David Newitter, Frank Strubel, Joe Lyon, and Ted Dorr discuss the rally.
Unit 3-S
Brenda Newitter
On Saturday, April 1, Unit 3-S neighbors participated in an adrenaline-charged Golf Cart Rally, identifying and counting objects in the yards of homes in Unit 2. First and second place winners were Sam and Laurie Page and Floyd and Lorraine Roman. Following the rally everyone enjoyed a yummy potluck dinner at the home of Paul and Martie Busse.
Unit 12
Margaret Blanchard
Our first ladies’ luncheon in the new year was on January 27 at Caffe Torino. A good meal and conversation was had by all. Two ladies had birthdays in the month so we had a delightful dessert to finish the meal. The unit continued with the luncheons through March. Thanks, Chris, for arranging the luncheons.
February is our business and pizza party month. While everyone is enjoying a good pizza, we discussed our future plans for the year. We also met some of the new residents of Unit 12 and asked them to introduce themselves. With 60 residents in attendance we asked for and were able to get a lot of participation in the future activities. The evening accomplished many of our goals and at the same time was great fun.
In March we had a very successful progressive dinner with a record number of members in attendance. The food and drinks were enjoyed by all but the best result of the dinner is to get to talk to old friends and at the same time welcome the new members. Thanks to everyone who opened their homes to make the evening enjoyable and special thanks to Karen Lippe who planned the evening.
Servers Arlene DesJardins, Margie Schulte, Sharon Todd, Sharon Meade, Alison Luster and Patty Spratley
Unit 17
Bob Lamb
Eighty-three Unit 17ers and guests filled the Tennis Center patio on Sunday, April 9 for food and merriment. It was the nineteenth annual Spring Fling for this very active unit. The theme of the party was Denim and Diamonds.
A delicious buffet was expertly prepared featuring pulled pork, pulled chicken, barbequed chicken legs, coleslaw, baked beans and a stupendous broccoli salad. Faith Fromson baked and donated five varieties of cookies, over 300 in all.
Pre-dinner activities included a poker run (Patrick Polencheck), Bocce Ball competition (Barry and Mary Jo Swartzberg), a 50-50 raffle (Dan Alderman) and lots of friendly visiting with our neighbors.
Mark Freshwater provided music with his keyboard and vocals.
The key to a successful event like this is a large group of planners, volunteers and helpers that participated in the preparations.
Well-deserved accolades go out to the following hard workers chaired by Arlene DesJardins. Dan and Jackie Alderman, David Dodd, Mark Freshwater, Faith Fromson, Sue Haugh, Jane and Lynn Laureys, Betsy Lowry, Alison and Gary Luster, Sharon Meade, Anne Movelson, Patrick Polencheck, Margie Schulte, Patty Spratley, Barry and Mary Jo Swartzberg and Sharon Todd.
It is a tribute to residents of Unit 17 that monthly events and parties like this have been held for the past 19 years. Our next event will be a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta.
Unit 21
Jim Hagedon
Unit 21 celebrated a very challenging and successful Bocce Ball tournament season with division playoff matches and an awards dinner on April 1.
According to Tournament Organizer and Head Statistician Midge Mollenkopf, this is the third season for the tournament and it has grown every year. Twenty-eight teams were split into two divisions. Each team played 13 matches consisting of two games. One team in each division had to drop out and was not included in the standings.
Competing for first place were Division Champions Tammy and Gary Beeler and Benith and Craig McPherson. Competing for third place were Division Runners-up Pat and Ron Andrea and Dede and Doug Crowder.
As could be expected, the competition was fierce! The Beelers and the McPhersons had to play a third game to break a tie. In the end, the McPhersons brought home a victory to take first place. The competition for third was equally spirited with the Andreas notching the win.
After the competition, the contestants and Bocce Ball groupies retired to the Roadrunner Grill for libations, a great meal, re-hashing the finer points of Bocce Ball play and the awarding of prize money. Yes, there was prize money!
It should not go without mention that there was a playoff for the bottom four places as well! Tension was in the air and the struggles were of epic proportion, but your humble scribe and spouse Sue managed to successfully bring home last place bragging rights.
But in the end, it was all about meeting new people and making new friends – and just having fun. Thanks to Midge for all of her hard work in helping make the tournament a huge success!
Shades of green were everywhere at the Villas II St. Patrick’s Day Party.
Villas II
Susan Fusco
March 17 is traditionally the date of the largest celebration held in Villas II all year. The weather is usually good and everyone heads outdoors to the street in front of the home of Tom and Kathy Kontos, with most people decked out in some shade of green. This year was no different. There was even a leprechaun in attendance. Food and fun were the order of the day.
Kathy and Tom’s garage served as the location for the food, with two long tables laden with the traditional corned beef and cabbage provided by the Social Committee and side dishes, Irish soda bread and desserts brought by the residents. There were lots of Irish potatoes, served up in many ways as well as salads, casseroles and other good things. Last of all the desserts were brought out and, by the looks of the dessert plates, lots of people tried to fit as many kinds on their plates as they could.
Villas II has experienced an influx of new residents and those who came were introduced and got to know more of their neighbors. There were 131 attendees at the event, the largest group ever assembled for the St. Patrick’s Day party.
Raffle tickets were sold and all money was returned to residents as prizes. The lucky winners were Melinda Murphy, Joe Rink, Mardie Roberts, Dave Malec, Jay Carlson, Mike Stadick, Tom Kontos, Jerry Hollinsworth, Sandy Joubert, Bob Paltier, Bonnie Henderson, Jim Fleming, Pat Carlson and Jim Middaugh.
A good time was had by all!
Neighborly discussion with beautiful mountain views; photo by Ron Talbot
Unit 27
Sue Case
The April 4 unit meeting featured no guest speaker; however, our Social Chairman Ron Talbot announced the date of the annual Ladies Holiday Lunch, organized so well by Vicki Strief, which will again be held at Vivace Restaurant on December 7. He also announced that the unit holiday party, tirelessly coordinated by Jan Talbot, will be held at the MountainView Ballroom on December 8. Plenty of time to reserve the dates and plan your party attire!
Sandy and Phil Barney hosted the March Snack and Chat on March 24. The unit has been very lucky weather-wise with the Snack and Chat events and this one was no exception. Attendees, and there were many, were seen both inside their beautifully decorated home and outside. Of course, the food is always an inside draw but, on that night, the “big action” took place outside. Unit resident Don Erickson celebrated his birthday by attending this Snack and Chat and was rewarded with a birthday cake and being serenaded with Happy Birthday by his neighbors. Not really sure whether he considered that a reward or a penalty, but he was a very good sport and seemed to be genuinely appreciative of the good wishes he received.
Speaking of the Ericksons, Karen Erickson and Cindy Sheckler volunteered to coordinate the Unit 27 participation in the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach food drive on March 25. Karen reports that she and Cindy collected 36 bags of food as well as 17 checks, totaling just under $1,000. Many thanks to Karen and Cindy, as well as to those residents that participated in the effort.
Peggy and Jim Fetrow hosted the April Snack and Chat on a beautiful evening, April 21. Over 30 people attended. Many spent their time enjoying conversation with the great weather and even greater views. Others, understandably, stayed closer to the dining room table, which was filled with such fare as meatballs, eggplant parmesan, scalloped potatoes and chicken with cream sauce. Ha! And you thought this was a cocktail party! But the hit of the evening, food-wise, was Fira Stout’s rum cake. Undoubtedly, many Unit 27 residents did double time in the fitness center the following week to make up for their excesses in the Fetrow dining room. Good thing these events are only once a month.
But seriously, many thanks to all the Unit 27 residents who volunteer their homes each month over the year for the Snack and Chats. Sometimes there is more food, and sometimes less; however, these unit social functions are a great place to meet each other in a relaxed setting and get to know each other better. And special thanks to Cher Zazzarino who has been the Snack and Chat coordinator for 2017. She is the one that makes sure each month has a host and that the host supply box is amply filled.