NVA LT O \VGD D
Redefining Retirement Living
Travelers
To Cuba
Not worried
SAM ENGLAND
Staff Writer
A
recent international incident that
cast historically strained relations
between the United States and Cuba
in the spotlight coincides with two
local excursions to the Communist
country.
But, according to trip participants
and planners, there isn't much reason
to worry.
A soccer team comprised of
Bloomfield Hills Andover and Lahser
high schoolers has spent this week
playing and practicing in Cuba. Also,
the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit, plans to take a
group there this weekend. The story
earlier this month of a young Cuban
boy rescued from the ocean while flee-
ing his country and taken into U.S.
custody, and the resulting tensions
between the two nations trying to dic-
tate his fate, has organizers here a little
concerned but not panicked.
"As far as we're concerned," said
David Magidson, leader of the JCC's
"Jewish Cuba" tour. "We have the
tickets and we have our visas and
we're ready to go" on the scheduled
departure date of Dec. 13.
"The only thing that could stop us
is either the Cuban government says,
`You can't come in,' or the U. S. gov-
ernment says, You can't go out.' So
far, that's not happened. So we're
hopeful that everything will be fine."
West Bloomfield's Sam Skeegan,
whose son Louis played in the
Maccabi Games and has accompanied
the soccer team to Cuba, reported
having been in daily contact with
other parents. Though concerned ini-
tially when news broke of the rescued
6-year-old Cuban boy, Elian
Gonzalez, Skeegan said he and other
players' families are assured of the
team's safety and enjoyment.
"It does not look like there is any
problem. They were to visit today that
section in Cuba where a lot of the
demonstrations and such take place,
and apparently [there were] a lot of
youth demonstrations. But our
impression is those are organized
demonstrations and, as of now,
[Cuban leader Fidel] Castro is not
TRAVELERS To CUBA on page 18
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