LIVING
toscana
KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW
READING RAINBOW MARCH 2021
Our Staff. Community Manager Nicole Careaga ncareaga@toscanaliving.net Assistant Community Manager John Raabe jraabe@toscanaliving.net Lifestyle Director Mark Gatchell mgatchell@toscanaliving.net Concierge Director Katie Lucas klucas@toscanaliving.net Administrative Assistant Wade Longworth wlongworth@toscanaliving.net Community Patrol/Admin Saffron Caudle scaudle@toscanaliving.net Maintenance Supervisor Daniel Renteria jdrenteria@toscanaliving.net Maintenance Staff Tyler Driscoll Night Managers Don Meeks, Jackie Hernandez 480.861.0875 Gate House Staff Chet Sanders, Joshua Oakley, Laura Taylor, MaryJane Vital, Emerson Glasgow 480.513.0602
ASSOCIATION OFFICE 5450 E Deer Valley Drive Building 2 Phoenix, AZ 85054 480.585.0808
AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY 602.234.9288
toscanaliving.net
Nicole's Noteables by Nicole Careaga
During my almost 13 years in the Community Management industry, I have heard one concern from residents more than any other: “How would I know that”, Where is that written”, “Why didn’t you tell us that”, “I didn’t know that”. Having the necessary information about where you are planning to move, or currently living, can make all the difference in your experiences in your home. The team and I do our best to provide not only the information about what is happening, and all the fun that comes from living in this beautiful community, but also the “nuts & bolts” about the association. This month we celebrate National Freedom of Information Day on March 16. To celebrate this unique day, we will be sending out reminders of where you PAGE 3
can find your CC&R’s and Toscana Living Guide, along with other tips, tricks and information you need to know. The team strives to insure that you are able to easily access anything you may need to know about Toscana, whether you are brand new to the community, or an original owner. The website has a vast amount of information that is able to be accessed easily after logging in. We store the association’s legal documents, financials, meeting information and landscape articles. Another great information source is by volunteering to be on a committee. The committees are involved in discussions about financial planning, goal settings and
event ideas. The committees are an integral part of our planning process and joining or attending these meetings will provide you with a great source of information. I am excited to announce that this month I will be hosting my quarterly Fireside Chat. This is the perfect opportunity to log in and ask me anything about the association. I love talking about our CC&R’s, financials and all things Toscana. Typically, residents come armed with their current list of need to know and we are able to discuss them in a casual setting. Join me on March 22, if you have any lingering questions, or just want to hear what others may be concerned with. Who knows, you may just get an answer you didn’t even realize you were looking for. If you are not able to attend the Fireside Chat do not hesitate to send an email my way (ncareaga@toscanaliving.net), or schedule an appointment to stop by the office. My door is always open, and myself and the team are always eager to assist with anything we can.
E L Y T S E F I L
toscana by Mark Gatchell
Sharpen Your Pencils The weather is beginning to warm, and the days are getting longer, which means March has arrived. As we continue to bring you your favorite events like bingo, JINDO, trivia nights, and various grab-and-go events, we are mixing things up a bit in March by bringing you Reading Rainbow Month! March is all about books here at Toscana. Have you ever dreamed of being an author and being number one on the New York Times bestsellers list? Do you have a story or tale you have written that the world should see? Many websites can help you get published. Selfpublishing.com is a great start, and if your goal is to sell your book on Amazon, start at bookbaby.com. Each site can help guide you to becoming that author you have wanted to be! Of course, if you want to publish your stories on a smaller scale, you can always enter into our two writing contests featured in March! Tell us a story in honor of National Write Your Story Day. We are inviting Toscana residents to submit a family-friendly story or tale of their own by March 15 for a chance to be featured in the next Toscana Living Magazine and win a gift card! Maybe you are a silent poet just wanting to unleash your creativity, in which case you can show off your best haiku as we celebrate National Poetry Day. All Haiku entries can be submitted up through March 22nd and should also be family-friendly. Your Haiku should contain three lines and follow the standard rules of 5, 7, 5 syllables. PAGE 5
To this day, my favorite author is Stephen King. I have spent many nights glued to his books, staying awake well into the night, forgetting I have to be up early the next day. The Shining kept me up many nights, as sounds I would typically hear at night, such as the wind blowing through a cracked window or creaking of the steps leading up to my front door, were amplified the deeper I got into each of his books. So, I'm excited to see how well each of you can bring me into your world through your stories and poems! Keep your eyes peeled for lots of fun events and contests for March. Be sure to sign up for my Tuesday Lifestyle eBlast, so you don't miss out on all the fun, and of course, check our Toscana Facebook page for additional information as well! Put on your creativity hats and submit your Haiku and/or story today!
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
MARCH SUN
MON 1
TUE 2
Association Events
7
8
9
14
15
16
21
JINDO 7-8pm
JINDO 7-8pm
WRITE YOUR STORY DAY 5pm
PANDA PALS PC 10am-6pm
22
23
LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE 2PM JINDO 7-8pm
FIRESIDE CHAT 6-7pm
WED 3
29
4
5
10
11
12
17
18
19
AFTERNOON BINGO 2-3pm
ST. PATTY'S DAY BINGO 2-3pm
24
JINDO 7-8pm
30
FRI
AFTERNOON TRIVIA 2-3pm
HAIKU CONTEST 5pm
28
THU
31
JINDO 7-8pm
JINDO 7-8pm
26
6
13
20
JINDO 7-8pm
25
SAT
JINDO 7-8pm
FOOD TRUCK PG 11:30am2:30pm
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TOSCANA
STAFF PICKS FAVORITE BOOKS FROM YOUR FAVORITE TEAM
Any Boo
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The G r e a te st S a l e s m an in th e W o r ld
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"I have been a huge fan of Stephen King’s work since I was about 12 or 13 years old. I was one of those kids that read the book under the covers with a flashlight after being told to go to bed. It’s hard to pick a favorite, although a couple times I read a book, then rented the movie to see where the differences were. Of course, the book it always better! I did that with Pet Cemetery and Misery. I love these kind of scary books that you can’t put down as you NEED to know what happens next!" -Saffron Caudle, Community Patrol/Admin
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"Chicks and Salsa by Aaron Reynolds, because who doesn't like a story about chickens making salsa?" -Daniel Renteria, Maintenance Supervisor
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Chicks and Salsa
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It's Your Ship
"It's Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff is a great read if you are looking to become not only a more effective leader, but also a servant leader. His stories about how he turned his ship around to make it the best run ship in the Navy is truly inspiring." -Nicole Careaga, Community Manager
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an ste r m The O end W eek
"One book that has always stuck with me and always recommended is The Osterman Weekend by Robert Ludlum. To many, he is considered a hack who mass-produced novel after novel, but The Osterman Weekend was riveting! Though I must say, the movie adaptation was awful and not worth your time; it doesn't give the book justice!" -Mark Gatchell, Lifestyle Director
"My favorite book is called The Greatest Salesman In The World by OG Madino and I enjoy this book because it teaches you to apply discipline and action to your life so you can possess true happiness." -Jackie Hernandez, Night Manager
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Sw or
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"My favorite book would have to be Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth Series. The book series is a favorite of mine due to how the concept of magic is applied along with the intrigue of morality and how the characters conduct themselves. Each character is alive and has a sense of purpose, while the story is sharp and written in a way that it flows smoothly. I would also note that this book series is NOT for children, but adults, as it contains graphic and explicit material." -Joshua Oakley, Gate Attendant
The Tea Rose Series
"So my favorite book is The Tea Rose. Its actually a series of three books by Jennifer Donnelly. I like the books mainly cause its about a young female that lost everything and came from nothing in the 1800s, Yet she was able to make something of herself." -Laura Taylor, Gate Attendant
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Can't Hurt Me
"One of my other favorite books is Cant Hurt Me by David Goggins. It’s about a man that has a tough childhood that overcomes the odds to become a Navy SEAL. After his time in the armed forces he became a ultra-marathon runner which is distances of 100 miles or more. He also talks about why he thinks we only use 40% of our capabilities and how we can reach our full potential." -Wade Longworth, Administrative Assistant
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t h gi r W n a v E y b
Generation Kill
"My favorite book is Generation Kill. It was written By Rolling Stones Journalist Evan Wright who was imbedded with the Marines of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. I like a couple things about this book. One is that I was in the that unit and knew some of the guys that were in the book, so it cool getting to read about the stories I heard first hand. Another thing I like about this book is that it is a first-hand account of the real life of a Marine in a combat situation and shows the things they have to deal with on a daily basis, from medal-hungry officers to boot privates who have no idea what they are doing, and it also shows the Marines in the their true nature which I love because we really were a different breed." -John Raabe, Assistant Community Manager
tin k y Face
M tr u o Cc
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I Lo ve "My favorite children’s book is I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt. One of my favorites to read to my little girl, about a mother’s unconditional love. I still occasionally sneak a note into her lunchbox that says, “I love you little greenie”!" -Chris Reeder, (Former) Assistant Community Manager
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"One of my favorite books is "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling. I’ve always loved a great showdown between good & evil and this has plenty of that going on. An emotional roller coaster that does a good job tying up loose ends of the franchise, while also rewarding long time fans of the series. Action packed from start to finish and I really couldn’t have asked for a better finale to the series." -Chet Sanders, Gate Attendant
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
"The "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series by Jeff Kinney is one of my favorites from my childhood. The stories are funny, but meaningful and the doodles add to the overall feel of the books truly being a "diary" for Greg to express his thoughts and adventures." -Tyler Driscoll, Maintenance Technician
y e n ni K ff e J y b
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
g n i l w o R . K. J y b
Red Scarf Girl
"I've never been one to have the patience for sitting down with a book. While the Harry Potter Series will always have a special place in my heart, though, "Red Scarf Girl" by Jili Jiang made a significant impact on how I see the world, when I was in school. It's a pretty eye-opening historical memoir that details what it was like to be a child during the start of the Chinese cultural revolution in 1966." -Katie Lucas, Concierge Director
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CONNECTION
community
by Katie Lucas
Pandas have always been my favorite animals; they're just so cute and lazy! Unfortunately, the giant panda has been on the endangered or vulnerable list for over 30 years, largely due to loss of habitat. This month, we are putting a special spotlight on National Panda Day, March 16, with a fun event for young readers and by providing a few resources for those of you who feel so inclined to send a donation and help charitable organizations whos mission it is to protect wildlife across the globe.
Please, Save the Pandas Being that pandas are my favorite animal, I was really excited to see a children's book about a grumpy little panda, trying to find a friend who knows how to say "please." In fact, I was so excited about this book, my husband and I bought it years before we welcomed our son into the world (and made sure it was one of the first books we read with him!). I am so excited to announce that on March 16, we will be offering a copy of one of my favorite children's books, Please, Mr. Panda, to young Toscana readers, for the low-low price of the word "please!" Supplies are limited for this event, so be sure to register early to reserve a copy for your little one (great for kids and grandkids!). This will be limited to one book per household, but be sure to bring all your "munchkins" along for pickup on the 16th for a special surprise!
Donation Resources There are two major players in the panda-conservation game, and those are the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Pandas International (PI). Founded in 1961, WWF has aided in over 10,000 projects across 157 countries and has been an invaluable source in raising awareness and funds for multiple endangered or otherwise at-risk species. There are multiple ways you can donate to WWF via their website, including purchasing apparel or other gifts, symbolically adopting a panda (which I personally do on an annual basis!), creating a Look at this precious face! "build a bucket" with plushies of your favorite at-risk animals, or just making a straight donation to the cause. All of these are great options for getting muchneeded funds to conservationists at WWF. A much more recent entrant into the conservation game, Pandas International has been around for just over 20 years and is dedicated solely to serving the giant panda. PI has clear goals in protecting the species, including veterinary training, disease prevention, reproductive research and more. You can also donate to PI through multiple avenues including the purchase of goods, the symbolic adoption of a panda, or a straightforward donation. PAGE 11
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Reeder's
DIGEST
by Chris Reeder
Letterjoy This past Christmas, my sisters and I shared the expense of a special gift to our mother. She has been raving ever since. You see, mom has always been an avid reader and history buff. Many a family dinner conversation during my childhood had reference to a historical figure or event. We stumbled upon an interesting company called Letterjoyand we are so glad we did. Letterjoy gift-givers can choose personal memberships or gift weekly historical letters from figures like Benjamin Franklin, or photographer Ansel Adams, to someone they care about. Each printed letter is accompanied by a carefully researched “postscript” section which describes the context of the associated letter, who the author and recipient were, and how the contents of the letter relate to other events throughout history. Michael Sitver, a young college student, created Letterjoy, to provide “spontaneous weekly dose of history and an enjoyable offline escape from the age of iPhones.” The letters sent by Letterjoy are found in archives, institutions, small libraries and private collections all over the world. “Sometimes we have to go to out-of-print books because a lot of the letters are not necessarily written by famous people,” he said. This was true of mom’s first letter, written by a newly freed slave sharing details about her new life. Mom shared that her penmanship was extra-ordinarily beautiful script. Letters mainly focus on American history from 1600-1960, but the company covers a wide array of subjects within that time period, and topics are explored from different angles every week. One of the topics mom is looking most forward to is “Civil War Spies”.
also enjoys reading them to me over the phone, especially since we haven’t seen each other in so long.
The experience of tearing into her latest envelope- to pull out a surprising letter on actual paper, sent through the US Postal service with a real stamp- is one my mom has thoroughly enjoyed. She saves each letter until she can sit (socially-distanced of course) with her friends. Then she opens her letter and reads the contents to her buddies. She told me she likes to read in the voice she imagines each author to have had, making it more of a performance. I imagine her rapt audience, and mom just enjoying the spotlight, as she does. She
Letterjoy has certainly lived up to its name for us bring extra JOY to mom, and her friends during the time of COVID. If you are interested in learning more about Letterjoy, their website is: https://www.letterjoy.co/
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WADE'S WORLD by Wade Longworth
While I was growing up reading was never really something that caught my interest. I was always the kid that wanted to play outside or was participating in sports. I would’ve done almost anything over reading, including watching television and playing video games. It took a while but I finally came around to knowing the feeling of a comfy chair, a good book, and a relaxing beverage. In honor of our Reading Rainbow month, I thought I would share with a little description of one of my favorite books that is the first in one of my favorite series. It is called "The Life We Bury" by Allen Eskens. "The Life We Bury" tells the story of Joe Talbert, who is a junior at the University of Minnesota, and receives a class assignment to write a biography of someone who has lived an interesting life. After going back and forth on who to write about, Joe finally decides to stop procrastinating and focus on his project instead of his job at a local bar. As he has no idea who to interview for this project, he comes up with the bright idea that he will head to a nursing home to find someone; because everyone there must have an interesting story, right? While at the nursing home, he meets Carl Iverson, a man dying of cancer who has been medically paroled after spending thirty years in prison for the murder of a fourteen-year-old girl. Carl agrees to tell Joe his story, and Joe sets out to get down to the bottom of the thirty-year-old murder. As Joe writes about Carl's life, especially Carl's valor in Vietnam, he cannot put together the heroism of the soldier with the despicable acts of the convict. To make things more complicated, Joe's alcoholic mother has started living with a low-life who hits Joe's eighteen-year-old brother, who has autism. Joe is torn by the guilt of going to college and abandoning his brother. Throughout the story, Joe has to intercede on multiple occasions to protect his brother and is conflicted every time he has to leave his brother behind. The power of that guilt weighs heavily upon Joe the entire story, and the enthralling ending will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you can make some time to read this book, I highly recommend it. This is just the first in a series that delves into multiple characters’ lives that are introduced in this novel. PAGE 14
by John Raabe
report
MAINTENANCE EMERGENCY CALLS We’ve all been there, 11:30 on a Friday night and out of nowhere there is no more hot water. What do you do next? Who do you call? How do you get info? This can be incredibly stressful. When something goes wrong in the building that is out of your control; such as no hot water or no water at all, the whole building loses power, or maybe water starts pouring from your ceiling; there a few numbers that you can call to get info moving along so you or the association can get in contact with the right person or vendor for the job. Obviously, the first number you should call in an emergency that is life-threating or dangerous is 911. The staff on property are not first responders and are not trained to handle violent situations, or even neighbor-to-neighbor disputes,. For small things, like noise complaints, the staff can attempt to make contact with resident and ask the politely to quiet down, but if your neighbor ignores us, it is your responsibility to call the police and file a complaint. When it comes to non-life-threatening building emergencies, like mentioned above, who you call will be determined by the day of the week, and time of day. Monday through Friday 8am-5pm, you will call the main office for just about anything. We will be able to get over to building to determine the source of the problem and, if it is an Association issue, either resolve it ourselves or call the right vendor to fix it. If the issue is determined to be a neighbor-to-neighbor or individual unit responsibility, we can also provide contacts for vendors who have done good work for other Toscana residents. We will send out eBlasts to residents affected, updating them of what is going on and when the problem is fixed. Monday thru Friday 5pm-2am and Saturday and Sunday 7am-3am, you will call the Night Manager phone,. They will be here on property and be able verify the issue and call the right person to rectify any PAGE 15
problems. Unless you specifically ask them to, they will not be calling and giving updates, so you may need to call them back, if you are looking for an update. If, during those times, you are not able to get a hold of the Night Manager or it is after those hours, you can call the CCMC Emergency Line. This is an answering service that is available 24/7 and will call us to let us know of emergencies, so we can start working on resolving them. This line is not specific to Toscana, so be sure to mention where you live! Another number you can always call is the Gate House. They are there 24/7 and can call the management team, as needed. Main office: 480-585-0808 Night Manager: 480-861-0875 Emergency Line: 602-234-9288 Gate House: 480-513-0602
s ' n o Saffrircle c
by Saffron Caudle
Palazzo Grande’s Lending Library In honor of National Returned Borrowed Books Week (March 1-7), I would like to re-introduce you to the lending library at the Palazzo Grande. The library is located on the 2nd floor, just off of the billiard’s room and to the left of the night manager’s office. All residents are welcome to utilize the library. The lending library is open during regular amenity hours of 6am-12am.
The Library Needs Volunteers! Do you have some extra time to volunteer? Your neighbors are looking for some active volunteers that are willing to keep your library clean, attractive, organized, and in good shape. If you're interested in helping out, feel free to start right away! Keeping it Safe If you are sick, don’t share books in your library until you are symptom-free Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer every time you use the library Do not gather with others at the lending Library. Social distancing is critical to flattening the curve and slowing the spread of the coronavirus
What is a Lending Library? The lending library functions on the "leave a book, take a book" thought process. A lending library is a great way to limit clutter and share your books with others. It lets you clear books out of your home and share them with someone else. A lending library also helps you contribute to your local community. Not only is our free library an efficient way to clear out your old books, but it also has the added benefit of providing books to other readers who may not have easyaccess to reading materials. In addition to providing books to those who may not have them, a lending library also gives you a chance to connect with other people in your community. What are the rules of Lending Library? Anyone may take a book or share a book (I've also seen DVDs and games in there!), The library functions on the honor system. You do not need to share a book in order to take one, but if you take a book or two from the library, try to bring some to share, when you can. For Those of you With Little Ones While this library is primarily for adults, bringing your little ones with you can give children their first glimpse of this phenomenon. By allowing children to see you sharing your books with others, you allow them to see – in a very literal manner – how the act of reading connects us to other readers in meaningful ways. And isn’t that what reading is all about? PAGE 16
JAN
T NE
'S PLA T E
by Janet Dempsey, DLC Resources
The seasons are changing, and DLC Resources is springing into action. Our crews are focusing on transitioning your landscape into spring. Crews are continuing to mow turf in order to keep it looking clean and fertilize it to strengthen and nourish it. We will continue to promote the growth of the winter Ryegrass through mid-April, then begin the transition to summer Bermuda as weather dictates.
Our irrigation specialists are continuing to monitor and adjust irrigation runtimes as necessary with fluctuating temperatures and weather— this includes utilizing recent rainwater to help save your community water and money. Our Special Projects Crews have also now completed the restoration of selected rip-rap areas throughout the Community. These teams existing older rip-rap, cleared any sediment build-up in the area and re-installed viable existing stones along with new fresh rip-rap to maintain the vibrant appeal within these areas. These areas were also graded to optimize drainage flow during future storms. At Building 10, crews also completed several new plant installations, installing several new plants around the building. Among these new installations are Lantanas, Red Birds of Paradise and Texas Sage plants. You should see these bright additions growing as we enter the warm spring season!
What's New at Toscana? Resident Account Portal Your April assessment statement should be mailed around the 15th of March. In your statement, you will find a flyer that announces CCMC's new homeowner web portal. Your user name and password will be on your account statement. You may access your account balance, links for online payments or eStatement sign ups, and self service billing address and contact information changes. So don't throw that statement away! Did you say eStatements? Check it out, see how to save trees and postage for the Association.
Digital VIP Guide The first edition of the 2021 Digital VIP Guide is now available! View it on the toscanaliving.net website without having to login here. The VIP Guide can also be accessed and downloaded by logging into the resident website under Internal Documents->VIP Guide. As a reminder, the VIP Guide will only be available in a digital format this year, to allow for quicker updates and more accurate information as more of our partners join and rejoin the program as business begin to recover.
