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Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
August 2020
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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 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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August 2020
Welcome to your August edition! It’s hard to believe August is upon us. March seems ages ago and at the same time, seems like just yesterday. So much has happened since then…and so much has not happened. As schools across the state prepare to begin the school year this month, nearly every parent of school-aged children is wondering how they are going to navigate the myriad challenges we will all be facing this year. Some parents are eager to send their kids back to school in-person as soon as the option is
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available. To those parents, I commend you. The decision is not an easy one when social distancing will be required and new safety protocol such as mask-wearing will be necessary. Some parents are opting to commit to online learning for their kids for the foreseeable future. To those parents, I commend you. The decision is not an easy one, knowing how much your kids will the in-person interaction with their teachers as well as their friends and classmates. Some parents are opting to homeschool their kids this year. To those parents, I commend you. The decision is not an easy one, knowing you are taking on the huge responsibility of educating your children at home during a time when normal activities outside of the home are restricted. As a parent myself, I know that the one thing we all have in common is that we want what’s best for our kids. What’s best is going to look different for every family during these unprecedented times, but parents are some of the strongest, most determined people on the planet, and I have faith that we will each figure out a solution that works for our families. If we all go forth with kindness in our hearts and grace for the difficult decisions that we are all facing, I believe we will find a way for this school year to be successful for each of our kids. After all, in the words of Mark Twain, “Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” See you on The Front Porch!
Christie Giannetto | Assistant Editor | The Front Porch Magazine August 2020
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On Our Cover Jessica Felix grew up in Sedona and earned a BA in Education followed by a master’s degree in Administrative Leadership from NAU. Kara Sehr grew up in Michigan and earned a BA in Education from Western Michigan University. They both moved to The Valley in 2005 to begin their teaching careers. After moving to Arizona, Kara continued her education at NAU and earned her master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Their paths first crossed in 2015 when they became Assistant Principals at two different schools in the Tolleson School District.
After becoming colleagues, Jessica and Kara discovered they had also been Marley Park neighbors since 2011. Colleagues, then neighbors, then eventually friends, the two women have found they have lots in common. Their husbands are both in education as well and they began their families around the same time and have similar aged children. They chose Marley Park to raise their families for all the same reasons everyone seems to love Marley Park… the trees, grass, parks, family atmosphere, and community cohesiveness.
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When the Assistant Principal position at Marley Park Elementary opened in 2018, Jessica was hired to fill the role. She quickly advanced to Principal when that position opened the following year. Then, Kara was hired to be Marley Park’s Assistant Principal. Co-leading a school through the crisis of a global pandemic has brought them closer than they could have ever imagined…while remaining socially distanced, of course. Jessica and Kara, better known as Mrs. Felix and Mrs. Sehr around the neighborhood, both say they genuinely enjoy serving the community in which they live. They look forward to seeing students and parents while out on walks or bike rides with their own families. Managing a school during an unprecedented public health crisis has not been easy, but these women make it look so! With the school re-opening date uncertain, they are thankful that Dysart is prepared to offer multiple options so families can choose the best fit for their children’s education and safety. They are looking forward to welcoming students back to school as soon as it’s safe. Until then, they will remain focused on “Building Excellence for All” at Marley Park Elementary. Submitted by Christie Giannetto | Marley Park Resident
August 2020
Let Grow Surprise A meme I saw on social media the other day read, “Is COVID19 sponsored by banana bread”? Another one read, “If you didn’t bake banana bread during quarantine, were you even IN quarantine?”
philosophies in mind and, at age 9 and 7, our kids have been allowed more freedoms than most of their peers. Like so many others Finding opportunities for during the past few “freedoms”, however, months of stay-athas proven challenging home orders and over the past few social distancing months. Instead of guidelines, I decided encourgaing our kids to to break out my be independent out in the community, we’ve Grandma’s old banana had to find ways to foster indepedence at home. bread recipe. Instead Learning their way around the kitchen has been of baking it myself an ideal way to help them gain confidence and though, I gathered the important life skills without leaving home…and ingredients and put the the results have been delicious! kids to work. If you’re interested in implementing #LetGrow The “Let Grow philosophies with your kids, join the “LetGrow | Foundation,” Surprise” group on Facebook. established by Lenore Skenazy, aims to counter the culture of overprotection. My husband and Submitted by Christie Giannetto| Marley Park I have chosen to parent with the “Let Grow” Resident
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August 2020
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Perspectives of a Teacher Mom Teacher-me has some pointers for our upcoming school year. Of course, Mom-me will argue with Teacher-me, about how it’s easier said than done to be prepared for yet another unprecedented time, as far as school goes. I mean, students from kindergarten to 12th grade, missed out on participating in everything from water day, to end of year dances and parties, to say nothing of graduation. Now we are about to start a new school year, virtually...and many of us are feeling anxious about it. So, here they are: The 4 S’s of Screen Schooling!
Tip 1: Stay positive, even if you feel hesitant about things. Children take their cues from us. If we show anger, fear, or frustration about how things are, then they will likely take that on too. Tip 2: Stick to a schedule. This won’t be like the emergency closure ending that we all had to muddle through. Schools are more prepared this time. We’ve got this! If your child’s school is less rigid in their scheduling, that’s ok...you can set your own schedule. Whatever schedule you set, make that among the most important part of your child’s virtual school experience. Along with
this, do your best to set an appropriate school day bedtime, and wake time. Getting dressed for the day, rather than staying in PJ’s, will help make things feel more normal too. Tip 3: Set a workspace. Dedicating a workspace for your child, can help them separate school time from home time. Even if your child doesn’t have a desk at home, a designated spot at the kitchen table, or corner of their bedroom, can assist your child in getting their brain ready to participate in their academic activities. Tip 4: Socialize! However you can manage it, make sure your kids are talking. I know that with social distancing, their clubs, sports, and friend time, may be nonexistent, or look really different than what they are used to. It’s so important that they still find a way to talk with family and friends, so as not to feel lonely. Technology can help with this, so be sure to explore options for video communication. Best wishes to you all, as we dive into this new school year! Submitted by Theresa DeLong | Marley Park Resident
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August 2020
Happiness Matters “Confidence is 10% hard work and 90% delusion.” ~Tina Fey
With the start of school and hopefully back to something resembling normal, I think happiness is in short supply. Last month’s challenge was to fake it until you make it, and I have tried to do that whenever something doesn’t go my way. I tried to act like it didn’t bother me, and tried to look for the good, but sometimes it was challenging. I think that we also need to remember that it is okay to have hard times, because it makes the good times better. With that thought, I know that I haven’t been excited to go back to school. I have been worried about what my peers will think of me, because they haven’t seen me in so long. I am worried about everyone liking me and me not being enough for some people. This lack of confidence is going to bring me down. Which brings me to this month’s challenge; to have confidence.
Estrella Publishing - The Front Porch magazine
As the quote above says, confidence is mostly delusion. However, confidence increases happiness because it means that we love ourselves first. Confidence is something I have struggled with for a while. I compare myself to others, think about my mistakes, or worry about what others think of me, but this doesn’t define us. We need to see our self-worth, and doing that, brings confidence. Confidence brings happiness and makes our lives better. Just realizing that we are all unique and many of the people you compare yourself to are probably struggling with the same things. Realize that you are the most awesome person. You ARE beautiful. Take time to be confident and carry yourself with pride. Happiness will increase with your confidence. “Self confidence is a super power; once you start carrying yourself with confidence, magic starts happening.” ~Unknown Submitted by Olivia Black | Age 15 | Marley Park Resident
August 2020
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Home Sweet Home Inventory is arguably the biggest challenge for buyers in today’s housing market. There are simply more buyers actively looking for homes to purchase than there are sellers selling them, so the scale is tipped in favor of the sellers. Inventory is well below what was available last year, and the houses that do come to the market are selling very quickly. There are many reasons why it’s hard to find a home to buy today, stemming from an undersupply of newly constructed homes to sellers pressing pause on their moving plans due to the current health pandemic. One of the key factors making it even more challenging is the amount of time current homeowners are staying in their homes. There has truly been a fundamental shift in the market that started about 10 years ago: people are staying put longer, and it’s contributing to the shortage of houses for sale. In the 2019 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, NAR explained, “In 2019, the median tenure for sellers was 10 years…By 2011, the median tenure reached nine years, where it remained for three consecutive years, and jumped up again in
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2014 to 10 years.”
Thankfully, with the strength the market has gained over the last 10 years, today’s homeowners are in a much better equity position. Now is a fantastic time for homeowners who are ready to make a move to break the 10year trend and sell their houses, especially while buyer demand is so high, and inventory is so low. It’s a prime time to sell. In addition, with today’s historically low interest rates, there’s an opportunity for sellers to maintain a low monthly payment while getting more house for their money. Think: move-up opportunity, more square footage, or finding the features they’re really looking for rather than doing costly renovations. With more new homes poised to enter the market this year, homeowners ready to make a move may have a golden opportunity to do so right now. There are simply not enough houses for sale today. It’s a great time to move while demand for homes to buy is extremely high. Submitted by Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® | Arizona Lifestyle Team | HomeSmart
August 2020
Yum Yum Shrimp Marinara with Feta Cheese
This is a quick and easy recipe that I adapted from a restaurant dish I loved. Ingredients: • 20 oz raw, wild-caught frozen shrimp, peeled and deveined, tail-off • 16 oz Marinara Sauce (I like Buitoni fresh organic from Fry’s, but you could also make your own. I don’t recommend canned though; it’s just not the same as fresh!) • Lots of Feta cheese Start by rinsing and raining the shrimp, then pat dry with paper towel. I use my Pampered Chef stoneware round baker that I picked up at a thrift store for $5.00 for this dish, but cast iron works great too. Any glass casserole dish will work as
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well. Spread the shrimp in the bottom of the dish and pour the marinara sauce over the top. Bake at 450 degrees for about 7 minutes, then pull it out, pour the feta cheese on top, and bake for another 3-5 minutes until the cheese starts to brown. (Cooking times may vary; cook shrimp until just pink, firm and cooked through.) That’s it! The whole meal takes about 10 minutes and is perfect for a busy school night. Serve with a side salad or veggie and you have a quick, healthy meal the whole family will love. Submitted by Christie Giannetto | Marley Park Resident
August 2020
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Announcements Camila Brielle was born on July 8th to Marley Park Residents Yvette Banuelos and Phil VanGilder. She weighed in at 8 pounds and was 19.5� long. She joins big brothers Kingston (11) and Ezra (1). Welcome to Marley Park, Camila!
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August 2020
Spiritual Thoughts I felt my face turn hot, my lips tighten, and my eyebrows turn downward in a disapproving scowl. Social media has rarely been a healthy activity for me. Yet, it continues to beckon to me, taunting me with its lie that I would feel more connected to community through it. The truth is that I have never felt more isolated than when I am scrolling through my news feed. I was heartbroken and infuriated at the petty arguments and the division. I fumed at the ignorant comments and posts. Mean-spirited memes appeared frequently. I desired to yell in all capital letters, “STOP IT!� Then something interesting caught my attention. Once in a while, an inspirational quote would pop up highlighting the current battles America is facing today. Small snippets of wisdom from beautiful people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Eleanor Roosevelt brightened a very dark cyber space. As grateful as I was to see these quotes break
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up the running stream of hate, I realized, with sadness, that they had lost their impact. Social media allows EVERONE to have a platform. There are too many people shouting and not enough people listening. I did not want to be another clanging gong within the obnoxious din anymore. Every one of my friends on social media and I will have the same fate as the historical figures of the past. We are all going to return to dust. My words, your words, and every word ever spoken will return to dust as well. There is only one Word that will remain immortal and carry through eternity. This Word is powerful enough to move mountains and change hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. So here I am, deleting Facebook once again. I make the everlasting Word my news feed (which is much more appetizing). I get out from behind my screen and connect with people in person. I listen more and talk less. Submitted by Josie Flancbaum | Marley Park Resident
August 2020
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Teen Time
Chef Gusteau says, “Anyone can cook...but only the fearless can be great.”
“Learn to cook: try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun.” ~Julia Child I’ve been learning to cook and bake the same few things from a young age. After everything was cancelled and I found myself with a lot of free time, I decided to start trying new recipes and new techniques. My little sister has also begun to cook, and she’s had a lot of fun with it. There have been some mistakes, and we’ve had to completely scrap some things that were utterly inedible. However, we learn from those mistakes and move on, trying different things and experimenting with our cooking techniques. Though that sentiment can apply to many things, I think that it is important for everyone to at least learn how to cook a few things. It can be a lot fun, and you can make a lot of memories if you do it with your family. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try things that you may not have tried before. Anyone here seen Ratatouille? As
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I encourage you to try new recipes, new techniques, and things that you may not have thought of before. If you don’t know how to cook anything at all, start easy. Cooking is all about learning and adapting to outcomes and trying new things. Not everyone enjoys it, but sometimes it’s nice to be able to confidently say that you know how to create something through cooking or baking. So, experiment this month, and find something new to add to your repertoire. Submitted by Emily Poling | Age 16 | Marley Park Resident
August 2020
National Dog Day Occasionally, people tell me, “Oh, it’s only a dog,” “it’s ridiculous to dress a dog or... “Well, that’s a lot of money for just a dog.”
They see the clothes, all the time at events, the time spent and spending of the money for just a dog, and they don’t understand. Hour after hour can pass by, and my only company is just a dog. Some of my favorite moments were with only a dog, and also some of my saddest moments came only with a dog. However, in those dark days, it was the gentle touch of only a dog that
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made me strong and motivated to keep going. A dog brings pure friendship, trust, and perfect happiness. A dog brings compassion and patience, which makes me a better person. With a dog will I get up early, take long walks, and look forward to the day. For people like me, it is not “just a dog.” My dog is an embodiment of the memories from the past, and the pure joy for the present. National Dog Day is on Wednesday, August 26th. You’re invited to share a photo of your canine family members in The Front Porch group on Facebook. Submitted by Jeralyn Aston | Marley Park Resident
August 2020
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Coloring Pages Kids' Clip Art Learning Games Kids Online Toys
Puzzles & Games
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August 2020
Dominological A standard set of 28 dominoes has been laid out as shown. Two are already in position to give you a start. Can you draw in the rest of them? The check-box is provided to help you solve this puzzle. Good Luck! Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com
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August 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
UNDER CONTRACT
SOLD IN 2 DAYS
SOLD IN 2 DAYS
SOLD
14797 W Pershing St
14133 W Valentine St
14878 W Georgia Dr
15127 W Dahlia Dr
15249 W Georgia Dr
List Price....................$350,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,619 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,341 Amenities .............. 3 Car Garage
Sq Ft ...............................2,027 Lot Sq Ft..........................5,175
Sold Price ..................$315,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,104 Lot Sq Ft........................12,270 Amenities ............... Quarter Acre
Sold Price ..................$415,000 Sq Ft ...............................3,328 Lot Sq Ft..........................8,160 Amenities........................... Pool
Sold Price ..................$363,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,773 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,800 Amenities ...... Pool, 3 Car Garage
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
13152 N 147th Ln
15432 W Corrine Dr
12653 N 143rd Ln
14924 W Voltaire St
15368 W Dahlia Dr
Sold Price ..................$412,000 Sq Ft ...............................3,695 Lot Sq Ft........................10,377 Amenities ......Casita, 6 Bedrooms
Sold Price ..................$330,000 Sq Ft ...............................1,907 Lot Sq Ft..........................6,600 Amenities.. Former Builder Model
Sold Price ..................$372,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,486 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,800 Amenities ...............3 Car Garage
Sold Price ..................$236,700 Sq Ft ...............................1,353 Lot Sq Ft..........................5,613 Amenities.................3 Bedrooms
Sold Price ..................$255,500 Sq Ft ...............................2,182 Lot Sq Ft..........................3,850 Amenities................ 4 Bedrooms
Buyer represented by Christie Giannetto.
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
15221 W Bloomfield Rd
SOLD
14881 W Georgia Dr
15115 W Alexandria Way
14555 W Wethersfield Rd
14329 W Voltaire St
Sold Price ..................$305,000 Sq Ft ...............................2,104 Lot Sq Ft..........................5,640 Amenities .........4 Bedrooms, Loft
Sold 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 Price ..................$399,706 Lot Sq Ft..........................7,256
Buyer represented by Christie Giannetto.
Buyer represented by Christie Giannetto.
Sold Price ..................$382,790 Sq Ft ...............................3,303 Lot Sq Ft..........................6,360 Price Sq Ft ........................$115
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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