The Hamlet
July 2017
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From Me To You... Welcome
to the July edition of The Hamlet magazine.
As a new parent it is stunning how much you have to learn. I remember leaving the hospital with my first child thinking, “What do I do next?” I mean, when you buy a car they give you multiple books explaining the workings of your new vehicle; where was my New Baby Instruction Manual. Or pamphlet? Anything?? I do remember the books I bought to help me figure everything out. One told me to let my baby cry herself to sleep. The other one warned of the dangers of not picking her up immediately! One said “Feed your child whenever she is hungry.” The next, “Put your child on a schedule that suits your lifestyle.” Good Grief Charlie Brown! I managed to figure it all out and despite the confusion both of us felt then, we made it to... The Terrible Twos! The biggest question in my mind in this stage? “Why is she upset now??”
type in a few keys and voila! What is the circumference of the sun? 2,713,406 miles. Easy! Well now I have teenagers and I am back to knowing nothing. At least that’s what they tell me! Please patronize our advertisers, after all they are the reason you get this magazine for free every month! Don’t forget to visit our website for puzzle solutions, restaurant reviews, coupons and business directories! www.EstrellaPublishing.com
Catherine Uretsky
Editor, The Hamlet magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623-594-9283 Estrella Publishing is a proud member of the South West Valley Chamber of Commerce and Local First Arizona.
Milk too cold? Shoes too tight or too loose? Parents not allowing the latest death-defying stunt? It was a never-ending guessing game. I felt like a firefighter constantly putting out small fires, hoping none of them grew too big to handle on my own. On to the Middle Ages, or as I like to call them The Golden Years. During this halcyon era I knew EVERYTHING. Thanks to Google all I had to do to answer any question was simply
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July 2017
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 623.594.9283 info@EstrellaPublishing.com Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.594.9283 info@EstrellaPublishing.com All contents Š 2009-2017 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. 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.
Catherine Uretsky Publisher & Editor
The Hamlet
Al Uretsky Publisher & Sales Exec
July 2017
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Home Safe How To Chose A Homewatch Company This may seem like an obvious answer but there are several factors that go into choosing the best Homewatch company for your needs. Accessibility. Is the company based close by? If it is going to take someone an hour to get to your home in case of emergency then they are probably not the right fit for you. If your alarm goes off in the middle of the night can your homewatch company get there before the police leave? If your water tank bursts (happens more often than I care to mention) can someone get there before significant damage occurs? If you are expecting a contractor to be at your home and they need to be let in (and then have your house secured after they leave) is your homewatch company able to do that? Reliability. Has your company been in business for a few years or a few months? Can you be confident that when you leave your home in their hands, everything will be taken care of? Interview them. Talk to them. See if you have that feeling of comfort before you choose your homewatch company. Ask how long they have been in business. How many homes do they lose every year? Home many homes have they been watching since the beginning? Do they have a good relationship with the local Fire/ Police Departments? Who will have access to your property? Is there a back up in case of emergency or vacation. Yes we take vacations too. You need to know the people who will be in your home in any situation. How do they handle and identify your keys, who has access to them and where are they kept? A nice label with your address may seem logical but not if the keys are lost or stolen. A good homewatch company will have a coded system to identify keys and will keep them in a secure place. Also they will ensure that no-one but the company can access them. Do they check your home on the same day and time every visit? Thieves casing a house will note the regular time that homewatch is there and will work around that schedule. If your homewatch company has an erratic and irregular schedule it is almost impossible for burglars to use that to their advantage. Use your instincts and ask questions, these people will be responsible for your most valuable asset.
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July 2017
The Nelson Family On our cover this month we have the Nelson family, Daniel Nelson, Nia Abdool and their 3 adorable children. Daniel Jr., Declan, and Delia. Nia and Daniel have been together for over 7 years, and moved to Palm Valley in 2013 to be near family. Previously a professional baseball player, Daniel now teaches Independent Study at Odyssey Preparatory Academy. He also coaches baseball and softball there in the middle school with great success. Under his coaching skills the Odyssey team has made history, being the first team to make State playoffs in their first eligible year! Having 3 young active children himself and through his coaching position at Odyssey, Daniel has realized that there is a tremendous gap in the progression of skills taught to children in baseball. He is trying to provide a solution through free instructional videos on Facebook. You can find his page by searching Valley Training. Daniel was drafted as a Shortstop but has had professional playing experience in all infield and outfield positions. Education is very important to
The Hamlet
On Our Cover
both Nia and Daniel and their eldest, Daniel Jr., is very excited to be going into Kindergarten in the fall.
Nia works as an Aesthetician at Lifetime Fitness but would love to open her own location one day. Perhaps when the children are older that dream will become a reality. All the children love to go swimming and visit family in California to cool off. Daniel’s parents live right here in Palm Valley so they all see each other often. The zoo is a favorite past-time and they all love spending time outside. The whole family loves living in Palm Valley, it is a great place to raise kids and Nia and Daniel are very aware of being open minded, exposing their children to as many cultures and ideas as possible. “We want to give them what we didn’t have, growing up. There should be no limits in their way of thinking.” As for encouraging them into baseball? These young parents are open to whatever the kids want to do, “We are not funneling them into sports, it is up to them.”
July 2017
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Living With Faith There is light in darkness
Most of us, when we think of darkness cannot understand that there is light in darkness. We tend to concentrate on the concept and perception that darkness leaves us blind to the world around us. Perhaps we could relate better if we were actually blind. People who have lost their sight find the light of day in the emptiness of space – a never-ending journey in the quest for the brightness of life. Such thoughts ran through my mind as I read the following written by an eleven-year old girl and read at her graduation from elementary school to the entire graduating class and visitors: “The darkness is the warm comfort of silence. It is the beautiful color that puts every child to sleep. It is not death, but life. It is the time of rest and relaxation. Darkness is the kiss I receive meaning goodnight. It is the covers pulled over my head as I think of sleep. It is the comfort of the pillow resting below my head. Darkness is my eyes slowly closing. It makes the darkness of the day form into the light of the night. It is the lights turning off meaning sleep and rest. Happiness swims into dreams. It is waking up from a nightmare and sneaking into my parent’s room to sleep once more. It is the dreams that form that will soon be fading from my memory. It is the relief of ending and forming of a new day, and a new opportunity.”
All of life is about dreams. We dream of what could have been, what might have been, what should have been. Perhaps these lead us into a darkness that never seems to fade. The truth is that dreams change with time, but still we continue to dream because, life as we know it, is filled with all sorts of dreams. This young girl can teach us a very valuable lesson: Darkness may engulf us, but then we reach for the comfort of those whom we love and who love us. The young among us are filled with so many dreams, but they all concentrate on living, and growing, and feeling secure. Are these not the dreams of all ages, not just the young? We may find darkness when our eyes close, but when morning arrives, the light of a new day enhances our belief that light leads us into the true meaning of life, the purpose for which we were created, and the value we bring to those around us. And even when we are gone, the dreams do not disappear – they just become memories. So, as we learn from an eleven-year old – dream on! Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D. Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation National Chaplain, Jewish War Veterans, USA
- Maddie Scharf I read and re-read these words and understood the value of dreams and the marvel of light emanating from darkness – the darkness of our minds as they wander from fantasy to reality. How many of us dream, wake up and cannot remember the dream? How many of us have dreams of a better life and a better tomorrow? How many of us find our lives shattered because our dreams are not realized? How many of us truly understand that the darkness surrounding us represents the gloom that seems to overpower us?
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July 2017
The Hamlet
July 2017
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Outside Your Window Smarty Pants Some snippets of knowledge that we learn stick with us forever. I’m not talking about basics like tying shoelaces, which can still be a challenge some days. More like bits of wisdom that guide us throughout life. For example, an instructor for one of my college broadcasting courses believed reporters should know something about everything so they can ask sensible questions. For some reason, advice has stuck with me. It helped make me a good reporter and gave me mad skills at Trivial Pursuit. More importantly, it was a push for me to kick it up a notch. “Learn how the magic works” is a maxim I created decades ago because when you know how things work, you can make your own magic. It’s about learning and discovery. Recently, I discovered how to make delicious three-ingredient cookies. Now that I know the recipe, or the magic spell, I added a M&Ms as a fourth ingredient because soft, chewy cookies are so much better with M&Ms. Even the soldiers of G.I. Joe, America’s daring, highly trained, special mission force, said, “Knowing is half the battle.”
knowing – discovering the unknown - was part of the adventure. It’s the experience and mix of emotions that makes it exciting. To boldly go where no one has gone before. It’s a good idea for using a brand new public toilet. Bad idea when opening an Egyptian pharaoh’s cursed tomb. A less dangerous adventure can be found right outside your door in your own community and around the state. Try a new restaurant without looking up its Yelp rating. Give a helping hand to a local charity or visit someone house-bound. Read to kids at a school, rec center, or Boys & Girls Club. Whatever you decide, just enjoy your new adventure. Submitted by John Safin, President and CEO of the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce
Let’s look at both sides of being too smart. Is it better or worse to know too much? Ignorance is bliss, but what you don’t know could kill you. The guys who found King Tut’s tomb knew there was a hidden tomb and were determined to find it. Not
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July 2017
The Other Caregiver
Life As A Caregiver
So…..you’re the caregiver to your loved one. Roughly 40 Million Americans devote their lives to caring for their loved ones. It is a noble, loving, commendable and rewarding job. But it is also stressful, heartbreaking, at times exhausting, and a 24/7 commitment. Statistics show that it is the long-term caregiver who often deteriorates (or even dies) before the patient due to the enormity of the task at-hand….(a task that usually comes without any formal training). That is why it is MANDATORY that you find a part-time (at least in the beginning), professional caregiver to assist. I am very fortunate to have found a true angel to help me through this Alzheimer’s journey. Now. But it wasn’t always the case. Back in the Bay Area, when mom was in the early stages of the disease, we had four caregivers over the course of about three years. All of them started out great, but after a few months they weren’t great at all. Of course, the circumstances were different then. Mom didn’t live with me in a casita, I still worked, and she was still pretty functional. All but one caregiver came from an agency. I guess my expectations were quite high because I had interviewed them all thoroughly. But, they eventually turned out to be unacceptable (for various reasons) and not very responsible. The fourth one came from research a friend of mine had done. Again, I interviewed her thoroughly to be sure she understood what I expected. She started out great and really liked my mom. But, after a while, she was more of a handful to me than a help. When we moved to Arizona, I was really at a loss at first hardly knowing anyone. But after a while, someone had recommended a person to me, so I went with them. OMG! Again, she started out fine. So I thought it would be ok for me to take a trip
back to the Bay Area to wrap-up some loose ends. I wasn’t gone an hour before the caregiver called me because she had forgotten her key to my mom’s casita and was going to climb through the window. WHAT?!? So much for a stress-free trip. Needless to say, I let her go! Then a neighbor recommended Rose. Rose lives around the corner from me with her husband and though not a professional caregiver (she is retired), she has worked in the healthcare industry for many years and has taken care of elders with varying degrees of Alzheimer’s. I took her to lunch so we could talk and get to know each other! I loved her immediately. Her Serbian accent was endearing and her energy and passion for people shined like a beacon. She knew what to do. We have been with Rose now for about two-anda-half years. She and her husband are like part of the family. In fact, Buddy (my dog) considers her part of his “pack”. Because Buddy is such a faithful companion to my mom each and every day, Rose cares for him during her visits, as well. She comes regularly twice-a-week for four hours each, and then when I am going away or am going out, she comes then, as well. Since she lives so close, it works out beautifully. And….she is affordable!!!! (relatively speaking). Her job responsibilities include bathing mom, giving her breakfast and lunch (unless we switch that to lunch and dinner due to my schedule), walking her around, visiting with her…and whatever else needs to be done. What she doesn’t do is laundry, running errands, administering meds (unless I am away), or cleaning the casita. The two of them have developed a strong bond and true love for each other. It is a blessing like you’ll never know.
Good caregivers are hard to find. That I know. And they can be very expensive. I know that, too! But they are essential for YOUR sanity, YOUR pieceof-mind, YOUR stress-level…and YOUR health. Hopefully, yours will have a blend of knowledge, kindness and firmness, and a true understanding of the precious cargo she is caring for….like mine does. Your respite; your state-of-mind; your emotional stability: these are ALL essential to doing your best at caring for your loved one…AND yourself. Submitted by Kathy Linton, West Valley Resident
The Hamlet
July 2017
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DATA SHARING Becoming a savvier online shopper Every day, people use data to influence their decision making - from where to go for dinner, to selecting stocks in which they should invest, to where to live. Every Google search we perform, every Yelp review read or written, each item of clothing, houseware or electronic device we put in our virtual cart, is another data point companies can use to personalize our experience with their brands. This begs the question: How do we differentiate between those brands that are using our data the right way, versus those that have a long way to go? Second, how do we help the brands we love understand us better without sacrificing our privacy? 1. Understand which data to share. Think about your favorite shopping app or website. Does it know which brands you prefer? What about your shoe size? Does it have your zip code stored for shipping estimates? Does it make appropriate recommendations? The strongest relationships in life work both ways, so if you want a brand to know what you want from them, perhaps it’s time to share a little. Taking five minutes to fill out some basic profile information in your “preferences” could, at the very least, save you time on future shopping excursions and might even lead to a surprise find.
2. Use data to get the best deals. When you’re shopping online, you can quickly compare prices for the exact item you want to purchase across multiple vendors, and, if you have time to wait, be alerted should the item go on sale. The best example is travel. There seems to be a never-ending list of websites available for booking flights and hotels, but booking the first flight you see without shopping around is rarely going to get you the best deal. From there, one still has to compare prices against different websites to find the best fare. Luckily, some of the top search engines are making this even easier for consumers by indicating whether the price is high or low. The art of finding the best deal is really in comparing the data. 3. Know where to draw the line. At the end of the day, privacy is still important, and it’s prudent not to share too much personal information. Think about which data is going to be absolutely necessary to enhance your experience with the companies you rely on. Some brands ask for too much, and it’s up to each individual to determine which data makes sense to share with each brand and what doesn’t. For example, don’t be too quick to provide broad access to an app you’ve just downloaded. Also, as painful as it may be, do read the privacy policy of the sites you frequent and understand how they use and protect the personal information they collect on you. Ultimately, most companies today are still just scratching the surface when it comes to understanding the impact customer data can have on the profitability and success of their business. There is still a lot of room for growth when it comes to companies effectively using data to address consumer needs. It’s up to each one of us to make sure we are sharing the right data with them, while also using that data to our advantage to get the best deals and online experience possible.
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July 2017
The Hamlet
July 2017
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July 2017
Money Matters Don’t Let Your Kids Graduate…into Financial Ruin
worse, defaulting. This is an especially important lesson to be instilling before college.
For parents of the recently graduated class of 2017 – at every age level – this time might be bittersweet. But, even though class might be over, there is one more lesson parents must ensure their kids learn before the new school year starts. Financial literacy.
“Credit card companies generally offer low limits to young adults entering college. This typically allows for more freshmen to apply and get approved as soon as possible. Some offer incentives to apply,” said Matt Dana, a wealth preservation attorney at Quarles & Brady. “By working with them on credit starting from a young age, they will grow to understand the impact of good or bad credit on one’s life.”
In an effort to help ease this anxiety-ridden discussion, below are some key areas that should be discussed as we enter this new school year – and some clever ways to address them with kids. Where does money come from? Turns out, money neither grows on trees nor out of parents’ wallets. And, not all money is meant to be for “fun” stuff. But how do you get a kid to understand this? Why not focus on a “money in, money out” budget with them? “So far in their lives, children have most likely focused on money going out. But where does it go? And when? A budget, reviewed with and by a parent each month, can be an easy way to show the value of money on a regular basis,” said Mike Brown of Washington Federal.
Don’t do it alone! Sure, parents are the first – and best – figures to talk about money with children and teens. However, you are not alone! There are resources to help reinforce your messages and lessons. Brown notes that Washington Federal offers the Washington Federal Financial Scholars Program, a financial education curriculum designed to provide students with the critical skills needed to make sound financial decisions. The program provides schools with Everfi’s interactive, web-based financial management education tool at no cost to either the school itself or taxpayers. Submitted by Alison Bailin Batz
The lesson: Sometimes a lifestyle adjustment is required in order to ensure one does not exceed money going out versus money coming in. Credit credits are supposed to be paid back? Professionals like Brown recommend working with children on building credit at a young age, but only if they can do so without maxing out on their available balance, straining to make payments or,
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The Hamlet
Mark Gama Agency 250 N Litchfield Rd Ste 115 Goodyear, AZ 85338 (623) 535-5836 MARKGAMA.COM
July 2017
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Puzzles & Games Sudoku for July
Solution
Numbers from 1-9 must appear only once in each row, column and box. Good Luck!
1
5
8
7
9
2
3
4
6
9
8
7
5
2
1
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3 5 1 6 7 9
6 9 4 8 5 3 2
9 7 6 2 4 8 1
1 4 8 5 2 6 7
5 2 1 7 3 9 8
7 6 3 9 1 4 5
3
8
8
14 The Hamlet
4
5
2
1
1
3
2
4
6
6 9
8
2
4
7
3
3
1
5
5
8
9
1
7
7
2
8
2
6
9
1
7
4
9
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6
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1
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1
9
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July 2017
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BUSINESS & EDUCATION Estrella Partners Group
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The Hamlet
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RETAIL SERVICES Foot Solutions Pure Patio Steel Shield Security Doors
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July 2017
15
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July 2017