Y's Men News -- Sunday, March 30, 2025 | | |
Table of Contents
(Scroll Down to Find the Article Behind the Headline. Articles are
in the same order as the Table of Contents)
- Travel Group Meets Tomorrow Morning
- Mindfulness Group Meets Monday Evening by Zoom
- Photography Club Focuses on Portraiture
- Pickleball Begins New Season on Tuesday
- Y's Men Float Committee Needs Helpers - Meets Tuesday
- Kostya Kennedy Returns Thursday: Ride of Paul Revere
- What's Next in Weston: Podcast Covers the 2025 budget
- Acclaimed Pianists Concert Postponed to April 27
- Volunteers Needed for Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic
- T&E Announces Three Outings
- Deadline for Summer Tennis Sign Up Extended to April 4
- NBC Producer Atila Ozkaplan Discusses Paris Olympics
- New Y's Men Clothing Items Are Available Now
- Next Month's Breakfast Club Meets on Tuesday, April 8
- Volunteers Needed for Compo Playground Re-Build
- Opportunity to Help Fund a Cure for MS at Walk on May 3
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Y's Men Travel Group Meets Tomorrow
The Y’s Men Travel Group will meet from 9:00 to 10:30 am tomorrow (Monday, March 31) in Room 203 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church.
As is its custom, meetings start by members talking about their recent travel experiences.
The topics for this week: What are your favorite airlines? Ones to take or avoid? Recent experiences?
For information about the Y’s Men Travel Group, or to be added to the Group’s email distribution list, please contact Art Mann, mannart03@gmail.com
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Y's Men Mindfulness Group Meets Mondays by Zoom
The Y's Men Mindfulness Group meets every Monday at 7:30 pm by Zoom. If you would like to attend or obtain information about the Group, contact Harvey Luft at harveyluft@gmail.com or Paul Epstein at epsteinmb@aol.com.
Harvey and Paul also can provide access to reviewing and reading material from previous meetings and discussions.
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Photography Club Meets Tuesday With Focus on Portraiture
Are you thinking about improving your photography? The Y’s Men Photography Club meetings have a relaxed and friendly vibe. Members are comfortable sharing their work, there is a shared passion for photography, and the discussion is lively and engaging.
Composition was the subject at its last meeting. The group reviewed 45 contributed photos, analyzing each for using elements like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing. Members provided valuable feedback on each other's photos, suggesting improvements to cropping, contrast, and other elements like switching from color to black and white as photos were projected onto a screen.
The next meeting will focus on Portraiture. No doubt, the rule of thirds and other compositional techniques to create a visually appealing image will apply to this topic as well.
Sal Mollica will lead the session on Tuesday, April 1, starting at 9:30 am at the Saugatuck Congregational Church, rooms 109-110.
| | Here are two examples of photos that will discussed at the Photography Club meeting on Tuesday, April 1, which will focus on Portraiture. Photo at left is by David Pressler and photo at right is by Larry Ackerman. | | |
Nets Are Up; Y's Men Pickleball Players Ready to Play
The pickleball season is about to begin!
The nets are up at Town Farms. Four courts are reserved for this Tuesday, April 1. There are volunteers who will be reserving courts for each Tuesday and Thursday.
If you are a Westport resident, be sure to purchase your pickleball pass at the Parks and Rec office to avoid the $20.00 fee.
Advice for this Tuesday: Dress warm; it's going to be a bit chilly.
For additional information, contact Y's Men Ed Diamond at erdli@aol.com; Hayes Clark at hayesclark53@gmail.com; or Jay Dirnberger at jaydirnberger@gmail.com.
| | Y’s Men Memorial Day Float Committee Needs You | | |
A Y's Men float from a previous Memorial Day parade.
For more than 20 years, Y’s Men have built award-winning floats that have been entered in the Westport Memorial Day Parade. This year, come join the Y’s Men Float Committee and be part of this winning tradition.
We need all kinds of volunteers with a wide variety of skills including designers, producers, carpenters, technicians, and actors to ride on the float, as well as volunteers to disassemble the float after the parade.
Our first meeting will be Tuesday, April 1 at the Church. If you are interested in joining a fun group of guys to help observe Memorial Day in a meaningful way, please contact Baxter Urist at burist@optonline.net
We guarantee a rewarding time while paying tribute to our brave American soldiers.
| | Kostya Kennedy on the Ride of Paul Revere | | |
Kostya Kennedy
This Thursday (April 3) noted historian and author Kostya Kennedy returns to tell the Y's Men the unknown and fascinating story conveyed by his latest release, "Paul Revere: The Ride and How it Saved America." According to the Library Journal: "An important book for readers seeking a deeper understanding of a crucial moment in American history. It will captivate history scholars, students, and enthusiasts from start to finish."
Copies of Kostya's new book will be available for purchase and signing for $25.00 with payment by cash or check only.
Join us Thursday for this very special event.
Y's Men Thursday morning meetings are in Hoskins Hall downstairs in the Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East in Westport. Donut and bagel social hour begins at 9:00 am and business meeting at 9:45 am (instead of 10:00 am) tomorrow only. Come early and meet your fellow members. Guests are always welcome.
| | What's Next in Weston -- Podcast Covers the 2025 Budget | | In this edition of What's Next in Weston, First Selectwoman Sam Nestor presents the 2025 town budget and covers all of the major objectives and expenditures for the coming year as well as the new mill rate. For our Weston members, this is news you need to know. | | Concert by Acclaimed Pianists Postponed to Sunday, April 27 | | |
Dr. Liang-Fang Chang and Dr. Uriel Tsachor will perform in a free concert Sunday, April 27.
Photo by Ted Horowitz
The concert featuring two distinguished concert pianists, Dr. Liang-Fang Chang and Dr. Uriel Tsachor, scheduled for Sunday, April 6 has been postponed to Sunday, April 27. Stay tuned for the exact time and details of the performance.
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Volunteers Needed for Connecticut
Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic
| | Click here to watch an explanatory video about the Clinic. | | For further information about the Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic, contact Y's Man Jeff Pivor at jpivordds@yahoo.com | | |
Tuesday, April 1
Finding Art Masterpieces in Back Country Greenwich
Spouses and significant others are welcome. Non-member friends are welcome,
space permitting. Please inquire.
https://conta.cc/4imhqCC
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Wednesday, April 9
NYC Walk: Historic Lower Manhattan
Spouses, Significant Others & Guests Welcome!
https://conta.cc/43NSmjF
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Saturday, April 19
Tour of Gilbertie’s Organic Herb Farm
Sold Out & Waitlisted
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Deadline to Sign Up for Summer Tennis Extended to April 4
The deadline for signing up and paying for Summer Tennis has been extended to Friday, April 4. If you are interested in playing, now is the time to take action. There will be a lot of returning players and new players are always welcome.
The group plays at Longshore on Tuesdays and Fridays at 8:00 am for an hour and a half. All skill/experience levels are welcome. They play doubles only and will find good matches and games for everyone.
For everyone interested in playing, please pay $320.00 at this time via the credit card link below or send in a check payable to the Y's Men of Westport/Weston, P.O. Box 167, Westport, CT 06880. Y’s Men deadline to register and pay is Friday, April 4.
Westport residents need to get (or renew) a Senior Premium Tennis Pass from the Department of Parks and Recreation, and non-residents just pay the daily fee at the window each time they play. Players also need to be a Y's Man in good standing with paid up dues.
New players to Summer Tennis should contact Dewey at DeweyLoselle@gmail.com.
| | NBCUniversal Production VP Discusses Paris Olympics | | |
Atila Ozkaplan, Vice President, Production Operations at NBCUniversal, spoke to Y's Men Thursday.
The Y's Men hosted Atila Ozkaplan, NBCUniversal Vice President for Production Operations - Olympics, at its Thursday morning meeting last week.
Atila give us a very intimate look into the incredible undertaking of the production of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Huge in scope, his team dealt with every detail, spent years in preparation, and paid attention to a project that involved thousands, headquartered in Stamford and engaging people throughout the world.
His very special presentation included a video of wonderful highlights of the games and the true emotion that came from the realization of dreams of the athletes. Now in preparation for the 2026 Winter Games, Atila’s presentation gives you a true feel for this amazing undertaking. Click the button below to learn about it.
| | New Y's Men Clothing Items Are Available Now | |
Y's Men has an exciting new collection of exclusive clothing items including vests, jackets, polo shirts, safety reflective vests, hats, polo shirts, and t-shirts. They are all available at very reasonable prices.
Visit the Membership Table (located at the rear of Hoskins Hall) at a Thursday meeting to view the clothing collection and then proudly wear the Y's Men logo in this great community.
Payment can be made by cash or check, made out to Y's Men of Westport/Weston.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Ron Holtz at 203-993-4970.
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Next Breakfast Club Gathering Will Be Tuesday, April 8
The Y's Men Breakfast Club meets next month on Tuesday, April 8, at 8:00 am in The Original Pancake House, 43 Main Street, Westport. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor in the former Acqua Restaurant off Parker Harding Plaza. For those who would prefer it, there is an elevator available. A few tickets are still left. You must have a ticket to get in. No payments will be taken at the door.
The cost is $13.00 (a 50 cents increase) per person with tax and tip included. Pay by credit card by clicking on the link below or send a check made out to Y's Men of Westport/Weston and mail to Y's Men, PO Box 167, Westport, CT 06880.
Note: The risk you take in using a check is the mail delay in getting the check to our treasurer. Mailing a check can also be risky unless you post the envelope at the post office.
A few rules apply. You must keep to the menu which is already robust.
You will be treated to coffee or tea, two eggs any style, three fluffy pancakes, and a half order of meat (bacon, patties, links).
Questions? Please call Ron Holtz 203-993-4970.
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Y’s Men Volunteers Needed For Compo Beach Playground Re-Build
We are exactly three weeks from starting reconstruction 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. And even if you can’t be there for the building project, please consider lending some tools to the Playground Committee.
Build Week is Monday, April 21 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 and folks to loan us tools during the build.
Build Week Volunteers: Three shifts daily, with meals/snacks served. You are welcome to work any/every day. Since both parents of most young kids work, we need 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/
If you have tools to lend (or donate) for the week, here is a Google docs link with the opportunity to list what you can share:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2097fySXcDPjt1kYHbdgSAUqMG9pLG5ZcOlTQOTTu3xKLSw/viewform
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Opportunity to Help Fund a Cure for MS at Walk on May 3
Support Y's Man Sal Cassano and his daughter Nikki as she battles MS by participating in the MS Walk at Sherwood Island in Westport on Saturday, May 3.
His goal is a modest $2,000, and any amount you can spare will go a long way in trying to find a cure. The MS Society is very optimistic that a cure is near.
For more information on the MS Walk you can reach out to Sal directly at 475-331-2887 or email him at salcassano35@gmail.com.
To make a donation to support Sal and Nikki in the Walk, click on the following link.
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