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Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
April 2019
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April 2019
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 623.594.9283 info@EstrellaPublishing.com Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.594.9283 info@EstrellaPublishing.com All contents Š 2010-present day Estrella Publishing LLC. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission from Estrella Publishing LLC is prohibited. Estrella Publishing accepts freelance contributions, there is no guarantee that materials will be used or returned. Some content is provided by Brandpointe and Family Features. Estrella Publishing is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Publisher or Advertisers. Estrella Publishing reserves the right to restrict all advertisement to their proper classification and to edit or reject any copy at its sole discretion. Neither this publication nor Estrella Publishing is an agent of or in any way affiliated with the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association, or any of their respective affiliates. This publication has not been approved by, sponsored by, or endorsed by the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association in any way.
Catherine Uretsky Publisher & Editor
Lisa Aber Assistant Editor
Al Uretsky Publisher & Sales Exec
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From Me To You... Life stages are an interesting thing. I am constantly checking myself against some arbitrary scale as to where I am in my life. Because let’s face it, although I am officially in Middle Age, I still feel like a late teen-early twenty something trying to figure out what to do every day of my life. I am constantly amazed to see my adult and almost adult children striking out into the world. Thinking that I had some small part to play in that amazing-ness is a sobering thought.
The latest life stage is one that I did not choose for myself and it has brought up many strange emotions. It has me balancing precariously on the edge of a wonderful precipice. I am soon to become a grandmother. Oh boy, there is that vertigo again. I am thrilled at the thought of a new baby in the family. I am beyond thrilled that there will be a new life to cuddle and love, I am even looking forward to the hard parts (non stop crying anyone?) So yes, a baby is a wonderful thing. Here’s the rub though. I am going to be shoved into becoming someone’s Grannie. Nana. Bubbie.
when she whimpers. I do have the advantage of experience. I know what to do with babies and can help the parents as much as they want me to. I will be there for all the questions and ready to step in and let the parents sleep when they just can’t see straight anymore. But this is not my child and I think that is where the balancing on the edge feeling is coming in. I can’t be ‘all in’ in the way I have in the past with my own children. I have to be able to step back and detach, enough to let my children become the amazing parents I am confident they will be. I want to be a wonderful gran, and I aim to be the best support for my children, even if that means finishing a project or two. Now, who wants a Butterscotch? I am sure I saw one in my purse just a minute ago.
Catherine Uretsky
Editor, Fish Hawk Living magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623.594.9283
What kind of grandmother will I be? Will I start knitting things and finding crinkly wrapped candy in my purse? Will I have to start calling it a pocket book? I am not crafty by nature, well I am capable of starting many crafts but finishing them, well, ahem... cross-stitch in the closet that I started at 16 and have not completed? Baby jacket I was knitting for a child who now has her own baby, still short one sleeve? Paint by numbers scene of a rainy day in London not even recognizable as London yet? Check, check and check again. So do I have to finish all those items and gift them to my granddaughter to be? I think it may be time to clear the decks and ditch all those half completed promises to myself. A new baby brings a fresh start, and with this not being my baby I get to enjoy all the fun stuff and leave out the sleepless nights and panic at 3 am 4 Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
April 2019
On Our Cover On March 6th, 2019, Best Buy representatives, Mr. Meredith and Mr. Hewitt, presented Colleen Bevis Elementary School with a donation of $10,000 for technology from Intel/Best Buy.
Between the months of June and November, Intel runs an annual, nationwide sales competition for electronics retailers. First place winners receive a $25,000 donation to a local school and four dell laptops for the stores top performers. Second place winners receive a $10,000 donation to a local school and four dell laptops for the stores top performers. Mr. Meredith, a parent of Bevis Elementary, led his Best Buy team to place second in the competition in 2018. He stated, “We stayed between 1st and 2nd place almost the entirety of the competition. Last year we won and gave the donation to Valrico Elementary School because our store manager’s children attended there. This year we traded off and I took the donation. I was more excited to win the donation for the school than earning the prize. The day after I was told it was confirmed, I called Mrs. Thoms to let her know about the donation/ award.”
Principal, Dr. Levy, were grateful and honored to accept this donation. They are working with teachers to gather information on how to best use the donation to support learning in the classrooms. Superintendent, Mr. Eakins, Area Superintendent, Mrs. Morris, Area Director, Mrs. Snively, and Principal Coach, Mr. Mayo also attended the celebration. Classes were allowed to take pictures with the foam check. Teachers used this experience as a way to discuss with their students the importance of setting high, attainable goals and persevering to achieve them. This follows the school’s initiative to foster the growth mindset within the school culture. Last school year, the faculty completed book study with the Growth Mindset Coach, A Teacher’s Month-by-Month Handbook for Empowering Students to Achieve by Annie Brock and Heather Hundley to learn ways to teach this life-changing skill to their students. The competition was a good example of how some goals are set over a long time period in which you need to reflect, work hard and stay determined to follow through until you’ve reached the end goal. Mr. Meredith and his team are good role models of how hard work and perserverance pays off. Submitted by Jackelyn Waluzak, Colleen Bevis Elementary Teacher
Mr. Meredith also stated, “I chose to give the donation to Bevis Elementary because my daughters attend there; one is in first grade, the other is in third.” He continued to say, “It has been an amazing experience for them as well as for my wife and I. Every teacher my girls, Stella and Nora, have had are amazing. That includes, Ms. Kazbour, Mrs. Fernandez, Mrs. Melovich, and Mrs. Bagley. Just the sheer fact that they can give these kids the attention they need and in the way each kid needs it, is beyond anything I am capable of. I know people are happy and honored that I chose Bevis, but to be honest the honor is truly mine. I could not think of another school more deserving than Bevis. Bevis is a parent’s dream come true.” The Principal, Mrs. Thoms, and the Assistant Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
April 2019
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Culture Club Fresh new work spotlights Florida Orchestra violinist
If a thoroughly modern orchestra wants to make its mark beyond dusting off the busts of Beethoven and Brahms, it needs to perform thoroughly modern music to reflect our own time. In April, TFO tips its hat to the new with Grammynominated composer Anna Clyne, who makes her Tampa Bay premiere with The Seamstress, featuring TFO’s own Sarah Shellman on solo violin. Clyne calls The Seamstress an “imaginary oneact ballet’’ and describes her work as follows: “Alone on the stage, the seamstress is seated, unravelling threads from an antique cloth laid gently over her lap. Lost in her thoughts, her mind begins to meander and her imagination spirals into a series of five tales that range from love to despair, and that combine memory with fantasy.’’ She drew inspiration from the short poem A Coat by William Butler Yeats. Composed in 2015, the 23-minute piece is for violin, orchestra and amplified electronics. It’s part of a concert highlighting the influence of women, with guest conductor Gemma New leading TFO in Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 and Schumann’s Manfred Overture. Concerts are April 12-14 in Tampa and St. Petersburg, with a Sunday matinee. Free tickets for kids and teens in advance, for this Tampa Bay Times Masterworks concert. Other upcoming TFO concerts include: Ragtime, Blues and All That Jazz (April 5-7): Fan favorite trumpeter Byron Stripling showcases classics from Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway and more. Jeff Tyzik conducts.
Taste of Vienna (April 24-25): Savor the best of Vienna, with Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte Overture, Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture and Strauss Jr.’s Roses from the South Waltz. Daniel Black conducts this morning Coffee concert. Free coffee and doughnuts! The Music of John Williams (April 27, 2 & 8 pm): Featuring some of the most recognizable scores in cinematic history, including Star Wars, Jaws, Harry Potter, Schindler’s List and ET. Daniel Black conducts in the Raymond James Pops series, with a Saturday matinee. The Florida Orchestra: Performs regularly at the Straz Center in Tampa, Mahaffey in St. Petersburg and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. The orchestra offers affordably priced tickets to a variety of concerts; prices vary. See FloridaOrchestra.org or call 727.892.3337 and 1.800.662.7286. Submitted by Kurt Loft
THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA
Raymond James Pops
Tampa Bay Times Masterworks
Featuring one mega-hit after another from the master of movie music himself. With a career spanning six decades, John Williams has composed the most recognizable scores in cinematic history, including music from Star Wars, Jaws, Harry Potter, Schindler’s List and ET. Daniel Black conducts.
Mahler’s spellbinding Symphony No. 1 is framed by Reich’s Music for Pieces of Wood and Norman’s ridiculously virtuosic percussion concerto Switch, featuring Colin Currie. Michael Francis conducts. Free tickets for kids and teens in advance.
The Music of John Williams
Apr 27 - 2 & 8 pm
Mahler’s Symphony No. 1
May 3 & 4 Tickets start at $18
LISTEN LOCAL | Concerts in Tampa, St. Pete & Clearwater FloridaOrchestra.org | 727.892.3337 or 1.800.662.7286
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April3/8/2019 201911:53:29 AM
Home Buying It is a common misconception that a 20 percent down payment is required to buy a home. Advice to wait and save a large down payment is often based on the theory that the cost of mortgage insurance, which is required when you buy with a smaller down payment, should be avoided. This may not be the best advice according to the National Association of Realtors.
Yes, you can qualify for a conventional mortgage with a down payment as small as 3 percent of the purchase price. It is also true that you can reduce your monthly mortgage payment by paying for discount points at closing, but that can be 5 or 10 percent of the purchase price - not 20. And because every buyer’s situation is unique, it’s important to do the math. In today’s market, it could take a family earning the national median income up to 20 years to save 20 percent; a lot can change during that time.
Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
How can buying now save you money later? Consider you want to purchase a $255,000 home. A 5 percent down payment is $12,750 versus $51,000 in cash for 20 percent down. With a 740 credit score at today’s MI rates, your monthly MI payment would be about $110, which is added to your monthly mortgage payment until MI cancels. MI typically cancels after five years; therefore, you will only have this added cost for a short period of time versus waiting an average of 20 years to save for 20 percent. With home price appreciation, today’s $255,000 home will likely cost more in the years ahead and this will also have an impact on the necessary down payment and length of time required to save for it. The savings a borrower might calculate today could be altogether negated by waiting even a few more years. So, do the math and let the numbers guide you. There are many online mortgage calculators that can help. Check out lowdownpaymentfacts.org to learn more.
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Work It Out
Regardless of your career path, getting a promotion is often a professional goal. Being recognized and landing a promotion can provide a variety of perks such as more money, increased influence and more control over your daily routine. So how do you land that promotion? It comes down to building key skills such as selfdevelopment, listening and communication. Here are a few secrets to taking the reins and getting noticed - and promoted - in your career. 1. Prove that you’re capable of self-development. The difference between being a “high-potential employee” versus a “high-performing employee” means everything to your advancement, and to the company where you work. While a highperforming employee does their job well, their performance review will look similar from year to year, revealing little about their potential for moving up. A high-potential employee, on the other hand, shows a willingness to push themselves to learn new skills, take on more responsibilities and be open to lateral moves especially if that means mastering new abilities. How do you become a high-potential employee? Demonstrate your capacity for self-development by actively soliciting feedback from others to learn how you can grow and improve, and proactively take on opportunities to increase your skill set.
a small group or an entire corporation. Active listening is an art - it is underrated and takes significant practice to master. Identify a leader in your organization who is a strong active listener and watch how they lead. You can also master this skill by taking a course on active listening as part of your own career development. 3. Communicate with purpose. Boosting your communication skills is critical to being both a leader and a team player. Demonstrate to your manager and your team that you know how to address the bigger picture, and show how your work ties to the overall company strategy. Express your vision of the larger mission or goals of the organization, as opposed to getting caught up in the details. How you express yourself also makes a huge difference. Be concise, purposeful and confident in your statements. This will help you build a strong executive presence and build trust among you and your colleagues. Don’t wait for a promotion to come to you. Now’s the time to be proactive and focus on growing your skill set. Show what you’re learning by actively taking on new challenges and communicating with purpose and confidence. To learn more about mastering the skills you need to advance in your career and get that promotion, visit www.linkedin.com/ learning.
2. Be a strong listener. Being a good listener is vital to being a strong leader, and a crucial component to earning that promotion.By taking the time to understand others’ perspectives, needs and concerns, you’ll be better prepared to communicate your ideas and solutions, and to persuade others to come on board. This is essential to leading, whether it means 10 Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
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Yum yum!
Sneaky ways to get your kids eating healthier Try this family favorite recipe: Baked Chicken Nuggets Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Yield: 6 servings Recipe by: TermiNatetor Family Kitchen Ingredients 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (roughly 1 pound total), cut into 1-inch pieces 1 cup breadcrumbs (Panko works too!)*
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1/2 cup all-purpose flour* 3 eggs (large) Cooking spray Preparation Preheat oven to 450 F. In a shallow bowl, whisk together breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and seasonings. In two separate bowls, add the flour in one and whisk the eggs in the other. Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and lightly coat rack with cooking spray. In batches, coat the chicken in the flour, shaking off excess, then in the egg wash, then in the bread crumb mixture, pressing to adhere. Place on rack. Bake until chicken is fully cooked, about 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Healthy Swap: Use whole grain instead of regular bread crumbs and all-purpose flour!
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April 2019
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Car Seat Safety
For many parents, you buckle up your kids and off you go to day care, school or the park. You trust their car seat or booster seat will keep your child safe should something happen, but are you sure the seat you installed months or years ago is truly secure? “I am deeply concerned that nearly half of all car seats are not used correctly,” says Heidi King, deputy administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “You don’t have to be a parent to play a part in protecting children. I urge everyone to follow these simple tips to ensure kids stay safe in the car at every age.” One of the most common mistakes parents and caregivers make is moving children to the next car seat too soon. No matter their age, you need to make sure that the car seat you use is the right one for your child’s age, as well as their size. Newborn to 3 years The youngest passengers should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height of their seat. This positioning better absorbs the force of an impact, making it a better option for small passengers whose necks and spines are still developing. In fact, car seats have been shown to reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (under one year old) in passenger cars. Keep in mind, even if your child’s feet touch the back of the vehicle seat, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ready for a forward-facing seat. Parents shouldn’t move their toddlers into a forward-facing car seat until they’ve hit the maximum height or weight limit of their current car seat.
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4-7 years old At this age your child will likely use a forward-facing car seat with a harness. One critical step for installing this car seat correctly is making sure to secure it with its tether, not just a seat belt. The tether is an adjustable strap with a hook that can be found at the top of most forward-facing car seats. When you secure the tether to the tether anchor in your vehicle, it keeps the car seat from moving forward in a crash, helping protect your child from head and neck injuries. Additionally, always make sure the chest clip is secured across the chest rather than on the belly. These clips have a tendency to move down, so it’s up to caregivers to align it properly. Make it a habit to always slide the clip up to the appropriate place after buckling your child in to their seat. 8-12 years old After a child exceeds the age and size limits of their forwardfacing seat, they can transition to a booster seat. A booster seat lifts a child up and helps their body properly align with the vehicle’s existing seat belt. Kids should stay in a booster seat until they are big enough to sit properly with the lap and shoulder belt securely buckled. That means the lap belt is snug across their upper thighs, not their stomach, and the shoulder belt is snug across their shoulder and chest, not their neck or face. Once your child is big enough to ride safely without needing a car seat or booster seat, keep in mind the back seat is still the safest place. All kids 13 and under should ride in the back, even if they try to convince you the front is the “cool” place to be. April 2019
Local Theater
Opening on April 25 at 7:00 p.m. The Newsome High School Theatre Department presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This show is LITERALLY a musical play on words.
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman and written by William Finn, Jay Rice, and Rachel Sheinkin, Spelling Bee features an eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, poutinducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box. Newsome’s take on this Tony-Award winning musical includes a chorus of spellers’ families in the audience. Rounding out the cast are Ms. Peretti (a former spelling-bee champion herself), Mr. Panch (the new word pronouncer, after the former District Superintendent cancels for “unexplained reasons”), and Mitch Mahoney, the parolee comfort counselor. Plus, a special appearance by four audience members…
with a unique approach to spelling in the bee. The spellers include Alex Hickey as the over-achiever, Marcy Park, and Samantha Lewis playing Olive Ostrovsky, the tentative newcomer. Mackenzie Valentine is Ms. Rona List Peretti, Ian Negron-Rodrigues plays Vice Principal Douglas Panch, and Benjamin Sutherland is Mitch Mahoney. The ensemble cast includes the Coneybear family played by Jake Perez, Brooke Stuart, Obert Cantave, Lexi Nicolet, Mia Scaringe, and Laura De Leoz. Abby Almond and Luke De Leoz play Schwarzy’s two dads; and Elizabeth Miller is Olive’s mother with Nick Clermont playing Olive’s father. Each night the audience will laugh in enjoyment as four audience members do their best to compete in the bee. The bee is presented at 7:00PM on April 25th, 26th, and 27th, with a Saturday 2:00PM matinee on April 27th. All shows are presented in the Newsome High School theater, 16550 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia, FL 33547. Discount tickets are available at www.newsometheatre.ticketleap. com for $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. Tickets may be available at the door for $10.00 each.
The cast features Tyler Mann as Chip, an all-star pitcher with a 22-mile per hour fast ball, and Maria Moleiro as Logaine Schwartzandgrunenierre, the youngest and most politically aware contestant. Luke Patten plays Leaf Coneybear, the somewhat wideeyed offspring of hippieish parents; Michael Thanasides portrays Willam Barfee, an allergyplagued overachiever Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
April 2019
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Money Matters What Can You Do With Your Tax Refund?
We’re getting close to the tax-filing deadline. For many of us, this means it’s that time of year when we get our biggest financial windfall – a tax refund. If you have recently received a refund, or are expecting to get one in the next few weeks, what should you do with it? Of course, you could just spend the money on something you want, but if you’d like to maximize the financial benefits from your refund, you might want to consider other options, including the following: • Invest the money. In 2018, the average tax refund was about $2,700. For this year, it might be somewhat lower, due to changes in the tax laws and the failure of taxpayers to adjust their withholdings in response. However, if you were to receive in the neighborhood of $2,700, you’d be almost halfway to the annual IRA contribution limit, which, in 2019, is $6,000. (If you’re 50 or older, you can put in up to $7,000). If you have already “maxed out” on your IRA, you could use your refund to fill in gaps you may have in other parts of your investment portfolio. • Pay insurance premiums. Let’s face it – nobody really likes paying insurance premiums. Yet, if you have anyone depending on you, you will certainly need life insurance, and possibly disability insurance as well. And if you want to help protect your financial resources later in life from threats such as an extended – and hugely expensive – stay in a nursing home, you also may want to consider long-term care insurance. Your tax refund could help pay for some of these premiums, boosting your cash flow during the months you would normally be making these payments.
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• Contribute to a college fund. It’s never too soon to begin saving for college, which has grown increasingly expensive over the last several years. So, if you have young children, you may want to think about investing some or all of your refund into a college-savings account, such as a tax-advantaged 529 plan. • Pay off debts. You might be able to use your refund to pay down some debts – or perhaps even pay off some of your smaller ones. The lower your monthly debt load, the more money you will have available to invest for the future. Keep in mind, though, that you might not want to look at all debts in the same way. For example, putting extra money toward your mortgage might help you pay it off faster, but you’ll also be funding an asset – namely, your house – that might not provide you with the same liquidity as you can get from investments such as stocks and bonds.
• Help build an emergency fund. By building an emergency fund containing six to 12 months’ worth of living expenses, you can help yourself avoid dipping into your long-term investments to pay for large, unplanned-for bills, such as a major car repair or an expensive dental procedure. Your tax refund could help build such a fund, with the money ideally being placed in low-risk, liquid vehicles. Clearly, you can help yourself make progress toward a number of your financial goals with your tax refund – so put it to good use.
April 2019
Puzzles & Games 2 Sudokus for April - Easy & Medium
Numbers from 1-9 must appear only once in each row, column and box. Good Luck! Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com
Easy
Medium
7
4
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6 1 3 6 8
5
4 2
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9
1 5
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3 6
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2 3
2 2
3
1 1
4
3 9
9 5
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1
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6
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2 9
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5 8
6
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1
2
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4 6
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