Vol. 24, No. 1 – January 2020 PRSRT STD P.O. Box 70, Millstone, N.J. 08510 ECRWSS A Monthly Periodical Serving Greenbriar at Whittingham U.S. Postage PAID EDDM Retail Monroe Twp., NJ 08831 PRESENTED BY THE RESIDENTS CIVIC CLUB OF GREENBRIAR AT WHITTINGHAM New Year Acrostic GW Chorus Sings: How’s the Weather? By Ben Baum o war anymore N veryone parties when the appiness E ball drops H ishes for good health uld Lang Syne A W ou can positively change The GW Chorus ut hatred aside someone’s life Y By Joan Hermelee and Hayon. The weather got colder as the fact that when you listen to a P very day in 2020 is a gift the chorus sang, “Let it Snow”. song performed by them and you Ben Baum eace E On December 11, the GW Ora Shapiro, Charlie Ohn, Bronna are familiar with the original, these n act of kindness goes Chorus, sponsored by the Resi- Galitsis, and Diane Stanley sang talented singers are able to permit P out about “The Wind Beneath My you to identify with this new ver- along way dents Civic Club, performed outh-the future for 2020 A songs based on the weather. Wings”. The chorus sang sion of the song- think of Ora and esolutions Lois Hayon, Conductor, and “Lightning Strikes”, featuring Gary Charlie in “Wind Beneath My and beyond Filik, who impressed with his fal- Wings” (Bette Midler), Ivan and Y Janet Blau, Director, led the R setto and his moving first verse. Lydia in “A Foggy Day” (Frank members of the chorus with tunes that affect everyone’s The chorus finished on an up Sinatra) and Howie In “They Call perceptions and feeling and just note finishing with a delightful the Wind Mariah” (Harve Pres- plain make us feel good. The “Good Day Sunshine.” The pres- nell). And in this performance, we chorus began with “Windy” a entation ended with seasonal also learned that Bronna Galitsis pop song that was performed holiday sing-alongs, beginning not only has a soprano voice with by the Association in the ‘60’s. with our bass Bill Galitsis sing- an impressive range, but she is ”Listening to the Rain”, a song ing “White Christmas”. The audi- also capable of composing an that addresses the beauty of ence was appreciative of the original song, both music and the rain and the memories of beautiful singing done by our lyrics. love, which was composed by wonderful, hard-working chorus. We have performers who have our own Bronna Galitsis. Next As always, everyone had a good never sung in a group before and was “Snowbird,” which is used time listening, singing, and enjoy- others who have performed on in the song as a metaphor for ing the refreshments. stage in choruses and in small freedom. The audience heard The composition of the GW groups. The secret to the chorus’ about “A Foggy Day” which Chorus is reflective of the range of successes are the variegated featured soloists Ivan Becker talents in the general population, talents of our performers, their and Lydia Rosen, “Raindrops namely, not everyone possesses willingness to dedicate them- Keep Falling on My Head,” talents at the expertise level. How- selves to the multiple practice “Laughter in the Rain,” and ever, what is remarkable about sessions, the enjoyment they get “Cloudy”. After the rainy songs, our chorus is the number of mem- from interacting with each other Howard Verb’s wonderful bass bers with outstanding musical and the countless hours they voice entertained with “They skills. All of the aforementioned spend at home practicing utilizing Call the Wind Mariah”, which is soloists have that special ability to the cd’s that are created by Janet. a sad and wistful song about be- own a song. The lilt in their voice, The Chorus practices every ing far from home. Musical solos the personal inflection and the Thursday at 10 AM; if you love to Auld Lang Syne for parts of “Sunshine on My ability to make the song come sing join our chorus by showing Shoulders” were sung by Louise alive are all indicative of their ap- up on any Thursday morning proaches. Perhaps the greatest January 2 or any ensuing Thurs- By Joan Freeman and days of auld lang syne? Lewis, Sam Lerner, Diane Stanley, Marilyn Gerber, and Lois tribute to their performances was day; no audition required. A new year begins. People For auld lang syne my jo around the world gather in for auld lang syne. public places to celebrate. In We'll take a cup of kindness New York thousands of people yet for auld lang syne. Exciting Changes Coming for bundled up in warm clothing Translated literally, it means gather to watch the ball drop at "old long since” but the mean- Greenbriar at Whittingham Residents midnight to usher in 2020. ing is more like "old times" or Friends celebrate in many dif- "the olden days". "Should old By Mark Surks anticipated that community vot- still do so, but they won’t be ferent ways. I love to watch acquaintance be forgot" is Beginning in early 2020 each ing will also be conducted required to be made available to television channels that show really a rhetorical question. resident of Greenbriar at Whit- through the portal thus saving the buyers of your property. how people in the different The speaker is asking whether tingham will have his/her own us thousands on mailing costs. Upon request, the entire set of time zones mark this special old friends should be forgotten internet portal with which to Additionally, the governing books of rules and regulations annual event. At many cele- as a way of stating that surely, communicate with the manage- documents will be available will be available on a small brations crowds were singing a old friends should be cher- ment of our community. At any online, as they are now. thumb drive that can be copied song sung only at this time of ished friends. And "never time, you will be able to access Changes would be made, and to your computer. Very shortly, year. The song is Auld Lang brought to mind" possibly your account online in order to notifications sent to portal users, there will be demonstrations of Syne. To many who sing it, the urges the singer to look to the pay your monthly assessments all without the enormous printing the new portal taking place in lyrics sound like gobbledygook. future, to new friends and ex- or other expenses. and mailing costs that currently our ballroom so that residents There are more verses, but the periences. In my opinion," The portal will allow you to burden us. can learn how to take full advan- ones below are the most well- We'll take a cup of kindness request a work order for repair Folks who want to continue to tage of this exciting new tech- known. The version of the song yet" indicates that a toast mak- or to advise management of any maintain binders of paper can nology. we sing was written by the Scot- ing new resolutions to be conditions that require attention. tish poet Robert Burns. It you happy and hopeful at the start Greenbriar residents will be able thought it is some kind of Eng- of a new year is about to be to initiate a site modification lish, it isn't. It's 18th century made with a glass of beer or request. THERE WILL BE NO Scots which is a similar but dis- champagne in hand. Translate it In the future, it is hoped that tinct language, just as Italian as you like. There may be many additional services can be and Spanish are: other ways to decipher the text, added. Perhaps, you want to RESIDENTS CIVIC CLUB Should auld acquaintance be but in our inebriated voices let’s sign up for a bus trip or club forgot join the crowd and lustily sing function or to use an amenity. and never brought to mind? Auld Lang Syne, wishing every- These too may become avail- MEETING IN JANUARY Should auld acquaintance be one we know, a happy, healthy able through your portal. It is forgot new year. JANUARY 2020 – PAGE 2 GREENBRIAR AT WHITTINGHAM VOICE A Message from the GWCA Board WHOA Update The year 2019 has ended We have been working very · An approval process for By Ben Baum trapping season began anew on and it is time to look back and closely with the WHOA board separate spending and WHOA and GWCA December 21. review with the residents of and together we have begun budgets for each entity will Joint Open Meeting- WHITTINGHAM CONDOS- Greenbriar what has been the journey to merge the two be decided on by the single November 26, 2019 Jamie said all final paperwork accomplished during the year. governing boards. The merger board. WHOA-Miriam Cohen, WHOA has been submitted by LMS for · A great deal of effort was put involves changes to the gov- These are some of the President, explained the rea- shrubs and trees. One third will be completed for each of the into the berms throughout erning documents of Whitting- issues being grappled with in sons for the installation of the next three years. Trees were the community. These berms ham, WHOA and Greenbriar. the merger process. We want new handicapped ramp leading already completed for this year. pose a significant challenge Our goal is to have just one the residents to understand into the ballroom. It is being constructed in accordance with As of the meeting date work had in finding ways to make and board by September 2020.