Maintenance Report

Ed Pedroncelli, Maintenance Services Supervisor

is 12 to 24 inches from the nozzle to the wall.

• Use cleaning agents like:

• plain dish soap and warm water demolition, and construction. Under the direction of the Maintenance Department and the Facilities Committee, the work was completed on schedule.

The new Garden Room is now available for card groups and other social groups that previously met in the Fiesta

Room. The Fiesta Room is now used primarily as a meeting room.

Valerie Hanich is in charge of assigning rooms for activities. If your group would like to meet in the new Garden Room, contact her at Rec Ctr 1.

Stucco is more of a maintenance-free finish; however, it does require attention. Maintenance is minimal, providing the stucco is in good shape, and maintaining is easy. Stucco can be washed and should be washed two to three times a year to maintain the finish coat’s ability to shine and function. Below are a few suggestions:

• You can use a garden hose to wash down the exterior, however, this will only remove a small amount of the dirt and debris. For a better result, use a medium stiffness brush to remove dirt.

• A pressure washer is preferred as it is much faster and less labor intensive. If you use a pressure washer, it should be capable of 1500 psi minimum, and you want to use a 40-degree nozzle. However, be mindful of the distance as it can damage the stucco. A good distance

• bleach and water solution can be used on mold and mildew stains but be careful of nearby plantings and anything else that may be damaged by bleach. The solution is one part bleach to 10 to 20 parts water for general cleaning or one part bleach and five to ten parts water for tougher stains. Always test a small area before using bleach to see how it reacts.

• TSP can also work well. Use one to two cups per one gallon of water and pre-soak the wall first from the bottom working your way up.

Ed

Pedroncelli,

epedroncelli@powerstonepm.com, (949) 215-9155

Donna Duhn, Maintenance Coordinator, dduhn@powerstonepm.com,

(949) 455-4671

(office)

Architectural

Spring is in the air. March 20 is the first day of spring. That means we have started the painting of homes for 2023. If you are in the paint zone, we hope you are getting excited because now you get to choose one of the beautiful color schemes for your home. This can be a stressful event, but it need not be if you ask all the right questions. Before you pick the color scheme, look at all the hardscape of your home: window trim, shutters, brick or stone-faced areas and planters, as well as fences, doors, walkways, patio covers and, most important, your roof color. Are any of these areas permanent and cannot be painted? Next, decide if you want warm tones or cool tones. Do you like a contrast between stucco and trim or do you like a more neutral combination? Now you are ready to look at the color schemes on display in the Library. You may choose from the schemes that are displayed for your model. For example: if you have a Carmel model, you have five schemes to choose from. Each scheme has a coordinated stucco color that Dunn-Edwards Paints has tastefully assembled for your choosing. There are also trim and front door color options that will give your door the pop of color you may want. Remember that if your house is attached to another, you and your neighbors will have to decide on the colors together. Enjoy the adventure and a beautiful new look to your home.

John Nicsinger, Chair, (818) 261-5316

Linda Silverman, Liaison

Budget and Finance

The Budget & Finance Committee (B&F) continues to review the December financial statements and year-end adjustments since many December invoices are received in the months after year-end. In February, a few of the B&F members attended the Board of Directors ad hoc committee meetings to discuss improvements to the draft Casta del Sol Policy and Procedures document created by B&F. In March, we will review the draft audited 2022 financial statements before going to the BoD in April for approval.

We welcomed Barry Silverman to our committee in January. He has an extensive business background and will be a valuable addition to our committee.

All residents are welcome to attend the B&F meetings. The Budget and

Finance Committee meets regularly on the third Monday of each month at 1 p.m. in the Vista Room. Our next meeting will be held on March 20. Please look for eblasts with additional details about our next meeting.

Lisa Shoemaker, Chair, (949) 305-6336

Karen Warren, Liaison

Courier

In the new year, we are embarking on several new approaches and projects. We are gathering writers, proofers, and photographers for workshops over the next few months, especially since our committee has grown. We are also planning to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Casta del Sol newsletter in July with several articles and perhaps a different look. Our new Editor-in-Chief Charlotte Lassos has brought many new skills and ideas to the table. We plan to use a secure cloud system for organizing and storing our story files, making for easier access to committee members.

The new deadline of the 6th of the month has worked well and helped to make the layout and publication of the Courier proceed smoothly.

We have had a large number of residents attend our monthly stuffing event. It is the place to be, so thank you to all who assist.

Our committee met with the Board of Directors recently to discuss Opinion Letters. We reiterated the extensive rules that guide our entire publication as well as additional rules for Opinion Letters. Moving forward, we are likely to have additional review prior to publication. We want to provide a place for the widest readership and viewing of residents’ opinions, rather than relying on social media or word of mouth.

The Committee meets every second Wednesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in the Fiesta Room to discuss the previous month’s issue and review assignments for future issues.

Debra Friedman, Chair, (949) 230-7195 Linda Silverman, Liaison

Election

In an article written by April Wilsey for the February 2023 Casta Courier, the new Courier Editor-in Chief Charlotte Lassos describes Casta del Sol as “a unique city within a city.” Cities, small or large, flourish when they are

Continued on page 9

Election

Continued from page 8 well-managed and meet the needs of their inhabitants. Informed and dedicated leadership from boards and councils is essential to a thriving community. If you would like to help guide the decisions that benefit yourself, your neighbors and our “unique city,” consider running for one of the three open Board of Directors positions. Candidate Applications can be picked up at the Administrative Office or Rec Ctr 1 office. The Election Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. in the Fiesta Room.

Jeff McCoy, Chair, jmactr1@gmail.com

David Shostak, Liaison

Facilities

Spring is in the air, or is it Spring cleaning? Think about sharing those old items with your church, Goodwill, or other nonprofit organizations.

Please keep the following items on your radar. Rec Ctr 2 restrooms by the pool are not to be used to bathe pets; this is prohibited based on Rules & Regulations found in the Homeowners Directory, page 20, sub-heading “Pet and Assistance Animal Rules,” Item 3. Place trash receptacles on the right side as you enter your cul-de-sac. Trash trucks often enter a cul-de-sac at a minimum of six times and possibly 12 times depending on placement of trash receptacles. Help to preserve our streets and cul-de-sacs.

The committee is working on several projects for 2023. These include paving contracts, home painting, gate locking systems at Rec Ctr 1 and Rec Ctr 2 Pool, preparing bids for consultants to manage quotes on Rec Ctr 2 Pool remodel, new awning, umbrella covers, and picnic tables at Paddle Tennis, remodel of Ceramics, resurface of Bocce Ball courts, replacing chairs used in meeting rooms, adding blinds to the Fitness Center, replacing pool heaters and controllers at Rec Ctr 2 Pool, replacing lawn bowling back boards, removing the shade structure at Rec Ctr 2 Pool due to wood rot and termites, fixing and replacing chain link fencing between Gates 1 and 2, replacing wrought iron fencing at Gate 1, and looking into future capital items.

The Facilities Committee meets monthly on the fourth Thursday at 9 a.m. in person in the Vista Room or online via Zoom.

Nancy Cunningham, Chair, (949) 350-3562

Matt Loftus, Liaison

Greenbelt

As you know, Casta del Sol is more than 50 years old. With age comes a mature tree and plantscape, both in common areas and foundation plantings. The latter is the focus of this month’s article. The Casta del Sol Homeowners Telephone Directory contains Greenbelt Rules & Regulations starting on page 55. Of particular note is Paragraph 2 – “Foundation, Side Yards, and Side Entryways,” which is important enough to have seven sub-sections. As I drive through CdS, it’s obvious that many residents are out of compliance which then falls on your neighbor volunteers on the Greenbelt and Architectural Committees to police the community. No one likes handing out Violation Notices, but that is the task of committee members. I ask you to take the time to fully read the Rules & Regulations and ask yourself, “Am I in compliance?”

Foundation trees can cause damage, too. So take a walk around your home’s exterior and see if you have trees in your foundation planter that require removal to prevent damage to your home’s infrastructure or to HOA community property.

The Greenbelt Tree Project Group is currently evaluating CdS’s treescape. They will also be reviewing trees planted in violation of the approved tree and plant list and the Foundation tree plantings.

The Greenbelt Committee welcomes your comments. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. in the Fiesta Room inside the Administration Office building.

June Anderson, Chair, juanders2004@yahoo.com Lori Gilbertson, Liaison

Library

Finally, we can now offer the capability of accepting book reservations. Here’s a brief introduction to the program. You can reserve a book two ways: either send an email to cdslibrary2@gmail.com or fill out a reservation form in the library; you’ll know it’s for book reservations because the paper is colored green. As soon as the book is available, you will be notified either via email or phone that the book is ready to be picked up. We will use the first-come-firstserve method, so be sure to date your request if you are filling out the green form. Your book will be located on the annex counter in a green bin with your name on the bookmark. You will have seven days to pick it up; enjoy! Please return promptly after you have finished the book as other residents may want to read it. Thanks for your patience. Thanks also go to Linda Galloway for her hard work in leading the HLM team.

New Additions to the Library

Regular Print:

Age of Vice, Deepti Kapoor

Blaze Me a Sun, Christoffer Carlsson

Brotherless Night, V. V. Ganeshananthan

How to Sell a Haunted House, Grady Hendrix

Master Slave Husband Wife, Ilyon Woo

Small World, Laura Zigman

Spare, Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex

The Boy & the Dog, Seishu Hase

The House of Wolves,

James Patterson & Mike Lupica

The Night Travelers, Armando Lucas Correa

The Nine, Gwen Strauss

The Whittiers, Danielle Steel

Wade in the Water, Nyani Nkrumah

Large Print:

A Tidy Ending, Joanna Cannon

Little Eve, Catriona Ward

Sleep No More, Jayne Ann Krentz

The Making of Us, Lisa Jewell

The Villa, Rachel Hawkins

The Winter Garden, Nicola Cornick

Tick Tock, Fern Michaels

Audio Books:

Eden’s Children, V. C. Andrews

It Starts with Us, Coleen Hoover Pat Vitti, Chair, (949) 457-9194 Matt Loftus, Liaison

Social

Superbowl - what a blast! We had a tremendous turnout in the Vista Room for our potluck game-watching party. It was fun watching the game on a big screen. The food was terrific, and the pool made everything a bit more exciting. Whether you were rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs or just there for the commercials, everyone had a wonderful time. We are busy planning for our Sock Hop on March 25. Grab your poodle skirts and bobby socks, greaser attire, and hair gel. Show us your best dance moves from the 50’s and 60’s. Root beer floats and chips are on the menu. Signup is already underway. Be there or be square. Ladies, mark your calendars: Saturday April 29 we will be hosting a fashion show with clothing from Chico’s and an afternoon tea party. More details to follow.

Casta del Sol, such an amazing place to live. So many opportunities in which to participate. I hope to see you all soon.

Amy Lake, Chair, (516) 263-7941, Alake225@gmail.com

Karen Warren, Liaison

Traffic

I just finished a great meal at our favorite local restaurant and drove past Gate 3 at 10:30 p.m. The lights were off, both iron gates were open, and the yellow poles were both open. What do I do? Call the police, call Powerstone,

Continued on page 11

Traffic

Continued from page 10 call the Traffic Committee? No, I know what to do. I will write an article to Next Door, the social media outlet; wrong!

The above actually occurred and our resident had no idea what to do next. There are many reasons why this “open gates” situation could have occurred including power outage, mechanical failure, software malfunction, or emergency vehicle entering and exiting. The resident should have called Gate 1 which is manned 24/7. The gate attendant procedure would be to contact the Nordic supervisor on duty to determine the problem and correct the issue. The Gate 1 phone number, (949) 455-4674, is located on page 6 in your telephone directory.

John Nethercutt, Co-Chair, ravens987@hotmail.com

Joe Hachadoorian, Liaison, (714) 309-9885

Welcome

Welcome as always to newcomers in the community. Members of the Welcome Committee contact new residents to arrange a meeting and provide a packet of information about the many programs and clubs in Casta del Sol, and to answer your questions. If you have not yet been contacted by one of our members and wish to meet, you may email me to arrange a time and place to get together with one or two of us.

Welcome to Casta, once again, and we hope you enjoy exploring and finding your way around the community. We look forward to meeting each one of you

Priscilla Tripp, Chair, ptripp1@gmail.com

Joe Hachadoorian, Liaison

Bible Study

Any resident of Casta del Sol who has an interest in participating in the study of the Bible is welcome to join us. This is an active group of folks from different churches. Our studies are varied, but always Bible-oriented. We examine and/or question the study of the day, but always keep the discussion on topic from the Bible.

The club meets at Rec Ctr 2 every Tuesday morning from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for study and prayer. Come and join us as we sing the old hymns.

We are a no-dues club. All are welcome. For more information, please contact Peter Filakouridis at (949) 305-1935.

Kay Reed, dentist2cali@gmail.com, (949) 354-1460

Billiards

Cold and wet weather is gone. I don’t care what the groundhog thinks, so let’s have some fun this month. It’s time for our first Casta del Sol Billiards Competition. The game is 8-Ball and the rules are simple and lots of fun. It will be a friendly double-elimination contest. That means, at the very least, you’ll get to play two games, and more if you keep winning. We will try to schedule your games during the day, evening, or Saturday to match your availability and skill level. There is a signup sheet in the Billiards Room, or send me an email, or give me a call, and I will sign you up. In the meantime, come down to the Billiards Room, meet some other players or just get in some practice. Watch for an eblast for dates and more details.

Fred Wilmott, BilliardsCdS@cox.net, (949) 367-6671

Bridge

Bridge groups have been meeting in the Rec Ctr 1 Garden Room for several weeks. It was a pleasure welcoming Pril Kirkeby back to duplicate bridge Tuesday. Her husband Jack, who recently passed away at 105 years of age, was the founding member of duplicate bridge and many other activities here at Casta del Sol. Pril and Jack guided duplicate bridge for many years. We owe them much for their legacy.

There are always people moving into CdS. If you’re new, or an old timer, we invite you to let us know you are interested in playing or learning bridge. Just drop me an email with “bridge” in the subject line and we will try to plug you in; please indicate if you play rubber bridge or duplicate bridge. Or you can phone me and leave a message. I’m in the CdS telephone directory. Duplicate Bridge at CdS is unsanctioned by the ACBL.

Tim McCoy, mccoytest@cox.net

Canine Companions

Your Canine Companions Club is in full support of the extreme efforts to have a Casta del Sol leash-free dog park. We thank Linda Galloway, Lucille Naves, and Becky Kingston for obtaining 524 signatures for our proposal to the Facilities Committee. Linda made this presentation outlining our suggestions of advantages, location, maintenance, expense, and control. This raised many questions that gave us additional information to provide answers at the next meeting. All supporters of the dog park please attend the next Facilities Committee Meeting.

Last month was our Valentine’s Day costume contest and pulled pork luncheon. There were three lucky winners, one of which received a certificate for Olympiad Animal Hospital. This was another enjoyable and well-attended event. This month will be a Yappy Hour event on Saturday, March 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. Bring your own cocktails and we will have some great appetizers. Please RSVP.

Tom Brockmiller, lindabrock@cox.net, (949) 412-1083

Casta Creatives

Calling all artists. Join us on Wednesdays and Thursdays for Open Studio from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Arts & Craft Room at Rec. Ctr 1. Bring a piece that you are working on. Get help, ideas, and inspiration from the artists of Casta del Sol. All media and levels are welcome, from aspiring to advanced artists.

Exciting events are planned for 2023. On Thursday, March 16 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Pat Satterthwaite will provide a Portrait Drawing Class. The fee to attend the class is $5 (non-members $10). Save the date: Heritage Garden Open House & Art Exhibit, April 22. You can join the club at the Rec Ctr 1 office. Membership is only $15 for the year. This includes open studio, art demonstrations, discounts on classes, and activities. For more information, contact me.

Maribeth McFaul, maribethmcfaul@gmail.com

Ceramics

Don’t forget about the Ceramic Club’s annual Flea Market on March 10 and 11 in the Vista Room at Rec Ctr 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You’ll find much more than ceramics. Last year’s offerings included doorbell bird houses, painted rocks, and beautiful handmade greeting cards. It’s a community event that brings out the artist in many of us and eager buyers and sellers in the rest. It’s like a huge garage sale without the moldy, rusted junk. And there’s always a baked goods table that sells out fast.

Vendor tables went on sale February 17; check with Rec Ctr 1 if you are still interested in selling. With prices skyrocketing all around, the club has not raised table prices in several years and will not this year. Queries may be directed to Carol Favreau at (714) 470-8181.

Jo Steciuk, (949) 394-5181

Crafts For Charity

The Craft Ladies of Casta del Sol are launching into spring with a number of colorful projects including journals and inspirational cards. If you’d like to join in the fun and meet some of your neighbors, please drop by. You’ll be shown what to do.

We recently delivered Valentine gift bags for the women at Laura’s House, a shelter for domestic violence victims. We also delivered Valentine tray favors for Meals on Wheels recipients.

We meet on the first and third Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at Rec Ctr 2. March meetings will be on March 1 and March 15. There is no membership fee and we do not take attendance. Come when you can. We are grateful for voluntary donations to help defray the cost of materials. We are always looking for new ideas for craft projects and recipients. For details, call Marlene Kazan at (949) 916-5044.

Jessica Hollowell, (310) 480-9093

Cribbage

We play cribbage each Thursday in the Heritage Room at Rec Ctr 2 from 6:30 p.m. until about 8:45 p.m. If you are interested in learning to play this old English card game, any of our members would be willing to teach you on a one-to-one basis, or we can do it on a Thursday evening; it’s really not that complicated. You just need to be able to count to 31. If you have ever played in the past, the rules will quickly come flooding back; just come on down for a few games and a general social evening. There is no sign-up or commitment. If you want more information, contact Susan Herrning.

Susan Herrning, susanherrning@aol.com, (949) 630-2565

Democrats

We are happy to have increased our attendance in the past few months, especially since we became an official club. Our meetings are usually on the third Sunday of each month at 3 p.m. in the Vista Room, so mark your calendars. Our next meeting is March 19.

During our meetings, we will address local and national topics as well as those applying specifically to Casta del Sol. We welcome suggestions for issues to address. In order to further grow our meeting attendance, we are asking everyone to encourage friends to attend.

Our friendly group loves to stay and mingle after the presentations, so please bring food or beverages to share and plan to stay a bit. In between meetings, we send emails on major events, important issues, and other information. If you have not received emails and would like to add your name to the list, please let me know.

Debra Friedman, debrafriedman0@gmail.com, (949) 230-7195

Health & Fitness

The cubby hole furniture for our gear has been secured to the wall with earthquake straps, and our request for installation of pull-down blinds on the rear windows of the Fitness Center has been approved and is in process. The addition of tinting on the windows and these new blinds should alleviate the problem of afternoon sun glare while working out on the equipment towards the back of the room.

We encourage continued suggestions like these to improve the Fitness Center. Let us know anything you notice that could improve our already great new space. We have requested a suggestion box be installed; in the meantime, send us an email with any suggestions or comments.

Helen Freedman, PelicanPost123@yahoo.com,

(646) 662-7325

Heritage Garden

March is here, so says the calendar. Spring is in the air; you can hear it in the birds chirping merrily. Slowly but surely, half the world is waking up from the cold winter months. In the coming days our Heritage Garden will transform with buds bursting open displaying a rainbow of colors, bees and butterflies hovering on every new blossom, and birdsongs will fill the air. Living in Casta del Sol gives us many opportunities to take nature walks, enjoy the fresh air, and welcome spring. Our garden is always evolving, so be sure to traverse the new paths, explore new plantings, and enjoy the fresh air. If you would like to help, do not hesitate to contact any of our volunteers in the garden. So, moth ball your woolens and pull out those spring colors, adorn your sun hat and we will see you in the garden.

Parizad Sethna, parizad9@outlook.com, (949) 298-0076

Italian American

Our February Bingo was another fun night. In March, we will be having another lovely dinner with exciting entertainment on the same level as the Gala. Please note the change for this event.

Our March dinner will be on Thursday, March 23 at 6 p.m. in the Vista Room. The meal will feature Chicken Cordon Bleu and chocolate Oreo Cream Pie. The cost will be $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Our entertainment will be Matt Gray singing the best of classic soul and Motown.

Join the Italian American Club. Dues are $10 for a single membership and $15 for a couple. Presently, our other scheduled dinners will be June 29 and September 28. If we can get more committee members to help with these events, we will be able to have dinners and entertainment more often.

Lucille Naves, neilnaves@cox.net, (949) 600-5887

Las Damas

Ticket sales end March 5 for the Las Damas Club March 8 luncheon meeting featuring a St. Paddy’s Day theme. The Vista Room will be decked out in green and white for a lively celebration including Irish Beef Stew and Key Lime pie. Newcomers are invited to sign up at the Welcome Table and meet other Casta del Sol friends and neighbors. Dues-paying members ($15) may purchase luncheon tickets for $25 at Rec Ctr 1; non-member price is $30.

The April 12 luncheon meeting features a spring menu of Mandarin Orange Chicken and Lemon Meringue pie for dessert. Entertainment will feature the musical group, The Everlees, who will recreate the best of the Everly Brothers era of Rock and Roll. Ticket sales will begin following the luncheon and through April 8.

Pat Crowley, (949) 305-0582

Military Veterans

Our Casta del Sol Veterans Club is welcoming a special guest speaker to our next meeting. This will be on Monday, March 27 in the Vista Room starting at 6:30 p.m. and will include snacks, beverages, and social time. Our formal meeting begins at 7 p.m. with club business and then our guest speaker will talk until around 8 p.m.

Recreation Center 1:

Saturday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Recreation Center 2: Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday

All meetings are subject to a change of location or being on Zoom.

Daily/Weekly Activities Schedule - March 2023 ( All activities are subject to change. )