​Since we are starting a new school year, and we have a new complement of residents, I thought it would be helpful to review our many clubs and interest groups. We have lots of clubs or interest groups involving games, and all of them meet in the clubhouse: 

• Beginning Bridge, led by Brenda Rogers, meets on Monday mornings from 9 to 10:30. 

• Traditional (Chinese) Mah Jongg, led by Peppy David, meets from 10 to noon on Tuesday mornings. 

• Poker players, facilitated by Scott Cannon and Tommy Worsham, meet every other Tuesday evening at 7.

• Game Night, organized by Mieke Jöbsis, happens on the alternating Tuesday evenings, also at 7.

• American (NMJL) Mah Jongg, led by me, meets on Wednesday afternoons, starting at 1. Please contact me if you are interested in taking American Mah Jongg lessons. 

• Canasta players, led by Linda Goelz and Mieke Jöbsis, gather on the first Thursday afternoon of the month at 1:30.

• Pickleball devotees, coordinated by Jill Pafford, face off on Friday and Saturday mornings, alternating weeks and places — New Hope Church every other Saturday at 9 a.m. and Piney Wood Park on opposite Fridays at 9 a.m.

 

Maria Downton leads the Art Club on Thursday mornings from 10 to noon in the clubhouse. She has taught basic drawing, watercolor, acrylics and more. Join this group to expand your creativity! 

 

To challenge your brain and learn a new skill, check out the Conversational Spanish Community, led by Mimi Augustin. It meets on Mondays and Wednesdays every other week, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

 

The Needlecraft Club — aka Stitch & B*tch — meets every other Tuesday afternoon from 1:30 to 3:30 in the clubhouse. Led by Judy Fox, it’s a low-key gathering of people working on craft projects — knitting, embroidery, cross stitch, photo organizing and more. Just a time to sit with friends and get some work done while solving the world’s problems. 

 

Our neighborhood Garden Club, led by Debbie Bell and Kim DeCoste, meets monthly on the first Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the clubhouse. Come learn more about gardening and help beautify our streets. The club also sponsors occasional outings to nearby gardens or arboretums.

 

In addition to the Whiskey Club, we have a monthly Beer Club, led by Judy Orser. It meets the second Wednesday of the month, usually at 7 p.m., either in the clubhouse or at a local brewery. Beer drinkers pay a small fee, and nondrinkers are welcome at no charge. 

 

The Craft Cocktail Club, led by me, also meets monthly, usually — but not always — on the third Thursday afternoon, at either 4 or 4:30 p.m., at my house. Cost is $10 for cocktail drinkers and $3 for mocktail drinkers. 

 

Dick Fox hosts the Wine Club on the third Friday of the month. From all reports, Dick is an excellent researcher and connoisseur of good wines, and he does a wonderful job choosing the bottles for tasting and sharing information about them. Often, there is a waiting list — attendance is capped at 18 — and the charge is $10 per person. The next meeting will be Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. at Dick’s home, and the theme is “The Last Rosé of Summer.” Be sure to join the #interest-wine-club channel on Slack for more information. 

 

Also in the food and drink department is the ladies’ Lunch Bunch. Each month, on the last Wednesday, we venture out to lunch at a local eatery. It’s a casual get-together and a great way to learn more about your neighbors and to try a restaurant you may not have been to before. Bleu Olive, Mediterranean, was the August venue. Linda Goelz and Mieke Jöbsis recently began leading this group, succeeding Ann Maria Harrington and MaryKay Doane, who were our fearless leaders for the past few years. From the Lunch Bunch Slack channel, you can find out restaurant information, RSVP and even find or offer a ride. Easy peasy! 

 

The newly-formed Singles Gathering had its first meeting July 31 over a delicious potluck dinner. Participants agreed to meet on the third Wednesday of each month from 5 to 8 p.m., depending on the activity. This club provides an opportunity for those without partners to get together for dinner, go to plays or the symphony, have fun day trips, etc. The August meeting was a pizza party. Brenda Rogers and Mieke Jöbsis are spearheading this effort. Our neighborhood has a lot of singles, and this is an excellent opportunity to get to know one another. Join #interest-singles on Slack for more information.

 

To help counteract the food and drink obsessions we seem to have — nothing wrong with that! — the new Walk & Talk group may be calling your name! Join their Slack group for up-to-date reports, but they often meet at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays at the corner of Fenwick and Middleground to chat while walking on the ATT. Dogs are welcome.

 

I’ve lined up speakers for our next two Saving Our Democracy — or SOD — meetings. On Sept. 15, Anjanee Bell, a current mayoral candidate and daughter of former Durham Mayor Bill Bell, will be our guest. On Oct. 20, Leanna Murphy Dono, our Democratic precinct chair, will join us. Leanna said: “The Durham Democrats are in the process of finalizing their strategic plan, and we should have a very clear direction on what we will be doing as part of the ‘precinct playbook’ for the next 18 months for the municipal elections and the 2026 statewide races with Roy Cooper and Anita Earls on the ballot. I am excited to share those plans with your group of interested and engaged citizens and talk about opportunities to support the Nov. 4 municipal election (primary is Oct. 7.)” Both meetings will be at 2 p.m. in the clubhouse.

 

To keep up with these and other meetings and events, check the neighborhood calendar in Slack.

 

If you’ve made it this far, thanks so much for reading! It was a lot! 

 

As I mentioned last month, the Social Committee will conduct a survey this fall. I want everyone to know what groups we currently offer so you can see what might be missing — or what you are missing! 

 

Also, thanks to the many neighbors who volunteer to lead groups and to those who participate. We always try to make room for more when possible, and we don’t ever want to exclude anyone who wants to be included. If you have suggestions for groups that might be added, please contact me, and I’ll add them to the survey. 

 

And grateful thanks for the wonderful newsletter editors and Communications Committee!