Tower Times April 2021 Edition by Tower Times

WWW.TOWERTIMESONLINE.COM

Volume 26, Issue 4

Serving the residents of North Shore Towers since 1995

April 2021

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Are you having lower back pain while standing and walking?

Profiles In Courage

Board Treasurer Receives Liver Transplant Donation By Fred Chernow

y now, you have heard about our Board member and Treasurer Marty Schwartzman and his urgent need for a liver transplant. After months of searching, he finally found a donor who was a perfect match. This heaven-sent donor doesn’t live at North Shore Towers, but her girlfriend does. In putting this story together, I interviewed the resident, the donor, Marty, and his daughter. All of them are profiles in courage. I wanted you to hear from them in their own voice and words. These interviews have been condensed for clarity and space limitations.

“This helped me understand that the greatest gift is in giving,” said donor Katie Postle. “Of course, the recipient is rewarded, but so is the donor. I feel I am the lucky one, being able to give.”

NST Board Treasurer Marty Schwartzman and his liver donor Katie Postle. assigned to was wonderful,” she said. “At every step in the process, they made me feel comfortable and informed. Dr. Dagher, the surgeon, has this calm confidence about himself that is very reassuring. Dr. Olsen, my Hepatologist, is extremely caring and has made sure that I know that I am her priority. The nursing staff was very responsive.” After several follow-up visits, everything looked good. “I met Marty for the first time the night before our surgeries,” Postle said. “We ran into each other in the halls of the recovery unit a few times after that. We hope to get together this summer, outdoors somewhere. By that time, we will be feeling a lot better, and we can get to know each

other and our families.” In her final remarks she said: “I hope that someone reading this will want to do something like this. This helped me understand that the greatest gift is in giving. Of course, the recipient is rewarded, but so is the donor. I feel I am the lucky one, being able to give.” Marty described his hospital experience this way: “I was in surgery for 12 hours. My liver was worse than they thought. I was discharged from NYU 21 days later.” He said the care he received was outstanding, as the surgeons, Dr. Dagher and Dr. Gelb, would see him a few times each day. “The nurses were phenomenal,” he added. Continued on Page 14

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Marty Schwartzman in the hospital.

We begin with Jackie Rappaport of Building Three, who is the mother of two young boys. Her older son needed a heart transplant when he was born five years ago. He got one after a long search and is thriving now. She worked in the Greenthal office when Marty came in with a poster his daughter Allyson made describing his search and asked to have it displayed. Linda Rappaport immediately put it up and began a campaign of word-of-mouth. Her daughter-in-law, Jackie, embarked on another approach. She posted his poster on her Facebook account. Jackie recalled: “I remembered our arduous search when Tyler needed his transplant, and I wanted to do something to get a match for Marty. I was shocked when a long-time friend of mine from elementary school replied on Instagram. Katie Postle now lives in New Jersey and wanted more information. I filled her in and referred her to NYU Medical Center, where the transplant would take place...if Katie would be a suitable donor. Fortunately, she was, and the rest of the story is history.” I asked Katie if she ever considered an organ donation in the past. She said, “I’ve donated blood, plasma, and platelets. But there was something about Jackie’s request that got to me. We’ve been friends since our teens, and she has always been so genuine and caring. I knew this was something I would want to do even though I never met Marty.” The surgery entailed removing a part of Katie’s healthy liver and implanting it in place of Marty’s liver, which had been removed. It would slowly regenerate in Marty’s body and Katie’s reduced liver would grow back to its original size in about six weeks. I asked Katie about her stay at the hospital. Her surgery took several hours, and there was a lot of aftercare. “The specific transplant team that I was

Men’s Club Cyber Security Talk By Howard Arkin

he North Shore Towers Men’s Club continued its lecture series with another informative and interesting Zoom session on Thursday, February 18th, with the cybersecurity topic moderated by Scott Shinberg. He is an award-winning author with an impressive resume spanning over 30 years, having obtained degrees in electrical engineering from the Air Force Academy and Virginia Tech. He has served in leadership positions with the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and as an Air Force intelligence operations officer. Much of Mr. Sheinberg’s presentation pertained to computer security, telephone, and bankcard scams. Despite that fact, we all could come away from his presentation with a better grasp on how to protect ourselves from hackers and scammers online. For instance, the technical support scam is one to which many of us fall prey to. This scam has someone purporting to be from Apple

or Microsoft calling to warn you that your computer has been infected with a virus but that they can fix it for a fee. Another scam Mr. Shinberg discussed was the one known as the “grandparent scam.” This one has a grandparent receiving an email or telephone call from your grandchild. The grandchild might say they are in a foreign country and need money for bail to get out of jail, going on to say they were robbed and their passport was stolen as well. May the day never arrive that we fall for that one. Another scam that is currently in vogue is “the work from home scam.” In this scam, you sign on to work for an employer where you will be ordering merchandise online and sending it to an overseas address once you receive it. Your “employer” will ask for your social security number and other banking information so he can send out your paycheck, which you will never (surprise, surprise) receive. One scam that Shinberg did not mention is what I refer to as “the spam scam,” when spam emails are delivered to your email. Beware, clicking on “spam” will not get you a little tin can

Pandemic Poetry

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By Vicki Mazel There once was a girl named Eliza, Who was really an early riser. In pharmaceuticals she was hot, And developed the shot, Became an adviser to Pfizer.

Our neighbors at North Shore Towers, On the computer spend many hours. Looking to sign up, And get in the line up, To let the shot do its powers.

This gal was a really fast learner Her friends called her Myrna. She loved to gab, When she worked in the lab, Founded the shot called Moderna

Now’s the time for real resistance, Remember to use Social Distance. We still have the task, Of wearing the mask, At all the experts’ insistence.

This busy guy lit up like a Ronson. Only had time to eat Swanson. He had some fun, Working on two for one. Folks now line up for Johnson and Johnson!

We took the shots so ouchy, I tried to be brave not grouchy. Without any harm, They shot up our arm, And we listened to Dr. Fauci!!!

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of jellied pork but will instead possibly entangle you in a scammers web. In the 30 years that I have owned a computer, I have religiously deleted every spam message as soon as I got it. Shinberg then went on to warn us of the gas pump skimmer. These are crooks who put their credit card reader over the gas pump’s legitimate card reader. The pump will work fine, and you will be unaware that your credit card information has been stolen until unfamiliar charges start appearing on your statements. If you see something suspicious at the pump, report it to the attendant. As we advance further into the world of cyberspace, scammers and hackers will continue to find new ways

to commit crimes at our expense. However, if we remain alert and informed, we will surely stay a few steps ahead of them and minimize potential losses. The following dates are upcoming Men’s Club Zoom events: Sunday, April 11th, Attorney Ann Margaret Carrozza discussing eldercare, protection of assets, long-term health care, and other financial decisions. Thursday, May 13th, Professor James Coll speaks on understanding how the Supreme Court works. For information, contact Jerry Siegel at (347) 235 4513 or jerrysiegel1185@gmail. com, or Toby Horowitz at (718) 279 0082 tmhmgt@yahoo.com.

Valentine’s Day Celebrations Compiled By Steve Auerbach How did you celebrate Valentine’s Day amid the COVID-19 pandemic? Jeanne Pugliese: “We had a fabulous three-course surf and turf Valentine’s Dinner at Thom Thom’s in Wantagh on the 13th instead of 4:00 pm. It was empty at that time, which is good for anyone worried about Covid, but quickly almost at maximum allowable capacity upon leaving—distancing done well, wonderful, friendly neighborhood staff, and great food! Terry Feit: I had my second shot on Saturday, so we stayed in and ordered from Crab Tree. Of course, we opened a bottle of wine for a good Valentine’s Day. Steve Croutch: •Dinner at home since day one. •Only go out for packages, mail, MD appointments and drive-thru bank in Great Neck. •Popcorn, Turner Classic Movies, and 995.

•Chocolate bars and halvah. •And we’ve been enjoying breakfast together since the VIP room closed. From Steve Auerbach’s sister in Los Angeles: Actually, I did venture out, but not to eat. There’s no indoor dining here, and I wouldn’t eat outdoors either. I still don’t think it’s safe enough. We get takeout about once a week, though. Friday, we drove down to a big Japanese supermarket to get some of the best sushi I’ve ever had, which we discovered last month since it was close by the place we got our first Moderna shots (second doses are on Thursday, same place). We were going to go for a short hike, but I just really wanted to relax. The guys got me flowers, David made me his signature coffeecake that he used to bring to office potlucks–think sour cream, walnuts, cinnamon, etc., and I got virtual Valentine’s cards from lots of friends and a few cousins.

TOWERS TALES: STEPHEN KRONWITH

Medical Doctor and Novelist

By Fred Chernow

Stephen Kronwith is truly a renaissance man. His first career was as a Professor of Mathematics, and then he went on to medical school. After a long and successful career as an ophthalmologist, he pursued his interest in writing a novel. His “Lover Boy” crime caper is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites. The rave reviews have encouraged him to write a sequel. He’s married to a pediatrician, Dr. Dorie Hankin, who recently retired as well. During the pandemic, they’ve become avid walkers in the North Shore Towers Arcade, and you may have seen them there. Where did you grow up? I was born in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. Soon my family moved to East Flatbush, where I continued in yeshiva through the fourth grade. After those first four years, I was enrolled in PS 208 on Avenue D and then the nearby Meyer Levin Junior High School before going to Tilden High School. After high school, I went to Stony Brook University for eight years, earning a Ph.D. in mathematics. This led to a position as a professor at St. Johns University, where I spent four years. I had this dream of becoming a medical doctor and left that position to move to Florida, where I attended the University of Miami and earned an MD degree. I then trained as an ophthalmologist and specialized in pediatric ophthalmology. I enjoyed my many years in practice in Mineola. As retirement entered

Stephen and Dorrie Kronwith at Citifield. aire’s murder, his stunning widow, and an amorous, aging assassin.” The action takes place here on Long Island and in Boca Raton, Florida, with flashbacks to Brooklyn in the late ‘60s. Some of the action also occurs at a vast apartment complex that will be somewhat familiar to North Shore Towers residents. My primary goal was to write a quick-to-read, breezy novel that would provide many laughs to help us through these not so funny times. It is available on Amazon as an e-book or paperback and Barnes and Noble as a paperback (e-book coming soon). The simplest way to find it would be to type “Kronwith” into the search box, because many objects on Amazon include the words, “Lover” and “Boy.” Thus typing the title becomes an exercise in frustration. Anyone who buys the paperback and wants it autographed need just email me at the address at the very end of the book and I’ll be happy to do so. The sequel should be out sometime in the second half of 2021.

“My primary goal was to write a quick-to-read, breezy novel that would provide many laughs to help us through these not so funny times.”

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Dr. Kronwith performing eye surgery on newborn.

my mind, I decided I had to pursue another career. This led to my writing a crime novel, “Lover Boy.” It got high praise from readers, and now I am into the first hundred pages of a sequel. Do you have a family? In 1980 I married Dorie; we met at a party in Yonkers. We have two adult children, Sarah and Rebecca. Sarah lives in New York and Rebecca in California. Both, luckily, are still employed. Dorie grew up in upper Manhattan and went to the Bronx High School of Science before attending CCNY. She earned her MD degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. For 46 years, she practiced pediatrics specializing in developmental disabilities and ADHD, as well as autism. She started at LIJ, then went into private practice and spent the last three years at SUNY Stony Brook. She too retired in 2020. I’m a Met fan, and Dorie likes the Yankees. Where did you live before coming to NST? For 25 years, we lived in nearby Lake Success. Before that, we were in Bay Terrace. We moved here six years ago and are very happy with our choice. Are you involved in any activities at NST? For me, the golf course was the big attraction. I also enjoyed the gym and, when it was open, the whirlpool. Since COVID, we both have taken to walking in the Arcade twice a day. For those interested, a walk from Building One to Building Three round trip is .43 miles. We try to do three miles per walk. Since we retired in the midst of COVID, all clubs are closed, so we will have to wait and see which will be of interest. Dorie was involved in the exercise and Zumba classes before the pandemic. We hope to join some clubs once they resume; I will certainly join the photography club since I’m an amateur photographer and enjoy astronomy with lots of photos of planets and deep space objects taken over the years. I don’t know if there is a computer club, but I have a great interest there too. In my spare time over the years I’ve written some apps for the iPhone/iPad, which still are on the app store. I’ve enjoyed taking photos on our many trips to National Parks and intended to visit a few more this past summer, but all trips were put on hold because of the virus. Our last trip before COVID was to Iceland, where we got to see the Northern Lights. What is your novel “Lover Boy” about? “Lover Boy” is a comic-crime caper which is described on its Amazon page as: “A lustful physician and a beautiful detective clash in a comedy caper involving a billion-

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TOWER TIMES • April 2021 • 7

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8 • TOWER TIMES • April 2021

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444 Willis Ave., Roslyn Heights, NY

Reddy Care is so happy to announce that we have expanded and now have a clinic in the North Shore Towers! **Located in Pouran's spa

Have you noticed a change in your balance? The importance of physical therapy Do you experience any pain? Muscle mass and strength decrease with age, and Physical Therapy can help! the trend is even more pronounced in the elderly back pain who are deconditioned. Numerous studies have arthritis shown that physical therapy and exercise in older unsteady gait adults increases mobility, and enhances fear of falling performance of activates of daily living, improve knee pain walking, decreases falls, increases bone mineral strengthening foot & ankle conditions density to decrease the risk of fracture. and more.. Meet your therapist, Jess!

Dr. Jessica Armillay, PT, DPT graduated from Misericordia University in 2016 with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She practiced for over 2 years in a high volume outpatient physical therapy clinic providing physical therapy services on land and in an aquatic therapy setting in Pennsylvania where she worked with patients of all ages to help them achieve their goals.

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Jessica has experience treating a variety of conditions and with patients who have multiple comorbidities. She enjoys treating post-operative patients including total knee, hip, and shoulder replacements, rotator cuff repairs, lumbar spine, and cervical spine operations, and patients with balance deficits and neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.

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Great Neck Farmingdale Bayside (coming soon with Aquatic Therapy) Woodbury (coming soon)

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Pages From Our Past APRIL 2012 APRIL 2012 The Arcade: Winter’s Crown Jewel When the outside wind chill is 20 degrees and the gusts threaten to blow you off your feet, who in their right mind wants to leave their toasty-warm apartment to go out food shopping, to the movies, dinner, or to get their hair or nails done? Of course, at North Shore Towers that’s not a problem, because residents have their Arcade–the co-op’s own version of Main Street, USA. Greetings from NST’s Snowbirds Palm Beach County is the largest county in Florida. North of Boynton Beach many towns and cities use Palm Beach in their names–thus: Palm Beach, the Island, West Palm Beach, South Palm Beach, North Palm Beach. Hundreds of North Shore Towers residents spend the winter in communities in these towns, and hundreds more focus on the Southern end of the county. Country Club Update The VIP room and Card Room alterations were being held up pending approval of plans by the NYC Building Dept. Part of the delay was the result of the absence of a sprinkler system in the rear entrance of the club that was not required according to original plans filed years earlier. A professional survey of the golf course indicated that the irrigation system was in dire need of upgrading to avoid deterioration of the grounds and reduce labor costs when leaks occured and in normal maintenance. The survey also

pointed out that the sand traps were old and deteriorating. Because of the problems with the irrigation system, drainage on the course and in the traps, the club lost some income when players could not play after a heavy rain. APRIL 2016 Jon & Maureen Katz: Flying High Building One’s Jon and Maureen Katz were looking forward to traveling to their next adventure. Maureen met Jon because their parents knew each other and introduced them and traveled all over the world, which fostered Jon and Maureen’s interest in doing the same. Bobbie and Ralph Edwards: From Class to Glass Bobbie and Ralph Edwards are two educators who moved into Building Three just two years ago from Franklin Square, but have become quite popular and make use of NST’s many amenities. They utilize the gym and also enjoy bridge and bingo, as well as many of the Men’s Club activities. Their classroom days spanned kindergarten through graduate school. They continue to pursue many interests, including collecting decorative glass. Men’s Club: Rappaport on Boxing The Men’s Club was treated to a talk by a man obviously in love with his chosen profession, boxing, and whose profession loves him, shortly to be inducted into the NYS Boxing Hall of Fame, at their Thursday, March 10th meeting. For about an hour, without any notes, neighbor Dennis Rappaport regaled the club with stories about the art of boxing. He described the sport as poetry in motion at

best, and cruel and ugly at worst. Facts of Life at NST The garage at NST was built so that no garage spots are situated under the apartment buildings. As a result any garage entrance or exit can be used to reach an assigned spot. It may take a few attempts to find your way to the proper floor, but with practice you will be amazed at the various paths you can take.

We Are All Irish St. Patrick’s Day was on March 17th, I went to Aqueduct Racetrack and got and on that day, we are all Irish. To our my two shots. It was a 20-minute car ride with parking. It was wonderful, Irish residents at North Shore the people were terrific, and I Towers, we are all your brothers didn’t feel a thing. I feel great and sisters. That is the day I getting both shots. I feel more change my name from Bud confident around people, and Bank to Bud O’Bank. I did not have any pain or side I walk the Arcade a couple effects. of times a day, and I try to Bud Bank In a short time, everything get out every day. I’m on the elevator going up and down, I’m in the will be open. To all the North Shore garage elevator, and I talk to everyone. Towers’ ladies, the card games will start, My question to them is, did you get the the sun is coming out, and better times vaccine? I get two different answers, “yes are coming. Please have patience, and everyone take care. I got it,” and “I have an appointment.”

TOWER TIMES • April 2021 • 11

Michael Kohn............................................. Editor and Publisher email: TowerTimesPublisher@gmail.com

12 • TOWER TIMES • April 2021

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Women’s Club: ‘Can We Talk?’ By Vicki Mazel

he second in a series of Free Speech Zoom Lectures by Professor James Coll took place on Wednesday, February 1st at 3:00 pm. After welcoming remarks by co-president Gloria Beck, Professor Coll focused on free speech issues such as intent, degrees of free speech, highly offensive or violent examples, and disagreeing with the messages. Coll cited an example of flag burning, which in the Texas vs. Johnson case of 1989, the Supreme Court ruled against. “If there is a bedrock principle, underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable,” the ruling stated. Coll raised the issue of thresholds of free speech, such as the “God Hates Fags” case. In this case, the father of a young man attacked over his homosexuality won $2.9 million. The question is always does protest contribute to public debate? According to the highest authority opinion, it can be deregulated but not mandated. Another interesting case Professor Coll brought up was the Masterpiece Bakeshop, Ltd. vs. the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. In 2012, a same-sex couple visited the Masterpiece Bakery, making inquiries about ordering a cake for their wedding reception. The shop’s owner refused them because of his religious opposition to same-sex marriages. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission alleged discrimination and fined the baker. The view was endorsed that religious beliefs cannot be carried into the public sphere or commercial domain. In 1969, two students were cited by a

Des Moines School District for wearing what they considered objectionable armbands to school. The students were suspended and were brought up on charges since this was considered a violation of school policy. Tinker vs. Des Moines School District raised the question, “Is it offensive?” The Supreme Court ruled that the armbands were a form of symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment, and the student’s rights were violated. It was concluded that sensible limitations on free speech could be appropriate in cases, such as suggestions of violence to a crowd and the imminence of lawless action to incite insurrection. The Zoom lecture by Professor Coll was very well attended, and he will be returning in the near future for further lectures and discussions. Munch With The Lunch Bunch Under Eva Kessner and Marilyn Goldberg’s leadership a successful Zoom meeting was held for Lunch Bunchers on Thursday, February 25th. The question of format for future meetings was discussed with attendees making suggestions. The range was aging, social issues, sharing members’ creativity, and connecting with outside sources to discuss Women’s Health. In defining the group’s direction and purposefulness, great promise was shown in promoting participation for the future. The enthusiasm expressed by the participants is a reflection of the leadership displayed by Eva and Marilyn. The next Lunch Bunch is Thursday, May 20th at 12:30. The topic will be “How do you think the pandemic has changed us as a society, both negatively and positively?” To sign up, contact judyparis@twc.com. And don’t forget your lunch! Cinema Club New Time The next film to be reviewed by Vicki

Mazel and Dr. Nurit Israeli is the classic “The Social Network,” slated for Monday, April 26th at 4:00 pm on Channel 995. Released in 2010, the film is a biographical drama of the computer genius Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg. The multi-award-winning movie portrays the founding of the social networking website, Facebook, and resulting lawsuits emanating from conflicts, friendships, and intellectual theft, among other allegations. Written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher, the film was nominated for hundreds of awards around the globe. Please note the new time slot of 4:00 pm on Monday, April 26th. All residents of the Towers are welcome to view the Women’s Club movie review programs. Zoom Tea Times Have a cuppa on us! On Wednesday, April 2nd, co-president Chickie Kaufman will present a new program entitled TeaTime. Responders will receive a gift bag containing a hot cup, a decaf or regular tea bag, a packaged cookie, and a sweetie. To reserve your place at this special new program, please call Chickie Kaufman at (718) 819-8176. The cut-off date for RSVP is March 24th. Mask Contest Winners Flash! Tie for first place, $15 gift certificates each: Judy Paris, “I Am Woman

Mask,” and Marilyn Davidson, “My Father’s Mustache.” Other Winners, $10 Gifts Certificates: Eva Kessner, “Jewel Of the Nile,” Marcia Jacobson, “Putting Your Foot In Your Mouth,” and Joan Targove, “Surrey With The Fringe On Top.” Congratulations to all our creative mask makers. John Kenrick Does Mel Brooks Internationally recognized authority on the history of comedy, musical theater, and film, John Kenrick pulls back the curtain on show business history to bring us Brooklyn-born Mel Brooks–his accomplishments and background. “Mel Brooks is one of the most brilliant comic minds of our time, and his best films have always featured campy musical send-ups, some of which Brooks has composed himself.” Mr, Kenrick has given a college course at NYU, the New School, 92nd St.Y, community centers, and libraries. He will be Zooming to the Women’s Club on Wednesday, April 14th, at 3 pm. Contact Judy Paris at judyparis@twc.com for a front-row seat. Calendar: Wednesday, April 7th, Teatime 2:00 pm. Contact: Chickie Kaufman (718) 819-8176 Wednesday, April 14th John Kenrick on Mel Brooks, contact: judyparis@twc.com. Monday, April 26th. Cinema Club 4 Continued on Page 15

North Shore Towers South Here we are at Morikami! Thursday, March 4th was a beautiful day in Florida. Twelve women from North Shore Towers Women’s Club gathered at the Morikami Museum. A wonderful guide led us through the magnificent gardens, explaining the Japanese settlement’s history here and telling us about the various types of gardens. A special lunch followed this at the outside restaurant located next to the lake. Also available to us was a unique gift shop and

huge movie theater giving us some historical background, seasonal views, and films showing us colorful Japanese festivals that took place here. All of us had been successfully vaccinated, but Covid still played a role in our choice. Some women just took the tour, some just came for the luncheon, and others participated in everything according to their comfort level. Everyone immensely enjoyed being together after so many months. We all send out love to you and look forward to seeing you on our return to NST. Stay safe and be well.

Front row: Celia Platik, Shelly Sekli, 2nd row: Carol Meyerson, Bobby Gould, Barbara Margolis. 3rd row: Shoshana Capri.

TOWER TIMES • April 2021 • 13

By President Bobby Gould

Grandson’s Pandemic Quality Time By Linda Savad Last March 2020, my grandson came to visit me. It was shortly after the start of the pandemic. He attends Florida Tech in Melbourne, FL, and went on a trip to Amsterdam. When he returned from his journey, he was going to his home in New York City, since I didn’t think it wise for him. New York had the highest number of cases in the US, so I suggested he come to Florida and stay with me at my condo in Delray Beach. He agreed with this plan. When the people in my condo heard that my grandson was coming from Amsterdam to stay with me they were very upset. They didn’t want someone coming from Europe to come to their condo. They made life very difficult for me–as if the pandemic wasn’t enough. No visitors were being admitted through the gate. They said I would have to go out of the community and bring my grandson in. So I set this up with my grandson. His plane was due to arrive in Ft. Lauderdale at 11:00 pm. He was going to Uber to Delray, and I was going to pick him up in front of Nino’s Restaurant, on Jog Road, in the parking lot. I had taken him to Nino’s for dinner on a previous visit, so I figured that would be a good pick-up spot, since in is five minutes from my house in Huntington Lakes.

I told Jordan to call me when he was 10 minutes away. I went to Nino’s parking lot at 11:45 pm and waited for him. Driving there felt like the middle of the night, not a soul to be seen, the parking lot empty, Publics and Nino’s closed. I waited 10 minutes, no Jordan. After 30 minutes, I figured our plan was not working. I called him on my handy cell phone, but the call wouldn’t go through, so I texted him and asked, “where are you?” At the same time, he texted me and said, “Grandma, where are you?” I texted back, “I’m at Nino’s waiting for you,” he texted back. “I’m at Nino’s waiting for you, grandma.” Did you know there are two Nino’s? One in Delray and one in Boca? I didn’t! He was about 40 minutes south of me. Thank goodness for Google Maps! About an hour later, I found this boy with a backpack and bouquet of tulips in this big, dark, empty parking lot. How could he come from Amsterdam without bringing grandma tulips? He came, and we had to quarantine for 14 days. We couldn’t stop, go to the incinerator or mail room. Someone picked up our garbage outside our door, shopped for our groceries, left them at our door, put my mail in a plastic bag, and left it on the doorknob. Jordan ended up staying with me for three weeks. We had three meals a day together, we had Happy Hour every day on my sun

Profiles In Courage

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Continued from Page 3 When asked how he felt now, he enthusiastically responded, “I am enjoying life! At last, I am not itching intensely. My skin color is back to normal. I feel as if I

Marty Schwartzman with daugther Allyson.

am reborn, given a second chance at life, and want to make the most of every day. I would absolutely recommend NYU Langone as the best transplant center in New York.” He added, “There are no words that can adequately express my gratitude to Katie for saving my life. She is my guardian angel and restored my faith in humanity.” It was Allyson’s poster that attracted Katie in the first place. She said: “When I got the phone call from my father saying that he has a suitable match, my heart sank and I started crying happy tears. I have watched my father’s suffering over the last couple of years. It has truly been a dream come true. My father now has a second chance to live a happy and fulfilled life. I am getting married in November 2022, and I am eternally grateful to Katie that my father will be able to walk me down the aisle.” Wedding guests are advised to bring extra Kleenex for what will be an unforgettable moment.

porch, and then after dinner, we watched TV or played backgammon (which he taught me), or had many meaningful conversations. He learned things about me, and I learned things about him that I never knew. One evening, while sitting on the sun porch, Jordan and I saw an incredible sight. A UFO flashed through the sky at an unbelievable speed. It was magnificent. If we hadn’t both seen it, I would not believe it. I drew up a menu, and every day I would give Jordan his choice for dinner. It was fun cooking for him. One night he cooked for me. He made spaghetti carbonara, and I must say it was delicious and nice to be served for a change. We both enjoy cooking and good food. It was a tough coronavirus time, but it turned out to be a very rewarding situation. When he did leave, he returned to Florida

Tech, which is located in Melbourne, FL, where he will be a senior in September. I missed him terribly and will always treasure our many hours together. An exercise we did was to make a list of 10 happy things in your life today during this pandemic. My list was as follows: 1. My family are all OK. 2. I tested negative for corona 19 virus. 3. I had my grandson with me. 4. Have someone to cook for. 5. Nice refurbished home. 6. Enjoy cooking. 7. Have lots of good friends to talk with. 8. Have enough to eat. 9. I enjoy my knitting. 10.Sometimes, I am so busy, I don’t even have enough time to make all my calls. To all stay well and safe.

Desperately Seeking Funny By Marian Nemetsky In any creative writing class, you’re told to write about what you know. If you get stuck, keep a diary, and something will pop out. In my case, I like to add a ‘funny ‘twist, as well. However, since being locked down by Covid 19 and locked in by snow, ice, and freezing rain, I find myself desperately seeking ‘funny.’ Ice: The trees’ bare limbs are covered with silvery ice crystals that form lovely modern-looking chandeliers. I’d love to hang one of them in my dining room. Simply stunning, but definitely ‘Not Funny.’ I once read a mystery story where the murderer used a dagger-shaped icicle to kill his victim. The murder weapon was never found because it melted! Interesting, if you want to kill someone, but definitely, ‘Not Funny.’ About 25 years ago, I fell on marble steps covered by a thin layer of slick, wet ice. Suddenly, a thousand jackhammers drilled into my spine, and I screamed in agony. I had two collapsed vertebrae, or as the doctor explained in plain English, I broke my back. I vowed never to go out on snowy ice again, never, ever, ever. Yet, on a cruise to Alaska, I was convinced by my travel agent to walk on a glacier because it would be a oncein-a-lifetime, unforgettable experience. And how would we get there? We’d go by helicopter, a whirligig with a giant pinwheel mounted on top, which rattled and banged as if it was going to fall out of the sky any minute. To add insult to injury,

I had to tell the truth about my weight (the only secret I ever kept from my husband) because if it wasn’t balanced, we could all crash. For some crazy reason, I did embark upon this mission impossible, only to be overwhelmingly surprised by what I experienced. We stepped into this expanse of pure, unsullied whiteness, as far as the eye could see. We were so struck by the majesty of it that we spoke in hushed tones, or not at all. When the guide motioned for us to look at part of the glacier that had melted, I was sure that we were about to fall into the ocean. Instead, there was a small puddle of water as blue as the Florida sky at sunrise. I forgot the scientific explanation. The entire experience was awesome, amazing, life-changing, but definitely, ‘Not Funny.’ Snow: When the brilliant white snowflakes fall on the grass, trees, highways, and buildings, it makes the whole world look like a Hallmark greeting card. It’s serene, calm, and beautiful, but definitely, ‘Not Funny.’ As a kid, climbing up and down mountains of dirty snow was pure joy, fun, but definitely, ‘Not Funny.’ Fast forward to when I was a teacher and drove to my school on a sunny, wintry morning, only to come out at 3:00 p.m. to find my car covered with the dreaded snow. I’d groan but had the procedure down pat. Whip out a special spray to unfreeze keyhole, open door, start-up engine, put on heater, and windshield wipers. Then, go to the trunk, find a scraper to whisk off Continued on Page 15

New York Harbor’s History By Lorraine Bertan NST Cultural Affairs Committee Twenty thousand years ago, the Wisconsin ice sheet that covered North America extended into New York City, covering Manhattan and the New York Bay in ice as high as 2,000 feet. The sea level was 350 feet lower. The glacier was a moving river of ice extending through New Jersey, Connecticut, and northern Long Island. About 18,000 years ago, the glacier began retreating, and 12,000 years ago, a massive rush of glacial water inundated the Hudson River, creating the deep Hudson River Canyon, There is fossil evidence of a PaleoIndian hunting culture, with mastodons and mammoths, on Staten Island. The Hudson River Canyon, the glacier’s gift, formed the New York Harbor, one of the three largest harbors in the world. The Hudson River, which began its life in the Adirondack Mountains in New York State, is 350 miles long and is a significant part of the mercantile history of New York. The Hudson River flows into the Atlantic ocean, and in its lower part is a tidal estuary, deeper than the water in which it flows.

In 1609, an English sailor, Henry Hudson, working for the Dutch East India Company and looking for India’s Northwest route, sailed into the Hudson River’s mouth on his ship, the “Half Moon.” He sailed as far north as Albany, the water being too shallow for his craft. He was met by local native Americans, Mohawk, Lenapes, and Mahicans, who were friendly. Hudson returned to Europe, claiming the entire Hudson Valley for the Dutch. The Dutch returned in 1614 to establish Albany as a trading post, and in 1624 returned to New York, establishing it as a trading post with the native Americans. At this time, the Netherlands had become Europe’s leading economic power, which was the “Golden Age” of Dutch commerce and rule. The Dutch West India Company was formed in 1621 to handle the trade and security of its colonies in West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, and New York, all trading posts. The Dutch West India Company had a military purpose, to protect the ports from foreign ships and secure the Dutch’s trading capability. Fort Amsterdam was established on the southern tip of Manhattan in 1625. The area grew to become New Amsterdam,

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the New Netherland’s capital, the American extension of the Dutch Republic. The trading profits were so tempting that English ships invaded New Amsterdam in 1664 and renamed it New York City, and New Netherland became New York State. The economy of New York after 1664 was shipbuilding, fur trading, farming, and slave trading. It was a wealthy city with a thriving port. The period between 1664 and the American Revolution was known as the colonial period. New York City’s population was about 60% English and 30% Dutch, with a mix of ethnic groups. It was a cosmopolitan city with ethnically diverse marriages and religious tolerance. John Peter Zenger’s trial for libel established freedom of the press, which extended to all British colonies. Jews who were expelled from Recife in Brazil entered New York during Peter Stuyvesant’s time, and the first synagogue founded in New York City was Shearith, Israel, in 1706. The colonial period ended with the Revolutionary War, and the battle for New York took five long years to win. New York City’s economic growth increased exponentially after the Revolution, and one-third of the money collected by the federal government came from New York City. In the early1900s, the Hudson and East Rivers were extremely busy, and competition between New York and New Jersey became fierce. The two states fought over the rights to the Hudson River. In 1921 the Port of New York Authority was created, and the Port of New York Authority has the

The Statue of Liberty in NY Harbor. mandate to develop and modernize the entire port district. What type of wildlife lives in New York Harbor? Humpback Whales, Oysters, Seals, Sea Turtles, sharks, sturgeon, eels, seaweed and seagrass, and of course water birds. Occasionally there are tropical visitors via the Gulf Stream. There are shipwrecks and sunken treasure and sunken cars that have become artificial reefs harboring crabs and lobsters. The New York Harbor is an exciting place.

NST Women’s Club Continued from Page 13 pm. Channel 995, “The Social Network.” Reviewed by Vicki Mazel and Dr. Nurit Israeli. Thursday, May 20th, The Lunch Bunch,

12:30, PM, “How do you think the Pandemic has changed our society–negatively and positively?” For Membership, information call Chickie Kaufman at (718) 819-8176.

Desperately Seeking Funny Same if I went too fast. If I went slow, they loved it, and I hated it. I came up with a plan. I blasted my horn as loud as I could, “blah, blah, blah.” It worked. They got scared and jumped off. Miserable experience, not gorgeous, peaceful, or calming, and definitely, ‘Not Funny.’ So, here I am, remembering the past, living in my locked down and locked in present, fervently hoping for a warm, healthy future while still desperately seeking ‘Funny.’

TOWER TIMES • April 2021 • 15

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Continued from Page 14 snow from rear and side windows, while the heat and wipers were doing their jobs in the front. Finally, get into my car looking like a snow-encrusted Hulk. Other obstacles would await me before entering my warm, inviting house. I had to pass a high school where some kids had this crazy fad of swooping down and hanging on to a car’s bumper. They called it skitching. It was like hitching, but with a skin sound. What to do? If I backed up, they could be thrown off and hurt, or worse.

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