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Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
May 2021
1
Huge Customer Deals and Savings Owner Mason Ashton
Maintenance Landscaper
Catherine Uretsky Publisher & Editor
Christie Giannetto Associate 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 © 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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LANDSCAPE DEALS
• One Time Maintenance Services • Recurring Maintenance Services • Lawn Mow & Edge • Hedge Trimming • Weed Treatments With Emergents Pre & Post Eme • General Yard Clean-Up • AND MORE!
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May 2021
Welcome to your May edition! The Marley Park Community Cares Club was started by a former resident, and I became chairperson shortly after we moved to the neighborhood. The main function of the club is to deliver meals to families welcoming new babies, neighbors who have had surgeries or health challenges, and residents who have experienced a death in the family. In addition to meals, we also place the signature Marley Park wooden stork outside the homes of neighbors welcoming new additions. Our current volunteer “Stork Guy,” Olav de Vlieger, and I are the only two official members of the group, but it is the combined efforts of our amazing Marley Park neighbors who volunteer to bring meals that has kept the group going all these years. On average, we collectively deliver nearly 100 meals per year to neighbors in times of need! This past month, I found myself in the ER with severe abdominal pain that resulted in surgery. I will spare you the details, but for the first time 602-298-1161 since moving info@keymgmtcoinc.com to Marley Park www.keymanagementarizona.com nearly eight www.keymgmtcoinc.com years ago, I found myself on
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Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
the receiving end of our caring neighbors. In fact, so many people offered to bring meals that I had to ask a friend to help organize the schedule. At first it felt strange to accept help, but it was amazing to have so many friends offer while I recovered and it was a huge burden lifted to not have to worry about dinner every night while I was dealing with pain and fatigue, post-surgery. The experience reminded me how grateful I am to have such wonderful friends in my life and that I’m proud to be part of such an amazing community. If you are interested in participating in the Community Cares Club, please join The Front Porch group on Facebook or email me at Christie@AZLifestyleTeam.com. If you know of a neighbor in need, or if you yourself are in need, please reach out via Facebook private message, email at Christie@AZLifestyleTeam.com, or call/ text 602-740-2313. The Marley Park Community Cares Club has always been and will always be dependent on kind and caring neighbors like YOU to participate. After all, “Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” ~Booker T. Washington See you on The Front Porch!
Christie Giannetto | Assistant Editor | The Front Porch Magazine Cover Photo of the Pierce Family, courtesy of Carson Cavaletto
May 2021
3
On Our Cover
“Race you!” A familiar phrase to any mom of multiple kids on the way to the car at the end of the school day. Jogging to keep up, Brandy was right behind her three kids, including then 5-year-old Payton, when the little girl slipped on a patch of gravel on the sidewalk. She went down hard and hit her head on the concrete. Brandy picked her up to comfort her and noticed a patch of blood near her ear. As parents, we constantly struggle between protecting our kids from harm and giving them enough freedom. Brandy will be the first to tell you though, that some things are simply out of our control. Although Payton had not lost consciousness, Brandy thought she might need stitches. The ER doctor who did the initial evaluation said Payton was fine, mentioned the possibility of doing a CT scan, but decided to discharge her. Brandy believes God was watching out for her daughter that day though. It was shift change at the hospital and the doctor on the next shift decided to call for the CT scan before discharging Payton.
The CT scan showed a skull fracture and brain bleed that would have taken Payton’s life if she had gone home that day. After an emergency craniotomy (hole cut in the skull) to repair a broken blood vessel that was causing blood to pool in her brain, Payton was left with 64 staples in her head and a long road to recovery in front of her. She spent a total of 29 days in the hospital, the first 12 days in an induced coma with a spinal fluid drain to help bring down the swelling in her brain, followed by inpatient rehabilitation where she had to relearn how to walk, talk, and even potty-train. After Payton was released, she spent another four months in outpatient therapy several times each week. Brandy and Aaron had relocated to Arizona from the Midwest just a few months before Payton’s accident. After living in the Anthem area for a while, they decided to make their long-term home in Marley Park last summer. Payton is 7 years old now and in 1st grade at Marley Park Elementary, along with her two big brothers who are in 4th and 7th grades. She is doing great, and Brandy says she is proof of God’s miracles. Submitted by Christie Giannetto | Marley Park Resident
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May 2021
Home Sweet Home For generations, the homebuying process never really changed. The seller would try to estimate the market value of the home and tack on a little extra to give themselves some negotiating room. That figure would become the listing price of the house. Buyers would then try to determine how much less than the full price they could offer and still get the home. The asking price was generally the ceiling of the negotiation. The actual sales price would almost always be somewhat lower than the list price. It was unthinkable to pay more than what the seller was asking. Today’s real estate market is different. The record-low supply of homes for sale coupled with extraordinarily strong buyer demand is leading to a rise in bidding wars on many homes. Because of this, homes today often sell for more than the list price. In some cases, they sell for a lot more. According to the Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report just released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 45% of buyers paid full price or more. If you are thinking of buying, you may need to change the way you look at the asking price of a
Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
home. In this market, you likely cannot shop for a home with the old-school mentality of refusing to pay full price or more for a house. Today, the asking price of a home is often becoming the floor of the negotiation rather than the ceiling. Therefore, if you really love a home, know that it may ultimately sell for more than the sellers are asking. As you are navigating the homebuying process, make sure you know your budget, know what you can afford, and work with a trusted REALTOR® who can help you make the strongest offer possible. If you are thinking of selling, it is imperative that you work with a REALTOR® who understands today’s market as well. A good agent will recommend a competitive list price, collect offers for several days, and then leverage multiple offers to get the highest and best possible offer for the seller. Whether you are buying or selling, reach out to an experienced real estate specialist today. In this market, it is more important than ever to have a trusted agent working in your best interest. Submitted by Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® | Arizona Lifestyle Team | HomeSmart
May 2021
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May 2021
Pet Of The Month Daisy is a 6-year-old Beagle mix. She owns Marley Park residents, Jayne, Jill, and Jacklyn Mitchell (ages 15, 14, 10). She is a rescue dog and was the last one out of her litter. Daisy likes to sleep on anything comfortable. She rarely sleeps on the floor. She likes to snuggle and really loves to run and play.
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Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
May 2021
7
Spiritual Thoughts
Getting my kids dressed in the morning should be a seemingly easy task to accomplish. They are all old enough and perfectly capable of putting on a t-shirt, pants, socks, and shoes. Yet this part of the morning routine produces tears almost every day. Most of which are provided by our four-year-old, Ava.
Ava is a princess enthusiast. She loves tiaras, glitter, ruffles, and pink. However, the thing that makes Ava feel 100% princess is a dress. She asks to wear one. Every. Single. Morning. Aside from the fact that we do not own enough dresses to keep up with her demand, Ava does not play like a princess. She is a climbing, jumping, swinging, sliding, get-out-of-my-way kind of girl. This makes a dress a bad choice for school, but Ava wants control of what she wears. As a fellow control freak, I feel her pain. I do not like people telling me what to wear, how to act, how to think, or how to feel. I like having control. It makes me feel comfortable. It makes me feel safe. Unfortunately, it also makes me a bully sometimes.
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I have used anger, rejection, and emotional manipulation to get people to comply with my way. It scares me when people go rogue and have behaviors, values, and beliefs that differ from mine. I cannot control that. This always made me fearful and uncomfortable until God showed me that it is not my job to control people. God has called us all to be free. We are all free to think, feel, and act independently, even of God. That is how important freedom is to God. He allows us to have the freedom to make our own life decisions, even when those decisions take us away from Him. Even when those decisions are not wise and cause us harm. From God’s example, I now can proclaim I am a recovering control freak. I respect other people and the independence they have been freely given. I am called to love people no matter how they act, value, or behave. I embrace that I have the same freedom to think, to believe, to feel, and to act as I want. And as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Submitted by Josie Flancbaum | Marley Park Resident
May 2021
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Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
May 2021
9
Teen Talk
because without a life balance we can see a decline in many areas in our lives.
“It’s all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends and family.” -Philip Green We have now passed the one-year anniversary of when the Coronavirus shut down much of the United States. As a student, I remember going on spring break and never going back to school. I know · Open every night from 5 pm to 1 am · Every child seen by a pediatrician that personally, · Faster than the emergency room I have had a · Online registration to get into queue difficult time or register for telehealth visit · Telehealth visits from anywhere in AZ finding balance · AHCCCS and most major insurance in my life. It is accepted, cash pay rates available hard to juggle · Easy access off 101 and I-10 · Rapid COVID testing available family, friends, and work. That 623-643-9233 is why I decided GoodNightPeds.com to address life balance this 10320 W McDowell Rd Bldg. L, month, Avondale
A healthy balance may look different depending on the person. For example, I have a specific amount of work I must finish each night for school, and that is not something that I can push off. Others may have more flexibility, so their schedule will depend on their responsibilities. However, it is important to still take time for other things in life because pushing yourself too hard with work can often lead to burnout, which is more unproductive and damaging than taking a break. Contrarily, too much fun time can cause poor habits and can lead to a different type of burnout, which is also difficult to overcome. I know it has been difficult to create any type of routine lately, because everything seems to be in a constant state of change. Despite the uncertainty, I encourage you to actively pursue a balance between your time dedications in your life. While many things may be beyond our control, one thing I have learned is that a good life balance can really have a positive effect on my life. Submitted by Emily Poling | Age 16 | Marley Park Resident
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WE WILL NOT BE UNDERSOLD! 10 Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
May 2021
Decorating 411 A question that I am often asked is, “How do I get the fresh, high-end look I love but still have a kid- friendly home?” If you have a family, white couches and expensive rugs might make you cringe. Kids are hard on homes. Although you should factor them in to your design, kids do not mean that you have to sacrifice the look you love. Here are some tips on creating a home that your whole family can love.
Use baskets throughout your home to make easy cleanup for toys and games and conceal clutter. A basket near the front door creates organization for shoes.
Finally, create a dedicated space for the kids. If you don’t have the space for a separate playroom, a nook in the family room works great! Submitted by Kasey Smith | Marley Park Resident
Choose sofas and chairs that are upholstered with slipcovers in washable and stain-resistant fabrics. Indoor/outdoor fabrics are also family friendly. Find durable dark wool rugs. Wool rugs are more expensive than synthetics, but they wear better and are easier to clean as they repel liquids and dirt. Want something less expensive, or lighter feeling? Choose a flat weave rug in washable cotton or indoor/outdoor materials.
Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
May 2021
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Photo Of The Month Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated with the colors of sunrise and sunsets. Having recently moved to Arizona and purchased my first home here, I can honestly say, Arizona has some of the best. How lucky are we to experience this twice a day, every single day! Photography has been my passion for over twenty years. The photo here was taken with a Hasselblad camera, fixed to the Mavic Air 2 drone. I love showing people a different perspective and try to capture the unmanageable shot. Submitted by Erik Maurstad Marley Park Resident
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May 2021
Perspectives of a Teacher Mom I won’t bore you with statistics, but teachers overwhelmingly agree that fine motor skills are lacking in youngsters coming into school. It probably will not surprise you, that technology seems to be one of the biggest reasons for that. More and more children can use a cell phone or tablet with ease, but have trouble writing and using scissors. Not to worry, I have some fun ideas for supporting good fine motor stamina, just in time for summer vacation! My own children always loved using play dough. We’d do the fun things along with educational concepts (forming numbers and their names in the dough), but just maneuvering and squeezing of that stuff, helped to build up hand strength. Something really amusing to do with play dough, is to cut it with scissors. It’s oddly satisfying, provides some scissor practice that’s fun, and hand muscle stimulation as well. I preferred making my own salt dough, because I could make a lot of it for cheap, and it was totally safe if it ended up in little mouths. You can make it by mixing 3 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water, and 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Food coloring is optional.
I bought a set of lettered beads because my kiddos enjoyed spelling simple words, or even just picking out the alphabet, with the beads. They liked to thread the beads onto bracelet string, and wear them, or give them as gifts. Once that became less thrilling, I gave them tweezers that they could use to pick up the beads. Setting a timer to see how many they could pick up in a minute, was a fun game too. Threading, and using the tweezers, is an awesome way to build up hand strength. Believe it or not, playing a good old-fashioned game of cards (any game with cards that requires kids to hold a few in their hands, while playing) is a fun way to help kids practice their fine motor dexterity. It may sound simple, but there’s a reason that they make card holders for little kids now...it’s not easy! Play dough, beads, and card games...sounds like a wonderful summer to me. Submitted by Theresa DeLong | Marley Park Resident
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Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
May 2021
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Puzzles & Games wife maternal resourceful protector loving blessed responsible understanding brave caring tenderhearted console motherhood roses foster woman teacher family supportive parent miss
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protective strong soothe lady mommy giving flowers hardworking cook grandma read loved card unafraid inherit daisy cake
May 2021
Samurai Sudoku Samurai Sudoku Puzzle #03
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 9x9 grid: each digit from 1 to 9 can only appear once in every row, column and 3x3 box.
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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 9x9 grid: each digit from 1 to 9 can only appear once in every row, column and 3x3 box. Good Luck! Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing. com
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Samurai sudoku grid, symmetric, beginner No 3 Created: https://www.sudoku-puzzles-online.com
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15
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
UNDER CONTRACT
UNDER CONTRACT
SOLD FOR $25K OVER APPRAISAL
SOLD FOR $15K OVER LIST
14748 W Surrey Dr
14955 W Alexandria Way
15171 W Andora St
15227 W Bloomfield Rd
12378 N 153rd Ln
List Price..................Call for Info Sq Ft ...............................2,104 Lot Sq Ft..........................5,400 Amenities........................... Pool
List Price....................$360,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,092 Lot Sq Ft..........................4,483 Amenities ............... Bonus Room
List Price....................$415,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,607 Lot Sq Ft..........................5,176 Amenities..............Total Remodel
Sold Price ..................$520,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,929 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,680 Amenities ........................... Pool ..............................3-Car Garage
Sold Price ..................$335,000 Sq Ft ...............................1,353 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,483 Amenities ....... Amazing Backyard
SOLD FOR $10K OVER LIST
SOLD FOR $30K OVER LIST
SOLD FOR FULL PRICE
SOLD FOR FULL PRICE
SOLD
14299 W Valentine St
15306 W Surrey Dr
14973 W Alexandria Way
15145 W Alexandria Way
17425 W Willow Ave
Sold Price ..................$355,000 Sq Ft ...............................1,915 Lot Sq Ft..........................4,483 Amenities ................ Wood Floors Homestead at Marley Park
Sold Price ..................$430,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,022 Lot Sq Ft........................13,909 Amenities.................. Double Lot
Sold Price ..................$350,000 Sq Ft ...............................1,915 Lot Sq Ft..........................4,483 Amenities ................ Wood Floors
Sold Price ..................$300,000 Sq Ft ...............................1,517 Lot Sq Ft..........................3.968
Homestead at Marley Park
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
15169 W Corrine Dr
14932 W Voltaire St
12730 N 154th Ln
14148 W Willow Ave
15261 W Valentine St
Sold Price ..................$361,500 List Price....................$360,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,418 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,593 Amenities............... 3 Car Garage
Sold Price ..................$280,000 Sq Ft ...............................1,382 Lot Sq Ft..........................6,342 Amenities ...... Beautiful Backyard
Sold Price ..................$345,000 List Price....................$340,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,085 Lot Sq Ft..........................6,600 Amenities ............ Mountain View
Sold Price ..................$289,895 Lot Sq Ft..........................3,600
Homestead at Marley Park Buyer Represented by Arizona Lifestyle Team Buyer Specialist.
Buyer Represented by Arizona Lifestyle Team Buyer Specialist.
Sold Price ..................$440,000 Sq Ft ...............................3,394 Lot Sq Ft........................10,680 Amenities .............. 4 Car Garage
Your Marley Park Neighbor and Real Estate Specialist *Information obtained from Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service. Excludes new construction. As of 1/1/21.
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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