Monthly Archives: January 2017

Jan. 27: My wife Lynn and I saw two of my former Newsday colleagues on consecutive nights this week. Wednesday night, we listed as Randy Cohen interviewed former Times sports columnist George Vecsey at Port Washington Library, followed by a sports trivia contest run by Vecsey. Thursday night, we traveled to the Book Revue in Huntington for Ed Hershey’s book signing of “The Scorekeeper.” Vecsey and I both went to Hofstra University. He was a Newsday baseball writer when I…..

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My speaking schedule as of Feb. 9: Feb. 14: Lindenhurst American Legion Post 1120, 80 Herbert St., Lindenhurst, 7 p.m. Feb. 15: Interview with WCWP radio station, Brookville, noon. Feb. 17: Freeport American Legion Post, at Freeport Library, 144 W. Merrick rd., Freeport, 7 p.m. (tent.) Feb. 23: Commack Library (at Temple Beth David), 100 Hauppauge Rd., Commack, 10:30 a.m. March 26: Quogue Library, 90 Quogue St., Quogue, 2 p.m. March 28: Glen Head American Legion Post 336, 190, Glen…..

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Jan. 25: How do you know when a book tour has run its course? Well, I got a strong hint last night at a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in southwestern Suffolk County. I drove 90 minutes through a driving rainstorm after being invite by the post commander to speak there about my book “Heroes to the End.” I sat at the bar exchanging pleasantries for a while. Then they invited me downstairs to their meeting, which was attended by…..

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My wife Lynn and I vacationed from Jan. 9-16 at Vidanta’s Mayan Palace resort south of Acapulco in Diamante on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. We’ve used our timeshare there about 15 times since 1996. We love the Mexican people and we love the staff at Mayan Palace, which has undergone many changes over the years. We only ventured off the resort once on this trip — to Linda Vista restaurant, which is on a hill with a magnificent view…..

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On Jan. 8, my wife Lynn and I attended the Nassau Unity Town Hall at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Central Nassau in Garden City. Our interim senior minister Ned Wight, social justice coordinator Claire Deroche and congregant Angela Cesa also attended. There were about 80 people there from various UU congregations, the community and nonprofits who since the election of Donald Trump have spoken up for vulnerable groups on Long Island, including Muslims, Hispanics, African Americans and women. Newsday’s…..

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Jan. 8 was a great day at my church, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset. Amy Goodman, head of the independent Manhattan-based news organization Democracy Now! gave the sermon at a worship service and then moderated a panel discussion with Veatch grantees. The grantees talked about redoubling their efforts, under a Trump administration, to work for equity and social justice. The Veatch Program is our long-standing grant-making vehicle for funding nonprofits dedicated to systemic change. Democracy Now!,…..

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Jan. 6, 2017: I’d like to thank every library program director, VFW and American Legion post commander and all others who helped me reach my goal of raising $10,000 for United Veterans Beacon House by donating my speaking fees and book sales proceeds to the Bay Shore nonprofit that runs 34 shelters for homeless veterans and others. As of Dec. 31, I had traveled almost 2,000 miles and raised $10,151 for Beacon House via 77 speaking engagements over 15 months…..

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