Message From The President
Anne Montgomery
Dear Homeowners,
Our annual Budget Meeting was held on Oct. 30, following the monthly Board Meeting. Treasurer Woody Neiman described the detailed process in which the budget for 2020 was developed and the factors that particularly impacted the results. Among those items were the comprehensive and long term plan to control midge flies, algae, and weeds in our lakes (in mid-November our lakes were restocked with goldfish and bluegill to help control midge flies and White Amur for grassy weed control), enhanced Food & Beverage service levels, the tight labor market and the improved benefits package to attract and retain employees, and the continued impact of Proposition 206 which, you will remember, mandated wage increases. Additionally, he showed how each of our annual dues are divided up between Capital Reserve (16%), Capital Improvement (2%), and Operations (82%). Further, Treasurer Neiman detailed how the Operations Budget is split between each operational area: Administration 25.6%, Custodial 12.8%, Facilities 13.8%, Food & Beverage 7.4%, Golf (net 0%), Landscape 20.8%, Patrol 8.2%, Pools 8.7%, and Recreation (net 2.7%). The bottom line is that we have a balanced budget for 2020 of $11,153,000 with a small homeowners’ dues increase of 3.24%, which translates to $3.81/month per unit. If you are interested in how and where our dollars are being spent, this meeting is an excellent source of information.
The 4th annual Fun Walk was held at the 5 Lakes on Saturday, Nov. 2, with over 200 participants and pets. It is a beautiful walk around the 5 Lakes with three different choices: 1.5, 1, or 2.7 miles. This event benefits the Cottonwood Palo Verde Foundation which, in turn, supports social, educational, health, and fitness activities for all the Sun Lakes Adult Communities. It is an excellent way to spend the morning for a very worthwhile cause. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to take part, mark your calendar for the 5th annual Fun Walk the first Saturday of November 2020.
Fitness Activity Center (FAC) update: Our new fitness facility will open Monday, Dec. 2, with orientation sessions for registered CWPV homeowners the first week, Dec. 2 through Dec. 6. The building dedication and Grand Opening ceremony will be held at the FAC Saturday, Dec. 7, at 11 a.m. All CWPV homeowners are invited to attend what will be a gala event!
Please meet Travis Butler, our November Employee of the Month. Travis has been an employee of the Cottonwood Pro Shop since December 2018. He is an extremely reliable, punctual, and efficient employee. Travis assists in all aspects of golf operations, such as scheduling tee times, course play, tournaments, lessons, and merchandising. He has developed on the job very quickly and has become a valued employee, providing superior customer service, and is very well liked by both homeowners and his fellow co-workers. Congratulations, Travis, on being selected November’s Employee of the Month!
The festive season is upon us with many of our homeowners festooning their homes and landscape with both beautiful and amusing holiday lights and decorations. From Dec. 24 to Dec. 31, you may use the cart paths to tour the lights on the golf courses and common areas.
Season’s Greetings to all and a happy and healthy 2020!
Upcoming events
All tickets for Cottonwood Palo Verde shows and events can be purchased at our Homeowner Services location.
Upcoming “TAD” Concert Tickets on Sale Now
Tuesday, Dec. 10 – So This Is Christmas
New Show Tuesday, Dec. 17 – December ’63 Christmas and Regular Jersey Boys Songs
Friday, Jan. 10 – Mick Adams & The Rolling Stones
Tuesday, Jan. 21 – Magic of Manilow
Tuesday, Jan. 28 – Return to Woodstock
Tuesday, Feb. 4 – Eagles Tribute (3 pm Show only)
Tuesday, Feb. 11- George Strait Tribute (3 p.m. show only)
Tuesday, Feb. 25 – Giovanni
Wednesday, March 4 – Uptown
Tuesday, March 10 – The Annual Impersonators Show
Tuesday, March 24 – The Blues Brothers
Tuesday, March 31 – Turn the Page – Bob Seger Tribute
Kenny Hess and Band Concert
For years, we’ve been anxiously waiting for Kenny Hess, the famous songwriter and singer, to do a concert in the San Tan Ballroom with his world-famous band. Well, the date has been set for Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, with a 7 p.m. showtime. Tickets for this powerful and exciting main event will be $20. This is a one-time show here at Sun Lakes that you won’t want to miss!
Ladies Coffee
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, Dec. 4, for our monthly Ladies Coffee. They are always held in the San Tan Ballroom starting at 10:30 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month from October through April. For only $3, you get hot coffee, hot tea, iced tea, cookies, and a raffle ticket for a chance to win a door prize. There are fashion shows, guest speakers, and entertainers. Our December’s Fashion Show will be “Camille La Vie.” There will be a Trunk Show by Lion City 2. All Sun Lakes homeowners and their guests are invited.
Upcoming Ladies Coffee Fashion Shows:
Dec. 4 – Camille
Jan. 8 – Chico’s
Feb. 5 – What Women Want
March 4 – Lion City 2
April 1 – Stein Mart
(Please note that January’s Coffee will be on the second Wednesday.)
FREE Annual Christmas Golf Cart Parade and Show
Our annual FREE All Sun Lakes Christmas Golf Cart Parade and Show will take place on Friday, Dec. 6, this year. We’ll start at Palo Verde at 5 p.m. for some FREE hot turkey soup, crackers, and drinks, along with our Golf Cart Judging and Professional Christmas Singers. Naturally, Mr. & Mrs. Claus, Elves, and Snowman will be on hand for that special photo shot of the family. About 6:15 p.m., the Sun Lakes Sheriff’s Posse will escort the parade over to Cottonwood’s San Tan Ballroom for a Christmas Show. There you will find free cookies, hot cocoa, hot apple cider, and hot coffee. The show starts at 7 p.m.
Bring Some Fun and Magic to Your Holidays—FREE!
Grandparents, if you have young guests staying with you through the holidays and they’re looking for something fun to do, well we have an event that will be… right up your alley.
On Friday, Dec. 27, the Sun Lakes Community Theatre (SLCT) and Cottonwood Palo Verde’s Recreation Department are planning a special day for the little ones. The SLCT will perform every child’s favorite, Horton Hears A Who, on the stage of the San Tan Ballroom. Also, Ray Texeira will put on a magic show the children will love! Showtime is at 2 p.m., but the doors of the ballroom will open at 1 p.m. for fun and games. There will be a balloon artist, craft tables, and refreshments. All Sun Lakers are invited. To get FREE tickets, you need to come into Cottonwood Homeowner Services to get your tickets. Tickets were available starting October 1, 2019. You’ll need Adult tickets and Children tickets.
FREE Shred-A-Thon
Thanks to Becky Kolb and Trish Kolb, The Kolb Team, Arizona’s Active Adult Communities Experts will host a Shred-A-Thon for Cottonwood and Palo Verde homeowners only. They are actively doing this same thing in each of the Sun Lakes Phases. The date is set for Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in the east parking lot next to Cottonwood’s Arts & Crafts Rooms from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. More information in next month’s Splash.
Shears to You (Great News!)
Step in and see how beautiful you can be. Shears to You mobile salon will be parked on Thursdays at Cottonwood in the east parking lot at the corner of EJ Robson and Brentwood from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a complete mobile hair salon and style lounge offering a full menu of hair and nail services for men and women. To schedule your appointment, call 480-983-5378: Note: Shears to You is here every Thursday.
Healthwaves Lab Screenings and Testing
Healthwaves will be available for testing in Cottonwood’s Paint Room (A-7) from 8 a.m. to noon. They also handle flu shots and pneumonia shots. Please note that starting in December, Healthwaves will be relocated to the new Cottonwood Palo Verde Health & Fitness Center.
Rover’s Rest Stop
Mark your calendars and tell all your friends that Rover’s Rest Stop’s Meet & Greet Adoptions will be held on the second Saturday of each month. If the weather is nice, they will be at the greenbelt across from the Cottonwood tennis courts from 9 a.m. to noon. In bad weather, they will be in Cottonwood’s A-6 (Dance Room) from 9 a.m. to noon. Here’s a great chance for you to bring home an adorable new family member. For more information, call 480-600-2828 and remember, a little dog will be there waiting desperately for a place to call home. Date: Dec. 14, 2019
Upcoming Food & Beverage Events
Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Beer Pairing Dinner at Cottonwood
Saturday, Dec. 14 – Palo Verde’s Holiday Dinner
Thursday, Dec. 19 – Eat, Drink & Be Merry at Cottonwood
Tuesday, Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve Parties at both Cottonwood and Palo Verde
Upcoming Traveling Tours Through Free Spirit Vacations & Events
To book any of these trips, call Free Spirit Vacation at 480-926-5547 or email [email protected]. Please remind them that you are a Cottonwood Palo Verde homeowner. Event information flyers can be found at Cottonwood’s Homeowner Services or CW Library.
12/06 – Desert Botanical Gardens & Mill Ave.Fair
12/07 – Prescott Christmas Parade & Lights
12/07 – Electric Light Parade & Dinner