Up The Hill

Published by Estrella Publishing LLC, PO Box 6962, Goodyear AZ 85338. Additional copies can be obtained for a fee by contacting info@EstrellaPublishing.com

Catherine Uretsky, Publisher and Editor 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com

Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com

All contents © 2010-present 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. Some content is provided by Brandpointe. Estrella Publishing is not responsible for the content of contributing writers and advertisers 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.

From Me To You...

I can feel it in the air, the weather has finally started to change. In the morning I take my coffee outside while I play with the dogs and I no longer have to brace myself before I step onto the patio. The promise of the balmy days we all love hangs in the air, and even though the thermometer is still upwards of comfortable by mid-afternoon, I know it is coming. Fall.

I always find it amazing that even though the miserable portion of the year is shorter than the beautiful one, it feels like summer is exponentially longer than Fall/Winter/ Spring. And then there is my sweater and boot collection. I have never met a sweater, sweatshirt, jumper or hoodie that I didn’t like. Despite the knowledge that I will only wear a small percentage of them each year, they call my name and I can always justify getting more. Now that we have children who are or have been attending 4 separate universities I have an even better excuse to buy them. After all I can’t show favoritism!

When we lived on the east coast boots and winter coats were something you bought every

year and wore until they were destroyed from water or snow or salt. I spent quite some time in the UK last winter and when I was packing I found that I didn’t own a single pair of waterproof shoes, let alone boots! So off I went on a mission to find the perfect pair. I looked forward to wearing them in the appropriate climate, walking through piles of snow and feeling that delicious crunch as my foot broke through the top layer. So imagine my dismay when Britain had one of the mildest winters on record. Plenty of rain but only a few snowstorms and nothing that left enough snow to even make a snowball.

I guess that means a trip to Flagstaff is in order this winter. Thank goodness we have the option to drive a couple of hours to a colder climate - and this year I have my fingers crossed for a winter wonderland!

Catherine UretskyEditor, Up The Hill Magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623.398.5541

Cover models: Emmie Brockman, Samson Mason, Rhyker Hansen, Kaisland & Rocksten Trachel-Smith

It’s Not OK

Outside of some of the more obvious sins against a relationship, such as physical abuse, sexual coercion and infidelity, there are other forms of abuse that may not be so obvious to some. These include forms of psychological abuse.

Here’s a list of some psychologically abusive things your significant other should never do or say to you. It is by no means comprehensive.

• Demean, belittle or insult you.

• Make you the butt of their jokes, in public or private.

• Call you ugly or rude names.

• Tell you that you’re unworthy of their love or make you do ridiculous things to gain their affection.

• Tell you that you’re stupid, worthless or a piece of crap.

• Tell you that you’re ugly, fat or attack any other aspect of your physical appearance or tell you that you need plastic surgery.

• Tell you that everything that goes bad in the relationship is your fault.

• Tell you that you’re crazy or otherwise try to use your mental health issues against you.

• Tell you that you are overreacting when they obviously did something wrong, illegal, immoral, unethical or otherwise inappropriate.

• Deflect when you try to address an issue or concern by pointing out

something you do that bothers or upsets them, never really addressing your concern or owning their mistakes.

• Default to telling you that the reason you two disagree or fight is that you’re just too emotional.

• Blame you for their drinking/drug use/ excessive spending/reckless driving/infidelity or otherwise inappropriate behavior.

• Gaslight you when you try to address an issue with them, turning it around on you or misrepresenting your words.

If you’re reading this and you have to ask yourself if what you’re experiencing in your relationship qualifies as psychological abuse, it probably does. If so, you don’t have to be a victim. Set your boundaries, stand up for yourself. Get help if you don’t know how. You deserve better, and no one is going to do it for you.

Submitted by Jennifer Bellingrodt, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Visit www. doctorbellingrodt.com for more information.

The Bug Guy

Well, it’s that time of year again where our Arizona summer is coming to a close! October brings cooler weather inviting us to get back outside. What are your plans for this fall? Spending time outside with friends and family? Have a BBQ, picnic, or get together with friends and enjoy a football game? Whatever your plans are, make the most of them by reconnecting with your friends, family, and neighbors, now that its not to hot outside.

As the cooler weather invites us to get back outside, it also increases number of bugs that want to enjoy these temperatures, both flying and crawling. It is important for us to have food, shelter, and safety while we are experiencing the outdoors. Those same necessities are equally important to bugs. So, if we think like a bug and look around the yard what do we see? Hmmm… plants low to the ground or touching the ground. From a bug’s eye view that means two things shelter and safety.

We can also see food and water. Standing or running water in the yard is most often found around irrigation lines. Be cognizant of these areas as water in the desert means life, or an oasis. Water will attract both herbivores and insectivores for the same reasons.

There are many different species of bugs in the desert, most of them we never see. Those we commonly see and hear are crickets. Spiders are also out in the fall, and we see their work in the form of webs, sometimes in the most incongruous locations. The only spider we have here that is a cause for concern is the black widow. They generally do not like it in the house and are very docile. If you see one, it may have been brought in on furniture that was left outside in a low traffic area. The black widows preferred location is along the foundation wall of a house.

What can you do about these bugs? You can keep your foliage trimmed and off the ground. Minimize the amount of ground water. Think about ways you can continue to make the environment around your home less desirable to these unwanted pests. Keep thinking like a bug!

Submitted by Larry Cash, of Estrella Mountain Pest Control

• First-rate elementary schools strengthen and energize neighborhoods. Buyers with children seek vibrant communities, rigorous curriculum and excelling teachers.

• Good schools inspire more family-friendly amenities like playgrounds, parks, pools, and hiking trails.

• Districts boasting higher test scores and smaller class sizes result in desirable communities. So much so, these houses sit on the market for less time and command higher resale values.

Safety? Neighborhoods with good schools tend to have lower crime. Heavier fines for breaking the law near schools are a deterrent, and police patrol school zones more often.

Most important? Cleanliness. The pride of home ownership shows and curb appeal is significant in areas where buyers target good schools.

Supporting lower teacher-student ratios, after-school sports and clubs, and maintaining funding for exceptional educational programs benefits us all.

As a vested resident, small business owner, husband, and father of two children in public schools, I encourage your support for the Liberty Elementary School District M&O Budget Override.

“Location, location, location” is quickly being replaced with the phrase, “Schools, schools, schools." The West Valley is one of the quickest growing regions in the United States. Why? Good schools!

Estrella 411

If a recession hit, would you have to sell your home? Downsize? Rent? Questions are swirling about when a “housing bubble” might burst. Oddly enough, most potential homebuyers want it to happen. Why?

Consumer Affairs recently polled prospective homeowners timing entry into the housing market. “Gen Z was the generation most likely to want a housing crash (84%) or correction (86%) so they could buy a home. Despite their hopes for a cooler market, Gen Zers have the least saved for a home: $15,601, on average. Their smaller savings might be due to their age (they’ve had less time to save) or the drastic rent increases many have faced in the U.S. recently,” according to the 2022 Consumer Affairs Survey. Those who already own homes, especially Boomers, feel they still owe more on their home than its worth. Roughly 80% would downsize or go back to renting.

NOW VS. 2008

In contrast to 2008, 12 million MORE households want to own homes, says personal finance guru

Dave Ramsey. Millennials are at the prime time of their lives to now buy. “We still have too many buyers chasing too few houses. So for the next five years, we will continue to see house prices INCREASE, certainly not crash.”

Is “unaffordability” at a “crisis stage”?

“Demand is stepping back in the face of affordability challenges [and] inventory is rising but not skyrocketing; what our model says is prices may dip seasonally for the remainder of the year, then have a seasonal bounce back in the spring [of 2023],” says Jeff Tucker, senior economist of economic research at Zillow.

DON’T PANIC!

Despite all this seemingly “bad news”, there’s still a housing shortage! House prices won’t tumble when the demand for homes exceeds the supply.

Your best bet is to consult with a licensed REALTOR® who can provide you a market analysis and help answer your questions about what you can realistically afford.

Submitted by Martin C. Sears, West USA RealtyEstrella Branch Owner & Officer Manager.

Having plants in the home makes the whole place feel cheerier and brighter. But let’s be honest, some plants require more care and attention than a newborn baby. That can be hard to pull off with everything else in life you have to deal with. And even when you’re good at tending to them, they can often be hard to keep alive.

Here are 6 easy-care houseplants you (probably) can’t kill.

1. Maidenhair Ferns: Pretty, frilly, and hard to kill, Maidenhair Ferns are pretty much the ideal indoor plant. Add a couple in your living room or dot them around a bookshelf for a bold-yet-boho look.

2. Air Plants: These are SO hard to kill, you might even wonder if they’re alive to begin with. They have a spiky, weird, otherworldly look that adds a nice sci-fi feel when in a funky planter.

3. Aloe Vera: Ahhh, every home medicine advocate’s favorite. Not only is this plant easy to care for, it’s super useful, too. Got a sunburn? Aloe vera. Upset stomach? Aloe vera. IRS is after you? Aloe vera. OK, maybe not so much on the

last one, but you get the point.

4. Basil: Speaking of useful, basil is a great plant to have around the house. You can add basil to your sauces, or bruise a leaf and drop it into your cocktails. Best of all, you can forget it’s around for a couple days and water it when you remember. It’ll come back again and again.

5. Monstera: Forget about the trendy plant du jour fiddle-leaf figs; they’re expensive and hard to care for. Instead, double down on Monstera. This easy-care plant is also having a trendy moment and it gives your whole pad a Palm Springs kind of vibe.

6. Rubber Plant: Talk about handy! This little guy (who can grow up to 10 feet, actually) is one of the best plants for removing toxins from the air AND you still can’t kill it! Give your rubber plant a name and voila, you’ve got a new best friend that you barely have to do anything for.

Now that you’re armed with this info, you can head down to your local nursery and get an armload of greenery to spruce up your place.

Submitted by Tara Rutkowski, Realtor®, Realty One Group

Autism Facts

This year marks the 5-year anniversary of Southwest Behavioral & Health Services’ Southwest Autism Center of Excellence (SACE). To celebrate this milestone, we’re spreading the word and sharing 10 surprising facts about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):

1. Autism Spectrum Disorder affects individuals in various ways and throughout their life span.

2. ASD has nothing to do with a person’s intelligence. Many famous, successful, creative, analytical individuals have autism including Elon Musk, Anthony Hopkins, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Bill Gates, and Michelangelo.

3. Neurodivergent is a person whose brain is different from the majority of society. Neurodivergent disorders include but are not limited to autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia.

4. Even though many individuals who have autism desire fulfilling and meaningful work, there is a high rate of unemployment or underemployment in this community.

5. Individuals who have autism possess many traits that can make them great employees

including trustworthiness, dependability, loyalty and a strong and intense attention to detail. They are often also visual thinkers with high problem-solving ingenuity, integrity and perseverance.

6. The autism spectrum is not linear. It is more like a color wheel consisting of many strengths and abilities that make up an individual.

7. Autistic masking isn’t pretending to be “normal,” it is a complete override of a person’s authentic identity, emotions, and bodily state in an attempt to fit in with others.

8. Ableism is a form of bias, prejudice and discrimination. Ableism hinges on the idea that people with disabilities/autism are less valuable than nondisabled people. When in truth, autism is another way for the mind and/or body to be.

9. Our community’s responsibility is to take an active role in promoting the idea of inclusion. When people are included, their worth is recognized and respected.

10. Individuals with ASD can and do live happy and productive lives with the support of their families and community.

If you have questions about Autism Spectrum Disorder, we are here to help. More information about autism, diagnosis and treatment is available at https://www.sbhservices. org/southwest-autism-center.

Community Pride

SOCKtober Sock Drive in Estrella

The Holidays are soon approaching, and the season of charitable giving has begun in The Estrella REALTOR® Networking Group as we launch our annual SOCKtober sock drive for the homeless! The pandemic and the recession have caused the homeless population to rise in Phoenix and we need the help of our community to make a positive difference in the lives of people who are struggling to find shelter and basic human necessities.

The Estrella REALTOR® Networking Group was instrumental in developing and sponsoring the Estrella Community Garden at Presidio. A twoyear long project finally being brought to fruition. The Grand Opening is coming up in November. Once again, with community at top of mind, the Estrella REALTOR® Networking Group’s desire is for this year’s SOCKtober event to be unforgettable not only for the recipients of the gift of warm socks but to all who donate. “Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who

receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” By Barbara De Angelis

SOCKtober is a collaborative effort. We need the help of our community and our local businesses to reach our goal of collecting 1,500 new pairs of socks to be donated to Andre House – a shelter in dire need of necessities for the homeless people in Phoenix before the Holidays. These socks will help the hundreds of men and women in this shelter tremendously since socks are a basic daily need.

Sock donations can be dropped off during the month of October at one of these 5 locations; Café Bedida at Lucero, Lakeside Grill at Starpointe, Cantina at Presidio, Oasis Bagels and Pioneer Title Goodyear. Café Bedida and Sweet Hellos have partnered together to offer a free sock pop for each package of socks (minimum of 6 pair) to the first 100 people who donate at the Café Bedida location. Big THANK YOU to the owners Deb Huyer of Café Bedida and Rachel Burton of Sweet Hellos for providing this special treat to the donors.

Presented by Estrella Realtor Networking Group

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