Tower Times March 2022 by Tower Times

WWW.TOWERTIMESONLINE.COM

Volume 27, Issue 2

Serving the residents of North Shore Towers since 1995

March 2022

New Bd. President

JACK SCHWARZ PHOTOS

Phelan Resigns, Nachmanoff Appointed

•Mask Mandate Ends •Mortgage Refinance BOARD UPDATE: •Pond Excavation •Automotive •Garage Repairs Charging Station •Engineer Study

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.

2 • TOWER TIMES • March 2022

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.

Additional Locations

718-224-8480 www.reddycare.net

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

Established 2003

In-Home Therapy

Long Island Queens Staten Island Brooklyn Manhattan The Bronx

New NST Bd. President Phelan Resigns, Nachmanoff Appointed

By Michael Kohn

the parking spaces we have, any new parking spaces we can acquire, and if necessary, we will use valet parking. If we have to, we will restripe some of the parking spaces so we get angled parking,” he said. After garage construction is completed, Wi-Fi will be considered for the underground area. “It’s important that we have

Wi-Fi there for the safety and health of our residents,” Nachmanoff said. Electric vehicle charging stations are also being considered for outside the buildings. “We can put an awning over it, and maybe we can set up a half a dozen or more electric charger units, and the area will be Continued on Page 4

“There has been a poor relationship between members of the board and members of the board and management. I hope we can change that. We need to work much more cooperatively.” Interim Bd. President Dan Nachmanoff

JACK SCHWARZ PHOTO

North Shore Towers Interim Bd. President Dan Nachmanoff in the country club.

TOWER TIMES • March 2022 • 3

ebruary brought a sudden shake-up for the North Shore Towers Bd. of Directors when Ed Phelan resigned after serving as President for two years. Dan Nachmanoff was appointed Interim President, while Phelan will remain on the board as a director. “I hope to be a catalyst for change and action,” Nachmanoff said. “We have a lot of issues we’re dealing with, and I think we have to move a little more expeditiously. We are just going to try to move forward, and that’s the name of the game.” Nachmanoff said there has been a “poor relationship between members of the board and members of the board and management,” and he hopes to change that. “We need to work much more cooperatively,” he continued. “We need to get things done. We have to concentrate on the future and look forward.” Hoping the board will now have “a new attitude to cooperate with each other,” Nachmanoff has proposed having an open meeting this spring in the movie theater. “I think we can do that now, and I think it’s important for residents to ask their questions,” he said. Nachmanoff said as board secretary, three of the directors had asked him to call a special meeting, and Phelan resigned before the meeting. The new president said he believed that a few of his fellow directors felt that some of the board’s issues were moving too slowly, and they wanted to see more action. “Relationships weren’t as comfortable as they should have been,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll be more cooperative going forward now. I’m just trying to bring everybody together.” Phelan said in his resignation state-

ment, “I have had the privilege and honor of serving as a director for four years and as President for the last two years on the Board of Directors of our wonderful community known as North Shore Towers and Country Club. In the interest of harmony and based on my concern for my fellow unit holders, I have concluded that my resignation as president might supply a needed stimulus moving forward.” Among the significant issues the co-op is taking action on, according to Nachmanoff, are implementing an engineering firm’s study evaluating all systems to estimate how much spending will be necessary for the next five to 10 years. This study is required in order to negotiate the co-op’s upcoming refinance agreement with John Hancock. Refinancing could not have occurred sooner at historically lowinterest rates because the mortgage has a $1 million penalty for refinancing early, Nachmanoff said. An executive committee headed by Treasurer Marty Schwartzman and Gen. Manager Glen Kotowski will study the available refinancing options, and the entire board will decide on how to proceed. Nachmanoff also discussed other spending priorities the board is facing. “I can tell you flat out that we will have the money to do what we have to do,” he said. A hot topic at the Towers is the repair of the parking garages, where the concrete is chipping, and the iron bars holding up that concrete are rusting. The board has hired an engineering firm to repair the damage caused by water and a lack of climate control. The project will be completed utilizing the co-op’s own facilities, Nachmanoff said. Off-site parking will not be used during the work, and no parking lot will be constructed behind the pool. “We will use

Towers Bd. Interim President Continued from Page 4 able to be used for parking and for charging depending on the time of day or evening,” he said. “I think it’s important that we go ahead with that.” The co-op will also be discussing repair-

JACK SCHWARZ PHOTO

4 • TOWER TIMES • March 2022

Bd. President Dan Nachmanoff.

ing the pond at a later date by excavating it, according to Nachmanoff. A framework will be built around the pond’s borders to attach a liner, and a new bubbler will be installed to create a small fountain. He reports that the cost will be between $25,000 to $100,000. “The board has decided that the pond looks wonderful just the way it is,” he said. “…People take beautiful pictures of it and the sunset, so we are going to leave it the way it is.” The board has also decided to be consistent with the state’s Covid policy change by removing the mask requirement in the interior common areas of the Towers. “We felt that now it was time for people to take more responsibility for their own health,” he said. However, Nachmanoff said he strongly recommends wearing masks in the busiest public areas, such as the lobbies, Arcade, and elevators. Unvaccinated residents, employees, or visitors continue to be required to wear masks at all times in public spaces, he added. “This is an essential precaution to remain safe and sound in this community,” he said. “I hope you all will be considerate of your neighbors and help them while you’re sharing the common spaces. Treat people with mutual respect and concern as a united community. We are all in the same boat here, and we’re moving toward a goal of fully enjoying life here in North Shore Towers and enjoying the unique opportunities our community offers.” Nachmanoff practiced dentistry for 40 years in Kew Gardens while residing in Great Neck. Before moving to the Towers two and a half years ago, he served as Commissioner of the Great Neck Park District and as Mayor of Russell Gardens for three terms. He was also appointed director of Local Government Relations for Nassau County for Country Executive Tom Suozzi.

Gifted Hands Night Aide Only Available Over 30 years experience with excellent references to care for your elderly loved ones

NO AGENCY FEES 9:00 pm-7:00 am or 11:00 pm-7:00 am

Monday to Sunday Low Price

CALL NICOLA: (516) 670-2975

TCC VIP Room: Good and Bad News By Theresa Oropallo Country Club Committee Chairperson

urniture was scheduled for delivery in the VIP Room at the end of December, but we cannot use the facility until after the official Fire Department inspection is completed. And I am sorry to say that it can take anywhere from two to 15 weeks. My fingers are crossed for it not to take the full 15! Dipping into pool news, as of February 1st, the indoor pool will not close from noon to 1:00 pm. News from the gym includes a Zumba class that was added at 7:00 pm. Beginning Wednesday, February 16th, two additional Reformer classes started with a new instructor, Jorge. He will also offer an introductory reformer class on Wednesday, February 9th, at 6:00 and

6:50 pm, for those who have never taken these classes before. Those interested in the class should sign-up is available at the front desk. Cari will do another gym orientation on Sunday, February 20th. These have been very well attended. Our Assistant Golf Professional John Morrison will be leaving to become the Head Golf Professional at Lawrence Country Club. We are proud and very happy for him but also so very sorry to lose him. We wish him the best of luck. Winter golfers and walkers must checkin at the Country Club desk before going out. We want everyone to be safe. And the most romantic news of all, we will be having a Valentine Dancing and Dessert party by the indoor pool on Sunday, February 20th, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. It will be a small party limited to only 80 people, but it represents a new beginning! Tickets went on sale on February 5th at 10 am.

MARIA TERMINI MILLER PHOTO

A new evening Zumba class has been added at the NST Country Club.

Cooperative vs. Condo Ownership

By Richard Levine Capital Improvements Chairman

furnished with electric service via its own generators. Comparing the significant differences between co-op and condominium ownership is necessary to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each form of congregate residential ownership. A condominium owner has the exclusive right to use and occupy an allotted unit and an undivided interest in the property’s common areas. The purchaser acquires an interest in the fee simple of the unit. The acquisition is similar to acquiring a singlefamily, detached residence and not nearly as complex as the acquisition of a cooperative residence. Cooperative ownership is a form of ownership in a multi-unit complex whereby the purchaser receives shares of stock in the cooperative corporation and a proprietary lease on the apartment being purchased. If there is a mortgage, the unit owner must pay a proportionate share of the property operating expenses and debt service on the underlying mortgage on the site and buildings. The proportionate share is determined by dividing the shares of stock issued to the apartment owner divided by the total number of issued shares for the entire property. Both the shares of stock and the proprietary lease are considered personal property. They become collateral

if any lender finances the co-op apartment. Loans against a condominium apartment are secured by a lien against the title to the condo so that financing a condominium is a more accessible transaction. Purchasing and selling cooperative apartments is a more intrusive process than conducting similar transactions regarding condominiums. A screening committee reviews the applicant’s net worth, annual income, credit history, and character references when purchasing a co-op. The committee conducts an in-person interview, and after that process, the entire board membership reviews the data and takes a vote of approval or disapproval. This same screening process takes place when any unit is purchased or sold. In both co-op and condo communities, the boards are invested with the authority to act on behalf of the shareholders and unit owners in carrying out the community’s business. They are fiduciaries for the shareholders and unit owners. A fiduciary is defined in The Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal, Fifth Edition as, “a relationship of trust between two parties, in which one has the duty to act for the benefit of the other party.” Fiduciary duty is closely aligned with the duties of care, loyalty, and obedience. Continued on Page 11

TOWER TIMES • March 2022 • 5

efore moving to North Shore Towers and Country Club Co-operative in April 2019, my wife and I resided for approximately 10 years in a newly constructed, low-rise, wood frame, active senior condominium residence in central Nassau County. That community consists of an approximately 20-acre gated site, improved with more than 20 two and one-half story buildings containing a total of 408 apartments, a twostory clubhouse including a gym, an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool. There is assigned outdoor parking. I was elected for two consecutive, threeyear terms to the five-member board as a vice-president and director. My primary assignments were to be in charge of capital improvements and spearhead the negotiations with the sponsor-developer to resolve some construction oversights and defects. After arduous negotiations conducted over an approximately three-year period, a settlement was reached whereby the sponsor rectified several million dollars of defects at his own expense.

In April 2019, we sold our apartment at a substantial profit and moved to NST. In June 2021, I was elected to the NST Board with my focus directed to capital improvements, which is consistent with my career background involved in property development, financing, operations, and appraisal over a 65-year period. NST is a much more complex property than my former residence. Because of its size (1,844 apartments in three fireproof, high-rise towers) and many amenities, it is known as a unique cooperative property in the marketplace. Those of us who reside here are aware of the convenience of the various retail establishments in the Arcade, including a 400-seat movie theatre, two restaurants, a general food store, fruit and flower store, drug store, dry cleaner, and beauty salon. Other indoor facilities are a well-equipped gym and an indoor pool. The two outdoor pools, the tennis courts, Pickleball facilities, and an 18-hole golf course are the outdoor recreational features of the 110acre subject site. There is a 24-hour security service along with doormen and a concierge in each of the three residential towers. There is a three-level, underground parking garage with a 2,500-vehicle capacity and on-site outdoor parking for more than 300 vehicles. The entire complex is

Shop Close To Home. Support Arcade Vendors

6 • TOWER TIMES • March 2022

(718) 352-0548

Regular Car Wash $17 • SUVs $20

To advertise In The Tower Times email: TowerTimesPublisher@gmail.com

TOWER TIMES • March 2022 • 7

LONG ISLAND FOOT CENTERS Welcoming New Patients for: LONG ISLAND FOOT CENTERS

Welcoming New Patients for:

HARRY

ROSENBERG

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

LONG ISLAND FOOT CENTERS

SERVING ELDERLY, DISABLED AND HOME-BOUND PATIENTS IN THE COMFORT AND SERVING ELDERLY, DISABLED AND SAFETY OF THEIR OWN HOME. HOME-BOUND PATIENTS IN THE COMFORT AND SAFETY OF THEIR OWN HOME.

Podiatry Care at Home

General Podiatry • Nail Care • Calluses • Geriatric Diabetic • Wound Care •• Calluses & Much More General Podiatry • Nail Care • Geriatric Diabetic • Wound Care • & Much More

Accounting, Bookkeeping and Tax Preperation Services

Call for a free consultation to discuss your individual needs

Dr. Robert Peck Dr. Robert Peck

BOARD CERTIFIED PODIATRIST WhenBOARD you decideCERTIFIED to entrust me with health of your feet, it PODIATRIST immediately becomes my number one priority. I’m a native New Yorker Long I value the relationships When youand decide to Islander. entrust me with health of your feet,I form it with each patient, and a long in immediately becomes mybelieve numberthat onegoes priority. I’m way a native their health carethe outcomes. New Yorker improving and Long Islander. I value relationships I form with each patient, and believe that goes a long way in improving health Give me atheir call to care findoutcomes. out how

I can help you or your loved one today. Give me a call to find out how I can help you or your loved one today.

516-587-9981 516-587-9981

***VOTED MOST COMPASSIONATE DOCTOR BY HIS PATIENTS*** ***VOTED MOST COMPASSIONATE DOCTOR BY HIS PATIENTS*** We accept Traditional Medicare Part B, and other insurances. Please call to find out. We accept Traditional Medicare Part B, and other insurances. Please call to find out.

Tel: (917) 670-2367

Long Island Foot Centers Island Foot Centers Dr.Long Robert Peck, DPM, FACPM Dr. Robert DPM, FACPM Call: Peck, 516-587-9981 Call: 516-587-9981 www.longislandfootcenters.com www.longislandfootcenters.com

THOMAS M. AMATO Co., Inc.

8 • TOWER TIMES • March 2022

•Custom Reupholstery •Leather Reconditioning •Wood Refinishing •Antique Restoration •On-Site Architectural Woodwork Restoration www.amatofurniture.com

105 Years of Service: You Can’t Put a Price on Trust

Free Estimate from Photo

pamato@amatofurniture.com, jamato@amatofurniture.com • (718) 391-0877 51-02 21st Street, Long Island City, NY 11101

NST Women’s Club: The Dynamic Duo By Vicki Mazel

he huge success of the Women’s Club is due to the hard work and efforts of co-presidents Gloria Beck, in charge of programming, and Chickie Kaufman, in charge of membership. The club now has the largest membership on record. These two leaders have spawned innovative and academic paths through their talents and creative energy to give our members an array of dynamic programs, especially welcome during these trying times. With the assistance of Vicki Mazel, Eva Kessner, Marilyn Goldberg, and other Steering and Program and Events Committees, future programs promise to be diverse and exciting. Holiday parties, movie reviews on Channel 995, the new Lunch Bunch series “Woman to Woman,” luncheons, and light-hearted fare like Bingo and card parties are also on the agenda for the coming months. With winter and the Omicron waning, we look forward to in-person meetings as soon as they can be

implemented. Here Comes The Judge! The upcoming speaker for the Lunch Bunch “Woman to Woman” series is slated to be Judge Phoebe Greenbaum, who had the distinction of being a New York State Family Court Judge for 21 years. Judge Greenbaum will discuss her background and some of her cases and involve the audience in her verdict decision. Whereas the luncheon meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 7th, at Towers on the Green at noon, future Lunch Bunch events will feature accomplished women of North Shore Towers. Due to precarious circumstances, you must check Towers bulletin boards for final information on the venue. An email blast will be forthcoming before that date. Look for the flyers with the yellow rose. In addition to mailrooms and lobbies, another venue for notices has been offered to us at the library in the Arcade. Tina Sapienza, a former librarian for the New York Public Library at 42nd Street and now at North Shore Towers, has graciously offered us space on her events board and will include any information of importance to

Treatment At Home

our members. Stop by and say hello. Remember, all live meetings are subject to members showing their vaccination cards. No one will be admitted without displaying it upon entrance to the Towers on the Green. The luncheon fee is to be determined, and you will be informed of the details on posters and by email. To sign up for luncheon, contact Eva Kessner, evakess@nyc.rr.com, or Marilyn Goldberg, mfgoldberg9401@gmail.com. The Zoom Boom Another asset of the Women’s Club is our member, Judy Paris, whose technical expertise is instrumental in providing us with Zoom programs throughout this pandemic season. Her latest success was with our “Ladies of Learning” academic series, launched by Professor James Coll. The January 10th and January 24th topics were “The Life and Constitution of Antonin Scalia,” and Part Two was Ruth Bader Ginsburg with some emphasis on the relationship between these left and right-leaning Justices. Scalia, a Harvard Law School graduate, became a Supreme Court Justice in 1986. He was confirmed with 98-0 votes in the Senate and became

the first Italian American appointed to the court. He served 30 years on the bench and was a spokesman for the conservative point of view. His decisions spanned cases of handgun legislation, flag burning, and he often voted against his own political beliefs in favor of upholding the constitution. He shot down any violation of amendments in the Bill of Rights. He even gave Fourth Amendment protection to defendants in criminal cases if it was merited according to the written law. In discussing Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Monday, January 24th Zoom meeting, Professor Coll traced her graduation from Columbia Law School and her early interest in gender equality, abortion rights, and a strong tendency to defend ACLU positions. Several of her cases involved women in the military, Roe vs. Wade, and the strong belief that women should handle their own reproductive futures. She was the daughter of a Russian Jewish immigrant and rose to academic prominence throughout her student career. Starting in Flatbush, Brooklyn, she went to Cornell and Harvard Law School. Continued on Page 13

YOUR ON-SITE AUDIOLOGIST

STAY SAFE while getting the treatment you need to Hear Clearly, Stop Tinnitus and Reduce Dementia Risk! The World’s first hearing aid with an on-board Deep Neural Network (DNN) A Hearing Aid that automatically learns & adapts for you!

Science shows that we hear with our brains and not our ears. Our cutting-edge technology helps your brain decipher intricate details of relevant sounds for better speech understanding with less effort and the ability to remember more. All in a rechargeable hearing aid that delivers direct streaming from iPhone and Android™. This is why we’re excited to tell you about this new technology Dr. Patricia Salamone, Au.D. designed to bring you closer to life’s special moments.

NORTH SHORE TOWERS

269-10 Grand Central Parkway Building 3, Arcade 5

(718) 550-1227 www. hearbeautifuIly.com

TOWER TIMES • March 2022 • 9

Dr. Amy Sapodin, Au.D., F-AAA, CCC-A

QUALIFIED HOME CARE, LLC Non-Medical Private HHA Senior Care in Your Home

•Caring Companionship •Respite Care •Errands & Appointments •Help with Personal Care •Meal Preparation •Light Housekeeping (516) 570-3069 qualifiedhome@yahoo.com www.qualifiedhomecarellc.com

10 • TOWER TIMES • March 2022

We Take Care of Your Loved Ones Needs

Men’s Club: The Formative Years By Howard Arkin

he idea for the North Shore Towers Men’s Club came to its founder, Al Fuchs, while on vacation in Florida about 10 years ago. Seeing that many of the condos in Florida had men’s clubs, he thought why not one for North Shore Towers? Sixty men attended the club’s first meeting, and the club was off and running. Almost 10 years have gone by, and the club’s membership has grown to over 150. It’s been encouraging to see the membership holding steady despite what we have experienced over the past two years. The club has had the good fortune to have four more than competent men serve as president over the past nine years.

The first was its founder, Al Fuchs, followed by Toby Horowitz, Arnie Rabinowitz and Steve Auerbach. The club benefited greatly by all of them having owned or managed large and small companies before their retirements. Others to be thanked for their efforts in the club’s formative years are Gary Zwetchkenbaum, Leo Tujak, Paul Nettler, Gerry Gilbert, Artie Rose, and Dan Broad. If I omitted anyone, please accept my apologies. Unfortunately, one of the club’s bestkept secrets is its website. It was revamped by Toby Horowitz a short time ago, and it is both as interesting and informative as any that I visit. It’s open to non-club members, too (NorthShoreTowersMensClub.org). Who knows, reading it might inspire you to become a club member. The open mic meeting, which was trans-

Cooperative vs. Condo Ownership Continued from Page 11 Officers and Directors of corporations must act with honesty, good faith, and fairness. Under the Business Judgment Rule, officers and directors may not be held liable for business decisions made in good faith and with reasonable care, even if such decisions do turn out to harm the corporation. With respect to both co-ops and condominiums, one of the most important ongoing relationships is between the board and the management company. This is especially true in a property as large and complex as NST, where both the management company and the board bear a heavy

burden of responsibilities. Neither the board nor the management company can afford to lose sight of their prescribed obligations. The board is a fiduciary vested with the responsibility of representing all shareholders in all matters arising at NST. The management company is a contractor, albeit a major one, carrying out a potpourri of responsibilities, but under the aegis of the board. Successful operation of NST requires both entities to recognize their obligations and maintain a relationship of mutual respect while remaining faithful to their respective prescribed roles.

TO ADVERTISE: TowerTimesPublisher@gmail.com The Tower Times is published monthly by Tower Times Publications, Inc., and is distributed to the residents of North Shore Towers and the surrounding area. The Tower Times is an independent publication, and is not affiliated in any way with the management of North Shore Towers. COMPOSITION RESPONSIBILITY: The Tower Times will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertisement beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Copyright © 2022 Tower Times Publications, Inc. No part of this publication including advertising may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from the publishers.

It was noted that some of the card players were not wearing masks. What’s the rule? Paul Arden did have some strong views on the subject, which he expressed with enough multi-syllable words that would have made William Safire proud. I think that I agreed with him, but after the meeting, I went up to my apartment and consulted with Merriam Webster. Upcoming Events Thursday, March 10th via Zoom, Dr. Martins Welch, at 7:30 pm, will discuss medicinal cannabis. Monday, March 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th, open mic at the Coleridge Room or via Zoom at 10:30 am. Sunday, March 27th, Bingo in the main card room, at 7:30 pm. We hope to see Men’s Club members online for these events.

Why People Move to NST Nine years ago, I bought an apartment apartment and loved it. I asked him why in Building 2, and two years later I he picked North shore Towers. He said the maintenance is very cheap. bought an apartment in Building If he took an apartment it would 1. I had two different real estate cost him more, and the price of agents. the studio was very cheap. No one told me about “The I then went to the garden Pond.” I still don’t know where and asked a couple why they’re it is. When it’s warmer, I’ll ask moved here. They told me it my doorman, since he knows Bud Bank was because they could get everything. I also went to a new resident get- two parking spots. Where they lived together. No one spoke about the pond, previously, they only got one spot and the basketball court, or the barbecue had to ride around and around in the in the back of Building 3. No one told street looking for another parking spot. I was in the lobby one day, and I saw me about the gentleman opposite the golf shop that cleans and polishes your this very attractive woman. She said she sneakers and shoes for two dollars. was waiting for her husband to pick her Because of inflation, it is now three up, and I asked her why they had moved here. She said she could tell her friends dollars. Also, no one told me about the men’s that she has a doorman that opens the car card room. Women are allowed to go and door for her, and she also has a concierge play there, but men are not allowed in the and lives in a luxury building. She gave me a big smile. woman’s cardroom. Last night I went downstairs in I did not even know we had a pool table room where you could learn to the lobby waiting for someone new. A couple came in. They said they moved in play pool. I missed out on all these things for recently and the reason they moved here is because it has everything. many years. We should be able to sell many Now let me tell you why people move to North Shore Towers. I met a young apartments, low maintenance, low prices, man on the garage elevator. He had on a and the pond. Don’t forget the doorman very large and heavy backpack. I asked concierge. Now we know why people are him if his mom or grandmother lived here, and he told me he bought a studio moving to North Shore Towers.

TOWER TIMES • March 2022 • 11

Editor and Publisher Michael Kohn

ferred from the Coleridge Room to Zoom, proved one of our more lively sessions. It took about 45 minutes for the 17 members to figure out how President Joe Biden and the Democrats could solve their Manchin–Sinema problem. Biden’s Putin Ukraine problem proved to be more difficult. If we are still around, we will know how that turned out. New York City is at the height of our crime problem, and the general feeling was one of frustration. But hopefully, Mayor Eric Adam’s policies would prove to be more successful than those of his predecessors. Before we adjourned, Gary Darche added another topic to the agenda. It was one that we seem to have discussed forever: “masks and vaccinations.” As you might have guessed, we were in total agreement, “wear your mask and get vaccinated.”

Shop Close To Home. Support Arcade Vendors

Advertise in the TOWER TIMES

12 • TOWER TIMES • March 2022

TowerTimesPublisher@gmail.com

To advertise In The Tower Times, email: towertimespublisher@gmail.com

NST Women’s Club: The Dynamic Duo Continued from Page 9 After marrying law school student Martin Ginsburg, he also attended Harvard Law School. He developed testicular cancer. She continued attending classes, caring for him, and raising a daughter as well. To simplify their daily lives, they moved to NY, where she transferred to Cornell and made Law Review. She simultaneously helped her husband through his law school classes

and was an intellectual powerhouse. President Bill Clinton nominated Ginsburg to the Supreme Court t in 1993 to fill the seat vacated by Justice Byron White. On the Supreme Court, Scalia and Ginsburg bantered with each other, emphasizing their often polar opposite positions yet having a healthy respect for each other. Scalia on Ginsburg: “What’s not to like? Except for her views on the law.” Ginsburg

The Room Where It Happened By Marian Nemetsky

and lecturer Thomas Germano, 7:15 pm, Zoom. “36 Most Expensive Works of Art in the World.” Contact: judyparis@twc. com for Zoom information. Monday, March 28th Cinema Club movie review, 4:00 pm, channel 995, “The Lost Daughter.” Thursday, April 7th, Lunch Bunch, “Woman to Woman,” Towers on the Green, 12:00 pm, Judge Phoebe Greenbaum, luncheon price TBD. Bring vaccination card Wednesday, April 13th, John Kendrick, Barbra Streisand, 7:15 pm, large cardroom. Coming up: Spring Luncheon Card Game Day Bingo Brooklyn U.S.A. Day. Verse By Vicki Hail to the Cheifs! Leaders of the club sure keep busy, Watch them in action makes you dizzy. Plan and phone to get programs done, Keep our minds nourished or a little fun. Worked hard during the pandemic, Getting speakers who are academic. Using resources from higher institutions, Including a series on the Constitution. Work pays off, we’re not dying embers. Even had a surge of new members. Co-Prez Chickie can’t resist, Going over the membership list. Co-Prez Gloria always plays a key role, Getting speakers like Professor Coll. All is first class-nothing sub, Proud to be part of the Women’s Club!. What Are You Waiting For? To enjoy the above programs, you must be a dues-paying member of the Women’s Club. To ensure your place, give a $25 check payable to North Shore Towers Women’s Club to the concierge in Building 3 in an envelope addressed to: Chickie Kaufman, Building 3, Apt. 1T. Include name, address, apartment number, email address, home, and cell phone numbers.. Membership is valid until July 1st when the calendar year starts again.

To advertise in the Tower Times: TowerTimesPublisher@gmail.com

TOWER TIMES • March 2022 • 13

ife happens. Some people always want to be in “the room where it happens.” Others are relieved not to be present at all. Where do YOU fit in? Act 1 Scene 1 Time 1790: A Small Secret Chamber The infamous Aaron Burr was just shut out of an important political meeting between Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. “I want to be in the game. I want skin in the game. I want to be in ‘the room where it’s happening,” he furiously declared. But that invitation never came, and a compromise was hammered out that still affects our nation today. His obsession with always being in “the room where it happened” left him with a tragic legacy. Act 2 Scene 1 Time 2005: A Large Assembly Hall She was in an auditorium with other prospective jurors, bored and annoyed, waiting for her number to be called. Finally, she and eleven others were ushered into a smaller room to hear presentations from the lawyers about the case to be tried. Each lawyer made compelling arguments. Her inner thoughts went from, “OK, Let’s just get this over with, to, “OMG, this is so important!” “Given what you heard, could you render a fair decision in this case?” asked one of the lawyers as he polled each prospective juror. Her hands went cold and clammy, and her heart started racing as he came closer and closer to her. In her head, she went over all the facts she had heard. When he came to her, she mumbled. “No.” “Why not?”

“Well,” she replied in a shaky voice that she barely recognized as her own, “Each argument sounds so possible that I don’t want to make a decision that could affect a person for the rest of his life, or maybe, even my life.” The two lawyers spoke to each other briefly, nodded to her, and declared, “dismissed.” “Thank you,” she uttered with a sigh of relief and her head down. The verdict would not be hers to make. “I’m so glad that I won’t be in ‘the room where it happens!” Act 3 Scene 1 Time 2015: A Bar in New York City The invitation came from a Facebook’ friend’ to attend a twenty-fourth birthday party. She grappled with it. Should she attend or not? She hardly knew the person, but you never know, it could be fun. She decided to “Go for it” and dragged a reluctant friend along, so they could make a quick getaway, if necessary. Then, something wonderful happened. Just like the words to the song, “Some Enchanted Evening,” “You may see a stranger Across a crowded room And somehow, you know, You know even then, That somehow, you’ll see him Again, and again.” And, just like the song, this stranger and she talked and laughed as if they knew each other forever. Thinking about it made her smile as she took one last glance at herself in the mirror, dressing to celebrate their three-year wedding anniversary. She made the right choice to go into “the room where it happened.” So, have you thought about it? When Life happens, do you prefer to be, or are you relieved not to be, in “the room where it happens?”

on Scalia: “I disagree with most of what he said, but I loved the way he said it.” This mutual admiration would continue until they no longer served together. They were dubbed “Bookends of the Supreme Court.” The Constitution series continued on February 14th and February 28th and will be reported in the next issue of this newspaper. The topics “The National Government vs. the State Government–Who wins?” and “Understanding Gerrymandering, the Census, and What that Means.” In addition, Professor Coll will be returning this summer to continue the constitutional series of programs. Homebound? The Samuel Field “Y” has Zoom programs that they are willing to share with our residents. Programs include Chair Yoga, dancercise, mind aerobics, “A Time For Healing,” and more. If you are interested in learning more, the contact person is Fern Prusak. Email Forusak at commonpointqueens.org. Phone number is (718) 225-6790: Ask for a brochure. Lights, Camera, Action! “The Lost Daughter,” in dealing with a mother who deserts her daughters to pursue her career and a lover, faces a myriad of conflicts in life choices. It takes on a second meaning when a child is lost at the beach and the irony of feelings that a woman faces after leaving her children. The main character, Leda, illustrates the frustration of finding an avenue of escape, only to suffer lingering guilt. Is work the ultimate escape? Vicki Mazel and Dr. Nurit Israeli will review the film on Monday, March 28th at 4:00 pm and call “the ultimate maternal sin,” the mothers, played by Jesse Buckley and Olivia Colman, who span two decades of conflict. In a nice twist of casting, Peter Sarsgaard, Maggie’s real-life husband, is cast as Professor Hardy and love of Leda. Dakota Johnson rounds out the cast and looks great in a bikini. Join us for an exciting talk about a provocative film. What’s Coming Up? The Ideas of March Wednesday, March 9th, art historian

Cultural Affairs: Anatomy of the Larynx By Lorraine Bertan Cultural Affairs Committee

ccording to the fossil record, the anatomy of the larynx in early humans allowed for the development of speech. The coupling of the speech mechanism and symbolic reasoning made communication possible among early humans, and the development of language allowed for further expansion of societies. Clapping hands creates sounds and can develop a rhythm.

Humans can produce sounds of various pitches, which suggests that singing may have come before talking, and if so, what does music play a role in early human society? Humans’ upright posture, which facilitates walking, running, and jumping, lends itself to dancing and rhythm. Could all these activities lead to a more communal society and organize human behavior? Religious observances usually include singing, and marching armies incorporate music, whether singing or using instruments. Horns allow sound to be transported long distances. Reptiles, amphibians, and mammals have a larynx, a voice box at the top of the throat that protects the airway and contains the vocal cords. Birds have a larynx, but their unique tunes come from the syrinx, an organ lower down in their chest, near where the windpipe splits into the two lungs. The larynx and syrinx are cartilage tubes supported by folds of tissue. The impressive bellowing of crocodiles is a result of a very large larynx. Muscles control the opening and closing of the vocal cords. Muscles control the vibration of the vocal cords, which determines frequency or pitch. If the vocal cords do not vibrate symmetrically, the sound is hoarse. The size of the larynx is significant in producing sound. The larger larynx will

14 • TOWER TIMES • March 2022

Winter View from NST

MARIA TERMINI MILLER PHOTO

have longer vocal cords that lower the pitch frequency, as in human males and females. The sound is affected by the lungs, larynx, and articulators (lips, teeth, tongue, nose, cheeks, and facial structures above the larynx). The normal speaking voice pitch for males is between 100-120 Hz for men and 200-240 Hz for women, a difference of one octave higher for women. The frequency is about 300 Hz for children. Middle C frequency is 256 Hz and is known as C4 or C in musical notation. The lungs blow air through the nearly closed vocal cords and set them into vibration. The diaphragm provides the power or amplitude for the sound, which is why actors and singers concentrate on using their diaphragm. At the Metropolitan Opera house in New York City, singers must project their voices throughout the auditorium, which requires significant energy while maintaining extraordinary pitch. Luciano Pavarotti’s tenor range was C3F5. Middle C is the fourth C on the piano, and C4 represents middle C. Pavarotti could sing C3, an octave below middle C up to F5, an octave and one half above middle C, a range of almost two octaves. The high tenor voice usually gets the role of the hero and sings love duets with the soprano. Famous opera tenor roles are: Calaf in “Turandot”, Rudolfo in “La Boheme”, Don Jose in “Carman.” Male voices range from countertenors, baritones, base-baritones, and bassos. The baritone range is G2-G4, about two octaves. Baritone roles are usually for older characters, like the father in “La Traviata”, the jester Rigoletto in “Rigoletto.” The two-octave range of the basso singer is from E2-E4. The Verdi opera “Don Carlo” has roles for two bassos, King Philip and the Grand Inquisitor. The soprano range is C4-A5, from middle C to the A above middle C. Some sopranos can go higher, like Anna Netrebko, Mirella Freni, and Joan Sutherland. Sopranos tend to be the heroines of the opera. Some famous roles for lyric or coloratura sopranos are “Lucia di Lammermoor,” Delibes’ “Lakme,” Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment,” and Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” The mezzo-soprano has a range of three octaves, A3-F5. The mezzo-soprano tends to concentrate on roles like “Carman” and “Delilah.” The popular singer, Adele, may be considered a lyric mezzo-soprano. The contralto has the lowest female frequency range, E3-E5, and concentrates on supporting roles, comedy, or villainous fe-

Mammoth and bird bone flute dated around 43,000 years ago from a cave in Germany. male roles like Azucena in Verdi’s “Il Trovatore.” Singers tend to concentrate on a section of their range, the “tessiture,” that range at which they are most comfortable singing. The Greek plays became the basis for early operas since many Greek plays provided an interlude of music. This “intermedi punctuated the drama with song, instrumental music and dance. Like many innovations introduced during the Renaissance, operas were composed for the courts of nobles and performed for a small audience, like the Duke of Mantua, in 1607. The opera was “Orfeo,” and the composer was Claudio Monteverdi, born in 1570. The storyline was developed by recitative singing, which in later operas evolved into arias. The first public opera house was built in Venice in 1643, and “The Coronation of Poppea” by Monteverdi was performed. The storyline was developed by recitative singing, which was to evolve into arias in later operas. The arias made the singers very important, and they, like now, became the rock stars of their days.

Pages From Our Past MARCH 2013 NST Library: A Literary Oasis There is a place where the modern technology of smartphones, iPads, iPods, laptops, and assorted computer devices is not required to disseminate ideas, information, and entertainment. Located just an elevator ride away for the residents of North Shore Towers, there is a welcoming world where old-fashioned storytelling still reigns supreme, with no Wi-Fi required. In fact, the only electricity necessary is the simple light switch that illuminates a room bursting with about 2,000 paperback and hardcover books. The Arcade Library is a literary oasis from the digital world, and one of the most popular amenities the community enjoys year round. Miriam Rabinowitz established the library in the early days of the co-op. Ping Pong Going Strong at the Towers Table tennis or ping-pong originated as a sport in England in the 1880s, where it was played among the upper class as an after-dinner game. In 2013 there was a game played every Sunday morning in the basement of Building 2 at North Shore Towers from 8:00 am to 9:30 am. Art Enthusiast Judy Tane When a session of the Adult Education Art Class ended recently, the residents who were leaving were heard to comment: “She has so much information at her fingertips,” and, “She elaborated on the DVD so well,” as well as, “Who is she, I’ve never seen her before.”

Judy Tane, of Building 2, has only been living at North Shore Towers since November 2012 and was very impressed by the many amenities offered. “For example, the Adult Ed program in art interested me,” she said, “and I quickly signed up, never thinking I would be asked to take over when the original teacher left.” FLA. Snowbirds Celebrate 75th Anniv4ersary NST Florida Snowbirds Daniel and Florence Gross (Building 2) make their winter home on a lake in Kings Point in Delray Beach. They just celebrated their 75th anniversary and are still going strong. MARCH 2017 Memorial and Tolerance Center In an idyllic setting in a rural area of the City of Glen Cove sits an imposing gracious building, once a residence of Long Island’s Pratt family. Welwyn Preserve has been the home of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County for about 20 years but remains an undiscovered treasure for too many Long Islanders. Within its walls are a first-class museum, library, and conference center dedicated to the education of Long Island citizens of all ages and backgrounds about the Holocaust and other tragic examples of man’s inhumanity to man in modern world history. Pouran and Kia Eshghi Many people have come to America to pursue a dream, and such is the case with Pouran and Kia Eshghi. In Tehran, Iran, the couple first met in high school and attended

the same drama school. Honarhaye Zibe was a government-supported school specializing in drama and the arts. Kia was classically trained in Zarb, a Persian drum, toured nationally, and performed on stage, radio, and screen. He was also classically trained in Persian miniatures by master painters of the form. Pouran was part of the theater group and starred in many theatrical productions in Iran. Though still young, they married when Kia was serving in the army.

TOWER TIMES • March 2022 • 15

Discover Resort Living at NORTH SHORE TOWERS Enjoy the Ultimate Luxurious Lifestyle A Community Ahead of It’s Time! THE ONLY GATED GOLF COMMUNITY IN NYC!!

ON THE BORDER OF QUEENS AND NASSAU COUNTY...JUST 16 MILES EAST OF MANHATTAN

EXPERIENCE the MAGIC of NORTH SHORE TOWERS with unlimited and endless opportunities beyond your expectations! Explore NORTH SHORE TOWERS and Country Club, located on 110 acres, with its own lushly manicured private 18-hole, par-72 golf course. This extraordinary award-winning 24-hour gated community, with doormen and concierge services, has a prime location on the border of Queens and Nassau County, just 16 miles east of Manhattan! The TOWERS will afford you a unique luxurious unparalleled residence with incredible views!

16 • TOWER TIMES • March 2022

NORTH SHORE TOWERS offers a sought-after first-class residential destination with a spectacular combination of exceptional amenities. PRIVATE 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE, 5 LIT HAR TRU TENNIS COURTS, CARD ROOMS, CLUBS, STATEOF-THE-ART GYM AND HEALTH SPA WITH AEROBICS CLASSES, HOT TUB, SUANA, STEAM ROOMS, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR POOLS, AND CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND.

Enjoy an indoor arcade mall that features a large variety of shops, including restaurants, Chase Bank, movie theatre, pharmacy, supermarket, fruit and vegetable store, and beauty salon. Additionally, enjoy the peace of mind of FULL-TIME GENERATORS–NEVER BE WITHOUT POWER. Only at NORTH SHORE TOWERS can residents have a resort lifestyle with all the comforts of home! Both a courtesy bus to local shopping and an express MTA bus to Manhattan stop at your front door. Be surrounded by amazing amenities and a dedicated professional service-oriented staff! If you seek a unique blend of city and country club living, to discover this hidden gem, please call ANNETTE KROLL, the only resale broker with 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, SPECIALIZING in apartment sales at NORTH SHORE TOWERS! Your dream lifestyle awaits! A whole new world is only a phone call away, (718) 631-8867 when you call for a personal tour to have ANNETTE help you find the home of your dreams!