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Trails Fundraising SoarsMaster Board Candidates Announced

DMCF AnnouncesScholarship Program

Winter Meetings

Letter from the President

Desert-Mountain-HOA.com

Winter 2013

A Publication of the DesertMountain Master Association [HOA]

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2 Winter 2013 DESERT-MOUNTAIN-HOA.COM

Bill Overton Executive Editor

Community ManagerKaren Angelo

Managing EditorGovernance Manager

Shelley Glasow SchadowskyCreative Director

Contributing Writers Karen Angelo John Gevlin Troy Gillenwater Dawn Hopkins Bob Jones Ann Melsheimer Bill Overton Jeff Penney Ellen Rundle

The Desert Mountain Connection is designed to help you feel connected to Desert Mountain whether or not you are residing in the community. Submis-sions of community news, articles or photography for The Desert Mountain Connection should be sent to [email protected]. The Desert Mountain Connection is not responsible for the return of unsolic-ited materials. The advertising contained herein does not represent the endorsement of the Desert Moun-tain Master Association. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission is prohibited.

The Desert Mountain Connection is published by the Desert Mountain Master Association (HOA).

The Desert Mountain Master Association is profession-ally managed by CCMC, Capital Consultants Manage-ment Corporation.

Printed in the USA. All Rights Reserved.Copyright 2013, The Desert Mountain Connection.

Please Recycle.

DESERT-MOUNTAIN-HOA.COM 3

features

A Note from the Editor . . . . . . . . 4

President’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Community Manager’s Corner . . . . 8

Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Meeting Calendar . . . . . . . . . 18

Security Update . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Landscaping Tips . . . . . . . . . . 30

The Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Special Advertising Section . . . . . 38

Contact Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Community News . . . . . . . 12Candidates Announced for Master BoardFive candidates are running for four open seats on the Desert Mountain Master Board. Winners will be announced at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Desert Mountain Master Association, which will take place on January 28, 2013, at 3:00pm at Cochise-Geronimo’s Sunset Terrace.

Desert MountainGives Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Desert Mountain Community FoundationAnnounces Scholarship ProgramThe goal is to raise a minimum of $100,000 to fund scholarships that will be granted, based on need, to eligible Desert Mountain Club and Desert Mountain CCMC employees, their spouses, and dependent children and grandchildren as these individuals pursue their educational goals.

Design Review . . . . . . . . . 26The Art of Home Modifications in Desert MountainMany residents are considering modifications to their current homes. There is a lot we can do to help and to make the process as easy as possible.

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New Trails Open, Fundraising SoarsGrand Opening Fundraiser Great SuccessAs a result of everyone’s generosity, almost $50,000 was raised at the December Grand Opening Event.[ [

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Cover Photo by Vicky Harjung

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Letter from the Editor

I’m a big Frank Sinatra fan. My parents turned me on to him when I was in high school and they listened to “Saturday Night with Sinatra” on the easy lis-tening station, WPAT, back east. We listened to it during dinner at home and as we cleaned up. We listened to it when they took me to, and picked me up from, high

school dances (before boyfriends who absolutely did not lis-ten to Frank Sinatra took over). We listened to it when I was home on Saturday nights after dinner when we all just hung around the living room and caught up on the past week.

One of my favorite Sinatra songs is “It was a Very Good Year.” Thoughtful and reflective, I love the way this song captures the important milestones in the singer’s life and how he looks back on them not with regret, but with a certain sense of fondness.

At this point in my life, I’m right smack in the middle of that song, somewhere between 35 and the autumn of the year, and as I reflect on 2012 here at the HOA, I can honestly say it has been a very good year:

• Our Master Association Board of Directors, Incorporated Village Boards, Council of Presidents and Master Board Advisory Committees are led by engaged and energetic volunteers whose great ideas and suggestions help improve and enhance the community and the overall governance process (to see who is running for the four open seats on the Master Board in 2013, please see page 12);

• The Desert Mountain Owner Services Business was suc-cessfully launched and provides excellent service to our residents (more on this in Community Manager Bill Over-ton’s column on page 8);

• The Desert Mountain Trails and associated fundraising continue to flourish! There are now three trails available for hiking in Desert Mountain with two more left to go (more information about the recent and very successful Trails Fundraising event can be found on page 20);

• Our Security officers saved a life in Desert Mountain this summer and played a pivotal role in catching criminals on property (more on their outstanding work is highlighted on page 28);

• I am fortunate enough to work for and with dedicated, hard-working colleagues here at the HOA office, who are committed to Desert Mountain and to making it beautiful, safe and secure for our owners. It is a pleasure to come to Desert Mountain and work beside them every day.

As you reflect back on 2012, I hope it is filled with as many high points as we’ve been fortunate enough to experience this year. As you look ahead, please know that on behalf of the Association staff, we extend our warmest wishes for a peaceful and prosperous 2013.

Happy New Year! ■

Karen AngeloGovernance Manager

When I was 45, it was aVery Good Year…

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DESERT-MOUNTAIN-HOA.COM Winter 2013 5


President’sLetter

Every year, at the Master Association’s Annual Meeting, we elect new members to the Master Association Board of Directors. This year, at the Twenty-Second Annual Meeting of the Desert Mountain Master Association, which will be held January 28, 2013 at 3:00pm, in Cochise Geronimo’s Sunset Terrace, you have the opportunity to elect four Directors to the Board. There are currently three Director positions open for terms of three years each and one position is open for a one-year term.

In this column, I thought it would be helpful to provide some information on the overall nomination and election process and why it is so important that you return your ballot for this election.

They Need Your Vote!

As you may know, the governance and control of the Desert Mountain Master Association has been the responsibility of prop-erty owners for more than 11 years. To that end, it is important that enthusiastic, energetic, and committed people continue to volunteer and serve. That’s why every October, the Master Association sends out a “Call for Candidates,” requesting those who are interested in serving on the Master Board to fill out and return an “Expression of Interest” form within 30 days.

The role of the Nominating & Election Committee is to review the forms that are received and to discuss other possible applicants who may also be excellent candidates for the Master Board of Directors. This year, I had the pleasure of serving with fellow Committee members Roger Greaves, Troy Gillenwater, Rich Sherman, Al Smith and Jack Swon-son. Roger and Al have served as Master Board Presidents in the past, Jack is currently a director on the Master Board and Troy and Rich serve as President and Director respectively on the Sonoran Cottages and Apache Peak Village Boards. They all brought a wealth of experience, great ideas and insight into what it takes to be a successful Board member, which led us to interview – and ultimately endorse – the following five very solid and talented candidates for the four open seats in the upcoming election:• Bob Engelman; • Jim Morrissey; and• Ray Herzog; • Lianne Sefcovic.• Ann Melsheimer;

You may read more about these candidates and their skill-sets, areas of expertise and experience on page 12.

By now, you should have received your Annual Meeting Packet in the mail. This Packet contains: • An Agenda for the Annual Meeting; • Minutes from last year’s Annual Meeting; • Information on the candidates running for the Master Board; • A Self-Nomination Form; • A Voter Registration Form; • An Absentee Ballot; • A White SECRET BALLOT Envelope; and • A Blue Business Reply Envelope.

Please review the documents contained in this packet, then please sign, date and return the enclosed voter registra-tion form and the absentee ballot per the instructions on the forms. In order to hold the Annual Meeting, we must achieve a quorum of 25% of all property owners to avoid delays in the overall governance process. If we fail to achieve a quorum, the meeting will have to be rescheduled, causing unnecessary cost to Association members. Please follow the instructions on the Absentee Ballot to ensure your ballot is secret per Arizona Law.

As a member of record of the Desert Mountain Master Association, it is imperative that you either attend the Annual Meeting on Monday, January 28, at 3:00pm, or mail your absentee ballot to the Association (10550 East Desert Hills Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262) as soon as possible and no later than Saturday, January 26, 2013 so there is a quorum repre-sented and we can properly and legally conduct the election. If you did not receive an Annual Meeting Packet, or if you have any questions about our overall election process, please contact Karen Angelo at [email protected].

The names of those who are elected to serve on the Master Board will be announced at our Annual Meeting on January 28. Please be part of the process of selecting those who you think will best represent you, your interests and the com-munity at large by filling out and returning your ballot in a timely manner or attending the Annual Meeting so that our quorum requirements can be duly met and we can legally conduct the election.

We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting! More information on this meeting and the reception immedi-ately following it will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, on behalf of my fellow Master Board members, please allow me to extend our best wishes for a happy new year! ■

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Making the desert beautifulone house at a time

• Desert Botanical Garden Certified

• Desert Mountain Preferred Landscape Design and Maintenance Vendor

480-686-9432Liz Martin

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• Our Operational Cash Flow will end the year almost exactly with a break-even bottom line. This is what all non-profits strive for, and it was achieved in addition to the fact that the Association continues to positively bolster reserve funding for future road maintenance and other capital needs.

• Continued improvement in the area of delinquent accounts. We are project-ing less than 1.5% delinquency for the year, a percentage less than we budgeted and far less than in the greater Phoenix or North Scottsdale communities. Foreclosures have also tailed off dramatically, both in general and when compared to prior recent years and the surrounding area.

• A modest 2% Master Association dues increase is being implemented for 2013. It should be noted that we held the line on Operational Costs in 2013 and there is no increase whatsoever due to Opera-tions. This 2% increase is to further bolster road and capital reserves through Operational Cash Flow so future capital and maintenance needs can be ad-equately met without the requirement of an unwanted special assessment.All in all, I am happy to report that

the state of the Master Association’s finances is sound.

Major Board Goals for 2012Each year the Board sets goals for the

Association to accomplish in addition to the myriad of ongoing operations matters we attend to at the HOA on a daily basis. This year, the Board set four major goals for the Association:

• Make the new Owner Services Busi-ness (OSB) profitable and sustainable;

• Continue Trails fundraising and development;

• Assist with the creation of a Desert Mountain Foundation; and

• Positively increase volunteer involvement.

The following is a brief report card on these items.

Owner Services Business (OSB)• As of this writing, the OSB has, by all

measures, been a solid success in 2012.• More than 15% of the residences in

Desert Mountain have called on us and been served by our Handyman or Home Caretakers.

• Per a survey of approximately 50 respondents, we have received 100% “satisfied customer” feedback. In fact, 98% indicated they were “very satis-fied” with 2% indicating “satisfied.”

• And November’s books indicate we have been profitable to the tune of approximately $17,753 YTD.Many kudos to our OSB team for

this excellent success! Please call us at 480-595-4010 or check us out on the website at www.desert-mountain-hoa.com any time we can be of service.

TrailsOur Trails fundraising and develop-

ment efforts have also been successful and borne fruit in 2012. The team effort of Troy Gillenwater’s and Bob Borsch’s one-on-one fundraising efforts and Karen Angelo’s articles in past is-sues of the Desert Mountain Connectionmagazine, combined with initial seed money from the Master Association and initial trail and amenity development funding have worked to achieve a little more than $300,000 in donations YTD.

We have put your money to good use in 2012 by developing two new trails: China Wall and Hohokam Camp. We now have almost five miles of beautiful hiking trails for you to enjoy as an ame-nity, and we are more than 50% of the way toward funding the building of our next trail, the Tonto Ridge Overlook Trail. If you haven’t done so yet, you can still help with a donation. Please see Karen Angelo’s article on page 20 of this issue to learn more on how to help.

The Trails truly have been a team effort in every way. At the December 6th Trails Fundraiser up at the Trail-head (envisioned and planned by the Trails Committee and ably facilitated

As we begin to close the books on a positive 2012 here at the Desert Mountain HOA, I thought it would be good to review the Association’s progress in five key areas. All of these items stem from the leadership of your elected Board of Directors, and from the goals we as Board and Staff set for the Association together at the beginning of each operational year.

Fiscal Conservatism Your Master Association President, John Gevlin, and Treasurer, Harley Wood (as well as the

existing Board), have been steadfast with me this year in working to find internal efficiencies and tightly manage our budget. The results of this combined effort are the following:

Manager’sCorner

2012: The Year in Review


Manager’sCorner

The Master Board and the Community benefit greatly from many Association volunteers and Committees. Thanks to all who served the Desert Mountain Master Association on Committees in 2012!

Design ReviewHarley WoodDonna BrownTodd BruenPia GaroianJim HogshireDave KaplanMargaret Lucey

LandscapeMargie CarpenterDavid KirrCharlotte Loudermilk-PorterAnn MelsheimerCory PollackAl Smith

Security &AccessHarley WoodTom DiMercurioBill JensenChuck NunamakerRobert MouradDavid OstermeyerDave RowleySharon SlatteryJames Upchurch

TrailsTroy GillenwaterBob BorschAlex KlopferJames Kolander

Ryan LarsonJack O’KeefeSissy SailorsNancy Tankersley

Council ofPresidentsJohn GevlinCassie BaileyDoug BesemerTom ClarkRick ColemanPia GaroianChuck GeerTroy GillenwaterRoger Greaves

Kathy HendersonAlan HessBarry KutzenHerb KutzenAnn MelsheimerBill MoellerLarry NiederhoferGanesh Blue NirmulDave OstermeyerRobert OttoStan PaulsenLarry ReavesChris StorbeckJack SwonsonBruce UrbenGreg Wylie

Nominating &ElectionCommitteeJohn GevlinTroy GillenwaterRoger GreavesRich ShermanAl SmithJack Swonson

CovenantsBill DorrLen GeissenbergerPatricia KolanderLarry NiederhoferArch Rambeau

by Karen Angelo), Club Board Presi-dent Paul Wutz reported that the Club will develop a permanent rest room on the Ranch Lot as part of a joint Trails/Northern Properties development ef-fort. This is more good news for this excellent community amenity!

Creation of a Desert Mountain FoundationThe HOA assisted with research on this matter and an independent Community Foundation has, in fact, been formed in 2012 and will serve the Community well in the months and years ahead. Master Board Vice President Ann Melsheimer has been a leader in this initiative and also serves on the Foundation Board. For more information on this, please contact Ann at [email protected].

Increased Volunteer InvolvementThe expanded Council of Presidents

this year under the Amended CC&Rs ensures every Village in Desert Moun-tain has a voice in the HOA’s overall governance process. We met several times this year and discussed many is-sues including budgets, the OSB, Trails, community safety, and community ac-cess policies, among others. In fact, the updated Portable Transponder Policy recently adopted at the Master Board’s December 3 Quarterly Meeting is a re-sult of grass roots volunteer feedback and leadership out of this group. Volunteers spoke, the Board listened, Staff and the Board implemented. This is how a HOA should always work, and the Council of Presidents has served the Community well in 2012. You will be hearing more

about the updated Portable Transponder Policy in the New Year.

Additionally, volunteers on the follow-ing committees also worked hard and made significant contributions in 2012: Trails, Landscape, Security, Nominating & Election, and Design Review.

All in all, 2012 was a very good year! Going forward, please call us at 480-595-4220 anytime we can be of service.

Warm regards and Happy Holidays! ■

Bill OvertonCommunity Manager

PS – Great job by the Club Board and by Bob Jones and his team on the Schwab Cup! Well done, all!!

Volunteers MakeIt Happen!


Charles Schwab Cup Championship Resounding Success

ClubNews

By: Bob Jones, Chief Operating Offi cer and General Manager, Desert Mountain Club The Desert Mountain Club Board of Directors would like to take this opportunity to

thank you for your overwhelming support of the recent Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Because of you, the event was a resounding success that will be talked about in the Valley, within the PGA and national golf community, and among the Champions Tour players for months and years to come.

We also wish to thank Desert Mountain’s employ-ees, Club and HOA alike, who worked countless hours to ensure the success of the

tournament. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Here are some key highlights from the tournament:

• Attendance all four days reached approximately 30,000, surpassing previous tournament attendance by 60% at the Harding Park Course in San Francisco, the tournament host for the past two years.

• More than 40 hours of tournament coverage were broad-cast on the Golf Channel. This was the only prime time golf tournament held that week. This beneficial scheduling will occur again in 2014 and 2016.

• TV shots of Desert Mountain were viewed by 115 mil-lion households around the world in 185 countries and territories. Ratings were up 23% over the prior year at Harding Park.

• A Jack Nicklaus interview on the Golf Channel told the world that Desert Mountain is “a golf mecca.”

• The tournament website and leaderboard experienced 2.3 million visits, up 34% over previous years. Off-site mo-bile channels were up 70% with 448,000 Facebook “likes” on the PGA Tour social media site, and up 62% on the Charles Schwab Cup Facebook site. Twitter followers were up 124% with 283,000 followers. You Tube hits were up 39% with 222,000 visits.

• More than 472 articles about the tournament appeared in publications and on social media sites worldwide. Local and national advertising generated approximately 32.5 million media impressions and more than $1 million in advertising value.

• Desert Mountain once again showed the world why it is the top private club in Arizona and among the top 10 in the nation.

Desert Mountain once again showed the world why it is the top private club in Arizona and among the top 10 in the nation.

Currently, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship management and the Club are completing the tournament accounting as defined in our contract with the Champions Tour. Once it has been finalized, all members will receive a copy of the financial report and a link to an independent survey asking for your input on the tournament.

The information you provide will assist the board in its decision to either bring back the tournament to Desert Mountain in 2014 and 2016, or to decline its return for the remaining two years. Please note that both Desert Mountain and the Champions Tour have right of first refusal and must either confirm approval of the tournament’s return or decline its return for both years.

In addition, a Town Hall meeting will be announced and scheduled at a later date to discuss the outcome of the event.

Once again, congratulations for making the Charles Schwab Cup Championship a truly memorable golf tourna-ment on the Champions Tour. ■

Photo by Phyllis LernerPhoto by Phyllis Lerner

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CommunityNews

By: Karen AngeloFive candidates are running for four open seats on the

Desert Mountain Master Board. Desert Mountain owners should have received their ballots in the mail and are re-quested to return them as soon as possible, but no later than January 26, so that all votes can be tabulated and the winners of the election announced at the Twenty-Second Annual Meeting of The Desert Mountain Master Association, which will take place on January 28, 2013, at 3:00pm at Cochise-Geronimo’s Sunset Terrace.

The purpose of this meeting is to elect four Directors to the Board of Directors and to discuss any other matters that properly come before the Association at the meeting. There are currently three Director positions open for terms of three years each and one position is open for a one-year term.

The candidates running in this election are:• Bob Engelman; • Ray Herzog;• Ann Melsheimer;• Jim Morrissey; and• Lianne Sefcovic.

Information about the candidates can be found below.

Bob Engelman has exten-sive experience in finance as a result of a 35-year banking career. He also has extensive experience in collaborative governance as a result of sitting on both public and private, for-profit and non-profit boards of directors and trustees. “I ap-plaud the current Board for the establishment of the repair and maintenance service program as well as for the development of the hiking trails,” he says. “I

look forward to working with others to make sure the current responsibilities of the Association are discharged with excel-lence, and that new opportunities to serve our community are explored, evaluated, and implemented when appropriate.”

A full-time Desert Mountain resident for 13 years, Engel-man and his wife have six children, two of whom grew up in the community; he says it has been a great experience for all. “I look forward to having the opportunity to ‘give back’ by working with staff, other board members and our entire community to ensure the Desert Mountain ‘living experi-ence’ is the finest of its kind in America.”

Ray Herzog is presently serving as Vice President of the Desert Mountain Master Association and is running for re-election to a second term. Prior to that, he served for many years on the Master Association’s Infrastructure Committee. Previously, Herzog served as a director of a HOA in Lenexa, Kansas, and for 27 years, as a business leader/director for a large consulting engineering firm

in Kansas. He has BS and MS degrees in Geological Engi-neering, which, he believes, provides a good background for culverts/runoff, road maintenance and ground water impacts. If elected, Herzog would like to increase the use and avail-ability of the Desert Mountain Owner Service Business, maintain fiscal responsibility, and provide continued good customer service.

“I served as a City Councilman for eight years and Mayor for an additional two years in a small city in Kansas, and we were able to maintain a high level of services without raising property taxes,” he says. “I want to maintain this same vision for the Desert Mountain Master Association.”

Herzog has been a member of Desert Mountain since 1999 and built his home in Desert Mountain in 2005.

Ann Melsheimer is cur-rently serving as a Vice Presi-dent of the Desert Mountain Master Association and is running for re-election to a second term. She is also Pres-ident of the Village of Apache Peak Owner’s Association. Previously, she has been Treasurer of both the Master and the Apache Peak Asso-ciations. In her professional career, she was a financial and budget manager, chemi-

cal buyer and trader, as well as a project manager with varied experiences – which included managing large international technology projects – at Fortune 100 companies. “These ex-periences served me well as Treasurer and continue to serve me well as a Vice President,” Melsheimer says.” Additionally I am on the Board of a community bank in Texas, which adds to my financial background.”

CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED FOR DESERT MOUNTAIN MASTER BOARD

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CommunityNews

She says that the DMMA has worked hard over the last decade to ensure that Desert Mountain is a first-rate com-munity, focused on keeping the community sustainable, safe, secure, and beautiful as well as maintaining internal DMMA process efficiencies. She also stated that the Master Asso-ciation has a much better understanding of the drivers of community sustainability after visiting a number of similar communities around the country. Melsheimer believes that in order to ensure sustainability, the Master Association needs to focus on the objectives of safe, secure, and beautiful while also looking strategically for additional services and amenities to offer Desert Mountain owners at a reasonable cost. “The Owner Services Business, development of the Trails, and creation of the Desert Mountain Community Foundation are great examples of these types of projects,” she explains. “Our next set of challenges will come from potential security improvements, such as upgraded village gates and some level of perimeter security; these upgrades will need to be financed at a reasonable and acceptable cost to our membership while maintaining our very healthy reserves.”

Melsheimer says that it has been a rewarding experience to give back to the community she has lived in for more than 10 years and hopes to continue for one last term.

Jim Morrissey’s career was in the advertising agency business (BBDO, McCann-Erickson, Leo Burnett, and Grey Worldwide) and he has extensive volunteer experi-ence relevant to fellow Desert Mountain members and property owners. In addition to serving on the C.A.R.E. Board for two years as Mar-keting Chair, Morrissey has served for nine years on the Board of Governors of the

Scarsdale Golf Club (NY) and is currently the Vice Chair-man of the Board of the Sonoran Desert Center for the Arts. He recently completed 10 years of service on the Board of Arizona Musicfest, two years of which he was the Chairman of the Board. He believes his communication, marketing, strategic and leadership skills will be assets to the Master Board and the Desert Mountain community.

“In my view, the Desert Mountain HOA has always been – and continues to be – an excellent organization, offering superb services to the home and property owners of Desert Mountain, a community in which I have been an owner for

17 years,” Morrissey says. “I look forward to helping in any way possible, in a variety of assignments. Why? Purely and simply, I love Desert Mountain.”

He and his wife of 41 years, Anne, moved to Desert Mountain full-time in 2001 after living in Detroit, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. Since Janu-ary, 1996, Morrissey has owned two developer homes in Sonoran Ridge and Chiricahua Villas, three lots in Painted Sky, and built two custom homes, one in which he and his wife currently reside.

“I pledge to all home and property owners to be a devoted Board Member,” Morrissey states. “Hard working for you, open-minded, budget-driven, Mission-focused, creative, and an excellent communicator.”

Lianne Sefcovic is an attorney-at-law, licensed to practice in Ohio and Arizona. Sefcovic’s private practice career consisted of civil, criminal and domes-tic litigation and she has handled hundreds of cases from the initial interview through issue identification, case strategy and investiga-tion, depositions of lay and expert witnesses, jury and bench trials and appeals.

While in Ohio, Sefcovic taught CLE courses, participated in committees and lectured at the local law school and in the community. Her responsibility as a managing partner in a well-known and respected law firm in Central Ohio included finance, staff management and client development. After the closure of the Ohio law firm, she served as Mag-istrate for the Court of Common Pleas, Delaware County, Ohio. “In that capacity, I had responsibility for more than 450 civil, criminal and domestic cases and represented the Court in the community by participating in programs and speaking to schools and public groups,” Sefcovic explains. “I also created and implemented programs that resulted in a more efficient court.”

Currently, Sefcovic is a sole practitioner in Cave Creek, Arizona and has been appointed Magistrate for Cave Creek Municipal Court. Her Arizona practice includes representa-tion of clients in Federal, Superior and Municipal Courts.

Sefcovic has been a Desert Mountain resident for 1½ years and a member since 2007; she also currently serves as a Board Member of the Carefree Ranch HOA. ■

Master Board Cand ida t e s

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CommunityNews

By: Ellen RundleThe Desert Mountain Art League is very excited to announce our 2013 Work-

shops! We are so fortunate to have a roster of talented artists who are willing to come to Desert Mountain and share some of their artistic ingenuity with us. Workshops are open to everyone at all levels (some are a little more advanced).

Following is a list of workshops being held from the beginning of January through April. Please visit our website at www.desertmountainartleague.org to find the dates, times, class descriptions, supplies needed and information about the individual artists. Most classes will be held at Cochise Geronimo clubhouse.

Also beginning in January is Open Studio held at Cochise Geronimo in the Sunset Terrace on Thursdays from 2:00pm until 5:00pm. All Desert Mountain members and their guests are welcome to attend and bring whatever you may be working on ... knitting, beading, painting, scrapbooking or anything that you do. This is a relaxed informal social atmosphere. Refresh-ments are served and conversation en-couraged. Many of the workshops will be taking place at the same time so you can “take a peek” at what’s going on. ■

DESERT MOUNTAIN ART LEAGUEANNOUNCES 2013 WORKSHOPS

2013 Workshops:

• Vicki Reins, absolute beginning oil• Susan Bowers, absolute beginning watercolor• Amery Bohling, oil painting the landscape indoors• Corinne McAuley, bead tapestry• Vicki Reins, basic oil painting and design• Karen Budan, pastels• Bryce Pettit, Sculpture• Larry Charles, Oil Painting Portraits• Julia Harmon, Viking Weave Bracelet• Bud Heiss, acrylic painting• Dawn Hopkins, Calligraphy

• Phil Beck, oil painting animals and people• Elizabeth Kenyon, Soft pastels• Julie Gilbert Pollard, Watercolor negative painting• Trevor Swanson, oil painting• Julia Harmon, silver jewelry• Hedi Moran, Floral oil painting• Julie Gilbert Pollard, watercolor

More workshops may be offered, so please continue to check the website where information can also be found on the quilting club and the photography club.

Vicki Reins

Karen Budan

Amery Bohling

Vicki Reins

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CommunityNews

NOW, EATING YOUR VEGETABLES IS MORE ENJOYABLE THAN EVER!FRESH VEGGIES DELIVERED TO DESERT MOUNTAIN

Would you like to have fresh local produce delivered weekly? Desert Roots Farm is a local community spon-sored agriculture (CSA) farm that delivers freshly picked vegetables and fruit each week to Desert Mountain on Tuesday afternoons.

About Desert Roots FarmDesert Roots Farm has been growing and selling vegeta-

bles and herbs since 2001. It is located on 33 acres in beauti-ful, rural Queen Creek, Arizona.

Farm owner Kelly Saxer understands that consumers place great value in knowing that the food they feed their families is as fresh and healthy as possible. Desert Roots Farm grows without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. The fresh produce that you’ll receive in your weekly share as a member of the Desert Roots Farm CSA is all grown at the farm in Queen Creek, Arizona. This produce is harvested fresh from the farm and delivered directly to you for ultimate freshness and taste.

As a member of the Desert Roots Farm CSA, you’ll get the opportunity to try a diverse selection of crop variet-ies – many that you won’t find at any grocery store. Each week, your veggie bag will include a “Recipe of the Week” that features one of the vegetables included in your bag that week. The farm’s website also features a Recipe Page with hundreds of recipes listed and arranged by vegetable, so there are lots of opportunities to make the most of your vegetable share each week.

The farm’s goal is to bring the farm back to the community and the community back to the farm. Through this relation-ship, everyone benefits. This enables Desert Roots Farm to continue doing what its staff loves to do – grow – and the community receives high quality produce and the benefit of knowing exactly who grew it and where it was grown.

The winter season is January 7 - March 25, with both full- and half-shares available. Now is the time to sign up for the winter season. Simply sign up and indicate your request for free Desert Mountain Delivery in the comment section. Please contact Karyn Grant at [email protected] with ques-tions or visit www.desertrootsfarm.com for details and to sign up for delivery. ■

Fresh

Delivered

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CommunityNews

By: Dawn HopkinsA new slate of interesting and informative sessions has been scheduled as part of the Sonoran Speakers Club. All sessions

will take place at the Cochise/Geronimo Clubhouse and begin with cocktails at 5:30pm and a $25 all-inclusive dinner at 6:00pm. Presentations will begin at 7:00pm.

Membership to the Sonoran Speakers Club for the remaining speakers is $55/person, which covers the series of remain-ing speakers. If you choose not to be a member, you may attend any of the events for $20 per person. Everyone must have a reservation to attend any of the events. Please contact Dawn Hopkins at 480-488-2219 or via email at [email protected] for more information.

The slate of speakers and topics for 2013 are:

January 29: Chris Impey University of ArizonaDistinguished Professor and Department Head

The Hubble Telescope has made important con-tributions to almost every research area in astronomy, but the gorgeous images are the leading characters in this story.

February 19: Jim SlaterOwner of K9 Storm IncorporatedManitoba, Canada

Jim’s company makes hi-tech gear for war and po-lice dogs all over the world and probably makes the best body armor available for these dogs. A working dog will be present at this talk.

March 19:Dr. Elliot Engel, Author, Teacher andWorldwide Lecturer

Dr. Engel, author of The Inimitable Winston Churchill, will bring this unique giant of the twentieth century to life with fascinating analysis, anecdotes and large doses of humor.

April 16: Jeff Seeman, NFL Official and Businessman

Jeff has been a line judge for 11 seasons with the NFL and officiated at Super Bowl #44. He will share his experi-ences in the football league with film and story. ■

SONORAN SPEAKERS CLUB ANNOUNCES 2013 PROGRAM

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Meetings CalendarJan 28, 3:00pmMaster Association Annual Meeting & Election, Sunset Terrace

Apr 29, 3:00pmMaster Quarterly Board Meeting, Sunset Terrace

Feb 11, 11:00 amLookout Ridge Annual Meeting

Feb 11, 3:00 pmApache Peak Annual Meeting & Vote to Dissolve

Feb 12, 4:00 pmMountain Skyline Annual Meeting & Election

Feb 13, 3:00 pmSonoran Ridge Annual Meeting & Election

Feb 15, 9:00 amCochise Ridge Annual Meeting

Feb 15, 3:00 pm Arrowhead Annual Meeting

Feb 15, 4:00 pmGrey Fox Annual Meeting

Feb 18, 3:00 pmApache Cottages Annual Meeting

Feb 20, 3:00 pmSonoran Cottages Annual Meeting

Feb 25, 1:00 pmGQ, SR & EF Annual Meeting

Feb 28, 3:00 pmTurquoise Ridge Annual Meeting & Election

Mar 6, 3:00 pmSaguaro Forest Annual Meeting

Council of Presidents MeetingApril 15, 3:00 pmHOA Office

Design Review MeetingsDesign Review Meetings are scheduled on the first and third Thursday of every month. They take place at 8:00am at the HOA Office, which is located at 10550 East Desert Hills Drive. Please call 480-595-4221 to be included on the meeting schedule.

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By: Karen AngeloOn Thursday, December 6, almost

200 Desert Mountain residents, guests and Club and HOA Staff gathered at the Desert Mountain Trailhead to cel-ebrate the Grand Opening of the two newest Trails in the Desert Mountain Trail System: The China Wall Trail and The Hohokam Camp Trail. Part of the overall week that was the Desert Mountain 25th Anniversary Celebra-tion, the event included a “Wild at Heart” rehabilitated hawk release, live music by James Kole & His Band, a rustic, cowboy-style lunch and camp-fires.

At the event, Desert Mountain Mas-ter Board Presi-dent John Gevlin thanked the Trails Com-mittee and Staff who worked

to put the successful event together. He also thanked everyone who contrib-uted to the development of the Desert Mountain Trails, as all of the trails were developed primarily through the dona-tions received from Desert Mountain owners and members.

Then, Desert Mountain Club Board Member and past HOA President Bob Borsch, who also serves as the Club’s liaison to the Desert Mountain Trails Committee, further recognized the Committee and Staff for all of their work, then thanked Matt Woodsen of Okanogan Trail Development for his outstanding work developing the Des-ert Mountain Trails.

Desert Mountain Club President Paul Wutz

advised at-tendees

of the Club’s plans to further develop the Ranch Lot with a permanent rest room and other amenities and after that, Desert Mountain Trails Commit-tee Chairman Troy Gillenwater advised attendees of the new Hiker’s Trail Map that is now available at the Trailhead. This new map highlights mileage and

Trails Fundraising Reaches New Heights

Photos by Vicky Harjung

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the elevations of each individual trail in the Desert Mountain Trail System. He concluded his remarks by introducing Bob Fox from Wild at Heart, who released rehabilitated hawks back into the wild.

Attendees then enjoyed live music performed by James Kole & His Band at the first ever concert at the Desert Mountain Trails.

Two New Trails Provide Hiking Options

The China Wall Trail, a 1.25 mile loop, extends off the Sunset Summit Trail and provides unparalleled pan-oramic views of Skull Mesa, New River Mesa, Elephant Butte and Harquahala Peak. Because of its steep inclines, this trail is a more challenging trail to hike. It will add about 30-45 minutes to your hike from the Sunset Summit Trail.

The Hohokam Camp Trail is a little more than three miles long and may take up to two hours to complete. While this wilderness trail is generally less demanding to hike overall because of its flatter grade, it does contain some steep inclines, so we recommend bring-ing a walking stick with you to make these inclines easier to navigate. From this trail, hikers will enjoy views of Saguaros, a colorful riparian basin and Tucson’s Catalina Mountains.

Both trails extend from and return to the initial Trail in the system, the Sunset Summit Trail.

Funds Raised go to the Development of Final Two Trails

A $100 per person donation was requested by all event attendees, and, as a result of everyone’s generosity,

almost $50,000 was raised from this Grand Opening Event. With $74,000 currently available for Trail develop-ment, the Master Association is well on its way to developing the next trail in the Desert Mountain Trail System, the Tonto Ridge Overlook Trail. This advanced, 2.2-mile trail is slated to cost approximately $100,000 to develop and will overlook the three million-acre Tonto National Forest. The last trail in the system, the Apache Skyline Trail, is slated to cost about $200,000 to de-velop and will offer one of the highest elevations in Maricopa County. At five miles, it is the largest trail in the system and will take about ½ day to complete once developed.

Take a Step in Building the Desert Mountain Trails!

If you would like to contribute to the development of the last two trails in the Desert Mountain Trail System, please fill out the donation form found in this issue and return it in the envelope also enclosed within this issue. There are two ways to contribute:

• First, become a Desert Mountain Trails “Founder” by contributing $3,000 or more. Founder’s donations apply only to new trail construction.

• Or, just as important, become a Desert Mountain Trails “Spon-sor.” Sponsors’ contributions of any amount are similar to annual trail user fees on public lands. These funds will be allocated first to new trail construction, followed by signage, shade structures, trail maintenance, and future event programming.

All donations are welcome and grate-fully received regardless of amount, and they all make a positive difference.

Please email Troy Gillenwater at [email protected] or Bob Borsch at [email protected] for more infor-mation on how you can contribute to the further development of the Desert Mountain Trails! ■

Thanks to our Newest Trails Founders:Louis & Julie BucksbaumRichard & Shelley ColemanHarry Conger & Sissy SailorsThe D’Addario FamilyAndy Glassberg & Barbara MartinJeffrey & Nancy GreenbergThe Hiebert FamilyRobert & Maryanne MacleanManship Builders, Inc.Norm MasonThe Mourad FamilyJoan and William MessengerJack O’KeefeJay Pennypacker William & Sarah RobertsonWally & AJ SaubertMarguerite SolbergSharon SlatteryHoward & Betty WeinsteinDan WolskiPaul & Theresa Wurst

And, thanks to all who have donated to the Trails thus far!

Photo by: Cynthia Kolander

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Humanity, We Have Lift-offWhy the Desert Mountain Trails are So Important

By: Troy Gillenwater, DM Trails Committee ChairRight now, today, our humanity is rocketing through a

transitional epoch perhaps more profound than when man-kind evolved from the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Industrial Age combined.

We are accelerating ever faster into the Age of Technol-ogy’s orbit. Some call it the Age of Interruption. Regardless, our trajectory into this technological frontier is exponential. There’s no turning back now. The mission has launched and it is sure to be an exciting and remarkable journey.

In the past, however, mankind transitioned from one Age and into another at a much slower pace. Men and women’s brains worked pretty much the same way on either side of the transition. The great technological advances of the past were far simpler and less profound.

Not so much anymore.Welcome personal computers, iPads, Blackberrys, Kindles,

iPhones and X-Box. Today we email, we text, we Skype, we Tweet, we Facebook, we Google, and we instant-message. Our lives now are harnessed to a flashing digital screen. We find it unsettling to be separated from our technology.

Yet lurking somewhere in the back of our thoughts, we know something vital is changing. Our human neuroplasti-city – now under relentless technological arm-twisting – is changing not what we think, but how we think.

Today our brains buzz with billions of bits of informa-tion arriving instantaneously. Our constant interruptions are interrupted! At the click of a mouse or the flick of a scroll-down menu, we now have more information quite literally at our fingertips than all the information ever acquired since mankind slogged from the primordial swamp. But whatever information we instantly glean from the screen vanishes just as quickly from our short-term memories… precisely because it can. Whatever piece of information we sought, and then lost, we can simply retrieve over and over again. We don’t need to remember much of anything.

Futurists cheer the coming singularity: the moment when our technologic machines match our human intellect and meld us into part-human and part-machine. Yet as we streak toward ever greater, ever faster technology, our species is left

with little time for reflection or introspection.Critical thought, contemplation, and deep understanding

are human traits left behind in the technological jet blast. This is why, perhaps subconsciously, many of us return

over and over again to the sanctity of our Desert Mountain Northern Properties. Deep within the canyons, on top of the peaks, gravity, like an unseen umbilical cord, bounds us to our humanness. How ironic that of all the endangered species and threatened environments worthy of preservation, our humanity tops the list.

We need to preserve ourselves from ourselves. The North-ern Properties help us do this.

As soon as we leave the trailhead and venture forth into the Northern Properties, we deploy technology’s thrust revers-ers. Somehow we float slowly back to earth. Silence enve-lopes us. Our minds empty. We unplug.

Instead of our eyes itching and watering from digital images flashing ceaselessly across backlit computer screens, our eyes rejuvenate when watching the slow pace of monsoon clouds inflating in the east and boiling over the mountain crests.

We can hike for miles and miles without interruption, like a walking meditation. Or, we can ponder the intricacies of the last book we’ve read or contemplate what we wish to write in the next letter to a close friend.

On the trail, disconnected from technology, we are self-reliant again. We are not tethered to a power cord and outlet. Without a screen, we make our own decisions and as a result either suffer the consequences or enjoy the benefits. Pushing a button or scrolling through menu options does not help us climb the next ridge. It’s the blood coursing through our veins and arteries, the oxygen in our lungs, the power in our legs that have served us so well through this deep and rich human journey.

For me, the awe-inspiring vistas at every turn remind me of my tiny place in the universe, and how, in the end, tech-nology will never surpass the miracle of simply being alive.

We, as humans, are already on the ride of our lives on this little planet whirring about the galaxy. This realization, as we hike over one pass and into a distant valley, forms a techno-logical antivenin that, at least for a short time, helps preserve our human soul. ■

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DMGives Back

By: Ann MelsheimerThe Desert Mountain

Community Foundation (DMCF) is proud to an-nounce that we are launch-ing our first program! Our goal is to raise a minimum of $100,000 to fund scholarships that will be granted, based on need, to eligible Desert Mountain Club employees, their spouses, and dependent children and grandchildren as these individuals pursue their educational goals.

Additionally, we will include the HOA employees of CCMC staffed at Desert Mountain in this program (CCMC is the company that provides professional management to the Desert Mountain Homeowners Association, and has done so for more than 20 years). Eligible Desert Mountain employees must be considered full-time, be in good stand-ing, and have been employed for at least one year as determined by Desert Mountain Human Resources. Similar requirements will also be applied to CCMC’s HOA employees.

We believe that this program will become an integral part of Desert Mountain and will show our employees and their families that we really do care! This type of program has been very successful at other Clubs around the country and we think it is a great way to kick off the Desert Mountain Commu-nity Foundation.

How will it work?Through our affiliation with the

Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), interested students will provide financial information through the completion of the online FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This process will identify the students with the greatest need, and also enable students poten-tially to qualify for other scholarships granted by funds other than DMCF’s that are affiliated with the ACF.

ACF manages more than 70 schol-arship funds and by using this portal, students eligible for the DMCF schol-arships will also be auto-matched with other scholarships that are available through ACF. This may enable them to receive multiple scholarships as they pursue their educational goals!

The scholarships will be awarded based on predetermined criteria. Scholarships will be made on an annual basis and stu-dents awarded scholarships can be con-sidered for a scholarship for an additional year (or years). Additionally, the student

must maintain an acceptable grade point average.

What is the timing?We will award our first schol-

arships for the 2013 – 2014 school years. The number and size of the scholarships will be dependent on the amount of money that we can raise quickly.

The Board of the Desert Mountain Community Foundation is very excited about this project and we hope that you will make your tax deductible contribution to the DMCF in support of our scholarship fund!

There are two ways to make a contribution: • Send your check or direct your

contribution through your own foundation to the Desert Mountain Community Foundation Scholarship Fund, c/o Ed Knight, 2201 E Camel-back Road, Suite 405B. Phoenix, AZ 85016. Ed can be reached at 602-381-1400; or

• To donate by credit card, type http://www.azfoundation.org/static/donors/DMCF.shtml into your browser. You will be taken to our secure donation page, but do not have to worry about the login section on the left side of the page.Finally, for more information, please

contact any member of the Desert Mountain Community Foundation: Carol Parry Fox, Bob Borsch, Ann Melsheimer, and Sybil Yastrow.

Desert Mountain Community Foundation Announces Scholarship Program

In other news, DMCF Board members are hosting small gatherings at their homes for friends and other people interested in the DMCF and the promise that it brings to Desert Mountain. The first event was held November 11th at Carol Parry Fox’s home in Saguaro Forest. Other Board members – Ann Melsheimer, Bob Borsch and Sybil Yastrow – also are planning events for early 2013. Steve Seleznow, President of the Arizona Community Founda-tion, also attends to discuss philanthropy in the Foothills

area and how the DMCF could be used for capital forma-tion for select projects in Desert Mountain. ■

If you are interested in attending one of these events, please contact any of the Board members:

• Carol Parry Fox at [email protected]; • Bob Borsch at [email protected]; • Ann Melsheimer at [email protected]; and • Sybil Yastrow at [email protected].

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DesignReview

By: Bill OvertonNow that you’ve built or purchased the home of your

dreams in Desert Mountain, you may be thinking about ways to make it even more perfect. Maybe you’re thinking about adding a casita for when the kids or grandkids visit, extend-ing the size of your bedroom, adding an office or a garage to house another car (or all those things that just don’t fit in your house anymore). You may just want to repaint the exterior of your home or add a stone veneer.

The good news is that Desert Mountain’s Design Review Department handles modifications like these all the time. Many of our residents are considering modifications to their current homes and there is a lot we can do to help, and to make the process as easy as possible. It is important, however, to recognize that our governing documents require approval of such changes by Design Review.

The first step in this process is surprisingly easy: sim-ply call the office at 480-595-4221 and speak with Design Review Coordinator Dana Bondon about making an ap-pointment to discuss what you would like to do. During the initial consultation, we will be able to discuss your ideas and provide any feedback. Our initial requirement with regard to whatever additions you are thinking about making to your existing home is that they blend in so that it appears as if everything was constructed at the same time.

Request Approved!You may be surprised to learn that simple modifications

and minor improvements can be discussed with – and ap-proved by – staff. These include, but are not limited to:

• Adding or modifying screen walls around mechanical, service and utility equipment, provided they are within the height limits established by the Master Design Guidelines.

• Modifying or changing an existing exterior walking or patio surface, provided that the color of the materials complies with the applicable criteria of the Master Design Guidelines.

• Modifying, changing or adding to windows, your front door, security door, exterior door or gate.

• Adding or modifying exterior light fixtures, provided that the fixtures comply with all of the technical requirements of Master Design Guidelines.

• Painting the exterior of your home the exact same color as it is currently, or painting your home a color that is on your Village’s Approved Exterior Paint Color List.

• Adding or modifying landscaping (plants, trees, riprap and erosion protection, and mineral ground covers) as gov-erned by the Master Design Guidelines, provided that the plant species are on the Approved Plant List included in the Master Design Guidelines.

As you can see, in many cases, you will be able to begin making modifications as soon as you walk out of our office, which is great news if you want to get started on your project right away. Other, more involved, larger scale modifications will need to be submitted and we will present them to the Design Review Committee, which meets on the first and third Thursday of the month. If the Committee approves your modification, we will schedule a time with your contractor for a pre-construction meeting where we will go over your plans and some important details, then you are on your way!

Making it Perfect (Again)We encourage you to meet with us to discuss your ideas for

modifying your home. We are willing and happy to work with you to make the process as smooth as possible so that you can begin enjoying the home of your dreams…all over again. ■

I Love It! It’s Perfect! Let’s Change It.THE ART OF HOME MODIFICATIONS IN DESERT MOUNTAIN

Amended Design Guidelines are Online!The Design Guidelines can be found online at the HOA website: www.desert-mountain-hoa.com. Simply click on

the Design Review Tab, then “Amended Desert Mountain Master Design Guidelines.” You can also pick up a copy of the Design Review Guidelines at the HOA Office, which is located at 10550 East Desert Hills Drive.

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SecurityUpdate

Scottsdale Fire Department Recognizes Desert Mountain Security Offi cers for Saving a LifeBy Karen Angelo

Scottsdale Fire recognized two Desert Mountain Security Guards for saving the life of the guest of a Desert Mountain resident who was in sudden cardiac arrest in the community. Lieutenant Sean Yonts and Sargent Aaron Baackes performed Hands-Only CPR and shocked the patient’s heart with an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) this past July.

“Thanks to their quick and decisive actions, a life was saved,” said Ryan Freeburg, Executive Assistant Fire Chief. “Scottsdale Fire has a partnership with Desert Mountain Master Association and our firefighters train the security staff on what to do in situations like this. The results of that partnership, a life saved, speak for themselves.”

When a person is in sudden cardiac arrest, bystanders must call 9-1-1 immediately and start Hands-Only CPR to keep oxygenated blood flowing to the heart and brain, Freeburg explained. “When bystanders step up and start doing com-pressions that increases the odds that our Firefighters and hospital staff can save the person’s life.”

One of the more interesting aspects of this incident is that while Lt. Yonts has worked in Desert Mountain for seven years, Officer Baackes was employed for just one month and took the CPR Training Class two days before this incident occurred. Because of the level of First Aid, CPR and EMT-level training our Security Officers receive, we are told by the Scottsdale Fire Department that you are 40% more likely to survive a heart attack in Desert Mountain than anywhere else in the surrounding area.

Desert Mountain Security had a banner year in 2012. In addition to the life-saving incident noted above, our officers played a pivotal role with the Scottsdale Police Department in the arrest of two suspects believed to be responsible for thefts both in Desert Mountain, as well as in communities in the surrounding area this summer.

This incident took place when an alert pool service technician noticed an open garage door and missing vehicle from a home he was servicing and called the owners immediately. As they were out of town, the owners instructed the pool technician to contact Desert Mountain Security. Our security officers called 911 and researched the missing vehicle in their database. More than 2½ hours later, when Of-ficer Daniel Moreno noticed this missing vehicle entering

the community, he notified Sgt. Andrew Olson, who located the vehicle on property and began following it until Scottsdale Police arrived. At this point, Sgt. Olson kept drivers on the Parkway a safe distance back while Scottsdale police officers pulled the vehicle over and began questioning the suspects; they were arrested on charges of burglary and auto theft. We are told by the Scottsdale Police Department that our Security Staff is the biggest deterrent to crime taking place in our community.

Community Safety Coordinator Bill Fultz acknowledged the security staff at a recent awards ceremony to recognize officers who went above and beyond the call of duty in 2012. “We want to thank each of you for all the hard work and great things you have accomplished this past year,” he said. “Individually and as a team, you are the reason both Desert Mountain and Anderson Security are viewed as an Industry Standard for ‘Gated Com-munities’ in security, safety operations and asset protection.”

2012 Awards were presented to:• Lt. Sean Yonts: Supervisor of the Year, Life Saving Award,

Award for Valor, Letter of Commendation• Sgt. Aaron Baackes: Life Saving Award• Security Officer Ben Barroga: Patrol Officer of the Year• Security Officer Daniel Moreno: Access Control Officer of

the Year• Sgt. Andrew Olson: Award for Merit• Security Officer Michael Talarico: Award for Merit• Security Officer Michael Keller: Humanitarian Award

• Security Officer Allen Ras-mussen: Academic Excellence

Many thanks to our dedicat-ed and hard-working Security Staff and Anderson Security for their great effort and ex-cellent results in 2012! ■

Pictured, left to right: Back Row: Community Safety Coordinator Bill Fultz, Master Board President John Gevlin, Offi cer Mike Keller, Sgt. Aaron Baackes, Lt. Sean Yonts, Community Manager Bill Overton. Front Row: Sgt. Andrew Olson, Offi cer Ben Bar-roga, Offi cer Mike Talerico, Offi cer Daniel Moreno, Captain Tim Fischer.

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Frost Protection for your PlantsCover plants susceptible to frost-damage

with cloth towels, blankets, sheets of paper/cardboard boxes to insulate them. Plastic is not recommended for plant cover. Drape the paper or cloth all the way to the ground to help trap heat radiating from the ground under the cover. A nursery can help you identify material made specifically for cov-ering plants. Remove the cover after sunrise each morning or when the temperature reaches 35 degrees.

Plants not native to the Southwest are most at risk for frost damage. These plants include Bougainvillea, Lantana, Winter An-nuals and others. For cacti such as Mexican Fencepost, covering the tops of the posts with an old t-shirt, foam cup or wash cloth can help prevent frost damage. Watering plants the night before a frost can also help them stay warmer. Dehydrated plants are more susceptible to frost damage.

To Prune or Not to PruneIf frost impacts your plant material, it is optimal to wait

until the threat of frost has subsided to prune frost-damaged plants. Pruning away frost damage too early can result in additional damage to the plant if it is hit by frost again. New and un-established shrubs or ground cover plants are

more susceptible to permanent damage and could be lost due to cold weather. Established plants with a sustainable root system can handle minimal pruning for aesthetic reasons throughout frost season.

When it comes to trees, some species like Ficus are particularly sensitive to frost damage. Many smaller trees may be lost all together and, unless particularly protected, significant portions of the larger trees may be severely damaged due to hard frosts. While it is hard to be patient, it is best to wait to see if new growth will come back. If you decide to prune the dead tissue, it will take years before it grows to its original size. If you decide to leave it, the green will even-

tually fill in, but you’ll be looking at brown dead tissue for several years.

No matter what steps you follow to prepare for cooler weather, it’s important to take proactive measures to prevent any loss of plant material, irrigation components and ulti-mately, your money, during the winter months.

For more information on preparing for an Arizona Winter in-cluding protecting your backflow and winter water savings, please visit the DLC Resources learning center online at www.dlclearn-ingcenter.com ■

LandscapingNews

By: Jeff Penney, CEO, DLC ResourcesIn the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to lose track of even the

most routine of tasks. Protecting our landscape from the threat of frost isn’t something that immediately comes to mind for most homeowners this time of year. DLC Resources, your proud Community landscaping partner, has prepared the following tips to help you get ready for the cooler weather.

Preparing for an Arizona Winter


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Scottsdale Fine Art Announces Upcoming 2013 Exhibits

The Scottsdale Fine Art Gallery has announced its 2013 Season. Information on upcoming exhibits can be found below and on the following page.

Renato Muccillo’s landscapes have often been compared to those of Dutch masters and 19th Century English artists. His viewers are mesmerized at fi rst by the luxurious colors and near miraculous use of light but, on closer inspection, we notice the culvert, the pilings, the log booms, or the distant plume of smoke stacks. His work will be featured at the Annual Landscape Show from January 17 through January 31.

About Scottsdale Fine ArtScottsdale Fine Art’s collection of artwork is a diverse body of original one-of-a-kind paintings and sculpture that has been

carefully selected and curated. The gallery is a destination for seasoned and new collectors, specializing in classically inspired representational fine art by emerging, mid-career and established artists. Its selection of artists is based on the quality and originality of the work, and considerations of personal and artistic integrity. Scottsdale Fine Art’s primary goal is to provide high-quality, non-commercial art with individualized customer service. Collectors who enter Scottsdale Fine Art will learn that its curators listen, work to discover what the art needs are for the client, and strive to fulfill those needs

Scottsdale Fine Art is located at 7116 East Main Street in Scottsdale. Please call 480-990-3100 or log on to www.scottsdale-fineart.com for more information. The Gallery’s hours of operation are:

Gallery Hours:• Monday-Saturday: 10:30am-5:30pm • Sunday: Noon-4:00pm • Thursday Night Art Walk: 7:00pm-9:00pm

Renato Muccillo


January 2-January 31 l “Objects” Featuring Ceramicists Karen Shapiro and Betty Spindler. “Fun.” “Whimsical.” “Nostalgic.” These are all words that describe the ceramic styles of both Karen Shapiro and Betty Spindler. • Shapiro’s large scale raku fired ceramic representations of iconic packaging

always bring a smile to her audience. Each piece speaks to an era or season, an event or a time when the item belonged in the life of the viewer.

• Spindler’s sculptures are still lifes of common items from everyday life: a bowl of fruit or a group of vegetables to a hamburger and fries or a simple ice cream cone.

January 17-January 31 l “Annual Landscape Show” Featuring Gallery Artists Ning Lee and Seth Winegar and Guest Artists Raymond Knaub and Renato Muccillo. Each of these talented landscape artists brings a dif-ferent style to their approach in painting landscape. • Lee’s approach is to create a realistic depiction of each scene where atmosphere

is the central element. • Winegar’s works are deep in rich, thick oil strokes. In some sections they are

detailed studies of the subject, then flow into loose imaginative segments dem-onstrating his love of juxtaposition and glazing.

• Knaub goes far beyond mere documentation of his favorite subject matter. While recording the places he knows and loves, he also captures something of a wider reality. His work may be described as romantic realism.

February 7- February 22 l “Annual Realism Show” Featuring Jay Davenport, Troy Doyle, David Gray, Douglas Flynt and Ted Polomis. This year’s Realism Show offers a visual feast of styles. • Davenport’s desire to paint the funny and humorous has materialized in animals and

how the different things they do relate to human life. His intention is for the viewer “to step back once in a while and observe and even laugh at ourselves.”

• Polomis is captivated by the interplay between objects and their environment, and the quiet harmony that results from balancing form, color, light and shadow. Most of his works include vintage toys, which gives them a nostalgic appeal as well.

• Gray’s masterful figurative and still life paintings are often compared to those of the Dutch Masters. Simple in style, his works evoke a timeless appeal and strong emotional ties.

• Flynt’s approach to painting is in the style of the Dutch Masters as well. He has an innate ability to capture the translucent, weightless and reflective qualities of the objects he paints.

• Doyle’s oversized realistic paintings convey a story to the viewer and make them see the beauty in the objects they pass every day. This show will feature his still life paintings of wine bottles amongst wine glasses and other wine-related objects.

March 1-March 15 l “Annual Local Artist Show” Featuring Douglas Diehl, Michael Maczuga, Tim Perkins and Jason Wright.The diversity of talent in this show is remarkable! From the Old Taos School style of landscape paintings by Douglas Diehl, to Michael Maczuga’s figurative work of children in motion, from the chiaroscuro style of Tim Perkin’s landscapes to con-temporary landscapes featuring layered skies and stark dwellings by Jason Wright, this is the gallery’s most popular show each season.

March 16-March 29 l “Still Life Show” Featuring Stuart Dunkel, Lisa Sotero and Ning Lee.This show features the whimsical works of painter Stuart Dunkel and painter Lisa Sotero. • Dunkel’s realistic approach includes oversized pastries and small works including

mice interacting with objects. • Sotero’s small works focus on food and food-related items, recognizable in our

everyday lives. • Lee’s sumptuous and realistic still life paintings capture light, texture and form

in a realistic fashion.

Sylvia Hyman

Ted Polomis

David Gray

James G. Moore


Heard Museum North Scottsdale’s winter evening series returns with four special Wednesday evenings of fellowship, food and drink — and, of course, art. On Jan-uary 30 and February 6, 13 and 20, attendees will enjoy a reception at 5:00pm followed by a lecture at 6:30pm. The Shop will be open until 6:00pm for last-minute Valentine’s Day shopping. This event is free to Heard Museum members and free to the public with museum admission. Upcoming lectures are highlighted below:

January 30: American Indian Ledger ArtTake in a lecture on American Indian ledger art by

University of New Mexico art history professor Joyce Szabo, Ph.D. Professor Szabo is beginning her 20th year as a faculty member at UNM, where she is an art historian specializing in Native American art and related courses in museum studies. She obtained her undergraduate degree in art and English from Witten-berg University, her master’s degree in art history from Vanderbilt University and her doctorate in art his-tory from UNM. The exhibit Stories Outside the Lines: American Indian Ledger Art opened on December 13 at the Heard Museum North Scottsdale and is on display until September 29, 2013.

February 6: Generation New, Artist Panel Discussion

Listen as three contemporary American Indian artists discuss the landscape of American Indian art, each from a different perspective.

> Jacob Meders (Mechoopda Maidu) is a painter and printmaker whose work focuses on altered perceptions of place, culture and identity built on the assimilation and homogenization of indigenous peoples. His work re-examines varied documentations of Native Americans through printing processes that hold onto stereotypical ideas and how they have af-fected the culture of the Native people.

• Thomas “Breeze” Marcus (Tohono O’odham) is a Phoenix-born artist who grew up between the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the urban setting of the Sonoran Desert. Marcus’s work integrates traditional Tohono O’odham and ancient Ho-hokam iconography. He has worked on a variety of public-art murals around the Southwest, including on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix and on the Navajo Nation.

> The work of Andrea Preston (Navajo), a self-taught beadwork artist, is car-ried in the burgeoning Beyond Buckskin Boutique. Her line of acrylic painted earrings uses Navajo-inspired designs, echoing the tradition of Navajo weaving and the in-fluences of powwow culture.

February 13: Ledger Art, Artist Lecture by America Meredith

Enjoy a lecture by America Meredith as she shares what inspires her work and dis-cusses pieces on display in Stories Outside the Lines: American Indian Ledger Art. Meredith is a Swedish-Cherokee artist who blends historical styles from Native America and Europe with imagery from pop culture. Her influences include Mississippian shell engravings, TV cartoons and the Bacone style of painting. She is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and a member of Squirrel Ridge Ceremonial Ground in Kenwood, Oklahoma; she also serves on the board of the Cherokee Arts and Humanities Council, a grassroots, independent organization interested in serving the rural Cherokee communities of northeastern Oklahoma.

February 20: Contemporary Navajo Weaving in a Historical Context

Ann Lane Hedlund, Ph.D., joins us for a conversation on the landscape of Navajo weaving from the past and current themes of today. Hedlund is the curator of ethnology at the Arizona State Museum in Tucson, director of the Gloria F. Ross Tapestry Program and a professor in the University of Arizona’s School of Anthropology.

Lectures on Ledger Art, Contemporary Works and Navajo Weaving Highlight “Nights at North”

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LibraryCalendar

All of the events below take place at Desert Foothills Library, which is located at 38443 North Schoolhouse Road in Cave Creek, and are free, except where noted. For more information, please contact David Court or Dereth DeHaan at 480-488-2286 or log on to www.desertfoothillslibrary.org.

Enjoy a nosh while being educated and entertained on a variety of art top-ics, with presenta-tions delivered by experts from

Phoenix Art Museum, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and Heard Museum. See scheduled topics below. Limited seating. Registration required at 480-488-2286. Program may be a more focused topic within the general category noted below. Due to docent availability, topics are subject to change. For lunch programs, you can bring your own or order a boxed lunch provided by Grotto Café Choose from three menu items (see menu via a link from the program listing at www.dfla.org). Bottled water is available for purchase. Cost: $10, due when register-ing by Monday morning prior to event date (limited seating).

January 2, Noon-1:00pmArt Nosh Lunch: Phoenix Art Museum Presents Impressionism

February 5, Noon-1:00pm Art Nosh Lunch: SMoCA Pres-ents Photoconceptionalism…It’s More than What You See

January 18, 4:00pm-5:30pm Art Nosh Wine & Cheese: The Heard Presents Every Picture Tells a Story

February 15, 4:00-5:30pmArt Nosh Wine & Cheese: Phoe-nix Art Museum Presents Art from Arizona

January 8- February 12 andFebruary 19-April 2(Six week sessions) No class March 12Tuesdays, 3:00pm-5:00pmBridge: Skill Building

For players with some experience who would like to improve their skills. Players will continue to de-velop bridge skills and strategies and socialize while playing in a beautiful atmosphere. Supervised play will help illustrate more advanced conventions as they are taught. If participants are interested, the instructor will teach the “new” standard in bridge: the 2 over 1 style of play. Classes held at Desert Foothills Library, in partner-ship with Paradise Valley Community College Continuing Education. To register and purchase a textbook, call PVCC at 602-787-6800. Cost: $99 for 6-week series.

January 1510:00am-11:30amWriting through Stressful Times

Mary Lee Simpson presents five ways in which writing helps us combat stress. Participants will sample four therapeutic writing techniques based on the work of Kathleen Adams, author of “Journal to the Self.” No writing experience required. Bring a journal or notebook and pen. Mary Lee is a certi-fied journal facilitator and has taught therapeutic writing for nearly 20 years. Register: 480-488-2286.

January 16-February 13Wednesdays, 5:00pm-7:00pmWorld Cultures Series: Russia

Attend one or all sessions. This unique program highlights world cul-tures that are in the news.Week 1: History and Culture – learn some surprising facts.Week 2: Contemporary IssuesWeek 3: EconomyWeek 4: Literature, Art and MusicWeek 5: Vision and Future

Veteran presenter for this series, Ele-na Thornton, promises to enrich your knowledge and understanding of this culture. Classes held at Desert Foothills Library, in partnership with Paradise Valley Community College Continuing Education. To register, call PVCC at 602-787-6800. Cost: Individual sessions are $19 or $76 for the five-week series (equals one session free!).

January 195:00pm-7:00pmArizona Musicfest @ Desert Foot-hills Library: A Duet

Listen and learn from Maestro Bob Moody, as he and guest musicians take us on a musical journey with commen-tary and a preview of the 2013 Festival season. You’ll be entertained by a range of vocals and instrumentals, as well as stories and insights behind the music. After the performance, mingle with the artists and enjoy wine and finger food. Limited seating. Book your reservations at 480-488-0806. Cost: $30 per person.

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January 271:00pm-3:00pmJapanese Tea Ceremony Demon-stration

Presented by the Japanese Culture Club of Arizona. Call the Library for details.

January 3110:00am-NoonBIG READ: Grapes of Wrath Book Discussion

John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrathis not merely a great American novel. It is also a significant event in our national history. Capturing the plight of millions of Americans whose lives had been crushed by the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, Steinbeck awakened the nation’s comprehension and compassion. Join us for a special book discussion. Refreshments will be served. The BIG READ is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts, designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture. Register: 480-488-2286.

January 312:30pm-4:00pmCoffee and Crime with Charles (aka Caroline) Todd

Meet nationally known mystery authors, and enjoy coffee and gour-met treats in a beautiful social setting. Caroline Todd’s MA in international relations led to a lifetime of adventure around the world. Her background in history and her enthusiasm for suspense films led to creating a detective who had to make his own decisions and live with his own conscience. Caroline writes the New York Times bestselling Ian Rutledge series with her son, Charles. In the 15th novel in the series, Rutledge may have met his match in a devious and dangerous killer unless he can find Proof of Guilt

(signed books available for purchase). Limited seating. Register by Tuesday, January 28. Presented in partnership with nationally acclaimed independent book-seller and publisher, The Poisoned Pen. Cost: $10 per event. Or, attend your first in our Authors Series (Mystery Tea or Coffee & Crime) for free by becoming a first-time donating member of the Library with a contribution of $35 or more

February 5 – 26 (4 weeks)Tuesdays, 1:00pm-2:00pmResearching Your Family Tree

Not sure where to start? This course is for you. Learn basic genealogical re-search techniques to help you find out about your ancestors. This introductory research course includes lectures, as-signments and Q&A time. Genealogical research has never been easier! Come find out why. Instructor Kathleen Ack-erman from Finding Ties That Bind leads the class, which is limited to 15. Register at 480-488-2286. Cost: $40 for four-week series.

February 202:00pm-3:15pmShelby Yastrow

This internationally published mys-tery author, businessman and raconteur will share his writing and publishing experience and entertain with real-life stories. His books Undue Influence and Under Oath have been recently repub-lished. Signed copies will be available for purchase. Limited seating. Register: 480-488-2286.

February 222:30pm-4:00pmCoffee and Crime with Dana Stabenow

Meet nationally known mystery authors, and enjoy coffee and gourmet treats in a beautiful social setting.

Dana Stabenow was born in Anchor-age and raised on 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska. Her first crime fiction novel, A Cold Day for Murder, won an Edgar award, her first thriller, Blindfold Game, hit The New York Times bestseller list, and her twenty-eighth novel and nineteenth Kate Shugak novel, Restless in the Grave, was published in 2012. Limited seating. Register by Wednesday, February 20. Signed books available for purchase. Presented in partnership with nationally acclaimed independent bookseller and publisher, The Poisoned Pen.

Cost: $10 per event. Or, attend your first in our Authors Series (Mystery Tea or Coffee and Crime) for free by becoming a first-time donating member of the Library with a contribution of $35 or more.

Fridays9:00am-10amSpecial Needs Class 8:30 – 9 a.m.Qi Gong Exercise, Tai Chi’s Gentler Cousin

Deep breathing and repeated gentle motions and stretches improve health, balance, agility and flexibility. Wear loose clothing and sneakers. Class sizes limited to 15, for individual attention. Special needs class is for those unable to stand for regular class. Register for each individual class: 480-488-2286; please specify Regu-lar or Special Needs. Cost: $5 cash, pay to instructor Bina Bou at each class.

*For a complete list of upcoming Library Programs, please visit www.desertfoothillslibrary.org. ■

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Desert Mountain Homeowners Association . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4220 Monday-Friday: 8:00am-5:00pmBill Overton, PCAM, Community Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4222Karen Angelo, Governance Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4225Jacob Marshall, Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4063Bill Fultz, Community Safety Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4061 Bruce Spilka, Operations Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4224Kathi Marschall, Office Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4218

Resident AssistanceDesert Mountain Main Gate (24 hours) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4338Desert Hills Gate (5:45am-6:00pm) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4295Desert Mountain Emergency Information System (DMEIS) . . . .480-595-4100Fairways Administration Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4229Saguaro Forest Caretaker’s Cottage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4860

Desert Mountain ClubhousesApache Clubhouse & Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4328Chiricahua Clubhouse & Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4800Cochise Geronimo Clubhouse & Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-488-1363Outlaw Clubhouse & Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4870Renegade Clubhouse & Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4261Sonoran Clubhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-595-4355

Public ServiceFire or Police Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 911Scottsdale Fire Department (Non-Emergencies) . . . . . . . . . .480-312-8911Scottsdale Police Department (Non-Emergencies) . . . . . . . . .480-391-5000Maricopa County Sheriffs Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .602-256-1000Desert Foothills Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-488-9220Poison Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-362-0101

Arizona Fish & Game Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .602-789-3201Southwest Wildlife Animal Rescue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-471-9109Desert Foothills Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-488-2286United States Postal Service (Carefree Branch) . . . . . . . . . .480-488-3781

UtilitiesArizona Public Service (APS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .602-371-7171AT&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-288-2747CenturyLink (formerly Qwest) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-364-5234City of Scottsdale Solid Waste Management . . . . . . . . . . .480-312-5600City of Scottsdale Water Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-312-2461Cox Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .602-277-1000Southwest Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .602-271-4277Verizon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-922-0204

SchoolsCave Creek Unified School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-575-2000 Transportation Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-575-2080Black Mountain Elementary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-575-2100Sonoran Trails Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-272-8600Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-272-8604Cactus Shadows High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-575-2400 Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-575-2431

Religious ServicesBlack Mountain Community Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-575-1801Christ the Lord Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-488-2081Christian Science First Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-488-2665The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . . . . . . . . . .480-488-3035Desert Hills Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-488-3384Our Lady of Joy Parish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480-488-2229

Contact Sheet

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