Siena clubs run gamut of interests

From bicycling and bocce to sewing and socializing, the Siena age-qualified community is home to a variety of clubs.

Members of the Bocce Club, Tennis Club, Siena Old Spokes (or S.O.S., a bicycle club) and Men's Golf Club meet one or more times a week to join their neighbors in their favorite activities.

Jerry Cherson, organizing member of the Men's Golf Club, said his club started about two years ago with 10 members but has grown by leaps and bounds.

"The club is a great way for the members to get to know people within the community and enjoy the game," Cherson said.

Last fall, members of the Siena Players put on their first talent show for fellow residents, and plan to develop a jazz combo. Another musically inclined group, the Sharps and Flats Organ Club recently performed love songs at a monthly mixer.

The Sew and Sews meet weekly to assist fellow sewers with their unfinished projects or problems, while the Sunshine Club meets monthly to help fellow residents in crisis situations.

Other groups exist purely for fun. Known as the Ya Ya Girls, the Siena chapter of the Red Hat Society is inspired by a poem by Jenny Joseph titled "Warning," which begins "When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple with a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me. ...," and is a women's "disorganization" based on the concept that aging isn't necessarily all bad.

"There are no rules or bylaws of chapter organization. Each chapter structures itself according to the wishes and whims of its members and the women choose `offices' and humorous titles for themselves as they see fit. The Red Hat Society was founded as a haven for silliness and unfettered happiness among women who have reached the ripe young age of 50," founding member Shirley Fojtik said.

There are more than 28 clubs and organizations in the community.

Located within the Summerlin master-planned community in the southwestern valley, Siena is being developed by Sunrise Colony Co. The guard-gated community is planned to comprise nearly 2,000 homes over 650 acres.

A 39,000-square-foot community center with a dome-shaped lobby and lounge is under construction. The facility will include a grand ballroom, multipurpose room, business center, arts and crafts areas, and card and game rooms. It is expected to open in the summer.

An interim social center is home to a computer lab, billiard and card rooms, and a sewing center. It also contains the office of a full-time activities manager.

A Tuscan-themed health and fitness center features an indoor swim pavilion with a 25-meter pool, spa and two-story windows overlooking the golf course, outdoor pool and spa, and lighted tennis and bocce courts. The fitness center features exercise equipment, exercise rooms, and private saunas and steam rooms. There is also a wellness center and a full-service beauty salon and day spa.

The golf clubhouse, which anchors the par-72, daily-fee championship golf course, offers views of the 18th hole, city and a lake. It features a pro shop, restaurant, and indoor and patio dining.

The course is open to all, however, residents receive preferred rates and tee times.

Homes are priced from the $150,000s to the $390,000s, plus home site premiums. Six Italian-themed collections feature 18 single-story floor plans ranging from 1,040 to nearly 3,200 square feet. Numerous options are available.

To visit, take Sahara Avenue or Interstate 215 to Town Center Drive and go south to Siena Monte Avenue. The sales office and model homes are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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