The Front Porch

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Our Emotional Support Dog Vader

It’s time to bid farewell to the scorching days of summer and welcome the crisp fall air… wait…the air-conditioned hallways of our school buildings. After all, with the academic year commencing this month, parents and students alike can breathe a sigh of relief as the school hallways come back to life and provide a welcome reprieve from the relentless heat. Whether it’s a child’s first day of kindergarten or a teenager’s final year of high school, the start of a new academic year is filled with anticipation and possibilities…and air conditioning!

Be sure to mark your calendars for the Back-toSchool Pool Party at the Marley Park Heritage

Pool on August 25th. It’s the perfect opportunity to cool off in the pool and enjoy a warm welcome to the academic year ahead. Details are provided in the pages that follow.

Although it won’t be cooling down here for a few more months, it is time to bid farewell to summer and embrace the back-to-school spirit. Whether you are a student, a parent or grandparent of a student, an education professional, or someone with memories of school years past, may this school year bring you joy, a sense of accomplishment, and endless opportunities to achieve your dreams. After all, in the words of Jenny Han, “I’ve always loved the first day of school better than the last day of school. Firsts are best because they are beginnings.”

See you on The Front Porch!

Welcome to the August edition of The Front Porch magazine!

Christie Giannetto | Assistant Editor | The Front Porch Magazine

Yum Yum

Taco Puffs

TOTAL TIME: Prep/Total Time: 30 min. YIELD: 8 servings.

I got this Taco Puffs recipe from a friend years ago. I still make these cheesy sandwiches regularly for dinner alongside a steaming bowl of soup or a fresh green salad. Any leftovers taste even better the next day for lunch. A helpful hint: Plain refrigerated biscuits seal together better than buttermilk types.

—Jan Schmid, Hibbing, Minnesota

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

1envelope taco seasoning

2 tubes (16.3 ounces each) large refrigerated flaky biscuits

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, 5-7 minutes, breaking into crumbles; drain. Add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Cool slightly.

2. Flatten half the biscuits into 4-in. circles; arrange on greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Spoon 1/4 cup meat mixture onto each circle; sprinkle each with 1/4 cup cheese. Flatten remaining biscuits; place over filling and pinch edges to seal tightly.

3. Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes.

Back To School Fun

Marley Park Back to School Pool Party: A FunFilled Evening for Kids and Parents

It’s that time of the year again when kids go back to school, and what better way to celebrate than with a pool party! On August 26th, Marley Park Heritage Pool will be hosting a back-to-school pool party from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. All schoolaged kids and parents are invited to join in the fun.

The Marley Park Heritage Pool is a state-ofthe-art facility that offers a safe and enjoyable swimming experience for all ages. With multiple pools, water slides, and diving boards, there is something for everyone. The pool also has a splash pad area for younger children to enjoy.

The back-to-school pool party is a great way for kids to socialize and make new friends before the school year officially begins. Parents can also use this opportunity to meet other parents in the community and network. The event is free, and snacks and refreshments will be provided.

In addition to swimming, there will be other activities for kids to enjoy. A DJ will provide music for dancing, and there will be games and prizes to keep everyone entertained. The pool staff will also be on hand to ensure the safety of all attendees.

To attend the pool party, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Parents are encouraged to bring towels, sunscreen, and other necessary items to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for their children.

The Marley Park back-to-school pool party is a great way for families to celebrate the end of summer and the start of a new school year. It’s an opportunity for kids to have fun and make new friends, and for parents to get to know other families in the community. Don’t miss out on this exciting event!

Submitted by Christie Giannetto | Marley Park Homeowner

Back To School Prep

There’s something special about this time of year, no matter how old you are - with plenty of excitement and anticipation as the next school year approaches, mixed with just a little anxiety about the upcoming changes. Parents and kids of all ages, especially those who are collegebound, can sometimes feel overwhelmed by everything that needs to happen to be ready for this big transition. Fortunately, you can make preparing for the upcoming academic year a lot easier with some tips and tools to help everyone stay on track during the shift from summer to school mode.

1. Tackle time management

One of the biggest shifts from the lazy days of summer back to school again is keeping on top of everyone’s schedules. A tried-and-true tactic is to create and post one big family calendar where everyone can see it. That way everyone can add their appointments, extracurricular activities and upcoming events so the whole family knows what to plan for and look forward to each week. Try using color-coded markers so everyone knows

which events are for which family member.

2. Make mealtimes easier Preparing nutritious meals for kids takes some advance planning, so it’s a good idea to print out a useful tool like a printable meal chart from TwoPeasAndTheirPod.com. Involve kids in the planning by asking what they want to eat for each meal, while introducing different colors based on each of the food groups to show them what a balanced meal looks like.

3. Get ready for the move to campus

For college students, the move away from home can be a real test of their organizational abilities. Help ensure they’ll have what they need by printing a list of everything they think they’ll have to pack for the big move. Once their list is complete, they can print out their finalized list for shopping and crossing off items they’ve already purchased. They can also help reduce the homesickness they’re bound to feel their first year away from home by printing out pictures of beloved family members (and pets) from their phone so they can always have loved ones with them, while also making a welcome addition to their dorm room decor.

With these tools and tactics, you should all feel better prepared for the changes to comehelping you and your kids make the transition seamlessly, no matter what the new school year brings.

Legal Advice

TRUSTING YOUR TRUST WILL WORK

The proper use of a trust will allow your estate to avoid a court probate. Probates add administrative requirements such as giving notice to all heirs–even heirs you may be omitting from your estate plan.

A trust allows one person to have centralized control to collect your assets, pay last bills and make the distributions the way you plan. A revocable trust can be amended and changed over time – as your goals for family or friends change.

Trusts avoid the need for a court conservatorship when leaving money or property to minors, whether children or grandchildren. A court conservatorship is more costly and burdensome

than a probate. Also, trusts can provide incentives for minors for education and employment.

Estate planning does not need to be complex or confusing. You deserve to have your questions answered when they arise. Our documents are drafted to provide the benefit of avoiding obstacles and disputes, whether you have multiple beneficiaries or one special heir.

Scott

Home Sweet Home

If you’re following the news today, you may feel a bit unsure about what’s happening with home prices and fear whether the worst is yet to come. Today’s headlines are painting an unnecessarily negative picture. If we take a year-over-year view, home prices did drop, but that’s because we’re comparing to a ‘unicorn’ year when prices peaked well beyond the norm. To avoid an unfair comparison we need to look at monthly data and that tells a very different and much more positive story. While local home price trends still vary by market, looking at a monthly view, the past year in the housing market can be divided into two parts. In the first half of 2022, home prices were going up, and fast. However, starting in July, prices began to go down. By around August or September, the trend started to stabilize. But, looking at the most recent data for early 2023, these graphs show that prices are going up again.

The month-over-month data indicates a national shift is happening – home prices are rising again. Craig J. Lazzara, Managing Director at S&P Dow Jones Indices, says: “If I were trying to make a case that the decline in home prices

that began in June 2022 had definitively ended in January 2023, April’s data would bolster my argument.”

Experts believe one of the reasons prices didn’t crash like some expected is because there aren’t enough available homes for the number of people who want to buy them. Even with today’s mortgage rates, there are more people looking to buy than there are homes available for sale. Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, explains how more demand than supply keeps upward pressure on prices: “History has shown that higher rates may take the steam out of rising prices, but it doesn’t cause them to collapse entirely. This is especially true in today’s housing market, where the demand for homes continues to outpace supply, keeping the pressure on house prices.”

If you delayed your moving plans because you were concerned about home prices dropping, the latest data reveals the worst is already over, and prices are appreciating nationally. Let’s get in touch so you know what’s happening with home prices in our area.

Submitted by Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® | REAL Broker

We Need You!

Helping Others Together Community Foundation (HOT) is looking for YOU!

HOT is an Arizona 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization made up of neighbors, businesses, and friends who care about struggling children and their families in the West Valley. During the holiday season, HOT’s Sugar Plum Fairies program creates magical Christmases by providing wrapped gifts of clothing, hygiene essentials, toys for the children, and grocery gift cards for the parents.

Since HOT’s inception in 2019, 400 children have benefited from the Sugar Plum Fairies program. It is estimated that between 250-275 children will be selected as recipients this year.

HOT is a 100% volunteer organization. We cannot do what we do without the generous donation of time by our volunteers. And HOT is looking for volunteers! Whether you choose to organize our fundraising events, shop for the children, coordinate auction activities, have a knack for decorating, or serve on a number of

other committees, HOT needs YOU!

Check out the number of volunteer opportunities available now. You’ll be inspired by your time with other HOT volunteers, and have fun too!

Scan here to learn more -

Genuinely yours, Susanna Bressner Community Outreach Team Lead

Email: susannab@HOTCommunityFoundation. org

Phone: (217) 377-7254

Website: HOTCommunityFoundation.org

Splish Splash

Bath time can sometimes feel like a daunting experience, especially for first-time parents. But bath time with your little ones is so much more than just another chore on the list. It provides parents the opportunity to bond with their child while making sure they’re happy and clean. With some expert advice you can turn bath time into a happy, developmental activity for the whole family. Bath time expert Ashley Sousa, registered nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Baby Magic ambassador, shares her top tips to help create a fun and relaxing bath time experience for babies and parents.

1. Choose the right bath time

Routine is essential to baby’s health. A daily routine helps baby transition into a rhythm, which in turn, helps them to feel comfortable and secure. You can help your baby expect bath time by selecting a time in the day when they’re most relaxed and happy. Once you find a time that works best for your family, do your best to stick to it.

2. Create a bath time ritual

Establishing a bath time ritual creates cues that let your little one know it’s time to relax while you bathe them. As the tub fills, begin play time with your baby so they associate bath time with fun time. After a bath, dress them in their pajamas and enjoy some cuddle time so your little one feels calm and relaxed before you tuck them in.

3. Integrate bath toys

Babies love playing with toys, especially in the bathtub. Toys like rubber ducks, squirt toys or water scoops can make bath time fun and stimulating for baby. Having dedicated bath toys builds positive association with bath time so that your baby looks forward to getting squeaky clean. Be sure to pick out age-appropriate toys that are safe for your baby to use in water. Changing up bath toys from time to time can

help keep them engaged during a bath.

4. Soothe fears with bubbles

Water can be a scary element for babies. The sound, temperature and sense of floating can startle them, making them feel unsettled or scared. Help soothe your little one’s fears by adding a playful element like bubbles.

5. Sing, talk and bond

Bath time is the perfect opportunity to bond with your little one. Talking and singing to them while they bathe can help them feel secure, entertained and loved. Try singing nursery rhymes, telling stories or simply talking to your baby. Your presence and voice will help them relax and make the time a more enjoyable experience. The sound of your voice will help you and your baby bond and create cherished memories to last a lifetime.

Exercising these five tips can make bath time a fun part of your daily routine with your baby.

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