Stephanie Denya
Retired Deputy Health Director for the City of Meriden, Author, and Owner/Operator of Advanced Nurse Consultants, LLC
"Individuals Living in Hoarding Conditions"
Sept. 29, 2026

On Sept. 29, some 39 Y’s Men heard an illustrated presentation by Stephanie Denya, Retired Deputy Health Director for the City of Meriden, Author, and Owner/Operator of Advanced Nurse Consultants, LLC. She spoke about hoarding, which in its extreme is a serious psychiatric illness.

Denya first reviewed the nationally known case of a 12-year-old student from Meriden, Connecticut, whose tragic death by suicide (hanging) in January 2002 sparked major legal and legislative changes regarding school bullying. Hoarding had resulted in the child having body odors and unclean clothes.  Following extensive investigation, Connecticut became the first state in the country to pass legislation aimed at prevention 

Denya next described a case from her Health Dept. experience involving a home where the father kept many dozens of chickens as pets which lived upstairs with the family. A school resource officer reported the child as smelly and disheveled, and who never had friends over. A subsequent onsite investigation revealed a home loaded with masses of debris, dust, and sacks of chicken food, rendering the home untenable. Under pressure, the family eventually cleaned out the house.

A school Principal’s referral resulted in another investigation involving a high schooler who smelled of cat urine, and who wore the same unwashed clothes day after day. Investigation revealed more than 20 cats in the home; the boy lived in a pull-down attic, which was found to contain numerous bottles of the child’s urine. The children were removed from the home and the parents ordered to clean out the house (which they eventually did).

And neighbors reported a strong cat odor coming from the home of a proud 98-year-old woman named Winnie. Authorities, after a difficult access,  found the home partially destroyed by 40-50 cats; both the wallpaper and the flooring were ruined by cat spraying. The occupant, surrounded by piles of hoarded materials, was forced to sleep on a sofa amid the debris.  She was relocated and spent $50,000 for a clean-out.

The worst case of hoarding inspected by Denya involved a 911 call for a possible stroke. When she arrived, she and others had to wear protective suits and avoid the garbage that littered the floor. The working toilet had sewage coming out, and the kitchen was so filled with materials that it was unusable. The couple and their dog were relocated to a hotel while a clean-out got underway.

Hoarding

Hoarding

Hoarding

Hoarding

Jay Kaplan, M.D.
Y's Men Member
"Journeys through New York, my favorite city" (Part one)
Sept. 22, 2026

A sizable crowd of 44 Y’s Men of Meriden (including the induction of four new members) met on Sept. 22 to hear club member Jay Kaplan present an illustrated program titled “Journeys through New York, my favorite city”. Kaplan’s love of this city was apparent during his presentation – in fact, this was only part one (of two) about this subject, the remainder to follow at a later date. 

He began by listing some dos and don’ts when visiting, including the use of Google Maps or an app when navigating the city’s subways and buses, plus one should buy the OMNY reduced fare card. Other tips: have good walking shoes, a memo pad, compass and a cell phone (and take lots of pictures). Plus check out the numerous free NYC museums and events, and many discounts for Broadway shows and restaurants. Bring a supply of dollar bills for tipping. And spend some time in subway stations to appreciate the beautiful artwork, often backed by music. 

Kaplan then took his audience on an illustrated tour, beginning with Grand Central Station, the Morgan Library, Bryant Park, N.Y. Public Library, Carmine’s Restaurant and Broadway shows. Following the Diamond district (through which 80 percent of all U.S. diamond traffic passes), it was on to Rockefeller Center, Christie’s Auction House, Radio City Music Hall, Saks Fifth Avenue and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and museum row on 5th Ave. (including the Museum of the City of New York) followed, leading to Central Park and the Guggenheim Museum. 

And we’re not done yet! The recently reopened Frick Gallery was another destination as well as the Chelsea and Whitney Museums. And stay tuned for the second half of this extensive tour.

Times Square

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Radio City Music Hall

FAO Schwarz

Y's Men "Town Hall" Planning Meeting
Sept. 15, 2026

The Y’s Men first meeting of the 2026-2027 year was a joint gathering of the Board of Directors with all members of the club. It was the opportunity to share likes and dislikes with current programming and work on expanding membership.

Bryan Titus
Appalachian Trail "Through Hiker"
"My 2,200 mile walk of the Appalachian Trail”
June 9, 2026

During the last regular session of the year on June 9 (with new meetings beginning in September), some 37 Y’s Men of Meriden heard an illustrated talk by Bryan Titus about his 2013 through-hike of the Appalachian Trail. This remarkable achievement began on Springer Mountain in Georgia and concluded about six months later (after hiking 2200 miles) on Mt. Katahdin in Maine.

The 35 year old Titus started this adventure accompanied by his wife Katie, but she was forced to drop out in Tennessee following a leg fracture. The trail was marked about every 300 yards by unique white blazes from Georgia to Maine, mostly painted on trees, but occasionally on large rocks or other structures. Titus carried his tent, food and medical supplies in a backpack, but often was able to sleep in maintained shelters; food was replenished about weekly at small community stores. Food at night had to be carefully hung from a tree branch to protect it from predators.

Visibility of the skyline was limited by heavy tree growth and was best seen by climbing intermittent fire towers.  The Trail mostly consisted of a path through the terrain, but sometimes ran over rock formations, across streams and even through towns. Wildlife was abundant: herds of wild pigs (boars), butterflies, giant centipedes, copperhead and rattlesnakes, deer, bears, wild ponies and ever-present ticks (which required removal once or more daily).

Titus began the hike weighing 185 lbs., ending at 160 lbs. During the trek, his backpack weight dropped from about 43 lbs. to 33 lbs. His slides showed an array of mountain laurel, wild honeysuckle and rhododendron. The hike ended by traversing Maine’s “100-mile wilderness” leading to Mt. Katahdin. Following this presentation, Titus, a professional musician, then performed a song he had written, spurred by recollections of the Appalachian Trail experience.

The beginning of the trail at Amicalola Falls State Park.
The official beginning is at the top of Springer Mountain about 9 miles from there.

Even in Georgia there is snow in the mountains in March!
The Appalachian Trail is marked by signature white paint “blazes” every 200 feet or so.
They stretch all the way to Maine!


The unofficial midway point of the Trail is at  Harper’s Ferry, Virginia.
It is the site of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy HQ.

The northern terminus of the trail is at the top of Mount Katahdin in Maine