Tip: Check each room of your house. If you see heavy or breakable items on shelves, on top of cupboards or window ledges, remove them. Place them on lower shelves and secure them with quake hold or secure them in a place where they will not do damage. Earthquakes can turn these items into projectiles. In addition, secure tall, free standing furniture to the wall with a bracket.
The HOA office will be closed Friday, December 24, in observance of Christmas Eve.
Thank you,
Sun City Shadow Hills Community Association
The SCSH Couples Golf Club is actively looking for new members. The Club caters to socially minded couples and singles that are interested in combining a game of golf with a dinner out and the opportunity to meet new and exciting people. The cost to join the club is $20 per person annually and the cost of each play date is the cost of a round of golf, sweeps of $5 per person and $21 for the meal which includes gratuity, tax and desert. Drinks can be purchased before and during dinner at an additional cost. Most of our dinners are in Shadows but some of the specialty events like the CanAm and Member Member are in the Montecito Ballroom. The competition is fun, not stressful and there are door prizes for each event that include free rounds of golf donated by the golf course.
We would like to encourage single golfers to join our club as well. We have several single members who are looking for a playing partner each play date.
If you are interested in joining, please visit our website at www.shcouples.com or contact our Membership Chair, Gerry Read at readgs@shaw.ca or 760-289-6312 and he will be happy to answer your questions or lead you through the membership process.
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Montecito Clubhouse Ballroom
Monday, December 6, 2021
Shadows Restaurant
Tip: Here is a good pamphlet to review for emergency preparedness:
Staying Safe Where the Earth Shakes
Inland Southern California Edition
For the counties of Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino
Developed by: Earthquake Country Alliance, California Earthquake Authority, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
Fly the United States Flag at Half-Staff Immediately Through Sunset on Thursday, December 9, 2021 in Honor of Robert Joseph Dole
A Proclamation on the Death of Robert Joseph Dole
December 5, 2021
As a mark of respect for Robert Joseph Dole, a statesman like few in our history and a war hero among the greatest of the Greatest Generation, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, 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 on December 9, 2021. 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 fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR
With both Dog Parks positioned near agriculture fields, farmers will regularly set beehives containers to assist with pollinating their crops. As a result, bees can often travel more than two miles searching for a supply of water. As a friendly reminder, please empty out the water drinking bowls before leaving the Dog Park. Standing water, such as a water drinking bowl, can draw bees that are looking for a source of drinking water. By emptying out the water drinking bowls will assist with preventing bees gathering at the Dog Parks.
Please report all standing water and/or leaking water faucets to the Facilities Maintenance Department at 760-345-4349 Ext. 2401.
Thank you,
Facilities Maintenance
Sun City Shadow Hills
November has been a very busy month for landscaping activities. Planned activities for the month included, fall color planting with the addition of new planter beds at the Phase 3 Avenue 40 entrance and expansion of planter beds at the other entrance gates. Fall tree trimming was completed and the replacement of trees has been completed for trees lost over the Summer due to high wind episodes, dead trees from heat-stress and disease. An example of one of our continuing problem trees is the African Sumac. We have many of these species in our community that were planted by the developer. However, the Sumac has been shown to be not suited for the prolonged extreme heat episodes. Another completed activity has been replacement of shrubs in Phase 1, 2 and 3, that died over the summer. Finally, trees that were planted too close to the Montecito Clubhouse and Fitness Center were identified for removal. The trees that are being removed are encroaching on the walls and roofs of buildings or are planted too close to the buildings or creating root-caused damage to the sidewalks and underground utilities.
The re-landscaping of the north side of Sun City Blvd in front of the Montecito Clubhouse and Fitness Center is nearing completion as well. Plants that have grown too large for the planter beds in the median at the Sun City Blvd entrance and the guard house have been removed. New landscaping for these areas is planned for early next year. Other plans for next year are a consultation with Hermann design group for design concepts to improve the look of the Jefferson Entrance.
The actions to reach a solution to mitigate the impacts of the chlorinated fountain water on the adjacent flowers and shrubs is ongoing. The flow rate in the fountains has been reduced to lessen the amount of water that can be blown on the plants during wind events. Early assessment of this approach has shown that this approach may be successful.
With completion of the planned projects, the focus of the Vintage Landscape team will be on maintaining the landscaping to keep all areas presentable. We look forward to the opening of all common areas for walking. The unfortunate irrigation water line rupture and washout of the berm on the south side of Sun City Blvd. has delayed the opening of the North Channel. The Vintage team is working diligently to repair the damage. Many thanks to Vintage and the DRM Facilities Maintenance team for their efforts on the repair and cleanup. Execution of future planed planting projects will wait until the spring, after the likely occurrences of frost events has passed.
Christopher Stevens, Chair
Landscape Advisory Committee
Tip: The County of Riverside has instituted a system that uses telephones to alert residents and businesses in Riverside County who are affected, threatened, or might be endangered by an emergency event or a disaster. The system uses phone numbers in the region's 9-1-1 database to contact listed and unlisted land-line telephones.
To register, go to: https://rivcoready.org/AlertRivCo
Saturday, November 27, 2021
Sun City Blvd
Video by Debbie & Ron Hart
Printed copies should be expected in your mailbox the first week of December.
Check out the archive of past issues at: www.scshca.com/view
As published in The View, December 2021:
I have asked Fera Mostow, our former Vice President and current Secretary, to write this month's letter to the community.
When you read this, Thanksgiving will have just passed and we’ll all be looking toward the various holidays coming up in December. But in the midst of our celebrations, I hope we will all have a chance to take a minute to see how far we’ve come in the past year.
This was a hard year for all of us. The global pandemic took a toll on every one of us in one form or another. For some of us it was the inconvenience of not being able to get the things we need at the grocery or hardware store because the supply chain and distribution network for our desired goods was interrupted so severely. For others, the toll was a more serious one. We saw friends and loved ones become ill and, in some cases, die from this horrible illness.
But as 2022 approaches, it’s time to look forward to a better future. All we have to do is stop and take a look around us. And, although I don’t contend everything here in Sun City Shadow Hills is perfect, I do know this: we live in a beautiful community with wonderful amenities, lots of awesome clubs, fun activities planned by our Lifestyle Department, and great neighbors. We remain one of the safest communities in the Coachella Valley; and thanks to the diligent work of our Finance Advisory Committee and our Board of Directors, our finances are in great shape, with this year’s dues increase less than 1%.
We have people in this community who give their time and expertise by serving on the various advisory committees that help the Board keep this community running as smoothly as it does. And we can’t forget the employees of Troon, Vintage, Allied, and Desert Resort Management who are the backbone of the community. So, in spite of the difficulties of the past year, I still look forward to 2022 with the confidence that our community will remain a place we will all continue to enjoy and appreciate.
So as the year 2021 comes to a close, and we all celebrate our various holidays, I wish everyone a joyous season full of wonderful things, lots of laughs, and much happiness for each and every one of you.
– Fera Mostow
After the election in April of this year, the Board and I knew that there were going to be challenges as we worked to find common ground together. Many people questioned what my first steps were going to be as President of this large community, including the members of our new Board. This was a constructive phase in our Board’s relationships and, during this process, Fera and I have grown cooperatively together. She and I had some opposing viewpoints as many governing bodies experience, but we have been able to bridge these issues to find common ground for the benefit of our community as a whole. I have really enjoyed working with Fera these last few months, and I admire her strong dedication to the well-being of Sun City Shadow Hills.
Contact the author at john.macdonnell@scshca.com.
By Robert “Bob” O. Jester, Committee Member
As published in The View, December 2021:
Who Is on the Finance Advisory Committee, and What Does the Committee Do and Not Do?
In recent candidate interviews, it became apparent that there are numerous misconceptions about what the Finance Advisory Committee is and what it does. So I want to describe for our residents how this committee is composed and what we do and do not do each month in our meetings.
Who are the members of this Committee?
By charter, this committee is composed of residents who have expressed an interest in serving the community and have verifiable professional backgrounds in finance, accounting, law, or relevant business management in fields related to the committee’s responsibilities. These include insurance, investments, banking, corporate management, and best industry practices in financial reporting systems and systems of internal controls.
What does this Committee not do?
This committee has NO authority to spend Association funds or to direct Association staff to expend Association funds. Those powers rest with the elected Board of Directors of the Sun City Shadow Hills Association.
What does this Committee do monthly?
I count 20 areas of charter obligations that the Committee is to accomplish or consider each month.
What is the Reserve Study Sub-Committee?
The Finance Advisory Committee has a Sub-Committee with four Finance Committee members and two residents with specialized expertise. They review the Reserve Study Report, which is a key element of the Replacement Fund. The Sub-Committee also reviews proposed Replacement Fund expenditures in excess of $5,000 submitted by staff and advises the Board about whether the requested expenditure is justified.
Hopefully this gives you a better taste for what we do to serve the community and the Board. Future articles will discuss specific topics in detail.
FAC Members: Larry Anderson and Larry Helseth, Co-Chairs; Zerryl Becker, Bob Jester, Jerry Cavoretto, Mike Whelan, Mike Nilsson, and Todd Murphy. FAC Sub-Committee Members for the Replacement Fund and Reserve Study: Chris Stevens and Don Salvatore.
Contact the author at finance@scshca.com.
Starting Saturday, November 27, the hours for the Lifestyle Desk at Montecito Clubhouse will be changed to 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Montecito Clubhouse itself will continue to be open 6:00 am – 10:00 pm
As a reminder, Sun City Shadow Hills provides residents with list of vendors who participate in our Vendor Access Program. They are vendors that residents currently use for services and are listed on our website for residents’ consideration. These vendors are independent entities and are not associated with the Sun City Shadow Hills Community Association. Please click on the link below to access the list:
SCSHCA recommends that its residents investigate such services or products, including verifying that a vendor has the appropriate licenses, insurance, and other credentials, before agreeing to utilize or pay for such services or products. SCSHCA does not recommend, approve, endorse, or warranty the services or products of these vendors and assumes no responsibility or liability for such services or products. However, SCSHCA hopes this list will be helpful to the residents.
Thank you.
Please join us in welcoming our new Fitness Director, Julie Henley. Julie was born and raised in Redlands, CA and made several visits to the Coachella Valley before making it her home with her husband Bill. She is certified in several formats and has enjoyed teaching all levels of fitness over the past 10 years. In addition to fulfilling the Fitness Director role, Julie will be offering several free classes each week. Welcome Julie!
To see more videos, visit our Videos page by clicking here.
Friendly reminder: exterior decorations may be displayed on an owner’s lot up ten (10) days prior to the holiday and must be removed within five (5) days after the holiday, with the exception of December holidays, where 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.
Tip: Police Departments across the nation urge all cell phone users to participate in the ICE (In Case of Emergency) program. This program encourages people to enter an emergency contact number in his/her cell phone’s memory under the heading "ICE". ICE enables paramedics or police to contact a designated relative or friend in an emergency situation. Newer cell phones also allow you to enter "Emergency Information" with contacts as well as medical information that can be accessed even with the phone locked. Check your phone's manual or help app for more details.
Tip: How do you open you garage door if the power fails? Here’s a short video to show you how:
Friday, November 12, 2021
Montecito Fitness Center
Congratulations to this year's Queen and King Turkeys, Janet and Terry.
Janet's time was 07:50 and Terry's time was 14:17.
Tip: Keep your car’s fuel tank filled up. When the fuel gauge reads half empty, it’s time to fill up.
Malcolm "Mal" Barker, a SCSH resident and US Marine Corp Veteran 1965-1969, who served in during the Vietnam War, in country 1966-1968, wanted to honor Veterans of all branches of service. He created a light display set to patriotic music which will be played live each evening at his home on the following United States national observance days:
The address of the live show is at the Barker Home: 80646 Avenida San Ignacio. The light show begins at 7:30 pm and it will run in a loop until 9:30 pm
Thank you to all who have bravely sacrificed to serve and protect our country! God Bless these United States of America.
Saturday, November 6, 2021
Montecito Clubhouse Ballroom
