The Park is a free, monthly magazine produced by Estrella Publishing for the residents of Litchfield Park.
The Park ™ A magazine for Litchfield Park residents From Your Neighbors, For Your Neighbors
October 2026
October 2026 1
Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
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Published by Estrella Publishing LLC, PO Box 6962, Goodyear AZ 85338. Catherine Uretsky, Publisher and Editor; Talia Ebert, Assistant Editor; Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive; 623.398.554; info@EstrellaPublishing.com
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All contents © 2010-present Estrella Publishing LLC. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission from Estrella Publishing LLC is prohibited. Estrella Publishing accepts freelance contributions, there is no guarantee that materials will be used or returned. Estrella Publishing is not responsible for the content of contributing writers and advertisers and assumes no responsibility for errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Publisher or Advertisers. Estrella Publishing reserves the right to restrict all advertisement to their proper classification and to edit or reject any copy at its sole discretion. Neither this publication nor Estrella Publishing is an agent of or in any way affiliated with the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association, or any of their respective affiliates. This publication has not been approved by, sponsored by, or endorsed by the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association in any way.
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From Me To You... I sat down to write this editorial and my brain took a solid minute just to find first gear. That “wait, how do I even start this?” moment. It feels almost novel to think for myself, mostly because there is an easier way sitting right there on my computer, tempting me, and it’s just one tap away. The all knowing, all seeing, “helpful” AI.
nowadays where new technology shows up every day, you have to learn how to use the new tools. Just do not let the old world, and your brain, slip away too. Case in point: this very editorial. I wrote it, wrote it again, argued with whether “abacus” was too obscure, and rewrote it a third time out of sheer stubbornness. Nobody made me do those reps. I did them because somewhere between draft two and draft three, my brain remembered it still knows how to lift things without a spotter. Call it my mental gym membership, minus the sweaty machines and the guy who never re- racks his weights. So here is my proposal. Use the AI. Love the AI. Just do a few reps on your own now and then, mental push ups if you will, so your brain stays limber. Because it’s always better to have the ability and not need it than need it and not have it. Having said that, spellcheck is the one crutch I’m keeping, right next to my reading glasses and my GPS. Catherine Uretsky Editor, The Park Magazine info@estrellapublishing.com
Here’s the thing nobody tells you about handing over your everyday thinking to a machine: your brain needs exercise just like your other muscles, and muscles that do not work get soft. I used to know all my friends and family’s phone numbers by heart. Not anymore. And don’t get me started on asking for information about, well, everything. “Ask Chat” has become the norm around here. How can we fix this problem? Exercise. Repetition. Doing the math in your head at the grocery store when you are trying to decide if that 3 for $10 deal on cereal is a good buy. Working out the tip at dinner in your head instead of letting your phone do it for you. None of this means AI is the enemy. It is a genuinely useful tool, and pretending otherwise is like refusing to use a calculator out of loyalty to your abacus. If you want to keep up with the pace of the world, especially
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October 2026
Voting 411 Political signs will line major streets, campaign messages will fill mailboxes and social media feeds, and conversations about Arizona’s Nov. 3 general election will become increasingly common. But for residents, the most important part of election season isn’t the advertising. It’s knowing what’s actually on the ballot. Arizona voters will decide races for statewide and legislative offices, along with ballot propositions that could affect policies across the state. Depending on where they live, Goodyear voters may also encounter contests and issues involving other jurisdictions that provide services to their neighborhoods. That makes October an important month for doing some homework. Arizona’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 5, followed closely by the beginning of early voting Oct. 7. Those dates give residents a relatively short window to confirm their registration, learn about candidates and measures, and decide whether to vote early or wait until Election Day.
For a fast-growing community such as Goodyear, elections can have particularly visible consequences. Transportation, housing, public safety, water, economic development and infrastructure are more than campaign talking points here. They’re everyday concerns in a city where new neighborhoods and businesses continue to reshape how residents live, work and travel. Growth also means some newer residents may be voting in Goodyear for the first time. They may be unfamiliar with local districts, polling locations or which government agencies are responsible for the services they use. Before casting a ballot, residents should review their official sample ballot and voter information from Maricopa County and the Arizona Secretary of State rather than relying solely on campaign advertisements or social media posts. And don’t overlook the propositions. Ballot measures often receive less attention than candidate races, yet their effects can last for years. Election season brings plenty of political noise this October. Cutting through that noise starts with a simpler task: knowing what’s on your ballot, what it would change and when it’s time to vote.
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Road Safety
For Litchfield Park residents, slowing drivers and reducing crashes is especially relevant as the West Valley grows. More homes and businesses nearby mean more vehicles on roads in and around this comparatively small city. One tool receiving statewide attention this election season is photo enforcement. Arizona voters will consider Proposition 319 in November, a measure involving photo-enforcement systems on public roadways. Traffic cameras have long generated debate. Supporters argue automated enforcement can discourage speeding and red-light violations without an officer at every problem intersection, freeing police to focus elsewhere. Critics cite privacy, fairness and accuracy, and question whether cameras improve safety or mainly generate revenue. For Litchfield Park, the larger issue extends beyond cameras. The city’s character encourages residents to walk, bicycle and share neighborhood streets with vehicles. Families travel to schools, parks and community events, while major roads such as Litchfield Road bring through-traffic, creating
potential conflicts between motorists and more vulnerable road users. Residents evaluating traffic-safety policies should ask: Where do crashes and speeding complaints occur most often? Would more enforcement make those locations safer? Would redesigned intersections, better crosswalks, improved lighting or lower speeds work better? And if cameras are used, how should effectiveness be measured? The goal shouldn’t be issuing more citations. It should be reducing dangerous driving and preventing serious crashes. For Litchfield Park, the camera debate offers a chance for a broader conversation about road safety, and about how a growing West Valley can move more people without sacrificing the walkable, neighborhood- oriented character residents value.
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October 2026
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Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
Number 11
On October 25th, State Farm Stadium will give Larry Fitzgerald the sendoff he never officially asked for. It’s long overdue, and it should be perfect. There’s a version of Larry Fitzgerald that will always exist in the memory of this state, frozen somewhere between that Super Bowl catch in Tampa and the last quiet fade of his final season. On October 25th, that version finally gets its moment, with Fitzgerald at midfield and his No. 11 jersey rising toward the rafters. If you’re in the building, or watching from your couch in Glendale or Goodyear, it will be something worth remembering. The halftime ceremony against the Denver Broncos will fold two honors into one night: Fitzgerald’s induction into the Cardinals Ring of Honor as its 20th member, and the official retirement of No. 11, only the sixth number in the history of the franchise to receive that distinction. He will join Larry Wilson, Pat Tillman, Stan Mauldin, J.V. Cain and Marshall
Goldberg in that small, permanent group. Fitzgerald has still never formally announced his retirement. He simply stepped away after the 2020 season, which makes the evening feel perfectly in character for a man who was never interested in spectacle for its own sake. The ceremony will also be a reminder of just how rare his story was. Seventeen seasons. One team. Two hundred and sixty-three games. No rumors of leaving, no contract holdout, no tearful press conference announcing a move to a contender. In a league built on transactions and leverage, Fitzgerald played all of it in cardinal red and never made a fuss about it. Owner Michael Bidwill put it cleanly when the team announced the honors: his excellence on the field was only surpassed by the way he represented the team and the community off it. That tracks. His charitable work in the Valley has been as consistent and low-key as everything else about him.
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The Bug Guy
Halloween in the Valley: Where Scorpions Don’t Need a Costume Let’s be honest, West Valley: we didn’t need Halloween to have things skittering around that make people scream. We’ve had that covered since roughly March. While the rest of the country is out here decorating with plastic spiders, we’re just... looking down before we put our shoes on. Nothing says “spooky season” quite like shaking out a boot and hoping today isn’t the day a bark scorpion decides to make a statement. Our neighbors to the north hang fake cobwebs from their porches for atmosphere. Ours are load-bearing. And don’t even get me started on the pack rats. Every October, some poor soul in Arcadia hangs up a cute little skeleton decoration, only to discover a week later that something has been using it as a chew toy. Nothing ruins the illusion of a haunted house quite like realizing the “ghost” in your attic pays rent in droppings and has excellent taste in insulation. Trick-or-treaters here have developed a sixth sense the rest of the country doesn’t need: the pre-doorbell scorpion scan. Every porch light gets the flashlight- under-blacklight treatment before a single candy bag gets extended. Parents aren’t just checking candy wrappers anymore, they’re checking corners. Then there’s the pest control trucks, doing their best business of the year right alongside the costume shops.
Nothing says “October in the Valley” like a technician in a full Halloween-adjacent hazmat getup, treating a baseboard while a giant inflatable Frankenstein wobbles ominously in the yard next door. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which visitor is scarier: the trick-or- treater in the werewolf mask, or the actual javelina rustling through the cactus out back looking for candy of its own. So this year, when you’re setting up your fake tombstones and cotton-web spiders, maybe give a little nod to the real MVPs of Phoenix Halloween: the pest control folks quietly making sure the only things haunting your house are the decorations you put there on purpose. Stay spooky, Keep your shoes shaken and
your door screens intact. Submitted by Larry Cash, of Estrella Mountain Pest Control.
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Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
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October 2026
Cook With Zona Pumpkin Bread
Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 9x5” loaf pan. 2. In a large bowl, toss together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt. Set aside 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. 1 & 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1 & 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 2 large eggs 4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until just combined.
It’s October and that means pumpkins! This delicious pumpkin bread is packed with pumpkin flavor and fragrant autumn spices and your house will smell amazing all day. Ingredients • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp nutmeg) • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 & 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree • 1/2 cup vegetable oil • 1 & 1/2 cups granulated sugar • 2 large eggs
5. Spoon into prepared baking pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs and the top springs back when lightly touched. 6. Enjoy!
Want to see previous recipes by Zona? Scan the QR code to see all past recipes on our website!
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Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
Puzzles & Games Soduku rules. Fill every row, column, and 3 × 3 block with the numbers 1 to 9 without repeating them. Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com, or scan the QR code. Easy 8 2 7 3 4 9 6 4 9 5 8 3 Medium 7 4 4 2
9 8 5
4 8 9 6 6 1 2
8 3
6
4
4
2 1 4 9 1 8
7
6
4 9 6
1 8 3
1 5 7
9 4
6
2 4 7 7 3
5 7
1 8
1
8 3 5
3 4 1
8 5 6
Spot the Difference!
Hard
Expert 5
2 4
9 5 6
6
4
9 6
7
6 3
8
1
3 8 2
4 3 6 5
8 5
2
9 7
4 2 3
1
8
8
1
2 4
7 9
7 8
5
6 1
8
9
Master 2
1
09/20/2026
3
9 4 6
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October 2026
5
3
Download the original Sudoku.com mobile application and play thousands of
9 1
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