Flagship’s defunct pool.
I’ve been thinking about the “power of place”. My daughters call The Landings magical and Flagship Village perfect. How can that be? Seems to me the key element is community. For example, what happens when a village’s pool is defunct?
What has happened to the traditional, evening, bi-weekly pool gatherings? Even if you can’t participate, you can’t miss hearing the joy and laughter of the group as they share their lives. These welcoming, generous folks also support each other through the “trials and tribulations” of life. People take care of each other – from birthday cards to words and deeds of hope and encouragement when needed. No pool? No problem! There is always the courtyard between 4616 and 4612.
An exemplary moment of caring community? Let me tell you about the “Saga of the Lost Kitten”. As an hysterical mother of a 10-month Russian Blue kitten, I was madly calling, “Velvet, Velvet, here kitty, kitty” in the courtyard between 4616 and 4612. The sound echoed off the buildings. Hearing the urgency – or terror – in my voice, doors flew open, folks emerged and joined the search.
Art and I had returned to our condo after being away for about four hours. We had reminded our housecleaner to please be cautious when going out the door with all the cleaning gear. In a flash Velvet, a sleek, silver streak, can be out a door without even seeing her. Velvet always answers me and comes running, her bell twinkling, when I call her. BUT this day, silence – no kitten anywhere – under beds, in closets, behind couches – there are only so many places to hide in our condos. No Velvet, no sound anywhere.
My dear posse, Ellen and Barry Fitzpatrick, Bob Allen, Mary Diehl, Tommy Longbodardi spread out. Cats can’t find their way home like dogs. She was little; anything could have happened. Our voices could be heard all through the contingent neighborhoods. I stopped biker riders, golfers, walkers. I was sick to my stomach with fear. We’d reconvened in the garage shaking our heads. Ellen offered she was a great pet finder and stressed looking in my condo again. I had just been thinking that Velvet loves “hidey-hides.” I had just flashed on the open door of my bottom loader washing machine full of dirty sheets, wondering if the cleaner had shut the door to clean the floor in the laundry room. As I shared this vision with Ellen, we, with hope in our hearts, returned to the condo for one last check. Yes, the door was shut. Taking a big breath, I opened the door. This adorable gray kitten looking at me sideway, gently meowed and jumped out.
I returned to the courtyard calling thank you all, “Velvet is found.” The posse sighed with relief. Not only were we relieved, but much of The Landings had heard the search or the story of the search. For days people came up to me to ask about Velvet. It does take a village – the power of place.
Nothing demonstrated the power of place more poignantly than New York City on September 11, 2001. We all can remember exactly where we were when we heard or saw the towers were hit. Our Flagship resident, Richard Hickey, a member of the New York City Fire Department, was there and responded to the emergency with valor. He went into the center of incredible horror for days even when he wasn’t on duty. At the Speakers Table on February 3, he and Dan Hickey (no relation) recounted their experiences. Dan was with the Boston Fire Department and was sent to NYC to establish the staging area and assist in the recovery.
Richard Hickey and Kathleen.
Richard’s story was personal and chilling. Stationed in Brooklyn, he lost men. That day Richard was supposed to be kayaking when he got a call from a buddy, “They got the towers – so much death.” Although his engine had already left the house, and Richard was off duty, he knew he had to be with his men, his brothers. Richard managed to get through the snarl of traffic and chaos to the site. As a result, he was there when the second tower fell. In recounting that and following days, Battalion Chief Richard Hickey conveyed the emotional intensity of the debacle. Shifts were 24 hours on and 24 hours off, but off time meant going to the site and searching for his men as well as others who had perished. In exhaustion, Richard would on occasion go home to Long Island and to the calming presence of Kathleen whose steady heart and head created a moment of normalcy. Kathleen recognized how Richard was in shock as he seemed to be in a trance from too much to process.
A humble hero Richard felt he only did what all brothers would do for each other. At the end of his presentation, he thanked us, the audience, for holding fast as he relayed his experience.
On several upbeat notes: Beyond golf, tennis and pickleball, “Flagshipians” access all areas of The Landings. Flagship ladies can be found enjoying themselves on the Helm Club’s side porch in an intense game of mahjong!
Kathy Jeffery, and Carolyn Wilson appear
with tiles of the mystery person.
Claudia Zambo, Kathy Jeffery, and Carolyn Wilson appear with tiles of the mystery person.
Happy congratulations to our talented resident, Gretchen Phillips, who won third place in the LYGTC Fine Arts contest with a focus on seashells. Gretchen captured in oil the motion and joy of shells lolling in the sea.
Many thanks to Brad Davidson for 10 years of diligent dedication representing Flagship on the LYGTC Board. Brad graciously in turn thanks us. “I want to thank Flagship Village owners for the opportunity to represent you for the past 10 years. It truly has been my honor and privilege to be your representative on the LYGTC Board.” Thanks, Brad, to you for your outstanding commitment.
Congratulations go to Ron Dishler in assuming the role of representing Flagship on the LYGTC board. Thank you, Ron.
We have new neighbors, Annie and Walt Baccala. This adventurous couple may look familiar to some of us. The Baccalas lived in Clipper Cove for five years, 25 years ago. They were avid sailors and members of the Yacht Club. Life pulled them back to California as grandchildren entered this world, but Walt always wanted to return to The Landings. Walt never wanted to leave. Once, life allowed, they were back. The Power of Place brought them back to The Landings and now to Flagship.
Annie has lived in 50 places in her life time! Yes, the proverbial Army “brat” as a kid was always on the move. Once she and Walt married, a second time for each, they “settled” in San Francisco, Walt’s hometown. At one point, they lived in six homes in six years in the Bay area including Sonoma. As a carpenter/contractor, Walt built ‘spec’ houses that they then moved into and sold the prior house. At 55, Walt retired to go boating – both power but mostly sail boats. They could be found boating in and around South Carolina, Key West and the Bahamas. Water became their permanent residence for about 13 years until they came ashore in Clipper Cove.
On land during the years, they were great bikers and did tours stateside and in Europe. They considered themselves “world bikers” with trips in New England, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket as well as in Europe. Annie has fond memories of biking in Provence. Never far from water, they included a barge trip from Dijon to Lyon.
Let’s welcome this fascinating couple into our Flagship community and acquaint them with the power of this place.
Footnote:
- A. N. Peale, Harvard Magazine, “Common Ground.” Jan/Feb 2026, p 50.
