Unit Happenings

Unit 5

Fran Berman

Close to 20 Unit 5 women gathered at Patti Overhaug’s home for our bi-monthly coffee. This was Patti’s first time hosting and she made it extra special with touches of green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. (Patti’s the one in the green shirt, as if you couldn’t guess.) Pastries, fruits, quiche and even an Easter Bunny cake energized us all. Good thing she included decaf coffee in the beverage selection.

Unit 5 women gather every other month for a coffee hosted by one of us. On alternating months we usually go for lunch somewhere in the Tucson area. In April we carpooled to La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant for lunch. We don’t take a break for summer; this social schedule continues all year.

Fran Berman

Unit Five came alive at our annual Putting and Pizza Party on March 30. We gathered at 3:30 p.m. at the SaddleBrooke One practice putting green. Hosts Stephanie and Roger Cady mapped out the challenging course. On one hole, they created the ultimate test of our putting skills by using brightly colored string to form a dogleg to the left. If your ball went outside the lines, even if it crossed back in, you had to place it where it first went out of bounds and take a penalty stroke. My team was lucky enough—I mean skilled enough—to stay in bounds and finish this dogleg hole in only two strokes. While the weather was cool and partly cloudy, the competition quickly heated up.

At 4:30 p.m. we gathered in the Roadrunner Grill for an all-you-can-eat buffet of salad and a variety of delicious pizzas. The Roadrunner may have lost money on this hungry group. Once thirsts and appetites were satisfied, our hosts announced the winners.

With a team score of 38, Ralph Nitcher, Barb Sollenberger and Bill Showers took First Place. Second Place went to John Ingebritson, Kathy Soerens and LaVerne Tucker with a team score of 41. Josie Emanuel, Brian Rolfe and Fran Berman took Third Place with a team score of 42. From these winning teams, LaVerne Tucker and Bill Showers distinguished themselves with not one, not two, but four holes-in-one!

With Roger and Stephanie already planning to host this again next year, we’re sure to have another fun annual Putting and Pizza Party. Next month Unit 5 gathers at the tennis patio for a potluck supper and then bocce ball.

Unit 27

Sue Case

Carol and Marvin Goldberg hosted the March Snack and Chat on March 25, a perfect evening to be inside or out. At the Goldbergs’ house, outside is the preferred venue of most folks as that is where the “sculpture people” sit among the flesh and bone variety. Carol is an artist, accomplished in multiple media; however, her whimsical life sized sculptures bring the back yard to life and are the favorite of many. Although competing with several other events that night, the party enabled those attending to engage in real conversation.

The annual Unit 27 Block Party, this year named the Spring Fling, was held Saturday afternoon, April 9 in the cul-de-sac. Cindy Scheckler planned and organized the event with the able assistance of her husband, Phil, and neighbors. As in a few times past the food was served buffet style in Cindy and Phil’s impeccably clean garage. Bubb’s Grubb supplied the meat and attendees brought the rest. A bit of humor was added by the huge number of desserts compared to the amount of salads and side dishes. Cindy had attempted to evenly divide food assignments by using the alphabet; however, the attendee mix wasn’t evenly divided. But as Cindy noted, she was new at this. No matter, all the food was good and who doesn’t like dessert?

Prior to the food service, Joe and Lynda Dolejs served their famous margaritas, made in a machine that starts up like a lawnmower. For those experiencing that performance for the first time, it provides great entertainment and the margaritas taste good. This year the games, consisting of Balderdash and Charades, came after the food and were led by our very enthusiastic duo of Anne Grant and Nelson Rodriguez.

Janie Grinstead, ably assisted by Fira Stout, planned another Dine Around, this time at Wild Garlic. On April 19, a group from Unit 27 found their way to the very nondescript (on the outside) restaurant. Those that had not eaten there before were treated to a pleasant surprise. They serve good food. We were seated in what the restaurant calls “the patio” and were served very ably by a woman who has been a long term employee of the chef. In addition to the great food, some of those attending met Fira’s cousin here on his annual visit. It was nice to talk with our neighbor Kathy Plum who does not often attend unit functions. We hope to see her again soon!

By the time this article goes to press, many of our unit residents will have left for cooler climates. Those that remain will hunker down in the AC and, when venturing out, will silently thank those that left for the resulting uncongested driving. Enjoy the summer!

Unit 36

A group of residents recently had the pleasure of enjoying a private tour of the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun with Shannon Rossomondo, their Director of Education.

The gallery is located on a 10 acre site that is a unique and special part of old Tucson and its artistic heritage. Ted DeGrazia built and designed the property using traditional adobe bricks crafted on site. We also toured the Mission in the Sun which is an open air chapel used for religious ceremonies and murals by the Artist. The chapel is open 24/7 for prayer and meditation.

We topped off our trip with a delicious luncheon at Trattoria Pina. To show our appreciation for the gallery tour, the group collected a generous donation for the gallery to help insure its future in the community.

Unit 46 Poker Run

Frank Prokop

Unit 46 had their annual Golf Cart Poker Run Sunday afternoon, April 17. There were 56 attending and chasing all over SaddleBrooke to get their poker hands. There were golf carts, automobiles and even a motorcycle scooter participating! We had three winners: first Hank Malter; second Ron Trudeau and third Harry Klages. Pizza and salad followed at HOA1 and a good time was held by all!

Villas 2 celebrates St. Patrick Day

Susan Fusco

The residents of Villas 2 love a celebration with plenty of good food. They got one on March 17 when they gathered together to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The corner of Holiday and Tranquil Drives was closed to traffic so everyone could congregate in the street outside the home of Kathy and Tom Kontos, hosts of the event. It was a gorgeous afternoon and attendees set up their chairs out in the street and basked in the sunshine while they enjoyed the company of their neighbors. Kelly green was the color of the day with green shirts, oversized green hats, glasses and jewelry on display. Truth to be told, much of the attire saw the light of day on St. Patrick’s Day 2015, 2014, 2013 and earlier and it will appear again in 2017.

Members of the Villas Social Committee, who planned and organized the party, set out platters of traditional corned beef and cabbage they had cooked on tables in the Kontos’ garage. Residents put bowls and plates of salads, side dishes and Irish soda bread, which they contributed for the feast, on the tables as well. Neighbors mingled in the buffet lines, as everyone served themselves, returned to their chairs and attacked the food with gusto. There was plenty for second helpings and then the tables were cleared to make way for the desserts. Oh, the desserts! There were pies, cakes, cupcakes, cookies galore, with some decorated with green frosting and shamrocks.

Finally nobody could eat another bite and it was time for the raffle drawing. Ninety-seven people attended the party, so there were a lot of raffle tickets sold. Four lucky residents had their tickets drawn. The winners were Bob McLaughlin, Jim Tattar, Mary Holberg and Jerry Hollingsworth.

The sun dipped low in the west and residents gathered up their chairs and the empty bowls, plates and pans that a few hours before had held the food now in the stomachs of the party participants. The celebration was at an end and residents went home and put away their green attire until next year.