Randall Dighton
You Are Invited to a Special House Concert Featuring Randall Dighton
Mary Jo Bellner Swartzberg
November is the perfect time of the year to sit on a patio, have wonderful hors d’oeuvres, sip on an adult beverage, and listen to Randall Dighton perform music from popular movies and Broadway musicals. With over 60 years of performing, Randall brings his amazing voice and guitar skills to entertain and charm his audiences.
Randall has more than 400 songs in his repertoire, including 50 from popular movies and Broadway musicals. If you enjoy the likes of “If Ever I Would Leave You” (Camelot), “Edelweiss” (The Sound of Music), “Memory” (Cats), or “The Music of the Night” (The Phantom of the Opera), you will enjoy this evening of reminiscing. In fact, you will be transported back to the time in your life when you first heard the iconic songs that Randall will be performing. We hope that you can join us!
This wonderful house concert will be held on Nov. 6, with beverages and hors d’oeuvres served at 4:30 p.m., at the home of Marjorie and Tom Herrmann (hosts), 61879 E. Sandlewood Road. This house concert is being co-sponsored by Barry and Mary Jo Swartzberg and Randall and Linda Dighton.
This concert benefits the Oracle Schools Foundation. The price of a ticket is $60 per person. Note: Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be provided by members of the Catalina Chorale, of which Randall is the director.
To purchase tickets, go to www.oracleschoolsfoundation.com.
What Do You Know About Making Wine?
Ann Vernon
Maybe not as much as you think! Recently, eight guests were treated to an incredible immersion into the world of wine by David and Kathleen Eaton, owners of a boutique winery located in The Preserve. The Eatons, formerly from Seattle, walked their guests through the entire operation as they sipped on a Petite Verdot and a Syrah in their casita. Here they described how Dave drives for four long days round trip to get grapes from a high-quality vineyard in Washington State, transporting them in an air-conditioned van back to Tucson. Guests then learned how they crush and de-stem the grapes and how they “cold soak” the juice from the grapes prior to adding yeast. Dave explained that due to an automated grape picking process, more wild yeast than normal was introduced into their latest yield, and that would make it interesting to see how the wine eventually matures. He then demonstrated how they press the wine, including the use of innovative spun concrete fiber disks, as well as the process for bottling the wine.
Following this very informative presentation, the Eatons treated their guests to appetizers as they tasted and rated six of their different wines. During the tasting, Dave and Kathleen shared more about their experience making wine. Then, while the guests enjoyed getting to know each other, the Eatons laid out a buffet-style dinner, including brisket and pork shoulder (which Dave had smoked earlier in his Kamado smoker), Kathleen’s special Waldorf salad, and much more. For dessert, guests were treated to creme brûlée, flan, and lemon bars, and for a digestif following the meal, they enjoyed Kathleen’s homemade limoncello. The Eatons even made sure guests didn’t go home empty-handed, gifting each a jar of Kathleen’s homemade orange marmalade.
This event is just one of the many exceptional fixed-price offerings offered at the 2025 Oracle Schools Foundation Spring Gala/Auction. Many thanks to the Eatons for opening their beautiful home and educating those in attendance on how they make their hand-crafted Washington red wines right here in SaddleBrooke. It was a wonderful evening!
Proceeds from these fixed-price events support Oracle Elementary School District’s Kindergarten Prep and other educational programs. You can learn more at OracleSchoolsFoundation.com. When there, please click on the “Fixed Price” button at the top of the home page to see what other events remain for purchase this year. Mark your calendars for next year’s Gala on March 14, 2026. Check the website for more information.
Into the Future—Dates to Save in 2026
Ann Vernon
Recently, a friend asked me why I plan things so far in advance. Good question! The answer is that there is lots going on in SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch, so we have to plan ahead in order to make time for things we don’t want to miss. Although it is “into the future,” 2026 is just around the corner, and you won’t want to miss these two fabulous events sponsored by the Oracle Schools Foundation: the Spring Fling Gala, which will be held on Sunday, March 15, and the Benefit Concert featuring The Tributaries, which will be held on Monday, April 13.
If you have never attended these events, let me tell you a bit about them. They both raise money for the preschool program at the Mountain Vista School in Oracle. Because the State of Arizona doesn’t provide funding for pre-K programs, the Oracle Schools Foundation’s main priority is to help fund this program, because we strongly believe that future academic success starts with a sound educational program that prepares students for kindergarten. In addition, we help fund other educational programs as deemed important by the school district.
For the past several years, we had record attendance at the Gala/auction, filling the SaddleBrooke TWO ballroom to capacity and offering an incredible array of silent auction gift certificates/services, fixed price events that are held throughout the year, and live auction items. The fixed price events have become our “cornerstone” and include great events such as house concerts with food and beverages. SaddleBrooke and Ranch residents volunteer to host a concert, and we are very fortunate to have talented local musicians donating the entertainment. We also appreciate local residents who host theme dinners, a wine tasting event by local wine makers, a spring tea, an Asian cooking class, a Greek party, and so many more fun events! Residents throughout SaddleBrooke and the Ranch mix and mingle and not only enjoy the event, but also meet new people. We also have outstanding live auction items such as timeshares, bed and breakfast stays, and golf packages.
In addition to the Gala/auction, our other major fundraiser is a benefit concert featuring The Tributaries. This group rocked the house four years in a row to sold-out audiences. You won’t want to miss this concert, which will be held at DesertView where tickets will be on sale.
To make these events successful, we need your help:
• Attend the events—bid and buy!
• Volunteer to be part of the Coordinating Committee (contact me at vernonann47@gmail.com) or the Solicitation Team.
• Buy gift certificates to local establishments and donate them to the auction, or solicit donations.
• Host a fixed–price event at your home.
• Contribute to the silent auction by offering a “service” such as baking made-to-order deserts, doing alterations, or whatever your talent is.
• Donate to the live auction.
Check our website for updates about the Gala and the concert at www.oracleschoolsfoundation.com.
They Will Return …
Barry Swartzberg and Ann Vernon
The Tributaries, that is. This amazing group performed last spring for the fourth time in a concert to benefit the Oracle Schools Foundation. Once again, they rocked the DesertView Theatre, playing to a sold-out auditorium for over two hours while a very enthusiastic audience “danced” in their seats and in the aisles and sang along to songs they knew and loved. The concert ended with an energetic crowd giving the band a well-deserved standing ovation.
The Tributaries played a medley of songs from the many tribute shows they perform, such as Woodstock; the Eagles; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and Good Morning Vietnam. In addition to their great vocals and mesmerizing guitar work, the band paid homage to the artists and bands they showcased by sharing interesting bits of trivia about them.
The Foundation raises money to support preschool at the Mountain Vista School in Oracle. The State of Arizona does not fund early childhood education, so your support allows the Foundation to do that. The proceeds from this concert will give young children a jump start on their education. The Foundation board cannot express enough appreciation to the Tributaries for their time and talent to support such a worthy cause and to all who bought tickets.
Mark your calendars—The Tributaries will return to the DesertView Theatre on Monday, April 13, 2026.