Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
July 2018
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Catherine Uretsky Publisher & Editor
Christie Giannetto Assistant Editor
Al Uretsky Publisher & Sales Exec
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. 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.
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Welcome to your July edition of The Front Porch magazine! Many Arizona residents travel during the summer months. The hottest months of the year are a logical time to get away. For families with kids on summer break from school, June and July are ideal months for traveling, whether it be a quick weekend getaway to Northern Arizona, an out-ofstate excursion, or even a visit to another country. My family and I visited Puerto Rico last month. As you know, Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. It is not a country and it does not fit the criteria for being considered “third world,” yet…it feels like a third world place. The island is beautiful with a lush, green landscape, lots of adventuresome things to do, and access to the beach seemingly around every corner. Yet throughout the island it is common to see trash cans over flowing in public parks, buildings in disrepair from years of inadequate maintenance, and abandoned vehicles in residential neighborhoods. (Things that were not caused by the recent hurricanes.) I absolutely love
traveling, but the best part is always coming home. When I turn onto Sweetwater Road after being away on trip, I always feel a sense of relief and satisfaction. Traveling has a way of making you appreciate home, and our trip to Puerto Rico last month reminded me how truly lucky we are to live in a place like Marley Park. If you’re a member of The Front Porch group on Facebook (TheFrontPorchGroup.com) you’ve seen people post about overflowing trash cans in the park, the letter they received from the association about their house being due for exterior painting, or vehicles that have been parked on the street for days without moving. You may have seen “First World Problems” as a comment on these types of posts. Certainly, these are minor annoyances when compared to the challenges of people living in poverty in true third world countries, but after our trip last month, I’m feeling grateful to live in a place where people take pride in their homes, parks, and overall environment. The next time you’re out for a walk in one of our parks, pick up a few pieces of trash and be thankful that our neighborhood is beautiful because we all work together to maintain it. “A good neighbor increases the value of your property.” ~Czech Proverb See you on The Front Porch!
Christie Giannetto | Assistant Editor | The Front Porch Magazine
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July Events July 4th
July 4th
35th Annual 4th of July Celebration 4:30 pm Gates Open 5:30 pm Game Starts 8:30 pm Fireworks Surprise Recreation Stadium Free Admission 4th of July Pool Party 6:00 - 8:30 pm Surprise Aquatic Center $6 admission
July 5th – 9th The Moving Wall Vietnam Memorial Mark Coronado Park 15960 N Bullard Ave Free Admission July 7th
Painting in the Park 6:30 - 8:00 pm Dreamcatcher Park $30 | Registration Required
July 13th
Rec Nights - ‘Merica Night 7:00 - 10:00 pm Sierra Montana Recreation Center
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$5.00 entry fee Grades 6th - 8th July 25th
Red Cross Blood Drive 12:00 – 6:00 pm Northwest Regional Library 1-800-733-2767 for appointment
July 27th
Empty Nesters Social Club Marley Park Pool House 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Our July cover photo was taken by Marley Park resident, Carson Cavaletto. Carson is a 24-yearold Assistant Teacher who has a great passion for photography. This hobby has grown into a very important part of his life over the past 6 years, as he sees his work as being greatly impactful in ether capturing amazing moments in his portraits or inspiring adventures in his lifestyle or nature photographs. Someday he hopes to form a career out of this passion and share what he enjoys with the world.
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On Our Cover
We would like to take this opportunity to share our story and what it’s like to live life as identical twins with a rare genetic disorder. Our names are Candice and Crystal, 37 years old, born in Hyderabad, India and adopted by our parents Joe and Karen at the age of one. We are two of four adopted from India. We have albinism (no pigment) and having come from a country where twins as well as albinos are looked upon as being evil, we probably would not have survived if we had not been adopted. Our Indian names were Hema and Rama our parents changed them to Candice & Crystal which mean pure, white and clean. Our parents noticed our ability to sing at an early age. We co-founded our Gospel Ministry, Angels in Voice, 18 years ago and have had many opportunities to sing at events around the valley. One of the highlights was singing at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. in 2001. At the age of 13, we were diagnosed with Hermnasky-Pudlak Syndrome. It is a genetic metabolic disorder which is the type of albinism we have. It causes legal blindness, platelet dysfunction and, in our case, inflammatory bowel
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disease, severe osteoporosis, acid reflux, kidney disease, and pulmonary fibrosis. There are approximately 1800 people on the patient registry with HPS. As far as we know, we are the only two with it here in Arizona. In November of 1995 Donna, the President and Founder of the HPS Network, chose the two of us to open the HPS protocol for research at the National Institutes of Health. Our team is wonderful, and we continue to follow up there regularly. Sadly, there is no cure currently. We are thankful for researchers that are working tirelessly on our behalf. Being a part of the Network allowed us the opportunity to get to know our HPS family. We are a tight knit community who continues to walk the journey of research together. Fundraising is very important to the two of us. We will be holding our 18th annual benefit concert Saturday November 3rd, at Christ Presbyterian Church (925 N Sarival Ave, Goodyear) at 2pm. We are ambassadors and spread awareness everywhere we go so that early diagnosis can be made. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and hope it may be an inspiration to you. Never give up, live life to the fullest, and always remain optimistic. Submitted by Candice and Crystal Sipe | Marley Park Residents
July 2018
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Yum Yum! Texas Ribs
2 racks Pork Spareribs, membrane removed 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons ancho chile powder 1 tablespoon smoked or sweet paprika 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt Pinch cayenne or chipotle powder Freshly ground black pepper Barbecue sauce 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 small sweet yellow onion, coarsely chopped 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped 1 cup ketchup 1/3 cup cold water 1 chipotle chile, chopped 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 1 heaping tablespoon, Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon molasses 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (or sherry vinegar) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons ancho chile powder 1 tablespoon sweet Spanish paprika
1. To make barbecue sauce, heat oil in saucepan over medium-high until warm and shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in ketchup and water; bring to boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to mediumlow and simmer for 5 minutes. 2. Stir in remaining ingredients; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Let cool for at least 10 minutes. 3. Scrape the barbecue sauce into bowl of food processor or blender; puree until smooth. Sauce will be very thick; let cool to room temperature. Taste and season with salt and pepper. 4. Heat oven to 200F. Place wire rack on a baking sheet. Combine brown sugar, ancho chile powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, cayenne and black pepper in small bowl; mix well. 5. Place 2 sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil on counter. Place each rib rack on a piece of foil; sprinkle generous amount of spice rub over meaty side and massage into the meat. Turn over ribs and repeat on bone side. Seal ribs in foil and place, meaty side down, on rack on baking sheet. 6. Bake ribs at 200F for 4 hours; reduce oven temperature to 175F and bake an additional 2 hours. 7. Open foil packets and discard juices. Brush barbecue sauce over ribs; cut and serve. Makes: 4 to 6 servings
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Decorator’s Corner This room was intended as a formal dining room, but our family just isn’t that formal. We turned it into a kids’ lounge instead; a place where they can play and watch movies. The sofa, from Living Spaces, is a twin-size bed for guests as well. The TV stand/toy organizer is IKEA, the teepee is from Walmart.com, the rug is Kohl’s, and the footstool is from Overstock.com. The chair in the corner was snagged on Offer Up. I love the way it turned out and it gets used much more than a formal dining room! Submitted by Desirée Brown | Marley Park Resident
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Art of the Month
Marley Park resident, Connie Reeks, has been making these Stained Glass Mosaic tables for about 10 years now. She starts by drawing out the design, then breaks glass to get the shapes she needs to create her vision. She enjoys working with glass and loves seeing how all the broken pieces of colored glass come together to complete each piece. This one is a likeness of Brewtus, the family’s 12-year old beagle.
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Home Sweet Home Question: I’ve always wondered what projects in interior decorating are appealing to buyers, and which ones to avoid. Are trendy choices such as wood look tile, gray paint, farmhouse design, etc. best? What should homeowners consider when planning to sell soon vs making choices for the long term? Submitted by Kara Poling, Marley Park Resident
Shutters can vary in width of the slats and color, but they can be painted if the color/ stain gets dated and they never go out of style. They can be expensive, but if you’ve got a budget for home improvement and plan to stay in your home for at least three years, they are the number one investment I would recommend.
On the other hand, if you are planning to sell in the next 1-3 years, trendy choices are the way to go. Gray-toned paint is very “in” right now and is the quickest and least-expensive way to make Answer: There are very few things that won’t your home feel up to date and move in ready for eventually go out of style after a decade or so. buyers. Second on the list for people who plan to Window treatments are considered décor, so they sell sooner than later would be a tile backsplash do not typically add value to your home. Blinds, in the kitchen. A blacksplash will turn an average shades, curtains, valances, etc. are items that are kitchen into a “gourmet”-feeling kitchen with not given value in an appraisal. Shutters are the minimal expense. one exception to the rule. They are a permanent fixture and are therefore considered a valueWhether you plan to sell soon or are settled added feature by appraisers. into your home for the long-term, be sure that all improvements you make are of high Shutters are extremely versatile. I’ve seen quality materials and installed in a professional shutters in homes with contemporary, midmanner. Almost everything will become outdated century modern, transitional, traditional, eventually, but buyers will appreciate quality farmhouse, and even southwest décor. Shutters finishes even when they are slightly dated. look great in all of them! I’ve even seen historic Submitted by Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® | homes in downtown Phoenix where the shutters Arizona Lifestyle Team | HomeSmart were installed decades ago and still look great.
Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
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The Moving Wall Duty, honor, sacrifice epitomize the men and women who served their country during the Vietnam War. Today, on a 2-acre parcel of land located between the Lincoln and Washington Memorials in our Nation’s Capital, stands a memorial complex dedicated to the honor of these brave men and women. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is composed of three separate parts: The Vietnam Veterans Wall, The Three Soldiers Statue, and The Vietnam Women’s Memorial.
The first and best-known part of the memorial, completed in 1982, is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. “The Vietnam Wall” was designed by American architect Maya Lin. As of May 2017, the Vietnam Memorial Wall lists the names of 58,318 men and women who were declared dead in the Vietnam War between 1955 and 1975. The second part of the memorial is a bronze statue named “The Three Soldiers,” sometimes referred to as “The Three Servicemen” statue. The statue represents three soldiers, one of European American descent, African American descent and Hispanic American descent. The
statue’s positioning is intentional and depicts the three soldiers interacting with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall as they appear to pay tribute to their fallen comrades memorialized on the wall.
The third part of the memorial, dedicated in 1993, is the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. The memorial depicts three women in uniform and a wounded soldier. It is dedicated to the women of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in the Vietnam War, a majority of whom were nurses. Annually, more than three million visitors make the trek to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., but for those who cannot make the trip, there is an alternative. There are several replicas of the Vietnam Memorial Wall that travel throughout the United States. We are honored to have “The Moving Wall,” a one-half size replica of the original wall, coming to Surprise, Arizona. It will be at Mark Coronado Park, 15960 North Bullard Avenue from July 5th through July 9th. We would love to have you visit this traveling memorial dedicated in honor of the men and women of the Vietnam War. Submitted by J.J. Marak | U.S. Army Special Forces (Retired) | Marley Park Resident
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July 2018
Pet of the Month
Bo, a 15-year-old ginger domestic shorthair, holds a special place in the heart of his person, Marley Park resident, Bonnie Lewis. Bonnie rescued Bo back in Pittsburgh and he relocated with her to Arizona in 2012. Bo’s favorite pastimes included chasing the plastic rings from OJ bottles and hunting for geckos in the backyard with sister-cat, Zuri. Bo crossed the Rainbow Bridge recently and will be forever missed.
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Positive Parenting Today I was a good parent.
If you’re a parent, you know that every day is not unicorns and glitter. The weekend arrives. There are chores to do. No one wants to do chores. Perhaps you don’t want to make them. Perhaps you forego chores and do something together as a family. These are the best days. A trip to the park, the pool, a movie, maybe roller skating or bowling allows us to make an emotional deposit in our family relationships. Did you know, even on a day when you yelled at your kids, and the chores got done, you are still a good parent? Maybe you spent eight hours last Saturday at a sports competition, cheering on your favorite girl or favorite boy. You are making precious memories that you and your kids will cherish. In that moment, they know they are the most important thing and you know you were a good parent. My husband and I sing this Trace Adkins song to one another regularly, embracing this adventure that is parenting: You’re gonna miss this You’re gonna want this back
You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast These are some good times So take a good look around You may not know it now But you’re gonna miss this How will we look back on the season of parenting our kids? Many families are overbooked and overstressed. What if our favorite girl isn’t on the Varsity squad, and our favorite boy decides that violin is not for him? This is life. There will be ups and downs. Our most important job is to show our children what a happy life looks like, and to show them by our actions that they are the most important thing. This doesn’t mean we party all the time. We still do homework. We still do chores. We do hard things. But, love is in it all. Sometimes the facts and circumstances don’t matter. It’s simply the affirmation in your heart at the end of the day. The days that are most fulfilling as a parent are not always the kinds of days you might expect would leave you grateful. But, you are grateful, and while you know there will be new and wonderful and crazy and chaotic and difficult adventures ahead, probably tomorrow, you look forward with joy because you know your children are worth all you can offer them. Submitted by Sabrena Schmella | Marley Park Resident
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Puzzles & Games
Sudoku for July
Sudoku Solution
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Numbers from 1-9 must appear only once in each row, column and box. Good Luck! Solution is on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com
Color your best 4th of July Flag!
July 2018
Backyard Oasis Some people just have a knack for the outdoors. Marley Park resident, Ana Frias-Bernardo is one of those people. She created her backyard oasis in Marley Park just 18 months after she and her husband, Paul, bought their brand-new home in Marley Park with a dirt backyard. Ana looked at it as a blank canvas and got straight to work creating her masterpiece. You can see more pictures of Ana and Paul’s backyard in The Front Porch group on Facebook at www.TheFrontPorchGroup.com.
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Legal Advice FIVE REASONS TO HAVE A TRUST
A Revocable Living Trust creates the legal framework for your assets to be handled if you become sick or incapacitated or upon your death. Here are 5 of the top reasons to have a trust: 1. Your assets can be distributed without giving information to all heirs. Probates require notice to all heirs—including omitted children or siblings.
use of the funds is limited and all funds are dispersed at 18. 4. A trust can include incentives for children or grandchildren to go to college, stay away from drugs and become gainfully employed. 5. When you have multiple beneficiaries, including charities, there is centralized management of assets by the Successor Trustee of your choice. Sharon Ravenscroft, Esq., The Cavanagh Law Firm, PA, Sun City and Phoenix offices, (623) 815-7451 or Sravenscroft@CavanaghLaw. com. Sharon’s practice focuses on Wills, trusts, domestic partnership agreements and premarital agreements, probate and trust administration. For more information www.sharonravenscroft.com.
2. Assets located in multiple states can be managed without court involvement in any state. 3. A trust allows controlled distribution to minor children or grandchildren. Without a trust, a court conservatorship will be required for distributions to minor which have a value over $10,000. Conservatorships involve annual expenses for court approved accountings,
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July 2018
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SOLD IN MARLEY PARK
by
Christie Giannetto
You are invited to contact me today for a FREE home value analysis 602.740.2313
More homes sold in Marley Park than any other agent since October 2013!* COMING SOON
AVAILABLE NOW
AVAILABLE NOW
PRICE REDUCED
UNDER CONTRACT
15012 W Georgia Dr
14897 W Georgia Dr
14785 W Pershing St
12867 N 145th Ave
15366 W Old Oak Ln
Sq Ft ...............................2,577 Lot Sq Ft..........................6,600
List Price....................$274,900 Sq Ft ...............................1,766 Lot Sq Ft..........................5,640 Price Sq Ft ........................$156
List Price....................$244,900 Sq Ft ...............................1,353 Lot Sq Ft..........................5,970 Price Sq Ft ........................$185
List Price....................$445,000 Sq Ft ...............................3,376 Lot Sq Ft..........................9,100 Price Sq Ft ........................$136
List Price....................$305,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,085 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,800 Price Sq Ft ........................$146
UNDER CONTRACT
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
15350 W Eugene Ter
12612 N 152nd Ave
15266 W Eugene Ter
15106 W Andora St
12731 N 145th Ave
List Price....................$315,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,415 Lot Sq Ft..........................8,775 Price Sq Ft ........................$130
Sold Price ..................$312,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,022 Lot Sq Ft..........................8,480 Price Sq Ft ........................$154
Sold Price ..................$270,000 Sq Ft ...............................1,743 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,800 Price Sq Ft ........................$155
Sold Price ..................$238,500 Sq Ft ...............................2,607 Lot Sq Ft..........................5,955 Price Sq Ft ..........................$91
Sold Price ..................$411,100 Sq Ft ...............................3,024 Lot Sq Ft..........................9,620 Price Sq Ft ........................$136
SOLD FOR FULL PRICE
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
14929 W Georgia Dr
14733 W Surrey Dr
15344 W Corrine Dr
14894 W Valentine St
15310 W Bloomfield Rd
List Price....................$295,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,104 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,068 Price Sq Ft ........................$140
Sold Price ..................$250,000 Sq Ft ...............................1,764 Lot Sq Ft..........................5,464 Price Sq Ft ........................$142
Sold Price ..................$310,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,090 Lot Sq Ft........................10,226 Price Sq Ft ........................$148
Sold Price ..................$275,000 Sq Ft ...............................1,907 Lot Sq Ft..........................6,897 Price Sq Ft ........................$144
Sold Price ..................$200,000 Sq Ft ...............................1,805 Lot Sq Ft..........................4,950 Price Sq Ft ........................$111
Buyer represented by Christie Giannetto
Buyer represented by Christie Giannetto
Buyer represented by Christie Giannetto
Your Marley Park Neighbor and Real Estate Specialist *Information obtained from Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service. Excludes new construction. As of 1/1/18.
Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® Arizona Lifestyle Team HomeSmart 602.740.2313 15543 N Reems Rd | Ste 139 Surprise AZ 85374 Christie@AZLifestyleTeam.com AZLifestyleTeam.com
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