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

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From Me To You...

As another summer winds down and schools start back up for the fall did you find any relaxation in the last few months? I look back at the summer and see many people trying to cram as much as possible into their ‘free time’, when the children are home for long stretches and the days lengthen into endless possibilities. But do you really gain anything from all that forced activity? There is value in slowing down, taking it one day at a time, really appreciating the moments. This is probably the last year we will see our children come home for the summer and although I know there are many things we could have done we chose to just focus on a few things. We rewatched all the Indiana Jones movies in anticipation of seeing the latest (and most likely last) installment of the franchise. We set the goal of playing all the Indiana Jones Lego Wii games and getting the highest scores possible. We are taking a float down the Salt River with friends and that is about it.

To be honest that sounds like heaven to me. Having raced through so many summers ferrying kids from one summer camp to another. Making play dates at the pool and water parks, trying to have the ‘best time’ is it really achievable anyway?

We took a trip to Disney World a few years ago and I planned every second of that trip. After 2 miserable days of forcing the kids from one ride

to another I realized that there was no way to see everything so why was I making everyone stressed and miserable? At that point I gave up control and allowed the children to lead the way. Did they ride the Muppets 3D ride over and over again? Yes. Did they have the best time doing that? Absolutely!

I am so looking forward to my float trip in a few days, we can relax and catch up without social media or the pressure of having to be anywhere else. And in the meantime I think I will attack my ‘to-be-read’ pile of books; making a dent in that is as much pressure as anyone should have in the summer.

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

Peoria 411

I’ve been providing these updates for over a year now and have never repeated a topic in consecutive months. However, with so many recent drownings at Lake Pleasant and other bodies of water, I wanted to take some time to address this reoccurring tragedy.

In 2022 there were 142 drowning incidents reported throughout Maricopa County, with 60 resulting in fatalities. This year, we are currently on pace to surpass this number, which was already at 5-year high. Quite frankly these numbers are appalling, and we continue to see this tragedy play out on the nightly news nearly every week it seems. Residents across Peoria and the entire valley should take the time to educate themselves and loved ones on appropriate water-safety measures.

One local business is responding to the call by providing FREE educational seminars about boating and water safety. Dillon’s Bayou continues to host monthly talks with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, Arizona Game and Fish, Peoria Fire-Medical and the Desert Eagles US Coast Guard Auxiliary. To help make this an event everyone can enjoy, the gate fee is waived if you mention you are attending this meeting. Plus, you’ll receive a free breakfast burrito to enjoy while you learn, talk about awesome! The final two seminars are August 12 and September 9 from 9:00-10:00a.m. More details are available on the Mesquite District Facebook page.

Unfortunately, one of the most overlooked aspect of lake safety is the use of a life jacket when out on the water. I get it; we’re all experienced swimmers who don’t want a bulky, orange block on our shoulders. Well the truth is accidents on the water happen much too fast to reach and put on a stowed life jacket. The good news is that today’s life jackets are much more

comfortable, lightweight, and stylish than what most people remember. Life jackets are available for almost any boating activity and use inflatable technologies that are cool and comfortable, with some automatically inflating in the water. Drowning is the reported cause of death in 80% of all boating fatalities, but we can work to change that statistic by simply wearing a life jacket.

Pleasant Harbor Marina also recognizes the importance of life jackets and is doing their part to keep everyone safe on the lake. The marina has implemented a Life Jacket Loaner Program, which provides the public with free use of life jackets from sizes infant to adult, on a firstcome, first-served basis. Anyone who forgot a life jacket, or needs a properly fitting one, can pick one up from the marina, enjoy the day on the water, and then simply return the jacket for someone else to use later on! I believe this is such an amazing community program with the potential to save lives that I chose to support the initiative directly by purchasing additional life jackets for use. I encourage everyone to spread the word about this program and the overall importance of wearing a life jacket on the water.

Let’s do our part this season to ensure we can all continue to enjoy outdoors we have come to know and love in Peoria. Have fun, be safe, and care for each other out there – I’ll see you on the lake.

Peoria City Councilmember Brad Shafer

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

Are You A Chameleon?

Our perceptions, outlook and even personality are often influenced by the situations and people in our lives. If we too often morph to become what others want, though, we’re not being true to ourselves, and this chameleon behavior comes with consequences. If you think this might be you, I invite you to take a look inside and ask yourself some questions:

• Are the changes I make positive or negative?

• Do the changes I make serve me personally in a good way or are they done just for the benefit of others?

• What kind of energy do I carry around with me? Do I feel down more often than not?

• What kind of vibe do I put out to others? Am I more like a ray of sunshine or a dark cloud when I’m with people?

• If I could step outside myself, how would I describe me?

• How would I describe the people in my life to someone else? Do they build me up, encourage me, support me; or are they negative people who bring me down or surround me with cynicism?

If most of your answers are in the wrong direction, it’s time for a change. It’s very possible that some of the changes you’ve made as a function of being around others are good, they’ve made you happier or made you a better person in some way. Other times, people in our path are there to remind us how not to be.

The bottom line is that you should feel good about who you are whether you are by yourself, with one person or in a crowd. If you don’t, you may need to do the following:

• Eliminate toxic people from your life.

• Do the work to learn to love yourself and be comfortable in your own skin.

• Decrease the demands on your time that stress you out and make you an unhappy or even angry person.

• Stop changing in ways you don’t like or for people who are not your priority.

• Set boundaries.

It’s time to separate the wheat from the chaff. Ultimately, you want to ensure that your thoughts and behavior align with your personal priorities and goals.

Submitted by Jennifer Bellingrodt, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist.

DISCLAIMER: Material is for informational purposes 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.

Our Goal as Parents

This is an exciting time for our teens, where they experience increased cognitive abilities, learning, and memory due to the brain’s ability to rewire its connections in response to experiences. What triggers this transition? Physical development (aka puberty), which also initiates brain development. As a teen, I am not only dealing with the stresses of adjusting to physical changes but also learning to deal with intellectual, social, and emotional development. It’s like BOOM… here it is…figure it out.

The teen brain is hardwiring itself during this time, creating a foundation for adulthood. While physical development (puberty) is mostly autopilot, a teen’s intellectual, social, and emotional growth must be nurtured and developed. Thoughts, feelings, and actions repeated over time become a set of neurons that become pathways. These pathways are used for decision-making and behavior patterns in adulthood. Use of alcohol, drugs, or severe trauma during this period creates pathways that often lead to poor decision-making and a pattern of questionable choices resulting in a lifetime of struggle. This is a key reason 90% of people addicted to drugs or alcohol started using in their teenage years. And now you understand why teen brain development is our number one reason to keep kids from getting involved with drugs or alcohol.

Also happening are elaborate changes in the brain’s dopamine system, which influences learning about what is rewarding in the environment. And if that’s not enough, the teen brain focuses on risk and excitement – that’s why teens get bored easily. Ever heard this response: How was school today? Boring…

What’s exciting to many of them? Rumors, gossip, drama, social media, sports, theater, parties, who’s dating who, and high-risk behaviors that may involve sneaking out of the house at night, sex, stealing alcohol, pot, or pills from home, and one more thing; not getting caught. All these high-risk behaviors have what the teen brain focuses on – risk and excitement. Our job as parents is to foil these high-risk behavior attempts. The fact is, if a teen does adolescence well, adulthood gets much easier. Our goal as parents is to help our teens do adolescence well!

The Peoria Primary Prevention Coalition (3PC) is a prevention association that promotes safe and healthy choices and responds to problems caused by marijuana, nicotine, and opioid use by implementing strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance use. Visit https://www.3PCoalition.org or email us at info@3PCoalition.org to book a talk for your group or organization or become a coalition member.

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

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.

shredded cheddar cheese

What Is A Heart Murmur?

A heart murmur is an uncommon sound that your doctor may hear between heartbeats. The human heartbeat sounds like “lub-dub,” while heart murmurs produce a swishing or a whooshing sound. In adults, abnormal heart murmurs are usually linked to heart valve problems, diseases or infections. In children, it may be caused by birth defects or congenital heart malformations, which may be corrected with surgery.

If you have innocent heart murmurs, you are less likely to experience symptoms. On the other hand, if you have abnormal heart murmurs, symptoms may vary on the cause. But some of its most common symptoms include:

• A cough that won’t go away

• Blue skin around your lips and/or fingertips

• Chest pain

• Decreased tolerance for physical activity

• Dizziness

• Excessive sweating (even without exercising)

• Episodes of rapid heartbeat

• Fainting

• Shortness of breath

• Symptoms of heart failure (at its worst)

Innocent or functional heart murmurs are neither dangerous nor life-threatening. It occurs when your blood flows quicker through the heart than normal. You may experience a heart murmur if you’re anemic, if you’re pregnant, when you’re exercising or doing a physical activity, if you have fever, if you have hyperthyroidism or if you’re a teenager whose body is growing fast.

For innocent heart murmurs, patients may not need any treatment. For some cases of abnormal heart murmur, you may need to take medications, such as those that may help lower your blood pressure, may help lower your cholesterol levels or anti-coagulants that may help prevent blood clots from forming. If the cause of your heart murmur is a hole in your heart or if your heart valves need to be replaced, you may need surgery, such as a valve repair or valve replacement. Some other non-surgical options may also be recommended by your physician.

Heart murmurs may be harmless and may go away on their own, but some cases require treatment as they may be a sign of a serious heart condition. If you are experiencing heart murmur symptoms, please see a heart doctor, learn more about the root cause of your condition and get the treatment you may need.

Submitted by Abrazo Health

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.

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.

Visit www.sharonravenscroft.com for more info.

Sharon Ravenscroft, M. Scott Rowan, Attorneys, Cavanagh Law Firm, PA, Sun City and Phoenix offices, Sravenscroft@CavanaghLaw.com or (623) 815-7451; legal practice focused on Wills, trusts, probate and trust administration.

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