The Front Porch by Estrella Publishing

Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

February 2022

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 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com All contents © 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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February 2022

Welcome to your February edition of The Front Porch magazine! February always feels like “fall” in Arizona. The air is crisp, the leaves are falling, and the occasional sprinkle of rain makes the desert feel clean and fresh. It’s the best time of year to get outside and enjoy nature, weather it be a walk around the neighborhood, a hike in the White Tanks, or a trip to Flagstaff to enjoy the snow park or skiing. If you’re considering a trip up north and find yourself needing winter gear, feel free to reach out! Since my own kids were babies, I have been hanging onto their winter snow clothes and it has evolved in a full-fledged winter lending closet. What started out as one bin of gear has evolved into multiple bins sorted by size that include

jackets, snow pants, boots, hats, and mittens/ gloves in almost all sizes. We have a boy and a girl, so I typically have both genders in most sizes, plus several sets in adult sizes. You’re welcome to reach out via Facebook Messenger, Christie@AZLifestyleTeam.com, or 602-740-2313 if you would like to borrow gear. Our tradition is to go skiing at Snow Bowl on Super Bowl Sunday since it’s usually a slow day on the hills and lift tickets are less expensive. We haven’t tried Flagstaff Snow Park for sledding yet but have lots of friends who have and it’s definitely on our bucket list! For skiing, prices vary based on demand so keep an eye on the Snow Bowl website for good deals. For sledding, Flagstaff Snow Park gets booked up quickly so if you plan to go there, be sure to buy your tickets online in advance. In the words of Anamika Mishra, “Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration.” Even in the desert! See you on The Front Porch!

Christie Giannetto Assistant Editor | The Front Porch Magazine

Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

February 2022

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February 2022

Legal Advice

ever, you need the correct power of attorney – whether it be for finances; medical health or mental health.

Inheritances for minors, whether children or grandchildren, can be bogged down by a court NON-STRESS ESTATE PLANNING Get in on the ground and see conservatorship, if a trustﬂoor is not used. A court your business succeed. Estate planning does not need to be conservatorship is more costly and burdensome than a your probate. complex or confusing. You deserve Secure space in White Tanks View magazine, covering Sierra Montana, Waddell Hacienda, to have your questions answered Surprise Sterlingcentralized Grove A good estateFarms, plan and provides manand have documents that help you when you need it most. On-line ser- agement for your assets whether you are incavices and computer forms simply do pacitated or upon your death and can avoid not address the variety of issues that obstacles and disputes when there are multiple disputes. might arise. The court process of probate can be avoided with a revocable trust for some but others can utilize a beneficiary deed with more ease.

Submitted by Sharon Ravenscroft, Esq., The Cavanagh Law Firm, PA, Sun City and Phoenix offices, (623) 815-7451 or Sravenscroft@CavanaghLaw.com.

Privacy laws can prevent you from being assisted by your spouse or trusted friend or family member. Powers of attorney can be give the right person the legal authority to help you. How-

Sharon’s practice623.398.5541 focuses on Wills, trusts, probate and trust administration. For more information al@estrellapublishing.com www.sharonravenscroft.com.

Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

February 2022

On Our Cover

My name is Linda Keating and I am one of the luckiest people in the world!

When I was born, I could only see light and color. My poor vision was not discovered until I was six years old. I will never forget the day I got my ½” thick glasses, it was the first time I saw my mom’s face. Later in life, it was discovered that in addition to being severely nearsighted, I also had dislocated lenses in both eyes. Multiple surgeries were performed in an effort to improve my vision. Unfortunately, I suffered severe traumas every step of the way. I am back to where I was when I was a little girl, seeing only light and color. So why do I consider myself lucky? Because on the cover, standing with me is my wonderful husband, Matthew, and my amazing guide dog, Walt. I have been bonding with Walt since he was six months old. He was puppy raised in Long Beach, California. He started guide dog training in Palm Springs at 14 months and graduated at 18 months, much earlier than most guide dogs.

Getting a guide dog is a long process. You must first master Orientation and Mobility training to become an independent traveler with a white cane. I was in school for 9 months to learn this as well as technology training to learn to use my computer and phone without seeing them. I applied in August, 2019 for a guide dog at Custom Canine Service Dog Academy in Madison, Wisconsin. I met my West coast trainer in November, 2019. Walt was born in April, 2020. He was hand-picked for me by my trainer. When my hand is on the handle of Walt’s harness, he knows it’s time to move. I need to understand my surroundings so I can give him directional commands such as left, right, and forward. It is important that no one pets Walt while he is working, as this could distract him from helping me. It is up to me to use my skills to listen for traffic. If I make a mistake though, Walt will not let me get hurt. He will disobey me and stop me from crossing in front of a car. It is called “intelligent disobedience.” Needless to say, Walt is brilliant and I am lucky! Life can be hard. I choose to find the joy.

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February 2022

Decorators Corner We all want our homes to look and feel luxurious. There are many ways to achieve this without buying all new furniture or investing a lot of money. Here are three ways to upgrade your home on a budget. “Style” your shelves, occasional tables and counters. After eliminating any clutter, you can elevate the look of your space by grouping things in threes and layering objects. For example, start with a decorative tray, then group a vase with tall floral stems, a medium height

decorative object, finally add a low candle in an attractive container. Shop thrift stores for inexpensive, one-of-a-kind finds that will add character to your space. Stick to lighter neutral colors for walls, flooring, window coverings, and furniture. Add color with pillows, blankets, and art. This makes it easy to switch your décor with the season, or as your taste changes. Fake the appearance of larger rooms with floor to ceiling drapes. Install the curtain rod 2”-3” from your ceiling. Make sure your drapes are long enough to touch the floor by measuring appropriately. Finally, think big when it comes to art. A well selected, large piece will create a statement and focal point in your room. Submitted by Kasey Smith | Marley Park Resident

Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

February 2022

Home Sweet Home If you’re trying to decide when to sell your house, there may not be a better time than this winter. Selling this season means you can take advantage of today’s strong sellers’ market when you make a move. Right now, conditions are very favorable for current homeowners looking for a change.

While recent data shows there are more sellers getting ready to list their homes this winter, there are still more buyers in the market than there are homes for sale. If you sell your house now before more houses are listed, it will get more attention from serious buyers who are eager to find a home. When supply is low and demand is high, buyers have to compete with each other for a limited number of homes. The latest Realtors Confidence Index from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows sellers are getting an average of 3.6 offers in today’s market and homes are selling in an average of just 18 days. As a seller, that’s great news for you if you’re looking for a quick process. In addition to these great perks, you’ll also win big on your next move if you sell now. CoreLogic

reports homeowners gained an average of $51,500 in equity over the past year. This wealth boost is the result of buyer competition driving home prices up. You can leverage that equity to fuel a move before mortgage rates and home prices climb higher. The longer you wait to make your move, the more it will cost you down the road. As mortgage rates rise, even modestly, it will impact your monthly payment when you purchase your next home. Waiting just a few months to make that change could mean a long-term financial impact. Selling before rates climb higher means you can make your move and lock in a low rate on the mortgage for your next home. This helps you get more home for your money and keeps your payments down too. As a homeowner, you have a great opportunity to get the best of both worlds this season. You can truly win when you sell and when you buy. If you’re thinking about making a move, connect with your local real estate expert so you have the information you need to get the process started. Submitted by Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® | REAL Broker

REACH OUT TODAY! The consultation is always FREE and without obligation. You should know what your home is worth in today’s market!

Christie Giannetto

| REALTOR®

Christie@AZLifestyleTeam.com

SurpriseMatters.com

602.740.2313

April 8 Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

February 2022

Perspective of a Teacher Mom Tik Tok. Those two words have been a part of kid and student culture for a few years now. Parents and teachers slowly began to understand why their kiddos were doing crazy looking dances. Moms and teachers even started to venture onto the Tik Tok app, to see what all the hype was about. Some of us even liked it enough to immerse ourselves into it. Who doesn’t enjoy swiping away a few minutes (or hours) on Tik Tok, these days? In fact, you can find scores of teacher Tik Toks, since educators decided to use it to connect to their students, and other teachers too. A lot of you probably know that Tik Tok culture took an ugly turn, in recent months. Unfortunately, this wildly popular social media outlet, is the reason for some pretty disturbing events, in

schools all over America. Theft, vandalism, and physical assault, are what Tik Tok influencers are challenging our kids with, and many students are acting on these challenges, without realizing how negative the consequences can be. My school, and my kids’ schools, have been heavily impacted. How about yours? What can we do? What should we do? I don’t have a fool proof solution; after all, kids have rejoiced in kicking up their heels with a little rebellion, way longer than I’ve been alive. Friends and peers seem to get the ears of our children, more than our own words do. Add to that a lively and quick paced mega phone like Tik Tok…well, do we even have a chance? We do have a chance. It’s time to take back our kids’ ears. I don’t think we have to ban Tik Tok, although I really considered it, believe me. We need to ensure that our kids hear from us, every single day. Sometimes we forget to have those family discussions about our beliefs, and about what we think is important. We assume our kids know what we think. Kids have sponge like minds, and impressionable consciences, so we have to be sure to layer in our family values, to their psyches, each and every day, to compete (and win) against the oppositional values that Tik Tok, or anything else, is shoveling out. We do have a chance to mold our children into good people. Let’s actively not waste our chances. Submitted by Theresa DeLong Marley Park Resident

Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

February 2022

Announcements Sawyer Ruth Schnitzer was born on January 7th to Marley Park residents, Chris and Danielle Schnitzer. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 15 ounces. She joins her older siblings, Mackenzie, Micah, Rowan, and Lawson. Welcome to Marley Park, Sawyer!

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February 2022

Love Is In The Air Welcome to February, the month of love! I challenge you this month to use this time as an excuse to celebrate the love you have for your family, community, and most importantly, yourself. Allow this month to revolve around the intention of love and observe the impact of love on your family. Let’s use the narrative of “love” to carry us through this month by using the following ideas on how to incorporate, demonstrate, and model love for free.

Sometimes we as parents get easily caught up in our schedules, and the heaviness of raising a family. This month, think of ways you can celebrate and nurture the love you have for your family. This can mean a fun filled family day exploring the outdoors, or a competitive game of Uno around the kitchen table. Whatever it is for your family, be intentional and see it through. Invite your children to help plan this celebration of love. Consider things your partner and family enjoy doing as well as the things they don’t like doing. Love can be an “act of service” such as filling up the gas tank, cleaning the car, clearing out the dishwasher, or

· · · · · · · ·

getting the kids ready for bed. Whatever it looks like for you and your family, acts of service tell the receiver they are loved.

Prioritize spending time with your loved ones. This can mean putting the phone down, having dinner at the table, and one-on-one time with each of your children. Quality time spent with children directly impacts behavior. Did you know that research has shown that quality time is more important than the quantity of time spent with your children and has a significant impact on emotional wellbeing? Keep that in mind when sharing the love during this season Self-love doesn’t mean “me first,” it means, “me too.” This practice can be especially difficult for us parents as we often carry the “children come first” mentally, which they do but there is always room for you. Give yourself permission to include your needs and wants this month, there is always space in your heart for yourself. Try doing one thing this month for yourself that makes you happy. It doesn’t have to cost a penny. Submitted by Christina Demers, M.S. | Surprise Resident

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Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

February 2022

Teenage Perspective Chocolate-filled hearts, teddy bears, and roses seem to be the only things we see in February. With Valentine’s Day so commercialized, many of us may not even know why we celebrate this day. But Valentine’s Day has a much more significant origin than you may think. First things first, historians don’t know which St. Valentine is responsible for Valentine’s Day. But all are rather special, play their own role on this special day, and show perfect depictions of love.

One St. Valentine was a Roman priest. He was said to help young men marry when it was made illegal by the emperor of Rome. A different St. Valentine helped Christians escape from prison after they were persecuted for their faith. And one St. Valentine was said to send letters to his lover while in jail, to the prison keeper’s daughter! All his letters were signed “love your Valentine.” The real question is how did romance become part of the equation on this holiday? Well, in the Middle Ages February 14th was celebrated with a feast and many believed that it signified the beginning of the mating season for birds. It was later labeled as a romantic celebration by an English poet. As the 18th and 19th centuries went on cards became more popular and, here we are today! Americans send 145 million cards for Valentine’s Day each year and spend around 20 billion dollars on gifts! Submitted by Riley LeBlanc, Age 15 Marley Park Resident

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February 2022

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WE WILL NOT BE UNDERSOLD! Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

February 2022

Fill In The Words

3 Letters hug 4 Letters poem gift only like 5 Letters heart

6 Letters plants deeply letter 7 Letters ribbons adoring sharing admirer forever

8 Letters exciting precious faithful I Love You quantity 9 Letters carnation celebrate ravishing

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lovebirds wonderful

12 Letters appreciative

10 Letters passionate fourteenth fall in love 11 Letters St. Valentine considerate

February 2022

Samurai Sudoku This samurai sudoku puzzle is a great way to engage the brain and help develop logic skills. There are 5 overlapping grids with one unique solution. Each of 4 corners are shaded. Samurai Sudoku Puzzle #25 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. Good Luck! This samurai sudoku puzzle is a great way to engage the brain and help develop logic skills. There are 5 overlapping grids with Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com one unique solution. Each of 4 corners are shaded. 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.

5 7

3 7

3 3

5 2

4 1

7 5

2 8

8 2

8 2 3

5 3

3 9

3 4

1 8 1

6 2

6 9

4 9

7 5

6 3

1 5

Samurai sudoku grid, symmetric, beginner No 25 Created: https://www.sudoku-puzzles-online.com

Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

February 2022

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 2013!* Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Just Listed

Sold

15238 W Bloomfield Rd

14329 W Voltaire Street

15431 W Windrose Dr

15187 W Dahlia Drive

15239 W Bloomfield Rd

List Price ................Call for Info Sq Ft ....................................2,929 Lot Sq Ft.............................6,600 Amenities.......THREE car garage

List Price ....................$600,000 Sq Ft....................................3,303 Lot Sq Ft.............................6,360 Amenities.......THREE car garage

List Price ....................$580,000 Sq Ft ....................................2,990 Lot Sq Ft.............................6,600 Amenities.......THREE car garage Homestead at Marley Park

List Price.....................$520,000 Sq Ft....................................2,090 Lot Sq Ft .............................8,542 Amenities .............................Pool .........................THREE car garage

Sold Price...................$500,000 Sq Ft.....................................1,907 Lot Sq Ft .............................9,789 Amenities ..................... Huge Lot

Sold for $10k Over List

Buyer & Seller represented by Christie Giannetto

Sold for Full Price

Sold for $35k Over List

15228 W Alexandria Way

14884 W Georgia Dr

15451 W Valentine St

14916 W Georgia Dr

12667 N 152nd Dr

Sold Price ...................$535,000 Sq Ft ....................................2,090 Lot Sq Ft ...........................10,205 Amenities .............................Pool

Sold Price...................$480,000 Sq Ft ....................................2,022 Lot Sq Ft .............................7,898 Amenities............................. Pool

Sold Price....................$710,000 Sq Ft....................................3,468 Lot Sq Ft ...........................10,045 Amenities .............................Pool .........................FOUR car garage

Sold Price ...................$425,000 Sq Ft.....................................1,766 Lot Sq Ft ..............................7,287 Amenities .............................Pool

Sold Price ...................$475,000 Sq Ft ....................................2,104 Lot Sq Ft.............................8,540 Across from Founders Park!

Sold for $30k Over List Sold for $5k Over List

Buyer & Seller represented by Christie Giannetto

Sold for $30k Over List

Sold for $10k Over List

Sold

Sold for $10k Over List

Sold for $50k Over List

12867 N 145th Ave

12359 N 152nd Dr

14955 W Alexandria Way

15217 W Georgia Dr

14748 W Surrey Dr

Sold Price...................$630,000 Sq Ft ....................................3,420 Lot Sq Ft .............................9,100 Amenities .... THREE car garage

Sold Price...................$430,000 Sq Ft ....................................2,010 Lot Sq Ft .............................8,842 Amenities .....THREE car garage

Sold Price ...................$345,000 Sq Ft ....................................2,092 Lot Sq Ft .............................4,483 Amenities ..............Bonus Room

Sold Price...................$460,000 Sq Ft ....................................2,266 Lot Sq Ft .............................8,946 Amenities... Real Hardwood Floors

Sold Price...................$450,000 Sq Ft ....................................2,104 Lot Sq Ft.............................5,400 Amenities .............................Pool

Buyer & Seller represented by Christie Giannetto

Your Marley Park Neighbor and Real Estate Specialist Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® 602.740.2313

CHRISTIE GIANNETTO

Christie@AZLifestyleTeam.com

REALTOR®

SurpriseMatters.com

Estrella Publishing - TheListing Front Porch * Information obtained from Arizona Regional Multiple Service. Excludes new construction. As of 1/1/21.

magazine

February 2022