Mountain View

Catherine Uretsky, Publisher and Editor

623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com

Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive

623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com

All contents © 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.

From Me To You...

I have been watching our robotic vacuum cleaner a lot recently, we named him Gary after the snail in SpongeBob SquarePants. Now that the kids are away at college I moved him upstairs to give my carpets a regular cleaning without worrying about it. (Also there is much less chance that he will get caught on the detritus of teenage life now that the kids are away.)

The vacuum is supposed to clean on a somewhat random pattern and send himself home when he needs to recharge or empty his bin. The thing is, Gary seems to spend most of his time trying to get home, circling the same area over and over, bumping into walls and furniture. The more he circles, the more I am tempted to pick Gary up and place him on his base to cut out the hours of mindless meandering. It wont help though, if I return Gary to his base without letting him find his own way there then he will not learn how to get home next time.

The parallels to raising children are remarkable. You watch them grow and make mistakes, trying to find their way in life, turning on the same axis over and over again. As tempting as it is to just tell them how to achieve their goals, or even worse, find the solution for them, that teaches them nothing. I take that back, it teaches them that someone will always be there to pick up the slack and solve their problems. The trick to

successful parenting, in my mind, is to allow your children to find their own solutions. I am not saying that you can’t help them or guide them, but the value lies in learning that things can be done by yourself, and the pride in knowing you can do things for yourself is immeasurable.

Having said that, I just found my vacuum in the master closet, he ran out of power trying to get back to his base by himself. Just like kids, if they really fail, we will always place them gently back on their base with a reassuring pat and some encouraging words. “You’ll get it next time, kid.”

Catherine Uretsky Editor, Mountain View Magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623.398.5541

Stress!

High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity and obesity. Most of us are familiar with these as major risk factors for heart disease. But what about stress? Is there a connection between stress and heart disease? Not all stress is bad but chronic stress associated with a medical condition or feeling pressured over a long period of time can be, explains Dr. Mark Callesen, Chief Medical Officer for Jewish Family & Children’s Service.

“Chronic stress can lead to impaired cognitive function, increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. It can also impair the body’s immune system and exacerbate any existing illnesses,” says Callesen

Research shows that chronic stress can increase inflammation, and inflammation is linked to high blood pressure and lower HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) which can harm the heart. Chronic stress can also increase the risk for heart disease in more subtle ways. “When you’re constantly stressed, you tend to not sleep well,” adds Dr. Callesen. “You’re also more likely to eat high-fat, high-cholesterol foods or engage in other heart-damaging behaviors such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol or using drugs. By both defusing stress and managing the unhealthy behaviors it triggers, we can help minimize our body’s heart-damaging reactions to it.”

Want to turn your chronic stress around and help protect your heart in the process? Dr. Callesen recommends these five simple tips:

• Focus on the things you can control: This helps us to stay positive and laugh more. Laughter has been found to help reduce artery inflammation and increase “good” HDL cholesterol.

• Exercise: One of the best ways to melt away stress and lower your blood pressure is through regular physical activity.

• Practice mind-body techniques: Meditation, yoga and tai chi activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the brain and body.

• Strengthen and maintain relationships: Having a strong support network can reduce your stress level and help you take better care of yourself.

• Take a break from electronics: You can’t escape from stress when it follows you everywhere. Unplug from your phone, computer and TV, even if it’s just for 15 minutes.

If you’re struggling with stress, Dr. Callesen suggests talking to your primary care provider to discuss treatment options for treating high blood pressure or sleep issues or getting a referral to a mental health professional. Most importantly, realize that stress is a normal human reaction that happens to everyone, even the experts.

“I absolutely get stressed, but doing something active helps me to relax,” says Dr. Callesen. “I find walking my two dogs, Emmett and Stella, helps me to decompress. It forces me to get outdoors and all three of us sleep better at night.”

For more information, visit https://www.jfcsaz. org/.

This article was submitted by Jewish Family & Children’s Service.

Peoria 411

Join us for Mesquite District Parkfest on Saturday, April 29

I would like to invite you to the Mesquite District Parkfest event on Saturday,April 29th. ParkFest events are designed to connect the community by introducing neighbors and providing information about City services through free, entertaining, and informative activities such as movies in the park, live music, free food, and other family-friendly entertainment. Come and enjoy a Movie in the Park: Puss in Boots 2 – The Last Wish, Saturday, April 29, 2023, 6:30 p.m.9:30 p.m. Sunset Park, 29698 N Sunrise Point.

The Peoria Trails team has recently completed the expansion of both the Westwing Mountain and Calderwood Butte Preserve trail networks. The City is seeking community input on the names of these new trails, which can be found by scanning the QR code. Pick your favorite and look for the release of the new trail names May 1st.

Current Development Cases in the District

Citizen participation is an important component for successful planning and development of our community. For an interactive map to the current development cases in the City, visit the Planning Case Mapping Tool at www.peoriaaz.gov/business/maps. If you have any questions or would like additional information on a case, please do not hesitate to contact me at mesquite@peoriaaz.gov.

Shafer

Peoria’s Great Outdoors!

The outdoor weather is amazing this time of year. It is a great time to enjoy the outdoors. Peoria residents have access to more than 18 miles of multi-use trails for walking, jogging, hiking, cycling, and horseback riding along New River from Northern Avenue to Happy Valley Rd, and 5.7 miles along Skunk Creek from 83rd Ave to 51st Ave in Glendale.There are also 30.8 miles of mountain hiking trails in Peoria, as well as bike lanes, bike routes, and trailheads to explore. You can use Peoria’s trail map and difficulty rating scale to find the right trail for your skill and abilities.You can find the trail maps at www. peoriaaz.gov/trails

The Mesquite District has several popular trails located at Calderwood Butte, Sunrise Mountain, and WestWing Mountain and Paloma Regional Preserve. Many of these locations have several trails to choose from – so you can take a short or long hike.

Submitted by Councilmember Brad

Spring Cleaning

As you’re doing your spring cleaning, how about taking inventory of your family’s prescription medications: Do you have expired prescriptions you no longer need? Many fire and police stations will accept medications for safe disposal. It’s also a good time to organize a list of the medications in your family’s medicine cabinet, in case there’s a medical emergency, according to Danelle Readinger, Emergency Services Director at Abrazo West Campus in Goodyear.

“What if you or a family member were rushed to the hospital, would a loved one be able to provide a current list of your medications to first responders or the Emergency Department? What if it was your child or parent? Would you know the names and dosages of their prescriptions? How about any non-prescription medications?” she asks. “It’s important to know, because not having this information may cause a delay in care, as paramedics or hospital staff try to confirm current medications before providing that information to the physician.”

Health care professionals from Abrazo hospitals throughout the Valley say that keeping your list of medications and health history up to date can help patients avoid adverse effects from dosing errors, omissions, duplications and drug interactions. Some of the important things to keep track of include:

• Medications, including name, dosage and whether it was completed or is ongoing.

• Medical history. This may include chronic conditions or recent illnesses.

• Allergies to medications and foods and the type of reaction.

• Vitamins, supplements, and other over-thecounter items, and dosage.

• Other pertinent health information, including immunizations.

There are some common sense ways to help keep this information: Each time you make a change, note the date. Ask your pharmacy (or pharmacies) to print out a list of medications filled in the last year. And make sure someone in your family or circle of friends knows where you keep your medications list.

Submitted by Abrazo Health

Yum Yum

To help ring in spring and celebrate the possibilities of citrus, try this standout Lemon Loaf starring Sunkist lemon juice and zest, ideal for brunch, dessert or an afternoon treat.

Ingredients

Loaf

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs, room temperature

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups cake flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Zest from 2 Sunkist lemons

Glaze

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Zest from 1 Sunkist lemon

Directions

* Preheat oven to 350F and line your 8 x 4” loaf pan with parchment paper.

* Cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add in your eggs one at a time and vanilla extract. Into a smaller bowl mix together your flour, salt and baking soda. Alternate adding your dry ingredients with your sour cream. Fold in fresh lemon juice and zest and mix until well combined. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.

* Bake in oven about 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Meanwhile, prepare glaze by mixing powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest together until smooth.

* Remove loaf from oven and let cool completely before topping with glaze.

Reading Readiness

When parents instill a love of reading in their children from an early age, it increases their oral language skills and vocabulary knowledge, . In addition, focusing on key early literacy skills during the preschool years can help parents and teachers identify potential indicators of learning challenges so early intervention can be provided. Beyond developing early language and literacy skills, reading may also increase a child’s ability to understand the emotions of others - a critical life skill that leads to empathy and compassion.

Dr. Maria Shaheen, of early childhood education at Primrose Schools, provides five tips to encourage a lasting love of reading:

1) Introduce language as early as possible - even before birth. Speaking and reading to your baby during pregnancy establishes voice recognition and promotes cognitive development.

2) Make reading a regular part of bedtime routine. With daily “tuck-in” stories and snuggling together at bedtime, infants and young children begin to associate reading with comfort, warmth and security.

3) Offer a wide variety of stories. This can include nursery rhymes, poetry, nonfiction and fiction from many genres, as well as books that celebrate a wide range of cultures and diverse characters.

4) Help children discover the magic of books for themselves. Books can help young children understand their own feelings when characters face similar life events, so parents should pick topics their children may be curious about.

5) Make reading a fun learning experience. Preschool children can create books with their own stories about things they do with their families. Parents can also play silly word games that help children play with sounds, such as rhyming games or tongue twisters.

Starting a reading routine throughout daily life models for children the importance of reading as a way to gain information and valuable life skills, explore new worlds, encourage imagination and have fun.

Creative Surface Solutions is part of the Younger Brothers Family of Companies

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

Teen Drug Trends

Drug abuse among teenagers is a growing concern worldwide, and it is imperative that parents, grandparents, teachers, and community leaders take an active role in preventing it. Substance abuse can lead to various health, social, and legal problems, and educating young people about the dangers of drugs is important.

Popular Drugs Among Teens

Teens’ most commonly used drugs include marijuana, prescription drugs, and e-cigarettes or vaping devices. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), nearly 30% of high school seniors have used marijuana in the past year, making it the most widely used illicit drug among teens. Prescription drugs, such as opioids and stimulants, are also commonly abused by teenagers, often obtained from friends or family members with legitimate prescriptions. E-cigarettes have gained popularity in recent years, with the NIDA reporting that over 20% of high school seniors have used them in the past month.

Consequences of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse among teenagers can lead to a range of negative consequences, including addiction, impaired judgment and decisionmaking, and increased risk of accidents and violence. Additionally, drug abuse can cause physical harm, such as damage to the brain, heart, and other vital organs. Furthermore, using drugs can also lead to legal problems, including arrest and imprisonment.

Prevention Strategies

Preventing teen drug abuse requires a multifaceted approach, including education and parental and community involvement. Parents play a crucial role in preventing drug abuse by talking to their children about the dangers of drugs, monitoring their behavior, and setting clear boundaries. Educating teenagers about the risks of drug abuse and its effects on their health, relationships, and future prospects are also essential. Community organizations such as the Way Out West (WOW) Coalition and schools can also provide educational programs and resources to help prevent drug abuse among teens.

Finally, addressing the root causes of drug abuse among teenagers, such as stress, peer pressure, and underlying mental health issues, is essential. By addressing these underlying issues, providing support, and educating young people, we can help teens make healthy choices and live drugfree lives.

Author Larry Tracey founded Youth4Youth, which develops success and leadership skills in youth and promotes school safety by treating everyone with respect. He is a member of the Peoria Primary Prevention Coalition (3PC). This association promotes safe and healthy choices and responds to problems caused by alcohol, marijuana, and Rx abuse by implementing strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance use. For additional information or support resources, visit https://www.3PCoalition. org or www.Youth4Youth.org.

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!