberlin

03/20/2026

Older adults tend to be trusting and polite, usually have financial savings and good credit and own a home. And that’s why scammers like to target them, according to the FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Explains the FBI:

“Each year, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to some type of financial fraud or confidence scheme. Criminals will gain their targets’ trust and may communicate with them directly online, over the phone, and/or through the mail; or indirectly through the TV and radio. With the elderly population growing and seniors racking up more than $3 billion in losses annually, elder fraud has remained a growing problem.”

Common scams targeting older adults include:

Grandparent scam where a criminal poses as a child, grandchild or other relative needing immediate financial help;
Romance scam where a criminal poses as an interested romantic partner on social media or a dating website to trick an older person looking for a companion.

Tech support scam where a criminal poses as a technology support representative and offers to fix non-existent computer issues.
Like many retirement communities, Kendal at Oberlin tries to keep its residents abreast of the latest scams and recently has expanded its outreach thanks to the collaboration of resident Deborah Gray and Kim Preston, Kendal’s risk manager.

“The genesis of this experiment was my concern, as a former teacher and as contact person for KORAtech (Kendal at Oberlin Residents Association) that what's needed is small, frequent, catchy reminders to keep top-of-mind what to be on the lookout for. Kim and I discussed possible ways to promulgate the information and settled on using WKAO slides and the traffic-light SOS theme,” Deborah explains.

WKAO is Kendal’s TV channel, which includes a daily news and events posting. Using AI tools, Deborah and Kim came up with nearly 100 slides on scams involving phone, email and websites.

Topics include:

Pop-up warnings (“Close or shut down. Never click Cancel or OK.”)
Notice from Amazon and other shopping sites (“If you didn’t order it, ignore it.”)
A text from your bank, Social Security Administration, etc. (“Real institutions use official channels.)
“After all the slides have been prepared and submitted, Kim and I will evaluate the experiment and what to do next, e.g., start the cycle again, create some new slides (especially as AI-produced scams increase), try something different.” Deborah says.

03/11/2026

We’re proud of the Oberlin Advocacy Team —six Kendal residents and two Kendal at Home members (photographed and missing two members Don Reeves and Diana Roose)—whose work was recently highlighted by the Friends Committee on National Legislation - FCNL. Since 2018, they’ve built strong relationships with our elected officials, shared personal stories, and advocated with compassion and persistence.

Their efforts show how older adults can be powerful voices for justice and peace.

Read the full testimony: https://hubs.ly/Q046rXfk0

03/11/2026

Come learn about antique flutes and vintage pocket watches, search Lorain County records and more at the Oberlin Heritage Center's Community Pop-Up Museum, to be held this Saturday, March 14, at Oberlin Community Services, 500 E. Lorain St. The event is free and runs 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This pop-up was planned as part of the nationwide initiative to mark the America250 anniversary. The Heritage Center thought this would be a good opportunity for the public to celebrate what is meaningful to them.

“This free, family-friendly event is a great way to connect with others while exploring history, artifacts, photographs and more. Let your curiosity run free!” says Liz Schultz, executive director.

Exhibitors include individuals, families and organizations who will curate their artifacts, kind of a “show and tell.” Along with the exhibits listed above, others include local church histories, World War I family documents, family textiles, vintage cameras and more.

The Intermuseum Conservation Association (ICA) will also be at the event with a table containing information about how to care for your historical objects.
This is the Center’s second pop-up – the first one was in 2019.

The Oberlin Heritage Center, located in the Monroe House at 73 ½ S. Professor St., offers lecturers, research services and local tours, both guided and self-guided. Tour topics include Westwood Cemetery, Oberlin City Schools and famous Oberlin College alumni Charles Martin Hall and Frank and Sarah Jewett.

Community Pop-Up Museum! Saturday, March 14 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. The Oberlin Heritage Center is hosting a community pop-up museum and there are just a few weeks left to register to exhibit! All are welcome to visit this surprise “museum” at Oberlin Community Services (500 East Lorain Street, Oberl...

03/06/2026

The month of March belongs to women, who are celebrating past achievements and fighting for future ones.

Women’s History Month focuses on the vital role women have played in American history while International Women's Day (IWD) on March 8 is a global event, this year themed “Give to Gain.”

According to organizers:

“In 2026, IWD marks an extraordinary milestone: 115 years of collective action, advocacy, and progress toward gender equality. For more than a century, IWD has helped drive transformative change. Each generation has built on the courage of those before it, pushing boundaries and redefining what is possible.”

In Cleveland, women and their supporters will gather at Market Square Park near downtown Cleveland at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 8 with a rally and speeches, followed by a 30-minute march.

"We will march this year on International Women's Day in Cleveland to address the many issues impacting women in Northeast Ohio and around the country, from ICE murders to violence against women, and the attack on SNAP benefits, reproductive rights, and civil rights," said Women's March Cleveland head organizer Kathy Wray Coleman."
Local events highlighting Women’s History Month include guided tours of women artists at the The Cleveland Museum of Art. The weekly tours on Wednesdays 6:15 p.m. and Saturdays 3 p.m. are free but tickets are required.

The Cleveland Public Library has a series of events, including one bowing to the city’s rock ‘n roll legacy - an engaging book discussion (to the backdrop of Fleetwood Mac music) of “Gold Dust Woman: The Biography of Stevie Nicks” by Stephen Davis. The discussion is Saturday, March 14 at 10:30 a.m. at the Eastman Campus.

Speaking of books, Harvard University Press among others, has put together a reading list of new and classic books that celebrate women’s remarkable achievements, such as “Why They Marched: Untold Stories of the Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote” by Susan Ware and “Liner Notes for the Revolution: The Intellectual Life of Black Feminist Sound” by Daphne A. Brooks.

02/27/2026

Donating blood is a year-round activity and need but flu outbreaks and winter storms have caused the cancellation of hundreds of blood drives so the need right now is even greater.

“The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage as winter weather further impacts the ability to rebuild the blood supply. Individuals who may be eligible are urged to give blood and platelets as soon as it is safe for them to travel to help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not delayed,” the Red Cross explains.
So, who’s eligible?

You must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and in good health and feeling well. There is no upper age limit for blood donation as long as you are well with no restrictions or limitations to your activities.

A donation takes about 10 minutes, followed by a 15-minute wait while you enjoy a snack and drink, and then you’re good to go. And it’s easy to find a drive that is convenient as hundreds of drives are held weekly in schools, libraries, community and health centers and the like.

And who needs blood?

Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets, which means approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U. S.

A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.

Others who need blood include people with cancer, sickle cell disease, severe burns and chronic diseases.

Also, the American Red Cross is always looking for individuals and organizations to host a blood drive, so consider working with your school, library and others to sponsor a drive.
“Everybody wins,” the Red Cross says. “Patients are able to receive the lifesaving blood they urgently need. Your organization builds goodwill and improves team spirit by working together to help others. You show leadership in bringing volunteers and donors together for a good cause.”

02/25/2026

Kendal at Oberlin is featuring a retrospective exhibit honoring the late woodblock printmaker, Oberlin College professor and Kendal resident Paul B. Arnold, and tomorrow (Feb. 26) his son Kemper will discuss his father’s art and legacy.

The Artist Talk is in the Heiser Auditorium at 4 p.m. and is open to the public.

The exhibit, which runs through March 30, includes two dozen woodblock prints and numerous pieces from Paul’s early and late career including prints, watercolors, drawings, carved woodblocks and etchings with plates. A selected number of pieces are for sale.

Paul and his wife Sarah (Sally) were “founding members” of Kendal (photographed), which opened in 1993. Paul died in 2012 at the age of 93.

The exhibit pieces are from an extensive archive maintained by Kemper, who moved the contents of his father’s studio at Oberlin College (cabinets, storage shelves, tables, the woodblocks, etc.) to a storage unit in nearby Westlake.

“He essentially reconstructed Paul's studio in two storage units. All the woodblocks are stored at ‘The Studio’ the way Paul stored them,” said resident Grover Zinn, curator of the Friends Gallery.

Grover moved to Kendal the year before Paul died and lived next door. “He went daily to his studio at the college,” Grover said.

According to the Oberlin College Alumni Magazine, by the end of his career, Paul's work had appeared in more than 225 exhibitions, many of them solo exhibitions. He had won numerous awards and accolades and was part of 15 public collections, including those at the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Seattle Art Museum, the Allen Memorial Art Museum, and the Library of Congress.

“While he always remained personally committed to traditional-style woodblock printing methods for his artistic expression, he was just as dedicated and supportive as an educator to all methods of artistic production. He was generous with his students, never begrudging their incessant demands for attention and always devoting a great deal of extra time to them,” wrote John Pearson, Young-Hunter Professor of Studio Art at Oberlin College at the time of Paul’s death.

02/25/2026

Football is over and MLB Opening Day isn’t until March 25, so here are 5 streaming options to bridge the sports gap, or deal with cabin fever until spring arrives March 20.

1. The 2026 Oscar Awards will be handed out March 15 and many of the nominated movies are available to watch on streaming platforms. The two movies with the most nominations are “Sinners” (16) streaming on Prime Video, and “One Battle After Another (13) on HBO Max.

2. Ken Burns has produced an eclectic collection of documentaries from “Jackie Robinson” and “Mark Twain” to “The Dust Bowl” and “The American Revolution” (his latest) and many are available to stream on PBS. And FYI they take time (12 hours for the latest, 18 hours for “The Vietnam War”) and concentration.

3. The Criterion Collection has put together a range of Criterion Collections to make It easy to dive into a collection of movies directed by Wes Andeson or Alfred Hitchcock, for instance. The streaming service is known for its mix of classic and contemporary films from around the world.

4. The American Film Institute has compiled several “100 year” best lists, from the 100 funniest movies and greatest love stories to the 25 greatest musicals, and the lists are easy to download.

5. Maybe this is a good time to learn how to play the violin, make gourmet meals, become a community leader or???? Whatever it is MasterClass probably has a class on it. Monthly plans start at $10.

02/23/2026

Diane Thomson’s job in Kendal’s Laundry Services is quite physical, and that suits her just fine. “I’m not meant to be behind a desk,” says Diane, who celebrates her third anniversary working at Kendal this month.

Diane and the other two full-time and one part-time employees launder linens, bedding and towels for all residents and personal items for many Stephens Care Center residents. That means sorting, spot treating, washing, drying and then folding or hanging clothes, depending on the resident’s preference. They also do laundry for the kitchen, physical therapy and the Early Learning Center.

“I have to admit sometimes at the end of the day I’m whooped. We move all day” says the 61-year-old laundry operator.

The job, of course, includes going through pockets, where it’s not uncommon to find tissues and the occasional hearing aid, lipstick or keys. “One man kept leaving his wallet in a pocket and I said, ‘I think he’s trying to tip me,” she jokes.

Kendal uses only fragrance-free detergent, wool balls rather than sheets for drying and Dawn detergent and an enzyme remover for stains.

Laundry Supervisor Sally Eber gives tours of the laundry room every couple of months. “Residents love the tour. She shows them everything. Many residents tell us afterwards that if they come into the Stephens Care Center they know they’ll be taken care of,” she says.

Sometimes at lunch she and Sally head to the exercise room for a short workout or outside for a walk, the pair is photographed in action in the fitness center.

Diane lives in nearby Henrietta Township with her partner of many years. And yes, she does the laundry at home but since joining Kendal now does a better job.
Says Diane, “I have a better understanding of laundry and check more.”

02/18/2026

This winter we had a group of Oberlin students truly became part of the Kendal community.

02/17/2026

Like last week’s Valentine’s Day party, the Spring Fling in April and countless other events, singing is a fixture at Kendal at Oberlin.

And that’s good news for Kendal singers.

“Evidence shows that singing is not just a natural and enjoyable human activity, but it also has real health benefits. It can lower blood pressure, improve oxygen flow, and lower stress,” according to a recent “Here & Now” broadcast from WBUR 90.9 FM in Boston.

Healthline came up with even more benefits – 10 in all. Here are 4.

May improve snoring. “Regular singing may change the way you breathe, even when you’re not singing. Researchers in a 2008 study interviewed the spouses of choir members, along with the spouses of people who don’t sing. The researchers found that significantly fewer choir members snored. This led them to recommend regular singing as a potential treatment for snoring,” Healthline reports.

Enhances memory in people with dementia. Song lyrics were found to be easier to recall than words, a study found. And for some singers, the lyrics brought back memories they’d forgotten.

Develops and strengthens a sense of connection. Many of us remember that feeling of “belonging” when we sing together in school musical programs, well those feel-good vibes continue into adulthood. “In a 2016 study involving 375 adult participants, researchers found that people who sang together in a group reported a higher sense of wellbeing and meaningful connection than people who sang solo. Spontaneous, improvised singing causes your body to release the feel-good hormone oxytocin, which may help give you a heightened sense of connectedness and inclusion,” according to Healthline.

Helps with grief. A 2019 study found that people grieving who sang in a choir had greater resilience to depression and their mood remained more stable throughout the process. The choristers reported a slow improvement in their self-esteem during the 12-week study, while those who didn’t participate in the singing did not report this benefit.

And unlike other activities, singing is cheap and easy. Just turn on your radio or favorite streaming device and belt it out.

02/13/2026

Wishing everyone a very Happy almost Valentine's Day! At Kendal at Oberlin, love isn’t just for one day—it’s built over a lifetime. Check out our latest blog, as three couples at Kendal share their recipe for successful relationships, offering thoughtful reflections on connection, communication, and growing together through the years.

Three couples who live at Kendal share their recipes for a successful relationship and what Valentine’s Day means to them.

02/12/2026

From the shores of Lake Erie to Ohio’s southern border in Cincinnati, a statewide celebration of the life, literature, and legacy of Ohio native Toni Morrison, the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, gets underway this month.

The party begins in Columbus on Feb. 18, Toni’s 95th birthday, and ends on her 96th birthday with a “community day party” in her birthplace of Lorain. Toni died August 5, 2019, of complications of pneumonia at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

“Partners in every county of the state will hold individual events including readings and discussions of her writing, talks with authors and important figures that Morrison influenced, school activities and writing contests, film screenings and performances inspired by her work, and much more,” according to Literary Cleveland , which is coordinating the yearlong project with Ohio Humanities, Ohioana Library
Association and the Toni Morrison Society.

The best way to stay abreast of all the happenings related to “Beloved: Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison” is to sign up for the Toni Morrison Newsletter at Literary Cleveland. (“Beloved” is the title of Toni’s book that won the Pulitizer Prize for Fiction in 1988.)

In the Lorain Public Library System is the Toni Morrison Reading Room, with bookshelves containing signed editions of her books, the 1948 Lorain High School yearbook opened to her senior photograph and other memorabilia.

After she won the Nobel Prize Toni contacted the library, where she had spent much of her youth, and asked that it build a reading room with “comfortable, upholstered chairs” where especially young people would “have an opportunity to make their own acquaintance with books… Books are intellectually challenging. Books make you confront things. They make you discover things that would have gone undiscovered.”

At Oberlin College, a Toni Morrison bench was erected as part of “The Bench By The Road Project” inspired by Toni’s comments about the absence of historical markers marking enslaved Africans and their stories.: “There is no suitable memorial, or plaque, or wreath, or wall, or park or skyscraper lobby. There’s no 300-foot tower, there’s no small bench by the road.”
There are currently 34 benches, including one in Paris, with two more bench placements scheduled for this year.

A Statewide Toni Morrison Celebration