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34 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | FEBRUARY 2026 | The Veterans of Sun Lakes held their second annual Christmas dinner party on Dec. 14. Doug Emery, Information Officer and Treasurer, welcomed Sun Lakes veterans, spouses, and special guests to the event. The evening began with the Pledge of Allegiance. A "white table" was set in tribute to POW/MIA's and Will Baker spoke about how this table symbolizes missing service members. Larry Middlesworth updated the club on the progress of the club's American Flag Disposal program and working with Riverside County to develop an initiative for local towns and cities to be able to access a proper f lag drop off and disposal process. Special guests, Santa (thank you Bob Russeau) and Mrs. Claus (thank you Kathy Perrone) were welcomed and passed out bags of Christmas treats to everyone in attendance. Chris Castorena, a member of Banning's Planning Commission, was at the event and spoke brief ly about Sunset Crossroads, a development that would be built east of Sun Lakes between Highland Home Road and Sunset Avenue. After dinner, Doug Emery introduced the Board members of the Sun Lakes Veterans Group. The program also included a poem read by Suzanne Straus, from a soldier during the World War 1 Christmas Truce. Special guest was Tay Mozga, the Resident Service Coordinator for Liberty Village, a facility located in Beaumont that provides services for unhoused veterans and their families. Mozga presented an overview of the services that are provided and invited everyone to come by and see how Liberty Village serves veterans in need. Emery presented Mozga with a $500 check from the club to provide holiday gifts and assistance to the veterans and their families. Veterans from the Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard were recognized and stood as their branch of service was called. Beverly Reneau was the winner of 50/50, and several other lucky individuals went home with raff le prizes. The music for the evening's festivities was provided by DJ Ed and everyone joined in to sing two Christmas carols before the evening ended. More information about the Veterans Group of Sun Lakes can be found by contacting Ed Luna, USAF at (949) 689-0007 or Doug Emery at (951) 377-1145. Veterans Group Creative Writers We meet each month in the Main Clubhouse Multipurpose Room on the rst Tuesday from 1 to 3 pm and the third ursday from 1 to 3 pm. Contact omas May for further information at (951) 743-2127 or thomasmay0922@gmail.com. Do you love literature? Do you read or listen regularly? What kind of literature is of interest to you? Novels? Short stories? Historical nonction? Autobiographies? Poetry? Songs? Essays on a topical subject? Critiques of the writings of others? Come to our Creative Writers meetings. Do you like to write? What do you like to write? Have you published anything? Would you like to publish? Or do you just enjoy writing for yourself and a small audience? Come to our Creative Writers meetings. Would you enjoy listening to others read (or sing) their writings? Would you enjoy providing constructive commentary on the writings of others? Come to our Creative Writers meetings. You are welcome as a valuable member of our group. Feel free to read from literature written by others, and explain why they inspire you. Feel free to bring material to share, whether it is nished or in progress, current or something you wrote some time ago. Feel free to discuss your interest in writing. Feel free to listen to others present their writings, nished or in progress. See how our meetings are run. In any case, come to our Creative Writers meetings. Our Creative Writers Club has several experienced writers in many forms of literature. Come join us at Creative Writers Club meetings to share your ideas in a friendly setting, and listen to the writings and opinions of others. You will nd this very stimulating.