Over 60 ... And Getting Younger: January 18, 2013

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Over 60 ... And Getting Younger: January 18, 2013

Written by Stanley Greenberg Friday, 18 January 2013 00:00

A Writer’s Dilemma

The difficulty in which many writers find themselves is, should they pass up a good, solid interesting story or should they “rat out” some friend or acquaintance?

Joan Didion says, “A great memoirist, even one moved primarily by love and devotion, must possess a certain amount of ruthlessness.” The question to the author is, “Should I put down the truth about the person in my story or should I sugar-coat perhaps the lying and devious aspects with falsehoods and fiction?” That is the moral question!

Phillip Roth, the prolific and great American author, once made this observation about writing: “If a writer is sitting at your dinner table, be wary of anything you say or disclose about anyone or anything. Everything is grist for the writer’s mill.” All is fair in love, war and interesting disclosures.

A writer spends much time staring at the blank, white page in front of him/her seeking out an essential truth to type for a article or story. Should he/she submerge that juicy tidbit and keep searching for a new subject? Probably not.

Be careful and never reveal more than you intended to, if Cindy Adams, Joan Rivers or Leo Tolstoy is sitting at your dinner table. A good story is hard to find.

I have been in writers’ group classes where the author has demanded that everyone pass the written story back to the author for concern or fear that a bold secret should get out. Even changing names and slightly changing situations does not baffle the people who know the basics of the story.

It is the author’s duty to get the story out and the informant’s duty to contain the tale. It is a situation that will have many of us on the horns of the proverbial dilemma.

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.