Y's Men News -- Sunday, February 22, 2026 | | |
Table of Contents
(Scroll Down to Find the Article Behind the Headline. Articles are
in the same order as the Table of Contents)
- GIDG on Zoom to Focus on Islam and Europe Tomorrow
- Uncovering Hidden Stories: Black Soldiers in the Revolution
- The Sheffield Island Clambake is Back!
- Last Thursday: "What It Takes to Transition to Democracy"
- Here's an Opportunity to Strengthen Bonds with Grandchildren
- T&E Lists Outings
-
Time to Create the Roster of Y's Men Monday Golfers for 2026
- New Y's Men Fraud Protection Club to Hear Hacking Victim
- Another Y's Man Winner in the Expo 22 Photo Contest
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GIDG on Zoom to Focus on Islam and Europe Tomorrow
Because of the predicted blizzard, the Global Issues Discussion Group (GIDG) plans to meet tomorrow, February 23, by Zoom. A link has been sent to all of the Group's members. If you are not a member and would like to participate, contact Y's Man Harvey Luft at the email address below.
Topic for discussion will be Islam and Europe.
For more information on GIDG, contact Y's Man Harvey Luft at harveyluft@gmail.com
| Uncovering Hidden Stories: Black Soldiers in the Revolution | |
Ramin Ganeshram
In observance of Black History Month and Presidents Day, the Y's Men will be welcoming Ramin Ganeshram as the featured speaker this Thursday. She is the Executive Director of the Westport Museum for History and Culture and a 2025-2026 George Washington Presidential Library Fellow.
Ganeshram will shed light on a little-known chapter of our nation's founding: the Black soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, with a special focus on actual local men who served on both sides of the conflict.
During the Revolutionary War, approximately 820 African American soldiers and seamen from Connecticut served, representing 80 towns across the state. These men faced an agonizing choice: fight for the Patriots, promising liberty while many remained enslaved, or answer Lord Dunmore's 1775 proclamation offering freedom to enslaved people who would join the British Ethiopian Regiment. Their service—on both sides—reveals the complex situation African Americans navigated during the birth of our nation.
Ganeshram's expertise in this area runs deep. She is currently working on a book about how enslaved and free communities of color influenced Washington's actions as Continental Army commander during the pivotal summer of 1776 in New York.
Her meticulous research methods gained national attention in 2019 when she uncovered new evidence solving a 218-year-old mystery about the fate of Hercules Posey, George Washington's enslaved chef, locating his final resting place in New York. Her work consistently brings to light the hidden contributions and difficult choices faced by African Americans during the Revolutionary era, making her uniquely qualified to illuminate the stories of local Black soldiers.
An award-winning journalist, historian, and author, Ganeshram has championed inclusive storytelling and innovative community programs at the Westport Museum. Her writing has appeared in outlets including The New York Times and National Geographic.
Y's Men Thursday morning meetings are in Hoskins Hall downstairs in the Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East in Westport. Coffee, donut, and bagel social hour begins at 9:00 am, business meeting at 10:00 am, speaker at 10:30 am. Come early and meet your fellow members. Guests are always welcome.
| The Sheffield Island Clambake is Back! | |
Clambake at Sheffield Island is set for Tuesday, July 14.
Photo by Ted Horowitz
One of Summer’s best night's out is back! Join your fellow Y’s Men for the Sheffield Island Clambake on Tuesday, July 14 (6:00 to 9:30 pm) — a sunset boat ride, a full clambake dinner by Knot Norm’s, and dining under the stars beside the historic lighthouse. Choose lobster, steak, chicken, salmon, pork, or vegetarian — but hurry, only 48 seats are available and it sold out in one day last year!
Reserve now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-seaport-association-sheffield-island-clambake-tickets-1982207861072
Contact Allan Siegert at news@siegert.us if you have any difficulty in booking. After booking, email Allan so a list of who’s going can be shared with all attendees ahead of time.
| Last Thursday: "What It Takes to Transition to Democracy" | |
Dr. Jonathan Fanton addresses the Y's Men last Thursday.
Dr. Jonathan Fanton, who traces his Connecticut roots back to the 17th century, has devoted his life to advancing the public good, and supporting and strengthening democracy and human rights throughout the world, and in the U.S.
His extraordinary resume includes the Presidency of The New School where he established the progressive Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts; Presidency of the MacArthur Foundation, whose "genius" awards constitute a mere 5 percent of a budget donated to education and criminal justice; Presidency of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences established by John Adams and John Hancock in 1780.
It is, however, as a volunteer serving as chair of Human Rights Watch and other organizations, where he has travelled to promote transitions to democracy, particularly in former European communist satellites. He was in Prague in 1989 for the "Velvet Revolution": in Berlin for the tearing down of the Wall; in Vilnius Lithuania in 1990 where crowds sang "We Shall Overcome"; and he reported on Serbian war crimes, as well as confronting President Milosevich.
Looking back at those times, Dr. Fanton noted that he and others may have been "naive" in thinking that the overthrow of a despotic government does not automatically ensure democracy. Democracy does not come overnight; it requires long and continuous efforts over a long time.
"Democracy is a culture," Dr. Fanton said, and noted continuing democracies thriving in the Czech Republic and Poland, with significant setbacks, however in Hungary. Overall, Dr. Fanton is optimistic about the prospects for democracy, based, in large measure, on his faith in students who are "not obsessed with the negative," and grass-roots efforts by local towns and communities to oppose injustice, corruption and autocracy.
Click here to view Dr. Fanton's presentation.
| | Here's an Opportunity to Strengthen Bonds with Grandchildren | | |
Y's Men pilot program provides a platform to better know your grandchildren.
Sign up now for a new pilot program: Grand Play Day, coming to Y’s Men of Westport/Weston. It’s an afternoon where you and a grandchild (ages 5–12) play together, face‑to‑face and screen‑free. Using simple tools — question cards, paper‑and‑pencil table games, storytelling dice and cards, and easy, low‑impact activities — you’ll share laughs, swap stories, and likely discover something new about each other.
Why it matters: Grand Play Day is built on “Connections Thru Play,” created by Playocracy founder Lynn Campanella in partnership with the National Institute for Play, where Y’s Man Joe Miller serves as a volunteer executive.
Research highlighted by the Institute shows that play supports our health, our brains, our learning, our creativity, and our emotional resilience. It is as essential as sleep and nutrition. This Y’s Men pilot, planned for the week of April 24–30, 2026 to coincide with Global Intergenerational Week, will involve 15 to 20 Y’s Men families, be facilitated by Lynn and Joe, and include academic input from Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education and Fordham University’s Center on Aging and Intergenerational Studies as a potential model for other community groups.
To participate with a grandchild ages 5–12, contact Joe Miller at josephamiller@yahoo.com.
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Wednesday, February 25
Reliable Silver Corporation
This event is sold out
https://conta.cc/4kiazMQ
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Tuesday, March 10
New England Air Museum
Open to all fully dues paid-up Y’s Men, significant others and guests
https://conta.cc/4aBuhi4
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Wednesday, March 18
The Frick Collection
Open to all fully dues paid-up Y’s Men, significant others and guests
https://conta.cc/4qIZaqU
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Wednesday, March 25
Bridgeport Islanders Hockey
The event is limited to Y's Men with fully paid dues
https://conta.cc/4tjR8He
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Thursday, June 11
N.Y. Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Open to fully dues-paid-up Y’s Men members, spouses and friends
https://conta.cc/4kOYChS
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Time to Create the Roster of Y's Men Monday Golfers for 2026
Now is the time to sign up for the 2026 season of Monday Golf. It is expected that it will function as last year (subject to confirmation with Longshore and the Parks and Rec Department).
Each Thursday a sign-up request was sent to the entire roster asking who wants to play Monday. Between Thursday and Sunday a final tee sheet was circulated to the assigned players as well as the entire roster. There were five tee times starting at 11:30 am. You could play 9 or 18 holes.
By clicking here and providing the requested information, you will be put on the roster and receive the weekly sign up request. Please be thoughtful when indicating your frequency of playing so we can project if more or fewer tee times are appropriate. Expect to receive follow up information in early March.
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Y's Men Fraud Protection Club to Meet March 10;
Hacking Victim to Relate His Experience
The new Y's Men Fraud Protection Club will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, March 10, at 10:00 am in room 211 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. It will hear the story of a fellow Y's Man who lost a major portion of his life savings through fraud.
His sobering tale of how quickly a life can change because he was hacked should spark some ideas on how we should protect ourselves. The group will discuss what actions can be taken to prevent a hack before it happens.
According to Y's Man Jeff Schwartz, one of the goals of the Club is to develop a preemptive “defense manual” that can be shared with all Y’s Men. "Currently, he says. "no such guide exists. We have to build it ourselves."
For additional information, contact Jeff at jandjschwartz@gmail.com
| | Another Y's Man Winner in the Expo 22 Photo Contest | | |
Into the Sunset (Photo by Y's Man Michael Hehenberger)
This photo by Y's Man Michael Hehenberger was a winner in the Y's Men Photography Club's 22nd Annual Photographic Exhibition co-sponsored with the Westport Center for Senior Activities. The contest was judged in November among entries in eight categories. The photo is now on display at the Center.
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