Surprise Living

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From Me To You...

One of our dogs passed away this week. Even though he was getting on in years - he made it to the grand old age of 73ish in dog years - it was unexpected. What was worse is that he was living at college with my son, and I had to help him (my son, not the dog) navigate emergency vets and momentous decisions about his childhood pet from a distance.

I learned several things during the process, the most important is that letting go can be a blessing. Hank was in pain and I was glad that his suffering was brief, and letting go of him was the right thing to do. My son is now a man and is very capable of making important decisions, navigating the world with the information he has at hand. I discovered that letting go of control where he is concerned was the right thing too.

Hank (the dog) had slipped into the role of old man when he lived at home with us, but once he got to Pullman at the tender age of 9, he joined a Fraternity and began his teenage years all over again. He chased stray dogs off his property, became a great wing man for his roommates, helped raise money for their philanthropy - Special Olympics, joined his frat brothers on the Fraternity composite portrait, and

I am sure lapped up a beer or two in his time there. He was a blessing for my son, a reason to stay on the straight and narrow - you can’t party too hard when you have to take the dog out for a walk when you get home - and above all a friend who always had his back when classes, work, and relationships seemed to much to handle.

So I want to say ‘Thank you, Hank’ you were a good dog and we will miss you.

Catherine Uretsky Editor, The Hamlet Magazine

info@estrellapublishing.com

623.398.5541

Go Wild!

On Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. the Phoenix Zoo will be having our first-ever Teacher Appreciation Day sponsored by Desert Financial Credit Union. The first 300 teachers will get free entry, and additional teachers will receive 50% off general admission. Teachers must present their teacher ID.

Enjoy a day at the Phoenix Zoo with like-minded professionals. We invite you to explore Zoo trails at your leisure, or join us for a tour to learn what it’s like when you book a field trip for your class.

You will have the opportunity to:

Learn how the Phoenix Zoo partners with teachers

Experience amazing animal

discoveries

Visit your favorite animals

Enter for a chance to win a Backstage Adventure

To learn more, visit: phoenixzoo.org/events/teacherappreciation-day/

BE FAST

Stroke Awareness Month

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, when health care professionals stress that stroke is a medical emergency and a leading cause of death and longterm disabilities in this country.

Stroke affects the arteries leading to the brain and the arteries within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts.

It is important to know the signs of stroke and seek treatment as rapidly as possible, according to Abrazo West Campus Interventional Neurologist Dr. Sushant Kale.

During a stroke, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, and that part of the brain starts to die. “It’s important to recognize that a stroke is happening, because you can save a life, including your own,” said Dr. Kale.

“The point to remember is that ‘time equals brain.’ A delay of even five or 10 minutes can make a big difference in a patient’s outcome. Every minute in delay to treatment leads to 2 million neurons dying.”

Advanced stroke centers are able to treat patients with ischemic strokes, large vessel occlusions, hemorrhagic strokes, or strokes from unusual causes that may require specialized testing or interventional therapies,

as well as provide post-acute care.

Stroke has no age limits, and younger adults are increasingly affected by stroke and its risk factors.

“Every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke, and one in six people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. When it comes to spotting stroke symptoms, BEFAST and seek help,” said Kale. “Time lost is brain lost.”

Eighty percent of strokes are preventable through healthy lifestyle changes and controlling conditions that raise the risk for stroke such as heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

Simple lifestyle changes can make a big impact on your risk for stroke such as choosing healthy meal and snack options, lowering your BMI, exercise regularly, limit your alcohol consumption, stop smoking and get regular checkups with your doctor.

BE FAST to recognize a stroke

B - Balance: Watch for sudden loss of balance

E - Eyes: Check for vision loss

F - Face: Look for an uneven smile

A - Arm: Check if one arm is weak

S - Speech: Listen for slurred speech

T - Time: Call 9-1-1 right away

Home Sweet Home

Getting Creative in Today’s Housing Market

Ready to take a big leap in today’s housing market? You just might be eligible for some fantastic programs putting more money in your pocket along the way. First thing’s first. Paint color, appliances, and decor style can be changed. But location and HOA fees are forever. Ready to make that move? Here are two great programs taking the hassle out of securing a home loan.

BUY BEFORE YOU SELL

Downsizing? Upgrading? Looking for peace of mind leaving a vacant home? You can buy a house before you’ve sold the one you already own!

“According to property analytics company CoreLogic, the average U.S. homeowner has racked up a cool $274,000 in equity, up from $182,000 since before the pandemic,” reports HomeLight.

Act fast on your dream home by unlocking a portion of the equity you’ve built over the years with an innovative program called HomeLight. It provides

you the confidence to make a strong offer on your new home while attracting the strongest offer on your vacant home.

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS

We’re super stoked about the innovative

“Home in 5 Platinum” Program! If you’re a first-time home buyer in Maricopa County, you can lock in a 5.9% interest rate under qualifying terms. Here are a few:

Minimum FICO credit score of 640

Annual income up to $138,600

New or existing houses, condominiums, or townhouses

Complete Homebuyer education

K-12 teachers, first responders, U.S. military personnel, veterans, and income qualified individuals who earn up to $49,500 annually get ANOTHER 1% in assistance.

HOW TO GET STARTED

Where does your bargaining power begin? Find a Realtor® with experience and ask for a market analysis to start your house hunting journey.

Submitted by Martin C. Sears PC

Cook With Zona

Pasta Salad

As this is my third recipe in the Estrella Publishing magazine, I thought this would be a great time to introduce myself. My name is Arizona, I’m a former preschool teacher, and a mom of three adult children. My husband and I are officially empty nesters living here in the West Valley. My favorite things include pickleball (I know, real original), dark chocolate, and reality tv. I’m choosing to remain semi-anonymous for the fun of it but you can call me Zona. I’m always on the hunt for new recipes too, so if you have any recipes you’d like to share with me I would love to try them out! Email me at ArizonaCooks71@gmail.com.

Pasta salad is one of my favorite dishes to meal prep for lunches or bring to a big gathering! With the weather warming up it’s time to have a backyard BBQ or maybe a pool party and this dish will be a big hit! And a little advice, you do not need to wait to be invited to a picnic or potluck to get some pasta salad magic in your life!

Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 12 mins | Total time: 25 mins

Ingredients (5-6 servings)

1 box of tri-colored rotini pasta

1 red bell pepper

1 English cucumber

Mozzarella cheese

block Pepperoni

Olive Garden

Signature Italian dressing (measure with your heart)

Italian seasoning

Salt & pepper Steps

• Cook pasta according to the box.

• While pasta is cooking, we’ll chop up the rest of our ingredients. I like to dice my ingredients into bite-size pieces and we’re aiming for about the same amount of all the chopped ingredients.

• When pasta is done, rinse it with cold water to help it not stick together.

• Add all your chopped veggies, as well as the mozzarella and pepperoni to the pasta.

• Pour in your dressing, mix it all together, and don’t forget to season! ENJOY!

We love to see our neighbors’ delicious creations, so send us a picture of your colorful pasta salad or tag us on social media @ EstrellaPublishing.

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.

Sharon Ravenscroft, M. Scott Rowan, Attorneys, The Cavanagh Law Firm, PA, Sun City and Phoenix offices,

(623) 815-7451 or Sravenscroft@CavanaghLaw.com; legal practice focused on Wills, trusts, probate and trust administration. For more information www.sharonravenscroft.com.

Find 10 differences in the two pictures

Spring Football

The Highs and Lows of the Offseason

It is a crisp sunny day around most of the country and college campuses are buzzing with excitement. No, not because of the end of the semester, or how much they love their professors – it is spring football time. As a Junior currently enrolled in University, I have been through this ritual before, but the energy and anticipation will never get old.

Whether a good or bad season, the players are working tirelessly in the weight room and on the practice field, determined to be better than the day before. The coaching staff is always busy, trying to create the best plan for success leading into the next season. Expectations will always be high, with the goal of an accomplished season.

Of course, this process is not all sunshine and rainbows physically and mentally (farther north, you quite literally never have sunshine). Practices in about any weather, and the early mornings and late nights can leave the players drained, and minor injuries will start to compile. The competition for the starting job is fierce, and some guys who were once key parts of the team may have to prove themselves over again. The staff will be analyzing every rep, evaluating which players have the talent to help the team.

As an avid fan, I make it a point to attend as many open practices as possible. Seeing the team in action, even in a non-game setting, can be exhilarating. The sound of pads cracking together, the passion of the coaches, and the roar of the crowd (okay, it is mostly just a few people) fills me with a sense of school pride. I love watching the young players stepping up, the vets providing leadership, and the coaching staff fine tuning the game plan.

But spring football is about more than just on-field work. It is also critical timing for a team to bond and build chemistry, especially for the transfers and firstyear students. These players go through grueling

workouts, eat together, and even share dormitories. For a lot of them, it is not about being teammates as much as being brothers. That specific camaraderie is vital to the success of the team.

As spring approaches, the anticipation on campus is palpable. This annual scrimmage is the culmination of months of challenging work, and the players are eager to show the fans what they are capable of. The stadium will be filled, music will be loud, and hot dogs will be expensive. It is the corner before the fall, and a preview of an exciting season for whatever team you are rooting for.