Talk of the Town: Moving into the frantic fall of activity

Welcome to the fall, folks. The leaves may not be turning colors here in the desert, but the clubs and organizations have certainly come out of hibernation and are ready to get into action.

The Green Valley String Ensemble is tuning up for the season. One of the most enjoyable groups in Green Valley meets Wednesday afternoons for a relaxed session of making music.

The group plays for its own pleasure and at times performs on the monthly Green Valley Chamber Music Society concert, at the Center for the Performing Arts, at Continental and Sahuarita school districts, and for various groups and occasions in Green Valley. The String Ensemble welcomes players at all levels of skill and experience. The only requirements are a string instrument and a love of playing music. The String Ensemble looks forward to welcoming new members. The group meets every Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Studio B at the Community Performing Arts Center at 1250 W. Continental adjacent to Pima Community College. For further information, call Ann-Marie Schaffer at 625-1609 or just come to a rehearsal.

A new singles group is forming and it sounds like loads of fun. Green Valley resident Connie Kreft is the founder of the new club, Singles All Together, and she’s in the process of organizing the group which will meet for the first time at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, at the Los Agaves Restaurant, 1451 S. La Canada Drive. Singles All Together is open to all single men and women, regardless of age. Snowbirds are welcome, too.

Each meeting costs each member $1. There will be a $1 raffle to raise money for the club as well, for those who wish to participate.

Kreft, who has founded other singles clubs, says this one “promises to be fun.” Outings include golf, dining out, trips to Tucson, bridge sessions, entertainment like movies and concerts, and much more. Call Connie at 444-8123 for more information.

The Ladies’ Club of San Martin de Porres has been busy already this year and has several exciting events on the horizon.

The Ladies’ Club began in the late 70s at the “old church” on Sahuarita Road. The mission of the club is to help the parishioners in times of need. Such needs include helping families who have lost their homes to fire or flood, and lost everything. People who have lost spouses and were devastated by the emotional and financial loss may be helped with food or a gift card to a local grocery or department store. The club was made aware of an organization called Hands of a Friend. Founder Patti O’Berry attended a Ladies’ Club meeting recently and informed the group of Genesis House, a place where abused women can find refuge and a safe place to stay.

After the presentation, the club decided to go outside its church family and help O’Berry’s extended family. A donation was made to Hands of a Friend and a beautifully decorated box by some of Patti’s family, was put in the entrance of the church where donations of household cleaning supplies and toiletries can be deposited. The Ladies’ Club members says there are very pleased to help such a deserving organization.

The San Martin de Porres Annual Fiesta is Saturday, Oct. 10, from 3 p.m. to approximately 11 p.m. during which time a fiesta queen will be crowned. The fiesta, which started in 1980, brings people out to the ‘church in the pecan grove’ for food, fun, entertainment and of course, to raise money for the church. The church is at 15440 S. Santa Rita Rd. in Sahuarita. There will be food booths, game booths, a bouncy castle and entertainment in the evening. Sunday, Oct. 11, starts with a breakfast by the Ladies’ Club at 10 a.m. following Mass.

Then at noon, after the 11 a.m. Mass, lunch will be served by the church Youth Group. And, for the first time, the church will have a Farmers Market. Some of your favorite vendors from the area will be selling their wares between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The public is invited.

Local history buffs take heed. The La Frontera Corral of Westerners International will meet for the first time this season, Monday, Oct. 5, at 4 p.m. at the Casa de Esperanza Community Center, 780 W. Park Centre Drive near the La Posada campus. The featured speaker is photographer Karl Hoffman, who will show his photos documenting the border and border issues. The meeting is free and open to the public.

rford@gvnews.com