Article from Newsletter “News from Wake Robin” dated Fall, 1997.

What’s in a name?

by Cathy Y.

Naturalist and Wake Robin Founder

How did the name of Wake Robin–and the names of the many buildings in our community come to be? When the Founding Committee arrived at the decision that, indeed, there was to be a Life Care Community, they gave the naming responsibility to an ad hoc committee. Doro S., Fran A., Mary G., and I (all nature lovers) met, selected and finally proposed Wake Robin for its overall name, with the buildings to be named for a long list of our native trees. Linden, an important honey-producer (and another name for Basswood) was the last building to be named. For the cottages and apartments, we chose names of trees or bushes which grow on Wake Robin’s hillside or nearby.

Red Trillium and Wake Robin are identified now as one plant, but in the early days, settlers in Appalachia called all its family Wake Robins; there was the Large White, Dwarf White, the lovely Painted (at higher elevations) and the shy Nodding and small Toad Trilliums (The Latin word triplum or triple, is the base for Trillium with its three leaves, three petals, and three stamens). All varieties are found in Vermont, but at different elevations and in different habitats with the common Red and White (also named the Snow Trillium) the earliest to bloom.

The Red Trillium is synonymous now in my wildflower references to Wake Robin and it carries unfortunate nicknames–Birthroot, and Indian Balm (it was once used to stop bleeding externally and on snakebites) and also Wet Dog Flower and Stinking Benjamin referring to its odor. But because it and its lovely white relative are our most visible tenacious (their rhyzomes spread through rock walls and over forest floors) and beautiful reminders that spring has come again, the new beginnings and successful lives of the residents moving to this new facility seemed appropriated to correspond. Our nature-oriented committee felt that the bond between people and plants was indeed a strong one — with the carpets of Trillium, white and red, the name Wake Robin, could carry the message of spring throughout the year.

If you’re new to the community, the Gentry Gallery is a pleasant surprise to discover. It resides in the Community Center hallway north of the Maple Leaf dining room and serves as sort of an “art museum” bridge to the Linden Health Center. It’s a common sight to see a resident, and at times family or friends, stop right in their tracks because of a moving piece of work. Exhibits have ranged from quilt showings, wood carvings, photography, oil paintings, and watercolors. Most displays have been completed by Wake Robin residents.

The west side of the gallery offers a long stretch of wall, approximately 117 feet, to hang artwork, and that space comes in handy as it allows for large frames and canvasses. Across the hall, the showcase shelves are backlit and contain fascinating artifacts made up of resident collections. With 80 square feet available, past collections have featured a wide range of artisan pottery and tools from early American history. Currently the showcase shelves illustrate the history of the automobile with exquisitely made miniature models from the Ford Model T to the Thunderbird.

Setting up the exhibit

The gallery of artwork is curated by members of the Gentry Gallery committee. Often, they partner with resident artists who either have professionally exhibited work or have practiced their craft for several years. The showcase shelves are of a democratic variety: topics are announced to the community and then residents contribute items that match that theme. Themes are intentionally general so residents can get creative. About half a year ago, the theme was set to transportation, and the shelves featured a model sailboat, a black and white picture of a resident’s grandfather on a horse buggy, and someone’s running shoe. The Gentry Gallery committee labels each item, so residents know who brought in what, with amusing conversations usually ensuing from what was seen on the showcase shelves.

Next time you’re in the Community Center, make sure you to stop by and enjoy the art atmosphere created by the Gentry Gallery and its exhibits!

Battling Buckthorn

By Candace Page

A tearing, grinding hullabaloo arose as Gerry Hawkes drove his tractor into a seemingly impenetrable patch of common buckthorn below the Maple apartments one morning in August. The first phase of a long-term plan to reclaim nearly 13 acres of Wake Robin forest from the grip of invasive underbrush was nearing completion. The big, wedge-like teeth on the 2,500-pound shredder attached to the tractor’s back end ripped at the buckthorn. Rotating knives swallowed the small trees and spit them out in shreds. The machine drove deeper into the jungle, leaving behind a carpet of woody mulch.

“When I started here in 1992, this was all native forest with open areas of grass,” grounds manager Peter Hausermann explained as he surveyed the area from the third floor of Maple. That didn’t last: Buckthorn was on the march.

Common buckthorn is a vigorous, tree-like shrub, a European native imported to the United States as an ornamental in the 19th century. Like many invasives, it escaped from gardens into the wild and . . . went wild. Buckthorn leafs out early, creating shade and monopolizing nutrients so that native shrubs and saplings can’t compete. Its blue-black berries contain a natural laxative that makes them a poor food source for birds, who nevertheless spread the seeds. 

“By 2005, the density of buckthorn down here was at the point you couldn’t walk through it,” Peter remembered. By 2021, it was difficult to see the few remaining large oaks, butternut, and ash in the woods; the jungle was a poor habitat for birds and wildlife.

But what to do? Removing buckthorn (and its sidekick, invasive honeysuckle) in any quantity is nearly impossible to accomplish by hand. “I’ve never seen anything like its root system,” Peter said. “It’s incredibly strong and tolerates any condition.” Though he had wanted to attack the problem for years, he had found no feasible method.

Then Wake Robin’s consulting forester, Joe Nelson, learned of Gerry Hawkes and his firm, Forest Savers. A Woodstock contractor and tinkerer, Gerry had turned his tractor into an assault force for clearing invasives in places where native trees need to be spared. “All of a sudden we saw the opportunity in the cheapest way possible to achieve something you can’t do manually,” Peter said.

Over many days this summer, Gerry and his tractor worked their way through 12.5 acres of woods in Wake Robin’s southwest corner. His machinery—debris rake on the tractor’s front, cutter/shredder on the back—cut down the invasives and chewed up everything, while leaving desirable trees untouched. (Much of the green and white ash went too, since those trees are doomed by the arrival of the emerald ash borer.)

Now, Joe Nelson said, there’s a chance for a different kind of woodland to thrive. Audubon Vermont’s Mark LaBarr, who also consulted on the project, said he hopes a variety of native shrubs will join the small clumps of native, fruit- bearing hawthorn left behind by the clearing work. Gray-stem and red-osier dogwood and viburnum, for example, “are great for pollinators, and they produce a great supply of berries in late summer and fall,” Mark said. Shrubland dwellers like gray catbirds and eastern towhees may be drawn to the area. “And we’d love to see blue-winged warblers and golden-winged warblers.” Joe and Mark will work with Wake Robin this winter to devise a master plan to guide future management of the woods.

If Wake Robin can succeed in preventing the resurgence of buckthorn and honeysuckle, the woodland between Maple and the railroad tracks will become a mosaic of native trees, grassy areas, and shrubs. That will require ongoing work for at least the next three to five years. The land will need to be mowed and brush-hogged to cut down the invasives that sprout from seeds and roots left behind by this summer’s work.

County forester Ethan Tapper visited the site and was impressed by what he saw, though he warned, “It’s the follow-up that will determine whether this is a success…there is so much buckthorn in the Champlain Valley that the threat will always be there.” He added that Wake Robin residents shouldn’t expect the cleared area to become a neat and pretty landscape. Not all the remaining trees will survive the change in their environment, and the brushy habitat attractive to birds can look messy to human eyes.

By Nancy W.S.

What is that sport that has mature men perching in an unfamiliar, painful crouch to give a whiffle ball a tiny tap and nearly weeping when his octogenarian, minute female opponent slams it at his midsection? It is Pickleball! The court game has swept the country with those fifty and older. It is more forgiving than tennis and eons quicker than golf. Players can be any sex, size and age. Wake Robin resident and dedicated player Nan M. captures it’s appeal: “It’s a silly game and you can’t get that worked up about it.” Its only drawback is The Dink, that humiliating tap shot that must be mastered to qualify as a superior player.

Pickleball is popular at Wake Robin

Peter G. is the originator of the Pickleball movement here, having been introduced to it while visiting friends in Florida. His leadership style of relentless persistence and wry humor had us turn eight parking spaces at the Community Center into a wildly inaccurate version of a regulation court. Audiences thronged to watch us develop basic skills while tripping over curbing, crushing shrubbery and dodging moving vehicles. This year a much better temporary, almost legitimate court was created and there are now about 30 players.

Peter was aware of a 2018 bequest to Wake Robin with usage unspecified. He put together a case for Pickleball that created traction in the movement. Dick H., longtime tennis pro and keeper of our two world-class Har Tru courts, tried the sport and jumped on the bandwagon. He was key in deflecting the idea of paving over the existing courts for Pickleball. Our tennis courts get more players every year. Myriad potential sites were considered. Great progress was made recently when Peter Hausermann, our well-loved grounds man, designated the site to be above the tennis courts, next to the gardens. It is more central than many alternatives and as attractive to spectators as players. There will be a sitting area with flowers, shade, and a 4′ fence.

Our goals are now in view. Response from the residents has been great and the marketing department is finding that prospective residents are very interested in the sport. It is hoped the court will be built this fall in conjunction with other planned paving projects.

Does Wake Robin really need Pickleball? Mary H., a woman of great energy and accomplishments who arrived recently, thinks so. “This (game) makes me feel like I belong in the community.” What a gift.

Shelburne, Vermont is a special place. Chartered in 1763, the land was ripe for farming and milling. Over time, it has blossomed into a tourist destination for history buffs, foodies, naturalists – all types! The town is just south of Burlington, Vermont’s largest city and cultural hub, and it also is located on the shores of Lake Champlain. Shelburne is a four-season experience and you would do no wrong visiting any time of year. Whether you’re new to the area, or have been a resident for years, the following are some can’t-miss places to find in Shelburne:

• Shelburne Farms – A 1,400-acre working farm, forest, and National Historic Landmark, Shelburne Farms is a treasure of the area. You can hike or walk, visit the animals, enjoy the beautiful garden overlooking Lake Champlain, and dine and lodge at the historic Shelburne Farms Inn. Shelburne Farms is home to many wonderful children programs as well.
  

   There are many surprises for you waiting at the Shelburne  Museum, which is walking distance from Wake Robin!

• Shelburne Museum – A stones throw away from Wake Robin, Shelburne Museum features exhibits for everyone’s tastes. According to its website, the museum offers “an unparalleled and unique experience of American history, art, and design. Designed to allow visitors the pleasure of discovery and exploration, the Museum includes thirty-nine distinct structures on forty-five acres, each filled with beautiful, fascinating, and whimsical objects.” You can’t really understand Shelburne Museum until you experience it yourself!
• The Shelburne Farmer’s Market – The Shelburne Farmers’ Market is a one-stop-shop for all things local, all things Vermont.  The market opens at the end of May and runs through the second week in October on Saturdays from 9:00 to 1:00, and on the third weekend of August it celebrates Shelburne Day with great fanfare!
  

  Beautiful Shelburne Beach, open to residents of the town

• Shelburne Beach – Enjoy this patch of Lake Champlain shore sunrise to sunset.  It’s a great place to picnic with friends, go for a swim, or play a casual game of volleyball or basketball. Also has a playground for kids, and a boat launch to get out on the lake. One of the most popular places in the warmer month!
• Town of Shelburne – Official website for the Town of Shelburne, where you can find the business directory, government services, history records, and more.

Wake Robin is lucky to call Shelburne home. With so much to do and so much to see, residents thrive both on campus and out and about town. Come see for yourself!

It all starts with a good cup of coffee; talk smoothly flows after that first sip. Conversation topics range from how to make a good crepe and proper ways to fillet a pike fish, to name just a couple. Residents in their late nineties and early seventies join together, some arriving to Wake Robin this month, and some who’ve lived at Vermont’s only Life Care Community for decades. They call it Coffee Connections, and now that the state is over 80% vaccinated, they meet in person every Friday morning, ordering coffee, hot tea, and pastries from the Wake Robin kitchen and bringing plenty to chat about. “Coffee connections is like catching up with old friends,” one member said. “‘What’s going on in your life?’ and ‘how was your week?’ open up a world of conversation.  There’s no agenda – it’s a space where we can learn about each other lives and truly feel connected to our neighbors.”

The Coffee Connections crew

Coffee Connections started as a need to meet the social challenges many residents felt during the restrictions of Covid. Staff brainstormed ways to make residents feel connected and not isolated. Exercise classes and Great Courses aired on 919, Wake Robin’s internal TV channel. Residents gave virtual presentations based on areas of their expertise, from sculpture to journalism.

Program and Events Coordinator Jena Necrason and Resident Services Coordinator Gretchen Roberge were motivated to offer more of a group dynamic solution. The goal was to create a virtual space where folks could have regularly scheduled social appointments. So Necrason and Roberge started casual Zoom meetings every Wednesday and Friday. “At the outset of the pandemic we realized it was crucial for Resident Services to still be approachable, especially during that difficult time,” said Roberge. “Coffee Connections provided that bridge for us and residents.”

Coffee Connections has met continuously since April 2020! Usually the conversation is open ended, but on two occasions the meetings were Thanksgiving and holiday themed. As Vermont increased Covid resistance, the group officially switched from virtual to in-person in May, when some restrictions were eased. What started out as a group of four to six people during the virtual meetings has now grown to a dozen or more! “It’s amazing that it’s in-person now,” one original member said. “It allows for anyone who’s strolling along to come on over and chat with the group! A resident who moved into the community just a few days ago joined and we were happy to have her, because we’ve all been in her shoes.”

Friendships have blossomed because of Coffee Connections. Bob and Alice, who moved here during the pandemic, became fast friends with Claire, a Linden Health Center resident, who came to Wake Robin when it was established in 1993. From first introductions on Zoom, the trio now meet regularly for meals. “Coffee connections has been a fantastic way of learning about people’s backgrounds and how they came here,” commented Claire. “I almost feel like a historian of Wake Robin in sharing all the transformations of the community. The group gatherings have been a real means to meet new residents and share my love of this place.”

Enjoying a good conversation

From empowering new residents to virtually meet their neighbors, Coffee Connections has matured into an informal and inclusive social group. Engagement is a major part of the Wake Robin culture. Whether you participate in pickleball, enjoy a larger group gathering like Coffee Connections, or prefer walking the trails with a single friend, there are many opportunities, small and large, to feel a great sense of belonging here.

When first arriving to Wake Robin, many things stand out. For some, it might be the community gardens and tennis courts; for others, the inviting neighborhood layout of the Linden Health Center. For Elise, who has lived at Wake Robin for 9 years, it was the décor. “When I first came here, I was blown away that all hallways were populated with framed fine art. It’s just so wonderful.” What was missing, Elise thought, was the local element.

“Lackeys” by Rett Sturman, oil on canvas

Construction renovations on the Community Center in 2019 provided such an opportunity. Expansion of the lobby area made for additional wall space to feature local artists. “Our thinking was,” Elise remembers, “that by bringing in local art, not only were we supporting local artists, but we were, in a sense, creating an art gallery at Wake Robin for all those who live here and who visit.” The residents formed the Vermont Artist Project (VAP) which was committed to acquiring original artwork by living professional Vermont artists for permanent display in the Community Center.

“December Morning Bike Ride” by Susan Larkin, oil on canvas

A big question remained: how to tap into the sprawling Vermont artists network to find pieces that fit with Wake Robin? VAP consulted UVM’s Fleming Museum, who recommended professional art curator Jessica Manley. Manley previously worked with UVM Medical Center in curating art for a new addition. “When Jess came along, it was like – thank heavens! We have a leader in someone who really knows the field,” Elise said.

Manley met with the VAP members and gleaned their artistic tastes, and then showed them Vermont artists websites. The members pored over works and when a majority of the 13 members liked a particular piece, Manley would bring it into Wake Robin for a final decision. Along the way (before the pandemic) the VAP group visited art galleries in Middlebury and Vergennes, and sometimes talked directly to artists themselves about a particular piece.

The VAP reviewed hundreds of works from over 85 Vermont artists. The group whittled down their selections to 30 art works, which now hang in the Community Center. The last acquisition stage occurs this month, as artworks in other mediums. including cut paper, fabric, and collage will be considered. Another interesting facet—Wake Robin residents and staff can submit their artwork to be chosen.

View from Mt. Philo

The Vermont Artist Project plans to create a written guide to the exhibit, with the hopes of having Manley lead a guided gallery talk sometime in the near future.

Elise sure was right. Wake Robin’s Vermont Artist Project has truly transformed the Community Center into a veritable art gallery for years to come!

Over the last year, The Wake Robin Marketing Team discovered the truth of the timeless proverb “necessity is the mother of invention.” The pandemic required that the campus close down to visitors, and in order develop relationships and engage folks interested in Vermont’s only Life Plan Community, Director of Marketing MaryBeth Dudley got creative.

Director of Dining Kate Hays gave a cooking webinar

Usually, on-campus events mostly bring in local people and those from the region. Going from live events to web events provided a tremendous opportunity to reach people from all over the country, and Wake Robin’s virtual programs attracted people from California, Texas, Florida, and a number of other states. People have truly come from all over the map!

Like many organizations, Wake Robin has utilized video conferencing to optimize its outreach. Marketing Admissions Planner Jane Mitchell helped curate topics to convey the scope of the community.  “Nothing can replace visiting Wake Robin’s 136 acre campus in person. However, teaching  interested parties about the in-depth care of the Linden Health Center, the many activities run by the Residents’ Association (WRRA), and how streamlined the admissions process can be – these are valuable insights that inform people in their decision making to come to Wake Robin,” Jane said.

Garrett Graff gave a presentation on history

Web events have taken two forms: webinars and group discussions. Webinars permit uninterrupted presentations, and can be informative about Wake Robin or just culturally interesting. In the spring of 2020, Wake Robin invited local historian Garrett Graff to delivery a presentation on his latest book.

At the beginning of this year, the Marketing Team organized a web event which focused on a very popular subject: mindful decluttering and downsizing. Regarding the experts chosen for the webinars, one Priority Depositor commented, ” The presenters have all been extremely interesting and have an amazing background for the work they do.”

A popular webinar on mindful organizing and decluttering

This spring and summer, informative segments on cultural life at Wake Robin will be offered. In May, a Q&A session will be held with the President of the Wake Robin Residents’ Association. You can find out more information here. Then in June you can find out about Inquire, Wake Robin’s Lifelong Learning Program, with Program & Events Coordinator Jena Necrason. Be sure to visit the News & Events page for all upcoming events!

Last spring our world was turned upside down, and Wake Robin’s maple sugaring operation was no exception. By mid-March 2020, residents were in the thick of boiling down gallons and gallons of sap that was collected from the property’s sugarbush. However, when the governor declared a State of Emergency and Wake Robin leadership instituted safety protocols for the campus, all activities had to cease. Residents understood the gravity of the situation, followed the state and community guidelines, and salvaged whatever maple syrup they had finished bottling.

A resident out on the trails to collect sap this March

There’s hope in the air this spring. Wake Robin remains Covid-free on campus and the majority of staff and residents are fully vaccinated. Activity groups are also prepared to operate safely. That’s because the Wake Robin Health and Resident Services department required every committee to submit a Covid-safety plan in order to resume their activities.

Getting instructions on the boiling process

The sugaring team adapted well. Sap collectors wore masks and kept a safe distance apart as they checked the 300 sap buckets in the lower and upper sugar bushes. Only a limited number of people could be present in the sugarhouse as boiling was under way. Through it all, residents were overjoyed to being back to what they love best. “Maple sugaring is truly a rite of spring at Wake Robin,” one resident said. “To get outdoors, to feel the changing of the seasons, and to taste the delicious syrup we made together, is very satisfying. We’re proud of what we do.”

The sugaring operation here gained attention beyond Wake Robin, when a local WCAX reporter came by and interviewed a couple of the maple sugaring leaders. You can watch the full segment here.

Behind the scenes with WCAX!