Y's Men News -- Sunday, January 25, 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 Meet on Zoom Tomorrow
- Sacred Heart University – How and Why It Grew
- Mark Pazniokas Discussed the State of Connecticut Politics
- Y's Men Marketers: A Community Service Opportunity
- New Y's Men Activity: Small Group Strength Training Classes
- Military History Group Announces Monthly Topics Through May
- Live Flute Concert Scheduled for Thursday, February 5
- Invitation to Sherwood Island Friends Valentine's Day Event
- T&E Lists Outings
- Mike Boyle Announces Holiday Party Date: December 12, 2026
- New Y's Men Fraud Protection Club to Hear Hacking Victim
- Y's Man Enters Juried Photography Show
| | |
GIDG to Meet on Zoom Tomorrow
Because of the winter storm, the Global Issues Discussion Group (GIDG) will meet tomorrow, January 26, by Zoom. A link will be sent to all of the Group's members today. If you are not a member and would like to participate, contact Y's Man Harvey Luft at the email address below.
The Group will focus tomorrow on Western Europe and NATO.
For more information on GIDG, contact Y's Man Harvey Luft at harveyluft@gmail.com
| Sacred Heart University – What's Behind Its Dramatic Growth | |
Sacred Heart University president John J. Petillo, Ph.D., will speak to the Y’s Men this Thursday, January 29, about the growth of Sacred Heart University.
Why it matters:
Sacred Heart has grown from a modest commuter college into a national university that is reshaping Fairfield County’s economy, skyline, and talent pipeline—just 20 minutes from where many Y’s Men live. During Dr. Petillo’s 12-plus years as president, the university has tripled enrollment, expanded to nine colleges and schools with new Ph.D. programs, and doubled its campus footprint with 22 new buildings.
Dr. Petillo’s talk offers a story of rapid growth at Sacred Heart and what that engine of higher education means for local jobs, housing and community service.
By the numbers:
Three times growth in student population under Dr. Petillo’s leadership.
Nine colleges and schools, including advanced graduate and doctoral programs.
22 new buildings, doubling the size of the university.
On campus:
New facilities include the Frank and Marisa Martire Center for the Liberal Arts, the Center for Healthcare Education, the Valentine Health & Recreation Center, the Martire Family Ice Arena, and JP’s Diner, a New Jersey-style diner named by students in Dr. Petillo’s honor. The university also purchased and converted General Electric’s former worldwide headquarters for academic use, signaling its role as a major regional economic player.
What you’ll hear:
Dr. Petillo will outline the underlying philosophy and principles behind Sacred Heart’s approach to education; how it planned and financed its rapid expansion; the university’s current impact on Fairfield County’s economy and civic life; and the road ahead for future growth, partnerships, and investment in the region.
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.
| | Mark Pazniokas Discussed the State of Connecticut Politics | | |
Mark Pazniokas addresses Y's Men at last Thursday's meeting.
Mark Pazniokas, founder of the nonprofit, non-partisan CT Mirror, brought a wealth of historical and current knowledge of the workings of Connecticut government to his Y's Men presentation last Thursday.
Mark placed particular emphasis on the upcoming "short session" of the legislature, as well as the race to succeed Governor Ned Lamont. Not surprisingly, Mark noted that the key word in any discussion is "Money": How to raise it; how and where to spend it; how the state allocates it to towns and municipalities; what happens when it's not there, particularly in a year when the federal government is "not a reliable partner."
Among the issues expected to be addressed are broader child tax credits; property tax relief; allocating funds for special education and monitoring for home schooling; speeding up reimbursement through Medicaid, all while adhering to "fiscal guardrails" to control and monitor state spending.
Democrats are in the majority, but are not monolithic. Ned Lamont has been a centrist, and was even criticized by Republicans for not spending enough grant funding for projects. Mark also noted the diminishing power of lobbyists due to public financing; and the critical need to provide local news services staffed by reporters who know their towns, and increase coverage in cities and in Hartford.
Click here to view the video of Mark's presentation.
| | |
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.
| | New Y's Men Activity: Small Group Strength Training Classes | |
Y's Men Past President Dewey Loselle at The Edge in Norwalk where strength training for Y's Men will be conducted by certified, professional Edge trainer Dayquon (at left) beginning next month..
As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia). Strength training is the leading way to slow, stop and even reverse much of the decline.
Strength training helps seniors stay strong, steady , independent and resilient. It’s one of the most powerful ”anti-aging” tools we have. Y's Man Past President Dewey Loselle is leading a new Y’s Men Activity to address these concerns. Dewey says: let’s “Get Y's Men Strong Again."
Here are details of the program. Sign up will be on a first come, first served basis.
There is no age limit on participating in this activity.
- Workouts will be twice weekly at The Edge, 542 Westport Ave., Norwalk
- Led by a professional, certified Edge trainer
- Starting in February
- 10:00 am Mondays and Wednesdays
- Half-hour classes
- Private room for workout sessions
- Class size limited to five to ten Y's Men
- Cost: $16.00 to $25.00 per class depending on class size
- Sign up commitment on a monthly basis
- Required to join The Edge through Medicare Silver Sneakers program at no cost
Click here to find out why strength training is important to seniors.
If interested in participating, contact Dewey Loselle at deweyloselle@gmail.com or 203-454-4171.
| |
|
Military History Group Lists Monthly Topics Through May
The Military History Group meets on the first Monday of the month at 10:15 am in room 211 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. It has announced its topics for discussion and facilitators from February through May. They are:
February 2: Battle of Antietam by Y's Man Bill O'Brien, Civil War expert
March 2: Debacle at Fredericksburg and the failure of Union Leadership by Y's Man Mark Perlman
April 6: Battle of Cowpens and Leader, Francis Marion (Swamp Fox) by Y's Men Past President Dewey Loselle
May 5: Long Grey Line, experiences at West Point Military College by Bill Pieper, Class of 1973
For additional information, contact Y's Man Mark Perlman at firstdiv@optonline.net
| |
Live Flute Concert Scheduled for Thursday, February 5
The Y's Men Classical Music Society has invited the entire membership to its February meeting featuring "A Celebration of the Flute" in a live concert. It will be performed in the sanctuary of the Saugatuck Congregational Church from 2:30 to 4:00 pm on Thursday, February 5, by two flautists with a piano accompanist. Works by Bach and Debussy are included in the program.
Flautist Aimee Toner’s extensive experience includes performing as flutist and piccolo player with orchestras throughout New England, headlining contracted recitals along the east coast, and collaborating in chamber groups that have ranged from jazz trios in Italian restaurants to wind quintets on stage at Carnegie Hall.
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. But many of us know her as a solo vocalist and flautist with the almost all doctor rock and roll band, DNR, in which her husband, Y's Man Dr. Robert Altbaum, plays the keyboard.
Y's Man Dr. Harry Sauer will provide piano accompaniment. He is retired 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. A part time pianist, Harry 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.
| | |
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.
| | | | |
|
Wednesday, February 4
Morgan Library & Museum, Renoir Drawings Exhibit
Spouses, significant others and friends are most welcome
https://conta.cc/49hJWCn
~~~~~
Saturday, February 7
UConn Women’s Basketball
Spouses, significant others and friends are most welcome
https://conta.cc/3JHnHgE
| | |
Y’s Men President Mike Boyle
Announces Holiday Party Date: December 12, 2026
Y’s Men President Mike Boyle has announced that this year’s Holiday Party will be at the prestigious Patterson Club on Saturday, December 12, 2026. Save the date to join other Y’s Men for an evening of premium food, spirits, and fellowship.
“This is the Y’s Men event of the season, so mark your calendars now to ensure you don’t miss out. We will alert you later this year when registration for the party opens,” Mike said.
| | |
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
| | Y's Man Enters Two Photos in Juried Photography Show | | Arm in Arm, Quebec City (photo by Y's Man Allen Swerdlowe) | | Where Am I Hartford (photo by Y's Man Allen Swerdlowe) | | |
Y's Man Allen Swerdlowe has entered these two photos in the 46th Annual Juried Photography Show which opens this Saturday (January 31) in the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan. The show runs through Thursday, March 5. An opening reception is this Saturday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Click here for additional details.
| | | | |
