The summer high temperatures had a delayed start from normal this year. However, when the temperature jumped, we all felt it. With the quick rise in temperatures into the triple digits, it’s a good reminder to stay cool and hydrated. The SunBird clubhouse is maintained at comfortable temperatures with many relaxing, recreational, and social opportunities. Take a dip in the swimming pool or enjoy shooting some billiards, relax and read a book in the library or help with a puzzle, get a workout in the Fitness Room or watch some television. Look in this month’s edition of the SunBird News or SunBird’s website for many other social events hosted at the clubhouse. Don’t forget, for a great meal or cool beverage, let us do the serving in the Horizon Room restaurant.
Summer projects at the clubhouse and around the area are in progress. The main hallway will have the fluorescent light fixtures replaced with an updated LED light fixture. The recessed lights will be replaced with new LED fixtures that allow the light to be directed towards the wall paintings and artwork. The Navajo Room will have some remodeling work done, with the room being painted, cabinets recovered, and the flooring replaced. The clubhouse’s main lobby will have the single-paned glass windows replaced with energy-efficient, dual-paned windows. This is just the start, with more to come throughout the summer months.
The common area trees have all been pruned, lifted, and thinned out. The common areas have over 400 trees, mainly including mesquites, palo verdes, acacias, and a few other various types. Maintaining an open canopy of branches and keeping them trimmed up will help the trees withstand the monsoon storms and high winds. The common areas also have over 200 palm trees that are currently being trimmed and the seed pods removed. Palm trees around the clubhouse and swimming pool have all been trimmed. The best time of the year to trim palm trees is now. Each year, palm trees have seed pods that grow from the tops, dropping cotton-like dandelions and bean-size seeds all over. If it is done at the right time, this mess can be avoided and will only need to be trimmed annually.
The entryway into SunBird at Riggs Road and Championship Drive has had a new irrigation system installed. The shrubs and flowers in the planters at the gatehouse and around the large SunBird signs have been replaced for the summer. Many of the cacti and other plants are struggling each year to survive the summer temperatures. Over the past couple of years, despite efforts to save these, all of the 50-plus golden barrel cacti at the front entrance did not survive. Even with a sufficient amount of water, the consistent temperatures are proving to be too much. Landscape spotlight fixtures at the front entrance and along the landscaped median on Championship Drive have all been replaced. These lights provide a nice ambiance at night entering into SunBird, lighting the palm trees and signage.
SunBird’s efforts to deter crime continue throughout the community. SunBird Patrol has made extra efforts in patrolling and checking points of entrances, perimeter walls, and making a greater presence within. Patrol regularly monitors vehicle gate code and remote-control use for entrance into SunBird. As year-round residents, let’s continue to stay vigilant by being aware, observing, and reporting suspicious activity immediately. If vehicles are parked at or unusual activity is being observed at a home that has been vacated for the summer, please contact the police and/or SunBird Patrol immediately. Let’s continue these efforts.
We appreciate all those who are being extra aware of potential suspicious activity and reporting the information quickly. It takes a united community to be a successful community. Have a safe and healthy summer!