Over 60... And Getting Younger - December 10, 2010

A Delicate Assignment

How can a loving father review a play written and produced by one of his children?

I gave myself this extremely arduous and demanding task after attending the opening performance of Clemenza and Tessio Are Dead at The Shell Theater at 300 West 43rd Street.

Letter: NCPC Should Be Aware of Alternate Development Plan for Cerro Wire Site

I am writing in response to the article: “NC Planning Commission Holds Public Hearing” that ran in your Nov. 26 edition. For starters, from comments made by a Taubman representative at the hearing, one might conclude that the mall is coming, and sometime soon, when in fact nothing could be farther from the truth. The most recent court decision rendered in June 2009 specifically directed the developer to resubmit a new set of plans along with an updated environmental impact study, upholding both the Town of Oyster Bay and the community’s position in opposing the project.

Parenthood Plus: November 26, 2010

Please Do Fight With Your Teen-Agers

Teen-agers enjoy a good “fight” with adults who do not feel a need to dominate and are willing to listen. As children progress from the “earthbound” quality of concrete thinking to the “intergalactic” quality of complex thinking, they become capable of formulating contrary-to-fact-hypotheses, of leaping with their minds here, there and everywhere. Herein lays the source of teen-agers’ growing ability and fervor for challenging others’ ideas, beliefs and values and for engaging in furious debate, often to the dismay of parents, teachers and other adults.

Over 60...and Getting Younger: November 26, 2010

The Philadelphia Story

Do you remember the deprecating put-down by W.C. Fields of the city of Brotherly Love? “Last week I traveled to Philadelphia, but it was closed.” Not very nice!

Over 60...and Getting Younger: November 19, 2010

B.F.F.

I do not text message!

I have no iPod!

I haven’t yet figured out Facebook or Craig’s List!

From Long Island Wins: November 19, 2010

Thanksgiving: A Tradition of Welcoming

As we all learned in elementary school, the first Thanksgiving holiday set the tone for centuries to come. During the initial winter that the Pilgrims spent in Plymouth, Massasoit, the leader of the Wampanoag tribe, donated food stores to the settlers. In turn, the Pilgrims invited members of the tribe to a three-day feast after their first harvest in 1621.

A Bird’s Eye View: November 12, 2010

The Lure of the Hawk Watch

From September through early November at the Fire Island Hawk Watch, migrating raptors are counted daily and the data is eventually shared with researchers worldwide. I go once a week, but not just to help spot and identify birds. I go for the excitement, the feast of images and for the moments when the words “this is why I come,” ring silently in my head.

Over 60...and Getting Younger: November 12, 2010

Duty

This past Wednesday I did my duty!

I traveled to Staten Island to tidy up and say a few prayers at my parents’ graves. Refreshing my bonds with my mother and father is always pleasurable and meaningful to me. No matter what is done, the weeds keep coming in and popping up, uninvited on the gravesite.

Over 60...and Getting Younger: November 5, 2010

Pills

Today, I would like to discuss a topic near and dear to the hearts of citizens over 60. It is the subject of PILLS. You know, those little, expensive things you buy at CVS and swallow every morning upon awakening and before you put on your pajamas in the evening.

Over 60...and Getting Younger: October 29, 2010

More Reviews

I have never considered myself a reviewer. But if I like a play, movie or opera, I do love to tell people about it. Talking about a production usually winds up in a profound discussion of the major points, positive or negative. I do enjoy these back-and-forth, stimulating conversations.