Left to right: Floyd Roman, Steve Bellacuqa and Bob Muise (Pancho Villa)
Unit 3-S
Brenda Newitter
Unit 3-S celebrated Cinco de Mayo at the home of Helen and Steve Bellacuqa on May 5, 2017.
Over 60 unit neighbors attended and enjoyed the wonderful Mexican potluck dinner. The highlight of the evening was the live music provided by Steve Bellacuqa and the surprise visit by Pancho Villa!
Twelve teams competed in the putting tournament.
Unit 5
Stephanie Cady
On Wednesday, May 3 Unit 5 held its fourth annual Putting and Pizza Party. We had great weather in the mid-90s and moderate winds to putt with, so fortunately Mother Nature cooperated for us. Twelve teams of three competed in the putting tournament. Although there were some holes with higher scores, there were also 15 Aces made. Well done to all! Prizes for the lowest total putts went to third place, Bob Tibor, Kathy Soerens and John Vaughn. Second place went to Shirley Barrett, Vlad Langer and Venetia Lewis. The grand prize winners were Sam Sollenberger, Ken Zebal and LaVerne Tucker. This is the second year in a row for LaVerne being on the winning team; well done, LaVerne!
The event was held on the main putting green behind the Roadrunner, which meant a short walk to cool libations and great food on the patio. The pizza and salad buffet was enjoyed by over 40 diners, including some of the Unit’s newest residents. Due to the warm weather, all were able to sit outside on the new patio under the fans for a very enjoyable evening.
Unit 5 residents Roger and Stephanie Cady organized the event. Roger balanced the putting trios in advance by mixing regular golfers with residents who don’t golf at all and those who admitted to being duffers. Bob Soerens helped Roger lay out the course which turned out to be challenging for all. New friends were made and lots of laughter was heard across the greens.
Unit 12
Margaret Blanchard
Search and find was the theme of our Golf Cart Rally. It was a hot, 90 degree April afternoon but that did not take away from the enjoyable competition that ensued throughout the afternoon as we drove along the mounds that tumble (Rolling Hills), the site of the mountain (Mountain Site), the national bird (Eagle) and other streets. After about one and a half hours we returned to the starting point hot and thirsty but mostly eager to know whether or not we had followed the directions accurately. The day cooled nicely as it does in April and we were able to sit out for a great dinner and discuss the findings of the day. Mike Odell, our host for the dinner, read out the answers in order to find out who had found the most critters and/or signs. I don’t think he was expecting such an unruly group of senior citizens who questioned his answers but it was all in fun. We actually had to have some “executive decisions” from Bob who had drawn out the route. Congrats to Mike Havnaer and Linda Griggs who answered all but one of the clues correctly. A trophy was presented and we all applauded. Thanks to Bob and Mike for arranging the rally and kudos to Mike for hosting the dinner at his beautiful home. A good time was had by all!
It was a cool day and a muddy track at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby began with the singing of My Old Kentucky Home and Always Dreaming splashed through the sloppy track with a 2 ¾ length victory. Second place went to the long shot Looking at Lee and Battle of Midway came in third. The unit Kentucky Derby party was a great success and was enjoyed by all who attended. Thanks to our hosts who made the afternoon an exciting event.
On May 15 the ladies of the unit supplied 47 residents of the Ronald McDonald House with dinner and on May 20 we had a brunch on behalf of the Tri Community Food Bank. A total of $2,520 was raised for this worthy cause. Thanks, Mike and Chris, for arranging these two events.
Between the monthly Happy Hours in the Agave Lounge, the ladies luncheons, the planning meetings and the monthly activities, Unit 12 has had an enjoyable and busy year. Congrats to all the members.
Red Noses brought attention to the nationwide annual charity to eliminate childhood poverty.
Unit 30
Andrea Gray
Unit 30 held its first Block Party on Saturday, April 24. The wind that day created its own challenges as Social Committee co-chairs Laura Benson and Joyce Sutay had their hands full tamping down tablecloths prior to the event. Over 60 residents filled the tables and chairs outside in a corner of their unit. Thanks to the efforts of committee members Jo Balk and Karen Turcott, Unit 30 residents and friends thoroughly enjoyed chicken, brisket and sides catered by Bubb’s Grub. Generous residents topped off the menu with delicious desserts.
The highlight of the day was the group picture – Red Noses brought attention to the nationwide annual charity which is held on May 25 to eliminate childhood poverty.
Unit 21
Jim Hagedon
For as long as anyone can remember, one of the top social events for Unit 21 has been the annual Cinco de Mayo party and this year’s event will go down in history as one of the best ever! Unit Social Activity Coordinators Doug and DeDe Crowder lived up to their reputations for putting together memorable events, with a catered dinner provided by Chuys, musical entertainment and a festive atmosphere. And the typical “boringly beautiful,” if somewhat windy, SaddleBrooke weather came through again.
Putting together an event like this takes lots of volunteers and Unit 21 residents came through, pitching in to help with setup, meal service and cleanup. A special thank you to Al and Midge Mollenkopf on Desert Sun Drive for again providing their home and beautiful back yard for the 104 residents attending.
This year’s celebration was actually a Seis de Mayo gathering as our entertainment, Tucson’s popular Pueblo High School Mariachi Band, was unable to be with us on Cinco de Mayo.
This is the second year the band has been with us and it was well worth waiting an extra day. What a wonderful group of talented, poised young people! Most members of the group have plans to further their education after high school and all of the money they raise goes into a scholarship fund for the band.
Thanks again to everyone who helped make this a very enjoyable, memorable evening. We are already looking forward to next year!
Jim Hagedon
How many ways can you say “Yummy?”
There are at least six according to Diane Korn and Karen Pachis, co-organizers of Unit 21’s recent Gelato Fest: strawberry, chocolate, chocolate hazelnut, peanut butter and the crowd favorite, sea salt caramel. A delicious raspberry sorbet was also included.
According to Diane, no one went away hungry. “Although we ran out of sea salt caramel, we had plenty of the other flavors for seconds and even thirds. And I want to thank all the folks who brought cookies and brownies.” At least 21 people brought the home-baked goodies to provide the perfect accent for the frozen treats.
The April 20 event in front of the Pachis’ South Arroyo Way home attracted 118 Unit 21 residents. Gelato was provided by Giovanni’s Gelato Cafe. Although this was the first year for the Gelato Fest, from attendee smiles and the remnants of Gelato on many upper lips, this won’t be the last!
Were there any leftovers? As a matter of fact, there were! Diane says they are being saved for the Unit’s Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast. “Who says you can’t serve pancakes a la mode at a pancake breakfast? Perhaps we will start a new tradition!”
Thanks to Diane, Karen and their helpers for making this another outstanding Unit 21 activity.
The three tables were a mile long, the smiles were a mile wide and the plates were piled a mile high!
Jeff Berry, Carrabba’s, and Bonnie Barazani, social chairman for The Preserve, grin while teasing the crowd with the tantalizing aroma of almost ready Chicken Marsala.
The Preserve (Units 42, 43, 45)
Ann Lange
The Preserve (Units 42, 43 and 45) dished out a grand end of the season party on April 30. One hundred thirty-one Preserve friends, old and new, grabbed their sunglasses and favorite beverages and gathered at the home of Fred and Bonnie Barazani to bid farewell to friends leaving for the summer and to meet and welcome new friends who have recently made The Preserve at SaddleBrooke their home. The weather was perfect for mingling and sipping while overlooking the eighth fairway of The Preserve Golf Club, followed by a sit-down dinner. Carrabba’s Italian Grill provided the bountiful and delectable buffet and grilled the Chicken Marsala to perfection right on the spot. The old-timers will be missed until they return and the new-timers were properly broken in in the usual fashion – a little libation and more food, fun and laughter than you would tell your kids about. The end of the season party tradition was, once again, well preserved!
Unit 49
Diane Marchand
It was a beautiful day when Unit 49’s Dining Divas gathered on May 5 at Mariscos Chihuahua Mexican Restaurant on N. Grande Avenue to sip margaritas with friends and neighbors. Karen Schroeder, our intrepid Dining Divas’ coordinator, chose Mariscos as an authentic Mexican dining experience that is definitely off the beaten path for SaddleBrookers, but worth the drive. It originated in Nogales and the family business expanded to Phoenix and Tucson, with this location opening in 1994. Fifteen of us sat in a private room painted to look like Baja overlooking the ocean. Karen even gave a short talk on the origin of Cinco de Mayo while we munched on chips and salsa. Another fun lunchtime adventure!