Unit 14 Is on a Roll
EJ Snearly
The last Unit 14 get-together was on Oct. 9. This was a food truck event by Flaming Heart BBQ with Kevin Risner.
Unit 14 was well represented and organized by Betsy Clark. Members brought their chairs and sat at tables already set in place on E. Rose Crest Court.
The conversation and good food weren’t dampened by the loss of power in many SaddleBrooke units.
There are many new residents to SaddleBrooke in Unit 14 who attended and met their neighbors.
We are “on a roll.” The next get-together is on Nov. 13.
Unit 21 Oktoberfest and Cornhole Tournament
Dana Eckhardt
On Oct. 15 the fun people of Unit 21 got together for Oktoberfest and a cornhole tournament. Silke and Randy Bender hosted at their house where Silke worked very hard to make an authentic German meal for all to enjoy. It was delicious. Dana helped with the cornhole tournament. The lucky winners were: first Bonnie and Richard, second Marcia and Mike, third Claudia and Ken, and fourth Mary and Jim.
Unit 27 Activities
Sue Case
Janet and Doug Drake hosted the Snack and Chat on Sept. 14. Quite a few Unit 27 residents turned out for this event, considering that few, if any, of our snowbirds had arrived yet. As has become standard for Unit 27, the food offerings were varied and yummy. Fira Stout brought another homemade pie. There were also salads and other appetizers, including some beautiful watermelon slices. As usual, the women sat closely together, and the men sat spread out. Thanks, Janet and Doug!
Fira organized another Dine Around adventure, this time to the Persian Room on Sept. 24. Everyone who experienced this epicurean adventure raved about the elegant décor, the delicious food, and also about the super manager-waiter who was efficient and funny. Kudos, Fira!
Jan and Ron Talbot hosted the Snack and Chat on Oct. 19. Some of our snowbirds have returned to their winter nests and brightened us with their presence. It’s good to see you all. The night was the coldest of the season so far; however, many folks weathered the cold with the assistance of some well-placed outdoor heaters. As usual, the food offerings were varied and ample, including another homemade pie from Fira. Thank you, Jan and Ron!
Fira organized yet another Dine Around on Oct. 22 to Trident Grill IV on West Ina Road, which is rated one of the top seafood restaurants in Tucson. The owner is a former Navy Seal from Maryland who wanted to bring East Coast flavors to Tucson. The trident is a special warfare insignia on all Seal uniforms. This popular sports bar supports the Arizona Wildcats as well as military charities. More than 30 Unit 27 residents attended this dinner, and everyone appeared to have enjoyed their meals, which were quite ample as well as tasty. Thanks again, Fira!
Get ready for the holidays and a change in temperature!
Unit 42
Tim Gaule
Several residents from Unit 42 had an enjoyable evening on Oct. 11 dining on The Preserve patio. We were able to welcome three couples who recently moved into our unit. The Preserve staff provided excellent service. Our Social Committee is working on scheduling future Unit 42 activities.
50 Preserve Unit 43 Residents Attended Their Bi-Monthly Appetizer Party
Raymond H. Goettsch
Unit 43 in The Preserve held its bi-monthly gathering on Oct. 1 at the lovely new home of Connie and Mike Maslowski. Fifty residents attended the party and brought appetizers and beverages of their choice. The beautiful pool in the patio was inviting, but everyone was able to restrain themselves from taking a dip. Connie and Mike’s springer spaniel joined the party later and made many new friends. A good time was had by all.
Get a Glimpse of Eternity at the University of Arizona’s Mirror Lab!
Barbara Miller
Paulette Kasperski, Unit 44A rep, organized a tour of the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab at the University of Arizona for 10 SaddleBrooke residents. The university is a world leader in space science and home to an array of state-of-the-art telescopes. The tour started with an overview of the pioneering work of Dr. Angel who discovered that fusing borosilicate glass into a honeycomb structure could result in lighter, stable, and significantly larger mirrors for telescopes. He developed a unique spin-casting process using a rotating furnace into which honeycomb-shaped molds support glass, which oozes down the gaps in the mold as it melts. Controlling the speed of the furnace results in the correct parabolic shape needed to focus light from distant planets and stars.
After spin-casting, the glass structure slowly cools for a period of three months. It will take another four years to polish to the desired final surface. Detailed testing ensures the ultimate precision. Giant cranes inside the lab lift each 20-ton mirror into a secure box for transportation by ship to the destination. Insurance costs are high at $100 per minute!
We were surprised that the Mirror Lab is located under the UA Football Stadium. It is hard to imagine that this prominent level of scientific innovation and development occurs while fervent fans cheer the team towards victory above ground.
The first large-scale mirror developed here was five feet in diameter. Our guide joked that this may be the “holiest” of mirrors, since the inventor’s name was Dr. Angel. He did initial experiments in an abandoned synagogue, and this first giant mirror ended up at the Vatican Advanced Telescope!
The Mirror Lab is currently producing giant, precise mirrors for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. The primary mirror of the GMT is made by grouping six circular mirrors, each 27 feet in diameter, around a seventh mirror in the center. When completed, the telescope will be 82 feet in diameter, which will result in a resolution 10 times greater than the Hubble Space Telescope. The Mirror Lab is the only place in the world with the capability to make these giant mirrors, which are polished to a precision of 25 nanometers. The lab has completed two GMT mirrors, with the remainder in various stages of production.
The consortium of universities and research institutions that provide financial support to the GMT will obtain a percentage of time to use the GMT for their own research. The overall goal is to obtain data in the continual search for life on other planets.
Are we truly alone in the Universe? Visit the Mirror Lab to find out. Tickets are $25 for adults. For more information, contact the Mirror Lab at [email protected]. Visitors must be 10 years of age or older and must be able to walk and climb stairs.
Unit 45 Ice Cream Social
Kathleen LaFrancis Eaton
A big shout-out thank you to Suzanne Stone-Griffith and Bill Griffith for opening their beautiful home to Unit 45 neighbors. On Monday evening, Sept. 23, folks came together to enjoy an Italian ice and gelati at the late-summer event. Forty treats were served to longtime neighbors, and newcomers shared their summer adventures and holiday plans.
One of many Unit 45 events, this gathering was a casual opportunity to get to know one another a bit better. We shared several exotic flavors from Jerimiah’s on Oracle near Ina. There were even dairy-free options. If you haven’t tried it, you should!
There was something for everyone: frozen treats, music, TV football, a double raffle, and lively conversation. A good time was had by all, and we are looking forward to our holiday get-together on Dec. 18.