MARCH 2019
INSIDE Vendor Expo and More...
Living
Toscana Lifestyle YOUR NEIGHBORS' FAVORITES
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By Mark Gatchell, Lifestyle Director
This quick and easy recipe for "Crusted Chicken" is delicious and will surely become one of your favorite go-to recipes. INGREDIENTS • 3/4 cup butter • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 cup dry bread crumbs • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano • 1/4 teaspoon pepper • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 6 (4 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
5450 E. Deer Valley Drive Building 2 Phoenix, AZ 85054 www.toscanaliving.net Phone: 480-585-0808 Fax: 480-585-2859 Night Manager: 480-861-0875 Gate House: 480-513-0602 STAFF Nicole Careaga, CMCA Community Manager ncareaga@toscanaliving.net Christine Reeder Assistant Community Manager creeder@toscanaliving.net Mark Gatchell Lifestyle Director mgatchell@toscanaliving.net Katie Lucas Concierge Director klucas@toscanaliving.net Dani Wall Administrative Assistant dwall@toscanaliving.net NIGHT MANAGERS: Don Meeks Jackie Hernandez 480-861-0875 MAINTENANCE: John Raabe Maintenance Supervisor Keith Buc Robert Hollis Ignacio Santana
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 2. Melt the butter with the garlic in a saucepan over medium heat. When the butter starts to bubble, remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Stir the breadcrumbs together with the Parmesan cheese, thyme, basil, oregano, pepper, and salt in a bowl. Dip the chicken breasts in the butter, then press into the seasoned bread crumbs. Place the chicken into a 9x13 inch baking dish. 3. Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is golden brown and no longer pink in the center, 50 to 55 minutes.
GATE HOUSE: Ron McCroskey, Saffron Caudle Chet Sanders, Hector Perez, Mariya Lilith 480-513-0602
ON THE COVER Hiking Club @ Cave Creek Regional Park
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Toscana Lifestyle
TOSCANA UPCOMING EVENTS RESIDENT FRIDAY SOCIALS Fridays in March, except March 22, Palazzo Grande RSVP by Thursday at noon Food, fun and conversation - open to all Toscana residents. Join us for some snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. BYOB. Friday Socials are FREE. TOSCANA CASINO NIGHT Saturday, March 2, from 5-8pm; Palazzo Vacanza; $10 per person Who needs Vegas?! On the Go Casino will be back for the Annual Toscana Casino Night on March 2nd. If you have never been to this program, roll the dice- come on out and enjoy the games! Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, and Texas Hold’em will all be featured, along with light appetizers and Fantastic Prizes! Bring your favorite beverage! COYOTES VS CALGARY FLAMES Thursday, March 7, from 6-10:30pm; $52 per person We love the Coyotes/Flames match-up! Your ticket includes transportation, parking, and admission to the game in the All-You-Can Eat section. We only have 15 tickets reserved, so register today! This event will most likely sell out! Game starts at 7pm. TOUR OF CARDINALS STADIUM Saturday, March 9, from 8am-3pm; $99 per person Travel to Glendale and tour the State-of-the-Art Arizona Cardinals Stadium including lunch. We will provide the transportation to the event and back home! The bus departs from and returns to the AMC parking lot. FASHION SHOW WITH TAYLORMARIE Tuesday, March 12, from 5:30-8pm; Palazzo Grande It’s time for 2019 Fashion! TaylorMarie’s, a full-service boutique will be hosting a fashion show & shopping event. TaylorMarie’s features name brand clothing as well as unique boutique items & jewelry. TaylorMarie's offers a full range of sizes in petite, missy & women’s. Eight models are needed for the show! Models will receive 20% off nondiscounted items. Email Mark at mgatchell@toscanaliving.net if you would like to be a model. RESIDENT BINGO NIGHT Wednesday, March 13, from 6:30-8pm; Palazzo Grande; $6 per person Resident-Organized Bingo will be held Wednesday, March 13th. Bingo cards will be available at 6pm, with game play starting at 6:30pm. Please bring exact change. Seating is limited, please do RSVP early. Thank you to the resident volunteers for pulling everything together! Please contact Lynn with questions at lynnjerrett@shaw.ca. TRUCK'N TUESDAY Tuesday, March 19, from 5-8pm; Palazzo Grande What could be better than dinner at Truck'n Tuesday with Mediterranean Majik food truck? Join your fellow residents at the cobblestones outside Palazzo Grande for a delicious Mediterranean dinner. Bring your appetite and wallet; don't miss out on this very popular food truck!
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Toscana Lifestyle
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BOOK CLUB Wednesday, March 20, 6-7:30pm; Palazzo Vacanza Join your fellow book club members for the Wednesday, March 20, 2019 book club meeting in Building 10 (PV). "Educated" by Tara Westover will be discussed. Book club will be starting at 6:00 PM so please update your calendars. MURDER MYSTERY DINNER Friday, March 22, from 5:30-8pm; Palazzo Vacanza; $7 per person Join our resident suspects for this interactive who-dun-it dinner! You may register as a group of six, or your investigative team will be formed upon arrival. Please email mgatchell@toscanaliving.net if you are interested in playing a suspect part. This very popular program will sell out, so register quickly! VIP VENDOR EXPO Saturday, March 23, from 11am-1pm; Palazzo Grande Cobblestones Please join us on Saturday, March 23 for our Annual Vendor Expo. The Toscana Vendor Expo is a great opportunity to get to know your area partners, and to make some new contacts or learn more about services and products offered in the local community. Registration is not required, but it does help our vendors plan for attendance! We hope to see you there! COYOTES VS CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS Tuesday, March 26, from 6-10:30pm; $79 per person This is the only home game for our Coyotes vs Blackhawks! Your ticket includes transportation, parking, and admission to the game. We only have 15 tickets reserved, so register today! This event will most likely sell out! Game starts at 7pm. *These seats are not AYCE. CLUB PILATES INTRO CLASS Friday, March 29, from 6:30-8:30pm Our new VIP partner, Club Pilates at Desert Ridge, is hosting a complimentary introduction class just for our Toscana residents! The class will focus on introducing you to their amazing reformer machine in a relaxed atmosphere (wine will be included)! Get fit and have fun with your neighbors. Space is extremely limited and registration is required to attend. Make sure you register early! Transportation will not be provided for this event. BAGELS AND BREW Sunday, March 31, from 8:30-10:30am; Dante's Corner Relax and have a neighborly chat on this gorgeous Spring Morning! Coffee and bagels will be served at 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.
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Toscana Lifestyle COMMUNITY CONNECTION By Katie Lucas, Concierge Upcoming Vendor Expo
I am excited to announce our 2019 Vendor Expo will be held on Saturday, March 23rd from 11am1pm. This year, you will also be able to enjoy some delicious food from one of our food truck vendors while you peruse the booths for our other amazing VIP partners. The Vendor Expo is a great way for our residents and local businesses to get to know one another. You may find awesome services you may not have known about before. We will be hosting everything from travel and activities to beauty, spa, home services, retail and more! Make sure to ask our vendors about their exclusive Toscana discounts! Vendor Expo is open to all residents, but let us know if you're coming so we can give a headcount to our vendors! Welcome Dani Wall! It is our absolute pleasure to officially welcome the new "woman who does it all" (aka your new Administrative Assistant), Dani Wall. Dani started with us at the beginning of February and has been rapidly learning the Toscana in's and out's. She comes to us with a strong background in business management and real estate services. Dani moved to Arizona when she was very young as has been enjoying the copper state ever since. When she's not working, you can catch Dani playing coed softball, Pinterest crafting and spending time with her husband Ian, and their four beautiful dogs. Come by the office Monday-Friday 8am-5pm to meet our newest Wonder Woman in person, or send her a welcome email at dwall@toscanaliving.net. We know our residents are going to love our newest Team Toscana addition as much as we do!
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Springtime Activities The frost is beginning the thaw off our cacti, which means spring is just around the corner! This is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the Sonoran Desert! One way to do that is by heading over to the Desert Botanical Garden, where they host over 4,400 species of desert plants. Spring is the perfect time to visit, as many of the cacti will be blooming, giving extra splashes of color to the desert landscape. Come by the office for $1 off admission coupons! We also partner with over 10 adventure tour companies who offer discounts to our residents on just about any outdoor activity you can think of, including hot air balloon rides, Hummer tours, horseback riding and cruises. Stop by my office to talk about different activities and set up your next adventure! Spend your spring on the green with at our neighboring golf courses, Wildfire and Kierland. These beautiful courses are two of our VIP partners and offer special rates on tee times to our residents. Spring brings with it lower rates, so enjoy the pristine golfing conditions while the weather is still mild! Reach out to me via phone (480-585-0808) or email (klucas@toscanaliving.net) for information on booking and rates! If you're looking for a spectator sport, you're in luck! Spring brings back America's pastime, baseball! Cactus League Spring Training has over 200 games scheduled between now and March 26! Check out the schedule and reserve your seats here. VIP Event This month, our new VIP partner, Club Pilates, will be hosting a special introduction class for our residents. Make sure to check out the event details and register on the "Toscana Upcoming Events" page! Space is extremely limited and registration is required.
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DANI'S DIGEST
By Dani Wall, Administrative Assistant Puppy Love Thank you for all of the warm welcomes I’ve received here at Toscana. I am very excited to work here! I have enjoyed getting to know all of you who have stopped by to introduce yourselves. As a dog mom of four, I also always enjoy meeting your furry friends while outside in the community. This month, I thought I'd share with you:
4. Have fun together. Play fetch, teach them a new trick, give all of your attention to them in a positive light for a while. They will feel the love!
Dani’s 5 Ways To… Show your dog you love them in ways they will understand. 1. Make eye contact while speaking to them softly. I know it sounds a little crazy, but staring into your dog’s eyes can raise their levels of oxytocin. When it comes from someone they know well and trust, it is like a hug to them. Be careful attempting this with dogs you do not know, some dogs can take direct eye contact from strangers to be a challenge.
5. Snuggle. Cuddle. Bundle up! With dogs being pack animals, close contact makes them feel safe and secure. There is no place they would rather be then right next to you (as close as they can possibly get sometimes) when you are both relaxing. All dogs are obviously different, especially when it comes to personality. Trying new ways to show your dog you love them can be fun and truly warm your heart.
2. Rub their cute little (or big floppy) ears. Rubbing a dogs ears can actually stimulate the release of endorphins. 3. Lean on them. This is how dogs hug. If your dog has ever leaned into your legs, or your torso while you’re sitting, they are giving you a hug! Give them a hug back.
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Toscana Events and Programs
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Clubs
March 2019 Monday
Sunday
Events Association
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Wednesday
Thursday
Friday COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FUN FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
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MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
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13 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM RESIDENT BINGO NIGHT PG 6:30-8PM
14 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM
15 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FUN FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
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22 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM MURDER MYSTERY DINNER PV 5:30-8PM
23 VIP VENDOR EXPO PG 11AM-1PM
29 FUN FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM CLUB PILATES RESIDENT INTRO CLASS 6:30-8:30PM
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18 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
19 LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE PV 2PM TRUCK'N TUESDAY PG 5-7PM
20 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM BOOK CLUB PV 6PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
25 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
COYOTES VS CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 6-10:30PM
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27 COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
31 BAGELS AND BREW DC 8:30-10:30AM
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HAND & FOOT PG 6PM
28 TOSCANA RESIDENT WORKSHOP PV 9AM HAND & FOOT PG 6PM
FINANCE COMMITTEE PV 9AM COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM GENTLE YOGA PV 11AM FUN FRIDAY SOCIAL PG 5PM
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2 TOSCANA CASINO NIGHT PV 5-8PM
7 HAND & FOOT PG 6PM COYOTES VS CALGARY FLAMES 6-10:30PM
11 MAHJONG CLUB PG 6:30PM BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR PG 5PM
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COFFEE SOCIAL PG 9AM CHAIR YOGA PV 11AM BILLIARDS PG 1PM POKER CLUB PG 6PM
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HIKING CLUB 9:00AM LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE PV 2PM FASHION SHOW WITH TAYLORMARIE PG 5:30-8PM
Saturday
TOUR OF CARDINALS STADIUM 8AM-3PM
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Live Your Best Life in Desert Ridge NOW PRE-LEASING 335 LUXURY APARTMENTS Opening Summer, 2019, Montreux is the perfect example of modern luxury apartment living. Our resort-style property offers an exceptional collection of first-class amenities. Resident clubhouse with double-sided fireplace, exposition kitchen Two heated pools/spas including outdoor grills, and fire features Business center and conference room • Fully equipped fitness center Billiards area and game room with multi-sport simulator •
Sun deck
Tennis, bocce, and pickleball courts • Pet park • Indoor mailroom • Interior elevators Walk-in pantries and closets •
Spacious floor plans •
5550 E Deer Valley Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85054
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Expansive 12-foot ceilings on top floors
480.248.3311
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www.rentmontreux.com
This literature is for “Marketing Purposes” only and no representations of any type are made by this marketing material, which is subject to change without notice. Floor plans are artist’s renderings and not to scale. Square footage and amenities may vary between apartment units and are subject to availability. ADRE #LC566897000.
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Toscana Lifestyle A WORD FROM THE LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR
By Mark Gatchell, Lifestyle Director is quick and easy to register via our Weekly Lifestyle The Busier the Better! e-Blasts, ToscanaLiving.net, our monthly Toscana Living Magazine or, of course, you can always come As many of you have noticed by the office, or call or email Mark to RSVP. As we (how can you not?), our events are limited on space, all events are on a first come (or are filling up fast and our Friday registered), first served basis. Socials are overflowing with residents. This time of year, Toscana is always bustling, and As always, we appreciate everyone here at Toscana and we love to see so many of you attend all our exciting look forward to seeing all of you at our events! events. A perfect example was the fantastic number of people at our Annual Meeting, with over 155 people in RESIDENT GROUPS, CLUBS AND CLASSES attendance. Even when the weather is less-than-desirable, BILLIARDS CLUB GENTLE YOGA our Toscana residents turn out for our signature events. Wednesdays at 1pm Fridays at 11am in PV We had over 70 people attending our Flamingle Pool Party Billiards Room in PG $5 Drop-In on an uncharacteristically chilly Saturday afternoon. The Contact: Lynn at 602-301-5010 HAND & FOOT CLUB staff here at Toscana loves to see a packed house at such BILLIARDS HAPPY HOUR Thursdays at 6 pm, PG events, because it shows our residents care about their Mondays at 5pm in PG Contact Marge at 480-585-0494 community and want to continue making it “the ultimate BYOB address!” HIKING CLUB BINGO
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind during this Wednesday, March 13 6pm in PG busy time of year: 1. With more people come longer lines and extended wait times. Please be extra patient when attending events where food is served. With so many people, it will take a bit longer to get through the first round of food service. We do our best to facilitate a quick and orderly event and appreciate how understanding all of you are.
Tuesday, March 12 9am; Meet at Front Gate Contact Allen Poppa at apoppa@yahoo.com
$6 per card Contact: Marge at 480-585-0494 Register Here MAHJONG CLUB Mondays at 6:30pm in PG BOOK CLUB Contact: Susan at Wednesday, March 20 susan4266@aol.com 6pm in PV "Educated" STUD POKER CLUB by Tara Westover Wednesdays at 6pm in PG Register Here Bring $5 and your poker face Contact 480-513-3615 CHAIR YOGA Wednesdays at 11am in PV WATER AEROBICS $5 Drop-In TBD
2. As mentioned in my February article, it's extremely important to RSVP to any events you wish to attend, including our Friday Socials. As you know, we base the amount of food purchased on the number of people COFFEE SOCIAL that have registered. Surprise guests can cause a food Each Wednesday and Friday, shortage, which we always strive our best to avoid. 9am in PG To share new clubs and classes ideas, please email With that being said, it is just as important to let us Mark Gatchell at: mgatchell@toscanaliving.net know if you won't be able to attend an event you have already RSVP’d to. Many times, we have a wait-list to our popular events and we want to be sure and give everyone a chance to attend the events they enjoy. It
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In and Around Toscana COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Focus: The Mind 6 Simple Steps to Keep Your Mind Sharp at Any Age
According to the Harvard Medical School, there are more factors than "age" that can attribute to memory loss. For instance, many women notice a loss of cognitive function during and after pregnancy. The mind is a beautiful and fragile thing. Read on to hear about what Harvard recommends to help combat memory loss and dementia... Everyone has the occasional "senior moment." Maybe you've gone into the kitchen and can't remember why, or can't recall a familiar name during a conversation. Memory lapses can occur at any age, but aging alone is generally not a cause of cognitive decline. When significant memory loss occurs among older people, it is generally not due to aging but to organic disorders, brain injury, or neurological illness. Studies have shown that you can help prevent cognitive
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decline and reduce the risk of dementia with some basic good health habits: •staying physically active •getting enough sleep •not smoking •having good social connections •limiting alcohol to one drink a day •eating a balanced diet low in saturated and trans fats. Certain health conditions that can impair cognitive skills include diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, depression, and hypothyroidism. If you have any of these health issues, you can help protect your memory by following your doctor's advice carefully. Memory changes can be frustrating, but the good news is that, thanks to decades of research, you can learn how to get your mind active. There are various
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In and Around Toscana
COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CONT.
Focus: The Mind
strategies we can use to protect and improve memory. Here are several you might try. 1. Keep learning A higher level of education is associated with better mental functioning in old age. Experts think that advanced education may help keep memory strong by getting a person into the habit of being mentally active. Challenging your brain with mental exercise is believed to activate processes that help maintain individual brain cells and stimulate communication among them. Many people have jobs that keep them mentally active, but pursuing a hobby, learning a new skill, or volunteering for a project at work that involves a skill you don't usually use can function the same way and help improve memory. 2. Use all your senses The more senses you use in learning something, the more of your brain that will be involved in retaining the memory. In one study, adults were shown a series of emotionally neutral images, each presented along with a smell. They were not asked to remember what they saw. Later, they were shown a set of images, this time without odors, and asked to indicate which they'd seen before. They had excellent recall for all odorpaired pictures, and especially for those associated with pleasant smells. Brain imaging indicated that the piriform cortex, the main odor-processing region of the brain, became active when people saw objects originally paired with odors, even though the smells were no longer present and the subjects hadn't tried to remember them. So challenge all your senses as you venture into the unfamiliar. 3. Believe in yourself Myths about aging can contribute to a failing memory. Middle-aged and older learners do worse on memory tasks when they're exposed to negative stereotypes about aging and memory, and better when the messages are positive about memory preservation into old age. People who believe that they are not in
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control of their memory function — joking about "senior moments" too often, perhaps — are less likely to work at maintaining or improving their memory skills and therefore are more likely to experience cognitive decline. If you believe you can improve and you translate that belief into practice, you have a better chance of keeping your mind sharp. 4. Prioritize your brain use If you don't need to use mental energy remembering where you laid your keys or the time of your granddaughter's birthday party, you'll be better able to concentrate on learning and remembering new and important things. Take advantage of calendars and planners, maps, shopping lists, file folders, and address books to keep routine information accessible. Designate a place at home for your glasses, purse, keys, and other items you use often. 5. Repeat what you want to know When you want to remember something you've just heard, read, or thought about, repeat it out loud or write it down. That way, you reinforce the memory or connection. For example, if you've just been told someone's name, use it when you speak with him or her: "So, John, where did you meet Camille?" 6. Space it out Repetition is most potent as a learning tool when it's properly timed. It's best not to repeat something many times in a short period, as if you were cramming for an exam. Instead, re-study the essentials after increasingly longer periods of time — once an hour, then every few hours, then every day. Spacing out periods of study helps improve memory and is particularly valuable when you are trying to master complicated information, such as the details of a new work assignment. Article retrieved from https://www.health.harvard. edu/mind-and-mood/6-simple-steps-to-keep-yourmind-sharp-at-any-age
In and Around Toscana
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CHRIS'S CORNER
By Chris Reeder, Assistant Manager Toscana Tidbits Please reach out to Nicole or Chris with any questions You may have read the February you may have regarding this important facet of condo Toscana Tidbit regarding Condo living. Insurance. New Resident Board Member If you recall, Condo owners need to carry personal insurance to ensure their unit is We would thank to thank Gene Weiss for his service on covered from the studs in. Meaning, each homeowner is the Board. Gene's term has ended and Pat Brash has been appointed to replace his seat. For this preference election responsible for insuring the entirety of their condo. Additionally, The HOA must be listed on the individual we had a great response of over 200 votes. Pat has been homeowner’s policy as a Certificate Holder (or similar – appointed to the Board of Directors for her two-year term effective Tuesday, February 12. Additional interest, Additional Insured, etc.). The Association’s Bare Walls coverage first took effect on October 1, 2015. At that time, Toscana’s CC&R amendments were approved by the Desert Ridge Community Association. The amendment related to insurance allowed the Association to change from “Walls In” coverage to “Bare Walls” coverage. The Association’s Insurance will build back the interior of individual condominium units to the studs only. If we have not yet received your certificate please get it to us as soon as possible to avoid future correspondence and possible violations. Please ask your insurance agent to add the following as a Certificate Holder: Toscana of Desert Ridge Attn: Insurance 5450 East Deer Valley Drive Phoenix, AZ 85054 Alternatively, they can fax a certificate to 480.585.2859 or email to klucas@toscanaliving.net. Adding the Association as a Certificate Holder will send notification if a policy is renewed, changed or terminated. The Association can not recommend a specific dollar amount but can share that an average kitchen flood at Toscana can cost upwards of $30,000. Each owner should talk to their insurance professional and discuss their individual insurance needs.
Pat's professional past was as a surgical nurse in the Chicagoland area, as well as an administrator. She and her husband, Rich, have lived in Toscana for five years and are year-round residents. She has served our community on the Toscana Lifestyle Committee and as the chairperson of the Desert Ridge Community Association Lifestyle Committee for the past two years. In that time she has worked to enhance and expand such activities as the Desert Ridge Ladies Night Out, the Community Night Out and special Desert Ridge events enjoyed by all our residents. She has served as President of the Pediatric AIDS Foundation/Chicago while on the board for ten years. This gave her experience in working with boards and committees. According to Pat, "together we can continue to make Toscana the wonderful place it is to live." Please join us in congratulating Pat on her newest position within the Toscana community!
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In and Around Toscana NICOLE'S NOTABLES
By Nicole Careaga, Community Manager Looking Forward to Our Future Let me start by sending a HUGE Thank You to the over 150 residents that came to the 2019 Annual Meeting! We had an amazing time and were so glad that so many of you chose to spend your evening with us. During the evening we highlighted some of the major projects that were completed in 2018, celebrated the wonderful events you all have attended and gave away a ton of raffle prizes. During the meeting, we mentioned that all of the year’s approved financials, and board documents were available on www.toscanaliving.net. The site also has the ability to process any of your maintenance work orders for our team complete. Fireside Chat Something new to all of us this year is a little something I like to call the Fireside Chat with Your Community Manager. The idea behind this event is to provide a casual environment to sit down in a relaxed setting like Dante’s Corner and provide an open discussion in an “unplugged” environment. Just you and I talking about the things that are on your mind. I will do my best to provide all of the answers to your questions, while getting to know everyone just a bit better. We held our first event last week, and it was met with great enthusiasm. We discussed topics such as water losses, violation process and HDA finances. I look forward to continuing these evenings each quarter.
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Resident Workshops Now, let’s chat about something awesome coming up this month. In 2018 we introduced the Resident Workshop series and it was a huge success. Therefore, we will
be bringing them back this year, beginning in March. These workshops are a great opportunity to learn a little something new, while also having some face to face time with your resident Board Members and management team to ask questions, discuss topics or present new ideas. Our March Workshop will be focusing on what you, as a condo owner, are responsible for in your unit, along with insurance requirements and best practices to help keep your costs low. Before we get there, however, I am asking for help from each of you. Email me with your question or concern, so I know the best areas to focus our time and your education. I want theses workshops to be fun and also relevant, so they are something that you all look forward to being a part of. In case you haven’t figured it out, my goal to all of you is to provide you, as residents, a communication platform every month. Each quarter you will have one board meeting, a fireside chat and a resident workshop. My hope is that we continue to improve in our communications to our residents while being transparent and educating everyone in the process. As always, my door is open and I love chatting with each of you. I am looking forward to 2019 and think it is going to be amazing.
In and Around Toscana
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UPDATES FROM YOUR MAINTENANCE TEAM By John Raabe, Maintenance Supervisor Homeowner Information for Vendors and Contractors Quite often, we get calls from residents to help one of their contractors gain access to various utilities or services associated with their unit. So, I thought I would put together some information for residents use when calling out a vendor or contractor. The most common call we get is "where is the airconditioning compressor for my unit?" The airconditioning compressors are on the roof of all buildings, except for the Casita buildings where they are located in the back of the property on the ground. In the three story section of all buildings there is a stairwell with a small roof access door for the contractor to use. There is also a roof access stairwell for the rest of the building on the opposite end. To gain access, the contractor must pick up a key from the guard house. All compressor units are labeled with the unit number and are directly above the condo unit.
Telephone and television connections are in the utility closets, located on each floor and at both ends of the buildings. They are labeled with the condo unit number for easy identification. To gain access to the closets the service technician can obtain a key from the front gate attendant.
When it comes to the other utilities, each building is on a master meter for gas and water. Clusters of condos can be isolated for temporary shut off if a gas line repair is needed in a unit. In this case, the owner will need to contact the HOA office to coordinate that activity, ideally with at least 48 hours notice. Water can be turned off in each condo through an access panel in the wall located in the laundry room for all buildings except building 10, where they are in the ceiling. In a situation where you cannot turn the water off in your unit, arrangements will need to be made to have the building shut down so the owner can have repairs made to the unit isolation valves. Hot water is supplied to the buildings through a boiler system; therefore, the individual condo units do not have a water heater.
Electric meters and main breakers are located in the parkades, each one has the condo unit number on it.
For questions regarding the building utility systems feel free to contact the HOA office at 480-585-0808.
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Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
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