Living
JUNE 2018
INSIDE NEW RESIDENT MIXER
LAVENDER FESTIVAL
GRILL LIKE A PRO
SUMMER FUN GUIDE COOL SUMMER NIGHTS CHILL OUT THIS SUMMER AND ENJOY INTERACTIVE WATER ACTIVITIES, REFRESHING TREATS, GAMES, PRIZES AND MORE ALL AT THE SPLASH PAD!
THURSDAY, JUNE 14 THURSDAY, JULY 19
MOVIES IN THE COURTYARD "SET SAIL FOR DESERT RIDGE MARKETPLACE" FOR THE SUMMER MOVIE SERIES FEATURING PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. PLUS, ENJOY PRE-SHOW ACTIVITIES BEGINNING AT 6PM WITH THE FEATURE FILM TO FOLLOW.
TUESDAY, JUNE 5 - CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL TUESDAY, JUNE 19 - DEAD MAN'S CHEST TUESDAY, JULY 10 - AT WORLD’S END TUESDAY, JULY 24 - ON STRANGER TIDES
SUNDAE FUNDAY SUNDAE FUNDAY IS BACK! COOL OFF WITH SWEET TREATS, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, LAWN GAMES AND MORE!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26 S H O P D E S E RT R I D G E .CO M / E V E N TS
Toscana Lifestyle A WORD FROM THE LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR
TL
By Chris Reeder, Lifestyle Director Lifestyle Budget
Happy 2019!! Well…not quite yet; it IS almost budget season for 2019, however. For the Lifestyle Department, it’s important to plan out our major programming ahead of time for both the budget and for reserving resources. Our wonderful Lifestyle Committee members have conveyed input for the 2019 activity calendar. If you have suggestions or ideas to submit for programs to add to the Lifestyle calendar, kindly stop by my office or send a quick email. Of course you could share your creative thoughts with a Lifestyle committee member as well! Our goal is to provide engaging activities that are inspired for and by our community at Toscana.
TOSCANA SIGNATURE EVENTS TOSCANA RESIDENT FRIDAY SOCIALS Fridays in June 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. GRILL LIKE A PRO Thursday, June 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. Palazzo Grande Pool Cost: $20 per person; RSVP by June 4 Learn to “Grill Like a Pro” with chef Devin Clough, one of the best pitmasters in the Valley. The evening’s menu includes appetizers - Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, Grilled Veggies and Meat Skewers; and main course consists of Steak/Chicken/ Burgers with Garlic Mashed Potatoes - all for only $20 per person! Space is limited and your RSVP is required. Bon Appétit!
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
ON THE COVER DON AND MIMI
Toscana Living | 3
TL
Toscana Lifestyle
MURDER MYSTERY DINNER - HULAS & HOMICIDE Saturday, June 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Palazzo Vacanza Cost: $7 Join our resident suspects for this interactive who-dun-it dinner! You may register as a group of six, or your team will be formed upon arrival. Please email creeder@toscanaliving.net if you are interested in playing a suspect part. Tickets are only $7 per person. This very popular program will sell out, so register quickly! BAGELS AND BREW - FATHER’S DAY EDITION Sunday, June 17, from 8:30 a.m to 10 a.m. Dante’s Corner Relax and have a neighborly chat on this Happy Father’s Day! Coffee and bagels will be served at Dante’s Corner in Toscana. Special Doughnuts for Dads! 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. TRUCKING TUESDAY - QUP! BBQ Tuesday, June 19, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Come on down to the Palazzo Grande pool area for dinner! The QUP! BBQ food truck will be serving from 5-7 p.m. Bring your appetite and your wallet! Check out their Facebook page HERE. NEW RESIDENT MIXER Monday, June 25, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Palazzo Grande Fiesta Kitchen Let’s spend an hour meeting residents new to Toscana during the second quarter of 2018. All are welcome to this social mixer. LAVENDER FESTIVAL AT RED ROCK WINERY Thursday, June 28, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Concho, AZ Cost: $99 per person In Arizona’s arid climate, there’s one little purple blossom that adds a pop of brightness to the dusty red soil: lavender. The growers at Red Rock Lavender cultivate fields of the flowers, and once a year, they celebrate with their Festival! Tour includes transportation, admission, picnic lunch, a ‘u-cut’ bouquet, wine - tastings (four selections), and 10 percent off a bottle of wine. We hope you can join us for this fun adventure!
Toscana Living | 4
Toscana Events and Programs Clubs
June 2018 Monday
Sunday
Events Association
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
3
MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
4
10
11 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
17 BAGELS & BREW DANTE’S 8:30AM
18 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
24
25 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM NEW RESIDENT MIXER PG 5PM
LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE PV 2PM
RUMMYCUBE PG 1PM
PING PONG PV 11AM TRUCKIN’ TUESDAY PG 5PM
RUMMYCUBE PG 1PM
TL
5
Saturday 1
2
8
9
6
7 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM GRILL LIKE A PRO PG 6PM
12
13 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
14 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM
15 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
16 MURDER MYSTERY DINNER PV 5:30PM
19
20 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM BOOK CLUB PV 6:30PM
21 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM
22 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
23
26
27 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
28 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM LAVENDER FESTIVAL AT RED ROCK WINERY OFFSITE 8AM BOARD MEETING PV 9AM
29 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
30
COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM FINANCE COMMITTEE PV 9:30AM
Toscana Living | 5
TL
Toscana Lifestyle CONCIERGE CORNER By Alicja Davis, Concierge While things are heating up during the day this month, there are still some great evening activities to engage in during the summer months. Explore some seasonal highlights below - and stay cool!
Scottsdale ArtWalk Weekly on Thursday, from 7 - 9 p.m.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Free Concerts Every Sunday night through July 1 at 7:30 - 9 p.m. Recently recognized as one of the best live music venues in Arizona by Best of American Towns, Sunday’s at The Railroad Park are the place to be in Scottsdale this summer. Grab a blanket or a lawn chair and head over to the Railroad Park located on Scottsdale Road and Indian Bend to enjoy some great local bands. If you plan to bring children, they will be thrilled with the train and carousel rides (only $2 per ticket.) Food will also be available for purchase. Flashlight Tours at the Desert Botanical Gardens Saturday nights through September 1 at 7 - 9:30 p.m. Desert Botanical Flashlight Tours allow visitors to roam the open desert at night and explore variety of desert plants and wildlife after the sun goes down. This sensory adventure takes you through the sights and sounds of the desert’s unique nocturnal life. Bring a flashlight and wear comfortable, closed toe shoes. It’s a great adventure for families and children of all ages. Adults: $24.95, children $12.95
Toscana Living | 6
Scottsdale is home to more than 100 galleries exhibiting the finest art from both local and international artists. On Thursday nights, all of the art galleries and many highend shops stay open late to showcase their outstanding visual art, live music, and wine. Scottsdale ArtWalk is celebrated in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale Art District located between Main St. and 1st Avenue, and Scottsdale Road and 69th Street. Dining Valley restaurants have some of the best mist-cooled patios great for late dining or drinks and appetizers. For a great patio experience, check out Chelsea’s Kitchen, Olive & Ivy, or Grassroots Kitchen & Tap. Or walk across the street to hang out at Growler or Torch Cigar Bar! Stay cool!
In and Around Toscana ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES
TL
By Katie Lucas, Administrative Assistant Door Paint CertaPro has been working to get our front door painting project finished, and things are looking great! A few residents who have already received their fresh coat of paint have called asking for information on what to buy for any touch ups they may need in the future. In regards to that, we have great news! Once the painting project is complete, CertaPro has agreed to provide us extra paint, which we will be passing along to residents! The staff is putting together a list of interested owners for distribution once we have obtained the touch up paint. If you would like to receive a small pail for any chips that may happen down the line, please feel free to email me at klucas@ toscanaliving.net or give our office a call at 480-585-0808. Maintenance In relation to maintenance, you may wonder “what areas
are my responsibility to take care of ?” In general, anything within your unit is yours to maintain and anything on the exterior is the responsibility of the Association. Some things, however, can get a little confusing. If you ever have questions as to whether or not your maintenance concern falls under your own responsibility or ours, don’t hesitate to reach out! We are happy to help you determine responsibility and recommend service providers (some of whom may even provide discounts to Toscana residents!) if it is something you need to fix! If you ever see any common area maintenance concern, please reach out to our staff so we can get it fixed ASAP! Finally, I would like to take a moment to thank all the wonderful people at Toscana for the very warm welcome I have received my first month on the job! It has been an incredible learning experience and I am excited to continue to get to know all of our residents and the community.
ASSISTANT MANAGER UPDATES By Nicole Careaga, Assistant Manager How do I make my monthly HOA payments? A very common question that we encounter here at the office is “how can I pay my HOA dues?” We have a few options and one of them is bound to meet your needs. Direct Debit. This option is definitely the easiest and safest option in that you supply us with the information and we ensure that it is pulled each month around the 5th and will automatically update with any assessment changes. Also, this option never expires, and will be active until you decide to terminate the agreement or sell your unit. Check. Each December, we mail each of you a coupon book that has a coupon for each month of the year. On it is the amount owed, due date and mailing address.
Online E-check. This is a free option, that allows you to pay via an online e-payment HERE and all that is required is your banking information and your association account number. Online Recurring Payment is a free option that automatically pays your bill each month. This option requires that you schedule the payment and make any adjustments manually if the assessment amount changes. Note, this option does expire, and requires you to manually re-new it. Online Credit Card Payment. This option is $14.95 per occurrence and requires you to enter all of the information each month. As you can see, making your assessment payment really couldn’t be easier, plus I am always here if you have any questions or need further assistance.
Toscana Living | 7
TL
In and Around Toscana MANAGER TIDBITS
By Dick Rosenhagen, Community Manager Board Workshop The association held its first Board Workshop on May 24 during which our vendor, DLC Resources, gave a Landscape 101 presentation. The Board Workshops are a great opportunity to ask questions of the homeowner Board Members and the Management team. No decisions will be made at these sessions, but it is a way to open up the lines of communication, especially with your homeowner Board Members. We had a constructive discussion at the first workshop that included the following:
Painting – final touchups needed after the front doors are repainted. PG interior repaint we will discuss this with the Board of Directors.
Pool issues – we have been having some issue with swimmers trying to hang on the new scuppers. Please contact the office during weekdays and/or the Night Manager on nights and weekends to address this and any other concern you see at the pool. We will start working more patrols through the pool areas to help with this concern.
Moving van issues – the team will be keeping an eye on issues. We have made a moving van map for movers so they know where to park when moving. Overall, the first workshop was a success! We will be continuing these workshops on a quarterly basis and we are looking forward to the continued open lines of communication.
Building Lobby décor – research new solutions to replace the faux plants in the benches/ new décor ideas. Parkade re-striping – the management team has been actively looking for vendors who will bid this project. One of our issues is that we cannot get every car removed from the parkades for this to be completed.
Gym equipment relocation in the Palazzo Grande to allow for better flow in the gym. The team will look into the feasibility of making this happen. RANKING ARIZONA Do you love living in Toscana? Let the world know; vote for our community in the 2018 Ranking Arizona Survey. Each year, AZ Big Media allows Arizona residents to vote in a variety of categories, including Condominiums: High-Rise Living. Voting is now open; you’re able to vote once per day, so visit the voting site regularly and support your community! Thank you for taking pride in Toscana. We’re glad this feels like home.
Toscana Living | 8
In and Around Toscana
TL
UPDATES FROM YOUR MAINTENANCE TEAM By John Raabe, Maintenance Supervisor HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE AT THE POOL THIS SUMMER Summer means fun in our community, but while you’re using the pool this season, please remember to be safe and courteous of others so everyone can maximize their enjoyment. Keep these tips in mind:
We hope you have a great summer and look forward to seeing you out and about in the community. If you have any questions, please email any member of our team or call the Association Office at 480-585-0808. Stay safe!
RESIDENT GROUPS, CLUBS & CLASSES
Follow the rules. A full list of regulations and guidelines are posted at each amenity. Local authorities mandate many of these rules, and others have been enacted for your safety. If you see someone violating the rules, please alert a community team member.
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
Remember to share. As temperatures rise, more and more people want to use the pool. Be cognizant of available space around you and ensure everyone has a place to swim and play.
BINGO: Returns in September $6 per card, Contact: Barry Wilson BOOK CLUB: June 20 in PV, 6:30pm
Pay attention to your family and surroundings. Drownings can occur at any time, and the sound of a child calling out for help could be lost in the noise of activity. If you notice an emergency situation, call 911 immediately and then notify a team member.
CHAIR YOGA: Returning in fall
Keep the area clean. If you bring food or drinks (no glass is allowed) within the pool area, please remember to properly dispose of trash. Also, all food and drinks must be kept away from the pool edge. This helps to keep the amenities clean and free of pests.
HAND & FOOT CLUB: Thursdays at 6pm, PG. Contact Marge at 480-585-0494
Be friendly and have fun. Summer is a great opportunity to spend time with your neighbors and build connections between your families. Share your sunscreen with someone who forgot it, or take turns watching kids while the adults take a restroom break. The pool is a great place to make new friends.
COFFEE SOCIAL: Each Wednesday and Friday at 9:00am in PG Kitchen GENTLE YOGA: Returning in fall
HIKING CLUB: Returning in fall MAHJONG CLUB: Mondays at 6:30pm, PG. RUMMYCUBE: 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 1pm in PG STUD POKER CLUB: Wednesdays at 6:00pm, PG. Bring $5 and your poker face. Contact Phil at 480-513-3615. TAI CHI: Returning in fall WATER AEROBICS: Returning in fall
Toscana Living | 9
TL
In and Around Toscana MOVIE REVIEW: A BAG OF MARBLES By Gil Berkowitz
WWII DRAMA - BARBARIC TIME This is a French film with sub-titles. Actually a gem of a movie. “A Bag of Marbles” is based on the Joseph Joffo 1973 memoir of his Jewish youth in occupied France during WWII. The great value of this film is the degree with which it makes such a barbaric and confusing period in human history comprehensible for young audiences of today. It is not as harsh as “Schindler’s List”, yet makes it’s point. I believe teen age students will be completely engrossed in this approximate two hour film, which is impacting, heart rendering and whimsical. The audience will view the movie through the eyes of two brothers. They are 10 year old Joseph (Dorian LeClech) and his 12 year old brother Maurice (Batyste Fleurial). They are the youngest of four sons. Their father is a local Jewish barber in occupied Paris played by Patrick Bruel. The boys are so innocent of the German occupation that they a play a prank tricking two Nazi officers into their father’s barber shop only for Jews. However, their father is aware of the pending danger that the German officers present. He decides that the boys must be sent off by themselves, so as not to cause suspicion, to Nice, in the French “free zone”, where they all will meet as a family.
Toscana Living | 10
As the boys prepare for their arduous journey their father preps them on what they need to know in order to survive. There is a remarkable scene when their father tries to instill in them -quite shockingly - the magnitude of the dangers they will face. It is a bruising lesson that will stay with you. That they will at times need to deny their heritage in order to reach the “free zone. “The film is fast paced and moves quickly from one city to the next as the boys struggle to reach their destination. They rely on the kindness of strangers while still keeping their guard up. The film develops into an historical drama. Joseph is wonderfully courageous as he protects his older brother from a Nazi officer or making a decision to help Nazi collaborators. A must see jewel of a movie. Do not miss it. It is playing at the Harkins Shea 14 and runs for 110 minutes and rated NR.
The Luxe is an upscaLe haven for everyone who vaLues superior s e r v i c e s a n d a m e n i T i e s.