September/October 2017 Newsletter
Editors
- Wen Leu: 13808 River Forest
- Bruce Squillante 13350 Island Rd
Officers and Directors
- President Jan Croson
- Vice-President Bob Wilgosz
- Treasurer Bob Croson
- Secretary Robin Evans
Street Directors
- The Island Julie Squillante
- Island Rd Pam Jacobs
- Ox Bow Gene Hamilton
- Sleepy Hollow Gail Beals
- Lazy Lane/RF Dick Kennedy
- River Forest Peninsula Babe Bez
Don’t forget to visit our website at rifca.net
Irma's Devastation at River Forest
by Bruce Squillante
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Well that was fun!! Irma and all her fury certainly packed a nice wallop for the brief time she was here. The week leading up to her arrival seemed to last forever. Irma was our first hurricane and I will be very happy if we do not see one for a very long time.
Julie and I lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 22 years where we averaged about 100 inches of snowfall every year. While the differences between blizzards and hurricanes are vast, what happens before and after were life’s lessons for us. I was amazed at the all-you-can eat orgy of Irma coverage leading up to the big event. What struck us was the dire nature of the Governor’s warning “the storm surge will kill you…evacuate.” I thought then as I do now that his hyperbole will ill serve those who need it most. By 10am Sunday River Forest was just put on a mandatory evacuation order (zone B). Julie and I were tired of hearing the Governor on a loop and decided to seek shelter in a friend’s house in Lehigh Acres. And, okay, maybe it would be best to move away from the water even though we had life preservers and a tall ladder to climb on the roof if the storm surge was really bad. We packed some essentials and got some exercise running around our house trying to get our three cats into their carriers. Just as we got into our garage, the large tree at River Forest and Marquette toppled onto the power lines and the power was out. Pulling the manual escape cord for the garage door proved challenging but eventually off we went. At 10:20am the wind had started to kick up with some force…45-50 mph. Debris filled the sides of the streets, but the trip down Buckingham turned out to be fairly routine. By 10:50am we were at our friend’s house (it was actually our contractor's house) and to our surprise and happiness, there was power. At 11:28 we finally found the remote to the TV and passed the time watching “Mama Mia” while our friend’s cat hissed at our cats – and would occasionally come over to us and bite and scratch at our ankles. And all the while the winds continued to get louder outside. At 4:36pm we finally lost power. We had six flashlights and four i-phones, so there was some light. Meteorologists would later tell us that Irma’s eye passed right over Lehigh Acres. I can believe that as it went from incredible strong winds to almost nothing before the winds kicked in again. By 9pm, my kids and I were sound asleep and Julie spent a sleepless night on the couch. It was hot, badly lit, the toilets did not work, and the cat had a really bad attitude. At 5:30am Julie and I decided to venture home. It was still dark and we were concerned that Buckingham might be a mess. We drove down Colonial to I-75 and could see the many downed trees along with lakes of deep standing water. On the drive up Palm Beach from I-75 we saw several palm trees on the road. It was almost spooky. We turned onto Tropic and quickly met the first obstacle, a large tree down across Tropic just past 1st and impossible to pass. We drove down 1st and around to River Forest. There we saw the tree that doomed River Forest’s power for the following week. We could see the changing landscape of River Forest in front of us. As we drove onto the causeway to go to the island, we approached our second obstacle…..water covered the causeway. I told everyone to open their windows. I asked Olivia if she knew why I did that and she responded “To annoy us?” We got across but were blocked again by another tree down on the island blocking the street. Parking in a neighbor's driveway out of the car we went and trudged home…away from the comforts of an air conditioner. Julie and I came back with a saw and cut back the tree to open the street. Other neighbors would join us and we cleared a nice path to get on/off the island. My most longstanding memories of Irma will be its aftermath. All of the trees that were toppled and the damages to the palms were shocking. I now have a better appreciation for what a “hurricane cut” is for a palm tree. The clean up of fallen limbs and the stacking of them along the streets has reminded me of what the streets of Grand Rapids looked like after getting 2 feet of snow at one time. Streets would be lined on both sides with snow six feet high. The loss of air conditioning was the hardest thing, but I saw my cats one evening all sleeping on the tile floor. When I realized why, I got my pillow and slept like a baby on the cool floor. On Saturday I went in to the office with my daughter for some blessed relief from the heat and humidity. At 2:45pm her screams of delight told it all to me….we had power again. Time to move on. What do I wish I had done? Got a generator? Never moved to Florida? No. The next time we are going to call a screen repair person before the hurricane hits to get on the list so our lanai screens got fixed before the bugs invaded us.
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Iowa Faces and Far Away Places
by Bruce Squillante
Another entry from the adventures of Bruce and Julie Squillante. For this trip, we traveled 4,836 miles on the road, 720 miles by boat, hiked over 118,000 steps, and saw a really nice wedding. First on the agenda was a trip to Iowa City for my nephew’s wedding. We left at noon for the 21 hour drive and were doing well until we got to Chattanooga. An hour long traffic jam from a bad accident was inconvenient. Julie and I prefer driving through the night because going through cities like Atlanta and St. Louis late in the evening or during the wee hours of the morning is best. We arrived at 9am Friday and slept until dinner. Saturday, the wedding day, started off with me and Julie going to garage sales around Iowa City. We found several nice items and had some fun driving around.
The wedding itself brought out some new trends I am just not used to. For example, the wedding registry was not at traditional stores, but on Amazon. It was really odd, you order the gift from the lowest bidder and it gets shipped to the married couple. The idea of paying for shipping on a gift I could deliver in person was just not acceptable. Julie and I bought the gifts at Beall’s and Kohls and brought it with us. Another odd trend was that there was no bouquet toss and the bride/groom sat at their own table (no attendants with them). Well, the music started playing and after 4 hours, I could no longer recognize the music (or maybe lost my hearing), and it was time to go.
Julie and I then departed for the 9 hour trip from Iowa City to Copper Harbor for the next stop on our trip – Isle Royale National Park. Isle Royale is one of the more unique National Parks in the US as it is actually an island with a very limited 4 month season. Located on Lake Superior north of the Michigan’s upper peninsula, Isle Royale is one of the least visited National Parks in the country. Copper Harbor is one of only three access points to get to Isle Royale. A 3.5 hour boat trip brought us to the island. In planning for the two day trip, I wanted to camp out but when I showed Julie a device to turn the lake water into drinking water, Julie decided we would be staying at the only hotel on the island. Our first half day involved hiking to vantage points around the island. The hiking trails were very rocky and challenging, so I settled in for the evening to review emails and get some work done. Unfortunately, the remote location resulted in no wireless connection. The hotel had a “wi-fi room” where a group of us gathered – but alas too many people meant no wi-fi. A good night’s sleep would have been welcome – but the bunk bed was not suited for comfort. Camping would have been better.
Early the next morning Julie and I took a canoe trip across a long strait in order to see Lookout Louise, the highest point of the park. The dock master gave us instructions as to where on the strait to cross because that side of the island was where the seaplanes landed with passengers from Houghton, MI – another access point. Well, I almost tipped the canoe over when I got in, but after a few minutes we were off. The waters were still and the other side of the strait looked really interesting, so we turned and started to row across the strait but not at the spot the dock master recommended. We were midway across when suddenly we heard a noise in the distance. Sure enough, it was a boat plane coming in for landing and we were right in its way. Julie and I started rowing like wind up monkeys and barely made it past the landing field as the plane passed us on the water. As it turned out, later that evening in the wi-fi room while none of the guests could get wi-fi, I heard a couple talk about how they almost killed two crazy canoeists while landing their plane. I went to them and introduced myself. It turned that the wife and I grew up in the 1970’s one block away in Cincinnati. It was a fun evening even though I could not get any work done.
We took a wonderful boat trip to a remote island with one of the oldest lighthouses in Michigan. If you go to Isle Royale the half day trips to the lighthouses and fisheries are well worth it. The hikes to the lighthouses are easy and you can actually climb to the top of one of them. After 14 hours of boat rides, hiking, a questionable dinner, and another sketchy night of sleep in an angry bunk bed, we took one last hike on our final morning there. The 4 mile hike along the shoreline of Isle Royale was amazing for its beautiful views. We were heading for an outcropping from which we could see Canada. We planned to sit out there, rest and eat our breakfast. When we arrived at the scenic overlook 4 miles later, the views were stunning and worth the trek. The breakfast on the other hand, well we were breakfast. Hundreds of evil black flies descended upon us biting on, of all places, our ankles. We enjoyed the view as best we could and moved on quickly. In a few hours we were on the boat back to Copper Harbor and at 6pm we were on our way to Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota.
The trip from Copper Harbor, Michigan to International Falls, MN would have taken 4 hours by interstate – if there was one. Instead we had to go by back roads and arrived in International Falls 8 hours later at 2am. Voyageurs National Park is the northern version of Biscayne National Park. It is mostly water and can only be enjoyed by boat. I woke up late at 6am the next morning and actually got some work done because I had wi-fi for the first time in three days. I was nearly shaking with joy. By 8am Julie and I were headed for the first Visitor’s Center.
Voyageurs is a challenging park to visit. There are three Visitors’ Centers and it takes over 75 minutes to get from the one in the north to the other in the south. Boat trips vary each day and most are sold out long in advance. The boat tours the first day were sold out so Julie and I visited all of the Visitors’ Centers, hiked, and then took a 40 minute boat trip to our cottage on the island of Kettle Falls. The cottage was nice and we actually had a bed, but no air conditioning or TV – almost primitive. Julie and I walked to see the falls, but there was not much more to do. The next day we went on a 4 hour boat ride around the park and saw several bald eagles.
From there we started back on our 24 hour trip back to Fort Myers for much relaxation.
Dona Room Update
Before departing for summer the Board of Directors authorized some major improvements to the Dona rooms. Both Dona rooms experienced major leaks from the shower pans and damaged drywall and baseboards. Both Dona rooms have had the work completed which included the new pans, backboard, and new tile all the way to the ceiling. Drywall and baseboards were replaced as needed. Baseboards throughout have been sanded and painted including doors and frames. Both entire Dona rooms have also been newly painted. Lights in Dona B have been replaced.
Take time to check out the new, clean bedrooms and to have your family and friends enjoy. Dona rooms are ready to occupy. If you want to reserve the Dona rooms, call Julie Squillante at 616-460-0924.
River Forest – Fun Facts
River Forest has two cameras that monitor outbound traffic 24 hours
One camera captures the car itself
One camera captures the license plate
Island Road and the Island itself are considered private roads
The rest of River Forest is covered by county roads
Ox Bow Rd is an amazingly depict name for one of our streets.
An Oxbow lake or river is one that meanders in a loop or U-shape like the portion of the yoke that goes around an ox.
Take a bird's eye view of River Forest and see the old Caloosahatchee River before it was straightened out.
In fact, the loop around the Island was once referred to as the Old River Ox-Bow.
The original Island causeway was meant to be constructed at the end of Ox Bow.
In the early 1960s, a waterfront lot went for $2,950.
Potluck Photos - August 2017
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2017 Eclipse – A Trip Worth Taking
by Bruce Squillante
August 21, 2017 was truly a special day. I was interested in the eclipse last year and marked that day on my calendar. The question of where to watch it was easy. The 60 mile swath of eclipse totality ran through Columbia, SC which is where my aunt lived. My mother and sister decided fly to Columbia for the eclipse, so it was an easy decision to go.
Julie and I actually drove up to Columbia on Friday and spent most of Saturday visiting downtown. Columbia is South Carolina’s capitol and the downtown area gave us that impression. We toured the capitol building and got to see the state senate and house of representatives. It was really interesting to learn that the original capitol of South Carolina was Charleston – a port town. As the population of the state grew, the state needed a more centralized location and Columbia was the choice.
Monday came quickly and the excitement grew. We watched the national news as the eclipse started in Oregon. Our daughter Joyce is getting her masters at Oregon State University. She was part of the group that was the first to see the total eclipse in the country. She sent us pictures and we could see the eclipse on television.
Early in the afternoon, clouds started to gather all around us but there were none in the critical area above us. As it turns out, Charleston was completely rained out. We started watching the eclipse just after 2pm. Clouds would come and go, but the weather cooperated. It was really amazing to watch the
moon slowly move in front of the sun. Julie and I really did not know what to expect. When the moment occurred, we were able to remove our special glasses and just look at the spectacle. At total eclipse there was a heavy shade, but not total darkness – more like 20 minutes after sunset. The vision that will always stay with me is what looked like a hole in the sky and just to the west was Venus shining brightly.
I can understand why there are some eclipse fanatics that go to as many total eclipses around the world. The next total eclipse goes from Texas to Maine with a 90 mile swath on April 8, 2024. After what I saw in August, I will likely travel to see it too.
Julie and I actually drove up to Columbia on Friday and spent most of Saturday visiting downtown. Columbia is South Carolina’s capitol and the downtown area gave us that impression. We toured the capitol building and got to see the state senate and house of representatives. It was really interesting to learn that the original capitol of South Carolina was Charleston – a port town. As the population of the state grew, the state needed a more centralized location and Columbia was the choice.
Monday came quickly and the excitement grew. We watched the national news as the eclipse started in Oregon. Our daughter Joyce is getting her masters at Oregon State University. She was part of the group that was the first to see the total eclipse in the country. She sent us pictures and we could see the eclipse on television.
Early in the afternoon, clouds started to gather all around us but there were none in the critical area above us. As it turns out, Charleston was completely rained out. We started watching the eclipse just after 2pm. Clouds would come and go, but the weather cooperated. It was really amazing to watch the
moon slowly move in front of the sun. Julie and I really did not know what to expect. When the moment occurred, we were able to remove our special glasses and just look at the spectacle. At total eclipse there was a heavy shade, but not total darkness – more like 20 minutes after sunset. The vision that will always stay with me is what looked like a hole in the sky and just to the west was Venus shining brightly.
I can understand why there are some eclipse fanatics that go to as many total eclipses around the world. The next total eclipse goes from Texas to Maine with a 90 mile swath on April 8, 2024. After what I saw in August, I will likely travel to see it too.
Paris – City of Lights
Whether your first time to Paris, or a seasoned veteran traveler, a few months of pre-planning can help you have the best experience and still act somewhat impulsive. I just returned from a week in Paris and after 15-20 trips to the City of Lights, I found the cuisine, art, and embrace of Parisians better than ever.
Transportation:
The good news is traveling through most of Paris’ 20 arrondissements is walkable, accessible through metro, or River Bus Shuttle (my favorite). The River Bus Shuttle is certainly a reasonable way to get around with a 1-day pass for 17 €, 2-day pass for 20 €, or a 1-year pass for 60 €. Uber and taxis are also a reasonable way to get around.
Accommodations:
If you want a true Parisian experience, the Odeon St Germaine is a lovely 4-star boutique hotel in the 7th. It is walking distance from Notre Dame and Saint-Sulpice Church. Although I am not usually the largest fan of W hotels, the W Paris – Opera was a phenomenal hotel directly across from the Opera. It was a beautiful “American Size” room with a bird’s eye view of the Opera. The Hilton Paris Opera was also a great location, however the view was of the
McDonalds, but the price point difference made it a reasonable stay. The Grand Hyatt had a wonderful spa which was a great break after 4 days of walking over 10 miles each day, but the price point was not justified in my book.
The Sights:
The Seine River Tour and Eiffel tour were repeat performances for me, so I was glad I was able to do a twist on each of those tours. We did a Seine River Cruise and Paris Canal Tour for only 20 euros. This 2.5 hour tour cruises the
mouth of Canal Saint Martin through a historic canal system built under the direction of Napoleon in the 1800’s. You
travel through a dimly lit tunnel beneath the French Revolution site Place de la Bastille, through over a dozen locks and lovely footbridges. For the adventurous with time to plan, I suggest booking a trip to the top of the Eiffel tower. You
need to book that reservation 2-3 months in advance and you still have access to all the other levels. I can’t say the
views are that much more spectacular, but the journey certainly is.
The Louvre can easily be a multi-day visit, however on Wednesday’s and Fridays it is open an additional 4 hours (and it is closed on Tuesdays). However, unless you have phenomenal stamina, I cannot imagine more than 8 hours a day in the Louvre. If you are less a lover of artifacts and more of art, you may prefer Orangerie art museum and Musee d'Orsay over the Louvre. If you go to the Orsay, beeline up to the impressionist wing to see all the amazing things you always see in prints. Of course you can’t go to Paris without taking in a few parks. Jardin des Tuileries is next to the Lourve in the 1st and my favorite location to observe the magical lights of the Eiffel Tower, however often closes at dusk, so timing is summer months is quite a challenge. Parc de la Villette is located in the 19th and is the third-largest park in Paris and houses the largest concentration of cultural venues in Paris.
The Cuisine:
My favorite creperie is Crepuscule. It is very small and family run in the 7th. The owner served us and his English was wonderful. My favorite restaurant with a special sampling menu was Verjus which is in the 1st. Again the entire staff spoke perfect English, you often see American celebrities plus I definitely recommend the wine flight. Also in the 1st
is Ellsworth, it was a notably younger crowd, but the food was phenomenal. If you are a truffle lover “Truffles” is a
bit gimmicky, but food was wonderful. Other than ordering beef at Procope (one of the oldest restaurants and a favorite of Ben Franklin’s) you really you can’t go wrong with food in Paris. Be daring and make sure you have reservations at for the restaurants you have on your bucket list. When in doubt, grab a loaf of bread, a piece of brie and a bottle of rose’.
My best recommendation is do some planning, leave lots of extra time, and wander.
Feel free to follow my page Executive Excursions on Facebook for more ideas on travel destinations.
Cindy Baerman
Executive Connection and Adventure Advisor
Transportation:
The good news is traveling through most of Paris’ 20 arrondissements is walkable, accessible through metro, or River Bus Shuttle (my favorite). The River Bus Shuttle is certainly a reasonable way to get around with a 1-day pass for 17 €, 2-day pass for 20 €, or a 1-year pass for 60 €. Uber and taxis are also a reasonable way to get around.
Accommodations:
If you want a true Parisian experience, the Odeon St Germaine is a lovely 4-star boutique hotel in the 7th. It is walking distance from Notre Dame and Saint-Sulpice Church. Although I am not usually the largest fan of W hotels, the W Paris – Opera was a phenomenal hotel directly across from the Opera. It was a beautiful “American Size” room with a bird’s eye view of the Opera. The Hilton Paris Opera was also a great location, however the view was of the
McDonalds, but the price point difference made it a reasonable stay. The Grand Hyatt had a wonderful spa which was a great break after 4 days of walking over 10 miles each day, but the price point was not justified in my book.
The Sights:
The Seine River Tour and Eiffel tour were repeat performances for me, so I was glad I was able to do a twist on each of those tours. We did a Seine River Cruise and Paris Canal Tour for only 20 euros. This 2.5 hour tour cruises the
mouth of Canal Saint Martin through a historic canal system built under the direction of Napoleon in the 1800’s. You
travel through a dimly lit tunnel beneath the French Revolution site Place de la Bastille, through over a dozen locks and lovely footbridges. For the adventurous with time to plan, I suggest booking a trip to the top of the Eiffel tower. You
need to book that reservation 2-3 months in advance and you still have access to all the other levels. I can’t say the
views are that much more spectacular, but the journey certainly is.
The Louvre can easily be a multi-day visit, however on Wednesday’s and Fridays it is open an additional 4 hours (and it is closed on Tuesdays). However, unless you have phenomenal stamina, I cannot imagine more than 8 hours a day in the Louvre. If you are less a lover of artifacts and more of art, you may prefer Orangerie art museum and Musee d'Orsay over the Louvre. If you go to the Orsay, beeline up to the impressionist wing to see all the amazing things you always see in prints. Of course you can’t go to Paris without taking in a few parks. Jardin des Tuileries is next to the Lourve in the 1st and my favorite location to observe the magical lights of the Eiffel Tower, however often closes at dusk, so timing is summer months is quite a challenge. Parc de la Villette is located in the 19th and is the third-largest park in Paris and houses the largest concentration of cultural venues in Paris.
The Cuisine:
My favorite creperie is Crepuscule. It is very small and family run in the 7th. The owner served us and his English was wonderful. My favorite restaurant with a special sampling menu was Verjus which is in the 1st. Again the entire staff spoke perfect English, you often see American celebrities plus I definitely recommend the wine flight. Also in the 1st
is Ellsworth, it was a notably younger crowd, but the food was phenomenal. If you are a truffle lover “Truffles” is a
bit gimmicky, but food was wonderful. Other than ordering beef at Procope (one of the oldest restaurants and a favorite of Ben Franklin’s) you really you can’t go wrong with food in Paris. Be daring and make sure you have reservations at for the restaurants you have on your bucket list. When in doubt, grab a loaf of bread, a piece of brie and a bottle of rose’.
My best recommendation is do some planning, leave lots of extra time, and wander.
Feel free to follow my page Executive Excursions on Facebook for more ideas on travel destinations.
Cindy Baerman
Executive Connection and Adventure Advisor
Potluck Photos - September 2017
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Potlucks
October 7
Board Meeting
October 2
November 6
Snowbirds Dinner
October 28
Club Rummage Sale
November 10/11
Thanksgiving Dinner
November 23
Watch for your notice
Dick & Carol's Corner
RIFCA TRIVIA/HISTORY FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Reprinted for your enjoyment!
Many of you have requested to see this article again. Enjoy!
The year was l965 and Colonel Duecker’s Dream was about to come into fruition. Wetlands behind Ft Myers Shores, where lots were almost being given away (selling for a few hundred dollars a lot), was in a unique LOCATION for development. Located on the shores of the beautiful Caloosahatchee, which includes oxbows and an Island; who wouldn’t have wanted a piece of this Paradise? As plans were made and lots were developed, the rest of the world moved on.
Halfway across the World(or the pond as soldiers chided), a war called Vietnam was getting hot. Soldiers previously called ADVISERS, landed in Da Nang en masse. Marines from the 9th US Marine Expeditionary Force, went ashore to stay, with other soldiers for almost 20 yrs. 125,000 troops related to the Song’s that came about i.e.‘We Gotta Get Out of this Place’ and ‘Paint it Black’!
If you were lucky enough to be stateside, you might have enjoyed the World Series, which was played between LA Dodgers vs Minnesota Twins. The Dodgers which had recently moved from Brooklyn won the series and Sandy Koufax was the MVP for the second time. Harmon Killebrew was the MVP for the Twins.
NFL Championship was won by Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers QB by Bart Starr. The losers were the Cleveland Brown, whose stars were Jim Brown and Lou ‘the toe’ Groza.
NBA Championship was played between two old rivals the Boston Celtics and The LA Lakers. The Celts won and Bill Russell was the MVP
The college NCAA Football Champ was Alabama, coached by you guessed it the ‘Bear Bryant’. 2nd place was MICH State and Bubba Smith
NCAA Basketball Championship was won by UCLA and Coached by John Wooden. The losers were the U of Mich.
Popular TV SHOWS in l965, were Hullabaloo, Outer Limits, Star Trek was being developed and l6 names were being submitted for the character Capt Kirk. Sonny n Cher were big as was American Bandstand. Get Smart was popular as was FBI and my favorites Wagon Train and Gunsmoke.
Top Movies were
l. Sound of Music-Julie Andrews-Oscar
2. Dr Zhivago-
3. The Greatest Story Ever Told
4. Cat Ballou
5. Cincinnati Kid
6. The Agony and the Ecstasy
7. Beach Blanket Bingo
8. My Fair Lady-Rex Harrison-Oscar
Top Songs were: Top Country Songs were:
Get off My Cloud and No Satisfaction-Stones King of the Road-Roger Miller
Help, Yesterday-Beatles I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail-Buck Owens
Help me Rhonda-Beach Boys
People Get Ready-Impressions
Temptations-My Girl
Stop in the Name of Love-Supremes
Crying in the Chapel-Elvis
We lost some big names in l965 too, such as:
Winston Churchill TS Eliot
Nat King Cole Stan Laurel
Dorothy Killgallen
Politics
Pres-LBJ, Pop of US-l94,000,000, Fed Spending-$118B, Debt-$322B,
Unemp Rate-5.2%
Average House cost--$21,000,
Impala Car--$2900-3115, New Car- l965 Mustang $3300,
Gallon of Gas - .31c, Dozen Eggs - .53c, Gallon of Milk - .95c, Postage Stamp - .05c
Remember to check up on your neighbors. All the hurricanes and storms remind me of how special and necessary it is to watch out for and help our neighbors. We are the first responders for each other.
May God bless and keep you in the palm of his hand.
Carol and Dick Kennedy
Dr. Carol and Dick have lived at 13754 River Forest Dr since 1985.
To contact Carol about her books and her upcoming Second Chocolate book,
Call 239.898.8363 or dracrol@drcarolkennedy.com. View photos at www.drcarolkennedy.com
The year was l965 and Colonel Duecker’s Dream was about to come into fruition. Wetlands behind Ft Myers Shores, where lots were almost being given away (selling for a few hundred dollars a lot), was in a unique LOCATION for development. Located on the shores of the beautiful Caloosahatchee, which includes oxbows and an Island; who wouldn’t have wanted a piece of this Paradise? As plans were made and lots were developed, the rest of the world moved on.
Halfway across the World(or the pond as soldiers chided), a war called Vietnam was getting hot. Soldiers previously called ADVISERS, landed in Da Nang en masse. Marines from the 9th US Marine Expeditionary Force, went ashore to stay, with other soldiers for almost 20 yrs. 125,000 troops related to the Song’s that came about i.e.‘We Gotta Get Out of this Place’ and ‘Paint it Black’!
If you were lucky enough to be stateside, you might have enjoyed the World Series, which was played between LA Dodgers vs Minnesota Twins. The Dodgers which had recently moved from Brooklyn won the series and Sandy Koufax was the MVP for the second time. Harmon Killebrew was the MVP for the Twins.
NFL Championship was won by Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers QB by Bart Starr. The losers were the Cleveland Brown, whose stars were Jim Brown and Lou ‘the toe’ Groza.
NBA Championship was played between two old rivals the Boston Celtics and The LA Lakers. The Celts won and Bill Russell was the MVP
The college NCAA Football Champ was Alabama, coached by you guessed it the ‘Bear Bryant’. 2nd place was MICH State and Bubba Smith
NCAA Basketball Championship was won by UCLA and Coached by John Wooden. The losers were the U of Mich.
Popular TV SHOWS in l965, were Hullabaloo, Outer Limits, Star Trek was being developed and l6 names were being submitted for the character Capt Kirk. Sonny n Cher were big as was American Bandstand. Get Smart was popular as was FBI and my favorites Wagon Train and Gunsmoke.
Top Movies were
l. Sound of Music-Julie Andrews-Oscar
2. Dr Zhivago-
3. The Greatest Story Ever Told
4. Cat Ballou
5. Cincinnati Kid
6. The Agony and the Ecstasy
7. Beach Blanket Bingo
8. My Fair Lady-Rex Harrison-Oscar
Top Songs were: Top Country Songs were:
Get off My Cloud and No Satisfaction-Stones King of the Road-Roger Miller
Help, Yesterday-Beatles I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail-Buck Owens
Help me Rhonda-Beach Boys
People Get Ready-Impressions
Temptations-My Girl
Stop in the Name of Love-Supremes
Crying in the Chapel-Elvis
We lost some big names in l965 too, such as:
Winston Churchill TS Eliot
Nat King Cole Stan Laurel
Dorothy Killgallen
Politics
Pres-LBJ, Pop of US-l94,000,000, Fed Spending-$118B, Debt-$322B,
Unemp Rate-5.2%
Average House cost--$21,000,
Impala Car--$2900-3115, New Car- l965 Mustang $3300,
Gallon of Gas - .31c, Dozen Eggs - .53c, Gallon of Milk - .95c, Postage Stamp - .05c
Remember to check up on your neighbors. All the hurricanes and storms remind me of how special and necessary it is to watch out for and help our neighbors. We are the first responders for each other.
May God bless and keep you in the palm of his hand.
Carol and Dick Kennedy
Dr. Carol and Dick have lived at 13754 River Forest Dr since 1985.
To contact Carol about her books and her upcoming Second Chocolate book,
Call 239.898.8363 or dracrol@drcarolkennedy.com. View photos at www.drcarolkennedy.com
