White Tanks View

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

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

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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 Uretsky

Editor, White Tanks View Magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623.398.5541

Furry Friends

To help you prepare and keep your pet safe this season, here are three safety tips for pet parents from MetLife Pet Insurance.

1. Pet allergies need a quick response

Just like their pet parents, dogs and cats are prone to seasonal allergies. Prevention is key. Look out for common, fast-emerging allergy symptoms such as sneezing, watery nose or eyes, skin irritation and inflammation. On the surface, these symptoms may not seem like a big deal. But when left untreated, they can easily lead to larger issues such as inflamed and irritated skin, hot spots (for dogs) or even hair loss and bleeding in more severe cases. If your dog or cat has allergies, try to identify allergy triggers and visit a veterinarian for proper treatment.

2. Dress for success

As the weather shifts to cooler temperatures and you start bringing out your sweaters, it’s a good time to take stock of what clothing your pet may also need. Halloween is quickly approaching. When picking out your pet’s cute costume this year, make sure it’s also cozy and safe! Look for costumes and outfits that fit properly and don’t restrict their movement, hearing or breathing. Make sure to steer clear of dangling pieces or extra parts, which can pose a choking hazard or cause a throat blockage if ingested.

3. Prevent accidental escapes

Fall is a busy season, between children heading back to school and the holiday season just around the corner. People are constantly coming in and out of the house as a result, so it’s particularly important to keep a close eye on your pet’s whereabouts to prevent an accidental escape and injury. Some key spots to consider are your front door, garage door and backyardespecially if it isn’t gated.

To ensure your pet isn’t lingering by an exit point as you and your guests come and go, designate a safe, comfortable play space for them to go to, along with some of their favorite toys for distraction. A pet or baby gate may also be helpful to prevent these accidental escapes. Additionally, don’t forget to inform your guests about your pet so they can be more cautious when arriving and leaving.

While some of the preventative measures of protecting your pet this fall can be costly, you can consider taking measures to help offset some of the costs of health issues such as allergies or accidental injuries. Pet parents: if you want to invest in your pet’s safety and health this fall and beyond, consider getting a pet insurance policy - to help keep you and your pet prepared. To learn more, visit MetLifePetInsurance.com.

Yum Yum

We are moving into the “pies and presents” season of the year ~ so many memories are associated with certain aromas and recipes ~ and this one is no different. As a young child I remember my mother mixing up this dough by hand with a wooden spoon ~ the recipe dates back more than 200 years, and if you want to be “authentic” to the time period, you could use lard instead of vegetable shortening! As with many recipes, time and personal interpretation find their way ~ I use a stand mixer these days and a cookie scoop for consistent sizing, and I also often add in some fresh grated ginger or finely minced candied ginger plus a ½ tsp of cardamom to my version ~ the recipe here reflects as it was originally written.

Lumberjacks

Makes approx 3 dozen cookies

1 C granulated sugar (and extra for dipping)

1 C vegetable shortening or lard

1 C molasses

2 eggs

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ginger

4 C flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream the sugar and shortening; add molasses and the eggs. Sift together dry ingredients and mix into wet ingredients until dough forms. Roll into walnut-size balls and dip in granulated sugar. Arrange on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 minutes. Let cool on rack. This dough keeps well in the refrigerator, so you can easily bake these to order throughout the week (if they last that long!) Wonderful with a glass of cold milk or a cup of hot tea!

Submitted by Maureen Woods

3P’s of Medicare

Once a year, between October 15 and December 7, Medicare offers all beneficiaries the opportunity to change their coverage during the Annual Enrollment Period. The maze of options and benefits results in many beneficiaries purchasing an imperfect plan for their needs.

The Medicare sign-up process can be so intimidating that some choose not to buy health insurance at all. That’s what Jonathan Parker decided to do. Having moved to Israel he chose not to enroll in Medicare for his trips back to the U.S. During the 2020 holiday season, he fell ill. Parker refused to see a doctor hoping to receive more affordable treatment in Israel. He died in-flight, 90 minutes from landing in Israel. This loss motivated his son, Ari to write It’s Not That Complicated: The Three Medicare Decisions to Protect Your Health & Money. The goal of the book is to help you make the right Medicare

P for providers

choices to access the health care you deserve. The book introduces the “Three Ps method” to shop for the right Medicare plan and avoid costly mistakes.

Many Medicare Advantage plans have limited networks that restrict your choice of doctors, pharmacies and hospitals. If you choose this type of plan, it is crucial to make sure all your providers are in network; otherwise you might receive a large, unexpected bill in the mail.

P for prescriptions

You may be able to save upwards of $1,100 by matching your prescription needs to the right plan and nearby drug store. The best Medicare advisors should help you with this decision. Sadly, most advisors only compare plans from a handful of insurance companies, and they may not compare all the options available to you.

P for priorities

Your health care priorities are probably different than your neighbor’s. An Advantage plan wouldn’t work so well if you see multiple specialists because it has network restrictions. Instead you would want to consider a Medigap (aka Medicare Supplement) plan if you can afford the higher monthly cost of insurance. There are compelling reasons for choosing a Medigap or Advantage plan, but it depends on the factors that are important to you. Namely cost, choice of doctor and quality of care.

NON-STRESS ESTATE PLANNING

Estate planning does not need to be complex or confusing. You deserve to have your questions answered and have documents that help you when you need it most. On-line services and computer forms simply do not address the variety of issues that might arise.

The court process of probate can be avoided with a revocable trust for some but others can utilize a beneficiary deed with more ease.

Privacy laws can prevent you from being assisted by your spouse or trusted friend or family member. Powers of attorney can be give the right person the legal authority to help you.

Legal Advice ’

However, you need the correct power of attorney – whether it be for finances; medical health or mental health.

Inheritances for minors, whether children or grandchildren, can be bogged down by a court conservatorship, if a trust is not used. A court conservatorship is more costly and burdensome than a probate.

A good estate plan provides centralized management for your assets whether you are incapacitated or upon your death and can avoid obstacles and disputes when there are multiple disputes.

Submitted by Sharon Ravenscroft, Esq., The Cavanagh Law Firm, PA, Sun City and Phoenix offices, (623) 815-7451 or Sravenscroft@CavanaghLaw.com

Sharon’s practice focuses on Wills, trusts, probate and trust administration. For more information www.sharonravenscroft.com.

Home

Being proactive about home upkeep can save money by preventing expensive repair or replacement costs in the future - not to mention safeguarding against damage to your home. The hard part is knowing how often and what type of maintenance to do, and where to start. Here are some top maintenance tasks to help protect the largest investment you have - your home.

1. Check your smoke detectors

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), if every home had working smoke alarms, deaths from U.S. residential fires could drop 36%. Why aren’t these smoke detectors working? Primarily missing or dead batteries. Smoke detector batteries need to be replaced at least annually, not just when they chirp. So buy some batteries, and replace those old ones.

2. Trim your trees

Little known fact, you’re responsible for the damage if a tree on your property falls on a neighbor’s house. For peace of mind, trim the trees on your property every fall.

3. Check washing machine hoses

Did you know if a washing machine hose fails, it can spray 650 gallons of water per hour into your home. So if you’re away for the weekend and a hose bursts, you may open the door to the equivalent of a 20-foot by 40-foot in-ground pool’s worth of water, which can damage floors, drywall and personal items. Hose maintenance is easy: Inspect the hot and cold washing machine supply lines monthly, looking for blisters, worn tubing, cracks or loose connections. It’s best to replace supply hoses every 3-5 years.

4. Maintain your HVAC

One of the most critical items to maintain is your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Regular maintenance helps keep the system in working order, extending the life of the system and saving on energy costs. To save money and extend the life of your system:

* Change air filters regularly.

* Schedule regular maintenance checks (spring/ fall) from your local HVAC professional.

Take care of your home, so your home can shelter you and your family. These regular maintenance tasks will help reduce the likelihood of unpleasant surprises - and costs - to help give you peace of mind.

Money Matters

If you’re unsure of how to start planning for your financial future through investing, you’re far from alone. In fact, it might surprise you to know that 80 million Americans are interested in investing but don’t know where to begin. Yahoo Finance even reports that 54% of millennials have less than $5,000 of their money invested into stocks, bonds, real estate or other holdings. While many feel they lack the funds, others are intimidated or simply don’t know how to initiate solid investments. But that lack of action could hurt their financial standing later in life, according to the report.

Fortunately, investing doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming or financially burdensome, and it’s never too late to learn. With that in mind, here are simple suggestions for getting started.

Invest money you won’t need today (or tomorrow). The market has historically trended upward over long periods, but it can be unpredictable in the short term. That’s why it’s

safer to invest money you won’t need for immediate needs like your rent, groceries, car payment or emergency savings. Instead, use the funds available after you’ve paid your monthly bill, whether they amount to $10 or $100. That rule of thumb lets you plan for the future without jeopardizing your everyday financial well-being.

Invest manageable amounts on a regular basis. Rather than waiting till you have a sizable amount like $1,000 to invest each year, make the process seem more doable by setting aside $20 a week or $100 a month. That may seem even easier if you arrange for recurring investments; you’ll still have control of what you buy but won’t need to log in every time to place a trade.

Don’t try to time the market. The choice of whether to sell and take a loss is yours, but consider this: Even professional money managers struggle to time the market successfully over short-term periods. That’s why successful investors tend to tune out short-term “noise” and stay focused on their long-term goals.

Rather than trying to time the market, focus on choosing investments you believe in - then stick to your plan.

Be patient with yourself. Try not to get down on yourself if your investing schedule gets off track - that happens to everyone at some point. Just acknowledge it, reflect on it and get ready to regroup tomorrow, next week or next month.

Check Your Meds

Do you have expired medications or duplicate prescriptions you no longer need? National Check Your Meds Day is Oct. 21, a good time to take an annual inventory of your family’s pre scription medications. It is also a good time to organize a list of the medications in your family’s medicine cabinet in case there’s a medical emer gency, according to Char Comfort, a pharmacy manager at Abrazo.

National Check Your Meds Day is particularly important for those with multiple health conditions taking multiple drugs from several providers. Your local pharmacist or primary care physician can review that your prescription drugs are correct, the dosage is correct, you are taking the drug correctly, and the medication has not expired. They can also check your supplements, vitamins, and other over-the-counter medications you are taking, and answer any questions.

“Medication lists are important to have, because not having this information may cause a delay in care, as paramedics or hospital staff try to confirm current medications before providing that information to the physician. A lack of up-todate medical information may lead to avoidable medication errors or adverse drug reactions,” said Comfort.

“You may prefer to document your medications on paper, but you can keep a list on your phone as well,” said Comfort. “Keep a historical record. This applies to you, along with your spouse and children, and it’s a good idea to ask your parents to do the same, especially if you may be called to assist them with a health crisis.”

Some of the important things to keep track of for emergencies and doctor visits include:

· Medications, including name, dosage and whether it was completed or is ongoing.

· Medical history. This may include chronic

conditions or recent ill nesses.

· Allergies to medica tions and foods and the type of reaction.

· Vitamins, supple ments, and other over-the-counter items, and dosage.

· Other pertinent health information, including immunizations.

“Update the list when changes occur. It may sound cumbersome, but it’s important to keep your list current. Even the slightest change, such as adding a vitamin supplement, should be noted,” said Comfort.

Each time you make a change, note the date. Ask your pharmacy (or pharmacies) to print out a list of medications filled in the last year. And make sure someone in your family or circle of friends knows where you keep your medications list. Time is precious, and in an emergency, minutes matter,” said Comfort.

Submitted by Keith Jones of Abrazo West.

Autism Awareness

We have all witnessed what appears to be an individual having a meltdown. The individual is stressed, and the caregiver or person providing support feels overwhelmed. As a bystander and well-meaning person, you may want to offer a helping hand. But there may be more to the situation than meets the eye. For an individual with autism, things like sensory overload, audience or the environment may further impact their behavior. Knowing these few tips can mean the difference between helping or making an already stressful situation worse.

Don’t approach the situation unless asked. This is likely not the first time a meltdown situation has presented itself. A caregiver or person providing support to an individual with autism needs your understanding, not judgment. Approaching a caregiver or person providing support with comments can make them and the individual feel inadequate, uncomfortable, embarrassed, or even increase anxiety. These caregivers are adept at knowing their reactions to certain situations and will know how to calm the individual when episodes occur. They will know

the individual best and how to support them.

Don’t stare. Some caregivers or persons providing support and the individual may be self-conscious about their behaviors and can be embarrassed by your reactions. The individual may notice your stares and feel blamed for them. Be a gentle presence that doesn’t judge. This is the best way to offer support.

Stop. Look. Listen. Individuals with autism thrive in calm, familiar, and supportive environments. If you come upon a situation where you are wondering if you should help, do the following: Stop: don’t feel the need to comment and only assist if asked.

Look: see if the caregiver or person providing support is signaling for assistance. If so, be helpful and take action by following their instructions.

Listen: pay attention and take action if the caregiver asks you to assist in some way.

More information about autism, diagnosis, and treatment is available at https://www.sbhservices. org/southwest-autism-center

Psychological Abuse in Relationships

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.

DISCLAIMER: Material is for informational purposes only 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.

Submitted by Jennifer Bellingrodt, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist. For the full article and more, visit www. doctorbellingrodt.com. Check out free and paid psychoeducational training options at https:// thepsychoeducationacademy.thinkific.com/ collections.

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

Difficulty: Evil Thursday, 15th September 2022