Holiday Info

Holiday Happenings

At the December 12th, 2019 luncheon meeting, GBRTA will welcome the Trumbull High School Chamber Singers and their performance of Music of the Season. The Chamber Singers have been a valued part of our December meetings for more than 20 years. As part of its many holiday performances, the Chamber Singers will be the featured choir for one of the Christmas Spectacular shows at Radio City Music Hall.

Holiday Raffle

GBRTA offers $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors in teach of the sixteen public high schools in our eight town area. These scholarships are partially funded by our December raffle. Gifts for the raffle are donated by members of the GBRTA. If you would like to contribute a prize to the raffle please contact Marilyn Mitchell at 203-261-4767.

Flowers for Friends

Twice yearly, members who are home-bound or who reside permanently in nursing facilities receive a plant and visit from a GBRTA member. If you know of someone who should receive a visit, please give the information to Pat McDonnell at 203-366-2417

Holiday Musical—Tashua Knolls

Many GBRTA members set aside time for the musical comedy presented by Steppin’ Out Entertainment. Currently in its 8th consecutive year at Tashua Knolls, the original holiday musical is performed between a four course luncheon. Saturday December 7 is the date; the price is $60. Doors open at 11:30 for the matinee performance of The Art of Christmas

 Make your reservation by November 25 with GBRTA’s Travel Coordinator Angela McKelvey - 203-227-3222 The cost is $60. Checks should be made payable to GBRTA and mailed to Angela at

273A Agawam Drive, Stratford, CT 06614.

Save the Date

March 18 —Leprechauns and Linguini with Friendship Tours and Friends of Marcella. Details to follow.

President's Letter

Dear Colleagues,

As the end of 2019 rapidly approaches, cards need to be sent, gifts have to be purchased and wrapped, decorations are waiting to be hung, and holiday menus are in the planning stages.

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza or the Winter Solstice, take time out from your busy schedule to sit quietly by the light of the Menorah, look at the ornaments on the tree that evoke fond memories of Christmas past, or take a silent walk in the evening to enjoy the neighborhood festive lights.  

Enjoy your family traditions, be it finding the perfect tree with your grandchildren, or going to New York City with the family to see the tree at Rockefeller Center. Maybe it is the yearly ritual of the show at Radio City Music Hall or the Holiday Train Show at the botanical Gardens in the Bronx. Perhaps your tradition is enjoying a meal with family served once a year or watching the holiday shows on the television.

Share the holiday spirit. Hold the door at the post office for someone struggling with packages and a rambunctious child. Buy a hot chocolate for the bell ringer standing in the cold outside the grocery store. Let the person behind you in the checkout line with only five items go on ahead of you because you have a full cart.

Despite how hurried you feel, try and acknowledge people with a pleasant good morning, isn’t the weather beautiful today or have a wonderful holiday. Most of all SMILE.

This year will you join other members of the GBRTA on Saturday December 7^h at 11:30 AM as we enjoy a lunch at Tashua Knolls in Trumbull and watch the Christmas show? The GBRTA family will welcome the Trumbull High School Chamber Singers at the December 12th meeting at 10:30 at Testo’s Restaurant in Bridgeport to celebrate the holiday season. At that meeting we will collect non-perishable food for Merton House and distribute flowers for delivery to GBRTA members who are homebound or in nursing facilities. Members have donated prizes and gift cards for a raffle benefiting the scholarship fund.

When all is said and done we might not have accomplished all that we had hoped to do. Maybe cards were mailed a little late, we did not find the perfect gift for a loved one, the decorations are a little askew or the holiday menu was lacking that special ‘something’.

Remember no matter how you celebrate this magical time of year, it is the spirit of the season that is important. May you be filled with peace, joy, and love.

            Rose Marie D’Aquila