Unit Two Events

BK Koch

On June 4, Carol and Larry Jones graciously opened their home for a Potluck party. I believe we had 40 residents in attendance. There were people everywhere enjoying themselves. There was also a good game of Billiards going on. We had lots of good food to eat: two crockpots of meatballs, crockpot of baked beans, Boursin cheese dip, potato salad, macaroni salad, cookies, shrimp, bell peppers stuffed with cream cheese, beef tips, watermelon, delicious deviled eggs—three plates and none were left at the end of the party. Actually there was very little of anything left at the end of the party!

On June 11, 16 lovely Unit Two ladies shared lunch at the Preserve. It was good fun getting to know each other a little better as we relaxed and enjoyed our meal. Before we left, we all sang Happy Birthday to Jennifer Williams. Should we keep our luncheons in the community or will we venture out into Oro Valley and beyond?

On June 18, the Unit’s third Thursday Happy Hour at the Agave was in full swing with approximately 20 attendees. We do like those Thursday night hamburgers and cobb salads! Rich Kagiyama won a whopping $26 from the raffle. See you at the next one on Thursday, July 16, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.

Looking forward to the next event, which is a Get Out of the Heat Potluck on Saturday, July 11, BYOB, at the Activity Center, 5 to 7:30 p.m.

And, it’s not too late to begin planning (shopping for a new dress?) to attend the Holiday Party on Dec. 5 along with our neighboring Units 11, 16, 17, 18. The Wild Bunch will be playing their music and I’m not sure if they will be the Wild Bunch or those on the dance floor!

So mark your calendars and I will “See ya there!”

Men at Home Left Unsupervised While Unit 8A Ladies Gathered at the Roadrunner Grill

Michelle Kouri

Conversations that took—or did not take place during our ladies-only afternoon delight:

No talking about cars, fixing things, drip systems, air conditioners, good buys at Ace or Home Depot. And just a little talking about sports.

Another gathering of 18 women from Unit 8A took place on May 19 on the RoadRunner Grill patio. Two hours of pure fun included lots of laughter, great conversation, delicious food, and refreshing beverages. Best of all, they waited on us!

The weather was perfect, with abundant sunshine and a gentle breeze that made the afternoon even more enjoyable.

Our conversation topics included children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, travel adventures, favorite recipes for family and friends, great books, exercise classes, and local events. Along the way, we also discovered some fascinating tidbits about our neighbors.

Among the group was a mother of an air traffic controller in Minnesota, a demanding profession that requires exceptional concentration and skill. Another attendee was a registered nurse who worked in surgery and is also a very talented gardener. Her beautiful backyard garden is proof of her green thumb.

We also learned about a neighbor who plays the oboe and performs with the SaddleBrooke Winds and Strings orchestra; and another lady who is deeply involved with the Rhodes Scholar program and loves to travel, speaking of which one lady did the Camino Trek from Portugal to Spain (186 miles) last summer. You go, girl!

A retired Tucson schoolteacher with 35 years of classroom experience and phenomenal patience!

Discovery of two general aviation pilots, past motorcycle riders, an avid and adventurous Jeep off-roader and motorhome traveler. Several talented artists whose interests range from quilting and woodworking to acrylic and oil painting, pottery and glass art. Plus, two guests who discovered they grew up 40 miles apart in Mo. Go figure! And another who has tortoise pets in her beautiful backyard paradise.

It just goes to show there is always something new and interesting to learn about our neighbors and friends in Unit 8A. We look forward to discovering even more at our next gathering.

To add to the fun, a drawing was held for those in attendance to win a beautiful handmade planter box filled with succulents. Jim Long crafted the planter box and his wife, Julie, who is a Social Committee member, donated and arranged all the plants. Jeanne Ragan was the lucky winner of this beautiful and artistic creation.

Another enjoyable afternoon is in the books, and judging by the laughter and conversations, everyone is already looking forward to the next event.

Unit Nine Celebrates Community at Annual Ice Cream Social

Under clear skies and warm evening sunshine, members of Unit Nine gathered on May 28 for the group’s beloved annual Ice Cream Social, hosted this year at the welcoming home of Ron and Lee Thomas.

A total of 60 Unit Nine members turned out for the festive event, enjoying each other’s company in a relaxed, cheerful atmosphere. The highlight of the evening was a delicious spread of ice cream catered by the popular local vendor Licks Ice Cream. Guests had their pick from a unique Quintuple of flavors—Wild Cherry (vegan), Vanilla, Vietnamese coffee, Carmen almond fudge and Vietnam Cinnamon—each a hit in its own right.

The annual social, a cherished tradition in Unit Nine, continues to be a cornerstone of community connection and summertime joy. With good friends, great weather, and even better ice cream, this year’s gathering was a sweet success.

Unit 11 Happy Hour Equals Happy Faces

Linda Hoffpauir

For its June gathering Unit 11 brought over 40 residents together for friendship, conversation, and maybe a little food and drink (ok, maybe a bit more than a little). The RRG staff was wonderful as always and Happy Hour did not disappoint. Thanks to Trish, Kelly and Raphael for ensuring readiness for our group. Also, many thanks and kudos to Ric Nicholson, our Unit 11 Rep., and Lynne Pendlebury, our Social Chairman, for organizing this fun event.

To top the evening off, as we departed RRG, our first monsoon storm hit just hours before the “official season”‘ was to begin, thrilling all with lightning, thunder, rainbows and much needed rain. Cheers were spread loudly all around. Wonderful evening!

Unit 28 June Ladies Luncheon

Joyce Wainscott

On June 11, 14 beautifully decked-out women gathered at The Preserve for a lovely luncheon, enjoying good food and even better company with their fellow ladies of Unit 28.

Most of the table was busily engaged in the serious business of deciding which delectable menu item to choose while catching up on the latest news and gossip. But not where I was seated.

Our end of the table had wandered into a completely different topic: tattoos.

About three minutes into the discussion, a gravelly voice from one of our diners—whose identity I am duty-bound to protect. We’ll call her “M”, since publishing her full initials could trigger legal action from the editor—cut through the room loudly enough for everyone at The Preserve to hear:

“Ladies, ladies! We’re going around the table, and each of you has to say whether or not you have a tattoo!”

One lady protested that the question was a bit personal before dutifully replying, “No.” The others followed suit, each offering their own emphatic “No!”

Then it came time for the originator of this ruckus to answer.

Silence.

When reminded that she had, in fact, established the rules of this highly scientific survey, the woman who had demanded complete transparency from the rest of us suddenly discovered a deep and abiding respect for personal privacy.

“That question is too personal,” she announced. “I’m not going to answer.”

So, if you’ve ever considered joining the Unit 28 Ladies Luncheon, let this serve as fair warning. Yes, you’ll enjoy a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting with fourteen delightful women who call SaddleBrooke home. You’ll be surrounded by friendship, laughter, and women who genuinely enjoy one another’s company.

But you may also find yourself participating in an impromptu public opinion poll on subjects you never imagined discussing over soup and salad. One month it’s grandchildren, travel plans, and the latest neighborhood news. The next it’s tattoos and constitutional protections against self-incrimination.

The Preserve serves an excellent lunch. The entertainment, however, is impossible to predict.

And as for those emphatic “No’s” around the table? Let’s just say the survey results may not have met the highest standards of scientific accuracy.

Unit 29 Happy Hour

Debbie McGeehan

Monday was funday at our monthly Happy Hour hosted by Dave Carrano and Lynne Austin. It was the day after our first monsoon of the season and the night was perfect! Plenty of seating inside and out with stunning views of the mountains and the golf course.

We have a small unit—comprised of many original residents who have known each other for over 20 years. We welcomed a new couple that relocated here from St Louis, Mo., Artie and Donna Romero. Artie has been busy with “DIY” projects in their new house. They look forward to being busy with some fun activities that SaddleBrooke has to offer and not doing so many projects at home.

At least thirty residents filled the patio and home with lots of laughter and good stories. The best time was had by Rocco, Dave and Lynne’s three year old Pomeranian dog! He loves all the attention hoping he may get a taste of some of the delicious appetizers or desserts!

Our Unit Happy Hour is from 5 to 7 p.m. You know it’s a good time when some of us are still there at 7:30! Good memories and more amazing times with our wonderful neighbors.

Unit 36 Orange Happy Hour Brings Neighbors Together

Helen Amelsberg

Unit 36 Orange held its monthly Happy Hour on May 21 at the beautiful home of Deena and Gordon Bentley, and what a wonderful evening it was!

With sunshine, a slight breeze, and a picture-perfect Arizona evening as the backdrop, 22 neighbors gathered to enjoy good food, great conversation, and plenty of laughter. Guests brought delicious homemade dishes, desserts, and drinks to share, creating a relaxed and festive atmosphere.

It was especially nice to see both new and longtime neighbors connecting, sharing stories, and enjoying the warm community spirit that makes Unit 36 Orange so special.

A heartfelt thank-you to Deena and Gordon for graciously opening their home and hosting such a memorable evening.

Next month, instead of our regular Happy Hour, we are excited to join Unit 36 Yellow for our very own private wine tasting at MountainView Bar and Grill. It promises to be another fun opportunity to gather, socialize, and enjoy time with neighbors—we hope to see even more of you there!

Unit 36 Orange and Yellow Blocks Raise a Glass or Two at MountainView

Helen Amelsberg

On June 18, Unit 36 Orange and Yellow gathered for a private wine tasting at the MountainView Bar and Grill, where 31 neighbors came together for an elegant and enjoyable afternoon of wine, food, and friendship.

The event was held in the ballroom, which was beautifully decorated with crisp white tablecloths, plenty of wine glasses, and small plates of carefully selected snacks to complement the wines being poured. Guests enjoyed three different cheeses, salted crackers, grapes, dried cherries, and, of course, dark chocolate pieces— a perfect pairing with the wines being tasted.

Throughout the afternoon, guests were educated on each of the wines, learning about their flavors, origins, and the stories behind them. The featured wines were Angels and Cowboys, Bonanza, Matchbook, and Rosenblum, offering a delicious selection that included one rosé, one white wine, and two red wines.

One particularly memorable wine was Matchbook, which came with a fascinating family story. As the story goes, two young brothers accidentally set fire to a haystack, causing damage to their family property. Years later, they grew up determined to repay that damage by starting a vineyard. From that incident, Matchbook Wines was born and the rest is history.

All four wines were thoroughly enjoyed by the group. Guests also had the opportunity to purchase the wines at discounted rates, either by the bottle or by the case, with some even sharing a case with their neighbors.

Following the tasting, many guests continued the festivities next door at the restaurant, where the conversation, laughter, and neighborly spirit carried on well into the evening. For some, the celebration lasted until the restaurant closed.

It was a wonderful afternoon filled with good wine, good food, and great company, another memorable gathering for Unit 36 Orange and Yellow.

Unit 46 Eat, Play, Love!

Denise Cashmore

Summer heat doesn’t stop Unit 46ers from doing what they love—eating, playing, and walking Harley!

On May 30 a group participated in MountainView Glow Golf. Cashmores (Denise and Jeff) and Vogels (Paula and Rick) tied for first place. Tracy and Chris Nelson celebrated their anniversary by playing with son Blake. Carol and Joe Howard teamed up with Larry and Julie Wykoff (from Unit 36) for a fun night.

In June, Men’s Dinner and Drinks was held at Guadalajara Original Grill. The Unit 46 Divas enjoyed a June luncheon at It’s All Greek To Me.

And then there’s Harley. What started out as a helping hand to Trish, during a rough patch, by walking her dog Harley—has turned into a regular routine of neighbors “taking the lead,”so to speak, and walking Harley around the neighborhood. So, if you see Harley, say hi to him and to your great neighbor