Dental Implants Near Sun City West, AZ

Some golf courses in Sun City and Sun City West are part of various projects in the Sun Cities.

During a meeting last month, Recreation Centers of Sun City West Governing Board Director Christine Novello asked Environmental Services Manager Todd Patty if staffing levels for golf course maintenance was on the low side.

Patty said it is in the middle of the low range.

“We run a lean program with staff and it is not so much the budget, but the number of people we are getting in the door,” he stated.

Patty said crews are scrambling to get things done, but staff can be pulled from closed courses to use at other courses.

With staff levels in the low range, Patty said some things are going to go by the wayside, and detail work is one of them. He explained he has to take a step back and realize there are not as many people on staff.

“Mowing greens, changing cups, bunkers and sprinklers we just have to get to them when we can. We want to take care of them, but do not have the staff to do that. We are focused on playing conditions. That is number one,” stated Patty.

There are several things Patty and officials are doing to help with savings. Prior bunker renovations with new sand, drainage and contouring, was all done in house with a good size staff. Patty said every time a bunker rennovation came in over the years on all seven courses were done in house, which is a savings of about $7 million. However, now that could not be done in house due to staffing numbers.

Recreation Centers of Sun City officials operate eight golf courses under the golf department and schedule regular maintenance work at each.

RCSC Communications Coordinator Christie Munson Muller said the golf courses are maintained internally and the bigger projects get contracted out.

“There are approximately 60 staff members who take care of the golf courses,” she stated.

Quail Run Golf Course, 9774 W. Alabama Ave., is going through a complete overhaul, according to Munson Muller. The major process began in May when the lake was drained to allow the material at the bottom of the lake to dry out. This is a water conservation effort and addresses seepage.

“What is really great about this process of relining will help increase the water storage of the lake and in addition will make the lake within the golf course functional and useful for our members,” she added.

Earlier this month, EXP Realty opened up an 800-square foot office in Sun City West, at 13940 W. Meeker Blvd.

Branch Manager Kevin Wurgler said during the ribbon cutting event approximately 90 people attended.

“We all come from other brokerages and people knew of us, but we did not have a physical presence in Sun City West, so we decided to open up a location with five offices in it,” he stated.

Wurgler said he has been working in Sun City West for more than 20 years for the Recreation Centers of Sun City West and other realty offices. Now, when buyers come in from out of town, instead of meeting at a restaurant, they have a place to call home and practice real estate.

He said being familiar with the fee structures of Sun City, Sun City West, Corte Bella and The Grand helps during the selling process.

“Between the 10 of us in the office we have listed and sold quite a few homes in the community,” stated Wurgler.

Wurgler explained in the Sun Cities there is a lot of turnover and people often want to enjoy the rest of their lives, and all the amenities offered in Sun City West makes it favorable to potential buyers.

While snowbirds often leave for the summer, Wurgler said all year is the season in Sun City West, adding they show as many homes in the summer as in the winter.

“One thing about homes in Sun City West, all the inter-walls can be removed and you can make a home however you want to make it with an open floor plan or a sectioned off,” stated Wurgler.

He said there are a mixture of different types of homes in Sun City West including homes that need a little more remodeling and others that already have tile flooring and granite counter tops, for example.

Wurgler said while giving potential residents tours, they often see Sun City West Posse cars driving around and inquire about the services they provide. He also takes them around the recreation centers, visitors center and Property Owners and Residents Association.

“I always try to get them a little more than just going to look at homes. My favorite things to show people is the bowling alley in Sun City West,” he stated.

Call 480-247-2302 for more information.

The Friends of the R.H. Johnson Library announced last month they will no longer offer Thursday night movies at Stardust Theatre, but Recreation Centers of Sun City West officials have come up with a plan to continue movies in Sun City West.

For the past 45 years, residents would sit down at the movies each week during the summer months, but due to declining attendance, it was no longer lucrative to offer the screening.

Now, RCSCW officials will offer showings 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

“We revamped the movies and are trying something new to bring movies back this summer,” stated Recreation Centers of Sun City West General Services Officer Katy O’Grady.

RCSCW Recreation Manager Kasey Huhta said Stardust Theatre is not utilized in the summer and they can offer family-friendly matinees. She said they will try to bring in different types of movies. The licensing fee is $14,000 a year to show movies and Huhta said they want to be sure to use that as much as possible so it does not go to waste.

O’Grady said the movies will not pull in patrons without new films or old movies that bring back memories.

The existing subscription will not cost officials anynmore to show the movies; however every year the license fee increases.

O’Grady said adding more requires more staff and higher costs and they plan to keep it simple.

RCSCW General Manager Stephen Erno said this is a great alternative to what was previously offered.

“This is a trial and we will see how it goes,” stated O’Grady.

Nina Scozzari with The Friends of the R.H. Johnson Library said she provided officials with everything related to the Thursday night movies including procedures, schedules and volunteer information.

During this time of the year, she loses 40% of her volunteers and said approximately half are interested in continuing to donate their time.

“I am thrilled the Rec Centers picked up the movies because there are a lot of people who do not care what is playing and just want to enjoy Thursday date night. A lot of news faces are coming around too. I have been telling the residents you are not losing the movies anymore because you will have a new person running them,” stated Scozzari.

Movies include 1 p.m. select Tuesdays and 6 p.m. select Thursdays;

Tuesday, July 8 “American Sniper”

Tuesday, July 11 “Mufasa”

Tuesday, Aug. 12 “Barbie”

Tuesday, Aug. 26 “First Man”

Thursday, July 10 “Field of Dreams”

Thursday, July 24 “Flight Risk”

Thursday, Aug. 14 “Bridesmaid”

Thursday, Aug. 28 “Oppenheimer”

Thursday, Sept. 11 “Top Gun: Maverick”

Thursday, Sept. 25 “Going in Style” S

According to Friends of the R.H. Johnson Library board member Larry Woods, one of the biggest challenges was having fewer selections to make for their audience.

The bottom line the group is not making the money they used to. Back when these movies first stated, 300 people would attend the sellout movie. Friends of the R.H. Johnson Library board member Nina Scozzari said in the past four years, they have sold out one movie. She said the audience has dwindled down to half and during the summer she saw a low number of 23 people in attendance,” stated Scozzari.

The movies began at the Beardsley Park Music Room, then moved to the lecture hall. Nine years after the movies began, screenings moved to Stardust Theatre to accommodate the growing crowd. Donations were requested beginning in 1984 and patrons would give $1. Then, in the early 2000s, the donation increased to $2. As of August 2022, the suggested donation increased to $3.

Scozzari said the support of the organization is vital; otherwise the library could not run the way it does not. The Friends of the R.H. Johnson Library is a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax-deductible. For more information on The Friends of the R.H. Johnson Library, contact 623-544-6166 or folrhj@yahoo.com

The final Thursday night movies through The Friends of the R.H Johnson Library are June 5, showing “September 5,” June 12 will feature “The Trouble With Harry,” followed by “Driving Miss Daisy” June 19 and on June 26 “The Greatest Showman,” at the Stardust Theatre, 14401 W. R.H. Johnson Blvd.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the movie starts when all seats are filled or 6:30 p.m. Movies are shown with subtitles and close captions. Hearing assisted devices are available for use.

The first pieces of the summer puzzle are in place and Sun City West residents can join the fun at the R.H. Johnson Library.

The puzzle is donated each year by Vivian Hennessey in honor of her husband Jim Hennessey.

This year, a 21,000 piece puzzle was purchased and includes different sections, which can have the edges removed to place all together as one puzzle.

R.H. Johnson Library Director Tracy Skousen said once this puzzle is completed, it will be left up for one week and then another 13,500 piece puzzle will be brought out, followed by another in July.

“This puzzle is a little different design to keep things fresh and we will know how people like it soon,” she stated.

Throughout the year, Skousen said there are 2,000-3,000 piece puzzles people are working on.

Skousen said between 80-90 people typically participate in the puzzle and about 45 consistently show up throughout the summer.

“We also have people who just stop by to see the large puzzle and want to take part that way,” stated Skousen.

Sun City West residents Becca Weeks and Sue Lacy have been working on the summer puzzle for several years. Lacy said sometimes she does puzzles at home, but she loves the summer puzzle because it is cool inside and nice to be able to talk to other people participating. Weeks said they get to meet new friends every year as well.

“This is relaxing and mainly the social aspect of it is nice. One of my morning rituals is to do a puzzle on my Nook,” stated Lacy.

Last year it took Sun City West residents 33 days to complete the puzzle “Mickey Through The Year,” which was made up of 40,320 pieces. A total of 1,023 hours were spent on the puzzle. It began May 31 and was complete July 2.

The puzzle in 2023 took 27 days to complete and included 54,000 pieces and 28 feet long. In total, 80 residents took part in building the puzzle and completed 1,466 total hours.