Moon Valley Tattler December 2021

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DECember 2021 Vol. 41 No. 12

Holiday

spirit

on the trail Read Now - 18 This is the future of Arizona - 6 When is it okay to laugh? - 15 Travel is back... but how do i navigate? - 18 BTC Wraps for team jaydie - 26 ECRWSSEDDM POSTAL CUSTOMER

Pictured on the cover, a Shaw Butte Trail holiday tradition.

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Michael C. Brown Celebrated for Excellence in the Field of Publishing

BY MARQUIS WHO’S WHO

Mr. Brown excels as the publisher and author for Lele Mai Publishing, LLC Michael C. Brown has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Brown has served as the president and an aerial photographer of Visions in Photography, Inc. since 1997. In 2004 he produced a travel television program in Ireland titled Irish Living. It was sponsored by Guinness Brewery and was viewed in multiple markets in the U.S. His aerial photographs have appeared in multiple publications worldwide including Architectural Digest. Visions in Photography was twice named the Best Aerial Photography Company in Phoenix. Mr. Brown was recognized in his senior high school year in Hawaii in 1971 for a statewide 1st place finish in photography. And, that same year, a 2nd place finish in New York City for his black & white creative design photography submission. He became a photo editor for the school newspapers for one semester at Arizona State University and Mesa Community College.

In 2019 Mr. Brown established Lele Mai Publishing, LLC. Utilizing his

personal mantra of “head in the clouds,” he authored a series of books including “Mr. B’s Great Adventures: Head in the Arizona Clouds” and “Mr. B’s Head in the San Diego Clouds,” which will soon be launched on iTunes and Instagram.

Mr. B’s Great Adventures™ is an inspirational lifestyle brand for 3-8-year-old children and their parental figures. It promotes life skills, positive mindset, connection and community. The series offers a variety of activities and resources both online and offline that parents and children can enjoy alike. He also enjoys contributing to children his world travels with Mr. Helicopter one of the main characters in his book series.

He enjoys sharing children’s attractions on his iTunes podcast series of global cities that Mr. B has visited. He is currently exploring the idea of having professional actors here in Phoenix, to be the character voices of his children’s Podcast adventure city series.

The father of two daughters and a grandfather of two, he graduated from Radford High School in 1971 and studied at Arizona State University.

He prides himself on being a creative, selfindependent thinker and a self-motivated entrepreneur.

Looking toward the future, Mr. Brown intends to expand his company on a coast-tocoast level and write more books for his series.

For more information, visit https://mrbsgreatadventures.com and www.visionsinphotography.com.

Have you seen author Michael C. Brown’s designed quotes in the pages of Your Moon Valley Tattler?

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The Moon Valley Tattler | DECember 2021 3

Rookie Mom: there are starfish in Arizona There’s a well-known anecdote that most teachers have been told: “One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, ‘What are you doing?’

The youth replied, ‘Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.’

‘Son,’ the man said, ‘don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!’

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, ‘I made a difference for that one.’

Throughout quarantine, teachers not only adapted to online programs we had little to no training on, but also how to structure our online environment for ALL learning styles. We just wanted to make a difference for our children through these unexpecting two years.

But even more, online learning and returning to in-person school has been a 100% more difficult transition for our community’s children.

I am beyond proud to introduce three teenagers in my advanced journalism class who not only made a difference online, but now with in-person learning. These are the students who made an effort to not have a gap year in their learning, but actually grow and make the most of it. When I actually met these students in person, they not only met their online expectations, but exceeded them in the greatest ways.

On page 6, you will learn stories from our community’s children who are truly the leaders of Arizona’s future. These teenagers have different learning backgrounds, cultural experiences, and inspirational voices on well-being. I, for one, am beyond excited for our future. For these students are experts on adapting and adapting well.

Amma Damir is a junior at University High School, the advanced school part of Tolleson Union High School. Amma always made me smile throughout online learning through her quirkiness and involved discussion. Meeting her and watching her grow reminds me truly of a young lady who will take over the world someday. As News Director of the school’s video announcements, Amma discusses her cultural experience of celebrating the muslim holiday Eid while also appreciating Christmas as well. Check out her article “You Know Christmas, But What About Eid?” Carlos Linares is a senior at Tolleson Union High School and is a born leader. He

B Y B R I G H I D CO N S TA B L E is an extravert through and through, and bably one of the most authentic and kindest students I have ever met. He wants everyone to be part of the class atmosphere and truly is an advocate for his peers. I am so proud that Carlos shares editorial roles in the yearbook as well as the lead anchor in the video announcements. He is an emotionally intelligent teenager who is able to rally and lift the spirits of anyone. Carlos’s article “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” is sure to make you nod your head in agreement and make you smile at his wisdom.

Brianna Miranda Esparza is only a sophomore at Tolleson Union High School and shares her journey moving from Mexico in 6th grade and not grasping the English language until 8th. Brianna is astonishing. I can not only rely on her observant intelligence, but her responsible nature, unique creativity, and follow-through on projects. Can you imagine an ELL student who struggled with the English language only 2 years ago now being Editor-in-Chief of the school’s newsblog? Talk about inspiration. Read her article “English as a Second Language Makes Me Stronger.”

I want to say that these students have been my starfish over the past year, yet at the same time absolutely feel like they have made a difference for me. Flip to page 6 to hear their voices and tales.

Brighid Constable is a teacher and writer based in the Phoenix area. She has written for Hello Giggles, Scary Mommy, Phoenix magazine, and other publications. In her free time, Brighid has no clue what she’s doing in motherhood (among other things) and makes sense of that here in “Rookie Mom.”

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TRAPPED IN MOON VALLEY

LET TER FROM THE EDITOR

“Between soup and love” goes an old Spanish saying, “the first is better.” Perhaps, but we tend to think that the two go handin-hand, that tending a pot of home soup is love, an unmistakable offering of comfort and care. Soups, by their very nature, are steeped in the stuff of good health- fresh vegetables, and wholesome grains, beans, chicken, and beef. The specifics depend on what’s on hand and the fancy of the cook. (The Essential Eating-Well Cookbook).

I love soup, and more so making soup. I only wish the temperatures would change just a little to better enjoy the warm feeling a big pot of any soup on the stove will feel in your tummy.

I have many recipes and NOT, soup to me is more about cleaning out the refrigerator after a big meal and turning leftovers into a delicious pot of gold.

Sometimes you need a good recipe others times you are creating a great recipe.

Last week, I cooked a turkey (not thanksgiving), just decided it was time and I had the time. We invited a few friends over, what a lovely dinner we all enjoyed. At the end of the night, one asked, may I take the bones home? I snickered, I usually would have said no, I use those for a pot of soup, but instead quickly wrapped up the dirty pan with foil and sent that dead carcass home with them. The next day I found a clean roasting pan on my patio. Must be quite honest, I was hoping for some soup, but considering the calendar, and all the other festivities and travel, I know I’ll get some in a few weeks.

I do have a freezer filled with a few “bones” my most favorite are ham bones.

Ham bones are the “back bone” of many great soups. Although One of my favorite parts of a big holiday dinner is what I get to make the next day with the leftovers. Split Pea Soup is a tradition in my house whenever there’s a ham bone in the fridge, simmered until thick and hearty. May your holidays be filled with sugarplums dancing in your head, and warm bellies filled with homemade soup.

Please enjoy one of my favorite recipes.

I like to use a slow cooker, simmering all day fills the house with a great aroma, and the anticipation of a warm bowl, served with a cold beer and crusty bread and butter.

1/4 cup unsalted butter ½ cup chopped onions 1 cup of diced carrots 1 cup of diced celery 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 pound of dried split peas, rinsed 1 meaty ham bone, with cubed leftovers 1 bay leaf 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme leaves 6 cups of chicken stock Dawn Trapp 2 cups of water

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Increasing Confidence “Work has given me the confidence that I can do TheifMoon Tattler November – Jessica2021M. 5 anything I want to I putValley my mind to|it.”

This is the future Submissions from student writers, curated by Brighid Constable

You Know Christmas, But What Is Eid?

BY A M M A DA M I R , J U N I O R AT U N I V E R S I T Y H I G H S C H O O L I live in Arizona and attend a school where there is a small muslim community. In this community, we celebrate a holiday called Eid. Because of that, some people would assume that since I don’t celebrate Christmas I should hate it. That’s not the case because I actually like it.

Even though Christmas isn’t part of my religion, I still have fond memories of the holiday.

Every year, my mom and I would drive around the community to see what Christmas decorations people put up. It’s always so fun to drive around where the lights are pretty and nice to look at. Even in middle school we would always have Christmas parties before the break. We would play games, eat candy, and exchange gifts with friends.

My parents celebrated Christmas with us when we were young just so we could have the experience and enjoy some gifts. Even after we stopped celebrating at home, I still never felt excluded because I could still exchange Christmas gifts with friends at school.

I would go as far as to say that I have it better than the people who celebrate Christmas. I get to partake in the festivities and still be able to enjoy Islamic holidays other times of the year. For example, in Islam, we celbrate Eid twice a year. Since both holidays ollow the lunar calendar they fall on different days every year.

The first part is Eid al Ramadan. On the lunar calendar, it happens that day after the holy month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, we fast from sunrise to sunset everyday. Eid is the first day after the month of fasting where we can eat during the day, so of course we celebrate by going to mass prayer in the morning and then going to brunches and parties with friends and family.

The second time we celebrate is called Eid al Adha where we sacrifice sheep. The sacrifice is a tradition that came from a story of one of the prophets and his son. While we remember the story, the holiday is also a great chance to have parties and get together with friends and family. I also love Eid because it’s the perfect opportunity to wear my amazing Moroccan and desi dresses that I always look so good in.

Not many people know or understand the celebration of Eid, but it’s not only a pleasure to share my culture, but to join in my community also recognizing Christmas. And if you didn’t know about Eid, I hope you can have a better understanding of what these celebrations mean to our Muslim community.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

BY C A R LO S L I N A R E S , S E N I O R AT T O L L E S O N U N I O N H I G H S C H O O L

I believe that life can get hard, especially these last few years with quarantine, online school, working, coming back to in-person learning and everything in between. But it’s okay to not be okay.

My advice to people is when you feel like you are at your lowest to reach out to people. This means anyone because it doesn’t matter. The longer you hold your feelings inside the more it will eat you up from the inside. You’re not alone in this game we call life.

The best thing to work on is your mental health and it will get you through so many obstacles in this world. Build yourself as a person everyday to become better than yesterday’s version of yourself. That’s how you will grow as a person and grow your mental health.

I was told by Ash Friedrich, my yearbook adviser, what the key of life really is

6 December 2021 | info@mvtattler.com

and it took me losing him to the Coronavirus last year to truly understand what he meant by that. He said: “The key to life is to simply stop caring about what other people think or say about you.”

As a senior, I understand what that means now because the day you stop caring about what others have to say about you is the day you will succeed in life.

You can finally start doing the things you truly want to do.

Now I am passing his message to anyone I can as his words left a huge impact on my life. I would love to make an impact on everyone because I know what it’s like to need help and not knowing where to look or being too afraid to even say anything.

But I am here to tell you it’s okay:

Let people hear your voice!

www.moonvalleytattler.com

of Arizona English as a Second Language Makes Me

Stronger BY

B R I A N N A M I R A N DA E S PA R Z A , S O P H O M O R E AT TOLLESON UNION HIGH SCHOOL Moving to a different country and learning a new language is a challenge, but it is not impossible.

I moved from Mexico to the United States in July 2017. Moving houses, changing schools, living away from my family are all challenges that I had to overcome. However, the language barrier was one of the hardest parts of moving to another country.

When I got here, I was in 6th grade and had no previous experience with English. I was placed in an ELL (English language learning) class during school and in an after school program for people with English as their second language.

In those classes, most people spoke Spanish, therefore I didn’t feel the need to learn it myself and did not try to speak it much. However, in 7th grade my mom signed me out of those classes to be able to have advanced math classes. Math was the only subject I felt confident doing and was good at it. This is where I struggled the most, not because of the math but because almost no one in my homeroom spoke Spanish.

Science, English, and social studies were the subjects that I needed a tutor or someone that could help explain to me what the assignments meant. I started to make friends using Google translator, passing the phone back-and-forth to have a conversation with my classmates. Then, I slowly stopped using it with the people I felt more comfortable speaking with. However, I did not speak English at home or whenever I was out of school, not because I thought people would make fun of me but mostly because I felt that my accent was strong and thought I pronounced everything wrong.

The friends I made wouldn’t make fun of me or mock me whenever I said something wrong or my accent stood out. They corrected me when necessary and were very understanding with me. However, not every middle schooler is like that and understands that some people struggle with speaking another language that is not their first. There are people who would make fun of my accent or pronunciation just because they thought it was funny.

For me, it happened many times, but it did not affect me in a bad way. On the contrary, it made me feel more encouraged.

In July 2019, I moved houses again. By this time, I was going into 8th grade to a new school where I didn’t know anyone. I decided to not use the translator this year and try to talk to people myself, but I barely talked to anyone the first week of school. Then I kept trying to talk to people in English and made a friend that truly helped me with the language. She corrected me and helped me with writing and reading assignments making school a lot easier.

In around February 2020, I was recognized by my English teacher for a book summary that I wrote and was given an honor roll that month. That made me truly happy because she recognized all the work I have put in on doing any assignment that included writing. From then on I have been more confident with what I write and open with people correcting me when I speak and with feedback I get on any school project or assignment that I make.

Now I am a sophomore and I’m doing great with English as my second language. I can finally understand the jokes in movies and can talk fluently in two languages now. I’m proud of where my journey took me.

Call us: 602.765.0902

The Moon Valley Tattler | DECember 2021 7

When life changes, your estate plan might change too

BY LIBBY BANK S, PLLC THE L AW OFFICE OF LIBBY BANK S

Life can be unpredictable, and change is always on the horizon. You may have put in place a wonderful estate plan, addressing all the essentials: Avoiding probate, minimizing taxes, assuring someone to care for you and your assets if you are incapacitated and passing on your assets as easily and inexpensively as possible. Changes in your life may affect all your careful planning. So when life changes, you may need to think about changing your estate plan.

The Big Four of Life Events – Marriage, Divorce, Birth and Death It seems obvious that if you get married or divorced, you need to change your plan. Yet often, a client is coming to me years after they married, with a plan that doesn’t even mention their spouse. Unfortunately, I’ve also had situations where my client is the spouse who’s left behind, finding out too late that her husband not only failed to change his will, but also left his life insurance to a former spouse, a sister, or worst of all, a girlfriend. If you are leaving a marriage or a long-term relationship, make sure you leave new estate planning documents in place too.

Marriage comes with lots of planning for the big day, and it’s easy to put off the work of planning your newly combined estate. After all, you’ve just begun a new life, who wants to think about the end? I like what a client of mine recently said: “I figure if I get the plan in place, I won’t need it for a long time!” My advice: you’ve pledged your love to this person and committed to the marriage.

Now put your money where your mouth is and commit to protecting each other with an estate plan.

The birth of a child is also an occasion to change your plan, or put one in

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place if you haven’t done so yet. You’ve brought a life into the world, and want to protect him or her. Protection includes making sure things are in place for their care if you are no longer here.

A death, while bringing grief and paid, also often brings an inheritance, or changes the distribution your plan makes. If your estate has suddenly expanded due to an inheritance, it’s vital to take a look at how it affects your plan.

Moving From State to State Another significant life event that may require a change in your estate plan is a move to another state. While your attorney may have assured you that your documents will remain legally enforceable in the new state, a review is necessary to make absolutely certain that is trust. A local estate planner can advise you about whether your existing plan requires any changes.

Although some laws are consistent throughout the country, many states have unique laws that you need to consider in your estate plan. Arizona, for instance, is a community property state. Forty other states are not. This can make for a big difference in how your estate is handled.

Likewise, Arizona has no inheritance or estate taxes. Many other states do. If the plan you put in place in a previous state has a complicated scheme to avoid estate taxes, you may want to change that now that you are an Arizona resident. You may be able to put a plan in place that is much simpler and easier for your spouse and family to administer when you have passed.

Changes in the Law Of course, one of the changes that can make a difference in your plan is something you may not even know about. The federal or state law may change, making a change to your plan a necessity.

For example, the Arizona Trust Code was enacted in 2008, changing the former trust law completely. If your Trust was put in place before 2008, you need a review, because the law on which it was based is now very different.

In addition, the federal estate tax exemption is now $11.7 Million per person. The estate plan you put in place when the tax threshold was much lower (most plans done before 2012) may have complex estate tax planning built in after the death of the first spouse. Again, you may be able to put in place a far simpler plan that is easier for your surviving spouse.

A Review Every Three to Five Years I recommend that my clients review their trusts with me every three to five years. That way, we can discuss any changes in their lives and in the law.

If a change is needed, we may be able to do a simple amendment. If something major has happened, we can amend the entire trust. We tailor the change in the trust to the change in your life!

For more information about estate planning, visit my website at www.

Libbybanks.com or call our office and schedule your free initial consultation at 602-375-6752.

www.moonvalleytattler.com

ASK GEN-E Dear Gen-E, My nephew is visiting from California and says he loves coding. I hear about coding on the news too. Is it a California thing?

~ Clueless on Coding Emma Dear Clueless, Hahaha! California may think they have the market on technology innovation fueled by cool coders, but here in the Phoenix Valley we are cultivating our own Silicon Valley. Those Californians think they are ‘all that.’ Well they DO have the beaches, so they get THAT one. But when it comes to big tech, Arizona is fast becoming a dynamic leader in the innovative tech scene!

What does all this have to do with coding? Everything. Coding simply put is the language humans use to talk to (or program) machines and everything digital. Phones, computers, ipads and (yours truly,) robots.

Coding runs everything on the internet too. Try this the next time you are on your computer. In the middle of any webpage, click the right side button of your mouse. Scroll down to Inspect and click to open. A side panel will appear with a bunch of cryptic text. Voila! That is code. Every webpage! (Really try it and see!)

All that code, Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and more is the work of dozens of coder guys and gals who all come together to make a webpage! Pretty amazing actually.

Coding is a valuable skill to know. Kudos to your nephew. It’s guys like him who have the opportunity every day to build cool programs for all the tech we use in our homes like lighting, doorbells and security. And program the things we use everyday in our world like traffic lights, jet planes, GPS, and millions of apps and programs globally.

Simply put, everything in the digital world we live in, starts with coding. I am consistently perplexed why more schools are not laser focused on teaching programming courses because there is so much opportunity for kids’ futures by learning to code.

And speaking of opportunity, Arizona is fast becoming a mecca for coders.

(Tsk Tsk California) In 2021, companies that manufacture semiconductors; electric and automated vehicles; batteries; renewable energy; the Internet of Things (IoT); artificial intelligence; quantum computing; smart materials; fintech; proptech; edtech; medtech; biopharma; cybersecurity and a ton more, have landed in Arizona.

These big tech players are expanding Arizona’s economy making us one of the fastest-growing technology hubs in the nation. Our total employment in the tech industry alone grew to more than 255,000 tech jobs as of last year. Arizona is on the fast track to be a top-five state nationally for rate of tech growth over the next decade, says the Arizona Commerce Authority and Business Journal.

You should be a proud Auntie since your nephew is ahead of the game and is looking forward to a successful life as a computer programmer or coder. Get him something techie for the holidays!

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The Moon Valley Tattler | DECember 2021 9

WESD Updates for December

BY DR . PAUL S TANTON, SUPER INTENDENT, WESD

On behalf of the WESD Family, I would like to express our gratitude to our community. In these unprecedented times, you have continued to support our students, families and staff. We are looking forward to wrapping up a successful first semester, made possible by you. It takes village, and we are truly fortunate to have you as a part of ours.

Now Enrolling for 2022-2023 A quality kindergarten program paves the way to academic success. If you or someone you know has a child turning 5 before September 1st, now is a great time to begin considering kindergarten programs.

WESD is currently accepting kindergarten registrations for the 2022 school year. We offer a free, full-day program with small class sizes at 22 locations. Our program includes numerous enrichment opportunities such as art, music and PE as well as high academics and opportunities for students identified as gifted. To register, visit our Welcome and Registration Center, with extended hours and bilingual staff, located at 3200 W. Cholla Ave., or begin the process online at www.wesdschools.org/registration.

Please share this information with anyone looking to give their child a great education. Our program is open to those who live outside district boundaries through Open Enrollment.

WESD Hiring Teachers for the 2022 School Year The WESD is hiring teachers for the 2022-2023 school year and will be hosting a virtual job fair the week of December 6th-10th and an in-person job fair on Wednesday, January 19th . These events are open to currently certified teachers, current student teachers and individuals with bachelor’s degrees interested in becoming teachers.

For those with bachelor’s degree interested in becoming teachers, WESD offers free training through our BRIDGE program. This program is the only one of its kind in Arizona and allows individuals to earn their teaching certificate while being paid to work as a teacher, effectively removing the financial and time

barriers typically associated with a career change.

We offer our teachers a competitive starting salary, loan forgiveness and benefits, such as paid time off and Arizona State Retirement. Additionally, we offer numerous opportunities for advancement. Many of our administrators and department directors began their careers as WESD teachers.

For more information, please contact Lydia Garcia, senior recruiter, at Lydia. garcia@wesdschools.org or call 602-347-2622.

WESD Students Receive Perfect Scores on Spring 2021 AzM2 We are proud of our students who received perfect scores on the spring 2021 AzM2 assessment. Over 40 students received a perfect score on the math portion and seven students received a perfect score on the English Language Arts (ELA) portion. Additionally, two WESD students received perfect scores on both portions. All of our students who received perfect scores were recognized and congratulated by the Governing Board and received a personalized certificate.

The WESD Family could not be more proud.

Give Back through Tax Credits If you are looking to give back this holiday season, consider making a tax credit donation your local WESD school. Tax credits are a great way to ensure that your tax dollars stay right here in our community making a difference in the lives of local students. Your donation provides WESD students the opportunity to succeed in extracurricular activities and clubs. You will also receive a dollar for dollar reduction on your state income taxes. To learn more or to make a donation visit https://www.wesdschools.org/TaxCredit. Thank you for your support.

Thank you for choosing the WESD to educate your children and grandchildren. We wish our WESD Family a wonderful holiday season.

Gratefully, Dr. Paul Stanton, Superintendent

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Phoenix is a Cultural Treasure Chest

BY PAUL A CULLISO N Several years ago, I created a list of more than 12 cultural festivals: Greek, ICC literary discussion group and exhibited my ‘Journey through the Emerald Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Asian, Romanian, India, African, Armenian, Russian, Isle’ photography several times. Two of my photographs were selected for the ICC Polish, Mexican, South American, Native American, Serbian. This is a great way to calendar, so I became ‘a Calendar Girl’. https://www.azirish.org/ learn about another country and its culture without leaving the Valley. The high Another treasure I have found is Palabras, a bi-lingual bookstore located light of these festivals is the entertainment and food - a winning combination. in lovely converted estate at 906 W. Roosevelt Phx. It serves as a local commu As you may know, our local cities have Sister City programs and present nity and cultural hub with its curated collection of books, art gallery, workshop events to help promote each of these relationships. Some also sponsor student and event space, mutual aid garden and small gift items. Palabras is part of a exchanges (e.g., Phoenix with Himeji Japan; Ennis, Ireland; Catania, Sicily; community space called Nurture House which also includes: Por Vida Bakery, Hermosillo, Mexico).

Wasted Ink Zine Distro, Pachanga Press and Abalone Mountain Press. https:// During the pandemic, I decided to visit the Japanese Friendship Garden, www.palabrasbookstore.com/ so 19.11 I could immerse myself in a serene environment.

Now a member, I stop by to MIS79170 PRM Tax Credit AD - SanTan Sun News 10 x 6. 6 One of our jewels is the Musical Instrument Museum MIM (4725 E. take lovely walks, as I enjoy the greenery, Koi fish pond, waterfalls and sculptures.

Mayo Blvd Phx) which features a world-renowned collection, numerous first-rate This isTax my Credit oasis in the For over 20News years, the (1125MIS79170 N. 3rd Ave Phx)PRM 19.11 ADdesert.

- SanTan Sun 10Japax 6. 6 concerts, a unique gift shop, as well as a cafe. www.mim.org nese Friendship Garden has been providing artistic and educational programs. I Paula Cullison, Moon Valley resident since 1974, is an international travel writer and was fortunate to have attended a formal Tea Ceremony and Daiko Drumming photographer www.paulacullison.com; President and founder of the Arizona Women’s Concerts, and other events. https://www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org/ 19.11 MIS79170 PRM Tax Credit AD - SanTan Sun News 10 x 6. 6 Partnership, an all-volunteer non-profit www.azwp.org Contact: paulacullison@aol.com The Irish Cultural Center and Library (1106 N. Central Ave Phx) offers a wide array of programs, genealogy research, an extensive library collection, dance Photo Credit: Paula Cullison, Top, From Left to Right: Japanese Friendship I want to help feed homeless and hungry men, women, and children and music programs, art exhibits, lectures, James Joyce Bloomin’ Beer Festival, Garden - Phoenix, Irish Pub - Dublin Ireland , Palabras - Frida Kahlo (book cover) throughout County and qualify for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit.

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Food shortages at Food Banks:

Your Help is Needed!

B Y K AT H Y G L I N D M E I E R

As the hectic holiday season approaches, PV Community Food Bank is facing a dramatic drop in grocery store donations. Food donations from local grocers are down about 50 percent from a year ago, leaving the food bank with less food to distribute to their food-insecure neighbors.

With the decline in food donations this year, our food bank has a lot less food on its shelves, and we’ve had to use reserve funds to purchase food,”

love local we

says Kay Norris, Director of the PV Community Food Bank.

In Arizona, one in six people struggle with food insecurity annually. This means they have limited or inconsistent access to safe, nutritious foods.

Why Are Food Bank Donations Declining?

Grocery stores have benefitted from online food ordering and the use of artificial intelligence to monitor food inventory. While creating a savings for grocery stores, the new systems have dramatically cut down on the amount of food donated to food banks. This decrease will result in food banks needing to purchase more food to serve families during the holiday season.

During the middle of the pandemic, many Arizona residents found themselves unemployed and needing food assistance. Food Banks received assistance from the USDA in the form of milk and locally sourced fresh fruits and vegetables. However, this assistance is no longer available, adding to the food banks’ shortfall.

Although the pandemic appears to be receding, inflation and supply chain issues have created additional challenges for food banks. With inflation being the highest in 10 years and the increase in food costs, Norris anticipates a drop in cash donations and donated food. Food prices are expected to continue to rise for items she purchases weekly, such as dairy and meat products. According to the U.S. Labor Department’s consumer price inflation report, meat, poultry, fish and eggs are up 15.7 percent since August 2019. Milk has increased 2.2 percent month after month since last October.

Arizona grows 12 percent of the fruits and vegetables in the United States, but many of the food bank’s neighbors must still rely on processed food to strength their food dollars.

“Cash and food donations are needed now more than ever to make sure seniors, children and families have nutritional food on their tables,” says Norris.

“We are asking our community to consider making an AZ tax credit donation to the PV Community Food Bank to help feed our food-insecure neighbors as we move into the new year.”

Visit pvcommunityfoodbank.org to make your AZ tax credit donation.

Christmas is a great time of year

BY LEON TRY ME BIKE SHOP Weather is cooler, family gathers and giving of gifts. Sum things have changed as we go through December. New things are not always available. Sometimes there is no green or red bike a silver one maybe a good choice. Fixing the old bike or restoring a classic bike could be a good thought. Ordering things on line works parts, accessories, but bikes most be assembled. So allow time to assemble air adjust and test ride before giving as a gift. Two biggest problems missing parts and things that are bent. Hunting down a special nut or bolt can be challenge.

Sometimes what is promised on line does’nt happen 2 day shipping is two months instead. Sometimes after 2 month wait order is canceled. Keep pedaling we will get through these changing times. Riding bike makes me feel good it will work for you to. Leon Try Me Bicycle Shop

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The Moon Valley Tattler | DECember 2021 13

presents vs presence

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The time and effort that goes into handmade gifts is priceless, but not everyone agrees. Some people think that giving a handmade present is being cheap. On the contrary, they’re some of my favorite gifts to give and receive.

So much goes into handmade; the thought and planning, set up and time, then the actual work involved. Because it’s usually a labor of love it doesn’t always feel like work, unless working under a deadline.

Jewelry from Pam, Leslie’s green bracelet, Amy’s engraved remark, Jeannie’s Christmas tree, my boys love notes, my mom’s travel bags, Gary planting for me because I kill everything are all gifts I’ve received that exuded love because the giver was so present in it.

Feeling the presence of the giver in the gift, makes any present priceless.

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Remodeling Trends

BY TOM SER TICH, K IRK DE VELOPMENT COMPANY

Design trends come and go frequently, so the best idea is to select those designs that work best for you and your family. Since more homeowners are working from home they need to make the existing space fit their new routines. Do your homework to ensure you’re getting what you are expecting.

1. Colors – White and grey have generally been popular. It is now trending to make your kitchen or bathroom more interesting by making the room colorful by purchasing hardware (pulls and knobs) to show your personality. Mirrors, cabinet styles and plumbing fixtures can add a new touch to a boring kitchen and bathroom.

2. Home Offices – Due to the pandemic people are working from home and have realized their office area is inadequate. Homeowners are not creating new space, but taking rarely used space and creating a functional area suitable for work and zoom meetings.

3. Outdoor Living - It has become more important during the pandemic to create an outdoor sanctuary. New pools, outdoor kitchens, Ramada’s, larger patios and fire pits make the backyard as important as the interior of the home.

4. Kitchens/Master Bathrooms – Spending more time at home has homeowners realizing their kitchens and baths are outdated. They want kitchens that allow gathering of family and friends as well as larger work space for more than one cook. Master Bathrooms have become areas to escape to and spend alone time.

Instead of going to a spa the master bathroom becomes a place to unwind. Claw foot tubs, larger showers and steam showers are just a few changes that help reduce stress. Put your own personality into the selection process.

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u a ?

L gh When is It OK to

Life is full of pressure. If you don’t laugh, the pressure builds up, implodes, and spreads to your hips. Well, maybe that is an exaggeration, but the pressure will do some other pretty bad things to you!

These are unusual and often difficult times and we’re constantly being bombarded with negative news. People are frightened, frustrated, and fed up. It seems as if unkindness is rearing its ugly head more often these days and many people have found that their funny bones have atrophied!

When we received our lives, we were also issued a shield of armor to help us defend ourselves against the slings and arrows of adversity. This armor is called LAUGHTER and it is an amazing thing. It never loses its effectiveness, and it never wears out, no matter how often it is used. Each time we bring it out, it is just as good as new!

Laughter is a release of emotions that we need to express but aren’t sure how to do it. We sometimes feel guilty for laughing in times of trouble, but it’s important to realize that we aren’t laughing at the event; we are detaching from the fear and anger we have been feeling. Laughter is an emotional catharsis and is necessary for keeping us from falling into the pit of negativity; it is our link to sanity. The Greek poet, Homer, used the words Asbestos Gelos to describe this.

It means Invincible Laughter. I love that!

If you don’t think you have anything to laugh about, just take a look around you. Funny stuff is everywhere! I recently drove by a sign in front of a church, which read “Sunday’s Sermon: What is Hell Really Like? Come in and hear our choir sing!” I bought new sunshades for my car windshield and read the attached tag which warned, “Do not attempt to drive with this shade covering your windshield!” Whew…I’m glad I read that in time!

Laughter is the medicine with no bad side effects, so let it out! Backed up laughter can cause a condition known as “humorrhoids.” I may have made that up, but what if it is a real thing? Do you really want to risk it?

Sometimes, when a crisis occurs; even if it doesn’t touch us personally, we lose our desire and even our ability to laugh. With the horror of terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and unkindness rolling out before our eyes via broadcasts and social media outlets, it seems unthinkable and disrespectful to find anything funny. That is the way we sometimes feel but in reality, laughter is a valuable survival tool.

Obviously, our psychological recovery from a disaster depends on how close we are to it …physically and emotionally and of course, time is also a factor. After every disastrous event, we see heroes appear on the scene, in the form of first responders and also regular people coming to the aid of victims; working together to help put the world back together again. We feel helpless and shaken as we watch the events unfold and eventually, as there begins to be some distance from the horror, the stress lessens and we begin to laugh again. Then we can begin to heal.

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BY LINDA H E N L E Y- S M I T H

Laughter is a release of emotions that we need to express but aren’t sure how to do it. We sometimes feel guilty for laughing in times of trouble, but it’s important to realize that we aren’t laughing at the event; we are detaching from the fear and anger we have been feeling.

Laughter is an emotional catharsis and is necessary for keeping us from falling into the pit of negativity; it is our link to sanity.

We should never feel guilty for finding a thread of relief through laughter, as a matter of fact, we should embrace it. People who have been in the most terrifying and unimaginable situations will often share stories of how they tried to find a little humor in their dismal experiences in order to keep themselves from breaking down completely.

Victor Frankl, a concentration camp survivor wrote, “What helps people survive awful circumstances is their ability to detach and get beyond themselves. This is seen in heroism and humor.”

During the Vietnam War, Gerald Coffee was shot down and imprisoned in the “Hanoi Hilton” for over seven years. He explained that “Laughter sets the spirit free to move through even the most tragic circumstances. It helps us shake our heads clear, get our feet back under us and restore our sense of balance and purpose. Humor is integral to our peace of mind and ability to go beyond survival.”

Laughter and tears are closely related; they are two sides of the same coin.

Some of the most famous comedy teams emerged from the time of the Great Depression and WWII. Why? Because the nation needed some relief; we needed to laugh. Many of the stories portrayed on M*A*S*H were based on stories told by actual surgeons who used humor to escape the horror of their experiences in Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals during the Korean War. Laughter is a gift. In times of stress, it is a pressure valve which allows us to maintain an even keel. It saves lives and it allows us to step back for a moment and perhaps even find a little peace and hope. And speaking of hope, here is a quote from Bob Hope on the subject:

“I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform the most unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.”

Linda Henley-Smith is a world-renowned speaker and motivational queen. Drawing upon her experiences as a teacher, counselor, author, trainer, motivational speaker, keynote speaker, inspirational speaker as well as a lifetime in the entertainment business, Linda Henley-Smith provides an amusing and educational outlook on working, living, and surviving. Her programs are presented with humor, music, stories and an energy that is contagious. Audiences are encouraged to improve their “ laughitudes” and enjoy an “attitude of altitude.”

The Moon Valley Tattler | DECember 2021 15

Shaw Butte Trail: holiday spirit on the trail

BY JULIE PEK

No one is really sure how it started, when it started, and who started it. But every holiday season, hikers and visitors on the trail decorate the Shaw Butte Christmas Tree.

A few ornaments start appearing after Thanksgiving and by December 25th, the tree is full of decorative ornaments. One year a clever hiker installed a solarpowered lighted star on the top. And last year one of my favorite ornaments was a miniature plastic roll of toilet paper, commemorating our crazy 2020.

Hikers Colette and Mary were inspired by the spirit of the tree and started to decorate a barrel cactus located across the path. They made a felt hat and cotton Santa face. Every year they had to revise the size of the hat because the cactus grew!

Both the Christmas Tree and Santa Cactus have been popular photo opportunities over the years.

The photos made good holiday cards for many of the hikers. Today, just the tree remains decorated as Colette and Mary retired from adorning the cactus. nges. On the top take off the x rays because are not doing that right Visitors are we encouraged to participate in now. the decorating by placing an ornament on the tree.

Please refrain from anything breakable that would cause debris or harm to the wildlife. Also, if you want to keep your ornament for next year, be sure to remove it before the end of the year. That’s when

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volunteers collect the ornaments and donate them to charity.

As we wind down the year, I want to THANK all the Shaw Butte hikers who shared their stories with me and The Tattler: Dave, Tim, Greg, Wayne, Tina, Jill, Teddy & Jax, Herminia & Jeff, Shane, Beth, and The Visual Storyteller.

Your journeys on the trail have inspired me to keep climbing just as much as the Christmas Tree brings out the holiday spirit in me. Best wishes for a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

Julie’s Hiking Tip:

Keep your nose over your toes.

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WHAT IS A FORENSIC SCIENTIST?

The

BY FROST Y K ROENING Jody Wolf, Administrator of the Phoenix Crime Lab, gave a detailed presentation at the October 13, 2021 Black Mountain Community Alliance. She described her personal journey into forensics, a substantive detour from training to be a physician. Her Arizona State University chemistry studies introduced her to police forensics, a widening scientific field of study.

Tours of the Phoenix Crime Lab, Phoenix Police Department, depend upon current Covid restrictions. The Citizen Academy participants of the Police Department recently toured the Lab and found it fascinating. The Lab has earned many awards and high ratings worldwide as well as in the United States. [Good to know!] Jody has served on international crime lab standards boards. The science keeps improving with the intent to find and prosecute people who commit crimes.

Cold cases are Jody’s favorites.

They take the most coordination between agencies and involve an incredible amount of team work, which is the operating mode of the Crime Lab. The Crime Lab does work for cases all over the state and receives cooperation with all public service agencies.

Forensic scientists who serve in the Crime Lab are not police officers. Often they do have to pass a polygraph test or other kinds of testing to assure that they will have the highest moral compass and integrity. This is because they issue expert opinions in courts of law. They have access to large amounts of drugs and money. And, their testimony can mean long jail sentences, death, or liberty for a citizen on trial. Their decision-making must be made with scientifically obtained facts. There are youtube explanations on the Phoenix Police Department website of the techniques used to examine evidence. The equipment used for analysis is very expensive and quite sophisticated. All this review takes time, not the 60 minutes on TV to solve a crime.

Evidence in cases is kept in a warehouse setting with exact labeling. It is kept a long time. The Crime Lab has 43 crime scene teams in Phoenix, 9 vans and is only sent when there are serious crimes like homicide, child abuse, sexual abuse, major burglary, large drug busts, etc.

The Crime Lab is obtaining more information each year, like spent shell data, on guns. DNA testing is becoming more prevalent. The FBI uses mitochondrial testing. Finger prints can be tested in many ways, as can shoe and foot prints.

(Castings are made of shoe indentations.) Urine, saliva, blood, feces, sperm, hair, other fibers, spray paint, gunshot residue, and drugs are tested in the Crime Lab. The Lab is considered a national model and has received many awards.

Photo documentation is thorough. Digital forensics are a growing field of study.

Forensic teams ask the questions who, what, where, when, how. Not why. The Crime Lab has 155 personnel.

Crime Lab scientists and helpers wear black uniforms with patches. They are committed to solving crimes and providing the best scientific evidence and opinions possible through team work. Jodi is very proud of the Crime Lab and hopes many people will schedule tours and learn more about the work there.

The Crime Lab can always use more money for instruments and personnel. It is funded by the City of Phoenix and some federal grants.

We can pull together to make 2022 a year of lower crime statistics knowing that, when serious crimes take place, the Crime Lab will go into action on our behalf. When citizens work with police in our individual neighborhoods, everyone is safer!

There are many opportunities to become involved and it is

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The Moon Valley Tattler | DECember 2021 17

Travel is Back…but how do I navigate?

B Y J A M I E PA S S A M O N T E - M AY Let’s start this article off by stating the obvious fact that COVID-19 really did a number on all of us. Our state of normalcy, our state of health and well-being and in ways we never could have possibly dreamt. This article is not about COVID-19.

It is time to move past that. It is time for our new normal. Time to have fun again and enjoy the things we love the most. Time to spend tie with our friends and family, meet up and visit with them in far off places. It’s time to travel again!!

In the wake of the last year and a half, the world of travel has changed.

Yes, many of these changes can make things confusing and even a little stressful during that pre-travel time. Making sure you have your testing done, your documents together, all the apps downloaded, etc. Although these protocols can be tricky to navigate (that’s where I come in), they have made the world of travel safer. I was recently fortunate enough to embark on a 5 day Bahamian cruise out of Miami, FL. It felt so good to back in the open water cruising again!! The cruise line had all its protocols in place. They did not make us feel too limited, just enough to give us that sense of protection so that we could sit back, relax and have a good time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have really done a lot of work together to be able to develop cruising protocols to keep everyone safe. The cruise line was like a well-oiled machine and so excited to welcome us back. The crew was so happy to see all the guests and be able to offer outstanding service as they were used to. Really, I felt that this cruise was safer and cleaner than any other trip we have been on before. We trusted that the hotel we stayed at before we embarked had all of its protocols in place as well. The airlines did the best they could to play their important safety role as well. No one wants to see another wave of this horrible illness reappear.

The world of travel is ready to welcome you back! Many suppliers are having better than ever savings. Hawaii is now open (so exciting)! Many Caribbean islands are in the process of opening back up and as of November 8th, international travel to the U.S. has opened back up to many foreign countries. That is where I, the Travel Advisor, come into play. I would love to help you plan the trip of a lifetime, or even ease back into travel with something shorter and more local. I understand that the new travel protocols can be difficult to navigate (again-here I am!)

Many people don’t understand the role of the Travel Advisor or Travel Agent.

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They think that is costs money to use one. It does not. Many times it can actually be less expensive since travel advisors belong to groups that are able to offer the best fares to their clients. Yes, the internet is at your fingertips ready to offer deals, but who is there to help guide you? Travel websites and apps can’t replace a live person ready to offer personalized service and advice on new experiences and places or these new protocols. A travel advisor is there to keep you from making costly mistakes since they are aware of most everything in this industry. It is unfortunate, but there are still those unforeseen circumstances that happen during travel. Maybe you miss your connection or the hotel doesn’t suit your needs.

Do you want to figure that out yourself? Many times, when a Travel Advisor is involved, we can remedy the situation without you having to spend the time (you are supposed to be relaxing and having fun) or money to figure it out yourself.

We are trained to not only know where to travel, but when? When is the best time to visit Hawaii? Which is the best island for me? For my family? For romance? What about a cruise? Many folks say, “I have never cruised before”, or “what if I get sea-sick?” I am here to tell you that cruise ships of today are much different than ten or twenty years ago. These ships are so big and luxurious, their stabilizers are state of the art, their captains knowing how to avoid the possible storms, they are wonderful!! So, it’s time to sit back and relax! Let your new Travel Advisor, Pilot or Cruise Ship Captain take the wheel! Maybe even let a Helicopter Pilot take you for a ride! Who else is there to make helpful suggestions to you that you may not have ever thought of? Not the internet silly! Me! Your friendly, local Travel Advisor who has a passion for all things travel!

I would love to be able to help you with your upcoming travel plans! I am your Certified Hawaiian Islands Destination Specialist, Master of Ocean Cruises and a Disney Certified Travel Agent. I have been fortunate to have been able to travel the world and am knowledgeable about many places. The sky is the limit and if I don’t know about it, I promise you I will research and find out so I can provide the superb service that I guarantee. So, give it a try. If you have never worked with a Travel Advisor before, you only have experiences to gain, nothing to lose. I am here to help, even if just to answer your questions. Please call me, text me, message me, whatever form of communication you prefer. Visit my website www.Kailani-Travel.com, check out my reviews from previous clients or my Facebook page. New deals and travel ideas are posted almost daily. I look forward to hearing from my local Moon Valley families soon! Wander in Harmony.

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One coupon per household. May Excludes gift cards, Dirty Dog Discount cards, prior purchases and Acana, Fromm and Orijen products.

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18 December 2021 | info@mvtattler.com

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BY M EG A N B OY L E, CL A SS O F 2022 MAKING MEANINGFUL IMPACT FOR VALLEY SCHOOL CHILDREN As most parents know, school can be stressful not only for kids, but for daughter relationships through community service, leadership development and parents as well. This year, families were worried about adjusting back to in-person school with added stress from the pandemic still looming. In addition, the financial stress associated with back-to-school supplies quickly becomes daunting for families facing hardships.

In 2021, total projected back to school spending was expected to reach $612 per student according to a Deloitte survey, up 16% from just last year. This makes getting the supplies students need to succeed out of reach for financially struggling families.

To help with this need in our local community, the National Charity League, Inc. (NCL, Inc.) Moon Valley Chapter volunteers in a variety of ways to help throughout the year. In Spring, 20 volunteers helped pack hundreds of supply pouches for school backpack stuffing events. Then, in July, NCL Moon Valley participated in one of the biggest events of the year, the 2021 Back to School Clothing Drive, “New Clothes, New Beginnings”, an annual distribution event at Gila River Arena. Our NCL Moon Valley Chapter volunteers helped with the packing of 1,500 backpacks, assemblage of 679 bags of clothing and other items, and distribution to Arizona military families and Title I students.

In addition to the distribution event, the “Stitches of Love” group at the Back to School Clothing Drive help make homemade items for Valley school children throughout the year. Volunteers – like myself – knit and crochet unique clothing and accessories to provide children in need with items made especially for them. By hand crocheting beanies and purses, we are putting time and care into every piece to show the kids how special each one of them is.

All Back to School Clothing Drive programs are designed to help students build self-esteem and confidence, enabling them to successfully learn, achieve and advance within their schools and communities. To find out more about volunteering for Back to School Clothing Drive, visit www. backtoschoolclothingdrive.com.

NCL, Inc. is a philanthropic organization with more than 200 chapters across the country that all share the mission of fostering strong mother/

cultural experiences. For more information about NCL, Inc., visit moonvalley. nationalcharityleague.org/ Mothers & Daughters Serving Communities Together

Above: NCL members sorting supplies at the Back to School Clothing Drive (BTSCD) Left: NCL member Megan Boyle crocheting an item for the BTSCD Far Left: finished product for the BTSCD

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The Moon Valley Tattler | DECember 2021 19

Just Amazing....

BLOCK WATCHER BY BLANCHE LUKES Yep I live on a street that does not have street lights. It is black topped and VERY dark even at dusk and dawn.

Soyou. whyI combine do grown up adults I can help the two powerful healing arts, Massage Therapy and Chiropractic Care, to achieve walk, jog or push a buggy with a child in it, wearing Black???? better, longer-lasting results.

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I am almost at a point where I don’t want to walk, likeGET an accident RELIEFwaiting AND GET MOVING! to happen. I do not want to witness a disaster. Believe me even stopped a byIthe work of an Artisan jogger and offered a reflective vest FREE and one said sheFinding probably wouldn’t the knots in your muscles and wear it!!! If you are a driver, be extra vigilant. No matter working how rushed you getting are, your spine or them out; shoulder move freelyper the time spent at a accident scene is far greater than driving thetofew miles without discomfort... it is an art. hour slower.

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Periodically our precinct has “Coffee with a Cop”. is a greatisway get to

BY NI CH O L A S WAR NER , D C know our Community Action Officers. How else can we be in touch with those 602 We’re talking about five hours a week of physical activity, and that protect us. Their job is not one I would want to do. Let us support them data continues to support recommendations to engage in at least by monitoring our communities. Let’s be proactivewww.wellness-in-motion.com in avoiding issues. Let us D .N W , that much to make a significant dent in your cancer risk, particularly C.M.T., D.C. interact with these officers in a positive way. This is14001 a Win N. Win. 7th St, Suite E-109 M T C certain cancers. In fact, a new study suggests more than 45,000 cancers a year C Phoenix, AZ 85002 could be prevented by meeting the five-hour recommendation every week.

We are in the Black Mountain precinct. By calling them at (602) 495-5002 Published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the study found that 3 they can tell you who is your Community Action Office (COA). percent of all cancer cases diagnosed in U.S. adults ages 30 and older over a fouryear period were caused by physical inactivity, with more than double the amount If you want to get formally involved with the Phoenix Neighbors on Patrol of women diagnosed as men. In terms of specific cancers diagnosed based on (PNP) program call Officer Brian Kornegay at the City of Phoenix at: physical inactivity, 16.9 percent of stomach cancers, 11.9 percent of endometrial (602) 256-4303 cancers, 11.0 percent of kidney cancers, 9.3 percent of colon cancers, 8.1 percent www.phoenix.gov of esophageal cancers, 6.5 percent of female breast cancers, and 3.9 percent of urinary bladder cancers were associated with lack of exercise.

You can sign up for classes at pnp.coordinator@phoenix.gov The type of physical activity matters when it comes to meeting the five-houra-week recommendation; it should be at least the moderate-intensity variety, such BlancheLukes@Moonvalleybw@cox.net as brisk walking (pace: approximately 15 minutes per mile), dancing, riding a bike, swimming, playing basketball / volleyball / etc., jumping rope, etc. – activities that get your heart pumping and work up a sweat. If you’re having trouble making the five-hour mark, ask yourself this simple question: Is it worth the risk not to find the time / energy? Talk to your doctor for more information.

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It’s time for holiday celebrations.

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22 December 2021 | info@mvtattler.com

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Have the Events of the world made you think it’s time to get to church?

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Desert Christian Fellowship Church at 1445 W. Northern Welcome Seniors for OHR Traditional Service at 8:30am and Contemporary Service for Younger Families & Teen Worship at 10:15am. We look forward to your visit!

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Moon Valley Classifieds $20 for first 20 Words $0.50 for every Additional Word ISO Antiques Buying Antinques & Collectibles - selective online sales. Call Cheryl - 480-229-3376 - Email backintheday@cox.net

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Hiring: Media Instructor Join Civitan Foundation, Inc. as a Media Instructor and make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities. The Media Department is an immersive, all-encompassing program that delves into all forms of Media Arts & Tech. Media Instructor is responsible for the coordination and implementation of the Media curriculum. Submit Resume to Jobs@CampCivitan.org

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Paper Shredding

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No need to save box after box of confidential documents to take to a shredding event.

Bring any amount of paper for shredding to ABCO Shredding Services located at 2640 E Rose Garden Lane, Suite 4, in Phoenix 85050.

You may watch the shredding of your documents 8am until 2:30 pm M –F or just drop them off from 8am until 4pm. Either option will have a Certificate of Destruction on your receipt.

The cost for paper shredding is only $.55 per pound or a minimum fee of $15 if the weight is less than 30 lbs.

Check out our website www.abcoshredding.com for information on other items that can be shredded such as hard drives from your computer tower or laptop, iPads, tablets, cell phones, CD’s/Floppy disks, etc.

Call us at 623-748-8480 if you have any questions.

Thank you! Looking forward to seeing you soon!

The Moon Valley Tattler is distributed monthly free of charge to Moon Valley area homes.

Additional copies are distributed at rack locations.

Content in full or part may not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily the opinions of the publisher and do not constitute an endorsement of products or services.

Publication of an ad does not constitute an endorsement. Business profiles are based on information supplied from advertisers.

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verify. Articles and photographs can be submitted for use in future issues.

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The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement or letter to the editor that is not in keeping with the standards of the publication. The publication’s name is copyrighted by: THE MOON VALLEY TATTLER, LLC info@mvtattler.com moonvalleytattler.com 602-765-0902 @moonvalleytattler

Handy Dandy Classifieds Form Use the form at right to mail or drop off your classified ad.

You may also email a Word doc directly to info@mvtattler.com 20 WORDS FOR $20 (PER MONTH). Additional words are 50 cents each.

ALL CLASSIFIED ADS MUST BE PREPAID. Fill in ONE word per box below.

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MAIL................................ Moon Valley Postal 13236 N. 7th St. #4304 Phoenix 85022

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The Moon Valley Tattler | DECember 2021 23

It’s a Merry Moon Valley Christmas Season

BY BRET ALDIERI, MVNA PRESIDENT Our Moon Valley community has a long history of celebrating the Christmas Holiday Season. We each do this in our own way, but one common theme for our neighborhood is home holiday light decorating as a way to share the cheer with others. While home judging awards for this year will be complete by Dec 6th, it’s never too late to get your neighbors to join in the fun of home decorating!

Food for Lights is Back! Once again, MVNA is sponsoring the “Food-ForLights” food drive to support the Desert Mission food bank in Sunnyslope. This combines our wonderful tradition of celebrating the 12 Homes of Christmas (and more), with the spirit of giving and helping others. Let’s show how Our Moon Valley Spirit shines brighter than our lights by supporting families in need by donating non-perishable food items. We need to beat our last year’s record of 4,200 pounds of food donated.

Dates / Times of Collection: Friday December 3, 2021 through Friday December 24, 2014; 6PM – 9PM. Look for collection boxes near the home decorating awards winners and at Dr. Aaron Verbarg’s office (possibly others). Drop box locations will be identified on the Holiday Decorating smart phone APP Map. January Annual MVNA Meeting: Please mark your calendars for the January Annual meeting – now slated for Thursday, January 13th at MVCC – more info will be posted and also sent via our weekly email blast. New board members will be voted on, then the board will select the officers for 2022.

Bret and Ron Moving On: Ron and I are departing the MVNA board of directors at year end, completing our third, 3-year term. Ron Wyckmans joined the MVNA board with me in 2013 – he’s led our food drive and security services.

Thanks Ron! It’s been a great pleasure to work with and lead our energized board of volunteers for 9 years. Thank you all - Felicity, Drew, Sylvia, Bev, Richard, Judith, Walter and many more!!

Hopefully you have seen the positive impact our MVNA board has and continues to have for our community. We successfully lobbied the City for the golf course low cost water solution and to get local streets paved, new trees on Thunderbird, plus kept city officials aware of Moon Valley needs. We did our own 7th street wall painting, modernized the dues payment system with both on-line and phone app options,

added more awards to the decorating contest and opened up judging to neighbors via a bus using an a smart phone app, conducted annual holiday food drives, added a fall yard sale to mirror the spring one, continue to work with MVCC to address neighbor feedback, held annual GAIN events, and increased security coverage.

I remain available to support MVNA and hope to find other ways to serve our great community of Moon Valley. Thank you all; Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!! Moon Valley - Neighbors helping Neighbors

Thunderbird High School Twin Seniors Sign to Play Volleyball at the Collegiate Level Congratulations to Thunderbird High School seniors Abby and Emma Reardon! The twin sisters are headed to Westminster University located in Utah. They will not only be furthering their academic career but will also be playing volleyball for the university. The Reardons celebrated with their parents, coaches, and teammates as they signed their letter of intent.

To learn more about Thunderbird High School, visit @ ThunderbirdHighSchoolAZ on Facebook.

CAVE CREEK

Interested in joining the Moon Valley Chapter of National Charity, please contact Kelly Miller membershipmoonvalley@nclonline.org What’s the NCL Experience?

The NCL Experience provides countless opportunities for mothers and daughters from grades seven to twelve: Volunteering together at the 20+ non-profit organizations that partner with our Moon Valley chapter Gaining “hands-on” leadership experience through team building, problem solving and mentoring Honoring and strengthening the motherdaughter bond by together learning, growing and modeling responsibility and graciousness Becoming confident, well-rounded and socially aware contributors in our communities

Importance of Sponsors NCL, Inc. is a sponsorship organization so anyone interested in joining our Moon Valley chapter must be sponsored by two current

24 December 2021 | info@mvtattler.com

members. Your sponsor and co-sponsor serve as mentors who support you every step of the way!

The Membership Committee is here to assist, should you need help identifying a sponsor and/or co-sponsor. Please inform Kelly Miller (VP Membership) or one of the Membership Committee members that you need support in this area. We have many members willing to serve as sponsors.

About Moon Valley Chapter of NCL, Inc. Moon Valley is an award-winning chapter that was selected Outstanding Chartered Chapter at the NCL, Inc. National Convention in 2013.

Seeking to “foster compassion and perpetuate respect and courtesy,” our founders formed our chapter in 1996 and chartered it in 1997. Our Moon Valley chapter has evolved and grown over the years to today’s more than 300 members who collectively volunteered nearly 6 ,000 hours during our 2020-21 year.

give gifts with a

Shop 9am - 4pm | Mon - Fri When you shop or donate to Flerish Cave Creek Thrift + Gift, you support meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities through Civitan Foundation, Inc.

602.358.8677 @flerishthrift 12625 N. CAVE CREEK RD. PHOENIX, AZ 85022 www.CivitanFoundationAZ.org

www.moonvalleytattler.com

Reverse Mortgage – Adjustable or Fixed Rate?

One of my former Reverse Mortgage clients called me the other day. He told me that he was receiving numerous solicitations every week to refinance his Reverse Mortgage. He was being promised the moon, i.e., a much larger draw and a lower interest rate. One lender indicated that he may not need counseling again, and the appraisal was covered.

We have talked about refinancing his RM several times, but it hasn’t happened yet. I told him that this was indeed a great time to refinance. Very low interest rates and very high home values make this a really lucrative time.

Everything mentioned so far is true. Rates are low, values are skyrocketing, counseling may not be necessary, and the appraisal can be taken care of in several ways. Refinancing is a “no brainer.” It is time! Do it!

This, however, is not the gist of this article. There are a couple of different ways a Reverse Mortgage can be structured. Specifically, I am talking about a “fixed-rate loan” versus a “variable rate loan.”

How much that can be advanced is called the “Principal Limit.” This is determined by pre-set HUD formulas. They take into account the appraised value of the home, the prevailing interest rate, and the age of the youngest borrower.

That is to say, the older the borrower, the more they qualify for. The rule of thumb is that about 60% of the appraisal can be advanced. Older borrowers will qualify for a little more. Thus, a home worth $100,000 could qualify for about $60,000.

Several years ago, HUD issued a directive, that only 60% of the Principal Limit could be advanced during the first year of the loan. This is not to be confused with the rule of thumb ratio mentioned in the previous paragraph. But here is the math: $100,000 x .60 = $60,000 Principal Limit x .60 = $36,000 first year advance available. Why is this? Because during the housing debacle, HUD determined that those borrowers who took everything up front, were much more likely to default on their loan.

There are exceptions. Supposing the current mortgage had a $50,000 balance.

THE WRITE STUFF BY GERRY JOHNSON

The Reverse Mortgage lender could pay that off, and advance up to ten percent of the Principal Limit amount to the borrower at closing. In this case $56,000 could be advanced at closing.

Here is the crux, with a “fixed rate loan” no more can be advanced after closing. Therefore, in the example above, the borrower is leaving $4,000 on the table. With an “adjustable-rate loan” there would be a line of credit of $4,000 available at the beginning of the second year. Incidentally, if this $4,000 is not accessed, it grows each year. At the beginning of the second year $4,000 plus would be available and so on.

Let’s get real! There are no $100,000 homes in our area. There are $400,000 and $700,000 homes in our area. By opting for a “fixed rate loan” a lot more than the $4,000 in the example, is left on the table. There is no advantage for me to recommend adjustable over fixed. It just makes sense that the reason one takes out a Reverse Mortgage is to access the accumulated equity in their home. Why not have the max funds available in case a need arises.

Right now, the adjustable rate is 1% to 2% less that the fixed rate. The adjustable rate is capped at 5%, which means the rate can never rise above five percent over the starting rate. If it goes up, it can also come down. You are only charged interest on the amount actually drawn. This means that with an adjustable-rate Reverse Mortgage there is a line of credit safety net that continues to grow each month that it is not accessed.

You can bet your bottom dollar, next week when I talk with my former client, I am going to be recommending the adjustable-rate version. He insisted on the “fixed-rate” version last time. I’m sure he has regretted it ever since.

Reverse Mortgage or forward mortgage, there is still time to take advantage of the low rate – high appreciation market. Get with a trusted mortgage loan officer and discover your options. You will be glad you did.

Glendale Union High School District Tax Credit Contribution During this holiday season, please consider giving back to GUHSD students with a tax credit contribution. By donating to a GUHSD high school or program of your choice, you can benefit students’ education and high school experiences.

Instead of paying towards Arizona’s general fund, your tax credit contribution stays right here in the community, positively affecting GUHSD students.

Arizona state law also allows you to receive a dollar for dollar tax credit for

THERESA FRANKEL REALTOR 20+ YEARS

any contribution that you make to an Arizona public high school, which you can use as a credit against any state income taxes that you may owe.* Married couples can contribute up to $400 when filing jointly, $200 per person if filing separately, and single individuals can make a maximum contribution of $200. *Please consult a tax professional to learn if you qualify for the dollar-for-dollar tax credit. To learn more about GUHSD, visit @GUHSDAZ on Facebook.

Considering buying a home or ref inanc ing yo ur mor tgage?

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The Moon Valley Tattler | DECember 2021 25

AZ Humane Society Adoption Spotlight:

BTC wraps

for team Jaydie Many of our boys team charity members are happy to be joining in with Jaydie Lynn King Foundation on December 3rd to collect/gather, wrap, pack and bag gift donations for families with a loved one receiving treatments at Phoenix Children’s Hospital Cancer and Blood Disorders. The boys and their parents will spend time together getting these special packages ready for families to pick up the next morning.

Each year, at Christmas time, the hospital gives the foundation names of families who are in need of a Christmas. Through the foundation, they have been able to consistently provide gifts, food, household necessities, and other items for each of the families.

Their goal is to assist at least 100 families from PCH Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders with a holiday of their dreams. These families without donors’ help will not be celebrating the holidays this season. Team Jaydie, along with many helpful sponsors, will allow these children to the see the magic of the holiday season. They have been apart of this program for over 10 years!

If you would like to contribute to this foundation for this project and/or any other fundraising efforts, please go to teamjaydie.org for more information.

Gift drop off: Friday, December 3rd, 4:00pm-8:00pm Location: 11040 N. 19th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85029 Located between Cactus and Peoria on 19th Avenue (19th Ave. and Desert Cove) We want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy holiday season!

milady horchata

As sweet as her name would suggest, Milady Horchata is as adorable and loving as they come! This cute five-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier was originally brought to the Arizona Humane Society all the way back in September of this year after she was found as an injured stray. Treated in AHS’ animal trauma hospital for a few wounds and a puppy cold, Milady Horchata is now looking for the perfect forever home where she can be a huge couch potato!

This loving girl is very soft with people and loves to get lots of pets and attention – she walks well on a leash and is also house trained! Milady Horchata is good with other pups and kids but will need to do an introduction to them to ensure their energy levels match and that they are a perfect fit.

The Arizona Humane Society’s Virtual Matchmaking Adoptions by appointment is available to place pets with their forever families. Interested adopters can view available pets, like adorable Milady Horchata, and schedule an appointment online at azhumane.org/adopt.

Please note: This pet might have been adopted by the time of your Virtual Matchmaking Adoption by Appointment, however AHS has dozens more wonderful pets who also need loving homes. Please take a moment to meet some of the other dogs, cats and other companion animals at the shelter!

Interested adopters can view available pets on our Adopt pages on our website, and schedule an appointment online to meet their next furry friend! To see all adoptable animals right now, visit www.azhumane.org/adopt.

Ask us why we’re

We’ll show you how variety in residences, programs, dining and people creates a zesty, interesting life. Diverse, yes, and filled with love, too.

Beatitudes Campus is a not-for-profit life plan community founded by the Church of the Beatitudes.

26 December 2021 | info@mvtattler.com

www.moonvalleytattler.com

Call us: 602.765.0902

The Moon Valley Tattler | DECember 2021 27

YOUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE SPECIALISTS COMING SOON

COMING SOON

4932 WEST JULIE DR

302 E. MURIEL DRIVE

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with sparkling pool

LIST PRICE: $475,000

Call Brewer Johnson (602) 820-8128 for more information

Call Brewer Johnson (602) 820-8128 for more information

PENDING

6341 E SUNNYSIDE DR

7 bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, 6,300 sqft

LIST PRICE: $2,350,000

Call Dave Dix (602) 686-1503 for more information

PENDING

3423 E GOLDEN VISTA LN 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms 2,794 sqft List Price: $1,250,000

13814 N 16TH WAY 13 Overlook Estates | 14,864 sqft Lot List Price: $250,000

Your Local Realtors NOW OFFER More Options to Sell Long Realty The FOX Group & Quick Buy A WINNING COMBINATION for YOU

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Office at 7th Street and Thunderbird Over 21M in Moon Valley Sales since 2020

BREWER JOHNSON Realtor®

602.820.8128

DAVE DIX

LLOYD FOX

602.686.1503

602.418.1153

Branch Manager Moon Valley/Realtor

Broker/Owner

If you have a brokerage relationship with another agency, this is not intended as a solicitation.

28 December 2021 | info@mvtattler.com

www.moonvalleytattler.com