By Dorothy Daly
Fall — the most brilliantly-hued season with its glowing harvest moon and windswept fallen leaves — invites the members of the Herricks Leisure Club to savor this prelude to winter’s approach.
And as the cooler winds invigorate our senses, we also look back at the recent events that set new horizons for the coming club year.’
A stimulating excursion to Yonkers Casino occurred on Sept. 5 and a hearty “welcome back” meeting took place the next day on our return from the summer recess. A moment of silence was observed on the passing of longtime member Loretta Beers. Vice President Frank Vendinello thanked the Herricks students for hosting the delightful “senior prom” for us.
President Lillian Ciesluk wished our Jewish members a happy Rosh Hashanah and conducted a birthday remembrance for nine participants, with a special nod to Charles Gill who is celebrating his 99th. To protect our health, flu shots were administered by Michael from Rite-Aid and to top off our first meeting, we were treated to a pizza party.
At our assembly on Sept. 13, a tribute of appreciation was paid to Hilda Escobar who is retiring from her position as director. Dave Monfort was named legislative chairperson to replace Tess Fiorentino. Our guest, singer Naomi Zeitlein, entertained us with her impressive musical repertoire.
Our Sept. 20 get-together was both active and endearing. Treasurer Jim Kovalsky submitted a concise financial report and Membership Chairlady Jeanette Kovalsky introduced three new members. Monfort gave an interesting discourse on the superior ranking of the Herricks Schools.
Ciesluk thanked Frank Di Benedetto for his many years as our dedicated “coffee maker” and asked for volunteers for kitchen duty. Then, a singular presentation took place when our guest Rhiannon Brydelsky of the Guide Dog Foundation introduced “Daisy” and “Cindy,” who instantly endeared themselves to our congregation. These comely canines who provide aid to the blind and veterans made for a mood-lifting afternoon.
Another show-stopping performance captured our attention at our next session when comedian Warren Shein and musician Charles Henry teamed up to produce exceptional entertainment.
We entered October with an informative meeting on the 4th. Another succinct treasury account was forthcoming from Kovalsky, Monfort supplied data on the new assessment regulations and Howard Abbondondello spoke on the need for election workers. Our president directed the celebration of three anniversaries and seven birthdays including the 95th of Clara Morelli. Longevity is indeed a hallmark of our organization.
Oct. 10 featured a scintillating trip to Empire Casino and at the following day’s meeting. Di Benedetto alerted us to the “grandma” scam. Corresponding Secretary Terry Lanese reported on hospitalized members, and Abbondondello notified us that Fiorentino is doing well in Arizona.
Although we experienced some glitches on the way to our anniversary luncheon at Pompei Restaurant on Oct. 18, our group rose to the occasion and enjoyed the savory repast, dancing to the music of DJ Steve Griffen and friendly repartee.
Through the years, with the help of our active club, our seniors have learned to cope and to appreciate and share the beautiful gift of life in this autumn of our days.
