The Front Porch

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Our Emotional Support Dog Vader

As the temperatures start to soar in Arizona, we hope this issue finds you all in good health and high spirits. Summer is officially here, and there’s no shortage of fun things to do in and around Marley Park. From outdoor activities to indoor entertainment, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this season.

For those who love the great outdoors, June is the perfect time to explore some of the many parks and hiking trails in the area. White Tank Mountain Regional Park is just a short drive away and offers stunning views of the valley. With over 30 miles of hiking trails, you’re sure to find a route that suits your skill level. I recommend

going early in the morning to beat the heat!

If you’re looking for something to do indoors, there are plenty of options as well. Phoenix is home to a host of museums for all ages and interests including, The Musical Instrument Museum, The Arizona Science Center, The Phoenix Children’s Museum, The Heard Museum, and The Phoenix Art Museum. Check with local libraries for free admission through the Culture Pass program.

Of course, with the kids out of school for the summer, it’s important to keep them entertained. Marley Park’s community pools and splash pads are a great option for keeping kids cool and having fun in the summer heat.

If all else fails, think of this quote by Sam Keen, “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.”…and give yourself permission to relax!

See you on The Front Porch!

Christie Giannetto | Assistant Editor | The Front Porch Magazine

P.S. As always, we want to hear from you! If you have a story to share or an event to promote, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We love hearing from members of the Marley Park community and are always looking for ways to feature your contributions in upcoming issues.

Welcome to the June edition of The Front Porch magazine!

Grillin’ Time

There’s nothing like sunshine, a warm breeze and the smell of delicious food on the grill. If you already have a grill, this is a great time to upgrade, so you can cook more dishes for bigger get-togethers, or to try a different kind of grill, letting you experiment with new techniques like using a smoker. What kind of grill is best for you? It depends on your space, what you like to cook and how you like to prepare it. First, ask yourself the following questions:

• How much time do you want to spend cooking? If you’ve got a busy schedule, you may prefer the convenience of gas or electric grills. However, if you love spending time perfecting the perfect outdoor meal, you may enjoy a charcoal grill, smoker or kamado grill.

• How much space do you have? Do you host frequent large gatherings? Go big on your barbecue size to optimize these special occasions. For a big backyard, a larger grill with a kitchen island can create a focal point for entertaining. But a premium portable or compact grill is your best option for a cabin or other vacation destination with limited space.

• What do you love to cook? Many grills offer extra features for particular foods. Think rotisseries if you love roasted chicken, or side burners for soups and stews. Crave the ‘za? Consider a grill with ample space for pizza stones.

To help you discover your next favorite grill, here are the features of five major grill types to consider when making your choice.

• Gas: If you want convenience and faster meal prep, a gas grill may be right for you. As with your kitchen stove, your food can be ready to cook in 10 minutes - and it’s easy to regulate cooking temperatures.

• Charcoal: If you love being hands-on with the nuances of outdoor grilling, a charcoal grill may be the choice for you. Some say charcoal provides the best flavor experience. You can use your charcoal grill for classic low and slow cooking - and high heat searing.

• Pellet: This a great option for people seeking optimal flavor. With available pellets in hickory, mesquite and oak, you can enjoy a truly flavorful cooking experience.

• Electric: If simplicity appeals to you most, an electric grill may be your best bet. Designed to produce constant heat and operate without an open flame - without charcoal or propanethey’re especially suited for apartment or condo dwellers.

Few products come in as wide an array of price ranges as grills, so almost anyone who wants a grill can find one that’s within their budget.

Yum Yum

Father’s Day Bacon Kebabs

Ingredients

RELISH

6 scallions, thinly sliced

1 serrano chile, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon toasted

sesame oil

½ teaspoon finely grated peeled ginger

½ teaspoon light brown sugar

Kosher salt

BACON AND ASSEMBLY

Vegetable oil (for grill)

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons tabasco

1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar

1 teaspoon Sriracha

½ pound thick-cut bacon

Lime wedges (for serving)

Directions

Step 1 - Toss scallions, chile, lime juice, oil, ginger, and brown sugar in a medium bowl to combine; season with salt.

Step 2 - Prepare a grill for medium-high, indirect heat (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side of grill; for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off). Oil grates. Combine honey, tabasco, vinegar, and Sriracha in a small bowl; set glaze aside.

Step 3 - Thread bacon onto 6–8 skewers, folding back and forth in accordion style, and grill over indirect heat, turning every minute or so, until browned and crisp, 10–12 minutes. Baste with reserved glaze, turning every 30 seconds or so, until lacquered and slightly sticky, about 3 minutes (move to an even cooler spot if needed to keep glaze from scorching). Serve bacon with relish and lime wedges.

Step 4 - Do Ahead: Glaze can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill.

Beauty Sleep

If you’re looking to improve your skin’s appearance, ask yourself: What are you doing for your skin while you’re asleep? Because about one-third of your day is spent sleeping, make the most of that valuable time by taking proactive steps so you can wake up with smoother, firmer, healthier-looking skin every morning.

“When you sleep, skin cell turnover rates increase, and your skin repairs itself from the day’s damage. But there’s more that you can do to help your skin while you’re sleeping,” says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, board-certified dermatologist. “By using a retinol serum at night, you can enhance the activities that are already naturally occurring. This can help your skin look its best when you wake up in the morning, and with continued use, improve radiance, texture and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”

Here are tips to revamp your nightly skincare routine so you’ll get the amazing results you want.

* Make sure to thoroughly remove dirt, grime and makeup

It’s vital to take time to cleanse your face before bedtime, removing all traces of makeup before applying serum and/or moisturizer. Otherwise, dirt, oils and makeup residue will be sitting on your skin all night long. After cleansing your face, use a retinol product that will refresh your skin overnight.

* Don’t neglect your pillowcases

If you’re going to press your face against a pillowcase for 6-8 hours every night, wouldn’t it be ideal to make sure yours are really clean? Wash your pillowcases frequently in hot water so you’ll be sleeping on a clean surface each night. Consider buying extra pillowcases so you can swap them out almost nightly. Your skin will thank you.

* Moisturize your bedroom, not just your face

If you have dry skin or live in an arid climate, it may benefit your skin to use a portable humidifier in your bedroom. Keeping your bedroom’s humidity levels between 40-60% will help your skin naturally absorb more hydration overnight, while you’re (literally) getting your beauty sleep.

Following these steps, you’ll soon see the results - a healthier, more youthful complexion that you’ll be happy to wake up to every morning.

Adolescent Mental Health Crisis

In the years following the pandemic, many people are struggling with their mental health, but according to a recent report from the CDC, teens are faring the worst. There are many driving forces behind the current mental health crisis. Social media makes the current generation feel pressured to be a certain way and achieve certain things in life. They do not yet have a filter to understand that what is portrayed online and through social media is not always real. The good news is that there appears to be less stigma around teens reaching out for mental health services than in previous decades. “Our clinicians often report that their new clients were encouraged to start therapy by their peers. This, in addition to schools focusing on mindfulness strategies and coping skills and more celebrities opening up about their use of therapy, continue to decrease the stigma around mental health,” says Melissa Baker, Director of Integrated Health for the JFCS Glendale Healthcare Center.

Telling the difference between normal teen angst and signs of anxiety or depression

All people experience anxiety and depression. When it becomes chronic, it’s no longer

temporary and gets worse over time. To a parent, teen anxiety could look like perfectionism, a sudden drop in grades, or changes in behavior. Behavioral health experts say listening is the best way to recognize normal angst and when it may be more. Teens often come right out and tell adults they’re not doing well.

What steps should parents take if they’re worried that their teen might be experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts?

If there is an urgent concern about someone thinking about suicide, call the Suicide Hotline at 988. If you believe someone is an active danger to themselves, call 911. If there is no immediate concern, talk to your teen about their feelings and don’t dismiss them. Monitor their social media, medications, and safely store (lock up) items they could use to harm themselves, such as firearms, medications, chemicals, and alcohol. Contact a local mental health professional for assessments and support services and follow through with any appointments.

What else can parents do to help a young person’s mental health?

According to Rachel Wahle, JFCS Director of Case Management and Health Navigation Services, the best thing parents can do for their child’s mental health is to talk to them and ask questions. “Encourage them to tell you how they’re feeling and really listen to them. We tend to want to fix problems for our kids, but that can make them feel like we aren’t listening or taking them seriously. Instead, offer to talk through and brainstorm ways they can move forward. Work together to come up with options and possible solutions. This will increase their ability to analyze and problem-solve independently as an adult, instead of relying on others to be the fixer.”

Legal Advice

NON-STRESS PROBATE WITH A WILL

The Last Will and Testament is the document that allows courts to re-title accounts and assets which are in your name (not a trust) and which do not have a beneficiary designation.

If you are leaving assets to adults (not minors), then you can use beneficiary designations and avoid probate. A Will is still a good idea to have as a backup for any account without a beneficiary; either because a beneficiary was not listed or a financial company lost the beneficiary designation. If your spouse has children which are not also your children, the Will also can assure that your spouse’s half of the community property goes to you. Otherwise, intestate laws apply and your spouse’s children will be entitled to one-half of the community property and one-

half of your spouse’s sole and separate property.

Be sure to keep your Original Will, because using a copy requires a formal court probate hearing. Evidence proving the Will was not revoked is needed when the original cannot be located. Wills need two witnesses and a specially worded affidavit so the Will can be probated without a hearing. A handwritten Will does not need witnesses or a notary if all of the dispositive provisions are in your handwriting and all pages are originals.

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 www. sharonravenscroft.com.

Submitted by Sharon Ravenscroft, Esq.

Home Sweet Home

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released its latest Existing Home Sales Report recently. The information it contains on home prices may cause some confusion and could even generate some troubling headlines. This all stems from the fact that NAR will report the median sales price, while other home price indices report repeat sales prices. Most of the repeat sales indices show prices are starting to appreciate again. But the median price reported on Thursday may tell a different story.

Here’s why using the median home price as a gauge of what’s happening with home values isn’t ideal right now. According to the Center for Real Estate Studies at Wichita State University: “The median sale price measures the ‘middle’ price of homes that sold, meaning that half of the homes sold for a higher price and half sold for less. While this is a good measure of the typical sale price, it is not very useful for measuring home price appreciation because it is affected by the ‘composition’ of homes that have sold.

For example, if more lower-priced homes have

sold recently, the median sale price would decline (because the “middle” home is now a lowerpriced home), even if the value of each individual home is rising.”

People buy homes based on their monthly mortgage payment, not the price of the house. When mortgage rates go up, they must buy a less expensive home to keep the monthly expense affordable. More ‘less-expensive’ houses are selling right now, and that’s causing the median price to decline. But that doesn’t mean any single house lost value.

Even NAR, an organization that reports on median prices, acknowledges there are limitations to what this type of data can show you. NAR explains: “Changes in the composition of sales can distort median price data.” Actual home values are going up in most markets. The median value reported tomorrow might tell a different story. For a more in-depth understanding of home price movements, let’s connect.

Submitted by Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® | REAL Broker

Men’s Health Month

June is Men’s Health Month, a reminder that annual exams and screenings may find potentially serious issues early, when your chances for treatment and a cure are better.

Men’s health issues don’t affect only men; they have a significant impact on everyone around them. People may not seek care until it is too late, and men often ignore signs of health issues. Your doctor may recommend various types of screenings based on age, family history and lifestyle choices. In general, some of the most important exams men should be getting are listed below.

Top health screenings for men

· Cholesterol – High cholesterol may increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. It has no signs or symptoms, so it’s important to get it checked to know for sure.

· High blood pressure – High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because it often has no warning signs. Be sure to get it checked regularly.

· Diabetes – Getting checked for diabetes

can help prevent heart disease and stroke. Monitoring your blood glucose may also prevent damage in your eyes, kidneys and nerves.

· Colorectal cancer – If you’re 45 or older, your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy. For a less-invasive alternative, you may opt for a stool-based screening every year. Ask your doctor what he or she recommends.

· Prostate cancer – At age 50+, men with average risk should talk to their doctor about whether to get screened for prostate cancer. If you have a higher risk, such as a relative who had prostate cancer, talk with your doctor beginning at age 40.

· Skin Cancer – Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Be sure to report any unusual moles or changes in your skin to your doctor.

· Lung Cancer – More than 80% of people who have lung cancer get it from smoking. If you smoke, the best way to lower your risk is to quit and ask your doctor if you need a screening.

These are just some of the most common health screenings that men should consider in order to keep their health on track. Your doctor may still recommend other screenings, tests or exams depending on your health risks, lifestyle and other relevant aspects of your overall health.

Abrazo Health offers free online health assessments can help you identify issues and areas to discuss with your doctor. Visit abrazohealth.com/healthassessments for information on diabetes, colorectal cancer, heart health and more.

Submitted by Abrazo Health

Money Matters

If you save and invest for decades, you’d like to know you can retire without financial worries. Nonetheless, you still have to be aware of some threats to a comfortable retirement — and how to respond to them. These threats include:

• Inflation – Even a mild inflation rate can seriously erode your purchasing power. With just a 3% inflation rate, your expenses could double in about 25 years. So, if you’re going to rely on your investment portfolio for a sizable part of your retirement income, you will need to own a reasonable number of growth-oriented investments, such as stocks or stock-based funds, whose potential returns can equal or exceed the inflation rate.

• Excessive withdrawals – Once you retire, you should establish a withdrawal rate for your portfolio — an amount you can take out each year and still feel secure that you won’t run out of money. Your withdrawal rate should be based on factors including your age at retirement, the size of your portfolio and the amount of income you receive from other sources.

• Market volatility – The financial markets will always fluctuate. When you’re still working, this volatility may not be such a problem, but when you retire, you don’t want to have to sell investments when their price is down. To help prevent this, you can tap into the cash in your portfolio, assuming you have enough to cover several months’ worth of living expenses.

• Unexpected costs – You had them when you were working, and you’ll probably have them when you’re retired. If you’ve established an emergency fund containing a year’s worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid account, you may be able to “ride out” these costs without jeopardizing your investment portfolio.

• Health – Retirees may face more health concerns than younger people, and those concerns often come with larger medical bills. That’s why it’s important to maximize the benefits from Medicare or your Medicare Advantage plan.

Retirement can be a pleasant time in your life — and you’ll enjoy it more if you’re prepared for the challenges that face all retirees.

Submitted by Wayne Polk, AAMS, Financial Advisor, of Edward Jones

Samurai Sudoku

This samurai sudoku puzzle is a great way to engage the brain and help develop logic skills. 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