Prepare for summer at Venture Out with our official Summer Departure Guide. Learn how to protect your home, prevent damage, and avoid costly surprises while you're away.
Your Weekly Resident Newsletter from Venture Out at Mesa
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
Hey There, VO… Vinny’s Got the Scoop
Before we hop in, a couple quick nuggets for you. The Broadway gate is closed due to damages, we’re hoping it will be open by Wednesday. Keep those ears perked, DirectTV updates will be rolling out very soon. And here’s a number that made this old coyote tilt his head, between October 1, 2025 and February 15, 2026, VO’s Main Gate logged 30,981 guests and contractors.
That’s 30,981 howdys and friendly faces coming through our gates. Now that’s a busy little stretch of desert.
EPC Updates
EPC Pool Hours
With March bringing spring break and those mighty fine temperatures, the EPC pool will be open 11AM to 7PM for all. The water’s feelin’ good and the sunshine’s doing its job. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
EPC Deck Update
That EPC deck has been addressed, and the Maintenance crew has been teaming up to stay on top of it. Big thanks to the crew for keeping things steady out there.
New Heater in Town
Now when I say there’s a new heater in town, I’m not talking about the Wild West kind. The EPC north hot tub has a new heater installed. It may take a short stretch to dial in that just-right water temperature, but it’s coming along.
And speaking of heaters, EPC pool heater #4 is also being replaced. That hardworking unit logged over 65,000 hours before retiring. That’s a long run in anyone’s book. Both heaters had extended beyond their useful production life, so this was a needed upgrade.
Bocce Courts Bright and Shining
Did someone say Bocce? The courts are looking mighty bright these days. The new lighting has the place glowing, and players and fans alike seem pleased. There have been a few concerns about the surface, and that’ll be revisited around April or May. For now, it’s looking lively out there.
Lawn Bowling Area Vegetation
If you noticed vegetation being pulled out near Lawn Bowling, you’ve got sharp eyes. That area’s getting some attention, and more improvements are on the way.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR THE SUMMER
And before some of you desert birds start packing up for cooler country…
Be sure to read our latest article below, Prepare for Summer: Venture Out Summer Departure Guide, on how to prepare your home, and yourselves, before you leave VO for the summer. In the article you’ll find a handy printable checklist to make the whole process simple and stress-free.
A little preparation now means you can lock up, head out, and not spend the first week away wondering, “Did I remember to empty the fridge?”
Hey Vinny!
Hi Vinny!
Thanks for so much transparency! Please include the Green Committee’s upcoming Desert Plant Q&A sessions.
Sincerely, Blue Min
Well now, this is the kind of desert talk that makes a coyote’s ears perk up.
The Green Committee has some mighty fine opportunities coming up for anyone who loves our Sonoran surroundings or just wants to keep their citrus trees happy and productive.
Desert Plant Q&A with Bill Robinson
Saturday, February 28
3:30 to 5:00 pm
Sonoran Room
(If the Handymen are still working on those new built-in shelves, the session will move to the Bistro.)
VO’s own Bill Robinson will be answering your desert plant questions and sharing practical guidance on citrus tree care. Everyone who attends will receive a copy of Bill’s Citrus Papers.
Final Desert Plant Q&A with an AZ Master Gardener
Saturday, March 14
1:30 to 3:00 pm
Sonoran Room
Bring your toughest plant questions. An Arizona Master Gardener will be on hand to provide expert insight tailored to our desert climate.
Desert Plant Tour with Bill & the Green Committee
Sunday, March 15
1:00 pm (one-hour tour)
Meet in front of the Activity Office
Hop on your bike or golf cart and join the group for a guided tour identifying some of VO’s most iconic desert plants right here in the community.
If you have a beautiful local desert plant you’d like included on the tour, email annette2000@gmail.com by Friday, March 13 with:
• Your VO street address
• A photo of the plant
Let’s keep learning about the plants that make our desert home so unique. Got more questions for Vinny? Send them in and I’ll see what I can dig up.
Send your own Hey, Vinny! Letter
Well I’ll be… they finally gave this old desert coyote his own page.
If you’ve ever had a question about how things work around Venture Out, wondered why something is done a certain way, or just wanted a little straight-shootin’ explanation, now’s your chance.
Head over to the new Hey Vinny! page on the website and submit your question using the form provided. I’ll be reviewing what comes in, and selected questions will be answered right here in the newsletter for the whole community to see.
Keep it respectful. Keep it neighborly. And remember, if you’re wondering about it, chances are someone else is too.
Go on now… don’t make me sit by the campfire alone.
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