Unit 19
Barbara Risden and Donna Frole
On March 29, 2017, 30 residents from Unit 19 went to Turf Paradise to place our winning bets on the horses. Although a few people came home winners, most of us felt lucky to be with our neighbors having fun and enjoying a buffet lunch on a beautiful day.
Clark the Cub entertains Unit 27A fans.
Unit 27A
Camille Grabb
Unit 27A folks were blown away at the Goodyear Ballpark—literally!
On a postcard-perfect Arizona evening (March 22), 75 neighbors and friends gathered in the right field pavilion anticipating the arrival of the World Series Chicago Cubs to do battle with the Cincinnati Reds. The drinks were chilled, the food was delicious and the opening ceremony was patriotically perfect. Play ball!
During the fifth inning, Reds fans were congratulating each other about their 5 – 2 lead over the Cubs. Suddenly, the black cloud that was hovering above rolled in and with an abrupt gust of wind the pitchers’ mound dirt started going airborne! In a blink of an eye, that gust of wind quickly turned into sideways blowing rain that had everyone ducking for cover. On cue, the ground crew rolled out the field tarp to protect the infield and, sadly, the game was called because of the weather! Whew, everyone was safe and sound and planning to attend a re-match next spring.
Arriving back in PebbleCreek—can you believe there was not a drop of rain?
Unit 40
Diane Passafiume
Unit 40 residents turned out in full force for our neighborhood progressive party event. Party goers went from house to house enjoying, appetizers, beverages and dessert getting acquainted and reacquainted with one another. Attendees’ names were put in a hat, then drawn to insure we had a good mix of new as well as long standing residents. It worked out perfectly. A big thank you to our hosts and hostesses Joe and Susan Lacaeyse, Bob Booth and Mike Getz, Alice and Charlie Miller and to our coordinator Diane Passafiume.
Unit42B Bocce Bash Group
Unit 42B
Patsy Wagner
Neighbors in Unit 42B came together for the Unit’s first annual Bocce Bash on April 8. They quickly learned that a Bocce Bash, (Unit 42B style) does not exactly look like the game of Bocce. We played three games with very crazy rules. We also played two games that kind of looked like Bocce, but not really. After all was said and done, John Bonk won first place. Dennis Carco won second place and Judi Williams won third. We capped off the evening with a pizza party at the home of Bob and Linda Labenz. There were many laughs and good times shared by neighbors of Unit 42B.
Unit 43A
Carole Schumacher
On March 18, Unit 43A looked a bit like Texas (BBQ!). The inaugural Unit 43A BBQ ribs cook-off attracted more than 70 unit residents and was co-hosted by Diane Seeber and Troney Hutchins and Diane and Loren Norgaard and was held in the Seeber/Hutchins’ back yard. The event featured the ribs from 15 BBQ chefs including Pat Boyer, Marty West, Sandy Clinton, Jim Sheard, Joan Knight, John Angus, Jerry Steiner, Jim Schultz, Ken Schumacher, Dave Herrman, Tom Peterson, Bill Wood, Rick Roberts, George McNeil (left to right back row, then front row) and Pete Sattig (not pictured). Each chef prepared ribs using their secret ingredients and cooked them in smokers, grills or ovens. All ribs were then placed in unidentified pans and all residents voted for their top three ribs. The hosts announced the 2017 winning Pork Star is Jim Sheard, runner-up is Sandy Clinton. Jim was presented a chef’s apron trophy handmade by Carole Schumacher that features Unit 43A Pork Star. The apron will be passed to the winning chef next year at the second annual event. All residents provided side dishes to enjoy with the ribs including the traditional baked beans, cole slaw, corn bread and more. We also enjoyed live music, presented by PebbleCreek resident Jeff Harrison during dinner with a bit of dancing after dinner.
Unit 51
Janet Miazga
Spring has sprung and the lovely weather made an ideal day for 18 ladies of Unit 51 to get out and enjoy themselves! A great lunch was shared in a nice private room in the Yard House at Westgate, with some of the gals hitting the Tanger Outlets before or after. A big thanks to Irene Gonzales for planning this luncheon! Best wishes went out for a happy Easter and a farewell for a fun summer to those who will be leaving before our May luncheon.
Left to right: Emily Grotta, Carol Liltz, Phyllis Kotyluk, Leann Drummond, Meg Chrisman, Connie Belina; front, Chair Nancy Rosenfeld
Unit 52
Liz Gibson
Unit 52 enjoyed a big, big fun street party on Sunday, March 26. 126 residents of the “party unit” gathered for a great evening of food and camaraderie, with a lot of our many newbies as well as us originals in attendance.
We love having our parties catered now – and what a buffet! Pulled pork, BBQ chicken, mac and cheese, au gratin potatoes, several salads, rich desserts and soft drinks. The committee made sure there were tables for dining and everyone brought a chair and drink of choice.
Chaired by Nancy Rosenfeld and put together by her hard working committee, it was a wonderful event.
Unit 53
Sandy Stephens
Dave and Janet Valentini hosted the March Happy Hour for Unit 53 for over 50 of their neighbors. Neighbors in Unit 53 host monthly happy hours and luncheons for the gals. Unit 53 is a close knit group of people who are considered friends, not just neighbors, and are always there to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. One such instance was when a neighbor was coming home from the hospital at night and in need of a wheelchair in order to get from the car into the house. When the couple got home there was a wheelchair waiting for them because a Kare Bear neighbor had gotten one after hours and another neighbor had brought it over and put it in the garage. There are neighbors who leave our unit and miss their friends and are invited to our get-togethers.
Photo by Susan Jackson
Unit 58
Ed Raker
Continuing its new tradition, Unit 58 gathered for its March social hour at the beautiful home of Tony and Sherry Gonzales at 15606 W. Berkeley Road. There, on the stunning golf-course-view patio, friends and neighbors gathered to enjoy beverages and a delicious array of appetizers and snacks provided by each participant. One thing remains clear – we have some creative cooks (perhaps chefs) in our midst.
Given that this party was on a Saturday we began earlier than usual, this time at 4:00 p.m. Our host and hostess were most gracious and attentive to our needs and the wonderful weather made outdoor socializing all the better. Perhaps for those reasons, the group tended to linger a bit longer than usual. It was a great deal of fun.
Next month the festivities will occur again; this time at the home of George and Sue Bohl.
Unit 61
Kathy Gorchesky
Ladies Lunch Fun of Unit 61. 28 ladies enjoyed a happy, delicious lunch while welcoming newly moved in neighbors. The fun continues with two Bunco groups, Mexican Train, beading, book club, volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Bank and Pub Trivia nights where many neighbors have joined in. The next neighborhood social event will be a food truck that will stop in Unit 61 for many neighbors to enjoy. Food, games and fun in Unit 61.