September 2022
Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 3 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.
In my opinion the measure of a man (or woman) can be taken by observing what they do with a shopping cart.
I don’t mean inside the store, although I will judge you harshly if you allow your child to ram it into my ankles. Nope, I mean outside the store, in the parking lot. Once you get all your chocolate chip muffins, cheese balls and lactose free milk into the car and you have an empty cart, what do you do? Do you leave it where it lands? Do you push it onto a curb so it doesn’t roll away? Do you put it carefully between the parked cars next to you? Or do you take it to the cart stand, ready to be rolled back to the store?
TV show I am sure many of you have seen or at least heard of called “What would
Catherine UretskyEditor, Up The Hill 623.398.5541info@estrellapublishing.comMagazine
4 Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022
From Me To You...
This brings me back to the cart situation. Do the right thing, people. Even if no-one is watching you.
This is one place where there are no laws or even rules to guide you. Sure you can leave it where it is, or you can do the right thing, even if no-one is looking. Nobody gets credit for moving their cart, but it shows me that you know how to be a responsible adult, even when there is no pat on the Thereback.isa
you do?” In this show people are tested in fabricated situations to see their reaction when they think no-one is watching. Many of these situations involve stepping up when people are being harassed or bullied and yes, we should all put a stop to that kind of behavior. My issue with this is that nowadays it can be dangerous to react in the way you would want to. I have told my daughters, in particular, not to intervene if their safety could be at risk. But it should not be that way. People should always do the right thing, even if they don’t get kudos or acknowledgement. People should also not harass or bully others too, let’s be honest here.
Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 WE MOUNTAINESTRELLAKNOW Each office is independently owned & operated RIDERELITETEAM.COM/ESTRELLA BETH RIDER BethRider@KW.com602.833.1116REALTOR® KEITH BURTON RiderEliteTeam.comKeith@623.300.1564REALTOR® 50+ New Build Buyers Served our Homes Average Days on Market 16 104% our Average price over asking We live where we work REALTRENDS TOP TEAM We were honored, once again, to be rec ognized in 2021 as the top 14th team in the US by volume. “Our experience with The Rider Elite team has been exceptional since day 1! They always made sure we had everything we needed, made sure to let us know they were available whenever we needed them, and every person we interacted with was so nice!” IN THEIR WORDS
Source:TheCromfordReport|August2022 doesn’t love the smell oven especially in any East Coast you’ll understand why this recipe looks like it has not with as an with a cup or the kids’ sporting events!
SCAN HERE TO CHECK OUT MYREVIEWS!GOOGLE
Monthly median sales price is up 17.8% from July 2021 and appreciation continues to steadily increase, meaning the price of the home a buyer is interested in today will most likely increase over the next several months to a year. Interest rates are increasing, but still low in comparison to the past Ask me about creative ways to make these interest rates work for you!
~
Who
Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 7 www.RhondaWatsonAZ.comHelpMeRhonda.Watson@gmail.com602.403.4136REALTOR®
the Fall! For
transplants,
too much topping and
your morning coffee,
of tea,
packed into a tote to enjoy on the sidelines of
Confectioner’s sugar for garnish Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a 12x17x1 jelly roll pan. Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Whisk eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla in separate bowl. Blend both dry and wet ingredients until moist ~ do not overmix!
Active listings are up 159.6% from this time last year. This means more homes for buyers to choose from and enough supply to support current demand for 52 days.
Rhonda Watson
afternoon pick-me-up
For the Topping: 5 C flour 2 C light brown sugar ½ C granulated sugar ½ tsp kosher salt 4 sticks unsalted butter, melted 1 T + 1-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon Combine all ingredients and stir to blend well ~ set aside. For the Cake: 3 C flour 1 C granulated sugar 1 T + 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
Listings under contract are down 27.2%, so there are less buyers buying and therefore, less competition for current buyers.
Spread cake mixture evenly in the bottom of the jelly roll pan ~ it should look sparse. Sprinkle all of the crumb topping over the cake and press Bakelightly.35-40 minutes until cake rises and topping bakes into the dough. Remove from oven and cool slightly in the pan. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and cut into generous Submittedsquares. by Maureen Woods
of cinnamon wafting from the
enough cake!! It’s perfect
½ tsp kosher salt 2 large eggs 1-1/4 C whole milk ½ C canola oil 1 T + 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
The market is currently “balancing out” yet, this could benefit home buyers. Here’s why you should start taking advantage of this shift.
Yum Yum
• Dec 18 - West Valley Symphony
8 Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022
Upcoming Events The exhibition, Art at The Vista, featuring Ground Floor Artists, is open to the public Aug 24 through Oct 29 during regular Box Office hours. Future exhibitions include solo artist Dennis Kleidon, WHAM Art Association and the Dysart Festival of the Arts.
• Oct 29 - Ofrenda: A Día de los Muertos Celebration
• Mar 4 - Amy Grant
15660 N Parkview Place Surprise, AZ Our Cover
• Feb 26 - West Valley Symphony
on the cover: Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass America’s premier large brass ensemble, a veritable “dream team” of virtuoso brass players, features an eleven-piece ensemble with percussion. The group has performed around the world including in China’s National Center for the Performing Arts, Guangzhou Opera House, Tangelwood’s Seiji Ozawa Hall, the United States, South America, Asia, and Europe. Reflecting the diverse makeup of men and women in American culture, the group is dedicated to the notion that music is a gift to be enjoyed by everyone.
Events subject to change. For the most current information, visit www.TheVistaAZ.com. Box Office Open Tuesday-Friday 10am-2pm | 623-523-8888
• Nov 20 - West Valley Symphony
• Mar 19 - West Valley Symphony
• Feb 5 - West Valley Symphony
• Dec 3 - PAZ by Jácome Flamenco
• Mar 3 - LP and the Vinyl
• Nov 19 - Croce Plays Croce
The Vista Center for the Arts is the cornerstone of arts and entertainment in Surprise, AZ serving the greater West Valley. Conveniently located near Loop 303, The Vista is an unmatched regional asset, and a prestigious arts and cultural destination. The state-of-the-art facility features 1,300 plush seats, theatrical sound and lighting, and boasts an impressive and expansive lobby for artist exhibitions and community gatherings throughout the year. Now entering its second full season of programming, The Vista draws audiences of all ages, enhancing the lives of residents and visitors alike. The 2022/2023 lineup features a variety of diverse performances including symphonic, theatrical, musical, international and educational Featuredshows!
• Nov 5 - BYU Young Ambassadors
• Mar 11 - Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass
• Jan 14 - The Drifters
On
• Jan 15 - West Valley Symphony
• Jan 28 - Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats
Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 9 Can’t wait to enjoy the fall weather outside? Let us help you get those bugs 623scheduleCallcontrol.underLarry,toyourappointmenttoday!-680-6619 www.estrellamtnpest.com Your full service Pest and Termite control company. Ask for your new customer discount! Quality Pest and Termite Control Check out “The Bug Guy” article in yourMagazine!neighborhood
10 Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 classicalTuition-free,education. Serving Grades K-8 | GreatHeartsRoosevelt.org New Campus Now Open! Seats still available in select grades. Apply Today
Will this Monsoon season ever end? How long will our wetter than usual weather last? We are currently in our third year of a La Nina, they generally last between one to three years. This pattern should fade and shift to an El Nino pattern next spring based on forecasting analysis completed by NOAA. That’s great news, but what does that really mean for us here in the west valley? It means that by March 2023 we should be entering into a period of lower-thanaverage rainfall that will progress throughout the rest of next year. When the desert is wet everything really comes to life. We see an increase in plant life and longer lasting greenery as well as increases in wildlife. It is amazing to see it happening around us. In the 11 years that we have been here, I don’t think we have seen as many bobcat sightings as we have this year, along with racoons, cottontails, quail, and coyotes. That really shows that we have a healthy ecosystem. With our monsoon comes an increase in insect activity. Many of our local insects are herbivores, and with the increase in plant life due to the higher rainfall, there is an abundance of leafy green plants which has a direct effect on the explosion of the bug population. This will lead to a parallel increase in bugs that eat bugs, scorpions, ants, and spiders. It is also time for the big desert hairy scorpions to be out and about as it is their normal mating season. scorpionsThesecan get up to 5-7 inches long so you should be able to readily avoid them. Also impacted by the monsoon is the volume of termite activity. Termites are swarming and have been highly active. We recommend calling a licensed professional as termites are not a DIY Iftreatment.youareworried about any of these increased pest activities, call your pest control technician.
Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 11
Submitted by Larry Cash, of Estrella Mountain Pest Control
The Bug Guy
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“Location, location, location” is quickly being replaced with the phrase, “Schools, schools, Theschools.”west Valley is one of the quickest growing regions in the United States. Why? Good schools! 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. As vested residents, business owners, parents and homeowners, we can support lower teacherstudent ratios, after-school sports and clubs, and maintaining funding for exceptional educational programs benefiting us all. S.
Jackrabbit Trail, Buckeye, AZ 85326
Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 13
Estrella 411 3-5ENROLLINGYEAROLDS 555
Are you ready for a home renovation, or maybe you need a full remodel? Wait… aren’t they the same thing? I’m sure you have heard a contractor use one of these terms, but just to be specific: A renovation is making something that’s old new and improved (i.e., updating your master bathroom with new tile and fixtures). A remodel is giving something a whole new purpose (converting a coat closet into a powder Withroom).help from our friends at Realtor.com, here are a couple helpful terms you might need to know when talking to your contractor:
STUDS: No, your contractor is not talking about Channing Tatum! These are the basic wood frames hiding behind your walls that keep your house from collapsing into a pile of drywall.
14 Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022
REBAR: Short for “reinforcing bar,” “rebar”
HVAC: Stands for “heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.” Regular maintenance of your HVAC system is a must and can substantially add to the value of your home (keep your receipts).
Submitted by Tara Rutkowski, Realtor®, Realty
FUSE BOX: Also called a circuit breaker box, it’s the small metal cupboard with a lot of switches that distribute energy to specified parts of your home. Each room of your home generally has its own toggle switch (breaker), and if the previous owners or builders were kind, they’ve labeled them. The beauty of that is apparent if you (or a contractor) do any electrical work on your home, turn off the power before starting the work. Now that you have tackled the renovation terms, call your favorite contractor and get to work!
R&R: Your contractor does not want to chat about the relaxation and rejuvenation you got on your trip to Hawaii, but rather R&R is the term contractors use for “remove and replace.” An example would be removing appliances and replacing them without any structural changes.
refers to those ribbed steel rods placed in concrete foundations and retaining walls that give the structure extra support. If you’re adding an extra room to your home, you’ll need foundation (poured concrete), then add rebar—sort of like adding drinking straws into a milkshake that then hardens around them.
One Group Home Sweet Home C a l l T a r a F i r s Ct a a a F i r s t . c o .m c o m L I C E N S E LD I C E N S E D T T SELL SELL IF YOU SPY A NEW HOME, IT'S NO SECRET, I'D LOVE TO BE YOUR AGENT! Y O U R L O C A O v e r $ 4 0 m i l l i o n S o l d i n 2 0 2 O1 v e r $ 4 0 m i l l i o n S o l d i n 0 2 1 6 2 3 . 6 4 0 . 6 5 4 66 2 3 . 6 4 0 . 6 5 4 6
Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 15 Free Gift for New Patients! Don’ t just DREAM about a comfortable, pleasant dental visit... Experience it today, right in your own neighborhood!
16 Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 YOURHome office located at: 18099 W. Santa Alberta Ln. Goodyear, AZ 85338 Call Now: 623-925-9953, Cell: 347-393-2083 RICHARD TAX SERVICES LLC File your Taxes for Less: Basic Federal & AZ State - $95. Complex Tax Prep. - $125 & up (depends on schedules and forms). E Filling fee $25 Small Business and Rental - $ Call for quote. Evening & Weekend hours available to fit your schedule We provide services both on and off-site
Submitted by Suzanne Wold, LESD volunteer
Figure $79.44 per year ($6.62 per month) for a Limited Property Value of $100,000. An Estrella home recently sold for $685,000 and its “Limited Value” is $334,808. For the two owners, the cost of the override is $264.50 per year ($22.04 per month). For one of the owners, the cost of supporting the override is $11.02 per Themonth.Cougar Community Volunteer motto is “I volunteer because your life is worth my time.” If I were an owner who had just paid $685,000 for my house, my motto might be, “I pay $11.02 per month because your life (and maintaining my property value and the ‘experience of life in Estrella’ I enjoy so much) is worth it.”
School Pride
Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 17
Volunteers at Estrella Mountain and Westar schools love supporting the students and teachers at our schools. We’re sad that Liberty Elementary School District (LESD) lost $850,000 in funding for the 2022-23 school year because voters did not renew the Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Override last November. “Override” does not mean that the district is over budget or has overspent. On the contrary, an M& O override is local funding and the ONLY way a district can pay for all-day kindergarten, music, art, PE, athletics, reduced class sizes –and a few bonuses to attract and retain quality teachers. There’s no other way to fund these programs that are vital to the quality of life of our students - and the quality of life in our Ifcommunity.wefailto renew the override this November, one possible LESD plan is to cut up to 29
teaching positions, eliminate extra-curricular activities, and cut competitive sports next year. Our two Estrella schools could lose up to seven teaching positions. So, how much does it cost to support the M&O override?
Looking back it’s fair to say this has been no easy task. Two years later with the help of the HOA’s ideal location at the Presidio Residents Club, the collaboration of the developers’ fence donation and the Estrella Realtor Networking Groups funding (including Pioneer Title and local lender Allyson Knappenberger from DK Home Loans, LLC) this exciting project has taken root. The Community Garden Committee has been working tirelessly with the HOA and City
The Estrella Realtor Networking Group, along with the garden committee are finalizing a grand opening event in November complete with Ribbon cutting ceremony and a community invitation to experience the garden in its kickoff season.
What started as an idea to give back to the community has blossomed into reality, the Estrella Community Garden at Presidio is opening its gates in September for its first planting season. Two years in the making this grass roots project was a true labor of love. In 2020 the Estrella Realtor Networking group brainstormed ideas to give back to the community during the trying times of COVID. Many realtors remembered past residents wanting a community garden, but it never got the funding and support it needed to grow. So, the group decided to try to resurrect the idea and see if they could bring this idea to life.
18 Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022
Community Pride
of Goodyear to finalize the details in opening the garden.
The committee made up of: Jennifer Polansky- Chair; Cheryl Anderson -Vice Chair; Dewitt Lange- Secretary; Deborah Huyer, Molly Mellon, Lisa Steed and Allyson KnappenbergerMembers, have contacted the approved Estrella gardeners to welcome them to the first planting Theseason.excitement has been brewing throughout the community as this new amenity has brought a lot of renewed spirit of togetherness. These 12 designated plots will each have a resident gardener tending to their own garden bed. Many gardeners are eager to share their ideas and knowledge on the art of gardening in the desert. From home schooled kids to Master gardeners this unique platform welcomes gardeners of all ages and skill levels, to share ideas and help each other learn new techniques.
Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 19
Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 When thunder roars, go indoors and make sure you’re Covered. New Construction, Repairs, Recovers, Maintenance Installation of Gutters Shingles, Tile, Built Up Single Ply, Foam & Coatings, Metal, Shake Financing available 9.9% APR *Subject to credit approval. Exclusions apply. Ask for details! financing for 15 months if paid in full0% * * ROC #’s: 061127 - 287012 - 198009 - 082024 - 318282 We’re Here To Answer Your Questions. Give Us A www.JBSroofingAZ.comCall!
Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 21 Samurai Sudoku 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. Good Luck! Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com Samurai sudoku grid, symmetric, beginner No 16 Created: https://www.sudoku-puzzles-online.com 6 1 8 7 2 9 5 9 1 6 8 4 9 1 6 5 6 9 7 3 5 2 5 1 7 9 1 5 9 3 9 1 3 8 5 7 2 9 3 2 4 7 5 1 3 9 4 8 7 3 8 4 2 8 5 4 1 6 9 5 8 2 7 3 6 5 5 1 1 4 7 8 1 4 2 6 7 3 1 9 5 6 7 7 4 1 8 7 1 2 9 5 3 2 4 2 5 6 5 1 8 3 7 4 8 9 1 5 2 7 8 4 2 9 3 6 2 4 5 8 6 1 8 2 7 4 3 7 4 8 1 3 2 9 3 4 5 2 8 9 2 3 4 2 5 6 3 9 2 9 4 5 1 3 2 7 7 5 4 2 8 5 1 3 Samurai Sudoku Puzzle #16 This samurai sudoku puzzle is a great way to engage the brain and help develop logic skills. There are 5 overlapping grids with one unique solution. Each of 4 corners are shaded. 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.
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Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine September 2022 23Photographs courtesy of L Kopis and Hollywood Company Productions All residences must be occupied by at least one resident 55 years or older. Services provided are limited to those described in the Lease or Residency Agreement. The community is not a hospital or nursing home. All dimensions and measurements, including without limitation square footages, ceiling heights and window sizes, styles and locations, are approximate and may vary per floorplan. Measurements in model residences may vary slightly without incurring any obligation or liability. Actual residence measurements will vary. Terms are subject to change without notice. 19RC150 10//20 15833 W. Clubhouse Drive Goodyear, AZ 85395 623.440.6800 l RobsonReserve.com Life was meant for great adventures and close friends. At Robson Reserve at PebbleCreek, you can have both. With planned outings and adventures, there is always something new to enjoy and someone new to enjoy it with. Schedule your personal tour today. 623.440.6800 l RobsonReserve.com Call today for fall specials! Call FORGING623.440.6800FRIENDSHIPSAT ROBSON RESERVE AT PEBBLECREEK
3 Bed I 2 Bath I Garage I Munds Park I 1,706 Sq. Ft I $649,000 Estrella I 2,668 Sq. Ft. I $670,000 I Estrella I 2,670 Sq. Ft I $799,000 3 Bed I 2.5 Bath I Pool & View I Victory I 2,158 Sq. Ft. I $859,999 Estrella I 3,091 Sq. Ft. I $680,000 480-577-3918 | JJPRealty@Gmail.com www.JenniferPolansky.com 4 Bed I 2.5 Bath I Pool & 3 Car I Estrella I 2,754 Sq. Ft I $689,000 Estrella I 1,959 Sq. Ft. I $565,000 4 Bed I 3.5 Bath I Hillside I Estrella I 3,343 Sq. Ft. I $749,900
