Up The Hill

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Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive

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.

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From Me To You...

At this time of year I find myself sorting through things, reorganizing, re-homing, generally tidying up. I think it is the autumn. The thought of cooler weather (finally) puts me in the frame of mind to get things done. I decided to tackle my closet and let me tell you, it has led me on a merry chase. I began by getting rid of things that don’t fit, are worn out or just no longer bring me joy. Do you see where I am going with this? I did it. I tried, pretty unsuccessfully, to ‘KonMarie™’ my clothes. For anyone who has been living under a rock, Marie Kondo stirred the souls of many people with the promise of a streamlined home, and by extension, a way to streamline the rest of your life if you so choose. I stink at it. I started out with the best intentions. Anything that doesnt fit - in the bag for donations. But what if I loose some weight? This was expensive. This has a sentimental attachment. This might fit one day.

After several false starts I managed to remove a couple of bags of clothes and was on to the fun part. Or so I thought. Folding! The recommended folding method reminds me of a laundromat in New York. Way back in time,

before kids and a mortgage and other important money drains, I used to send out my laundry to be washed and folded. In my defense we had no washer and the building’s laundry room was creepy, and I wanted to! The clothes came back in the most perfect, tiny squares. To this day I have no idea how they did it but it is reminiscent of the way Marie Kondo recommends you fold your clothes, before lovingly placing them in your closet.

So off I went on the folding adventure and after several false starts I had a beautiful, color co-ordinated (ahem, way to go the extra mile) drawer full of t-shirts. Then it hit me. I was going to have to do this FOREVER. I mean really, who has the time? My foray into a streamlined life was fun for a day or two, but who has the energy to maintain it?

Next year I think I will satisfy my autumn cravings with a pumpkin spice latte instead.

Catherine Uretsky

Editor, Main Street magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623-398-5541

Diabetes

November is American Diabetes Month. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that occurs when excess glucose (sugar) builds up in the blood. It can cause numerous health problems if not properly managed. Some symptoms of diabetes may seem so insignificant that you may not even notice them for months or years – but being diagnosed early is key to a lifetime of better health.

If left untreated, long-term diabetes complications include cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack, stroke and narrowing of the arteries, according to dietitian Katy Stemple, MDA, RDN, manager of the Abrazo Health Medical and Surgical Weight Loss Program.

“The increase in diabetes in adults worldwide has quadrupled over the last few decades. The connection with heart and blood vessel damage is undeniable,” said Stemple. While there isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, the CDC says that losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active can really help.

“Type 2 diabetes, which typically is diagnosed in adults and accounts for between 90-95% of all diagnosed cases, can increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease and kidney disease,” she explained. “In the last 20 years, the number of adults with diabetes has more than doubled as the American population has become more overweight or obese.”

According to the American Diabetes Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in people living with diabetes, resulting in two-thirds of deaths in people with type 2 diabetes.

“The good news is that with proper exercise, diet and diabetes management, you can reduce your risk of getting cardiovascular disease and the complications that come with it,” noted Stemple.

For more information about diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org. Submitted by Keith Jones, of Abrazo Health

The Bug Guy

Finally, we’ve made it through the summer heat and the weather has shifted to cooler temps! It’s time to get outside and enjoy the best that the valley has to offer. Dinner on the patio, a fire pit with friends, a hike, a bike ride—all of these are great activities to enjoy during this time of the year and why many of us have made our way to the valley.

It’s also the beginning of the holiday season and pumpkin spice is everywhere, its in your coffee, your pie, and even in your muffins. Thanksgiving is the time to get together and be thankful for the people in our lives. The ones that care, the ones that have been there for us, the ones that make life richer just by being themselves. Friends make life better for all of us, so get out there and stay connected, it’s worth it.

Make sure to take the opportunity to honor our Veterans this season along with all your other celebrations. Veterans day is November 11th, what is Veterans Day? It is a national holiday honoring all veterans of the armed forces who

served and those who are still serving during times of peace and war. November 11th became a national holiday in 1938 in remembrance of Armistice Day in 1918 that ended WW1. In 1954 the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all who served in the armed forces. Each year on Veterans Day a wreath is placed at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier to commemorate the sacrifice that all who served have made.

As we engage with our friends and family during these events outside, we have the potential to see more flying insects at this time of year. Yikes! One of the causes of this increase is the volume of rain we have experienced over the last few months. Be prepared to see more flying insects as well as an increase in Aedes Aegypti (mosquitoes). These mosquitoes are day biters and very small. They have black and white striped legs and tend to rest on the underside of leaves during the night, and they are hangry! As these insects increase, we will also see an increase in spider activity as they are building webs in areas to feed on these flying insects. Remember unless we have a freeze the bugs will just keep coming around!

Submitted by Larry Cash, of Estrella Mountain Pest Control

Estrella 411

AZ Public School Teacher Pay Penalty is 32%!

Arizona teachers make 32% less than their college-educated counterparts. For every $1.00 earned by college-educated nonteacher counterparts, Arizona teachers earn $0.68, according to stats (through 2021) published by EPI (Economic Policy Institute) in August 2022. According to EPI, the teacher pay penalty has “worsened considerably” over the last 18 years. Nationally, inflation-adjusted weekly teacher pay (2021 dollars) increased just $29.00 from 1996 to 2021, while nonteacher college-educated worker pay increased $445.00 per week over the same period.

Due to the teacher pay penalty, teachers leave the field, fewer college grads become teachers, we have a teacher shortage and hiring competition increases. Per Arizona

law, it is only through overrides that districts can hire additional teachers to decrease class sizes, and pay bonuses to attract and retain quality teachers. Last Spring, the Liberty ESD Governing Board approved a 5% pay increase for teachers. An override loss means no pay raise, teachers lose their current 2% stipend and the District loses its hiring edge.

After last year’s override failure, the District lost $850,000 in classroom funding – and will lose $2 Million more over the next two years if it fails again. One of the LESD schools had a full-time music teacher last year. This year, the students receive 20 minutes of music instruction per week – from their art teacher. If the override fails, 29 more positions may be cut.

Passing the override would cost the owners of a recently sold $800,000 Estrella home about $0.87 per day. For most of us, the daily amount is less than that. Aren’t the kids worth it?

Submitted by Cougar Community Volunteers

Hot Cheesy Shrimp Dip for the Holidays

Thanksgiving is a time for relaxing with family & friends around the table. While every family has their traditions, I always include a seafood appetizer or chowder since most of my life was spent by the water. I always start with raw shrimp so I can cook it for 3 minutes in a pot of boiling water with 3 T Old Bay Seasoning for added flavor ~ but you an also use fully-cooked shrimp. Serve this with pita chips or baguette slices. This recipe is a great “What Can I Bring” solution ~ but don’t plan on having any leftovers to bring home!

Ingredients:

4 T unsalted butter

1 C tri-color peppers (red/yellow/orange), finely chopped

1 C shallots, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 T flour

1 C heavy cream

¾ C whole milk

1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning

1 tsp paprika

½ tsp dry mustard

½ tsp kosher salt

½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

2 T sherry wine

1 C Gruyere cheese, shredded (or Swiss)

2 lbs cooked shrimp (I use 31-40 count, prepared as noted above)

1 T fresh parsley, chopped

1/3 C kettle cooked potato chips, crumbled

Preparation:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray medium size casserole dish with nonstick spray ~ set aside.

• In a large pan over medium heat, melt butter and saute peppers and shallots about 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and stir for 1 minute; then add flour and cook 2 minutes more. Whisk in heavy cream and milk until smooth.

• Add Old Bay, paprika, mustard, salt, pepper, cayenne, and sherry. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens. Add cheese, shrimp & parsley and pour into prepared dish.

• Sprinkle top with potato chips and bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned on top. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Submitted by Maureen Woods

Free Gift for New Patients!

Green Thumb

The long-awaited, drum roll worthy announcement of the GRAND OPENING of the ESTRELLA COMMUNITY GARDEN at PRESIDIO is here! The Estrella REALTOR® Networking Group was instrumental in developing and funding this two-year long grass roots project and now it is complete and ready for the community to enjoy.

Come join us on November 19th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for a ribbon cutting ceremony and a time of celebration for the grand opening of the Estrella Community Garden at Presidio. Grand Opening activities will include a tour of the garden, ladybug release, raffle prizes and more! Bring your gardening questions to the master gardener who will be there to give us some tips and tricks for a healthy garden.

When a small seed is planted, given some water and sunlight it has no choice but to grow. Well, when a great idea comes forth and people work together diligently and tirelessly to plan, implement, and fund the great idea, then there is no other choice than to see it grow into

something beautiful.

The Estrella Realtor Networking Group brainstormed together to come up with the idea to present a proposal for the community garden to the Community Developer and HOA.

A BIG thank you to all who were involved in making the community garden a success including the developer who generously donated the land and fencing for the garden, the garden committee made up of Jennifer Polansky, Cheryl Anderson, Dewitt Lange, Deborah Huyer, Molly Mellon, Lisa Steed and Allyson Knappenberger, The City of Goodyear, the Estrella Realtor Networking Group members for their financial support, Pioneer Title, and others who donated their time, money and other resources to bring this project to a successful completion for our great community.

The community garden is so exciting for our community as it has been said that having a community garden helps people of all ages come together to encourage and learn from one another.

Presented by: Estrella Realtor Networking Group, Authored by Debbie Young

Flu Season

The weather is beginning to cool and leaves are changing. Fall also usually brings flu season, a time when kids are more likely to get sick with flu. That’s why it’s important to get children a flu vaccine and help them fight flu, so they can do what they do - like having fun with friends! Is your family ready to fight flu? Which of the statements are true about protecting your children during flu season?

* Flu illness is more dangerous than the common cold. Millions of children get sick with flu every year and thousands will be hospitalized as a result. Flu can lead to serious complications, like inflammation of the heart and brain. While most children recover from flu within two weeks, some children can develop more serious illnesses like pneumonia.

* Vaccination is the best way to protect children against flu. CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a seasonal flu vaccine each year, ideally by the end of October. However, getting vaccinated after October can still provide children with important protection during most

flu seasons. Some children 6 months through 8 years of age may need two doses for the best protection.

* Flu vaccines are updated every year to keep up with changing flu viruses. This season’s flu vaccines were updated from last season to better match the viruses currently circulating, which change year to year. Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against the four flu viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.

* Children still need to be vaccinated against flu even if they received a COVID-19 vaccine. While both flu and COVID-19 are potentially serious contagious respiratory illnesses, they are caused by two different viruses. It is important to stay up-to-date on both flu and COVID-19 vaccines to provide the best protection for children this winter.

All answers are true! Flu vaccines are safe, reduce your risk from flu, and are important to keep your child healthy. It’s important for parents to make sure their children are vaccinated against flu so kids are ready to fight flu this season. Learn more about flu and how to best protect children so they can enjoy all the season has to offer.

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