In-season items in meals at the Poolside Café
Whenever you see this symbol, there is an interactive video in our eBook
Whenever you see this symbol, link to email, website or Facebook
August is upon us! August is often a wonderful month for star gazing, and during the evening of Tuesday, August 1st, the moon reaches peak illumination. On this night, the full moon is called the Sturgeon Moon, named so because of the substantial number of Sturgeon fish that were found in the Great Lakes in North America during this time of year. For the best view of the full moon, look skyward this evening!
There will also be another full moon this month. On Wednesday, August 30th, there will be a Blue Moon, which will be the biggest supermoon of the year. The Perseids showers will also occur in August and will peak August 12th through the 13th before dawn, and the moon will be ten percent full. These showers are called the Perseids because the area of the sky where the meteors seem to originate when at maximum capacity is located near the prominent constellation of Perseus the Hero.
Be sure to get outside and check these events out. A great caveat is that the sun will be down, so it will not be as hot when viewing these celestial wonders. Take a photo and submit it to our Communication Department at SR-Communication@ PMPmanage.com and keep an eye out for future Star Gazing event dates.
What else do we celebrate in August? August 1st, known as Lammas Day, is traditionally a day to mark the annual wheat and corn harvest. Lammas also marks the mid-point between the summer solstice and autumn equinox, known as a cross-quarter day.
August 11th marks the end of the Dog Days of Summer (which began on July 3rd). Children will be heading back to school, and many fall sports will be starting up again. Also, August brings the best bounty of the season, ripened tomatoes, melons, sweet corn on the cob, and zucchini, to name a few of the favorites. Ryan will be mixing in many of these delicious, in-season items into his meals at the Café. Keep your eyes open for these on the Toast App or website. Using in-season, fresh veggies and fruit really makes all the difference!
Join us for an afternoon at the theater! On Wednesday, September 13th, we will head to Cedar City for the annual Shakespeare Festival to enjoy The Play That Goes Wrong. This play is a fan favorite, with many laughs and a lot of enjoyment. You will leave the play with loads of fond memories and hopefully a big appetite for a delicious dinner at Rusty’s Ranch House. The ticket covers both the bus and the play but excludes the price of dinner. However, the beautiful views are free. Rusty’s offers all your steakhouse favorites, and the food is fantastic. The bus will depart at noon from the Community Center. The play begins at 2pm and will last about two and a quarter hours. We will be departing from the Randall L. Jones Theater between 4:30-4:45pm to head to Rusty’s Ranch House Restaurant for a delightful dinner in Cedar Canyon. To view the menu prior to departure, view the following link: https://rustysranchhouse.com/our-menu/. We have made an early deadline for this trip so we can pre-purchase tickets and reserve a bus, so we need everyone to sign up as quickly as possible.
Time to spoil that best friend while you get out and walk for your health. On Thursday, August 10th, at 7am, meet our Fitness Team outside the fitness side of the Community Center with your dogs primed and ready to walk. Be sure to bring water for both you and your buddy. Weston will lead the walk up to the Birds Nest and back to the Community Center. The walk will take about forty-five minutes. When we return to the Community Center, we will have some yummy treats for your furry friends. What a wonderful way to start your morning and get your fitness day started with your dog-loving friends. We cannot wait to see you and your dogs! Be ready for some photo opportunities. We will be there with our cameras, and if you feel inspired to dress in matching outfits, you may just find your photo on the website or events email.
Although we will not be in Reno for the celebration of Hot August Nights, we will have our own version here in SunRiver St George! The Ballroom will be transformed into the 1950s on Tuesday, August 15th. A huge thank you to our very own Roadrunner’s Car Club, who will have their classic cars on display in the roundabout for all to see as they enter the event. This is a classic fifties dance party with a dinner of freshly prepared Burgers, Potato Salad, a Cookie, and a soda bar (BYOB) prepared by our kitchen and events staff. All while listening to your favorite fifty’s tunes playing all night long. This is a terrific opportunity to stay active and entertained while enjoying the refreshing, air-conditioning Ballroom. You’ve got it made in the shade! Tickets are available on the website. Don’t be a drip; join the cool cats at this hip party.
Do you like to dance? Well, we have the perfect event for you! A Resident favorite, Eric Dodge, will be back by popular demand this month on Monday, August 28th, to teach line dancing and sing a few of his popular songs. For those who have not seen Eric perform before, you are in for a treat. Eric has topped Amazon.com’s bestselling albums list. Eric has sold his albums all over the world in 17 countries. Eric has also been featured in Country Western magazine, on satellite radio, and in numerous live television events. Eric has released eight albums as well as many digital music projects and has performed across the USA and Canada. We are lucky to have his local celebrity available to perform and teach right in our own Ballroom. Tickets are available on the website but hurry fast. This event sells out quickly, and we have limited space, so we are able to have plenty of space to dance. Tell your friends so you can be sure everyone gets tickets together! Want to learn more about Eric? Use this website address to learn more: https://ericdodge.com/about-eric/
The original immersive Van Gogh Exhibit is on our fall schedule! We would like to take a bus trip to Las Vegas to walk through this amazing experience. You will be fully immersed in Van Gogh’s sunny landscapes, night scenes, portraits, and still-life paintings. Astonishing in scale and breathtakingly imaginative, you will experience Van Gogh’s art in a completely new and unforgettable way. This experience has become a huge hit, with over five million tickets sold. We are excited that the venue has extended its show into the fall months due to its popularity! We will be traveling to the location inside The Shops at Crystals near the ARIA Resort and Casino on Friday, September 29th. You will not want to miss this amazing trip! Either before or after the experience, we can stop at Hobby Lobby to shop for our favorite crafting supplies and then to Traders Joe’s in Henderson for those who may want to pick up some goodies on the way home. Box dinners could be provided on the bus ride down, or we can stop at the Galleria Mall for dinner on your own. We are looking for your feedback on this trip. This will be a bus trip to several fun locations all in one night!
What does the Dead Sea, the Northern Lights, the Great Barrier Reef, Victoria Falls, the Grand Canyon, the Paricutin Volcano, and Mount Everest have in common? They were touted as “the Seven Natural Wonders of the World” in the 1960s. Now let us imagine a future where travel throughout the solar system is as common as travel to the different continents. What are the seven natural wonders of the solar system?
If the future permits us to travel freely from planet to planet, these would all be natural wonders to bedazzle tourists of the 22nd century. From the parched surface of Mercury to an icy moon of Uranus, allow Ron Smith to be your tour guide to incredible natural features. The Mariner Valley on Mars dwarfs the Grand Canyon. Olympus Mons on Mars rises to an elevation that tops Mount Everest. Kraken Mare might seem to be just another lake, but it is a lake of liquid natural gas, not water. While Copernicus is not the largest lunar crater, its jagged, mountainous rim might be the most rugged terrain seen by human eyes. The giant cliffs on the Uranian moon, Miranda, dwarf the sheer rock faces of El Capitan and Half Dome. A somewhat similar feature traverses over one thousand miles across the surface of Mercury. Lastly, can anything compare to the beauty of the rings of Saturn?
On August 8th, in our Ballroom and on August 10th, on Zoom, let Ron Smith be your guide to these future “national parks” of our solar system. Come celebrate the beauty of our solar system. The Ballroom program starts at 5:30pm and the doors open at 5pm. You must purchase sandwich or popcorn tickets in advance. The Zoom program is free and can be enjoyed from your home, computer, or laptop. The Zoom program begins at 5:30pm.
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
- Friday, August 4th, from 2-3pm
Buy your tickets now and enjoy fresh-baked cookies without heating up the house!
Price: Single: $1 Half Dozen: $4 Dozen: $6
National Bratwurst Day
- Wednesday, August 16th, from 11:30am-2pm
Bratwurst nestled in a Toasted Bun topped with delicious Sauerkraut and Mustard accompanied by a side of golden, crisp French Fries
Price: $6.50 (purchase as a lunch special)
National Fajita Day
- Thursday, August 17th, from 4:30-6pm
Steak Fajitas served with Beans and Rice - yummy!
Price: $12 (purchase as a dinner preorder on toast)
National Potato Day
- Wednesday, August 23rd, from 11:30am-2pm
Delight yourself with Dauphine Potatoes (Mashed Potatoes Wrapped in Pastry Dough and deep fried).
Price: Three for $2 (purchase as a side on the lunch menu)
August Specials at the Window - All Month Long!
BOGOFREE: Two Shrimp Tacos for the price of one (available Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays for the month of August from 11:30am-2pm)
BOGOFREE: Root Beer Floats made with our new Stubborn Craft Root Beer (available Thursdays and Fridays during the month of August from 11:30am-2pm)
Wild Thyme
Date: Monday, August 7th
Time: 4-7pm
Papa Gyro
Date: Monday, August 14th
Time: 4-7pm
Los Carnales
Date: Tuesday, August 22nd
Time: 4-7pm
Hook’d on Bowls
Date: Monday, August 28th
Time: 4-7pm
AgingCare.com names swimming and water sports as one of the most injury free sports for seniors. Swimming is an exercise especially beneficial to seniors for many reasons. Water exercises, whether swimming or fitness classes, allow us to get in better condition without putting added stress or strain on the body.
We are all familiar with swimming acting as a low-impact exercise, minimizing the risk of injury. Water exercises can give us a complete workout by addressing all the body’s muscle groups.
First and foremost, swimming makes your heart stronger by improving cardiovascular health and endurance. Exercising in the pool improves circulation and blood pressure, thereby reducing heart and lung disease issues.
Water exercise increases your flexibility. The normal format for our water exercise classes includes a warm-up prior to the exercises and ends with stretching exercises. Lap swimming itself improves flexibility in your neck, hips, legs, and arms. It is also known to improve posture and alleviate back pain.
Every movement you make in the water puts your muscle groups to work, and muscle strength and tone are improved. Swimming and water exercises are great forms of resistance training. The more time you spend in the pool, the more noticeable the improvement you will experience in your muscle tone, whether swimming, being an active class participant, or just walking in the water.
Our most popular indoor pool exercises are for all ages of seniors and are basically the aerobics class exercises, including lap swimming, and individual exercises that are based upon therapy programs.
Seniors recovering from the various surgeries we face (which are part of the challenges of aging) can find appropriate pool exercises, with the help of their physician or therapist, to speed their individual recovery process.
The lazy days of summer are almost over. Soon the nights will be cooler, and the leaves will be turning. Football teams will be doing two-a-day drills, and the RSC will be running at full steam. Here’s what is just around the corner.
August
Caregiver Support Group
September
August 22nd, at 10:30am in the Multi-Purpose Room
Meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month
RSC Seminar on Physical Therapy ...................................................................................................................................
Caregiver Support Group
October
Coffee With A Cop
Tuesday, September 21st, at 2pm in the Ballroom
Tuesday, September 26th, at 10:30am in the Multi-Purpose Room
Thursday, October 5th, from 9-11am in the Game Room
Stepping On (Balance) .....................................................................................................................................................
Wednesday, October 11th, from 10-Noon in the Game Room
Walk With A Doc ...............................................................................................................................................................
Tuesday, October 17th, meet and sign up in the Library at 8:45am; walk begins at 9am
RSC Seminar
Thursday, October 19th, at 2pm in the Ballroom
Caregiver Support Group ...............................................................................................................................................
Tuesday, October 24th, at 10:30am in the Multi-Purpose Room
Come, choose an RSC activity, and join your friends and neighbors; energize your body and your mind this fall.
Hot enough for you?? What if the power was out and there was no A/C? Statistically, people over 65 and people with chronic medical conditions are much more at risk from heat than the general public. The Emergency Preparedness Committee wants you to be prepared in such an emergency. The Community Center does not have a backup power system. So those who might need power in the event of a power outage need to consider their personal situation and make appropriate provisions. The fire station on Blue Grass Way has auxiliary power and can function as a cooling station, but they cannot accommodate the (approximately) 3500 people from SunRiver, let alone all the people from Bloomington and Desert Color.
A Dixie Power representative we contacted stated that, while rare, power outages usually last around an hour or less. The longest outage that he was aware of was about eight hours, but an outage could potentially be longer, depending on the cause of the outage. Residents might use this as a guide for their planning. Below are guidelines from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) and a link to a FEMA information sheet.
Take an inventory of the items you need that rely on electricity. Plan for batteries and other alternative power sources to meet your needs when the power goes out, such as a portable charger or power bank. Have flashlights for every household member. Determine whether your home phone will work in a power outage and how long battery backup will last.
Dixie Power maintains a list of people who rely on electricity for medical devices and, in the event of a power outage, prioritizes them for power restoration. To be placed on the list, a person must have their physician fax a request detailing their medical needs to Dixie Power at (435) 673-7460.
Click here for more information: https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/power-outage_information-sheet.pdf
BLACK ....... CLUBS/GROUPS PURPLE EVENTS
All information is tentative and subject to change. For a more detailed and up-to-date calendar see your email and check out the Full Calendar under the Lifestyle tab on the SunRiverStGeorge.com website.
Tuesday, August 1st, 2023
Bristlecone Pine Trail, Cascade Falls, & Lunch
Hike Leader: Marietta Rigby
Event Time: 8am-3pm
Tuesday, August 8th, 2023
Ashdown Gorge
Hike Leader: Dave Nelson
Event Time: 7am-2:30pm
Tuesday, August 15th, 2023
Rim Trail to Bryce Point, Peekaboo, and up Wall Street
Hike Leader: Douglas Walker
Event Time: 6am-5pm
Science Night
Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023
C Trail
Hike Leaders: Greg and Naomi Marshall
Event Time: 7am-3pm
Tuesday, August 29th, 2023
Sidney Peaks
Hike Leader: Walter Sonnichsen
Event Time: 7am-3pm
Pizza & Karaoke Price: $8.50
Topic: Seven Wonders of the Solar System
Presenter: Ron Smith
Date: Tuesday, August 8th
Time: 5:30-7pm (doors open at 5pm)
Location: Community Center Ballroom
Menu: Southwest Chicken Wrap & Popcorn
Meal & Popcorn Price: $7.50
Meal Purchase Deadline: Tuesday, August 1st
Popcorn Only Price: $1.50
Popcorn Only Deadline: Monday, August 7th
All You Can Eat
Date: Wednesday, August 9th
Time: 5:30-7pm (doors open at 5pm)
Location: Community Center Ballroom
Menu: Orange Chicken with Bell Peppers served over Rice
Price: $13 • Ticket Purchase Deadline: Wednesday, August 2nd
Hot August Nights Dinner & Dance
Date: Tuesday, August 15th
Time: 5:30-8:30pm (doors open at 5pm)
Location: Community Center Ballroom
Entertainment: DJ Lex
Menu: Cheeseburger, Potato Salad, Cookies, Soda Bar
Dinner & Dance Price: $18.50
Dinner Purchase Deadline: Wednesday, August 8th
Dance Only Price: $9 • Dance Only Deadline: Tuesday, August 15th
Pizza & Karaoke Night
Date: Monday, August 21st
Time: 5:30-7pm (doors open at 5pm)
Location: Community Center Ballroom
Menu: Margherita Pizza (Light Tomato Sauce, Tomatoes, Mozzarella Cheese, Fresh Basil, and Olive Oil)
Pizza & Karaoke Ticket Deadline: Monday, August 14th
Karaoke Only Price: $3.50
Karaoke Only Ticket Deadline: Monday, August 21st
Cultural Dinner ~ Hawaii
Date: Friday, August 25th
Time: 5:30-7pm (doors open at 5pm)
Location: Community Center Ballroom
Menu: Chicken Katsu (Japanese-Style Fried Chicken Cutlet coated with Crispy Panko), Steamed Rice, Potato Salad, and Sauteed Cabbage
Price: $12 • Ticket Purchase Deadline: Friday, August 18th
Eric Dodge Line Dance Party
Date: Monday, August 28th
Time: 6-8:30pm
Location: Community Center Ballroom
Entertainment: Eric Dodge
Price: $10 • Ticket Purchase Deadline: Monday, August 28th
Seminars
Ovation Sienna Hills
Date: Thursday, August 10th
Time: 10:30-11:30am
Location: Community Center Ballroom
Price: Free • Ticket Deadline: Thursday, August 10th
Fitness Health with Weston Welch
Topic: Sunscreen Safety
Date: Wednesday, August 16th
Time: 4-5pm
Location: Community Center Game Room
Price: Free • Ticket Deadline: Tuesday, August 15th
By Lloyd Webster
July 9th, 2003, twenty years ago, was a significant day for all of us who have learned to love the game of pickleball. That was the day the first dedicated pickleball courts were open for play at SunRiver. Today we simply know them as courts 1-4, but back in 2003, they were the only pickleball courts in Utah.
How could that be? SunRiver built the first dedicated pickleball courts in Utah! Here is a brief introduction of how it all happened.
In the fall of 2002, Don Odle, a SunRiver Resident who knew a little about pickleball, met with Darcy Stewart, the managing partner of SunRiver St George. Don’s intent was to convince Darcy that pickleball would be a terrific addition to an over fifty-five community, increasing home sales. Darcy agreed to give pickleball a chance and allowed Don and several other “early pioneers” to tape off two courts on one of the tennis courts.
Ok, that was the first step, but Don had bigger plans, and in early 2003, he met with Merrill Barney, sports director for the Huntsman World Senior Games (HWSG), and suggested that pickleball would be a terrific addition to the senior games.
Merrill had never heard of pickleball but agreed to attend the pickleball venue at the Arizona Senior Olympics held in Surprise, AZ. After watching pickleball, Merrill came back enthusiastic about the possibility of adding pickleball to the HWSG. Of course, courts were needed, so with the support of other pickleball enthusiasts, Odle convinced Darcy to build four dedicated pickleball courts.
Now SunRiver has six courts, four dedicated and two temporaries, available for HWSG in October. It goes without saying that the first tournament director would be Don Odle, with Art Miller as assistant director. Other SunRiver Residents, who were actively involved during the early years, were Marty Grossman, Ginger Miller, Paul (“Pickleball Paul”), Edna Alcantra, and Pat & Nora Flannery.
The games of 2003 included approximately forty-eight eager pickleball participants. There were hand-drawn brackets for men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, and singles. Even though the participation was relatively sparse, everyone was very enthusiastic about pickleball being a part of Huntsman and could see a bright future for pickleball in Southern Utah and the Huntsman Games.
Fast forward twenty years, and much has changed. For his efforts, Don Odle was inducted into the Pickleball Hall of Fame. Marty Grossman became the first-ever SRSG Pickleball Club President in 2004. SunRiver St George has fourteen beautiful courts and has hosted or co-hosted HWSG pickleball for nineteen years with many, many pickleball club members volunteering to help run the games. Pickleball is the second largest event in HWSG, with over one thousand participants. The PB club has over four hundred members. And of course, many homes have been sold because of pickleball in SunRiver, St George.
It has become clear that Don and Darcy’s vision has become a reality.
By Andy Margles
Growing up in the Midwest, it seemed like we had some kind of red meat for dinner almost every night. Then the news came out that doing so might cause some “pesky” health problems, like heart disease, cancer and premature death! Reluctantly, we and much of the country, in an attempt to eat healthier, switched most of our diet from red meat to poultry. Of course, this being America, we overwhelmingly chose to eat chicken prepared in the unhealthiest way imaginable; by deep-frying it in oil or fat.
Remember a few years ago, when some people were literally stabbing each other for a fried chicken sandwich? Scary stuff, but hey, we love our Popeye’s! Back then, three companies “ruled the roost”; KFC, Chick-fil-a and Louisiana’s Popeye’s. Then, every fast-food burger chain in the country threw down the gauntlet, by introducing a new, “improved” chicken sandwich. Not surprisingly, none were particularly good, or successful and the first Fried Chicken Sandwich War ended with a whimper and not a bang.
Today, smaller, regional chains have entered the fray. They face an uphill battle, combating the Big 3, who make really tasty sandwiches, for about half the price of that charged by upstarts like Crack Shack and Jaybird’s. Since the décor is fairly spartan in both of these newly-opened restaurants, I was really hoping that the quality and taste of food would be worth it.
Crack Shack, 1216 Bluff, Suite 1201 SG (look for the big white rooster outside) is open daily at 11 and closes from 8-10 pm, depending on the evening. Ours is the ninth location of this small California chain. Each outlet sources its’ ingredients locally, uses only free-range, hormone-free chicken and fries its’ chicken in vegetable (canola) oil. There are 8 combination fried chicken sandwiches, whole and half chickens, a bowl, a salad, sides, drinks and desserts. The combo sandwich I ate was huge and lip smacking good. The seasoning on the fries had some real clout.
Jaybird’s, in front of the mall in the former Arby’s, open Tu-Sat from 11-9, is owned by a guy from Chicago, who cooks Nashville Hot Chicken and started his mini-chain in California. We are now his 7th location. Jay is easy to spot by his mohawk/rat-tail haircut and is quite the character. He only uses peanut oil for frying, which, while more expensive than canola, produces a crisper and potentially more healthful chicken. Like Crack Shack, Jaybird’s birds are also all- natural and antibiotic-free. The humungous sandwich, exploding with flavor, was just da bomb, and the crunchy, well-seasoned French fries also packed quite a punch
Verdict: The chicken sandwiches at both of these places were a big hit and superior to the Big 3, in terms of quality, size and taste. I preferred the more flavorful, crispier fare at Jaybird’s, but I’ll be visiting Crack Shack more often in the future. Reason? At Crack Shack (although not on the menu) you can substitute grilled chicken for fried, in any chicken sandwich. This makes the relatively health-conscious Mrs. Foodie actually agreeable to join me there and as a wise man once said, “Happy wife, happy life”.
“All the news that’s fit to eat”
1. Muscle near the humerus
6. Hardly heart-pounding
10. Builders’ buys
14. Where Greek met Greek 15. Seer’s sign
17. Rule for some card games
19. Europe/Asia dividing range
20. “Right you ---!”
21. Homeowner’s title
22. Dramatist O’Neill
24. Firewood measure
25. Radar unit?
26. Crooner Vic
29. Caps for Roman Catholic clergy
33. “Watership Down” novelist Richard
34. Brazilian sports hero
35. Break in friendly relations
36. Braxton or Morrison
37. Spoke wildly
38. Climactic beginning?
39. Famous redhead
40. Rainbow components
41. Fibber or Molly
42. Beachcomber’s find
44. Some gang members
45. New Mexico art community
46. Supports
47. Forewarns
50. Comrade
51. Bears
54. Itsy-bitsy skirt
55. Please enormously
58. Stage device
59. Ant assemblage
60. Kind of football
61. Pert blurt
62. Readied a golf ball
63. Bowler’s button Down
1. --- California Sur
2. Humped helper
3. Refined coal
4. Poetic preposition
5. Excuses offenses
6. Worked for AAA
7. In the middle of
8. Bugs’ voice
9. Won over
10. Sitcom sweeteners
11. Fabled monster
12. Word in a comparison
13. Dealer’s deal
18. Withered and dry
23. Bring to bear
24. They have panels
25. 126,720 inches, for two
26. Historical trivia
27. Love intensely
28. Excessively intense enthusiasm
29. Chamfer
30. Slight trace
31. Word before noon?
32. Pigs’ digs
34. Saint --- Cathedral, London
37. Brightness regulator
41. Around June or July
43. It’s passed for money
44. Statement
46. Resin in adhesives and paints
47. Stereo parts
48. Old Italian coin
49. Genesis name
50. Peak
51. Shakes a leg
52. Actress Heche
53. Game with matadors
56. Madness?
57. Fab introduction
