Our mission for this My Hometown Estrella™ magazine is to connect residents both to each other and to key resources with the goal of building community in Estrella and the greater Goodyear area.
Join us for a magical voyage to a mythical empire populated by enchanted beings in The Neverending Story. Feature Story .............................................. p.03 Community News ..................................... p.04 School News ............................................... p.06 Meet Your Neighbor ................................. p.14 Money & Finance ...................................... p.15 Food & Entertainment.............................. p.16 Business Highlight .................................... p.19 Inside This Issue... January 2009 | Vol. 3 Issue 1 | www.myhometownestrella.com 41¢ Movie Night Are you interested in having Weight Watchers meetings in the neighborhood? Weight Watchers Meetings continued on page 10 continued on page 5 continued on page 15 my hometown January is a great time to make plans for the year. Each year I take the final two weeks in December to lay out my plans for the coming year. New Year –New Hope! Night of Unity Congratulations Wolves on your successful football season! Page 4
Transcript
Join us for a magical voyage to a mythical empire populated by enchanted beings in The Neverending Story.
Feature Story .............................................. p.03
Community News ..................................... p.04
School News ............................................... p.06
Meet Your Neighbor ................................. p.14
Food & Entertainment .............................. p.16
Business Highlight .................................... p.19
inside This issue...
January 2009 | Vol. 3 Issue 1 | www.myhometownestrella.com
41¢
movie nightAre you interested in having Weight Watchers meetings in the neighborhood?
Weight Watchers meetings
continued on page 10 continued on page 5 continued on page 15
my hometown
January is a great time to make plans for the year. Each year I take the final two weeks in December to lay out my plans for the coming year.
new year –new hope!
Money & Finance
Food & Entertainment ..............................Night of UnityCongratulations Wolves on your successful
football season! Page 4
FEATURE
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Happy New Year! With the mad rush of the holidays now over, it’s the perfect time to slow down and bring life back into focus. It’s
time to ask yourself…..What will I do with this New Year? How will I use it to improve my life, have fun and make a difference? Any ideas coming to mind? Or are you just too tired to think about it?
I don’t know about you, but life can get pretty exhausting at times. Sometimes you find yourself so overcommitted or overwhelmed that you become paralyzed. You want to move forward, but you feel so tied down with all of your responsibilities that you feel like you can’t take that step you need to take. I have a whole list of things I just can’t seem to get done. Each of those things is attached to some kind of excuse or obstacle….whether it’s my overloaded email box, my latest unfin-ished home project, my filing, my dirty car, my half-read book….the list goes on and on.
Several years ago I sat in a workshop at a conference. During the course of the work-shop, the speaker dis-tributed cards to each of us in the audience. The cards were about the size of a business card and there was only one simple word printed on the card…. Permission.
I wondered where he was going with this. After a few minutes, we each were holding a card in our hands and he went on to explain how so many of us hold our-selves back from doing something because we’re wait-ing to be asked or to be given permission. He then pointed out that he had just given us ‘permission’….permission to be…to do ….basically, whatever it was that we were waiting around for….we no longer had an excuse. We now had ‘permission’.
It was weird how meaningful that was for me. I remember holding that card in my hand and feeling a shift. I honestly felt like I had been given permission. I can still see that card in my mind today. It was such a powerful feeling in fact, that I thought I’d do the same for you this year and give you the gift of ‘permission’.
Give yourself permission to… …slow down. Have you ever caught yourself fly-
ing down Estrella Parkway? Give yourself permission to slow down – the world will wait, it really will.
…enjoy the neighborhood. Seriously, when was the last time you just took a leisurely walk and allowed yourself to ‘enjoy’ your surroundings?
…stop by your neighbor’s unannounced. I always hate knocking on someone’s door unan-nounced, but I absolutely love it when someone drops by our house. If you can’t figure out when to get together with your neighbor, just stop by unan-nounced and say hi.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission is prohibited. My Hometown Estrella is a monthly publication highlighting house, home and community building. My Hometown Estrella accepts freelance contributions, though there is no guarantee that unsolicited material will be returned. Fountain Media Group is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Publisher or advertisers. We reserve the right to restrict all advertisements to their proper classification and to edit or reject any copy.
Our mission for My Hometown Estrella is to connect Estrella residents to each other and to key resources with the goal of build-ing community in Estrella and the greater Southwest Valley area.
My Hometown Estrella is a great example of what can happen when neigh-bors build strong relationships and get busy putting their ideas and talents together for the good of the community. We hope it will stimulate you to contribute to the sense of community here and to truly make the com-munity all that it can be.
This community started with the homes…but the true community is what exists between you and your neighbor. That’s where the magic is and that’s what this publi-cation is all about. We hope you find this com-munity publication reflective of our excite-ment to build something that brings all of us closer together. We invite you to join in the fun and get involved.
OFFicE
Fountain Media Group, Inc. PO Box 2122, San Marcos, CA 92079 -2122 (800) 497-1309 www.myhometownestrella.com
… get involved. If you’ve always wanted to get involved in the community, but don’t know where to start, it all starts with you. Just start showing up at things. You’ll be involved before you know it.
…mix up the neighborhood. Here’s a crazy idea. How about inviting someone from another neighborhood over to your neighborhood’s Bunco group or Poker night? Shake things up – expand your circle – make new connections for yourself and your neighbors.
…hike a new trail. Don’t walk the same path every day. Give yourself permission to explore. It’s what keeps things new in your life and keeps you from getting stuck in a routine which inevitably ends up getting you stuck in life.
…start some-thing. Been think-ing about starting a Book Club or something in your neighborhood? Do it! Start something! You have permis-sion – make it hap-pen!
…be nosey. Hey, we spend a lot of our time trying to stay out of each other’s business. Well, phooey on that! Have a neigh-bor that’s struggling with something? Go help them! See something suspi-cious going on in the neighborhood? Call the Sheriff. Don’t pretend that
it’s not your business to care about others. …refrain. If you’re one of those people who
are involved in everything, give yourself permission to refrain – to bow out – to let go. You don’t have to do it all. The more thin you spread yourself, the less good you are to the world around you.
… make mistakes. Maybe you’re not happy about something you did or didn’t do and you find yourself trying to avoid someone here in the neigh-borhood. Don’t waste any more time feeling bad about it. Apologize and move on.
….take responsibility. As humans, one of our biggest downfalls is always looking to blame some-one else for whatever we see to be wrong. Blame does nothing toward getting something done. Take responsibility. You have permission.
It’s a New Year and the possibilities are endless.
Whatever you like or don’t like about your life, your neighborhood or your greater community, it’s all up to you. You can make it whatever you want it to be. It all starts with giving yourself permission to take that next step. Make 2009 something to remember. There’s no better time than right now.
Permission
my hometown
January 2009, vol. 3. issue 1 By Karen Smith
P E R M I S S I O N
Cut it out and hold it in your hands. See if it doesn’t make you feel
different. You now have permission. It’s a New Year and a fresh
start. What have you been holding yourself back from? What has a
lack of ‘permission’ been keeping you from? More importantly, now
that you have permission, what will you do with it?
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Estrella Resident Files for Goodyear City Council Candidacy
Jennifer Barber recently filed for candidacy in the Goodyear City Council race and made the follow-ing statement: “I expect the 2009 Goodyear Spring Election to be a tight race. I look forward to discussing the issues that face our booming city and nar-rowing down the field to the most qualified candidates.” Barber’s successful application for the coveted All-America City award won over the judges in a pool of more than sixty other applica-tions nationwide. The candidate spent count-less hours researching every single detail of Goodyear’s history and got support and information from Council members and city staff. Today, Jennifer Barber is an Estrella resident, wife and mother. She is also Founder and Vice President of A.C.T.I.O.N, an organization striving to make Goodyear its best! You can learn more about this organization at www.action-ingoodyear.org. You can also learn more about Jennifer and her qualifications at barber4goodyear.com. If elected, here’s what Barber wants to do for Goodyear...
• Attract Quality Jobs• Provide Excellent Public Safety• Create a Self-Sustainable Goodyear• Continue the Mission of Bringing Universities to
Goodyear• Build a Performing Arts Center in Goodyear• No New Tax Hikes• Open that Mall
Bear Market UPDATE MEETINGWith the various stock market indices down sig-
nificantly, an economic recession staring us in the face, the continuing aftershocks of the sub-prime mortgage fiasco, and the outrageous run-up in oil and gasoline prices, don’t miss this Urgent Market Update Meeting on Wednesday, January 14 or Thursday, January 22 from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Big Apple Deli (965 E. Van Buren, Avondale). A complimentary dinner will be served and you are encouraged to invite a friend, neighbor, relative or co-worker who is also concerned about market and economic conditions. Reservations are required, so please contact Brandi at 623 412-9602 or [email protected].
It was a night to celebrate! On Friday, November 17, 2008, a crowd of over one-hundred Wolves fans included Varsity Football Team Players, supportive Spirit Lines, proud parents, band members and EFHS club representatives. If South Lake Park had a mood on this November night, it would best be described as proud!
For the first time in the history of Estrella Foothills High School, the varsity football team has made it to the State Playoffs. To celebrate, teammates, parents, and community cheerleaders put together a special evening.
The Pack Backers organized the Pep Rally, which included a bonfire, a cheering crowd and speeches of encouragement for the Wolves football team, as they faced the Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets at Williams Field in Gilbert on Saturday, November 15. The Wolves sought the victory in the second round of the State Championship playoffs.
Chants from the crowd were quieted with opening remarks and a prayer for the Wolves, led by Jeremy Chandler, Pastor of Creative Arts & Students from Estrella Mountain Church. The enthusiasm continued with remarks from Assistant Varsity Football Coach, Paul Halpine. Coach Halpine spoke directly to the football team, telling them, “This season and this night will be something that you will remember for the rest of your lives.” He promised a cheering crowd that this team would play hard and aggressive and leave “everything out on the field” in the upcoming game against the Yellow Jackets in Blue Ridge. He reinforced words of encouragement from Head Coach, Rich Hoyt, who couldn’t participate in the Friday Rally. “You guys deserve to be here.” Halpine rallied the crowd by asking, “Are you gonna be there?” Halpine asked the team and then looked into the crowd of supportive fans.
Senior Team Captain Crockett Colbert plays full-back for the Wolves. He, too, spoke to his team and
thanked them and the fans for their support. Crockett called his teammates his “brothers.” Colbert stated that playing the sport of football “teaches young men about what they’re made of” and said that he believed the sport has made him a better person.
Ryan Rath, Offensive and Defensive Lineman, expressed optimism about the second round of the playoffs saying, “We’re just going to have to win all aspects of the ball game…offensively and defensively. We have to try not to make any mistakes.”
EFHS Band Director, Brian Bizzell, said, “EFHS is excelling in the playoffs and beyond!” He concluded that the band is happy to support the football team.
Unfortunately, the taste of sweet success was poisoned at the 46-7 Yellow Jacket victory over the Estrella Foothills Wolves on Saturday, November 15 at Williams field. And, although scoreboard numbers display victories, the element of unity, which is very much in place in the Wolves’ football organization also reflects a victory, which is sure to take the Estrella Football team far beyond the defeat. Congratulations Wolves on your successful football season!
A Night of Unity
Mother/Coordinator of Pack Backers Athletic Club, Beth Speckhard
Ryan Rath from the Estrella Foothills High School Varsity football team
Reading • Math • Writing • Study Skills • Test Taking • College/University Prep & More!
Itʼs Back to School − Help Your Child
13770 W Van Buren St • Goodyear, AZ 85338www.educate.com
Get Headed In The Right Direction Now!623-932-5714
cOmmUniTy nEWs
M Y H O M E T OW N E S T R E L L A , J A N UA RY 2 0 0 9 5
Wildlife Roaming in EstrellaSharing our homes in Estrella with animals of nat-
ural habitat, native to this area, is essential for Estrella residents. Coyotes roam the mountain areas and neighborhoods of Estrella routinely. The following are some facts about coyotes that might help humans understand the animal’s behaviors as well as offer pro-tection for humans and their pets.
The coyote is a member of the dog family with a size and shape comparable to a medium sized Collie. The coyote’s tail is round and bushy and carried below the level of its back. It's average weight is 20-50 lbs. The tail becomes bushy and is held horizontal when a coyote is displaying aggression. The coyote’s hearing is very acute and the animal’s sense of smell is a highly developed sense used to detect prey. Coyotes are one of few wild animals whose vocalization is commonly heard. At night, coyotes howl (a high quavering cry) and emit a series of short, high-pitch yips. Different
sounds are used for communication among coyotes. Humans can identify their “announcements” by deter-mining the differences in their “yelps.” If you hear howling, this is a coyote communicating with other coyotes in the area. Yelping is a celebration or criti-cism within a small group of coyotes, which is often heard during play among young animals or pups. A “bark” is thought to be a threat display when a coyote is protecting a den or a kill, and “huffing” is used to call in the pups without making a great deal of noise.
Some words of wisdom for keeping coyotes away from your home and yard:
Never feed coyotes.
Remove all food resources, such as trash, fruit and pet food from environment.
Keep small pets inside from dusk to dawn (or in safe enclosures).
Never leave young children unattended in yards or parks.
What should do you do if you see a coyote? Make loud noises so the coyote will leave the area.
“Harass” coyotes by clapping hands, yelling, throwing rocks (not directly at the animal) or waving your arms to create fear in the animal.
Contact the Arizona Department of Fish and Game, http://www.gf.state.az.us or call local law enforcement agency if coyotes attack humans or become aggressive or show lack of fear of humans.
Enjoy the natural beauty and uniqueness of the animal from a distance. Coyotes carry a variety of dis-eases and parasites, such as Distemper, hepatitis, parvo virus and can be infected with Rabies, tularemia (that can be transmitted to other animals and humans). Numerous parasites live on coyotes including, mites, ticks, fleas, worms and flukes. They are also known to carry heartworm which can be transmitted to dogs.
Weight Watchers Meetings in EstrellaSeveral of our neighbors in Estrella have
expressed interest in having Weight Watchers
meetings in the neighborhood. We contacted
Weight Watchers of Arizona and this is how we can do it:
A Community Meeting Series is a prepaid ten week series for a minimum of 20 participants. The
series fee is $130 and is collected with each Member’s pre-registration form at the Informational Meeting.
At the Informational Meeting, participants will hear about Weight Watchers and be able to ask questions
about both Weight Watchers and the Community Meeting Series. If 20 or more pre-register at the
Informational Meeting, the series will start the following week. During week one of the series, all the
Members will be weighed in and receive materials. The week one meeting is primarily a chance to get to
know the Leader of the group and a Getting Started Session.
The first step to starting a Community Meeting Series is gauging the interest. We need 30 or more
names of interested folks to get the ball rolling. If you are interested, you can contact Kim Onstott with
Your Place Gourmet at [email protected] or 602-495-8000. Please leave your name and
phone number and/or email address.
GriefShare Bereavement GroupGriefShare, a special help seminar and support
group for people experiencing grief and loss of a loved one, will be held on Thursday evenings from 7 to 8:30 pm at Estrella Mountain Church, 10485 South Estrella Parkway, beginning January 15. It is a place where you can be around people who understand how you feel and the pain of your loss. If you have lost a spouse, child, family member or friend, you have probably found that there are not many people who under-stand the deep hurt you feel. That is the reason for GriefShare, a special seminar and support group for people grieving the loss of someone close. This group is sponsored by people who understand what you are experiencing and want to offer you comfort and encouragement during this difficult time.
Each GriefShare session includes a video seminar featuring top experts on grief and recovery subjects, including Dr. Jack Hayford, Anne Graham Lotz, Joni Eareckson Tada and Zig Ziglar. Seminar sessions include “Living with Grief,” “When Your Spouse Dies,” “Why?” and “Your Family and Grief.” These videos also include on-location video and the real-life sto-ries of people who have experienced losses like yours. After viewing the video, you will participate in a small group discussion about what you have seen on the video. You will also have the opportunity to interact with others who have experienced a recent loss, learn about their experiences and have the opportunity to share your own. You are welcome to begin attending the GriefShare group at any session. However, it is best if you can start at the beginning. Either way, you will receive encouragement and help in healing from your loss, along with others on the same path. For more information, please call the church office at: 623-386-0300.
Estrella Foothills High School Receives Excelling Label
The Arizona Department of Education has announced that Estrella Foothills High School is the first high school in the Buckeye Union High School District to receive the “Excelling School” label. This honorable award was formally presented to the stu-dent body at an assembly on November 19, 2008. The assembly opened with performances from the school’s spirit line and the marching band. Also featured was a performance of the National Anthem sung by the EFHS choir. The Buckeye Union High School’s Board of Directors was present. District Superintendent, Beverly Hurley, was among speakers to congratulate the high school students. She also recognized school staff members, teachers, parents and participating clubs and organizations for their assistance in earning the honorable label. Besides test scores, student attendance, minimal drop-out rates and annual yearly progress are factors attributing to this award.
Estrella Foothills High School originally opened its doors in 2001 with just 56 students, growing in 2005 to 272 graduating seniors and currently supports an approximate 1100 student body count. This year, along with last year’s graduated seniors has produced a new tradition of success. Estrella Foothills High School has landed the challenge of having the highest AIMS test scores in the district in the three areas of Math, Reading and Science. Figuratively speaking, it takes 85% of students to excel in the area of reading, 69% excel in writing and 83% of student excel in math-ematic requirements. With the members of the student body rising to the challenge of excellence, the freshly painted motto that boldly shouts out pride in the gym-nasium is most fitting: “The strength of the Pack is the Wolf… and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” Congratulations students for making Estrella Foothills High School EXCEL!
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Conserve Water & Lower Sewer BillsGoodyear residents south of the I-10 freeway,
including Estrella, are reminded that the key element to keeping those water and sewage bills low through-out the entire upcoming year is conservation and minimal usage during the months of January, February and March. If you are looking to conserve dollars in your wallet and help conserve our water resources. then follow tips outlined by the City of Goodyear. The City will base its estimates of water usage for your household during those winter months by aver-aging usage in January, February and March. This total amount is called your Winter Quarter Average (WQA). In May, your sewer bill is adjusted accord-ing to your WQA and stays the average for the entire year. If your water usage is lower than your WQA, your sewer charge is then based upon the lower WQA. Conserve and save throughout 2009 and into 2010. Your community and your wallet will thank you for this “green” effort.
Winter Sports Time with Estrella Youth Sports
It’s time for winter Basketball League to begin for the youngsters of our community. If you are new to the area, or not-so-new, but anxious to get involved in some community organized physical activities, Estrella Youth Sports is just for you. Visit Estrella Youth Sports online at www.eyskids.com or contact Dale Kamarata at 623-810-7613 to see how your family can become involved. Basketball games are scheduled for January 10 through February 28. They are played at either Westar Elementary School or Estrella Mountain Elementary School at 8:30 am. Online registration is still available at www.eyskids.com.
Scholarships with the program are available for those families needing assistance. This organization is community based and dedicated to giving back to the community. For more information on scholarships for league play and special events contact Dale Kamarata.
Coaches are needed for Estrella Youth Sporting events, including basketball. Sign up to coach a team and receive a $20 discount on registration fees.
A.C.T.I.O.N. Kicks off 2009A.C.T.I.O.N. is excited to kick off 2009 with big
projects. One of them brings Health & Wellness to Goodyear residents. A.C.T.I.O.N. is teaming up with fitness and health experts from around the city includ-ing Lifetime Fitness, Franklin Pierce University, IMS Arizona Marathon, Valley of the Sun YMCA, Holly Shrader, Goodyear Chiropractic and Yoga, Your Place Gourmet, Cross Fit Fury, the local schools and the City of Goodyear. They hope to help families tackle issues such as childhood obesity, diabetes, preventable
cancers, and lifestyle habits. If you are interested in learning more, please check out http://actioningood-year.org, then click on Health & Wellness. Their first public event will be at the Cleveland Indians’ opening game on February 25 at the Goodyear Ballpark. Please stop by and check out what they have to offer!
The Orthopedic Institute at West ValleyIf you’re approaching a knee or hip replacement
surgery, you probably have a lot of questions about your recovery. What can you expect each day of your hospitalization? How will your pain be controlled? What will you be able to eat? How can physical ther-apy assist in your recovery? What is your expected recovery time after surgery?
If any of these questions have come to mind as you consider or plan for your joint replacement sur-gery, then The Orthopedic Institute at West Valley has the answers. With 116 years combined experi-ence in orthopedics, their 14 physicians are dedicated to providing expertise, compassion and exceptional care to all prospective, current and future orthopedic patients. The Orthopedic Institute at West Valley offers its Total Joint Education Class every first and third Monday of each month. The Total Joint Education Class will occur from 9 am to 11:30 am in the 2nd Floor Classroom of West Valley Hospital and will cover information you need on patient care, physical therapy, case management and pharmacy with time allotted for a question/answer session. Attendees will also receive a Total Joint Education Class binder with a variety of recommendations and educational materi-als to help you prepare pre- and post-operatively. West Valley Hospital’s Joint Education Class is free; how-ever, class size is limited to 15 patients and one guest/family member per patient for a total of 30 attendees. To register for a Joint Education Class and for addi-tional information, please call 602-882-1821.West Valley Hospital is located at 13677 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear, AZ, 85395.
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New Center Scheduled for Completion in Goodyear
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is set to open in early 2009 just west on Litchfield Road on Fillmore Ave. The new facility is expected to gen-erate $400 million to the local economy within the first five years and will create 420 new job opportunities. CTCA offers the highest quality medical, surgical and radiation oncology services. The Center is the fourth CTCA hospital in the nation and will provide cancer patients with comprehensive, patient-centered cancer treatment.
CTCA’s Patient Empowerment Medicine provides caregivers and their clinical team options for treatment that best meets each individual’s specific needs. This unique team environment includes state-of-the-art medical treatments and technologies with scientifi-cally-based complementary therapies like nutrition, naturopathy, physical therapy, mind-body medicine and spiritual support.
Initially the CTCA Western Regional Medical Center will include approximately 25 in-patient rooms, ICU rooms and surgical suites. It will be capable of treating 150 patients per day with on-site residential accommodations for patients and their families. The new construction of the building is attracting interest from the hospital industry, and two new hotels are scheduled to be built in the area.
Save the Date – Annual Heart & Sole Run/Walk
Mark your calendars to keep those New Year’s Resolutions in full swing by attending the City of Goodyear’s Annual Heart & Sole Run/Walk. This event takes place on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 8 am at the Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, just east of Estrella Parkway.
Liberty Elementary School District January EventsJanuary 5, 2009 - Governing Board Meeting Regular monthly meetings are open to the public. All meetings begin at 6:30 pm at the Jerry Rovey District Facility located at 19871 W. Fremont Buckeye, AZ 85326. For questions call, 623-474-6666.
January 6, 2009 - Spelling BeeStudents in the 4th through 8th grades will compete to see who is the best speller at Westar Elementary School, 1 pm-2 pm
January 7, 2009 Early Release Wednesday
January 8, 2009 - National Geographic BeeSchool-wide competition to see who is the best at geography. The winner will compete at the district competition.
January 19, 2009 Martin Luther King Day – no school
January 24, 2009 - Science Olympiad TournamentWestar Elementary will host the invitational tour-nament. Several schools from around the state of Arizona will compete from 9 am – 1 pm.
Spirit Wear at WestarWestar Elementary School celebrates Spirit Day on
Fridays by wearing school colors and spirit wear. Spirit Wear is on sale now and with the weather cooling, it’s a great time to get your Westar Long Sleeve T-shirts ($16) and Westar Sweatshirts ($25).
Support Westar Elementary For more than 30 years, Labels for EducationTM
has been awarding free educational equipment to schools in exchange for proofs of purchase from the Campbell family of brands. It’s a fun, easy program where students, families and members of the commu-nity work together for a common goal.
Participating in the program is easy - simply save proofs of purchase from participating Campbell products and send them to our school. Some of the products eligible for redemption during the 2008-2009 program year include:
Campbell’s® soups SpaghettiOs® Pasta Campbell’s® beans, gravies, and canned pasta Prego® Italian sauces Swanson® broths and canned poultry Campbell’s® tomato juice Pepperidge Farm® breads, cookies, crackers, and
frozen products Campbell®'s Foodservice products
Liberty Elementary School Westar Elementary School
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Starpointe Residents Club17665 West Elliot Rd, Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-386-1949 Operating Hours:Mon.–Th. 5:30am–9pm, Fri. 5:30am–8pmSat. 8am–6pm, Sun. 10am–6pm
Community Patrol’s Phone Number602-329-0462
Estrella ManagementEstrella is professionally managed by Capital Consultant Mgmt. Corp. (CCMC)
Estrella Management TeamCommunity Manager: Patty Garman, CMCA, CAAM Club Director: Beth Huerta, CMCALifestyle Director: Danielle FittsFacilities Director: Scott McVayAdmin Coordinator: Sharon ThunstedtAdministrative Associate: Tammy CampbellCovenants Coordinator: Jodi Matlock & Kathy MilneCommunications Coordinator: Dawn WaterfieldDesign Review Coordinator: Jodi Matlock Entry Coordinator: Lisa SowadaEvent Coordinator: Pam McMillerMaintenance Coordinator: Brent McDonaldYacht Club Coordinator: Ryan Chonka
Assessment Billing Address:Payment Processing Centerc/o CCMC-Western RegionPO Box 105260Atlanta, GA 30348-5260 or pay online at www.ccmcnet.com.
Community Association Board Members:Estrella Joint Committee (EJC)Developer Appointed Board Members: Alper Adli, David Prescott, Wojciech Mrugala, Pete Tieche, and Lesle Sweeney
Estrella Community Association (ECA)Developer Appointed Board Members:Alper Adli, Wojciech Mrugala, David Prescott
Resident Elected Board Members:Freeda Seltzer and Raquel Llivina
Villages at EMR Community Association (VCA)Developer Appointed Board Members:Alper Adli, Pete Teiche
Resident Elected Board Member:Charles Marshall
Roundabouts
You might call them roundabouts, rotaries, or turn-abouts depending on where you are from. While the name will not help you through this modern intersec-tion, this article is filled with helpful tips.
Roundabouts are intersections that move traffic without traffic signals and improve roadway conges-tion. When approaching the roundabout you must yield to traffic inside the circulating lanes as well as exiting vehicles. Approaching drivers should look to their left to determine if they have an adequate gap in traffic in which to enter the roundabout.Lane choice at a two-lane roundabout is similar to a standard intersection. When approaching, choose either the right or left lane that corresponds to your desired movement. Lane choice is based on the driver’s destina-tion. The left lane allows left turns, straight ahead move-ments and U-turns only. Right lane maneuvers include immediate right turns or straight ahead movements.
Never change lanes once you have entered the cir-culating lanes. If you approach the roundabout in the left lane, enter the inside circulating lane and main-tain that lane position until you exit. Approaching the roundabout in the right lane requires that you enter the outside circulating lane. Always signal your movements within the circle.
Following the rules of the road and slowing down your speeds will help everyone have a safe drive home to Estrella.
Parking Waiver Policy Changes
A. Parking Waivers for RVs (campers, trailers, motor homes, boats on trailers etc.) may be granted for a period of two consecutive nights, but no more than twice each month. Two continuous waivers shall not be granted. Waivers are granted for the following:
• Trip departure/preparation – cleaning, loading, preparation prior to trip
• Light maintenance work and cleaning
• Trip return/cleanup – cleaning, unloading, prepa-ration prior to returning RV to storage
• Guest RVs – parking while guest visits a resident
• No RV may be used to provide additional living or sleeping space during the waiver.
B. Parking Waivers for Authorized Vehicles such as passenger cars and trucks of residents or visiting guests may be granted for a period of three (3) consecutive nights, but no more than 24 times per year. Two waiv-ers in a row shall not be granted.
C. Construction Waivers for Authorized Vehicles such as passenger cars and trucks of residents while approved work is underway that prevents resident access to their garage or driveway.
D. Dawn to Dusk Waivers for Unauthorized Vehicles to have access onto Lot’s yard area related to approved work in progress.
Closure Notice
Due to an increase in vandalism to the Starpointe Youth Club Restrooms, it is necessary for us to lock this area at sunset. These restrooms are located next to the basketball courts at Starpointe. If residents need to use the restroom, they can check out the key from the Youth Club, Starpointe Entry Desk, or Maintenance Staff member. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope in the future we will be able to reopen these restrooms.
Garbage and Recycling Schedules
There will be no holiday pickup on the dates listed below. Following each holiday, pickup that week for garbage/recycling containers and bulk trash will switch to the day after your normal scheduled pickup day. Examples: If the holiday is on a Monday, pickup begins on Tuesday that week. If the holiday is on a Thursday, Thursday’s pickup is Friday, Friday’s pickup is Saturday.
2009 Holiday Pickup ScheduleNew Year’s Day – Thursday, 1/1/09Martin Luther King Day – Monday, 1/19/09Presidents’ Day – Monday, 2/16/09Memorial Day – Monday, 5/25/09Independence Day – Friday, 7/3/09Labor Day – Monday, 9/7/09Veterans’ Day – Wednesday, 11/11/09Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, 11/26/09Christmas Day – Friday, 12/25/09New Year’s Day – Friday, 1/1/10
Estrella Safety Awareness Team
The Arroyo Vista neighborhood has had the most active Block Watch Program for several years. While more than a 50% of the homes within the neighborhood are currently registered in the pro-gram, we would like to encourage participation by all residences in all the neighborhoods – thus the Estrella Safety Awareness Team and the Goodyear Police Department are helping to get you started.
Block Watch Programs enlist the participation of citizens in cooperation with the Goodyear Police Department to reduce burglaries and other neigh-borhood crimes. Its primary purpose is the protec-tion of property, yours and your neighbors. Block Watch Programs are a proven and effective means
to reduce residential burglaries as well as other crimes in the neighborhood. The fundamental premise is “a good neighbor is one of the most effec-tive crime prevention tools ever invented”.
Block Watch Program participation does not require frequent meetings, does not ask anyone to take personal risk to prevent crime, and reaffirms the responsibility for apprehension of criminals where it belongs – with the police. Participation does involve getting to know your neighbors, receiving information on how to recognize suspicious activities and report them to the police, and using crime prevention measures to discourage criminals from perpetrating crime in your home and community.
To become a captain or find out whom your cap-tain is within your neighborhood, email Al at [email protected]. For more information on the Estrella Safety Awareness Team (E.S.A.T.), visit your community website at www.lifeinestrella.com and click on the Block Watch Tab.
Updating Your Contact Information
Things change from year to year such as your contact information. With the New Year upon us we would like to make sure we have the most cur-rent information from you. It makes it easier to get a hold of you in case of an emergency. If you have changed your address, phone number, or email address in the past year, please contact the Community Services Office at 623-386-1112.
abouts depending on where you are from. While the name will not help you through this modern intersec-tion, this article is filled with helpful tips.
without traffic signals and improve roadway conges-tion. When approaching the roundabout you must yield to traffic inside the circulating lanes as well as exiting
Garbage and Recycling
There will be no holiday pickup on the dates listed
holiday, pickup that week
containers and bulk trash will switch to the day after
Untitled-1 1 3/11/08 9:47:27 AM
GCE_MyHmTwn_final.indd 1 5/8/08 12:07:25 PM
$59 $69Expires 01/31/09.
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HOA BULLETIN BOARD
From Swirls Café Happy New Year! Swirls is kicking off the
new year with a new Salad menu. Our menu offers Mandarin Orange Chicken, Oriental Chicken, South West Chicken, Turkey, Caesar, Cobb, Chef, Fire Roasted Chicken, Spinach Delight, and Classic. These salads were the results of our community telling us what we need up. We listened and Wow, what a great success it has been! Dine in or enjoy our patio overlooking the lake. In a hurry, call your orders in for takeout at 623-386-1949 and ask for Swirls. I would like to thank everyone for making 2008 a great welcome year for Swirls Café. Mention this article and we will give you an additional 15% off your next purchase.
Yacht Club SocialFriday, January 9, 7pm
Don’t miss this one – We are kicking off 2009 with a great time! Whether you are new to the com-munity or have been in Estrella for years, the Yacht Club Social is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and get connected… not to mention, for just $2.00 per person, you get something really great for dinner. So bring your own drinks and your family, of course, for our monthly Yacht Club Social! This month we will be celebrating the Chinese New Year, meaning we will be serving-up yummy Chinese food. The Yacht Club Social will be held on January 9 at the Yacht Club from 7-9pm. See you there!
All Star CookbookDo you have a favorite recipe? If it's not a secret,
email it to [email protected]. Currently, Estrella is seeking all residents' favorite recipes to create our very own "All Star Recipes 2009" Cookbook. Be sure to include a picture of your favorite dish to put alongside your recipe. Only one recipe per house-hold please.
HOA BULLETIN BOARDLog onto www.lifeinestrella.com for more information
Golf Club of Estrella 11800 S. Golf Club Drive, Goodyear, AZ 85338
623.386.2600 www.estrellagolf.com
For information on our golf clinics, please call the golf shop
Join us for Happy Hour on the Patio Great views, food, music and fire pits.
Fridays & Saturdays 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Appetizer & Drink Specials
In an effort to get more residents chatting online, visit your community website at www.lifeinestrella.com for the Community Message Boards and so much more. As the New Year is here so are new interests, topics, and neighbors. After logging on, go to the Community Tab and select “Community Message Boards” from the drop-down menu where you will find a list of topics. Click on the topic of your choice and “Reply” to your neighbor. It’s as easy as that. Don’t see a topic for you, click on “Topic” and create your own. Have fun chatting online. You might just meet your neighbor!
Message Boards
Interested in sponsoring a community event?
Event partnership is a great way to showcase your business and the event opportunities are endless. Contact Danielle Fitts at 623-386-1949 for more infor-mation today!
Movie NightFriday, January 16, 7pm
Lights, camera, ACTION! Bundle up and bring a blanket and chair for your comfort and join us for a magical voyage to a mythical empire populated by enchanted beings in The Neverending Story. Movie Night will be held on January 16 at 7pm in the Amphitheater. See you there!
Residents Encouraged to R.S.V.P.Estrella by Newland Communities and Starpointe
Residents Club need you to RSVP for all events sooner than later. Assuring proper seating, food and enter-tainment supply can be tricky sometimes. We are now requesting that you RSVP and pay at least 2 days prior to every event. Anyone who doesn’t RSVP at least 2 days in advance will be charged a minimum addition of $5 for that event.
2008 2009Coffee Social $1 donation/person $1/personYacht Club Social $2 donation/person $2/personGame Tournaments $5/person $6/person
*Fees are subject to change. Event prices that are not listed will be deter-mined closer to the event.
Calling all Teens!Estrella Communities is attempting to have a few
events for teens. We need your ideas! Teen Council is a great opportunity for resident teens to come out and help decide what’s “In” and what’s not. Teen Council is strictly for guys and gals ages 13 to 18 years old. Contact Danielle at 623-386-1949 to sign up.
Wii Sports RecapKids and adults
of all ages came out to compete in the Wii Sports Tournament. Residents played three favorite games from Wii Sports: bowling, boxing, and tennis. There were lots of cheers as Trent Campbell bowled for a per-fect game. The room was quiet in anticipation of his score as he tried for his 12th strike. Trent was unable to get a perfect score, but he did walk away with the title of Highest Score at 298. Other win-ners from the night: 2nd Highest Score- Benjamin Fain at 225, Most Strikes- Justin Andrade, Most Spares- Tyler Waterfield. Tennis Champions: 1st Place- Trent Campbell, 2nd-Derek Conidi, 3rd-Evan Hill. Boxing Champions: 1st Place-Taylor Campbell, 2nd -Ashley Yontz, 3rd-Evan Hill. Congratulations to all the tough competitors and thank you to Play and Trade for their support in our gaming tournaments.
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Jared Fink, Agent, CASL ChFC1170 N Estrella PkwyGoodyear, AZ 85338-9276623-536-AUTO (2886)[email protected]
Looking for Musical ResidentsThere has been recent interest in starting a group of residents that love
to play music. We wish to seek out brass and woodwind players to form groups such as a woodwind quintet or brass groups of any size. We would like enough to form a concert band or just to get together and play music. Any brass or Woodwind players, please contact Dawn at the Community Services Office, 623-386-1112 or [email protected]
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New Born Exams
Well Child Exam & Immunizations
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Monday through Thursday: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday: 7:00 am to 4:00 pmWalk-In Appointments Available Most Major Insurance Plans Accepted
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M O N D A Y TU E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A Y
8:30–9:20am Powerball (Kim Hopkins)
8:00–8:50am Body Sculpting (Dawn Terry)
8:30–9:20am Powerball (Kim Hopkins)
8:00-8:50amBody Sculpting (Dawn Terry)
9:00–10:20am Yoga (Linda Jojola)
8:30–9:20amPilates (Carla Walters)
9:30–10:30am Cardio Splash (Kim Hopkins)
3:30–4:20pm Karate 4–7 (Kevin Bench)
9:30–10:20am Yoga (Linda Jojola)
9:30–10:20amMusic Together (Mary Wilkening)ends Nov. 20
9:30–10:30am Cardio Splash (Kim Hopkins)
9:30–10:30am Total Conditioning (Michael Parham)
5:00–5:50pm Taekwondo (Barton Gonzales)
4:30–5:20pm Karate 7–12 (Kevin Bench)
9:30–10:30am Cardio Splash (Kim Hopkins)
3:30–4:20pmKarate 4–7 (Kevin Bench)
5:00–5:50pm Taekwondo (Barton Gonzales)
10:30–11:20am Pre-Ballet I; 3–4 (Linda Purdy)
6:00–6:50pm Cardiobox (Michael Parham)
6:00–6:50pm Yoga (Linda Jojola)
6:00–6:50pm Hip Hop Metabolic (Michael Parham)
4:30–5:20pm Karate 7–12 (Kevin Bench)
6:00–6:50pm Ballet (Linda Purdy) (Adult)
11:30am–12:20pm Pre-Ballet I; 5–6 (Linda Purdy)
6:30–7:20pm Cardio Splash (Kim Hopkins)
7:00–7:50pm Pilates (Carla Walters)
6:30–7:20pm Cardio Splash (Kim Hopkins)
6:00–6:50pm Yoga (Linda Jojola)
12:30–1:45pm Ballet I; 7–10 (Linda Purdy)
7:00–7:50pm Step & Pump (Linda Jojola)
7:00–7:50pm Muscle Pump (Linda Jojola)
1:45–3:00pm Ballet; 10–18 (Linda Purdy)
8:00–8:50pm Ballet II (Linda Purdy) 3:00–3:30pm
Pointe (Linda Purdy)
Starpointe Residents Club Program ScheduleM O N D A Y
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Ongoing Weekly EventsSundays:Women's Basketball 6–8pmEstrella Mountain Elementary School Contact Gina at 623-374-4309
Mondays:Men’s Basketball, 7pmEstrella Mountain Elementary School
Bridge, 1–4pmcontact Carl Deierling 623-386-6641 or Cookie Wallis 623-398-8695
Tuesdays:Outside the Box, 11am
Wednesdays:Playgroup, 9:30–11:30amcontact Tanya Harrison 623-348-9278
Poker/Games, 2–8pmcontact Al Wolfson 623-328-0118
Jr Golf Clinic, 3pm Golf Club of Estrella
Thursdays:Music Together, 9:30amGallery 1,
Games, Games, Games 6:30–8pm
Fridays:Resident Coffee Social 8:30–10am
Happy Hour 5pm Golf Club of Estrella
Saturdays:Adult Golf Clinic, 8amGolf Club of Estrella623-386-2600
Jr. Golf Clinic, 9:30am
Happy Hour, 5pm Golf Club of Estrella
Have something to add to the Community
Calendar? Contact editor@ myhometownestrella.com
1CRC Meeting6–8pm
2 3
4 5Scrapbooking 10am–2pm SRC
6Social Committee6–8pm
7
Red Hatters 1–2:30pm SRC
Teen Council 4–6pm SRC
Camera Club 7–8pm SRC
8 9Art Club10:30am–12pm
Yacht Club Social7pm
10Classic Car Club9am
VIT11am
11 12Youth Guitar Orchestra
6:30pm SRC
13Quiddler Card Group1–4pm
14DRC Meeting8am–12pm SRC
Voting Member Committee Meeting6:30pm SRC
15CRC Meeting6 pm
16Movie Night8pm
17Farmer's Market10am–2pm
18Scrapbooking 10am–6pm SRC
19 20Craft & Stuff9am–2pm
21 22 23 24
25 26Bunco6pm
27Board of Directors' Meeting6:30–9pm
28DRC Meeting8am–12pm SRC
Multisport6pm
29 30 31
January 2009 Community Calendar
PLEASE NOTE: Events take place at Starpointe Residents Club unless otherwise noted. For all Starpointe events, please call 623-386-1949. Please see www.lifeinestrella.com for a comprehensive calendar of events and to be included in reminders/changes related to upcoming events.
PLEASE NOTE: Events take place at Starpointe Residents Club unless otherwise noted. For all Starpointe events, please call 623-386-1949. Please see www.lifeinestrella.com for a comprehensive calendar of events and to be included in reminders/changes related to upcoming events.
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M Y H O M E T OW N E S T R E L L A , J A N UA RY 2 0 0 9
mEET yOUR nEighbOR
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Jeff and Tracy moved to the Highlands in July of 2008 after Jeff accepted a position at the Palo Verde Nuclear Plant. Jeff ’s been in the nuclear field since 1989 and is an Instrumentation Planner. The couple found Estrella on one of their “house hunting” trips and fell in love with the area and their home. They brought their pets, a pair of cockatiels with great per-sonalities and a friendly cat that they had adopted in Florida, but
soon lost after situating in Estrella. Tracy, a professional photographer for the past 25 years, has experienced
the excitement of photographing some very important people. “I’ve been for-tunate to have photographed some of the icons of our time,” states Tracy. Some of her favorites included Presidents Ford and Reagan, Mikhail Gorbechev and John Travolta. Tracy photographs weddings, portraits, and commercial adver-tising and public relations photos under her business name, Eye of the Artist Photography. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and reading, while Jeff likes to spin around on his motorcycle or strum his guitar. Jeff and Tracy relax in the pool or Jacuzzi in their backyard and enjoy dinner and a movie at home or an occasional evening out. Entertaining is high on their list of “fun things to do.”
When asked what makes this a great place to live, Jeff responded, “The seren-ity of Arizona as a whole is emphasized as you drive up the hill into Estrella. It seems to be separate from the rest of the world as you pass the tower. The trails and perceived isolation makes the community so unique. The weather is fantastic and we’re a couple of hours from the beauty of Sedona or skiing in Flagstaff. Oh, and the summer nights are breathtaking!”
Three wishes that, if granted, would make Jeff and Tracy especially happy? Success and happiness for Jeff ’s adult children: Jason, 18 and Crystal, 22, cur-rently attending college in Colorado, an improved economy (of course), and the sale of the couple’s previous home in Florida! Tracy and Jeff are looking forward to developing some great friendships here in Estrella in the New Year.
When young Rocky (8) and his little brother Jake (6) aren’t play-ing football on a Pop Warner team or baseball with Goodyear Little League, the two can usually be seen cheering on their parents, Rocky and Raina, at a co-ed soft-ball game; playing short-stop and catcher respectively. Other places you might find this family are cheering at various sporting events or coaching/supporting some sort of athletic event. This family loves sports!
This winter, the Copper Ridge residents are hoping for loads of snow in the higher elevations, so that they can utilize their snowboards! The Kings received snowboards as Christmas gifts a year ago and can’t wait to put them to the “test.” They travel with a large group of fun seekers, which is mainly extended family, to chase snow in those higher elevations.
Raina, is studying cosmetology and her husband, Rocky, is employed with APS. The couple has lived in Estrella for three years. They purchased their home from Rocky’s parents, who moved over to a custom built home in Estrella. Raina’s parents live close to Estrella, too, and she says that it is wonderful to have both sets of grandparents living so close. Raina takes a break from her busy lifestyle by read-ing or watching an episode of her favorite television show, Grey’s Anatomy. Rocky relaxes by taking in a televised football game or even better, a Cardinal game in real-life at the University of Phoenix stadium.
It’s no surprise that this family has three wishes that include 1) Dad’s wish- for the boys to become professional ball players; 2) More snowboarding days; and 3) Five-day weekends and two-day work weeks- for more snowboarding time!
Be part of our “Meet your Neighbor” section! It’s easy! Give us a call or visit our website (www.myhometownestrella.com) and we’ll introduce you or your new baby to the our sense of community in Estrella.
When young Rocky (8) and his little brother Jake (6) aren’t play-ing football on a Pop Warner team
Rocky and Raina, at a co-ed soft-ball game; playing short-stop and catcher respectively. Other places
some sort of athletic event. This family loves
MEET THE KINGS- ROCKY, RAINA, ROCKY AND JAKE
Highlands in July of 2008 after Jeff accepted a position at the Palo Verde Nuclear Plant. Jeff ’s been in the nuclear field since 1989 and is an Instrumentation Planner. The couple found Estrella on one of their “house hunting” trips and fell in love with the area and their home. They brought their pets, a pair of cockatiels with great per-sonalities and a friendly cat that they had adopted in Florida, but
soon lost after situating in Estrella.
MEET TRACY HAYES
& JEFF VINCENT
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Y
CM
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CMY
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ADV-MyHometown.pdf 11/10/08 5:27:57 PM
mOnEy & FinAncE
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that also means that fishing is good. Remember the words of famed investor Baron Rothchild, “Buy when blood is flowing in the streets, even if it is your own blood.”
401(k) Plans: The total contribution limit for 401(a) Defined Contribution plans under sec-tion 415(c)(1)(A) increased to $46,000 in 2008. This includes both employer and employee contributions. The annual elective employee deferral limit for 401(k) plans increases to $16,500 in 2009. In addition, employees who are age 50 or older are eligible to contribute up to an additional $5,500 for a total deferral of $22,000.
IRAsThe contribution limit for Traditional and Roth IRAs remains at $5,000 in
2009. However, employees who are age 50 or older are eligible to contribute an additional $1,000, for a total of $6,000.
Right now both the stock market and the real estate market have taken some severe hits. Real estate is lower than it was 5 or 6 years ago and some stocks are trading at prices they were 50 or 60 years ago. I am amazed at people who tell me that if they had some extra money they would buy an investment property, yet these very same people would not buy stocks at these prices. Folks are bailing out the stock market because the market is down 30-40%. Using that same logic I guess I should sell my house because the value of my house is also down 30-40% from a year ago.
Both stocks and home values will go back up as the economy recovers. This is a great time to really look at your finances and create a strategy for taking advan-tage of the times.
If you are thinking about changing your irriga-tion system from poly pipe to PVC, it might be wise to wait a year to two. It is still cheaper to repair a system than installing a new one. I helped one homeowner two years ago. I went to his home on five different occasions in a month’s time to fix a different leak on the same line. Once I fixed all the leaks, he was fine. He has not had any more prob-lems so far.
If you have emitters around any cactus, those can be turned off. If you have emitters around your trees and the drip line of the tree is so big that it covers any shrubs, you can turn off the emitters on the tree. The tree will receive all the water it needs when the shrubs get their water.
Check the filter on your irrigation system. Each drip line should have a filter in the valve box. There is a small cap that can be removed, then turn on the water and flush out any dirt that might be there. At the same time, check the solenoids on the valves. Look for leaks around the valve or cracks in the solenoid. Check the wires to see if they look
right. They should have wire nuts on them and some have grease in the wire nuts. It is common to have water condensation in the valve box and on the lid of the valve box, but more water than that may indicate a problem such as a small leak.
Here we go again! It’s really hard to believe that it is 2009. It seems like only yesterday that I was struggling to remember 2008 on my checks. Well, this year we are going to really have a fresh start. Barak Obama
made sure of that by becoming the first African-American to be elected to the White House, ending eight years of Republican rule. In three weeks, he will take the “Oath of Office” and put the U.S. on a dramatically new course from that of the prior administration. President-elect Obama has hit the ground running with over four hundred experts working in more than two hundred different areas in which he plans to make sweeping changes that will begin as soon as he is sworn in. He is planning to make more changes than any other president in recent his-tory.
Hopefully, his moves will jump start a very troubled economy. We here in the “Valley of the Sun” certainly need an injection of hope and enthusiasm to go with our sunny climate. Due to the fact our economy depends so heavily on housing and real estate, we have been especially hard hit. I see “For Sale” signs popping up all over Estrella. In addition to that, there are homes in our little corner of para-dise that are now being foreclosed on.
January is a great time to lay out your plans for the year. Each year I take the final two weeks in December to lay out my plans for the coming year. I use a 12 month at a glance wall calendar and use erasable marker pens to try and plan my business trips, vacation time, educational trips and family visits. You can use a similar method adjusted to suit your own needs and style and do it now in the beginning of January.
Last year, I urged you not to fall into the trap of procrastination and waiting until year end to fund your retirement plan. If you have been dollar cost averaging by regular contributions in a 401k, 403b, IRA or your retirement plan of choice then you have ridden the market all the way down and have been buying more and more shares at lower and lower prices. The market may be in the tank, but
As we start this New Year, with the economy in trouble, we’re all looking for things we can do to save time and money. When it
comes to your landscaping, here are some tips to help you do both.
If your landscape maintenance company prunes every three months, see if they will prune every four or six months instead. It’s wise to have your desert trees thinned out in late spring before the monsoon season. If your trees are over a year old and you still have the wooden poles, now is the time to remove them. Use three cables to stake the tree to the ground. Once this is done, you won’t need to worry about your tree, except to occa-sionally loosen up the end that wraps around the branches. This is so the bark does not grow into the cable.
Adjust your water time so you can see the emitters running. You will save water and money if you find any leaks early. Quite often I see water running down the street late at night because the sprinklers are running too long or there is a bro-ken pipe. The homeowner does not know there is a problem because they are usually asleep. There will be a time in the future when the city will fine hom-eowners for wasting water. Remember that you can cut your watering time way back in the winter. This is especially true for landscape that has been in for over a year. There is no reason for water to be running down the street. By adjusting the timer, you should be able to solve this problem.
New Year –New HopeBy David Lesnick, CFP, Resident of Estrella, Sound Advice Financial Planning, soundadvice.pfyfn.com
by Allyn Rigby
tion system from poly pipe to PVC, it might be wise to wait a year to two. It is still cheaper to repair a system than installing a new one. I helped one homeowner two years ago. I went to his home on five different occasions in a month’s time to fix a different leak on the same line. Once I fixed all the leaks, he was fine. He has not had any more prob-lems so far.
can be turned off. If you have emitters around your trees and the drip line of the tree is so big that it covers any shrubs, you can turn off the emitters on the tree. The tree will receive all the water it needs
MEET THE KINGS- ROCKY, RAINA, ROCKY AND JAKE
Landscape Tips to Save Time & Money
If your landscape maintenance company prunes every
three months, see if they will prune every four or six
months instead. It’s wise to have your desert trees thinned
out in late spring before the monsoon season.
M Y H O M E T OW N E S T R E L L A , J A N UA RY 2 0 0 9
FOOd & EnTERTAinmEnT
16
fill the bill. Just add a loaf of crusty bread or a salad and you’re all set.One pot meals are also perfect for busy schedules because they keep
warm well on the stove until the end of practice and many reheat beautifully the next day.
This is my son’s second year of playing a winter sport. Since the games and practices take place mainly on weeknights, we need meals that are quick and easy to avoid the fast food and carryout trap. One pot meals can really
One-Pot Winter MealsBy Kim Onstott, Resident of Estrella, Your Place Gourmet—Personal Chef Service, www.yourplacegourmet.com
R E C I P E S
One Dish Chicken Fajita Dinner
2 (1-1/4oz) packages of fajita season-ing mix (I use Penzey’s, to taste)
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips or chunks
2 red bell pepper, cut into strips or chunks
2 yellow bell peppers, cut into strips or chunks
4 cups cooked rice (brown or white)
Vegetable oil, for sautéing (I use Wildtree grapeseed oil)
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sautee chicken strips or chunks, until almost cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and cover to keep warm.
Sautee peppers for 3-4 minutes.
Add chicken back to pan with peppers.
Add fajita seasoning and 1/2 cup water to pan with chicken and peppers.
Cook until chicken is done.
Serve mixture over rice and top with grated cheese.
Serves 4-6
Savory Pressure Cooker Pot Roast
3 pound chuck roast
1 tablespoon Season-All seasoning salt
1 tablespoon olive oil (I use Wildtree grapeseed oil)
1 cup baby carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup sliced onions
1-3/4 cup water
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
5 medium potatoes, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons beef bullion powder or beef base
2 bay leaves
Coat roast with Season-All. Brown roast in oil, on all sides (I use the pressure cooker base). Add carrots, celery, and onions when meat is nearly browned. Add water and Worcestershire sauce.
Place potato halves on top of roast and add pe per, beef bullion powder, and bay leaves.
Lock lid in place and bring to pressure over medium-high heat.
Cook at high pressure for 1 hour.
Release pressure naturally – do not use quick release.
Test for tenderness. If not done to your liking, return to pres-sure for 10 minutes, quick release and test again.
When finished, serve with crusty bread for a hearty meal.
1 to 1-1/2 pound cooked, bone-less skinless chicken breast, torn into large pieces.
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.Brown the ground beef. Drain. In a large bowl, mix everything else into the meat. Pour into an ungreased casserole dish, cover and bake for 60 minutes.
1 (16oz) bag fro-zen egg noodles
Mix carrots, celery, onions, water, bouillon, melted butter, pepper and chicken pieces in large stock pot.
Bring to a boil, turn to low heat and sim-mer for 30 minutes.
Add noodles and simmer on medium-low heat for an additional 10 minutes.
Serves 6-8
Be part of the My Hometown Estrella Business Directory!
We’re looking for services such as: Childcare, Computer Services, Electrical, Landscape, Pest
Control, Home Improvement Services and more. Contact 800-497-1309 x701 or
M Y H O M E T OW N E S T R E L L A , J A N UA RY 2 0 0 9
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Beauty & healthDéjà Vu Med Spa
We are a full service Med Spa located in Goodyear ~ 14411 W McDowell Road, Suite C-102 ~ Goodyear, Arizona 85395. Call
623-242-9910 or visit www.dejavumedspa.com
BuSINeSS OPPORtuNItIeSBusiness Opportunties for Health and Wealth!See what Oprah and Dr. Oz are raving about!! Learn what they say to improve your quality of life by going GREEN!
Find out why our weight management program is healthy and works. Feel good while making money from home.
Interested!!! Call 602-931-3683 or click on www.shaklee.net/getcleanandhealthy
ChIldCaRe & PReSChOOlSDeanna’s Daycare
Infants to 4 yrs, in Estrella, CPR, insured, in-home meals. 623-533-9502.
Grace's Day Care ServicesGRACE'S responsible and loving home care for infants. Full-
time/part-time. Well established reputation in Estrella Moun-tain Ranch. Newborns to 30 months old. 623-693-3343
Little Butterfly’s Preschool Looking for a Top Notch Preschool? Don’t let the Preschool
years just flutter by. Now accepting Fall Enrollment Summer Adventure Camp (Ages 3–8) www.littlebutterflys.com
623-882-3757
Reach For Your Star PreschoolPreschool program that focuses on independence, struc-
ture, learning and fun. Provider with over 20+ years of experience working with children. Specializing in toddlers ages 2-4 years old. Please call Norma at 623-327-0888 to
schedule an interview.
CleaNING SeRVICeSEco Maids 4 You, LLC
Need help cleaning your home? Free estimates. An Estrella Mountain Ranch resident. Established business and references
available upon request. 623-910-2202.
Dela's Classic Cleaning Service Commercial~Residential House Cleaning and Carpet Clean-ing. Member of BBB, Bonded & Insured. P.O. Box 6483 Good-
year, AZ 85338. Call our office at 623-327-1620 or mobile 623-229-4342.
EMR Carpet ProsSteam Extraction Carpet Cleaning. Tile and Grout Cleaning.
Sound Advice Financial PlanningI help business owners, professionals, retirees & widows cre-ate a steady stream of tax advantaged income they will not
outlive. 7 year EMR resident. David Lesnick, CFP 623-412-9602, [email protected]
muSIC leSSONSIn-Home Music Lessons
Piano, Guitar, Drums, Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute With a talented, friendly, patient, conservatory-trained professional musician.8 years of experience teaching children and adults.
All styles. Did you know that children who study music get the best test scores in every subject? Music is fun and rewarding!
Guitar LessonsProfessional Guitars in Estrella. Taking on new students.
Experience the fun and pleasure that comes with playing the guitar. Bob. 623-703-8693.
PeRSONal CheFYour Place Gourmet Personal Chef Service
Enjoy healthy, delicious meals at home without all the time-consuming planning, shopping, cooking, and clean-up. What’s your time worth? Save time and money with a personal chef!
Call 602-495-8000 www.yourplacegourmet.com
POOl & SPa SeRVICeSImperial Pools & Spa
Family owned business; Excellent service. Quality repair and complete pool care. 602-320-6517.
Poolguy AZComplete weekly pool care. Superior service. I am happy to
come to your home and meet with you personally. Please call me Today! Scott “The Poolguy” 623-986-1530
FOR ReNtRoom for Rent
Looking for professional/working/straight female to share in living in my 3 bed/2 bath home in Estrella Mountain Ranch. $450 monthly plus
deposit plus utilities. Please call 623-910-2202 for details.
Real eState SaleS & SeRVICeSConcerns, Questions, Wants or Desires?
Your Real Estate Resource for Estrella & Beyond. The Boulais Team with RE/MAX Achievers John or Leslie at 623-640-5430
to Month lease. Estrella Resident Special: Free Truck Rental with a Move In. 623-925-2060. www.budgetstorageaz.com
Goodyear Self Storage & RV—U-Haul Dealer “Best Price in Town,” New State-of-the-art facility, RV Parking,
Air Conditioned Units available, Moving/Packing Supplies, On-site Managers MC 85 & Litchfield Open 7 Days
Call 623-535-1811 www.goodyearselfstorage.com
Palm Gate RV & Self StorageWe have the storage you need. Covered RV parking with 24-hr
access, Drive thru air conditioned self storage spaces, Wine storage, Notary services. 14050 W. Van Buren, Goodyear, AZ
85338. Call 623-535-9676 www.palmgatestorage.com
tutORINGClub Z Tutoring
Invest in Your Child’s Future. One-On-One Tutoring in your Home. All Grades and All Subjects. Flexible Schedules and
Qualified Teachers. Affordable Rates. Contact Club Z! In-Home Tutoring 623-533-6831
Sue's Tutoring ServiceIndividualized private tutoring by credentialed teacher in Reading, Writing, Math, Aims Prep, etc. for Grades 1–5. Call Sue Montague
Kathi Roberts AgencyAuto, Home, Business and Life—All Your Protection Under One Roof. Call Kathi: 623-877-8700 Fax: 623-877-8800 or
[email protected]. Multi-discounts available on home and auto ** Hablamos Espanol **
State Farm Insurance - Jared FinkProviding Insurance and Financial Services. 1170 N. Estrella
Pkwy, Goodyear, AZ 85338. Call 623-536-2886 or email [email protected]
laNdSCaPe SeRVICeSGemstone Landscape L.L.C.
EMR resident, creating extended living areas for all to enjoy. Renovations, design, new installations. Need service? We can
be there in hours not days. Licensed, Bonded, Insured. Call Wayne 623-695-5338 or [email protected]
Hawkeye Landscape , Inc.Specializing in NEW landscape installation and renovations. Water Features, Barbeques, Fireplaces, Firepits, Lawns, Irriga-
tion Systems and Pavers/Concrete. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Call 623-582-1122 www.hawkeyelnd.com
leGal SeRVICeSYour Neighborhood Attorneys
We help people solve problems at a reasonable cost. We are personal,efficient, timely, dependable & caring. Let us help
you. EMR resident. Emphasis in Criminal and Family law. Hudson & Associates 602-279-3699
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M Y H O M E T OW N E S T R E L L A , J A N UA RY 2 0 0 9 19
Have you ever imagined having a 1820 piano in your bedroom? If you are a musician, you’d probably be delighted with the idea. If you’re not musically inclined, you might dream about how to transform the family heirloom into a potential memorabilia piece. This is what happened to a particular 1820 piano that had been sitting in a basement cavity for such a long period of time that destruc-tion seemed it’s only favor-able option. John Terpin’s artistic creativity allowed him to envision a new ‘life’ for the piano, saving it from destruction. He saw poten-tial in that antique piano and designed a useful piece of furniture from the fam-ily memorabilia. His piano story is as creative as the furniture that he created.
John Terpin’s parents had the 1820 piano, which was placed in the basement cavity of their home for storage in Buffalo, New York, while building their home. The walls and ceilings of that home literally went up around the existing base-ment. John’s parents inherited the piano when his folks bought an old church, which they converted into a funeral home. Thirty years and many family memo-ries passed before John’s parents decided that it was time to make room in the basement for “other things.” Thus, the piano’s size became a “huge” issue. Thirty years had taken its toll on the piano and it was much too large and heavy to be taken up the basement stairs. His father and mother agreed that the only solu-tion was to break the piano into pieces and dispose of it. Over the years John had developed an appreciation for the beauty and strength of the solid wood. He was determined that something beautiful could be created from the ornately carved solid wood pieces. It didn’t take long for him to envision the queen bed. The top portion of the upright piano became the headboard and the bottom portion, com-plete with pedals, became the footboard. The claw foot piano stool made a perfect side table for the Terpin’s new bedroom set.
The queen-sized bed is just one of the pieces that can be viewed on the art-ists’ website www.freewebs.com/totallyblessedartist/. Other unique innovations can be created by Lisa and John who combine John’s mechanical and drafting background with Lisa’s creative eye for detail and color. Their newly formed busi-ness, Totally Blessed Freelance Artists, is inspired by nature and a desire to cre-ate unique, three-dimensional artwork that combines color and detail. Whether you’re thinking of designing a custom logo for a new business, a creative banner, graphic design, a mural or bedroom suite, the artists at Totally Blessed offer per-sonal, friendly customer service, combined with their expertise in mechanical and artistic renderings. Prices are customized with each project. John and Lisa can be reached at 623-932-5573 or emailed at [email protected]. Their talents are limited only by the designs you ask them to create.
Totally Blessed Freelance Artists John and Lisa Terpin
Estrella Mountain CycleryDenise & Tony Amos
Exercise! It’s the number one resolution for the New Year for most of us. And a great way to promote good health for the New Year begins with getting into shape and staying in shape. The benefits of bicycle riding, along with any type of exercise, are proven to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and other chronic diseases. Besides the health benefits, riding a bicycle actually improves the quality of life for all ages. Most important, increased physical activity doesn’t have to be a strenuous chore. Minimal increased activity, such as recreational bicycle riding, promises sig-nificant health benefits.
That said, consider enjoying a scenic ride! Estrella residents, Tony and Denise Amos, come to your fitness rescue with a custom fitted, personal-ized bicycle from Estrella Mountain Cyclery. The shop offers a 10% discount to all Estrella residents. It features a child’s play area to occupy the youngsters, allowing you to address your biking questions with
an experienced staff member. All staff members are knowledgeable and eager to help. Your individual biking needs will be addressed, whether you’re just beginning to ride a bicycle or preparing for your next triathlon. Customers can sign up for a mechanical or cycling skills class or arrange to join in on a “road ride” of organized adult mountain bikers who cycle together on Saturday mornings. Interested cyclists can call 623-925-1352 for more information.
Estrella Mountain Cyclery is a proud sponsor of Goodyear’s BMX track as well as a sponsor of Estrella Multi-Sport Club, hosting a variety of events for cyclists and athletes of all ages in Goodyear’s surrounding communities, including Estrella.
The Amos family, owners of Estrella Mountain Cyclery, moved to Arizona in 2004 as a job transfer in the Construction Industry for Tony. The family lived north of San Francisco, California prior to making Estrella their home. Denise was a full time mom, staying busy with the couple’s son, Spencer, who is a student at Estrella Mountain Elementary School. Then, as the common “economy suffering” story goes, the construction industry wasn’t flourishing anymore and thus prompted Tony and Denise to have a “Plan B.” Denise combined her background in retail with Tony’s avid love of mountain biking to create a bicycle shop which provides a family friendly atmosphere for biking enthusiasts. The Amos’ were determined to cre-ate an atmosphere keen on women cyclists’ needs, stating that bicycle shops can be “very intimidating to women.” They have been successful in educating customers, male and female, ranging from beginning riders to triathletes.
Denise shared a favorite success story, recalling a satisfied customer named “Mary” who called Estrella Mountain Cyclery, stating that she had purchased a bicy-cle from a “big box” store and that the saddle wasn’t comfortable. Denise invited Mary to bring the bicycle into Estrella Mountain Cyclery so that she could try to fit and position the saddle properly. Not surprisingly, the bicycle was way too small for Mary’s tall frame, thus a quick adjustment wasn’t possible. Mary was able to return the bike. She then returned to Estrella Mountain Cyclery for a personalized bicycle fitting. She purchased a “Flat-bar” bicycle, which is a road bike that can also travel on gravel or dirt roads. The thankful customer currently rides approximately thirty miles routinely from her home near the bicycle shop to Estrella Mountain Ranch - around the lakes - and back home again.
Two of the most popular bikes you will find in-stock at the cycle shop are Mountain Bikes and the latest Hybrid bikes. The Hybrid features a street type tire meant mainly for street riding that can handle a dirt trail and is off-road versatile as well. Its upright positioning makes it a comfortable favorite. Another great cycling option is the Shimano, featuring automatic gear switching, coasting technology and old-style coaster peddle brakes. With so many updated cycling options, there is surely one to fit your customized fitness needs. Estrella Mountain Cyclery is located at 13380 W. Van Buren, Suite 201 in Goodyear or call 623-925-1352.
YOUR BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT. Our community is filled with amazing people and very unique talents and gifts. We love to highlight these resources so that we as neighbors can get a sense of what’s going on right here in our community. We invite you to be part of the fun and join in. Send us your write up through our website or give us a call and see what kind of connection you can make! www.myhometownestrella.com or 800-497-1309 x705.
enjoying a scenic ride! Estrella residents, Tony and Denise Amos, come to your fitness rescue with a custom fitted, personal-ized bicycle from Estrella Mountain Cyclery. The shop offers a 10% discount to all Estrella residents. It features a child’s play area to occupy the youngsters, allowing you to address your biking questions with
1616 N. Litchfield Rd Suite #170 Goodyear, AZ 85395
facing.... Foreclosure...???behind on your loan ?negative equity ?have to sell and move ?
Greg Marthaler GRI, eProShort Sale Specialist
Short Sale - Is it possible?ONLY with Lender's APPROVAL !
PREPARE documents to the Bank for SHORT SALE PACKAGEMITIGATE with your Lender to get the SALE CLOSEDSAVED CREDIT, loan is reported to Credit Bureaus as PAID IN FULL.
Having an experienced Short Sale Agent makes the difference between closing and foreclosure
CALL me today to find out if a Short Sale is right for you.....
Golf Club of Estrella: (623) 386-2600www.LifeInEstrella.com
New Cotton Lane Bridge And Roadway Now Open
Newland Communities is a privately owned company that creates residential and urban mixed-use communities in 14 states from coast to coast. We believe it is our responsibility to create enduring, healthier communities for people to live life in ways that matter most to them. www.newlandcommunities.com.
