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| LIFE IN SOLERA | APRIL 2026 | 5 Finance Committee by Marcia Casem Check out the "The Biggest Scams to watch for in 2026 by AARP (www.aarp.org/money/scams). During the first three months of last year, there were scams causing losses from $1,000 to $20,000 here in Solera. One was an internet scam. There were two men involved — one man purported being from Microsoft and the other from the Federal Reserve or a banker. These two men have been arrested and are currently standing trial in San Diego. They recently entered a plea of guilty and are being sentenced. Here is a quick update on a few major projects that are happening in Solera. The Board requested bids for area 2a and 2b for our street replacement/repair. Those bids are on the March agenda. Hopefully, depending on the weather, the work will begin in April or May. The Fountain Committee will be preparing its proposal for the Board and should be on the April agenda. CALAC is assisting with adding recreational activities on the Greenbelt. This project will take some time. We have the list of activities and where we plan to put them. We then need to obtain bids for do the work. Then the committee will prepare a recommendation to the Board for approval. When approved, the proposal must be submitted to SCE for approval (cost to submit is $5,000), since their easement rights give them the authority to approve or deny what we want to do with the area. After obtaining their approval, we will be able to add the activities. This week there will be special Board meeting to approve the budget for our next fiscal year beginning June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027. Since this article is written in advance, it has not yet been determined what the new assessment amount will be. Once the Board approved the new budget it will be included in the annual mailing to all homeowners. The new assessment will be effective, June 1, 2026. ~ Marcia Casem Finance Committee Breaking with routines and challenging the brain with new experiences allows you to step into a "growth zone." This can build self-confidence and help overcome fear of change. It can also spark creativity and build meaningful social connections — all of which can help one enjoy a more fulfilling life. Some of the benefits of stepping out of your comfort zone include: • Improved Cognitive Health: Engaging in new, mentally challenging activities — rather than familiar routines — helps stave off cognitive decline. • Increased Emotional Resilience: Navigating unfamiliar situations builds confidence and improves the ability to handle life's challenges. • Greater Vitality and Purpose: Trying new things can boost energy, increase happiness, and create a renewed sense of purpose. • Stronger Social Connections: Pursuing new interests can lead to meeting new people and reducing loneliness. • Personal Growth: It encourages leaving behind self-limiting beliefs, embracing new experiences, and realizing new passions or interests. You don't have to make dramatic changes to realize the benefits — just change things up a bit. Take small steps such as learning a new game or skill, trying new exercises or sports, listening to new music or educational talks, or joining a new club or group. Check out the Life in Solera Magazine and sign up for our weekly e-Blasts to learn about all of the many events and activities Solera has to offer. Sources: AARP, AI-generated summaries. Community quote of the month: "It feels good to be in a community. Community, above all, is bigger than individuals — we are something much more than individuals when we are part of a community. And this is how things ought to be." Tony Blackshaw ~ Brenda Dewey, Chairperson, (951) 499-7790 or mnbdewey@ yahoo.com Welcome Committee New resident update: We're getting lots of new neighbors! As of March 7, 22 new households (37 people) have joined the Solera community in 2026. We wish all of our new residents a very warm welcome. If you are new to Solera and have not had a welcome visit yet and/or would like to be featured with your photo in one of our monthly articles, please let me know. Occasionally, I'll be including what I hope are helpful articles related to living in a community, healthy aging, and more. Please see this month's article below about getting out of one's comfort zones. Benefits of Getting out of your Comfort Zones

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