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Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
March 2020
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Catherine Uretsky Publisher & Editor
Christie Giannetto Associate Editor
Al Uretsky Publisher & Sales Exec
estrella publishing. From your neighbors for your neighbors
Megan Uretsky Associate Editor 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 March edition! If you are a Facebook user, you may already be a member of The Front Porch group for Marley Park residents. If not, you are welcome to join. You can find the group by searching “The Front Porch” on Facebook and looking for the cover photo with the signature Marley Park tree, or by going to TheFrontPorchGroup.com. The Front Porch group was established in 2013 and has grown to just over 1,000 members. As the creator and administrator of the group, with the support of my husband, our goal has always been to foster an open forum for
residents of Marley Park to share and discuss news, information, referrals, advice, and events relevant to the neighborhood and their residents. We work hard to keep the atmosphere in group positive so that it can remain a helpful and pleasant place to interact with neighbors. Recently, we have opened the group to include residents of Homestead at Marley Park and the Christopher Todd at Marley Park communities, in addition to residents of the original Marley Park community. The name, “The Front Porch” was chosen because so many of our homes have front porches and because they are so rare in Arizona outside of the Marley Park communities. The name also embodies the spirit of our collective neighborhoods. There are many, many groups and pages on Facebook that serve a diverse array of purposes and interests. We hope that The Front Porch group serves to bring members of the community together in a positive way both within the Facebook platform and in real life. I think Dr. Seuss said it best in his book, Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?, when he wrote, “You ought to be thankful a hole heaping lot, for the places and people you’re lucky you’re not!” In honor of St. Patrick’s Day and Dr. Seuss’s birthday, may this month bring you all the luck your heart can hold! See you on The Front Porch!
Christie Giannetto | Assistant Editor | The Front Porch Magazine Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
March 2020
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On Our Cover
“In sickness and in health…”
When Brenda and Steve took their marriage vows almost twenty-nine years ago, they meant them. Having met when they were childhood neighbors, neither can imagine life without the other. Steve joined the United State Marine Corps at age 18 and was deployed with Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War in 1990. He spent seven months in the Middle East where he was exposed to burning oil fields, nerve gas, and given an experimental anti-nerve agent drug. He married Brenda in July of 1991 when he returned from deployment. After his service in the Marine Corps, he was honorably discharged as a Corporal. He began a career as truck driver that lasted for twenty-seven years, until he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease last year, forcing him to take a leave of absence.
Brenda and Steve have lived in Marley Park for two and a half years. They say their neighbors are their village and they all keep an eye out for one another. Their daughter attends Willow Canyon High School where she is active on the Cheer Team and has many friends in the neighborhood. Their adult son lives nearby as well. The family is looking forward to many more happy years in the Marley Park community. April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. For resources and information about Parkinson’s Disease, please visit Parkinson.org. Submitted by Christie Giannetto | Marley Park Resident This month’s cover photo was taken by Marley Park resident and volunteer photographer, Carson Cavaletto.
Brenda and Steve have taken his diagnosis as well as can be expected. Having suffered from essential tremors for six years prior, they are relieved to have a clear diagnosis and treatment plan. They’ve found that there is a lack of resources for people with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, which occurs in people under 50 years of age. They’ve also noticed a lack of understanding in the community, with people often assuming Steve’s visible symptoms are the result of alcohol or drug abuse or withdrawal. In January, they attended an event in Phoenix sponsored by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research that was designed for Parkinson’s patients, their families, and care partners. The event featured programs on understanding Parkinson’s, managing care, and learning about research participation as well as information on treatment options and local resources for the Parkinson’s community. They felt the event was especially valuable for their teenage daughter in helping her understand her father’s diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment options. 4 Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
March 2020
March Events
9:00am – 2:30pm March 26th Lunch and Learn Marketing for Small Biz 12:00 – 1:00pm March 26th State of the City March 3rd Women’s Suffrage Surprise City Hall Centennial Open House 4:00 – 6:00pm Surprise City Hall March 27th Teen Rec Night AZ TechCelerator Spring Fling 12:00 – 1:00pm Sierra Montana Rec Center March 9th – 27th Household Hazardous Waste 7:00 – 10:00pm Collection Event 6th – 8th grade March 14th Residential Waste March 29th Sunday in the Park Cleanup Event Food Truck Festival Northwest Regional Landfill Live Music 7:00 – 1:00pm Mark Coronado Park March 16th Teen Field Trip 4:00 – 8:00pm U of A College Tour Free Admission 7:45am – 5:00pm March 17th Teen Field Trip If you have an upcoming community event that ASU College Tour you would like included in our monthly events 9:00am – 2:30pm calendar, please email Christie@AZLifestyleTeam. March 20th Teen Field Trip com. Submission deadline is the 15th of the GCU College Tour month for the following month.
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Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
March 2020
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Perspectives of a Teacher Mom Today, the views on homework, are different than they were decades ago. This is my professional opinion as well as my mom opinion (teacher-me and mom-me, are always arguing with each other in my head). When I was a student, my mom trusted the opinion of my teachers about homework. Completed homework would earn me a free personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut. (Remember the purple “Book It” pins? Am I showing my old age here?) My mother never questioned if it was academically appropriate for me or not. I just did the homework, because that was what was expected. Overall, trust between parents and teachers has dwindled (which is a whole different topic), including thoughts regarding homework. I’ll admit that the mom-me has questioned my kids’ homework. I was even guilty of stapling additional challenge pages into my son’s homework packets when he was in Kindergarten and 1st grade, because I thought that the practice coming home was too easy. I had to stop this around 2nd grade, because my son got wise to what I was doing. He also made sure to give his younger sister the heads up on this, when she started school. Darn!
madness. Teachers have different homework opinions too. It’s okay, and probably even healthy, for kids to experience different types, levels, and workloads, from year to year. Trusting your children’s teachers and encouraging your children to respect and put effort toward what is asked of them will help prepare them to become productive working adults someday. Afterall, we (teachers) really do want what is best for our students, just like we (moms and dads) do as well. Submitted by Theresa DeLong | Marley Park Resident
The teacher-me has talked to many parents about the homework debate, and parents fall into various camps. Some feel that homework is a great way to tap into the home/school connection and welcome any and all homework. In fact, those parents say, “give us more!” Shucks, those poor kids! Some find homework to be a nuisance that they just don’t have the time, patience, or ability to deal with, and don’t make it a priority to be sure their children do it. Shucks for those kids too. So... what’s the best homework camp? A camp, somewhere in the middle. Camp-Trust-Your-Child’s-Teacher! Teacher-mom-me, suggests trying to trust your child’s teacher on the method to their homework 6 Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
March 2020
Community Cares You may have heard of Friends of the Surprise Libraries, a non-profit organization that supports literacy in the community through programs offered at local libraries, grants available for local schools, and scholarships awarded to graduating high school students to assist with college tuition.
For more information about Friends of the Surprise Libraries, please visit FriendsoftheSurpriselLibraries. org/.
Scouting for Food
One in six Arizonans and one in four Arizonan youth experience food insecurity. In other words, they lack access to food or are unable to feed their entire household on a daily basis. Each January, after the holiday season, food banks In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday and National Reading Month, please consider donating gently experience their lowest donation rates. Every February since 1985, Boy Scouts of America used books to Friends of the Surprise Libraries. councils around the country partner with their Donated books are sold at “Friends’ Place,” the local food banks to collect non-perishable food second-hand bookstore inside the Northwest items as a part of the Good Turn for America Regional Library at 16089 N Bullard Ave in Surprise. Book donations are an important aspect project. Scouts distribute door hangers in their local neighborhoods and return the first Saturday of the organization’s fundraising efforts and may of February to pick up donated items. be dropped off at the library during regular business hours. You can also support Friends of This year, the Grand Canyon Council set a goal the Surprise Libraries by shopping at Friends’ of 20 pounds of food per scout, or around 23 Place or by volunteering your time stocking cans, to provide 23,000 pounds of food to shelves, pricing donations, and interacting with Arizonans in need. This was the first year that customers. Friends of Surprise Libraries accepts Surprise Troop 194 collected food from our monetary donations as well that may be tax Marley Park neighbors. Approximately 10 scouts deductible. distributed 500 flyers throughout a few neighborhoods and come see our large collected nearly 300 pounds of selection of outdoor accessories food. The food was then donated to the Valley View Food Bank in Sun City. Next year, we hope to expand into more neighborhoods in Marley Park and collect even more for those in need. Lord 20 year warranty PATIO FURNITURE Baden Powell, Founder of the OUTDOOR WALL ART world scouting movement, once Southwest decor METAL CACTI said “The most worthwhile thing RUGS is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.” Thank you to the neighbors who contributed to our 2020 Scouting for Food drive and helped bring happiness to families in need. shop local Submitted by Tina Mollica | 116 E Western Ave | Goodyear | 623-299-8000 Marley Park Resident NE corner litchfield rd & western ave Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
March 2020
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Happiness Matters “Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.” ~Hosea Ballou Researching different ways to be happy has been so much fun! As I strive to become a happier person, I have noticed a change in my attitude. Someone came up to me the other day and told me how much they enjoyed reading my articles and that, although they didn’t keep a gratitude journal, they still thought about their actions and thoughts, and tried to keep being positive and happy.
Call me old fashioned, but I love that these articles are printed in a real magazine. I like to be able to hold what I’m reading. I love tangible things. However, like every teenager, I am active in social media and I often find myself on it more than I’d like. Almost everyone I talk to says the same. Social media can be a wonderful thing; however, it can be toxic as well. As humans, we naturally compare ourselves to others. Social media shows the highlights of everyone’s lives; the photoshopped versions of what is going on in other’s lives. It encourages us compare ourselves to people in an often-negative way and
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hurts our self-esteem and self-love. Researchers have found negative impacts of social media such as feelings of depression, anxiety, and sadness. In order to try and improve these negative feelings, consider a social media fast. This means committing to a period of time, like a week, that you don’t use social media at all. This may not be possible for everyone, as some use social media for their job or business or for communication, but you can still try to cut down on social media usage. Many phones have tracking apps that will help you gauge how much time you are truly spending on social media so you can attempt to lessen it. I truly believe that if we reduce our social media usage by even 30 minutes a day, the outcome will be positive. “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” ~Abraham Lincoln Submitted by Olivia Black | Age 15 | Marley Park Resident
March 2020
Home Sweet Home A good friend of mine has a sign in her entryway that says “This house was clean yesterday. Sorry you missed it!” It always gives me a chuckle. I enjoy visiting a “lived-in” home. I have other friends whose homes look like model homes all the time. I love both styles the same.
For those who are a little more…flexible…when it comes to their home, the idea of decluttering and staging to prepare a home for sale can be overwhelming. Knowing that professional photographers will be capturing every corner of your home and that the photos and videos will be shared on hundreds of real estate websites can be intimidating. If you’re in the category described above and thinking about selling your home, look for an experienced REALTOR® who is an Accredited Staging Professional. Sometimes a little staging advice can take a home from “lived-in” to “model home” level in a weekend. Other times, however, homeowners are just too busy with life, family, pets, school, and jobs to properly prepare and stage a home for sale.
Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
A house might also need repairs or upgrades that are costly or inconvenient. If this describes your situation, look for a REALTOR® who works closely with the largest home buyers in Arizona and who can bring multiple cash offers for your home. Cash offers typically come with flexible closing dates that require NO staging, prep, or repair work in advance. An experienced agent will sit down with you and compare the pros and cons of accepting a cash offer against spending the time, effort, and money necessary to prepare your home for the traditional market. If, after reviewing all options, you decide to move forward with a cash offer, an agent who works with cash buyers can often represent your best interests at NO cost to you. On the other hand, if you decide that the traditional market is the best choice, then an experienced agent can certainly help you with that as well. You’ll want to ensure that the consultation is free and that you’ll be under no obligation to accept any offer, giving you the freedom to explore all available avenues for selling your home. Submitted by Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® | Arizona Lifestyle Team | HomeSmart
March 2020
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Spiritual Thoughts There is a sharp sadness in grieving that you can’t fully comprehend unless you have experienced it yourself. It is the moment when you begin to go through the possessions of the one you loved and lost. When my first husband passed away in an F-16 crash, one of his friends from the squadron had the heartbreaking task of requesting a flight suit for his Memorial service. My shaking hand reached for the flight suit that I was not ready to relinquish. I buried my head in the material, trying to preserve one last moment with the precious cloth. I loved that flight suit in that moment. If it had not belonged to my husband, it would have been just another piece of material. It would not have felt so precious to me. It was as if I was being asked to surrender my heart. There were many more moments after that one where I felt a strong love to his material possessions. There were outfits he wore regularly, Air Force coins and patches, and childhood memorabilia that tore at my heartstrings.
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If you knew me at all, you would know this tie to material things is incredibly uncharacteristic of me. I am an enthusiastic minimalist! Nothing brings me more joy than a good closet cleanout. So, why was I clinging to his possessions tightly when it was in my nature to live simply and with less stuff? The answer, as I have found the answer to be to most perplexing problems of this world, was LOVE! I did not love the things he left behind because they were precious to me. I loved the things he left behind because they were precious to him. I loved him deeply, so those things he loved were precious to me too! God asks us to love in same way. I love God something fierce! My heart belongs to Him. Anything that is precious to God is precious to me! If all of humanity is what He loves, I love all of humanity too. God asks us to love Him and love each other. If you love Him, you have no choice but to love others as well, because they are worthy and valuable to our Lord! Submitted by Josie Flancbaum | Marley Park Resident
March 2020
Announcements
Mia Rae was born on November 5th to Marley Park residents, Robert and Jimena Judelsohn. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and was 21� long. Welcome to Marley Park, Mia!
Oliva Elizabeth was born on December 18th to Marley Park residents, Matthew and Heather Gow. She weighed in 7 pounds, 13 ounces, and was 21� long. She joins big brother William who will be two this month. Welcome to Marley Park, Olivia! Photograph by Acapello Photography
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www.SuccentrixPhoenix.com Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
March 2020
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Recipe of the Month Several people reached out last month and said they enjoyed the Salsa Cream Cheese Chicken recipe that became a family favorite of ours while on the “Keto Diet.” This Arugula Salad with sautéed Shrimp recipe was submitted by Marley Park resident Dee Bissonnette, but judging by the ingredients, I think it qualifies as “keto-friendly” as well. Even if you’re not on the keto diet, spring is a great time to enjoy a light, refreshing salad and I can’t wait to try this one myself! Salad: 2 avocados diced 1 English cucumber sliced 3 Roma tomatoes diced 1/4 cup red onion sliced 1 cup arugula 2 Tablespoons olive oil 2 Tablespoons lemon juice salt and pepper 1/4 cup feta cheese
Shrimp: 1/2 lb shrimp 2 cloves of garlic 1 Tablespoon butter 2 Tablespoons Lemon juice Directions: In a large bowl combine avocado, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion and arugula. Gently toss. In a small bowl whisk the olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Add to the veggies and toss. Crumble feta cheese on top. Sauté shrimp with butter, garlic and lemon juice until cooked through. Add to salad. Enjoy! Submitted by Christie Giannetto | Marley Park Resident
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Pets Of The Month
Emmie and Millie, littermates, are eight-year-old happy terrier mixes. They rescued their human, Marley Park resident, Ruth Alley, from a Phoenix rescue that found them in a kill shelter in Yuma. They were only eight months old, had not been socialized, and had spent all their time alone in a yard. Emmie likes to chase lizards, play with her toys, go for walks, and take naps. Millie likes belly rubs, barking at animals on tv, teasing her sister, going for walks, and taking naps. Emmie and Millie walk their human, Ruth, at least twice a day and you often stroll the Arbor Walk throughout Marley Park. Be sure to stop and say hi next time you see them!
Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
March 2020
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March 2020
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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
COMING SOON
JUST LISTED
UNDER CONTRACT
SOLD FOR FULL PRICE
15249 W Georgia Dr
13152 N 147th Ln
12653 N 143rd Ln
15221 W Bloomfield Rd
15115 W Alexandria Way
Sq Ft ...............................2,773 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,800 Garage Stalls ...........................3 Amenities........................... Pool
Sq Ft ...............................3,695 Lot Sq Ft........................10,377 Bedrooms ................................6 Amenities .........................Casita
List Price....................$375,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,486 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,800 Price Sq Ft ......................$1515
List Price....................$298,600 Sq Ft ...............................2,455 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,680 Price Sq Ft ........................$122
Sold Price ..................$300,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,076 Lot Sq Ft..........................5,044 Price Sq Ft ........................$145
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
14555 W Wethersfield Rd
14329 W Voltaire St
14343 W Eugene Terrace
14201 W Valentine St
14349 W Surrey Dr
Sold Price ..................$399,706 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,256
Sold Price ..................$382,790 Sq Ft ...............................3,303 Lot Sq Ft..........................6,360 Price Sq Ft ........................$115
Sold Price ..................$370,190 Sq Ft ...............................3,303 Lot Sq Ft..........................6,390 Price Sq Ft ........................$112
Sold Price ..................$296,590 Sq Ft ...............................2,026 Lot Sq Ft..........................6,061 Price Sq Ft ........................$146
Sold Price ..................$254,890 Sq Ft ...............................1,465 Lot Sq Ft..........................4,060 Price Sq Ft ........................$174
Buyer represented by Christie Giannetto.
Buyer represented by Christie Giannetto.
Buyer represented by Christie Giannetto.
Buyer represented by Christie Giannetto.
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
13433 N 151st Dr
14886 W Valentine St
15348 W Dahlia Dr
13376 N 152nd Ave
14363 W Windrose Dr
Sold Price ..................$236,200 Sq Ft ...............................1,679 Lot Sq Ft..........................4,254 Price Sq Ft ........................$141
Sold Price ..................$400,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,719 Lot Sq Ft..........................6,960 Price Sq Ft ........................$147
Sold Price ..................$305,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,483 Lot Sq Ft..........................5,500 Price Sq Ft ........................$123
Sold Price ..................$275,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,337 Lot Sq Ft..........................4,125 Price Sq Ft ........................$118
Sold Price ..................$400,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,719 Lot Sq Ft..........................6,960 Price Sq Ft ........................$147
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 1/1/19.
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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