Christa (l) whose birthday is December 24th with Dot, at the Santa gathering.

Wreath in Magnolia House living room made by Margrit.

Leonie (as Mary) appearing in our Christmas tableau.

December 2017 Review

Anne Smith’s painting that was used as the cover art for our holiday card.

Concert SeriesWe celebrate the 5th season of the Concerts at Camphill Ghent.

April May June

January February March

Land stewardshipNick began tapping the maple trees to make maple syrup for the community.

Volunteer lifeFreunde held a 2-day meeting at Ghent for German volunteers in the US.

ArtsJonitha’s Friday Art Group displayed their color studies for spring.

Care CourseStudents presented their projects and received certificates.

GardensFlow form fountain in memory of Patty Rudges dedicated to Camphill Ghent.

TransitionsTwo new rooms were converted from the spa rooms and Linda moves into one!

October

November

December

July August

September

FamilyEvelyn Sofie Papas is born - the first baby born at Camphill Ghent.

FestivalsWe celebrate the Autumn Festival starting with seed mandala workshop.

AdvocacyOPWDD Commissioner Delaney visits the community.

CraftsWe held our 2nd annual holiday crafts fair, participated by many from the local community.

CelebrationsSanta came to town to deliver gifts to our residents!

December Concert Ushers in the Winter Festivities

For us residents in Camphill Ghent, the year holds many treasures. Six of the very largest jewels in this collection of riches are the concerts brought to us by our friend and neighbor Gili Melamed-Lev. The third concert of the 2017-18 season was on the ninth of December and on this occasion we felt particularly blessed, as it coincided with the very first genuine snowstorm of the season. The weather had stayed unreasonably warm for so long we had almost begun to wonder if winter would ever come. The snowfall clearly discouraged some folks from attending, but as the concert began our Culture Hall was quite well filled, with only a few empty seats. And the snow was glorious: It was not too cold and not too windy: just big, gorgeous snowflakes falling gently down, blessing the earth with a beautiful, soft protecting blanket. What a treat, to walk through such a snow to such a concert!

Toward the end of his life, Brahms had reached a point where he felt his work as a composer was finished. Certainly no one would claim that he hadn’t given the world a substantial amount of wonderful music. But when he experienced the sound of clarinetist Richard Mühlfald, he was inspired to write four more great compositions for that instrument: The two Sonatas for clarinet and piano, op. 120; the clarinet Quintet, op. 115 ( a highlight of the 2015-16 series, in the final concert with musicians from the Bard Conservatory of Music); and the Trio with ‘cello and piano, op. 114, which we just heard. I can only say thank you, with all my heart, first to Brahms, then to Paul Green, Marie-Voley Pelletier and Gili Melamed-Lev for this special gift.

The concert program indicated the Brahms Trio would be followed by the Adagio movement from Mozart’s clarinet concerto. This concerto, well known and much loved by concert –goers around the world, was also much appreciated by Brahms.

But we were in for a special treat; Instead of Mozart, Paul and Gili gave us an exciting Kilezmer piece.

This felt more in keeping with program: Brahms himself was spell-binding in performing Gypsy music and he was surely smiling down upon us. After the intermission the concert closed with the Schubert Piano Trio in Bb Major, op. 99. This is a large work and very beautifully played by Joel Pitchon (violin), Marie –Voley Pelletier (‘cello) and Gili.

In her introduction Deborah had said that the warmth of the music would melt the snow, but in closing she tempered her enthusiasm and urged us all to be careful on our way home. The walk home through the snow was another Winter joy and I hope all of our friends who came to the concert by car also arrived safely home. Written by Paul Hasse.

Thank you Paul for capturing eloquently the mood of this concert. Those of us who managed to make it enjoyed the festive music. What a great way to end the year - we’ll see you all again in February as the concert series continues with its wonderful program, thanks to Gili’s unwavering dedication. - Onat

Santa and his elf came to Camphill Ghent for the second year!

Oh what joy, fun and laughter we all had! Santa, see you next year!

Residents in the Adult Home received surprise

gifts from Santa.

Who are we? Christiane Marks admiring her new cousin, 1942, East Prussia, present day Russia

Resident Spotlight: Gail Mortman

Anyone who has spent time with Adult Home resident Gail Mortman knows her passion for letter writing, her great sense of color (her favorite color is red) and her infectious laugh and sense of humor. A longtime Camphill Village resident, Gail moved to Tourmaline

House in July 2016. Gail enjoys taking daily walks, likes participating in our activities programs and loves painting classes twice a week.

Born Oct. 13, 1946 in Bronx Municipal Hospital, Gail was the first-born child of David and Stella Mortman of Oceanside, Nassau County. When Gail was seven-years-old, her brother Stephen was born, making her the “big sister,” a role that continues to be an important part of her life today. “Stephen looked up to Gail when he was a child and he has always considered her his ‘big sister,’ according to Gail’s Camphill Village biography. “As children, Stephen remembers they would alternate days when they could choose which television channel to watch.” One of Gail’s strong memories of childhood is walking with her mother and pushing Stephen’s carriage on the street. When Gail was 12, she became a big sister again when her brother Howard was born.

When she was 13, Gail entered junior high school, joining the Girl Scouts and other social groups. In 1962, she joined Rhinebeck, a country school where she studied for four years. In this school she met her friend Charlie and other Camphill neighbors. At this stage, Gail had developed her reading and writing skills and was “swimming, loving rock and roll and music in a wider range,” according to her biography. She got used to traveling alone by bus with support on the inbound and outbound points.Gail moved to Camphill Village on Jan. 7, 1970 when she was 24-years-old. The first house she lived in was Omaskos with Ursul and Ted Collins, later moving to

Russet House with Rita Rosaline as a house mother and later Richard and Rosemarie Neal became her house parents. Deborah Grace was house mother to Gail around 1975 in Russet House.

In 1977, Gail joined the Weavery where her wonderful eye for color was much appreciated, according to her biography. She helped to design models for the weavery projects, learned fine finger work, made pillows and blankets on a four-harness floor loom and trained new weavers.

Gail later moved to White Oak House, living with house parents Wanda and David Root. Her leisure time was spent mending, sewing, writing letters and socializing. She joined the Camphill ensemble, playing the brass bell and later the lyra. Gail’s favorite things at this time were owls, painting, audio books, puzzles and flower books, according to her biography. A highlight in Gail’s life was going to Israel in 1985 for her brother Howard’s wedding. Another favorite trip was going on a cruise with her family.

Around this time, Gail moved into the Bookbindery and she moved to Rock Maple House with Madelon and Lonnie Hunt as house parents. She roomed with Maria Logan, daughter of Camphill Ghent resident Mary Power Logan. As she has throughout her life, Gail continues to have a great relationship with young children, helping the Hunts care for their daughter, pushing the carriage as she did all those years ago for her little brother, Stephen.

Between 1988 and 1995, Gail changed her workplace in the mornings, helping with house chores including laundry folding, cleaning, vacuuming, ironing and other tasks. In 1999, Gail began working in the Seed Shop with Ian Robb as her work master. In the spring of 2006, Gail moved to Arbutus where her house mother was Kam Bellamy. She started answering the phone and taking messages, strong achievements in independence. In August 2010, Gail moved to Aillin House where she welcomed new people and adapted to changing circumstances.

“Gail has taught all of us by her example, her presence, her dignity and love, the most profound and I would say spiritual lesson about the nature of life on earth,” said her brother, Stephen. “That each of us is special and unique and worthy of the greatest respect and dignity and love. That is a lesson each of us carries out into the world with friends, family, neighbors, in the work place and beyond.” Written by Jackie LaChance McKeon.

Gail (center) with Elizabeth Frishkoff (l) and Margaret Carlson.

Thank you Safina Alessandra for donating your award-winning gingerbread house to our holiday-themed art exhibit at the Joan Allen Art Gallery.

Who am I?

Steve Gitto offered a Christmas concert. His friend Paul Slusar - the one-man band - accompanied him. Supporting him are elves Kathleen, Barb, Marion and Ann.

We participated in GivingTuesday this year - and we reached our goal! THANK YOU to all of you who supported our campaign!

Christmas Day joy after lunch (from left): Christina, Julia, Lois and Margrit.

A friendly face that many of you may already know has happily

accepted our Coffee Shop Barista position! Rosie Edwards kindly

stepped in to assist us part-time. Louie, pictured, is actually to

credit for her acceptance of this position. When Rosie asked

Louie what she should do for extra work, Louie quickly answered,

“The Camphill Village Coffee Shop!” Upon looking on our

website, there sat the job opening. Thank you, Louie!!

For those of you who may not know Rosie, she has been a

longtime member of the Camphill family. She was born in

Kimberton Hills, PA and moved to Camphill Village in 1998 to run

Omaskos house with her husband, Lee, for a few years. Rosie now lives in Ghent with Lee and their

three boys. Prior to Camphill Ghent, Rosie had worked at the Gift Shop at Camphill Hudson for three

years. I think she’ll be a great addition to our Coffee Shop/Gift Shop!

Rosie states, “I am thrilled to be back and reconnecting with old friends and meeting new!” It is such a

pleasure having you, Rosie! Written by Victoria Thomas (reprinted from the Village Echo, Camphill

Village Copake weekly publication)

Peace ∙ Salam ∙ Lapé ∙ Vrede ∙ Kapayapaan ∙ Paix ∙ Friede ∙

Sha

lom

∙ Pa

ce ∙

Pax ∙ F

red ∙ Paz ∙

Our holiday card this year depicted the peace dove surrounded by different translations of the word Peace.

Salam - ArabicLapé - Haitian CreoleVrede - DutchKapayapaan - Tagalog (Philippines)Paix - FrenchFriede - GermanShalom - HebrewPace - ItalianPax - LatinFred - DanishPaz - Spanish

Here’s wishing everyone a peaceful beginning of the New Year! - Onat