The Front Porch by Estrella Publishing

Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

March 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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March 2022

Welcome to your March edition of The Front Porch magazine!

immigrants to follow the proverbial rainbow westward where many found gold.

While St. Patrick’s Day is often overcommercialized with its emphasis on drinking green beer and overindulging in corned beef, it actually commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and is celebrated in more countries than any other national holiday. Today’s traditions originate from the lifting of the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol for the day. Legend has it that Saint Patrick used the three leaves of the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans, and from this stems the tradition of wearing green on Saint Patrick’s Day. Rainbows have several tie-ins with Saint Patrick’s Day and “the luck of the Irish,” one being the Christian view of the rainbow as a representation of God’s promise, and another being the willingness of early Irish-American

As you go forth this month, I encourage you to keep an eye out for little nuggets of luck that may come your way. More importantly, take time to reflect on ways you can create your own “luck” through hard work, perseverance, and determination. Write down one goal you have for yourself this month and work on creating the luck you need to make it happen. People often toss around the phrase “you’re so lucky…” with respect to another’s fulfilling job, happy marriage, well-behaved children, or…well…fill-in-the-blank! However, our accomplishments in life can rarely be attributed to luck alone. Of course, there are occasional “lucky breaks,” but even then, it takes determination and tenacity to seize the opportunity and turn a stroke of luck into an improved livelihood. One of my favorite quotes by Coleman Cox (but often incorrectly attributed to Thomas Jefferson) says “I’m a great believer in luck. I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” After all, the “luck of the Irish” was really about their willingness to follow the proverbial rainbow. Where will yours lead you? I hope that March brings you the kind of lucky breaks that make you say “whew, that was hard work…but totally worth it!” See you on The Front Porch!

Christie Giannetto | Assistant Editor | The Front Porch Magazine Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

March 2022

On Our Cover

When Piper became old enough to attend kindergarten, the family made the decision to homeschool. They felt it was best because her inability to communicate her needs made it safer for her to be educated at home. They have At six-and-a-half years old, Piper Day is a walking come to love the flexibility and freedom that jukebox. She has over 100 songs memorized and homeschooling allows. They take advantage of can sing every word by heart. She has an amazing Piper’s good days and don’t fight the bad days. voice and can carry a tune as though she has had years of voice lessons…but she hasn’t. In fact, Since they started homeschooling, Piper has she is considered non-verbal. Just before her learned the names of all the states, continents, fourth birthday, Piper was diagnosed with Autism oceans, planets, and major body organs. She and Sensory Processing Disorder. Her parents, can count and identify numbers. She can read Kandi and Vernon, noticed some delays when she and is obsessed with books. She can complete was around 18-months old. They enrolled her in 100-piece jigsaw puzzles in minutes. She loves early intervention therapies right away, including to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Her speech and occupational therapy, but had to wait diagnosis as non-verbal is no longer accurate; a year to see a developmental pediatrician and Kandi prefers the term “non-conversational” to get an official diagnosis. define Piper. Piper’s diagnosis came right around the same time that the Covid pandemic hit. The isolation was difficult for the whole family, as it was for most people in early 2020. Eventually though, they connected with friends in Marley Park with similar-age kids. Although Piper doesn’t communicate in the same way as neurotypical kids, she still needs and wants to socialize with peers. Their Marley Park friends have been amazing at including them in activities and that has made a world of difference for Piper.

When asked to describe her daughter, Kandi says “She’s the most lovable and amazing kid.” Kandi and Vernon are raising Piper to know that she is loved beyond measure, to believe that there are no limits to what she can achieve, and to understand that there is a place for her in this world, exactly the way she is. Submitted by Christie Giannetto | Marley Park Homeowner

MARLEY PARK LOAN OFFICER

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Arnaiz Mortgage LLC is a licensed Mortgage Broker in the state of Arizona. NMLS 2033319. Arizona - MB - 1013785. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to credit approval. Guidelines subject to change without prior notice. This information is provided to assist business professionals only and is not an advertisement extended to the consumer as defined by Section 226.2 Regulation Z.-EOE. Equal Housing Lender. 15331 W Bell Rd, Ste 212, Surprise, AZ 85374. (623) 806-4645

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March 2022

Biz Buzz

The last few years have brought incredible challenges to small and micro businesses (SMBs), plus some amazing stories of tenacity and survival. These businesses have seen enormous changes, fueled by consumer habits that are here to stay. If your small business does not yet have an online presence and hasn’t yet mastered ways to accept digitized payments online or in-store, now’s the time to get on board. E-commerce has grown exponentially and it’s not going anywhere. Plenty of tools and tactics are available to help any size business develop and grow their e-commerce capabilities. Here are some tips to help get your business where it needs to be. Create or improve your website Developing an attractive, seamless and userfriendly website is not only crucial to compete in today’s marketplace, but it can also be the difference maker in a business’ survival.

SVP Merchant Sales & Acquiring at Visa. “We’ve seen that SMBs who have embraced digital commerce and made changes to the way they operate not only have weathered the pandemic better but are also setting themselves up to thrive in the future.” Build customer loyalty and engagement Social media platforms can help you attract new customers, engage with them and reward their participation and loyalty. Creating content like blogs as well as encouraging customer reviews and postings can help build a sense of community with your customer base. You can also use technology to create a digital customer loyalty program, offering special discounts and promotions for your frequent buyers. Offering benefits like these motivates consumers to do business with you and creates positive buzz about your business. For more information on the programs Visa has made available to small and micro businesses visit the Visa Small Business Hub and the Visa Small Business COVID-19 support site.

If you don’t have a website, start here: * Make sure your web address/URL is easy to say, spell and remember. * Select a website host and platform. The host allows your website to have connectivity to the internet, while the platform helps you design and build your website. * If you don’t have a web designer on staff, hire a professional to design a website that’s easy to navigate, and that helps consumers quickly understand your business, its services or products. Create new ways for customers to make digital payments “More than ever, people are engaging across multiple channels - shopping online, in-store and through mobile apps,” said Jeni Mundy, Global Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

March 2022

Legal Advice

HEALTH CARE POWERS OF ATTORNEY

The medical healthcare power of attorney identifies an agent, such as a trusted family member or friend, who can give consent to medical treatment if you cannot. If insurance requires transfer to a skilled nursing facility before going home from the hospital, your agent can arrange that for you. Different from other states, the Arizona allows you to authorize your health care agent to follow your instructions for burial or cremation. Otherwise, when there is no surviving spouse, all of the children or other family members may have to be consulted.

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Another difference from other states is the mental healthcare power of attorney which helps avoid costly court intervention when there is mental illness, brain injury, dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Get in on the and see If a person doesground not haveﬂoor these healthcare powersyour of attorney, the court must give authority business succeed. to act. An attorney is needed for the patient Secure your space in White Tanks View magazine, and a different attorney for the petitioner. After covering Sierra Montana, Waddell Hacienda, a courtSurprise investigation, a Sterling hearingGrove is held in open Farms, and court—in about 45 days after a petition is filed. Time, money and privacy is saved by appointing an agent through healthcare powers of attorney. Submitted by 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, probate and trust administration. For more information 623.398.5541 sharonravenscroft.com. al@estrellapublishing.com

March 2022

Pet of the Month The boys are Sherlock McFluffyPants and his side kick Watson, owners of Nicole, Kevin, and Josephine Ludwick. They enjoy cuddles, chasing each other around the house, treats, and barking at all our neighbors. They dislike the UPS driver and pizza delivery guy. They equally bring love and frustration to our house, and the Ludwicks wouldn’t have it any other way!

Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

March 2022

Home Sweet Home

com offers perspective; “We expect that we’ll start to see a turnaround and inventory will stabilize and start to go up a little bit in The question I’m asked most often is if we are still 2022… But that means we’re looking at inventory in a sellers’ market. The answer is a resounding, levels of roughly half of what we saw before the YES. The number of buyers searching for a pandemic.” home greatly outweighs how many homes are available for sale. There are two main reasons If you’re a buyer in this market, stick with why. First, for the last 13 straight years, builders your search while interest rates are still low haven’t been able to construct enough homes and persevere through today’s low inventory. to meet the historical average demand for new Remember your goals and why finding a home is construction housing. That underbuilding left so important. Those things should be the driving us with a multi-year inventory deficit going into force behind your search. Share them with your the pandemic. Then, when the pandemic hit, it agent and be clear about your priorities. Your fueled a renewed appreciation and focus on the trusted advisor is your greatest support as you meaning of home. Having a safe space to live, navigate today’s low housing supply to find the work, school, and exercise became even more home of your dreams. important for Americans throughout the country. So, as mortgage rates dropped to at or below If you’re planning to sell this year, time is of 3%, buyers eagerly entered the market looking the essence. The sellers’ market is expected to capitalize on those low rates to secure a home to last for quite some time, but it won’t remain that would fulfill their changing needs. At the as strong as it today. Let’s connect to discuss same time, sellers hesitated to put their houses what’s happening in our area and why you should on the market as concerns about the pandemic prioritize selling today if you plan to move in mounted. The result? The number of homes 2022. available for sale dropped even further. Submitted by Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® | Experts are projecting more homes will soon REAL Broker become available thanks to sellers re-entering the market. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.

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

March 2022

Yum Yum Citrus Salmon Sheet Pan recipe Sheet pan salmon ingredients: 1 pound salmon 2 cups broccoli florets 1 small sweet potato, cubed 2 cups asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces

Directions for salmon: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Citrus glaze ingredients: 1 orange 1/4 cup soy sauce 1 tablespoon honey 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 garlic cloves, minced

Line the sheet pan with parchment paper. Coat the sweet potatoes with some oil, salt and pepper and bake for 5-7 minutes.

Directions for glaze: Cut the orange in half and slice half of it into thin slices. Large slices can be cut in half. Add to a bowl and combine with soy sauce, honey, salt and garlic cloves. Mix well and set aside.

· · · · · · · ·

While the sweet potatoes are baking make the citrus glaze. Remove potatoes from oven, add veggies and mix well. Create a middle section to add the salmon. Pour the glaze on top and bake for another 1518 minutes until salmon is cooked.

Open every night from 5 pm to 1 am Every child seen by a pediatrician Faster than the emergency room Online registration to get into queue or register for telehealth visit Telehealth visits from anywhere in AZ AHCCCS and most major insurance accepted, cash pay rates available Easy access off 101 and I-10 Rapid COVID testing available

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Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

March 2022

Announcements Kai Ryan Witte was born January 13th to Marley Park residents, Jamie and Rob Witte. He weighed in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 20 inches long. Kai joins his older brother Robbie, age nine. Welcome to Marley Park Kai!

Home Values are up in the Valley Call me today for help with your Mortgage Savings! • Remove Mortgage Insurance • Lower your monthly payment • Get into a shorter term • Cash out for home improvements

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Mortgage Professional, NMLS 1773956

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Disclaimer: Suburban Mortgage, Inc. is a licensed mortgage banker in the state of Arizona, AZ BK 0010123, NMLS 3089. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to credit approval; guidelines subject to change without prior notice. The information is provided to assist business professionals only and is not an advertisement to extend to the consumer; as designed by Section 226.2 Regulation Z. EOE Equal Housing Lender. AZ BK 0010123 / NMLS 3089

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March 2022

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

March 2022

Decorators Corner Spending the winter months indoors, living spaces can quickly lose their luster. There are plenty of ways, however, to revamp your home and the good news is you don’t have to spend a lot of time or money to do it. Here are four ways to give your home a fresh start:

Update your living space If you’re ready for a new look, adding some throw pillows is the best way to elevate your home’s décor. By adding throw pillows in various sizes and incorporating new colors, you’ll be amazed how it transforms your living room into a cozy oasis for your family. Freshen the air Adding a fresh scent to your indoor air provides a welcoming atmosphere. There are multiple ways to give yourself and your family a breath

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of fresh air. Try simmer pots with seasonal scents, candles or diffusers, and carpet deodorizer made from baking soda and essential oils, especially if you have pets. Bring the Outdoors In Houseplants are another excellent way to breathe life into your surroundings. Plants placed throughout the home can brighten and energize a room. Seek varieties that work with your aesthetic, lighting and space. In your quest to find the perfect plant, don’t overlook the planter. Go bold with patterns or colors to liven up a bland space that could use a punch of pizazz. Accent walls A fresh coat of paint can completely change the look of your home and freshen up dated living spaces. Choose a complementary or accent color to go on one wall with neutral colors on the other walls to perk up a room. Don’t want to paint? Easy-to-apply, removable wallpaper comes in a variety of colors, textures and patterns. Get creative with patterns and designs from jungle scenes to floral to geometric or retro. The best part is that you can remove it easily when you no longer enjoy it.

March 2022

Internet Safety Today, Americans lose more money to digital crime than to home burglary. About 80% of U.S. adults say they are not doing enough to protect their personal information online, however, most don’t know where to start conversations with their families about internet safety. Here are five tips you can follow to stay safe online 1. Get creative with passwords While it’s easier to remember a few passwords for many accounts, you are leaving your family open to identity theft and other cyberattacks. Update your passwords to consist of a random combination of letters, numbers and symbols. 2. Tighten up your social media privacy Most people provide personal information like their name, birthday, job and hometown on social media without a second thought. To help prevent identity theft, review the privacy settings for your social media platforms. 3. Don’t ignore updates Don’t ignore system and browser updates as they provide critical updates that protect against

hackers and fix any critical issues in software. When possible, enroll in automatic updates and use antivirus software, antispyware and a firewall on your computer.

4. Avoid suspicious websites When shopping online, it’s crucial to know what makes a website safe to explore. Check to see if “https” appears in the URL. Also, review the site for misspellings, grammar mistakes and lowquality images. 5. Stay alert for phishing scams Phishing attacks are emails, phone calls and texts that appear to come from a reputable source but attempt to instill fear and urgency in the recipient. Phishing scams offer too-good-to-be-true deals, urgent notification to reset an account login or contain an attachment or hyperlinks. To protect your family against phishing, teach your loved ones to: * Never share credit card details or sensitive personal information like your Social Security number via email or phone. * Don’t open any attachments or click embedded links. * Don’t download software from unknown email addresses.

623.398.5541

Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

March 2022

Word Scramble

The letters of the words below are jumbled country names. Figure out what the word is and write it on the blank line provided.

hndlabsgea __________________________

caadan ______________________________

lmoaciob ____________________________

gyeamm _____________________________

xcomei ______________________________

attuetndssei __________________________

indi _________________________________

asralkin ______________________________

pplnesphiii ___________________________

arcdeuo _____________________________

aorustchfai ___________________________ zarbainz _____________________________ goto ________________________________

iaatnazn _____________________________

kedmma _____________________________

1. BANGLADESH 2. CANADA 3. COLOMBIA 4. DENMARK 5. ECUADOR

6. GERMANY 7.INDIA 8. MEXICO 9. PHILIPPINES 10. SOUTH AFRICA

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11. SRI LANKA 12. TANZANIA 13. TOGO 14. UNITED STATES 15. ZANZIBAR March 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. To solve this Samurai puzzle use standard sudoku rules for every#23 9x9 grid: each digit from 1 to 9 Samurai Sudoku Puzzle can only appear once in every row, column and 3x3 box. Good Luck! are ourthe website www.EstrellaPublishing.com This samurai sudoku puzzleSolutions is a great way to on engage brain and help develop logic skills. There are 5 overlapping grids with 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.

8 3 9

4 1

3 2 7

9 3

1 1

2 5

9 3

4 8

5 7

6 4

4 5

Samurai sudoku grid, symmetric, beginner No 23 Created: https://www.sudoku-puzzles-online.com

Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine

6 8

9 1

8 9

March 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

Under Contract

Sold

15238 W Bloomfield Rd

14329 W Voltaire Street

15431 W Windrose Dr

15187 W Dahlia Drive

15429 W Surrey Dr

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

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

List Price.....................$750,000 Sq Ft ....................................3,946 Lot Sq Ft .............................9,108 Amenities .............................Pool ...........................FOUR car garage

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

Sold for $10k Over List

Sold for Full Price

Sold

Homestead at Marley Park

Buyer represented by Christie Giannetto

15239 W Bloomfield Rd

15228 W Alexandria Way

14884 W Georgia Dr

15451 W Valentine St

14916 W Georgia Dr

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

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 for $35k Over List

Sold for $30k Over List

Sold for $10k Over List

Sold

Sold for $10k Over List

12667 N 152nd Dr

12867 N 145th Ave

12359 N 152nd Dr

14955 W Alexandria Way

15217 W Georgia Dr

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

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

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

March 2022