David Zapatka Backhand Groundstroke Quoting from Pickleball Fundamentals: Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, when hitting a backhand groundstroke, “The same principles apply when you’re hitting a backhand groundstroke (as a forehand groundstroke) except that you move to the left rather than to the right (right-handed players). While some players change the…
Sports, December 2021
Putters Eager to Socialize
Camille Esterman It was evident that the Ranchette Putters missed the opportunities to socialize and putt. President Linda Sentivanac greeted approximately 70 women—many dressed in pink—at the “Welcome Back Putters Party.” The club invited all women in SaddleBrooke Ranch, and 26 prospective members were present. Many of them joined on the spot. Mexican hats and…
Features, December 2021
“Let’s Make an Audiobook,” She Said
Linda and Ken Gorman It all got crazy when Linda said, “Let’s make an audiobook.” In early 2020, with her book just having been published, Linda welcomed the free time she’d gained. Then rumors started swirling around about a virus in China and within a few short weeks, we knew we were going to have a lot…
Features, December 2021
Artists of the Month: Doug Miller, Fine Art Landscape Painter
Linda Shannon-Hills Doug Miller began his painting career more than 40 years ago, painting hard-edge abstracts while studying art in college. His work was featured in a senior exhibition that influenced him, along with his parents’ encouragement, to pursue an art career. Fast forward to 2021 where Doug and his wife Barb reside in the…
Sports, December 2021
Pickleball Member Kim Ahlgrim-Heine Is a Certified IPTPA Rater!
Debbie Witten In May, Kim Ahlgrim-Heine received her certification by International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) to rate for the advancement of pickleball players into rating levels of 3.0 and 3.5. This is considered a CRS4 certification. She offers Saddlebrooke Ranch Pickleball Association (SBRPA) members the rating sessions on Thursdays. However, she willingly works with…
Generals, December 2021
A Taste of Michigan, This Brew’s for You, and a Brazilian Dinner
Ann Vernon You might question what these three things have in common. The answer is that they are all fixed-price events for the Oracle Schools Foundation’s Spring Fling, which will be held March 6, 2022, at the MountainView Ballroom, HOA2. The Foundation raises money to help fund preschool and other educational endeavors so that every…
Generals, December 2021
Free Beginning Piano Lessons
Piano lessons are offered Saturdays, Jan. 8 through Feb. 26, 2022, in the LaVista Room. There will be eight group lessons. Piano I: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Piano II: 3:30 to 5 p.m. (start on page 60 of the lesson book) Did you always want to learn to read music? Well, this is the class…
Sports, December 2021
Bocce Club Summer League Season Comes to an End
Diane Schramm The SaddleBrooke Ranch Bocce Club concluded its summer league season in early October. A total of 14 teams played across a 7-week period this summer, and they even managed to work around a couple of cancellations because of the monsoon season. In the end, Team Chewbocce edged out New Kids on the Bocce…
Generals, December 2021
Coping With Loss Support Group
Cindy Cannon No one is immune to loss and the resulting dynamics of grief. Grief is an experience we all share. Yet, what is grief? How do we define it? What shape do we give to it? Seldom do we talk about it, or try to find a definition for it until we are in…
Features, December 2021
Dollars and Sense: 11 Home Features Today’s Buyers Want Most
Douglas Sedam Thinking about selling your house? Here are home features potential buyers are coveting. #1 Laundry room. Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 91%. More than anything else, homeowners want a room other than the guest bedroom to stack all the clean laundry in until it finally gets put away. A separate laundry room tops…