Y's Men News -- Sunday, February 1, 2026 | | |
Table of Contents
(Scroll Down to Find the Article Behind the Headline. Articles are
in the same order as the Table of Contents)
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Travel Discussion Group to Focus on Travel Photo Books
- Military History Group to Discuss Battle of Antietam
- Live Flute Concert Scheduled for This Thursday, February 5
- Jay Norris This Thursday: Building Bridges in Westport
- Mindfulness Meetings February 5 and February 16
- Sacred Heart University President Addresses Y's Men
- Small Group Strength Training Classes Begin February 9
- Y's Men Life Talk Group to Discuss Mortality
- Y's Men Marketers: A Community Service Opportunity
- Invitation to Sherwood Island Friends Valentine's Day Event
- T&E Lists Outings
- Save the Date: Annual Holiday Party Saturday, December 12
- New Y's Men Fraud Protection Club to Hear Hacking Victim
- Out and About with the Y's Men...
- Another Y's Man Winner in the Expo 22 Photo Contest
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Travel Discussion Group to Focus on Travel Photo Books
The Y’s Men Travel Discussion Group will meet from 9:00 to 10:30 am tomorrow (February 2) in rooms 203-204 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church
As usual, meetings begin by members talking about their recent travel experiences.
The main topic of the meeting will be: Show Us Your Photo Books!
- Let’s talk about how we each memorialize our travels, particularly in hardcopy form.
- Bring your books so others can see and learn from your experience.
- We’ll discuss what companies we use.
- How do we edit down from all the photos when creating a book.
Spouses/partners/significant others are always welcome to attend.
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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Military History Group to Discuss Battle of Antietam
The Civil War's Battle of Antietam will be the topic when the Military History Group meets tomorrow (February 2) at 10:15 am in room 211 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. Said to be the bloodiest battle of the War, it was fought from September 16 to 18, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland.
Y's Man Bill O'Brien, a Civil War expert, will facilitate the discussion.
The Group meets on the first Monday of the month at the same time and place. Topics for discussion and facilitators are:
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 4: 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
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Live Flute Concert Scheduled for This 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 beginning at 2:30 pm this 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.
The concert is the first of four live concerts in the coming months. They are:
Thursday, February 12, Staples Jazz Band.
Thursday, March 12, Staples Stradivarius Chamber Orchestra.
Thursday, April 30, world-renowned pianist Olga Vinocur.
Details will follow.
For additional information, contact Y's Man Ed Bloch at edbloch71@gmail.com.
| Jay Norris This Thursday: Building Bridges in Westport | |
Jay Norris
The big picture:
The Y’s Men will host a candid conversation at this Thursday's regular morning meeting about Westport’s future. How the town will grow, how it's governed, and how we make this town feel like home for everyone.
Driving the conversation: Community builder Jay Norris, founder of Westport10 and a member of The Westport Library board, returns to share how connecting Black residents and allies is reshaping the conversation about belonging in town. Jay will be the featured speaker at this Thursday's regular morning meeting.
He’ll talk about what has changed since he last spoke to the Y’s Men, the challenges that remain, and why he believes our children’s experience of Westport will be the real measure of success.
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.
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Mindfulness Meetings February 5 and February 16
The Y's Men Mindfulness Group offers two distinct gatherings for Y's Men. Both are facilitated by Y's Man Dr. Paul Epstein.
Just for Men is an in-person discussion group that meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Westport Center for Senior Activities. This month's meeting is this Thursday, February 5, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.
A Mindfulness Group zoom session explores mindfulness practices and emotional resilience on the third Monday of each month. The next meeting is Monday, February 16 from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.
For further information contact Paul Epstein or Jeff Rubin at, respectively, epsteinmb@aol.com and jeffrubinwpt11@gmail.com
| Sacred Heart University President Addresses Y's Men | |
Dr. John J. Petillo, President of Sacred Heart University for the past 12 years, addressed Y's Men last Thursday on the history and development of Sacred Heart, its current status and future, and his assessment of the role of a thriving liberal arts university, in times of academic, economic and political uncertainty.
From what was originally a commuter school, less than 10 percent of the SHU student body now commutes; new dormitories and nearby offsite housing, as well as the acquisition of the former Jewish Home and the former GE campus, have significantly expanded its footprint;
SHU's current endowment, $319 million, is nearly three times what it was 15 years ago; its faculty has increased from 629 to 1,076 over the same period; and the number of undergraduates has nearly doubled, and is now 7,200.
SHU's nursing program is nationally renowned; it is expanding its Ph.D. programs; and the SHU Theatre in downtown Fairfield, staffed by students, has become a
recognized cultural arts center and venue. WSHU, broadcast from its campus, has also enhanced its reputation. He is establishing a School of Performing Arts at SHU.
Dr. Petillo is a hands-on President. He eats with his students. He teaches a seminar on intellectual traditions. He informs parents that SHU does not have a PTA; he only responds to students. He attends and speaks at campus Holocaust Memorials; he makes service to community a key part of SHU life.
There are, of course, challenges. Dr. Petillo notes the loss of federal grant spending on research; and the reduction of international students due to visa restrictions, noting that if international students can't study in the U.S., they'll go elsewhere; the challenges of AI and its impact on the job prospects for graduates. Dr. Petillo stresses that liberal arts - history for nursing students; Plato, Aristotle; and the development of critical thinking and expression, remain fundamental to Sacred Heart's mission.
The program came to a rousing end, with Bill Mitchell, SHU Board Member and devoted hockey fan, praising the accomplishments of SHJU, and its critical role in our community.
Click here to view Dr. Petillo's presentation.
| | Small Group Strength Training Classes Begin February 9 | |
Only a few places are left in the strength training classes, a new Y's Men activity scheduled to begin Monday, February 9. If interested in participating, contact Y's Men Past President Dewey Loselle at deweyloselle@gmail.com or 203-454-4171.
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. Dewey is leading this 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 February 9
- New time: 11:00 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 number of participants
- Only one-month sign up commitment
- 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.
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Y's Men Life Talk Group to Discuss Mortality
The next meeting of the Y's Men Life Talk Group will be Tuesday, February 10 at 2:00 pm in room 109 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. The topic will be Mortality.
Is there anything more important to think about? As long as humans have been sentient beings, we have figured out that this life doesn't last forever. The Latin term "Memento mori" (remember you must die) has been around since the ancient Roman philosophers. Buddhists emphasize the impermanence of everything. Christians believe that a heaven (or hell) awaits us.
How do you think about, and embrace the fact that we all shall end? … What, if anything, do you believe happens when we die and how does that affect how you live your life now? … Are you intentionally doing anything to prolong your life (diet, exercise, more social connections)? ... Have you had any health or other warning-bell surprises? … How did you deal with them? Have you lost anyone close to you recently? If so, how have you handled that?
A quote to consider:
“Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it.”
― Marcus Aurelius
For additional information about the Life Talk Group, contact Larry Ackerman at larryackerman06@gmail.com.
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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.
| | Y's Men Invited to Sherwood Island Valentine's Day Event | | |
Y’s Man Stephen Bentkover presents $1100.00 to Catherine Walsh, treasurer of The Friends of Sherwood Island, that he collected for their general fund. The donation, on behalf of the Y's Men, acknowledged Y's Men use of this treasure in our backyard, for our walking group, and summer coffee and donut get togethers.
Photo by Y's Man Jim Wong.
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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Tuesday, February 3
Tour of Westport Country Playhouse
Spouses, significant others, family and friends are invited
https://conta.cc/3ZxbBuA
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Wednesday, February 4
Morgan Library and 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 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.
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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
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Out and About with the Y's Men...
Peter Kolbrener, a Y's Man since 2004, and his wife Sandy just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary...A photograph by Y's Man William Weiss, chair of the Photography Club, has been chosen as the ongoing masthead photo of Dan Woog's "06880" blog.
| | Another Y's Man Winner in the Expo 22 Photo Contest | | |
Terres Del Plain - Patagonia (Chile) (Photo by Y's Man Jean-Pierre Montillier)
This photo by Y's Man Jean-Pierre Montillier 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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