February 2020 TLM

TOSCANA LIVING FEBRUARY 2020

CULTURE PASS

EXPERIENCE PHOENIX WITHOUT BUSTING THE BANK

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHTS LEARN ABOUT GEMSTONES WITH ERNIE, MAKE JEWELRY WITH JUDY, AND CREATE ART WITH MIMI

FIRESIDE CHAT

A CASUAL CONVERSATION WITH NICOLE CAREAGA IN DANTE’S CORNER

PET RESOURCES

GOT A FURRY FRIEND? CHECK OUT THESE NEW VIP VENDORS!

NEIGHBORS’FAVORITES 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 Gate House: 480-513-0602 STAFF Nicole Careaga, CMCA Community Manager ncareaga@toscanaliving.net Christine Reeder Assistant Community Manager creeder@toscanaliving.net Mark Gatchell Lifestyle Director mgatchell@toscanaliving.net Katie Lucas Concierge Director klucas@toscanaliving.net NIGHT MANAGERS: Don Meeks Jackie Hernandez 480-861-0875 MAINTENANCE: John Raabe Facilities Director Keith Buc Daniel Renteria Ignacio Santana GATE HOUSE: Saffron Caudle Chet Sanders Laura Taylor Josh Oakley Hector Perez 480-513-0602

This Slow Cooker Savory Winter Soup is just the thing you want to come home to after a long day!

INGREDIENTS • 2 pounds ground beef • 3 medium onions, chopped • 1 garlic clove, minced • 3 cans (10-1/2 ounces each) condensed beef broth, undiluted • 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained • 3 cups of water • 1 cup each diced carrots and celery • 1 cup fresh or frozen cut green beans • 1 cup cubed peeled potatoes • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley • 1 teaspoon dried basil • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme • Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS 1. In a large skillet, cook beef and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain.

2. Transfer to a 5-qt. Slow cooker stir in remaining ingredients — cover and cook on low until vegetables are tender 6-8 hours.

Retrieved from Taste of Home

TOSCANA EVENTS HIKING CLUB Tuesday, February 4, from 9 am-3 pm Monday, February 17, from 9 am-3 pm Meet at Front Gate

The Toscana hiking club will hit the trails once again. Join your fellow hikers at the front gate. Please contact Allen at apoppa@yahoo.com for more details.

FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL Friday, February 7, from 5-7 pm Friday, February 14, from 5-7 pm Friday, February 21, from 5-7 pm Friday, February 28, from 5-7 pm Palazzo Grande; RSVP by Thursday prior, at noon

Food, fun and conversation - open to all Toscana residents. Join us for some snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Friday Socials are FREE.

ANNUAL MEETING Monday, February 10, from 6-8 pm Dave & Buster’s Desert Ridge

Celebrate Toscana at this annual event! There will be food, drink, and fun raffle giveaways. This year’s theme is “All-Stars,” so put on your favorite jersey or dress up in gear from your favorite sports team! Registration opens at 5:30; RSVP by February 6.

ART WITH MIMI Wednesday, February 12, from 6-8 pm Building 10 Amenity Center, $45 per person

Join an award-winning textile artist and resident of Toscana, Mimi Damrauer, for a fun and straightforward fabric art class.

Mimi will show you how to translate your ideas onto fabric or use one of Mimi’s graphic designs as a starting-off point.

No stress - just fun! $45.00 per person and everything you will need will be provided.

GEMOLOGY 101 Thursday, February 13, from 10:30-11:30 am Thursday, February 20, from 10:30-11:30 am Thursday, February 27, from 10:30-11:30 am Building 10 Amenity Center

Come for some fun-filled facts about gemology, birthstones, romance & disappointment. Ask questions & share stories.

PICNIC BY THE POOL Monday, February 17, from 12-2 pm PAGE Palazzo Grande; $3 per person

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What better way to Celebrate President’s Day with your friends, family, and neighbors but by the pool at Palazzo Grande. Stop by for a relaxing picnic-style lunch of hotdogs, hamburgers, potato and macaroni salads, chips, drinks, and ice cream sandwiches. Please RSVP by 5 pm on February 14th.

TOSCANA EVENTS TRUCKIN’ TUESDAY Tuesday, February 18, from 5-7 pm Palazzo Grande Cobblestones

Join your fellow residents for our Truckin’ Tuesdays food truck night. Mediterranean Majik is returning this month. Bring your appetites and your wallets!

TAYLOR MARIE FASHION SHOW Tuesday, February 18, from 6:30-8:30 pm Palazzo Grande

It’s time for 2020 Fashion! TaylorMarie’s, a full-service boutique, will be hosting a fashion show & shopping event.

TaylorMarie’s features name brand clothing as well as unique boutique items & jewelry. TaylorMarie’s offers a full range of sizes in petite, missy & women’s. Fashion Show models wanted, please email your interest to Mark.

BOOK CLUB WITH AUTHOR ELIZABETH HUTCHISON BERNARD Wednesday, February 19, from 6-8 pm Building 10

Please join the Toscana Book Club starting at 6 pm in Building 10. The book selected is “Temptation Rag” by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard. Elizabeth will be our special guest for the book club group here at Toscana! We are honored and pleased to have this celebrated author speak to our Toscana residents.

GRAND CANYON TRIP Thursday, February 20, from 8 am-7 pm $159 per person

Travel to the magnificent Grand Canyon, a World Heritage Site and one of the most spectacular places on earth. Price includes transportation, admission cost to the park, and tour of the Grand Canyon upon your arrival. Food and gift shop expenses are on your own.

JEWELRY MAKING WITH JUDY Saturday, February 22, from 6-8 pm Building 10 Conference Room; $55 per person

Join your fellow neighbor Judy Fitch for a fun-filled night creating your very own handcrafted necklace. Space is limited, so RSVP today to secure your spot. Price includes all the supplies you will need to create your very own necklace.

FIRESIDE CHAT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY MANAGER Monday, February 24, from 6-7:30 pm Dante’s Corner

Please join your community manager in Dante’s Corner from 6:00 to 7:30 PM for a casual chat about community news, concerns, recent board decisions, or any Toscana questions you may have. Please bring your favorite beverage and join us by the fire. Fireside chats will be held quarterly during 2020.

CHUCK FIELD COMEDY VENTRILOQUIST Wednesday, February 26, from 5:30-7:30 pm Building 10 Amenity Center

Chuck Field comedy ventriloquist returns to Toscana to perform his legendary act that is hilariously funny and extremely engaging. Chuck makes the audience members the “stars of the show.” Please join us for what will surely be a very entertaining night.

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Lifestyle

Toscana

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PHOENIX CULTURE PASS

by Mark Gatchell, Lifestyle Director

Phoenix offers many beautiful attractions and hidden gems that many are not aware of. Some of the main attractions include The Desert Botanical Garden, Camelback Mountain hiking trails, and of course, the live music at Desert Ridge Marketplace. However, there are a few hidden gems that you may not know of, such as Roosevelt Row, The Mystery Castle, and “Brews and Books” at Changing Hands bookstore. Many of these locations have free admission and are open year-round.

Did you know that most, if not all, cities in Arizona offer a “Culture Pass”? The culture pass offers Phoenix residents a way to see the arts and more for free. There are a few steps to obtaining your pass, but it is simple to do. First, get a library card. Next, visit the culture pass kiosk at the library and choose a culture pass card for the venue you wish to visit. Once you have selected the place you want to visit, take the pass card to the librarian at the checkout desk where you will receive a receipt to take to the venue you are visiting. Be sure to check the venue website for hours and locations. Some locations may have restrictions

during events. A variety of the Valley’s arts partners offer Act One Culture Passes to theater, music, and dance performances throughout the performance season. The pass also lets you explore the wonders of contemporary art, architecture, and design. There are 51 metro Phoenix Libraries that make Culture Passes available to their library cardholders. For a complete list of libraries, click here. Please take advantage of this incredible offer to attend some of the free events that are available.

attend the Friday Social to please take turns and help clean up after the event. If ten people stay and clean up, it only takes a few minutes.

Thank you to all that have taken the time to clean up after each Friday Social.

When you hear about or go to an exciting museum, fun educational program, or unusual event, please stop by the office and share your experience or email me. I would love to be able to share unique events with your fellow residents.

RSVP REMINDERS

To shift gears a little, I wanted to be sure to remind all residents how important it is to RSVP to events; it is just as important to let us know if you will not be able to attend an event you have signed up for. Several of our events require catering, and we base our orders on the number of people that have signed up for the event. We always want to be sure we have enough food for everyone attending, and we also do not want to order food for people that are not going to participate in the event. This includes the Friday Socials. Recently we have had large numbers of people sign up and then not attend the event, which means we end up tossing out a lot of food we didn’t need to order. Of course, we know there are always last-minute emergencies that may make it hard to let us know you will not be attending, but again please make an effort to let us know so we can do our best and order the correct amount of catering. Also, please remember we ask all that

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Community Connection

by Katie Lucas, Concierge Director

you take your pet on a walk, as it is your ID showing your pet is properly registered (and is useful for picking up those “gifts” your pet will leave along the way)!

If you are unsure if your pet is properly registered, please feel free to reach out to me at klucas@toscanaliving.net

FURRY FRIENDS

Once your precious pet is all registered, check out these new VIP Partners who offer exclusive For many of our residents here at Toscana, discounts to Toscana pets! part of that feeling of “home” involves being Pottio Box is here to make both you and your greeted at the door with big, slobbery kisses pet happier than ever. This subscription service from their most loyal companion or the brings fresh, real grass to your doorstep soft purr of their favorite fluff-ball brushing each week for your pet’s elimination needs. against their legs. I know my day would not The grass is housed in a chic, wooden box, that will look great in your space. Not only be complete without my boy Bruce gently does it provide pets with a more pleasurable nudging his favorite toy of the day into my potty-space than the gravel, it also allows pet legs, ready to play, as soon as I get home. parents to leave for extended periods of time, There is so much to love about having a pet, without having to worry about coming home and we love being able to see all of them out to a mess on the carpet. Pottio Box is even offering Toscana residents a FREE dog potty and about in the community. box with first month’s subscription.

However, we have noticed many furry friends around Toscana who have not been properly registered with the Association. Registering your pet is an easy process and is required per your CC&Rs. In order to register your pet, you just need to fill out a simple formavailable in the association office or online at toscanaliving.net. A photo of your pet is required to complete the form, so make sure you get your camera ready to capture your pet’s “good side.” All residents who complete their pet registration forms receive a gift in the form of an Official Toscana leash and doggy bag holder set! It is important to carry your doggy bag holder with you when

Camp Bow Wow is a new doggy-day-care over in the Scottsdale 101 shopping center.

It offers both day-time and overnight options for pet parents needing a place for their pooch to spend some time. The staff is so friendly, and the facility is clean and beautiful.

Toscana residents receive a 10% discount on all on-going services, and one lucky audience attendee at the Annual Meeting will receive a Free Day of Care to test out their services!

The 2020 Guide is in the works! Keep an eye on your emails to be the first to grab one when they become available. Don’t forget to come see me if I can help you with restaurant reservations, Kierland golf tee times, adventure tours, and more!

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Notables nicole’s

by Nicole Careaga, Community Manager

will also include a new amplification system.

The goal is to provide for consistent and clear music throughout the walking areas and pools within Toscana. The total cost of the project is $9,972.84 and will be paid for out of the reserves.

CO2 Pool Conversion – The install of this new system was approved. The system changes over the pool chemicals from acid over to all natural CO2. The end result will February is an exciting month for Toscana. be better water for you to be in, while Many of a residents are here to partake eliminating the corrosive acid from all of in the Waste Management Open, Spring Training and of course, The Toscana Annual our equipment. This should extend the life of the pool equipment and surfaces within Meeting. the pools and spas. The cost for this This year the Annual Meeting is going to be project is $2,97385 per body of water and will be paid for out of reserves. more exciting than ever! We have changed it up and bit and will be hosting our 13th Building 10 Exterior Paint Project – This item Annual Meeting at Dave and Busters at was tabled and new proposals are being Desert Ridge. It is going to be quite the obtained to determine if a cost for the night, with amazing food, raffle prizes and required scaffolding can be negotiated. This the celebration of Toscana. We ask that will be discussed further at the April board you RSVP to this event so we can ensure meeting. enough food and drink for all that attend.

Be sure to wear the attire for your favorite team and enjoy an “All-Star” Evening!

New Fitness Equipment – This item was added to the agenda and approved. A new rowing machine and dual hip abductor/ Board Meeting adductor is being purchased for the Palazzo Grande gym. As these are new pieces of Our first Board Meeting of the year was equipment they will be purchased using the held on January 23, 2020, below are the community enhancement fund. items that were discussed.

UPCOMING AND UPDATES

October 2019 Minutes were approved and are now available on the website for your review.

Board Change Resolution – The approved to move forward with a Developer only Board of Directors.

Financial Statements September through November 2019 and they are now available on the website for your review.

If you didn’t make it to our January Board Meeting, we hope to see you in April when we meet again.

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Exterior Speaker Proposal – A new system was approved. This will allow for a full retro-fit of the existing speakers and wires, and

As always, please feel free to reach out to the Management team if you have any questions, comments or concerns!

Chris’s

CORNER

by Chris Reeder, Assistant Manager

COMMITTEES

HOA committees assist the Board by addressing specific community issues. These volunteer groups organize to propose fresh ideas in their quest to enhance the community, in their advisory role. As a general rule, committees gather information, assess problems, and recommend possible solutions to the Board for their consideration. Committees are primarily in place to provide Board members with additional perspective or data, and just as importantly to build community. Our active committees are always looking for new members and welcome community discussion.

to participate in committees focused on: Finance, Landscape, and Lifestyle. Our committees meet either monthly or bimonthly and can adjust their meeting calendar according to the needs of the committee members.

Our community is fortunate to have robust participation at most committee meetings, thanks to our members and audience participation. If you are unable to join in as a committee member, please mark your calendar for the meetings that fit your schedule- resident participation is always welcome, and all are encouraged to join in the fun.

Why would a resident want to become involved in a committee?

• Committees offer fresh perspectives on community business. Our Board is accustomed to handling every aspect of Association business quickly and efficiently.

When residents join our organized committees, they can bring a new ideas that may help the board see innovative solutions As a matter of process, volunteer committee to old problems. The volunteer residents also provide new ways of looking at the members are asked to sign a committee community, in general, that the Board might charter. Each charter defines that specific not have otherwise considered. Insights committee’s duties and responsibilities, from residents who are willing to help bring as well as the role of its members. It also concepts to fruition help create stronger establishes the relationship between the community operations and a stronger sense Board and the committee, and spells out of community overall. For example, the new the committee’s limitations – such as what location of the First Responder and Veteran actions it can take.

Plaque was proposed, and then followed through to installation, by our residents.

What types of committees can residents become involved with?

• Committees give residents an alternative way to get involved. Not every Currently, all Toscana residents are invited resident has the time to be a Board

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member – but that doesn’t mean that they can’t get involved in the community.

Committees give residents the perfect opportunity to help Toscana achieve its vision in a specific area, which also encourages them to bring their professional knowledge and individual talents to the table. For example, the finance committee features several members with a finance background. The landscape committee has some members with tons of gardening history. Without committees, our community would miss out on the benefits of their expertise and these residents might not have a way to serve the community as meaningfully.

• Committees can act as a check on the Board. In a community association, committees review facts, make recommendations and assess solutions independently of the Board. This helps ensure fair and responsible decisions when it comes to enforcement, budgeting, maintenance.

What does each committee do?

Our finance committee reviews monthly financials, as well as our current year annual budgets, to help develop the nextyear annual budget. The group may offer reserve study recommendations, and may develop and recommend the Association’s investment policy and reserves. Our finance committee recently submited an adopted recommendation to the board that helps ensure the reserve fund is satisfactory. The next finance committee meets every other month, with the next scheduled meeting on February 14.

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landscape. Our contracted landscaping company, DLC, has representation at each meeting to help guide and educate the group. This committee is currently reviewing the resident building entrances and will be proposing enhancements to the board early this year. This month, the landscape committee will meet on February 11 to review options for each entrance.

Finally, the lifestyle committee creates community. They may suggest events for holidays, tours, seasonal activities, etc. This active group of residents may volunteer for event check-in, decorating or may be integral in planning residentled events, such as our recent Hand and Foot Tournament. Lifestyle at Toscana is considered to be the “glue” holding the community together, and this fun-loving committee is never short on resident activity ideas. Mark Gatchell is always ready for a chat about activities if you can’t wait for the next meeting scheduled for February 18.

As a homeowners association member, it’s important for us to understand that committees are an integral part of the operations of Toscana. Committee members help keep our community vibrant; and we heartily THANK our committee members for their energy, time and expertise.

Whether or not residents are able to volunteer for one of the Toscana committees, the team in the office want our residents to know that their thoughts, ideas, and concerns are of critical importance to the vibrancy of the community. We welcome resident input and are happy to gather feedback.

The Toscana landscape committee is tasked with the assistance We are excited to continue working in the “look and feel”- and together with the board and residents sustainability of the community toward our common goals.

Maintenance Updates

the danger of the gas igniting and causing serious damage to your unit, yourself or others.

by John Raabe, Facilities Director

NATURAL GAS

Some of you have been walking around property at some point and got a quick smell of gas. Sometimes it’s just in a breeze and then it’s gone, but sometimes it lingers a little. In either case, it is best to call the office and let us know where and when you smelled the gas.

For instance, we recently found a crack in one the barbecue lines. You could only smell the gas every now and then, and it was usually gone by time you tried to track it down. This was able to be fixed, as the gas company found it when they came to do their inspection.

We have also had several instances of residents accidentally bumping into their stoves and turning one of the top burners on, without it igniting, slowly releasing the gas into the unit. This can be extremely dangerous because it introduces the gas slowly and if you do not catch the smell right away you may just get used to it.

I have knocked on doors that I detected gas at to find residents inside completely unaware of the slow leak. If you are exposed to the gas for long periods it, can cause some physical symptoms and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. There is also

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They do have natural gas detectors that you can plug into the wall and will alarm you if your gas is on. I have also read that Google Nest is a smoke detector and a Carbon Monoxide detector, that will detect gas leaks and worn you.

If you are walking anywhere on property and believe you smell gas, please call the office immediately and notify us, we have a detector and will head over right away to determine where it is coming from and get the gas shut off.

FEBRUARY SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

CLUBS/CLASSES EVENTS ASSOCIATION

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY 1

2

3

4

5 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA B10 10AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM BRIDGE CLUB PG 1:30PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM

9

10

11 FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH AND MOBILITY PG 8AM LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE B10 2PM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM

13 12 FUNCTIONAL COFFEE SOCIAL STRENGTH AND PG 9AM MOBILITY GENTLE YOGA PG 8AM B10 10AM GEMOLOGY 101 BILLIARDS B10 10:30PG 1PM 11:30AM BRIDGE CLUB HAND & FOOT PG 1:30PM PG 6PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM ART WITH MIMI B10 6-8PM

14

16

17 18 HIKING CLUB FUNCTIONAL 9AM-3PM STRENGTH AND PICNIC BY THE MOBILITY POOL PG 8AM PG 12-2PM LIFESTYLE BILLIARDS COMMITTEE PG 5PM B10 2PM MAHJONG CLUB TRUCKIN’ PG 6:30PM TUESDAY PG 5-7PM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM TAYLOR MARIE FASHION SHOW B10 6:30-8:30PM

19 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA B10 10AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM BRIDGE CLUB PG 1:30PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM BOOK CLUB B10 6-8PM

21 22 COFFEE SOCIAL JEWELRY PG 9AM WITH JUDY FRIDAY SOCIAL B10 6-8PM PG 5-7PM

23

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26 27 COFFEE SOCIAL FUNCTIONAL PG 9AM STRENGTH AND GENTLE YOGA MOBILITY B10 10AM PG 8AM BILLIARDS GEMOLOGY 101 PG 1PM B10 10:30BRIDGE CLUB 11:30AM PG 1:30PM HAND & FOOT POKER CLUB PG 6PM PG 6PM COMEDY VANTRILOQUIST B10 5:30-6:30PM

BILLIARDS PG 5PM MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM

BILLIARDS PG 5PM ANNUAL MEETING 6-8PM MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM

BILLIARDS PG 5PM FIRESIDE CHAT DC 6-7:30PM MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM

FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH AND MOBILITY PG 8AM HIKING CLUB 9AM-3PM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM

25 FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH AND MOBILITY PG 8AM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM

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FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH AND MOBILITY PG 8AM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM

20

GRAND CANYON TRIP 8AM-7PM FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH AND MOBILITY PG 8AM GEMOLOGY 101 B10 10:3011:30AM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM

7 8 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5-7PM

FINANCE COMMITTEE B10 9AM COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5-7PM

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28 29 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5-7PM