Toscana Living July 2018 by Toscana of Desert Ridge

JULY 2018

Living

INSIDE DIAMONDBACKS VS ROCKIES

JAMMIN WITH JAVA

M U RL A PROJECT

12 WEEKS. 12 ARTISTS. 12 MURALS. JUNE 1 - SEPTEMBER 3

S H O P D E S E RT R I D G E .CO M / E V E N TS / M U R A L P R O J EC T

Toscana Lifestyle A WORD FROM THE LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR

By Chris Reeder, Lifestyle Director

Beat the Heat and Give a Spritz! By now the heat could be getting to you. If it is, Spritz Yourself! Keep a spray bottle in the refrigerator, and when the going gets hot, give yourself a good spritz. Any spray bottle will work, but if you want to get fancy, there are battery powered fans available on Amazon for under $10 that are pretty “cool”. Because we live in a dry environment, evaporative cooling is very efficient. Back in the old days (like 30 years ago), Phoenix homes were equipped with evaporative coolers, commonly called swamp coolers. Some area homes still have evaporative cooling. They work great until monsoon season humidity creeps in. Then the air feels a little…swampy. “It’s all about thermal regulation,” says John Lehnhardt, an elephant expert at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. “As the water evaporates, it cools you.” While elephants wet their ears first by blasting water from their trunks, humans should begin with their wrists to quickly cool down the blood flowing through their veins. By keeping a spray bottle in the fridge, you can forget all about the Phoenix heat. Well, not really- but the heat becomes much more bearable with a cooling mist!

TOSCANA SIGNATURE EVENTS TOSCANA RESIDENT FRIDAY SOCIALS Fridays in July at 5 PM Palazzo Grande RSVP by Friday at noon Food, fun and conversation in the Palazzo Grande Fiesta Kitchen - open to all Toscana residents. Join us for some snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. BYOB! The Friday Socials are FREE.

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 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 Katie Lucas Administrative Assistant klucas@toscanaliving.net NIGHT MANAGERS: Don Meeks Jackie Hernandez 480-861-0875 MAINTENANCE: John Raabe Maintenance Supervisor Keith Buc Kevin Wilson Ignacio Santana GATE HOUSE: Ron McCroskey, Saffron Caudle Chet Sanders, Hector Perez, Willie Davis 480-513-0602

SINGO - MUSICAL BINGO Friday, July 13, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Palazzo Vacanza Let's Play Singo! This musical bingo will test your song knowledge of music from different decades! Bring your favorite beverage from your favorite time period and enjoy the good vibes!

ON THE COVER MURDER MYSTERY

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Toscana Lifestyle

TRUCKING TUESDAY - BAYOU BISTRO Tuesday, July 17, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Palazzo Grande Cobblestones Come on down to the Palazzo Grande pool area for a Bayou Dinner! The Bayou Bistro food truck will be serving from 5-7pm. Bring your appetite... and your wallet! Check out their site here: www.bayoubistroaz.com DIAMONDBACKS VS ROCKIES Saturday, July 21, from 3:30 p.m to 8:00 p.m. Cost: $48 includes transportation RSVP by July 20 This should be an awesome game with our D-Backs hosting the Rockies! Your $48 ticket includes: transportation, parking and admission (seats are in Baseline Reserve section) to the game. Game starts at 5:10pm, depart Toscana at 3:30. It's also Jake Lamb Bobblehead night! Tickets are limited and may sell out! NATIONAL CHILI DOG DAY Thursday, July 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Palazzo Grande Cost: $3 RSVP by July 25 Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Chili Dog Day! Spice up your evening at the Palazzo Grande Fiesta Kitchen on Thursday, July 26 from 5:30-7:00pm. A fabulous Chili dog bar will be available, along with non-alcoholic beverages. Please RSVP prior to July 25 to ensure your dog is ready! Only $3 per ticket! TOSCANA TEAM TRIVIA Saturday, July 28, from 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Palazzo Vacanza Join your Toscana neighbors for an evening of great conversation and live team trivia. Teams will be organized as you arrive- or you may register as a team of 6. Special prizes and bragging rights to the winning teams! Go for the Big Brain Award!

JAMMIN WITH JAVA Sunday, July 29, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Palazzo Grande RSVP by July 27 Join Guitarist Pete Pancrazi in the Palazzo Grande Fiesta Kitchen for a little java and music. It will be a gorgeous way to start your day! We hope to see you there!

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Toscana Events and Programs Clubs

July 2018 Monday

Sunday 1

JAMMIN WITH JAVA PG 9AM

MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM

Events Association Tuesday

Wednesday 3

LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE MEETING PV 2PM

HAND & FOOT PG 6PM

Friday 5

COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM

Saturday 6

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

12 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM

13 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING PV 9:30AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM SINGO PV 6PM

18 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM BOOK CLUB PV 6:30PM

19 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM

20 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM

21 DIAMONDBACKS VS. ROCKIES OFFSITE 3:30PM

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

26 HAND & FOOT PG BILLIARD ROOM 6PM CHILI DOG DAY PG 5:30PM

27 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM

16 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM

23 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM

30 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM

LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE MEETING PV 2PM TRUCKINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TUESDAY PG 6PM

HOA OFFICE CLOSED COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM

Thursday

TEAM TRIVIA PV 5:45PM

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Toscana Lifestyle CONCIERGE CORNER By Alicja Davis, Concierge “LOVE is all you need” in Vegas

Last summer my husband and I drove to Las Vegas to see the Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil at the Mirage Hotel and Casino. The show was incredible and I decided to see it again with a group of friends just a few months later. It was magical – and evoked the same level of excitement and awe both times. LOVE takes you on unforgettable journey of the 1960s through the compilation of classic Beatles songs that revolutionized the music industry. The extraordinary story of this legendary band is told by stunning performance of Cirque du Soleil acrobatic and dance artists. Everything about the show delivers the highest quality: the music, the superb sound and projection system, the athleticism and agility of the dancers, the outstanding visual effects and truly astonishing aerial acts. Music is the prominent “figure” of this captivating show and the brilliant choice of songs recreates the bits and pieces of the band’s exciting history. Some of the Beatles’ philosophy is outlined in a humorous splice of their chats accompanied by an outstanding choreography and digital projection. LOVE starts with an orchestral version of Because, takes you to a lively rendition of Get Back, and intertwines the

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hits like Help, Hey Jude, and Twist & Shout, to completely melt your heart with a stunning dance act in Something or While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

Over a decade from its debut, LOVE continues to deliver a beautiful message to all generations and keeps the Beatles legendary music alive. “All you need is love” speaks to people of all nations and encompasses the feeling of youth, peace and love. An absolute must-see! NEW VIP PARTNER We are pleased to introduce our new VIP Partner Cien Agaves Tacos & Tequila, North Scottsdale. Casual, upbeat and fun, Cien Agaves is a favorite among locals and seasonal residents for tasty tacos and top shelf tequila. Stop in for lunch, happy hour or dinner and enjoy a lively atmosphere, fabulous service and unbeatable Mexican cuisine. Toscana residents receive 15% off the entire bill (does not include Happy Hour or other specials). Cien Agaves is located right by 101 Harkins.

In and Around Toscana ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES

By Katie Lucas, Administrative Assistant Rules and Regulations Reminder Do you remember the first time you walked on to the Toscana property? Between the gorgeous landscaping, various pools and engaging fire features, Toscana can feel like an oasis in the middle of the drab desert. We love for our residents to drive through the front gates and instantly say “Now this feels like home!” Part of maintaining that tranquil feeling of being able to escape the daily grind and relax in your home comes from pride of ownership. Here at Toscana, there are a few rules and regulations in place to help preserve the beauty of our property, and I’m here to lend a reminder of a few of them! Parking In order to have space for all the beautiful and luxurious amenities that Toscana boasts, the majority of our parking exists solely underground, in the parkades. Due to the limited surface parking, residents are required to always park in their designated parkade space, with the corresponding parking space decal planted in the bottom left hand corner of the front windshield, behind the steering column. Missing your sticker? Come visit me! I’m happy to provide you with a new one! Resident’s guests are required to obtain a day pass from the guard house and must park on the surface. Please remember, any vehicle not parked in the correct location and/ or displaying proper documentation will be ticketed or booted, dependent on the number of parking violations incurred. Balcony/Patio In this Arizona heat you’ll find that your balcony or patio is the best way to enjoy the great outdoors…by being steps away from air conditioning! In order to keep this prime location in tip top shape, we require all outdoor living spaces to be kept in a clean and organized matter. Storage of personal items (i.e. bicycles, pool floats, trash, etc.) and drying clothing or towels in this area is not permitted. Not only do these things detract from the

views within our community, they also increase your risk of losing your belongings. Pets In addition to personal items, Toscana does not allow pets to be left unattended on balconies or patios. Our furry friends have a way of sneaking off when they aren’t being watched, so we ask that owners be present with their pets any time they are outside the interior of the unit. Any pets in a common area (hallways, sidewalks, etc) must be on a standard, non-extension leash, 6’ or less in length and owners must be carrying their pet registration I.D. All pets, dogs or otherwise, must be registered with the Association. Registration forms can be obtained at the office, and a photo is required. While Toscana is a pet friendly community, there are a few places that pets are not allowed, including the turf areas, amenity buildings and pools. Please also remember to pick up after your pet, as the first time you are found to leave a little “present” behind can result in a $200 fine! Parking Storage As you descend into our shaded parkade (and thank the Toscana developers for providing your car a place to hide away from the sun), you may notice a few parking spaces with a wire cage attached to the wall in front of them. These cages are the only Board Approved personal storage space for the parkade area. Any personal items found stored in the parkade (except foldable grocery carts), outside of approved storage areas, will result in a violation. Personal items left for more that 30 days will be disposed of. If you would like to speak with Alissa Becker to find out if your parking space is compatible with a storage cage, please feel free to contact Statesman at 480-248-3300. More Rules and Regulations Want to refresh your memory on more of the Toscana rules and regulations or have any questions? Feel free to stop by our office or visit our website, toscanaliving. net, where a list of policies can be found under the “Resources” and “Community Documents” tabs.

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In and Around Toscana ASSISTANT MANAGER UPDATES By Nicole Careaga, Assistant Manager Thank you to our Committee Members

Here at Toscana we are very lucky to have three committees to provide feedback and recommendations to the Board of Directors on behalf of our residents. Being a committee member is not always easy, as there are many rules to follow and tough decisions to be made. As with the Board of Directors, the committees are forced to abide by the open meeting law which requires them to provide 48 hour notice to all residents of the scheduled meeting, along with conduct all of their business in an open and transparent forum. The committees are not able to meet behind closed doors, or make any type of decisions without the residents having the opportunity to provide feedback. Each of our committees has a particular function and can be assigned projects by the Board. Here is a brief explanation of each: Budget & Finance Committee is responsible for working with the management team on the creation of the annual budgets and will also begin working on a 3-5 year plan to keep expenditures down and reserves funded all while working to ensure projects are not deferred that could cause extra costs. Landscape Committee is working with our landscape vendor DLC along with the management team to keep

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Toscana looking great. They have already begun working on an Arbor plan for tree removal and trimming. This year they will be working with the Budget Committee to increase funds for plant replacement and enhancements to the flower beds. Lifestyle Committee works very closely with Chris to create a robust lifestyle calendar and are currently brainstorming ideas for resident feedback. The members of the committee are also expected to partake and volunteer at a number of events throughout the year to assist Chris with the dĂŠcor and cleanup of some of the larger events. Typically the committees meet once a month and are always on the calendar and open to the residents. Each of our committees is vital to the success of Toscana and we would love to have you come out and attend a meeting, or join and be part of this fun planning and decision making process. If you are interested in joining one of our committees, please reach out to Chris or I and we would be happy to discuss in further detail your involvement. On behalf of myself and the entire Toscana Team, we want to send a huge THANK YOU to all of our committee members.

In and Around Toscana MANAGER TIDBITS

By Dick Rosenhagen, Community Manager Board Meeting Update Summer is upon us and with that comes the larger projects that need to be completed in the community. The Board of Directors met on June 28 and made a number of decisions for the community. Below is a recap of the decisions made by the Board at their meeting. MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATION The Board Approved removing eight trees from the property, six of the trees are the sissoo trees and they are causing damage to landscape and curbing. Two of them are located on the South side of Building 15, three are located on the North side of Building 24 and one is located on the Southeast corner of Building 11. In addition to the sissoo trees, the Board approved removing the palo verde tree under the American Flag so we can lower our flag when directed by the government. Finally, we are removing a tree on the Southwest corner of Building 14 that has been vandalized. Should you have any information on who vandalized the tree, please contact Dick Rosenhagen at 480-585-0808. The tree being removed has been estimated to be valued at $2,300.00 and will cost the association an additional approximate $1,000.00 to remove it and replace it, making the total loss $3,300.00. The annual tree trimming was approved and we anticipate the work to begin in the next three to four weeks. The Board approved repainting and adding glass beads to the stop bars located on the asphalt on the North and South three way intersections. CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION The Board approved a new Parking Policy; we will be sending the new policy out via email blast to the community. The three resident Board Members will be taking on the responsibility of the reviewing architectural requests and will be developing Design Guidelines for the community.

The new CC&Râ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Plat were approved by the DRCA at their last Board Meeting, as soon as we have the new documents, we will be sending them out. As a result, this allows Toscana to proceed with moving all of the responsibilities of the Maintenance Association to the Condo Association. The Board approved the new combined budget which includes all of the Maintenance Association and Condo Association costs into one budget. You will be receiving a letter explaining this along with the new budget for the remainder of the year in the mail. The Board approved repainting Building 15, Palazzo Centro, the wrought iron around the pools, entry gates, ramadas, light poles and re-coating all three of the pool decks. Please be on the lookout for further communication regarding the upcoming painting project. The roofs of Building 14 and 24 were approved to be re-coated. As soon as we have the schedule we will be communicating with the residents in these buildings. The 2018/2019 Insurance Policy was approved for renewal. The good news is that our premium went down for the first time by $3,400.00. The Board approved sending a Lifestyle Fun Friday Survey. Please watch for the survey via email and your chance to win a prize by simply responding to the survey. The ice machine in the Palazzo Grande will be replaced with a new machine that will have the condenser located in pantry area which should reduce the noise of the machine. As you can see we are going to have a busy summer with multiple projects going on. Please watch for further communication on all of these items. Have a wonderful summer and do your best to stay cool.

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In and Around Toscana UPDATES FROM YOUR MAINTENANCE TEAM By John Raabe, Maintenance Supervisor Unit Water Shut Off Valves

Over the years here at Toscana, we have had some issues with water. In an effort to try and stop some of these issues before they become a crisis, I would like to talk about the shut off valves located inside your units. If you did not already know, every unit has its own water shut off valve located behind a metal door inside your laundry room, there is a hot water and a cold water shut off, which when functioning correctly will shut off all water to your unit in case of emergency or if you need to make repairs. Some of the issues that we see around the property are valves that fail to work, valves that leak, and broken valves. Valves that fail to work These valves constantly have water running or sitting in them which can cause buildup and corrosion. If the valves go too long without being used, they could fail when you go to use it in an emergency. The valve handle could freeze up causing you to be unable to rotate the handle at all. Another problem occurs when the mechanism inside the valve fails allowing the handle to rotate freely without turning the water off. This is particularly important if you have an emergency in your unit and need to turn the water off in a hurry to stop flooding - but you will not be able to and, consequently, a lot of damage may occur. Leaking valves Just like anything that deals with water, these valves have gaskets that can go bad over time and start to leak. Due to location of the valves in your unit, you may not notice the leak which could go on for a while causing a lot of unseen damage behind the walls or in units below you. Broken valves The broken valves category relates to both; what I have seen happen here is residents who have some work done

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in their unit, proceed to shut off the water and valve freezes. Frustration causes them to push harder and break the valve which could result in anything from a little trickle of water to full on flooding. If this happens, it is necessary to shut off water in the whole building - which takes time to get done. Also, depending on the floor, this could mean there is a lot of water still in the pipes that could potentially drain into the unit, causing significant damage.

Solution I know this all sounds pretty scary, but there is an easy fix for all of these issues: "exercising" your valves. I would recommend to do this once a week, but once a month will suffice. All you need to do is gently open and close each of the valves 5-10 times, as this will stop the valve from freezing. At the same time you will be regularly inspecting the valves for leaks - leave the valves in the off position and run your sink to make sure the valves are functioning correctly in case of an emergency. When going to shut off or turn on the valves you should be very careful to not apply too much pressure - if you feel any kind of resistance in the valve, it is best to contact a plumber. As always, please feel free to contact the association office at 480-585-0808 with any questions you might have .

In and Around Toscana MOVIE REVIEW: THE RIDER

By Gil Berkowitz Contemporary Western is Melancholy Tale “The Rider” is set and filmed on the desolate, poverty stricken Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It is an emotionally moving story of Sioux cowboy, Brady Jandreau. The film is based on fiction and fact but feels emotionally accurate as it gives us a look into the heart of a young man who wanted only one thing in life, then realizes he could never have it. All the portrayals in this film are the actual people who experienced the events. The movie begins on an ordinary morning. Brady (Brady Jandreau) wakes up and goes through his morning routine. He makes breakfast, brushes his teeth and removes the staples from a head wound. We get a vivid picture of a large gash on the side of Brady’s head. Brady is a rodeo rider who suffered a severe head injury after being thrown by a bronc. The accident near killed him. The doctors tell him getting on a horse again could be fatal. He has a metal plate in his head and gets seizures that lock up his right hand into a fist. Brady must figure out what to do with himself now that he is deprived of his passion in life. Chloe Zhao’s low key direction captures the day-to-day reality of a modern day cowboy. The pressure to pay bills, the rapport between the riders and hard work of training and riding horses. Brady is surrounded by family and friends. His father is brusque but empathic. The relationship in the film that is heart-warming is between

Brady and his 15 year old sister Lily. It is a tender bond. She has developmental disabilities but is devoted to Brady. His friend Lane Scott has been institutionalized with severe disabilities from his own rodeo injuries. Lane is unable to speak, so Brady designs a special physical therapy exercise to help him. Jandreau, in a beautifully underplayed performance, captures the conflict within himself. He talks in clipped tones of the reality of his situation. He sells his favorite horse because the family needs the money. The film is not

as depressing as it sounds but rather a masterful character study and a tribute to a man’s spirit. The heart of the man is revealed when the camera captures a breathtaking shot of Brady riding his favorite horse, the sun glinting behind them, and you know how hard this life he has is to give up. This is a beautiful film, certainly not to be missed. It is playing at select Harkins theaters and runs for one hour and forty four minutes. Rated R for language.

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