I delivered our fourth portable air conditioner to the Mansion today, thanks to Kevin for hauling it in. It is for Peggie, who lives in a first floor room which sometimes gets warm. One more to go this year, that is for Sylvie, who is cold at night but warm in the daytime. We are getting close to September, not too many warm days left, There is plenty of heat in the winter in the beautiful old building, once the home of one of our town’s wealthiest families.
The Mansion is generally a comfortable place in the summer, there are lots of fans. Some of the rooms get direct sun all day and those rooms can get pretty warm.
I’ve given instructions that the air conditioners will belong to the Mansion, not the residents, so they can be used for future residents. When Sylvie’s portable air conditioner comes, everyone with an especially warm room at the Mansion and anyone who requested one will have one.
Thanks for your support for this project, it will in all, have cost about $1,500, and it will do an enormous amount of good. We cannot all do great things, but we can give small things with great love.
If you wish to contribute to the Mansion work ongoing by the Army Of Good, you can send a donation to Jon Katz, The Mansion Fund P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12818.
September is Assisted Care Week and I have offered to host a pizza party on September 11 at lunch time for the Mansion residents and the staff, that will be Round House pizzas for 45 people. The Army Of Good is also funding a two-hour lunch and boat ride for 12 Mansion residents and staff on September 14 with the Lake George Steamboat Company.
We have ordered 250 copies of “Tales Of The Mansion,” a collection of short stories by the Mansion residents. You can pre-order the book through Battenkill Books or call the store at 518 677 2515. It costs $10 plus shipping. The bookstore takes Paypal and major credit cards.
If anyone wishes to donate for these events, you can do so at the above address, and thanks. Here is a list of the Mansion residents who wish to receive letters, photos and messages: Jean, Ellen, Mary, Gerry, Sylvie, Jane, Diane, Alice, Jean, Madeline, Joan, Allan, William, Peter, John K., Helen, Connie, Robert, Shirley, Alanna, Barbara, Peggie, Dorothy, Art, Bruce W. John Z. Winnie. You can write them all care of The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
Check with Julie Smith as decorations and food items have been sent to the Mansion for a Luau for Friday of next week when they have their end of summer picnic.. I had called Julie to run the idea by her and she thought it was a good theme. I am mailing the remainder of the items (cookies and Luau DVD) on Saturday.
Sounds like a great idea, but I don’t need to get involved in it, if Julie wants to do it next week she will, if not she’ll do it another appropriate time. She is very appreciative of the things being sent and uses all of them. Sounds perfect for them, and thnks.
Jon, Do you think it would be helpful to give a short bio/photo of each of the Mansion residents that you list as open to correspondence? Some of the individuals are often presented to your readers but others are unkno
Lisa, that would not be helpful to me, and also push the limits of privacy for them. They don’t mind individual photos but I don’t think they wish to be known in that way on a regular basis. And a few of them can’t really give permission so I don’t take their pictures. It would also be quite onerous for me to have to do that, I am seriously pressed for time now. I don’t take photographs of anyone unless it is clear to me they understand what I am doing with them. I appreciate the thought, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.