July 2010
Welcome to the VILLAGE HIGHLIGHTS, a dynamic news column of The Academy Village, the ”greenest” and finest where-to-retire community in Arizona. We welcome suggestions and input from current and future neighbors and can be reached through the “Contact Us” link of this website or by calling (520) 647-7777 . Alan Simpson, Academy Village On-Site Liaison for Doucette Communities
Looking for Friends on Facebook: Doucette Communities and The Academy Village are looking to expand their base of “fans” and friends. All readers are encouraged to join Facebook (www.facebook.com) and to become a “friend” or a “fan” of both Doucette Communities and The Academy Village. By joining Facebook, members may add their own comments and thoughts about the activities and other benefits of being a Villager and stay up to date with the latest news. For more information about joining Facebook, please contact Alan at (520) 647-7777.
How Green Is Our Village?: The short answer is quite green compared to most communities and becoming greener every day. Photo-Voltaic solar panels and solar assisted hot water lead by example. Other examples include xeriscape landscaping, many resident-owned hybrid autos and nearly universal recycling bins curbside every Wednesday. Less visible are water conserving irrigation systems at every home as well as rainwater collection cisterns at several residences. All new residences being built carry the U.S. Department of Energy “Energy Star Home” label.
Academy Village currently has 20 photovoltaic solar arrays installed which represents 18% of occupied homes. By comparison, less than 0.5% of Tucson Electric Power’s 364,000 residential customers have solar installations. In addition, four Village homes plus the swimming pool and Assisted Living Villa, have solar water heating with many more to come.
Who and What Defines “Green”?: A driving force behind the nationwide “green” industry growth is the Washington, DC non-profit organization, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The preeminent program under the USGBC is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED for Homes) rating system. Doucette Communities, developer/builder of The Academy Village, has recently been LEED Gold Certified for Silverbell by Doucette, another Tucson residential community. According to founder and president Tom Doucette, the company’s attention is now focused in moving toward LEED certification or equivalent for The Academy Village . Further information regarding the Green and Sustainable topics may be obtained at www.usgbc.org.
TAV Assisted Living Facility is Now Open: The Villas at Academy Village is a LEED Gold Certified (the first in Arizona) assisted living facility offering a home-like environment and the highest level 24 hour personal care and comfort for its residents. These residents have, in addition to their own social and health-related programs, full access to all programs and activities available to independent residents of Academy Village. Further information may be obtained by calling Kent Prescott, at (520) 647-7500.
Resident Art Show ‘One of the Best Ever’: ( Contributed by Pepper Moore) The current art show in the Long Gallery is “one of the best ever,” according to Maureen Wright, chair of the Art Gallery Committee. The show features works in many media created by 25 Village artists—from paintings and drawings to jewelry and fiber arts. The combined show serves two purposes: It highlights artwork from many artists in one show and it provides a venue for those who don’t produce a lot of art.
The Art Gallery Committee plans five shows a year in a variety of media. Two upcoming shows will feature Ross Iwamoto’s watercolors and Guatemalan weaving. The glass showcase will exhibit Central American artifacts followed by unique fabric sculptures. While some artists contact the Gallery directly about mounting a show, others are recommended by Committee members and residents.
Where to Retire Magazine: Perhaps the quintessiential source of retirement information, Where to Retire Magazine will soon be publishing another article on The Academy Village and our plans for future growth. We encourage our readers to visit their website and recommend their publication to anyone investigating retirement living. The Academy Village is a three time award winner of the prestigious bi-annual “America’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities” and is being considered for a fourth award. Please visit their website at www.wheretoretire.com and pass the word to all of your friends, fellow alumni, professional associates and any one else who would add to the dynamic synergism of our neighborhood.
Resident Reasons for Living Here: “All the little values of living here form a list far too long to go through, and far too valuable for me to measure. It is a life of boundless riches and yet wonderfully comfortable simplicity.”
“You can’t turn back the clock, but you can wind it up again” Bonnie Pruden
This quotation could easily serve as a living slogan of life here at the Village. Yes, our neighborhood is called a “retirement community” but a better name might be an “anti-retirement” community. There are more exciting neighborhood activities in one month than anywhere else in So. Arizona. Come visit, see for yourself and who knows, you might wind your own clock up again.
