A View from the Hill August 13, 2025

Happy Wednesday!

Welcome to this week’s edition of:

A View from the Hill

Today is International Lefthanders Day.  Since 1976, people have taken this day to celebrate lefthanders and raise awareness about the inconveniences experienced by left-handed people in the world. Left-handed people make up only about 10% of the world’s population.  It is also the 83^rd anniversary of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorizing the "Development of Substitute Materials” project.  Why is this such an important date?  Well, the name of the project was later changed to the “Manhattan Project” which developed the first atomic bomb.  While writing A View from the Hill isn’t nearly as ambitious, this week’s View is packed with information.  I hope that fewer than 10% of my readers experience the inconvenience that lefthanders often feel due to this week’s lengthy edition.  But there is a lot to cover.

TENNIS:

Our MITL 50 LOVE team finished off their season in a tough loss to Apawamis yesterday (8-12).  They finished off the season winning over half their matches, placing them in a tie for fourth in a very tough division.  Let’s give them a hearty congratulations for a great season!

Our WCTL SENIORS team is currently in fourth in their division.  They close out their season with an away match Sunday at Country Tennis Club, who are currently in third.   Let’s wish them luck as they battle to get on the podium.

The Competitive Mixed Doubles Tournament has started.  Fourteen teams have entered the competition, which, in a slightly different format, will be played over the course of the summer.  You can keep track of your favorite couple on the official bracket posted in the Members’ Lounge.

Sunday Round Robin Fun Tournament is set for this weekend at 4:00PM Sunday (what other day would it be?).  No need to reserve a spot, just bring your racquet and your smile to the club to join a relaxing two hours of tennis with your fellow members.  And as always, use the tennis reservation sheet to reserve a court or look for a game.

POOL:

The pool continues to be open every day (Sunday–Thursday, 11:00AM to 7:00PM and Friday & Saturday, 11:00AM to 8:00PM).  Lots of new things happening around the pool this week.  First off, it is finally here!  Water Volleyball makes its appearance tomorrow (Thursday 8-14) at 7PM.  No need to RSVP, just show up and enjoy another new fun activity here at the club.  While Water Volleyball is new to the club, it has been around for over half a century.  Professor Dario Miguel Pedro developed a Brazilian aquatic variation of volleyball called Biribol in the 1960’s.  Thank you, Marco, I don’t know what we would do on Thursday night if it wasn’t for you.

A new Information Board is now on display at the pool.  It will be continually updated with upcoming events (like Water Volleyball this Thursday at 7:00PM) and the name of the Lifeguard on duty. 

And speaking of lifeguards on duty, we bid farewell to Lifeguard Emmet Tucker as he finishes off his third year guarding our lives.  Emmet makes his way back to college in Florida (I guess it isn’t hot enough for him up here).  Join me in wishing him well and reminding him to never let his schooling interfere with his education (grin).  While Emmet departs, no need to worry about gaps in Lifeguard coverage, Zorha Henriquez has joined our staff to fill Emmet’s shoes (well, actually lifeguards don’t wear shoes, but you get the idea).  So, when you see Zorha’s name on the new information board, make sure to give a hearty PHRC welcome.

You probably didn’t know this, but today (8-13) is the 138^th anniversary of the coin-operated telephone.  Yes, back on this day in 1889, inventor William Gray received a patent for creating the telephone that uses coins to operate it.  While the payphone has almost gone the way of the Dodo Bird, you don’t see them around anymore phone (sorry we got rid of the pay phone long ago).  You can now use your cell phone to call in drink orders to the bar.  That is right, no more sitting by the pool constantly watching the gate for the bartender to enter to take orders.  All you need is to do is call (914) 963-2339 to order your drink, and like magic, your drink order will appear.  Be sure to be considerate of the bartender’s time and if you do call in an order, ask around to see if anyone else at the pool is looking for a drink, cutting down on the trips from the bar.

FRIDAY POTLUCK BBQ:

This week’s BBQ features Cedar Plank Salmon! That's right. Rosemary Beirne is continuing her family's great tradition of making delicious, cedar-plank-grilled salmon for all of us at the Club.  This long-standing tradition always marks a high point of the weekly BBQs, however, cooking salmon on cedar planks is a practice that dates back thousands of years in the Pacific Northwest, originating with a great many Indigenous peoples, including the Nuutkaa. 

This Friday is also Hawaiian Shirt Day.  Bring a burst of color to this week’s BBQ.  Just think, one moment you’re in a stiff office chair, the next you’re grinning at someone’s shirt covered in pineapples while feasting on Cedar Plank Salmon as well as the delicious members’ sides and desserts.  Grilling, as always, starts at 7:00PM and will of course include the BBQ staples of hamburgers and hotdogs.

MEMBERS' LOUNGE:

The extended Lounge hours continue with the Members’ Lounge open Monday thru Thursday 3:00PM to 9:00PM, Friday 3:00PM to 11:00PM, Saturday 1:00PM to 9:00PM, and Sunday Noon to 9:00PM.

 As we enter mid-August, remember that in the wine-growing regions of the Northern Hemisphere, August is when grapes begin to ripen, a phase known as véraison.  What better reason to stop by the Members’ Lounge and share a glass of vino with your fellow members and celebrate véraison.  When you do stop by, you might see a new friendly face behind the bar, Francesca Cabrera.  Chess, as she likes to be called (pronounced just like the game of chess) has joined our crack bartending staff.  Please give her a hearty PHRC welcome.  Also note that although her name is Francesca, which is derived from the Latin word for “free”, drinks will still have to be paid for.

That is it for this week’s edition of The View from the Hill.  As always, please reach out to PHRCView@gmail.comwith any comments, corrections, or suggestions you might have.  I love hearing from you.  Hope to see you around the Club,

The ViewMaster

P.S. Talk about miscommunication, when James Cook traveled to Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada, he encountered the villagers at Yuquot in 1778.  When they met, villagers directed him to "come around" (nuutkaa is "to circle around") with his ship to the harbor. Cook interpreted Nuutkaa as the First Nation's name. Thereafter, the term was also applied to the indigenous inhabitants of the area.  The Nuu-chah-nulth have since adopted their preferred name to better reflect their culture and identity.