David Zapatka Not only is the answer to that question a resounding “Yes!” but it is also an absolute phenomenon. Pickleball was named America’s fastest-growing sport for the fifth consecutive year following 2025, when data showed 24.3 million players in the U.S. alone, a 171.8% increase over the previous three years, as reported by the…
Tag: community
August 2026, Card Games & Sports
Relishing Pickleball: The Wild, Wonderful World of Pickleball
David Zapatka There’s something audacious about the name. Pickleball. Say it out loud. You can’t help but grin. It turns out that is exactly the point! Millions of people are discovering that a paddle, a whiffle-like ball, and a court the size of a badminton court can do something that gyms and wellness apps cannot.…
August 2026, Clubs & Classes
Calling All Singers
The music has been selected, and now it’s time to mark your calendar and welcome new singers. Our first rehearsal is Monday, Oct. 5, at 4 p.m. If you haven’t sung in a while, this is a great time to begin again. Section leaders will be available to help you rediscover your singing voice. Returning…
August 2026, Community News
Social Events – August 2026
Horse Races Sundays, Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Horizon Room, 1 p.m. Come cheer on your favorite horse and join us every Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Horizon Room for this super fun, high-energy event! Be sure to bring $1 bills, but nothing larger than a $10 bill will be accepted. Be sure…
July 2026, Clubs & Glasses
Hiking and Heat
Warren Wasescha, Sun Lakes Hiking Club Wisconsin is where I spend my summers hiking in cooler temps. But yesterday the heat index here was the same as in Sun Lakes. My two hiking friends and I called it a day by 10:30 that morning. It was simply too hot and humid to keep going. And…
July 2026, Community News
Share Your Passion: Teach for New Adventures in Learning This Fall!
Kyle Messner Do you have a subject you love, a unique skill, or a wealth of knowledge just waiting to be shared? New Adventures in Learning (NAIL) is officially looking for enthusiastic presenters for our Fall 2026 semester, and we want you to be a part of our growing success! Teaching at NAIL is an…
Association News, July 2026
SunBird HOA Community Update
May 2026 Board Meeting Highlights Neighbors, news, projects, and a few exciting changes around the community! The SunBird HOA Board of Directors held its Regular Business Meeting on Monday, May 18, 2026, in the Ballroom. President Nancy Eckstein called the meeting to order promptly at 10 a.m. Board members present included Nancy Eckstein, Marianna Buescher,…
Card Games & Sports, May 2026
Relishing Pickleball: Sun, Sweat, and Lobs
David Zapatka Summer is coming and the sun is out. The sun is beautiful, but it’s also a genuine challenge on the pickleball court. We love playing in it and we occasionally curse it while squinting into a lob we’ve completely lost. Playing pickleball in the sun is a complicated relationship. You need a strategy.…
May 2026, Community News
Community Church of SunBird Offers Root Beer Floats
Chuck Heitbrink On March 29, the Community Church of SunBird hosted a special event where volunteers prepared root beer floats by scooping ice cream and topping it off with refreshing root beer. The event provided a delightful treat for attendees on a hot Sunday afternoon. All donations collected during the event will be directed to…
Card Games & Sports, April 2026
Relishing Pickleball: Playing in the Wind
David Zapatka Wind is the great equalizer on the pickleball court. It doesn’t matter how polished your dink game is or how powerful your drive is; a stiff breeze can turn your best shots into unforced errors in a hurry. The good news is that with a few smart adjustments, you can use the wind…