Oak Run Living: April 14

‘Run for the Roses’ Kentucky Derby viewing party

Oak Run’s Big Deal Sports will host a Kentucky Derby viewing party for residents from 4-9 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Palm Grove Auditorium. All residents are welcome.

Ticket Sales will take place 8-10 a.m. Saturday, April 22, in the Orchid Club 8 during Donut Drop-in or pancakes.

Table reservations are encouraged: only $12 per person. Cash, please!

Doors open at 4 p.m., with an invocation given at 4:20.

Enjoy a 16-ounce chicken pot pie dinner, hand-made specifically for this event and served to your table. Bring your own beverage and snacks.

For your amusement, there will be various games and 50/50 from 4-6 p.m.

A parade of hats takes place at 6 p.m. with three hat categories: most colorful, best ensemble and roses! One award per category will be presented! Post time is about 6:40 p.m.! Dance music is provided throughout the event.

For information, call Tricia Boelter at 315-842-2427 before April 25.

Renaissance Women

Luncheon at Oak Room Bar & Grill is 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 20, at the Oak Room Bar & Grill. Call Annmarie by April 18: 352-237-9838.

April luncheon is 1 p.m. on Monday, April 24, at Cheers at Rainbow Springs, 19330 SW 83rd Place Road, Dunnellon. RSVP to Gloria by April 20: call or text 1-570-606-7107.

April meeting is 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, at Island Club.

We’re open to all ladies of Oak Run. There are never any dues; new members are always welcome! Please continue to check the Citizen newspaper and Channel 12 for all activities. Also check our bulletin board in the lobby of the Orchid Club for current updates.

For general information, call Patricia: 352-445-7428.

Ballroom Dance Club spring dance

The Ballroom Dance Club is hosting our spring dance 6-10 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at the Palm Grove. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Music is provided by Rachel Palmieri.

Dinner will be catered by the Royal Oaks Grill: chicken romano, crab-stuffed fish, spring vegetable mix, carrot cake and coffee. BYOB!

Tickets: $20 for members and $30 for guests. Please make checks payable to Ballroom Dance Club.

For information, please call Audrey Haskew at 352-598-3438 or Laurence Bridge at 352-854-1037. Tickets will also be available 2-4 p.m. Sundays at the Palm Grove during our dance practice.

Ballroom Dance Club afternoon tea

The Ballroom Dance Club will be hosting an afternoon tea from 2-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, at the Palm Grove. All Oak Run residents are welcome to join us for an afternoon of music and dancing.

If you’re new to ballroom dancing and are thinking about joining a class, we’ll have a guest instructor to show us some ballroom dances.

Admission is free! B.Y.O.B. and snacks.

For more information, please contact Audrey Haskew at 352-598-3438 or Laurence Bridge at 352-854-1037.

Oak Run Garden Club

The Oak Run Garden Club field trip is Wednesday, April 19, to Kenny’s Place in Ocala. From the website: “Established in 1993 by the Leo Wiechens family, Kenny’s Place serves the intellectually disabled adults of Marion County. We offer our members various skill training in horticulture, laundry, cooking, arts and crafts. Kenny’s Place is a very unique program in Marion County as we do not charge our members a fee to attend.”

This is a wonderful place to get your plants and give back to the community. Meet at the Palm Grove parking lot at 8:45 a.m. to carpool.

For information, call VP Judy at 413-348-7140.

‘Do You Remember?’

Tune in to Len Teitler’s “Do You Remember?” program, narrated by Anna Boodee, featuring the March 27 Upstate New York Club’s recent Speakeasy Parlor event. The program runs April 14-21 on Channel 12.

Computer Technology Club meets April 19

The Computer Technology Club meets at 9 a.m. on April 19 in the Orchid Club. Streaming TV basics will be presented. Bring all your streaming questions.

The Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month, with any changes always posted on Channel 12 and our website: orcomputerclub.blogspot.com. Door prizes and 50/50 are at each meeting.

For further information on the Club, please call Alan Marcus: 861-6977.

Oak Run Irish American Club spring dance

The Oak Run Irish Club is holding a spring dance 6-9 p.m. on May 12 at Palm Grove. Music will be provided by Solid Gold. Bring your own snacks and drinks.

Cost is $5 for members and $7 for non-members. Ticket sales are held from 9-10:30 a.m. on April 27 in the Card Room at the Orchid Club.

Come enjoy an evening of dancing. 50/50 will be offered.

Questions: contact Jerri at 352-237-5512.

Yoga spring break

Classes are canceled for Tuesday, April 18; Thursday, April 20; Tuesday, April 25; and chair yoga on April 26. Classes resume at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 27.

Our classes are normally Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 a.m., and Wednesday Stretch is 9 a.m., all in the Palm Grove Auditorium. DVD yoga is from 2:30-4 p.m. on Fridays in the fitness center.

Oak Run Singles Club

Our next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday April 27, in the Orchid Club. It will be a wine and cheese party. The cost is $5.

It’s also our annual fundraising auction – so, everyone, bring a wrapped item to be auctioned off and some extra spending money.

There will also be a signup sheet for the May picnic.

Suddenly One

Suddenly One is a support group for Oak Run residents who have lost a spouse or partner unexpectedly or who have a loved one in hospice or terminal care. There are no dues or fees. The group meets at 10:30 a.m. on the second Friday of each month in the Card Room of the Orchid Club. The next meeting is today, April 14.

For information, contact Shelley at shelley@suddenlyone.com or 210-410-0090 or visit www.suddenlyone.com.

Oak Room Bar & Grill

Call for reservations at 352-861-1818, ext. 2.

April 14 – Private party at Palm Grove

April 15 – Private wedding at Orchid Club

April 19 – Fountain’s Ladies, 11:30 a.m.

April 20 – Renaissance Women, 11:30 a.m., and Karaoke with Poppy

April 23 – Ballroom Dance Club event at Palm Grove

April 26 – Trivia at 6 p.m. Dinner or appetizers served 4-7 p.m.

BMI Ambassadors and Clubs fundraiser dance

A BMI Ambassadors and clubs fundraiser dance is from 5:30-9:30 p.m. April 15.

Keep the Music Live is performing. Dance the night away, and try your luck with raffles and 50/50 drawings.

Tickets are $10. Tables are set at a max of eight. All proceeds will go to offset the BMI. For this event, welcome-packet vouchers WILL NOT be accepted.

A remaining ticket sale is 9-11 a.m. Monday, April 10, in the Card Room.

Volunteers are needed for the ticket sales and collecting theme baskets for auction from clubs, neighborhood reps and individuals. Call JoAnn at 352-346-6623.

Quilters Of Oak Run

The Quilters of Oak Run meet 12:30-3 p.m. the first and third Thursday of the month at the Island Club. We welcome quilters with all levels of experience.

For more information, contact Vicki McAloney at 352-614-8075.

Belly Dance Exercise

Belly Dance Exercise for Oak Run meets at 10 a.m. every Saturday through May 20 in the back room of the Palm Grove Fitness Center. We move our torsos, hips, legs and arms in short choreographed combinations to inspiring music. Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

For further information, contact sheilakrst@gmail.com or call/text 124-548-6066.

Republican Club at Oak Run

Our next scheduled meeting is 2-3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, at the Palm Grove Club in Oak Run.

This month, come to welcome and hear Jimmy Cowan, Jr, CFA, Marion County Property Appraiser. He’ll discuss legislation currently being proposed in both the Florida House and Florida Senate that affects our tax bills. Additionally, Jimmy will present things we can do now, under existing legislation, to mitigate taxes on seniors. There’s a 30-minute presentation followed by a 15-minute Q&A period.

It’s our objective for each club member to be well informed and be actively involved as we approach Florida’s Special General Election on May 16 and into our 2024 Elections!

Our membership dues are $7 per person, which is paid when you check in for the meeting. We will have a true 50/50 and free refreshments.

Our meetings are held 2-3:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month at the Palm Grove Club in Oak Run. Since we’re a gated community, only member residents can invite outside guests to the meeting.

If you have any questions, contact Bob Schmidt at 860-367-7320. You can also find us now on Facebook at Oak Run Republican Club.

Oak Run Democratic Club (ORDC)

The ORDC meets each month on the third Thursday of the month. April’s meeting is April 20. Although our speaker is TBD, the discussions among group members are usually lively and informative.

The Club is starting a program to “spotlight” a member each month. With advanced notification, the chosen member will put together a short presentation about themself. The club consists of many individuals with unique experiences, from teacher, government employee, previous election monitor, union representative, military and more. It will be exciting to see what each person brings to Oak Run and the general conversation.

The ORDC is a progressive organization in Oak Run that welcomes Democrats and non-affiliated neighbors to a progressive alternative with camaraderie and good discussion. Membership is not required to attend the meetings, but if a person wants to join the club, annual dues are $7 per person. The club continues to grow.

For information, email club VP Gary Greene at GRG@YorksPeach.com.

Acoustic Jam Club

The Oak Run Acoustic Jam Club now meets weekly at the renovated Island Club clubhouse. Sessions are 3-5:30 p.m. each Thursday. All Oak Run musicians are welcome to come.

The group supports individuals of most levels of proficiency. There are opportunities to play and sing along with familiar standards, mostly from the 60s-80s. But, other songs are welcome, too. If a player has a song to present, there are usually chord/lyric copies to work from so others can follow along.

The group’s sessions have grown in size, partially due to the recent Oak Run Club fair. Recent attendance has been 15-20 musicians.

There are no dues for this group, just a want to play and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow musicians and singers in a welcoming, supportive, non-judgemental environment. For further information, contact Irv Becker: irv.becker@icloud.com.

Shuffleboard Club

Welcome back, Snowbirds! The cooler weather brings on a later start time for shuffleboard. Sign in at 9:15 a.m. for the 9:30 a.m. start. We play Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. It’s your choice on what days you play.

We have an instructor for anyone new to the game, and the equipment is always available.

Join us for some shuffleboard fun.

Questions? Call or text 904-622-6622.

Donut Drop-in

Come on into the Donut Drop-In of Oak Run the second Saturday of every month in the Orchid Club. From 8-10 a.m., meet up with new and or old neighbors for a freshly baked daily donut, a cup of deliciously brewed coffee or tea, and a squig of orange juice, at a reasonable price of one donut for $2.50 or two donuts for $3.50. Don’t forget to pick up your loyalty card for one free donut on your sixth visit.

Table Tennis Club

Come join the fun Oak Runners! We are looking for new members!

Whether a novice or experienced, the Oak Run Table Tennis (Ping Pong) Club provides a fun and friendly playing environment. We provide the balls and paddle (if you don’t own one).

Check us out at the Orchid Club. The hours listed below are subject to change. Please check the ORHA events schedule or call us for current times: 1-3 p.m. Monday; 12:30-3 p.m. Wednesday; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Any questions or concerns, call me, Paul Pickard, at 585-703-1640 (please leave a voicemail or text me).

Weekly Pilates class

A Pilates class is held at 8 a.m. Tuesdays at Palm Grove Fitness Center with a certified instructor. There is a fee for this class.

Pilates is an innovative and safe system of exercise using a floor mat or a variety of equipment. The focus of Pilates is the development of a strong “core.” The core consists of the deep abdominal muscles along with the muscles closest to the spine. Pilates elongates and strengthens, improving muscle elasticity and joint mobility.

Any questions, email Bonnie at bkwdragon@deccacable.com.

Oak Run Chess Club

The Chess Club meets every Wednesday in the Orchid Club card room from 3 to 5:30 p.m. We also play on Friday at the Freedom Library from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

We have player levels from beginners to experienced. Some of the more experienced players are always willing to help the beginner players. There are usually plenty of chess sets to play on brought by the regular members.

For information, call Rich at 321-514-1073.