Senior writers share their work in Merrick

David Stayer read from a short story about a blind day as he ran his fingers over the Braille in which he wrote it. A Merrick resident of 45 years, he was one of many who shared their work with the members of the Merrick Senior Center’s Creative Writing Workshop at its June 7 showcase.

Stayer wrote professionally for the National Federation of the Blind before pursuing his passion for prose writing. “It expands the imagination,” he said.

Before pursuing his passion for prose writing, which he said “expands the imagination,” Stayer published academic material for the National Federation of the Blind.

He attended his first workshop meeting after his late wife Loraine convinced him to join her roughly 10 years ago. He has been going ever since.

Helen-Marie Keogh, of the Town of Hempstead Department of Senior Enrichment, started the workshop in 1981 to give seniors an opportunity to share their stories.

“[It] hasn’t changed much since it started,” she said. “They bond with each other … and write about their memories.”

Now run by Paula Rodenas, a Merrick resident of 50 years and avid writer, the 16-week program begins in February and culminates in a June showcase and literary magazine to be released in the fall. Its curriculum includes prose writing, various forms of poetry and short plays.

Bernice Busch, a 40-year Oceanside resident, wrote multiple pieces, including one based on her family’s experience during WWII called “A Letter to My Grandpa.”

Busch’s grandfather, Michael Grossman, lived in a Warsaw ghetto during a violent uprising that killed most of his family. He spent his life after the war trying to find his living relatives to no avail. Her poem is from her point-of-view as a child writing a letter to the grandfather she never met. She read at the showcase, “In stage IV cancer, a human dies; in stage IV hatred, humanity dies.”

Mike Hertz, of East Meadow, is known by Rodenas as “The Limerick King.” He read multiple pieces at the showcase from his collection, “The Kvetches Corner,” which highlights the struggles of old age, growing up on Long Island and modern technology. Some of Hertz’ work has been published by the Nassau County Poet Laureate Society.

In addition to Stayer, Busch and Hertz, writers included Cecelia Tumminello De Lusco, Lena Ferguson, Ann Filippelli, Florence Gatto, Rosemarie Godfrey, Helene Hahn, Hazel Marie Watson, Diane Kopitowsky, Stephen loomis, Howard Nacht, Patti Nacht and Joel Schatzberg.