FEBRUARY 2019
INSIDE Annual Meeting and More...
Living
Toscana Lifestyle YOUR NEIGHBORS' FAVORITES
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By Mark Gatchell, Lifestyle Director
This Mexican casserole is an easy, very tasty, dish that your family is sure to love. You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey and use low-fat dairy products and it’s still delicious.
INGREDIENTS 1 pound lean ground beef 1 (2 ounces) can sliced black olives, drained 2 cups salsa ½ cup chopped green onion 1 (16 ounces) can chili beans, drained ½ cup chopped fresh tomato 3 cups tortilla chips, crushed 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 2 cups sour cream
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 Maintenance Supervisor Keith Buc Ignacio Santana GATE HOUSE: Ron McCroskey, Saffron Caudle Chet Sanders, Hector Perez, Mariya Lilith 480-513-0602
DIRECTIONS 1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees celsius) 2.In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until no longer pink. Stir in salsa, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in beans, and heat through. 3.Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread crushed tortilla chips in the dish, and then spoon beef mixture over chips. Spread sour cream over beef, and sprinkle olives, green onion, and tomato over the sour cream. Top with cheddar cheese. 4.Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
ON THE COVER Toscana Team Trivia Night
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Toscana Lifestyle
TOSCANA UPCOMING EVENTS RESIDENT FRIDAY SOCIALS Fridays, February 1st, 8th & 15th, Palazzo Grande; RSVP by Friday at noon Food, fun and conversation - open to all Toscana residents. Join us for some snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. BYOB. Friday Socials are FREE. TOSCANA RESIDENT-LED BINGO NIGHT Wednesday, February 6, from 6-9pm Palazzo Grande; $6 per person Resident-Organized Bingo will be held Wednesday, February 6th. Bingo cards will be available at 6pm, buy in is $6, with game play starting at 6:30pm. Please bring exact change. Seating is limited, please do RSVP early. Thank you to the resident volunteers for pulling everything together! Please contact Lynn with questions at lynnjerrett@shaw.ca. CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION Thursday, February 7, from 1-3pm Palazzo Vacanza Contact John Foster at jfoster@sasktel.net FLAMINGLE POOL PARTY Saturday, February 9, from 1-3pm Palazzo Grande Pool; $3 per person Please join your follow residents for our Flamingle Pool Party. Our Caribbean themed pool party will include a steel drum band, Caribbean style food and maybe a surprise or two. Please RSVP early since space is limited. GAME DAY Sunday, February 10, from 2-5pm Palazzo Grande It's another fun filled board game day in Palazzo Grande on Sunday, February 10, 2019. Come join your fellow residents for a variety of different games to choose from. Bring your own snacks and we provide water and soda. Please RSVP so we know how many tables and chairs will be needed. ANNUAL MEETING Monday, February 11, from 6-8pm Celebrate Toscana at the annual HOA meeting hosted at the Aviano Community Center! There will be food, drink and fun raffle give-aways. Meeting begins at 6, registration opens at 5:30. Carpool if you can, since parking could be tight! Please RSVP by February 6 for food ordering purposes. This year's theme is "A Night at the Bowl-a-Rama" so lace up those bowling shoes! TRUCK'N TUESDAY Tuesday, February 19, from 5-8pm Palazzo Grande What could be better than dinner at the Cousins Maine Lobster food truck? Join your fellow residents at the cobblestones outside Palazzo Grande for a delicious lobster dinner. This food truck is only at Toscana twice a year, so don't miss out! Bring your appetite and wallet.
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Toscana Lifestyle
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ART WITH MIMI Wednesday, February 20, from 5:30-8:30 Palazzo Vacanza; $40 per person Join award winning textile artist Mimi Damrauer, who is your neighbor, for a for a simple and fun fabric art class. Mimi will show you how to translate your own ideas on to fabric or use one of Mimi's graphic designs as a starting-off point. Simple is better! No stress - just fun! $40.00 per person and ll supplies are included. BOOK CLUB Wednesday, February 20, 6pm Palazzo Vacanza Join your fellow book club members for the Wednesday, February 20 book club meeting. The book is "The Home for Unwanted Girls" by Joanna Goodman. Book Club will now meet at 6:00 PM, so please update your calendars. GRAND CANYON DAY TRIP Thursday. February 21, from 8am-8pm $159 per person Travel to the magnificent Grand Canyon, a World Heritage Site and one of the most spectacular examples of erosion to be found anywhere with massive vistas providing breathtaking views. The cost of this trip is $159.00 per person. Transportation is provided. Bus departs at 8:00 AM and returns at 8:00 PM. Contact Mark Gatchell for more information. RESIDENT KARAOKE NIGHT Friday, February 22, from 6-8pm Palazzo Vacanza Come join your fellow residents for a fun-filled evening and showcase your vocal skills! This event is BYOB. FIRESIDE CHAT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY MANAGER Monday, February 25, from 6-7:30pm Dante's Corner Grab your favorite beverage and join us in Dante's Corner for our quarterly Fireside Chat series! This is your opportunity to discuss community news, concerns, board decisions and any questions you have in a casual conversation with the community manager. This event may be moved inside Palazzo Centro if we experience unfavorable weather. TACO TUESDAY AT JALAPEĂ‘O INFERNO Tuesday, February 26, from 5-8pm $10 per person Taco Tuesday at JalapeĂąo Inferno features all you can eat tacos for $10! Your first plate comes with 2 tacos, rice and beans. After that you can order 2 tacos at a time until full! http://jalapenoinferno.com/ VINO AND CANVAS Tuesday, February 26, from 5:45-7:45pm Palazzo Grande; $30 per person It's going to be a great evening of painting, chatting and wine! Vino and Canvas is returning to Toscana for a hummingbird wildlife painting party, right here in the Palazzo Grande. Bring a friend or make some new ones and don't forget a bottle of your favorite wine!
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Toscana Lifestyle COMMUNITY CONNECTION By Katie Lucas, Concierge Events to Love This Month
February is the month where you really get to step back and appreciate all the people you love in your life. Whether you're celebrating "the season of love" with your significant other, friends or family, there are plenty of fun activities for you to enjoy! Glendale Chocolate Affaire With more than 40 Chocolatiers in attendance, you are sure to find that special someone's favorite treat at the Glendale Chocolate Affaire, held February 9-10. In addition to satisfying your sweet tooth, attendees will be able to indulge their inner artist while watching the Plein Air Painting Competition or attending one of two Paint Nite classes. The festival also hosts the Southwest's largest gathering of romance novelists. The best part?? Admission to the event is free! Head over to the website for more information. BYOB Wine and Paint Night-Valentine Octopus You Paint on 32nd is hosting two opportunities for you to enjoy a night of your favorite wine with your favorite person while painting an adorable set of octopuses. Sign up for their class held February 9th and 14th from 6-9pm. Everything except your favorite beverage is included in the $35 cost! Register here for your preferred date! Love and Other Funny Stuff Head over to the Tempe Center of the Arts at 7:30pm on Valentine's Day for a night full of love and laughter. Some of Arizona's best comics will take the stage and relay their tale of love...and other funny stuff...that will have you and your special someone rolling in the aisles. Tickets start at just $10! Get your tickets here.
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Wine, Chocolate & Jazz Night Family Fun Arizona is hosting their annual Wine, Chocolate & Jazz night at the High Bar at Modern Grove Views this Valentine's Day from 5-8pm. Your $25 admission will get you access to the event where a live jazz band will be performing, a wine tasting, chocolate samples, a 15 minute dance lesson from the Fred Astaire Dance Studio and one raffle ticket for a chance at awesome prizes throughout the night! There will be a cash bar and a special 4-course Valentine's Menu available, as well. Tickets are expected to sell out, so grab yours early here! Paint, Pray & Wine Need to wind down after the bustle of the holiday? The Connection Community Center (inside the Paradise Valley Mall) will host Paint, Pray & Wine-Healing Through Arts, Meditation & Fun on February 15th from 6:308:30pm. Participants will be invited to engage in an inner reflection while sipping wine (which is included in the cost of attendance!). Once you are sufficiently relaxed, you will be encouraged to let your creativity flow onto the canvas in front of you. The cost is only $25/person or $40 for two people and all proceeds will go to benefit The Connection Community center and Empower Chinese Orphans with Education. Get your event tickets here. Utilize Your Concierge Services Want to set up your own, personal Valentine's Day experience? Feel free to reach out to me for restaurant reservations, spa days, exciting adventure tours, and more!
Toscana Lifestyle
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A WORD FROM THE LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR
By Mark Gatchell, Lifestyle Director a large number of people show up without RSVPing. To RSVP or Not to RSVP Moving forward, during our busy time of year we will There are many challenges be printing out a roster for our Fun Friday Social and when planning an event. Who passing out either a bracelet or food ticket to everyone will be coming? Do we have that has RSVP'd to the event. Attendees with a wristband enough food ordered and will or ticket will have first priority when going through the there be enough seating? Even service line. planning family events such as a holiday dinner can present specific challenges for those We hope this will encourage residents to properly inform us of your attendance (or cancellation). involved. We all do our best to plan accordingly for the number of Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We people who will be attending an event. To resolve these look forward to seeing you at all the exciting events we challenges, many hosts ask that their guests RSVP for have planned for this month and the remainder of the an event. RSVP, or “répondez s'il vous plaît” roughly in year! French, stands for “please respond.” When you RSVP, RESIDENT GROUPS, CLUBS AND CLASSES that greatly helps the host plan out the details of an BILLIARDS CLUB GENTLE YOGA event. Here at Toscana, we do our best to accommodate event attendees, while adhering to a Board approved budget each year. We ask that everyone RSVP to our events so we can plan accordingly and provide just the right amount of seating and food. You can register online by clicking on event titles in this newsletter (both on the calendar and upcoming events page), via the links in your weekly Lifestyle e-blasts or by talking to someone in the office! In addition, if you have signed up for an event, but circumstances arise where you are unable to attend, it's just as important to let us know you will be canceling your registration. Often times we have a wait-list for our more popular events and properly canceling your registration allows us to accommodate those who may not have been able to attend before. Recently we have discovered a much larger number of people are attending our Fun Friday Socials than have registered in our registration system, which can make it difficult for us to accommodate everyone. We love seeing everyone, but simply cannot plan accordingly when such
Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. Billiards Room in PG. Contact: Lynn at 602-301-5010 BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR Mondays at 5 p.m. in PG BYOB
BINGO February 6 at 6:00 p.m., PG $6 per card Contact: Marge at 480-585-0494 BOOK CLUB Wednesday, February 20 "The Home for Unwanted Girls" by Joanna Goodman PV at 6 p.m. Register Here CHAIR YOGA Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in PV $5 Drop-In COFFEE SOCIAL Each Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. in PG
Fridays at 11 a.m. in PV $5 Drop-In
HAND & FOOT CLUB Thursdays at 6 p.m., PG. Contact Marge at 480-585-0494 HIKING CLUB February 11 & 25 9:30am; Meet at Front Gate Contact Allen Poppa at apoppa@yahoo.com MAHJONG CLUB Mondays at 6:30 p.m., PG. Contact: Susan at susan4266@aol.com STUD POKER CLUB Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m., PG. Bring $5 and your poker face. Contact 480-513-3615 WATER AEROBICS TBD
To share new clubs and classes ideas, please email Mark Gatchell at: mgatchell@toscanaliving.net
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Toscana Events and Programs
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Clubs
February 2019 Monday
Sunday
Tuesday
Events Association
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FUN FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
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GAME DAY PG 2-5PM
MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
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COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM BINGO NIGHT PG 6-9PM
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HAND & FOOT PG 6PM CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION PV 1-3PM
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COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FUN FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
Saturday 1
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9 FLAMINGLE POOL PARTY PG 1-3PM
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13 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
14 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM
15 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FUN FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
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18 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
19 LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE PV 2PM TRUCK'N TUESDAY PG 5-8PM
20 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM ART WITH MIMI PV 5:30-8:30PM BOOK CLUB PV 6PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
21 GRAND CANYON DAY TRIP 8AM-8PM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM
22 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM KARAOKE NIGHT PV 6-8PM
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25 HIKING CLUB 9:30AM MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM FIRESIDE CHAT DC 6-7:30PM
26 TACO TUESDAY 5-8PM VINO AND CANVAS PG 5:45-7:45PM
27 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
28 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM
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11 HIKING CLUB 9:30AM MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM ANNUAL MEETING 6-8PM
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LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE PV 2PM
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In and Around Toscana CHRIS'S CORNER
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By Chris Reeder, Assistant Manager Toscana Tidbits As we continually strive to enhance Toscana communication, we plan to send bi-monthly “Toscana Tidbit” emails to our residents over the 2019 calendar year. These emails will serve as gentle reminders to some residents and brand new information to others. Reminders are scheduled to be sent to residents about such important topics as: Policies, Vandalism, and Community Etiquette. This pro-active approach to communication will enhance resident awareness about the Toscana community. These reminders will be sent out on days not reserved for your weekly Lifestyle emails (Tuesday), or weekly Concierge emails (Thursday).
The “Toscana Tidbit” email campaign will utilize our Constant Contact system. If you receive this Newsletter electronically, you should be on the list for the campaign. Residents not in the Constant Contact email system will not receive the communications and they may be the folks who need it most! If a neighbor mentions they have not been the happy recipient of our email communication, please ask them to call us at the office. Any of our staff would be enthused to update the system. Please feel free to share this information with your neighbors. Together we can increase our community understanding and knowledge.
UPDATES FROM YOUR MAINTENANCE TEAM
By John Raabe, Maintenance Supervisor If we went up the stack, it is possible for the jetter to enter Trunk Line Jetting a unit's pipes and cause a huge mess in the unit. Due In the next couple weeks we will be to our inability to safely jet vertical trunk lines from the having Moon Valley Plumbing here parkade, you may notice not all of your plumbing issues to jet the horizontal trunk lines in are resolved, as some of backups we have here are located the Parkade. I would like to take this in the vertical trunk lines between units. This is why we opportunity to explain the procedure try to stress the importance of not putting unapproved substances down the drains and the reason for this service in and using the enzymes that we order to answer some questions provide to try and clean out before they arise. the vertical lines often. The jetting process is where we The process is very messy, remove the cleanouts on the ends so we need vehicles removed of the lines and insert a hose from the Parkade to complete which sprays high pressure water it. We will be scheduling the in a circular motion through the Parkade cleaning shortly after, pipes and cleans off all the grease so that any mess made will be and muck that has built up in the cleaned. Emails will be sent out with dates and time of lines over the years, making the pipes more open and free flowing, reducing the chances of a backup. When we when your building will be completed. We appreciate do the jetting, we can only do the horizontal lines in the your patience and assistance when completing these large Parkade. The reason for this s to avoid possible damage. projects.
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In and Around Toscana NICOLE'S NOTABLES
By Nicole Careaga, Community Manager January Board Meeting Review I hope all of you will join me on Monday, February 25, 6-7:30pm in Dante's Corner for our first ever, At our first Board Meeting of 2019, Fire Side Chat with your Community Manager. This is a great opportunity to discuss anything that may be on the following items were approved: your mind, and allow you an open forum to gather your The Main Line Jetting for the answers, express concerns, or for all of us to just get to plumbing: Moon Valley will be on- know each other a little better. site to jet the plumbing lines, and begin the inspections for our ongoing preventative maintenance. Please be sure to read John’s article this month for more information. Parkade cleaning was approved and will be completed after the jetting of the main lines. We are excited to be partnering with a new vendor, Reliable Maintenance as they will be using a pressure washing technique. Please be sure to watch your emails, as both of these projects will require that your vehicles are removed from the parkade to eliminate any obstacles for the vendors. Annual Meeting A minor change was added to the Hard Surface Flooring Policy that give the Board of Directors the right to We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our Toscana have a structural engineer verify a floor is in compliance Annual Meeting of the members on Monday, February of our standards. The cost of the engineer will be the 11 at 6PM. responsibility of the owner installing the flooring. This policy will be made available for review online, or you can As in previous years, this meeting will be held at the Aviano Community Center. Our theme this year is “A come by our office for a copy. Night at the Bowl-a-Rama”, so you may want to break The Budget and Finance Committee presented a new out your team shirt. Sign-in begins at 5:30pm with the policy to the Board to ensure that moving forward, we meeting kicking off at 6pm. secure our reserve funding. The Policy mandates that the Board maintain at least a 53% funding level, and requires This annual event will include pre-meeting appetizers, a two-thirds vote of the Board to go below this. This beverages and raffle prizes as we celebrate Toscana’s is a great way to illustrate the Board and Committee’s accomplishments over the 2018 year. commitment to the care and maintenance of Toscana in Our VIP partners and community vendors are an integral part of this event and we thank them for their support! the years to come. I want to thank all of those who submitted questions, and or attended the board meeting. Myself and the rest of the management team appreciate you all taking the time and interest in taking care of and keeping Toscana looking beautiful.
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Remember to RSVP to attend this exciting and informative event, by clicking HERE. If you have an association question, please submit it in advance by filling out the form HERE. We, The Toscana Ten Pins, hope to see you there!
In and Around Toscana
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DLC Resources, Inc.
FROST DAMAGE What Can You Do? Frost season in the Southwest typically runs midNovember through February. The frequency and intensity of frost can vary during this time of year due to a number of reasons, including elevation and population density. Plants that suffer frost damage are easily recognized by their blackish-brown fruit or leaves and shriveled shoots and stems.
Preventing Frost Damage •
lant native plants. Selecting plants native to our P environment ensures you use plants that are used to our weather. Non-native plants may not be as tolerant of this climate.
• S elect western and southern exposure planting areas for frost-sensitive plants. • P lant frost-sensitive plants near block walls, rocks and patios; rocks absorb heat from the sun and maintain a warmer temperature through the night. • C over bare soil with mulch to create a barrier between the frost and your planting areas.
help you identify material made specifically for covering plants. • W atering plants the night before a frost can help them stay warmer. Dehydrated plants are more susceptible to frost damage. • Remove the cover after sunrise each morning. • I f you take time to cover your plants, also cover your backflow preventer and remember to disconnect your hose from the spigot.
Recovering From Frost Damage • O ptimal pruning methods wait until the threat of frost is done prune frost-damaged new and unestablished shrubs or ground cover plants. Pruning away frost damage too early can result in additional damage to the plant if it is hit by frost again. However, established plants with a sustainable root system can handle pruning for aesthetic reasons throughout frost season. • P rune frost-damaged trees after new growth has emerged. This way you are able to better prune and balance the tree since you can identify where growth is occurring and where the tree may be suffering from frost damage.
During the Frost • C over plants susceptible to frost-damage with cloth or paper to insulate them. Drape the paper or cloth all the way to the ground to help trap heat radiating from the ground under the cover. A nursery can
• R emoving damaged areas stimulate new plant growth. It is important to wait to prune until the frost season is over since this new growth is especially sensitive to colder weather.
© DLC Resources, Inc. | dlcresources.com
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In and Around Toscana