Category: Community Events

Social Event, Online?

March 2, 2021

I know this whole COVID thing has been dragging on for a year or more now. For those of you that liked getting out in the neighborhood for a community event now and then — we miss having “movie in the park” night, and especially our Winter Festivals!

I’ve been wondering… are there online events that Rio Crossing residents would like? I know some of you (or your kids) play online games, some of you would love to have a little “chat with your neighbors” night (while others may hate Zoom — understandable!).

I’m not sure what we could do, or who would be interested. But if you have some ideas about ways this could work, I’d love to hear about them. Use the Feedback page to let me know.

March 2020 News!

March 1, 2020

You can get your March 2020 news in so many ways!

If you want to watch (or re-watch!) specific items from the YouTube video, but don’t want to wade through all of them, look for the topic below and click the link to go direct to that topic in the video:

  1. Check your first quarter assessments – link
  2. Heatherbrae Entrance and the Landscape Revitalization Pilot Project – link
  3. Community Town Hall – Saturday March 21 at 11am at Roma Park – link
  4. Monthly Meeting Dates and Venue Changes – next meeting Thursday March 12 at Avondale City Hall – link
  5. Revisions to Policies: Collections, Violation & Fines – link
  6. Register for access at RioCrossing.org – link
  7. Changes to Architectural Request Review Process – changes to Design Review Committee meeting processes – link
  8. Can You Volunteer an Hour a Month? – link
  9. Holiday Decorations Should Be Down By Now – link
  10. Vehicle Parking on Lot and Bulk Trash Violations – link
  11. Maintenance of Home Exteriors – link
  12. Upcoming Social Events – link
  13. Tenant Registration Policy – link
  14. Tot Lot Sand Sifting – link
  15. Avondale Police Department Community Resource Program – visit by Officer Archer and Vice Mayor Pat Dennis – link

Winter Festival 2019

November 2, 2019

Last year’s Winter Festival was a big hit… so we’re doing it again this year! Here’s a message from our Social Committee chairperson Andres, who has been working very hard behind the scenes to get this fantastic event ready for you:

We are excited about this year’s Winter Festival taking place in Roma Park on Saturday, Nov 23rd. We’re planning on having about 4 tons of real snow delivered, Santa arriving by Fire truck, a Bounce House, a professional DJ playing music, several activities including games and arts & crafts. The best part of this event will be the 40+ local vendors and food trucks, several of which are offering free services such as face painting, massages and food samples, and others will be offering their goods for sale.

We’re very proud to be able to produce such an exciting and elaborate event. Normally, such an event would be too expensive for Rio Crossing to put on. It’s for this reason we’ve opened it up to other nearby communities – to increase the event’s subsidization and sponsorship. By opening up the Winter Festival to others, Rio Crossing is paying a fraction of what it would have cost if we kept it enclosed. That’s not the only reason though.

In addition to being able to provide these great benefits to our community at a significantly lower cost, we’re marketing Rio Crossing as the family-friendly community that it is, to the rest of the west valley thus improving it’s desirability and home sales in turn increasing our property values. Lastly, we’re helping promote local businesses. The vendors at the Winter Festival are locally run or owned by people like ourselves. All Rio Crossing residents have the opportunity to participate at no cost to them so we encourage you to come out, whether it’s as a vendor selling or promoting your small business or as a guest who’s enjoying the music, snow and shopping.

We hope this brief message answers any questions or concerns you may have. If you still have questions, we encourage you to please attend our next board meeting.

— Andres

Spring Fling & A Film!

April 3, 2019

This Saturday, we’ll be grilling up some hot dogs and pumping up the bouncy castles at 5pm, and at 7pm we’ll fire up the projector for “Ralph Breaks the Internet!”

Open to all Rio Crossing residents and their guests. Come on out and meet your neighbors while the weather is still nice.

Garage Sale Event – March 30

March 2, 2019

Rio Crossing is having another community garage sale event Saturday, March 30. Posted on Yardsales.net and shared to Facebook.

The “advertised times” are 7am to noon, but you’re welcome to start earlier and stay open later.

An Email From Santa…

December 16, 2018
Santa arrives at the Rio Crossing 2018 Winter Festival courtesy of the Avondale Fire Department.

Well, for everyone that came out to the Rio Crossing 2018 Winter Festival yesterday, it was quite a success!  Snow, food trucks, vendors tables, bouncy castle, cornhole (bean-bag toss game), and even a visit from Santa Claus, who arrived by fire truck from the Avondale Fire Department.

Santa wrote me an Email this morning letting me know he arrived safely back at the North Pole, and how much he enjoyed meeting everyone yesterday.  He also sent me a short note to deliver to all of you. Enjoy!

Hello, Everyone!

I had a wonderful time yesterday at the Rio Crossing 2018 Winter Festival!

First of all, I want to say I was very impressed with all the children who came to visit me – from the youngest to the oldest.  Each and every one of you was so well behaved and friendly, and it made my brief visit to your community quite the highlight of my community visits this year!  Of course, there were a few young ones who were a little unsure of this old man and his beard, but I hope to see everyone again next year, each of you eager to see me and tell me your wishes.

I was particularly pleased with the number of you who said “spend more time with my family” was high on your list of wishes.  Around the holiday season when there seems like there is so much to do, I hope that every family will spend special time together, feeling the joy and love that you have for each other.

I know some of you weren’t quite sure of your wish list when you visited me, and I mentioned having parents email me with any late list items.  I asked your community to set up a special email address just for Rio Crossing residents, and so I invite parents (and kids, with parent’s permission) to send me their lists to me here: [email protected]

Parents, I was also impressed with each of you! You were patient with Santa while he spent time with other kids, and were kind to everyone around you.  Thank you for taking such good care of your family, and raising such fine young people.  See… I’m watching parents, too!  I appreciate all the good things that you do, for your family, friends, and community.

After two hours of chatting and picture-taking, the line to see Santa was finally empty, but Santa hadn’t had enough fun, so I walked around the park a bit, chatting with more kids and parents, and even more picture taking.  I had a wonderful time meeting all of you, and so look forward to being invited to visit Rio Crossing again next year!

A special thanks to the Avondale Fire Department and Firefighter Tim for giving Santa a fun-filled tour of your community as part of my ride to Rio Crossing.

I wish all of you a safe and loving holiday season – whatever your beliefs, enjoy the miracles that love can bring when you are together.  Take care of each other, and be kind and friendly to all you meet – now and throughout 2019!

Love to all,
Santa

Winter Festival: Art& Crafts Market

November 20, 2018

We’re having an Arts & Crafts Market as part of our Winter Festival on Saturday, December 15.

Do you have an artsy-craftsy side to you?  Make or sell things that holiday gift-seekers might be interested in?  Provide some sort of service that your neighbors might be looking for?

Setting up a booth is free to Rio Crossing residents!  We’re asking non-residents for a $25 donation to help cover Festival expenses.  Contact Andres for more details: [email protected]

 

Unwanted Prescription Drug Disposal Event – October 27

October 19, 2018

The Avondale Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are having an Unwanted Prescription Drug Disposal event on Saturday, October 27, from 10am to 2pm at the CVS Pharmacy at 280 N Avondale Blvd in Avondale.

Note: Even though this is a one-day special event, there are several pharmacies in Avondale and surrounding areas with unwanted/outdated prescription drop offs available every day.  Be safe, get rid of what you don’t need… find one and drop them off!

The Avondale Public Works Water Conservation Coordinator provided an announcement on NextDoor.  According to their post:

The Avondale Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are offering people the opportunity to drop off expired or unwanted prescription drugs in Avondale, as part of a national initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription-drug abuse and how to dispose of the drugs properly.

The event on Saturday, October 27 will provide people a place to dispose of medication safely. Police and the DEA will hand out information on the dangers of prescription drugs and how to dispose of the drugs properly. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

All pills, capsules, tablets will be accepted, excluding glass containers. Liquid medications, inhalers, syringes or other items used to inject medication will not be accepted under current DEA guidelines. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.