Newsletter January-February 2021 |
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Note From Skyline Village Chicago President Phyllis Mitzen |
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In the fall of 2020, I attended a series of workshops with a “white affinity” group facilitated by the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) of Greater Chicago organization. Our purpose was to address the historic and contemporary effects of racism. My group explored the language, attitudes, and privilege of being white. The speakers helped us understand the history of racism and its effects on life in the U.S. today. In small group “dyads” I talked freely about the racial stereotypes I learned early in life, when I became aware of race. I heard others dig deep into their own history. It was a moving, and, dare I say, life-altering experience—a small start to the exploration I’m taking.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 21, 2021, the TRHT is offering a free Racial Healing Circle workshop like the one I attended. The workshop is free but you must register. MLK said “things will not get better by and by.” I believe we cannot wait any longer to be actively anti-racist. Participating in the Racial Healing Circles helped put my feet on the road to being a better white person. I urge you to join the movement and Sign up here. Feel free to use Skyline Village Chicago as your organization.
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Thank you for supporting Skyline Village Chicago
Please consider making a donation to help us keep our virtual doors open.
Annual Dues $75 per individual, $100 per couple
Mail check: Skyline Village Chicago, PO Box 64524, Chicago, IL 60664
Our 501C3 status affords members tax deductions to the extend allowed by law.
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COVID-19 AND PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN |
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Are you 75 or Over?
Where and When to Get Your Vaccine
In Chicago, healthcare workers will be the first to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, followed by residents and staff at long-term care facilities. Next in line are people over 75 years old. We asked our friend Dr. Michael Ison for updates. His response:
Dr. Ison: “Logistics are the key issue and specific details have yet to be spelled out. CVS and Walgreens will be an option but it may require people going to their MD or a vaccine ‘pod’. There are about 250,000 people in the Chicagoland area over 70. The logistics of getting all of these patients into vaccine sites over a very short period of time is going to be interesting. Added to this, doses are allocated to counties of residence and Chicago has its own allocation separate from Cook and Illinois.”
Michael G. Ison, MD MS FIDSA FAST, Infectious Disease Director, Northwestern University
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COVID Fatigue?
Don't let your guard down! For up-to-date data on the COVID-10 Coronavirus, Click here
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What are you looking forward to when the Pandemic Shutdown comes to a close. Share your thoughts with us for the Spring 2021 Newsletter. Email [email protected]. Write “looking forward” on the subject line.
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Here’s one of ours.
Summer 2021, “Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change, and the
MacArthur Fellows Program at 40”
Twenty-eight artists who have MacArthur “Genius” grants will come together for a single exhibition, spread across nearly 20 venues in Chicago. “Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change, and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40” will include grantees such as Nicole Eisenman, LaToya Ruby Frazier, David Hammons, and Kerry James Marshall. For More information click here.
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Skyline Village Chicago is using Zoom to connect with members and friends. Please join us at one of the following.
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When Do I Call 911?
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 - 4:00-5:00PM
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Theresa Kelly, Stephanie Novalini, Community Relations Officers
Chicago Police Department
18th District, Near North Station
Are you worried about your neighbor? Is there an occupied car with dark windows parked on your street? It’s easy to call 911 about obvious criminal activity, but what if the sidewalks are icy and slippery? Should I call 911? Or 311? Find out the answers to these questions as well as an update on personal safety on the street and in your building.
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What's with all the Scam Calls & Emails?
Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 4:00-5:00PM
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Scams, Frauds and Conniving Sharks
Ryan Aderman, Community Outreach Liaison, Office of Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul
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Theresa Kelly, Community Relations Officer for Chicago Police Department,18th District, Near North Station
Criminals are busier than ever with defrauding schemes like debt settlement, Social Security, charity, mortgage/reverse mortgage, investment/ponzi and work-at-home scams. Add online fraud, e-mail threats, identity theft and computer hacking and we’re afraid to open our emails or answer our phones.
What can be done? Scam Expert, Ryan Aderman, will help us wade through these muddy waters and show us how to keep the scheming sharks away.
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Women’s Salon Zoom
Second Tuesday of Every Month, 3:30-5:00PM
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SVC members gather in conversation monthly to increase their awareness of cultural and societal notions on aging. If you’re interested in joining us and are not already on the Zoom list, contact [email protected] and write SALON on the subject line.
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Weekly Zoom Chat
Every Friday 4:00-5:00PM
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Check in for a backyard over-the-fence chat on how you’re getting along during the Shutdown and what strategies you’re using to stay sane and healthy. If you’re not already on the Zoom list, contact [email protected] and write Friday Chat on the Subject Line
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“Had Enough!” Festival
A special thanks to the talented professionals who helped us end what we think is the worst year of our lives. Here’s hoping 2021 will revive our spirits!
A big dose of gratitude to the following stars!
Anne Burnell, President of the Chicago Cabaret Professionals for “Eve of the Eve” party, the night before New Year’s Eve, and “It’s a Cabaret Life” at the beginning of December.
Jonathan Miller, Co-Founder of Sounds Good and Good Memories Choirs for leading us in a round of Hanukah songs in our “Chanukah is not Christmas” program. Watch it again here:
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Curt & Chris Powell, Restored to Sanity Singers for leading us in the annual Holiday Sing Along. We plan to join them again in Connors Park in July for the Beatles Sing Along and in December 2021 for the next annual Holiday Sing Along.
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A MORE LIVABLE (COVID) CITY |
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What are you doing? Staying home? Going out? Long cold walks? Watching Netflix? Zoom Courses? Send us a photo of what you’re doing or planning to do as it gets colder to make our city more livable. If you’re staying in, what are you watching? Schitt’s Creek? The West Wing? Vera? What do you recommend? Send to [email protected]
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Bump Outs
On a snowy cold night in February 2020, Skyline Village Chicago hosted State Representative Lamont Robinson in moderating a Town Hall meeting to highlight the dangerous conditions for pedestrians on Michigan Avenue. In November 2020, the Chicago Department of Transportation installed “bump-outs” at Delaware and Michigan to slow traffic down at that intersection
Bravo Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Alderman Brian Hopkins for their swift and decisive action on our plea to make our neighborhood safer. And we can’t confirm it, but we think the east-west traffic lights are a bit longer so we don’t have to run across Michigan Avenue
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CAPS/Beat Meetings
The Chicago Police Department’s 18th District Beat meetings are now on Zoom. Tune in to get questions answered about crime in your neighborhood. Contact 312-742-5870 or email [email protected] to register for the next 18th District BEAT meeting in your neighborhood. The 18th District is east of the Chicago River and south of Fullerton Avenue.
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Reflection on Virtual “Monet and Chicago” By Jana Vander Lee
(The Art Institute of Chicago is temporarily closed. But you can visit virtually.)
Think you know Monet? Think again. Monet and Chicago at The Art Institute Chicago is an adventure into his awesome “pathways of color.” Go to the Art Institute of Chicago website for who gathered all these paintings and a delightful short video Beyond Surface/Discovering Monet—sure to brighten any day. To see, REALLY SEE, the water lily paintings, click the YouTube link for Monet and Slow Looking with Rachel Cohen of the University of Chicago. Her close-up details flow through the colorful dynamic energies composing each of these refreshing masterpieces.
The exhibition runs through January 18, 2021. The video is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The slow looking is like a guided meditation, maybe not for everyone but rewarding for those who really want to see how he creates such gorgeous color play that is the spirit of Monet’s painting.
Jana Vander Lee
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Restaurants
Restaurants! Let us know if you’ve discovered restaurants where you think you’ll eat when it’s cold outside. Add [email protected] to your email contacts so you can readily send us your photo, eating in a plastic igloo (!) or a heated outdoor patio.
We can't guarantee that these restaurants are COVID-safe enough for us. But if you've been, or if you go, let us know what you think at [email protected].
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Tavern on Rush. Evelyn Shaevel and her niece. Happy Birthday, Evelyn! |
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Aster Hall 900 North Michigan: Bill Kennedy learning Zoom |
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As we begin the New Year of 2021 filled with the hope that we lacked until the tail end of 2020, some of you may have wonderful tales to tell of your local and more distant travels. Please send words and pictures to [email protected] by February 22nd for our next newsletter. When asked for picture size, choose large.
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Walking
By Lenore Holt-Darcy
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My husband and I walk most days. This is the only time we really go out now, given the pandemic. We generally walk from Delaware Street along the lake to the North Avenue beach—sometimes out to the lighthouse, and other times just until the bridge across Lake Shore Drive. We went a little later than usual on a recent Friday and caught the beginning of sunset and the golden light that is soft and beautiful. |
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Success! The Clancys made it to Florida unscathed. Midway Airport was happily a ghost town in mid-December. We had to remove our masks for two seconds so the TSA agent could verify that it was indeed us who appeared on our photo IDs. Then we waited to board the plane at a completely empty bar next to our gate. Although Southwest Airlines said it would sell middle seats beginning in December, they went unsold on our flight, which was perhaps two-thirds full. We never left our seats nor ate or drank during the brief two-and-a-half hour trip. All good! |
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Medical Alert Systems
By Judy Karlov
Chicago Hyde Park Village recently sponsored a Zoom event about Medical Alert Systems. Dr. Richard Caro, co-founder of Tech Enhanced Life, www.techenhancedlife.com, explores the intersection of aging and technology, with the mission of improving the quality of life of older adults and their families. Dr. Caro spoke about the types of medical alert systems, how they work and what to consider when selecting one. The types:
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At Home Wearable: Big box and wearable pendant. Dated technology but works well.
Go Anywhere Wearable: Bulky, needs a decent cellphone signal.
Smart Watch: More attractive than Go Anywhere Wearable but not as far developed as a medical alert.
Base Station at Home: Pendant or watch and base station small enough that women can carry it in their purses if they wish. The pendant is smaller than At Home Wearable.
Cellphone App: Good for users who are never away from their cellphones.
Alexa: Requires wi-fi, so it needs to be used at home.
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Considerations When Making a Choice
Monitored vs Unmonitored: Monitored. Person in a call center responds for a monthly fee, typically $40 - $60. Unmonitored. The wearer presses a button. The system calls 3 or 4 numbers, and ultimately 911. This is not as heavily advertised as monitored systems.
At home a user needs good call coverage throughout the household for a wearable or cellphone app. One disadvantage of a wearable device is that only 20% of people wear it. Some wearables have an algorithm for fall detection so you don’t need to press a button if you fall and hit your head, but these are larger and heavier.
A pendant works on your neck but not on your wrist, except for the Apple watch which works only on your wrist. An Apple watch needs a built-in cellphone connection in order to work as an alert system. Some systems need a battery charge everyday, others once a week. Some work for 3 months but, due to minimal power usage, do not function as well. Some work for a year, but only at home. When the answering voice comes through a base station, it may only be audible in one room. Voice through the wearable is more flexible.
Dr. Caro personally likes Apple Watches and Alexa, but at age 64 he doesn’t feel the need for an alert system – yet. This is an emerging field. New entrants will be tested by Tech Enhanced Life as they are introduced.
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Donors
Our thanks for your generous support of Skyline Village Chicago during this turbulent and difficult time: Nina Appel, Katherine Bendix, Theresa Benoy, D. and William Clancy, Judith Corbeille, Betty Dayron, Patricia Ewert, Sydney Feuchtwanger, Janice Gerstein, Guilla Guidotti, Sandy and Jack Herman, Mary and Jim Houston, Joan Levin, Bill and Judy Locke, Marilyn Marks, Rhoda Ann Miller, Phyllis and Michael Mitzen, Anne Rossiter, Iris Rudnick, Evelyn Shaevel, GaiL Spreen, Mary Tuite, Kristina Valaitis, Eva Wahl, Joan Wolfensberger, Ph.D., Pamela Woodward, Valerie Yaffe
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New Members
Judith Bonem
Terry Koch
Caryn Steinberg
Mary Tuite
Renewing Members
Dea Brennan
Beth Conaghan
Judith Erwin
Sydney Feuchtwanger
Mary Kemp
Tanya Klasser
Marilyn Marks
Maureen Mooney
Beth Najberg
Gay Roberts
Evelyn Schaevel
Buffy Sergent
Mary Tuite
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Annual Dues:
$75 Individual, $100 Couple
Send a check to: Skyline Village Chicago, P.O. Box 64524, Chicago, IL 60664
Join online:
Email us:
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Many of our friends are conducting online classes and events. Click into their newsletters and websites for information.
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Forward Chicago Website
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The Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy Website
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Beth Finke MasterTeachers™: Website
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Center for Life and Learning 4th Presbyterian Church: Website
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Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease: website
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Rush Generations Center for Excellence in Aging: Website
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Streeterville Organization for Active Residents: Newsletter
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AARP Chicago Newsletter
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CJE
Insights on Aging Staying: Connected While Waiting for the Sun to Come Out
Sharon Dornberg-Lee, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor, CJE Counseling Services
Monday, January 11, 2021 • 11:30 am–12:30 pm CST
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We Want To Hear From YOU
Do you have something you'd like to share with your Skyline Village friends in the next newsletter? A news story, a poem, blog, piece of art, photo, a Favorite Thing, a quote? We'd love to include you in upcoming newsletter and the website.
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The Skyline Village Chicago community of older adults engages
in cultural, educational and social programs. We are active, informed
and connected advocates within our unique, vibrant high-rise neighborhoods.
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Happy New Year from our resident artist, Anna Rappaport! |
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photo credit: Sydney Feuchtwanger
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Copyright © 2021 All Rights Reserved |
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