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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | JULY 2025 13 By Corinne Jorgensen, Resident Hi, I am the current President of the Solo Singles Group here at Solera Diamond Valley. Our group regularly goes out to dinner around the first week of each month. A Solera Solo Singles member becomes the hostess for this event, taking reservations by phone from the members, and making reservations at the restaurant of their choice. We also have other events throughout the year and a great Christmas Party. Solo Singles are invited to our July 10 event, which is an Ice Cream Social and games beginning at 4 pm in the Broadleaf room at the Lodge. Our Hostess for this event is Linda Winstead. If you are interested in attending, call Linda to R.S.V.P. at 818- 585-9975. She will also need to know what you are bringing to share. e Solo Singles Group has quarterly meetings where our members plan events; the next one being on Sept. 8 at 11 am in the Silverwood Room (Cra Room) in the Lodge. Please feel free to join us. ere are no dues or budget for this group so everyone helps. If you would like to be added to our email list, contact me, Corinne, at corinnejorge@aol.com. is information is in the back of e View under Groups. We hope you are able to join us for some of our events. Solera Solo Singles Group By Janet Boyce, Resident We tend to think of avocados (and tomatoes) as vegetables, since we use them in salads, but they actually are fruits, due to their seed. Known as the Alligator Pear, it is a nutrient-rich fruit that is native to the Americas. It was first domesticated more than 5,000 years ago in Mesoamerica with an original growth range from Mexico to Costa Rica. Some of the main varieties are Haas, Fuerte, and Bacon. My favorite is the pear-shaped Fuerte. e best part is all the goodness that avocados possess. ey are dairy-free, vegetarian-friendly, cholesterol and gluten-free, high in fiber (about 10 grams per avocado), and contain many vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fats. ey help boost good cholesterol (HDL), and lower bad cholesterol (LDL), because they are packed with healthy mono-unsaturated fats. It is the healthiest carbohydrate out there! To grow avocado trees, you need to have at least two plants near each other, because a single avocado tree does not self- pollinate. ese trees can live up to 400 years! To tell if an avocado is ripe, peel back the stem. If the skin underneath is yellow, it's not ripe, but if the skin is green, it's ripe. Hard avocados ripen quickly if you put them in a brown, paper bag with an apple or banana inside. An avocado has more protein than any other fruit: 4 grams, supported by 18 of the most valuable amino acids. Bananas are known for their potassium content, but avocados have twice the amount that bananas do. Besides being a nutrient-rich fruit, the avocado has many other uses. e creamy texture is great to apply to your hair or skin, because it is rich in Vitamin E and B. It's a great form of baby food, and you can even bake with it. Just replace butter or margarine in your recipe with yummy avocado. Many people learn to like avocados through their experience with guacamole. You can eat avocados daily. e benefits are incredible: improve heart health, aid in weight management, help with brain function, and also gut health. ey also have antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Wow, what does the avocado Not have? I grew up climbing avocado trees in my backyard. To this day, it is hard for me to pay even 50 cents for one, because they were always so freely available. With all that the avocado possesses, it is truly a remarkable, but underrated fruit. Here's to avocados! AWESOME AVOCADOS

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