This history of the neighborhood plays a vital part in the identity of its residents. If you have lived in the neighborhood for many years, the neighborhood history is a heartfelt reminder of days gone by. If you have just come to call the neighborhood home, it is a way to learn more about the new community you have joined. We would love nothing more than to be able to share the history of neighborhood name with all who reside there. If you are interested in writing a brief history of the neighborhood to share with the community, please contact us! |
- New Year - New MemoriesI began to write another submission after our inaugural holiday party at the newly renovated Sea Ranch Lakes Beach Club, but, since it was the time of year for baking, decorating, hustling and bustling, I never finished it. I asked our wonderful, Starr Paton, who has been at the Beach Club Office for us for so long, to give me a list of the people who were honored as long time residents. The list is long, but for those of you who did not get to come to the gathering, or those of you who missed the moment they were named, here is the list (in alphabetical, but not length of residency order):
Mrs. Virginia Benenati
Mrs. Patricia Bidwill
Mrs. Debbie Casey
Mrs. Mary Daehler
Mrs. Shirley Donnelan
Mrs. Ellie Firth
Mrs. Nancy Fischer
Mrs. Ann Flanigan
Mr. & Mrs. George Gore
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Gunther
Mr. Harlan Henderson
Mrs. Irene Jordan
Mr. John Kellar
Mr. & Mrs. James Lee
Dr. Nicholas Limperis
Mrs. Maureen lubbers
Mrs. Rae Miniea
Mrs. Mary Kay Nushawg
Mrs. Susan Rachanski
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Schuler
Mr. James Sherman
Mr. & Mrs. Hank Stella
Mrs. Joan Thomas
Mr. & Mrs. Victor Tomasso
Mrs. Dorothy Tomlinson
Dr. & Mrs. Robert Weber
Dr. & Mrs. Russel Wiener
Mr. & Mrs. Herb Yardley
What a list.....how many years! Think of all the memories and stories they can tell. I know that Mrs. Ellie Firth, who lived across the street from me, turned 90 years old in October. She has told me wonderful stories of her days at the old beach club, as did my other neighbor, also in her nineties, Rae Miniea. Stories of barbeques, parties, weddings and Fourth of Julys; of the tiki hut that used to grace the lawn, and the fireworks flag that used to burn on the edge of the wall. There used to be a diving board, and a life guard and lockers for you bottle in the bar, but those days are gone. Now we will have more days to have barbeques, weddings, graduations, parties and of course, Fourth of July. Think of all the memories that will be made and the happiness and growing old the Beach Club will remember. I want to say thank you to all the long time residents for all your contributions to this wonderful place we call home, Sea Ranch Lakes. Whether you served on the Board of the Club or the Village Council or just participated in a quiet way, you are remembered and appreciated.
I lost my dear mother in October, and was unable to attend Mrs. Ellie Firth's birthday celebration at the Beach Club. She had so many friends, some she hadn't seen in awhile, celebrate and honor her. Isn't it wonderful that we have such a place to have our friends come and remember?
Thank you too, to President Ron Moore, and all the members of the Board, and beyond, who worked hard to accomplish what we now have. Thank you for hours of work for the love of Sea Ranch and the people who live here. We must all remember to do what my mother always said, 'Count your blessings',
be thankful and be happy.
If history repeats itself, we will have many more memories and happy times .....enjoy!
Email:mbkinfla@aol.com - Memories and Making ThemAt the Fourth of July, Vicki and I spoke about the flags that Harry puts up on the median every year since we 'restructured' the Fourth of July activities. I think that most residents do not really know why they are there or what they represent. It was 1994 when Nial Ingerto, Debbie Barker, and I painted the sign that says, Sea Ranch USA, to hang over the pool area for the festivities. Then, the next year, I had a new baby (you know what they say about a new house and a new baby?!!!)
In l996, with four young girls who I wanted to make memories for, I decided to help have a Fourth of July like the ones I had heard about from all the old timers and my friends, now grown but wishing for celebrations like in the past. That was when the flags were born in Sea Ranch Lakes. Through the generosity of Malcolm Firth, Dr. Robert Weber, and others, I got people to give a contribution and claim a flag. Mr. Firth wanted to have a Confederate flag, but he had to settle for one of the standards. We had them out for the parade on Gatehouse Road with the cars, the decorated bikes and the babies and dogs. After the parade Harry moved them to the beach so we could see them for the sand sculpture contest, the watermelon eating contest, and the family games we began. There were all kinds of events and all kinds of people. At dinner, which was the first time we used Hugh's Catering (the place where we will now have our holiday party used to be in Wilton Manors) everyone remarked about the wonderful community we had in Sea Ranch. I knew a Goodyear Blimp pilot who donated a ride on the blimp for four and I walked SRL to get people to take chances on it; Gabrielle O'Neil, long time resident and mother of eleven, (Nial Ingerto is her youngest daughter), was the lucky winner. After our prizes for the first baking contest (a way to have more desserts!), in which Rae Minnea (who is now a beautiful 91 years old) won first place, we retired the flags with their history and a procession of the kids holding them. We begin with the flags of our ancestors from England and go through the Revolutionary war with the Betsy Ross, the Spirit of '76 and two more until we get to the flag we honor today. I love to see those flags flying proudly to remind us of our heritage, our battles to get where we are today, and even the people that made them possible. Even though some of the residents are no longer with us, I think of them when I see those flags.
Remember where we have been, but also let us try to make some new memories for ourselves and our children or grandchildren.
The holidays are coming, and we have a great chance to make wonderful memories together at the neighborhood party, the children's hayride and decorating our beautiful neighborhood.
I remember the way everyone pitched in to string the lights on the median last December and I hope we can do that again. I like to have the neighborhood together, and happy, and working for a common goal. I love to see the Beach Club going up again and know that many happy memories will be made there in the years ahead. This is your neighborhood, you need to be involved and make your own memories. It will be a new year soon....resolve to make a difference this year.
Enjoy each day, because they don't come back, except as a memory! - Endings and BeginningsFeeling very inspired today to write about this beautiful place we live, and makes sure you enjoy it and make memories this summer, I had to write a new article. I seem to be the only one who writes about the 'history' of Sea Ranch. I used to visit here in the 1970's when I was in high school but I have only lived in the Village since 1993. Longer than some, but we really have many more who could write the history here!
History is made every day here.....endings and beginnings. Deaths and births, moving out and moving in. Families that live and grow here, make the history.
It is the end of the school year now and many of the neighborhood 'children' are grown and graduating from high school to college to graduate school! We are all 'remembering when' and isn't that grand?! It is almost Memorial Day, when the Beach Club will be the site of the official beginning of summer and our grills will be grilling and coolers over flowing! Then we have 4th of July for more great summer history making and remembering. We tell the history of our flag each year in the median 'patriot's circle' past the gatehouse, thanks to some of the residents and former residents from years gone by. They can tell you about lots of July 4ths, turtle hatchings, happenings at the beach. I remember when we had the old beach club and if those walls could talk!!! I remember when Wilma hit in 2005 and then we did not have a beach club for several years. I'm really happy to get to meet new neighbors this summer and can't wait to see all the little children in the pool and on the beach, like mine were....or yours.....or your grandchildren....the memories are many! We will have graduations and weddings there this next month, along with Memorial Day and the rest of the long hot summer. Make it a good one! Say hello to your neighbors, enjoy your life and make some history.....
