Category: October 2020

Word of the Month: Petrichor

David Zapatka Following a good rain after a long, dry spell one evening on the pickleball court with friend Natasha Thompson, that luscious smell we are all familiar with danced in our noses. Imagine that fresh, earthy, smell we all know so well as you read this column. Tash said, “There’s a word for that…

SBRTA: Queen of the Court

Lee Stastny Though it has been a challenge to schedule tennis events during the COVID-19 crisis, SaddleBrooke Ranch Tennis Association (SBRTA) member, Sue Cook, pulled together a great event that did not include social activities, but just pure tennis. Twenty female members of SBRTA signed up to participate in Queen of the Court! What a…

SBRPA and an August “2.5 Rating” Test

Jim Hardison ran the test, with the help of (left to right): Marlene Hardison, Jodie Koener, and Jen Campion, plus VP Larry Burchfield.

Alastair Stone SaddleBrooke Ranch Pickleball Association (SBRPA) has introduced a new methodology for “testing up” to a higher level. Previously, one testee played three games with three testers and had to score a total of 23 points. Now, four testees have to go through a four-element program together. This covers serving, dinking (yes), a couple of…

Tennis Update

Lee Stastny The SaddleBrooke Ranch Tennis Association is active and welcomes new members. Monday morning clinics are offered for beginners or new members. Email your registration request to Wayne Watkins at [email protected]. For intermediate players interested in a clinic, please email your request to Tom Ratterman at [email protected]. All other member play is set up through…

Jewelry/Lapidary Club

John Backes, President New members are welcome to the Jewelry/Lapidary Club. The members meet two to three times per week, in the SBR Arts and Technology Center. Masks are required. The club provides an opportunity for creative expression in the field of art metals. Club leadership provides assistance, mentoring, and in-house guidance in jewelry techniques,…

Workshops and SIGS Resume

Linda Shannon-Hills Since the pandemic required changes in how we live our lives, the SBR Technology Club also knew the club needed to adapt to meet our member’s needs. The club’s volunteer monitors have stepped up to be available by appointment for members to receive help with questions on using their smartphones, tablets, and laptops.…

Digital Scanning and Archiving

Linda Shannon-Hills You have time on your hands, boxes of old photographs of your family to sort; you have so many slides which will be difficult to view in the future as they start to deteriorate, and documents on paper that may not last for long. By digitizing this material and photographs, you can preserve for future…

Dollars and Sense: Refinancing Your Home

If you are interested in borrowing against your home’s available equity, you have choices. One option would be to refinance and get cash out. Another option would be to take out a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Here are some of the key differences between a cash-out refinance and a home equity line of…

Whimsy for Today

Becky Kueker I had a bad fall recently—shopping at a furniture store when a young man pushed past me, and I fell backwards over a bench and went splat on the floor. Not funny of course, but the actions after the fact made me pause to think about how we have to take adversity and…