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Spring rains bring spring flowers, but that's not all. Ask any member of Happy Cookers and you will be told that the situation can be summarized in the saying common in New Orleans: Let the good times roll. Read on for the details. The first rain storm of the season was Feb. 28, the same day as the general meeting and without doubt, everyone had a good time. Wendy's District Manager, Tony, and the Palm Springs Manager, Lucille Molina, talked about Wendy's, and asked questions of the assembled members. A $10 gift certificate was given to the person who gave the correct answer. Needless to say, there was an enthusiastic response to the questions. Members were also given samples of Apple Pecan Chicken Salads, samples of plain as well as spicy chicken, and a $2 discount on any full-sized salad. Tony noted that all fast food restaurants have hamburgers and salads, so Wendy's has adopted safety and hospitality as two of their high priority additional objectives. No wonder Wendy's is one of the top fast food chains worldwide. Everyone likes desserts and our March 28 meeting featured a master chef who has worked in some of the nation's most prestigious restaurants and now lives in Sun Lakes. Master Chef Bob Golchert has specialized in desserts, cakes in particular, and will share some of his expertise with us by demonstrating cake decoration and providing take-home recipes for use in our own kitchens. In addition, he will have a cupcake for each person to frost and decorate. This will be a very enjoyable, and educational meeting. On April 25, the program will provide a taste of ethnic culture of which food and its service are important factors. 18 | sun lakes lIfestyles | aPRIl 2014 | soCIal Clubs & gRouPs soCIal Clubs & gRouPs | sun lakes lIfestyles | aPRIl 2014 | 19 Change Of Meeting Date This Month: The April meeting will be held one week later than usual. The meeting will be Wed., April 16 at 10 am. Our speaker will be Dona Jenkins, a Riverside Master Gardener. She will talk about "What's Bugging Your Plants." Spring Luncheon: This year our Spring Luncheon will be May 14 from 11 am to 1:30 pm. The theme is "Spring Bonnets." Wear a Spring Bonnet and our judges will select the following: 1) The Prettiest; 2) The Funniest; 3) Garden Theme. Lunch will be fruit salad, sourdough rolls, chicken & broccoli fettuccine, and cheesecake and lemon parfait for dessert. The entertainment will be the Folkloric Dancers. There will be door prizes and a 50/50 with the receipts donated to "Fisher House." Tickets may be purchased at the April General Meeting for $20 pp or $160 for a table for eight. Chairperson, Joan Blumenfeld, 845-6715. Tickets, Betty Beidelman, 769-6200. Easter Chocolates: We will be selling Easter chocolates as well as our usual gift certificates, peanut brittle, and lollipops at the Craft Fair on April 12, at the April 16 meeting, and in the lobby on April 15, 16, 17, and 19th. Info., Jackie Jones, 769-3855. Garden Club Trips: May 5 – An educational tram tour of the many gardens at the Living Desert. June 10 – The Grand Tradition Gardens Tour in Fallbrook and Lunch on the property. July 11 – A Trolley Tour around Lake Arrowhead. Aug. 10 to 13 – An overnight trip to Squaw Valley, Clovis and Fresno. Dec. 15 – Rancho Cucamonga and Holiday Lights. Flyers available and reservations can be made at the meetings or contact Evelyn Hawkins at 845-7199. Donations For Charity: Please continue to bring in your donations of shampoo, lotions and soaps. Also don't forget discarded cell phones, eye glasses, stuffed animals and small suitcases and backpacks. They will all be donated to charity. Info., Joan Blumenfeld, 845-6715. Fruit Picking: If you have any excess fruit on your tree, we will come and pick it and donate to charity. Call Marlene at 769-6696, Pat at 769-0316, or Doris at 769-3990. 2014 SUN LAKES HOME GARDEN TOUR: The 2014 Sun Lakes Home Garden Tour will be Fri., May 23 and Sat., May 24, from 11 am to 4 pm. Participation is open to all residents. The non-competitive tour will be limited to 20 backyards or patios (no front yards). The 20 selected participants will each receive a $20 gift certificate from Cherry Valley Nursery. The deadline to enter is May 9. Be watching for entry forms in the lobbies of each of the Clubhouses. Maps showing the locations of the gardens will be available some time during the week of May 19. Chairpersons: Loretta Salvino, Pat Shibata and Ginger Kahler. Garden Club Join us for "The Three Broadway Tenors," Brent Barrett, David Burnham, and John Cudia, fresh off of the boards of Broadway on Sun., April 13. Brent Barrett is a handsome baritone in the tradition of Alfred Drake and Howard Keel. London critics writing about his award winning performance in Kiss Me Kate said, "Brent may just be the charismatic male star that musical theatre has been waiting for." He is no stranger to the stages of Broadway, the West End, concert halls, recording studios and television. He was most recently seen on Broadway reprising his role as "Billy Flynn" in the Tony winning hit, Chicago - The Musical for which he received a Los Angeles Drama Critics Award. Brent, also, received an Olivier Award nomination for his starring role in the London premiere of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Kiss Me Kate. "John Cudia as the Phantom is superb - a vocal powerhouse who delivers a heartbreaking performance perfectly balanced between longing and revenge," said the San Francisco Chronicle. John holds the distinct honor of being the first and only actor to have performed both as the Phantom of the Opera and Jean Valjean in Les Miserables on Broadway. He is the 12th performer to play the Phantom in its historic, record-breaking, 25 years. John is also now emerging as a classical crossover artist. He sang his first Alfredo in La Traviata with The Lyric Opera of the North and proudly made his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut this spring as Curly in their production of Oklahoma. Rounding out our trio of talented Broadway Tenors is David Burnham. The San Francisco Times calls him a force of nature. He was last seen on Broadway in the mega-hit musical, Wicked, playing Flyero, a role that he originated in the developmental workshops of the show. He is an original Broadway cast member of the musical The Light in the Piazza, performing both on the Tony Awards and the PBS telecast "Live From Lincoln Center." He is the recipient of the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for Best Actor as well as the Best Actor Garland Award for his portrayal of Fabrizio in the national tour of The Light in the Piazza. Members, $15, non-resident guests, $20. Checks payable to the Friendship Club, send to Bonnie Derrick, 985 Southern Hills Drive. For tickets or cancellations call Bonnie at 769-0801 or for general information call Doug at 845-4663. Happy Cookers The Friendship Club May includes two activities and a regular meeting. May 4 will feature a high tea honoring mothers and daughters in the North Clubhouse. High tea catered by our own chef will include sandwiches, desserts, and tea served in vintage teacups. The 'Hat Contest' will give two categories in which to compete: cutest and funniest. In addition, prizes will be given for the mother having the most children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Reservations are limited to 59 members and the cost is $25 pp. The tea is in the North Clubhouse, May 4, 12:30 to 3 pm. On May 13 and 14 there will be an overnight trip to Santa Barbara where we will tour the culinary school and have lunch. En route to Santa Barbara, we will visit Lotusland, which is a rarely viewed and a memorable experience. We will be staying overnight at the Hyatt and visit, shop, and have lunch in Solvang on the way home arriving at approximately 5:35 pm. Cost is $290 double occupancy, $380 if single. Remember that your participation in any of the events scheduled requires that you be a paid member and reservations are limited on both the High Tea and overnight trip to Santa Barbara. You won't want to miss either of them, for further information contact. Membership, Carolyn Wright, 797-3568; High Tea, Nolte, 769-9680; Overnight trip, Annette 769-7056. continued on page 19 Happy Cookers, continued from page 18

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