That Time of the Year

 

 

The 2012 Winter Holiday Season at Kendal

 

Photo essay by Dick Baznik

 

Winter took its time arriving in Oberlin this year, with shirt-sleeve weather seen occasionally even after Thanksgiving, but there was little that could dampen the annual outbreak of holiday cheer that enlivens the campus as the year neared its close. Here are selected images of the season’s events, organized under several headings. Click on the image or the heading in each section to see more images for that subject.

 

RAFF Shop Holiday Sale

While the RAFF Shop operates all year, its staff makes a special effort at the holidays to stock up on decorations, clothing, and other items appropriate to the season. From right after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, the shelves are filled with treasures. Ruth Ann Clark and the other members of the RAF volunteer team do all the work.

Decorating the Tree and the Lounge

Coordinated by the House Committee, which is chaired by Harol Pesuit, residents gathered on December 16 to put up holiday decorations in the Heiser Lounge and the main lobby on December 6. Items on the shelves at the fireplace represented a variety of nations, religions, and cultures.

Kendal Early Learning Concert

If there’s anything more adorable than the kids from Kendal Early Learning performing their holiday show each year, we don’t know about it. Thanks to weeks of preparation by teachers and resident volunteers, they put on a brief but invigorating performance of seasonal favorites on December 10.

Scandinavian Yule

Kendal residents and staff members with ties – directly or by marriage – to Denmark, Finland, Norway, or Sweden gather each year to celebrate the holidays. This year’s event, on December 11, featured a book of biographical information about Kendal Scandinavians prepared by Nancy Hultquist. Ben Lenz and Don Hultquist once again did the planning.

Hanukkah Tea

This was the “first annual” Hanukkah tea party, held on December 11 in the Central Activities Room. An overflow crowd from all of Kendal’s neighborhoods showed up to hear about Hanukkah traditions, share contributed goodies, and compete in table games – particularly dreidel. Donna Baznik and Priscilla Steinberg did the planning.

Winter Solstice

Kendalites have noted the winter solstice with song and story each year since the community was founded. This year’s “Kendal Revels” took place on December 13, featuring choral music directed by Carol Longsworth, dance, readings, solo performances, a very impressive boar’s head, and refreshments. Anne Elder handled the organizational aspects.

Marimba Christmas

Directed by Professor Michael Rosen of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, this ensemble of percussion students has visited Kendal every year since 1996 during the holidays to perform their own brand of seasonal favorites. The show, this year on December 16, was infectiously cheerful.

Staff – Resident Potluck

Kendal staff and residents see each other every day, and often get to know each other very well. And once a year, this year on December 19, they pull together a holiday potluck lunch that emphasizes mixed seating and more cross-communication through games and suggested seating patterns.

Visit from Santa

Okay, if anything could be as adorable as the December 10 concert by the Kendal Early Learning kids, it’s their annual visit with Santa Claus, which this year took place on December 19 in the Heiser Lounge. Have a look and see if you agree.

Christmas Eve in Heiser Lounge

Kendal residents, both naughty and the nice, gather after dinner each year on Christmas Eve for an evening of traditional story and song, this year organized by George Hannauer. The event featured Bob Baldwin reading favorite stories, the Kendal Trio accompanying carols, ad Allen Huszti’s a cappella performance of the Boar’s Head Carol.

New Year’s Eve

It’s not Times Square – it’s not even Tappan Square – but Kendal’s annual new year’s eve celebration is a time for residents and family members to sing, dance, compete in board and card games, review the ups and downs of the past year, go on a treasure hunt, and share the goodies contributed by the attendees. Dan Reiber and Gaye Laurell did the organizing.