Spring 2013 edition of the SLC Newsletter
Transcription
Spring 2013 edition of the SLC Newsletter
MAY 2013 news& events SCSGB what's inside... ♦ Scandinavian Living Center ♦ Scandinavian Cultural Center Building a Grand The week of April 1st was a Grand occasion purpose of bringing a Steinway B grand for the Scandinavian Charitable Society piano to the Cultural Center, and to Newton and the Scandinavian Cultural Center. and the surrounding communities. Resulting from the very generous loan of a Steinway B concert-quality grand piano by M. Steinert & Sons of Boston, the Cultural Center hosted a week-long page 2 Thoughts & Prayers musical celebration. The celebration was the launch of a capital campaign, Be Part of Something Grand, for the express Ten separate performances were scheduled over a seven day period. Twenty-two elementary and middle school students and one high school student from the Newton Public Schools performed over three continued on page 3 page 3 Building A Grand page 9 Staff Profile slcenter.org (L-R) Bill Woodard, SCSGB Director of Development, guest pianist, Paavali Jumpannen, Bruce Hauck, and Board President, Gardi Hauck enjoy a light moment at the reception following Mr. Jumpannen’s performance in the Nordic Hall. We continue to create grand memories and grand adventures as a community made up of an ever increasing circle of family and friends. Be Part of Something Grand, our campaign to bring a Steinway concert piano to our Joseph Carella Cultural Center, was a magnet drawing over five hundred people. Some of those who EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR came were family members of former residents who returned years after their loved ones left us. In a sense it was a reunion. A new concert piano and the future expansion project are symbolic initiatives to bring us together “as a true community without walls.” For us to succeed we must work together to bring our vision of cultural enrichment and community connection to a reality; a reality that is becoming an inspiration and a catalyst for positive change in the surrounding community. During one of our events, a professional colleague discussed with me his vision of creating a cultural center with housing. He has been trying for years to achieve this objective even though he has been a significant player in the development of many housing projects. I am confident that his experience at our community event has become an inspiration for his next housing project. As our Director of Development, Bill Woodard comments, “we are becoming the little mouse that roars.” I welcome you to be part of the “roar” and share in our enthusiasm as we expand the quality of our Cultural Center programs for the entire community. Be part of something grand; be part of an organization that, for one hundred years, has maintained a thirst and hunger for doing the right thing. I look forward to seeing you all at the annual ice cream social. ◆ A message from the Scandinavian Charitable Society of Greater Boston We are saddened over the tragic events that occurred in April. What had always been a day of joy and pride on Patriot’s Day became a day of grief and loss for all of us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the Marathon bombings and their families. We wish everyone who has been touched by this tragedy a speedy recovery, both physically and emotionally. 2 Building a Grand continued from cover afternoons. The students awed parents, friends and visitors with their exceptional mastery of the piano. On Tuesday afternoon the Center aired the film Note By Note, the Making of Steinway L1037. This documentary, originally shown on PBS, follows the construction of a Steinway grand piano from the forest to the concert stage. The construction of a new Steinway piano, according to representatives, takes approximately a year and is done primarily by hand. The film was followed by the second performance by the public school students. Tuesday evening, students from the Rivers Upper School Big Band and three select Jazz Combos entertained an audience of 70 with a variety of jazz selections, followed by sounds of the big band era. The latter rocked the building and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Wednesday evening, baritone, Philip Lima, accompanied by pianist, William Merrill, captivated the audience with rich operatic selections by Mahler, Verdi and Grieg. In addition, Mr. Lima performed several gospel hymns and Mr. Merrill performed an interlude he has composed. The performance concluded with Mr. Lima singing “I Have a Dream” by Lee Hoiby. This was a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King on the 50th anniversary of his famous address. Mr. Lima will be performing this again on the Esplanade on August 28th. in Chicago and on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Suzuki’s Executive Director, Sachiko Ishihara, and two of her colleagues amused the audience with their trio performance on the piano. The week concluded on Sunday afternoon with a wonderful concert of contemporary chamber music by Scandinavian composers performed by the Walden Chamber Players. As previously indicated, this week was an important one in the Charitable Society’s campaign to bring a Steinway piano to the Cultural Center. Gardi Hauck, President of the Board of Directors pointed out that “…our mission is to provide affordable housing and assistance to elders and to support cultural enrichment and community connections. Three interconnected missions that support and enhance each other: residence, culture and community.” With the addition of a high quality instrument, the Center will be able to offer performance opportunities for the local music community and top-notch Truly the highlight of the week-long celebration was a special amateur and professional concerts that will benefit and enrich concert performed by the renowned Finnish pianist, Paavali the lives of the residents and everyone in Newton and the Jumppanen. Mr. Jumppanen brought the piano to life and surrounding communities. dazzled a full house with his magic. He kept the evening relaxed with his humor and took time to talk about the piano and how the character of each piano is so different. Following the performance there was a reception in the Kaffestugan where Mr. Jumppanen met and talked with a very appreciative audience. Students, faculty and alumni from the Suzuki School of Newton continued our celebration on Saturday evening with a mixture of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Scott Joplin. 13 year-old Anna Larsen, a Suzuki alumna and now studying at the Boston Conservatory of Music, returned to participate in the program. Anna has performed at Carnegie Hall, Millenium Place We have made a good start in our quest, but we still have a long way to go. Victoria Danberg, City of Newton Alderman, said in her remarks following Paavali Jumppanen’s concert, a successful completion of the campaign will greatly benefit the City by enabling creative talent to find a home in Newton. With your support we can do what the mother of one 4th grade performer begged, “Bring that piano here!” To make a gift, please visit our website at www.slcenter.org/donations and select Piano Fund. Together, we can all Be Part of Something Grand. ◆ Bill Woodard y Director of Development 3 Building a Grand Enjoy a week in review: [1] Paavali Jumpannen, Guest Pianist; [2] Gardi Hauck, President of the Board of Directors; [3] Sachiko Ishihara, Executive Director of the Suzuki School of Newton; [4] Andrew Chung, 5th Grade, Countryside Elementary School, Newton; [5] Anna Faulstich, Scandinavian Living Center resident; [6] Steinway keypad display; [7] Pianist William Merrill and Baritone, Philip Lima; [8] (L-R) Drew Nolan, Katie Daniel, Athenee Chan and Julia Lailler, students, Suzuki School of Newton; [9] The loaned piano on arrival; [10] Bill Woodard, SCSGB Director of Development, Vicki Danberg, SCSGB Board member, and Joe Carella, SCSGB Executive Director; [11] Piano courtesy of M. Steinert & Sons, Boston; [12] The Rivers Upper School Big Band. [1] [4] [2] [5] [6] [3] 4 [9] [10] [11] [7] [12] [8] 5 Be Part of Something Grand Join us in our campaign to bring a Steinway B concert quality grand piano to the Scandinavian Cultural Center. Why do we need a new piano? The answer is simple. It is highly beneficial for the residents, the City of Newton and the surrounding communities in the greater Boston area. With the addition of an instrument of this quality, the Cultural Center will become a very desirable performance venue for professional and amateur artists, as well as for the many music schools in our area. This will serve to enrich the lives of the residents and everyone in and around Newton. To make a gift, please visit our website at www.slcenter.org/ donations and select Piano Fund or return your check (made payable to Scandinavian Charitable Society) in the enclosed envelope. Please note Piano Fund on your check. The Scandinavian Charitable Society of Greater Boston wishes to thank the following for making our week-long piano celebration a huge success. Pictured at right, Horace Mann students, Nazaneen (5th grade) and Jeneen (2nd grade) Shokri. Dr. & Mrs. Albert R. Frederick, Jr. Mrs. Hanni Myers Mrs. Bruce Hauck Ms. Victoria Danberg Mr. Brendan Murphy Director of Institutional Sales, M. Steinert & Sons Mr. Paavali Jumppanen Pianist Mr. Philip Lima Baritone Mr. William Merrill Pianist Thank you for your gift. Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Mr. David J. Tierney Director, The Rivers School Conservatory Mr. Philippe Crettien Director of Jazz and Jazz Ensembles The Rivers School Conservatory Ms. Sachiko Ishihara Executive Director, The Suzuki School of Newton Mr. Richard King Fine Arts Coordinator K-8, Newton Public Schools 6 An Invitation to Contribute Renovations and New Construction To Enhance Common and Dining Areas This modest expansion and renovation will create new and adapted spaces for multiple users. It is an important investment in the future of the SLC and the Cultural Center. The estimated project cost of the changes is $380,000. To date $232,465 has been raised from members of the Board of Directors and Foundations. To complete the campaign, we must raise $147,535 from individuals and other sources. Pledges may be made for up to three years. All gifts to the Scandinavian Charitable Society of Greater Boston are fully tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. The SCSGB is a private, non-profit organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS Code. Above: New common space with existing entrance at right Middle: Bird’s-eye view of new common area Below: floor plan showing new common area (shaded) and new balcony area to the left. TO CONTRIBUTE: Please make checks payable to the Scandinavian Charitable Society and return in the enclosed envelope. You may also contribute online at www.slcenter.org/Donations. Thank you! Charity can begin with the gift of Life Insurance Even in a tough economic environment, with a little foresight and creativity, there are many ways you can support worthwhile endeavors and gain satisfaction knowing you will be able to contribute for the long term. including changing the beneficiary. While premium payments are not tax deductible, upon your death, the estate receives a charitable estate tax deduction for the proceeds as allowed by law. Regardless of your income level, you can continue to support the Scandinavian Charitable Society of Greater Boston (SCSGB) by donating through life insurance. For example, whether you direct your gift to a particular fund like the Johansen Resident Fund, the Cultural Fund, or to the general needs of the Society as the beneficiary of your policy, you are contributing to a worthy cause and can benefit from potential tax deductions (as discussed below). Donate an existing policy. If you own a policy with coverage that is no longer needed, you may consider donating it to the SCSGB. You could irrevocably assign or transfer the policy to the SCSGB as owner and beneficiary. This gift is generally not subject to gift tax, and, in most cases, may be eligible for a charitable income tax deduction. There are several methods of gifting life insurance as a charitable donation: Designate the SCSGB as owner and beneficiary. This benefits the Society and gives you a bonus in the form of income tax benefits. Premiums on such a policy are deductible to taxpayers who itemize their deductions. Consult a tax professional for details. Designate the SCSGB as beneficiary. As the policy owner, you retain the right to make changes to the policy Create a charitable remainder trust. This is a complex planning option for donors with unproductive appreciated assets, such as real estate. This transaction can be structured to benefit you and your heirs and the SCSGB. Consult an attorney or accountant for advice. Let’s explore which approach is most effective for your situation. For questions or additional information, contact Bill Woodard, Director of Development at 617-467-3176, or email: bwoodard@slcenter.org. 7 Resident Profile The Scandinavian Living Center’s only Icelandic resident, Frank Steffanson, was born in the capital city of Reykjavik on January 29, 1928. It was interesting to hear Frank describe this remote and beautiful Nordic country, an island in the North Atlantic Ocean no bigger than the size of Kentucky, with long winter FRANK STEFFANSON nights and long summer days. In June, the sun sets at midnight and rises at 3:00 a.m. The literal translation of Reykjavik is “smoky bay,” aptly after 7 days at sea, he arrived in New York City and named from the steam rising from the hot springs. Ironically, eventually in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He graduated it is now known as a smokeless city due to its complete from MIT with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering. adoption of geothermal energy. Steam and hot water are piped into homes and businesses from natural geysers and hot springs. Its industries include farming, fishing, aluminum and wool export. and married his wife, Anna, in 1952, working for the State Department as a roadway consultant. He returned to the Boston area in 1953 with Anna, where they raised their three Iceland has some of the most beautiful natural scenery children, Rosa, Hilmar and Frank Jr. in South Walpole. He in the world. One-third of the country is rock in addition worked for the Foxboro Company, a leading manufacturer to winding rivers, glaciers, hot springs, mountains, active of industrial instrument controls, for the next five years, volcanos and lava fields. It enjoys a temperate climate. followed by the next 27 years as a Chief Engineer for the Ironically, Frank didn’t love the weather as he describes Bird Johnson Company which made specialty propellers for the summers as being too cool (around 70 degrees ships. He became an American citizen in 1958. Fahrenheit). However, the winters are fairly mild, usually in the low 30’s. There is a lot of snow in the mountains, but not so much in the city. The current population of Iceland is about 320,000, making it the least populated country in Europe, and about 200,000 in the Greater Reykjavik area. Frank’s Icelandic father was a master cabinet maker and was also involved in the shipping industry. Frank’s mother was Swedish. His sister, Leila, was four years older than him. One of Frank’s favorite childhood memories was of the steel erector set his father gave him at the age of 5, with which he built replicas of the Tower of London and the Eiffel Tower, demonstrating his building skills even back then. A good student, Frank’s favorite subjects were math and physics, so it seemed logical that he would apply to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He was accepted, but he discovered that getting to America was going to be a challenge. Fortunately, his father’s connections in the shipyards got him passage on a freighter that took only 12 passengers, and in July of 1948, 8 After college, he moved back to Iceland for a short time Frank and Anna travelled extensively including trips to England, France, Italy, Austria and Singapore. His hobbies were anything having to do with his hands: building, wiring and gardening. He still enjoys playing chess, especially with Ivar Carlsen, his favorite chess partner at the Center. After his wife passed away, he was encouraged to look into the Scandinavian Living Center by his son, Frank, and a social worker who thought this would be a good fit for him. He became a resident in November 2010 and enjoys the small size and the quaintness of the Center. What he likes best is that “the people are friendly and uncomplicated and no one has a chip on his or her shoulder.” That sums up what Frank is all about himself, a genuinely nice person with simple expectations, a positive attitude and is appreciative of what he has. We are happy he chose the Center as his permanent home. ◆ Carol Chudnofsky y SLC Director of Marketing y STAFF PROFILE Mino Teo MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR Mino thinks that everyone on staff of the Scandinavian Living Center is the best. He says, “It is a very welcoming place, and the residents are great. I feel comfortable here, and I love my job.” We are proud to say that visitors to the Scandinavian Mino has been Living Center constantly mention how immaculate our married to his building is. The carpet always looks freshly shampooed, wife, Yesenia, for 7 years and has an adorable 4 year old the hardwood floors always shine, the walls and doors daughter, Natalie. He recently invited 35 children and always appear newly painted, the walkways and parking 40 adults to the Nordic Hall for Natalie’s birthday, where lot are always cleared during snowstorms, and the lawn she had a great time, especially because she has always is continually well-maintained. If there is one person to enjoyed coming here with her father. He says it was a thank for this, it is our Maintenance Director, Mino Teo, wonderful party, and he was happy to celebrate here. whose hard work and dedication make the Center so attractive and inviting. Mino has worked for Heritage Healthcare Services for 14 years, the company that the Scandinavian Living Center Mino was born in El Progresco Jutiapa, Guatemala. It is employs for our housekeeping and maintenance needs. a city of about one million people with a dry, temperate He became our Maintenance Director in 2006 and is climate averaging about 75 degrees except for the winter admired and respected by everyone here at the Center. months. He fondly recalls the many different kinds of outdoor markets located throughout the city that sell fruit, meat, fish, clothing, etc. He is one of seven children, including 4 sisters and 2 brothers. Two currently live here in American and the rest live in Guatemala. He goes home to visit about once a year. He came to the United States in 1986 because of the opportunities here, including jobs and the ability to have things that otherwise would be difficult for those in his country to obtain. He settled in Virginia, where his brother and sister were at the time, and had a number of jobs including cooking for a restaurant called Rio Grande and working for a television cable company. He says it was too hot compared to his native country. He finally ended up in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1992 where there is a strong Guatemalan community. He went to work for his cousin at New England Cleaning, where he still works Mino thinks that everyone on staff of the Scandinavian Living Center is the best. He says, “It is a very welcoming place, and the residents are great. I feel comfortable here, and I love my job.” He also supervises a hard-working staff of three who help contribute to the cleanliness and efficiency that everyone enjoys. According to Joe Carella, “Mino is a trusted member of our family. I know I can count on him for all matters related to the upkeep of the building, especially in the event of an emergency or safety issue. He never loses his cool. He is always one step ahead of everything, and he has a great eye for detail. Residents love him because he is responsive to their needs and very helpful when they need something done in their apartments. We were most fortunate the day he started working here.” ◆ Carol Chudnofsky y SLC Director of Marketing part-time and is currently a supervisor. 9 7 THE YO-YO SHOW A Fun-Filled Family Event On Sunday, March 10, 120 people filled the Nordic Hall to enjoy a special show by the “Yo-Yo People,” John and Rebecca Higby. It was a sell-out crowd and included over 65 excited children. The World Champion husband-wife experts, who have appeared on David Letterman and are Guinness World Record holders, thrilled the audience. John and Rebecca performed the basics, such as Walk the Dog and Rock the Baby, and then they kicked up their routine with incredible tricks and unusual props like hula hoops and unicycles. After an exciting Grand Finale, children were given instructions on the art of using the custom-made Duncan yo-yos they received, compliments of the Scandinavian Living Center. Welcome summer at 206 Waltham Street with a vibrant collaborative performance! As one attendee appreciatively stated, “John and Rebecca were a smart, playful and a completely dynamic duo. Their vaudevillianretro act was appealing to every demographic in the room, and it was wonderful to witness a piece of ephemeral performance that CreationDance might, over time, slip away. Thank you for making us all smile, A fusion of dance and music, featuring First Unitar- family events they have attended and that it was in such a ian Society in Newton’s sacred dance company perfect venue. in residence, accompanied by an ensemble of This show is one of the many examples of how our community, cellists led by CreationDance music advisor Nancy made up of Hair. Led by Helena Froelich, the CreationDance family and company is intergenerational and composed of a friends, children’s group, grades 5 to 8, and an adult group, can come from dedicated professionals to amateur together in dance lovers. unique and Friday, June 14 at 7:30PM fun ways. PHOTO: RICK MOLANDER giggle and howl.” Many others thought it was one of the best The Nordic Hall at the Scandinavian Cultural Center Coco Hauck, balancing on a giant yo-yo, assists Rebecca and John Higby. Still interested in receiving the newsletter? We hope you find our new design inviting and the content both interesting and fun to read. There is a great deal going on at the Scandinavian Cultural and Living Centers and we want to share this with you. We do, however, need to be conscious of increased printing and mailing cost, and using excess paper. If you wish to be removed from our mailing list, please email or call Brooke Cabot at bcabot@slcenter.org or 617.527.6566 ext. 224. 10 Cultural Corner Amy Keresztes y Director, Scandinavian Cultural Center 3 In February I had the pleasure of attending the Nordic Cool Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. A month-long celebration of contemporary Nordic culture, including music, theatre, cuisine, design, architecture, and fashion, it was an extremely exciting and informative few days. It made the appeal of the concept of all things Nordic to Americans very clear. It was exciting to see so much creativity and energy under one roof. I met artists and musicians from all over Scandinavia and engaged in dialogue about our perceptions of our different cultures. I came away with many ideas and contacts for our coming seasons. One of the best parts of working at the Cultural Center is building a family among the many active Scandinavian groups in the Boston area. A look at this spring’s programs shows that not only do these groups form an essential part of our community life, but they also provide a great deal of interesting and exciting cultural programming for the Boston area. Finlandia’s concert featuring violinist Jaakko Kuusisto and jazz pianist Iiro Rantala brought the house down, and they collaborated with us again to welcome Finnish jazz guitarist Olli Hirvonen at the Center on Sunday, April 28. Fresh from performances at the Nordic Cool Festival in Washington D.C. and at Scandinavia House in New York, Olli and his quartet brought a burst of life into our spring. Finlandia, SWEA, Norumbega and the Boston Estonian Society all provide wonderful events and gatherings here and many of their events are free and open to the public. April 22-24, we hosted four poets travelling from Sweden on a U.S. tour at Outpost 186 in Cambridge, a Nordic radio program on MIT’s student radio, and Harvard, attracting many students from Harvard’s Scandinavian Studies program. And it’s not just the Scandinavian focus that has made us an appealing destination for the arts: the full house at February’s stunning concert by early music ensemble Cappella Clausura attests to the community appeal of the Nordic Hall and our continuing quality programming. A vibrant group exhibition by the New Art Center of Newton was another great opportunity to welcome a beacon for the arts in Newton into our space and the following exhibition of Japanese paper art by Liz Horwitz has been received with great enthusiasm. You can read Bill Woodard’s summary of the very fine week of concerts and events in conjunction with our Steinway fundraising campaign. It goes without saying that a Steinway concert piano will bring the Cultural Center to a new level of excellence as a performance venue, and Walden Chamber Players everyone who attended our diverse array of concerts during that week will agree. Special thanks goes out to the electrifying Walden Chamber Players, who concluded the week with a vigorous concert showcasing contemporary chamber music by Scandinavian composers. We certainly haven’t seen the last of this fine ensemble! The schedule is already filling up for the fall, so keep an eye on our website, Facebook page, and newsletter for the latest information about upcoming events. The Scandinavian Cultural Center would like to thank the Swedish Council of America for their generous support of the New Wave Swedish Poetry Tour which took place in April. Due in large part to a grant from the Swedish Council of America, we were able to bring four prominent Swedish poets to the U.S. for a week of performances in Washington, D.C., New York, and Cambridge, MA, culminating in a wonderful spoken word event at Harvard University on April 24th. Their entire tour was filmed and that footage is currently being made into a documentary, to be distributed in Sweden and internationally next year. www.swedishcouncil.org 11 The Scandinavian Charitable Society of Greater Boston 206 WALTHAM STREET, WEST NEWTON, MA 02465 y PHONE: 617.527.6566 slcenter.org May 2013 Dear Friends, This is such an exciting time for the Scandinavian Charitable Society of Greater Boston. We are energized by new initiatives, by our enthusiastic staff, by refreshing ideas and, as always, by our residents who are at the heart of what we do. The Society is looking to the future even as we honor its venerable history. it is our residents and families, our neighbors, or our wider community of Greater Boston. In April, the entire community reveled in Piano Week—a week-long festival of musical performances by students and professionals, made possible by the loan of a Steinway concert piano from M. Steinert & Sons of Boston. Our roots go back over 100 years to the founding of the Society in 1912, and the residence has been on this site since 1917. But we are so much more than bricks and mortar. Our mission is to provide affordable housing and assistance to elders and to support cultural enrichment and community connections--three interconnected missions that support and enhance each other: residence, culture and community. Committed to this shared mission of residence, culture and community, the Society is thriving, and we hope that you will consider supporting our vision in any way that you can. While the priority of our Cultural Center is to share both traditional and modern Nordic culture with our community, we celebrate all cultures. We believe that expanding our cultural focus brings the community together—whether news& events SCSGB ♦ Scandinavian Living Center ♦ Thank you for your continued interest, and we hope to see you at the annual Ice Cream Social this spring. Gardi Pedersen Hauck, President Edited by Brooke Cabot and William K. Woodard. For comments, questions or information contact us at 617-527-6566 or email at bcabot@slcenter.org or bwoodard@slcenter.org. Scandinavian Cultural Center Credits: PHOTOGRAPHY: Brooke Cabot, Amy Keresztes and Bill Woodard; GRAPHIC DESIGN: Karen Ancas; PRINTING: Atlantic Printing.