We are excited to be offering a trip to the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna on August 14. We are conducting an informal survey to determine the interest level for this event. The venue requires us to pay for the tickets in advance. If you are interested in attending this magnificent performance contact the Lifestyle desk at (760) 345-4349 ext. 2120 by March 1. We will begin accepting payments on or before March 10.
Friday, February 9, 2018
Anaheim, CA
Photos by Veronica Moya
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Sun City Shadow Hills Community Association. Without volunteers, the Homeowners Association would not be able to function. At times, being a volunteer is a thankless duty – but it is a necessary one for the good of all the residents and homeowners. Yes, I call it a duty for every homeowner to serve and contribute for the good of Sun City Shadow Hills. Two of the commitments in the Committee Member Code of Conduct for all committee volunteers are to accept and embrace the following:
These commitments can at times be a difficult task and should not be taken lightly. A volunteer may have conflict within that could make the volunteer feel like he or she is being pulled by a tight rope in two directions. We can have this feeling through life and, at times, it is an internal struggle. What to do? The volunteer must follow the commitments above and make the best decision, with the best information available at the time, for the good of the entire community and not just one’s self or a group. That is all we ask of volunteers, to do what they think best at the time for the majority of homeowners in the community.
Committees serve three purposes. First, they assist the Board in meeting its responsibilities by gathering information and making recommendations. Second, they broaden the community’s input on decisions by serving as a means of gathering residents’ opinions and attitudes. Finally, committees serve as a good source for future Board members.
With the change of the Board there is no better time than now to volunteer your time and effort to serve your community on one of our committees. Many volunteers with different skills are needed. You may have skills from your work, hobby, or life experience that can be beneficial to a committee.
If you cannot serve, then please thank those who volunteer their time and energy to serve on a committee for the betterment of all that call Sun City Shadow Hills their home. Volunteers make the community a better place to live and to enjoy life. Do your part in helping your neighbors and volunteer for a committee.
The following is a list of committees at Sun City Shadow Hills.
To volunteer or obtain additional information regarding these committees, please fill out an Advisory Committee Interest Form, available at the HOA office or on the website online (www.scshca.com/committeeinterest).
Thanks,
Rich
I have not written a newsletter message to you in three months, and during this time I continued to appreciate what we all have living here in Shadow Hills. I smile at the sunrise, then sit and enjoy the sunset every night if possible with Karla – a moment of time that seems to stand still while we enjoy the most important and sometimes simplest things of life. It is perfect!
The Board election will conclude on March 5 after two months of campaigning on the part of the candidates. Many forums, many speeches, many flyers, and many doorbells, all to show residents who should represent them on the Board. Congratulations to the new members of the Board, and a special thank you to all who volunteered to run.
It is not easy standing in front of 200 people explaining the merits of any question. It will be my hope that we all agree that the election is over, and now is the time for the new Board to work on the matters at hand. Clearly, there is always something that needs to be done.
One of current items is the upcoming vote for the proposed changes to the CC&Rs and By-laws. We anticipate mailing the ballots and documents along with instructions to the residents on March 12. There will be two separate envelopes with the information.
In one envelope you will receive a computer flash drive which will contain all the documents. There will be a red-line version and a clean copy of the changes for both the CC&Rs and By-laws on the flash drive. This was done to save the cost of mailing the entire document to each homeowner (a cost of about $10 per home). Mailing a flash drive with the documents will save more than half that cost.
In a separate envelope you will receive the ballot and the instructions for filling out the ballot. So be looking for two different envelopes.
After many comments from residents, the Board decided to present the following four items for a vote:
These are the four items to vote on for the changes to the CC&Rs and By-laws. Hopefully, whoever is President beginning March 5 will hold more Town Hall meetings to explain the changes and how the ballot will work. Please vote so we can conclude this process, which began about three years ago.
I look forward to seeing everyone once again, and I wish the new Board nothing but success. Once again, I reflect on another beautiful day, all the kind people that smile when we meet, and I say to myself, “It doesn’t get any better than this.”
On Thursday, March 1, the Camera Club will host their 3rd annual show in the Montecito Ballroom. This Week Bob interviews Beth Bolduc and Graham Jones to learn the highlights.
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Graham Jones, Beth Bolduc, and Bob Firring
Do you have an idea for a podcast episode? Contact Bob Firring at podcast@scshca.com.
This content was republished with permission from Associa Advantage partner, Dunn Edwards Paint. Associa Advantage partners provide savings on household goods and services used by Associa community homeowners and associations. Visit AssociaAdvantage.com to discover savings from Dunn-Edwards and other Advantage partners.
Interested in updating your interior with a little refresh? One way to liven up your home is with a fresh new coat of paint, inside and out! It’s a relatively inexpensive fix to the doldrums. I, personally, like to update my interior walls every four to five years. The colors available now are endless and with a little dramatic wall here or there, you can really make quite a statement using just a little paint.
Dunn Edwards has announced their 2018 Color of the Year…
Drum roll please…Dunn-Edwards®, 2018 Color of the Year, The Green Hour (DET544), draws inspiration from turn-of-the-century Paris, when 5 o’clock became known as “The Green Hour”. A darker shade of gray blue-green, this color embodies the timeless sense of mystery and creative revelry of the era.
Sara McLean, color expert and stylist for Dunn-Edwards, spent months researching global color trends and influences to provide a final Color of the Year selection. Her research revealed that green is trending in all color values — cool greens, warm greens, blackened greens, complex greens, gray-greens and many others. And, more importantly, variations on this color have been trending over recent time — lighter cactus and mint greens, to darker teal and blue-greens, paired with a variety of other hues including the highly popular Millennial pink, rose and deep fuchsia.
So, get out there and update those walls of yours, as you see fit! Your walls will thank you!
United States Flags at Half-Staff Immediately Until Sunset Monday, February 19, 2018
Presidential Proclamation Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in Parkland, Florida
Our Nation grieves with those who have lost loved ones in the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. As a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the terrible act of violence perpetrated on February 14, 2018, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, February 19, 2018. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.
DONALD J. TRUMP
Good Afternoon Neighbors,
Please join us in welcoming our newest Assistant Chief Chris Shaefer as he was sworn in today. Assistant Chief Shaefer began his law enforcement career in 1982 as a police officer for the City of Manteca, California. In 1992 he joined the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms/Explosives Agency. In 2004 Assistant Chief Shaefer was transferred to ATF Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where he served in the Inspection Division until accepting his new position with the Indio Police Department.
Welcome aboard Assistant Chief Shaefer!
Sergeant Daniel Marshall
Indio Police Department
Call for Entries Now Open through March 2nd; $5,000 in Prizes to Be Awarded to Winning Artists
The City of Indio’s Public Arts and Historic Preservation Commission invites all professional artists to participate in the 10th Annual Art in the Square Chalk Festival on March 8-11, 2018, in downtown Indio.
Awards for participating professional artists will be: First Place – $2,500; Second Place –
$1,500; and Third Place – $1,000. Professional artists from all original art disciplines are encouraged to apply.
“We’re so pleased to be bringing this family-friendly festival back to Indio for its 10th year,” said William G. Maloney, Public Arts & Historic Preservation Commission Chair. “This event is a great way for professional artists to vie for cash prizes while showcasing their art for those attending this fun weekend filled with chalk art, food and live music.”
Chalk made by Eternity is provided, or professional artists can opt to bring their own chalk. Artists may request the size of their space in advance as part of their application. Chalk art space will be designated on the concrete sidewalks and asphalt surfaces of Miles Avenue between Oasis and Smurr Streets in downtown Indio.
Application forms can be downloaded at www.discoverindio.com/chalkfestival or www.indio.org, and will be accepted through March 2, 2018. There is a $25 fee to apply. Notifications will be sent immediately upon acceptance via U.S. mail, along with a professional artist packet including detailed information about the festival.
Accepted artists must be present all 4 days of the festival, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, regardless of weather. Professional artists will begin their art on Thursday morning, March 8th, and continue throughout the festival. Awards for artists will be announced Sunday afternoon, March 11th, at 1:00 pm Professional artists must be 18 years or older to participate.
The 10th Annual Art in the Square Chalk Festival is free to attend, and will include food vendors as well as entertainment.
For more information regarding professional artist applications, contact Mamum Faruque at (760) 541-4252 or mfaruque@indio.org.
The SCSH Desert Gardeners Club recently took a fun field trip to the Gubler Orchid Farm located in Landers. If you’ve never visited the farm, I highly recommend you give it a try, but be sure to wear closed-toed shoes, as NO SANDALS are allowed. Our group of 19 members traveled to the high-desert locale via carpools and were met there by Gubler employees who led us on a very informative tour of their entire operation which has been in the Landers facility since 1975. This family owned and operated orchid farm has been selling their orchids exclusively to Trader Jo’s and Lowe’s for many years.
Their farm is open to the public and you may tour their premises every half-hour during normal business hours. On the day we toured there were over 1700 different varieties on premise, all available for purchase. The ladies there were so helpful and willing to package up our plants for safe passage home, as well as give us hints for the proper care and feeding of our purchased orchids. For more information visit www.gublers.com.
Next, was lunch at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown. Another must visit locale in the high-desert. Pioneertown is an Old West town built as a 1940’s movie set, where The Gene Autry Show was filmed for five years. In 1946, Pioneertown was founded by a group of Hollywood investors, including actors Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. They dreamed of creating an Old West set that was actually a town worth visiting, with 1880s-style false-front facades but interiors that had stuff for visitors to see and do, too. Up went (from the outside) frontier stables, saloons, and jails; inside, they housed ice cream parlors, bowling alleys, and motels. More than 50 films and television shows were filmed here in the 1940’s and ‘50s.
While location shooting and businesses here have dwindled, you can still see mock gunfights on Mane Street (pun intended). But the most happening place by far is Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, with surprisingly good live music (Paul Mc Cartney, Robert Plant and Leon Russell have played here) in a seemingly unlikely setting. This must-see desert find also serves up awesome ribs, plus classic Santa Maria barbecue, burgers, sandwiches, and salads.
If you haven’t visited Pioneertown, I highly recommend you take the drive to Yucca Valley and find this little gem of a town and while you’re there try Pappy & Harriet’s for a libation or two and come hungry because the servings are hearty!!! For more information visit www.pappyandharriets.com.
Next, the group moved along Highway 62 into Morongo Valley where we visited the Cactus Mart. The Cactus Mart is a plant emporium featuring cacti, succulents, tools, supplies, decor, and more! Travelers from around the world have had the opportunity to experience Cactus Mart as a “go to” destination or as a stopping point during their travels. Some have found the perfect compliment to their landscape. There we met owner, Nicole Holland who personally lead us on a tour of her property. Plants and design are her passion. She loves to help homeowners turn their desert homes into a tiny piece of paradise, all the while using plants conducive to our severe climate. "Working with plants and homeowner's personal style to help them achieve a landscape that is both desert adaptive and functional with their needs." Nicole has worked with all ranges of clientele from high end to DIY and loves each project as her own. For more information visit www.cactusmart.com.
A special shout out goes to Amy Tomlinson for organizing such a fun event for all of us to attend!
By Bill Wethe, Chair
Finance Advisory Committee (FAC or Committee)
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to describe the following:
History
The Board approved a Board Action Form (BAF) prepared and approved by the Committee in August 2016 recommending the posting of a new position, Controller, for the HOA at their meeting in September 2016. The Committee interviewed candidates in the months of October and November 2016. Associa (PCM) made an offer of employment to Tyler Ingle in December 2016 and he started employment with Associa as Controller for the HOA in January 2017.
Since then, as and when either the Treasurer, the Committee or the Controller receive a question on the audited or unaudited financial statements of the HOA, a process was established and has been utilized in preparing a written response to the question as outlined below.
Process for response
If the question from a unit owner has not been communicated in writing, the unit owner is requested to take the time to write out the question. Upon receipt of the written inquiry, the unit owner is notified in writing that the question has been received and a response will be prepared. The members of the Board of Directors of the HOA are also notified of the question that has been asked. The Controller then reviews the question and reviews the accounting records and financial statements so that he can draft a written response to the unit owner. The Committee and the Treasurer of the HOA review the draft written response and approve any proposed changes to the memo. The written response includes a copy of the question posed by the unit owner in addition to the response.
Communication of response
The final approved written response is then provided to:
Timeframe for written response
We endeavor to provide a timely, factual response within two weeks of receipt of the written inquiry. As you may be aware, our Controller and others are quite busy at this time of the year with the annual audit and the goal to have the 2017 audited financial statements issued on or before March 2, 2018. So, if you write out a question at this time, there may be a slight delay in the written response due to the focus on completing the work needed for the issuance of the audited financial statements.
We are very fortunate to have a team of computer aficionados who are eager to share their knowledge with the residents. This week Bob interviews two of the leaders: Traci Barnett and Suzy Kerekes. Tune in to learn their plans for 2018.
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Bob Firring, Susy Kerekes, and Traci Barnett
Do you have an idea for a podcast episode? Contact Bob Firring at podcast@scshca.com.
By Bill Wethe, Chair
Finance Advisory Committee (FAC)
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to describe the following:
History
I joined the Committee in June 2016 upon approval of the Board and have been Chairman of the Committee since September 2016 upon approval by the Board (Acting Chairman in August 2016). The Committee is authorized to have seven members. Those serving with me on the Committee in order of length of current service are:
Advisory Committee Interest Forms
Since August 2016 through the date of this article, the Executive Assistant to the General Manager of the HOA have furnished to me twelve (12) Advisory Committee Interest Forms which were completed by individuals expressing an interest in joining FAC.
Process for initial contact with candidate
I then follow up by email with the candidate:
Criteria for candidates
During the summer of 2016, the Committee developed a list of certain qualities (including diversity and core values), experience and expertise that were desired when interviewing and evaluating candidates for the FAC. The experience and expertise (which is reviewed routinely, at least quarterly) include but is not limited to the following:
Interview of candidates
The members of the FAC interview a candidate for approximately thirty minutes to understand the information that the candidate has provided to the Committee and to learn how the candidate believes they can add value to the Committee. The Committee then discusses the qualities, experience and expertise of the candidate. The Committee develops a consensus on whether the Committee will recommend to the Board that the candidate be added to the Committee. The conclusion of the Committee is documented in the minutes of the FAC meeting which are submitted to the Board monthly.
Communication with candidate
If the Committee has agreed to recommend that the candidate be added to the FAC, I then:
If the Committee has developed a consensus to not recommend that the candidate be added to FAC, I advise the candidate in writing of that conclusion and the principal reasons for that conclusion.
Board
We understand the Board reviews the BAF’s in Executive Session of a Board meeting. The Board liaison, Carey Thompson, Treasurer then informs me whether or not the Board approved the BAF submitted by the FAC. Upon approval by the Board, I then notify the candidate in writing that they have been approved by the Board to join the FAC.
Results
A big thank you to the FAC members listed above who participate in this process. We have open dialogue to develop a consensus. A bigger thank you to the Committee members for developing a consensus on the candidates that are interviewed to join the Committee. Of the twelve candidates that prepared and submitted Advisory Committee Interest Forms since August 2016: six were recommend by FAC to be added to the Committee and were approved by the Board to join the Committee; five were not recommended by FAC to be added to the Committee; and, one did not fill out the additional information requested by the Committee and therefore was not interviewed.
Steve is the newest volunteer to join the Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) as a result of the Board approving the FAC recommendation to add Steve to the FAC at its Board meeting on January 29.
Steve has been a resident of our community since November 2012, commuting to Pasadena to work at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) on Monday’s and returning to Sun City Shadow Hills (SCSH) at the end of each week until he retired in February of 2015. In his 32 years at JPL, Steve was involved in a broad range of administrative activities and spent the last 5 years as the Lab’s Chief Financial Officer and Director for Business Operations.
Steve spent the last couple of years unwinding from his career, playing golf, spending time with friends, and thoroughly enjoying everything that SCSH has to offer. Steve even met his fiancé, Diane, at a concert on the Shadow Hills driving range and the two will be married in February.
After relaxing for a couple of years, Steve realized he needed more to fill his time than golf. He recently got his Real Estate license and is working for HK Lane part-time. Steve volunteered for the FAC to help the community remain strong for years to come. He believes that his background in finance, contracts, and facilities management is helpful to the committee. In addition, Steve is also a member of the Board of Directors for a Credit Union with assets of $1.6 billon.
Steve has already attended the FAC special meeting on December 27, 2017 as well as the FAC regular meeting on January 19.
Please join us in welcoming Steve to the FAC!
Health and Wellness Lectures
The lectures require RSVP; Email valeria.batross@associa.us to reserve your spot or stop by Montecito or Santa Rosa Fitness to sign up.
Special Event
February 17 3:30 PM Montecito Group Fitness Room
Introductory price $20.00 per person/ receive a 15% OFF a bottle of wine coupon for Shadows Restaurant. To sign up visit Montecito fitness center.
Vino & Vinyasa a “Journey of the Senses” We will utilize conscious breathing, yoga principles and poses to relax the mind and body, stimulate blood flow, reduce/release stress and combine this with the craft of wine tasting of different wines using one’s pallet, and engaging our senses to receive and create a meaningful and spiritual experience.
Tai Chi & Aqua Tai Chi with Dr. Haberkorn
Help me welcome Dr. Haberkorn to the Sun City Family; and listen to the podcast interview we did with him two weeks ago. Accessible through the website.
Starting February, he will be teaching “Sun Tai Chi” every Wednesday at 5:30 PM in the Montecito Fitness Center. As well as “Aqua Tai Chi” two Saturdays a month in the indoor pool at 10:00 AM.
The dates for February are the 3rd & 17th, the future dates will be posted on the group exercise schedule.
Weekend classes
Happy to announce we are now offering weekend classes, in addition to Dr. Haberkorn’s “Aqua Tai Chi” there will be Saturday morning classes at Santa Rosa Fitness; Mat sculpt (a combination of mat pilates and strength) at 8:00 AM as well as Yoga at 9:00 AM both classes with Chanel
New Pilates Reformers
They have arrived!!! Thank you to all the reformer Pilates participants for your patience, we now have nine brand new reformers, boxes and all the accessories to enjoy a state of the art class conducted by our certified instructors Robyn and Chanel. Our classes will now allow for one more person to join in. packages of 10 for $120.00 are now being sold. Stop by at Montecito Fitness desk for details and availability.
February Schedule:
The benefits of working on a reformer: The reformer offers all the famous benefits of Pilates including overall strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. These things, in turn, lead to daily life improvements like better posture, graceful, efficient movement, and for many, relief from pain associated with physical imbalances such as back pain.
The reformer offers all of these Mat Pilates core-building benefits and more. The resistance of the pulley and spring system offers more resistance than what you get with just your body weight on a mat. You'll achieve even better posture and coordination while getting stronger.
Class Schedule (Subject to Change):
Packages of 10 sessions for $120.00 available for purchase at Montecito Fitness Center, Credit card or checks payable to SCSHCA accepted only.
(760) 345-4349 Ext. 2111
The intent of this article is to clarify how you can manage your personal information on file with the HOA. Included in this discussion is a description of the information on-file with the HOA, the Opt-Out form, the Announcement by Email Request form and how you can use these forms to allow or restrict the release of your information to other Shadow Hills Homeowners.
Sun City Shadow Hills HOA maintains a membership list which includes the names, property addresses, mailing addresses and, in some cases, email addresses of its residents. The HOA is required by law (the Davis Stirling Act) to provide this list (excluding only those residents who have specifically requested in writing to have their information kept private) to any resident that requests it.
If you are okay with allowing your information to be released to other homeowners, you do not need to take any action. To keep all your information private, you must complete the current Opt-Out form approved by the HOA Board on 12/18/2017. This form will be emailed to all members that have an email address on file with the HOA. It is also available at the HOA office and online at www.scshca.com (go to Residents Only section, then Documents / Association Documents / Electronic Communication Consent - Membership List “Opt-Out” Form). The Opt-Out form removes your name and all the information named above from the public Membership List provided to anyone making a request.
The Opt-Out form does not exclude you from receiving any of the HOA communications including Association email blasts, general announcements and notices to members, event information and emergency announcements. If you want to receive these communications, you need to complete the Announcement by Email Request form (see the SCSH website Residents Only section under Documents / Association Documents / Electronic Communication Consent - Announcements by Email Request Form).
Since the Opt-Out form has been recently updated we encourage all who want to keep their Shadow Hills Membership List information private to complete the new form.
I hope this information is helpful. The HOA staff is available to answer any questions you may have regarding the Membership List Opt-Out form and the Announcement by Email Request form.
Have a great February and Happy Valentine’s Day.
Best Regards,
Rich Smetana
General Manager
This is my last article for The View as a Board member. Since I am retiring from the Board, I wanted to take this time to thank everyone for the privilege of serving our community as a member of this HOA Board.
I have, over these past four years, served on this board with John Council, Greg Middlebrook, Stu Stryker, Jerry Cavoretto, Carey Thompson, Barbara Stocky, Vicki Berg, Kim Fuller, Erica Hedlund, and Agi Kessler along with the dozens of wonderful volunteers that staff our various advisory committees. Together we have tried to move this community forward in these ways:
And the list goes on. As the community moves forward, I am excited to see the great things that will come for all of you.
Thank you again for the honor to serve you, and may God bless this community.
Joan Dzuro
Vice President
This week Bob interviews our Fitness Director Valeria Batross and her newest teacher, Dr. Robert Haberkorn. Dr. Haberkorn, a chiropractor, has been studying the newest form of Tai Chi, “Tai Chi Sun.” He will begin classes here starting next month. Valeria also provides an update on all aspects of the programs she supervises.
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Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Dr. Robert Haberkorn, Valeria Batross, and Bob Firring
Do you have an idea for a podcast episode? Contact Bob Firring at podcast@scshca.com.
Santa Rosa Clubhouse
Friday, January 19, 2018
Photos by Valeria Batross
