Viva is a free, monthly magazine produced by Estrella Publishing for the residents of PebbleCreek.
™ VIVA
July 2026
July 2026 1
Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
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 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com
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.
Got questions about advertising? Call us for the answers! 623.398.5541
Bright Days Ahead. Bright Days Ahead. Keep Them Crash-Free. Keep Them Crash-Free.
info@sadd.org
www.sadd.org
SADDNation
2 Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
July 2026
From Me To You...
I am officially resigning as Chief Technical Officer of my family. After thirty-four years of managing every technological advancement that crossed our threshold - researching, purchasing, installing, and explaining to everyone how to use the thing I just installed, I am done. My brain is full. Actually, I think it is broken. The breaking point was a camera. Not a complicated piece of military equipment. A security camera. One single additional camera to add to a system I had already successfully built and expanded over the years. I know this system. I built this system. And yet there I stood, like a stranger in my own home, watching the little device refuse to connect to the internet. I did all the right things. I troubleshot. I called customer service and spent two hours on the phone with a technician who walked me through every step I had already tried. We agreed the camera was faulty. They sent a new one. I plugged it in with a blend of optimism and dread and that camera also refused to connect to the internet. So I went to my secondary technical support, which is to say ChatGPT, and spent an afternoon learning more about routers, gigahertz frequencies, and WAP2
versus WAP3 security protocols than any person my age should ever have to know. I followed the instructions carefully and locked myself out of my own internet dashboard. I spent the rest of the day signing every single device in the house back onto the network. The television. The thermostat. Things that should not require a password but apparently do now. In a moment of clarity, I took the camera to a friend’s house to test it there. It connected immediately. Without a single complaint. Which means the camera works just fine and I have to go home and split the bandwidth again, knowing full well I will have to sign everything back in one more time. Wanted: Household CTO. Applicants must be comfortable with ambiguity, allergic to instruction manuals, and willing to work for nothing. Previous experience explaining the cloud to people who remember when clouds were just weather is a plus. Catherine Uretsky Editor, Viva Magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623.398.5541
As we celebrate Independence Day and the freedoms we cherish, we're also celebrating family, community, and the opportunity to help our neighbors achieve their real estate goals. Together, Jennah and I are proud to serve the wonderful residents of PebbleCreek with personalized service, local market expertise, and a family-first approach. Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or investing, we're here to guide you every step of the way and help you make confident real estate decisions. From our family to yours, we wish you a safe, happy, and memorable Fourth of July. We look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood!
Judy Coventry | 480-212-2219 www.WeSellPebbleCreek.com
Ranked Top 1% Producer in AZ | Top Realtor, Phoenix Magazine, May, June Issue 2026 Senior Real Estate Specialist | PebbleCreek Resident & Neighborhood Specialist
July 2026 3
Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
Say the word “affirmations” in a room full of people and you’ll get a split reaction. Half the group nods enthusiastically, the other half quietly cringes. This is understandable. There’s a version of affirmations that can feel performative, like standing in a bathroom mirror telling yourself you’re a millionaire when your checking account says otherwise. But that’s a caricature of what affirmations actually are, and what the research tells us is worth taking seriously. Positive self-affirmation, at its core, is the practice of intentionally focusing on your own values, strengths, and identity, particularly under stress. A body of psychological research, much of it rooted in self- affirmation theory developed by Claude Steele in the 1980s, has found that affirming your core values can buffer against the psychological effects of threat, failure, and anxiety. When you feel secure in who you are, your nervous system tends to respond differently to challenges. You become more likely to stay solution- focused and less likely to spiral. Wellness
Neurologically, repeated positive self-talk has been shown to activate the brain’s reward centers and reinforce neural pathways associated with self- competence. In plain terms, the more you rehearse a belief about yourself, the more naturally you’re able to access it under pressure. This is the same mechanism behind athletic visualization. Elite performers don’t use mental rehearsal because it’s a feel-good trick. They use it because it works. The most effective affirmations aren’t wishes. They’re grounded in something real. “I am someone who handles hard things” lands differently than “everything will be perfect.” When you anchor an affirmation to your genuine values and demonstrated abilities, you’re not lying to yourself. You’re reminding yourself of what’s already true. You don’t need a morning routine, a journal, or a motivational poster. You need a few intentional sentences and the willingness to say them like you mean it. That’s a surprisingly low bar for something that can genuinely shift your day.
JUNE 12 THROUGH JULY 25, 2026 CATS is a mesmerizing, one-of-a-kind theatrical experience that transports audiences into the mysterious world of the Jellicle Cats. Through breathtaking dance, stunning visuals, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s unforgettable score – including the iconic ballad “Memory” – each cat shares their unique story. CATS is a spellbinding journey of rebirth, acceptance, and the magic of the feline world. Special thanks to Dr. Keith and Kim Haar
623.776.8400 Get tickets now at azbroadway.org
4 Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
July 2026
Kindness Corner
July brings a sense of celebration. It brings long evenings, shared meals, and the feeling of being part of something bigger. It is a month filled with cookouts, fireworks, and familiar faces. In moments like these, kindness becomes more than a choice. It becomes the thread that helps people feel connected and welcome. Think about the people around you. Maybe there is someone you wave to but have never spoken with. Kindness can begin with something simple. Invite them for a walk. Share a drink on the patio. You do not need a special reason to reach out. Sometimes getting to know someone is reason enough. Ask for a cup of sugar to make cookies. Then bring a few cookies back once they are warm from the oven. Small gestures can open the door to friendship.
Community kindness begins with awareness. July can be busy. It is easy to overlook the quiet needs around us. Choosing kindness means paying attention. It means noticing who may feel left out or unseen. Even small actions matter. Help a neighbor bring their trash or recycling bins up from the curb. Offer to carry a heavy bag. Smile and say hello. Kindness also shapes the way we talk with one another. Conversations with friends, family, and neighbors will not always lead to agreement. People bring different experiences and expectations. When that happens, you have a choice. You can move toward tension, or you can move toward understanding. A simple chat about the weather can grow into a meaningful conversation about shared interests. Kindness does not ask you to change your beliefs. It asks you to remember the humanity of the person in front of you. People come first. Always. Responding with patience, empathy, and respect builds trust. These choices reduce conflict and create space for connection. They help people feel safe enough to share who they are. The benefits of kindness last long after the moment ends. Emotionally, kindness increases belonging and reduces stress. Physically, it supports calm and wellbeing. Socially, it strengthens trust and reinforces the bonds that hold communities together. July reminds us that strong
communities are not built only through celebrations. They are built through everyday acts of care. A conversation. An invitation. A moment of patience. A willingness to see and include others. When kindness becomes a shared value, gatherings feel more meaningful. Relationships grow stronger. Communities become places where people feel seen, welcomed, and connected. Submitted by Timothy Hunter Mathews, West Valley Resident
July 2026 5
Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
WE'LL HELP YOU RECLAIM YOUR PROPERTY BY MAKING YOUR PEST PROBLEMS A THING OF THE PAST Most Popular Services BOOK NOW GENERAL PEST CONTROL TERMITE EXTERMINATION SCORPION EXTERMINATON 623-680-6619 www.estrellamtnpest.com Larry Cash - Veteran Owned & Operated
Discounts! First-Time Customers, First Responders, & Military
6 Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
July 2026
Independence Day
What Does the Fourth of July Actually Mean? There’s something about the days right after the Fourth of July that invites a kind of quiet reflection. The fireworks are done, the coolers are empty, people are back to their regular routines, and the flags that lined the streets of Glendale, Goodyear and Surprise are still there, slightly sun bleached and a little windblown, but still there. It’s in that stillness that the holiday starts to mean something beyond the festivities. Independence Day is easy to treat as a summer occasion, a reason to grill, to gather, to watch something light up the sky. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Celebration is part of what it’s for. But the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4th, 1776, was not a party invitation. It was a radical and dangerous document, written by people staking their lives on a set of ideas that had never been successfully
tested at scale: that government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, that certain rights belong to people simply because they are people, and that when those rights are violated, people have not just the right but the responsibility to say so. None of that was guaranteed to work. It still isn’t, technically. Every generation has to recommit to it. The experiment is ongoing, and the people living in it are the experiment. That includes everyone here in the West Valley, in neighborhoods that didn’t exist fifty years ago, built by people from everywhere imaginable who chose this place and this country deliberately. Patriotism at its best isn’t blind loyalty. It’s honest engagement, caring enough about an idea to want it to actually live up to itself. The Fourth gives us a day to celebrate what’s worth celebrating. The days after give us a moment to ask what we’re willing to do to keep it worth celebrating. That’s not a heavy question. It’s actually a pretty hopeful one. The answer starts right here, in communities exactly like ours.
DINE-IN ONLY * NOTE DAY & TIME * Menu Specials
Mon (All Day) : Roast Beef Sliders $12 Tues (All Day) : Ground Beef Tacos $7 Wed (4-9pm) : Wings & Fries $10 Thurs (4-9pm) : Classic Burgers $14 - Buy One, Get One 50% OFF! Fri (All Day) : Shrimp Burrito $12
Live Music • Karaoke • Dancing • Poker
Live Country Band Fri & Sat: 9PM-1am Country Dance Lessons Sat: 7-9PM Line Dance Lessons Mon & Tues: 7-9PM Fri: 6-8PM Poker Thurs : 7-9PM Karaoke Wed, Thurs & Sun 8PM-12AM WEEKLY EVENTS
June 24 & Sept 23 4:30-7:30PM
16825 W. YUMA RD, GOODYEAR AZ Info : 623-932-0922 Reservations : 623-512-0852
Bar: 11AM-2AM Daily Kitchen: 11AM-9PM (Sun-Thurs) 11AM-10PM (FR-Sat)
July 2026 7
Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
Cook With Zona
• 1 teaspoon Chile Lime Seasoning • Flaky salt and pepper to taste Chips • Vegetable oil or avocado oil • 6 small corn tortillas • 1 teaspoon Chile Lime Seasoning • 1 teaspoon Flaky sea salt Instructions 1. Make the Chips: Cut tortillas into triangles (about 6 per tortilla). In a heavy-bottomed skillet, heat ½ inch of vegetable oil over high heat until shimmering. Fry the tortilla triangles in batches for about 1 minute per side until golden and crisp. 2. In a small bowl, mix the Chili Lime seasoning with the flaky salt. Transfer chips to a paper towel-lined plate and immediately sprinkle with the seasoning mix. Let cool. 3. Char the Corn: Brush corn with olive oil, season with salt and a pinch of Chili Lime. Grill over medium-high heat for 3 minutes per side until lightly charred. Let cool slightly, then cut kernels off the cob. 4. Make the Guacamole: In a large bowl, combine avocados, lemon juice, lime juice, jalapeño, Chili Lime, salt, and pepper. Mash to your desired consistency. Fold in the charred corn. 5. Serve immediately with chips.
Charred Corn Guacamole This 4th of July try this souped up version of a classic side, you don’t have to make your own chips but you’ll be glad you did!
Ingredients Guacamole
• 3 ripe avocados • 1 lemon juiced • 1 lime juices • 2 teaspoons chopped jalapeño • 2 ears corn husks and silks removed • 1 teaspoon olive oil
Want to see previous recipes by Zona? Scan the QR code to see all past recipes on our website!
8 Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
July 2026
NOW IS THE TIME TO SELL! WE WILL BE HERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. Let us help you to get ready to sell for Top Dollar.
KATHI COOLEY REALTOR ® 708-275-3005
TYLER COOLEY REALTOR ® 708-288-4653
Pebble Creek Resident & Neighborhood Specialist Ranked Top 1% Producer In Arizona
Call our team first... It will be the best decision you ever made!
AMERICA’S RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PAINTING EXPERTS
Whether it's a fresh coat for the inside or outside of your home, PAINT CORPS® guarantees excellence in every brushstroke.
ROC #351010
$ 19 95
$ 19 95 BEAT THE HEAT! PLUS FREON A/C PERFORMANCE CHECK
SUPER SAVER OIL CHANGE
Up to 5 quarts bulk oil
OR
FULL SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE $ 49 95
We’ll thoroughly inspect your compressor, belts, hoses, pressure and temperature.
THE TEAM YOU TRUST ®
Up to 5 quarts full synthetic oil
Supply chain disruptions may affect availability and price points of some oil products specifically 0w20; Excludes diesels and Euro oil weights additional • Valid at participating locations • Most cars and light trucks • Shop supplies additional Plus up to $6 disposal fee Excludes Diesels • *Lube chassis where applicable Not valid with other offers • No cash value • See store for details • Charge for additional service/parts, if needed • Expires 7-31-26 • 4214-4274Estrella626 OIL CHANGE • LUBE CHASSIS* REPLACE FILTER • 22 POINT INSPECTION
FREON, EVAC AND RECHARGE EXTRA • Shop supplies additional • Most vehicles Not valid with other offers • No cash value • One coupon per customer At participating locations with this ad • Charge for additional parts/service if needed See store for complete details • Expires 7-31-26 • 4214-4274Estrella626
GOODYEAR / LITCHFIELD PARK 14240 W. Indian School Rd • 623-935-2446
GOODYEAR / AVONDALE 660 N. Dysart Rd • 623-266-9899
BIGOTIRES.COM
Estrella Publishing 2026-Jun.indd 1
July 2026 9 6/15/26 9:57 AM
Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
The Bug Guy Welcome to West Valley in July, Where the Bugs Are Bigger Than Your Rent
Bark scorpions glow under UV light, which means the only thing creepier than finding one in your shoe is finding one in your shoe and owning a black light. Pro tip: ignorance is bliss. Buy the blacklight anyway. You’ll thank yourself later, possibly while screaming.
Let’s get one thing straight: in the West Valley, “pest control” in July isn’t a service, it’s a lifestyle. It’s a full- contact sport played at 115 degrees against opponents who have survived ice ages, asteroid impacts, and your neighbor’s “all-natural” peppermint spray. Take the scorpion. Sonoran scorpions don’t fear the heat — they commute in it. While you’re sprinting from your car to your air-conditioned house like you’re being chased by a small fire, a scorpion is casually strolling across your patio in full sun, sipping nothing, sweating nothing, judging everything. They’ve been doing this since before the dinosaurs, and frankly, they act like it. And don’t even start on the crickets. Every July, we experience what locals affectionately call “Crickmageddon,” when millions of crickets decide that the inside of your garage is exactly where they want to die, loudly, all at once, in a chorus that sounds suspiciously like they’re cheering for their own demise.
So what’s a Phoenician to do? Hire pest control, obviously — preferably a company whose technicians show up in long sleeves in July without complaint, which alone qualifies them for combat pay. They’ll spray your baseboards, seal your foundation, and look you dead in the eye and say “you might still see some activity,” which is desert-speak for “we have made peace with the scorpions, and so should you.” In the summer pest control isn’t about winning. It’s about negotiating a temporary, sweaty truce with creatures who were clearly here first — and who, let’s be honest, are handling the heat far better than we are.
Submitted by Larry Cash, of Estrella Mountain Pest Control.
10 Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
July 2026
Name Game
Just In Time When an elderly man tripped over a crack in the sidewalk and landed with an undignified yikes, a young man rushed over to help. “Just in time,” the man muttered as he struggled to sit up. “How do you know me?” the young man asked. The old man blinked. “I don’t.” “You called me.” “What?” “I’m Justin Tyme,” the young man said proudly, extending a hand. The old man stared for a moment. “I’m Abel.” “I’m not sure about that,” said Justin. “I am definitely Abel.” “You seem pretty confident about that.” “I can prove it.” “Go ahead.”
“Well, for starters, I could use a hand.” Justin frowned. “That doesn’t prove you’re able.” The old man sighed. “Could you call someone for me?” “Sure. Who?” “Anita Minnit.” Justin checked his watch. “Okay. I can wait a minute.” “No, Anita Minnit.” “That’s what I said. I’ll wait.” The old man rubbed his forehead and said, “I’ll stay put, just in case.” “It’s Justin Tyme. My cousin is Justin Kace.” “Never mind.” “Really. I’m happy to call someone if you wish.” “Okay. Ben Dover.” Justin looked horrified. “Why would I bend over? You just asked for a hand.” With considerable effort, the man pushed himself to his feet. Just then, he spotted a friend walking toward him. “Annie Whey!” he called out. After several seconds had passed, Justin decided to nudge him. “Anyway, what?” Some mysteries, the man decided, were not worth solving. So Justin turned and went on his merry way— arriving at his destination just in time.
Submitted by Jim Surmanek, West Valley resident
July 2026 11
Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
Puzzles & Games Fill in the grid with the words on the left. Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com, or scan the QR code.
12 Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
July 2026
Go Cards! The Brissett Standoff - the best thing for the off-season? Losing your starting quarterback to a contract holdout sounds like a crisis. For a rebuilding franchise with an eye on the future, it might actually be an opportunity. By now, most Cardinals fans know the situation. Jacoby Brissett, coming off a season in which he set personal career marks in passing yards and touchdowns, is holding out for a reworked deal. The two sides are, per reports, “significantly” far apart. Brissett hasn’t been at OTAs, mandatory minicamp is looming, and new head coach Mike LaFleur has been working the first-team offense without his nominal starting quarterback. It sounds messy. But take a step back, and there’s an argument that this is exactly where the Cardinals should want to be. Let’s be honest about what Brissett is. He’s a 33-year- old veteran in his tenth year in the league who went 1-11 as a starter last season on a team that finished 3-14. He’s a professional, he’s reliable, and he showed legitimate flashes. But he is not and has never been a franchise quarterback. Paying him a significant raise
to anchor a rebuild doesn’t move the needle. It just makes the rebuild more expensive. Meanwhile, Gardner Minshew, already guaranteed $5.14 million on the roster, has been running the offense during Brissett’s absence and making a case for the starting job. Minshew has started meaningful games, made a Pro Bowl, and plays with a competitive energy that is hard to manufacture. He may not be the answer long-term either, but at this salary level, he doesn’t have to be. He just has to keep the seat warm responsibly while the real plan develops. And that plan has a name everybody in Arizona already knows: Arch Manning. The Texas quarterback is the consensus top prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft, and in over 40% of early mock drafts, he lands with the Cardinals at pick one. If this team loses the games it’s probably going to lose this year, and drafts Carson Beck into a developmental role, an 0-17 season might look a lot better by April of next year. Sometimes the best move a rebuilding team can make is to stop overpaying for the present and start investing in the future. The Brissett standoff might be forcing their hand in the right direction.
July 2026 13
Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
Business Directory ADVERTISING Viva Magazine/Estrella Publishing AUTO SERVICES Big O Tires Daniel’s Total Car Care 623.398.5541 623.266.9899 623.873.0949 JBS Roofing Paint Corps of Phoenix Pat’s A/C & Heating Renewal Painting Solutions
623.247.9252 480.468.8883 623.386.4061 602.890.7323 602.349.4022
Roof Fix AZ PET CARE Gentle Hearts Animal Hospital REAL ESTATE Coldwell Banker Realty - A Hurwitz Realty One Group - Burkhardt Team Realty One Group - Donna Strand West USA Realty - Kathi Cooley West USA Realty - Judy Coventry RETAIL & RECREATION
FINANCIAL & LEGAL SERVICES AZ Insurance 4 Seniors - L Williams Fairway Mortgage - D Santalucia
623.298.4200
623.267.1662 602.524.2421 623.439.2525
310.702.1055 623.853.5878 623.271.0518 708.275.3005 480.212.2219
Ganyo Insurance Agency HEALTH & BEAUTY
Healthy Life Family Medicine HOUSEHOLD SERVICES Century Glass & Mirror Estrella Mountain Pest Control General Exterminating Pest Control
623.889.3477
623.444.6204 623.680.6619 623.977.2100
Arizona Broadway Theatre Massage Envy - Goodyear Roman’s Oasis
623.776.8400 623.935.5495 623.932.0922
At New Life Center, pets reside in the casita with families — not boarded in a separate kennel area — and freely play in New Life Center’s dog park. 50% of assault survivors reportedly delay or refuse to leave a dangerous situation for fear of what could happen to a beloved pet left behind, so welcoming pets eliminates a substantial barrier to seeking safety. ONLY 3% OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS WELCOME PETS — NEW LIFE CENTER IS ONE
New Life Center needs your help, so we can continue to help others. DONATE TODAY BY SCANNING THE QR CODE!
newlifectr.org
14 Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
July 2026
Your Roof Called: Haboobs don’t care about your feelings or your roof, BUT WE DO! Red, white, and… water stains?
This is getting embarrassing... ...not this year!
New Construction, Repairs, Recovers, Maintenance Installation of Gutters Shingles, Tile, Built Up, Single Ply, Foam & Coatings, Metal, Shake
Fix your roof before the monsoon
www.JBSroofingAZ.com
ROC #’s: 061127 - 287012 - 198009 - 082024 - 318282 ROC #’s: 061127 - 287012 - 082024 - 318282
July 2026 15
Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
16 Estrella Publishing - Viva magazine
July 2026
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator