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 Mar. 02, 2026
Hey There, VO… Vinny’s Back with the Latest Updates
Well now, neighbors, pull up a chair and let’s get caught up on what’s happening around Venture Out. There’s a whole lot of moving parts this season, from city rules to TV service to landscaping and Happy Hour! So let’s take it one trail at a time.
Spring Break Splash Time at the East Pool
Spring Break is here, and that means a little extra fun at the pool. For the month of March, children’s swim hours will be: 11AM to 7PM – East Pool Only
We appreciate everyone planning their swim time accordingly and helping keep things enjoyable for all residents.
New City of Mesa Rules Regarding Remodels
If you’ve been thinkin’ about sprucing up that park model or adding onto your AZ room, listen up. The City of Mesa has rolled out updated requirements that affect remodels moving forward.
You’ll want to review the full list of changes before starting any work to avoid delays or surprises.
AireBeam Happy Hour
AireBeam is hosting a Happy Hour at the Baja Bistro and Venture Out residents are invited.
Enjoy complimentary beer, wine, and snacks while mingling with neighbors and learning more about fiber internet service.
Thursday, March 12 from 3:30 to 5PM – Sign up for free at the Activities Office.
New TV Service in Venture Out
Our Dish TV service was set to expire on March 9, 2026. With signal loss becoming more common and aging underground cable lines deteriorating, the Board asked Steve to explore alternative options.
Steve worked closely with Kirk Pittman and Mich Vinny on the Internet Committee. In May, the team reached out to a DirecTV wholesaler that provides service to large communities like VO.
The Board reviewed the proposal and approved moving forward with a resident engagement process. Between fall 2025 and February 2026, Board members Gabby Hayes and Gregg Shelby held 10 open meetings to answer resident questions. All meetings were conducted via Zoom so everyone could participate.
The response from residents was overwhelmingly supportive of switching from Dish to DirecTV. The Board officially approved the change at the February Open Board Meeting.
Important note: You must have internet service to use the DirecTV service.
If you do not have internet service and prefer free local channels, you can purchase an HD TV antenna from retailers such as Walmart or Best Buy, which can be easily connected to most televisions. More information about TV antennas is available here: https://consumertrustlab.com/best-tv-antennas/
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!
Hey, Vinny! Why does hot water have pressure in the women’s changing room sinks at the east pool, while cold water has almost none? It has been this way for some time. Both sinks have the same problem.
A.
Well now, that’s one of those things that shouldn’t be lingerin’ around. That issue definitely needs attention. Here’s the important part, neighbors: if you see something like that, please put in a work order through the admin office or on the website. A lot of folks assume someone else has reported it, and then it just sits there.
Hey, Vinny! Are we going to replace the desert landscaping along Broadway and, where needed, on Main St.? A blank wall is not attractive.
A.
Well now, you’re right about that. A bare wall out here in the desert doesn’t exactly say “welcome home.”
We’ve been working with a professional landscaping firm, the same folks who handled the design improvements along Higley and Broadway last summer, to bring some life back to those stretches. The Green Committee is also rollin’ up their sleeves to help with planting in common areas and, where appropriate, lending a hand with residents’ yards too.
That volunteer spirit helps keep costs down while adding back some color and desert character the way it ought to be.
Hey, Vinny! I’ve been in the office several times when other folks were checking in. I never heard them being asked if they have a pet. And it should not be a yes or no answer type question. It should be a statement such as “please fill in your pets’ information right here,” and then they need to be told to take the dogs to the dog park. We have numerous dogs that are not registered, that do not have a tag on their collar, and they are being walked on the campus for the purpose of doing their business. Even if the owners pick up and spray water, other dogs who are just being walked for exercise smell and eliminate in the same spots.
A.
Well now, that’s a layered question, and it’s one many HOAs across the county are wrestling with. Truth is, it’s not the dog’s problem, it’s an owner’s problem. I’d also like to thank ya for not blaming this ol’ dog. I still can’t quite understand why a neighbor would leave a mess for another neighbor to deal with.
Some communities require pets to be transported in pull-behind wagons while in common areas. One of our sister properties has already adopted that rule.
As for registration, patrol will be watching for required tags on collars. If a dog is found without a tag and the owner has checked into the community, that resident can be fined. Residents have reported violations in the past, and that oversight helps enforcement efforts.
Let’s keep lookin’ out for one another, VO. A little responsibility goes a long way toward keeping this desert den clean and neighborly.
Hey, Vinny! Will the sauna ever be replaced in the Women’s locker room?
A.
Ya know, that sauna took a hit a couple years back and was damaged beyond repair. As much as folks enjoyed a good steam, it’s not on this year’s project list. Right now, the Board’s focus is on infrastructure, the nuts-and-bolts kind of work that keeps the whole den running smooth. Once those bigger-ticket items are squared away, we’ll circle back next year and take another look at the sauna situation.
Hey, Vinny! Why is weed control not enforced more rigidly? It used to be! It used to be strictly enforced. So many weeds growing in front yards and in “alleyways”. They seed out and spread and create a nuisance and a future fire hazard.
A.
That’s a concern we’ve heard loud and clear. Timelines for compliance are being shortened, and staff are receiving additional training so inspections are handled more consistently.
There’s nothing more frustratin’ than keeping your own yard neat while weeds next door are sprouting up. Steve will be bringing proposed rule changes to the committee to help strengthen enforcement and keep the community looking the way it should.
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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