Y's Men News -- Sunday, August 31, 2025 | | |
Table of Contents
(Scroll Down to Find the Article Behind the Headline. Articles are
in the same order as the Table of Contents)
- No Travel Group Meeting Tomorrow (It's Labor Day)
- CT Secretary of the State First Speaker of Y's Men Season
- Ancient Mariners Set Sail This Wednesday
- Peter Greenberg at Westport Library September 25
- Annual Hot Dog Festival Set for Tuesday, September 9
- Webinar Follow Up to T&E Tour of Windfarm
- Last Chance to Sign Up for Shorefest at Sherwood Island
- DNR Concert to Honor First Responders
- T&E Lists Upcoming Outing
- Y's Men Invited to Westport Rotary Football Pool
- Y's Men Photography Club Will Cover Critical iPhone Settings
- Classical Music Society Meets September 2
- Life Talk Group to Discuss "Ideal Day" at September 9 Meeting
- Next Mindfulness Group Zoom Meeting September 15
-
Up Close: Non-Fiction Book Club Focuses on "Apollo 13"
- Thanks to the Coffee Team at Sherwood Island This Summer
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It's Labor Day: No Travel Group Meeting Tomorrow
Because tomorrow (Monday, September 1) is Labor Day, the Travel Discussion Group, which meets every other Monday, will not meet. The next meeting of the Group will be on Monday, September 15.
Y's Men are reminded to purchase tickets for the special event on Thursday, September 25, when the Travel Discussion Group and The Westport Library present Peter Greenberg in conversation with Y's Man Allen Swerdlowe (see article below).
For information about the Y’s Men Travel Discussion Group, or to be added to the Group’s email distribution list, please contact Art Mann, mannart03@gmail.com
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Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas
First Speaker of the Y's Men 2025-2026 Season This Thursday
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Stephanie Thomas
Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas will be the first speaker of the Y’s Men 2025 - 2026 season. Her presentation will be in Hoskins Hall at the Saugatuck Congregational Church this Thursday, September 4 at 10:00 am, followed by a Q&A session. Guests are welcome to attend.
As Connecticut’s 75th Secretary of the State, Thomas has led groundbreaking election reforms, including early voting, a centralized voter registration system, and a $25 million voting machine upgrade. She is currently working on implementing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of Connecticut and automatic voter registration across state agencies.
Previously, Thomas served as State Representative for the 143rd District, representing Norwalk, Wilton, and Westport. With 30 years of experience advising nonprofits and running her own business, she combines business-friendly advocacy with effective public service. The first Black Secretary of the State, she holds degrees from NYU and New School University and lives with her husband in Norwalk.
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Y's Men Ancient Mariners Set Sail Wednesday. Join the Crew?
The weather forecast for this Wednesday (September 3) is favorable for a sail to Five Mile River in Rowayton. South winds of 8 to10 knots are predicted, with a high of 79 degrees and partly cloudy skies.
Y's Man Ron Ryzoff will sail his Pearson 30’ sloop “Andiamo” on the outside of the Norwalk Islands, then round Sheffield Island and proceed up the Five Mile River. If enough crew sign up to fill a second boat, Y's Man Josh Schwartz will join the sail with his Pearson 31' "Pelican.”
The plan is to meet on the two boats at 9:45 am, depart the docks no later than 10:00 am, then sail to Five Mile River, where the group will rendezvous and raft up for a brown bag lunch stop and some socializing. We expect to return to Westport no later than 4:00 pm.
Crew Assignments and Meetup Details will be sent out as soon as the number of crew interested in participating is finalized.
Because sail organizers George Kalan and Ron Ryzoff will be out of the area beginning in mid-September, this will be the last opportunity to join the Ancient Mariners in their last event of the season.
Please let George Kalan know if you’re interested in joining the crew. He can be reached by email (gkalan@optonline.net) or text/mobile phone (203-856-1250).
| | Y's Men Travel Group and Library Welcome Peter Greenberg | | |
Peter Greenberg
Peter Greenberg is America’s most recognized, honored, and respected front-line travel news journalist and consumer adviser.
He is travel editor for CBS News, appearing on CBS This Morning, CBS Evening News, and CBS Sunday Morning, as well as NBC’s Today, ABC’s Good Morning America, PBS, and in Newsweek magazine.
Greenberg is the author of The New York Times best-selling Travel Detective series. His website, PeterGreenberg.com, is one of the premier travel news resources for consumers and industry insiders.
Please join us and invite your friends to attend this wonderful and informative evening.
Tickets are are selling fast, so click here to purchase yours at the Library's website. Bon Voyage!
| | Annual Hot Dog Festival Set for Tuesday, September 9 | | |
The Y’s Men Annual Hot Dog Festival, postponed from July, has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, September 9 at 5:00 pm. A fundraiser for Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the event will be at Compo Beach South.
Unlike the regular Tuesday evening beach picnics during the summer where participants bring their own food and beverage, food is provided at the Festival with hot dogs as the main attraction. You're still welcome to bring your own dinner and beverage.
The festival raises money for Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang so bring a donation in cash or a check made out to Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang.
A rain date for the event is Wednesday, September 10.
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Follow-up for Attendees of Windfarm Staging Area Tour
Y's Men who took the recent Trips & Events tour of the New London Windfarm Staging Area in particular and other Y's Men generally might be interested in a Webinar being held by The New England Council this Wednesday, September 3, from 2:00 to 2:30 pm.
To register, click here.
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Last Chance to Sign Up for Shorefest at Sherwood Island
Ever since the pandemic, Sherwood Island State Park has been the Y’s Men's summer Thursday morning “go to" place for socializing with coffee, donuts and bagels along with regular hiking and walking.
Now we have an opportunity to help support a location that has been so important to our members for the past five years: Attend Shorefest on Friday, September 5, the annual dinner and silent auction that is the primary fundraiser of the Friends of Sherwood Island State Park.
The Friends have been a critical factor in maintaining and improving the Sherwood Island experience. They were asked by the state to cover the majority of the repairs which were needed by the Sherwood Island Nature Center. During Covid, the Friends spent $44,000 in securing mini splits, replacing and upgrading touch tanks, and completely overhauling the computer system and infrastructure. Annually, they replant and maintain the dunes, organize nature hikes, maintain the fish tanks, secure and plant trees, and fund an intern program.
Click here for detailed information on Shorefest and to buy tickets.
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DNR, the Almost All-Physician Band, to Honor First Responders
DNR, the almost all-physician band, will be performing at the Levitt Pavilion on Thursday, September 11, to honor Westport's first responders. The concert will focus particularly on the town's volunteer Emergency Medical Service.
DNR will be encouraging voluntary donations and will highlight the valuable role EMS plays in caring for Westporters. If people are interested, DNR can arrange for them to join the EMT service. The concert is free.
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Sunday, September 14
Aerobatic (Flying) Airshow
This event is open to Y’s Men members and spouses and significant others. Family members and non-member friends are also welcome.
https://conta.cc/4o6IDgk
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Y's Men Invited: Westport Rotary NFL Football Pool Fundraiser
If you are interested in participating in this pool, please go to the pool admin at the link below and create your account.
You can make a single donation of $50.00 for the season by Venmo funds to the address @Westport-Rotary (code 8606) or simply send a check made out to Westport Rotary Foundation, P.O Box 743, Westport, CT 06881. Write Football Pool on the memo line of your check. You will be ready for kick off on September 6.
Here's how it works: Everyone contributes $50.00 one time. Each week the weekly winner of the most games is awarded $50.00 (depending on the number of players), then at the end of the season the top 5 or 6 or 7 (TBD) get a bigger payout. Everyone else does not get funds back!
Of the total participants (last year we had 80), 50 percent goes to the Rotary Foundation Eradicate Polio Fund. (Last year it was 50 percent of 80 entrants times $50.00 or: 80x$50.00 x .5 =$2000).
The link is:
https://www.runyourpool.com/contest/?jCode=4a7000990eb34c8088a32f808be1bffa
If you encounter any problems or have any questions, please contact Jeff Wieser at wieser74@gmail.com
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Y's Men Photography Club Meets This Tuesday
Critical settings for iPhones will be the discussed when the Y's Men Photography Club meets at 9:30 am this Tuesday (September 2) in Room 109-110 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. Some of the settings are applicable to Android phones and all will help achieve the most effective performance from any model Camera/iPhone.
Slowly and patiently (according to Club Chairman William Weiss) the meeting will cover:
Battery health settings
General settings
Camera specific settings (of course)
Security - basic protection settings
iCloud - usage, memory and storage
Photos app - albums, effective searching, etc.
And a few other topics that will make your iPhone run faster, cooler and longer.
For additional information, contact William at 201-538-5970.
Expo 22 Photo Competition Details Now Available
Beginning Thursday, October 23 and ending on Thursday, November 6 entries may be submitted for Expo 22, the photo contest co-sponsored by the Y's Men Photography Club and the Westport Center for Senior Activities.
Click here to read the rules of the exhibition and obtain an entry form. Both also are available on the Y's Men website.
| | Classical Music Society Resumes Meetings This Tuesday | | |
After a summer hiatus, the Y's Men Classical Music Society begins its new season with a meeting this Tuesday (September 2) at 2:45 pm at the Westport Center for
Senior Activities.
The meeting will feature one of the pillars of the classical repertoire, a piece that has not only survived through the years but has broadened its influence far beyond the concert stage. It exemplifies all that is grand about the extraordinary composers and their works of any period. It is both familiar and central to an understanding and deep appreciation of what music adds to our quality of life.
Any guesses? Come to the meeting and see if your "Jeopardy!" skills are intact.
Because of limited seating at the Senior Center, reservations are required. Please reserve a seat through Y's Man Ed Bloch at edbloch71@gmail.com.
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Life Talk Group to Discuss "Ideal Day" at September 9 Meeting
The Y's Men Life Talk Group continues to offer opportunities for Y's Men to talk about important life topics in a safe setting where what gets said in the room, stays in the room. So far, they’ve talked about legacy, forgiveness, friendship and other subjects affecting us all (including your happy place!).
Its next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 9 at 2:00 pm in room 109 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. The topic will be: What does your ideal day look like? ... How would you describe a day that ends with you facing the mirror and affirming, “My day counted."
If being heard, and hearing from others interests you, mark your calendars. And if you’re not a member of the Group, but would like to be, send an email to Larry Ackerman at larry@larryackerman.com and to Art Mann at mannart03@gmail.com for posting.
Because Group Leader Larry Ackerman will be in Italy when the September 9 meeting will be held, Y's Men President Mike Boyle has volunteered to facilitate the meeting.
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Next Mindfulness Group Zoom Meeting September 15
In keeping with its schedule of Zoom meetings on the third Monday of the month, the Y's Men Mindfulness Group will meet on September 15 at 7:30 pm. Cultivating Wisdom and Compassion will be discussed.
To obtain the Zoom link in order to attend, contact the Group's co-leader Paul Epstein at epsteinmb@aol.com
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Up Close: Non-Fiction Book Club Focuses on "Apollo 13"
"Apollo 13," a book written by the late Astronaut Jim Lovell (and Jeffrey Kluger) on the Apollo 13 disaster, will be the focus of the Y's Men Non-Fiction Book Club when it meets on Wednesday, October 8 at 2:00 pm in room 109 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church.
Lovell was one of the three astronauts aboard the aborted flight to the moon. The book was the basis of the movie "Apollo 13."
Y's Man George Kalan, a NASA engineer who helped return the spacecraft to earth, will share his perspective of the event at the meeting. All Y's Men and guests are invited to attend what the Club expects to be a very exciting gathering.
In preparation for the meeting. the Club recommends viewing a short documentary about the Apollo 13 incident. Click here to watch it.
| | Farewell to Summer Thursday Coffee, Donuts and Bagels | | |
Y's Men volunteers who made sure coffee, donuts and bagels were in supply when Y's Men gathered at the Sherwood Island Pavilion on Thursdays during the summer. They are Brian Baxendale, Lou Rolla, John Brandt, Dick Kalt, Nabil Atweh, Al Landis and Baxter Urist. Missing are Stephen Bentkover and Bob Israely.
With the resumption of regular Thursday morning meetings this week, it's time to say goodbye to coffee, donuts and bagels at the Sherwood Island Pavilion during the summer months. The first regular meeting of the 2025-2026 season is this Thursday, September 4, in Hoskins Hall in the Saugatuck Congregational Church. Connecticut's Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas will be the featured speaker.
Each Thursday during June, July and August, a group of Y's Men volunteers assured that Y's Men were well supplied with refreshments.
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