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 Christie Gianetto, Assistant Editor
Talia Uretsky, Assistant
Editor
Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com
As the summer heat settles in across the Valley, life in Marley Park naturally begins to slow down— afternoons stretch long, mornings start early, and the shade becomes our most prized possession. With triple-digit temperatures becoming the norm, it’s the season of cold drinks, sunscreen, and finding the closest pool.
Speaking of pools, this month’s Star-Spangled Pool Party is the perfect way to kick off July in true Marley Park fashion. It’s a chance to cool off, connect with neighbors, and celebrate the 4th of July with family and friends. If it’s not already a tradition for you, now’s a great time to make it one.
While the event calendar may be a little quieter this time of year, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the
community. Early morning walks through the Arbor Walk offer a peaceful start to the day. Grabbing an iced coffee from a local spot and catching up with a neighbor on a shady porch can turn an ordinary afternoon into something memorable. Even a simple evening drive around the neighborhood—windows down, music playing—can remind us how lucky we are to call this place home.
Summer can also be a good time to check in on one another. With routines shifting and the days blurring together, a quick hello, an offer to grab ice cream, or helping a neighbor with their trash bins can mean more than you think.
The heartbeat of Marley Park is rooted in community, connection, and the little things that bring us joy. If you have ideas for future stories, events, or neighbor spotlights, I’d love to hear from you. You don’t need to be a writer—just someone willing to share the small, meaningful moments that make this neighborhood feel like home.
In the words of F. Scott Fitzgeralt, “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees… I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
See you on the front porch!
Christie Giannetto, Assistant Editor, The Front Porch Magazine
On Our Cover
If you’ve spent any time strolling through Marley Park, chances are you’ve crossed paths with the Aguiar family. Sara and Randy Aguiar, along with their two sons Geovany (Geo) (8) and Mateo (2) have been proud residents of Marley Park since July of 2018.
Originally from the Moon Valley area in Phoenix, the Aguiars were drawn to Marley Park when their oldest son was just a year old. They were looking for a more family-friendly neighborhood, and in a fun twist of fate, Sara’s youngest sister and her husband were also house hunting at the same time. Both families ended up building homes right next door to each other— making it possible for their children to grow up not just as cousins, but as next-door neighbors.
Sara and Randy’s love story began back in college in Missouri. Sara, originally from St. Louis, and Randy, from San Diego, were both student athletes she played softball, he played baseball and they met at a campus Halloween party in 2005. They married in November 2010 and will celebrate 15 years together this fall.
Sara is a dedicated teacher with 18 years of experience in education, most of it spent in the Osborn School
District in Phoenix. Today, she’s found her home teaching fourth grade at Paradise Honors Elementary here in Surprise. She hopes to finish out her career there. Geo is a second grader at Paradise Honors, and little Mateo attends “Kiddie Paradise,” making it extra special that the whole family gets to be at school together each day.
Randy works as a Health Insurance Operations Manager and also shares his passion for the game as the assistant baseball coach at Dysart High School. Sports play a big part in their family life Geo stays busy with soccer, baseball, flag football, and basketball through the City of Surprise. When they’re not on the sidelines of one of his games, the Aguiars enjoy catching the Diamondbacks, Suns, or Cardinals live whenever they can.
They also share their home with Cali, a spirited 14-year-old rescue pup they adopted just after getting married. Though her breed is a mystery, Cali still loves to romp around with the boys and shows no signs of slowing down.
From evening walks around the neighborhood to summer travels visiting family in Missouri and California, the Aguiars love making memories together and they’re proud to call Marley Park home.
Submitted by Christie Giannetto, Marley Park Homeowner
Furry Friends
Keeping Your Pets Cool in Arizona: A Survival Guide
Ah, June in Arizona—when the pavement reaches “medium-well” and your car doubles as a convection oven! While we humans can choose breathable fabrics and complain incessantly about the heat, our furry companions need our help to avoid becoming fourlegged hot pockets.
Dawn Patrol & Night Moves
Want to walk your dog? Say goodbye to beauty sleep! Those precious pre-sunrise hours (when it’s merely “warm” instead of “surface of Venus”) are golden. Evening walks after sunset work too—just bring a flashlight so you don’t mistake a cactus for a fire hydrant.
The Five-Second Rule (Not the Food One)
Place your bare palm on the pavement for five seconds. If you don’t immediately yell something your grandmother would disapprove of, it’s probably safe for paws. Remember: if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their feet!
Booties: Fashion Meets Function
Veterinarians highly recommend protective footwear for pets during summer months. Yes, your dog will walk like they’re wearing invisible flippers at first, but the alternative is burned paw pads and an expensive vet bill. Plus, the hilarious “first time in booties” dance is worth recording!
Pool Party Pups
Dr. Barker, DVM, suggests supervised swimming as excellent exercise that keeps pets cool. The key word is “supervised”—not all dogs are natural swimmers, and some will use your pool as a giant water dish if left unattended.
Indoor Alternatives (Vet Approved!)
* Treadmill Training: Start slow and use positive reinforcement. Your vet recommends no more than 15-20 minutes for beginners.
* Laser Pointer Olympics: According to veterinary behaviorist Dr. Whiskers, this provides mental and physical stimulation. Your cat gets exercise; you get entertainment watching them crash into furniture. * Cooling Mats: These pressure-activated gel pads provide instant relief for overheated pets and are recommended by 9 out of 10 veterinarians (the tenth was too busy trying to remove a sock from a Labrador).
Remember, pets feel heat more intensely than humans do. They’re wearing fur coats they can’t remove— imagine wearing a parka to a sauna! With these strategies, both you and your furry friends can survive Arizona’s summer without melting into puddles of regret.
Stay cool, pet parents!
Mark Your Calendars
Mark your calendars and grab your swimsuits— Marley Park’s StarSpangled Celebration is right around the corner! This year’s 4th of July Pool Party will be held at Heritage Pool from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and promises to be a festive, family-friendly event for MPCA residents.
bouncer, and lawn games. Whether you’re cooling off in the pool, enjoying lunch, or participating in one of the many fun activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Tickets are required for all attendees ages 4 and up. Each ticket includes entry and lunch and is priced at $7 per person. Be sure to plan ahead—ticket sales are available from June 2nd through June 23rd. This event is open to MPCA residents only, and tickets must be purchased in advance.
To register and purchase tickets, visit www. MyMarleyPark.com. A QR code for easy access to the ticket page is also included on the event flyer.
The Star-Spangled Celebration Pool Party is a great way to celebrate the 4th of July close to home, with good food, refreshing treats, and fun activities for the whole family. Don’t miss out on this festive tradition at the heart of Marley Park.
Guests can look forward to a variety of activities and entertainment throughout the morning. The event will feature the Fire Up Freedom Food Truck, Kona Ice, music and prizes, face painting, water slides and a
We look forward to seeing you there July 4th, from 10 AM to 1 PM at Heritage Pool!
Yum Yum
Cool Dessert
When summer heat rolls in and ovens take a break, this cool and creamy dessert delivers big flavor with minimal effort. It layers graham crackers, whipped cream, and a lightly sweetened cream cheese filling with vibrant fresh berries for a refreshing treat that tastes like summer no baking required.
To make it, start by whipping two cups of heavy cream with a bit of powdered sugar and vanilla until it forms soft peaks. In a separate bowl, blend one package of softened cream cheese with a touch of sugar until smooth. Fold in half of your whipped cream to create a light, tangy filling.
In a 9x13-inch dish, spread a little of the cream mixture to anchor the base. Add a layer of graham crackers, followed by more cream mixture, then scatter sliced strawberries and blueberries across the top. Repeat the layers - crackers, cream, berries - until you reach the top, finishing with a generous layer of cream.
For a festive finish, decorate with more strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Arrange them in rows, a flag pattern, or however creativity strikes. Cover and
refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight) to let the layers meld and soften.
When ready to serve, slice chilled and enjoy a dessert that’s cool, creamy, and just the right amount of sweet with a pop of patriotic flair.
Submitted by Christie Giannetto, Marley Park Homeowner
Fathers Day
Celebrating Dad: A Father’s Day Reminder
Father’s Day is just around the corner—a perfect opportunity to show the dad in your life the appreciation he deserves. While fathers often dedicate themselves to caring for others without expecting anything in return, even small gestures can make a profound impact on this special day.
In our family, we embraced a tradition that many families share: an early morning round of golf. Each year, my siblings and I would reluctantly rise at dawn, lace up our shoes, pack a cooler with drinks and snacks, and spend the next three hours on the course. My skills rarely kept me on the fairway, but that hardly mattered, spending time together away from distractions was priceless. By the time we completed all 18 holes, stomachs sore from laughing with each other, Mom would be waiting in the parking lot with the car running, air conditioning blasting, and McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches ready to refuel our tired bodies.
you create during these intentional moments often outlast recollections of the countless hours he spends working to provide for and nurture your family.
The perfect Father’s Day celebration doesn’t require elaborate planning or expensive gifts. What matters most is authentic acknowledgment of his importance in your life. A handwritten note, a favorite meal prepared together, or simply uninterrupted time in each other’s company can speak volumes about your appreciation.
Happy Father’s Day to all fathers and father figures from all of us at Estrella Publishing.
What began as a childhood obligation transformed over the years into one of my favorite annual celebrations. These outings provided precious opportunities to express gratitude: “Dad, thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I don’t take any of it for granted and am so grateful to have you in my life.”
This kind of heartfelt appreciation takes practice for many of us. As Father’s Day approaches, consider what you might do—regardless of scale or grandeur— to make your father feel valued. The memories
Perfect Parks
This month, my park adventures took me to Wisdom Park, which is located at 153rd Drive and Alexandria Way. What really made this park stand out to me was its cool nautical theme. In the wood chip area, there’s a red metal play structure shaped like the front of a boat (that’s called the bow). That’s why my friends and I call it “the boat park.”
The bars that form the boat shape are great for climbing, and there’s also a main play structure with a rock wall section and a net you can climb to get to the top of the slide. You can also take the stairs if you don’t feel like climbing. The slide has two lanes, so more than one person can go down at once, which is fun for racing! If you want another way down, there’s a twisty fireman’s pole that you can spin down like a corkscrew. I think this park is best for school-aged kids who like to climb and explore.
Besides the playground, there’s a big grassy field with shady trees, like a lot of parks in our neighborhood. But this one also has some small hills and cool rock formations, which are perfect for playing pretend. You could imagine you’re fairies hiding behind the rocks or sailors setting off on a sea adventure from the bow of the ship.
Wisdom Park is a fun and creative place to play, and definitely a cool spot to visit in Marley Park.
Submitted by Hannah, Age 12, Marley Park Resident
Home Sweet Home
In today’s market, especially where inventory is rising, sellers should be prepared for buyers to ask for concessions or incentives as part of the deal. These are becoming increasingly common, and understanding how they work can help you navigate the process with confidence.
A concession is when you, as the seller, agree to give something up to help close the deal—this could mean covering some or all of the buyer’s closing costs, agreeing to a repair, or adjusting the terms in the buyer’s favor. An incentive is similar but usually offered up front—more often used by builders to attract buyers, like including appliances or offering a temporary mortgage rate buy-down.
In either case, these extras can go a long way in getting your home sold—especially as buyers face higher interest rates and tighter budgets. The National Association of Realtors notes that concessions can significantly reduce the upfront cost of buying a home, which makes your property more attractive.
Builders have already leaned heavily into this strategy. According to Zonda, over half of to-be-built homes and nearly three-quarters of quick move-in homes
offered some form of incentive in March. Many builders are also adjusting prices when necessary— about 30% of them lowered prices in each of the first four months of this year. While most aren’t slashing prices, many are finding ways to meet buyers halfway. This trend is showing up in the resale market, too.
In March, 44% of sellers of existing homes gave some form of concession to the buyer. Whether that’s paying for closing costs, leaving appliances behind, agreeing to repairs, or a price adjustment, buyers are negotiating more—and they’re often successful. It’s important to note that offering a concession doesn’t mean you’re losing money. Home values are still up significantly—more than 57% over the past five years—so even if you offer a little something extra to the buyer, there’s still room for a strong return.
If you’re planning to sell, it’s smart to go in with realistic expectations. Talk with your agent about which concessions buyers in your area are asking for most often, and how to position your home competitively—without giving away too much.
Submitted by Christie Giannetto | REALTOR® | ΓEAL Broker
Puzzle Time
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. Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com
Difficulty: Moderate
13th May 2025
Competition
With July 4th just around the corner and the barbecues and picnics, family gatherings and neighborhood pot lucks looming, our thoughts go to that favorite dish. You know the one. The corn bread, wings or potato salad renowned for being the first dish people finish or the desserts full of berries and love. Every family has one or even two.
Well now is your chance to share with the rest of us. Send in your recipe for your favorite crowd pleasing Fourth of July dish (pictures too if you have them). The best of the best will be published in our July editions and be eligible to win a gift card for either Bodega or Salt restaurants in Westgate.
Email your recipes to info@estrellapublishing.com before June 12th to be entered into the competition.
