City News & Tapas Activity Calendar

Safeway Parking Lot

The Safeway store complex is definitely getting some action.  There's a sign that says a car wash is coming and the city council posted that Scooter's Coffee will also be on site.  Interesting to have a coffee shop right outside of Safeway and their Starbuck's counter.

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I copied this from the web:

AUTO MALL PLANNED AT OLD SAMS CLUB CASA GRANDE

Mullin360 - the same people who have developed the San Tan Motorplex, and Scottsdale Auto Show along the 101, as well as others, has started the process to amend the zoning for the Sams Club building, and the land around it - to become an Auto Mall.

The first step is to get the current "Planned Area Development" amended to allow for this, and a couple of other uses they have in mind on that entire parcel all the way down to the AZ Water facilities. My understanding is it will be at least 2 dealerships, and possibly more. This first public step is just that - the first step so lots of details still to be released - and will likely be at least 6 months to a year before anything goes in officially as this will all have to go to both Planning & Zoning and City Council for approval.

But, this is a great spot for this kind of use - and auto dealerships are great tax generators.

-- John McGuire

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My Google calendar is really filling up!

Just FYI:  All residents received a letter from Sun regarding COVID policies in the park.  Today, Sun's policy is that the use of a face mask is optional.  Clubs may no longer set and enforce their own requirements. 

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Scuttlebutt for the last week or so has been that we must be expecting company from corporate as our crews have been very busy cleaning and polishing getting ready for show.   There was continual sound of chainsaws and leaf blowers for trimming plus we saw two workers hand skimming the sludge off of the ponds.

May 4, 2022

The clean pond doesn't last long though.  Maybe we will get some kind of filtration??

May 10, 2022

Aha......they have arrived.  Two big black limos parked in the lot Tuesday morning.

Scuttlebutt also says some of the guests are from the UK as Sun has made some purchases there recently.  (This is unsubstantiated by management but I feel safe with my source.)

With all the cleaning and polishing, I'm surprised no one thought to put up a fresh flag.  Ours is really quite tattered and should be replaced.

May 10, 2022

Whataburger Opens, Cinco De Mayo

 

Good burgers!

Our May 5 Cinco de Mayo event was GREAT!  Food was delicious and the entertainment was a real joy.  It was a troop of young ladies from Eloy who go to classes with their local neighborhood instructor.  Very well done.

Photo by Tom Gottfried

Photo by Tom Gottfried

There were over 200 tickets sold..  Great turnout for the event.

Our "Tapas Crew" has put together a summer education program with informational sessions offered every other Wednesday afternoon, starting June 15.  These sessions will last from 60 to 90 minutes in the SanTan Room.  More "stuff" added to our summer adventures!

(Special "thank you" to Barb Poole!!)

May Events

 Our May calendar has been posted:

Resident activities will be posted soon so you folks back home can envy our fun.

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Our weather continues to be awesome with our typical Arizona sky of blue.  Not a cloud to be seen.  

Mornings are perfect with afternoons a tad warm in the 90s.

I stopped by the mailroom to chat with Donna Cox (and Peggy) about our current occupation of residents.  We currently have 565 open mailboxes.  That's about 100 more than pre-Covide at this same time.  Looks like we may have a larger summer population.

Our week of events is larger than anticipated.  There were 78 folks at Tapas Tuesday and 87+ players at card bingo Saturday night.  I took a fast video across the bingo crowd so you could check for familiar faces.

Don't forget those Cinco tickets!!

Tapas Tuesday

 What a difference a week makes.  Last week we had 96 participants at Tapas Tuesday and this week we were down to 79.  After chatting with attendees, next week will be even smaller as folks continue to head home to other locations.

In the meantime, we summer dwellers are planning events to keep us busy during scorching summer temps.

Marion Nelson was present to tell us about our Cinco de Mayo celebration coming up on May 5.  The park will be serving dinner at 5:00 followed by some special entertainment we won't want to miss.  I understand there will be about 10 tiny dancers all dressed in their dance regalia and they're between the ages of 4 and 7.  It should be cute and FUN to watch.  Tickets are $12 per person and available in Activities.  Must purchase by May 3 for a food head count.

Our summer dwellers are planning other events too.  There may be craft classes, computer classes, tours, caravan trips, etc.  Volunteers must sign up to be host for each Tuesday.  No volunteer host....no Tapas Tuesday.  

Volunteers are being sought to help with the school recycling program.  Actually this is for the Mesquite Elementary School that puts up bins to collect clear plastic.  More info will follow.

We have three summer holidays that will alter our plans for Tapas Tuesdays.  Those special days will be celebrated on the appropriate Monday holiday so check your calendars now before you forget.

• Memorial Day, Monday, May 30
• Independence Day, Monday, July 4
• Labor Day, Monday, September 5

On these three holidays, the park will be providing an entree so we must get free food tickets for those events so an accurate food count can be taken.  Tickets will be available at our Tapas events and in Activities.

Tapas Tuesday

Tonight (Tuesday, April 19) was our first Tapas Tuesday of the summer.Thank you to Barb Poole and Glo Mason for chairing the event.  Plenty of "helpers" showed up at 4:00 to help set up tables and chairs in the Santan Room.  Barb planned on maybe 50 people.  WOW.....folks kept coming and coming.  We set up every chair and table we could find to finally accommodate 96 total people.  

It was the perfect opportunity to meet new residents and reacquaint with old friends.  Plenty of delicious food to go around too.  We could have served another 20 easily.  It was too hard to take individual photos of such a large group so I took a quick video.  Go ahead and play the video.  Hit the space bar to pause the replay so you can pick out familiar faces.

This Thursday (the 21st) the Philly Up food truck will be here from 4:30 till 6:30.  The ballroom will be open and available for seating so join your neighbor and come up for an evening out.

Friday night 6:30 is a big dance shindig up at the Cottonwood pool.  Plenty of music, karaoke, and dancing to keep all entertained.  BYOB

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Horseshoes has really ramped up this past season and has all courts in full use.  Nancy Slankard is going to start up a ladies group soon.  I used to throw a few years back but I wouldn't let anyone stand near the sand as I never knew if I'd even make it inside the pit.  Those iron shoes can take a healthy bounce when they hit the concrete.  😒😕   (Nancy.....email me an update on your group please.)

Nancy Slankard

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Once again I am going to thank Palm Creek landscaping for the beautiful flowers that adorn all the flowerbeds and corner lots throughout the park.  They are just gorgeous this year.  We all especially love the colorful snapdragons.

(and thank you again to Kathy Payne for deadheading and pulling the weeds to keep the beds so beautiful.)

Our 10 day forecast looks beautiful too.

I feel sorry for the folks that had to hurry home to cold rain or snow.

Bob and Nellie Cummings sent me this photo of their yard taken this week.

Happy Easter, Mr. T, Summer Events

 Happy Easter to All

What a perfect day to celebrate with family and friends.  It is an excellent day to be outdoors with 83 degrees, bright blue sky, and a light breeze to keep it comfortable.  

Our resident turtle called "Mr. T" or "Tommy Turtle" is basking in the sunshine.

Photo by Avis Gray

What a difference it makes to turn the calendar to April.  Absolutely beautiful weather, so many flowering trees, shrubs, and plants.  The palo verde  and acacia trees are so colorful in their yellow blossoms as you drive through town.  .....and it's so quiet here in the park.

We celebrated Friday with chocolate Sundae's in the ballroom.  It was nice to sit back with friends and enjoy the cold treat.

Thank you to Activities for holding April events.

Mark your summer calendars:

• SWOOP:  Mondays at 12:30 in the Adobe Room.  
• CARD BINGO:  starts April 30 at 6:30 in the Adobe Room.
• TAPAS TUESDAY: will meet every Tuesday at 4:30 in SanTan room
• FOOD TRUCKS:  Thurs April 21 (Philly Up) and April 28 (Sauce Boss) 4:30-6:30
• STRAWBERRY SUNDAE:  Friday, April 29 from 1:00-2:00 Ballroom

More flowers, summer activities, farewell to Mark

 We bid farewell to our Golf Pro, Mark Kenner, who is leaving Palm Creek after nine years to return home to Connecticut.  Thank you for your friendship and years of service!

Mark and wife Donna

Many "creekers" enjoyed Mark's classes.

Can't say enough about the beautiful flowers we have enjoyed this season!  Al Swanson (avid photo club member) was out with his camera yesterday to capture some of the colorful blossoms.  

photo by Al Swanson

photo by Al Swanson

Most of our winter residents have departed but those of us who remain will still have activities to keep us occupied.

SWOOP will continue on Mondays at 12:30 in the Adobe Room.  Come alone or bring a friend.  Swoop is a FUN easy-to-learn card game that guarantees laughter and a great time.  Wonderful opportunity to meet new friends.

CARD BINGO will start April 30.  Join us at 6:30 in the Adobe room.  Bring 4 nickels, 4 dimes, 4 quarters, and a dollar bill.  FUN for all summer.  

TAPAS TUESDAY starts April 19 and will meet every Tuesday for the summer.  Social time starts at 4:30. Bring a small dish to share along with your tableware (plates, forks, knives, napkins) and your favorite beverage.  We'll be setting up tables and chairs at 4:00 so if you have time, come help with set up.  

Cactus Blossoms

 I took a ride around the park this morning on my handy "Harley" scooter and couldn't help but take a bunch of photos of all the cactus plants in blossom.  They are beautiful!!

Rally, Weather, Owls

 We welcome the Rally for the Renegade RVs this week.  We're expecting about 120 rigs between Thursday and departing Monday.  A couple are parked across the street from us so we were able to chat and learn more about the brand.  It sounds like they are some well built strong vehicles.

I believe we have more than one great horned owl nest in the park this year.  Awesome to see these huge birds so close.

Avis Gray caught a photo of big daddy resting on a park model.

We spotted two of the babies resting in a nest on Cactus Drive.  They're so well camouflaged that they're hard to spot.  The palm trees make easy nests when the bark is bunched up.

Our April weather is gorgeous although it is already a tad warm in the afternoons requiring the AC unit to be turned on.  Nights are fantastic though with windows wide open to the evening breeze.

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