Layne Varney, General Manager
The arrival of the severe heatwave this summer was late but very noticeable. During the month of August, we had several triple-digit days of high temperatures. The previous record of consecutive days of 100-degree-plus temperatures was broken last year, reaching 113 days. This year, as of the date of writing this article, we have experienced 78 consecutive days of triple-digit weather and counting. One cannot only feel the effects of the extreme heat, it is also very visible looking around at the desert vegetation and landscape, all looking for relief of cooler weather and rain.
Summer improvement and maintenance projects are in progress and continue to be completed. The clubhouse swimming pool was closed for a short period of time for contracted deck work, cleaning, and other pool facility maintenance. New outdoor speakers were installed at the patio area outside of the ballroom. The flooring in the outdoor kitchen/barbecue area will be resurfaced in early October. Clubhouse lobby windows have all been replaced with dual-paned, energy-efficient glass. Clubhouse ceiling tiles have all been inspected and replaced if stained or damaged. Ballroom hardwood flooring has been stripped, treated, and rewaxed with a smooth, shiny finish. A large section of clubhouse flat roofing at the clubhouse above the upper-level hallway will be replaced. New roofing material and a sealant coating layer will be applied for preventive maintenance and to extend the life of the roof. As a multi-year project, 200 SunBird street name signs have been replaced. These new signs have been replaced with eight-inch, larger-sized print, following City of Chandler street sign specifications, for greater visibility. Additional street signs will be replaced throughout the next upcoming years. The clubhouse will be power-washed, and windows and carpets will be cleaned in October.
A utility construction contractor has been working along Championship Drive from Riggs Road to Doral Drive installing new cable lines throughout the month of August. A few years ago, SunBird had extensive utility construction along the roads within SunBird. Shortly thereafter, it was discovered and reported that a few homes that were vacated for the summer had been broken into. Prior to allowing the work of these current utility contractors, we discussed this concern of crime with them. They agreed to have a supervisor on duty at all times during construction of this work and not to allow any workers to wander around the jobsite. During this time, SunBird Patrol has been specifically patrolling the area of construction to observe and make a stronger presence. Additionally, signage was placed at the front entrance into SunBird to create a greater awareness of suspicious activity and crime. We appreciate everyone who has been joining in our effort to deter potential crime from SunBird.
Over the past month, we have had some residents scammed for substantial amounts of money. One scam originated allegedly from “Microsoft” through the computer warning about the operation speed of the computer. The person responded to the computer screen notice and was unknowingly being lured into the scam trap. They thought they were providing information to correct a computer problem and were scammed for a large sum of money. Another scam was regarding a false notice allegedly from “Wells Fargo Bank.” The bank logo and information seemed to be legitimate, indicating that some transactions from the person’s account had been fraudulently taken and that they would assist in resolving the issue. The alleged bank representative requests personal information like account numbers, date of birth, etc., to supposedly reverse the charges. Unknowingly, the person is providing the scammer with information that is then used to hack into their real bank account and make large withdrawals. The City of Chandler Police Department will be hosting a series of informational meetings for personal theft prevention this coming season at SunBird. Topics will include Identity Theft, Social Security Scams, IRS Scams, Property Title Theft, and Current Trends of Cyber Theft. The safest practice for verifying the origins of email, text, or mail notices to you from banks, credit cards, financial institutions, IRS, Microsoft, police, and other persons is to look up a telephone number of the company trying to make contact, from a separate source other than the one that was provided to you from the email, text, or mail, and then contact the company directly by telephone to confirm the validity of the source. If in doubt, contact a family member or friend or go to the Arizona State website at www.azag.gov/issues/elder-affairs for additional assistance.
It’s hard to believe that summer is nearing the end, which brings the hope of cooler weather. With the more tolerable weather, we can start expecting residents to return back to SunBird. This upcoming season, many fun activities and large events have been planned for the community. We look forward to having SunBird back to full capacity with all our friends and neighbors. SunBird is a great place to live!