FC Life

JANUARY 2017 DECEMBER 2018

A PUBLICATION ABOUT LIFE AT FRENCHMAN’S CREEK BY, FOR AND ABOUT OUR MEMBERS

On the evening of November 14th, Barbara and Fred Stern and Judy and Eddy Chesler volunteered at the STEM Program (science technology engineering math) for grades 2-6th at Grove Park School which is one of the schools supported by our Charities Foundation. The evening began with boys and girls playing a medley of tunes especially written for drums. Eight adorable cheerleaders did their moves while the drums played. At the end of their performance, an announcement was made that the various types of drums were purchased with money donated by Frenchman's Creek. An applause followed. After the entertainment, volunteers were assigned to different interactive stations where the children could work on projects pertaining to STEM. One 5th grade girl after completing her project said to me, "I just love working with OLD PEOPLE!!

Judy Chesler

One of the most popular local places to visit, with or without children, is Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. It's only about a 10 minute drive from our gate and certainly worth seeing. The old growth trees feel like a trip back to Jupiter as it was and the birds, reptiles and mammals are almost all native to Florida and almost all are rescued. There is no admission charge, but donations are desperately needed. It's quite rough, not fancy, like the Palm Beach Zoo, but it is home to about 4500 critters who have been rescued, have injuries and could not survive in the wild. There is a hospital with a surgery and many rehab cages. Also a flight cage so that birds recovering from broken wings, sometimes from accidents with cars, sometimes from being shot, can learn how to fly again. They have recently built, with the help of Frenchman's Creek Charities Foundation, a beautiful education center. We 'grant' them money for their education programs which are very popular with school children, home schooled children and many visitors. Last year they estimate they had about 150,000 visitors. Maybe you were in this number? If not, keep this special, low key place in mind. I love it!

Norma Lippman

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Pictured at right is Reesa a volunteer at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. Marilyn Greenberg found two Eurasion ring neck doves right outside the pro shop in back of the rocking chairs. After two days, she called the Busch Sanctuary and Reesa picked them up and took them to be cared for at the sanctuary. They have 190 animals in treatment and 200 animals in residence, who are injured and can not be released. While Busch Wildlife Sanctuary receives a donation from our Charities, it hardly puts a dent into their

monetary needs to care for all these animals. The staff is overworked and the Sanctuary underfunded, but the staff is a dedicated one to all animals in distress and in need of help.

Wendy Dinner had an accident which affected her leg, which will keep her incapacitated for awhile. She graciously asked us to print her “thank you” to you all., which is printed to the side. Hopefully, she will heal soon and be back in the swing of things.

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Pictured above: Marie Kravecas, Andrea Finkel, Peter and Nancy Berkley

Pictured above: Marie Kravecas, Peter Berkley and Nancy Berkley

“Thank you again, so much, for organizing this drive to benefit our life-changing programs. Every bit of help we get enables us to do more in the way of supportive housing, job training, job placement and more. We are very grateful to have Frenchman’s Creek as an ally and part of our circle of support.” A quote from one of the recipients of our Volunteer Match Program.

On November 28, Volunteer Match Program hosted their Kick Off cocktail party. About 40 members attend- ed to learn about new volunteer activities and to help honor past and future volunteers. The Volunteer Match program was established four years ago to encourage and coordinate the matching of members' interests with local volunteer opportunities offering many different types of volunteer

experiences. Some commitments are weekly or monthly, while others are for a single event.

For more information about volunteer opportunities that might suit you, you will find, in the POA office, a list of agencies who welcome our volunteer assistance and the kind of help needed. Or you can call Nancy and Peter Berkley or Saul and Marie Adler-Kravecas, the Co-Chairpersons. They will be delighted to answer any questions.

Norma Lippman

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Back Row:

DEAN BERKOWITZ, BEN POLLIT, ASH ALDERMAN, AARON JOHNSON, HARRY CONNOLLY, ROSS MURGATROYD.

2 nd Row: DOMINIC CAVELL, SCOTT COVE, AARON PRICE, TOM CATON, JACK COLLINS.

3 rd Row: JOSH HAYES, BRIAN WESSELS, CALLUM FERN, RUPERT CHAPLIN, NATHAN LINGARD, HARRY BRANTON.

Front Row: DALE BAKER, SHAUN CARTER, DAMIAN MARSHALL, RONNIE MITCHELL, SAM ALLEN.

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Congratulations to Brooke Silverstein, granddaughter of STEVE and LINDA EPSTEIN who was accepted early decision to Duke University.

We would love to hear from other grandparents or parents as to which college their children will be attending next year. This will also help with the College Connection held every Christmas right here at Frenchman’s.

THE FIRST LECTURE IN MARTY KRALL’S LECTURE SERIES

FRENCHMAN’S CREEK LIFE is about sharing news with our fellow and sister members to keep abreast what is happening in our community. Also to review the past month’s activities held here at the Creek. Please do not confuse us with Spotlight Magazine which is NO PART of the Frenchman’s Creek Community. The first LECTURE IN Marty Krall’s lecture series was held, Tuesday, December 11th. The speaker was Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of one of the seven founding leaders of Hamas, the terrorist group that controls Gaza and is sworn to destroy Israel and all the Jewish residents. After many stints in Israeli prisons, he began to work for Israel against Hamas. After listening to Mosab’s riveting story, you have to wonder what force made him listen to the Israelis and question all he was brought up to believe and hate! Was it divine inspiration? Over 375 people were in attendance and spellbound. Mosab is sponsored now by Magen David Adom, the Jewish Red Cross of Israel supplying ALL THE BLOOD to Israel where needed, and was interviewed by David Horovitz. Mossab grew up in Ramallah, was taught to hate the Israelis– an evolution of the leaders of Hamas of an idealogy of hatred bending to personal religious ideals. and was part of small groups who tar- get schools and ambulances with bombs created by items in an ordinary kitchen. He worked for the Intifa- da for two years, was his father’s confidant and right hand man; Israel was the enemy and revenge the keyword. Around age 20, Mosab agreed to work for Israel as a double agent, where in prison, he learned of the violence, propaganda of the Palestinians and saw how brutal the Palestinians were to each other. It was violence against their own people—hatred with no limit. He saw noble causes masked what reality was. He helped prevent many terrorist attacks against Israel and Israel made sure that he was safe at all times even if in a house with his father. Hamas is an ideological religious organization that wants an Islamic State worldwide. They can only be managed by containing their power. Hamas rules the Arabs of Gaza and The Palestinian Authority rules the West Bank Arabs. When asked about his father, Mosab said he had been rightfully disowned by him. Today, he is living in the United States , has found a spiritualness in Jesus and has written a book, entitled “Son of Hamas.” He has his sights on Hollywood….his story is far from finished!!!

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Lourdes Campon’s Birthday Celebration

On November 22 we all celebrated Thanksgiving in our own special way . LOURDES CAMPON celebrated her 69th birthday the next day not by eating leftovers, but in a non traditional way, and the memories will last a lifetime. Her son, Jose, has gone sky diving various times, and for a long time she kept telling him it was something she always wanted to do. Like any good son who wanted to make his mom happy, he surprised her with a “skydiving adventure”. They drove up to the Palm Beach County Glades Airport in Pahokee on the SE shore of Lake Okeechobee. Fortunately the weather was perfect and clear that day. They were fitted into the harness equipment and boarded a very small plane ( there was only room for the two of them, the pilot, and the instructors). When it was time, they jumped out of the plane at 13,000 feet, while floating through the air and looking at the horizon. They were holding on to the parachute and doing summer- saults, all while admiring the beautiful green scenery by the lake. The landing was very easy according to Lourdes, because her instructor told her to raise her legs at a certain altitude. “Sharing this moment with my son, made this experience one that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Each moment was so thrilling, that I don’t doubt I’ll do it again. It was a real dream come true”.

BY Marleen Hacker

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Interview with Mark Hall-Head of Security- December 4, 2018

Mr. Hall was kind enough to answer questions for over 1 ½ hours today and he had

much more to relate but we ran out of time. I am most grateful for Mr. Hall’s gracious

responses to my unknowledgeable queries.

Statistics: December 2017-there was 72,500 entries and exits through the security gate.

Of these, 35,000 were residents and 37,000 were guests/vendors/staff.

Compare June 2018- 35,500 total entries and exits including both residents

and vendors/staff/guests.

Vendors: A complete background check is required before a vendor is allowed to get a pass to enter through the

gates. This pass includes a picture so it cannot be transferred to another person and must be shown at the

gate at each entry and must be updated yearly. A vendor must have a clean record for five years before

being allowed to receive a pass. The Bureau of Justice’s statistics reveals that if there is going to be

recidivism of certain crimes, it will occur within the first five year period.

Security Officers: There are 25 full time security officers and Paramedics. Every security officer must have previous

military or police experience, or have had extensive experience in customer relations or a college degree.

Each officer is required to have 2 State licenses. One qualifies him/her to carry a gun; the other assures the

officer has had and passed a 48 hour training program. Every license has to be renewed every two years and

every year the officer must pass a 4 hour firearm training session approved by a certified firearms instructor.

Every month our security officers take on-line training courses in the gate house in order to hone their skills or

to introduce new concepts. Each officer must take a test on that training session and pass.

Nightly, a boat with a security officer travels the waterways checking all waterway homes, inspecting all docks,

and checking that boats are secured. Also, the water ways are cleaned of obstacles, such as logs, and debris.

They found a shopping cart under the bridge, for example. In one instance, during a rain storm, a boat’s

battery had died and its pump stopped working. Security found it and used Frenchman’s pump to remove the

water in order to remedy the situation. The owner was then notified.

One of the most remarkable, but not the only helpful security operation, was to respond to a resident’s call

that her blind and deaf dog had fallen into the lake behind her house. The security officer went into the lake

and rescued the dog.

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Interview with Mark Hall-Head of Security- December 4, 2018, continued

In the last 13 years there has only been one known, legitimate attempt to enter the community thru the

perimeter fence line. Fortunately the alarm went off in the gate house, due to the cameras installed along

Frenchman’s fence. Patrol cars were sent along the perimeter where the unfortunate entrants were, and

was over without any resident being aware or disturbed. (The criminals saw our security cars responding

and retreated through their opening in the fence.) (Editor’s Note—-That is until a few days ago when an

incident involving car thieves occurred. What few members know is that our security personnel put their

lives in danger trying to apprehend these men.) Cameras and microphones are posted at the entrance

guest lanes which have proved helpful in proving false accusations against our security personal. Cameras

at the club house valet area have proved helpful in proving the valet personnel did not damage cars. Cam-

eras within the club house have helped staff retrieve and return items to residents such as lost purses, eye

glasses, clothes and cell phones. Amazing! Several times teenagers have been caught trying to go through

the fence thinking the ponds are good for fishing. These expeditions have been terminated without prob-

lems. Some of the videos capture other interesting situations, such as an early morning runner stopping

along the Hood Road fence to take R&R. Highly unusual situations may be used for teaching purposes or

legal requirements.

EMTS: The Paramedics must have an ALS (Advanced Life Support) License. This allows our Paramedics to carry all

the drugs and equipment as the fire department. The reason that the fire department comes each time

there is an emergency call to security is due to an agreement between the City of Palm Beach Gardens and

our security provider, Allied Universal. Without this agreement, our security would not be able to assist

the residents when a call comes in and before the Fire Department can arrive. This agreement is with all

the gated communities in our area and Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department. This does not include the

call to EMT to change a medical dressing, or to take blood pressure or remove an earring.

The Paramedics and/or security personnel also have helped residents who need assistance that the aid or

spouse cannot provide such as helping a large person prepare for bed. Usually, in this situation, provisions

are made for more permanent help to step in.

Mr. Hall believes that those living alone should have a medical pendant which will call for help regardless

of where someone is. He said that he would investigate and make recommendations. That is for a future

article. I must note that I had a ball talking with Mr. Hall, watching several of his videos and thank him for

all his time and trouble. We at Frenchman’s have much for which to be grateful.

Louise Albert

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NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 9, WINE AND DINE

Always fun and popular events, the first two 9, wine and dine tournaments of the season were played on November 16th and December 7th. The November tournament had a huge turnout of 160 players, only to be surpassed in December by an even larger turnout of 176. The format of a nine hole step aside scramble was played with teams divided into four flights. The wine and dine part of each event began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and culminated with buffet dinners in the dining room, which included some new and imagina- tive dishes. Thank you to co-chairs Robin Rosenblatt and Sue Shaw and our wonderful golf and dining staffs. Their efforts have provided a very successful series of events that leave many waiting in anticipation for the next one.

AN HONOR FOR KIM AUGUSTA

Congratulations to our wonderful golf pro, Kim

Augusta for the very special honor she has received. She is a Rhode Island Golf Association , December 2018 inductee into the Rhode Island Golf Hall of Fame. Kim grew up in Rhode Island, where she start- ed playing golf as a child. She attended college on a golf scholarship, received her LPGA status and played in many tours. She has been a tremendous asset to the Frenchman’s creek golf staff since she arrived last year. Again, congratulations Kim. We at Frenchman’s are proud of you.

Mimi Bergel

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The Ladies 2018 Eclectic tournament was originally scheduled to be a two day event, played on Tuesday, December 11 and Thursday, December 13, but our very fickle Mother nature had other ideas, as weather problems caused a cancellation on Tuesday and a siren-ending game on Thursday. It was revised as a one day event, finally played on Tuesday, December 18. The two-lady partnerships played in a Chapman format and the winners are listed below. Congratulations to all the winners.

Flight 1

Winners- Sharon Rochlin and Mary Anne Bartfield 2 nd Place- Susan Fuirst and Sandi Lamm

Flight 2

Winners- Andrea Finkel and Susan Davis

Won in Playoff 2 nd Place- Nancy Berkley and Lois Kleinberg

Flight 3

Winners- Alice Bael and Sue Sternberg 2 nd Place- Georgianna Cotton and Linda M Epstein

Flight 4

Winners- Phyllis Hershman and Shirley Goldberg 2 nd Place- Lois Stern and Myna Homburger

9 Is Enough Eclectic

Winners- Rhoda Edelman and Cindi Schwartz

Won in Playoff 2 nd Place- Carol Schulman and Evelyn Taback

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This column is designed to inform our members where in the community our new residents are living and other residences they may have. It also keeps up with our present members who have stayed in the community but moved to new dwellings. Of course we always wish our members who are moving out of the community good luck wherever their travels take them and our new members and established members good luck in their new address .

Welcome New Members by Marleen Hacker

New Members, BONNIE and HENRY SHYER , bought Elaine Koenigsberg’s house on Rivoli Drive this past June. They also reside in Purchase, New York, where Henry along with his son and nephew, own the oldest family optical business in the country, known as Zyloware, which is located in Port Chester. Bonnie also works in the Invitation Business (stationery, weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, small gift items ) and plans to continue from both homes.

Between them they have 3 children and 8 grandchil- dren ranging from 5 years to 27 years, a 3 year old Golden Doodle named Charlie, and a 20 year old Sia- mese cat named Ming. Bonnie golfs and plays canasta, while Henry also a golfer, has enjoyed being involved in a men’s discussion group. They know many members here, and they both have attended several previous Golf Member Guests events at Frenchman’s. They were so impressed with the course, the staff, the food, and the friendliness of members. It was then that they knew they also wanted to live here, and they didn’t look any where else. And, they still are impressed with the amenities Frenchman’s offers, particularly our Engineering Department and the services they offer. In Bonnie’s words, “ It feels like home, but only better”. Column continued on page 13

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This column is designed to inform our members where in the community our new residents are living and other residences they may have. It also keeps up with our present members who have stayed in the community but moved to new dwellings. Of course we always wish our members who are moving out of the community good luck wherever their travels take them and our new members and established members good luck in their new address .

Welcome New Members

New Members, KAREN and PATRICK ALLEN closed in September on a home on Burgundy Drive North, which is a new home built by Brett Handler. They used to be members of Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They have a daughter, Jacqueline, age 22 who will luckily be living with them, as they will be full time Residents. Patrick is the President of the Alzheimer Association of East Central Iowa, the Director of

Alliant Energy and is part of the Board of Trustees at Waypoint Services. His areas of expertise are in Financial, Strategic leadership and Diversity. In addition, Patrick is also the CFO of Rockwell Collins in Wellington, Florida. It is an Aerospace Company. Karen is thrilled and happy to be a homemaker. Her hobbies are tennis, cooking and travel. We know she will find all these at Frenchman’s.

DENISE and MARTY SIEGEL purchased the Sam Kaufman home on Le Havre Drive. We are happy to have you back “home” and good luck in your new surroundings.

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Continued next page please

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Column by: Lois Stern

Photography by : Andrea Finkel

I am SUSAN PAUL and I have 2 Maine Coon cats – the white one is Brody, 6 years old, and The orange one is Bennett (Benny), 4 years old. They share relatives on both sides of their pedigrees. Maine Coons are known as gentle giants. Some have an extra toe. They are very intelligent and traina- ble. Average weight is about 20-24lbs. So they are not small. Average age is about 18 years old. They have very large paws and tufts on them. They also have very thick long tails and larger jaws. Their dry food is larger than for the average cat. It is the size of a malted milk ball.

My husband, HERBERT and I were heartbroken when our dog, Jake, died last summer. We rescued Jake when he was five months old and lived to be fifteen years old.. He was big when fully grown, 75 pounds, handsome and people always referred to him as a black Lab when in fact his DNA reported he was a MUTT. He was afraid of strangers until he was ten years old. Unfortunately he developed arthritis, became hard of hearing and lost most of his eyesight, but lived a long life for a large dog. Herb felt very lonesome without him. What should I do? Jake hadn’t died that long ago and we loved him so much. Our good friend, Marilyn Greenberg, who found Jake for us through her everlasting commitment to the rescue of animals, got on the job and 24 hours later, had a candidate for us. A family moving could not take their 3 year old, 24 pound dog. “Keep her for three days and if you do not want to keep her,

we will come back and get her.” When they brought us “Shayna”, she was a tiny version of Jake: beautiful and black. Three days later, when I said to Herb, “should we keep Shayna? “He answered , “What are you talking about, I love her.” Me too! She is so energetic, playful, friendly to everyone, loveable, affectionate… do you get it? We adore her. She shares my pillow with me every night! Oh yes, I forgot a very important point, she was fully house broken! Hooray…. And she is also very smart. We got so lucky and are so happy to save another dog.

HELENE KATZ

Club News Staff

Editor Bobbe Wiener Correspondents Louise Albert, Mimi Bergel, Shirley Goldberg, Marleen Hacker, Mark H. Hurd, Myrna Leven, Norma Lippman, Lois Stern, Judy Tobin

Photographer Andrea Finkel

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