President’s Report –
JANUARY 2021
BY KAREN PERRY
Of all the activities at North Shore Towers,
there is one that has refused to be
stopped by the Covid pandemic. Charity,
kindness, or help to the needy or suffering,
has carried on for the past months. Knitting and
crocheting efforts have continued, providing critically
needed blankets and cold weather items for
our neighborhood hospitals. Through a relationship
with Northwell, North Shore Hospital has
been our main recipient.
Our Women’s Club began the most recent charity
efforts. They were soon joined by members of
our Knit and Crochet Club and numerous other
NST residents. Critically needed supplies, funds
and labor were provided by all. While Covid workers
at North Shore were the first to receive items
from us, soon the entire staff joined in.
The Lavender Room is a major staff lounge
at the hospital. In an early project, eye catching
lavender blankets were created. Our reputation
for blankets spread quickly. Soon the entire hospital
received blankets from us. Over 40 women
produced several hundred squares which were
tirelessly assembled into over 100 blankets.
Were these colorful, warm blankets well
received by the staff at North Shore Hospital?
Just look at the smiling faces on hospital staff in
the photograph accompanying this article.
NST is committed to finding
another spot for a
pickle ball cour t. The
Board agreed to not add to our
existing tennis court at this time
and looked over our 100 acres for
alternative choices. The summary
below, from AARP ar ticles
and other sources, capsulizes
our reasons for continuing our
focus.
Many pickle ball players are older,
partly because the game offers aerobic
exercise without much risk of
injury. Playing pickle ball, one of the
fastest-growing sports in the U.S.,
may ward off depression as well as
improve fitness, according to two
new studies on the game’s health
benefits.
Those findings likely will only add
to the enthusiasm many people have
for this oddly named sport — one
that’s a little like tennis, a bit like
Ping-Pong, and offers a mix of moderate
exercise and social connection
that many say can be life-changing,
especially for the older players who
are attracted to it .It’s no surprise
that exercise and socialization are
good for your body and mind, but
“picklers,” as the most devoted
pickle ball players are called, say
there’s something special about the
game, which in recent years has been
spreading wildly across the country.
Charity Survives the Pandemic at NST
Technical Teaching Takes Off
A NST Special Projects Committee Program
BY KAREN PERRY
AND IRIS LITTMAN
In a popular new program, the
Special Projects Committee,
under the leadership of Board
member Robert Ricken, is helping
resident seniors and grandparents,
women and men, develop their technical
skills. When a problem arises,
they will not have to sheepishly dial
the phone and ask their children or
grandchildren for help. With new
savvy, the goal is to make them
confident and independent.
The premise of this program is
that the upcoming winter will be
severe. This will create the need for
several important computer skills.
Purchasing from Amazon and
other online vendors will keep the
household shelves filled with food
and paper products. Knowledge of
Zoom will allow our residents to
lessen their feelings of isolation by
having virtual gatherings with family
and friends.
Facility in Zoom and the ability to
purchase online are only the beginning
of this program. Use of email,
texting and other basic skills are
taught. Performing Google searches
and finding information on the
Internet are also covered. In this
isolated period of our lives, learning
FaceTime is certainly welcome.
Finally, use of the BuildingLink
system helps keep one up-to-date
with the ongoing activities of NST.
Reactions to the program have
been uniformly positive. One of
our instructors felt gratified when
her student was able to FaceTime
with her son across the country for
the first time. Another student was
delighted when she could attach
photos to her text messages. Gaining
the ability to use NST BuildingLink
was a real accomplishment for
another satisfied student.
The first announcement of this
program in the December Courier
brought an overwhelming response.
In fact the call for instruction was
so great that our volunteer teachers
are overloaded.
If you have the appropriate skills,
additional teachers are needed. If
you are on a waiting list for instruction,
please be patient.
Do you want to be put on our
list to receive instruction? Do you
have appropriate skills to become a
volunteer teacher? Contact Karen
Perry at (718) 225-0107 or perrykdale@
aol.com.
Hospital staff is grateful for NST’s help
More Knitting Needed!
With predictions of a severe winter, North Shore
Hospital’s needs have expanded. Their call is
now for scarves, shawls and hats for the staff.
This major undertaking needs your help.
Monetary contributions or the donation of
supplies are always appreciated. However, above
all else, we need your labor to knit, crochet or
assemble.
Your contacts for this project are Carol Klinger of
the Women’s Club (347-408-4600) and Judi Ross
of our Charity Knit and Crochet Club (347-235-
4509). Thank you!
January 2021 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 3
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