Y's Men News -- Sunday, April 20, 2025 | | |
Table of Contents
(Scroll Down to Find the Article Behind the Headline. Articles are
in the same order as the Table of Contents)
- GIDG to Meet Tomorrow
- Mindfulness Group Announces New Meeting Schedule
- Bocce Begins This Wednesday
- Achievement First CEO Lisa Margosian Speaks This Thursday
- Current Events Group Meets Wednesdays and Fridays
- Acclaimed Pianists Concert Next Sunday, April 27
- Tickets Available for Sale for July 29 Performance by Chicago
- T&E Announces Three Outings
- Sign up for Compo Playground Re-Build
- Volunteers Needed for Westport Spring Clean-up Day
- Y's Man Mike Hehenberger's New Book Released
- Local Perspective on Tariffs from Y's Man's Daughter
- Dr. Andrew Gerber of Silver Hill Spoke to the Y's Men
- Y’s Men Scoop MSNBC
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GIDG Meets Tomorrow at 9:00 am
The Global Issues Discussion Group (GIDG) will meet tomorrow (Monday, April 21) in Room 203/204 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church at 9:00 am.
New developments on the international scene will be discussed. Tariffs were an obvious topic for discussion but there is so much more to touch on: China, the Middle East, and the Russian-Ukraine war for starters, according to Moderator Harvey Luft.
For more information on GIDG, contact Harvey at harveyluft@gmail.com.
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Mindfulness Group Announces New Schedule for Meetings
The Y's Men Mindfulness Group has a new schedule for its meetings. It used to meet by Zoom every Monday. Now it meets twice a month: once by Zoom and once in person.
Zoom meetings are on the third Monday of every month (that means they will be meeting tomorrow, April 21, from 7:30 to 8:30 pm).
In-person meetings are the first Thursday of every month from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at the Westport Center for Senior Activities. The next meeting -- Just for Men-Mindfulness --will be Thursday, May 1.
The Group is planning a three-hour in person workshop at the Church in July. Stay tuned for details.
For additional information on the Mindfulness Group, contact Harvey Luft at harveyluft@gmail.com or Paul Epstein at epsteinmb@aol.com.
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Y's Men Bocce Season Begins This Wednesday, April 23
Games are played at the Bocce courts in Veterans Park (909 Reef Road) in Fairfield every Wednesday beginning April 23 when the Y's Men bocce season opens. There is no fee or registration required. Just show up and get on a team. Games (weather permitting) start at 10:30 am and generally run to noon.
Reminder emails are sent out on Tuesday evening. If you wish to be added to the list, or join in playing, contact Len Ances at ances@sbcglobal.net
| | CEO of Achievement First to Address State of Education | | |
Lisa Margosian
This Thursday, Y's Men welcome Lisa Margosian, Chief Executive Officer of Achievement First Charter Schools, a network of 41 schools in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. She joined AF as Interim CEO in 2022 and transitioned to CEO in August 2023, having served more than 30 years in public and charter school education.
Lisa will be joined by Y's Man Andy Boas, who chairs the Achievement First Network Support Board. He also is President of the Charter Oak Challenge Foundation and the Carl Marks Foundation.
The education gap in Connecticut is among the worst in the country. Lisa and Andy will update us on the challenges our schools face in this post-Covid era. They will tell us how Achievement First is addressing the needs of our students today and the challenges we face to prepare our children and grandchildren to succeed in the future.
Y's Men Thursday morning meetings are in Hoskins Hall downstairs in the Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East in Westport. As always, donut and bagel social hour 9:00 to 10:00 am, short business meeting at 10:00, and speaker starts at 10:30 finishing no later than 11:30. Come early and meet your fellow members. Guests are always welcome!"
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Current Events Group Meets Every Wednesday and Friday
The Y's Men Current Events Group meets every Wednesday and Friday at 10:00 am in room 211 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. Members meet to discuss current events and talk about topics of mutual interest.
For information, contact Y's Man Tony Pranzo at tpranzo@yahoo.com
| | Concert by Acclaimed Pianists Set for Sunday, April 27 | | |
Dr. Liang-Fang Chang and Dr. Uriel Tsachor will perform in a concert Sunday, April 27.
Photo by Ted Horowitz
A concert featuring two distinguished concert pianists, Dr. Liang-Fang Chang and Dr. Uriel Tsachor, will be performed next Sunday, April 27, at 4:00 pm in the sanctuary of the Saugatuck Congregational Church.
Presented by the Church and the Y’s Men, this free extraordinary 90-minute musical event will showcase the pianists classical piano mastery, performing on the Church’s Steinway grand piano. The concert serves as a special monthly meeting of the Y's Men Classical Music Society.
Event Details:
· Date: Sunday, April 27.
· Time: 4:00 pm.
· Venue: Saugatuck Congregational Church Sanctuary, Westport.
Program:
The artists will introduce their selected pieces, including two of Liszt’s Liebesträume (Nocturnes), two newly composed Nocturnes by Kevin Jay Isaacs, and two Brahms orchestral serenades transcribed for piano solo by Clara Schumann.
The performance will be followed by an audience Q&A session, a reception, and autographing of programs by the artists.
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Tickets on Sale for Chicago, Tuesday Evening, July 29
At the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
We are holding tickets in sections 206 and 207 at a price of $99.00 plus a small credit card fee. They will be made available after the purchase deadline of Sunday, May 18. Use the link below to purchase up to four tickets by credit card and receive a confirmation of your purchase. Ignore any reference to tickets being sent to you. To pay by check, please make it out to Y's Men of Westport/Weston and send it to Y's Men of Westport/Weston, P.O. Box 167, Westport, CT 06880-0167. We must receive payment by May 18.
Seats are assigned on a first come-first served basis and will be available to you in hard ticket form or, if you wish, at Will Call the night of the show. You will get an e-mail about ticket delivery shortly after May 18.
If you want more than four tickets to the show, you will be advised of availability immediately after the purchase deadline of May 18.
Click the link below to buy tickets. You must select the number of tickets before clicking on "buy tickets."
https://www.ysmenwestportweston.org/event/2025-chicago-concert-july-29/
Please send an e-mail with any questions to dickkalt@gmail.com
Thanks, and looking forward to a great evening.
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Tuesday, April 29
Grace Farms
Spouses and significant others are welcome.
Non-member friends of Y’s Men are welcome, space permitting. Please inquire.
https://conta.cc/42eYeAm
~~~~~
Monday, May 12
NYC Walk Around (Not Through) Central Park – Part 1
Spouses, Significant Others, and Guests Welcome!
https://conta.cc/3XXOMQB
~~~~~
Tuesday-Wednesday, June 17-18
WOODS HOLE – NEW BEDFORD – FALL RIVER
Spouses, Significant Others, and Guests Welcome!
https://conta.cc/3G9ibBa
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Y’s Men Volunteers Needed
For Compo Beach Playground Re-Build
Reconstruction starts tomorrow (Monday, April 21) of our crown jewel at the beach - the Playground. The Playground Committee has done a great job preparing for a fun, community event to improve this great play space for the next generation.
We know that many Y’s Men participated in the 1989 and 2006 building projects, so it’s time to “strap on” those tool belts and volunteer one more time on behalf of your grandchildren and all the other kids in our community.
Build Week is tomorrow through Saturday, April 26. The Playground Committee has raised all the money necessary, the demolition is complete, and the excess sand has been removed, but we still need volunteers to work.
There are three shifts daily, with meals/snacks served. You are welcome to work any/every day. Since both parents of most young kids work, the Playground Committee needs help from those of us who are around town during the day. Any level of skill is welcome; most jobs do not require construction knowledge.
To Volunteer: Go to: https://www.compobeachplayground.com
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Volunteers Needed for Westport Spring Clean-up Day
Westport's Spring Clean-up Day is Saturday, April 26 beginning at 9:00 am. Meet at Burying Hill Beach or Sherwood Island Connector Commuter Lot.
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Y's Man Mike Hehenberger Releases a New Book
Can pigs help us to remove the organ donor bottleneck? Can elephants help us cure cancer? Can lizards show how to regrow body parts, and fight diabetes?
Inspired by his fellow Y's Men Hikers, Michael Hehenberger has published a new book available on Amazon as a paperback, and a Kindle version.
"In the Shadow of Animals" targets young readers eager to learn what the study of animals can teach humans, from adaptation to extreme conditions to infectious diseases, and regenerative medicine.
More than 30 chapters are focused on selected examples of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and insects. The evolution of life on planet Earth and genetic engineering (including CRISPR) are covered in specialized appendices.
Check out "In the Shadow of Animals" on Amazon for yourself when looking for a gift to your a curious grandchild!
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A Perspective on Tariffs From a Local Businesswomen
Who is Y's Man Marty Yellins's Daughter
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Leslie Yellin with her latex pigs -- second best-selling pet toy in the US --in a photo
accompanying her interview in "06880."
Marty Yellin's daughter Leslie has a successful pet toy business, LRY Enterprises, which she runs from Westport, and depends heavily on imported materials. Dan Woog recently interviewed her for his "06880" blog about how the new tariffs are impacting her business.
It is a most revealing interview and a must read. Click here to read the entire interview entitled "Not Your Usual Toy Story: Tariff War is a Dangerous Game."
| | Y’s Men Told U.S. Mental Health is Getting Worse | | |
Andrew J. Gerber, head of Silver Hill Hospital, addressed Y's Men last Thursday.
Mental health in the US is getting worse, the head of Connecticut’s oldest and leading mental hospital told the Y’s Men last Thursday. Dr. Andrew J. Gerber, President and Medical Director of New Canaan’s famous Silver Hill Hospital, blamed the policies of medical insurance companies that limit intermediate care by not reimbursing for it. And called for major reform.
“On a state level, we have to treat mental illness as we treat physical illness and start enforcing the existing federal rule,” he said, noting 18 million Americans suffer from some form of mental illness. Silver Hill was founded in 1931 as an offshoot of Harvard’s famous Austin-Riggs Hospital in Massachusetts.
In 1950, the US had 500,000 mental hospital beds. Federal programs reduced them to 20,000 without funding the community mental health facilities that were supposed to replace them, he said. Experts point to that as the primary reason for homelessness.
Dr. Gerber said after 94 years, Silver Hill was keeping up to date by offering some of the latest procedures for Treatment Resistant Depression including Spravato (a nasal drug inhaler) and intravenous Ketamine.
He is also talking to the pioneering psychiatric practice in Brooklyn called Fermata about offering TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) at Silver Hill. And taking part in a clinical trial of the psychedelic Psilocybin.
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Kostya Kennedy appears on MSNBC to talk about his new book on Paul Revere.
Kostya Kennedy, noted historian and author, spoke to Y's Men Thursday, April 3, about his new book "Paul Revere: The Ride and How it Saved America." He spoke about the book again this past Friday (April 18), but this time he addressed a national audience on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
Moral of this tale: Come to Y's Men meetings to hear speakers before they go nationwide!
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