Main Street

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 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com

Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com

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From Me To You...

Ringing in a New Year brings to mind Father Time, clocks ticking forwards, turning the old year into a new, shiny thing, full of promise. Time is a thing that has changed as I have marched through the years. As a child, summers stretched out towards infinity; long, lazy days spent reading, taking walks along country lanes and of course massive road trips with my family. The school year itself was never-ending but for completely different reasons...

As I became an adult and had children of my own, time warped again. The days were divided into feedings, naps, and the lack of time spent sleeping ourselves. Those days were long, but strangely the months and years flew by.

Once the children were in school I thought there would be more time for me, time to read and pursue hobbies. In actuality the time after drop off was never as long as it had looked on the clock that morning. Before I knew it I was back at the school gates waiting for happy faces running towards me, “Mommy, look what I made, learned, have to make tonight!”

After school activities gobbled up any time that was left before dinners had to be made, baths taken, and sleepy bundles of children were read stories of giants and princesses, and tucked safely in their beds.

Now I find myself marking the time between visits, the giggling, tiny children are grown and flown, and my days are more or less my own. I cherish my free time, and there are many wonderful things I can accomplish now. And yet... in the back of my mind a clock is always ticking, marking time until the day I will have the house full of noisy, whirling dervishes again, demanding meals and attention.

This year I challenge you all to use the time we are given in the best way you can. Whether that means taking time for yourself, or giving time to others, be aware and fill the year with memories you can cherish once Father Time turns our clocks to 2024.

Catherine Uretsky

Editor, Main Street magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623-398-5541

On Our Cover

GOT TILE?

Although Marvin of Groundworks Flooring is a fairly recent resident here in Verrado (5 years), he is all in. The second he came here and saw the homes and tree lined streets he knew this was home. Originally from Los Angeles, Marvin moved here after his two daughters grew up and left home. He has been in flooring for 31 years, and had a commercial and residential company in LA for many years before moving here. He has quite the professional resume; if you see him on Main Street ask him about Brad Pitt, The Queen Mary and even our very own Ciao Grazie.

If that doesn’t prove his worth just listen to his many, many happy customers here in Verrado. “Marvin and his crew provide impeccable service. The crew was respectful, showed up on time, worked full days, and completed the installation as scheduled.” ~ AJ “They were fast and efficient and gave us a great end product. We’ve been nothing but happy with it!” ~ Stefano, Ciao Grazie

Not only does Groundworks Flooring provide impeccable flooring but they can provide amazing bathroom remodelling services - as you can see on the cover and in these pictures. From soup to nuts, Marvin and his team

will take your design, or create one with you, source materials, complete the job and return any surplus materials. Their motto is “We do our best to do our best!” Always aware that word of mouth can help or hurt, they take pride in their work and workmanship.

“Communication is one of the most important parts of a job, we put everything in writing so there is no misunderstanding when you work with us,” says Marvin. “Our workers are like family and we all take pride in our accomplishments, doing the best job for each client.”

Marvin’s passion for his work, his team and his clients comes through when you talk to him. He loves what he does and it shows, “My clients are phenomenal and I am proud to say that many of them have become friends.”

If you have a hankering to remodel your bathroom, or update your floors, or you just want to see more of the stellar work that Groundworks Flooring has done, visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ GroundworksFlooringAZ/?ref=page_internal or call Marvin at (602) 999-4438.

“We had been searching for someone to remodel our bathroom for months and were so lucky to be introduced to Marvin. The attention to detail and professionalism from his crew is phenomenal. We were so impressed we have had him back to do two more bathrooms, our floors, and our staircase.” ~ Christie B

The Great Outdoors

More than just fresh air, time spent outdoors has the power to boost physical and emotional strength

Whether you’re taking a stroll in a local park or ambitiously hiking a new trail, being outdoors helps you feel more grounded and connected to nature. But you may not realize the numerous physical and mental benefits that time spent outdoors has on the human body.

Mother Nature has a profound positive impact on people of all ages, but especially kids. Children’s natural curiosity makes the outdoors a place with endless possibilities. It’s where imaginations can take flight, they can observe biodiversity and learn more about their world around them, not to mention, move their bodies and breathe in some fresh air.

Here are some outdoor ideas that you can do any time of year with your family:

1. Visit a hiking trail you’ve never been to before, or try an evening hike and bring along

a headlamp or flashlight to guide the way.

2. Explore free outdoor programs in your community at parks and nature centers.

3. Learn about astronomy and head outdoors at night to observe the stars.

4. Try your hand at geocaching, where you use a free app on your mobile device to find hidden spots.

5. Organize a game of backyard flashlight tag with family, friends and neighbors.

6. Try a new outdoor activity you haven’t done yet, especially in the winter months, like skating, snowshoeing or skiing.

7. Go outside and talk about how nature impacts the different senses - How does it feel, taste, sound, etc.?

9. Have a picnic outdoors! Or even try eating outside in the evening with flashlights and headlamps for extra fun.

Cowboy Caviar for New Year’s Celebrations

Tradition suggests that you eat black-eyed peas to welcome the New Year because as author John Egerton wrote in his book, Southern Food, they have a “mystical and mythical power to bring good luck.”

While the most common way to eat these beans is in a dish called “Hoppin’ John,” I prefer to enjoy them in Cowboy Caviar with tortilla chips while watching a college bowl game!

Ingredients:

One 15-oz can Black-Eyed Peas, drained & rinsed

I N V I S A L I G N B R A C E S G I N G I V A L L A S E R T O O T H C O N T O U R I N G 3 - D I M A G I N G P I T T S 2 1 ( H O L L Y W O O D S M I L E ) Our Emotional Support Dog, Vader Specializing in: Yum Yum

1

Yellow Pepper, diced

1 T Worcestershire Sauce ½ tsp kosher Salt

Get in the Way

The teen brain focuses on risk and excitement. Our job as parentsand grandparents is to Get in the Way or foil a teen’s attempt to be involved in high-risk behaviors such as underage drinking, teen marijuana use, and prescription drug misuse. Here is a call to action with some effective Get in the Way examples.

Say Something

Talk early and talk often. Clearly Communicate Expectations: Be clear to your children that you disapprove of underage drinking and drug use. Reinforce Expectations. This is part of talking often. DO connect privileges and freedoms to being responsible. While it may be okay to loosen the reins a bit as your child gets older, it needs to be clear that drinking and drug use remain unacceptable. Set consequences for unacceptable behavior.

Do Something

Encourage your children to participate in sports, clubs, or volunteer activities. You MUST follow through on consequences for unacceptable behavior. Limit access (lock) alcohol and LOCK your prescription drugs using an Rx lock box. Be a parent. Monitoring and supervision in high school can reduce drinking in high school and college. Students whose parents allowed them to drink late in high school are more likely to have problems with alcohol in college. Make each moment count. Teens only get one junior/senior year. Let them know you don’t want them to miss out on things because of bad choices like drinking and drug use. Intervene if needed. You don’t need hard evidence to begin. Your intuition telling you something is wrong is enough to take action.

Using the behaviors above will set a solid nouse message. Kids and their friends will think twice before using and disappointing you. Most importantly, they will know you mean business, take you seriously, and thank you in the future. www. http://www.wowcoalition.org

Tantrum Trimming Tips

It’s almost inevitable that a child will throw a tantrum at some point. Here are some great tips for tantrum prevention:

1. Incorporate relaxation time into your child’s daily schedule – play a game, visit a park, cuddle up and read a story

2. In stressful times, do your best to remain calm – be a good example and your child may follow your lead

3. Keep negatives to a minimum – saying “no” can cause frustration, try a phrase like

parenting.

7. Avoid shouting matches and harsh punishments – these reactions can make tantrums worse.

8. Laughter is the best medicine – try humor to defuse a situation, shift their mood with a tickle, hug or silly song.

9. Redirect – if you see a tantrum coming, shift your child’s attention to something new.

As children develop their language and

harshly or ignoring him/her altogether may cause

We help children explore and discover their interests through play in a safe environment. Highly trained teachers gently guide and encourage children every step of the way as they grow, develop and achieve important milestones.

Normalcy

What is Normal and How Do I Get There?

One of the most common questions I’m asked as a psychologist is if something is “normal.” The bottom line is this: Normal is what you know. Therefore, it’s very subjective.

By example, let’s compare Shameless, a train wreck of a show, to the idyllic Leave it to Beaver. If you were raised by the Cleavers, you have a wise father who works in a suit and tie and a near-flawless mother who is a domestic engineer in heels and pearls. If you were brought up in a house a la Shameless, you have a drug-abusing, absentee mother with untreated bipolar disorder and a narcissistic, alcoholic father who is into all measure of lying, cheating and stealing. What you’re used to will be seen as normal until your presented with an alternative.

Instead of “normal,” I invite people to look at behaviors as healthy vs. unhealthy. I also use words like “typical” or “atypical.” For instance, it may seem entirely abnormal for someone to have an abusive childhood and continue to find

themselves in abusive, tumultuous or dramatic relationships as an adult. Why would they want that? Because that’s their “normal,” that’s what they know. I would even say that such a pattern is “not atypical,” which means not infrequent but not the rule either. I wouldn’t say it’s “normal” because there are plenty of women with this history who are not in abusive relationships and some who absolutely refuse to be and look for the polar opposite. Yet there are plenty who find themselves in these repetitive patterns, so I wouldn’t classify it as “abnormal” either.

What can you do to discern whether you should make some changes in your life? Ask yourself one question: “If a friend of mine lived life the way I do, what would I THINK about it? How would I FEEL about their situation? Is there any BEHAVIOR change I would suggest?” Stepping outside of yourself can help you do an honest assessment of which parts of your life are healthy, life-generating ones, and which are unhealthy, soul-damaging ones.

Submitted by Jennifer Bellingrodt, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist. For the full article and more, visit www.doctorbellingrodt.com. DISCLAIMER: Material is for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for evaluation or treatment by a licensed professional. Material is copyrighted and may only be reproduced with written permission of Dr. Bellingrodt.

01

PLAYTIME & EXERCISE

Set aside 30 minutes three times a week to do fun exercises with your kids. Make it a part of your after-school or after-dinner routine.

FUN IDEAS FOR FAMILY FITNESS

02 USE THE BIKE

Bike or walk to the grocery store, library, or to your child's school or sports events, while it’s still cool enough outside.

03

CLEAN & DANCE

Set aside time for household chores and do them together as a family. Put on some music and make it a fun activity.

UPCOMING EVENTS

BUCKEYE MARATHON

Jan 07 8 AM - 2 PM

Buckeye Airport 3000 S. Palo Verde Rd, Buckeye, AZ 85326

04

ACTIVITIES

Try games like tag or relay races at the next birthday party. Older kids might enjoy a dance party.

FARMER’S MARKET

Jan 8, 15, 22, 29 9 AM - 1 PM

Village Green 4239 N Village St, Buckeye, AZ 85396

Money Matters

It’s that time of year when many of us promise ourselves we’ll go to the gym more, or learn a new language, or take up a musical instrument, or any number of other worthy goals. But this year, when making New Year’s resolutions, why not also consider some financial ones?

Here are a few to consider: • Don’t let inflation derail your investment strategy. As you know, inflation was the big financial story of 2022, hitting a 40-year high. And while it may moderate somewhat this year, it will likely still be higher than what we experienced the past decade or so. Even so, it’s a good idea to try not to let today’s inflation harm your investment strategy for the future.

• Control your debts. Inflation can also be a factor in debt management. For example, your credit card debt could rise due to rising prices and variable credit card interest rate increases. By paying your bill each month, you can avoid the effects of rising interest rates. If you do carry a balance, you might be able to transfer it to a lower-rate card, depending on your credit

score. And if you’re carrying multiple credit cards, you might benefit by getting a fixed-rate debt consolidation loan. In any case, the lower your debt payments, the more you can invest for your long-term goals.

• Review your investment portfolio. At least once a year, you should review your investment portfolio to determine if it’s still appropriate for your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. But be careful not to make changes just because you feel your recent performance is not what it should have been. When the financial markets are down, as was the case for most of 2022, even quality investments, such as stocks of companies with solid business fundamentals and strong prospects, can see declines in value. But if these investments are still suitable for your portfolio, you may want to keep them.

• Prepare for the unexpected. If you encountered a large unexpected expense, such as the need for a major home repair, how would you pay for it? If you didn’t have the money readily available, you might be forced to dip into your long-term investments or retirement accounts. To prevent this, you should build an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses — or a year’s worth, if you’re retired — with the money kept in a low-risk, liquid account.

These resolutions can be useful — so try to put them to work in 2023.

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

The Bug Guy

It’s estimated that rodents seek shelter in more than 21 million homes in the US during winter. This means we may be dealing with mice or rats over the next few months. It’s important for homeowners to familiarize themselves with the types of rodents in our area as they can spread dangerous diseases and cause major property damage. Here’s some information about mice and rat species that we can encounter here in the west valley.

Deer Mice

Habitat: Prefer to nest in rural areas, specifically in fence posts, tree hollows and log piles. Rarely a problem in residential settings, but they can wander indoors during the winter months while searching for shelter from the cold weather.

Threats: Pose a significant health threat because they are the most common carrier of Hantavirus. This virus is transmitted primarily by the inhalation of dust particles contaminated with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected deer mice.

Prevention tip: Don’t store pet food or birdseed in garages or storage sheds, where it is especially attractive to deer mice.

Pack Rats

Habitat: Prefer open areas, and rarely infest inside a structure, they prefer to nest around cactus or other areas that they can build a den of items found nearby.

Threats: Can carry common rodent diseases, such as Salmonellosis.

Prevention tip: Keep your property well maintained and foliage trimmed and pay particular attention to unusual piles of refuse around the base of cactus and plants.

Roof Rats

Habitat: Live in colonies and prefer to nest in upper parts of structures or in trees.

Threats: Historically, roof rats and their fleas have been associated with bubonic plague. Although cases are rare, they can also spread typhus, jaundice, rat-bite fever, trichinosis and salmonellosis.

Prevention tip: Clean up fallen fruit and ensure garbage is stored in tightly covered receptacles. If you suspect an infestation, contact a licensed pest professional. Rodents are known to reproduce quickly, and what may seem like a small problem can turn into a big one before you know it.

Submitted by Larry Cash, of Estrella Mountain Pest Control

Furry Friends

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2023!

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get more involved in your community, please consider volunteering with Community Paws. You can meet current volunteers and learn of ways you can help at our annual Volunteer Meeting on January 23 at 6 p.m. at the Center on Main.

Here are some of the activities we will be discussing.

• We distribute pet food donations to local animal rescue groups every other Saturday morning. We could use your help unloading bags of food from the trailer, organizing piles of food or providing transportation.

• Opening your heart and home to help an animal on a short-term basis is very rewarding, and we never seem to have enough foster families. We provide everything you need at no cost and handle any veterinary care the animal may need.

• Do you have a talent for photography or writing? You may be a computer wizard or have another creative or technical talent. We can certainly put those skills and talents to good use!

• We need volunteers to lead our Junior Division, a place for youngsters ten years or older who enjoy being part of a group, love animals and want to make a difference in the world.

Looking back at the past year and all that Community Paws has accomplished with your help, we want to thank our wonderful community and team of volunteers, without whom our organization would not exist. We truly appreciate everyone who has donated in some capacity, from volunteering their time to participating in one of our events or fundraising drives or fostering/ adopting one of our pets in need.

We look forward to working with you in the new year!

Submitted for Community Paws by Lyndie Mason Warner, Verrado resident.

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

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Arizona Sun Control

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Groundworks Flooring

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J & H Appliance Repair

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The Window Cleaner AZ

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LANDSCAPING / POOL CARE

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PET CARE

Gentle Hearts Animal Hospital

REAL ESTATE

Adair Fine Homes Group - C Adair Impresa Real Estate - L Mendoza Keller Williams - A King Keller Williams - TK Luxury Group Keller Williams - T McKenna Main Street Property Mgmt - K Pellerin Realty One Group - A Herman Realty One Group - Wilson/Castiilla

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