The Hamlet
From Me To You...
There’s an old story that gets told in elementary schools and boardrooms alike, usually by someone trying to make a point about resilience. It features a mighty oak tree and a young sapling growing side by side in a forest. My favorite version is all about the value of flexibility over pig-headed stubbornness.
Picture an ancient oak that’s been dominating its patch of woodland for decades. This tree has weathered many storms, standing firm whilst everything else gets knocked about. It’s the arboreal equivalent of that blowhard at the bar who’s never wrong about anything. Next to it grows a slender young tree that looks about as sturdy as a wet tissue. When the wind picks up, the oak barely budges, maintaining its dignity and standing firm. The sapling, meanwhile, bends and sways about like it’s auditioning for Dancing with the Stars.
Any sensible person would back the oak to survive whatever nature throws at it. After all, it’s got size, strength, and experience on its side. The young tree on the other hand, appears to be held up by wishful thinking and good intentions.
Then along comes the storm of the century—the sort that has weather presenters getting genuinely excited for the first time in years. The oak does exactly what it’s always done: stands its ground, refuses to yield, essentially tells the hurricane to go away. Unfortunately, this time the hurricane takes exception to such cheek. With a tremendous crack that probably woke up half the county, down comes the mighty oak, taking a fair chunk of the forest floor with it. The sapling, however, has been having what can only be described as an elaborate dance-off with the wind. It bends so far it nearly touches the ground, then springs back up like a jack-in-the-box. When the storm finally dies down, guess which tree is still standing?
The moral here is that adaptability beats obstinacy, and the smartest thing you can do is give way rather than dig in your heels. The trick is in knowing when to bend and when to stand firm — I’ll leave that one up to you.
Catherine Uretsky
Editor, The Hamlet Magazine info@estrellapublishing.com
623.398.5541
Money Matters
Financial Independence Day
We’re getting close to the Fourth of July, and this celebration may get you thinking of the many freedoms you enjoy. But have you thought of what you might need to do to attain financial freedom?
Your first step is to define what financial independence signifies to you. For many people, it means being able to retire when they want to, and to enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle. So, if this is your vision as well, consider taking these steps: Pay yourself first. Waiting for leftover money to invest for retirement often leads to procrastination. With a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan, contributions are automatically deducted from your paycheck before you can spend them. For an IRA, you can arrange automatic transfers from your checking or savings account, making saving effortless and consistent.
Invest appropriately. Your decisions should align
with your retirement goals, the time you have until retirement, and your comfort with investment risk. Straying from these principles—by taking on excessive or insufficient risk—can lead to choices that hinder your progress toward financial independence. Avoid financial “potholes.” Debt is a major hurdle; strive to live within your means to reduce your debt burden. Another challenge is unexpected expenses. To avoid tapping into your retirement savings, build an emergency fund with three to six months’ worth of living expenses, held in a liquid, lowrisk account.
By implementing these strategies, you’ll steadily progress toward your goals. When you reach your personal “Financial Independence Day,” it may not call for fireworks, but it will undoubtedly bring a lasting glow to your life.
Submitted
by Michael Gray & Brian Polk, Financial
Advisors, Edward Jones
Solar Update
The End of the 30% Solar Credit is Coming
One of the greatest benefits of installing Solar on your home has been the 30% Solar Federal Tax Credit. This credit has made solar very affordable and for most homeowners it helps deliver a typical 6-year payback period on your investment.
Unfortunately, it appears that current legislation will end the 30% credit at the end of this year. If the Senate eliminates it, as expected, there will be no solar tax credit next year.
If you have been waiting for the opportunity to lower your electricity bills and gain some energy independence, now is the time. To capture this credit, your solar system (and/or battery system) must be installed and working before the end of the year. There is also another important factor in ordering your solar system within the next two months and that is the APS solar buyback rate. APS pays solar customers a rate for excess solar power sent back to the grid. APS will lower that rate 10% for all new solar projects permitted after September 1st. To avoid the lower rate, order your system no later than August 15th.
Right now is a golden opportunity to make a smart, high yield green investment in your home that will typically return 12-15% on your solar investment each
year. Why pay 30% more in 2026? Why receive 10% less compensation from APS for your excess solar? Experienced, local solar companies can now provide high quality and fair priced solar systems that come with a 25-year parts and labor warranty on the solar panels and the inverters. Impressive long-term savings and peace of mind are two of the current attributes of ordering your home’s new solar system this summer. The cost of solar systems will be much higher next year. APS has announced that they are seeking a 14.5% price increase next year.
Submitted by Dave Hardy, of Hardy Solar
The Great Debate
Every family has them—those heated discussions that arise over seemingly simple food choices. From pizza toppings to cereal preparation, these culinary debates can divide households and spark passionate arguments at dinner tables everywhere. Let’s tackle some of the most contentious food questions with a bit of humor and logic.
Pineapple on Pizza?
Consider this: we regularly pair fruit with cheese in other contexts. Apple slices with cheddar, grapes on a cheese board—these combinations are celebrated. Hawaiian pizza simply applies this principle with melted cheese and savory ham. The sweet-salty balance creates a surprisingly harmonious flavor profile that deserves more credit.
Milk or Cereal First?
This one’s straightforward: cereal first, always. Adding milk to an empty bowl means your cereal sits on top, staying dry while the milk lurks below. Pour cereal first, and the milk properly coats each piece, ensuring every spoonful delivers the perfect milk-to-cereal ratio.
Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich?
Despite ongoing debates, a hot dog occupies its own category. While it involves bread and filling, calling it a sandwich is like calling all four-wheeled vehicles cars—technically possible but unnecessarily confusing. Hot dogs have earned their distinct identity through decades of ballpark traditions and backyard barbecues.
Steak with Ketchup?
Quality steak shouldn’t need condiments, but taste preferences are personal. If you enjoy ketchup on your steak, that’s your choice. However, consider trying other options like garlic butter or herb seasoning that complement rather than mask the meat’s natural flavors.
Toasted or Untoasted Pop-Tarts?
Both methods have merit. Toasting creates warm, gooey centers and slightly crispy edges—a delightful texture contrast. Untoasted Pop-Tarts offer convenience and a different, chewier experience. The “right” way depends on your mood, available time, and personal preference.
Chewy or Crunchy?
Whether you prefer chewy or crispy cookies often relates to childhood memories and personal associations. Chewy cookies offer soft, tender bites, while crispy versions provide satisfying crunch. Rather than declaring one superior, appreciate that different occasions call for different textures.
While these debates make for entertaining dinner conversation, remember that variety in food choices makes meals more interesting. The real joy comes from sharing food with people you care about, regardless of how they prepare it.
The Doctor Is In
How an Insult Changed My Life
When I was in Army residency after graduate school, I had a clinical supervisor tell me that she didn’t like my answer to a question I gave in a seminar and that she thought that I was getting by on my looks without really any substance behind them. The implication was that I didn’t have what it takes to do well in my field. I was honestly wrecked. I remember crying in her office and afterwards at home, on the way home, all of it. Her words hit hard as I called into question all I’d achieved up until that point in my mid-20s. I looked up to this woman and respected her opinion. I remember swimming in feelings of self-doubt and self-loathing. I remember the tornados of negative thoughts in my head for what seemed like forever.
By the time she said this to me, I’d already had 3,000 hours of patient contact, but that awareness wasn’t enough to comfort me. Then, one day, I got sick and tired of my negative thoughts and decided I wasn’t
going to be a victim of her opinion. I started pursuing the truth. I dissected what it was from my past that created the self-limiting beliefs that her words tapped into. I took my inventory and looked at how far I’d come, what I’d objectively achieved and where I planned to go in my psychology career. After some mental gymnastics, I realized she was wrong, that I had plenty of evidence to the contrary, and I turned all of my butt-hurt feelings into determination.
Now, that situation could’ve gone either way for me: I could’ve decided she was right and given up my psychology career right then and there, and I wouldn’t be a published author, hosting my own podcast, helping thousands of people in my lifetime or even writing this article. Fortunately, I’m stubborn as hell, so I dug deep into my conviction about who God created me to be and cultivated enough distance between MY beliefs and HER thoughts that I was able to say to her in my mind, “Hold my beer.”
It’s all about perspective! When life hands you lemons, you have the opportunity to be a victim or a survivor. The choice is yours.
Submitted
by Dr.
J. Paweleck-Bellingrodt, Psy.D.
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.
The Bug Guy
Freedom from Pests: A Phoenix Valley 4th of July Declaration
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the bands which have connected them with creepy crawlies, a decent respect for the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to call the exterminator.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all homeowners are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of a scorpion-free patio. But here in the West Valley, our founding fathers never had to deal with 115-degree heat AND an army of desert invaders plotting their Independence Day barbecue takeover.
Picture this patriotic scene: Uncle Sam himself, sweating through his star-spangled suit, wielding a can of Raid like a musket while declaring, “Give me liberty, or give me death – but definitely give me death to these cockroaches!” Even the Statue of Liberty would trade her torch for a bug zapper if she had to spend one summer in the West Valley.
The British may have taxed our tea, but Arizona’s real tyranny comes from uninvited guests who don’t need visas – just tiny cracks in your foundation. Scorpions crash pool parties like they own the place. And don’t get us started on the black widows who think your garage is prime real estate.
This Fourth of July, as fireworks light up the sky and the smell of freedom (and grilled burgers) fills the desert air, remember that true independence means never having to share your celebration with six-legged party crashers. Our forefathers fought for freedom from taxation without representation, but we fight for freedom from infestation without invitation.
So raise your citronella candles high, fellow patriots! Let freedom ring, let eagles soar, and let professional pest control services handle what the Declaration of Independence somehow forgot to mention: that among our unalienable rights should definitely be the right to a bug-free Fourth of July barbecue.
God bless America, and God bless pest-free patios from sea to shining sea – especially in the Valley of the Sun!
Submitted by Larry Cash, of Estrella Mountain Pest Control
Lights, Camera, Action!
Theater vs. Home Viewing
The way families enjoy movies has transformed dramatically in recent years. With streaming services and digital rentals at our fingertips, the question isn’t whether we can watch the latest blockbuster from our couch—it’s whether we should. Both options offer distinct advantages, and understanding them can help you make the best choice for your family’s entertainment needs and values.
The Appeal of Home Viewing:
Budget-Friendly
Entertainment: Renting or purchasing a movie digitally often costs less than buying theater tickets for the whole family, especially when you factor in gas, parking, and concessions.
Comfort and Convenience: Home viewing offers unmatched comfort. You can pause for bathroom breaks, prepare your favorite snacks without paying premium prices, and create the perfect viewing environment. No worrying about arriving on time, finding good seats, or dealing with disruptive moviegoers.
The Magic of the Theater Experience
Supporting Local Economy: When theaters thrive, they contribute to the local economy and provide valuable job opportunities for neighbors.
The Big Screen Difference: Some movies are truly meant for the theater experience. The massive screen, surround sound, and shared excitement of the audience can make certain films far more memorable and impactful.
Building Your Collection: When you purchase movies digitally, they become part of your permanent library. Family favorites can be enjoyed again and again, making them perfect for cozy movie nights.
Flexible Scheduling: Watch on your timeline— whether that’s a lazy Sunday afternoon or after the kids’ bedtime. There’s no need to work around theater showtimes or worry about late-night drives home.
Industry Impact: Box office numbers still influence which movies get made and how much studios invest in future projects. Theater attendance helps ensure continued production of the bigbudget family films and creative projects we all enjoy.
Finding the Right Balance:
Rather than choosing one option exclusively, many families find success in a balanced approach.
When to Choose Theaters:
- Big action or adventure films with spectacular visuals
- Special family outings or celebrations
- Supporting a beloved local theater
- Movies you’re genuinely excited to see immediately When to Choose Home:
- Casual movie nights with young children
- Films you’re curious about but not committed to
- Rainy day entertainment
- Building your family’s movie collection
Whether you’re sharing popcorn in a darkened theater or snuggled together on the family couch, what matters most is the time spent together enjoying great storytelling.
Furry Friends
Keeping Your Pets Safe and Calm
While we celebrate our nation’s independence with joy and excitement, this holiday can be overwhelming for our four-legged family members. The fireworks displays that delight us can cause anxiety and distress for pets, whose sensitive hearing makes fireworks particularly challenging to endure.
Fortunately, with some thoughtful preparation, you can help your pet feel secure and comfortable during the festivities.
* Creating a Safe Haven
Choose an interior room away from windows where sound will be muffled. Transform this space into your pet’s personal sanctuary by including their bed, beloved toys, and perhaps that old t-shirt or sock they’ve claimed as their own. These familiar scents and textures provide reassurance during stressful moments. Consider playing soft background music or white noise to help mask the sudden sounds from outside. Anxiety
wraps or calming shirts designed for pets can also provide a sense of security through gentle pressure. Remember to visit your pet regularly throughout the eveningour presence and gentle reassurance can make all the difference in helping them feel secure.
* Natural Comfort Measures
Consider offering special treats during the fireworks, as the act of eating can be naturally calming for many animals. Some pet owners find success with calming supplements or CBD treats designed for pets, though always consult your veterinarian before introducing new products.
* Additional Strategies for Success
Think about establishing a calming routine throughout the day that builds up to the evening festivities. A long walk earlier in the day can help tire out energetic pets, making them more likely to rest during the fireworks.
From all of us at the magazine, we wish you and your entire family—furry friends included—a safe and happy Fourth of July!
Cook With Zona
Congratulations to Cindy Buda, winner of our recipe competition. We really enjoyed the easy bake, it is perfect for a celebration on a hot, summer afternoon!
4th of July Boozy Trifle (Or not if serving children)
Syrup:
1/4 Cup — Plus 2/3 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 Cup Amaretto (or 1/4 Teaspoon Almond Extract if serving children)
Assembly:
1 Premade Angel Food Cake, Cut Into 1-inch Slices (can use store bought or from scratch recipe)
1 Pound Cream Cheese, at Room Temperature
2 Cups Heavy Cream, at Room Temperature
2 Pints Blueberries
2 Pints Strawberries, Hulled and Sliced
CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT?
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1. Heat 1/4 cup sugar, the lemon juice and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and stir in the almond extract/Amaretto.
2. Lightly brush both sides of each slice of cake with the syrup. Cut the slices into 1-inch cubes.
3. Beat the remaining 2/3 cup sugar and the cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until smooth and light. Add the cream and beat on mediumhigh speed until smooth and the consistency of whipped cream.
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4. Arrange half of the cake cubes in the bottom of a 13-cup trifle dish. Sprinkle evenly with a layer of blueberries. Dollop half of the cream mixture over the blueberries and gently spread. Top with a layer of strawberries.
5. Layer the remaining cake cubes on top of the strawberries, then sprinkle with more blueberries and top with the remaining cream mixture. Finish with the remaining strawberries and blueberries, arranging them in a decorative pattern.
6. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
7. Enjoy!
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: Easy Monday, 16th June 2025
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