News

New Years 2017

New Years Eve Gala

12/31/2017

Photos by: Veronica Moya

Podcast Episode 113: Martha Reeves

This week Bob interviews legendary R&B singer Martha Reeves.

Martha and the Vandellas will be performing here at Sun City Shadow Hills on Saturday, January 6, 2018. The show is now sold out.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Do you have an idea for a podcast episode? Contact Bob Firring at podcast@scshca.com.

View Delivery Volunteer Needed in Phase 1

A volunteer is needed to deliver The View in area #13 near Avenida Los Padres in Phase 1.

Volunteers are notified at the end of the month when the magazines for their area are ready for pickup at the Santa Rosa Clubhouse.

If you are interested in volunteering, call 760-345-4349 Ext. 2204 or email view@scshca.com.

From the General Manager – January 2018

The New Year is upon us and it is time for us to start anew. There is so much to think about and to do, especially when living at Sun City Shadow Hills. I want to first remind our residents that the monthly assessment increases by $4 per unit to $259 effective January 1, 2018, as discussed at the Board Meeting on October 30, 2017. Please make sure you are paying the correct monthly assessment; it is due and payable on the first of each month and becomes delinquent if not received by the 15th. Remember that, just like your mortgage payment, it is the member’s responsibility to ensure your assessment is paid.

There are several ways to pay your assessments:

  • If you are paying using Associa-DRM Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) (no cost), no action is required on your part to have the correct amount taken. This is because the amount deducted is automatically adjusted based on Sun City Shadow Hills’ current monthly assessment.
  • However, if you make your payments through your bank account (banks fees may apply)— via your bank’s online banking service each month or set up via your bank for recurring monthly payments — you are responsible for instructing your bank to change your monthly assessment payment.
  • For payment by credit or debit cards, Single Time Pay or Recurring, please note that PayLease, a third-party facilitator, is available to provide your requested banking services. Their convenience fees are not applied to any Association funds, and Associa-DRM representatives cannot set up or cancel their services on your behalf. You pay your assessments from your own bank account via your bank’s online banking service each month or set up via your bank for recurring monthly payments. Again, since the assessment has changed, you are responsible for instructing your bank to change your payment.
  • Of course, you can send your monthly assessment payments by mail (cost of standard first-class postage). Assessment checks are applied to your account when received at the P.O. Box, not by the postmark; so please mail checks in a timely manner

Additional information on these options is available at the HOA office or on the SCSHCA website at www.scshca.com/assessment. Although assessment statements are not sent to members via USPS, members may sign up for electronic billing statements or view their statement online. Log in at https://pcm.opt-e-mail.com/signup to get started. You will need your last assessment statement to provide account information, etc.

I hope this was helpful. Also, please feel free to contact the HOA office staff at 760-345-4349, customerservice@drminternet.com, or by calling DRM at 760-346-1161, option 1, for additional information.

New is the year, new are the hopes, new is the resolution, new are the spirits, and new are our warm wishes for you and family. Have a promising and fulfilling New Year 2018.

Sincerely,

Rich

Vice President’s Report – January 2018

Happy New Year! As we start making our New Year resolutions and look to the future, I thought we could take a moment and look at 2017 and what your previous two Boards (one ended March 2 and the new Board started March 2) accomplished in 2017. Below are some the more major items:

  1. Sports Areas: The Board approved the resurfacing of some of the tennis courts, replacement of windscreens, and the painting of the courts. We added additional awnings and benches for players. We added a sound curtain to the pickleball court, upgraded the snack bar countertop, added an icemaker by the tennis courts, resurfaced the Santa Rosa pool deck, purchased new furniture to go around that pool, and replaced the plaster and installed tile in the spa. The bocce ball courts were leveled and resurfaced.
  2. Golf Course: A major overhaul of the south golf course was completed. You can find all the details, including photos of the project in process, on the website at www.scshca.com/golf-master-plan-projects-completed. All renovations were accomplished at more than $200,000 under budget. We now have new liners and sand in all bunkers; an enlarged practice and putting green; and a renovated, lighted putting course in the community.
  3. With Pulte leaving, the Board established an Ad Hoc Committee to review the last areas that needed to be released and, after much discussion and negotiation, the Board was able to acquire $300,000 to cover future costs of items in Phase 3.
  4. We widened the parking area by the North Channel on San Mateo so that we have a place to park as you walk your dogs in that area.
  5. We added lamps next to the sidewalk on Sombra by the Monroe gate to illuminate that area.
  6. We revised the tree trimming schedule so all trees get trimmed each year (unless the species requires more time between trimmings), and we removed some of the excess trees.
  7. We added red-/green-lighted gate arms to all the gates to make it easier to know when your transponder signal has been read by the gate.
  8. We worked with the Veterans Club to install a flagpole and flag outside the golf/Shadows areas.
  9. Working with the Ad Hoc Governing Documents Committee, we updated the CC&Rs and By-laws for the homeowners to vote on. The changes basically remove references to Pulte in areas where they can be removed. Since Pulte still owns five acres in the northeast part of our community, the references have to remain in some areas. Three additional items for homeowner vote include: cumulative voting for Board of director elections, term limits for committee volunteers, and length of time homes can be rented.
  10. The Finance Advisory Committee has made numerous recommendations to help the Board with upgrading our financial procedures and internal controls. (We also hired a Controller, Tyler Ingle, to help in the execution of these procedures.) The committee has reviewed all insurance policies and contracts as well. They also created a subcommittee that reviews our Reserve Study report and budget.
  11. We have established a new Advisory Committee, Facilities & Service, that will look at any request for large purchases, or projects that need to be replaced or repaired, and confirm the work is needed.
  12. The Board held several budget meetings and approved a budget for 2018.
  13. We are working with the Information Advisory Committee on an upgrade to our website.
  14. The Board met over the summer and updated the Strategic Plan, which is available on the website at www.scshca.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Final-Strategic-Planfor- 2018.pdf.

There are still a number of items that your Board is working on for this year. As always, getting residents’ respectful feedback is important to us. You can do this by emailing Board members, attending a Board meeting and speaking at an open forum, attending a “Meet a Board Member” session, or asking questions through the Shadow Hills website at www.scshca.com/ask-a-question.

We hope that 2018 is your best and happiest year yet.

Who You Gonna Call?

Hopefully not the Ghostbusters.

Consider this, if an emergency hits “Who you gonna call?” You probably know who you would want to call, but do you have their contact info readily available? Do they have yours? Is it current?

Families come together this time of year. It’s one of the best things about the holidays - that and lots of desserts. Consider starting a family tradition of creating/updating everyone’s contact information.

Complete this for each family member:

Name:
Home Address:
City, State, Zip
Phone:

Work:
Address:
City State Zip
Phone:

Date of Birth:
Social Security Number:
Important Medical Info:

Also record Out-of-State Contacts, such as family members not living in “paradise”.

Make sure all family members have this list. Plan to update as needed, but at a minimum once per year. All of us have cell phones, do your best to keep contact info current. It’s a good idea to keep a paper copy of this information too. It’s a low-tech back up plan that can’t be knocked offline.

To learn more about communication plans and overall preparedness, plan to attend:

Disaster Preparedness 101
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Montecito Capistrano Room
4:30pm-7:30pm.

Registration is free. Register with our Lifestyles Concierge at the Lifestyles Desk.

Submitted by Kris Downey, IAC member.

Golf Cart Parade 2017

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Photos by Erin Smith

 

Photos by Trish Belisle

Indio Police Department Featured in Police Chief Magazine

Once again the great work of your Police Department is being featured in Police Chief Magazine. Attached is a link to the article. We should all be very proud that our City is featured in such a positive light on the cover of a magazine with international reach.

www.policechiefmagazine.org/community-engagement-indio/

The City of Indio is the largest and most populated city in the Coachella Valley desert region of southern California. The city’s estimated population is about 89,000; nearly 68 percent of residents are Hispanic and approximately 33 percent of residents are 18 years of age or younger. The city is served by the Indio Police Department, which is a full-service law enforcement agency, with a total authorized strength of 74 sworn and 45 non-sworn personnel, as well as more than 56 volunteer staff.

 

Flag Notification

United States Flags at Half-Staff Thursday, December 7, 2017 in Honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day occurs on December 7 of each year, designated in memory of the lives lost in the 1941 attack and to remember that we enjoy freedom thanks to their sacrifice. The attack claimed the lives of 2,334 servicemen and servicewomen and wounded another 1,143.

On this day, the President directs that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff and displayed from individual American homes, at the White House, and on all U.S. government buildings and establishments, home and abroad.

City of Indio Celebrates 11th Annual Arbor Day

Tree Planting to Take Place at Dr. Carreon Park

INDIO, CA (December 5, 2017) – The City of Indio will celebrate its 11th Annual Arbor Day on Thursday, December 7, 2017, from 9 am to 11 am at Dr. Carreon Park located at 82200 Dr. Carreon Blvd.

“It is an honor for me to recognize the city’s commitment to sustainability as the only Tree City USA Community in the Coachella Valley,” said incoming Mayor Michael Wilson. “Our trees not only provide shade, cut cooling/heating costs, and cleanse the air, but they also increase property values and help beautify our neighborhoods.”

Arbor Day was founded nearly 150 years ago and is now observed across the nation and the world. The Arbor Day Foundation is the largest non-profit conservation and education organization dedicated to tree planting. Its Tree City USA program was founded in 1976 and cities can only achieve such status by meeting its core standards of sound urban forestry management.

The community is invited to serve as volunteers as well as donate and plant trees during the celebration. La Hacienda Nursery, West Coast Arborists, Excel Landscaping, Indio Youth Sports Association, and the Woman’s Club of Indio have already committed to providing trees and materials, and the number of individual tree donations is growing.

To donate trees or participate at the event, please contact Paul Stalma at (760) 625-1806 or pstalma@indio.org, or Isaac Garza at (442) 391-6437 or igarza@indio.org.

Fitness Update

Hello Sun City Shadow Hills!

We welcome the last month of the year with open arms! Starting December 12, I will be conducting group Power Plate orientations for those that have never experience vibration training and its benefits, this will be on Tuesdays at 2:00 PM for a maximum of 6 people. Sign up at Montecito Fitness Desk in advance.

Health and Wellness Lectures
If you haven’t reserved your spot for our next two upcoming lectures, please email me or call either desk to RSVP: (760) 345-4349 ext 2111.

Fascial Stretch Therapy
December 2 at 10:30 AM
This lecture will talk about what Fascia tissue is and what happens to the body when our tissues hold lactic acid and what can we do to treat and prevent. The benefits of FST include improved posture, functional ability to perform and do what you couldn’t before, release of pain, restoration of normal joint space resulting in better sports performance and lifestyle.

Eisenhower: Everything You Want to Know about Aging…
December 5 at 5:00 PM
Join us for Eisenhower’s second lecture to Sun City, learn all about what happens as we age and how we can be proactively enhance our lives with vitality.

Schedule Changes
Starting December, Our Tai Chi Qigong classes on Tuesday and Thursday will now be at 6:30 PM.

Happy tappers have stopped classes on Tuesdays at 2:00 PM due to lack of participation.

Treadmills at Santa Rosa
All treadmill running belts and decks have been replaced at Santa Rosa Fitness Center as of Wednesday, November 29.

Valeria Batross
Fitness Director

“Forget what we became, what matters is what we’ve become, and our potentials to overcome.” – Aniekee Tochukwu

Your Experience & Expertise Matters

At Sun City Shadow Hills, we are a vibrant community consisting of residents with a diverse array of experience and expertise. The willingness of our residents to share that experience and expertise is what sets SCSH apart.

Volunteers are the heart of our community.

Currently our Emergency Preparedness Sub-Committee is seeking volunteers. The EPSC, under the direction of Jeff Kirkpatrick, has formulated a comprehensive plan to assist our residents in the event of a catastrophic event. This plan focuses on preparedness with the goal of Self Sufficiency and Self Reliance.

In order for this plan to be operationally ready, volunteers are needed. Below is a list of the volunteer opportunities with the EPSC. Volunteers will be trained and assigned.

  • SCSH is divided into 20 tracts, referred to as Divisions. One volunteer per division.
  • Windshield Survey Team - this group will assess damage and track the Red/Green cards.
  • Security Relief Team - this group will staff the Jefferson and 40th Avenue gates if needed.
  • Generator Team - will be responsible for maintaining emergency electric generators.
  • Radio Team – Amateur/HAM radio operators with their own radios participating on the local emergency radio net (RACES)

If you are interested in lending your experience and expertise to this effort, please complete an Advisory Committee Interest Form and turn in to the HOA Office. Download the form by clicking here  or pick one up at the HOA office. Please return your completed form to the HOA office.

Submitted by Kris Downey, IAC Member

Indio Tree Lighting Ceremony

Who: The City of Indio

What: Holiday Fun Planned for Indio Tree Lighting Event on December 2

The City of Indio plans to kick off the holiday season with a tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, December 2 at 5:00 PM. The event, which is free and open to the public. The festivities include the live tree lighting, carolers from local Indio schools, community performances, and of course a visit from Santa! The public is encouraged to bring their cameras as children will have the opportunity to take a photo with Santa after the tree lighting ceremony.

When: Saturday, December 2 at 5:00 PM

Where: 100 Civic Center Mall (in Between City Hall and the Indio Public Library)

Contact: Jim Curtis, Community Services Manager
(760) 391-4174 or jcurtis@indio.org

Montecito Outdoor Spa Closure

The Montecito Outdoor Spa will closed for maintenance Tuesday, November 28, 2017 through Monday, December 4, 2017.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Podcast Episode 111: Suzy Kerekes, Online Grocery Shopping

This week Bob interviews Susan Kerekes. Susie is the lead Apple person of the SCSH Computer Club. They discuss the new Wal-Mart food delivery app, both as a great time saver and a gateway to the app world, the world that is going to make our lives so much better. It’s also a subtle promotion for the computer club, a club everyone who wants to stay up to date should consider joining.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Do you have an idea for a podcast episode? Contact Bob Firring at podcast@scshca.com.

This is an audio-only episode.

Holiday Decorations

Thanksgiving week traditionally marks the beginning of the December holiday season - Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and of course, decorating your home for the holidays.

For those residents wondering what is permitted with respect to holiday decorating, Design Rule 4.19 states:

  • “Exterior holiday decorations are permitted. However, the design and quality of the decorations shall be in good taste, and the DRC, in its sole discretion, maintains the right to determine if such holiday decorations are in good taste.  Exterior decorations may be displayed on an Owner’s lot up to ten (10) days prior to the holiday and must be removed within five (5) days after the holiday, with the exception of the December holidays, when exterior decorations may be displayed beginning Thanksgiving Day until January 10 of the December holiday season.
  • Holiday decorations must not cause light glare to neighbors or other safety hazards related to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.” (Emphasis added)
  • With regard to decorative string/icicle lighting, DRC Rule 4.16.3 states:
  • “String and icicle type lighting is not permitted. The exception will be the December holidays where this type of lighting is used for decorating.”  (Emphasis added)

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Associa/DRM and your Information Advisory Committee, we wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season.  May the air be filled with Peace, Love and Tolerance for all!!!  Happy decorating!

Submitted by Beverly Mirsky
IAC and DRC member

Clarification . . . Dog Walkers

For the last couple of weeks our SCSH G4S Security has been stopping and letting dog-walkers know, they cannot walk their dogs on the golf course, as a courtesy to dog-walkers. The current rule states under section 2.20.4 of our Rules and Regulations that “Pets are not permitted on any golf course at any time”. It also states in section 5.1.10 for golf course “Use: Pets, walkers, joggers, bicyclists, and golf carts (or other similar sized four-wheeled vehicles) are not allowed on the golf course at any time”.

Security has been informing these residents that signs have been ordered and will be installed in the next few weeks. These signs will be placed along the areas of the golf course that border streets, to make it clear pet walking, jogging, walking is not allowed on the golf course.

Further, security has been letting the homeowners know that once the signs have been installed, they will begin enforcing the rule by writing tickets to offenders, after a period of warning homeowners.

The officers have been encouraging residents to use the dog parks or the north channel in order to avoid problems. They have recently heard comments from homeowners, complaining that “we won’t be allowing them to walk their dogs anywhere on Sun City Blvd”. We don’t know where this rumor started, but it is untrue. We want to clarify all streets and sidewalks are accessible for walking dogs, jogging, etc.

Once again, we are asking dog-walkers to use the common area facilities provided (the 2 Dog Parks and the North Channel, primarily) to walk their dogs. We thank you for your cooperation.

Troon Saguaro Amateur Series Coming to SCSH

Unique Championship Series for Premier Amateur Golfers Announced in Southwest US

ROLLAND VAUGHN, GM at Shadow Hills Golf Club: “Shadow Hills Golf Club and its residents are excited to be selected as the host facility for this prestigious event—the Agave Amateur—within the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series. We are humbled to be part of this premier series that is hosted at prestigious clubs such as Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, Troon North and Sewailo. Being part of the Saguaro Amateur in previous years and knowing the quality of the field, this is an opportunity we could not pass up. We look forward to a long relationship with the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series team.”

BOULDER, Colorado—The Saguaro Amateur, in conjunction with Troon Golf, is proud to announce the formation of the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series. The Troon Saguaro Amateur Series will consist of four men’s amateur events starting with this summer’s Sizzler Amateur June 10-13 at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale. The series continues with The Gobbler Amateur November 19-22 at Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson, the Agave Amateur December 19-22 at Shadow Hills Golf Club in Indio, California, and concludes with the 2018 Saguaro Amateur January 1-4 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona, which will serve as the Series’ championship event.

“We started the Saguaro Amateur in 2014 to provide a first-class competitive experience for high-level amateur golfers. Players who want to be the best in the world need opportunities to play and develop and that is what we are giving them with the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series,” said Roy Edwards, Chairman of the Saguaro Amateur. Troon Golf is the worldwide leader in golf course management and we are excited to partner with them. The level of service and competitive venues are second-to-none in the golf industry.”

The Troon Saguaro Amateur Series will have a Player of the Year race that will culminate with the 2018 Saguaro Amateur at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club. The series is open to amateur golfers who meet the eligibility and exemption requirements and cannot be junior golfers considered prospects by the NCAA, although prospects can compete in several of the ‘open’ events like the Sizzler, Gobbler, and Agave Amateurs.

  • June 10-13 Sizzler Amateur Troon North Golf Club Scottsdale, Arizona
  • November 19-22 Gobbler Amateur Sewailo Golf Club Tucson, Arizona
  • December 19-22 Agave Amateur Shadow Hills Golf Club Indio, California
  • January 1-4 *Saguaro Amateur Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club Maricopa, Arizona

*Troon Saguaro Amateur Series Championship

http://saguaroamateur.com/agave

Voting on the CC&R’s . . . What You Need to Know!

After more than 2 years of very hard work by our volunteer resident Governing Documents Committee, 4 months of homeowner comments, our HOA attorney’s review and discussions by our Board, our HOA Board voted unanimously to amend the documents in the following 4 ways:

  1. Remove the reference to Pulte, the Developer – now that they have left our community
  2. Remove the 2-year time limit for committee member’s service, allowing for members to serve multiple terms, if they choose to.
  3. Remove cumulative voting every other year.
  4. Minimum Rental Time Period – 45 Days. This removes the ability to rent your home for a minimum of one night provided a property manager is utilized.

Again, our Board voted unanimously for these newly revised CC&Rs and Bylaws. 51% of all homes must vote YES for the new governing documents to go into effect.

The CC&Rs and By-Laws will be coming in your mailbox in late-December/early-January on a computer “thumb drive.” For those unfamiliar with how to use a thumb drive, please feel free to drop by the HOA office and pick up a hard copy of these documents. It is very important for all homeowners to read these governing documents, as these are what we are agreeing to abide by for the future.

For more information on the Voting Ballot and the Measures we will be voting on, the HOA President, Mr. Kim Fuller will be hosting two Town Hall Meetings to discuss the ballot and the measures. Please join him either Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 7:00 pm or Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 9:00 am in the Montecito Clubhouse.

Bunker Renovation Part of Shadow Hills’ Plan to Keep, Attract Golfers

The Desert Sun recently published an article on our very own SCSH Golf Course renovation project, which was completed this August.  “The goal is to be the No. 1 choice for our residents. We want to create value for the Sun City Shadow Hills residents,” Vaughn said.

Read what else Rolland Vaughn, General Manager of the SCSH Golf Club, has to say about the project here:

desertsun.com/story/sports/golf/2017/11/14/bunker-renovation-part-shadow-hills-plan-keep-attract-golfers/864292001/