Alastair Stone Our expanding SaddleBrooke Ranch community was alive with the sound of caroling in the Sol Ballroom at the Ranch House again. SBR neighbors joined together on Friday night, Dec. 17, to sing their hearts out with Christmas and Chanukah songs. “The 12 Days of Christmas” was, as usual, hilarious, with 12 tables standing…
As of Dec. 20, 2021, our donations to veterans totaled $123,822 for our Lodge year! Included in our total donation is $4,129 for new, warm clothes and food for our homeless veterans. Every year, the Veterans Committee is asked to shop for veterans living at the Arizona State Veterans Home on the VA campus. Belinda…
Jim Hoagland Have you been wondering where all the birds are this year? Many at the Ranch have asked this question, as well as, “Why haven’t I seen as many birds in my backyard?” Or, “Where are the American wigeons, normally on the pond by the Ranch House?” There is no one single answer, but…
SBCO Celebrates 25 Years of Making a Difference Nancy McCluskey-Moore Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. Such was the case with SaddleBrooke Community Outreach. What took root from a living room conversation in 1996 among six women who wanted to give back to the local community has grown into an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a wide array of…
Rev. Suzanne Marlatt-Stewart February is the month of “love”—you might send valentines, enjoy a candlelight dinner with a loved one, or watch romantic movies. But what must come first is loving yourself. You can’t give to another if you don’t have it within yourself to give. Several world religions refer to loving yourself. “‘You shall love…
Jim Hoagland SBR PhotoWorks club members enjoyed a presentation on Jan. 12 by Eric Peffer from SaddleBrooke on “Black & White Photography in a Digital World.” Eric posed the question if black and white photography is “curious analog artifact or a relevant way to create compelling imagery with our modern cameras?” During his presentation, he…
Sheilah Britton, Pinal County Master Gardener The Sonoran Desert is full of surprises—javelina families sharing a prickly pear cactus, hawks on the arms of saguaros, water rushing through arroyos after a rain, a chorus of coyotes howling at dusk, and cactus flowers coloring the desert in spring. But when you come upon a saguaro whose familiar…
Sheila Davidson The fall SaddleBrooke Ranch Bocce League concluded on Wednesday, Dec. 8 with Ballz & Dollz edging out The Bocce Bankers to claim the fall league championship. Members of Ballz & Dollz include Cole Dougherty, Rich Patterson, Heidi Patterson, Pat Rippy, Matt Rippy, Paula Rogers, Rich Rogers, and Amanda Blood. Members of The Bocce…
Matt Nelson In November, the SBR Democratic Club hosted their monthly meeting with guest speaker Adrian Fontes, who is the current Maricopa County recorder and candidate running for Arizona Secretary of State. In December, the club had its annual members holiday party in the ballroom with camaraderie, food, and fun! We typically meet on the…
The Catalina Elks adopted 20 children through the Adopt-a-Family Christmas program and our local food bank—Impact of Southern Arizona. Through your generous donations and with some help from the Past Exalted Rulers Association, we purchased toys, art supplies, and clothing for each of these kids. We spent $75 per child. Each child received at least…