LIVING
toscana
KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE MAY 2020
Our Staff. Community Manager Nicole Careaga ncareaga@toscanaliving.net Assistant Community Manager Christine Reeder creeder@toscanaliving.net Lifestyle Director Mark Gatchell mgatchell@toscanaliving.net Concierge Director Katie Lucas klucas@toscanaliving.net Community Patrol/Admin Saffron Caudle scaudle@toscanaliving.net Facilities Director John Raabe jraabe@toscanaliving.net Maintenance Staff Ignacio Santana, Keith Buc, Daniel Renteria Night Managers Don Meeks, Jackie Hernandez 480.861.0875 Gate House Staff Chet Sanders, Joshua Oakley, Laura Taylor, Nina Fader, MaryJane Vital, Brian Stower 480.513.0602
ASSOCIATION OFFICE 5450 E Deer Valley Drive Building 2 Phoenix, AZ 85054 480.585.0808
AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY 480.234.9288
toscanaliving.net
Nicole's Noteables THANK YOU, TOSCANA TEAM MEMBERS By Nicole Careaga While many of us have spent the last 3, 6 or 9 weeks working from our “home offices,” we have struggled with creating a new normal. Dress codes have changed; our co-workers, pets and families are all now one in the same; and we’ve all worked to find a new rhythm. While many of us are at home, patiently waiting for the days we can return to our offices, a large number of essential service workers continue to commute to their workplaces. Here at Toscana, this is the case for most of our team. During this time your gate house, maintenance and night manager teams have continued to
be on site, keeping Toscana beautiful, and running as normal as possible. Your gate team continues to assist caregivers; delivery drivers; contactors; family members; and you, the residents, while we navigate how to keep you all as safe as we can. Laura, Nina, Chet, Josh, Brian and MaryJane are available through email or by calling the gate house at 480-513-0602. The night managers have been on site during their normal hours, and our newest community patrol/admin is available during the day Wednesday through Sunday. Don, Jackie and Saffron have been able to provide continued support through their roles. They have handled a number of emergency calls, assisted residents with missing packages, and continued to support our residents however they are able. While much of the world is quiet, your maintenance team has been busier than ever. John, Keith, Daniel and Ignacio have been on
site everyday keeping everything up and running and looking great. The team has had an endless supply of work orders thanks to all of the residents who have been able to report concerns as they enjoy a walk around the property. Things like door handle replacements, buzzing emergency lights, fountains on the fritz, resident window screen repairs, and so much more have been addressed with your help. The maintenance team is also working on projects at all three pools, new speaker installation, and working with vendors on the new phone system for the office, asphalt repairs, front gate repairs, pipe clean-outs and numerous other jobs. The volume of resident trash has increased, due to more residents staying home, and it continues to be removed daily. I would like for all of our residents to assist me in thanking all the team members during this time. I wish you all the best, and hope that we will be back in the office to your smiling faces soon. PAGE 2
E L Y T S E IF
toscana
L
by Mark Gatchell
Ways to help you through the day
It has been a challenging time for all of us, with the physical distancing and stay-at-home order this past month. Many of you, like myself, have found it hard to come up with activities to occupy our time and distract us from the boredom. In my efforts to fill a significant amount of time while not working, I have focused on my wellbeing and ways to improve my physical and mental health. Here are just a few of the things that have helped my overall wellness: Meditation has always been on my list of healthy habits. The first thing to clarify: what meditation is aiming for is mindfulness, not some process that miraculously wipes your mind clear of the numerous thoughts that erupt constantly in our brains. Meditation is
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just the practice of bringing our attention to our breath, and then back to the breath when we notice our attention begin to wander. First, get comfortable and begin to prepare yourself to sit still for a few minutes. Begin to focus on your natural inhaling and exhaling while letting all your thoughts slowly dissipate. Second focus on where you feel your breath most. In your belly or your nose? Try to keep your focus on your breathing while you inhale and exhale, and follow your breath for five to ten minutes. Inhale long deep breaths, and exhale slowly. Try this twice a day for the next week and you will notice a difference in your stress, improved focus and less brain chatter.
Another way to help during this time is to set a routine and stick with it. If you are working while at home, get dressed and be at work on time. Keep your work hours as before, so you have a defined work day, and try to create a special "workspace" in your home free of distractions. Find the time during the day to go for a short walk, if you are able to. If you are not able to go for a walk take ten minutes to stretch and move your body. All of these simple techniques I hope will fill the time throughout your day. Of course, the most important thing we can do is stay connected with family and friends! Nothing can brighten your day than a conversation with your loved ones. Keep safe, Toscana residents, and stay healthy!
...the most important thing we can do is stay connected with family and friends! PAGE 4
NEIGHBORS' FAVORITES
INGREDIENTS 3 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 lb. ground mild Italian sausage 1 4-oz. package cubed pancetta 1 onion, finely chopped 1 stalk celery, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 3 sprigs rosemary Pinch of nutmeg Salt and pepper 3 15.5-oz. cans cannellini beans PAGE 5
These Italian White Beans are a delicious side dish for your favorite barbecue!
DIRECTIONS 1. Melt butter with olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottom pot, then add the sausage, pancetta, onion, celery, garlic, rosemary, nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. 2. Cook, occasionally stirring, for about 15 minutes, or until onions are soft and translucent and sausage and pacetta are lightly browned
3. Drain beans, then add to the pot. 4. Stir once, then cook for 2-3 minutes or until beans are heated through. 5. Adjust seasoning if necessary. 6. Serve as a side dish with "barbecue" pork or other meat, or as a main course accompanied by salad and crusty bread or "better than garlic bread."
CONNECTION
community
by Katie Lucas
TAKE CLASSES ONLINE AND LEARN A NEW SKILL
MUSIC TOGETHER: With Music Together® Online, the teachers you know and love from Music Together in Phoenix will bring music class to your living room. Like all their classes, the program is designed to teach the way young children learn; through play! Your whole family will have a blast singing, dancing, and jamming along to Maracas songs during daily LIVE & Pre-Recorded interactive classes.
LULULEMON YOGA: Missing in-person yoga classes? Fitness Apparel retailer, Lululemon, is offering online videos of their yoga classes, so you can stay in shape and clear your mind. Lululemon offers classes for everyone. Whether you'd like focus on restoration, power, or even specific needs for runners, you'll find classes that fit your needs and your schedule.
EDX: FREE COLLEGE COURSES: Audit over 2000 free college courses online with EdX. With courses from over 140 universities, including Harvard, MIT, and Berkley, you're sure to find something that piques your interest. Learn a new skill, or sharpen ones you already have, and all on your own time. It's always a good time to learn something new!
COSMIC KIDS YOGA Have kids at home that need an outlet? My sister recently turned me onto a YouTube yoga channel that mixes storytelling with yoga! Cosmic Kids yoga has kept my twoyear old, and her one-tofive-year-olds entertained for those precious few minutes, allowing an uninterrupted cup of coffee or time to complete schoolwork.
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CORNER
Chris's by Chris Reeder
Grocery Shopping is Different Now How to navigate shopping for the essentials in these times Staying home as much as possible is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but certain tasks (including grocery shopping and picking up medications) are essential, even during stay-athome orders. Below are some timely tips on how to fill your fridge, freezer, and pantry as safely as possible. You have to eat…and comfort food is called just that for a reason. My California sister is now saying there is something called the Corona15, referring to the 15 pounds some of us are creeping up on during this time. Note: Please look, don’t touch, unless you’re sure you’re buying. Your most essential duty as a human right now is to stay home as much as possible to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. So before we dive in on our safe-supermarket tips, it’s worth repeating: “The most important thing we can do to stop a pandemic is to practice social distancing to the greatest extent possible. Washing your hands whenever they're dirty, and washing and/or hand-sanitizing when you think you might have germs on your hands are definitely best practices,” says Donald Schaffner, Ph.D., a professor of food microbiology at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Cont. on page 9...
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, m o o l b s r e w o l f e wher . e p o h s e o d so hnson o J d r i B - Lady
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that, “Currently there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with the transmission of COVID-19,” so there's no need to fear the safety of what’s inside the packages in the grocery store. It’s more about the individuals in the store.
your shopping trip during the bookends of store hours: times close to opening or closing have historically been less crowded at most stores. 2. Go Alone, Limit Visits, Have a Plan
Since “the single biggest risk of contracting COVID19 while shopping comes from other people, the best shopping strategy is to head into the 1. Shop During "Off" Hours supermarket with a list and a clear idea of what At the time of this publication, Albertsons will you want to accomplish. Select items as quickly reserve every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 and efficiently as possible,” Schaffner says. The best a.m. for those vulnerable shoppers who must leave way to be prepped is to create a meal plan for the home to obtain their groceries, unless otherwise week or two ahead, make a list, and try to get locally mandated. Toscana residents should everything in one trip. Know that single parents double-check our store's current hours. Check out may need to take children with them, and grant the website of our closest Albertsons, located at them kindness. My child is old enough to stay in Desert Ridge here: www.albertsons.com as our the car for a few minutes, but many of my singlesituation is rapidly evolving. parent friends have no viable option but to take small children with them into a store. “The virus is spread through respiratory droplets, and that’s a concern with a lot of people in close 3. Order Online proximity,” Seymour says, which is why many Online shopping options, either ordering ahead for supermarkets are now reserving the first hour or curbside pick-up or getting groceries delivered to two of the day to allow older and your door, is a good way to limit risk, especially if immunocompromised shoppers to shop in lessyou or someone in your household is in one of crowded conditions. (Here’s what the CDC defines those vulnerable populations. Planning ahead pays as the most at-risk populations.) Please be a off here: Don’t wait until the day you need responsible shopper and don't visit during those groceries to order. You can often find open slots a reserved hours unless you fall into that at-risk few days later, and shop “off hours,” online, too. category. If you’re feeling safe and well, try to plan You should be able to snag a slot in the delivery
“The most important thing we can do to stop a pandemic is to practice social distancing to the greatest extent possible." -Donald Schaffner, Ph.D.
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schedule easier if you’re not committed to a high volume time. I have been ordering meals from the online subscription meal service “Dinnerly” to keep myself home and still have fresh vegetables. Note: During this time, our package policy has shifted at Toscana. We are requiring all delivery services to leave packages at your door, rather than the HOA office. If a package should find its way to our office, you’ll be notified quickly and pickup arrangements will be made. 4. Keep Your Personal Distance
Some stores are mapping out traffic patterns that assist in keeping a minimum shopper distance of six feet. Keep as much physical distance as possible from other shoppers.
to touch your face. Then wash your hands when you get home and when you’re done unpacking your groceries. If you touch your phone while out shopping, make sure you wipe that down too. 8. Don't Buy Excess
The only time it makes sense to buy more than what’s on your list: If you’re gathering items for someone else while you’re out. Consider shopping for others while shopping for yourself, especially if you have friends, family, or neighbors who are atrisk for severe illness. Also, it’s important not to quickly judge someone else for what is in their basket as they may be shopping for someone else. Stay focused on the task at hand. 9. Be Kind to Supermarket Staff and other
5. Use the Disinfecting Wipes
Shoppers
Most stores now offer antibacterial wipes near the doors, carts, and baskets. Grab a wipe and put it to good use. Another option: slip on gloves while shopping, and remember to dispose of them properly.
Alongside medical staff, shipping and delivery, and other essential workers- like our maintenance team and night managers, these folks are putting themselves at risk, coming into contact with people who are stressed out (and more importantly, who could be sick) on a constant basis. Remember to be patient and thank them. Graciousness to your fellow shoppers may be the only adult face-to-face contact you have for the day- make it count!
6. Pay with a Card
Avoid exchanging cash, when possible, and pay with a card instead. Score extra safety bonus points if your card doesn’t require a pin or signature. Remember to wipe down your card if someone else handles it. Also at the checkout counter, some stores are not allowing reusable bags- which I usually forget in the car anyway. 7. Wash Your Hands
It cannot be reinforced enough to wash your hands, and don’t touch your face. Wearing a mask or face cover will assist in reminding yourself not
10. Above all, remember that this too shall pass .
We are all in uncharted territory and doing the best we can. Please keep yourself and your loved ones close, and let us know how we can help our Toscana Family.
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THE
MAINTENANCE REPORT
by John Raabe
drains can help dramatically decrease plumbing issues and save you money! Along with debris, everyone need to be mindful of
TOSCANA DRAINS I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. This month, I would like to talk about one of the most common issues we have around property: improper use of drains. We've talked about this many times in the past, but it is still a recurring problem. Since most people are confined to their units, I felt it an appropriate time for a reminder. All the drains in your unit are shared with units above and below you. So, what you put down the drains could end up becoming an
Shells (Egg and shellfish) and Bones,
chemicals they put down the
and Vegetable Peelings.
drains. Drano, and similar drain cleaners, can eat
Not all the plumbing issues at Toscana
through the pipes and cause
are kitchen drains, though. Over the last
leaking down in the parkade.
couple months, my team has been
We recommend using drain
trying to resolve other back-ups, most of
cleaners that use enzymes in
which are caused by a large buildup of
them, instead. These often
gunk from high usage. However, we
work better, and do not
have also had quite of few instances
damage the pipes.
where we have pulled out rags, articles of clothing, or even construction debris
In addition, the overuse of
from residents who have had their units
soap in your washer,
remodeled. A great item to add to your
dishwasher, and even shower,
drains, that is very inexpensive, is a drain
can cause plumbing issues,
issue for yourself or someone below screen. You can purchase these at Home Depot, Lowes, or Walmart. I’ve you. Just as a reminder, here are some things you should not be putting down your garbage disposals; Greens, Celery Stalks, Nuts and Seeds, Coffee Grounds, Fats and Grease, Fruit Pits, Paper, Plastic, and Glass, Starchy Items (Rice, Potatoes, Pasta, etc.), PAGE 11
such as bubbling sinks and toilets, for first floor units, even
even seen them at the dollar store in
if everything is draining
three-packs. They come in three
properly.
different sizes, and can be placed inside the drains so that nothing large ever
The key thing as always is to
goes down. You can also purchase drain
mindful of your neighbors
covers for your showers and bath tubs
when utilizing the elements
that prevent hair and large debris from
that you all share, in this case
going down those drains. Covering your
the drainage system.
LUXURY LANDSCAPE BY DLC RESOURCES
May Update This month our maintenance focus turns to turf transition; the process of phasing out the winter Ryegrass and promoting the growth of the dormant summer Bermuda grass. During this time, we aerate the grass, water more frequently to account for the warmer temperatures, adjust our mow heights down and apply amendments to encourage the Bermuda’s growth. Expect to see some bare or patchy spots in the turf as the 2 “crops” of grass compete for resources this month and into June before the Bermuda can be expected to fully come back from dormancy and start its active growth cycle. Our irrigation specialists are also 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. In order to be proactive, we have also been running checks on the irrigation system in turf areas to help make sure that your system is able to function properly and can deliver the water your turf needs to be healthy before the busy growing season. Weed treatment specialists have also been on-site throughout the week to monitor and treat weed growth throughout the Community. Additionally, our trained Tree Crews have started selected tree pruning and will continue through May. These Crews are trimming selected trees at heights above ten feet across the Community through a process known as hardwood pruning. This pruning will thin canopies in order to help mitigate wind damage and protect your tree’s structural integrity.
year by planting new shrubs and flowers at home? Did you add any new trees to your landscape? Sometimes we think when we install a new tree, nature will take over in caring for it. But really, a new tree needs special attention, especially as it tries to establish itself during the first few important years of growth. During the First Year During the tree’s first year in the ground, we encourage leaving as many limbs on the tree, including along the entire length of the trunk, for as long as possible. Keeping these extra limbs provides more leafs for the tree to use to make more nutrients so it can grow stronger more rapidly.
A NOTE ON Light pruning may be required during the first COVID-19
year; this may include removal of dead or broken branches, a competing leader, any branches touching the ground or any sprouts (also known as “suckers”) growing directly out of the base of the trunk. Otherwise, young trees are best left unpruned during their first year. Visit the DLC Learning Center to learn more about how to care for your young tree including proper watering. Just go to https://www.dlcresources.com/learning-center.
Turf Transition Continues The natural progression to summer Bermuda grass from winter Ryegrass continues in your common areas. During this time, the Ryegrass Be sure to check out the fresh color around the West End pool dies and the turf may appear to be yellow or have as we recently installed new summer flowers in the area! These some areas that look dry. This is a temporary heat tolerant plants should keep the area looking bright through condition that improves as the Bermuda grass fills the summer! in. Transitioning from Ryegrass to Bermuda grass is, ideally, a gradual process that typically lasts Caring for Young Trees from the beginning of April through the end of Did you take advantage of our early mild temperatures this year May. PAGE 12
KEEPING IT CLEAN Keeping Toscana spic and span is no easy task, but our Pegasus Building Services crew does a fantastic job. On a typical day, you can see the team around the property vacuuming hallways, cleaning grills, scrubbing restrooms, and wiping surfaces. As keeping things clean is more important than ever, the team has taken extra precautions to ensure the safety of our residents. In addition to normal daily tasks, the Pegasus crew has completed a deep clean of each of our gyms, and sanitized all the pool furniture. This will help ensure a safe PAGE 13
environment for residents to return to once amenities reopen. The team has also taken on the task of increasing the sanitation of high-touch areas, like elevator buttons, handrails, and doorknobs. While we love seeing their friendly smiles, the Pegasus crew has also began to wear facial coverings, to encourage the safety and comfort of our residents, as they work in close proximity to your homes. Â Please take a moment to send your thanks to the Pegasus team for keeping our Toscana Family safe and healthy.
Would you like to say "thank you!" to the crew that keeps Toscana clean? Send your kudos over to Chris Reeder!
Increased sanitation and personal protective equipment to help keep Toscana clean
FRIENDLYFACILITATORS These amazing residents have offered to help neighbors in need. If you feel vulnerable, or are unable to go out and gather necessary supplies, please feel free to reach out to a Friendly Facilitator below. In trying times, we love seeing neighbors helping neighbors!
Jordan (evenings): 440-821-9261 Cathy (varies): 303-514-6044 John (anytime): 310-924-2779 or jdickson847@gmail.com Lorry (evenings): 480-299-0855 Gord (before 5pm): 780-920-4828 Amy F. (weekday evenings; weekends): 480-291-4184 Carol (varies): carolparadis@gmail.com Robert (daytime): 908-239-2259 Amy (anytime): 480-363-1543 Tamara/Mike (varies): 206-818-6432 MaryCarmen (varies): 480-737-0381 Amy W. (varies): amym101@yahoo.com If you would like to join the Friendly Facilitators, please reach out to Katie at klucas@toscanaliving.net