my hometown estrella - november 2012

my hometown

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Community SurveyAttention all Estrella Residents: Take a moment

to complete a short survey about some perti-

nent matters. Your input is vital to the better-

ment of Estrella. Please visit our website, www.

lifeinestrella.com and then click on Communications

Committee Survey November 2012. Estrella, thank

you in advance for your participation.

2

You’re busy, we understand. It’s hard to find time

to volunteer. But squeezing in a little extra time

that’s required to become involved just might

be the fulfillment you’ve been craving. There are

loads of scheduled activities in the community

that encourage your participation.

Page 4

Volunteers Make A Difference

VolumE 6. NumBER 11www.myhometownestrel la .com november 2012

It’s true, kids say the ‘darndest things.’ We’re happy to

report that the first graders at Estrella Elementary School

are thankful for what matters the most to them. The

following responses to our survey come from students

in Bicki Blasdell and Tara Archer’s first grade class-

rooms. In the spirit of gratitude, it’s great to know that

these children have prioritized appreciation. Enjoy their

responses!

Page 5

Westar Elementary 1st Graders Give Thanks

Call: 623.850.0005 Email: [email protected]: 623.850.0005 Email: [email protected] www.WeSellAzHomes.com to see all of the homes for sale in our local MLS

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We are located to the east of Safeway in the Mountain Ranch Marketplace. Come by anytime for information on Estrella, Goodyear and the West Valley

my hometown: page 3www.myhometownestrel la .com

VolumE 6. NumBER 11

november 2012this month...

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission is prohib-ited. The Fountain is a monthly publication highlighting house, home and community building. The Fountain accepts freelance contributions, though there is no guarantee that unsolicited material will be returned. The Fountain 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 Goodyear area.

My Hometown Estrella is a great example of what can happen when neighbors build strong relationships and get busy putting their ideas and skills together for the good of the community.

We hope you find this community publica-tion reflective of our excitement to be in Estrella and our desire to build something that brings us all closer together. We invite you to join in the fun and get involved.

FountainMediaGroup inc.

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my hometown

The Value of $100

What does one hundred dollars mean to you? Probably a great deal if you’re putting that amount towards a concert you’ve dreamed of attending, and not-so-much if you’re filling your grocery cart or your gaso-line tank lately. It’s fairly safe to assume, in different situations, one-hundred dollars holds a variety of different values.

It was the holiday season, last year, when I learned that one hundred dollars has never meant more to me. As each of us has our own unique stories of giving back, mine is no more relevant than yours. I’m sharing it in hopes that it will serve as an inspiration for you. I hope that it helps you continue to add onto your own story; a motivator for your giving. Because generosity to others is truly what makes the world go round for me, for you, for everyone!

After you read this, it’s no longer the secret that we set out for it to be. (It’s hard to imagine that we’ve held onto the secret for almost a year.) Now, it’s more of a “pay-it-forward” concept and I hope you’ll grab onto the inspiration and dream up your own “some kind of wonderful.”

A week or so after Thanksgiving last year my fam-ily pitched in our lunch money and turned the proceeds into a crisp one-hundred dollar bill. We chose an evening

on the calendar and met at the local Goodwill thrift store parking lot. Each of us scoured the store that evening, searching for an individual that we felt most in need of the cash. We found a young father shopping

for clothing for his young baby and nodded in agreement, from different locations in the store, that he was “the one.” We left the store and waited outside for the young father to fin-ish his shopping and preceded to hand him the fresh one-

hundred dollar bill as he loaded his precious daughter into her car seat in the parking lot, assuring him that our intentions were merely to make his holiday season a bit brighter. There wasn’t a dry eye among us, the recipient included. It was truly the best gift ever given, we agreed.

We’ve dedicated our entire issue this month to “Giving Back” and it’s packed with amazing reflections of positive inspirations.

My story?...It’s just an example of the way my family gave to someone and, in return, received so much more!

(None of us will soon forget the young father’s gratitude).

KIm AlVARAdo, ESTREllA RESIdENTeditor’s corner

Thanksgiving Recipes with a Twist on Tradition 15

Each Person dreams Their own movie Into Existence 16

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oN YouR dooRSTEP NEWS & EVENTS hAPPENINg IN ANd ARouNd ESTREllA 4

hoA EVENTS & BullETIN BoARd YouR hoA IS hARd AT WoRK WITh ThESE fuN RESIdENT EVENTS 10

CluBS, ClASSES, mEETINgS STARPoINTE RESIdENTS CluB PRogRAmS & CommuNITY CAlENdAR 11

people in your neighborhood

RAChEl l . NEumANN NEIghBoRS & fRIENdS You’d lIKE To mEET 14

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O F F i C E

Fountain Media Group, Inc. 1501 San Elijo Rd. S, Ste. 104-202

San Elijo Hills, CA 92078 (800) 497-1309

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P u b l i S h E r S

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(800) 497-1309 x707 [email protected]

Kim Alvarado Associate Publisher


E D i TO r i A l

Kim Alvarado Community Editor


Mike Minjares Managing Editor


C O n T r i b u T i n G W r i T E r S

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Contact Kim Alvarado (800) 497-1309 x705

[email protected] www.myhometownestrella.com

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ESTREllA

on your doorstep

Volunteers Make A Difference – Give back to YOur Community

You’re busy, we understand. It’s hard to find time to volunteer. But squeezing in a little extra time that’s required to become involved just might be the fulfillment you’ve been craving. That’s right, lending a help-ing hand actually has benefits of relaxation and fulfillment. When you give your time, you’ll also learn new

things, meet your neighbors and enhance your mental and physical health. Maybe you’ve been looking for inexpensive ways to expand your networking range in regards to your small business? Get out from behind that desk and get outdoors! There are loads of scheduled activities in the community that encourage your participation.

Change it up! (your schedule, that is…)

Office after-hours are made for casual clothing and inspiration. Grab your chef ’s cap and an apron while you share some outdoor time with like-minded individuals at a Yacht Club Social event. Your level of energy just may surge (something sitting in the office or in front of the television just won’t do for you.) Volunteering isn’t just unpaid work, it’s an excellent way to boost your social skills and have some fun while you’re at it!

Rather than viewing volunteering as a chore, you just may find that your commitment offers more of a sense of relaxation and accomplishment. Staying in touch with others in a fun atmosphere is a key means of developing a great support system. With a better view of yourself and your community, you’re likely to have a more positive outlook on your personal goals.

As a volunteer, you’re part of the foundation of the community. You’re involvement is the glue that keeps the active community lifestyle so abundant right here in Estrella. There are several entities within our community that could greatly benefit from your experience and your expertise. Please consider giving a small amount of your time back to your community. Give it a try and count the ways you benefit.

Join A Committee

The following Committees would benefit greatly from enthusiastic energy and ideas from you:

• The Budget and Finance Committee• Social Committee• Trails Committee• Communications Committee• Landscape Committee

Join a Committee – Volunteers Make A Difference – Please consider volunteering your experience & expertise. Applications and more informa-tion can be found at www.lifeinestrella.com located in the Document Library under Applications and Forms or at Estrella Community Services Office and Starpointe Residents Club.

Dennis Brunghardt, Budget/Finance Committee Volunteer said, “The com-munity benefits from all volunteers by greater residents’ influ-ence on community policies and practices, providing expanded amenities, and reduced costs of operation and maintenance.” Dennis added, “Personally, since my involvement four years ago, I feel I have served on numerous committees, including the Board of Directors, and feel my ‘finger prints’ are on numerous aspects of the communities’ evolution and progress during that time.”

Community Volunteer, Steve Bausch, noticed that dying and missing plants and shrubs were taking a negative toll on the esthetics of the community, so he got involved in hopes of getting to the “root” of the problem. “Estrella is a beautiful master development, one which I’m proud to call home. I got involved with the common area landscaping, as I was unhappy with what was happening,” he stated.

Event Volunteer, JoAnn Comstock, may have summed it up best by stating, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” That quote, she states, sticks in her mind and is one of the reasons she initially got involved in volunteering in the community. JoAnn added that through volunteering she has met many of her neighbors, who have become her friends and helped create a better community along the way. “I am truly fortunate,” she said.

Goodwill- located at 211 North litchfield Rd., goodyear 85338 goodwill gladly accepts your clothing, home décor and cash dona-tions, with funds earned in thrift shops to help supply programs to job seekers, helping them find the skills that they need to find careers. Your donations will help you gain a great tax deduction too.

hope’s Closet- 13390 West Van Buren Street, Palm Valley Shopping Center, goodyear 85338. This thrift shop is owned and operated by New life Center- a refuge from domestic violence. hope’s Closet is currently accepting donated items and is always looking for volunteers who are committed to their mission of providing shelter, safety and service. Call 623-932-4404 and learn how you can help. In 2011 and 2012 hope’s Closet was named “Best of goodyear” in the thrift store category by the u.S. Commerce Association.

Foundation for Senior living – www.fsl.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding seniors, providing person care and health services for the disabled. during the holidays, there is an increase in the number of people needing food boxes, toiletries and financial assistance for utility bills. Please contact the website to see how you can help. (Also, see our faceBook page for a resident con-tact person).

Donations for Our Troops- Sponsored by Capital Consultants management Corporation (CCmC) and Arizona Association of Community managers (AACm). Your support is needed for this 3rd Annual holiday Care Package drive. The Estrella community has proud-ly supported our military troops and your help is needed this year too. Through operation Caregiver efforts in Arizona, you can help through cash donation (checks payable to AACm-operation Caregiver), or do the shopping yourself by visiting www.lifeinestrella.com where you’ll find military pre-approved items that our troops need. Your donations may be dropped off at the Starpointe front desk, friday’s family Breakfast, Trivia, or at Bingo night.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America-14200 West filmore St., goodyear 85338. for nearly 30 years CTCA has been helping patients win the fight against advanced and complex cancers, providing both conventional and alternative medical treatments. See their website to learn ways that you can contribute.

homeless Youth Connection- www.hyconnectionkids.org located at 15655 W. Roosevelt St., Ste. 100 in goodyear. The homeless Youth Connection only operates on funds provided through donations from contributors. learn about how you can help the growing number of displaced youth in our community by visiting their website.

Directory list of Organizations needing Your Support This Season:Residents responded that the following organizations are among their favorite to support. We hope you’ll consider utilizing them

for a donation of time, money or resources this holiday season.


on your doorstepESTREllA

Estrella Mountain Car Club benefits

Community

Estrella Mountain Car Club is a group of “car guys and gals,” “gearheads,” or whatever you want to call them. The main thing they have in common is a love for cars. On the fourth Saturday of the month you’ll find them at the Safeway parking lot from 8 to 11am where “Cars, Coffee and Conversation” is going on. All are welcome to show their car or just stop by for a visit.

Members have made it a point to participate in local activities. There is nothing like a lot full of beautiful, old, classic, or restored cars to draw a crowd. The car club has helped Canta Mia celebrate its Second Anniversary, they’ve participated in the Pebble Creek Car Shows at the Ball Park that has benefit-ted local charities and participated in the Buckeye Oktoberfest that benefits the schools. It’s pretty much a win-win. The car enthusiasts love to show their cars; the cars draw the crowds to the events that raise much-needed funds. I bet you even remember seeing them lined up in front of Starpointe on the night of the Sock Hop!

Ken Kiko reminds everyone, “Come and join us and have fun with your car!”

It’s true, kids say the ‘darndest things.’ We’re happy to report that the first graders at Estrella Elementary School are thankful for what matters the most to them. The following responses to our survey come from students in Bicki Blasdell and Tara Archer’s first grade classrooms. In the spirit of gratitude, it’s great to know that these children have prioritized appreciation. Enjoy their responses! – Editor’s note

Westar Elementary 1st Graders Give Thanks

Ava: I’m thankful for the earth.

lauren, Avan, David, noah and Ellie: I am thankful for my family.

Shea: I am thankful for my family because they buy me stuff that I love.

Ella: I am thankful for my teacher.

Jackson: I am thankful for my turtle.

Chrystina and Katie: I am thankful for the school.

Donye: I am thankful because my Dad does not smoke.

Alora and Aubrey: I am thank-ful for my brother, because he plays with me.

Paola: I am thankful for my fam-ily because they bought me a sewing machine.

Cailin: I am thankful for art.

Connor: I am thankful for my Grandmother.

ben: I am thankful for my mom because she fixed my bike.

Cody and Aaron: I am thankful for animals.

Diego: I am thankful for my Grandpa, because he went through cancer and he survived.

Anthony: I am thankful for God and Jesus.

Adeho: I am thankful for my mom and dad because they got me an X-box.

Stacy: I am thankful for my home.

Evangeline: I am thankful for my sister because she plays with me.

Arvana: I am thankful for helping my family.

Gracie: I am thankful for my big sister because my mom and my dad pay me money.

nick: I am thankful for my dog.

Kody: I am thankful for my Grandma and Grandpa.

Stella: I am thankful for my Great-Grandpa because he was in the army.

Allison: I am thankful for the lov-ing world.

Jagger: I am thankful for my dog because I help him up on mom’s bed.

Everit: I am thankful for my mom for helping me.

Kellie: I am thankful for God.

Anthoney: I am thankful for God because if he was dead, I could not be alive.

braden: I am thankful for the life I live in.

richard: I am thankful for my Grandma because she makes me happy.

McKayla: I am thankful for the world.

Cynthia: I am thankful for my mom because she makes me food.

Alexis: I am thankful for my mom because my mom cooks for me.

Cain: I am thankful for the school and our world.

logan: I am thankful for my dogs and cats.

lily: I am thankful for my house because my parents paid for me to live in it.

Michael: I am thankful for my mom because she caught my dog.

Major: I am thankful for my mom because she is nice.

Elizabeth: I am thankful for my mom and dad because they love me and I love them.

Emma: I am thankful for God because we would not be here if you were dead.

At Estrella Mountain Elementary School “Giving Back” is no strange concept. We are always trying to encourage our students to think of ways and practice giving back to each other, to the school, to the community and even to the planet.

Estrella Mountain Elementary School is currently participating in Arizona’s Family Holiday Food Drive brought to you by channel 3 Arizona’s Family and Fry’s food stores. It’s called “Trim the Table School Challenge.” It’s a statewide challenge for all Arizona schools K-12 and it runs from September 1 through November 29. Each school is to collect a specific canned food item to be used by Arizona Food Banks for holiday food boxes. Our school has chosen to collect green beans and we have cans coming in daily! If you have any students that you know that go to our school, please send in cans of green beans with them.

Another way we are promoting “Giving Back” is with our Book Fair hap-pening November 26 through the 30. It will be open from 7:30am to 5pm on these days. At this particular book fair if you buy one book you will be able to get one book of equal or lesser value for free. This makes giving the gift of literacy much easier this holiday season!

If you are looking for somewhere to give your free time, EMES library wants you! We are in need of volunteers. Contact [email protected] for more info.

Estrella Mountain Elementary

School Practices Giving back


ESTREllA

on your doorstep

The Golf Club of Estrella is located at 11800 South Golf Club Drive, Goodyear, AZ 85338

Estrella book Club needs Your Slightly used books

Kim Bergay, pictured on the right, is a nurse at Cancer Treatment Centers Of America, in Goodyear. She recently completed Estrella’s 5k event, running side by side with her friend, Dawn. “I ran this race to support the community and because as I see so many people my age fighting for their life and many winning that fight against cancer! Running for a cause is a small way for me to help those fighting the disease, by raising research money to help find a cure,” she added. For that rea-son, this community run acted as sort of a training session for her next race, PF Chang’s half marathon in January.

The community 5k event was part of the Arizona Half Marathon, which the Estrella community sponsored early in October. When asked why she enjoys running, Kim responded that besides acting as a stress reliever, running enables her to support her community, to stay in shape and helps her maintain optimum health. She began run-ning 12 years ago, immediately following the birth of her oldest daughter, Madeline, as a way to get back into shape and joked about continuing to

running to Promote Good health

run after the birth of her second daughter, Sofia, as necessary “sanity breaks from the kids.” Although she has endured numerous setbacks in running, due to injury and sciatica, she’s utilized the recent 5k event to help her prepare for PF Chang’s Rock n’Roll Half Marathon, set for January 20 and hopes to continue with participation in a full marathon by the end of 2013.

Kim has set a personal goal of raising $1,500 for the PF Chang’s run in order to raise money for the leukemia/lymphoma society. She invites anyone interested in joining her through donation, prayer, etc., to contact her directly at [email protected] or http://pages.teamintraining.org/az/pfchangs13/

kbergayteamintrainingorgazpfchangs. Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Nearly 958,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers. “I am hoping that my participation in ‘Team in Training’ will help bring them hope and support. On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you for your support. I greatly appreciate your generosity,” she concluded.

The Estrella Book Club is excited about donating books to Phoenix Children’s Hospital this season and your assistance with donations would be greatly appreciated. There will be two donation boxes located at the Starpointe Residents Club, one for new books and one for slightly used books, from November 7 through December 12. Take this opportunity to clean off your bookshelves and donate to children and their families who are hospitalized. Books written in Spanish are also needed.

Personal Trainer, dawn Terry and Registered Nurse, Kim Bergay recently completed Arizona’s 5k run, hosted in the Estrella community last month.

Arizona in ACTiOn - bike rodeo & Fitness Fair

Join Arizona In ACTION in November for a free event in the West Valley. People of all ages are invited to participate in a health and fitness fair. Free health checks from the IMS Health Foundation and free skin cancer screenings are sponsored by Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Don’t miss the bike rodeo with Goodyear Fire and Police experts, including helmet fittings with Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The event is hosted by the Goodyear Police Department and will be held at Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale.

Free Family Bike Rodeo and Fitness Fair – November 3 from 9am - Noon. Estrella Mountain Community College, 3000 N. Dysart, Avondale, Arizona 85392

Your local historical society is in the business of researching and preserving our local history. But, Three Rivers Historical Society in partnership with West Valley Arts Council and Maricopa County Parks is building a trail, Centennial Trail in Estrella Park. With Arizona celebrating its Centennial it seemed the perfect time to build a trail that would combine a beautiful outdoor setting with an oppor-tunity to tell the history of the area.

Centennial Trail will be a half mile, barrier free loop trail behind the Nature Center. When com-pleted, the trail will loop around a water feature. Along the path there will be eleven exhibit pads that tell about the history and the people of the area, including the Hohokam, the European explorers, the shifting border with Mexico, Arizona statehood, the local defense industry so important to this area, the advent of master planned communities and even how Estrella Park was created and became the first of the Maricopa County Park System.

Three rivers historical Society building Centennial Trail

photo left to right: Janene Vanleeuwen,Wendy Pappenfus, Ed Buonvecchio, margaret Woodward, Korri liu, Carson ferrall, frank garcia and madison groves

A team of dedicated volunteers have worked tirelessly all through this hot summer to rid the area of invasive salt cedar. Some weekends there have been a handful of workers and other times we had Boy Scout Troops, youth groups or other large groups come out to help. Recently, Hickman Eggs has helped by providing us roll-away dump-sters to help us get rid of the cut brush. As we fill them up they haul them away and bring us more dumpsters. What a great help this has been!

Come join us. We meet on the third Tuesday of the month at the Goodyear Civic Center, 190 N. Litchfield Rd at 3 PM. Each meeting features

a guest speaker with an interesting story. With our trail project there are ample opportunities for anyone wanting to get involved in a great project! Check on our progress anytime you are visiting Estrella Park, or better yet, call me to volunteer! It’s right behind the Nature Center.

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school news

Glitter, Gold & Grimm, an EFhS Winter Theatrical ProductionJust after tearing down the set from their fall performances of How

The West Was Dun…, the Pioneer melodrama written by Christopher Gieschen, theatrical students have set aside their dusty boots to bring out the glamour of the season with Glitter, Gold & Grimm, written by Teresa Tally, Susan Jung, and Bob Cooper, in order to entertain the community with holiday performances at Estrella Foothills High School’s Performing Arts Theater on Thursday, November 29 and Friday, November 30 with a 7pm curtain time. Director, Tricia Schultz, announced that the winter play, Glitter, Gold & Grimm is a fun performance for children of all ages. The show is a compilation of nursery rhymes and fairy tales that weave together into one magical storyline.

“It’s definitely children’s theatre, which will make it a fun change from our other shows this year,” states Schultz. “This show was created for Stage Struck Productions, which has moved to the Phoenix valley within the last few years. It has been produced by west valley arts organizations and schools and has a large and diverse cast and will allow us the oppor-tunity to cast many students and include some students from our feeder programs. We purposefully chose to produce this family friendly show for this time of year. I hope local families incorporate the production into part of their holiday festivities,” she added.

This year’s show will be sponsored by the Skills USE club and will likely incorporate activities and fundraising such as photos with Santa, holiday ornament and drawing sales.

Tickets may be purchased at the Performing Arts Center for Glitter, Gold & Grimm. Prices are just $5 for adults, $4 for students and children 5 and under are FREE! For more information contact Director, Tricia Schultz at [email protected]

“how The West

Was Dun”

Theatre Students enter-tained the community with their recent performances at the EFHS Performing Arts Center. Actress, Samantha Fernandez, ‘the her-oine’ and actor, Tim Walzczk, ‘the hero’ shared with us some thoughts about the production and the characters they played. I asked the two how their char-acters resembled their ‘real life’ personalities.

Sammy Fernandez: “Polly is a delicate character with a lot of loyalty to her family. Underneath all of that girly sweetness, is some brute strength and iron will. I suppose that’s how were alike.”

Tim Walzczk: “Although the Sheriff always tries to do what’s right, he doesn’t always know what’s going on – especially with the girls. We’re alike like that.”

high School Digital Photography Class Joins Skills uSASubmitted by: Jason Schultz, Digital Photography Instructor

For the past four years, the digital photography class at EFHS has been one of the many outstanding fine arts classes on campus. This year, though, the class has moved into the Career and Technical Education (CTE) department and will experience some of the great opportunities CTE allows programs and students.

Digital Photography is broken up into three leveled classes: Introduction to Digital Photography, Basics of Digital Photography and Advanced Digital Photography. In the introductory level, students get a wide-ranging look at sev-eral aspects of photography including the workings of the camera and rudimentary concepts like shutter speed, aperture and white balance; common types of photography like still-life, nature, sports and portraits; a brief look at the history and prominent figures in photographic history; and a rundown of Photoshop and many of its uses and applications in processing and manipulating photos. The class, as all CTE courses do, also has students engage in building workplace job-readiness skills such as resume-writing, interviewing and customer service

techniques.

The basic and advanced classes take students into higher applications of each of the areas in the introductory level. Students get more hands-on, indus-try-type experience through both personal photographic projects and school-related, but real-world applications. Students will have the opportunity to work on photo projects for other classes, school organizations, fundraisers and their own personal portfolios.

The transition from Fine Arts to CTE has been interesting as I have had to integrate many new concepts into the curriculum used as a Fine Arts class, but

CTE is going to offer the students, especially those who move on to the basic and advanced level, so many opportu-nities for professional growth and preparation for a career in photography. By themselves, the opportunities that the association with Skills USA will offer are tremendous.

Skills USA is a co-curricular organization for many of the CTE programs in the district like Photography, Broadcast Media, Drafting, Culinary Arts, Technical Theatre and Precision Manufacturing. Skills USA offers students many opportunities to develop leader-ship skills, attend industry events and conferences and compete at the state and national level in various industry-related contests.

Having taught photography for the past five years, and having 16 years of photography experience, the last four as the owner of his own photography and design business, In-Touch Imagery, Schultz brings both academic and hands-on experience to his students. He understands the opportunities that digital photog-raphy moving into the CTE department will give to students as they prepare for whatever career awaits them.

Fine Arts Calendar of Events Scheduled for the Performing Arts Center at EFhS includes:

Winter Play - glitter gold & grimm - 11/29 and 11/30

Winter dance Concert - 12/13 and 12/14

Winter music Concert - 12/18

district Visual Art display - march-April

mid-Term music Concert - march (TBA)

Spring Play - Scenes from Shakespeare - 4/4 and 4/5

fine Arts festival - 4/26

Spring dance Concert - 5/7, 5/8 and 5/9

Spring music Concert - 5/16

high School Students giving

Back to their community

through performance

Alison Cox

dessy Wallace

Kelsey Bozeman


on your doorstepESTREllA

Estrella Foothills high School

FAFSA night

Are you interested in learning about ways to afford a college education? An informational meeting will be held for juniors and seniors and their parents/guardians on Wednesday, November 7 at 6:30pm in the Library Lecture Hall. A college financial advisor will be here to inform us about loans, grants, and scholarship opportunities.

Schedule Modifications

In the month of November, there are a few times where the school calendar is adjusted that you may want to take note of:

November 12 – No school in observance of Veterans’ Day

November 14 – Early Release for District Training and Collaboration (11:30am dismissal)

November 21 – Early Release to allow holiday preparation time with families (11:30am dismissal)

November 22 & 23 – No school in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday

books for Phoenix Children’s

hospital We currently are accepting books that are slightly used or new. The

slightly used books are placed in the actually Library. They get a sticker that says “Compliments of The Emily Center”. These books are placed on our compliment shelves. The children and their family can come to the Center and pick books to take to the room to read. We tell them they can keep these books if they so desire.

New books are needed for the Book Cart program we have imple-mented. The Book Cart is staffed by volunteers that go to each room on each floor. The child is given a book to keep. A sticker is placed on the book saying: “A gift to you from the Emily Center ”. We give the child a book thereby encouraging them to read and of course for the parents to read to the child also. Books that are designated for the book cart need to be new. These books go to the floors with children who have suppressed immune systems. By providing new books in the Book Cart, we are being cautious in not giving slightly used books that might have been stored in someone’s garage, storage or attic.

Usually during the holiday season (mid-December), The Emily cen-ter becomes a “Toyland” for one day where each patient comes and gets a donated toy. We also give each patient a new book to take home.

We are always in dire need of board books for the young child (2 and under). We also have a need for children’s book in Spanish.

Specialists in Orthodontics and Pediatric DentistryNow accepting new patients.

Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry

623-536-0079www.hilgerspedo.com

Hilgers Orthodontics

623-935-3908www.hilgersorthodontics.com

Elliott Market in Estrella Mountain Ranch17750 West Elliot Road Suite C Goodyear, Arizona 85338


ESTREllA

hOA events

The Community of Estrella is teaming up with Arizona in ACTIoN this month to get you moving! Before our showing of madagascar 3 in Bougainvillea Park, we will be dancing, jumping, running and playing games designed to get you in action.

Arizona in ACTIoN is passionate about their mission to promote, educate, and motivate people of all ages in the state of Arizona to live a healthier lifestyle. They will be on hand to offer helmet fittings, and to offer information on how you can add healthier habits to your lifestyle. Jennifer Barber, Estrella resident and Executive director of Arizona in ACTIoN, was instrumental in bringing lids on Kids events to both Estrella neighborhood elementary schools recently. These

events rewarded our school children for walk-ing and biking to school safely. Charms were awarded to children that biked or scooted to school with safety helmets, and high fives from local celebrities like Izzy, the mascot of the goodyear Ballpark, encour-aged the kids to keep moving. The Estrella community’s management company, CCmC, was inspired by these great events and wanted to build on them by encouraging families to bike and walk together in our beautiful community.

Ride your bike, scooter or walk to the showing of madagascar 3: Europe’s most Wanted (Pg) in Bougainvillea Park, November 10. madagascar 3 is the latest in the series featuring Alex, marty, gloria and melman who are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple Zoo. Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent, madagascar style. Expect twists, turns and a whole lot of laughs. Arrive early to grab your seats because we will be playing games and awarding prizes, such as glow bracelets, bike lights and helmets before the show. Popcorn will be given away courtesy of West uSA Realty. Water and healthy snacks will be available for sale by the Estrella Social Committee.

Move to the Movies - November 10

Special Announcementsnot To be Missed...Estrella Family breakfast Every friday – 8:30am

Yacht Club Social November 9 – 7:00pm

Semi Annual Community Garage Sale November 10 – 7am – 2pm

Move to the Movies - Madagascar 3 November 10 - Sundown

Trivia November 12 – 6:30pm

new resident Orientation November 13 – 6:00pm

Potluck bingo November 15 – 6:00pm

Cocktails & Conversation November 17 – 7:00pm

Farmers Market November 17 – 10am - 2pm

WinterFest december 1 – 2pm-6pm

new Year’s Eve - info coming soon Visit www.lifeinestrella.com

Cocktails & Conversation Celebrates your Estrella Family

Although residents of Estrella move here from all over, they are never far from family. This month, on November 17, Cocktails & Conversations offers an opportunity to support your Estrella family. A resident of our community has recently experienced a life changing tragedy. Their son Zack was hit by a car while riding his scooter and sustained numerous injuries. upon hearing the news from their friend and neighbor a group of ladies known as the “menopausal mamas” decided to take action to support this family in need. The menopausal mamas, who started as a monday Night Trivia team, has rallied behind this family and are organizing a bake sale for dessert at C&C this month. They are also working on a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle for the event, as well as, selling “go Zack go” bracelets to help cover medical expenses for the family. “It is amazing to see community members come together and support one another. They are a motivated group of ladies and I am happy to help them in their cause”, said holly Aguilar, lifestyle director. oasis Bagels, owned by Estrella Resident Carol Risano, will be serving an Italian dinner while guests of the night enjoy signature drink selections offered at the limited bar sponsored by the Estrella Social Committee. Please purchase your tickets in advance at the Starpointe Residence Club, $15 for residents and $20 for your guests.

If you would like to learn more about Zack and his family, please visit the website. If you would like to make a donation for the silent auction, bake sale, or if you would like to just give a monetary donation to help Zack, please contact holly Aguilar at [email protected] and she can get you in touch with the menopausal mamas. http://www.facebook.com/goZackgo

Semi Annual Community Garage SaleSaturday, november 10, 2012

7:00am—2:00pm

Registration is only $5.00

Stop by The Estrella Community Services office

monday—friday 8:00am—4:00pm

Register online at www.lifeinestrella.com, then ‘Document library’ and ‘Other Applications & Forms’ Click on garage Sale Registration form November 2012

rEMinDEr to Sign up to Serve on a Committee• The budget and Finance Committee reviews financials,

capital reserve contributions, and recommends an annual budget to the Board of directors.

• The Social Committee recommends monthly activities, and assists our lifestyle director with programming those events.

• The Trails Committee is instrumental in the development and maintenance of the many pedestrian and cycling trails within Estrella.

• The Communications Committee assists the management company with website communications, newspaper com-munications, as well as other communication based func-tions serving the community.

• The landscape Committee assists the management com-pany with issues relating to Common Area landscaping within Estrella.

Applications are available on www.lifeinestrella.com, located in the document library under Applications and forms, or at the Community Services office and the Starpointe Residents Club. Please submit your application by november 15, 2012 if you wish to:

• Serve on one of the committees• Re-apply for committee membership• Apply for another committee

Please contact lisa lundskow, Community manager, if you are interested in volunteering in any way, [email protected] or 623-386-1112. Thank you and we look for-ward to your participation.

Saturday, november 10

movie starts at Sundown at Bougainvillea Park located in the montecito Neighborhood


S u N d AY m o N d AY T u E S d AY W E d N E S d AY T h u R S d AY f R I d AY S AT u R d AY

19:30am- Needle Workers

6pm - games, games, games

7pm - Photo Club

28:30am- Estrella family Breakfast

39am - Car Club

4 51pm- Bridge

6pm- Budget finance Committee

6pm- Weight Watchers

68am- EmR Business group

10am- Papercrafting

10am- landscape Committee meeting

79:30am- Playgroup

1pm- Weekly Poker

1pm- ladies of the lake

6pm- Bridge

6pm- goodyear in Action

6:30pm- Trails Committee meeting

7:30pm- friends of Estrella

89am- Crafts & Stuff



7pm - democrats living in Estrella


7pm -Yacht Club Social

107am - Community garage Sale

Sunset movie at montecito

11 121pm- Bridge


6:30pm - Trivia

136pm- New Resident orientation

149:30am- Playgroup

10am- Estrella Book Club

1pm- Weekly Poker

6pm- Bridge

6:30pm- Voting member Commiittee

meeting

159am- Crafts & Stuff



6pm - Bingo


5:30pm- Adult Education fitness Program

178am - farmer’s market

10am- Very Important Teen

11am Travel Club

18 191pm- Bridge

5pm- Social Committee meeting


2010am - Papercrafting

219:30am- Playgroup

1pm- Weekly Poker

Starpointe will be closing at 5pm Thanksgiving eve

22hAPPY ThANKgIVINg!

23Starpointe will open at 8am

24

25 261pm- Bridge

6pm- Bunco


27 289:30am- Playgroup

1pm- Weekly Poker

6pm- Bridge




NoVEmBER 2012

upcoming Events & Activities

november 2012

bonnie Jansson

maximum muscle...using slow eccentric and concentric repeti-tions working the muscles to “failure”[email protected]

bea brumbach

Belly dancing…Tribal style belly dancing is a fun way to dance and get some [email protected]

Michal Kempton

[email protected]

Susan Miller

Beginning Zumba…modifies the moves and paces to suit an older participant or those just beginning.

Zumba…fitness program that combines hot international rythms with easy to follow dance moves.

drums [email protected]

linda Jojola

Yoga

Step and [email protected]

Shawn Forzetting

f.I.T.T. Boot [email protected]

Kim hopkins

Cardio Splash

Power [email protected]

Emily DavisBeachbody [email protected]

Dawn Terry

Total Body Conditioning

Core galore: Increase: Balance, stability, coordination and sports performance

Starpointe Fitness instructors

Visit www.lifeinestrella.com for more information or

call Starpointe Residents Club at 623-386-1949

Tumbling & fitness Basic tum-bling skills, physical fitness, agility, coordination develop-ment, flexibility and [email protected]

linda Purdy

Ballet

[email protected]

rick harris

Kickboxing 623-398-7161 [email protected]

barbara Gabriele

hypnotherapy WorkshopAre you looking for help in solv-ing your problems and achiev-ing your goals? [email protected]

Community Events Community Groups Community Meetings

To obtain an updated class schedule visit www.lifeinestrella.com or the Starpointe front desk.

Other


ESTREllA

hOA bulletin board

Community Services Office hours:

Mon.–Fri.: 8am–5pm Tel: 623-386-1112 Fax: 623-386-5788 After-hours HOA contact number 1-800-274-3165

Closing at 3pm on November 21stClosed November 22nd-November 25th reopening November 26th for regular hours

Starpointe residents Club

17665 West Elliot Rd, Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-386-1949

Operating Hours: Mon.–Th. 5:00am–9pm, Fri. 5:00am–8pm Sat. 8am-6pm, Sun. 10am-6pmYouth Club Hours:Mon.-Fri. 3pm-8pmSat.and Sun. 1pm-6pmClosing at 5pm on November 21stClosed for Thanksgiving November 22ndOpening at 8am on November 23rd

Yacht Club hours

Closed MondayTuesday - Sunday 10am - Dusk623-386-3411Closing at 5pm on November 21stClosed Thanksgiving November 22ndWill reopen at 10am on November 23rd

Community Patrol’s Phone number

602-329-0462Monday - Friday 6:00 pm to 2:00 amSaturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 2:00 am

Estrella ManagementEstrella is professionally managed by Capital Consultants Mgmt. Corp. (CCMC)

Estrella Management Team Community Manager: Lisa Lundskow

Administrative Coordinator: Sharon Thunstedt

Administrative Associate: Linda Rockhill

Operations Manager: Debbie Harper

Facilities Director: Todd Wuellner

ECA Compliance/Design Review Coordinator: Jodi Matlock

VCA Compliance Coordinator: Amy Helms

Communications Coordinator: Shirley Robertson

Recreation Director: Dean Westover

Recreation Coordinator: Tammy Campbell

Recreation Assistant: Monica Londy

Starpointe Front Desk Lead: Mary Ann Brungardt

Lifestyle Director: Holly Aguilar

Yacht Club Coordinator: Jordan Ring

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, Brian Konderik Pete Tieche, Lesle Sweeney, Brad Kettelkamp

Estrella Community Association (ECA) Developer Appointed Board Members: Alper Adli, Lesle Sweeney, Brad Kettelkamp

Resident Elected Board Members: Bill Zednik, Barbara Ertl

Villages at EMR Community Association (VCA) Developer Appointed Board Members: Alper Adli, Pete Teiche, Lesle Sweeney

Resident Elected Board Members: Dennis Brungardt, Tom Mineo

hOA Contact

COnGrATulATiOnS TO ESTrEllA COMMuniTY MAnAGEr, liSA lunDSKOW

lisa recently completed her PCAm case study. This is quite an accomplishment as the Professional Community Association manager (PCAm) designation is the highest professional recognition available. PCAm’s are recognized as the elite – the select – the BEST! obtaining this designation requires:

• 5 years of community association manage-ment experience.

• Successful completion of all M-200 courses.

• Passing the CMCA examination by NBC-CAm.

• Complete the PCAM application.

• Successfully complete the PCAM case study.

lisa was also recognized by the Arizona Association of Community managers (AACm) at the guiding Excellence in management (gEm) Awards ceremony. lisa was nominated for “manager of the Year” and was selected as one of the finalists. designed to highlight the indi-vidual efforts of CAAm-certified managers, gEm Award winners and nominees represent the high standards of both their company and the communities they serve.

Congratulations again to lisa!

high Five!delicious, delectable, delightful, dedicated

& professional is just the beginning on how to describe our Estrella foothills high School Culinary Students. All it took was a phone call to Chef deCota and she, along with her students, put together a wonderful assortment of appetiz-ers, desserts and lemonade for our Annual meeting at Estrella foothills high School on Tuesday, September 25. The quality of food, welcom-ing smiles, attentiveness to each customer and overall professionalism would be an asset to any fine dining restaurant. Thank you Principal dr. leslie Standerfer, Chef deCota, Estrella foothills high School Culinary Students and Staff for opening your doors and hearts to help make our Annual meeting a success.

17544 W Canyon lane

17564 W Canyon lane

YArD APPrECiATiOn

Thank you for keeping a nice maintained yard

10227 S 175th Avenue

17509 W Canyon lane

ElECTiOn OF VOTinG MEMbErS AnD AlTErnATE VOTinG MEMbErS

Each Neighborhood (if required) elects a Voting member and Alternate Voting member for a term of one year who is responsible for casting all votes attrib-utable to lots owned by residents in the Neighborhood on all Association matters requiring a membership vote.

If you would like to volunteer for your neighborhood for the year 2013, please submit your application to the Community Services office by december 1, 2012. Current Voting members and Alternates interested in continuing in the position must submit an application.

Applications are available from the community website, www.lifeinestrealla.com, located in the document library under Applications and forms, or at the Community Services office and Starpointe Residents Club.

Please contact lisa lundskow, Community manager, if you are interested in volunteering in any way, [email protected] or 623-386-1112.

Attention all Estrella residents: Take a moment to complete a short survey about some pertinent matters. Your input is vital to the betterment

of Estrella. Please visit our website, www.lifeinestrella.com and then click on Communications Committee Survey november 2012. Estrella, thank you in

advance for your participation.

Getting to Know Your CCMC Family - recreation Coordinator Tammy Campbell

Estrella is privileged to have Tammy Campbell as the Recreation Coordinator. CCmC hired Tammy in September 2007 as an Administrative Assistant. She was that bubbly person at the hoA office; with a smile always on her face. After 2 ½ years of ser-vice, Tammy was promoted to Recreation Coordinator for the Starpointe Residents Club. Tammy was and is still instrumental in the transition of our new Resident Id system and she has some great ideas for future use of the Id cards. It takes an incredible amount of time, patience and love for peo-ple to oversee the many classes, programs, meetings, events and everyday activities that constantly go on at Starpointe. here is a quick rundown of what Tammy orga-nizes every month. Some Clubs, Classes & Activities include…

meetings include…

other Activities & Events…

Tammy makes sure Estrella residents are never bored. In addi-tion to all of the organization of the events, activities, classes and meetings, Tammy has to orches-trate the direction of events and parking, especially if it is on the grounds of Estrella, tents, parking etc. A lot goes into making each class, group, meeting and event a total success. There is a tremen-dous amount of procedures that must be prepared for and com-pleted in order for Tammy to have her job run as smooth as possible and to insure Estrella’s experience is always a good one. Thanks to Tammy’s hard work, dedication and love for her job, Estrella resi-dents enjoy so much. If you are interested in a group, class, meet-ing and/or event, contact Tammy at 623.386.1949 or email [email protected].

• AEFP • Bingo • Bridge • Bunco • Car Club• Games, Games,

games • Estrella Business • Estrella Book Club • Ladies of The

lake

• Kickboxing• Needle Workers • Poker • Paper Crafting • Photo Club • Quiddler• Tennis Club • Travel Club • Trivia • VIT • Weight Watchers

• Board of directors

• Communications • Landscape

• Social Voting member

• Weddings • Birthday Parties • Baby Showers

• Fall Festival • Retirement Parties• Winter Festival


COMMuniTY liFESTYlE: lAnDSCAPE

Fall Irrigation ChecklistAs the summer heat breaks and Fall is just around

the corner, people are headed outside to once again enjoy the landscape. Now is the time to complete some irriga-tion chores to get ready for the cooler months.

Full irrigation check – Turn each station on from the controller to be sure that it not only turns on, but it also fully turns off. A valve that seems to run or seep may need to have its diaphragm replaced. Check for sprin-kler head alignment in the turf and minimize overspray. Remember, cement won’t grow no matter how much it is irrigated. Be sure that sprinklers are vertical. Heads that may have been bumped by the lawnmower over the summer could be leaning which reduces how uniformly they apply water. Clean the filter on your drip valves and flush the end of the lines.

Plantings – Now is a great time to get new shrubs and trees in the ground. Although they may not appear to grow much in the next few months, they are busy establishing roots that will sustain the plant next summer. When placing drip emitters for new trees, it is important to establish two “rows” around the tree. The first row should be at the edge of the root ball, the sec-ond row should be at the drip line of the canopy. This second row will allow for expansion of the root system and future growth. See example above.

Turn it down – During the cool weather in the Fall and Winter months, over-watering is an all too common problem. When the temperatures cool, many people simply forget to reduce the amount they are watering both their lawn and plants. Plants and trees, especially arid adapted varieties that are watered at the same frequency as they were in the summer, may be susceptible to root and stem rot. Summer Bermuda lawns that have not been overseeded and now have a lush green appearance, and maybe a few mushrooms, can do with less water too.

There are some great interactive irrigation scheduling tools available on the internet. A couple new ones to try are listed below: www.amwua.org/watering.html Click on the “Interactive Landscape Watering Guide”

or www.etwatergnome.com

ETwatergnome is a great basic tool for many homeowners. Start by setting up an account (so you can access your information later), answer questions about your landscape, tell it what brand irrigation controller you are using, and the result will tell you how best to schedule irrigation for the

controller you have. It even includes “You Tube” style tutorials on how to operate the controller you choose. Come back often to your account for the latest irrigation scheduling updates.

Fall color - Now is the time to plant winter annuals. With temperatures soon to be in the 80’s and 90’s, the annuals will have time to become established and begin to flower before winter hits. Prepare the flower beds by tilling the soil, adding new mulch if necessary and a good starter fertilizer high in phosphorus. This will allow for the flowers to develop a strong root system and provide for a more colorful display. Great choices include petunia, pansy, snapdragons, and geraniums. These flowers come in a wide variety of color and size.

landscape modifications and Submittals

Are you planning on adding some landscape modifications to your property? here are a few tips to keep in mind before you start your enhancements:

All modifications to an exciting residence within Estrella, including front, side, or rear landscaping or any other physical alteration to the property must be pre approved in advance by the dRC (design Review Committee). This requires our resident to submit an application (located in the community office). The applicant should provide the dRC with as much information as possible, including locations, color, size, set-backs, and/or material description. The submittal may also include photographs, product samples, or other materials that will help the dRC understand the requested modification.

The dRC meets every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. The committee will process the application as quickly as possible. however, incomplete information will cause delays in processing the application.

Applicants will be notified in writing of the Committee’s findings of the modification. All modification approvals are valid for 1 (one) year.

Share Your Story!do you have a story or article

idea you’d like to see in my

hometown Estrella? give our

Editor, Kim Alvarado, a call at

800-497-1309 x705 or

[email protected].

We look forward to

sharing your story with the

community!


Who ARE ThE

meet your neighbor

Estrella resident, Rachel Neumann, is a lot like you. She grew up, got mar-ried, had children and thought she was going to live happily ever after. Yet, as the story often goes, unforeseen stumbling blocks began to appear sometime after her trip down the aisle and before the kids were raised. Those stumbling blocks eventually seemed more like boulders and they were tripping her up on that fairytale pathway of happiness she imagined she’d follow.

It was only through the experience of personal struggle, consistent search-ing, studying and self-discovery that Rachel became a gifted spiritual teacher. She learned the importance of uncovering limiting beliefs in order to remove long-standing emotional and energetic blocks in the body and then became cer-tified in cutting-edge energy medicine techniques, such as Emotional Freedom Technique and Matrix Re-Imprinting to help others identify their own autho-rization.

I asked the twenty-year empowerment coach a few questions about herself and about giving back to others through her coaching techniques.

Q: You do a great deal to help others through your empowerment

coaching. how does this coaching process help you?

A: I certainly didn’t set out to be an empowerment coach. In the beginning, I was simply in pursuit of answers to my own personal pain. My search for opti-mum health, emotional peace, fulfilling relationships and a successful life is what developed into the coaching program that I now offer to my clients.

On this fascinating journey toward wellness, I learned that the body is a wonderful map and blueprint for healing. I learned that muscles, organs and emotions are all connected and tell one’s life story. I became nationally certi-

rachel l. neumann Empowerment Coach, Spiritual Teacher

fied in Therapeutic Massage and Body Work and went on to study Applied Kinesiology, metabolic balance and nutrition.

Q: How did you land in Estrella?

A: Twenty-one years ago I married my dear friend and soul mate, Bill Draves. Almost from day one, whenever the ice, snow and cold got the best of us in Minneapolis, he would jokingly say, “Arizona maybe?” So, on my birthday, 15 years ago, we vacationed in Scottsdale and decided to “just look at a few houses.” Long story short; we bought a house in Scottsdale and on Bill’s birthday, we finally arrived for a “long winter’s stay in the sun.” Because I have a home office and no commute, eight years ago we built our home here in the peaceful community of Estrella.

Q: What do you do to relax?

A: I am completely re-energized by being outside. Whether it be for walks around the lakes, or hikes in nature, I love being outdoors. I also love fun parties with my girlfriends, good movies and a great book. I love flying back to Minnesota to spend time with our four adult children and friends. This year Bill and I celebrated our first grandchild’s graduation from college and hope to attend his next graduation from medical school.

If you’d like to meet Rachel to learn more about her ability to help you connect with your powerful potential, contact her at [email protected]

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

ADV-MyHometown-Nov2011.pdf 1 10/10/11 10:37 PM

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Let’s Keep Estrella Beautiful

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Used Metal, Appliances, Tools, Car Batteries,

Metal Patio Furniture, Water Heaters

Call 623-256-5890 or 623-386-0942 (leave message)


ESTREllA

recipes

Are you looking for simple ways to mix-up the traditional Thanksgiving meal? Pumpkin isn’t just for pie anymore! Several talented neighborhood cooks, contributed the following recipe ideas to mix up the mediocre when preparing holiday meals this month. Try one and watch jaws drop at your Thanksgiving table. – Editor’s note

Thanksgiving recipes with A Twist on Tradition

Pumpkin Pie DipIngredients:

8 oz cream cheese, softened 2 cups powdered sugar

1 ¼ cups canned pumpkin ½ cup sour cream

1 ½ tsp. cinnamon ½ tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. ginger ¼ tsp. cloves (optional)

¼ to ½ cup caramel sauce (optional, but highly recommended)

graham crackers, chocolate crackers and/or gingersnap cookies for dip-ping.

Directions:In a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer on low speed,

blend together cream cheese and powdered sugar until mixed, then increase mixer to medium and beat for 1 minute until smooth and fluffy. Add pumpkin, sour cream, and cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves, mix additional 1-2 minutes. Drizzle with caramel sauce (and marble, if desired). Serve with crackers. Store in refrigerator in an airtight con-tainer. Tip: For cleaner edges on your graham crackers, simply cut them along indentions with a sharp knife, rather than breaking them.

Scalloped Potato Casserole

This dish will have you coming back for seconds!

2 cups already cooked mashed potatoes

1 small onion, thinly sliced

2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced

Saute the onion and garlic in a small amount of olive oil until tender (approx. 10 min). You can mix this into the mash potatoes, or layer on top of them dur-ing layering.

½ cup sour cream

1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese

4 medium potatoes, fully cooked and then sliced au gratin

6 slices of fully cooked bacon, crumbled

Assemble as follows: Spread mashed potatoes on greased cooking dish, top with sour cream, layer thin sliced potatoes, cut butter into small pieces and sprinkle on top of sliced potatoes, and spread grated cheese on top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30-45 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle the bacon for the last 5-8 minutes.

Submitted recipes compliments of: Kathleen Romagnoli, Nancy Williams, Julie Sisk, Barbara Vaughn, Lucy Donnelly

Share Your Story!do you have a story or article

idea you’d like to see in my

hometown Estrella? give our

Editor, Kim Alvarado, a call at

800-497-1309 x705 or

[email protected].

We look forward to

sharing your story with the

community!

Summerwind SolarGo Solar with $0 Down!

Dave HardyEstrella Resident206 399 [email protected]

www.summerwindsolar.comSay Goodbye to Big Electric Bills!

23335 N 18th Dr. #142Phoenix, AZ 85027

ROC# 262055


COMMuniTY liFESTYlE: FEATurE

Each Person Dreams Their Own Movie Into Existence Since the loss of my sister, Trudy, there is something on

my mind that I feel is urgent to share with you. A month of mourning, sadness and grief is behind me and I know one thing for sure, the energy of grief has a vibration all its own.

It’s a pressure that sits with heaviness on the chest. It haunts the mind and it beckons the mourner to stay and partake of its dark fruits forever. Shock. Disbelief. Hopelessness and despair, and similar feelings that come without warning, day or night.

Death is not the only initiation into the swamp of despair. Psychologists calibrate levels of stress based on finances, living conditions, family and personal life, one’s work, health and even the holidays. Life events like death and divorce, job loss, or the diagno-sis of a terminal disease throw us into the physical turmoil of flight or fight as well as mentally and emotionally putting us at even greater risk for our health and happiness.

During the last 25 years or so, we began learning that every emotion has a frequency and an energy that can be measured. Through the use of a sci-ence called Applied Kinesiology, we have even learned how to measure these vibrations within the levels of human consciousness. The lower energy levels of fear, anxiety, anger and resentment feel heavy and drag a person lower and lower into unhappiness. The higher frequencies of pure love without fear, or pure joy, create an entirely different vibration in the body.

Perhaps you remember hearing the phrase “laughter is the best medicine.” It turns out to be true. Researchers have discovered that laughter/joy relaxes the whole body. Joy boosts the immune system, triggers the release of feel good hormones or endorphins, and protects the heart.

So how important would it be to discover that you can actually choose joy! Especially if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with stage IV cancer, choosing joy could be a life-saver. I wonder if you can relate to how happy it makes me as a mom to see my daughter choose joy even in the face of a diagnosis of stage IV cancer. I am learning every day just how important our moment-to-moment choices are.

Before you allow yourself the “luxury” of wallowing in sadness, think for just a moment that choosing sadness or choosing joy is just that – a choice. In whatever way you can, prime the pump of joy. Savor good food. Savor a walk in the brilliant fall foliage or a sailboat excursion on the blue, blue waters of a nearby lake or ocean. Surround yourself with supportive friends who love you unconditionally. Savor chocolate. Or follow the lead of my amazing and inspi-rational daughter (yes, that’s my Judy in the hot pink cap with her arms raised), and take an impromptu drive whenever you can in a fun new car!

Joy, yes joy, is the very core of who you are. Choose Joy!

Rachel L. Neumann, Adv EFT, Empowerment Coach, Spiritual Teacher, Your Pathway to Empowerment, 888-874-7271 [email protected], yourpathwaytoempowerment.com

SuBmITTEd BY: RAChEl l . NEumANN, AdV EfT, EmPoWERmENT CoACh,

SPIRITuAl TEAChER, YouR PAThWAY To EmPoWERmENT,

Yes, you actually can choose joy! Author Rachel Neumann gives back to others through her inspiring messages. – Editor’s note

Estrella HomeMonitoring Services

Peace of Mind While You Are Away

623-374-4623Email: [email protected]

Visit us: www.EstrellaHomeMonitoring.comEstrella Resident Owned & Operated

Estrella Home Monitoring Offers a Wide Range of Services including:• Home Monitoring Services (visit our website for details)• House Cleaning• Grocery Stocking• Airport Pick-up/Drop-off• Coordination and monitoring of maintenance and delivery services•Vacation rental services (visit our website for details)

Chocolate Diamonds® EXCLUSIVELY FROM LE VIAN®

STRAWBERRY GOLD®

OCEAN WAVETM GLADIATOR®

Estrella resident, Rachel’s Neumann’s daughter, Judy, champions Breast Cancer Awareness causes and inspires many while living with her own stage IV cancer diagnosis. Photo taken by Bill draves


buSinESS DirECTOrY

CAN-DO MOVING Office & Residential

www.candomovingaz.com

Mike Brown

602-803-6350 [email protected]

COMPUTER REPAIRS

HOME THEATER SERVICE EMR resident

duVal Goley

(623)-547-2050 email:[email protected]

&


ESTREllA

business spotlight

Solar makes sense:Arizonans are continually looking for ways to save money and leave less

of an environmental “mark” in our world. Solar power alternatives are help-ing keep us from being dependent on public utility companies, rising utility prices, saving us precious resources and dollars. Now, more than ever, solar energy is that valuable resource worthy of development.

Maybe you’ve seen a neighbor having panels installed to their home’s rooftop? Possibly you’re unsure about the costs, the process and the main-tenance of solar transformation for your own home? It makes perfect sense that Arizona residents would want to convert abundant sunshine into power resources while saving money. Fortunately, we’ve got a neighbor reaping the benefits of solar on his own rooftop, Dave Hardy, with Summerwind Solar.

A little about Dave:Like many of our neighbors, we moved to Arizona mostly for the sunny,

warm climate. During one of our annual Spring Training trips to escape the cold, grey Seattle weather, we were introduced to Estrella, and made our decision to move here. We love being active and outdoors, so the hiking and biking trails, tennis courts, Regional Park, baseball parks and golf course were a huge draw. One member of the family deemed “close proximity to water” a move necessity, so the two beautiful lakes are an added and much needed bonus! We have made many friends in the community, been blessed with fantastic neighbors and overall feel very lucky to be members of the Estrella community.

Why Should i consider Solar?Due to its efficiency and current affordability, solar makes sense for so many people in Arizona. Most homeowners can save 20 to 50 percent off their electric bills by installing a solar system; with no up-front cost. Many homeowners today have the option to lease their solar systems, in order to gain all of the advantages and cost savings that solar panels provide, without assuming any of the maintenance responsibilities. Add to that, a value in utilizing clean, safe, renewable solar energy as a direct way to help protect the environment.

Summerwind Solar Summerwind saves:

As a Summerwind Sales Consultant, Dave explains why he stands behind the Summerwind product. “I chose Summerwind Solar because they are an estab-lished, local solar provider with a strong 30-year back-ground in home construction. Most importantly, I liked the overwhelmingly positive feedback I received from their customers I spoke with. My goal is to educate and provide the community with a true service-oriented, local solar option to reduce their electricity bills 20 to 50 percent,” says Hardy.

Solar Systems are very dependable and require very little long-term maintenance. There are many good reasons why most people lease their solar system, installing your system with no upfront money is certainly one of them. However, the most appealing part of leasing solar for many people is the fact that the leasing company covers any necessary repairs to the system and they guarantee the power production for the life of the lease.

“I’ve always had an interest in alternative and renewable energy sources. Moving to Arizona with year round sunshine was the catalyst for my decision to be part of the solar energy industry, which ultimately led to us installing solar panels on our home. I am experiencing firsthand, the financial benefits of solar! I really enjoy providing solar solutions and saving my neighbors money!”

For a complimentary consultation, or to learn more about the benefits of solar, call Dave Hardy at 206-399-4552 or visit www.summerwindsolar.com

dAVE hARdY BRINgS SolAR SAVINgS To YouR NEIghBoRhood!

All your protection under one roof ®.

It’s convenient, one-stop, one-agent shopping with American Family. We offer reliable multi-line coverage for Auto, Home, Business, Health and Life Insurance.*

Kathryn J Roberts, Agent

15655 W Roosevelt St, #101Goodyear, AZ 85338(623) [email protected]

American Family Mutual Insurance Companyand its SubsidiariesAmerican Family Insurance CompanyHome Office — Madison, WI 53783amfam.com

© 2008 14872 — Rev. 11/08






© 2008 14872 — Rev. 11/08






© 2008 14872 — Rev. 11/08

Itʼs convenient and friendly shoppingwith your American Family agent.Ask about our multi-line discounts.

Auto - Home - Business - Life• Competitive Rates • Quality Service

Call today for a free quote or no-obligation Personal Insurance Review. amfam.com






© 2008 14872 — Rev. 11/08

GCE_MyHmTwn_final.indd 1 5/8/08 12:07:25 PM

Rates are for individual play.Tee times may be

booked 5 days in advance. Offer expires 11/30/12

ESTRELLA RESIDENT SPECIAL

$55 $59MON-THUR FRI-SUN

Estrella Mountain Church

Service 2.5 Adult Bible Study

Wednesday, 6:30 pm

Estrella Mountain Preschool 623.476.5578

empreschool.com

Student Ministries Junior high & High school Sunday, 5:45-8:00 pm Meets Tuesday Evenings Cubbies: 6:15-7:15p 3yrs-preschool Sparks: 6:15-8:00p K - 2nd Grade

T & T: 6:15-8:00p 3rd - 6th Grade

10485 S. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear, AZ 85338 623.386.0300 emcaz.org

Loving God Loving Others

Making Disciples

Sunday Worship Times 9:00 &10:45a

Estrella Mountain Church Christmas Eve Celebrations

Will be held at Estrella Foothills High School

Performing Arts Center December 24th - 4:00 & 6:00p

Estrella PaintingThe

Company500 N Estrella Parkway, Suite B2-485 Goodyear, AZ 85338

(602) 460-9749

Interior / Exterior Free Estimates Residential & Commercial

Licensed, Bonded & Insured

Keith GagnonProject Manager

(602) 460-9749 [email protected]

www.EstrellaPainting.com

Fine craftsmanshipand customer satisfaction

is our priority!



(602) 460-9749







is our priority!



(602) 460-9749







is our priority!



(602) 460-9749







is our priority!

West USA Realty EstrellaTHANKSGIVING TURKEY RAFFLE

Homes in Estrella are Selling - We Need Your Listings

www.facebook.com/WestUSAGoodyear

(623) 474-5900 HometownEstrella.com17750 W Elliot Rd, Ste 116,

Goodyear, AZ 85338

Located next to Taste of Italy (in Estrella Mt Ranch).

Family Owned & Operated!

10293 S SANTA FE LN 18180 W. CANYON LN.

17915 W. NARRAMORE 12691 S. 175TH AVE

10293 S SANTA FE LN 18180 W. CANYON LN.

17915 W. NARRAMORE 12691 S. 175TH AVE

8885 S. SAN ANGELO ST

13384 S. 186TH DR. 11116 S. OBISPO DR

18127 W. NARRAMORE 18236 W. EAST WIND AVE

13384 S. 186TH DR. 13384 S. 186TH DR. 11116 S. OBISPO DR 11116 S. OBISPO DR

18127 18236 W. EAST WIND AVE

8885 S. SAN ANGELO ST

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

PENDING SALE

PENDING SALE

SOLD

SOLDNEW LISTING

CUSTOM

YOUR HOMETOWN FAVORITE

REALTORS!

Homes in Estrella are Selling -

NEW LISTING

Homes in Estrella are Selling -

Come into offi ce for details on Thanksgiving Turkey Raffl e

NOVE

MBE

R 20

12

NNP III-Estrella Mountain Ranch, LLC (“Fee Owner(s)”) is the owner and developer of the Estrella Community (“Community”). Certain homebuilders unaffiliated with the Fee Owner or its related entities (collectively, “Estrella”) are building homes in the Community (“Builder(s)”). Fee Owner has retained Newland Communities solely as the property manager for the Community. Newland Communities is not co-developing, co-building or otherwise responsible for any of the obligations or representations of any of the Builders, and shall have no obligations to any buyer regarding a home purchase from a Builder. Purchasers of homes from any of the Builders waive any claims against Newland Communities arising out of their purchase transaction. Prices, specifications, details, and availability of a Builder’s new homes are subject to change without notice. All square footage is approximate. Access to, and use of, The Golf Club of Estrella is not included in the purchase of homes or homesites. Additional fees are required. ©2012 NNP III-Estrella Mountain Ranch, LLC.

Starting from the mid $170,000s, Maracay Homes’ Medina presents six Flex Design® floor plans offering an assortment of interchangeable features giving buyers the opportunity to personalize their home. Homebuyers have the ability to choose features that are tailored to their needs - everything from alternate kitchen designs, a super master bedroom suite, expanded closets and a fireplace entertainment center. If a den is preferred instead of a spare bedroom, no problem!

For the eco-minded homebuyer, every new Medina at Estrella home includes LivingSmart® solutions. These green-friendly features offer energy conservation solutions such as: landscape sprinklers that shut off in the rain, motion sensor lighting fixtures that turn on and off automatically and low flow faucets and bathroom fixtures to reduce water usage. Solar ready pre-plumbing enables homes to harness the power of Arizona’s never ending sunshine.

Floor plans range from 1,818 to 2,996 square-feet with three to five bedrooms and up to 3.5 baths. Three-car garages are standard in most plans. For additional information, please contact Phil Benson at Maracay Homes’ Medina at Estrella sales office (623) 327-2341 or visit www.estrella.com.

Purchasing a home is often the biggest financial decision people make in life. Today’s buyer is educated and hungry for more choices and value conscious pricing. Maracay Homes, builders of more than 7,000 homes in Arizona over the last 20 years, kept this in mind when developing their Estrella neighborhood, Medina.

We invite you to discover Estrella – featuring 72-acres of lakes; the Starpointe Residents Club; 18-hole championship golf course; two K-8 schools and one high school; parks, trails and open space; a collection of distinctive builders and spectacular custom homesites. Brokers welcome.*

INFORMATION CENTER (623) 386-1000STARPOINTE RESIDENTS CLUB (623) 386-1949YACHT CLUB (623) 386-3411 GOLF CLUB OF ESTRELLA (623) 386-2600

BUILDER OF THE MONTH MARACAY HOMES

VISIT ESTRELLA TODAY

10300 SOUTH ESTRELLA PARKWAY GOODYEAR, AZ 85338

Estrella.com

ESTRELLA LAKESIDE FARMERS MARKET RETURNS

www.facebook.com/EstrellaAZLife @EstrellaAZLife

SCHOOL ART PROJECT BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER

Fall is upon us, and with autumn comes the return of Estrella’s Lakeside Farmers Market. Held the third Saturday of every month, November through April, the market is open from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The farmers market is a great way to enjoy local fare, socialize with neighbors and take in the amazing scenery the community has to offer. This year, the market will be held next to Starpointe Residents Club rather than the Yacht Club.

Merchants from across the Valley will showcase specialty items such as locally grown micro greens, fresh certified organic fruits and vegetables, Alaskan seafood, local honey, fresh breads and pastries, local artwork and so much more. Bring appetites too, as there will be tasty tamales, burgers, hot dogs and other treats to enjoy while shopping. It’s the perfect way to experience the cooler weather and kick off the fall season.

This year, the market will feature a “kid’s zone” complete with face painting, sand art, a different bounce house each month and more! Also, the Kona Ice Truck will be there, along with “Kona” the Penguin, to meet the kids.

One of the market’s most popular vendors, “The Edge” knife sharpener, will be back again this year to sharpen knives, scissors, sheers, chisels and any other tools from around the house that have “lost their edge.”

The Estrella Lakeside Farmers Market is free and open to the public. Visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of the market and the gorgeous views of the North Lake and the Sierra Estrella Mountains. For more information contact the Information Center at 623-386-1000.

Featured artwork was randomly chosen from student submissions

To show support for Estrella’s excelling schools, Newland Communities organized and funded a calendar project featuring the artwork of local students. The calendars will be sold for $5 each during the holidays with 100% of profits benefiting Estrella’s three schools – Estrella Mountain Elementary, Westar Elementary and Estrella Foothills High School.

Every elementary student created artwork during class with the theme of “What I Love about Estrella.” The high school students voluntarily submitted artwork created on their own time. Students illustrated amenities such as Star Tower, the hiking trails and water slides as what they love most about their community.

Each school has four pages dedicated to showcasing approximately 20 chosen works of art. The best four pieces from each school, chosen by a committee of teachers, staff and each school’s principal, are featured as a larger image on each page. Next, community voting to choose the calendar’s cover took place at Starpointe Residents Club October 4 – 15. Residents were asked to choose their favorite piece as well as “The Best Interpretation of Theme”, “The Best Use of Color” and others.

Each school has 500 calendars to sell as a fundraiser with copies available at Starpointe for residents to purchase.

my hometown estrella - november 2012

Documents

hometown estrella

estrella residents

estrella elementary

ing community

community building

goal of build

short survey

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