Author: Adrien Fournier

Tennis Talk
By Sherry Benz

They say there is no “free lunch”. But here is something fun and free for all Villagers. The Tennis Club presents our annual Open House on Tuesday, March 25th from 1:00-3:30PM at the courts. Our Villagers Tennis Professional, Brett Foreman, is planning an exciting afternoon. He describes it as “Tennis Olympics with a Carnival Theme.” Intriguing? Join in to meet the challenges he has created for us, namely, “drills, skills and thrills.” Tennis Anywhere in Los Gatos is providing demos of some of the newest racquets for you to try and are offering discount on equipment. Put on your tennis shoes for “on the court fun.” There will be prizes, games and strawberry shortcake!!! No reservations are needed. Questions: Betty Olsen (betty_olsen@yahoo.com or 801-361-5591) or Michael Castle (mcastle152@sbcglobal.net or 516-554-4796).

Jump Start kicks off at the Open House. Whether you are a beginner or just “rusty”, our Villager experts are ready to help you learn and improved your strokes. Jump Start will meet on successive Tuesday afternoons beginning April 1st for 10 weeks. Don’t have a racquet? No worry, we have racquets donated by our members and would love to give you one. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn, meet others at your playing level and … all free of cost! Questions: Sherry Benz (sabenz@sbcglobal.net or 408-887-5497).

Don’t forget … the Prescott tournament is March 16th 9:00-1:00 PM and the courts will be busy with this fun, round robin event. All registrations and donations benefit the VMA which provides much needed services to our residents. Questions: Cheryl Diltz (capecod0415@yahoo.com) or Joy Rem (jkr1787@gmail.com). Cheerleaders are welcome in the stands!

The VTL (Villagers Tennis League) will kick off on March 19th. Thanks to Jim Murphy, Roy Pennington and Peggy Seidel for organizing this mixed doubles program. It is such fun to be on the court with lots of different players. If you are interested, it’s not too late. Call Roy Pennington (505-410-3449 or rpenn1700@aol.com).

Betty Olsen’s 65/7.0 team is underway. Our next home match is Monday, March 28th at 10:45 AM. Come cheer us on!

Tennis Talk

By Betty Olsen

It’s not too late to sign up for the annual Prescott Tournament on Saturday, March 15. This is a way of having fun playing tennis and hanging with friends while donating to a great organization, The Villages Medical Auxiliary (VMA.) Your registration fee is a tax-deductible donation as the VMA is recognized as a 501©3 organization.

We would love you to play, but if you can’t, please feel free to donate through our tournament. We would love to raise a hugh donation from the Tennis Club. Also, spectators are welcome to come and join in the fun.

The Prescott Tournament was founded in honor of Phil Prescott who helped raise funds to build courts 5 & 6. In addition, Phil was also a big supporter of VMA. So now is the time to register. Several emails have been sent to all members with a link to the registration page. Just a click of your mouse or a tap to your phone will do the job. Play time is 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Nancy Domingo and her wonderful food committee have planned a yummy menu for the occasion. I was privy to her committee notes, so start drooling. Menu: Belgian waffles, pancakes, sausages, bacon, eggs, fruit, spaghetti, veggie quiche, orange juice and coffee.

And it is not too late either to sign-up for the Villages Tennis League (VTL) which begins middle to late March. Contact Roy Pennington, rpenn1700@aol.com.

Meet our Tennis Club President for 2025, Gene Mariani.  Gene and Shirley moved to Verano Village December, 2021 from Los Altos Hills.  Gene has had a multi-layered career and with several hobbies.

Gene was born in San Francisco, but grew up in Burlingame in an Italian family and speaks Italian.  He entered Berkeley at 18 and spent two years majoring in architecture.  He interrupted his Berkeley education and moved to Florence, Italy for 2 years and studied sculpture at their Academy of Fine Arts.  When he came back home, he worked for his father in his company and eventually took it over and grew it to be Western Art Stone, Inc. a manufacturer of Architectural Precast Panels. You can see some of his work in San Francisco at the Moscone Center and the Transamerica building. And in Burbank, California you can see his work on top of the Disney headquarters.  He did the 7 Dwarfs on their roof!

In his early years, Gene was a race car driver driving his own formula car at Laguna Seca and other tracks in the state for 6 years.  He then slowed down and owned horses to ride when he lived in Woodside.  And then he had to take up tennis when he met Shirley who was a serious tennis player.  He told me Shirley and her high school daughter Kelly won the national Mother/Daughter tournament at the US Open in New York.  For many years Gene and Shirley traveled a great deal, especially to Italy, but prefers to stay home these days enjoying life at the Villages.

Editor’s Note on Gene: WOW!!! Who Knew

Be sure to sign-up for the Prescott tournament for Saturday, March 15.  Watch your email for Prescott information and a button to the registration form.

Villages Tennis Prescott Tournament

March 15, 2025

Tennis Talk

By Betty Olsen

President Gene Mariani started the tennis club year 2025 with a bang by treating the tennis club board to dinner at the clubhouse and then holding our first board meeting!  Thanks, Gene, for your generosity.

The villages Women’s 65+ 7.0 team gets started with their first match Friday, February 7 at 10:45. Come on down to the viewing stand to cheer on your villagers.  The team had a doubles clinic with Brett Foreman on Monday, January 27.

Liz Kung is wanting to captain the Villages USTA Women’s 55+ 7.0 team if she can get enough villagers to sign-up.  Right now Liz has 6 or 7 committed but needs 10 or 11 villagers.  Please contact Liz Kung, lvktennis@gmail.com ASAP if interested.  Matches are in the evening and weekends.

Also Brett Foreman is trying to form a villages USTA men’s 55+ team with matches in the evening and weekends to accommodate working folks.  This is a great opportunity to have team fun and great competition.  If interested, contact Brett Foreman, 408-509-5011.

Don’t forget to sign-up for the Prescott tournament, the  club’s first tournament of the year on Saturday, March 15.  The Prescott is a charity event for the VMA honoring former villager Phil Prescott,  For questions contact Randy Shaw, Chairman, 408-505-2130.

And finally,  congratulations to Lolivic Shaw who played on the Almaden USTA women’s 40+ 5.5 team.  They won the League and Sectionals, and I think that means they are headed to Nationals.

 The Tennis Club is pleased to announce that the Villages Tennis League (VTL) is scheduled for play again this spring. The intraclub league will be similar to that of previous years. Play will be mixed doubles and conducted on weekday afternoons (Tue, Wed, or Thu) and occasional weekend afternoons. The league is expected to commence play in Mid-March and continue for about 10 weeks.

The VTL will be structured where varying skill levels are on the same team, but individual matches will be between those of similar abilities; thus, matches should be competitive.  Teams will be large enough that team members will not be expected to play every match.

For the VTL to function, team captains will be necessary. Many of the same people have stepped up to captain VTL teams in the past. Maybe some of us could assist them. Following registration, captains will draft teams and play will commence.

Remember that teams will be large enough that individuals will not be expected to play every match. If you are aware that you are going to be gone during much of the scheduled league, a sub list will be available. You will be needed and called from this list.

Find that old racket in the back of your closet, lace up those Converse tennis shoes, and prepare to lose that 10 pounds in your New Years resolution. To register contact one of the VTL committee members: Peggy Seidel, Jim Murphy, or Roy Pennington.

Tennis Talk
By Betty Olsen

Get your calendars out to put on upcoming tennis activities dates.  There is a lot of planning going on for 2025.

The women’s USTA 65+ 7.0 team starts with their first home match on Friday, February 7, at 10:45am, so come down to cheer them on.  Their home match schedule is:
Friday, February 7 at 10:45
Wednesday, February 19 at 10:45
Monday, February 24 at 10:45
Wednesday, March 5 at 10:45
Friday, March 28 at 10:45

The annual Prescott tournament, honoring longtime tennis member Phil Prescott is a charity event for our VMA and is scheduled for Saturday, March 15
Any questions, contact Randy Shaw., chairman, 408-505-2130 or rshaw001@gmail.com.

Also, the VTL (Villages Tennis League) is forming.  Please fill out the registration form sent to your email to participate.  All levels are included, and matches will be mixed doubles only, starting mid-March through mid-May.

The annual Tennis Club Open House and Jump Start lessons is Tuesday, March 25

Brett Foreman is planning to form a Men’s USTA 55+ 7.0 team.  If interested, please contact Brett at 408-509-5011 or brett10s@gmail.com.  Matches are weekdays after work or weekends.

And finally, Liz Kung is wanting to form a Women’s USTA 55+ 7.0 team.  If interested, please contact Liz at 408-605-6205 or lvktennis@ gmail.com.

Tennis Club welcomes new Board for 2025

By Betty Olsen

The Tennis Club’s new board for 2025 was voted on and presented at the club’s holiday party on Sunday, December 8. The new board is as follows:

President – Gene Mariani

Vice-President – Gail Tuft

Secretary – Marty Funcell

Treasurer – Tina Parsley

Communications – Don Clarke

Tournament Director – Sukh Johal

Hospitality/Social – Nancy Domingo/Michael Castle

Court Manager – Ron McChesney

Master Scheduler – Jayme Dickson

Membership – Karen Hillis

Members-at-large – Michael Castle/Betty Olsen

Past President – Ruth Liu

QUIZ:

WHO’S MISSING ?

2025 promises to be a banner year for Tennis Club activities.

The Tennis Club holiday party on Sunday, December 8 was super fun with the holiday theme of “Hawaiian Christmas.” Many came dressed Hawaiian style with flowered shirts and dresses along with beach outfits. When people checked in, they received a colorful lei and had their photo taken in front of a Hawaiian beach scene.

Eight dancers from the Sunshine Dance Club entertained us as well as taught us a hula. DJ Chris Campos started the dance music and the dance floor became crowded. Many thanks to President Ruth Lui as Chairman and her many helpers such as Tina Parsley doing the centerpieces and Tony Loiacano creating his balloon decorations.

Tennis Talk
The Villager January 2, 2025 publication
By Phyllis and John Mueller

Tennis Talk

By Betty Olsen

Sunday, December 8, the Tennis Club had their annual holiday party with a twist.  The theme was “Christmas in Hawaii,” with everyone arriving Hawaiian style.  At the check-in table members were handed colorful leis to wear to add to their outfit.  As you walked into the room, your picture was taken in front of a large Hawaiian scene on the wall.  And then you found 2 giant palm trees made out of balloons.  At the foot of the palm trees were beach balls that were later used on the dance floor.

President Ruth Liu first conducted a short business meeting introducing and voting on the incoming board officers for 2025.

Following the Hawaiian themed dinner, 8 dancers from the Sunshine Dance Club entertained us with a hula as well as teach us a Hawaiian dance.  The hula we learned was about fishing in a boat.  DJ Chris Campos started the dance music, and the dance floor was crowded with happy feet.  The Sunshine Dance Club was out there most of the time.

It takes many volunteers to put together such an extravagant dinner party.  Many thanks to Ruth Liu who took charge, Tina Parsley for taking entrance photos as well as the table center pieces using real pineapples!  And, of course for Tony Loiacano and his creative balloon decorations.  Then the many other helpers behind the scenes such as Nancy Domingo and Jayme Dickson.

Thanks for such a fun evening.