In one of the highlights of the Retired Teachers Chapter’s 28th annual Day at the University on Sept. 8 at union headquarters, retirees dance in a kickline as singer-songwriter Lou Del Bianco (behind them, from the stage) belts out “New York, New York,” an iconic song Frank Sinatra made famous. The day has deep roots in the tradition of continuous learning in organized labor, RTC Chapter Leader Tom Murphy said. “The small, visionary handful of RTC founders in the 1960s would be amazed and proud of the retirees here today pursuing the love of learning,” he said.

The 150 retirees in attendance had a choice of five workshops, including Politics and the Supreme Court and Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Games and Puzzles of the Broadway Legend. Retired teacher Martin Raskin showed off parts of his collection of more than 1,000 items of New York City public schools memorabilia. Barry Joseph, who wrote “The Path to Seltzertopia,” gave the keynote address about the history of seltzer in the United States. When he finished, attendees enjoyed a chocolate egg cream, a classic New York drink of seltzer, milk and chocolate syrup.