The Retreat Newsletter November/December 2004 Volume 1, Issue 4 FRANCES FUELS FRIENDSHIPS September 4, 2004 By Hank Stasiewicz As we sat and listened, from storm tall, a symbol of community pride and along their way, they created new paneled concrete “bunkers,” to the unity. friendships, some of which will last wind howling at unbelievable decibels, What developed in those days and, unfortunately, some will not. for what seemed an eternity, we could preceding Frances was a If you asked them, “Why do only wonder what unpredictable you do this?” I am sure feeling of camaraderie “What developed in those disasters Hurricane Frances had in the reply would be a between neighbors, days preceding Frances was store for the residents of The Retreat some of which had a feeling of camaraderie resounding and Florida. Many residents chose to never met each other between neighbors, some of “Because we care!” protect their homes and travel to a formally. A feeling of which had never met each Items in need were safer area, but for those who chose to need and a feeling of other formally.” readily shared with stay within the confines of their homes, giving permeated the air. those who required an unexpected blessing would enter We found ourselves working side them. Those of us that are many of their lives. by side, hungry, tired and sweaty, to seasoned storm survivors guided In the time preceding Frances, in a help our neighbors, to protect our lives, the novices. Our prior hurricane period filled with anxious preparations, homes and assets. Residents, informally knowledge was freely given, and an unusual, but not unheard of, series assembled into loose groups, traversed gratefully accepted, by those who had of events unfolded. In older communities our tranquil streets within The Retreat for never experienced a hurricane before. where established friendships have days rendering aid. They gave assistance It was then time to patch the wounds endured for years, this would come as to those who could not secure their homes that Frances had inflicted. It was a no surprise, but to a young community by themselves, to residences that were such as ours, it stood out proud and vacant, to the elderly and the sick and (Continued on page 4) trees and power lines, we sat watching this devastation REFLECTIONS FROM being televised on Fox, CNN and The Weather Channel. It CONNECTICUT was heart wrenching. Jack, our house sitter, called two days before Hurricane Frances hit and advised he was By Bea Kozlowski installing the hurricane shutters at our Retreat home as well as at the homes of our next door neighbors. How As Hilary and I sat safe and sound in our Connecticut grateful we are to Jack. home, we thought constantly of our dear Florida neighbors and prayed that Hurricane Frances heading for Even though we knew it could be days before hearing the East Coast would veer off into the Atlantic and spare from Florida friends, we weren’t prepared for the Florida. Unfortunately, that was not the way it would be. agonizing wait due to lack of power and phone service. “Networking” began to take hold. I e-mailed Maurie and As Hurricane Frances ripped thru Palm Beach and Martin Janet at the Cape and asked them to let us know when Counties destroying mobile homes, trailers, boats, homes, (Continued on page 4) RETREAT RESIDENTS TALK ABOUT FRANCES AND JEANNE Geri Morgan: When we heard she was really coming, the first thought was adventurous -- after all, wouldn't this be a day or two without power and then back to normal?? That feeling very rapidly diminished and was replaced with fear of the unknown and finally panic -- did we have everything we would need? We'd never experienced a hurricane before. My parents lived in Boynton Beach, Florida for 25 years and never saw more than a tropical storm! As the time drew nearer, we began to fear that the man we contracted to put up the shutters would not show. He did. Hopefully, we will get the "accordion shutters" installed before the next storm. However, we survived and being PRE-FRANCES PARTY AT THE SHUTTERED RETREAT without power was horrible, but perhaps the worst of all was CLUBHOUSE being without a telephone and a cell phone. Knowing that all our family would be worrying and not being able to communicate for several days was probably the worst thing we experienced. The best thing about the whole "experience" was to realize how blessed we are to have so many true friends. We had so many hurricane parties, we had to get in line to host one ourselves!! Charles Eschenburg: Our daughter, her husband and their five dogs joined us as our home was shuttered and theirs was not. So we endured with eight canines. It was like living in a kennel. Fortunately, the little garage door was out of the wind at first, so we were able to take them out in shifts on leads. But after the eye wall passed, we were not able to take them out, so the "puppy pads" were in constant use. It was nice to get a little Diane Giordano: Anxiety and stress ran high among fresh air when things calmed down. most residents of the Retreat as Hurricane Frances We are all grateful for a sturdy house. narrowed in on the Treasure Coast. After storm shutters went up, bath tubs topped with water, gas tanks filled, and Helen Larcom: Hurricane Frances was the first hurricane supplies of food and drinking water were stocked in our we ever experienced. We did not know what to expect, homes, then came the “calm before the storm,” an but our neighbors were very helpful and full of advice. We impenetrable period when one could sit and wait it out discovered that we did not have enough panels to cover or…“Have a pre-hurricane party.” Well, several residents our back sliders. One of our neighbors had extras and got together and did just that. It was a good time for all gave us three more, it did not quite cover but was a great even though much improvising was needed. We had to help. That evening our porch took a beating, five of our bring chairs and an empty bladder as the pool furniture, screens blew out and four of our support beams fell down, Clubhouse, and bathroom facilities were all shuttered up. but we felt very fortunate that was all the damage done. It was amazing to see how ingenious we could be by using Actually, we felt very safe living in a DiVosta home. I think two small tables to host everyone’s hors d’oeuvres, plates the thing that impressed us the most were the friends we and napkins. The appetizers were varied and tasteful have made in the Retreat. Before the hurricane, friends while many libations were drunk from unique Floridian and neighbors helped us put up shutters and carry heavy poolside glasses. One kind soul even provided a fan for things into the garage. Paul in turn helped another everyone’s comfort while another remembered trash bags. neighbor with his shutters. They stopped in to see how we All in all, it was a “very good thing” as Martha would put it. made out after the hurricane and asked if they could help Everyone agreed this impromptu get-together allayed with anything. We were very grateful for their help and some stress and the timing was appropriate as our electric advice. and phone service went off the very next morning! Page 2 www.retreatatseabranch.com November/December 2004 Ann Condon: Two days before Frances hit our area, six of From the diary of Beausie Freedman: A 7-year old, 100- our neighbors on Hawks Nest Court arrived at our front door pound Yellow Labrador Retriever, writing with the explanation to to put up our shutters—Catherine and Ron Klinger, Brenda possible skeptic readers: Pets may not receive appropriate and Jennifer Hicks, John Kelly, and Chris Burke. With their respect for innate intelligence and understanding. help, the shutters were all up in a short time. Now for the recipes. I'm afraid they were not too exciting. I had baked some salmon I had in the freezer before we lost our electricity so the salmon in a salad was what we ate for two nights until the salmon went bad. Then we were able to get the grill out of the garage so we had franks and beans for the next two nights. The fun really started with the very long lines at the only open gas station in Hobe Sound, the Hess Station on Bridge Road. Then off to Publix—another treat. The shelves were empty—no milk, eggs. bread, ice or water. After the hurricane, our neighbor, Bill Boyle, who only comes up here from Miami on the weekends arrived with his SUV loaded with chests filled with ice. A welcome sight as our food was going bad rapidly. The next day another neighbor, Chris Burke, waited two hours to get more ice at Cassidy's to share with us, also. We have wonderful and caring neighbors here on Hawks Nest Court. Thank you everyone. Saturday, September 4, 2004 Humans are strange. Now here I am trying to enjoy a sunny, Shelby Conrad (age 9): When Hurricane Frances hit, I summer day…napping by my pool, after a brisk walk…early-up to experienced what it was like without power. We all had to sit beat the heat of the day, as my mom chortles a nice breakfast, in the dark with candles and flash lights and played board and I’m settled in for a good nap…but, noooooo.