JANUARY 2018
Living
INSIDE HOCKEY GAME
MURDER MYSTERY DINNER
Toscana Lifestyle A WORD FROM THE LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR
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By Chris Reeder, Lifestyle Director
Five Ways To Show Kindness To Our Neighbors Every Day People acting kindly are my favorite people–those who take the extra step to brighten up a stranger or friend’s day and expect nothing in return. It’s worth talking about kindness anytime we can, especially when we spend so much time together as a Toscana Family. Below are five little reminders to start our 2018 with Kindness! 1. Smile. So easy, right? Nothing brightens a person’s day more than receiving a smile from the person whose eye they just caught. Plus it lifts your own mood! 2. Hold the door open. Especially if someone’s hands are full. It won’t even take a minute extra of your time, and our doors are heavy….really heavy! 3. Strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know. How nice it is when we start a chat with one of our new (or new-to-you) neighbors. The reason I love the Friday Social - it gives everyone a chance to come together, new and old residents. 4. Pick up something out of place. It’s amazing how many times an errant piece of trash blows through our well-kept parking lot! 5. Be kind to someone you dislike. This is one of those counter-intuitive things…. Sometimes you learn you have more in common than you thought. I’m a bit rosyglasses; I think someone called me Pollyanna once. I just truly believe people are more positive than negative Call me cliché’ but I’m optimistic that if we each focused on being kind to our neighbor, we’ll create a more compassionate society overall.
TOSCANA SIGNATURE EVENTS TOSCANA RESIDENT FRIDAY SOCIALS Fridays in January at 5 PM, Palazzo Grande Food, fun and conversation upstairs in the Palazzo Grande - open to all Toscana residents. Join us for some snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. The Friday Socials are FREE. Please RSVP by Friday at noon. Friday, January 5 - Special Guest from Hall of Flame! BAGELS AND BREW Sunday, January 7, from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM Dante’s Corner Relax and have a neighborly chat! Coffee and bagels will be served in the newly renovated Dante’s Corner in Toscana. It’s a perfect time to catch up with old friends- or make a few new ones! Please let us know you will be attending, so we can be prepared for your arrival.
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, PCAM 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: John Raabe Maintenance Supervisor jraabe@toscanaliving.net Keith Buc Maintenance Tech Ignacio Santana Porter
ON THE COVER Caroling & Cocoa
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Toscana Lifestyle
GOOD THYME COOKING DEMO AND BRUNCH Thursday, January 11, from 11 AM to 1 PM Palazzo Vacanza; Please RSVP by January 5 Cost: $40 Kari and Courtney from Good Thyme have developed quite a following with their cooking demos in Whole Foods Markets. Join them as they demo & serve: Start the Day Off Right - Healthy Breakfast for Optimal Health, Berry Banana Smoothie, Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Oatmeal Bowl , Spinach Artichoke Egg Muffin Cups, and Chocolate Zucchini Bread Muffins. ARIZONA COYOTES VS. EDMONTON OILERS HOCKEY GAME Friday, January 12, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Cost: $39 per person; RSVP by January 5 This will be an awesome game - the Coyotes vs. Edmonton Oilers on January 12th. Your ticket includes transportation, parking, admission to the game- AND All-You-Can eat, with your Toscana neighbors- all for $39 per person. We only have 23 tickets reserved, so register today! This event will most likely sell out! Game starts at 7pm. FOOD TRUCK: OFF THE HOOK Tuesday, January 16, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Palazzo Grande Cobblestone Come on down to the Palazzo Grande Pool Area for a little take-out. The Off the Hook truck will be ready for dinner at 5pm! Must try: Shrimp Wontons - fresh-grilled shrimp smothered in cream cheese and served up in crispy fried wontons with a Thai glaze. Bring your wallet and your appetite! LUNCHTIME THEATER AT THE HERBERGER Thursday, January 18, from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the Herberger Theater RSVP by January 11 Cost: $17 including transportation The Best of Brad Allen - Welcome to an hour of stories, songs, jokes, and poems entitled: “Have I ever told you…?” This seemed a safer title than “Stop me if you’ve heard this one…” You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll ponder. You’ll think, “At least I’m not buckled into a middle seat next to this guy all the way to Minneapolis!” The show starts at noon, transportation departs Toscana at 10:30 am in front of Building 26. MURDER MYSTERY DINNER “BETTING ON DEATH” Saturday, January 20, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM in Palazzo Vacanza RSVP by January 13; Cost: $5 Join the Toscana Suspects and Investigators as we try to decode the motive, means and opportunity associated with mystery-man Harold’s demise. Dinner will be served during this Vegas-themed murder mystery. Investigative teams of six people will be formed as guests arrive - or come as your own team of six. Contact Chris if you would like to be a suspect.
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Toscana Lifestyle
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HALL OF FLAME TOUR Tuesday, January 23, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Hall of Flame Museum Cost: $7 RSVP by January 16 Join us as we tour the The Hall of Flame Fire Museum & the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes. They have almost an acre of fire history exhibits, with over 90 fully restored pieces of fire apparatus on display, dating from 1725 to 1969. Your fee includes transportation, a snack pack, & our own guided tour. Transportation will depart at 10am. CREATIVE CRAFTING WITH DIANE Thursday, January 25, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM RSVP by January 18 Cost: $10 It’s almost Valentine’s Day! The best gift is a home-made one! Diane will guide the group through the creative making process in a fun and collaborative environment. Class may sell out and are only $10 for residents (payable directly to the instructor). RSVP by 1/18. PANCAKES AND PAJAMAS Saturday, January 27, from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Where else can you come to breakfast in your PJ’s? Wear your finest jammies and come to Palazzo Grande for a little breakfast. Please RSVP no later than January 25th so we can have enough pancakes! Residents are free, guests are $3 per person.
5TH ANNUAL BROADWAY COMPOSERS PROGRAM Tuesday, January 30, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Palazzo Vacanza RSVP by noon on January 29 Resident Bob Alexander returns for our 5th Annual Broadway Composers Program. The collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart produced classics such as, Blue Moon and My Funny Valentine. A sing-a-long will follow the presentation.
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 Association in a clearly marked envelope inside the drop box by the Lifestyle Director’s office in Palazzo Centro. Alternatively, you may register by clicking on the RSVP option included in the weekly email blast and you will automatically receive the 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 steward assessment dollars appropriately and avoid needless waste, and that the event experience is as smooth and enjoyable as possible for participants.
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CONCIERGE CORNER By Alicja Davis, Concierge
New Year Resolutions Another year went by and I’ve been reflecting on the past year and my goals for the year ahead. In this New Year 2018 I decided to take an alternative approach to my resolutions - I will choose my battles wisely. “Resolutions are a wonderful thing if we can keep them, but many resolutions go by the wayside because we have not done anything different with our mindset.” Monica Johnson Making new year resolutions is what comes to mind towards the end of each year. We leave the 365 days behind and we start from scratch. The turn of the year unveils a deceiving allure: That of the clean slate and bold improvements. The reality is that most of our resolutions will never come to fruition. Why? Because they’re unrealistic Most people are not capable to work out every single day and to consume a superfood meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Setting proper expectations is the key. Old habits The most common goal - losing weight. Majority of gym memberships are purchased in January. But then Friday comes along and we turn on our favorite Netflix show frequently accompanied by something to munch on small bag of chips won’t hurt! Old habits die hard and without awareness of how tackle them, it will be very difficult to loose those spare pounds. Fantasy People tend to visualize their goals. Buying a notepad and writing them down makes it more concrete. Daily affirmations help us get connected with our resolutions.
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But in reality, aspirational improvements can be only fulfilled by actions. Magic thinking won’t work. We forget about them And we forget quickly. The self - lying game starts over again and we postpone our resolutions until some indefinite future. The goal gets further away from us. (and our brain didn’t like it in the first place). A cognitive conflict A situation when we realize the following contradiction: I want to sleep in, but I have to get up early to get my workout done. We tend to think: I will let myself sleep longer today, but will get back to my new routine tomorrow. It’s a common dissonance and one has to learn how to deal with a conflict between not working out and a desire to get in shape. The excuse is usually such that sleeping is also important, and getting up early seems excessive and overrated. We gravitate towards the perfect excuse to defend our integrity. The truth is, bad habits don’t go away at the end of the calendar year. So perhaps we should do away with these resolutions and instead, trying to simplify our commitments. Let’s reflect on what matters the most in the upcoming year. What is our passion? What tools do we need to pursue it? What are we willing to sacrifice to gain the time needed to achieve it? Recognizing our weaknesses (and strengths) and accepting our ordinary constraints brings us closer to any resolution.
In and Around Toscana
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MANAGER TIDBITS
By Dick Rosenhagen, Community Manager Happy New Year!
RESIDENT GROUPS, CLUBS & CLASSES
I hope everyone had a fun and safe Holiday Season. As we enter into 2018 at Toscana we look forward to the upcoming future of this community. It is an exciting and positive time for Toscana with construction will be starting on the East side of the property with the Montreaux and Manor Village Life Center and the new designs on the West side of the property called the Luxe. We also have two open owner positions on the Board with three owners running for the positions at the upcoming Annual Meeting on February 12, 2018.
BILLIARDS CLUB: Wednesdays at 1:00pm, Billiards Room in PG. Contact: Lynn at 602-301-5010 BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR: Mondays at 5pm in PG BYOB
Wishing all residents of Toscana a happy and prosperous 2018!
LADIES PING PONG: 3rd Tuesday of each month at 11am, PV. Contact: Heyam at heyambonnamy@gmail.com MAHJONG CLUB: Mondays at 6:30pm, PG. STUD POKER CLUB: Wednesdays at 6:00pm, PG. Bring $5 and your poker face. Contact Phil at 480-513-3615. BOOK CLUB: January 17 at 6:30pm “One Summer in America 1927” by Bill Bryson in PV
At the Annual Meeting, the owners will be casting their vote for the two open positions for owner representation on the Board of Directors via a preference election. The Developer will then appoint the two owners receiving the most votes to the Board of Directors for a two year term. The ballots will be provided to owners in electronic form from a third party contractor that will facilitate and count the ballots. Please be on the lookout for the email with the Ballot to cast your vote, should you need a paper ballot one will be available to pick up at the office at the Palazzo Centro. Just a reminder… Holiday lights and decorations visible from the outside of the unit must be removed by January 7, 2018 as determined by the CC&R’s.
HIKING CLUB: January 22, depart Toscana at 10 am. Contact: Gary at gwood@telusplanet.net
HAND & FOOT CLUB: Thursdays at 6pm, PG. Contact Marge at 480-585-0494 COFFEE SOCIAL: Each Wednesday and Friday at 9:00am in PG Kitchen BINGO: January 10 at 6:00pm, PG $6 per card, Contact: Marge at 480-585-0494 CANASTA: Mondays in January at 10am, PG WATER AEROBICS: TUE/TH 9:30 - 10:15 PG Pool $10/Person/Session GENTLE YOGA: Fridays at 11am in PV; $5/Person/Session CHAIR YOGA: Wednesdays at 11 am in PV; $5/Person/Session No class on January 3
TAI CHI: Thursdays at 10 am in PV; $10/Person/Session No class on January 4 Please contact creeder@toscanaliving.net for more information.
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Toscana Events and Programs Clubs
January 2018 Monday
Sunday
Tuesday 1
OFFICE CLOSED
7 BAGELS AND BREW DANTE’S CORNER 8:30AM
Events Association Wednesday
2 OFFICE CLOSED
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COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
Thursday 3
4 WATER AEROBICS PG 9:30AM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM
Friday COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FIREHOUSE FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
Saturday 5
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9 WATER AEROBICS PG 9:30AM MEET THE CANIDATES PV 6PM
10 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM RESIDENT BINGO PG 6PM
11 WATER AEROBICS PG 9:30AM GOOD THYME COOKING DEMO AND BRUNCH PV 11AM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM
12 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM COYOTES VS OILERS OFFSITE 6PM
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15 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM CANASTA PG 10AM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
16 WATER AEROBICS PG 9:30AM PING PONG PV 11AM TRUCKIN TUESDAYOFF THE HOOK PG 5PM
17 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM BOOK CLUB PV 6:30PM
18 WATER AEROBICS PG 9:30AM TAI CHI PV 10AM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM HERBERGER LUNCHTIME THEATER OFFSITE 10:30AM
19 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
20 MURDER MYSTERY DINNER PG 5:30PM
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22 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM CANASTA PG 10AM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM HIKING CLUB OFFSITE 10AM
23 WATER AEROBICS PG 9:30AM TOUR OF THE HALL OF FLAME MUSEUM OFFSITE 10AM
24 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
25 WATER AEROBICS PG 9:30AM TAI CHI PV 10AM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM CREATIVE CARD CLASS PG 2PM BOARD MEETING PV 9AM
26 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
27 PANCAKES AND PAJAMAS PG 8:30AM
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29 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM CANASTA PG 10AM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
30 WATER AEROBICS PG 9:30AM 5TH ANNUAL BROADWAY COMPOSERS PROGRAM PV 6PM
31 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM CANASTA PG 10AM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
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In and Around Toscana ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES by Kevin Wiegel, Administrative Assistant Community Bulletin Board
Some of you might not know that we have a community bulletin board. Have you got a parking space to rent? A bed to sell? Check out the bulletin board in the lobby of Building 25 (Palazzo Grande) across from the desk. The board was installed to allow the residents to market items and services to your Toscana neighbors. Please remember to keep your post small to allow enough room for everybody. We also have a classified ad section on our website at www.toscanaliving.net.
With the holidays behind us, let me remind you of the Toscana policy concerning holiday decorations on front doors. Decorations are limited to 15 days before and 15 days after each holiday withing the holiday season. Decorations for all other holidays may only be visible from the inside and/or interior of the unit. As always, please feel free to email, call or visit us with any questions. Wishing you happy and prosperous New Year!
ASSISTANT MANAGER UPDATES by Nicole Careaga, Assistant Manager Annual Meeting 2018 As Dick mentions in his article the Annual Meeting is fast approaching and is shaping up to be an exciting evening filled with superheroes, laughs and prizes. As part of our meeting this year, the Board will be appointing two residents to the Board of Directors based on the results of a preference election. Be sure to keep an eye on your email as you should be receiving an electronic ballot on January 8.
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On Tuesday January 9, at 6pm you will have an opportunity to meet and ask questions of the candidates prior to placing your vote. Electronic Ballot swill need to be submitted prior to February 8, to tally the results. Then the night you have all been waiting for, the Toscana 2018 Annual Meeting will be held at 6pm on Monday, February 12, at Aviano. We hope to see all of you there to celebrate Toscana and ring in 2018 with a Bang!!
In and Around Toscana UPDATES FROM YOUR MAINTENANCE TEAM
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By John Raabe
waste bin.
Garbage rooms As you all know each building has one garbage room, and in it is a recycle bin and trash bin. There are a lot of people in each building especially now that everyone is home, so we all need to be considerate of our fellow neighbors when using these bins.
If it is a heavy trash day and the bin for your building is full it would be appreciated if you could take it to another trash room that is not full so we don’t have to spend more time cleaning up spilled trash. Please do not just throw your bags into the bins, this causes trash to fly everywhere and sometimes splashes liquids onto the walls which is very hard to get out.
Please make sure to break down your boxes when placing them in the recycle bin, and also avoid covering the empty bins at the bottom, because we are losing space when that happens. If your boxes are very large it would be better to break them down and sit them up against the wall instead of putting them in the
If you live in a casita, please tie your garbage bags. It is a long trip to the compactor and we do not want trash blowing everywhere. Also, by not tying your garbage bags, the birds can dig through them and spread garbage making more work for the maintenance crew.
OnTime Transportation Group Driven by Service
Airport Transportation Private Car Service Private Jet Charter TOSCANA One way Sky Harbor Airport
$50.00
One way Phoenix/ Mesa Gateway
$100.00
877.944.6111 www.OnTimePCS.com info@OnTimePCS.com
The stress of moving from winter to summer homes can be overwhelming and OnTime is able to help with relieving the stress. We will provide a driver to drive your car from one home to the other. Our drivers like company so if you have a pet we would be more than happy to have them accompany us on the ride.
Please call 602.449.0252 for more information.
Licensed – Bonded – Insured CAUTION: Read our Blog as to why it is important to use a Licensed Private Car Service.
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Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
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In and Around Toscana MOVIE REVIEW: THE SHAPE OF WATER By Gil Berkowitz
A WHIMSICAL, LOVELY FAIRY TALE Guillermo del Toro is a wonderful director and filmmaker (Pan’s Labyrinth). He has a knack and sense of maturity for fantasy and artistry. “The Shape of Water’” is a film that possesses such enchantment. It is del Toro’s tribute to the horror film genre reminiscent of “Creature From the Black Lagoon” and “Beauty and the Beast.” The movie begins with the camera gliding through a teal green water world, past chairs, lamps and tables swirling in the interior of a flooded apartment. Also, underwater, is a woman sleeping comfortably on the living room sofa. We then hear the soft voice of the narrator. “If I told you about her, the Princess Without Voice, what would I say?” And thus we are introduced to a sleeping beauty and a world of enchantment. Our sleeping beauty is Elisa (Sally Hawkins) in a mesmerizing performance of strength and vulnerability. She is a mute woman leading a quiet life in Baltimore. She lives alone but has a pleasant relationship with her neighbor Giles (Richard Jenkins). He is a commercial artist. Her other friend is Zelda (Octavia Spencer), who is her co-worker on the janitorial crew at a clandestine government facility.
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Elisa and Zelda are aware that something called the Asset (Doug Jones), is hidden behind the security door to the top secret laboratory in the research facility. Scientists and military people march in and out of the secret lab as Elisa and Zelda clean nearby. The lab’s head of security, Col. Strickland (Michael Shannon) is the man who captured the Asset. He treats the Asset cruelly. Elisa while cleaning inside the lab looks inside the window of the facility’s aquarium, where she discovers a blueskinned, amphibious man from the Amazon, where he was considered a god. He was kidnapped by Strickland; brought to North America and imprisoned for research. Elisa, recognizing a kindred spirit in this isolated, badly treated creature, begins bringing him snacks and plays him Benny Goodman music. She feels a true heartto-heart connection. One of the scientists is a Russian spy and is ordered to kill the Asset before the Americans learn too much. Elisa, Zelda and Giles team to help the Asset. The excitement and thrills begin. “The Shape of Water” is a marvelous movie. It is an adult fairy tale full of truths about racism and the fear of the unknown. It is a gem and one of the year’s best. The movie is playing at Harkins theaters throughout the valley and runs for 123 minutes. It is rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, violence and language.
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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