Welcome to Esperanza Estates, Green Valley, Arizona !

Board Notes
Herb Graffweg has decided to change his primary residency to the State of Washington and in the future will be in Green Valley only during the winter. His resignation was accepted by the Board on April 15. His Architectural Control duty has been assigned to Paul Rowland (625-2657).

Do You Put Up a Good Back?
Most of us are diligent about maintaining a good appearance from the street side. On the other hand, many of us seem not to be conscious of what our back-side neighbors see from their rear patios. Go out your back gate sometime and look at the gate, the rear wall, and overhanging plants. Maybe a paint touch-up or gate repair would be a good-neighbor activity.

Section 12.3 of the CC&Rs states the requirement that all properties must be maintained in an attractive and well-maintained condition. This section also requires that "the Board shall use reasonably high standards to determine whether such maintenance, repair, and upkeep is required so that the lots as a whole will reflect a high pride of ownership." Be a good neighbor!

CC&Rs and State Law
Esperanza Estates is classified as a "Planned Community" under Arizona Law (ARS 33-1801 e+seq).We have more than 50 units and the Law thus imposes certain reporting requirements on the Association in the event of a pending sale or change in title of a unit. We won't copy the complete statute here but will paraphrase some of the procedure.

Prior to closing, the Title Company will contact us (or our current agent -- Premier Properties) regarding the status of the unit in question. There are specific questions regarding unpaid liens, fines, or assessments. There are also questions regarding unauthorized architectural alterations or other violations of the Bylaws or CC&Rs. The Association is subject to damages if it does not provide legally accurate answers to these questions. Thus, it becomes quite important that the seller is diligent in conforming to the CC&R requirements regarding general condition of the property (general upkeep, etc.) and architectural or structural modifications.

If the Association reports that the property is non-conforming, there will likely be a delay or cancellation of the sale closing. Please do not make structural or architectural modifications without written approval from the Board. Otherwise, there could be disappointing problems later. Refer to CC&R Section 8.2.

An additional 50 feet of the Bridge Park wash has now been rip-rapped, using material removed from and donated by the Arroyo Number 9 contractors and labor hired by the Association. The plan from here on will be to continue the rip-rap on bank areas showing signs of monsoon caused erosion as funds become available for the project.

It is believed the worst areas have now been remedied. Some remedial work has been completed on the Bridge Park dry-well drains. Several of these had become dysfunctional over the years, but have been put back into serviceable condition. Weed spraying by AAA is continuing, but has been hampered by wind conditions. Overall work by AAA has proven of high quality, and they are continuing to work their way through the subdivision common areas.

At this point, most of them are looking quite good, and the few smaller areas where AAA has not yet worked, are scheduled. The Board's efforts in this regard will continue to be relentless in getting and keeping our common areas as good as they can look. Again, residents are requested to advise the Board of problems noted in the common areas, in order that they may receive attention.

Several requests for common area re-graveling have been received, and it is hoped this program can be continued later on in the year. So far, we have spread over 75 yards and brought many of the common areas back to a high state of attractiveness.

The Esperanza Estates Volunteers Yard Sale held on March 16 was a big success. We made $700 which will be spent to improve common areas. Many thanks to the generous residents who donated the items for sale and to all the volunteers who worked as hard and kept smiling while their "teeth chattered" from the cold.

A "baked goods" table was a new addition to the sale and was a big hit. Thank you to all who donated bread, cakes, and cookies. The Silent Auction held at the recent Hospitality sponsored party raised $75 and $38 in donations. Thank you everybody.

If you are leaving Esperanza Estates, we are sorry to see you go! If you are moving in, welcome! If you are just cleaning, we would like you to be aware that our Volunteer group conducts two yard sales each year to raise money for improvements to common areas within Esperanza Estates. This money allows us to improve the utility and appearance of common areas without impacting the annual Association dues.

If you have household items for which you have no current use, we would be glad to accept them as a donation to our cause. No need to store your donations through the summer just call one of the following for a pick-up: Mary or Dick Zindrick 393-7499 Joan Zebroski 399-1053 Melodye or Tom Cooke 399-0455 Sheila Bennen 399-0501 Thank you from the VEE Team (Volunteers of Esperanza Estates).

The new project for the enhancement of Mountain View Park is underway. The volunteers have received an initial donation from Don and Joan White for the purchase of additional decorative cactus. The immediate needs are as follows:

1. Someone who is cactus-oriented to identify the existing cactus and plants in the area.
2. The name of a catalog, store, or nursery that carries attractive name plates to place by the cactus to inform everyone of the correct name of the cactus.
3. Someone who is garden-oriented to develop a plan for the placement of the additional cactus so each cactus is displayed attractively.
4. Additional donations to buy more cactus. See Volunteer Update on page 4.

Details on Menu, Cost, and Program will appear in the fall issues of the Periodico. Reminder: All Esperanza Estates ladies are welcomed.We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

James V. and Jan D. Harvey / Mary Jeroslow 942 Calle Regalo
Edward D. and Mary J. Buchholz / Yvonne Getker 727 W. Placita Neuva
Evelyn L. Jackson / Marjorie Oswald 1161 Circulo del Sur

Want to walk the Nature Trail without leaving your home? Have you ever wanted to share photos and information about where you live with a friend or relative? Do you wish you had access to the Periodico newsletter when you are away?

One of our newer residents has created a website about Esperanza Estates. While it is not intended to be an official website, it does contain a lot of photos, maps, and information about our subdivision, and the recent issue of the Periodico. The website has been submitted to various search engines, but until it is listed, you can only access it by typing in the following URL into your browser:

If you like what you find, or if you have any suggestions or comments, please email the webmaster. You'll find a link at the bottom of each page. He doesn't list his name on the website, since he believes that the site isn't about him. It's about Esperanza Estates and the pride he has for where he lives.

The website isn't finished yet, and I'm told it may never be completed. It is hoped that the site will always be fresh and new. Check back often. More information will be added in the future.

On April 10, twenty three of our Neighborhood Watch captains and assistants met at my home for updating their zone lists and to help develop further strategies. Sheila Bennen and Phyllis Johnson welcomed the group and offered some new ideas for linking with the Hospitality Newcomers program. This was an enthusiastic group of people who offered good feedback for making our community even safer.

One outcome was the formation of a sub-committee for ensuring that each captain and assistant, as well as SAV, has a voluntary record of special medical needs of respective zone neighbors. Lois Blacker reminded us that Rural Metro will supply a medical record packet for our refrigerators.

Thank you to Joan Zebroski, Ron and Joyce Schoenfelder, Phyllis Sanger, and Jerry and Delores McCall for being back up to their block captains.

Hospitality Committee
By Phyllis Johnson, Chair

An initiative from Melodye Cooke--committee member active in our newcomers "welcome wagon"-- proposed that we LINK this project with the Neighborhood Watch Committee. Preparations would continue with the data base and the supplies organized at the Johnson-Frost home. Packets would then be delivered to Watch captains or assistants who would have the opportunity to deliver the packet in a personal call on the respective zone newcomer.

This initiative was congenially accepted by the participants in the Harland meeting on April 10th! (NOTE: Watch captains and assistants--not able to be present at the April10th meeting--are urged to get in touch with updating through me (399-9003) or Sheila Bennen (399-0501). Marilyn is planning to be out of town from time to time this season.)

Volunteer Update
By Sheila Bennen

The summer months will see a sharp drop of volunteer hands but we hope some work will proceed. The park by the pool is almost complete and an additional fountain has been donated, it will probably have to wait until fall to be installed.

The newly planted shrubs and trees all have new growth so they will be beautiful by fall. We hope to proceed with the cactus planting at Mountain View Park during the summer. I have gotten the names of people in the area who are knowledgeable about cactus but so far no one in Esperanza has come forth to volunteer.

We need the following things:

1) Books with the names of cactus so we can identify what we have;
2) Donations of any unusual cactus you may have in your yards;
3) People to help with identification; and
4) Monetary donations for the purchase of cactus.

We have 2 donors so far and a $300 budget which will go fast. We would like to acknowledge those who have already donated to the cause and we will do so monthly in the Periodico beginning with this issue. In order not to miss anyone who has donated in the past we will begin with those donating after January 1 of 2002. We graciously thank all of you who have donated in the past.

The donors for this year are as follows: Richard and Mary Zindrick, Eric and Jane Ellingson, Dorothy Greene, Don and Joan White, Clay and Marjorie Crawford, Renee Marcus, Tom and Melodye Cooke, and Audrey Ware.

Historical Perspective 2000
By Phyllis Johnson

Sheila Bennen responded to the interviewer with great satisfaction that she had chosen her quad home on Camino Holgado ". . . as very conducive to my life style" even while she was still living in Palm Springs! She was also impressed by the architectural uniqueness of Esperanza Estates, a favorite development of Earl Whigham: "So there's three styles, Sinaloa, Pueblo, and Santa Fe which puts in the arches, niches, and tile."

Then she focused on her activism in the association: ". . . by the time I was here for one year, I had been on every committee that was offered. . . . . paving of the streets, . . . taking care of the lights. . . . on the CCR Revision Committee."

Her concluding response sheds light on her current role in developing the various missions of the Hospitality Committee emerging from an earlier "Social Committee": "I do like the people in Esperanza Estates, but I feel that we really have to get them more active."

Sheila hopes that ". . . that we can bring more people into the fold, especially with the neighborhood watch and the neat parties that can bring people closer by getting them out of their houses." And she gives all us neighbors an important tip: "I'm beginning to discover that there's a lot of shut-ins here. . . we're going to have to . . . get some activities for them."

Swimming Pool Notes
By Scottie Blum, Chair

EEHOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2002

President * A. David Lantz
Vice-President * Norma Stanley
Treasurer * Sheila Bennen
Secretary * Ben Sheffield
Herb Graffweg
Scottie Blum
Clay E. Crawford
Thomas Cooke
Paul Rowland

The Bylaws require these Officer positions be filled with Directors Committee Chairs

Architectural Control
Paul Rowland and A. David Lantz

Common Area Maintenance
Tom Cooke and Clay Crawford

Strategic Planning Swimming Pool
Scottie Blum

Volunteers
Tom Cooke

Neighborhood Relations
Norma Stanley

Hospitality
Phyllis Johnson

Neighborhood Watch
Marilyn Harland

Other Personnel

Periodico Production
Bob Fallon

Periodico Distribution
Charl Petry

GVCCC Community Directory
Charl Petry

GVCCC Representative
Sheila Bennen

GVCCC Alternate
Helen Fallon

Board Meetings
3rd Monday at Bank of America Community Room,
LaCanada at Continental, 1 PM
May 20
June 17
July - none
August - none
September 16
October 21
November 18
December 16
January 20, 2003