The Front Porch

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Our Emotional Support Dog Vader

Welcome to the July edition of The Front Porch magazine!

This month Marley Park residents are looking forward to The Star Spangled Celebration, the annual 4th of July pool party held at the Marley Park Heritage pool. A beloved tradition since 2006, the party is a great way to celebrate Independence Day with neighbors and friends while enjoying food, games, swimming, and music played by a DJ. The event takes place on July 1st from 4-7 pm, giving neighbors a chance to start their holiday celebrations early. The Marley Park Heritage pool provides the perfect setting for the event, with its spacious pool area and beautiful surroundings.

But that’s not all that’s in store for you this month. On July 15th from 10-11:30, there will be a Popsicle Party at Willow Pool! This is a great chance to cool off on a hot summer day and enjoy some refreshing popsicles with your neighbors. There will be a variety of flavors to

choose from, so bring the whole family and come ready to have some fun in the sun. This event is perfect for families with children, as it provides an opportunity for kids to have fun and make new friends while parents get to know their neighbors.

As always, we want to hear from you! If you have any feedback or suggestions for future issues of The Front Porch Magazine, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always looking for ways to improve and make this magazine even better for our readers.

I hope you’re enjoying your summer! After all, in the words of John Mayer, “Cause a little bit of summer is what the whole year is about.” See you on The Front Porch!

Christie Giannetto | Assistant Editor | The Front Porch Magazine

Give Back

Benevilla, a nonprofit organization based in the West Valley, is looking for compassionate volunteers to help provide essential services to older adults in the community. The organization is seeking summer heroes who can volunteer their time to provide assisted transportation to medical appointments, light handyman services, grocery shopping, in-home friendly visits, and phone pals. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals who want to make a positive impact in their community while gaining valuable experience.

Benevilla is committed to providing highquality services to older adults to ensure they can maintain their independence and quality of life. The organization has been providing these services for over 40 years and has built a strong reputation for its commitment to the community. By volunteering with Benevilla, you will be joining a team of dedicated individuals who are passionate about helping others.

Volunteering with Benevilla is a great way to

give back to the community. If you are a teacher or a student with free time during the summer, this is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience while making a difference in the lives of others. Likewise, if you are a bus driver or someone who enjoys providing assistance to others, this opportunity could be a perfect fit for you.

Volunteering with Benevilla is also a great way to meet new people and make new friends. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to interact with older adults in the community and learn about their experiences. You will also be able to connect with other volunteers who share your passion for helping others.

To become a Benevilla summer hero, you can contact the organization at 623-584-4999 or apply online at www.benevilla.org. The application process is straightforward, and the organization provides training and support to all volunteers. You will also be able to choose from a range of volunteer opportunities that suit your interests and availability. Apply today and become a Benevilla summer hero!

Submitted by Christie Giannetto | Marley Park Homeowner

Yum Yum

Tortilla Egg Roll-Ups

Ingredients

4 Large Eggs

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

4 whole grain tortillas (6-inch)

Optional mix-ins: finely chopped spinach, tomatoes, bell peppers

Preparation

1. Over medium heat, warm a 6-inch skillet.

2. In small measuring cup, scramble one egg.

3. Add 1 teaspoon of oil to skillet, pour in the egg, and swirl so it covers the bottom of the pan.

4. Sprinkle on 2 tablespoons of cheese and optional mix-ins.

5. Let egg cook about 30 seconds, or until the bottom is cooked, but the top is still a little wet.

6. Press 1 tortilla right on top of the wet egg, and cook another 30 seconds (the egg and tortilla will stick together.)

7. Using a spatula, flip the egg and tortilla over, and cook another 30 seconds until the egg is fully cooked.

8. Remove from pan, let cool slightly, then roll it.

9. Repeat for remaining eggs and tortillas.

10. Eat immediately or store covered in the fridge for up to four days.

You can even make extras to keep in the freezer for up to three months. Using these tips, you’ll be able to throw a crowd-pleasing get-together that your friends and family will be talking about all summer long!

Beat The Heat

Living in Arizona we are always trying to find a way to beat the heat! With temperatures rising here are a few tips on how to beat the heat this summer!

Limit the Amount of Sun Exposure in Your House. For those of you trying to keep your house as cool as possible during the summer, I recommend limiting the amount of sun exposure in your house. Of course, you are going to have a few blinds open so just close the ones in the rooms you aren’t in, so they stay cool. You can also try blackout curtains. Having the sunshine through the blinds can make your house hot quickly so this is a tip to take advantage of!

Avoid being outside for long periods of time

Sometimes it’s inevitable. So, when you are outside wear loose-fitted clothing, and sunscreen, take breaks in the shade and drink plenty of water. One thing I love using when I’m outside is a cooling towel. You run the cool towel under water for a minute, snap it, and put it around your neck. The towel stays cool for several hours and helps you beat the heat!

Learn the Bodies Best Cooling Points

In addition to avoiding being outside for a long period of time you should know how to cool yourself down. Learn the body’s pulse points or best cooling points for example the neck, wrists, elbows, and temples. You can use a cold water bottle, icepacks wrapped in a cloth, or any cold object.

Go for a Swim!

This is an obvious one but go for a swim! Going swimming is a requisite for summer. It’s a great way to have some fun and stay cool! Just don’t forget your sunblock.

Stay Hydrated!

I cannot express enough how important drinking water is especially during the summer. Staying hydrated regulates body temperature, prevents heat stroke, and helps during summer months when we sweat much more. Try keeping a water bottle with you wherever you go, I promise it will come in handy. I love my hydro flask because it keeps water cool for up to 24 hours. You can also buy an O2 Cool water bottle because it doubles as a mister!

Submitted by Riley LeBlanc | Marley Park Resident

Summer Memories

The Best Ways to Document Summer Memories! Buy a film camera

It doesn’t have to be expensive (I have a disposable camera I bought for 20 dollars.) But in my opinion handheld cameras are much better for capturing summer memories not to mention they are way more fun! You can buy a reusable film camera or a disposable one. Bonus if you buy an underwater camera! When your done print your photos and add them to an album or put them in a a frame and hang them in your home. There are also several apps to transfer your photos to your phone!

Start a scrapbook

Scrapbooks seem like such a foreign thing now but don’t be mistaken they are so fun. You can fill your scrap book with fun stickers, glitter, and other unique add ones. It’s such a relaxing activity and great when you want to look back on old memories.

Write in a journal

This is a lot different than scrapbooking. Here

you can write in depth about what happened each day. You can choose to write about events or write every day no matter the occurrence. This doesn’t even have to be a summer thing, journaling is great!

Sketch

I for one am not an artist so sketching would not be the best way for me to document my experiences. But for some this is the best way to document summer memories. You can hold on to the way the place made you feel and the memories of sketching.

Start a collection

This is more for those who will be traveling over the summer. You can collect plane tickets, postcards, or concert tickets. This can even go in your scrapbook! Or there are options to buy keepsake boxes on Amazon!

Create a video

This one is my absolute favorite. A few years ago I filmed a short clip of everything I wanted to remember on my month long road. It was such a memorable summer and I captured it all! I was able to put all clips together and add music using iMovie to create a short film. It was so great I got to keep all the videos together in one place!

Submitted by Riley LeBlanc | Marley Park Resident

Legal Advice

NON-STRESS PAY ON DEATH DESIGNATIONS

To avoid probate, beneficiary designations work well for accounts and real estate, if you are leaving assets to a few people or charities.

Without a beneficiary designation or trust, you can avoid probate only if the assets do not exceed $100,000 of real property, $75,000 in personal property (cash, accounts and tangible personal property), or you do not expect more than $5,000 in wages in the year after your death. For accounts, there several terms used: pay on death pay on death (or “POD”) or transfer on death (or “TOD”). For IRAs and 401ks, the terms “designated beneficiary” is used.

Financial institutions do not use the terms POD and TOD interchangeably. If you use one of the

terms and are told that the bank does not have that type of designation, then ask for the other type of designation, or even ask whether any beneficiary designation is available.

Remember never to list a minor on a designation for POD, TOD or IRA type account. A minor cannot receive more than $10,000 in a year without a court conservatorship; which is more costly than a probate and distributes the funds when the child reaches 18. In such cases, a revocable trust and Will are more effective and less expensive.

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

Home Sweet Home

You may see media coverage talking about a drop in homeowner equity. What’s important to understand is that equity is tied closely to home values. So, when home prices appreciate, you can expect equity to grow. And when home prices decline, equity does too. Here’s how this has played out recently. Home prices rose rapidly during the ‘unicorn’ years. That gave homeowners a considerable equity boost. But those ‘unicorn’ years couldn’t last forever. The market had to moderate at some point, and that’s what we saw last fall and winter.

As home prices dropped slightly in the back half of 2022, equity was impacted. Based on the most recent report from CoreLogic, there was a 0.7% dip in homeowner equity over the last year. However, the headlines reporting on that change aren’t painting the whole picture. The reality is, while home price depreciation during the second half of last year caused equity to drop, the data shows homeowners still have near record amounts of equity. And there’s more good news. Recent home price reports show the worst home price declines are behind us, and prices have started to go up again. As Selma Hepp, Chief

Economist at CoreLogic, explains: “Home equity trends closely follow home price changes. As a result, while the average amount of equity declined from a year ago, it increased from the fourth quarter of 2022, as monthly home prices growth accelerated in early 2023.” The last part of that quote is particularly important and is the piece of the puzzle the news is leaving out. To further emphasize the positive turn we’re already seeing, experts say home prices are forecast to appreciate at a more normal rate over the next year.

That means if you’ve owned your home for a few years, you likely still have way more equity than you did before the ‘unicorn’ years. And if you’ve owned your home for a year or less, the forecast for more typical price appreciation over the next year should mean your equity is already on the way back up. Context is everything when looking at headlines. While homeowner equity dropped some from last year, it’s still near all-time highs. Let’s connect so you can get the answers you deserve from an expert who’s here to help as you plan your move this year.

Submitted by Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® | REAL Broker

Puzzles

Did you know that puzzles can improve your overall mental health, enhance your mental speed, improve short-term and working memory, and promote more positive mood states? A solitary or collaborative activity, the act of putting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together has many rewards that can benefit you and your family’s mental wellbeing.

Puzzles Improve Memory - Working on jigsaw puzzles and similar tasks can improve your working and short-term memory as you mentally manipulate the pieces to fit together by size, color, and location, in addition to frequently recalling where pieces go and whether they fit together, or not.

Puzzles Improve Problem-Solving Skills and Concentration - When we are solving puzzles, we are reinforcing synaptic connections in our brain. They force us to look at different ways to solve a problem, and then we improve our capacity to come up with hypotheses, test those hypotheses, and adapt our perspective when it does or does not work out. Furthermore, the act of finding the puzzle pieces that fit together can improve our

perceptual abilities and concentration.

Puzzles Reduce Stress and Anxiety and Promote Adaptability - Research indicates that puzzles may be advantageous in delaying symptoms of certain disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease and dementias. Puzzles are said to stimulate regions of the brain that elicit feelings of accomplishment, connection, and comfort to people, as well as provide a sense of control. These benefits are enhanced when puzzle building is paired with interpersonal interactions, thereby promoting social supports and connectedness; a known protective factor against most physical and mental health conditions.

Simply put, puzzling is a fun and easy way to improve your overall mental wellbeing. Spending time alone with a puzzle is a great way to unwind and reset from a busy day, and working on a puzzle with others can be a great bonding exercise for everyone. Combined with a healthy support system and consistent care for your diet, exercise, and sleep schedule, this brainstimulating activity is even more effective.

Submitted

by Dr.

William Marsh, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director with Quality Management, at Southwest Behavioral & Health Services

Money Matters

To be successful in most endeavors, it’s important to develop good habits — and that’s certainly the case for investors. And the earlier one develops these habits, the better. So, if you have teenagers who may be starting to work at part-time jobs, now may be a great time to introduce them to investing — and one place to begin might be a Roth IRA. A Roth IRA is a popular retirement savings vehicle — its earnings can grow federally tax-free, provided withdrawals aren’t taken until the investor is at least 59½ and has had the account five or more years. But because a Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars, contributions can be withdrawn at any time, penalty-free, to pay for any expenses — including college. Roth IRA earnings can also be used to help pay for college, although these withdrawals will be taxable. However, if a child is the account owner, a lower tax bracket will likely apply.

In 2023, up to $6,500 per year can go into your teenager’s Roth IRA, as long as the amount contributed doesn’t exceed the amount of their taxable compensation for the year. And your child doesn’t have to put all the money in — you and the child’s grandparents can also contribute. In fact, you might want to “match” your child’s contributions up to the limit to provide an incentive for them to continue investing in the Roth IRA.

If you have a family business, you can employ your teen to provide income that can go into a Roth IRA. Furthermore, if the business is one parent’s sole proprietorship, or it’s a partnership in which each partner is the parent, the payments for a child younger than 18 are not subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. As an employee, your child must perform reasonable tasks necessary for the business and be paid reasonable wages — that is, wages comparable to what you’d pay a regular employee for the

same work. But wherever your child’s wages come from, using some of them to help fund a Roth IRA can be a good move. For one thing, it gives you a chance to explain the value of putting time on your side when you invest — simply put, the more years you invest, the greater your chances of accumulating the resources you need to meet your goals. And by helping your teen open a Roth IRA, which holds stocks, mutual funds or virtually any other type of security, you can discuss the different risk/reward characteristics of various types of investments — the kind of basic knowledge that all investors should have.

Once your teen’s first paychecks start coming in, consider bringing up the idea of opening a Roth IRA — you may well be opening the door to a lifetime of consistent and informed investing.

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 www.EstrellaPublishing.com