Unit Happenings

December Unit Rep meeting notice

The next Unit Rep meeting will take place Monday, December 14, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. Our topic for December is to thank all Unit Reps for their service, review what we have accomplished this year, plus we will have an open discussion on how we can be more effective in the future. Some questions we will ask: Do we need monthly meetings? What would happen if we just had two meetings a year? What are your ideas? Don’t miss this important meeting.

Unit Rep meetings provide a forum for residents to learn more about what is going on in our community and exchange information with other homeowners, Unit Reps and the Board member liaison. Meetings are fact-based, informative, interesting, timely and best of all, open to all residents. So mark your calendar for Monday, December 14, 2015, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the Chianti Room at the Tuscany Falls Clubhouse.

The Unit Rep leaders are always looking for new people who want to get involved in the community. If you would like to know more about becoming a Unit Rep, please contact one of the Unit Rep Co-Chairs; Janet Miazga, [email protected] or Bob Young, [email protected].

Unit 2 Potluck

Lynn R. Oehmann

Wow, what a turnout. The homeowners of Unit 2 came out in abundance at Sunrise Park to meet and greet their neighbors. Ninety people signed up to come to the Pot Luck. At the same time our Pot Luck was taking place, several other major events were happening all over our PebbleCreek Community. Many made a tough choice. We are glad they came to our Pot Luck.

Hats are off to our leader and coordinator, our Unit Rep Lynn Oehmann. Lynn has kept us all informed of the events and information from Unit Rep meetings that impact all of us homeowners.

With that determination, she set out to make this the best Pot Luck Picnic ever. Lynn set up her Social Committee which included Bob and Joan Compton, Cheryl Baugh, George Warden and Dick Oehmann. They handled the gathering, set up and take down of all the tables, games, cleanup and any other tasks that came up.

Lynn listed a set of rules that each person had to follow: 1. Please sit only at a table with people that you don’t know (make new friends) and 2. Please bring your name tag.

We mingled with neighbors that were some of the first homeowners to build in 1993-94 in Unit 2.They shared many stories of the early days in Unit 2 and how Eagle’s Nest has evolved over the years.

There was a lot of energy in the crowd and there was enough food to feed a small army. Our menu was simple: meat, salad, dessert. The complicated part was sampling so many variations. Most of us took a doggie bag of food home.

After we ate as much as we could we now had to work the food down by playing various games. Many of us learned the finer points of Bocce Ball; others enjoyed the Bean Bag Toss and Ladder Golf. We were too tired to play Horseshoes or Croquet.

The time went by fast. Many new friendships were formed and we all had lasting memories. As the Pot Luck came to an end, we voted for Lynn Oehmann to lead us to more fun for Unit 2 in the spring.

As Unit 2 Rep I would just like to say, “We have a wonderful unit and very nice neighbors.” Fun was had by all. More to come in the future.

Photos submitted by George Warden.

Unit 39 Ladies luncheon

Donna Haugland

The next gathering of Unit 39 will be Friday, December 4 at 12:30 p.m. at the Olive Garden across from Chandler Fashion Place Mall, 3430 W. Chandler Boulevard. If you would like to make a reservation please email Donna Haugland at [email protected] by December 1. Reservations are needed by December 2.

Unit 40 Ladies luncheon

Diane Passafiume

Our welcome back fall luncheon was held at the Olive Garden Restaurant. It was great sharing everyone’s summer activities as well as exchanging ideas for our 2015-2016 social season. Looks like we are in for another busy year. We were very pleased to welcome two of our newest residents, Marie Ballinger and Theresa Meyers. A big thanks to Arlene Silverman for organizing the event.

Unit 43B Potluck block party

On Friday, November 6, 2015, sixty-two residents of The Villas (Unit 43B) gathered for the first annual potluck block party. The country-western theme of the event provided an opportunity for residents to don bandanas, boots, jeans and cowboy hats. Prizes were awarded for the best dressed female and male. Diana Mattukat won the cowgirl award and Bud Held the cowboy. With country music in the background, residents enjoyed an array of outrageously delicious foods including barbecue chicken, ribs, baked beans, potato salad and more. Following the spirited group mixer activities, Orson Thomas won the coveted block party prize.

Unit 51 Oktoberfest

To celebrate the fall season, on October 28 forty-four Unit 51 residents participated in an Oktoberfest themed progressive dinner. To start the evening, guests met at the home of Faye and Larry Sessoms where they received a commemorative glass beer mug and enjoyed many delectable appetizers, German wine and homemade stout brewed by Walt Blount. After several rousing choruses of Roll Out The Barrel and an appropriate Oktoberfest toast, guests moved on to their dinner ‘haus’ to enjoy salad and German stew entrée. After dinner at their designated haus, everyone met at Lynn and Alex Lucas’ haus for cocktails and desserts. Special thanks to dinner hosts Dee and Walt Blount, Billie and Jay Gramlich, Jerri and Doug Christensen, Judy and Tom Healy, Barb and Terry Ranta and Carla Durham and Alan Tong, dessert hosts Lynn and Alex Lucas and lastly to the Sessoms for suggesting the event and providing invaluable insight into the organization and execution of the evening.

Unit 51 Ladies Lunch

On November 12 the ladies of Unit 51 went back to school and attended a unique culinary experience at the Regions Restaurant at Estrella Mountain Community College. Thanks to our lunch hostess Dee Domingo for selecting this venue. The group dined on French cuisine including Eggs a la Marinere with Bay Shrimp, filet of Beef Duke of Wellington and Savoyarde Potatoes among other dishes.

Unit 52 Oktoberfest

Liz Gibson

Unit 52 enjoyed another fab party as they celebrated their annual Oktoberfest on Sunday, October 18 at Sunrise Park.

Our busy Social Committee headed by Leann Drummond pulled off another spectacular event which was enjoyed by some 80 residents. Committee members for this party were Meg Chrisman, Karen Borchers and Maggie Eggleston who did a tremendous job, as well as Ed Chrisman who contributed so much for the party’s success.

As was proclaimed by everyone, the food was outstanding with a buffet table filled with brats, pulled pork, chicken, sauerkraut, potatoes, salads and an array of desserts.

The brief rain was not much of a downer as we all ended up very cozy clustered under the roof. Unit 52’s next major event will be the Holiday Party in December, though we will probably have a Pub Night before that.

Unit 52 Ladies Luncheon

Liz Gibson

Unit 52 ladies who lunch enjoyed a fun get-together Wednesday, October 14 at the Olive Garden. Hostess for the luncheon was Linda Modahl. Upcoming unit events were discussed, including the annual Oktoberfest on Sunday, October 18 at Sunrise Park and the annual Holiday Party on December 9 in the Tuscany Falls Chianti Room.

Unit 52 Ladies Luncheon

Liz Gibson

The Unit 52 ladies who lunch had a delightful get-together Wednesday, November 11 at Mimi’s Café. Hosted by Susan Renna, the 18 diners enjoyed a wide choice of options which included either breakfast or lunch menu, all of which was delicious and very efficiently and cheerfully served by the wait staff.

Our Holiday Party in the Chianti Room is coming up fast on Wednesday, December 9 and the new Social Committee for 2016 will be meeting early in January to plan the many events for next year.

Unit 53 monthly luncheon

Sandy Stephens

On Wednesday, October 28 seventeen lovely, joyful ladies from Unit 53 enjoyed lunch at East Asian Bistro in Goodyear. The food was excellent, the service great and the camaraderie the best. We welcomed back some of our snowbirds who had escaped our summer heat. Our Unit 53 is an active unit with not only monthly luncheons but monthly Happy Hours.

Unit 64 Mystery and Murder

Cher Zeman

Twice a year Unit 64, the most fun unit, has an all unit event. Evelyn Seel suggested a Mystery Dinner and that’s what we did.

With meals cooked and custom prepared for 80 people by Evelyn and Peggy Miller, guests finally got a look at what they had preordered and the mystery was solved. Some ordered Greensleeves and Picky Eater, aka napkin and toothpick. Others ordered Ace of Spades or Piano Tuner, spoon and fork respectively. Everyone got spaghetti noodles but not all got sauce. Toots was pretty obvious if you give it some thought, but what the heck is Moo and Sixpence? For Moo think cow, then think milk, then think gutter. Does Sing a Song of Sixpence a Pocket Full of Rye sound familiar? If you figured that one out, it was indeed breadsticks.

Any good party has party favors and this was no different. The event planners, Evelyn, Peggy and Cher Zeman, had boxes for the guests upon arrival. Cereal, cracker and other random boxes were used as containers. Inside were crayons, pens or pencils along with coloring book or seek and find pages. You could get a pen with a coloring book page, but that was partly the point; getting neighbors to communicate and cooperate. Everyone got smart aleck coupons. “This coupon is good for a hunting expedition to hunt dust bunnies.” Or “This coupon is good for getting out of dishes on Friday, October 16, 2015.” Yes, that was the date of the event.

Following dinner a presentation by Holly Horta was given. She was on the Jodi Arias penalty phase jury and gave us insight into her thoughts and those of the other jurors, including juror number 17. Guests learned how difficult it was to see photos of someone slaughtered. During the process she did not have the option to speak to her family members or even the other jurors but was offered the services of a psychologist afterwards. The trial took five months. Yes, she had nightmares. Yes, she was followed. Yes, the 11 all voted for death. Yes, she was the “difficult” juror mentioned by the infamous juror number 17. Holly also told us the juror on the other side of this person was also outspoken; however, as they spoke in turns going around the table, she was the one who spoke after her and questioned what the woman said. Holly was able to see how Jodi behaved and how her attorneys behaved toward her. And here’s a surprise for you. The 11 jurors and the family of Travis Alexander are now friends. They do activities together. As a matter of fact, Travis’ sister has become Holly’s best friend. As she said, “This was both the worst and best experience of her life.”

Despite the rain and dust storm it turned out to be a fun, funny, moving and interesting evening. And that’s why Unit 64 is the most fun unit.