Over 60 ... And Getting Younger: April 12, 2012

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Over 60 ... And Getting Younger: April 12, 2012

Written by Stanley Greenberg Friday, 13 April 2012 00:00

A Weekend In Tucson, Arizona

I always sneered at people who boarded planes with tennis rackets. Who comes into this crazy environment at the airport with a gawky thing like a tennis racket? People are disrobing, taking off their shoes and belts. This is no place for a fine tennis instrument: it surely doesn’t fit into your luggage.

However, last week I succumbed and joined the ranks of wannabe jocks flying with a racket. My daughter Cara had arranged a Greenberg family get-together at the Hilton Conquistador Resort in Tucson, Arizona.

Tennis is a great family game, so I brought my racket. It was not my new one, but one that had served me well for many years. The hotel was magnificent, but I discovered something grim in my life: My family members all played better tennis than I did. Even 14-year-old Eli, who returned everything hit to him, was superior to me. It was a sad plight for a 77-year-old.

I then decided that I should engage myself in the gorgeous countryside. The Oro Valley, with its craggy mountains, was a pleasure to view each morning. Actually, I have never seen so many cactuses on mountainsides before. No trees are present, but cactuses dominate the scenery.

A cactus does not spring an arm until it is 70 years old. The odd shapes that emerge are sometimes comical and sometimes downright sad. The flowers that emerge from the cactus plant have radiant colors. Oh yes, and each plant has numerous quills.

On the hotel grounds we spied some road runners darting about. The male (I think) had an extension on his head. They are odd and humorous to see, with their walking, then running gait.

The restaurants were eclectic. There were some western places, some beer palaces and some fine food and drink. The Congress Hotel featured stories of the Dillinger Mob, who had hid there from the law. It was a mob museum.

A trip to the Desert Museum is certainly a “must see and do” on a Tucson trip. Walking the nature trails and observing wildlife is fun but tiring. Trying to climb those rugged hills is better left for the young at heart.

Arizona, the last state to be admitted into the territorial U.S.A. in 1912, is harsh and rugged, but also fun and effortless if you adjust to Southwestern ideology.

News

Syosset's BDG Bids For Nassau Coliseum

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Syosset’s Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG), headed by Ed Blumenfeld, has proposed a $200 million design to demolish Nassau Coliseum and build a new arena and state-of-the-art exhibition center for the 21st century.

“The existing facility cannot be effectively retrofitted,” said Brad Blumenfeld, BDG Vice President, adding “Our team is committed to building a new, preeminent facility—other proposals only call for renovations to the existing arena.”

Tensions Spark At School Board Meeting

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

During a Syosset school board meeting last week, tension arose between Superintendent of Schools Carole Hankin, Trustee Joshua Lafazan, and Fred Gang, a resident speaker on transparency and accusations made against the district.

During public comment, Gang expressed disapproval of the district’s proposed budget for 2013-14, and inquired about reports of the district’s use of software to target various community members with the objective of increasing voter turnouts — which is illegal under New York State election law as Gang pointed out.

Sports

Syosset Lacrosse Defeats MacArthur

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

In the last of three quarter-final games at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium on Wednesday evening last week, the Syosset Braves boys’ lacrosse was victorious over the MacArthur Generals in a hard fought 5-4 victory that went into triple-overtime.

With both teams playing their hearts out for possession of the ball, it was Syosset freshman Mac Okeefe who found the hole necessary in MacArthur’s tight defense, and delivered the win for his team.

USTA Honors Syosset and Woodbury Tennis Players

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

The U.S. Tennis Association’s Long Island Region recognized several area residents, including New York State’s top male and female high school singles players, for their tennis playing or volunteer achievements.

Syosset’s Josh Levine was a New York State and Nassau County Boys’ Singles Champ at Cold Spring Harbor High School. This was Levine’s second consecutive year winning the New York State championship. Peggy Gluck and Nadine Netter won the Women’s 60s Doubles Eastern, and Flo Levine was the Adult Volunteer of the Year.