Greetings from The Harbours!
It’s December in PARADISE! The election is behind us. Thanksgiving is behind us. Now it’s time to enjoy the holiday season in beautiful weather that allows you to stroll the many decorated downtowns without the bulk of winter outerwear and shivering cold air.

Of course, December also means many more cars on the road and many more people walking around those charming downtowns. That’s why those of us who live here all year round love the summer. It’s the best kept secret in S. FL. Don’t tell the snowbirds!

Whatever holiday you celebrate, we hope it brings you cheer and good health. And certainly, we want to take the time to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy New Year.

A Harbours Phenomenon: Dog Buggies throughout the Aberdeen East community; we see people walking their dogs, but in the Harbours, we have a regular group of pet owners who walk their dogs in strollers. They can be seen strolling at various times of the day, spanning the Harbours’ roads. This is highly unusual as most people take their pets out for exercise and to relieve themselves. But in this case, the pets are taking their owners out for a stroll.

Carriages are used for many reasons, not the least of which is the dogs are aging just like their owners and need a little help, and some dogs have arthritis or cataracts and find it hard to walk or see on the roads. And I‘ve heard, particularly in the summer, the asphalt can be really hot on their paws.

These pet owners have become great walking buddies, and probably know more people in the Harbours than anyone else. Everyone stops to say hello to the dogs and the petparents.

Get to know your neighbors.
Judith Gordon, a resident of the Harbours for 3 and one half years, has met a lot of wonderful people living here. She originally comes from Brooklyn, NY, moving to Dayton, OH, later going to Ohio State University where she met her husband and moved back to Long Island, NY. She raised 3 children and when thinking of retirement, decided to move to FL 33 years ago. She now has 7 grandchildren, 5 of whom live in Lake Worth and Wellington.

Judith has been active in religious and civic organizations throughout her life and held high offices many times. She continues to work part-time as a Financial Assistant, which she has been doing for 15 years for a school based out of the country. She also works part-time as an interior decorator known as “The Frugal Decorator.”

All in all, Judith loves living in Aberdeen and life is enjoyable.

On a not so happy note:
We would like to extend our condolences to Gert Geremia and family, on the passing of her husband Daniel.

A few of our year-round residents have had recent surgeries or hospital stays. We hope this newsletter finds you all recuperated and ready for a happy holiday season.

Residents who would like to share their news or let your neighbors know a little bit about your interests, please e-mail your information to Wendy Latman: [email protected]

Hospitality Committee of The Harbours @ Aberdeen

After a busy summer and fall (both days of it), we enter the FL “high season” with many planned activities to keep us busy. We welcomed most of our winter residents back last month. Many asked why it was still in the high 80s when they arrived. Assured by certain groups that there is no such thing as global warming, we year-rounders had no good answer.

But … we did have answers to the annual question, “What do you have planned for us this year?” The hard working board members of our Turnberry Isle Women’s Club had the answer. In September, we met at Rhoda Schwartz’s home to reveal our plans. First up was an October trip to the Delray Playhouse to see a hilarious production of “The Sensuous Senator.” Though not written for the most recent election climate, it drew laughs for some amazing parallels. Thanks to Joyce Meltz for chairing the event, which was preceded by a lovely lunch at Henry’s.

Also in October, we had a demonstration of 3-D art at our monthly meeting. Its an intricate process, but some of our members hope to produce something special with their newfound knowledge.

November found us preparing for our annual philanthropic project — Christmas for Caridad. We have been supporting this clinic and its educational programs since 1998 and continue to adopt families for the holidays. Caridad’s outreach, which began as a medical clinic for the working poor, mainly farm workers, now encompasses the entire community of families which need help. Our own Sheila Van Wyk continues to run the educational program. Recently, she and other Turnberry volunteers have been pleased to see some of our former students who are enrolled in college or serving in the military.

December is on our calendars for the first Turnberry High Tea. Last year, Mary Wexler hosted a tea for PAP that was hailed as a huge success. Now, Mary has offered to be the hostess for another such tea for TIWC at her home on December 9. We will attend as proper English ladies with gaily adorned hats, which we decorated at our November meeting.

We have postponed our annual Progressive Luncheon until March, as the winter calendar got filled with a January tour of the Caridad Center, a white elephant night and an upcoming yoga demonstration.

Book Club is having another good year. Our last selection was Orphan Keeper by Cameron Wright. The book is based on the true story of a young boy kidnapped from his village in India and adopted by an American family. The November meeting was at the home of Anita Ostrow and facilitated by Mitzi Brown. Upcoming for December is our annual holiday party and a discussion of the biography of Abigail Adams by Lynn Withey, titled Dearest Friend.

We wish all our neighbors an active and happy year.

Greetings from the Canterbury community! Yes, it’s December, the month of the Winter Solstice, and the month of festive holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kawanzaa.

New Year’s Eve, also known as “Sylvester” in both Europe and Israel, will mark the end of what has been a memorable year. A tumultuous U.S. presidential campaign and election, Britain’s departure from the European Union, the Syrian refugee crisis, the spread of the Zyka virus, the death of Shimon Peres and Elie Wiesel, the award of the Nobel Prize for literature to Bob Dylan, and Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday celebration were amongst the notable events of the year. Needless to say, it is our hope that many of the problems encountered in 2016 will be resolved in 2017!

On the local scene, the Canterbury Board of Directors continues to work hard to improve the community. Many thanks to Ellen Nesin, Carol Collins, Lou Levy and GRS Management representative Jose Armstrong for their dedicated service. We also extend Belated Birthday Greetings to Marjorie DeMartino (mother of Carol Collins), who celebrated her 92nd birthday on Oct. 28. It should be noted that Marjorie is the author of the children’s book “Freddie the Turtle”, in which she also did all of the illustrations. Sylvia Goode (Suzanne Thaler’s mother) also celebrated her birthday in October. At 102, Sylvia, who had always been musically inclined, is still playing the piano and singing. We wish Marjorie and Sylvia a very Happy Birthday!

In getting to know our neighbors, we continue with our plan to spotlight a different Canterbury resident each month. This month, we prevailed upon Joan Lassman to share an interest or life-experience with us. Joan submitted the following narrative:

“Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t approach us with that famous question. They’ll see us together, do a double take, point, smile and stare. Then they’ll ask: ‘Are you two sisters or twins?’ We can’t help but laugh and respond, ‘Both.’ Being a twin draws a lot of attention.

“My twin, Jean and I have come to realize over time that we are part of an amazing subculture based on a bond that’s deeper and different than that of any other. An incredible world of ‘we’ and never ‘I.’ People ask all the time what’s it like to be an identical twin? What’s it like to have someone who looks and sounds exactly like you? A double, a clone, a kindred spirit? For me, it’s been a wonderful blessing! Being a twin means never being alone or being lonely. A unique camaraderie which connects us both physically and emotionally. Not just having the same face but the harmony of our laughter, the synchronicity of our walk and the communication of a single glance are just a few of the many traits of our common kinship or as we like to call it ‘Twinship.’

“Growing up we did all the fun twin things most people ask about. We dressed alike and often switched places, as well as classes in school. We always enjoyed playing tricks and practical jokes on people. Come to think of it, we still do!

“Unlike non-twin siblings, growing older hasn’t just brought us closer together it has helped us understand the closeness we’ve always had. It has also meant, always having an unconditional, best friend. So if you see me and my best friend around the community, please say hello and don’t worry about getting our names right, we both always respond to either.”

In closing, we want to thank Joan for sharing a significant life-experience. She and her twin, Jean, are indeed fortunate to have such a warm and meaningful relationship. We also want to extend Season’s Greetings to all our Aberdeen friends and neighbors, and wish everyone a HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SAFE NEW YEAR 2017!

It’s that time of the year again, when people are planning what gifts to buy, for whom, and how much to spend! Newspaper articles are written about use-less gifts we buy and the exorbitant amounts we spend. The suggestion is, that, instead, we open our hearts rather than our wallets. A few holidays back, I wrote about this in my own column, giving thought to “The Gift of Caring” giving TIME and LOVE and ATTENTION to someone who is in need. The list of suggestions, particularly in Communities in which we give, is endless; but to mention a few … visiting a shut-in, bringing a meal or a cake or a book, relieving a caregiver for an hour or two, running er-rands, taking the person shopping or for a ride … This whole concept was brought to mind so vividly just recently, when we all endured the fright and effort of preparing for Hurricane Matthew. Truth to tell, many of us were alone and feeling useless. Well, in my case, along came Sheffield Good Samaritan, Steve Toback, who called me shortly after arriving from  his summer hiatus to make sure I was well and prepared for Matthew. He went out and purchased the updated batteries I needed for my various hurricane-related gadgets, installed them, and then checked the house to make sure it was storm-ready. Afterwards, I learned that he had visited the homes of 2 other neighbors to check their needs. This is the essence of “The Gift of Caring.” Steve gave me a gift I will never forget. (If you encountered Good Samaritans during the hurricane crisis, let me know and I will gladly publish your stories.) In recognition of the holiday season and the giving of gifts that cost nothing and give pleasure, I am giving you “The Gift of Words.” They are not my words this time, but those of a very bright columnist who knew how to take the thoughts and feelings of his constituents and turn them into simplistic, meaningful abbreviated language that captured their essence and made us nod and smile in agreement. Andy Rooney from CBS’s 60 Minutes, was that guy. He always spoke about what he learned. Listen to him! Learn from him! He was a stellar word master!

I’ve Learned …

• That when you’re in love, it shows.
• That just one person saying to me, ‘You’ve made my day!’ makes my day.
• That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
• That being kind is more important than being right.
• That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
• That I can always pray for someone when I don’t have the strength to help him in any other way.
• That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
• That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
• That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
• That money doesn’t buy class.
• That it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
• That under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
• That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
• That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
• That love, not time, heals all wounds.
• That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
• That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
• That life is tough, but I’m tougher.
• That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
• That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
• That I wish I could have told my mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.
• That one should keep his words both softer and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
• That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
• That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, you’re hooked for life.
• That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.
• That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Pithy truisms from a master!
To all of our readers, a happy, healthy holiday season, and New Year!

How wonderful it is to wake up in the morning to bright sunshine and the warmth of the sun rather than the darkness of night once the clocks were changed back to end Daylight Savings Time. That’s what most of us love about being here in south Florida instead of being up north with the gray skies and chilly winds and cold nights. What could be better for us than the casual lifestyle we have here at the Club! It is actually “a quality lifestyle at an outstanding value”! If you don’t have a copacetic lifestyle now, you don’t know what you are missing!

Members take pleasure in using the impressive facilities of our Fitness, Tennis and Aquatic Center. Lots of work-out equipment … so many things to do! Not only is exercise so important, but it gives members the opportunity to further their social contacts which are evident by the large number of members sitting, talking and drinking every morning in the refreshment area adjoining the Tennis Viewing Stand. Aerobic sessions are given at the Beach Pool while swimmers make use of the Lap Pool and bathers enjoy the Serenity Pool within the multi-leveled Aquatic area of the Center. There are numerous athletic classes given daily each week, free to all members, at the Exercise Studio with classes available for work-ing members as the Fitness Center is also open late to accommodate them. The staff is friendly and helpful.

Recently, the Club approved a new Resident Non-Member Guest Policy beginning in December, 2016. A member may bring a resident non-member to the Club for lunch or dinner on specific days: Jan. 18, Mar. 5 and one holiday of the member’s choice. This new program will be on a trial basis during the 2016/17 membership year. The Club will continue its signature programs, including the Baby Boomer Incentive Program, Lessee Club Amenities Upgrade Program, Friends & Family Program, Non-Resident Membership Program and the Try Golf & Try Tennis Programs. See our Director of Membership if you are interested in any of these programs.

This past month preparation began for another original edition of “Laugh Out Loud” for the spring. The Ladies held their quarterly meet, greet and celebrate Ladies’ Birthday Celebration at the Club with dinner, entertainment and dancing for a fabulous evening. Halloween was celebrated with an exciting Elegant Masked Ball. A “Night Under the Stars” evening was scheduled outdoors at the beach entry pool. Thanksgiving would not be the same without the Thanksgiving Day Dinner Extravaganza. The Club hosted a Fun Day for children in the “Guardian ad Litem” program (county-sponsored) to play tennis, ball and golf events specially designed for them. A real treat! The Ladies and Men golfers held their respective Opening Day Tournaments and Tennis members began the Open Tennis Club Championship rounds of competition. The President’s Cup Tournament 3-round event for both Men and Ladies was also played with gross and net winners.

December activities will include the Children’s Activity Week, the Holiday Carnival, Christmas Day Brunch Extravaganza, Traditional Chanukah Dinner, Family Bingo Night and the New Year’s Celebration. For golfers, the Men’s Club Championship and the Ladies’ Club Championship matches are scheduled to finish in the Championship Finals during the month. For tennis members the Aberdeen Open Men’s and Women’s Singles Tournaments will be followed by the Stretch and-Serve-Round Robin. Clubs and Classics will be meeting again, including AARP Safe Driving Classes, Aberdeen Anglers, Bereavement Workshop, Book Clubs I and II,

Cinema Connection, Current Events Club, Love of the Opera Club and the Aberdeen Knitting and Crochet-ing Club. Save the date of the Aberdeen “Play for Pink” in February which includes golf, tennis, card party and more. For those wanting to experience a great lifestyle, come join us at the Club. Call Rose Cizner, our Director of Membership, at 738-4903, ext. 325 for more information.

By the time you read this article, the hard work of your board should be evident. After several months of identifying suppliers, reviewing quotes and examining products, new mailboxes were ordered. Unfortunately, there have been some setbacks due to scheduling issues with the manufacturer and installation holdups due to the inclement weather not being conducive to the pouring of the concrete bases. However, we were promised that the installation would take place by the time you read this article. The board thanks everyone for their patience during this process.

At the September HOA meeting, the board started to look into various other upgrades to enhance our properties and will compile its list of priorities for the new year.

SAVE THESE DATES:
Nov. 8 – Although the club house is being used for voting purposes, The Shores will be holding its regular November board Meeting at 9:00 AM in the card room. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Nov. 15 – Board Elections will take place at 7:00 PM. Sign-in is 6:30 PM. Please come out and sup-port your HOA. Please note that there will not be an HOA Board meeting in December.

NEIGHBOR NEWS
Not much to report over the summer months. We do extend a hearty welcome to new neighbors Evelyn and Gary Amber and Ava and Eric Curkin.

If you would like to contribute any information to our articles, please contact me at [email protected] or call me at 733-4117.

I am so happy to let everyone know that we have new Lakers. Welcome to Charlotte Fernandez, formerly of Switzerland and Joanie and David Lacher, formerly of Long Island, NY.

Our condolences to Judy Noar on the passing of her hubby, Bucky. I have been living here in Sterling for 15 years and I just found out his name was Bernard. He was a special man.

We send get well wishes to Ellie Newman, Renee Engel and Janet Trapani. Hope you all get better fast.

Some of us have been fortunate to have taken vacations during the summer. I went to the middle of our country on the Mississippi paddlewheeler, the American Queen Steamboat. It was wonderful! Fran and Robert Lovett traveled to Israel to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. The one comment was, “enough old ruins”! Carol and Mike Wallace went up north and were so happy to return home. Janet and Tim were able to go north to visit family before she had her surgery. Ruth Rabinowitz traveled to the middle of our country as well. Carol and Herb Kayne returned from their usual summer vacation.

Happy birthday wishes to Sandy November, during this month of November. I guess you just had to be born during this month.

Our community had a luncheon to meet and greet our 2 new residents. They now have so many names to remember, I am glad I moved in before them.

I also think I caught a glimpse of Eva Citron during the summer, but only for a short time.

Come on back all you birds! We miss you!

Hi Hamptonites!
We just returned in time for Hurricane Matthew and are so lucky that we had so little damage. It was our first hurricane in Florida and of course we were apprehensive, especially when we kept hearing the updates. It was good to see how prepared the state was.

Hope you all had a good summer; I know a lot of us were away on vacation.

Speedy recovery to Bart Cherry; he is recovering nicely. Good health wishes to all residents of the Hamptons who are ailing.

Our calendars are getting full! Our annual budget meeting is coming up. Let’s hope for a balanced bud-get to take us into a new year.

Next month, this column will list our neighbors who recently passed away. It is always sad when long-time residents who were here from the very be-ginning leave us. Rest in peace.

Club members have a cocktail hour planned for Oct. 20, at 4:30. We welcome all new members who have bought in the Hamptons.

Again, we wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

October was the month that WAS. It began with Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year and for everyone, it continued to remind us of the beauty, the wonder and the miracles of life. This is followed 10 days by Yom Kippur another holy day for the Jewish people of the Jewish faith. One week later we thanked Columbus for discovering America and for all the sales in every retail venue. The coast of Africa gave birth to Matthew, which certainly disrupted our lives. Hopefully, all the trick and treaters received enough sweets to hold them until the marshmallows appear on the Thanksgiving sweet potatoes.

Nice things happened to nice people right here at home. Joan and Vince Marini’s son,Richard, a feature writer for the San Antonio Express News, was honored by the American Association of Food Journalists for the “Best Newspaper Food Column in 2016” He was one of 3 finalists competing along with writers from the Washington Post and Mother Earth News. Live long enough and children do give pleasure. It came for Penney and Felix Fischler when their first great-grandchiId, Lucian, arrived, putting them in the club of lucky greatgrandparents. Marcia and Jerry Kopelman both celebrated special milestone birthdays locally with family and friends. Up in the air again, Sally Sage and Herb Schwab flew to NC for a cousins reunion at a resort. Jane Bartecki, who doesn’t like to fly, arrived at JFK on her way to Malvern LI for a reunion with friends of 62 years from elementary school. They had so much fun remembering what wasn’t funny in Parochial school back then. Welcome home Millie Kirrnayer, but you really didn’t have to prove that Bethesda Hospital’s coronary unit was up to snuff. So glad you’re feeling better. We bid a fond farewell to Elaine and Morty Warshaver who with their furry friend Jazz, will be moving to independent living in Delray Beach; an easier existence. One pet gone and another arrives. Donna Colucci has an apricot poodle puppy named Dolce. In case the dog doesn’t know it’s sweet, just translate from Italian.

All humor aside, please remember to vote; the lines at Aberdeen are never long. This is a privilege as an American citizen that many have risked their lives to obtain. An abstained vote is a vote for the candidate that you hope doesn’t win!

Canterbury Communique
Greetings from the Canterbury Community! It’s already November, and we’re looking forward to what promises to be an eventful and exciting month. A new President will be elected on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November, and, hopefully, he/she will be the one of our choice. We’ll also honor all of our veterans on Veterans Day (Nov. 11), Daylight Saving Time will end Nov. 6, and we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of the month. For sure, it’s going to be a stimulating time of the year!

Our newly elected Canterbury Board of Directors continues to work on improvements to the community, and we thank them for their enthusiasm and dedication. We also want to recognize one of our residents, Lou Levy, who was the guest speaker at Book Club II’s October meeting. “Molokai’o” a book about leprosy, was the selection of the month. Lou, a retired officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, specialized in the treatment and control of leprosy for most of his career. A medical doctor with a Ph.D. in pharmacology, he did extensive research in the field. He ran a research laboratory in San Francisco, worked in collaboration with the World Health Organization, and, upon retiring to Israel, established a research laboratory at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem. When asked to tell us about the disease, he submitted the following narrative:

“Leprosy is a contagious disease caused by the bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae, a “cousin” of the organism that causes tuberculosis. The infection is transmitted from the patient to his uninfected contact via the respiratory route, much as in tuberculosis. The infectious patient broadcasts the organisms into the environment with every cough and sneeze; the contact becomes infected by inhaling the organisms. The great majority of people infected with M. leprae do not become clinically ill – i.e. they have an “inapparent” or “subclinical” infection, as is the case in infection with the tubercle bacillus. Only a small fraction of those with a positive patch test become ill with tuberculosis.

Leprosy has been controlled (i.e., transmission of M. leprae has been interrupted) in most of the world by the administration to the known patients of the antibiotic, rifampin, in combination with one or two other antimicrobial drugs. Each drug acts on the organism by a different biologic mechanism. The treatment, which is reasonably cheap and well-tolerated, and which is self-administered by mouth, is effective. Although deformities that have already resulted from the disease may not be reversed, the patient is rendered non-infectious by the first dose. And he may be considered “cured” after 6 months. Control may fail in third-world countries where access to the patients is often difficult.”

In closing, we want to thank Lou for sharing his expertise. We also want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving holiday. The words of Oprah Winfrey seem very appropriate at this time. “Be thankful for what you have: you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”