The chance to gather with friends brought smiles all around at the luncheon at La Hacienda.
Villas 2
Susan Fusco
The women of Villas 2 enjoyed getting out of the heat of the afternoon on August 22. They met in the cool interior of La Hacienda for lunch. The colorful and attractive restaurant was a welcome respite from the blistering heat of the day. After cool drinks all around, the ladies indulged in Mexican cuisine as well as in conversation with their friends and neighbors. Twenty women were in the group, a large number of attendees for the dog days of summer when many of the Villas snowbirds are out of town. The event was planned by the Villas Social Committee which schedules social activities throughout the year.
Upcoming events include a Labor Day party, another ladies’ lunch at Tavolino’s Restaurant and the annual Oktoberfest celebration.
Mike Mueller greets new neighbors Helen and Steve Bellacqua from Albany, NY
Unit 3
Frank Strubel
On September 19, at the HOA1 Agave Lounge, Unit 3 neighbors compared notes on the summer’s activities to get away from the heat. During the discussions, a plan was formulated to perhaps create a travel agency called: “U3S On-The-Go”. All profits (just kidding) will go to the U3S party fund.
Residents traveled far and wide (coming back to overgrown bushes in the back yard). Here’s a number of notable trips: Alaskan Cruise including Victoria BC; log cabin rentals in Alpine, AZ and Winter Park, CO; British Isles Cruise; trips to see relatives in Minnesota, Brooklyn and Rye NY, Avon CT, Dracut MA, Kittery Maine, Salisbury and Farmington MA. How about gambling anyone – Reno is a good stop. And we have wine tour/wine tasting experts: Napa, Oceanside CA, and AZ wine country. The longest RV trip this year was made by Steve and Sharon Hendricks (and Baxter Dog) through Utah canyons, Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde. The trip covered 6200 miles, 11 states, and 10 grandchildren.
Holidays in July; lots of oohs and aahs as Delores Root unveils her White Elephant gift at the unit’s Holiday in July party. It looks like she is trying to figure out exactly what it is!
Unit 21
Jim Hagedon
Summer slowdown? Not this year! SaddleBrooke’s Unit 21 kept things sizzling with lots of activities, including three big events!
Cinco de Mayo led off the season, featuring an 18-piece Mariachi band from Pueblo High School at Al and Midge Mollenkopf’s home. There were 106 partiers in attendance enjoying the music, food and good times that are the hallmark of this festive holiday celebration. Thanks to Doug and Dede Crowder for making this event a huge success and the Mollenkopfs who provided the venue that made it possible.
Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast. What better way to start off the celebration of our nation’s birthday celebration than with a pancake breakfast! Red, white and blue was the order of the day as hostess Diane Korn and her outstanding group of volunteers served up heaping helpings of pancakes, sausage, fruit and a choice of libations.
There’s something about flipping pancakes that always seems to attract the guys and thanks to their efforts, along with the able assistance (supervision?) from the ladies, everyone was kept well fed. This is a Unit 21 annual event and it’s a great way to get the holiday festivities underway.
Holidays in July. If it looked a bit like December at the SaddleBrooke Activities Center on July 26, it’s because hosts Silke Bender and Dede Crowder had their volunteers rummaging through toasty attics for holiday decorations. The only thing missing was snow!
A holiday celebration would not be complete without presents and a White Elephant gift exchange made the evening complete. No one went home empty-handed and it was obvious as the evening progressed that many folks had been shopping at the Golden Goose. While everyone appeared to have a great time, it appeared that the Goose may have been the biggest winner, as rumors circulated that many of the presents would likely find their way back to their shelves in short order!
Although each of these events had its own distinct character, they all shared some common elements: an abundance of fun, food and fellowship and an impressive group of capable, willing volunteers who made these events happen. Stay tuned for lots more exciting activities as many of our residents return for the fall and winter seasons!
Left from front: Cindi Ervin, Pat Benter, Sharon Vance, Phyllis Caracappa; back of table, Lynn Schmaltz; from back on right, Karen Dawson, Karen Carlberg, Jolene Wilson, Kathleen Warner; front of table, Mary Hlushko
Unit 47
Mary Hlushko
Nine members of Unit 47’s Dessert Spoon Luncheon Group and one other Unit 47 resident enjoyed High Tea at Tea on the Town in Dove Mountain. Every month Dessert Spoon members take turns organizing and choosing a place for our group’s lunch outing. Cindi Erwin and assistant Mary Hlushko chose a very special setting on September 20. Owner Nicky Bantock, of Tea on the Town, provided an elegant experience with everything one ever needed to know about tea and its many benefits and a delicious lunch served on her inviting patio. Truly a delightful experience to enjoy in our spectacular desert.