By Rusty Bradshaw
Twitter: @SunCitiesEditor

Sun City is shutting down operations.

While most businesses plan to remain open, a number of entities within the age restricted community are closing their doors due to the coronavirus.

After initially announcing March 12 their facilities would remain open, Recreation Centers of Sun City officials reversed their decision and will enforce some closures. The RCSC board met in executive session March 16 before announcing the decision.

Several other organizations are also shuttering for the foreseeable future.

RCSC’s closures will be effective 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, according to an announcement sent to cardholders yesterday, March 16. The closures include all seven recreation centers, the Sun Bowl amphitheater, the softball field, Duffeeland Dog Park, the two bowling centers and the Sun City Visitors Center. All closures will be until further notice. All bowling leagues are canceled for the remainder of the season.

While there will be some changes, RCSC’s eight golf courses will remain open for play. Changes include all tee times will be made online or via the telephone effective Tuesday, March 17 until further notice; all golf courses as of Sunday, March 22 will be converted to straight sheets in order to have the least number of golfers together at the same time; the three-cart rule will temporarily be eliminated until further notice; and no shotgun tournaments are allowed until further notice.

All golf course snack shops will be open for “to go” orders only and no one will be allowed to congregate or sit on the patios or in the snack shops effective at close of business Tuesday, March 17 until further notice. Only canned or bottled drinks and pre-packaged foods/snacks will be available for sale. No fountain drinks or ice will be available until further notice.

Entertainment events Blood Sweat and Tears March 18 and Motown Miracles March 25 will be canceled and rescheduled. Sun Bowl shows will be canceled through the rest of this season ending April 26. The Easter egg hunt, sunrise services and farmer’s market are canceled.

Payments to RCSC by cardholders can be mailed to 10626 W. Thunderbird Blvd., Sun City, AZ 85351 or made online at the RCSC portal, https://login.suncityaz.org/Information.aspx.

All RCSC board and committee meetings, excluding the Mountain View Ad-Hoc Committee, are canceled until further notice.

RCSC personnel will continue to work or as temporarily assigned until further notice.

Any club member who wants to pick up their project from a club must do so no later than the close of regular club hours March 17; no exceptions will be made, according tp Myrna DeBruyne, RCSC Chartered club supervisor.

The Sun City Community Assistance Network office, 10195 W. Coggins Drive, will close until further notice, according to Hugh Duncan, Sun City CAN board president.

“Our staff will monitor phone calls, emails and U.S. Mail,” Mr. Duncan stated in an email.

In addition, AARP suspended Tax-Aide operations nationwide until further notice, and that effects income tax services at both Sun City CAN and the Sun City West Foundation. According to Lisa Marsh Ryerson, AARP Foundation president, it is uncertain when operations will resume or if the tax filing season will be extended.

“Even if it is extended, many of our volunteers are winter visitors and we may not be able to staff the site,” Karen Bertelsen, Sun City West Foundation Helping Hands manager stated in an email. “We are truly sorry for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we all go through this difficult time.”

She added the best action at this time would be to seek a paid preparer or utilize some of the software products specifically designed for tax preparation.

Sun City Home Owners Association officials canceled all on-site and off-site activities until April 13. The situation will be reassessed at that time, according to Pam Schwartz, SCHOA board member. The SCHOA officials will close today, March 17 but the staff will be available by phone or email during regular business hours, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Property Owners and Residents Association officials followed suit, with the office closed beginning today, March 17, according to Cynthia Young, PORA communications director. All board and committee meetings are also canceled along with the OASIS Education program.

“Staff will remain to answer phones and emails,” she stated in an email. “PORA is committed to protecting the well-being of our 55-plus population. All classrooms and offices will be disinfected and safety protocol will be followed for cleaning. The closure at PORA and the Sun City West Visitors Center will remain in effect until further notice.”

The Del Webb Sun Cities Museum, 10801 W. Oakmont Drive, Sun City also closed at least until the end of March, according to Barb Wagers, museum trustee.

Maricopa County Library District officials closed all libraries Yesterday, March 16, including the two in Sun City, according to Brianna King, Sun City library manager. However, digital resources and eMedia collection are always available and can be accessed 24/7 on a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Library staff will continue to work, she added.

Because volunteers and patrons are mostly in a high risk category for coronavirus, Books Around the Corner, the Friends of the Sun City libraries, is temporarily closed, according to Sue Blechl, Friends board president.

The board will monitor the situation, and reopen when it seems appropriate and safe to do so,” she stated in an email.