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MONTGOMERY MESSENGER

The Newsletter of the Residents of Montgomery Place Retirement Community 5550 South Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60637

October 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10 www.montgomeryplace.org/category/news/messenger/

THE UNITED NATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

O n every continent, in every country, the rights of human beings have been and are

being abused. Whether within a nation or nation-to-nation, this abuse and abasement of human beings continues. Intertribal, racial, ethnic, and religious reasons are put forth as rationales for this b e h a v i o r . T h e recipients are usually those with the least capability to defend themselves. Women, children, racial minorities, ethnic minorities, and those economically disadvantaged take the brunt. The perpetrators hide behind sovereignty, use their power, and feel justified. It is not just the dictatorial or theocratic governments—we all have been and are guilty. In one of our few rational moments, at a time when we were weary of killing and had time to reflect, the concept of an international coalition of nations was put forth. The idea was to have an organization with the abil i ty to discuss worldwide issues on neutral ground. It was formed so as to be able to address, discuss, and come up with solutions to issues without resorting to violence. It was to be a means to

resolve international issues without the inhumanity of war. The basis was the protection of human beings and the preservation of their rights. In 1945 such an entity was born, the United

Nations. We all know this organization has its shortcomings, but also can cite many, many accomplishments. From Korea, Crete, Bosnia, Kosovo , Ha i t i , a nd Rwanda, just to name a few. The United Nations

has brokered peace, stood up for the rights of inhabitants, and defused potentially global problems. Without having final say (each nation claims its sovereignty), the United Nations has managed to get “the right thing done,” as President Truman said. We can be thankful to have had the blessing of outstanding human beings such as Eleanor Roosevelt, who worked on behalf of all of us to create this organization. In 1948 the United Nations created an office for addressing human rights issues. This is the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Its mandate is to seek out and identify places where abuses occur. They work to resolve these issues in a definitive and lasting manner. It operates not only in the political

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United Nations from p. 1

arena, but also where natural disasters have occurred. For example, in Pakistan the OHCHR ensured the even distribution of aid to earthquake victims. In Sri Lanka, they worked for, and eventually were successful in getting, a ceasefire to a 25-year civil war, and are still engaged in aiding the victims. In all of the conflicts in the Balkans, Africa, South America, and the Philippines they have been involved in or leading the brokering of peace and aiding in the aftermath efforts. They have been and are involved in any and all areas of abuse of women (worldwide), children (worldwide), pol it ical disappearances (Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Egypt), genocide (latest in Myanmar), and non-judicial assassinations (latest occurrences in the Philippines). I could go on and on, but there is not enough time or space. We need the United Nations and its work more than ever. We need the OHCHR to continue in its invaluable efforts. We need to reaffirm our belief in the organization.

Alex Veliko

FRIDAY NIGHT SPEAKERS

T he Friday Night Speakers programs start at 7:15 p.m. in the East Room, and usually run for one hour. Audience questions and discussion follow each presentation. The schedule for October includes two

Montgomery Place residents—a classicist and an educator—as well as a political scientist and a civil rights lawyer. Everyone is invited to attend the programs. ♦ October 6, Ed Krentz, classics; resident. “Indigenous German Art of the 16th Century.” Introduced by Alex Elwyn. ♦ October 13, John Mearsheimer, political science, U of C. “The Trump Administration’s Foreign Policy.” Introduced by Alex Elwyn. ♦ October 20, Paul Bruce, educator, resident. “Bronzeville: Many Mansions.” Introduced by Alex Veliko. ♦ October 27, Richard Busse, civil rights lawyer. “An Insider’s View of the American Civil Liberties Union.” Introduced by Phil Hefner.

Phil Hefner for the Friday Night Speakers Committee

MUSIC IN THE EAST ROOM

O ctober will bring a variety of musical treats for the enjoyment of Montgomery Place residents

and guests. ♦ T u e sd ay , Oc t obe r 3 , 7 : 15 p .m . The Montgomery Singers gather around the piano. ♦ Saturday, October 7, 2 p.m. The Ariel Quartet, Faculty Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, presents a concert in memory of Walter Levin. A reception will follow the concert. ♦ Sunday, October 8, 2 p.m. The Oak Park Recorder Society in concert. ♦ Sunday, October 15, 2 p.m. Zack Robinson, jazz dancer. ♦ Sunday, October 22, 2 p.m. Recital by piano students of the University of Chicago Department of Music. ♦ Sunday, October 29, 2 p.m. Laura Fenster, pianist and member of the Music Teachers of Hyde Park, in recital.

Muriel Rogers, Chair, Music Committee

OCTOBER 2017 page 3

OUT AND ABOUT

Editor: Kyoko Inoue

Contributors: Bernice Auslander, Laurieann

Chutis, Paula Givan, Nancy Harlan, Neva

Hefner, Phil Hefner, Marion Krentz, Evi Levin,

Barbara Marriott, Jan Moore, Richard Muller,

Muriel Rogers, Dorothy Scheff, Bernard Strauss,

Alex Veliko, Mary Williams, Barbara Wilson,

Anne Zeidman

Staff Contributors: Deborah Hart,

Chaplain Laura Gottardi-Littell

Artwork: Nate Kalichman

Layout: Carolyn Allen

Production: Lorri Colbert

Calendars: Barbara Wilson

Editor Next Month: Phil Hefner

continued on p. 4

♦ Thursday, October 5, 1 p.m. Spertus Institute. Outside Inside: Exploring Boundaries and

Otherness displays new works created by Spertus Museum’s second cohort of the Midwest Jewish Artists Lab. Twelve distinguished local artists are represented here. Our own Montgomery Place resident, Pauline Silberman, is one of them, and she will be with us to discuss the show. Free. ♦ Friday, October 6, 12:30 p.m. Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Series B. Alain Altunoglu conducts the Prokofiev Suite from The Love for

Three Oranges, Poulenc’s Gloria , and Gounod’s Saint Cecilia Mass. The orchestra is joined by the Chicago Symphony Chorus directed by Duane Wolfe. Tickets required. ♦ Friday, October 6, 7 p.m. Chicago Presents Early Music Series, International House. Barokksolistene presents An Alehouse Session. In the late 17th century, when English theaters were closed down for religious reasons, many alehouses were turned into so-called Musick-Houses, where musicians gathered. Henry Purcell and other composers could be found here, presenting their new works or engaging in lively musical duels with local musicians. Tickets required. ♦ Saturday, October 7, 11 a.m. The Met Live in HD brings us Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece, Norma, conducted by Carlo Rizzi. Sondra Radvanovsky stars as a Druid priestess who has broken her vows for the sake of love. Tickets required. ♦ Wednesday, October 11, 1 p.m. Lyric Opera, Rigoletto. Court jester Rigoletto’s acid tongue and all-consuming desire for revenge lead to catastrophe for himself and his love-struck daughter Gilda. Rigoletto is one of Verdi’s greatest characterizations, a complex and tragic figure, both pitiful and ferocious, with stupendous music to match. Tickets required.

CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE

T he cultural season is in full swing in October. Read here about upcoming bus

trips for theater, music, museum visits, lectures, shopping, lunch, and other special events. Stated times are when the bus leaves Montgomery Place. Once you have signed up for transportation, make a note on your calendar. If it turns out that you can’t come, take your name off the list as

soon as possible. Please arrive promptly for the bus. “Tickets required” means that you are responsible for getting your own ticket. See the Concierge Desk if you need help getting tickets. ♦ Tuesday, October 3, 11:30 a.m. Organ Recital at the Lutheran School of Theology. Marianne Kim, Organist at Moody Church, will give the Manz Organ Recital. Free.

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Out & About, from p. 3

♦ Friday, October 13, 1 p.m. Alphawood Gallery promotes a more equitable, just and humane society. The current exhibition, “Then They Came for Me,” looks at Japanese-American internment during World War II, examining the effect of racism and xenophobia from a dark period in American history. Free. ♦ Saturday, October 14, 11 a.m. The Met Live in HD, Die Zauberflote. This sublime fairy tale is told in a Singspiel (“song-play”) format characterized by separate musical numbers connected by dialogue and stage activity for navigating the moods, ranging from solemn to lighthearted, of the story and score. Composer Mozart and librettist Schikaneder were both Freemasons and Masonic imagery is used throughout the work. Tickets required. ♦ Saturday, October 14, 7:15 p.m. Chicago a capella at Temple KAM-II, Funny, That Doesn’t

Sound Jewish. Music from across all genres with just one thing in common, their Jewish composers. What happens when creativity and social pressure combine? The results may—or may not—sound Jewish. Tickets required. ♦ Wednesday, October 18, 1 p.m. Steppenwolf Theatre, The Rembrandt. When a museum guard decides to touch a famous Rembrandt painting, a remarkable journey across the ages ensues. Tickets required. ♦ Thursday, October 19, noon. Lunch outing to the Radler, a German restaurant in Logan Square that offers wursts and hearty German fare, plus plenty of beers, in an open, brick-walled space lined with street art. Prices are moderate. It’s fun to lunch! ♦ Friday, October 20, 7 p.m. Chicago Presents Classical Series at Mandel Hall. The Arditti Quartet’s program will include works by Bartok and Ligetti. Tickets required.

♦ Saturday, October 21, 2 p.m. Joffrey Ballet. The season opens with the classic Giselle. A sweeping tale of passion beyond the grave, Lola de Ávila’s visionary Giselle elevates one of the greatest romantic ballets to new heights. Tickets required. ♦ Sunday, October 22, 1 p.m. TimeLine Theatre, In the Next Room: Or The Vibrator

Play. Set in the 1880s, scientist and inventor Dr. Givings experiments with a piece of machinery to treat the increasingly common affliction of female hysteria. This intimate and humorous story of self-discovery debunks the expectation of sexuality as a dirty word. Tickets required. ♦ Friday, October 27, 12:30 p.m. Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Series A. Acclaimed American conductor James Gaffigan returns to conduct Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances. The program also features the Symphonic Suite from On the Waterfront, the only score Leonard Bernstein wrote for a film. Violinist James Ehnes performs Barber’s Violin Concerto. Tickets required. ♦ Saturday, October 28, 11 a.m. ShawChicago, The Devil’s Disciple. In this melodrama of the Amer i can Revo lu t i on , D i ck Dudgeon , disgruntled with the British Empire, is an outcast to both his family and the community. In a bold move, Dick takes the place of his only friend, Reverend Anthony Anderson, who has been exposed as a member of the resistance. When Dick is arrested and sentenced to be hanged for treason, the minister and his wife have to save him. But can they work together, resolve their differences, and save both their marriage and Dick? Tickets required.

Bernice Auslander

OCTOBER 2017 page 5

NEW ARRIVALS Monica Schwartz moved into apartment 701 (phone 4040) on June 15, 2017. Monica was born and raised in Tientsin, China, in a community of Russian Jews. Her mother was born in Warsaw when it was a part of Russia, and her family moved to north China as a result of wars and occupations. Monica’s father was an American who came to Tientsin while working on a merchant ship. He fell in love with the town and stayed. During World War II, as a result of the Japanese occupation of China, the family was interned in a Japanese internment camp, where Monica learned to speak English. The family stayed in China until the Communist takeover and then moved to San Francisco for three years. Her father longed for Asia, and they moved to Japan, where Monica finished high school. She returned to the US for college and graduated from UC Berkeley. She went to work for Encyclopedia Britannica in San Francisco. At that time anyone who bought a set of Encyclopedia Britannica got ten coupons entitling them to call when they had questions to which they couldn’t find the answer in the encyclopedia. Monica was a human Google who researched answers to the questions. Monica came to Chicago for graduate library school, after which she worked as a librarian at the Lab School and the Chicago Public Library. She particularly loved selecting and recommending books she thought would be right for her customers. She met her husband in Chicago and they had three children. After ten years at home, she went back to school at the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago and became a psychiatric social worker. She worked at Michael Reese Hospital for 25 years and then at a mental health center in Berwyn. Monica’s husband died in 2007. She has a son in Chicago, a son in Portland, a daughter in Los Angeles, and six grandchildren. As a Hyde Parker she knew several people who lived at Montgomery Place and is enjoying being here. Welcome, Monica!

Paula Givan

Astrid Mack moved into apartment 1304 (phone 4600) on May 10, 2017. Astrid, whose unusual name was given by his grandmother, was born in Florida. At Miami-Dade Community College, he majored in biology and chemistry. He earned an MS from the University of Minnesota and a PhD at Michigan State University. In the course of his studies, he became interested in sickle cell anemia. Astrid spent 33 years as research associate professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine, studying sickle cell anemia. He also served as associate director of the University of Miami Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center and Associate Dean for Minority Affairs from 1988 to 2008. Astrid continued to serve as the executive director of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Miami-Dade County Chapter until last year. Astrid’s son, A. Kyle Mack, a doctor, married and moved to Chicago, and presented Astrid with his first grandchild in 2008. His daughter Kristen, a journalist, also moved to Chicago from Washington, DC. After the birth of his first grandchild, Astrid thought of moving closer to his children. But the cold Chicago winters reminded him of his years at the University of Minnesota, where winter temperatures were consistently below 10°F. Finally, after the births of two more grandchildren, he made the decision to retire and move closer to his children and grandchildren. He took a trip to Florida not long ago to celebrate the 64th reunion of his high school class there. Astrid says that he greatly enjoys living at Montgomery Place and he has already made friends with many of the residents and staff. Welcome to Montgomery Place, Astrid!

Evi Levin

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ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE

E ach year, Montgomery Place residents sponsor a food collection for the Midwest

Workers Association. The Association serves the Englewood community by meeting day-to-day needs, and it distributes food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas to those who lack the resources to provide a holiday meal for their families. In recent years, our residents have been an important source of food for more than 100 holiday baskets. This year our collection of non-perishables will be on Thursday, November 16. More information will appear later. Please remember to pick up a few extras on your grocery shopping trips. We welcome items such as pasta, rice, beans, canned tuna or chicken, and baking supplies such as flour, sugar, and cooking oil. Checks made out to Midwest Workers Association, marked Food Drive on the memo line, are extra welcome. The money is used to buy perishable items such as turkeys. In 2016, Montgomery Place residents contributed 34 bags of food and $2317.

Nancy Harlan, Neva Hefner,

Marion Krentz, Mary Williams

FROM THE CHAPLAIN

I continue to delight in, and settle into, this new post as Chaplain and Director of

Pastoral Care. A sign in the Salon reads “Carpe that Diem.” I see many residents “carpe’ing the diem” on a regular basis. You exemplify engaged living, and you inspire me as I reflect on my father’s aging process and my own. I want to update you on my activities. Much time has been spent since August 1 getting to know residents and staff, and building relationships. This is vital for our common work and life, and one of the most enjoyable parts of my job. It occurs during conversations in the Chapel, Pastoral Care Office, Dining Room, and hallways. It happens at resident activities, staff meetings, social events, and the residents’ support group. My colleague, Chaplain Lin Sanford Keppert, has posted helpful signs to communicate the range of services our Pastoral Care department provides. Lin and I are both experienced pastoral care providers with backgrounds in p s y c h o l o g y . W e a r e n o t l i c e n s e d psychotherapists but are good listeners, and also are happy to make referrals. We offer a resource packet with contact information for local counseling agencies, therapists, spiritual directors, and faith communities. If you’d like to talk with Lin or me, by all means flag us down when you see us in the hall, stop by our office, call me at 4130 or Lin at 4110, or put a note in our mailbox (bottom right corner of the in-house mailboxes). I primarily work with Independent Living residents, and Lin with folks in the Healthcare Pavilion (second and third floors), but there is some overlap, such as when Independent

OCTOBER 2017 page 7

Living residents go to the Healthcare Pavilion or Catered Living Pavilion. I l e ad wor sh ip se rvi ce s i n t he chape l Wednesdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., open to all. You need not be Episcopalian, or even Christian, to receive a warm welcome. One Sunday a month we enjoy coffee hour following the service. Chaplain Lin continues to offer interdenominational services and programs in the Healthcare Pavilion on Tuesdays at 10 a.m., Wednesdays at 11 a.m., and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome to those services as well. Roman Catholic services are held on Thursdays at 2 p.m. in the Chapel. Jewish Shabbat services meet at 4:45 p.m. on Fridays and are followed by a group dinner in the Dining Room for which residents can sign up. It’s been my privilege to facilitate the residents’ support group, which now meets Fridays at 10 a.m. This is a good group for newcomers, and for anyone who could use a little extra support, or who can offer support to others. We discuss the ups and downs of retirement living, relationships, and aging. It’s a confidential setting, and all are welcome on a regular or drop-in basis. I would also like to offer a bereavement support group. I have led this type of group in church and hospice settings, and seen how helpful they can be. Please let me know if you are interested, and what times would work best for you. Sometimes these groups are separated out by type of loss (such as spouse, sibling, friend). We might begin with one general grief support group, and branch out if need be. I have also begun talking with a University of Chicago Divinity School professor about possible collaboration between Montgomery

Place and Divinity School students. More on this as conversations progress. On the credenza outside the Chapel, we now have a box for prayer requests, as well as religious and spiritual literature that’s free for the taking. We continue to post information there about upcoming memorial services. You are also welcome to peruse and borrow books from the bookcase in our office. As another way to get better acquainted with you, I’m doing some reading about you. I have read the short history of the Church Home and Montgomery Place, written by your former chaplain, Bob Petite. Next on my list is “Who We Are,” the bound collection of Messenger

articles about residents, found in the Library. After that is In It Together, the book written by residents about Montgomery Place at the time of its tenth anniversary. If you have any other ideas to help the Pastoral Care department better meet your spiritual, religious, and psychosocial needs, please let us know! I look forward to continuing to work, learn, and have fun with you. Best blessings,

The Rev. Laura Gottardi-Littell, M.Div

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MY FAVORITE CAJUN EATERY And on the sixth day the Lord God said let there be gumbo and jambalaya fried pickles and red beans and rice etouffe and blackened catfish collard greens and grits— and Tabasco Then God turned to Adam and Eve and said there I have kept my promise your lives will be rich and full— and zesty

Phil Hefner LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

T he League of Women Voters will meet on Thursday, October 19 at

l:30 p.m. in the East Room. Tax increment financing will be the topic. Called TIF, it is a public financing method that is used to subsidize redevelopment and community improvement projects in many countries, including the United States. By 2004, all 50 states were authorized to use TIF. In Chicago, TIF was initially instituted by Mayor Daley as a way to subsidize projects that

would improve depressed areas in the city so that, when revitalized, they would bring increased revenues to Chicago. The outcome would be a better city, more opportunities, and more money for Chicago. Has it really worked that way? Come to the meeting and learn how this has developed. On Saturday, October 14, the weekend before our meeting, the League will sponsor a briefing about TIF at its office. Journalist Ben Javorsky, who has studied and written about TIFs, will speak about their strengths and weaknesses, and how they can be reformed. The League office is located at 332 South Michigan

Avenue. The meeting will be at 10 a.m. in the 4th floor conference room. Everyone is welcome at both discussions. P l e a s e c a l l m e a t 4 6 4 7 a b o u t transportation if you plan to attend the downtown meeting. We will have a voter registration day at

Montgomery Place on Sunday, October 15, from noon to 2 p.m. Deputy registrars will be here to assist with registrations, changes of address, or other questions you might have. If you have any questions, please call me at 4647.

Dorothy Scheff, Chair, League of Women Voters

OCTOBER 2017 page 9

BOOKLOVERS

I n October, we will read the most widely-published author of all time in any language,

one whose works are outsold only by the Bible and William Shakespeare. In Agatha Christie’s The A.B.C. Murders, we follow the legendary detective Hercule Poirot as he attempts to solve these crimes. The form of the novel is unusual, combining fi rst -person and third-person narratives. What makes this even more unusual is that she uses Hastings, the first-person narrator, to reconstruct the third-person narration. Enjoy yourself following Christie’s literary form, the two main characters, and getting tripped up by the clues! Did you know that The A.B.C. Murders, first published in 1936, was one of the earliest examples of the serial killer genre which is now seen frequently in books and on screen? In 2009, the story was adapted for the Agatha Christie Nintendo DS game, which allows players to solve the mystery, taking the role of Poirot’s sidekick, Captain Hastings. Our book selection is also available on audio! If you have a visual or physical handicap (too difficult to hold a book), you can receive this and

HEWSON SWIFT CONCERTS

O n the four Wednesdays of October we will

have concerts on CD or DVD in the Lounge s t a r t i ng a t 7:15 p.m., as follows: ♦ October 4, Evi Levin presents Arturo Toscanini conducting a dress rehearsal of the NBC Symphony Orchestra in the first part of Act I of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera La Traviata with Licia Albanese, Richard Tucker, and others. ♦ October 11, Dorothy Scheff presents Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Chicago Symphony and Chorus, George Solti conducting. ♦ October 18, Renée Lubell will present the DVD Orchestra of Exiles. This is the story of violinist Bronislaw Huberman, who founded the Palestine Symphony Orchestra (today known as the Israel Philharmonic), and the part he played in saving hundreds of Jews from the Nazis. ♦ October 25, Ed Krentz presents several Bach cantatas, among them Ein’ Feste Burg in honor of the 500-year anniversary of the Reformation. Please join us in the Lounge every Wednesday at 7:15 p.m.

Evi Levin, Chair, Hewson Swift Concerts

other books on tape. The program is federally funded through the National Library Service. Call me at 4638 if you are interested in applying for this service or to get a copy of the book. Our meeting to discuss The A.B.C. Murders will be on Monday, October 9 at 3:30 p.m. in the LLLC. Shantha Monippal l i l wil l be the discussion leader. All are welcome!

Laurieann Chutis, Coordinator, Booklovers Group

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GO AWAY POVERTY, COME IN WEALTH”

E very autumn will find many Hindus around the world celebrating a celebration called

Diwali, the Festival of Light. Children excitedly wait to receive gifts, millions of bright little oil lights are put out to line the sidewalks in front of houses and stores, and inside homes families celebrate with special dinners and treats. No one remembers when the anc ient t radi t ion began, but its purpose is to worship the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, who is implored to grant wealth, fortune, and prosperity to f a m i l i e s a n d t h e i r animals. Lakshmi is thought by some to be only the goddess of rich people. Saurtī is a more humble goddess. “Jao Delider” (Go Poverty), Hindus chant around their homes. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali, is celebrated all over India and in many other countries where Hindus live. It is a celebration of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. It also signifies the importance of knowledge, self-improvement, and seeking the good and right path. These beliefs come from an ancient myth: A demon had been causing havoc and darkness for a very long time. Lord Krishna destroyed the demon, and Hindus have been celebrating this victory of good over evil through their Diwali feasts for as long as anyone can remember. It is an official holiday in 12 countries and one province in Pakistan.

Celebrations of Diwali are always major events combining great traditional elements with others unique to a specific village or region. Some of these then become little traditions. People

decorate thei r homes, dress in their best outfits, light up lights, and set off fireworks. A family feast may include sweets and an exchange of gifts. In the South Indian village of Cochin, where Shantha Monippallil grew up, she remembers as a little child of three or four years getting so excited when Diwali came, because she would get new clothes and special treats. “In those days India was very poor,” says Shantha. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to

get new clothes!’” By the time girls reached their teens, they were looking for new jewelry. In the North Indian village of Kishan Garhi, where McKim Marriott studied village life from the 1950s on, small incendiary sacrifices were made by each householder in the name of their ancestors. A crude figure of Saurtī was frequently drawn on the wall in each household and the family implored it to grant prosperity and preservation to the householders and their animals. Another female deity, Lampblack, is worshipped by some women of higher classes, who make lampblack from cow dung and apply it to children’s eyes to protect them from the evil eye. Very dramatically, the owner of the house runs through the household beating an old winnowing fan and crying to the evil one, “Get out poverty! Come in wealth!”

Barbara Marriott

Saurtī giving gifts to the people

OCTOBER 2017 page 11

NEW YORKER READERS

T he New Yorker Readers will meet on Saturday, October 21 at 2 p.m. in the

LLLC. The article to be discussed, “Weathering the Storm,” is a profile of London’s first M u s l i m m a y o r during a year of turmoil. It appears in the July 31 issue of the magazine. Copies of the article will be available in the Library. If you have any questions, please call me at 4647.

Dorothy Scheff, Chair, New Yorker Readers

PLAYREADERS

P layreaders will meet on Tuesday evenings October 10 and 17 at 7:15 p.m. in the East

Room. On these two evenings we will present Copenhagen by Michael Frayn. It is based on a meeting between the physicists Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg that occurred in Copenhagen in 1941. It premiered in London in 1998, running for 300 performances in one theater and 750 in another. It opened in New York in April 2000, and ran for 326 performances. The play received many awards, including the Evening Standard award for best play in England, and a Tony award in the United States.

Ann Zeidman, Chair, Playreaders

HOLIDAY FUND Question 1:

What do you appreciate about Montgomery Place? Does your list include having someone

else to: ♦ do household maintenance? ♦ clean house? ♦ launder the linen? ♦ take your blood pressure? ♦ plan, prepare, and serve your dinner, with

flowers on the table? ♦ wash dishes after dinner? ♦ provide safety and security? ♦ transport you to shopping, performances,

doctors, . . . ? ♦ train your computer or smartphone to do

your bidding? To add your favorites to this list, leave a note for me in mailbox 612. Question 2:

Would you like an opportunity to thank the many helpers at Montgomery Place? ♦ Here ’tis! It’s known as the holiday fund. It’s

our only chance during the year to make a monetary gift to the hourly workers who give us so much help (as tips are not allowed).

Contributions are completely voluntary, completely private. You determine the amount of your gift. Guidance from the past? In 2016, residents gave a total of just over $80,000 to 111 employees. We’re hopeful that you will be as generous to the staff as they have been with us—though our appreciation of their skill and helpfulness, courtesy and generosity, goes far beyond any monetary award. Watch for a letter with more details, and a box in which to drop your check.

Jan Moore, Treasurer, Residents’ Association

page 12 OCTOBER 2017

until he figures out whom he can really trust. Directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, and Max von Sydow. 1 hour 57 minutes. Presenter: Alex Elwyn. ♦ October 30, The King of Comedy, 1982. American satirical black comedy film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, and Sandra Bernhard. The film focuses on themes including celebrity worship and American media culture. 1 hour 49 minutes. Presenter: Phil Hefner. Thursday Documentary: ♦ October 5, The Green Prince, 2014. A joint project of German, British, and Israeli film companies. The son of a founding leader of the Palestinian organization Hamas becomes a spy for the Israelis. 1 hour 41 minutes. Presenter: Alex Elwyn.

Foreign Language Films: ♦ Thursday, October 26, Stavisky, 1974. France. Based on the life of financier and embezzle r Alexandre Stavi sky and the circumstances leading to his mysterious death in 1934. This gave rise to a political scandal that led to the resignations of two prime ministers. Directed by Alain Resnais and featured Jean-Paul Belmondo, Anny Duperey, and Michael Lonsdale. Stephen Sondheim wrote the film’s musical score. Presenter: Phil Hefner. ♦ Tuesday, October 31, Sweet Bean, 2015. Japan. The manager of a pancake stall finds himself confronted with an odd but sympathetic elderly woman looking for work. A taste of her homemade bean jelly convinces him to hire her, which starts a relationship that is about much more than street f o od . 1 hou r 53 m inu t e s . Presenter: Evi Levin.

Movie Fan, Film Discussion Committee

OCTOBER FILMS

T his month’s movie fare includes light-hearted

comedies, political thrillers, and a satire of American worship of celebrities. A gripping Israeli documentary and a poignant Japanese story round out the month. Movies are shown at 7:15 p.m. in the Lounge or you can watch in your apartment on TV channel 4. Popcorn and lemonade on Mondays. Monday Films:

♦ October 2, The American President, 1995. American romantic comedy-drama directed by Rob Reiner. President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) is a widower who pursues a relationship with environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening). 2 hours 9 minutes. Presenter: Leah Kadden. ♦ October 9, When Harry Met Sally, 1989. American romantic comedy written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. It stars Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally. The story follows the title characters from the time they meet just before sharing a cross-country drive, through 12 years or so of chance encounters in New York City. 1 hour 36 minutes. Presenter: Rhoda Harvey. ♦October 16, The Day of the Jackal, 1973. Anglo-French political thriller directed by Fred Zinnemann. Based on the novel by Frederick Forsyth, the film is about a professional assassin known only as the Jackal who is hired to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle in the summer of 1963. 2 hours 25 minutes. Presenter: Phil Hefner. ♦ October 23, Three Days of the Condor,

1975. A bookish CIA researcher finds all his co-workers dead, and must outwit those responsible

OCTOBER 2017 page 13

Q & A

Residents are invited to submit questions for

this column to Box 704 of the in-house

mailboxes.

Q: How are the movies shown at

Montgomery Place chosen? I have a

suggestion for some I would like to see.

A: The Monday night movies, the first Thursday documentary, and the two foreign language films are all chosen by the Film Discussion Group, which is chaired by Alex Elwyn. The Monday movies must be at least five years old. The Film Discussion Group meets on the first Thursday of the month in the East Room at 2:30 p.m. to choose movies for the following month. Their next meeting is on Thursday, October 12, at 2:30 p.m. Any interested resident is welcome to attend. Please come to the meeting to make your suggestions. The group would very much appreciate your input. All other movies shown during the week and on weekends are chosen and obtained by Lorri Colbert. Again, your input is very much appreciated, and Lorri is happy to try to obtain any movie you desire.

Barbara Wilson

DVD LEARNING EVERY FRIDAY MORNING

H ave you ever wished you could take a college class in some area that interests

you? That opportunity has been available for several years here at Montgomery Place. Every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. there’s a DVD lecture from The Teaching Company. You can watch in the Lounge, or stay in your pajamas and view it on TV channel 4. We rotate themes—science, literature, history, art, and philosophy. Each series is 30 or more lectures, equivalent to an entire semester, although on occasion we have been known to cut a series short. In past years, we have chosen lectures on the cosmos, ancient Egyptian history, the geological wonders of the world, and American best-selling books, from colonial times to the present. Recently we viewed an exciting series on utopian and dystopian works of literature. Just now, we are nearing the end of a course on the history of Africa. Our next course, to begin on October 6, is “Great Ideas of Philosophy.” The lecturer is Professor Daniel Robinson, retired from Georgetown University and presently teaching at Oxford University. He covers Western philosophy, as we l l a s Hindui sm, Marx i sm, compute r philosophy, the good life, and many other topics. The committee welcomes feedback—speak with Stephanie Butler, Marcia Frank, Phil Hefner, or Jan Moore.

Phil Hefner, Chair, DVD Committee

page 14 OCTOBER 2017

All of which raises a question: why does the hagfish have a national day? An organization known as Whale Times created Hagfish Day in

2009, claiming they did it to celebrate the beauty of the ugly. There are commercial reasons as well. In parts of Asia the hagfish is considered a delicacy. The overturned t ruck in Oregon r epo r t ed ly was c a r ryi ng a shipment destined for Korea. The s l i m e , w h e n c o o k e d , i s apparently similar to egg whites and is used in various forms of K o r e a n c o o k e r y . F o r t h e adventurous, you can get an online recipe for scones made with hagfish slime—courtesy of

The Museum of Awful Food (slogan: a canonical compendium of repulsive recipes). Hagfish slime may also have non-culinary uses. It is composed of very thin protein fibers, which are as strong as silk, and scientists are experimenting with it, trying to create strong forms of cloth. It may also have medical uses, such as staunching bleeding in accident victims. So Hagfish Day may be worth celebrating.

Richard Muller

NATIONAL HAGFISH DAY

O ctober 18 is National Hagfish Day. The hagfish is an eel-like creature that has

been around, virtually unchanged, for at least 300 million years. A s i ng l e 20 - i nch - l ong hagfish, when stressed, can produce a mucus that, when combined with water, produces five gallons of slime, leading people to name it the “ s l i m e e e l . ” S o m e consider it to be the most disgusting creature found in the ocean. The ability of the hagfish to produce copious amounts of slime is an excellent defensive measure: by quickly smothering the gills and mouth of a predator, it thwarts the attack. Hagfish have been documented to escape from sharks by choking them with enormous amounts of slime. If the hagfish gets caught in its own slime, it can cleanse itself by tying itself into an overhand knot. The knot moves from head to tail, scraping off the slime as it goes, allowing the hagfish to escape from the predator. Because of this peculiar defensive ability, the hagfish has very few marine predators. They can cause problems for people, too. Recently, a truck carrying 7,500 pounds of hagfish had an accident on a coastal highway in Oregon. The truck overturned and 13 shipping containers of hagfish spilled onto the highway, coating it with slime. Workers using bulldozers and hoses took seven hours to remove the hagfish and their slime from the road.

OCTOBER 2017 page 15

NOTES ON LONE STAR

R oger Ebert suggests that one needs to see Lone Star (our Monday night movie on

August 14) several times to really appreciate the intricacies of its construction. I’ve cheated and resorted to Wikipedia after only two viewings, although I claim to have figured out one plot twist about ten minutes before it was revealed. Lone Star was made in 1996 but it might have been 2016. Although superficially a murder mystery, it deals with a small Texas border town and the efforts of a soon-to-be Anglo minority to retain its dominance in the face of a growing Mexican and African-American population. The subplots seem completely unrelated but in their course are drawn together at the end. In the course of these, a black female Army recruit gives a moving reason for serving (it’s not patriotism, exactly), and Anglos and Mexicans debate the meaning of Texas history. The film begins with the discovery of a skeleton at an Army target range outside town. It is the body of a much-detested sheriff who disappeared 35 years ago (if you want a character you really love to hate, it’s Kris Kristofferson as that sheriff). Suspicion falls on the sheriff who followed him and who had been a deputy. This successor, who was highly respected for his fairness and honesty, has recently died. The town is about to hold a memorial service in his honor. A problem is that the current sheriff conducting the investigation is his son! The mayor would prefer to have the whole matter forgotten as ancient history. Woven into the investigation are subplots of “wetbacks” and illegal immigration; father-son conflicts, one of which involves an African-American Army colonel and his father and his son; a broken marriage; and problems of ancestry. All are critical in providing a motive fo r the murde r and accoun t ing fo r i t s consequences.

If all this isn’t enough, the film ends with a resolution of the romantic interest that demands a treatment of incest between half-brother and -sister in order to provide a happy ending that still is acceptable, making clear that no children result from the union. This solution seemed forced to me, but it did tie together the threads of a very complex plot. I find it impossible to view this film made two decades ago without seeing it as a mirror of our current situation. Immigration, legal and illegal, still confounds us. How to interpret our history is today’s news and remains as controversial as views on the Texas Revolution of the 1830s. Race relations still divide us. And yet, with all of that, Lone Star is a great entertainment, fun to watch. I’m grateful to Alex Elwyn for introducing it, and I plan to order it from Netflix to see it again.

Bernie Strauss

page 16 OCTOBER 2017

W e know that fall will soon be with us. We already see the leaves

from the locust trees blowing in the conservatory doors. Mother Nature is starting to paint our landscape on Promontory Point with oranges and yellows. Take a moment each day to appreciate the beauty of fall. Coming this fall to Montgomery Place you will hear about expansion plans for our Café area. There has been such a warm reception to having additional dining options and afternoon treats, we want to expand our selection. We will sha re p l an s soon , so wa tch fo r announcements. As we transition into a new season, other transitions will be happening at the front desk. But rest assured, our team will focus energy to assure that all your needs are served. You will see new faces, but the functions filled will be the same, if not more. Thank you, in advance, for offering your kindness and graciousness to all staff who strive to serve. Respectfully,

Deborah Hart, CEO / Executive Director

OCTOBER

BIRTHDAYS

10/1 Sheila Elwyn

10/4 Vinnie Orpen

10/6 Walter Falk

10/6 Ben Zeidman

10/7 Wilma Metz

10/8 Ginger Plys

10/11 Barbara Harrison

10/11 Lucille Wolfe

10/17 Stephanie Butler

10/19 Joyce Hilkevitch

10/21 Mary Schloerb

10/24 Ed Schaaf

10/27 Dorothy Scheff

10/27 Ruby Smith

10/28 Anna Allen

10/29 Don Williams

10/31 Bud Newman

OCTOBER 2017 page 17

SPECIAL EVENTS IN OCTOBER

SUNDAY 1 NOON-3:00 PM DINING ROOM FIRST SUNDAY BRUNCH

TUESDAY 3 11:50 AM BUS TRIP ORGAN RECITAL AT LSTC (P. 3)

1:00 PM BUS TRIP WALGREENS 1ST TUESDAY SENIOR 20% DISCOUNT

THURSDAY 5 1:00 PM BUS TRIP SPERTUS INSTITUTE, SILBERMAN EXHIBIT (P. 3)

FRIDAY 6 12:30 PM BUS TRIP CSO SERIES B, PROKOFIEV (P. 3)

7:00 PM BUS TRIP U OF C EARLY MUSIC SERIES (P. 3)

7:15-8:15 PM EAST ROOM FRIDAY NIGHT SPEAKER ~ ED KRENTZ (P. 2)

SATURDAY 7 11:00 AM BUS TRIP MET LIVE IN HD, NORMA (P. 3)

2:00-3:00 PM EAST ROOM WALTER LEVIN MEMORIAL CONCERT:

ARIEL QUARTET (P. 2)

SUNDAY 8 2:00-3:00 PM EAST ROOM OAK PARK RECORDER SOCIETY (P. 2)

WEDNESDAY 11 1:00 PM BUS TRIP LYRIC OPERA, RIGOLETTO (P. 3)

FRIDAY 13 1:00 PM BUS TRIP ALPHAWOOD GALLERY, WWII JAPANESE AMERICAN

EXHIBIT (P. 4)

7:15-8:15 PM EAST ROOM FRIDAY NIGHT SPEAKER ~ JOHN MEARSHEIMER (P. 2)

SATURDAY 14 11:00 AM BUS TRIP MET LIVE IN HD, DIE ZAUBERFLOTE (P. 4)

7:15 PM BUS TRIP CHICAGO A CAPPELLA AT KAM-II (P. 4)

SUNDAY 15 NOON-2:00 PM LWV VOTER REGISTRATION (P. 8)

WEDNESDAY 18 1:00 PM BUS TRIP STEPPENWOLF THEATRE, REMBRANDT (P. 4)

THURSDAY 19 NOON BUS TRIP LUNCH OUTING TO RADLER RESTAURANT (P. 4)

FRIDAY 20 7:00 PM BUS TRIP MANDEL HALL, ARDITTI QUARTET (P. 4)

7:15-8:15 PM EAST ROOM FRIDAY NIGHT SPEAKER ~ PAUL BRUCE (P. 2)

SATURDAY 21 2:00 PM BUS TRIP JOFFREY BALLET, GISELLE (P. 4)

SUNDAY 22 1:00 PM BUS TRIP TIMELINE THEATRE, IN THE NEXT ROOM (P. 4)

2:00 PM EAST ROOM U OF C PIANO STUDENTS IN RECITAL (P. 2)

FRIDAY 27 12:30 PM BUS TRIP CSO SERIES A, RACHMANINOV/BERNSTEIN (P. 4)

7:15-8:15 PM EAST ROOM FRIDAY NIGHT SPEAKER ~ RICHARD BUSSE (P. 2)

SATURDAY 28 11:00 AM BUS TRIP SHAWCHICAGO, THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE (P. 4)

SUNDAY 29 2:00-3:00 PM EAST ROOM LAURA FENSTER, PIANO RECITAL (P. 2)

2:00-3:00 PM EAST ROOM ZACK ROBINSON, JAZZ DANCER (P. 2)

page 18 OCTOBER 2017

REGULAR EVENTS IN OCTOBER

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 AM BUS TRIP FITNESS WALK, MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY

9:30-10:30 AM THERAPY ROOM WELLNESS CLINIC WITH WELLNESS STAFF

9 9:30 AM BUS TRIP MARIANO’S GROCERY STORE

16 9:30 AM BUS TRIP HYDE PARK PRODUCE

10:15-11:15 AM LLLC POETRY GROUP

11:30 AM-NOON EAST ROOM PHYSICAL FITNESS

1:00 & 1:30 PM BUS TRIP LIBRARY & ERRANDS

9 2:15-3:15 PM LLLC DINING COMMITTEE

2, 16, 30 3:00-4:00 PM EAST ROOM TOWN MEETING

9 3:30-4:30 PM LLLC BOOKLOVERS GROUP (P. 9)

2 5:20 PM PRIVATE DR FRENCH SPEAKERS’ DINNER TABLE

9 5:20 PM PRIVATE DR GERMAN SPEAKERS’ DINNER TABLE

16 5:20 PM PRIVATE DR RUSSIAN SPEAKERS’ DINNER TABLE

7:15 PM LOUNGE/CH 4 FILM DISCUSSION GROUP MOVIE (P. 12)

TUESDAY

3 10:00-11:00 AM STUDIO ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

10:15 AM-NOON GAME ROOM HYDE PARK BANK

11:00 AM-NOON EAST ROOM MEDITATION

12:15-1:00PM EAST ROOM CARPET BOWLING

17 1:00 PM BUS TRIP TRADER JOE’S

24 1:00-3:00 PM THERAPY ROOM AUDIOLOGIST DR. LATA JAIN

2:00-3:00 PM EAST ROOM CURRENT EVENTS

3:30-5:00 PM CAFÉ/LOUNGE WINE AND CHEESE SOCIAL

3 7:15-8:15 PM EAST ROOM MONTGOMERY SINGERS SINGALONG (P. 2)

10, 17 7:15 PM EAST ROOM PLAYREADERS (P. 11)

24 7:15-8:15 PM LLLC SHORT STORY DISCUSSION GROUP

31 7:15 PM LOUNGE/CH 4 FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM (P. 12)

OCTOBER 2017 page 19

PLEASE NOTE: Any event listed without a specific date or dates occurs

on that day of the week every week.

Events listed with specific dates occur on those dates only.

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 AM BUS TRIP FITNESS WALK, MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY

9:30-10:00 AM LOUNGE TAI CHI

4, 18 10:00-11:00 AM LLLC DON WILLIAMS’ RACE RELATIONS DISCUSSION

11 10:30-11:30 AM LIBRARY LIBRARY COMMITTEE

11:00-11:45 AM CHAPEL MIDWEEK EUCHARIST

11:30 AM-NOON EAST ROOM PHYSICAL FITNESS

11, 25 1:30-2:30 PM GAME ROOM FRIDAY NIGHT SPEAKERS COMMITTEE

1:30-2:30 PM THERAPY ROOM WELLNESS CLINIC WITH WELLNESS STAFF

1:30-2:30 PM STUDIO KNIT AND CROCHET GROUP

2:00-3:00 PM LOUNGE ED KRENTZ SERIES ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

7:15-8:15 PM LOUNGE HEWSON SWIFT MUSIC SERIES (P. 9)

9:30 &10:00 AM BUS TRIP TREASURE ISLAND/FARMERS MARKET

12 9:30-10:30 AM STUDIO ART COMMITTEE

5 11:00 AM-NOON LLLC MONTGOMERY MESSENGER MEETING

26 NOON-1:00 PM DINING ROOM OCTOBER RESIDENTS’ BIRTHDAY LUNCH

19 1:30-2:30 PM EAST ROOM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS (P. 8)

2:00-3:00 PM CHAPEL ROMAN CATHOLIC COMMUNION

12 2:30-3:30 PM EAST ROOM FILM DISCUSSION COMMITTEE

12 2:30-3:30 PM LLLC ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

12 3:30-5:00 PM EAST ROOM HAPPY HOUR

19 7:15 PM LLLC RESIDENTS’ COUNCIL

5 7:15 PM LOUNGE/CH 4 DOCUMENTARY FILM (P. 12)

12, 19 7:15 PM LOUNGE/CH 4 EVENING MOVIE

26 7:15 PM LOUNGE/CH 4 FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM (P. 12)

THURSDAY

page 20 OCTOBER 2017

REGULAR EVENTS IN OCTOBER

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 AM BUS TRIP FITNESS WALK, MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY

9:30-10:30 AM THERAPY ROOM WELLNESS CLINIC WITH WELLNESS STAFF

9:30-11:00 AM STUDIO DRAWING AND PAINTING CLASS

10:00-11:00 AM GAME ROOM RESIDENTS’ SUPPORT GROUP

10:00-11:00 AM LOUNGE/CH 4 DVD SERIES: GREAT IDEAS OF PHILOSOPHY (P. 13)

6 11:00 AM-3:45 PM THERAPY ROOM PODIATRIST JOANNE DAVIS

11:30-NOON EAST ROOM PHYSICAL FITNESS

1:00-4:00 PM STUDIO OPEN STUDIO

4:45-5:30 PM CHAPEL SHABBAT SERVICE

7:15-8:15 PM EAST ROOM FRIDAY NIGHT SPEAKERS (P. 2)

8:45-NOON BUS TRIP KAM-II/RODFEI ZEDEK TRANSPORTATION

9:30-10:30 BUS TRIP 61ST ST FARMERS MARKET–EXPERIMENTAL STATION

10:00-11:00 AM LOUNGE SATURDAY ROUND TABLE

21 2:00-3:00 PM LLLC NEW YORKER READERS (P. 11)

7:15 PM LOUNGE/CH 4 WEEKEND MOVIE

SUNDAY

9:00 AM-1:00 PM BUS TRIP CHURCH/SYNAGOGUE TRANSPORTATION

10:45 AM-1:00 PM BUS TRIP ROCKEFELLER CHAPEL

11:00 AM-NOON CHAPEL SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION

7:15 PM LOUNGE/CH 4 WEEKEND MOVIE/ENCORE PRESENTATION

SATURDAY