october 2012
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Volume 6 . numb er 10
Wine Lovers.. If you’re planning to gather a group of enthusiasts for wine tasting at The Player’s Grill, Gigino’s Wine Bar & Café, or even in your own backyard this fall, you’ll appreciate the tips we’re providing to help you ease through the steps of defining your favorite. The more you learn about wine, the more pleasurable your wine tasting experience will be. Page 14
Halloween Fun! Halloween is a perfect excuse to decorate the house, dress up and have a party! Local Residents share their Halloween Fun ideas with My Hometown Estrella this month!
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Follow Estrella on Facebook fac eb o ok / my h o m etow nestrella
my hometown
Food Truck Friday Night Street Food Vendors are all the rage right now in gourmet dining. On October 12 Estrella will host our first ever “Food Truck Friday Night.”
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West Valley Real Estate Group Presents‌.
Your Local Real Estate Office! Our RE/MAX team office is located on the east end of the Safeway shopping center in Estrella. We are a full service real estate team with more than 20 years experience working the West Valley real estate market. Our unique location in Estrella makes us specialists in our community, which as residents; we take extreme pride in promoting. Looking to buy or sell your home? We have the answers only a local specialist would know.
Stacia Meeker
ABR, CDPE, CRS, GRI
Gilbert Jaramillo ePro, SFR, USAF Ret 9860 S. Estrella Parkway, Ste. B-125 Goodyear, AZ 85338
We Specialize In: t /FX )PNF 4BMFT t 3FOUBMT -FBTJOH t 3F 4BMFT t -PUT -BOE t 3&0 'PSFDMPTVSFT t )6% )PNFT t 4IPSU 4BMF JODMVEJOH the HAFA Program
We keep selling our listings and need more homes to show our buyers! Thinking about selling? Call us and see why our marketing program works!
Free Annual Golf Pass Or Free HOA Dues For One Year!
www.facebook.com/ EstrellaHomesAndLand
PREFERRED CHOICE
W!
Your Choice with when you Purchase a custom lot in Hidden Hills or Sonoran Vistas Have you given thought to building a custom home? Do you LOVE Estrella, and want a home that is uniquely yours? There has never been a more opportune time to look at purchasing a custom homesite. For any lot purchased between September 1,and November 30, 2012, in Hidden Hills or Sonoran Vistas, you can choose from either an Annual Golf Pass* for one year and enjoy the spec-
tacular Nicklaus-design course at the Golf Club of Estrella, or, pay no Homeowner Association fees* for one year. Hidden Hills and Sonoran Vistas are two of the very few GATED custom home neighborhoods in the Southwest Valley. While there is not a mandatory build time in Estrella, there has never been a more affordable opportunity to secure one of these exclusive homesites.
*Subject to conditions to be set forth in purchase contract. Please contact Re/Max Preferred Choice at 623-850-0005 for further information and requirements. Contract must be signed between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, 2012. * This is not intended to be an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy real estate in Estrella to residents of Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Oregon, or in any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT QUALIFIED, INSPECTED OR EXAMINED THIS OFFERING.
Learn what it Takes to Have a Custom Home Built‌ It might be easier and less expensive than you think! Not sure if a custom home is right for you? We have the answers to your questions! Even the questions you may not think to ask! See Below for Details Estrella Homes and Land, Sold by RE/MAX Preferred Choice will host two seminars providing information on how to select a homesite to fit your budget, learning the difference between a builder, owner builder, architect and designer and how to leverage and finance your homesite and/or the build of your custom home. Call 623-850-0005
For experienced and knowledgeable representation. $BMM PVS #6:&3 TQFDJBMJTU Mike Gwinn -
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FREE SEMINAR SEATING IS LIMITED
to register for one of these informative sessions or Email us at Rock@WeSellAzHomes.com to be put on the reservation list. Seating is limited to the first 12 registrants. Seminars will be held at the Estrella Homes and Land Sold by RE/MAX Preferred Choice office, located at the corner of Estrella and Elliot, in the Safeway complex.
Just a few of our listings (check our website for our complete listings)
Traditional Sale – Move-in Condition!
A home you can move right into and enjoy. This four bedroom beauty has custom paint throughout, upgraded flooring, gas cooking & more! Backyard is completely landscaped and includes raised garden & custom covered patio. No waiting -traditional sale. $168,800
Custom Built Southwest Contemporary
One of a kind great room concept is extremely open with soaring ceilings, and spacious living areas. Gorgeous chef ’s kitchen with upgraded cabinets, granite and fantastic breakfast niche. Oversized owner’s retreat has luxurious spa bath with soothing water features. Guest room has private entrance. Walking distance to South Lake! Call for details!
Model Home on Premium View Lot!
Wow! This former model features all the goodies you would expect, including custom built-ins and window treatments, designer pool and private amazing views! Room for the whole family! Formal living and dining, family room plus three bedrooms, loft and office! 229,000!
Visit www.WeSellAzHomes.com to see all of the homes for sale in our local MLS Call: 623.850.0005 Email: Stacia@WeSellAzHomes.com 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
Volume 6. numb e r 10
october 2012 this month...
my hometown
O ff i c e
Fountain Media Group, Inc. 1501 San Elijo Rd. S, Ste. 104-202 San Elijo Hills, CA 92078 (800) 497-1309 www.fountain-inc.com PublisherS
Tim Minjares Publisher (800) 497-1309 x707 tim@fountain-inc.com Kim Alvarado Associate Publisher (800) 497-1309 x705 kim@myhometownestrella.com editorial
Kim Alvarado Community Editor (800) 497-1309 x705 kim@myhometownestrella.com Mike Minjares Managing Editor (800) 497-1309 x712 mike@fountain-inc.com Co n t r i b u t i n g w r i t e r s
Kristi O’Neil, Resident, Teri McCallum, Resident, Patti Hart, Director, Soul Care Ministries, Estrella Mountain Church, Kurt Hanke, Handyman Xtreme, Byron Graham, Deja Vu Med Spa, Nataliay Coulter, Creatures Companions, Jennifer Gill, MPH, RRCA- Certified Running Coach, Licensed Sports Nutritionist
editor’s corner
Kim Alvar a do, Est r ell a R esi den t
Spooks and Spirits We’re back outdoors this month and it’s time to celebrate! October is a month for a change in the weather and in our activities. Will you be soaking up a bright harvest moon, attending a themed costume party, catching a game of soccer or sitting sidelines at the gridiron this month? Maybe you’ll participate in a fun-run to benefit breast cancer awareness or talk responsibility with your student about drug and alcohol use, during National Red-Ribbon week? Perhaps you’ll dabble in a local wine-tasting event locally, or host one of your own, in an attempt to reconnect with friends that you may not have seen all summer long. Anyone who knows me personally understands my appreciation for a dose of caramel and oak flavors blended in a glass of red Zinfandel, or my love of an apple and cherry scented glass of Merlot. On an ordinary Saturday, I might choose a woody Cabernet Sauvignon, depending on the occasion. The point is, I haven’t decided on just one favorite and that’s my excuse to gather a group of friends occasionally for pairing – wine and food, wine and jewelry, wine and friendships. My Hometown Estrella is taking on the challenge of providing entertainment material for children of all ages this month. We’ve included information on local wine tasting activities for the grown-ups, including a short checklist to help you feel more confident in identifying your favorite, before you dart off to Napa. Our
mini-check list for tastings will give you an identification advantage, no vintage charts or fermentation process studies required! And falling into Halloween has never been so much fun, as we gather spooky decorating and activity tips from moms around the neighborhood. Of course, encouraging fun also includes the necessity of encouraging limits, especially when it comes to drinking. Please remember to drink and act responsibly in all collective activities this month and always. We want you to remember that drinking, like eating, is a social activity that requires guidelines. This means making it NUMERO UNO on the importance check-list that you NEVER over indulge and you NEVER have to regret your words or actions as a result of drinking. Plan ahead, know your limits (this means generally no more than one alcoholic beverage per hour), and choose quality over quantity when it comes to drinking beer, wine or other alcoholic spirits. And most importantly, NEVER drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We’re launching new layouts and new ideas as the season changes in Estrella. Let us know if you’re enjoying the new topic outlines in our publication. And, as always, we encourage your community news editorial submissions. Enjoy gathering up the pumpkins and good spirits this month!
Want to Advertise?
Contact Kim Alvarado (800) 497-1309 x705 kim@myhometownestrella.com www.myhometownestrella.com
community news O n Y o u r D o o rstep News & events happening in and around estrell a
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h oa ev en ts & Bulletin Board your hoa is hard at work with these fun resident events FountainMediaGroup inc. publications that build community
Our mission for My Hometown Estrella is to connect Estrella residents to each other and to key resources with the goal of building 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 publication 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. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission is prohibited. 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.
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c lub s , c l ass es , m eeti n gs Starpointe Residents Club Progr ams & community Calendar
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people in your neighborhood T h e D un n Fa m i ly neighbors & Friends you’d lik e to meet
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lifestyle Halloween Fun!
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Enhance the Satisfaction of Your Wine Tasting Experience
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Drinking Responsibly
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Face Your Fears
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Keeping Four-Legged Friends Vaccinated
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Over-Seeding Bermuda Grass
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Safe Use of Alcohol
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Business Spotlight - Gigino’s Wine Café
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on your doorstep Wine Tasting Comes to The Player’s Grill Save the date! On Thursday, October 25, Southern Wine & Spirits, along with The Player’s Grill at the Golf Club of Estrella, will host a wine tasting event from 6 to 8pm, right here in the neighborhood. For just $5 per person, tasters can sample a special selection of California wines, along with specially-designed menu items from the grill’s newest Chef, Chris Dangerfield. Mingle among friends in a casual atmosphere, as you are educated by wine professionals from Southern Wine & Spirits. Learn why the U.S. is a respected leading producer of world-class wines, in large part due to vintners in California. Experience this opportunity to identify your likes or dislikes in flavor and be prepared to stock up your wine cellars for winter. Gather a group of wine-enthusiasts and call for reservations today, 623-386-2600 x147. Due to limited seating, only 100 tickets will be sold for this event.
The Player’s Grill is Accepting Reservations Reservations are being accepted for The Player’s Grill at Golf Club of Estrella for Friday and Saturday evenings. Dinner is served from 5 to 8pm. Sample this week’s creations, prepared by Chef Chris Dangerfield by reserving a table at 623-925-3147.
Golf Club of Estrella, Named #28 of Top Courses, Schedules Overseeding You may have read about Golf Club of Estrella being awarded #28 among the top courses in the state you can play in Golf Magazine recently. It’s certainly no surprise that our local course would earn this type of acknowledgement! “With over 200 public courses in the state we are extremely pleased to be recognized by Golf Magazine and included in such a prestigious list of quality courses” stated Tom Cortabitarte, the Club’s general manager. “Our staff is to be truly commended for their commitment to provide a memorable golf experience. They are the ones that make this type of recognition possible.” Great staff members contribute significantly to the marvel of a great
community course and keeping the greens beautiful, we all know, takes some maintenance to preserve. Beginning October 8, Golf Club of Estrella will be closed for overseeding and will reopen on October 26. During the first week of closure, the course will be stressed of its Bermuda grass and re-seeded with Rye. In case you’re not aware of the process, “overseeding” refers to that maintenance process in which new seed (Rye) is spread on top of the existing (Bermuda) grass in order to exchange the “summer” grass with “winter” turf. General Manager, Tom Cortabitarte reminds us that during this period there will be grass and dust particles in the air, so it’s a good idea for residents who live near the course to cover their pools and patio furniture. It is a bit frustrating to find grass clippings in the pool, but it’s one of the trade-offs for having the privacy and views of a beautiful course. Staff at the Golf Club of Estrella will apply water to the course to help keep the dust and grass clippings down, but depending on wind conditions, particles could travel outside the course. And by the end of this month, once again, a beautiful course will be revealed.
Red Ribbon Week
Estrella Community Safety Days
Red Ribbon Week will be celebrated this year on October 22-26. The purpose of Red Ribbon Week is to bring awareness about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and encourage prevention, early intervention and treatment services. The red ribbon has come to symbolize awareness and understanding of the harm alcohol can have and the benefits from being alcohol, tobacco, drug and violence free. “MADD Arizona is proud to spread the alcohol and drug free message. Since the average age of a child trying alcohol in Arizona is 12 years old – your typical 6th grader – it’s important for parents, caregivers, teachers and community members to address the issue of underage drinking,” said Kelley Dupps, Program Specialist for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
In October, Arizona in ACTION, in collaboration with the City of Goodyear’s Traffic Engineering, will be conducting neighborhood safety assessments within half-mile ranges of local elementary schools, in order to assure that children in the community have safe routes to and from school. Both local elementary schools are participating in the Lids on Arizona Kids program, encouraging helmet usage for all bicycle and scooter riders. On October 1, neighborhoods near Westar Elementary School will be assessed. On October 4, neighborhoods near Estrella Mountain Elementary School are scheduled for evaluation.
MADD Arizona will be presenting to local classrooms on the dangers of underage drinking and offering resources to parents about talking to their kids about alcohol. For more information, contact MADD Arizona at 602240-6500 or www.madd.org/az or az.state@madd.org.
After last spring’s success of the program, Arizona in ACTION secured $12,500 in grants from the Arizona Department of Transportation, the City of Goodyear, and the Coyotes Charities to expand its program this school year. The Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and various businesses also fund Arizona in ACTION’s programs. Lids on Arizona Kids encourage students to walk or bike to school every other Wednesday to promote healthy lifestyle activity and on random days of the week, students wearing helmets will be awarded for wearing “lids.” Walk and Bike to School Days for 2012 are: October 3, 17, 31; November 14, 28; December 12.
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on your doorstep Community Bingo Hall Opening October 19 Goodyear White Tanks Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Buckeye have entered into a joint agreement to bring Bingo entertainment and fun to the Southwest Valley community. The goal and focus will be to help our nonprofits and our many charities with their muchneeded fundraising efforts to support their projects. Community Bingo will be located in a beautiful 7400 SFT building located at 3690 Estrella Parkway in Goodyear. The building is located in the new shopping center located on the west side of Estrella Parkway across from the south end of the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds ballpark. The bingo facility will easily accommodate up to 200 player participants. There is a Grand Opening/ Ribbon Cutting scheduled for 9am on October 19, when construction is completed. Thanks to the enthusiastic support of this unique charity bingo model by the City of Goodyear officials and the State of Arizona Department of Revenue, all necessary permits have now been obtained. Rotary is a global network of business, professional, and community volunteers, whose motto is “Service Above Self ” with the goal of having a
Hope’s Closet Thrift Open New Goodyear Location Hope’s Closet thrift store has recently opened a brand new location in Goodyear. Hope’s Closet is owned and operated by New Life Center – a refuge from domestic violence in the West Valley – and 100 percent of the proceeds from the store are used to operate the 104-bed emergency shelter. Last year Hope’s Closet receipts accounted for approximately 12 percent of the shelter’s total operating budget. Hope’s Closet opened its doors in 1992 and has relocated twice in the past 20 years. With the purchase of a 6,600 square foot space in the Palm Valley Crossing shopping center, Hope’s Closet will now have a permanent home in Goodyear. The new facility will allow for more retail space and better experiences for both shoppers and those donating items. “Moving into our own space is going to be a great step forward for Hope’s Closet and for the experience of our shoppers and donors,” said Manager Morris Brown. “Hope’s Closet is an upscale thrift boutique and this new location will allow us to grow in a way that will better serve the women and children of New Life Center, which ultimately is our number one priority.” Stop in and see the new facility. 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.
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lot of fun in fellowship, raising a lot of money for the community needs, and giving it all away! Rotary International is the longest serving service club in the world. We at the Goodyear White Tanks Rotary have as our slogan “We have a lot of fun, we raise a lot of money, and we give it all away.” Note that “have a lot of fun” comes first. We meet every Thursday morning 6:45am at Tuscany. Buckeye Rotary meets at various restaurants in downtown (old) Buckeye for lunch on Thursdays. Why don’t you come as our guest for breakfast and or lunch and see how much fun we have while serving our community? We are very excited as members of these two Southwest Valley Rotary Clubs to bring this venue to our community. Community Bingo was chosen as our trade name as all net proceeds earned will be donated back to the charities in our community that our two Rotary Clubs support. We will be converting “Entertainment Dollars into Non Profit Dollars,” said David Lesnick, President, Goodyear White Tanks Rotary. For more information email David at dlesnick@cox.net.
Estrella Home Monitoring Services
Peace of Mind While You Are Away
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)
623-374-4623 Email: Info@EstrellaHomeMonitoring.com Visit us: www.EstrellaHomeMonitoring.com Estrella Resident Owned & Operated
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on your doorstep EVERYBODY COUNTS! Registered For The Presidential Election? Contributed by Sue Montjar, PhD, APR, Estrella Communications
Are you registered to vote on Tuesday, November 6? Will you be voting early? Do you know your polling place location? Did you know that due to redistricting after the 2010 U.S. Census, our precincts here in Estrella Mountain Ranch have changed – again? Also, if you have moved or switched parties you need to update your information and re-register. Election materials are not forwarded by USPS. You can verify your voter registration by calling Maricopa County Recorder: 602-506-1511.
What’s Cooking at CantaMia Be sure to tune into Channel 12, KPNX-TV, the second and fourth Thursday of the month to catch “What’s Cooking at CantaMia,” shown within the show Arizona Midday, which airs from 1 to 2pm. “What’s Cooking at CantaMia” hosts Jan D’Atri and chef Maya Nahra return this fall to present a collection of healthy, fun recipes. Maya Nahra is the Behavioral Nutrition expert™ and founder of My Itentful Life, shifting the mindset for extraordinary living. Host Jan D’Atri is a longtime Phoenix print and broadcast personality who grew up in a restaurant family and has written cookbooks. The show is taped at CantaMia’s Demonstration Kitchen. The Estrella gated active adult community celebrates healthy living every day with fun exercise classes, pickleball, indoor lap pool and outdoor resort style pool. www.CantaMia.com.
If you are not registered to vote, there are mail-in voter registration forms available at Starpointe Residence Club (mail by October 9) or download and print forms to mail-in from the recorder’s website: www.recorder. maricopa.gov. You can register to vote online by October 9 at www.serviceaz.com. For more information go to www.recorder.maricopa.gov to find your polling location, to request an early ballot, to see if you are on the Permanent Early Voting List, as well as other vital election tips. You should receive a sample ballot with your precinct location by October 26 through USPS. If you don’t receive voter information, your address on file may not be correct and you should contact the Maricopa County Recorder’s office. On Tuesday, November 6, be sure to be counted! Polls are open from 6am to 7pm.
It’s Potluck Bunco Time You’re invited to play the simple dice game called Bunco, each month at the Starpointe Residents Club. Each third Monday of the month at 6pm, the festivities begin with a potluck dinner, followed at 6:30pm game time. Multiple gift card prizes are handed out each month. Come in and meet new friends! Canta Mia residents are also welcome! For more information contact Betti Guenther at 623-242-7877.
Goodyear Stake Center’s Sarival Ward Presents 2nd Annual Cultural Fair The Estrella community is invited to join in the family fun and entertainment at the Sarival Ward’s 2nd Annual Cultural Fair on Saturday, November 3 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. This year’s community event celebrates cultural diversity through entertaining performances and tasty treats from around the globe. Come out to the Goodyear Stake Building, 425 S. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear, and be a part of the fun.
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 kim@myhometownestrella.com. We look forward to sharing your story with the community!
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school news Estrella Foothills High School News Estrella Foothills High School has a busy October planned. Here are a few items, if you are following the high school, you may want to have on your calendar. Homecoming – The theme, leading into fall break, is Vacations. Kick-off Assembly will be on Friday, September 28. Homecoming Football Game versus Fountain Hills is on Friday, October 5, at 7 pm. The Homecoming Dance will be immediately following the game, 9pm to midnight. It is a casual dance this year with school dress code enforced. Midterm Exams –
Thursday, October 4 – Midterms for Periods 1 & 2
Friday, October 5 – Midterms for Periods 4 & 5
*On these two days, students will be in school from 7:30am to 11:30am for testing and then will be released. No lunches will be served.
Westar Elementary Brings Comet Café to Community
Fall Break – Fall break will be observed October 8 through October 12. Although there will be no classes in session during fall break, there will be many sporting practices and games still taking place on campus. Fall AIMS Testing
Writing – October 23
Reading – October 24
Mathematics – October 25
*AIMS testing in the fall is for juniors and seniors who have not met or exceeded the standards. Juniors and seniors only need to test in the areas they still need to pass. The testing will take place during the course of the regular school day with all students who do not need to test attending regular classes. Sophomores will not be taking the AIMS tests until spring semester.
Estrella Mountain Preschool News Submitted by Lisa Tucker, Estrella Mountain Preschool
Cooler weather, homework, and field trips are all quick reminders that the school year is in full swing. Students, parents, teachers, and staff at Westar Elementary School started this year with an incredible level of excitement. To help keep that excitement going, and to reach out to the Estrella Community, Westar Elementary School will be hosting Comet Café evenings once per month beginning in October. The Westar Library will transform into a fun, casual, and delectable café on these special evenings with a focus on inviting the community to share in the great projects and learning going on at Westar. There will be light refreshments and coffee available while parents, students, and community members find a cozy corner to read a book, surf the net, or explore using one of the nearly 30 Netbooks and 75 Motorola Xoom tablets available to students. Some of the evenings will feature student musicians, student art, class projects or even poetry readings. Each Comet Café evening will also feature a different family project. This will include engineering challenges, art activities, science experiments, and other engaging experiences. The first Comet Café evening is scheduled for Wednesday, October 17 from 5 to 7pm in the Westar Elementary Library. It is open to all Estrella Community members.
School has begun and we are so excited to welcome our new and returning families. In an effort to provide more resources to our parents this year, we were pleased to offer a presentation on Sensory Processing Disorder: Simulations and Solutions for Parents & Teachers. This interactive presentation provided basic information about sensory systems, along with simulations and simple, low-tech solutions. Fire Pal Dave also came to visit. He brought his beautiful fire truck and shared with us fire safety for our preschoolers. October will be an exciting month with a field trip to Tomachoff Farms and our annual costume parade/Harvest Festival. This year we are excited to partner again with the Arizona Science Center to bring fun and educational science programs to the school. For more information on resources for parents, please contact Lisa Tucker at 623-476-5578.
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Estrella Book Club Discusses Desert Wives in October When Esther Corbett, the mother of polygamist Solomon Royal’s latest intended bride, is accused of killing Royal, Lena Jones attempts to infiltrate a polygamist compound on the Utah-Arizona border to find the real killer. The Estrella Book Club meets at the Starpointe Residents Club on October 10, if you are interested in sharing your perspective of interesting monthly reads, please contact Nina Adair at bnadair@ yahoo.com
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HOA events Food Truck Friday Night Amore is not the only Phoenix street coalition member to call Estrella home. We are also lucky enough to have residents Bernie Boyle and Cindie Powell-Boyle rolling down the parkway in their decked out, former-SWAT-surveillance-vehicle now the Gourmet Command Center, www.gourmetcommandcenter.com. They have a passion for food and making people happy. They prepare their meals with top quality fresh ingredients and use locally produced foods and suppliers whenever possible. The Gourmet Command Center brings an East coast flare with menu items like Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Chicago Style Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries. We are excited to have Burger Amore and the Gourmet Command Center on hand to offer you a taste of their wares October 12, from 7 to 9pm at the Yacht Club for our first Yacht Club Social of the season. Purchase your tickets in advance at Starpointe for $6. Your admission gets you a food ticket good for your choice of one meal from the limited event menu. Each vendor will have special add-on options and beverages available at an additional cost at the event. Limited tables and chairs will be set up as usual, but you are encouraged to picnic, or bring your own chairs.
Street Food Vendors are all the rage right now in gourmet dinFriday, October 12 ing. Urban foodies in every major 7-9pm city are enjoying food truck rallies Yacht Club and tasting events. In downtown Tickets purchased for $6 Phoenix they have in advance at Starpointe. weekly lunchtime More information at Food Truck Friday www.lifeinestrella.com events that bring hundreds out to the streets to taste the gourmet wares. This is where you can often find Estrella resident Greg Colella, Chief Executive Maniac and Owner of Burger Amore. Burger Amore is a gourmet burger shop on wheels where you can get a “Turkey-Shoom Burger,” “Buffalo Chicken Burger” or my personal favorite; the “Veggie Maniac Burger.” Colella is bringing work home with him on October 12 to host our first ever “Food Truck Friday Night.” Colella is a member of the Phoenix Street Food Coalition, an organization dedicated to increasing the awareness of innovative street food to the Phoenix Metro area. Members of the Coalition are focused on preparing scratch-made or artisan-style food in a responsible and safe environment. Burger
Special Announcements
Not To Be Missed...
Estrella Hosting Arizona Half Marathon and 5k on Saturday, October 6.
Estrella Family Breakfast Every Friday - 8:30am Arizona Half Marathon and 5k October 6 - 7:00am Free Community Fall Festival October 6 - 9:00am
6:30am – Trail Half Marathon 6:45am – Half Marathon 7:00am – 5k Run/Walk 9:00am – Free Community Festival 3:00pm – The event ends
Trivia October 8 - 6:30pm Yacht Club Social ‘Food Truck Friday’ October 12 - 7:00pm Potluck Bingo October 18 - 6:00pm Kids Triathlon October 21 - 9:00am Concert in the Park at Yacht Club October 27 - 7:00pm
There is sure to be something for the entire family. Estrella, come out and cheer the participants on and stay around and enjoy the many venues. There will be…
Check www.lifeinestrella.com for more information on these great events. You must purchase tickets in advance for more events. Tickets can be purchased at the Starpointe Residents Club.
Getting To Know Your CCMC Family
• Kids Zone with all types of Games • Live Entertainment • Beer Garden • Food Vendors • Starpointe’s Pumpkin Patch The community festival is free. Come out and enjoy the, hopefully, cooler weather right here in our neighborhood, Estrella! http://www.arizonahalf.com/ Race Discount Code: STARRES
COLD SHOTT and THE HURRICANE HORNS started in Phoenix, AZ in 1990. “COLD SHOT BLUES BAND” is celebrating its 20 Year Anniversary in 2011. This 8-piece group boasts a rocking rhythm section, powerful vocals and a 3-piece horn section…….the band is sure to make you get up and dance! Classic and Contemporary R&B, Soul, Blues, Rock, Funk and Jazz living up to its motto: Gimmick-free pro performance with ‘Old School’ authenticity!
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The 100+ events Estrella offers for all residents, young and old are always the talk of the community. Where else could you live and enjoy The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Ballet, Live Concerts in the Park, Arizona Half Marathon and 5k, Kids Triathlon, Dive In Movies, Dinner at The Yacht Club, New Years Eve Celebration and so many more? Holly Aguilar is CCMC’s based Lifestyle Director. Holly is responsible for connecting neighbors, establishing traditions, building social capital and nurturing a strong sense of community pride and involvement. Holly is able to achieve these goals by working directly with Estrella’s Social Committee members and Newland. Estrella has events other community’s dream of. • Special Events (such as The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Ballet, Half Marathon) • 50+ ongoing Programs, Activities, Classes & Neighborhood Clubs (such as Ballet, Tennis, Book & Travel Clubs and Trivia & Bingo) • Community Partnerships & Community Service Projects • Volunteer Management These series of events and programs are an enticing draw to others that may be interested in living here. Boredom just does not exist in Estrella. If you are interested in having a particular event come to Estrella, please contact Holly at haguilar@ccmcnet.com or 623-3861112. CCMC, in union with the Social Committee, will take every effort to consider making that event happen. CCMC is devoted to continuing with the numerous events that Estrella children and adults have grown to love and look forward to year after year. We want to hear from you. Your confidential concerns/suggestions can be sent to Lisa Lundskow, Community Manager at www. lifeinestrella.com, then click ‘Contact Us’, stop by Estrella Community Services Office, Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm or call us at 623-3861112. www. myhometownestrella.c om
Octob e r 201 2
Upcoming Events & Activities Starpointe Fitness Instructors To obtain an updated class schedule visit www.lifeinestrella.com or the Starpointe front desk. Bonnie Jansson
Susan Miller
Shawn Forzetting
Maximum Muscle...using slow eccentric and concentric repetitions working the muscles to “failure”. 623-695-2435 bonniejansson@rocketmail.com
Beginning Zumba…Modifies the moves and paces to suit an older participant or those just beginning.
F.I.T.T. Boot Camp 805-704-0153 contact@estrellapersonaltraining.com
Bea Brumbach Belly Dancing…Tribal style belly dancing is a fun way to dance and get some exercise. 623-695-8098 tribaldancer@cox.net
Zumba…fitness program that combines hot international rythms with easy to follow dance moves. Drums Alive 623-561-5309 smillerdee@cox.net
Linda Purdy Ballet Pointe 623-386-7303 lindapurdy@mac.com
Cardio Splash Power Ball 623-386-5031 sunnyskyaz@cox.net
Linda Jojola Step and Pump 623-386-0270 h202live@cox.net
Pilates 602-460-8283 michalkempton@gmail.com
Taekwondo 602-330-2523 betancur_2@msn.com Kim Hopkins
Yoga Michal Kempton
Luis Bentacur
Rick Harris Kickboxing 623-398-7161 rharris@iglowit.com
Dawn Terry Total Body Conditioning
Barbara Gabriele
Core Galore: Increase: Balance, stability, coordination and sports performance
Hypnotherapy Workshop Are you looking for help in solving your problems and achieving your goals? 623-544-7774
October 2012
candlesbybarbara13@yahoo.com
Other
Community Events Community Groups Community Meetings
S u n d ay
M o n d ay
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Tumbling & Fitness Basic tumbling skills, physical fitness, agility, coordination development, flexibility and balance 623-853-5357 dterry1@cox.net
T u e s d ay
2 1pm- Bridge 6pm- Budget Finance Committee 6pm- Weight Watchers
W e d n e s d ay
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T h u r s d ay
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8am- EMR Business Group
9:30am- Playgroup
10am- Papercrafting
1pm- Ladies of the Lake
10am- Landscape Committee Meeting
6pm- Bridge
1pm- Weekly Poker
F r i d ay
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9:30am- Needle Workers
8:30am- Estrella Family Breakfast
5pmCommunications Committee Meeting
3pm-9pm Arizona Marathon Packet Pick up
5am Arizona Marathon Packet Pick up 6:30am Arizona Marathon Starts 9am Free Community Fall Festival
6pm - Games, Games, Games
10am - Travel Seminar for Italy
S at u r d ay
7pm - Photo Club
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1pm- Bridge
9:30am- Playgroup
9am- Crafts & Stuff
6pm- Weight Watchers
10am- Estrella Book Club
9:30am- Needle Workers
6:30pm - Trivia
1pm- Weekly Poker
6pm - Games, Games, Games
6pm- Bridge 6:30pm- Voting Member Committee Meeting
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8:30am- Estrella Family Breakfast 7pm -Yacht Club
9am - Car Club 10am - Very Important Teen 11am- Travel Club
7pm - Democrats Living in Estrella
7:30pm- Friends of Estrella
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1pm- Bridge
10am-Papercrafting
5pm- Social Committee Meeting
17 9:30am- Playgroup
9am- Crafts & Stuff
1pm- Weekly Poker
9:30am- Needle Workers
6pm- Bridge
6pm- Weight Watchers
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7pm - Photo Club
6pm - Games, Games, Games
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8:30am- Estrella Family Breakfas 5:30pm- Adult Education Fitness Program
6pm - Bingo
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9am- Kids Triathlon
1pm- Bridge
10am-Papercrafting
6pm- Bunco
6:30pm- Board of Directors Meetings
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9:30am- Playgroup 1pm- Weekly Poker 6pm- Bridge
6pm- Weight Watchers
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7:30pm- Friends of Estrella
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25 9:30am- Needle Workers 1pm - Quiddler
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8:30am- Estrella Family Breakfast
7pm- Free Fall Concert at the Yacht Club
6pm - Games, Games, Games
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1pm- Bridge
9:30am- Playgroup
6pm- Weight Watchers
1pm- Weekly Poker 6pm- Bridge
Visit www.lifeinestrella.com for more information or call Starpointe Residents Club at 623-386-1949 w w w.my h o m e tow n e s t re lla .co m
my hometown: page 9
Est r e ll a
HOA bulletin board Join A Committee
2013 Budget
Volunteering Makes A Difference Sign up to volunteer today! We’re always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to serve on one of our many committees. This is a great way to meet other residents. Most committees meet once a month and serve a one-year term beginning January of each year. A description of each committee is provided below: • 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 communications, as well as other communication-based functions serving the community. • The Landscape Committee assists the management company 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 consider volunteering your experience and expertise. This is an opportunity in giving back to your community. Please contact Lisa Lundskow, Community Manager, if you are interested in volunteering in any way, llundskow@ccmcnet.com or 623-386-1112. Thank you and we look forward to your participation.
YARD APPRECIATION Thank you for keeping a nice maintained yard
ECA Yard Appreciation 10773 Xaiver Ct 10653 Mustang Dr 17860 Cactus Flower Dr 17662 Summit Dr
Villages Community Association VCA 9317 S. 178th Drive 9348 S. 178th Drive 9337 S. 178th Avenue 9365 S. 178th Avenue
Save The Date - Community Garage Sale Saturday, November 10, 2012 7:00am—2:00pm Estrella Homes and Land in The Mountain Ranch MarketPlace will have free maps with sale locations.
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The Budget/Finance Committee will present a budget overview for approval at the October 23 Board meetings. This is a public presentation of the budget and residents are encouraged to attend.
Election of Voting Members and Alternate Voting Members Volunteers work to improve the lives of their neighbors and, in return, enhance their own. Serving as a Voting Member is a volunteer opportunity for residents to get involved in their community. Each Neighborhood shall elect a Voting Member and Alternate Voting Member who shall be responsible for casting all votes attributable to Lots owned by residents in the Neighborhood on all Association matters requiring a Membership vote. The Voting Member and Alternate Voting Member from each Neighborhood shall be elected on an annual basis and serve a term of one year and until their successors are elected. Residents from each neighborhood elect their VM and AVM during the annual election period, which commences in October with results announced the following January. 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. The election will be by mail-in ballot with ballots mailed out December 7 and returned by December 17. Ballots for the election of Voting Members will only be mailed to neighborhoods that have two or more residents running for election. NOTE: Residents in The Palisades, Hidden Hills, Valencia, Saronno, Serenity, Medina, and Ironwood Pointe are not yet required to have a Voting Member due to conveyance requirements. 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.
HOA Contact 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
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-6pm Youth Club Hours: Mon.-Fri. 3pm-8pm Sat.and Sun. 1pm-6pm
Yacht Club Hours Closed Monday Tuesday - Sunday 10am - Dusk 623-386-3411
Community Patrol’s Phone Number 602-329-0462 Monday - Friday 6:00 pm to 2:00 am Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 2:00 am
Estrella Management Estrella 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 Administrative Associate: Kim Larsen Communications Coordinator: Shirley Robertson Recreation Director: Dean Westover Recreation Coordinator: Tammy Campbell Recreation Assistant: Katie Hughes Starpointe Front Desk Lead: Mary Ann Brungardt Lifestyle Director: Holly Aguilar Yacht Club Coordinator: Jordan Ring Maintenance Coordinator: Anthony DiGeronimo
Assessment Billing Address: Payment Processing Center c/o CCMC-Western Region PO Box 105260 Atlanta, 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
Please contact Lisa Lundskow, Community Manager, if you are interested in volunteering in any way, llundskow@ccmcnet.com or 623-386-1112. www. myhometownestrella.c om
wh o a r e the
meet your neighbor Meet the Dunn Family – Roy, Heather and Rowyn One step inside the carefully decorated home of the Dunn family and it’s easy to see why we have chosen to introduce them as the family to meet in this month’s colorful autumn issue. Besides being a stay-at-home mom to her second-grade daughter Rowyn, Heather is also wife, Co-Founder and Operation’s Manager of their family business, Dunn Environmental Services, Inc., providing high quality, environmental health and safety services for commercial and residential clients nationwide. Heather’s got a knack for organization and decking out the Dunn home with style. Pops of warm autumn orange, another redwood red and still another green apple custom-colored paint accents walls at various visual points in rooms throughout the family home. The warm colors and welcoming feel of the home reflects Heather’s whole-hearted personality. Roy, Heather and Rowyn Dunn have been Eagle Ridge residents for the past five years. They made their way to the quiet community of Estrella after residing in Gilbert, where the noises of the city interrupted and began to interfere with their calm and organized lifestyle. Prior to their life in Arizona, Roy and Heather united from opposite ends of the nation. Heather is originally from Maine, where you are able to conveniently purchase a fresh lobster at any convenience store, and Roy grew up in Wyoming. After college, Roy’s first consulting job brought him to Phoenix, where he met Heather, (a former University of Michigan student and frequent Arizona visitor). A number of years and miles later, combining the knowledge of Roy’s degree in Industrial Hygiene and Heather’s background in Consulting and Business Management, the two created a part-
nership in marriage in 2002 and business – Dunn Environmental Services, Inc. Heather and Roy’s daughter, Rowyn, informally describes herself as, “really into math!” She’s excited about taking on the challenges of her favorite subject, and equally excited about learning to play the musical recorder, which she happily shared by playing a few bars during our interview. Rowyn is part of an Estrella Youth Sports (EYS) soccer team and spent time this past summer participating in the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre, Missoula Children’s Theatre, with parts in two productions, Pinocchio and The Secret Garden. Roy, co-founder of Dunn Environmental Services, Inc. earned his B.S. in Occupational Health & Safety at the University of Montana. When he’s not busy performing an indoor air quality investigation or overseeing the general management of two state’s daily overall operations, Roy enjoys hiking the FINS trails in the community. He also enjoys playing family board games or reading with Heather and Rowyn and always gets enthusiastic about planning an annual vacation to Hawaii. The Dunns share their home with their two canine companions, Bandit and Hanna, and have a great adoration for the quietness of the Estrella community, the people, the excellent school system, as well as the location of their Taylor Morrison home. They are also fond of its proximity to Rowyn’s school and how it is situated carefully on a cul-de-sac lot with desert views in the background, which is quite a contrast from the hectic city surroundings of their previous East Valley home.
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w w w.my h o m e tow n e s t re lla .co m
ROC# 262055 23335 N 18th Dr. #142 Phoenix, AZ 85027
my hometown: page 11
Halloween Fun!
Planning the Perfect Halloween Party for Adults Submitted by Halloween Enthusiast, Teri McCallum
Halloween is a perfect excuse to decorate the house, dress up and have a party! I’m a frugal person, so I have to get creative with decorating, if I really want to make a statement. With Christmas just around the corner, I have always found it difficult to spend money on expensive Halloween garnishings. Creating the perfect party is a task that should simply coincide with your personal style and budget. Here’s how to pull it all together, without breaking your budget. Step One - Choose A Theme Scary (skeletons/graveyard), Playful (scarecrows/candy corn), Rustic (pumpkins & fall leaves), Traditional (spider webs & witches), figure out which theme appeals to you. To keep in sync with the style of my home, I often turn my house into a glam-chic witches’ house. My personal favorites for color are black, purple and a touch of orange. Step Two - Set a monetary limit Shop the dollar stores and look online, as well as around your own home for items you can transform, using a little makeover magic. Easy Decorations Candelabras (even candlestick holders from around your home) with glittery purple candles make great table or fireplace mantel centerpieces. Simply fill a tall glass vase with small pumpkins, gourds, candy corn or candy in your themed color to place on shelves or end tables throughout your living spaces. The possibilities are endless for adding color or ‘drama’ to your home.
Black bats made of construction paper can easily be taped or hung from fishing line for spooky, inexpensive impact. Arizona’s great weather is the perfect invitation for an outdoor gathering. Borrow, rent or buy a fog machine for the patio. Fill balloons with glow sticks and float them in your pool. Fill white lunch bags with some sand and black plastic spiders to illuminate the driveway. I, personally, appreciate the homemade décor, because it’s thoughtful, creative and unique. Plus, it’s an opportunity for everyone in your home to be involved in the fun of decorating and celebrating. Now that your house is decorated, it’s time for throwing a great party! How about adding . . . A costume contest with a few fun prizes encourages everyone to get really creative, even slightly competitive, with dressing up. A Photo Scavenger Hunt was a huge hit at our party last year. This is a fun way for people to meet and get to know each other. Each team must have a digital camera for taking pictures of defined tasks, incorporating everyone on the team into the photos. (i.e. picture of everyone in a shower, spelling a word using your bodies, etc). All teams have the same list of timed tasks, some tasks have a value of more points, depending on difficulty. Prizes awarded to the team earning the most points in the shortest period of time. I highly recommend this game, as it generates tons of laughs, great photos and awesome memories. Add good music, great food and drinks and fun people to complete the perfect Halloween get together!
Halloween FUN for Lil’ Ones Submitted by Kristi O’Neil, Estrella Resident
Estrella families, like the O’Neil’s, share Halloween activities and recipes that you’re little ghouls and goblins are sure to love – Editor’s note
The O’Neil’s Host an Annual Halloween Driveway Party: We set up long tables and encourage neighbors to come over with their kids, dogs, etc. to socialize and carve pumpkins. We have music, snacks, drinks and activities for the little ones. It is a great way to have fun on a Halloween night or any Friday night. It’s also a great time to bond with neighbors and meet new friends! Fall, After-school Activities for Lil’ Ones: Last year, my oldest son was two, and he craved time with his little neighbor pals after being at home with me and his newborn brother all day. I started an after-school activities event, crafts mainly, in our garage. This was a great time for my little guy and any of his friends on our street to get together for some supervised, childhood fun. Sometimes the kids would color holiday pictures, or make cards for their parents or friends. Other times, crafts were more elaborate, like decorating a cardboard hauntedhouse with glitter, pens and stickers. Try this easy Halloween Activity for Young Children: It’s as easy as 1-2-3! Mummif ied Pumpkins: 1) Wrap mini pumpkins in white gauze 2) Tie with white string on top 3) Glue on some googly eyes for an easy, fun and not-too-messy craft.
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Frozen Fun: Pour water into a large plastic Tupperware bowl. For a layered look, fill ½ full and add a little orange food coloring, another layer-leave clear colored, yet another, black food coloring. Add plastic spiders, snakes, bats, toads (whatever) and freeze. On a warm fall afternoon, or on Halloween night, let the kids’ chisel away at the block to reveal the prizes inside. Arizona Pumpkin Decorating: Because Arizona daytime temperatures can be warm during the month of October, delaying carving until close to Halloween, kids will enjoy cutting felt face pieces to pumpkins during the early days of October, offering interchangeable expressions which can be attached to fresh pumpkins with double-sided tape. Spooky Tree: Gather a small branch and spray paint it black. Add a dusting of black glitter and place the branch in a clear vase that is filled with candy corn, plastic spiders or black jellybeans. Encourage homemade decorations made from simple things like buttons, ribbon, plastic spiders – anything you have on hand – for a ghoulish tree. Fill glass vases with a variety of black jellybeans, white candies, orange taffy – label the jars as “bat droppings, witches teeth and pumpkin guts.” Recipes for all ages: This is such a great time of year to get creative in the kitchen! Little hands (and big ones alike) love mini pumpkin pies in muffin tins – add homemade vanilla bean ice cream. Try cutting up chunks of tart green apples, dipping each in caramel to be served on a tray with toothpicks. Whatever you do, have fun! These little activities are fun for kids and adults alike and help us create memories with our families and friends. www. myhometownestrella.c om
Halloween for Teens
Submitted by Patti Hart, Director, Soul Care Ministry, Estrella Mountain Church
How old is too old to Trick-or-Treat? I’ve been too old for a while now, and yet I still want to participate – it’s just too much fun! I love seeing kids of all ages marching down the sidewalks incognito. The beautiful fairy princesses and muscle-padded superheroes steal our hearts. The ghastly red-eyed goblins and hairy monsters stay true to their old roles of scaring away the evil spirits so they don’t spoil the feasts of tomorrow. And the grown-ups – parents acting like kids on one of those rare days when culture permits; their excitement, laughter, and embarrassing get-ups make it feel like we are all part of one wacky family.
WHO is on the guest list? How many? If you allow guests to bring a guest, keep your list short and stick to it. Know the name and number of parents of each invited guest. For fun and confirmation of invitation, ask invited guests to give a “secret password or scary gesture” when they enter. WHERE is the gathering? Which rooms will be open for the party? Will it be just one house, or will several homes be hosting (see Treasure Hunt)? WHEN does it start and f inish? Designate on the invitation what time kids should show up, whether there will be offsite games, and what time to return. Of course, give an end time, and start “serving coffee” (or give parting gifts) about 15 minutes prior. Curfew times for Goodyear are 10pm – 5am for under age 16, and midnight to 5am for under age 18. HOW will you entertain? Allow time for socializing and eating, and have a good parent/teen ratio, but don’t be a helicopter! Give them some privacy. Pick a couple of classic thrillers to watch, have a favorite monster theme, or try: TREASURE HUNT (think Goonies but stay within your budget): • Create two different maps that lead to the same final location. Have them make two teams.
But what to do on the cool, dark evenings of the harvest season if you are just too refined for door-to-door candy-begging? You could go back to the original plan, where the neediest of the neighborhood would knock on doors of the more affluent, and offer prayers for their dear departed family members. Those lost souls would then (prayerfully) be safe from the evil spirits’ dark influence, and be ushered into Heaven without incident. Of course in return for your prayers, you would get food (i.e. “soul cakes”). I think that’s a great idea, especially since I know we have many families in Estrella who love to receive prayer as much as they love to bake goodies. Mmmmm. Or, you could throw a fiercely fearless party. Set out some hot-dog mummies, pecan-caramel spiders, and gross carrot-fingers (www.foodnetwork.com) and a punch bowl with a few floating eyeballs, and your home will be filled with teens far too sophisticated for childish candy-begging. To plan a great teen spookfest, keep these things in mind:
• At several different points (perhaps other friends’ homes where parents are in on it) on each map, include an obstacle or clue they have to find, or set up a scare and present evidence (camera phone shot of something creepy in a tree, etc) at the final location. • The final location is where the “treasure” is found. It’s Halloween, so make it fit the occasion! • You’ll want guests to make their way back to the original party site before the end time, so that house is a good “final location.” Keep curfew in mind when you plan the details of the hunt. Whatever the level of refinery the teens in your life demand, be prepared for them to regress developmentally back to fairy-princess, muscle-paddedsuperhero status at some point in the evening. And feel free to join them. Halloween, in spite of, or perhaps because of, all its controversy, is America’s #2 beloved holiday. So, go out there (or stay in there) and give those evil spirits a spook of your own. And if the situation calls for it, offer your neighbors a few words of prayer. Evil spirits hate that stuff. And don’t forget The 5th Quarter, a fun and safe place to be after Friday night home football games.
How To Start the “Boo-ing” 1. Create a “Boo” bag/basket o’ goodies (this includes the poem, the Boo ghost and a bag of treats for the children) 2. Print a “Boo” gram - www.fountain-inc.com/halloween 3. Find your unsuspecting target 4. Make the “drop” 5. Ring the doorbell and knock 6. RUN!!! Please make sure your neighbor isn’t allergic to any of the candy you’re including in your bag.
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communi t y l i fe s t yle: fe at u r e
Enhance the Satisfaction of Your Wine Tasting Experience If you’re planning to gather a group of enthusiasts for wine tasting at The Player’s Grill, Gigino’s Wine Bar & Café, or even in your own backyard this fall, you’ll appreciate the tips we’re providing to help you ease through the steps of defining your favorite. The more you learn about wine, the more pleasurable your wine tasting experience will be. Choose your favorite confidently by incorporating a few simple guidelines – color and appearance, aroma, taste characteristics, balance and finish.
Wine Tasting Tips: 1) Color and Appearance White: Most dry white wines are a bit yellow in color. Whites take on a deeper shade of gold with age, meaning that it is richer and more complex than its younger counterpart. The darker in color, the more ‘mature’ the grapes. White wines vary in color from youthful white, to pale yellow and gold. Red: Young reds are usually bright berry red, or purple. As red wine ages, it changes to colors of brick or garnet red, eventually having a brownish-tint. You can see the progression of color change first on the outer edges of the wine in your glass.
• Woody-burnt, smokey, Oak, Cedar, vanilla; smells associated with Cabernet Sauvignon.
3) Taste Characteristics Choosing your favorite can be determined by your desire for the following flavors:
2) Aromas
• Intensity of fruit, or oak flavors
Since what we taste has a great deal to do with what we smell, it is important to identify the characteristics of smell to help you determine a favorite. Consider the following examples to help you decide on your next preferred glass or bottle of wine.
• Degree of desired sweetness
• Caramel, butterscotch, honey and molasses – often found in California Chardonnay • Earthy, mushroom-like, dusty, chalky, mineral-like; frequently used terms to describe Red Burgundy, Zinfandel or California Pinot Noir • Floral, violet, rose, orange blossom; scents found in Chenin Blanc • Fruity, apple, pear, melon, pineapple, lemon, cherry, blackberry, plum; terms to describe Merlot and Pinot Noir • Herb/Vegetable, bell pepper, green grass, dried tea, Eucalyptus; scents found in Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling • Nutty-walnut, hazelnut, almond; often used to describe Sherries • Spicy-licorice, black pepper, cloves; aroma of Australian Shiraz and California Zinfandels
• Acidity and crispness – immediately detected as the wine contacts the sides of your tongue; similar to biting into a tart apple. • Tannin – identified by the middle of your tongue; detecting a dryness.
4) Balance Determining good balance consists of the presence of fruit, sugar, acid and tannin, without one of these factors drastically dominating the other. A good wine will have a sense of agreement with each of these four factors.
5) Finish It’s the grand finale! The final impression! It’s what you taste afterwards, the taste that stays on your palate which is an indicator of a fine favorite. Now you’re ready to evaluate! Was the color attractive to you? What did it smell like? Was it fruity, strong, alluring or somewhere in-between? Could your favorite be described as soft or powerful? Which wine style do you prefer?
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communi t y l i fe s t yle: fe at u r e Tips f ro m J e n n ife r G ill , MPH, RRC A- ce rtifie d r un n in g coach, l icensed sp orts nutritionist
Drinking Responsibly
As the Arizona temperatures cool and holiday festivities begin, it’s inviting to attend football games, festivals and tastings, which invite you to sample and drink wine and beer. Most experts would agree that consumption of these alcoholic beverages can wreak havoc on your waistline, right? Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. You can have your beer (or
as they can add a lot of unwanted calories. You can also opt for a light beer, which are often half the calories of regular beer. Of course you can’t lose the beer gut without moving your body. Cardiovascular exercise is most important for losing the belly fat. Walking, running and biking are all great ways to burn fat and build cardiovascular fitness. And while strength training is important, focusing on belly-busting moves alone won’t do the trick. Your best bet is to combine cardiovascular exercise with whole-body-toning strength training. Lastly, no weight-loss routine is complete without proper nutrition. Think of your food as part of your nutrition plan, not a diet. Diets are automatically seen as evil and sticking to something evil is downright impossible. Instead, think of your body as a machine that needs clean fuel to run well. You wouldn’t necessarily skimp on the fuel you use in your car. It won’t run for very long, or for as well, if you give it nasty, cheap gas. Your body is the same way. We can’t live our life to the fullest on cheap, nasty foods. Aim for a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources and plenty of water. If the majority of your foods and drinks are good, the occasional alcoholic beverage won’t make that much of a difference. Cheers!
wine) and drink it too, just as long as you go about it the right way. In fact, research suggests that having the occasional cocktail is actually beneficial. Yes, imbibing every now and then has been shown to reduce cholesterol, reduce blood pressure and may even help ward off conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Having a glass of red wine, for instance, can provide important antioxidants that can reduce your risk for heart disease. And beer drinkers can rejoice knowing that their favorite hoppy beverage provides vitamin B6, which also helps reduce heart disease risk. Notice I said a glass of wine and not a whole bottle. As with anything in life, moderation is key. In order to get the health benefits of alcohol (because too much of this good thing can definitely harm you), women should limit their intake to about one alcoholic beverage per day and men shouldn’t have more than two drinks per day. And when you do indulge, whether it’s with the recommended amount or more, be sure to drink plenty of water to offset the alcohol’s dehydrating effect (about 8oz of water per alcoholic drink), eat a meal that has a good balance of carbohydrates and protein and get plenty of sleep. And for those of you looking to get rid of that beer belly you’ll be happy to know that you can still enjoy the occasional drink while trying to lose weight. Yes, avoiding alcohol is your best line of defense in the battle of the bulge, but it doesn’t have to be cut out completely. Instead of having a beer or glass of wine every day, limit your intake to one or two drinks a week. This simple cut in daily calories can make a big difference. The type of alcoholic drink you have also makes a difference. Most beers are about 140 empty calories per serving, meaning you don’t get much in the way of nutrition when having a beer. Same goes with wine and liquor: wine is about 100 calories per 5oz glass and liquor is about 60-80 calories per 1oz serving. And mixed drinks can be off-the-charts high in calories with all the add-ins. So choose your poison wisely: you can mix wine or liquor with club soda to cut the calories while still enjoying a drink. Avoid mixing with juice and “mixers”
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Body Transformations-Just In Time for Halloween Submitted by Byron Graham, Marketing Director, Déjà Vu Med Spa
Remember the story of Dr. Frankenstein and the monster? He was the mad scientist, in the Middle Ages who, as the story goes, assembled a monster from the body parts of many cadavers and was able to revitalize the new being by controlling the power of lightning. Such an accomplishment is even unrealistic today, but with the geometric advances in medical science there are advances even now that seem impossible. For example, in 2007-2008, a Harvard research scientist noticed that butter in the refrigerator was hard, but if left out it got soft. So what, we have all seen that, but he and his colleges saw it differently. With some testing, they confirmed that the lipids (fat) in living fat cells are more susceptible to cold than skin and vessels. From this discovery, Coolsculpting was developed and has now provided 400,000 treatments globally. Coolsculpting is a revolutionary nonsurgical body contouring treatment that freezes stubborn fat, which is then naturally eliminated from your body. This reduces bulges in treated areas of the body without harming surrounding tissue. There is no surgery, no needles, no special diet, no supplements, and most importantly, no downtime. It’s safe, FDA-cleared, effective and does exactly what it’s supposed to do. You exercise. You eat right, but some stubborn fat bulges are immune to diet and exercise. You don’t feel as confident in your own skin as you should or could. Eliminate the problem! Déjà Vu Med Spa is proud to offer Coolsculpting. For additional information about Coolsculpting see our website, www.dejavumedspa.com. Call Deja Vu Med Spa with questions or to make an appointment for your free Coolsculpting Consultation. 623-242-9910. www.dejavumedspa.com
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communi t y l i fe s t yle: Home S u bm itte d by Ku rt H an ke , H an dyman Xtr e me , 602-7 7 3 -197 3
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communi t y l i fe s t yle: P et s S u bm itt e d by Nata l iay Cou lte r , C r e atu r e s’ Co mpa n ions 6 23 -215-6 69 9
Keeping Four-Legged Friends Vaccinated Recommendations For Cats anleukopenia, herpesvirus (rhinotracheitis), calicivirus: Following P initial kitten shots, provide booster one year later and every three years thereafter. Rabies: At 8 weeks of age, thereafter as required by law. eline leukemia: Use only in high-risk cats. Best protection is two vacF cines prior to 12 weeks of age, with boosters repeated annually. Bordatella: Use prior to boarding. Ringworm: May be used during an outbreak in a home. Dog vaccines/Minimum duration of immunity Canine rabies - 3 years Fall is usually the time to get vaccinations for our children. What about our four-legged friends? Do they need vaccines once a year or once every three years? Should I just rely on friendly reminders from my veterinarian? Recently, I received a card from my veterinarian stating that my dog Maggie needs a yearly shot of DHLPPC. I called the clinic and kindly asked to see my dog’s vaccination record. The record indicated that Maggie had DHLPPC last year. I wondered why Maggie, who is six years old, needs this vaccine again this year. I found some very interesting information from several expert sources noted below. Please use this information in consultation with your own veterinarian’s recommendations, regarding vaccination recommendations. Vaccination findings – Veterinary research challenges the notion that pets need to be vaccinated every 12 months. Some of the findings:
Canine para-influenza - 3 years Canine distemper (Onderstepoort strain) - 5 years Canine distemper (Rock born strain) - 7 years Canine adenovirus (kennel cough) - 7 years Canine parvovirus - 7 years Cat vaccines/Minimum duration of immunity Cat rabies - 3 years Feline panleukopenia virus - 6 years Feline herpes virus - 5 or 6 years Feline calicivirus - 3 years Be healthy, keep your pets healthy, and have a joyful and colorful fall season!!
Recommendations For Dogs arvovirus, adenovirus, Para influenza, distemper: Following initial P puppy shots, provide booster one year later, and every three years thereafter.
Sources: Ronald Schultz, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine; Fredric Scott, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine; Colorado State University; University of California-Davis Center for Companion Animal Health.
Rabies: At 16 weeks of age, thereafter as required by law. ordatella: Use prior to boarding; may be repeated up to six times a B year. orona virus: Not recommended in private homes. Prior to boarding, C may be given to dogs 8 weeks or older, and repeated every six months.
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 kim@myhometownestrella.com. We look forward to sharing your story with the community! ÉÎäÉ£Ó
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communi t y l i fe s t yle: L a nds c a pe
Over-Seeding Bermuda Grass If you choose to over-seed your Bermuda grass, you can start the process in late August by de-thatching your turf to remove excess thatch from your lawn, and lowering your mowing height to reduce the amount of clipping when it comes time to renovate. Do not fertilize after the middle of August as this will help slow down the growth of the Bermuda and encourage the plant to store nutrients for spring growth.
Prepare to renovate your lawn around the first part of October when nighttime temperatures start to cool off. Set the cutting height of your mower to about 1” to 3/4” from the ground and mow the turf. You will need to remove most of the debris left behind by raking or mowing the turf with a catcher to collect any excess cuttings. After this has been completed, you should check your irrigation system to ensure that it is operating properly. After adjusting and completing any repairs to the irrigation system you can then spread your seed over your turf area. As you are selecting your seed, make sure that it has a good germination rate of 90 percent or higher and make sure that the weed seed content is low. We suggest a good perennial rye seed as it has a thinner blade and has a nice dark green color. Most sprinkler supply stores or nurseries will have quality seed that is blended for our area. You will need a whirly bird spreader (the same type you use to spread fertilizer with), but you will need
to adjust the setting so that you are applying the correct amount of seed. The suggested amount of seed for a typical residential lawn is 10 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet. You will need to water up to four times per day for short periods of time in order to keep the seed moist, being careful not to have standing water for any long periods of time as seed will not germinate in standing water. In about a week to 10 days you will see germination, cut back on your watering. When your grass is about 2” tall you can mow it down to about 1 1/2” tall, then fertilize with a balanced fertilizer and enjoy your winter grass.
We will be starting the over-seeding process for the selected common areas at Estrella Mountain Ranch in late September by following these same procedures. Given the large amount of areas that we will be over-seeding we need to get started a little earlier. We will be over-seeding select areas throughout the community following the practice of letting the turf areas rest once every three years to allow the Bermuda to go dormant naturally and recover from the over-seeding procedure. This process will be dusty and will create a large amount of debris; please pardon our dust as we move through the community, we will do our best to keep it to a minimum.
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AAA Hardwood and Floors ........................................................................www.AAAHardwood.com Air NOW Heating and Cooling - ....................................................................... www.AirNOWac.com Augie Zolezzi - Mortgage Broker ............................................................................. 602-206-1850 Betti’s Custom Sewing ........................................................................................... 623-242-7877 Camile Trachsel Smith, Realtor .......................................................................... EstrellaAgent.com Consider It Finished Painting .................................................. www.consideritfinishedpainting.com Darizona Appraisal Services .............................................................................www.Darizona.com Desired Handyman ............................................................................ www.DesiredHandyman.com Edward Jones Investments ............................................... Christopher.Carlton@EdwardJones.com Estrella Owner Services ........................................................................ EstOwnserv@hotmail.com Estrella Partners - Up the Hill Magazine ............................................ www.UpTheHillMagazine.com Goodyear Homewatch ................................................................... www.GoodyearHomewatch.com Handyman Xtreme ............................................................................. www.HandymanXtreme.com Integrity Hearing ...............................................................................www.IntegrityHearingAZ.com JCR Enterprises ...............................................................................JCRobertsonLLC@yahoo.com L J Designs ..................................................................................................... LJDesigns@cox.net Mountain Ranch Dentistry ........................................................ www.MountainRanchDentistry.com MT Plumbing ....................................................................................MarkTrinidad67@yahoo.com Oasis Bagel ..................................................................................................www.oasisbagels.com Randall Carpet Care .......................................................................... www.RandallCarpetCare.com Sonal Strasser, Licensed Massage Therapist ................................www.Sonal.MassageTherapy.com Starpointe Cafe at Estrella, LLC ................................................ www.StarpointeCafe.Blogspot.com Estrella Home Monitoring Services ............................................www.EstrellaHomeMonitoring.com Summerwind Solar ............................................................................ www.SummerWindSolar.com West USA Realty ................................................................................. www.hometownestrella.com Arizona Carpet Services .................................................................www.PhoenixCarpetRepair.com Little Red Wagon Handyman .............................................. www.ArizonaHandymanServices.com Li Doggie Doors on the Run ............................................................ www.DoggieDoorsOnTheRun.com Goodyear Property Services ............................................................... gpsproperties2@gmail.com Amy Vasquez, Realtor .................................................................................www.amy-vasquez.com
communi t y l i fe s t yle: well- b e i ng By: Ale xan dr a Don n e lly, LC S W, DC S W
Exploring an Age-old Question: Is it Possible to Teach the Safe Use of Alcohol? There are some societies that have been successful in significantly reducing problems resulting from alcohol abuse. Can Americans utilize their techniques, both within our own families and within our society; to reduce the problems that we face around alcohol abuse? Some individuals feel that consumption of any amount of alcohol is comparable to the use and abuse of illegal drugs. It has been well documented that historically, humankind has had a relationship with beverage alcohol for over 6,000 years. I believe that it is possible to approach alcohol use from an intelligent, reasonable perspective. Abusive drinking is, without question, a serious problem. However, can Americans learn from the approach modeled by the Italians, Greeks, Jews and some other cultures? Basically, there are three major beliefs that contribute to safe alcohol consumption:
As with so many important topics in our society, behavior can be best led by example. For our children, families, friends and neighbors, nothing speaks more strongly than our own behavior as a role model. In the end, that’s all that any of us can really control. Preaching to people about “what not to do” rarely results in efficacious education. So the question is: As a community, can we: • Encourage and applaud only moderate use of alcohol, among those who choose to drink. Both moderate drinking and abstinence should be presented as equally acceptable choices. • Cultivate and promote clear distinctions between safe, drinking in moderation as opposed to hazardous excessive alcohol consumption. • Firmly penalize unacceptable drinking, both legally and socially. Abusing alcohol must never be accepted as an excuse for illegal, crude or hurtful behavior. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) states the following: Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work. Manifestations of alcohol abuse include the following: • Failure to fulfill major responsibilities at work, school, or home
1. In these cultures, the substance of alcohol is seen neutrally. It is neither a panacea nor a forbidden fruit.
• Drinking in dangerous situations, such as drinking while driving or operating machinery
2. The act of drinking is seen as a natural part of the culture. The concept of teen social pressure to drink doesn’t exist, and excessive drinking is never tolerated or revered.
• Legal problems related to alcohol, such as being arrested for drinking while driving or for physically hurting someone while drunk
3. Education about drinking begins immediately and is exhibited through the parents’ example and supervision. Young people are taught that drinking alcohol in moderation can provide important health benefits and be enjoyable.
• Long-term alcohol abuse can turn into alcohol dependence.
This three-step approach has aided many cultures in reducing, if not avoiding, the alcohol abuse problems plaguing our society. In America, alcohol has often become associated with disdain, something to be feared. Some would even go so far as to promote abstinence as the best choice for all people.
• Continued drinking despite ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by drinking
Consult your personal health care provider if you feel you or someone you know has a drinking problem. Other resources include the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service available at 1-800662-HELP. This service can provide you with information about treatment programs in your local community and allow you to speak with someone about alcohol problems.
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Do you have a story or article idea for My Hometown Estrella? Give our Editor, Kim Alvarado, a call at 800-497-1309 x705 or kim@myhometownestrella.com. We look forward to sharing your story with the community!
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business spotlight Gigino’s Wine Café When Estrella resident, Christy Schragel, was in the process of designing a wine café in her mind, prior to early summer’s opening of ‘the real deal,’ she knew that she wanted to create, above all, a place for people to relax. She sought a local and quaint sort of place, where friends could gather together comfortably, a place where women could feel comfortable enough to come in alone; a place to unwind where great wine could be paired with great entertainment and wine-friendly food. On June 2, 2012 Christy’s dream became a reality, as the doors of Gigino’s Wine Café, located at 3810 S. Estrella Parkway, #309, opened to the sounds of classic jazz music. Goodyear’s newest, sophisticated wine café transpired into realism over a year’s period of time, from a mere casual vision after Christy and her husband, Ciro, attended an Estrella neighborhood Cocktails & Conversations gathering at the Starpointe Residents Club, back in June 2011. The two overheard guests mentioning the need for a permanent local wine spot. “We realized then, that folks needed a place to gather,” said Christy. “Gigino’s Wine Bar & Café has become that place.” Step into the front door of Gigino’s Café to a soothing atmosphere, where the walls are painted in warm colors and adorned with artwork from local artist, Justin Lehman. Homemade Sangria is a signature specialty, with fresh pairing menu specials each evening. On Tuesdays, it’s live piano music on the Steinway baby grand and live vocals are routinely on the calendar. If you’re ready for a unique wine-tasting experience, you’ll want to attend Thirsty Third Thursdays from 5 to 7pm. And with the weather cooling, Gigino’s is offering patio seating and incorporating Sunday brunches into the mix of great tastes. A little about the owners, Christy and Ciro: Christy, a world traveler, met her husband, Ciro, in Italy just over two years ago. The pair has brought wine knowledge from abroad, as Gigino’s features select wine and beer from a variety of regions to suit endless tastes. In fact, Christy introduces fresh keg wine at the cafe, an alternative means of serving specialty wine, an economical and environmentally safe technique that never quite caught on in America. By doing so, she’s eliminated
concerns about bottle variation and transportation costs while passing the benefits of the savings on to you. Where else might you enjoy a smooth red, Katas Garmacha from Spain, at just $6 per glass? Christy describes herself as a woman who has designed a business with women in mind. As General Manager, she is responsible for choosing the best soft, fruity and the most outstanding hard, dry crisp and bold wines from distributors. She also selects the food recipes for pairing with drinks and you’ll often find her daughter, Tayler, working the kitchen on weekdays. Ciro, her husband, has a knack for service. He’s easily identified by his Italian accent and is routinely working behind the scenes in the kitchen, or behind the bar, offering drink selections and appetizer pairing ideas to suit customers. Gigino’s Wine Café is a truly unique wine loft and is open Tuesday through Sundays.
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MADD’s mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. As the Fall celebrations begin, we know many folks will be celebrating with alcohol. MADD Arizona reminds everyone that designating a driver is the best way to ensure that everyone arrives home safe. Make a plan! Designate a driver!
We understand that your legacy is important to you. At the Dana Law Firm, we will help you protect your hard work for those you love.
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MADD Arizona also o!ers victim services free of charge to victims and survivors. MADD Arizona also o!ers resources to parents, schools and the community to help educate on the dangers of drinking & driving and underage drinking.
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AV HOMES
BUILDER OF THE MONTH
Two new model homes will be unveiled this month in Estrella’s active adult community, CantaMia. Starting at $189,900, the 1,419 squarefoot “Aria” is perfect for the seasonal home buyer who wants an easy to maintain, single family home. The 2,600 square-foot “Concerto” is an entertainment home, featuring a rear wall of retractable glass and spacious front courtyard. Concerto pricing begins at $320,900. These new layouts join the 14 model homes currently being showcased in CantaMia, open for tours daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors and residents will notice a new name on the community sign, Vitalia. The builder, AV Homes, has created a new brand identity to better represent its active adult communities companywide. “We serve a generation that is ready to enjoy life’s rewards and Vitalia has been designed to deliver greater individual richness to their lives,” said Carl Mulac, Executive Vice President of AV Homes, Inc. CantaMia has been recognized both locally and nationally as one of the best places to live. Outstanding lifestyle amenities, amazing mountain views and an ideal, just outside the city, location make CantaMia the perfect choice for today’s retiring baby boomers. For more information visit: www.CantaMia.com.
EXCITING EVENTS IN AND AROUND ESTRELLA Estrella residents never lack for things to do, and as the weather cools down, the calendars fill up, starting with the month of October! Close to 1,000 participants will run around Estrella’s North and South Lakes when the Arizona Half Marathon and 5K Hometown Race Series returns to Estrella on October 6, complete with a family festival to be held after the races. This year’s event also features a trail run that will showcase the miles of hiking and bike paths within the community. For more information and registration details visit: www.arizonahalf.com Not to be outdone by the grownups – the Sixth Annual Estrella Kids Triathlon will be held at Starpointe on October 21. The race will begin with a run, followed by a scenic bike ride around the North Lake, and end with a quick dip in the lap pool. To find out more visit: www.estrellamultisport.com. There are also plenty of family-friendly events to be found “down the hill” in the city of Goodyear. Goodyear’s Fall Concert Series is back in full swing. Pack up your lawn chairs, blankets and snacks and head down to Goodyear Community Park on October 6 to enjoy a fun, high-energy show from All-American rock band, The Monte Carlos. The concert will run from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. and the performances will continue every Saturday through October 20. Bands to be featured this month include classic cover band, The Rave and six piece country band, Urban Country. This month’s movie night at Goodyear Ballpark will be held on October 12 - gates open at 6 p.m. The feature film, “Puss In Boots” is rated PG and will run from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information and a full calendar of Goodyear events visit: www.ci.goodyear.az.us.
YOUR HOME – YOUR WAY Now is the perfect time to purchase a custom homesite in the Estrella community and build a home that is uniquely yours. From September 1 – November 30, 2012 buy a custom lot in Hidden Hills or Sonoran Vistas in Estrella and choose either: free golf pass for one year at the Golf Club of Estrella or free HOA fees for one year†! Hidden Hills and Sonoran Vistas are two exclusive, gated custom home neighborhoods located in Mountain Ranch in Estrella. Hidden Hills features just 15 homesites, each averaging approximately half an acre and encompassing between 18,000 and 46,000 square-feet and start at $62,000. These lots are comfortably nestled among the gently sloping Estrella foothills. Sonoran Vistas offers 32 sites with panoramic views of Goodyear and the White Tank Mountains. Each lot averages approximately half an acre and range between 18,000 to just under 34,000 square-feet with prices from $90,000. Building the custom home of your dreams has never been more attainable. Whether you have your own plans ready, a builder preselected or will be starting from scratch, Estrella’s team can help you every step of the way. For more information, contact Stacia Meeker and Gilbert Jaramillo at Re/Max Preferred Choice 623-850-0005.
VISIT ESTRELLA TODAY
Estrella.com
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 STARPOINTE RESIDENTS CLUB YACHT CLUB GOLF CLUB OF ESTRELLA
(623) 386-1000 (623) 386-1949 (623) 386-3411 (623) 386-2600
10300 SOUTH ESTRELLA PARKWAY GOODYEAR, AZ 85338 www.facebook.com/EstrellaAZLife
†Subject to conditions to be set forth in purchase contract. Please contact Re/Max Preferred Choice at 623.850.0005 for further information and requirements. Contract must be signed between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, 2012. *Homes in the Estrella community are constructed and sold by builders not affiliated with NNP III-Estrella Mountain Ranch, L.L.C, or Newland Communities, LLC, or Newland Communities, LLC’s affiliated companies (collectively, “Newland”). Newland does not guarantee or warrant the obligations of, or construction by, such builders, or the availability or pricing of homes. 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 Newland Real Estate Group, LLC. Prices subject to change. Square footages are approximate.
@EstrellaAZLife