Friday, April 3rd, 2009
TODAY IN HISTORY
On April 3rd in the year 1882, Jesse James was shot to death by a member of his own gang. On April 3rd in the year, 1941, singer Wayne Newton was born (Ahh, Wayne, Wayne, where are you now?), proving once again the wisdom of “They come, they go”.
. TODAY’S QUOTE
“Wind power and sun power are unreliable. If the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine, you’ve got nothing.”
--A deep thinker
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OPENING CEREMONY: Our weekly meeting was officially opened at 12:21 PM, with a trumpet voluntary and a round of roof-raising cheers
SALUTE TO OUR FLAG, PATRIOTIC SONG, AND BENEDICTION: The salute to our flag was headed by a patriotic Ernest Pacchiana. Following Mr. Pacchiana’s performance, Sy Yuter, in peak form, led the group in a heart-wrenching interpretation of “My Country, ‘Tis Of Thee.” It was a lyrical moment. The Reverend John finished things off with an appeal to The Almighty for much-needed forgiveness.
CLUB PRESIDENT’S REMARKS: ANNOUNCEMENTS, OBSERVATIONS AND HAPPY THOUGHTS.
Paul Rosen hailed the $30 million lawsuit that was recently awarded to the Masons, Geraldine Mahoney saluted Mark Seiden for his conducting of a successful Training Session, and President Fulfree announced that there would be NO MEETING next week at our usual spot; instead, we shall raise a glass at SQUIRE’S.
There was no community news.
NEXT WEEK’S SPEAKER: Our guest speaker on April 10th will be Gila Zilca, who will update us on “The Science of Soap Making.” (Yes, you read that right: Soap Making.)
TODAY’S SPEAKER: Our speaker today was Mr. Tom Lichbacher, who took us on a trip down Memory Lane, as he spoke about Briarcliff history, in the 1960s and ‘70s.
Tom reminded us of Briarcliff when he was growing up; a much more secure time when the Briarcliff Lodge and after that King’s College stood,.where today there is nothing but empty space….when there were boisterous Little League games, and Briarcliff citizens turned out to watch…when Law Park boasted an award-winning Swim Team and lively tennis battles…when the Middle School (now Atria) had movies projected on its front façade …when there were regular Saturday morning basketball games at Todd School …when there were football games in Law Park…when there was sleigh-riding down the hills of what is now the Trump Intergalactic Golf Course…when there were hockey games at Goose Neck Park and tournaments on the tennis courts of Law Park…when there was Joe Weldon’s Deli, where you could grab a sandwich and a coke without digging into capital…when the gracious, old Briarcliff stationery store existed…when Briarcliff families of eight or more were not an anomaly…and when the Village was wonderfully close-knit--everyone knew just about everyone else..
Tom gave the credit for much of this to Walter Law, the father of the Village, who founded Law Park, the Caucus System, and much else, and who was the instigator of Briarcliff Pride.
Briarcliff is still a friendly place to live and a place to bring up a family, said Tom. But there was a slight catch in his voice. He remembered the way our Village one was.
Many of us do.
Wonderful talk, Tom. Thank you so much!
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THE DRAWING: The first winner was Ernie Pacchiana; I am too dejected to announce. the name of the winner #2. .In a show of sympathy, Bishop John declared that he was torn between entering a monastery or shooting himself.
CLOSING CEREMONY: This week’s meeting drew to a close precisely at 1:33 pm, and was highlighted by Bishop John’s welcome decision to refrain from shooting himself.
Submitted by
Recording Secretary, Don Wilde
THIS WEEK’S ATTENDANCE SHEET
Robert Amsterdam, Frances Chu, Antonia Conte, Etrusca Cosentino, Zachary Cosentino, Zeneth Eidel, Rodney Ertischek, Peter Fulfree, John Herzog, Eric Lebenson, Rachel Leihbacher, Robert Maher, Geraldine Mahoney, Ernest Pacchiana , Paul Rosen, Mark Seiden, Ken-Ichi Shimazu, Donald Wilde, Elinor Yuter, Sy Yuter.
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