Jim Hoagland On our monthly bird surveys on the SaddleBrooke Ranch nature trail, I am often asked, “What binoculars should I get for birding?” Binoculars are the go-to optical tool for most serious birders. Compared to spotting scopes or long-lens cameras, binoculars are more portable and convenient. To answer the question, let’s start by understanding…
Jan Martin Attention SaddleBrooke singles! The SBR Singles Club provides an opportunity for SBR singles to meet n’ greet each other every month. We normally get together on the third Saturday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. on the Ranch House event patio. In the event of poor weather, we move inside. Just…
Matthew Nelson and Joy Hellard On Sept. 28, the SBR Democratic Club met for a presentation and discussion about the future of water in Pinal County. On Aug. 16, 2021, the U.S. Department of Reclamation issued a Tier 1 shortage of Central Arizona Project (CAP) water that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022. A…
Janelle Arthur With the number of Western dancers at the Ranch growing, the board of the SaddleBrooke Ranch Social Dance Club (SBRSDC) decided to dip a boot into separate, monthly dances devoted to Western music and dancing. Country-western lessons were expanded with a new instructor, dance teacher Richard Russell, and Ranch resident Bob Authur was…
Linda Shannon-Hills In September and October, the recently formed group, SBR Mending Souls, got to work making 12 more zippered school supplies bags during our Oct. 6 work session. We also had a project focus of making newborn and toddler items. Our members turned in eight knitted and crocheted baby caps, 15 flannel burp cloths, 16…
Linda Shannon-Hills After a year off due to the pandemic, the 8th Annual 2021 SBR ARTwalk open-studio tour was held on two days for the first time, on Oct. 23 and 24. It gave the SaddleBrooke Ranch residents more time to visit the more than 51 artists in 35 homes and more than 50 artists selling in…
We Know How Santa Feels Barbara Barr The Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke partners with a number of local organizations. These humanitarian groups know they can call on our club when they need a helping hand. Recently the Tri-Community Food Bank received a grant for blankets for their clients in our community and surrounding areas. Since the…
Melanie Einbund Magic! It was absolute magic when some five or so years ago I started playing timpani with my adult school band in Northern California. To be a part of making music was just pure magic! Now I play with SaddleBrooke Winds & Strings. Every Friday morning, for an hour and a half, we…
Cutting the Cord and Home Automation SIGs in November Linda Shannon-Hills A special interest group (SIG) is a community within a larger organization that has a shared interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge, learning, or technology where members cooperate to affect or to produce solutions within their particular field, and may communicate, meet,…
The Horseback Riding Group was treated to a really fun ride down the Tanque Verde Wash with the stable of Rockin’ Star Ranch. The group of seven met at the trailhead by the wash to mount up. Then they headed down the broad, sandy wash, which was being crisscrossed in spots by shallow meandering streams running…