Published by Estrella Publishing LLC, PO Box 6962, Goodyear AZ 85338. Additional copies and article reproductions can be obtained for a fee by contacting info@EstrellaPublishing.com
Catherine Uretsky, Publisher and Editor
Talia Uretsky, Assistant Editor Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com
This age-old adage rings true in countless aspects of our lives. It’s a peculiar quirk of human nature that we often find ourselves yearning for the very things that others envy about us. Take, for instance, the realm of hair care. Personally, thinner, smooth hair would be a joy, but I was ‘blessed’ with so much wavy, thick hair that my hairdresser spends as much time thinning it as she does cutting it. While some might consider this a fortunate problem to have, it’s a source of constant frustration for me.
This grass-is-always-greener mentality extends far beyond our physical appearances. When I go to a restaurant, I agonize over choices, knowing full well that whatever I pick, I will inevitably wish I had gone with a different dish. The moment my order arrives, I find myself eyeing the plates of nearby diners, convinced that their selections must be more satisfying than my own. It’s a curious phenomenon that can turn what should be an enjoyable dining experience into an exercise in second-guessing and mild regret.
Of course, social media exacerbates this issue, presenting us with carefully curated glimpses into
others’ lives that seem far more appealing than our own reality. We scroll through endless feeds of perfect hair, exotic vacations, and mouth watering meals, forgetting that these snapshots rarely tell the whole story.
Ultimately, the pursuit of what we don’t have can be a never-ending journey. There will always be something new to desire or a different path to consider. By recognizing this tendency in ourselves and consciously shifting our perspective, we can find greater satisfaction in our current circumstances while still allowing room for growth and change.
So, the next time you find yourself envying someone else’s straight hair or regretting your dinner choice, pause and reflect. Consider that the very things you’re wishing for might be someone else’s source of discontent. In doing so, you might just discover that what you already have is pretty great after all.
Catherine Uretsky
Editor, CB Living Magazine info@estrellapublishing.com
623.398.5541
Cook With Zona
Chicken Apple Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner
Ever since I started making this recipe my husband has been OBSESSED with it! Every Sunday my husband and I sit down and decide what meals we would like to eat for dinner that week; and without fail, he always asks if we can add this dish as one of our dinners. I hope your family obsesses over this recipe as much as mine does.
This recipe is totally customizable to you and your families personal preferences. When I first started making this dish I thought broccoli and carrots worked perfectly with the fall inspired flavors, but you can really use any vegetables you like. If you like sweet potato over regular potato, throw that in instead. Such a simple swap. I love the sweet chicken apple sausage used in this recipe, but if that’s not your thing add a different type of chicken sausage. Whatever is your favorite. I absolutely love the maple roasted veggies here, but if you don’t want the sweet just leave out this ingredient.
Prep time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 60 mins | Total time: 1 hr 10 mins
Ingredients
4 Chicken Apple Sausage
24 oz Baby Potato Medley
1 cup Baby Carrots
1 large crown Broccoli
2-3 tbsp Maple Syrup
Olive Oil
Seasonings & Spices: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika, Salt, and Pepper. Measure with your heart.
Steps
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Start by chopping the potatoes and broccoli. Slice the chicken sausage too.
• Toss the chopped potatoes and carrots with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread on a large sheet pan. Roast for 20 minutes, mixing halfway through.
• While the potatoes are roasting, mix the chopped broccoli with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
If you have any recipes you’d like to share with me I would love to try them out! Email me at ArizonaCooks71@gmail.com.
• Remove the sheet pan from the oven. Move the potatoes & carrots to one side and spread the broccoli on the other side. Roast for 10 minutes.
• Remove the pan again, make room, and add the sliced chicken sausage. Roast for 20 minutes, mixing halfway through.
• Remove the pan once again and add the maple syrup to the broccoli, potatoes, and carrot. Add more salt & pepper. Mix everything and roast for the last 10 minutes.
Enjoy!
We love to see our neighbors’ delicious creations, so send us a picture of your Chicken Apple Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner or tag us on social media @EstrellaPublishing.
The Bug Guy
Battlin’ Critters on Land and Sea
Ahoy, landlubbers of the West Valley! While ye may not be sailin’ the seven seas, ye’ve got yer own battles to fight against the pesky invaders that be tryin’ to board yer homes and businesses. Aye, we be talkin’ ‘bout pest control in this here desert oasis. The West Valley, with its scorching summers and mild winters, be a veritable treasure trove for all manner of creepy crawlies. From the dreaded scorpions to the sneaky cockroaches, these bilge rats be causin’ havoc faster than ye can say “shiver me timbers!” But fear not, ye scurvy dogs! There be a whole crew of pest control experts in the valley, armed to the teeth with the latest in pest-fightin’ technology. These brave buccaneers stand ready to send those pests to Davy Jones’ locker.
Now, ye might be wonderin’ why the West Valley be such a hotbed for these landlubbin’ pests. Well, matey, it be the climate that draws ‘em in like moths to a
flame. The heat be perfect for insects and arachnids, while the monsoon season brings out the rodents faster than ye can hoist the Jolly Roger. But here’s a piece of eight for ye: prevention be the best medicine. Ye can keep yer ship tight by sealin’ up cracks and crevices, keepin’ yer galley clean, and removin’ standin’ water from yer property. These simple tricks can make yer home as uninvitin’ to pests as a plank over sharkinfested waters.
Now, ye might be thinkin’, “What’s all this talk of pirates got to do with pest control?” Well, me bucko, September 19th be International Talk Like a Pirate Day! It be a day when landlubbers and sea dogs alike can unleash their inner pirate. So why not combine the practical with the fun?
Imagine callin’ yer local pest control company and greetin’ them with a hearty “Ahoy, matey!” Or describin’ yer ant problem as “a mutiny of the tiniest proportion.”
So, me hearties, as ye navigate the treacherous waters of pest control in the West Valley, remember to keep yer sense of humor intact. Whether ye be battlin’ scorpions or celebratin’ Talk Like a Pirate Day, a jolly attitude can make even the most challengin’ situations feel like a grand adventure on the high seas. Yo ho ho, and a bottle of pest repellent!
Submitted by Larry Cash, of Estrella Mountain Pest Control
Be Careful Out There
Dementia & Extreme Heat Precautions
The excessive heat warnings we’ve had recently can have a significant impact on safety, but these conditions can be even more stressful for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. If you’re a caregiver, there are certain precautions to help your loved one during the summer.
Expect Mood Changes: Any kind of discomfort, like excessive heat, can trigger altered behaviors in dementia patients. It can also increase confusion. Dementia patients often like routine, such as outdoor walks. But morning or evening walks can be disrupted due to heat. This change can trigger anxiety and agitation. Prepare to see mood changes and make a plan.
Offer Hydration Without Asking: Refrain from asking if they’d like a glass of water. Instead, help them increase water intake by offering more water regularly. Be aware that some medications and dementiarelated illnesses can make dehydration worse, and often they’ll forget to drink.
Provide Sunblock: Provide proper sunblock every day, as you would for a child. Without help, those suffering from memory loss are particularly at risk for dehydration, heat stroke, and sunburn. Also, make sure they have light clothing, sunglasses and a hat. Check A/C Units: Make sure you are checking A/C units or hire professionals. Many dementia patients cannot regulate their body temperature. Some find it too cold, while others will say it’s too hot. Make sure they are comfortable and safe.
Increase Wellness Checks: If you regularly visit once a day, increase your visits to monitor well-being. If a patient tends to wander, stay calm and follow the path of their dominant hand. If they are right-handed, they might exit the premises to the right. This is a general rule. Wandering can be life-threatening during extreme heat. Have recent photos and medical information ready for emergency responders.
For more information: www. HeartsForDementia.com
Submitted by Lolita
Tramel, Family & Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner; Founder of Hearts for Dementia
Ciao!
FRIENDS OF ITALY TO BEGIN ITS 16TH SEASON
BENTORNATO (WELCOME BACK)
Your Friends of Italy Team hopes that everyone had a good summer and that you were able to escape the
summer heat. We are extremely excited about the upcoming season and would like to provide an update. Once again, all events will be held at the Briarwood Country Club located at 20800 N. 135th Avenue, in Sun City West.
There will be some exciting new changes which have been made to the 2024-2025 season. For your listening pleasure we have added a new band, “Still above Ground” and all events will include a plated dinner (versus buffet) you may choose one (1) entre from the two (2) which will be offered per event. In addition, we are planning on additional raffle/door prizes.
The season will begin at 5:00PM on Friday, November 15, with our business casual “Welcome Back” event with Still above Ground for your listening and dancing pleasure. All the events will be held on a Friday with doors opening at 5:00PM, the dates are November 15, 2024, December 13, 2024, January 10, 2025, February 21, 2025, and March 21, 2025.
Additional information will be forthcoming to those who are currently on our mailing list. If you wish to be added to our mailing list, please send your information to our NEW e-mail address events4foi@gmail.com Please include your name(s), current address, preferred phone number and email address when contacting us.
We are looking forward to seeing you!
Grazie! Ciao, Your FOI Team
Giving Back(pack)
This past month, Estrella Publishing was again given the opportunity to collaborate with Child Crisis Arizona and Community Bridges Inc. for their Back-toSchool event on July 27th, 2024. Community Bridges Inc. supported 1,665 individuals at the event and distributed just over 1,000 backpacks to needy children, in time for the school year.
Child Crisis Arizona provides emergency shelter, foster care, adoption, counseling, early education, and parenting support services to Arizona’s most vulnerable children, youth, and families. Their mission
is to provide children and youth in Arizona a safe environment, free from abuse and neglect, by creating strong and successful families.
Estrella Publishing donated 300 backpacks filled with school supplies to Child Crisis Arizona, with a donation value of $11,500. Estrella Publishing loves to give back and is proud to support multiple nonprofit organizations.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you are associated with a charitable organization and would like to be featured in the Estrella Publishing Magazines, as well as on our website.
Whole Body Health
Arizonans Increasingly Understand Whole-Body Health Includes Oral, Mental Health
According to the 2024 Oral Health and Wellness Report, a statewide survey that studies the ways in which individuals think about health and approach their own care, it is clear that this patient-centered approach to health care that considers a person’s entire well-being is more than a passing wellness fad or buzzword. This year’s findings highlight Arizonans’ increasing understanding about the direct connection between oral health and overall health, notably including mental health at higher rates than ever reported.
According to the report, Arizonans are increasingly familiar with the connection between oral health and conditions like heart disease (50%), respiratory illness (32%), diabetes (29%), and high blood pressure (28%) at higher rates than in years prior. In addition, Gen Z and Millennials are more likely than Gen X and Boomer generations to know of the connection oral health has to certain conditions like respiratory health, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
It also shows that three in four adults, on average, say oral health is closely related to mental health. As it relates to generational data, 71% of Gen X and Boomers are making the connection, while 76% of Gen Z and 82% of Millennials feel strongly there is a direct relationship between the two. Diving deeper into the findings, 23% of all respondents reported direct feelings of anxiety as a result of their oral health; 21% reported embarrassment over their appearance; 20% lost sleep over oral health; and 19% experienced direct feelings of sadness related to oral health.
Additional findings:
Only about three-fifths (59%) of Arizonans replace their toothbrush every three months or more often, as recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines. This is down from 70% in 2023. Financial issues are reported as the No. 1 barrier to
care. Half of Arizonans who faced such a barrier cited out-of-pocket costs, while 43% were concerned by not having dental insurance.
This year, Boomers were more likely than Gen Z and Millennials not to go to a preventive visit simply because they thought their oral health was good enough (15% vs. 11%).
The top items wanted in dental insurance across all generations are two free preventative cleanings annually, oral surgery coverage, and extra cleanings for high-risk individuals
Taking action to protect oral health is taking action to protect one’s overall health, including mental health. This report shows that engaging the community around whole person health, supporting innovative programs, and providing equitable access to care is more important than ever.
Delta Dental of Arizona has made critical strides in whole-person health initiatives and equitable access to care. In 2023 alone, Delta Denta of Arizona donated $2.1 million to improve health and wellness in Arizona, supporting 252,094 Arizonans across all 15 counties in receiving oral health education and/ or services, enabling 33,081 Arizonans to receive food insecurity and nutrition education programs.
Delta Dental of Arizona also kicked off 2024 by awarding grants to 39 non-profit organizations that work with underserved populations of all ages through oral health and nutritional programs and is working to support access to health and wellness statewide.
It is critical that health and wellness organizations continue to work to collectively create programs and initiatives that support access to whole-body health for all Arizonans. We are all in this together.
Submitted by Michael Jones, Delta Dental of Arizona
Puzzle Time
This samurai sudoku puzzle is a great way to engage the brain and help develop logic skills. To solve this Samurai puzzle use standard sudoku rules for every 9x9 grid: each digit from 1 to 9 can only appear once in every row, column and 3x3 box. Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com
