Denise Gosselink, Josie Emmanuel, Unit Rep Carol Tibor, Stephanie Cady and Ruth Larsen
Unit 5 ladies gather for lunch and laughs at the Preserve
Fran Berman
Every month Unit 5 ladies have the opportunity to socialize as a group. In February, it was lunch at The Preserve Restaurant. Twelve of us gathered to mix, mingle and meet two new Unit 5 neighbors and a snowbird guest. Our unit has had lots of changes recently and these lunches are a great way to make new friendships and deepen existing ones. Lunches take place at various venues on the even numbered months. On the odd-numbered months one of us is the host for coffee and potluck brunch.
And we have all-unit events, too. With 2016 just beginning and new additions to our social committee, we’re looking forward to an active and fun year for all the women and men in Unit 5. The line-up includes Happy Hour at the Agave Lounge in February, a putting and pizza party in March, potluck supper and bocce ball in April and other fun and friendly gatherings in the planning stages. Our slogan is Five Alive!
Residents make their selections from an array of delicious Italian foods.
Villas II serves up Italian food
Susan Fusco
Residents of the Villas II turned out on Saturday evening, February 6, for a special event. A potluck Italian dinner, held at the HOA 1 Activity Center, attracted 53 people from the Villas. Everyone enjoyed seeing friends and neighbors, along with new residents, who were happy to get to know others in their community. The dinner was one of the many events the committee plans throughout each year to bring residents together in fun and fellowship.
Kathleen Kontos, chairwoman for the dinner, efficiently organized the evening and residents provided the food. A variety of salads, entrees and Italian bread covered the buffet table. There were pasta dishes of all kinds, Italian meatballs and other Italian dishes. The visual highlight was a huge antipasto tray, piled high with meats, cheeses, hot peppers and artichokes. Everyone had all they could eat, with many residents going back for second helpings. The dinner concluded with desserts, including many Italian favorites such as tiramisu, limoncello cake, ricotta cake and ever popular cannoli.
The evening ended with a raffle drawing. The lucky residents who won were Susan Fusco and Ted Johnson. It was a night to remember.
Three tables of diners at Bianchi’s Italian Restaurant; photo by Ron Talbot
Unit 27 activities
Sue Case
Pat and Ted Olson hosted the February Snack and Chat on Friday, February 19 and the weather was on their side as attendees made their way to the Olsons’ scenic backyard to relax and talk. Among others seen at the event were Fira Stout, recently returned from grandmother duty, and Fred Drango, recovering from recent back surgery.
On Tuesday, February 23 approximately 30 unit residents converged on Bianchi’s Italian Restaurant in Marana for one of our periodic Dine Arounds. Janie Grinstead and Fira Stout are the co-coordinators for these events which are held several times a year. In Fira’s absence, Janie planned this event mostly solo. This very social group of diners sat in a single room off the main dining room and the noise in the room was almost deafening—-until the food arrived. After that, those still wishing to converse while eating could actually hear each other! Although service, by the mostly teenage servers, was somewhat chaotic the kids were, nonetheless, extremely personable and everyone seemed to enjoy their (ample sized) meals. The food might be described as Italian comfort food.
Word on the street is that we have a rock and roll legend living in Unit 27. Larry Meyer and his high school rock band are scheduled to be inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April. Although modestly suggesting that this merely describes the state of rock and roll in South Dakota, his neighbors in SaddleBrooke are definitely impressed. Congratulations, Larry!
Walking around the neighborhood it is clear that Unit 27 residents are doing their best to help the economy. Each week seems to bring a new set of construction and home improvement type workers and purveyors to a different part of the unit. We are clearly a patriotic group!
Unit 36
Carol Ratza
January 25 was our Baby Shower for the Baby Basket Program, which is part of the Tucson Troop Support.
All of our women ooh and ah over all the cute outfits and soft blankets donated to the program.
Barb Carter and Beth Bradford joined us. They talked about all the programs involved in Troop Support, such as a book collection, men/women clothing, toiletries and, of course baby items; all are needed.
Fun was had by all. We are looking forward to next year.
Thanks, Unit 36, for all your donations this year.