Toscana Living by Toscana of Desert Ridge

DECEMBER 2016

Living

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H INSIDE HOLIDAY CARD MAKING WITH DIANE

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

HANUKKAH CELEBRATION

Toscana Lifestyle A WORD FROM THE LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR

By Chris Reeder, Lifestyle Director

Can you believe the year is wrapping up? Sometimes it feels as though time is flying by! Here, in beautiful Arizona, the holiday season always seems to sneak up on us - especially here in the low desert, where we don’t see the landscape substantially change. Between family, church, work, and other commitments, the holidays can become a blur of activity. It’s important to remember to be kind to yourself. If you need a break, take the time to give yourself one! Wherever the holidays lead you, we hope you are able to relax and enjoy the season. Happy Holidays, Toscana!

TOSCANA SIGNATURE EVENTS FUN FRIDAY SOCIALS Fridays in December at 5 p.m. Palazzo Grande Come together to meet new people and socialize with your neighbors at this non-hosted neighborhood gathering. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided (while supplies last). The Fun Friday Socials are free. Please RSVP by Thursdays at noon. THERE WILL BE NO FUN FRIDAY SOCIAL ON DECEMBER 2, 23 AND 30. HOLIDAY CARD MAKING WITH DIANE Thursday, December 1 from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. Palazzo Grande Cost: Please bring $5 to the event RSVP Deadline: December 1 The sights and smells of the season will spread quickly with your creative touch. Three choices of cards are available, remember to bring $5.00 in cash to this program. GENTLE YOGA Tuesdays and Fridays in December 11-12 p.m. Building 10 Cost: $20 for the series $10 drop in rate RSVP Deadline: One day prior to class Get fit for the holidays with healthy mind, body and soul! Gentle Yoga and Chair Yoga will be offered during the month of December. Please bring your mat and yoga strap! Please RSVP with Chris at 480-585-080 or via email at creeder@toscanaliving.net

5450 E. Deer Valley Drive Building 2 Phoenix, AZ 85054 www.toscanaliving.net Phone: 480-585-0808 Fax: 480-585-2859 Night Manager: 480-861-0875 STAFF Dick Rosenhagen, CAMM, CMCA Community Manager drosenhagen@toscanaliving.net Nicole Careaga, CMCA Assistant Community Manager ncareaga@toscanaliving.net Christine Reeder Lifestyle Director creeder@toscanaliving.net Alicja Davis Concierge adavis@toscanaliving.net Kevin Wiegel Administrative Assistant kwiegel@toscanaliving.net NIGHT MANAGERS: Don Meeks dmeeks@toscanaliving.net Jackie Hernandez hhernandez@toscanaliving.net MAINTENANCE: Frank Young Maintenance Supervisor fyoung@toscanaliving.net John Raabe Maintenance Tech Ignacio Santana Porter

ON THE COVER HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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Toscana Lifestyle

PHOENIX COYOTES VS. CALGARY FLAMES HOCKEY GAME Thursday, December 8, Game starts at 7 p.m., Transportation departs Toscana at 6 p.m. Cost: $29 per person RSVP Deadline: November 30 Join your neighbors in support of the Coyotes- or Flames! Your admission ticket includes transportation provided by the association. CHRISTMAS SOCIAL Saturday, December 10, at 6 p.m., Palazzo Centro Living Room Cost: Free for residents RSVP Deadline: December 9 Christmas carols, roasted chestnuts and warm social time together with your neighbors in the Palazzo Centro Living Room. Please bring an appetizer to share. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Saturday, December 17, from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Palazzo Grande Cost: Free for residents RSVP and bring your wrapped gift prior prior to December 16 Savor a special breakfast with Special Guest Santa at the Palazzo Grande, where Santa will be handing out gifts a little early. Please bring your child’s (or grandchild’s) gift - wrapped and labeled with first and last name to the Palazzo Centro office before December 16. Kindly keep your gift under $25 for ease IMPORTANT of distribution.

COMMUNITY CONTACTS CenturyLink 602-765-2334 APS 602-371-7171

Southwest Gas 800-528-4277 Moon Valley Plumbing 602-253-2600 Night Manager 480-861-0875 Hours: Until 2 a.m. M-Th Until 3 a.m. F-Su CCMC After-Hours Emergency Line 602-234-9288

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CELEBRATE HANUKKAH Wednesday, December 28, at 5 p.m. Palazzo Vacanza Cost: Free for residents RSVP: December 26 A Toscana holiday tradition! Enjoy latkes, kugel and rugalach as you spin the dreidel. Join us as we come together in celebration of Hanukkah! Please RSVP with Chris at creeder@toscanaliving.net or by calling the office at 480-585-0808.

IMPORTANT RSVP INFORMATION PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL RSVPS AND CORRESPONDING PAYMENTS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 5PM ON THE DAY OF THE RSVP DEADLINE. All RSVP’s without payment collected by the deadline will be considered invalid. Unless noted otherwise, all RSVP’s can be made by dropping correct change or a check to Toscana HOA in a clearly marked envelope inside the drop box by the Lifestyle Director’s office in Palazzo Centro. Alternatively, you may email creeder@toscanaliving.net and request the online payment link. We regret to inform you that late RSVP’s cannot be accepted after the deadline, and that refunds cannot be issued except in the case that Toscana cancels an event. Your cooperation with these policies helps ensure that our vendors have the notice they require, that we are able to provide for everyone who RSVP’s in time, that we steward assessment dollars appropriately and avoid needless waste, and that the event experience is as smooth and enjoyable as possible for participants.

Toscana Lifestyle CONCIERGE CORNER

By Alicja Davis, Concierge We had a great time hosting Toscana Restaurant Night last month. It seems we were very lucky with the weather – we got some rain and chilly wind just one day after the event! Timing is everything, indeed! First of all, I would like to thank all the participating restaurants – The Capital Grille, Mastro’s, Tryst Café, Gordon Biersch, Kona Grill, Growler USA, Torch Cigar Bar, Majerle’s, and Ocean Prime for their time and dedication they gave to this event. None of this would have been possible without their contribution and generosity! I would like to thank our Toscana audience – your presence made it a fun and successful event! I truly hope this event was a valuable experience for all participating restaurants as well as Toscana residents. Your support helps build better and stronger relationships with our area partners, helps leverage their exposure and engage in the community in a way that creates more personalized service and makes your neighborhood a better place to live! Thank you for being a part of this endeavor! Desert Ridge Holiday Events • Wednesday, December 7, 14, 21 – Holiday Story Time • Wednesday, December 7 – Coat Drive • Saturday, December 17 – Sounds of the Season • Saturday, December 24 – It’s Snowing Every Hour! • Saturday, January 14 – Snow Day with Funergy SALVATION ARMY ANGEL TREE Through December 2, from 11:30am-9pm Dave and Buster’s The Christmas Angel Program provides new toys and clothing to children who otherwise would not have gifts to open during the holidays. The Angel Tree contains tags with the name, age, clothing size, and toy requests of an underprivileged child. Pick a tag and purchase

a gift to make a child’s holiday special. See a Salvation Army volunteer at Dave and Buster’s for details or visit www. azfamily.com. NIGHTLY SNOW FALL November 21 - December 31 at AMC Fountain Enjoy snow every evening at 7pm and 8pm. Watch as snow magically falls from the sky, transforming Desert Ridge Marketplace into a winter wonderland. STORY TIME Wednesday, December 7, 14 & 21 District Stage, 5pm-7pm Bring the kids out to get in the holiday spirit and enjoy FREE hot chocolate and cookies from California Pizza Kitchen, story time readings of holiday classics with Mrs. Claus, dancing and exercises by The Little Gym® and special guest characters presented by Arizona PBS. Remember to get here early to grab a seat! COAT DRIVE Wednesday, December 7, 5am–7pm The Salvation Army, Phoenix Firefighters and KSLX are partnering to collect coats and monetary donations for one day at Desert Ridge Marketplace. IT’S SNOWING EVERY HOUR! Saturday, December 24 The District a AMC Fountain Hourly, from 11am-8pm It’s snowing in Phoenix! Enjoy the magical snow all throughout the day!

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Toscana Lifestyle

This month, we are pleased to showcase our newest VIP Partner: LAS PALOMAS BEACH AND GOLF RESORT ROCKY POINT, MEXICO Experience luxury and style in a beautiful Las Palomas Beach and Golf Resort. One, two and three bedroom ocean view or oceanfront condos. Best units in the area perfect for groups of any size (30 units available). Las Palomas Beach and Golf is a 4 diamond beachfront resort; 20% discount offer for Toscana residents and their guests. Please see your concierge to book your stay or contact Hong Ng at the number listed below. Las Palomas Beach & Golf Resort Hong Ng hongng168@gmail.com Mobile: 480.692.1732 VRBO# 119101 and VRBO#465926 http://lpresortreservatio.wixsite.com/rockypointrentals

Winter Wonderland at Butterfly Wonderland Butterfly Wonderland transforms into a Winter Wonderland to kick off the holiday season with tranquil blue, white and silver décor. Every Saturday and Sunday, and every day from December 19 through 23, guests will enjoy the 7ft. living angels with expansive wings that add an ethereal aura to the Conservatory, while musical groups including Scottsdale Strings, Nouveau Papillon, Harpist Adrienne Bridgewater and others fill the air with the serene sounds of the season. Regular admission applies. Carefree Christmas Festival Electric Light Parade Followed by a Holiday Fireworks Extravaganza along Easy Street in Downtown Carefree. Enjoy the festivities on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 6 p.m. http://carefreechristmasfestival.com/electric-lightparade-and-fireworks/

PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE HOLIDAY EVENTS Christmas at the Fairmont Princess See the spectacular four-story high musical Christmas tree in Princess Plaza, along with more than two million Lagoon Lights, the Princess Express Train, the Desert Ice Skating Rink, the Christmas Carousel, and Animated Holiday Light Show, Nativity Garden Light Show, Lagoon Lights, Princess Express Train and more! The 45-foot tree has 67,000 LED lights which “twinkle and dance” to holiday songs. Open to the public nightly. $35 parking fee includes General Admission and Ride/Attraction Admission (up to 6 per vehicle).

Offering a 25% VIP Discount for Toscana Residents Eco-friendly dry cleaning at fair prices Open Monday-Friday 7am-7pm, Saturday 9am-4pm

Same day service Tailor on premises We do shoe repairs as well! Located at the Desert Ridge Marketplace next door to the UPS Store

(480) 502-5881 www.desertridgecleanersaz.com Toscana Living | 6

Toscana Events and Programs Clubs

December 2016 Monday

Sunday

Tuesday

Events Association

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM BOARD MEETING PV 9AM HOLIDAY CARD MAKING PG 11AM

5 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM

12 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM

CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM RUMMYCUBE CLUB PG 1PM

20 CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM

26 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM OFFICE CLOSED

14 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM

21 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM

27 CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM

7 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM

19 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM

6 CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM

28 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM HANUKKAH PV 5PM

15 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM

22 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM

29 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM

COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM OFFICE CLOSED AT 1PM

8 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM COYOTES GAME VAN LEAVES AT 6PM IN FRONT OF B26

COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM

CHRISTMAS SOCIAL PC 6PM

16 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM

17 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA PG 9AM

COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM OFFICE CLOSED

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C E L E B R AT E A S E A S O N O F

TRADITIONS Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no better way to celebrate family and friends this holiday season than with a delicious meal at The Keg. Call ahead or visit us online to reserve your table. Opening early at 11am on Thanksgiving, November 24th Opening early at 2pm on December 24th and 31st

21001 N. Tatum Blvd. | 480.419.7772 | kegsteakhouse.com

In and Around Toscana MANAGER TIDBITS

By Dick Rosenhagen, Community Manager It has been another great year at Toscana. As the winter months are upon us, Toscana’s winter visitors are coming back to Toscana and we would like to welcome everyone back. At the last Board of Directors Meeting the Board approved a new Move In and Move Out Policy. The new policy can be found at www.toscanaliving.net. The new policy was put in place to make residents who are moving in or out more accountable for their movers and help prevent some of the hallway damage the association finds after a move. The new additions to the policy are as follows: • In order for a moving pass to be issued, a non-refundable fee of $25 and a refundable deposit of $250 must be paid in full. Management, in its absolute discretion, may waive the deposit requirement if the move-in/move-out does not involve moving large furnishings or is otherwise

involving minor items (e.g., clothing and luggage only) with a low risk of damage to common elements. • Night Managers will inspect for damages to common areas or elevators prior to and after the move. Residents/ owners will be financially responsible for any/all damages occurring as a result of the move. If damage occurs, the Association may deduct the cost of such damage from the deposit paid at the time the moving pass was issued. If the deposit is insufficient to cover the total cost of damage, the unit owner and resident are jointly and severally liable for any deficiency. • Any fines issued by the Association for failure to comply with these rules, or any of the Association’s governing documents, may be deducted from the deposit. Thank you again for making it a great 2016 in Toscana. The Management team would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Holiday Season!

ACCREDITED BUSINESS ®

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In and Around Toscana ASSISTANT MANAGER UPDATES By Nicole Careaga, Assistant Manager VOLUNTEER WHERE YOU LIVE!

CLUBS AND CLASSES

We are embarking on a new path for Toscana, and are excited to make you, the owners, a part of the adventure.

POOL PLAYERS CLUB: Wednesdays at 1pm, Billiards Room

By now you should have received the Call for Candidates postcard, and email announcement. This year, the board agreed that the time has come for the residents to be a part of the Board of Directors. At our Annual Meeting on February 6, 2017, three new Board members will be elected. However, we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get there until we have some candidates. This is where you, the owners, come in. Serving on a Board of Directors can be a very rewarding and fun experience. This time allows you to work hand in hand with our developer in planning the future here at Toscana. For any of you that are interested in running for the board, the candidate applications can be printed from www.toscanaliving.net, or picked up at the Palazzo Centro offices. All applications are due by December 12. Once all off the applications are turned in, ballots will be mailed and the exciting election can begin. I hope to see many of your names come across my desk on application forms over the next few weeks. Please be sure to email or call should you have any questions at all.

RUMMYCUBE CLUB: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 1-2:30pm, Palazzo Grande HIKING CLUB: Select Monday mornings to hike different trails. Contact your lifestyle director to join the email list. SINGLE LADIES NIGHT OUT: Last Wednesday of the month at 6pm. Contact Heyam Bonnamy at heyambonnamy@gmail.com MAHJONG CLUB: Mondays at 6:30pm, Palazzo Grande STUD POKER CLUB: Wednesdays at 6pm, Palazzo Grande. Bring $5 and your poker face. Contact Phil Labue at 480-513-3615 BOOK CLUB: January 18 at 6:30pm. The Residence by Kate Anderson Brower. Please contact Lynn Jerrett with questions. 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm, Palazzo Vacanza. HAND & FOOT CLUB: Thursdays at 6pm, Palazzo Grande. Contact Marge at 480-585-0494 FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE: Contact Gil Berkowitz at 602-881-6272 or 480-998-2135 VIP CLUB CARD: Stop by the concierge office if you have not received your VIP Club Card.

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In and Around Toscana

UPDATES FROM YOUR MAINTENANCE TEAM By Frank Young, Maintenance Supervisor

WOODPECKERS As many of you know and have witnessed, Toscana seems to be a happy home for Woodpeckers. Many woodpecker species live in Arizona. Signs of woodpecker presence include sounds, such as drumming, drilling and calls, plus holes in trees, cacti, utility poles and buildings. The drumming is a rhythmic pecking sequence used to make the birdsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; presence known. It establishes territories and attracts or signals mates. Woodpeckers can be found throughout the state. Even though woodpeckers look for insects and roosting sites year-round, Arizonans are most likely to be disturbed by the birds from March through June each year. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when woodpeckers drum to announce their territories, create nest cavities and attract mates. Territorial drumming will stop on its own and generally causes little damage. However, the noise can often be heard throughout the house or neighborhood. Woodpeckers choose drumming surfaces that make loud noises, such as metal gutters, chimney caps, rooftop vents and cooling units. Drumming may happen several times a day and may go on for days or weeks.

eggs and lizards. Hummingbird feeders will also attract woodpeckers. Water sources can include fountains, ponds, birdbaths and pet water dishes. Shelter may be a hole that woodpeckers excavate in a dead tree branch, the side of a tree or cactus or the side of a building. Woodpeckers are classified as migratory, nongame birds and are protected by state and federal laws. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit is required when capturing, killing or possessing a migratory bird (any bird except upland game birds, house sparrows, starlings and pigeons). Toscana partners with the United States Department of Agriculture to help control the birds and will have crews come around annually to patch holes in the buildings. If you notice a Woodpecker close to your unit you can try to frighten them off by making a little noise. If they have started a hole in the siding let the HOA office know and we will schedule it to be patched.

Woodpeckers help people by eating damaging insects, including termites and carpenter bees. However, foraging activity can cause damage to siding. The hammering sound when searching for insects is often a bit quieter and more sporadic than the rapid-fire or loud banging of drumming. Woodpeckers will bore holes in cacti, trees and even houses to create a nest. They breed from March through May and incubation lasts about 15 days. Food can include wood-boring insects, flying insects, ants, flower nectar, acorns, seeds, fruit, berries, bird

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Photo Gallery

In and Around Toscana

MOVIE REVIEW: ALLIED By Gil Berkowitz ACTION PACKED THRILLER IN CASABLANCA For those of you who remember Bogart and Bergman in Casablanca will find Allied reminiscent and entertaining. Allied is a film that takes place in a time past and is full of romance, suspense and action. It is a beautifully directed film by Robert Zemeckis with its period landscape of World War Two and wartime espionage. We first meet Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) and Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard) at an upscale dinner party. They are allied forces operatives. He is a Canadian intelligence officer and she is a french resistance fighter. They are to work together and must quickly assimilate to their roles and infiltrate Nazis stationed in Morocco. But before they can function they size each other up. Marianne challenges and taunts Max. She finds him calm and detached. Even introverted. She on the other hand is alluring. The life of the party. Controlled chaos.

At this point in the film the plot takes a turn and moves rapidly. Max is summoned to the office of the head of their intelligence agency and is informed his wife is possibly working with German forces and providing them with sensitive information. Allied now becomes a catand-mouse-game. Max is given seventy two hours to prove she is not a German agent or she must face the consequences. The film moves at a tense pace while you wonder whether she is or is not an agent. The tension mounts and explodes at the riveting ending. The film is a collaboration of talent and wonderful performances. The intrigue of the second half of the film flourishes under Robert Zemeckiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direction. Allied is a stylish fast paced spy film that will not disappoint. It is playing at Harkins theaters throughout the valley and runs for 2 hours. Rated R for violence and sexual content.

As spies they are efficient and vicious. Maxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s violence comes swiftly and she is just as deadly with her charm and guile. They are and explosive couple and their relationship takes on a sense of volatility. It almost becomes secondary to the war they are fighting. Their assignment is to assassinate a high ranking Nazi and all his associates. They create a clever plot to get an invitation to the party the Nazi officer is hosting with hopes of completing their task. They are ordered to return to London. Strangely, as time goes on the barriers between them begin to crumble. Max falls in love with Marianne and she with him. They marry and they even have a child right away. Their lives take on a quiet and pleasant routine. Max is a jovial husband.

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TL Advertise with Toscana Living Emailed to Toscana Residents weekly. Contact Alicja Davis at 480-585-0808 or adavis@toscanaliving.net

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