The Hamlet

�e Hamlet® A magazine for Palm Valley residents

From your neighbors, for your neighbors Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

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Catherine Uretsky Publisher & 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 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 and Family Features. 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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Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

3

TIPS TO KEEP PETS

Cool & Safe THIS SUMMER! Hot asphalt burns paws! Get shoes for them too!

Trim long hair but don’t shave your pets.

124°

90°

114°

80°

104°

70° Store or keep pool chemicals out of reach of your pets.

Do not leave pets unsupervised at a pool.

Remember, dogs are PROHIBITED on ALL Phoenix city hiking trails when the temperature is 100 degrees or warmer!

Outside Temp

F°

Temp in vehicle after 30 min NEVER leave your pet in a parked vehicle!

Mary Ann Evans “Your Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist”

West USA Realty Direct Line 602-526-3709 info@maryannevans.com www.MaryAnnEvans1.com

Hot Weather Safety Tips: www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/hot-weather-safety-tips www.phoenix.gov/pio/summer/heat If you are currently working with an agent, this is not meant as a solicitation. This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

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Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine Copyright 2020 | 040721

Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, such as heavy panting, coarse breathing and seizures.

June 2021

From Me To You...

I found myself standing at the kitchen counter yesterday, contemplating a cinnamon roll. I had with a simple question in my head.

“Should I eat a sensible breakfast that will provide the nutrients for the start of my day? Or should I grab the last cinnamon roll before one of the children realizes they left this delicious pastry sitting on the plate?”

Now because my coffee had already started zapping my synapses into life, I couldn’t simply take the cinnamon roll and enjoy it, oh no. This was the beginning of my thoughts for the rest of the morning. The rabbit hole widened as I tripped my way down.

Why do we have to make a choice based on what is right for us instead of what we want?

Do others make those choices or just grab the cinnamon roll of life and get on with their day?

What cinnamon rolls have I missed out on, and would it have made a difference if I had just eaten them without a care in the world?

One of the biggest pastries I have chosen in life is the choice to have a large family. We have 4 children and I really would have had more if the stars had aligned. When we began our family we fit neatly into the mold of young parents.

This was true for our first and second child.

Once I became pregnant with child number 3

some eyebrows began to raise.

Straying from ‘the house with a white picket fence, 2 kids and a dog’ scenario was not for everyone. But it wasn’t too unusual. Plenty of others had done the same.

Sure it meant that we had to get help to cover all the soccer games at weekends, because the little league insisted on scheduling all the games at the same time in different locations around town; and maybe our vacations were not as exotic or expensive as they had been in order to pay for that extra traveller. But these were minor issues that we cruised though, delighted to have our 3rd on board.

That all changed with pregnancy number four.

We were either irresponsible, careless, immature, or just plain nuts to think that four kids was OK. I, however, had an ace up my sleeve. My good friend, who happens to be a staunch Catholic, had just entered her fifth pregnancy.

So whenever anyone raised an eyebrow at me I would smoothly introduce them to Karen.

I don’t regret that decision for a second. Four was a wonderful number of children. Someone was always available to play with, scheme with, and yes fight with. The noise level in our house is usually high but it is happy noise, full of love and respect for others.

I hear you ask, “But what about the cinnamon roll? Did you go for oatmeal in the end?”

Absolutely not! The other lesson I have learned in a large household is grab your pastries while you see them, because if you wait too long someone else will take it - and that just leads down the rabbit hole of lost opportunities.

Catherine Uretsky Editor, Estrella Publishing info@estrellapublishing.com 623-594-9283

Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

5

Learning Loss Cumulative learning loss from the pandemic is still unknown, but experts worry it could be substantial. According to research by McKinsey & Company, students on average are likely to lose five to nine months of learning by the end of this school year. Fortunately, there are many ways to combat interrupted learning loss and help students stay on track for the upcoming school year in just 15 minutes a day: Read together Check out books or download e-books from the local library. For younger kids, read out loud and ask questions to get them thinking deeper about the story. For older kids, both read the same book and then discuss it after each chapter.

Embrace math in your world Select a recipe and cook it together, taking time to explain fractions, measurements and counting. A trip to the corner store can be fun and educational, by counting items in your cart or explaining how tax works at checkout.

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Explore armchair travel

Many museums and other historic places have extended their offerings to include free virtual visits to help encourage learning while people are at home. For example, no passport is needed when you make a virtual visit to the Louvre in Paris at louvre.fr/en/online-tours.

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History offers virtual tours of current and past exhibits at naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour.

Try STEAM activities Have fun doing science, technology, engineering, art and math activities together.

Who can build the tallest tower out of minimarshmallows and toothpicks? How about creating tie-dye shirts and learning how primary colors mix to create beautiful new hues? Fill up a pool and play a game of “Sink or Float.” Try growing a container garden of fruit, vegetables and herbs. Keep track of their growth daily in a garden journal.

“When activities are fun and achievable, kids will only focus on the smiles and won’t even realize the important learning that is happening,” says Shannon. “Whether it’s an engaging workbook or a visit to a museum on the other side of the world, just 15 minutes a day can make a big difference in your child’s education now and in the future.”

Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

Yum Yum Spring Vegetable and Apple Orzo

This brunch recipe celebrates spring by pairing the sophisticated sweet flavor and crunch of apples with seasonal fresh asparagus and umami-rich shiitake mushrooms. Tossed with a bright and zesty lemon vinaigrette, this delightful dish can star as an entree or serve as a side.

2 cups orzo pasta 1 apple, small diced 4 tablespoons chopped parsley Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Toss the asparagus in olive oil and salt and spread out on half of a sheet tray.

Toss the mushrooms in the olive oil and salt and spread out on the remaining half of the sheet tray. Roast in the oven until asparagus and mushrooms are tender, about 10 minutes.

Whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients until well combined.

Cook the orzo in salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain well and then toss with the vinaigrette. Fold in the asparagus, mushrooms, apples and parsley. Serve warm.

Ingredients: For the asparagus: 1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

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For the mushrooms: 4 cups shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, sliced 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt For the vinaigrette: 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon kosher salt 40 turns fresh cracked pepper

Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

7

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Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

Money Matters If you don’t have a spouse or children, you might think you don’t need to do much estate planning. But if you have any assets, any familial connections, or any interest in supporting charitable groups, you do need to establish an estate plan.

In evaluating your needs for this type of planning, let’s start with what might happen if you die without a last will and testament. Your assets will likely have to go through the probate process, which means they’ll be distributed by the court according to your state’s intestate succession laws, essentially without regard to your wishes. Even if you don’t have children yourself, you may have someone to whom you would like to leave not just money but also cars, collectibles, family memorabilia and so on. But if everything you own goes through probate, there’s no guarantee that these individuals will end up with what you wanted them to have.

If you want to leave something to family members, close friends, or charitable

organizations, you will need to indicate this in your estate planning documents.

Aside from family members and charitable groups, there’s a third entity that’s central to your estate plans: yourself. Everyone should make arrangements to protect their interests, but, in the absence of an immediate family, you need to be especially vigilant about your financial and health care decisions. And that’s why you may want to include these two documents: durable power of attorney and a health care proxy. A durable power of attorney lets you name someone to manage your finances should you become incapacitated — especially important for anyone who doesn’t have a spouse to step in. And if you become incapacitated, your health care proxy lets you name another person to legally make health care decisions for you.

Estate planning moves can be complex, so you’ll need help from a legal professional and possibly your tax and financial advisors. You may not have an immediate family, but you still need to take steps to protect your legacy.

Submitted by Chris Carlton, of Edward Jones

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Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

9

Digital World More than a year after the pandemic began, Americans are realizing that almost every facet of life has changed. Suddenly their linear, analog world with a digital dabble has become a fullblown digital whirlwind. And that’s especially true when it comes to how they handle money.

The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way consumers shop from the products they’re buying to the ways they’re paying for them. It’s made everyone revise their shopping habits and many of these trends appear here to stay. One obvious change is the explosion of online shopping, but there’s also been a focus on shopping local.

When it comes to consumer spending, the National Retail Association’s recent 2021 forecast anticipates retail sales to grow between 6.5 and 8.2 percent as more people get vaccinated and the economy reopens. And, as people venture back into brick-and-mortar stores in their communities, finance journalist Vera Gibbons says consumers can feel confident as they return.

percent of consumers surveyed said merchants’ digital payment offerings impact their willingness to shop in their stores. And more than a third said they would not buy from merchants at all if QR code-enabled payments were unavailable.

After a year of doing without vacation travel, concerts, dining out, etc., many may be itching to splurge, but the experts say this is the time to be savvy, not emotional, while shopping.

“There’s a lot of optimism going forward in terms of economic growth, but don’t go too crazy and go on a spending binge. It might make you feel good to buy yourself a little something or two or three, but you’ll likely regret it when the credit card bill arrives,” Gibbons said. “And more than ever, comparison shopping is key. Prices have probably shifted on all of your favorites as a result of rising demand, diminishing supplies, or both! So it’s never been more important that you check prices and comparison shop so you can find the best deals.”

“Americans are excited to return to brick-andmortar stores but many are already looking for touch-free payment options to avoid handling cash, touching keypads and signing receipts at checkout,” Gibbons said. “We saw this trend really take off during the pandemic and this is now the preferred payment method for many businesses and their customers. So the idea of paying with touch-free options like QR codes has moved to the forefront as a safe, secure solution when shopping in-store.”

In fact, research from PayPal shows that 57 10

Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

Use Less Data Think about how much of your day is spent on data-dependent activities like streaming video and music, or searching the internet. All of this can be done while using far less, and sometimes even none, of the data from your cellular plan.

Try these simple tips to save money on your wireless plan.

1) Tame the video beast Watching video on your smartphone is convenient, but it’s a data glutton. A full-length Netflix movie consumes about 1GB of data per hour in standard definition video, and up to 3GB per hour in high definition. At that rate, you’ll burn through even the most robust data package in no time. Try connecting to Wi-Fi instead. It’s widely available, and lets you stream without using any cellular data at all, often with a faster connection. While connected to Wi-Fi, you

can also download videos, TV shows or movies to your phone to watch at your convenience, with no data required. In addition, when you’re streaming video on a small screen, such as a cellphone, you really don’t need high resolution. Many apps give you the ability to change video quality settings, and therefore consume less data.

2) Manage social media and streaming music Adjusting your settings to prevent videos from playing automatically will prevent them from eating up your data. On most platforms, like Facebook, you’ll go to your Account Settings and either disable the “Autoplay” feature or change it so that videos will only play automatically when you’re connected to Wi-Fi. 3) Try a smaller plan for bigger savings While an “unlimited” plan may seem like an easy answer to your data needs, they can be more enticing than practical. Read the fine print: Most actually limit your high-speed data to a certain number of gigabytes per month. Once you use up that allotment, you’ll still have unlimited access, but at much slower speeds. This makes it more difficult to load pages quickly, or to stream video, even though you’re paying a premium for “unlimited” access.

Follow these tips and you’ll enjoy streaming movies, listening to music and more while also keeping money in your pocket for things other than a data plan. You can have it all, without needing an unlimited budget to do it.

Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

11

Eye Eye

A lot of people take their eyesight for granted, but eyesight allows you to connect to your surroundings, keeps you safe and helps you maintain mental clarity. If you don’t take the proper precautions to take care of your eyes, you could end up hurting them unintentionally.

Fortunately, eyewear products in recent years have allowed for innovative solutions in the ways we take care of our eyes. Here are some of the innovative eyewear solutions that solve the most common problems:

especially those who are working from home or distance learning. And even when they’re off the clock, people are still looking at screens, streaming media or video chatting with a friend.

Fortunately, blue light glasses can help reduce your exposure to blue light throughout the day. Many blue light glasses brands come with patented lens technology.

• Some people need different glasses for reading, computer use, talking with others and more. If it’s bothersome to take your glasses on and off from one task to the next, Multi Focus glasses can help! The magnification is strongest on the bottom of the lens, and smoothly decreases to about half that magnification at the top of the lens. Whether you’re reading a book, working on the computer or just spending time with a friend, Multi Focus helps you see clearly.

• Summer is around the corner. And if you like to sit outside, your standard prescription glasses likely won’t protect you. The sun can shine light directly on you when you’re trying to read. And if it’s hot and bright enough, it can be risky if • People are constantly connected to their you’re reading for prolonged periods outside. phones, computers and tablets these days, Fortunately, clip-on sunglasses can protect eyeglass wearers from the sun’s UV light and provide polarized protection from sun exposure, allowing you to kick back and relax outside while you enjoy your favorite book with ease. Learn · Open every night from 5 pm to 1 am more at fostergrant.com. · Every child seen by a pediatrician · Faster than the emergency room · Online registration to get into queue or register for telehealth visit · Telehealth visits from anywhere in AZ · AHCCCS and most major insurance accepted, cash pay rates available · Easy access off 101 and I-10 · Rapid COVID testing available

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Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

Green Home

Are you looking for ways to upgrade your home with the environment in mind, but worried about the expense? Fortunately, many home improvements are not as costly up front as they used to be, and the return on those investments is well worth the effort. Here are four ways to boost your home’s energy-efficiency and make a difference for the planet.

separate AC unit for cooling it may be time to upgrade to something more advanced and efficient.

3. Go solar Now may be the perfect time to switch to renewable energy. Solar energy can help power your home, saving hundreds of dollars in utility bills while also boosting your home’s value and providing peace of mind about helping the environment.

1. Choose Energy Star certified products Have outdated appliances that aren’t performing well? For an efficiency upgrade, look for the blue Energy Star label on products as a simple way to save money and conserve energy.

4. Reduce air leaks and check insulation Sealing air leaks and adding insulation can help increase comfort and energy efficiency.

Simple fixes include installing weather-stripping on doors and caulking around windows, while bigger jobs include sealing leaks and adding insulation in your attic.

2. Update your HVAC Spring is a good time to have a professional tune up your HVAC system to ensure peak performance and help prevent future problems.

If you’re still using a furnace for heat and a

Many utility companies will offer homeowners a free energy audit. This can help you target your improvements to achieve the best results in the quickest, most cost-effective way.

COVID-19 We are fortunate that both the state and federal governments have identified Pest Control as an essential service; therefore, we are able to continue keeping you safe from infestations.

We take your health, seriously and will continue to utilize the accepted rules of “social distancing”.

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www.estrellamtnpest.com Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

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Puzzles & Games Father’s Day Cryptogram

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Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

Samurai Sudoku for June

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 Samurai Sudoku #19 www.EstrellaPublishing.com every row, column and 3x3 box. Good Luck!

Solutions Puzzle are on our website 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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Samurai sudoku grid, symmetric, beginner No 19 Created: https://www.sudoku-puzzles-online.com

Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021

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Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine

June 2021