Y's Men News -- Sunday, January 11, 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 to Focus on "Europe After America" Tomorrow
- Philip Vitiello to Speak Thursday on Sister Ships of the Titanic
- Allyson Maida Spoke on Applied Brain Science Last Thursday
- Community Service Opportunity for Marketers
- Y's Men Life Talk Group To Discuss Do-Overs This Tuesday
- First Jazz Club Lunch of 2026 Set for This Wednesday
- Y's Men Fiction Book Group to Discuss "Bel Canto" Thursday
- Wanted: Driver for Stew Leonard's Surplus Food Delivery
- Photography Club Confronts AI Role in Reshaping Photography
- Shoah Memorial To Be Discussed Sunday, January 25 at Library
- "Celebration of the Flute" Concert Re-Scheduled
- Invitation to Sherwood Island Friends Valentine's Day Event
- T&E Lists Outings
- Y's Men T&E Group Updates New York City Travel Hints
- Scam Alert: If You Receive This Email, Delete It
- 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 to Focus on "Europe After America" Tomorrow
The Global Issues Discussion Group (GIDG) will meet tomorrow, January 12, at 9:00 am in Room 203/204 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church.
The topics for discussion will be "Europe after America. Can Europe survive and thrive in the Trump era?" and "Why the heck did America invade Venezuela?"
For more information on GIDG, contact Y's Man Harvey Luft at harveyluft@gmail.com
| | Phil Vitiello Spotlights Titanic Sister Ships This Thursday | | |
Phil Vitiello
The Y’s Men welcome Phil Vitiello this Thursday, January 15, for a captivating presentation on the Titanic sister ships. A member of the Titanic Historical Society, Vitiello dives into nautical history with engaging storytelling that highlights these iconic vessels.
Phil is a prominent Connecticut historian, speaker, and Civil War reenactor deeply rooted in the state’s historical community. As program director and current vice president of the Civil War Round Table of South Central Connecticut, he combines meticulous research with reenactment experience to enthrall audiences.
Phil has spoken to us before on various subjects, and we are very pleased to have him back.
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.
| | Applying Brain Science to Retirement Success | |
Allyson Maida addresses Y's Men last Thursday.
Photo by Ted Horowitz
Psychotherapist, professor, and author Allyson Maida told the Y’s Men last Thursday that a successful retirement isn’t about rest. It’s about keeping the brain engaged.
Many retirees look forward to sleeping in, skipping commutes, and avoiding longtime stresses. But after the brief honeymoon, Maida said, the brain starts asking, What now? With daily structure gone, social contact shrinks, and purpose fades.
“When challenge disappears, motivation drops and neural pathways weaken,” Maida explained. “The brain can become a couch potato. Not from age, but from boredom.”
Maida, a professor of homeland security and criminal justice and author of "180: A Counterintuitive Method for Long-Lasting Personal Change," said this slide is reversible. The brain can grow at any age when stimulated by novelty, motion, and meaningful engagement.
Maida's Advice:
Do a ‘180’: When stuck, act the opposite of the urge to stay still.
Stay engaged: Volunteer, join groups like the Y’s Men, and build relationships.
Challenge the brain: Pick activities that stretch, not just soothe.
The Takeaway: Stimuli is your friend. Find purpose. Keep moving mentally and socially to achieve a fulfilling an enjoyable and satisfying retirement.
Click here to view a video of Maida's presentation.
Click here to purchase her book which serves as a handbook to her presentation.
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Y's Men Marketers: A Community Service Opportunity
Attention Y's Men with marketing/advertising expertise. Here is a Community Service Opportunity to be a member of a potential new official Town sponsored "Westport Sustainable Building Council" whose charter will be making Net Zero/Passive House construction more attractive, and helping develop this as a brand for Westport.
Please contact Y's Man Clarence Hayes at clarence@clarence.net or 203-818-7436 for more information.
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Y's Men Life Talk Group To Discuss Do-Overs This Tuesday
If you had the chance to re-live one day of your life, what day would it be, and why? Would it be the day you got married? The day you didn’t take the job you should have? The day you made amends with your father or mother? The day you saved someone’s life? The day you … ?
Do-Overs will be the topic of the next meeting of the Life Talk Group on Tuesday, January 13 at 2:00 pm in room 109 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church.
Two quotes offered to get attendees thinking about do-overs:
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” — Soren Kierkegaard, Danish theologian and philosopher
“The past beats inside me like a second heart.” -- John Banville, Irish novelist and short story teller
Y's Man President Mike Boyle will substitute for Y's Man Larry Ackerman in conducting the meeting. For additional information, contact Larry at Larry@larryackerman.com or 203-216-2550.
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First Jazz Club Lunch of 2026 Set for This Wednesday
The first Jazz Club Lunch of the new year will feature videos that illustrate a mixture of different musical styles. Club Chair Jeff Hare will present a biographical sketch before each performance.
The program will highlight big bands, individual performers, a touch of rock and roll, song and dance, and humor. Featured will be: Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Wynton Marsalis, Donald O'Connor, Sammy Davis, Jr., Cannonball Adderley, Jimmy Smith, Chuck Berry, and Jimmy Durante.
The Club will gather at noon this Wednesday, January 14 at the Westport VFW. $25.00 per person, pay there. Wives and other guests are welcomed.
Sign up with Jeff Hare at jeffahare@gmail.com. Be sure to note the name of your guest.
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Y's Men Fiction Book Group to Discuss "Bel Canto" Thursday
The Y's Men Fiction Book Group, which meets monthly, will discuss Ann Patchett's 2001 novel Bel Canto when it meets this Thursday, January 15, at 1:30 pm in room 211 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church.
The Group's February book selection is Tolstoy's Hadji Murad. Last month, the selection was Michael Shaara's Killer Angels.
For additional information about the Group and the meeting, contact Y's Man Chris Lewis at celewis14@gmail.com.
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Wanted: Driver for Stew Leonard's Surplus Food Delivery
For several decades, a dedicated group of Y’s Men have delivered “day old” bakery products from Stew Leonard's at the crack of dawn to deserving congregant housing locations in Westport. The cast of drivers have changed from time to time because of age or other obligations, but anyone who has participated always feels that this community service is among the best couple of hours they spend each month.
An opening has arisen in the Stew Leonard's drivers’ group with the “retirement” of Chris Lewis (thank you Chris for your years of dedicated delivery service).
If you are interested in committing one morning a month to picking up and delivering some much appreciated baked goods from Stew Leonard’s, please contact Lou Rolla at lourolla@gmail.com
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Photography Club Confronts AI Role in Reshaping Photography
At the Y's Men Photography Club's first meeting of the year on January 7, members took a deep dive into how AI manipulation of images is changing the world of Photography. They confronted how Agentic AI is reshaping photography as a craft and its credibility. Club Leader William Weiss briefed the group through demos, visual puzzles, and ethical questions using some of the members' own images.
Click here for highlights of the discussion.
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Shoah Memorial To Be Discussed Sunday, January 25 at Library
The Shoah Memorial Fairfield Connecticut project will be discussed and presented Sunday, January 25 at 2:30 pm at The Westport Library.
Y’s Man Paul F. Burger is Chairman and primary sponsor of the project, a nonprofit dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, education, and interfaith civic engagement. It revolves around a sculpture entitled "She Wouldn't Take Off Her Boots" that will be installed as a memorial at Fairfield University.
The memorial is being created as a permanent educational resource—honoring Holocaust victims and survivors while fostering dialogue about human dignity, moral courage, and the consequences of hatred for future generations.
For Y’s Men planning to request tickets for family and friends, Paul will guarantee availability for requests received by a date to be announced shortly.
For additional information on the project click here and on the Library event click here.
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Flute Concert Postponed to Thursday, February 5
The Y's Men Classical Music Society had planned a live concert of flautists at its monthly meeting last Tuesday. Then one of the performers came down with the flu, and the meeting/concert had to be cancelled.
In a quick turnaround, Society Co-Chair Y's Man John Brandt was able to secure Thursday, February 5 for a re-schedule of the concert. It will be held in the sanctuary of the Saugatuck Congregational Church from 2:30 to 4:00 pm.
Called "A Celebration of the Flute," the concert will be performed by Aimee Toner and Lynn Padell accompanied on the piano by Y's Man Harry Sauer in a program that includes pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and Claude Debussy
Flautist Aimee Toner’s extensive experience includes performing as flautist and piccolo player with orchestras throughout New England headlining contracted recitals along the east coast.
Lynn Padell has been playing the flute on and off since elementary school. In college, she studied classical flute with renowned flautist and arranger Louis Moyse.
Dr. Harry Sauer, who is retired as chair, department of obstetrics and gynecology, Yale New Haven Health; chair of ob/gyn at Bridgeport Hospital in the Yale New Haven Health system; and a Clinical Professor at the Yale School of Medicine, is a part time pianist who has performed for the Classical Music Society at several past meetings.
Unlike the Classical Music Society meetings at the Westport Center for Senior Activities where reservations were required because of limited seating, there is no such requirement at the Church. For additional information, contact Y's Man Ed Bloch at edbloch71@gmail.com.
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Invitation to Sherwood Island Friends Valentine's Day Event
The Friends of Sherwood Island State Park have invited all Y’s Men and their spouses and friends to their first “Love Yourself - Get Outdoors” event on Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14.
Linda Gottlieb, FIT Trainer, who has focused her skills on "helping people over 50 embrace exercise for healthy aging, disease management, and for pre and post surgical and cancer recovery," will lead the morning’s activities. Guests will have a chance to practice “green exercise,” experience “forest bathing” and learn to use the “Nature Pyramid” to guide your exercise.
Meet on the west side of the Pavilion at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 14.
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Thursday, January 22
Fairfield University Basketball
Spouses, significant others and friends are most welcome
https://conta.cc/49rk5b4
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Wednesday, January 28
Brooklyn Museum of Art
Spouses, significant others and friends are most welcome
https://conta.cc/3YO656k
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Wednesday, February 4
Morgan Library & Museum, Renoir Drawings Exhibit
Spouses, significant others and friends are most welcome
https://conta.cc/49hJWCn
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Saturday, February 7
UConn Women’s Basketball
Spouses, significant others and friends are most welcome
https://conta.cc/3JHnHgE
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Y's Men T&E Group Updates New York City Travel Hints
The Y’s Men T&E Group posted New York City Travel Hints on the Y's Men website last year to assist travelers to NYC navigate Metro-North, Grand Central Terminal, and the MTA system. A few changes became effective last week so an amended version is now available.
The principal changes are:
The Senior discount fare on Metro-North is now available all day, including morning rush hour. There is no longer any need to wait until the 9:00 am off-peak train.
The MetroCard has been discontinued. Subway and bus fares are now paid using credit or debit cards or the MTA OMNY card.
A revised "NYC Travel Hints" appears on the Trips and Events tab on the Y's Men website.
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Y's Men Fraud Protection Club to Meet March 11;
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 | | |
Yellow Kayak in Steuben, Maine (Photo by Y's Man Jeffrey Rothman)
This photo by Y's Man Jeffrey Rothman 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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