By SAMANTHA FRANK
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Throughout Valencia Pointe, Amber Castonguay is known as Julie the cruise director. The reference to the character from The Love Boat is quite apropos when one learns that Castonguay oversees about 65 clubs and all events/activities in the suburban Boynton Beach community.
Castonguay, 32, was hired almost two years ago as lifestyle director, and since then, she has transformed the community's clubhouse into a cruise ship without the water. Some of the unique features inside the 35,000-square-foot clubhouse are a Flakowitz Restaurant and Deli, an Internet café, a social hall/theater that attracts some top-notch performers and an arts and crafts room with a kiln.
Castonguay knows most of the residents on a first-name basis, and they all know her. "I try to be as accessible as I can," she said. "I have an open-door policy." The community has been open for about 2 1/2 years, so Castonguay came on board early. She watched the clubhouse being built and was there for the grand opening in February. "I really enjoyed starting from scratch," she said. "I got to help from the very beginning, and I've seen so much flourish since then. It's very rewarding."
She is in charge of the clubhouse activities, but she said doesn't have to do any coaxing to get the residents to participate. "Our residents grasp onto an idea and run with it," she said. "They have such passion." Although everyone in the community is 55 and older, the variety of clubs is a testament to the diversity of the people. Clubs include the Gay and Lesbian Club; the Rockodiles Club, which revolves around classic rock music; and the Mad Dog Gun Club, which is dedicated to social sport shooting.
"The residents are willing to try anything," Castonguay said. "They're at a point in their lives when they become adventurous again. They really try to regain their youth."
Castonguay's latest undertaking is bringing educational programs into the community for the residents. She said she is working with a large local university to try to bring in professors to teach college credit classes.
"We're in the final stages," she said.
Amber Castonguay is the lifestyle director and clubhouse manager at Valencia Pointe, a 55-and-over community in suburban Boynton Beach. The residents refer to Castonguay as Julie the Cruise Director (a reference to The Love Boat character), because she oversees so many clubs and activities. Castonguay is shown here at the clubhouse pool.