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c OLLEGE
P ARK Neighborhood Association
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.CollegePark-Richardson.com
FEBRUARY 2016
College Park—Glenville Park—North College Park—Town North Park Associations are sponsoring
EGGHUNT SPRING CELEBRATION @ Glenville Park
Saturday March 12th 12 Noon—1:30PM (RAIN DATE: MARCH19
th)
EggHunt (Bring your own basket)
Hula Hoop Competition Egg Spoon Race
3 Legged Race Egg Toss All Grown-Ups are encouraged (and challenged)
to be kids for the day.
Photo OP Area (Bring your own camera)
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WITH THIS EVENT
Contact: Paco - [email protected]
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Notes from the President
Patti Glenn [email protected] 972-900-9188 or 972-699-1615
What a great winter we have had so far! I still have plants that should have frozen back, but they are still waiting for the first hard freeze. I am certainly not complaining. However, I have heard that with the mild winter we have enjoyed so far, we may have a bug problem in the spring/summer. A number of folks have comments on the number of car burglaries in the last several months. These burglaries have occurred both on the street and in the driveways. Many of the vehicles were left unlocked. Please lock your car regardless of where you park it. Another way to deter burglaries is to keep the neighborhood well lite at night. If you do not already keep your front porch and driveway lights on at night, I encourage you to do that for you and for a brighter neighborhood. You can buy dusk-to-dawn or motion detector sockets that screw into your currently installed outdoor lights. You then screw your regular light bulb (including LEDs) into the dusk-to-dawn or motion detector socket. These special sockets are not expensive – I priced them at Batteries Plus Bulbs and they are about $12-15 each. I am sure they are also available at Lowe’s & Home Depot. I have my front porch lights on dusk to dawn and my back lights on motion detectors. Burglars don’t like light so the more light we have in the neighborhood at night, the better. The additional cost of electricity is very, very small. Mayor Paul Voelker reported that the state of Richardson is strong at this year’s State of the City Address, a free and open-to-the-public event held at the Eisemann Center on Wednesday, January 27th. He recognized many of the success stories that occurred in Richardson in 2015 and highlighted some great things the City is looking ahead to in 2016. Click here to view a video of the entire presentation http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=1578 We are planning our Spring Celebration on Saturday, March 12th, but we are starting at noon, rather than in the morning as we have done in the past. A “rain date” is planned for Saturday, March 19, if necessary. Our neighborhood is using a private online network called NextDoor College Park, and I think you'll benefit from joining us. On our NextDoor site, neighbors share community events, recommendations, items for sale/free, crime/safety concerns, ideas about how to make our neighborhood better, and more. Please join us to build a better neighborhood! If you have not signed up for the Next Door website site, I highly recommend it. There are lots of good things showing up. You may get to know you neighbors a bit better and help send pets home or even find a cabinet to work on if you are inclined. Richardson Police and the City both post to it and keep us informed on city things going on. You can lurk or participate. Discussions include things about the wild critters who sometimes visit our backyards or neighborhoods. Who to call for tile work? Cleaning the vents? Foundation repair? Selling your stuff? (I purchased by car from an ad on Next Door) Need a babysitter? Police updates? Stranger danger from the neighbors-crime alerts that can travel very fast! Things for sale or FREE Giveaways. If you are interested, please send me an email and I will send you an electronic invite.
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CRIME TIPS
YARD OF THE MONTH
Bettye Ann Howell
815 Edgewood
HONORABLE MENTION
Paul & Marty Vandergriff
908 Grinnell Our thanks to Callaway's Nursery, located on
Plano Road, north of Campbell, for Sponsoring CPNA YOM
Crime Watch Patrol Stats
FOR JANUARY
Patrol Hours 59.25
Types of Observations Open Garage Doors 11
Suspicious Persons 0
Other Property Observations 7
Suspicious Vehicles 6
House Checks 7
The following people patrolled this month
Our Neighborhood Patrol Officer
Ed Coleman (Cell) 214-282-0843
Call Officer Coleman for
General Assistance To Report Minor or Unusual Activities Cars on the Street
For Emergencies, call 911
Crime Watch Patrol has volunteered to install locking mailboxes. You provide the material & they will install it for you. If interest, contact Chris Williams at (469) 274-3500 or
Dieter Paul, Jack Casey, Sara Bostelmann,
Rick Skaggs, John Thompson, Dale Kloster-
man, Ben Parlapiano, Chris Williams, Peggy
Williams, Patti Glenn, Len Foster & Kathy Hill
We had 10 CWP Members attend the Crime Watch Patrol meeting with RPD at Target on 1/5
Crime Tip: Lock your car and take your keys with you, even if you are just running inside a business for a quick coffee in the morning. Many car thieves steal cars that are left running but unattended. It is against the law to leave keys in an unattended vehicle. Crime Tip: Always acknowledge someone at your front door. You do not want to give the impression to a would-be burglar that your home is vacant. Never open your door to a stranger. Keep the door locked and speak through the door using phrases like “We can’t come to the door” to give the impression you are not alone. Crime Tip: Protect your computer from viruses, malware and other malicious software that could compromise your credit card numbers and personal information. Download the latest operating system patches and consider turning on automatic updates to do this. Use anti-virus software, and only shop with well known trusted websites that are secure, indicated by "https" in the web address, or look for the security padlock icon in your web browser for confirmation the site is using a secure connection.
Sympathy To the family of
Linda Tuti 1000 Block of Edgewood
Fraud Alerts & Credit Freezes Fraud alerts & credit freezes are two tools available to you to help you better protect your credit. However, there are some key differences between the two ser-vices to be aware of. Here is what you need to know: What is a Fraud Alert? A fraud alert is a signal to potential creditors to let them know to take further steps to verify your identity before issuing credit. They are useful protective measures to put in place if you believe your identity is at risk. To place a fraud alert, contact any of the three credit reporting agencies & request the alert - the agency you contact is required to inform the other two. Things to Be Aware of - Fraud alerts only last for 90 days. While a fraud alert is relatively easy to put in place, you must remember to renew it after the 90-day mark if you still believe your identity is at risk.
(continued on pg 10)
College Park Market Analysis Summary as of 02/15/16
Active Listings 3 (Includes 1 pending & 1 under option)
Avg list price $221.3K Avg price/sq ft $100.67
Sold past 6 months 26 Avg sold price $241.9K Avg price/sq ft $108.31
Please note this does not include “For Sale by Owner” Properties
After doing some analysis, I have determined that there is no significant difference between looking at just College Park and combining College Park, College Park North, College Park East, and Town North Park subdivisions so going forward I will do the CMA on this slightly larger area to give a better idea of the market in our area. If you would like additional information or a market analysis of your property, please contact me at
972-900-9188 [email protected]
CPNA - Dedicated to improving our neighborhood & community
Membership dues covers June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016
Our College Park Neighbors (All neighbors, not just homeowners) are invited to join CPNA!
Mail dues of $35.00 to Treasurer Lynne Patterson
PO Box 851021 Richardson, TX 75085
Questions? Lynne Patterson 972-890-1031
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
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CPNA OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE HEADS 2015-2016
President Patti Glenn 972-699-1615 [email protected] 972-900-9188 cell Vice President John Pantzer 903 720 4795 [email protected] Secretary Sharlee Skaggs 972-690-3172 [email protected] Treasurer Lynne Patterson 972-890-1031 [email protected] Parliamentarian Jerry Silverman 972-231-2300 [email protected] Welcome Comm. Kathy Hill 214-533-5295 [email protected] Beautification/YOM Dale Klosterman 972-644-1583 [email protected] Beautification/YOM Pam Young 214-415-4132 [email protected] Newsletter Helene Levitan 972-519-0270 [email protected] Crime Watch Patrol Kathy Hill 214-533-5295 [email protected] AT LARGE Member Chris Xeros 972-740-4151 [email protected] AT LARGE Member Chieu Mai 972-235-0028 [email protected] AT LARGE Member Peggy Williams 972-680-2863 [email protected]
TIMELY TIPS FOR FEBRUARY GARDENERS
C ALLOWAY’S
5
February may be the toughest gardening month. Thank goodness it’s short. In North Texas, we do not know what kind of weather to expect from day to day or from day to night. Keep in mind that the average last freeze for North Texas area is not until mid-March. Even so, many plants normally begin to show signs of growth in February, which makes it the perfect time, to get outside and work in the yard. This is the perfect time to get your garden tools in good working order. So that when Spring arrives you are ready to plant those plants, mow the grass and prepare all those beds in preparation for a beautiful landscape. Pruning is both an art and a necessary maintenance function. Most trees and shrubs can be lightly pruned at any time; however mid-winter is generally the best time for major pruning. Summer flowering trees and shrubs should be pruned before buds begin to swell for Spring, generally they bloom on new growth; examples are crape myrtle, butterfly bush, spiraea and honeysuckle. If those seed heads on crepe myrtles bother you, remove them this month. Just clip back the ends of the branches, do not destroy the beauty of the gracefully sculptured trunks by severe pruning. Please never top a crape myrtle. Spring flowering plants such as azalea, Carolina jasmine, wisteria, forsythia, and quince should not be pruned until after the blooms are spent. February is the best time for pruning most roses. Remove any old and diseased canes then cut the remaining canes back by 50%. Make your cuts above a bud that faces away from the center of the plant. Early to mid-February marks the time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide for lawns. These products kill germinating seed. A second application may be needed in late May or early June. Remember that the best defense against lawn weeds is a healthy, thick turf resulting from good management.
Trim back perennials and ornamental grasses before the new growth appears in Spring. Clean up around plants and mulch well to protect. This is a great time to visit your Calloway’s. New plants are arriving now for late winter and early spring planting. By planting early, plants will be off to a better start and can become adjusted before the stresses of summer arrive.
Vehicles Parked Along Neighborhood Streets
The following information should answer most of the questions you might have:
State Law:
Vehicle must be parallel to the curb and no more than 18 inches from the curb.
No parking within 15ft. of a fire hydrant.
No parking within 20 ft. of a crosswalk.
No parking within 30 ft. of a controlled intersection (approach side).
City of Richardson Ordinances:
No vehicle larger than a 3/4 ton and with no more than 4 wheels can be parked on a residential street from sundown to sunup.
Parking in front of a residence other than owner of residence is prohibited between 2am and 8am.
TIMELY TIPS FOR FEBRUARY GARDENERS, cont’d
6
Should You Consolidate All Your Insurance with One Provider?
Consolidate Insurance (continued) This is where an umbrella policy comes in. An umbrella policy is a liability insurance plan that is used to cover the gaps in your existing plans & pay up to specific policy limits above & beyond your general coverage. And it can be surprisingly affordable. The key thing to remember is to protect your assets & limit your liability with the correct coverage. Sometimes consolidation is the best way to accomplish both goals. If you have multiple policies, it is well worth looking into.
The types of things you should or could have insurance for vary as widely as the types of coverage & plans that are available for you. So the first thing you need to do is take a look at the assets that you own & decide if that item is something that a) is currently insured, b) can be insured, or c) should be insured.
There are some obvious assets in your portfolio that have statutory requirements that you carry insurance. There may even be rules on minimum coverage requirements. For example, all states require that you have car insurance. Lenders most often require that you obtain homeowners insurance in order to mitigate the possibility of loss for them. Landlords & storage units usually require that you have some form of renter’s insurance. These are but a few of the many instances that would require you to be insured.
Now to the question: should you consolidate your types of coverage? There are two primary reasons why a person would choose to consolidate. One, it is much easier to keep track of & make payments to a single insurance company. Otherwise, if you had five different policies from five different providers, you could spend a significant amount of time keeping track of when payment is due, writing out checks to each one, constantly dealing with renewal deadlines, speaking with different representatives about claims or plan modifications, along with a myriad of other administrative issues.
Second, and most important, the reason to consolidate is the simple fact that it may be less expensive to pay a single company. Most insurers charge you a monthly surcharge. Therefore, if you paid your auto, home, business, or other plan each month, you would be wasting heaps of money in these charges.
A significant benefit from consolidating your policies with one entity is the benefit of economies of scale. Multiple policies equate to multiple discounts, which lower your cost overall. So even if insurance for your car is higher with a given insurer, the overall discounts of having your home, business, & other assets may, in fact, lower your annual expenditure. Taking the Next Step When your insurance is all in one place, it's also easier to see the missing pieces. For example, what happens if you have a claim on your insurance that is not covered by the policy or if the amount required to rectify the incident exceeds your policy limits?
Tips for Tackling a Small-Bathroom Redo
One of the most popular DIY projects is redoing a small bathroom. According to the Liberty Mutual, New Beginnings Report, 23% of Americans beginning a home renovation this year will update a bathroom. When space is limited, it can be especially difficult to incorporate desired design elements while maintaining a functional washroom.
Here, expert craftsman Chip Wade, a consultant with Liberty Mutual Insurance, offers tips for a successful small bathroom redo.
1. Get the (Large) Look Choose design elements that open up the space so you don't feel cramped. For example, a glass door for your shower or tub can make the space appear larger & more open instead of closed off. Adding a mosaic tile pattern to the walls creates the illusion of a larger space without encroaching on the existing footprint. Or you can paint a colorful accent wall for a visual focal point.
2. Double Up For Storage Make sure that each fixture or piece of furniture has a dual use. The medicine cabinet can also be where the mirror is. A pedestal sink is slim, but a sink with a small cabinet or open shelves underneath can stow items out of the way. Hang shelves inside the shower or tub to keep necessities neat & organized.
3. Salvage to Stay on Budget
Save money by reinventing items you already have. Try reglazing the sink or tub, & installing updated faucet or plumbing fixtures to get a brand-new look at a fraction of the cost of buying brand-new models. Cabinets may only need a touch-up—such as a fresh paint job or modern knobs or pulls—instead of completely replacing the unit.
7
Ways to Keep Your Mature Trees Healthy By Falon Mihalic, Houzz Contributor
Mature trees are a valuable commodity in the yard because they take a long time to establish & then become gorgeous specimens that provide shade & year-round benefit to wildlife. Protecting them by keeping them in great health is an effective way to invest in the long-term look of your landscape.
It’s easy to take mature trees for granted since they often do so well, & provide great beauty & enjoyment, without much help from us. And yet, intense weather events can take their toll. Follow these five steps to ensure that your trees are healthy, resilient, & will survive harsh wind, heavy rain & extended drought for generations. Know your trees’ needs. Research & take notes on the needs of your trees. If you aren’t sure what’s growing in your yard, use the Arbor Day Foundation’s https://www.arborday.org/trees/whattree/ to identify the trees.
How much water does the tree need & what type of soil does it prefer? It’s important to know a tree’s preferred moisture conditions, even if it’s receiving enough water from rainfall alone. Ideally, the tree is planted in the right place & thriving in existing soil conditions. If you aren’t sure if your tree is sited correctly, get the advice of an arborist.
Is the tree drought-tolerant? If not, keep a
watchful eye on it during periods of drought & provide supplemental water. as needed.
What is the tree sensitive to? Some are sensitive to high winds, salt spray, drought, too much water or root competition from other plants. Know these sensitivities & avoid exposing the tree to those stressors.
Protect tree roots. Healthy roots are essential for healthy trees, which means healthy soil is also critical. Oxygen is necessary for nutrient absorption by tree roots, which is why healthy soil has air space. Compacted soil is one of the biggest threats to tree roots because compaction impedes water infiltration & oxygen into the root zone.
Focus on protecting the roots & soil within the critical root zone (CRZ) of your tree. The CRZ is defined by the drip line of the tree, an imaginary circle drawn on the ground in line with where the tree’s branches extend. The reality is that tree roots extend well beyond the drip line & roots below the ground aren’t symmetrical with the branches above
the ground. However, the roots within the CRZ is the area most sensitive to disturbance. This means that you shouldn’t compact soil or change the grade of the soil within the CRZ of your tree. Doing so can significantly damage the roots & soil structure, which will degrade your tree’s health over time.
2. Protect tree bark. A tree’s bark is like a living armor that protects the tree. Damaging the armor makes it easy for fungal or bacterial infections to take hold & harm the tree by rotting from the inside. Sources of damage to bark include:
Rotary spray heads. Sprinkler heads that hit the tree’s trunk in the same place, especially at close range, may injure the bark. Redirect the spray arc of the spray head so that it doesn’t force a stream of water directly onto the trunk.
Rubbing branches. Branches that are entwined & rubbing against one another will cause a wound to the bark. See tip below on pruning out branches correctly.
Lawn equipment. Has your tree been hit by the weed whacker? Steer the mower & all lawn equipment away from the trunks of trees.
Vehicles. Trees near driveways & roads can sometimes suffer hits from tall delivery trucks or other vehicles. You can have lower limbs removed from trees in these areas to prevent breakage from vehicles & use small reflectors from the hardware store to make tree trunks visible at night.
3. Water effectively. Mature trees that are well-established will likely thrive in existing soil & moisture conditions. However, an extended drought can still kill them, depending on the species, soil conditions & local climate. This is why it’s important to ensure the overall health of your trees so that they’ll be more resilient when a stressful drought sets in.
Your trees need no extra watering in the dormant winter season unless they’ve been recently planted. It’s in the heat of summer or during drought conditions that a tree needs to be irrigated. Infrequent, deep watering is the preferred schedule for trees. You want to give them a good soak occasionally, instead of a frequent misting. I recommend this with the caveat that droughts are when we should be conserving potable water instead of using a precious resource to keep our landscape lush. Maintain the health of your tree with healthy soil to give it the best chance of surviving a drought.
Continued on next page, left column
Courtesy of NewsUSA
If you're like most Americans, you don't have all of the answers when it comes to tax filing. That's why it's important to do as much research as possible to get up to speed on the latest adjustments & myths surrounding the tax code.
To help, here are six tax myths that the National Association of Enrolled Agents—a group of federally licensed tax practitioners who specialize in taxes—encounters frequently.
Myth: I'm filing an extension, so I don't need to pay anything before the deadline.
Fact: Tax extensions only extend the time you have left to file, not the time you have to pay any taxes owed. If you owe money & file an extension, you have until April 15 to pay, regardless of the extended deadline date. Otherwise, interest & penalties begin to stack up.
Myth: I had a really big loss in the stock market this year, so I won't owe any income taxes.
Fact: Deduction of capital losses against ordinary income is limited to $3,000/year. Also, whether you reinvest or receive dividends, they are technically, still income & are taxed as such.
Myth: They paid me in cash, so I don't have to report it.
Fact: If it's income, you must report it. You always report income, regardless of whether it's cash, tips, bonuses or dividends.
Myth: I'm too young to have to pay taxes.
Fact: Even dependents working part-time while in high school must file a tax return if they earn more than $6,200 in 2015, if they want to receive their refund or if their unearned income is more than $1,000.
Myth: Income earned in a foreign country is not taxable.
Fact: The operative word is " income," which means it's taxable. The IRS requires taxpayers to report all earned income, even if it's earned abroad.
Myth: Tax preparers only fill out forms that you can do yourself
Fact: Licensed preparers know the intricate (and
constantly changing) tax laws, regulations & codes,
& how they can be applied for your benefit & save
you money. Enrolled agents, America's tax experts,
receive annual continuing education so they are
knowledgeable of tax laws & how they can apply to
you. Enrolled agents not only specialize in tax
preparation & tax planning, they can also represent
you before the IRS.
Common Tax-Filing Myths
8
Keep Trees Healthy, cont’d
4. Prune properly. The dormant winter season is a great time to prune trees before they push out any new growth in the spring. Look at the overall structure of your tree & select which branches need to be removed. For people with black thumbs or who are new to pruning, it’s a good idea to hire a professional who can teach you the proper techniques or can simply do the pruning for you. Here are the basic guidelines:
Crossing branches. Branches that are crossing & rubbing against one another can create a wound in the bark. Generally, remove the branch that’s smaller in diameter to encourage the stronger & more robust branch to grow. Multi-stemmed trees can also be pruned to open up & thin out their form.
Dead & broken branches. Remove them with a clean cut so that the tree will self-heal. Leaving dead or broken branches on the tree can create rough breaks where moisture & organisms will move in & degrade the tree.
Low branches. You can “ limb up” your tree to remove low branches, as necessary. Removing low branches is a way to allow for more light into the space below your tree & is mostly for aesthetic purposes. Remove any low branches that are prone to damage, such as those near a roadway that might be impacted by a vehicle.
5. Maintain healthy soil around trees. In the forest, trees do just fine on their own without human care. A forest has an intact layer of decaying organic matter that regularly enriches the soil & creates a rich microbial environment that aids nutrient absorption by roots. The leaf litter layer also retains moisture in the soil & creates a good soil structure for water infiltration. There are two ways to mimic this process in your home landscape:
Mulch around trees using purchased mulch or fallen leaves from your yard. You need to maintain only a 2- to 4-inch layer; any additional depth will smother the roots. Make sure to stop the mulch away from the trunk & root flare.
Plant ground covers & grasses that allow for dead plant material to decay in the soil. You can plant shade-tolerant plants in the shade of a mature tree to act like a “living mulch.” The plants will help retain a healthy soil environment & can look much more attractive than bare mulch. Use plants with spreading roots to avoid root competition with the tree.
10. Make your microwave spick-&-span? - “Take a damp cloth, make it into a ball & place it in the microwave. Heat the cloth for one minute until it gives off steam. This will loosen all the food debris stuck on the microwave’s internal walls, allowing you to remove it with a simple wipe of the very same cloth.”
11. If you want to make your silverware sparkle like new again, take a container that’s big enough to hold all your cutlery, line it with aluminum foil & fill the base of the container with salt. Now fill the container with water, place your cutlery in it & stand back & admire the results
LIVING ROOM
Make Windows & Other Surfaces Sparkle
12. Baking soda, vinegar, lemons, borax, & newspaper are among the things for cleaning glass & windows. “You really don’t need chemical cleaners”.
13. For hard water spots on the outside of windows, it takes only a couple of drops of toilet cleaner designed for lime & rust deposits: “On a wet rag (wear gloves) wipe on, let it sit for a few minutes, then rub lightly & rinse. Works great.”
Take Care of Textiles
14. Use lint rollers to remove dust from lampshades
15.Removing dog & cat hair: “Put the leg of a pair of pantyhose on a broom & it will pick up everything in its path. Then simply turn it inside out & throw it away — magic!”
Clean Floors Quickly & Perfectly
16. Sprays vinegar diluted with water on the floor to keep ants & small insects at bay. “If you do it every two weeks, that’s sufficient. You can even use it if you have cats or other pets at home, since vinegar contains no harmful chemicals — the perfect solution!”
17. “To clean your floor tiles, mix 1 pound of oat bran with about 10 pints of water & let sit for roughly 25 minutes. Once the mixture is ready, use a sieve to strain the liquid, which you now use to clean your floor. Leave it on the floor for five minutes before rinsing it off with clean water.
18. To clean & polish wood floors, make a small bag the size of your palm using a worn-out cotton cloth such as an old T-shirt. Fill the bag with rice bran & sew up the opening. Now moisten the bag a little & use it to clean & polish flooring, walls — in fact, anything made of wood.
Continued on next page
Magic Household Cleaning Tips
9
Household chores are a fact of life — no matter how we tackle them, there’s no getting around them. Sometimes we divide them up among family members & try to turn them into a game; at other times, we simply integrate them into our weekly routine. Either way, we’re eager to make them as easy as possible & we want our tactics to be both cheap & effective.
KITCHEN
Refresh Your Storage
1. Scatter a handful of bay leaves in the pantry to deter critters, such as flies & weevils
2. If a plastic food container still has a food odor after washing, leave it outside overnight with the lid off - “By morning the odor will be gone.”
Keep Your Countertop Spotless
3. Covering the counter with parchment paper or aluminum foil while peeling fish or vegetables. “You just throw away the paper with the garbage — fast & easy.”
4. Putting out a saucer of cotton balls steeped in vinegar will quickly eliminate cooking smells, such as from cauliflower or cabbage.
5. Pop over to your local dollar store & grab a magic sponge - “They are excellent for removing all sorts of marks & you only need to add water—no chemicals.”
Freshen Appliances & Silverware
6. Mix vinegar with detergent in the dishwasher to keep your dishes shining
7.The power of vinegar - you can use this versatile
ingredient to remove lime scale from your kettle.
Simply mix one part vinegar to one part water in the
kettle, bring to a boil & let sit for about 15 minutes.
8. When it comes to keeping the fridge clean, it’s a
good idea to keep food away from the back wall, as
bad smells can develop. “Food residues get attached
to the ice [at the back of the fridge], which then melts
& becomes moldy water.” Check your refrigerator
once a week to avoid a big clean.
9.Use a lemon to dissolve the lime scale that builds
up on faucets or around the drain. Let the lemon or
lemon juice sit for a while to allow it to penetrate.”
10
What is a Credit Freeze?
A credit freeze is a more permanent, restrictive solution that prevents new lenders from seeing your credit, & thereby opening new lines of credit in your name. A credit freeze remains in place until you ask to have it removed.
Things to be Aware of - Getting a credit freeze is slightly more complicated than requesting a fraud alert. You need to contact each of the three credit bureaus yourself, verify your identity, and pay a small fee (usually $5-$10). Keep in mind that a credit freeze not only prevents thieves from opening lines of credit in your name, but also prevents you from opening new, legitimate lines of credit. This solution is best for people who have confirmed they are victims of identity theft.
Magic Household Cleaning Tips, cont’d
BATHROOM
Showers 19. A mixture of dishwashing liquid, vinegar & ammonia removes soap scum, lime scale & dirt from the shower. “It works every time & saves me a lot of money!”. “However, it should not be used on marble, as the vinegar breaks down the limestone surface!’’
20. Do not to throw away old toothbrushes. "They come in useful when cleaning difficult-to-reach places. For example, I use them to remove hairs from the bathtub & drain.”
21. A good tip, which also happens to be eco-friendly, is to use vinegar to remove lime scale from a shower door. “I macerate orange peels with about a quart of vinegar in an airtight bottle for a week or so — this improves the smell (although the smell of vinegar disappears quickly). Then, as already recommended, I dry it either with an old newspaper, or, if the frame is made of white plastic, use a cotton cloth”
22. Keep a heavy-duty bathroom cleaner & soap scum remover such as Shower Power in the shower caddy & give the door a spray with it every couple of days as you get out of the shower - “I haven’t scrubbed a shower in years & my shower doors are crystal-clear.”
23. Use vinegar & baking soda to clean shower doors, stainless steel, ceramics, porcelain & drains
Towels
24. “Don’t use fabric softener with towels — it creates a coating & prevents them from absorbing water when you dry off your body. Use white vinegar instead.”
Toilets
25.Pours one or two glasses of vinegar into the toilet to get the bowl sparkling.
BEDROOM
Keep Your Sleep Zone Healthy
26. “When you’re sick, cut an onion in half & place it on the bedside table — it will absorb any harmful bacteria in the air.”
Protect Your Closet From Odors & Humidity
27. “In old apartments, the smell of damp can sometimes be transmitted to clothes stored in closets. To solve this problem, simply use a piece of newspaper rolled up into a ball to absorb the humidity & a glass of warm white vinegar to get rid of the smell,”
28. Borax acts as a deodorizer for shoes. “soak sneakers in a bucket of water with a couple of tablespoons of borax, then rinse & hang them on the line to dry. They smell as good as new.”
29. To remove ink from clothes, spray them with hairspray, then wash them as you normally do
30. To get rid of odors in closets & shoe cabinets, place some charcoal in a small piece of gauze & leave it inside the enclosure
31. Use green tea as a deodorizer & dehumidifying agent. Wrap well-dried, used green tea leaves in a small piece of gauze, washi paper or a used stocking & put it in a shoe cabinet. “Make sure the tea leaves are completely dry, either by drying them in the sun or microwaving them for a couple of minutes.”
Fraud Alerts & Credit Freezes
(continued from pg 3)
Make a fresh start in the new year with a healthy pantry makeover, organized files & a decluttered home. Of course, once the energy of those new year’s resolutions begins to fizzle, you may be in need of a midwinter boost — when that time comes, try cozy accents & a few light-enhancing tips to keep the winter blues at bay. Refresh your kitchen & pantry for the new year. Have you made a new year’s resolution to eat healthier foods or eat out less & prepare more meals at home? Kick things off by thoroughly cleaning your kitchen & pantry. Put your blender or juicer in a prominent spot on the counter to make it easier to whip up healthy juices & smoothies and place fresh produce front & center. Boost light. Getting enough light can make a huge difference in how we feel in winter. Do what you can to boost light by pulling open window coverings during the day, adding lamps & candles, and lighting a fire in the fireplace or wood stove if you have one. Or consider decorating with white for a light, bright look — in the Scandinavian countries, white interiors are common, thanks to their ability to amplify light & cheer up homes during those long, cold northern winters. Clear home & wardrobe clutter. Post holidays is a good time for decluttering, since there’s a good chance you accumulated some new things over the previous few weeks. Grab a cardboard box & fill it with clothes, books & other items you no longer love or use. When it’s full, take it to a charitable donation center. Bump up coziness. Avoid the post-holiday slump by adding a few super soft & cozy accents around the house: think velvet cushions, fluffy faux-fur throws, knitted poufs, candles, fresh flowers or a new teapot. And while you may be taking down most of your holiday decorations in the early part of January, consider leaving up a few strands of white twinkle lights & swags of fresh greenery a bit longer — we could all use the extra cheer at this time of year! Organize your papers & digital documents. It’s like going to the dentist: not exactly a pleasant task, but you know you’ll feel good when it’s done. So brew yourself a cup of strong coffee, put on some energetic music & start sorting, shredding & filing. And don’t forget the computer — back up everything (put an automatic backup system in place if you don’t already have one), and begin sorting your digital documents & records using a simple filing system.
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Give kids’ spaces a boost. Especially in regions expe-riencing extreme cold, having an appealing indoor space where kids can play in winter is essential. Consider adding a new feature to your play space this month, such as a chalkboard or whiteboard wall, an area for messy art or tumbling mats. Plan decorating & remodeling projects for the year ahead. Thinking of remodeling the kitchen, adding a deck, putting fresh tile in the bath or painting your bedroom? Use your favorite resources (like Houzz) to save inspiring ideas & begin contacting pros to see your project through in the new year. Take down & store holiday decorations. Pack fragile ornaments with care & wind tree lights around a piece of cardboard to avoid tangling. If there were any ornaments or decorations you didn’t end up using this year, consider giving them away & save the space for things you really love. Check the exterior & landscape after winter storms. Keep an eye out for roof damage, downed tree limbs & storm damage.
To-Dos: It’s Time to Lighten Up, Cozy Up and Get Organized as We Head into a New Year
by Laura Gaskill, Houzz Contributor
Living Garbage Free One day, I hopped into a taxi and took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly, a black car, jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed the brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck' He explained, "Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. NEVER take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on with the routine life." Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...... 'Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.' As very rightly said quote:- Life is 10% what you make and 90% how you take!
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First Richardson Helpers Seniors Helping Seniors
To request service, please call
our Hot Line
972-996-0160
or email
First Richardson Helpers volunteers
provide minor home maintenance & repair
service with a key focus on safety issues in the
home. Typical repairs are the type that can be
completed in three hours over a couple of
work sessions. We help seniors & others with
special needs who live in the Richardson ISD
school district. There is no charge for the labor
that we provide. Your tax deductible donations
are welcome to offset cost of materials & to
help others who are
less fortunate
First Richardson Helpers is a faith & community
based volunteer organization of senior volunteers
sponsored by First United Methodist Church
Richardson whose mission is to help seniors &
others in need with minor home maintenance &
repairs.
H a n d y m a n P r o g r a m
Volunteers from
Arapaho United Methodist Church
Christ Church Plano
First United Methodist Church Richardson
Grace Bible Church
Richardson Rotary Club
Richardson Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Sojourn Church - Carrollton
Spring Creek Community Church
Temple Emanu-El
Temple Shalom
Tax deductible donations are welcome to offset cost of materials and to help others who are less fortunate.
Make checks payable to:
First Richardson Helpers
Please give your check to our volunteer
or mail to:
First Richardson Helpers c/o FUMCR
503 N. Central Expy Richardson, TX 75080
Non-profit organization staffed by volunteers from churches, synagogue & service organizations
What We Do
Minor Home Maintenance and Repairs
Installation of bathroom grab bars & outdoor
hand rails
Installation of smoke detectors & batteries
Basic home repairs (dripping faucets, running
toilets, screen repair, minor electrical)
Basic home maintenance (caulking, light bulb &
A/C filter replacement)
Assistance with code enforcement issues
Minor fence repair
And much more...
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Your Clutter-Cleaning Plan for The New Year
February: Home office — digi-tal documents & papers. Get a jump-start on tax time by getting your files (paper & digi-tal) in order. Sort through random stacks
of paper; file, shred or recycle everything
Streamline your files, shredding any documents you no longer need
Use one calendar to keep track of all events Switch to paperless bills & statements, if possible Clean out computer files & back up everything,
using cloud-based storage & an external drive
Habit to cultivate: Sort your mail at the door, tossing junk immediately
March: Clothes & accessories. The seasonal transition is a good time to sort through clothing. Sort through winter clothes before storing & pare back spring & summer clothes as you begin to wear them. Donate or sell clothes, shoes & accessories in good
condition Have winter clothes laundered or dry-cleaned
before storing until next year Try on all clothes for the upcoming season & give
away or sell any items that do not make you feel good
Habit to cultivate: As soon as you wear something & notice it doesn’t fit, has a hole or doesn’t flatter you, toss it in a bag in your closet. When the bag is full, donate it.
April: Bath & beauty products & medicine cabinets. Give your daily routine a spring cleaning by sorting through all of those bottles & jars hiding in medicine cabinets, on counters & in drawers.
Toss expired makeup & skin-care items, as well as anything you do not use or like
Clean drawers & shelves before returning items
Store heat & moisture sensitive items (medications & some skin-care products) away from the bathroom
Habit to cultivate: Keep a list of your favorite bath & beauty products & order them online rather than shopping in person. This helps avoid over shopping & putting impulse purchases into a recycling bin.
Tackle these tasks month by month for a decluttering strategy that will really pay off
With an entire new year ahead of you, decluttering your home may not seem so hard. But after January, when that new year energy begins to wane, the prospect of tackling such a big project tends to overwhelm.
Enter your New Year Clutter-Clearing Plan, a month-by-month guide to clearing the clutter from every room in your house. I’ve zeroed in on areas of the home that I find fit with certain events, such as back-to-school or spring fashion, but feel free to reorganize as you see fit to tackle specific areas of your home that need attention sooner.
No matter what, by the end of the year, your home should be feeling more spacious and, perhaps more important, you should be feeling more capable of maintaining a clutter-free space.
Getting started: Turbocharge your decluttering. If you’re feeling inspired & motivated by the new year, take advantage of that energy & spend a few weekends clearing clutter throughout the house. Making noticeable headway will help motivate you to keep up the decluttering effort in the coming months. Try to get the other members of your household onboard — but if they are not interested, don’t try to force it. Hopefully they will see the positive changes happening around the house & change their tune!
Habit to cultivate: Keep an empty reusable bin in a closet & use it to corral items you plan to give away. January: Kitchen & pantry. Give yourself a fresh start for the new year with a clean kitchen, decluttered cabinets & a healthy pantry & fridge. Toss worn dish towels or cut them up to make
rags Sell or give away specialty small appliances &
tools you seldom or never use Recycle or toss freebie cups & Tupperware
containers without lids Toss expired food & spices Take stock of cookware & dishes; give away or
sell pieces you do not need
Habit to cultivate: Clean out the pantry & fridge each week before shopping.
by Laura Gaskill, Houzz Contributor
Continued on next page
14
May: Laundry room, linen closet, & cleaning supplies. Cleaning routines are much easier & more pleasant when the supplies you need are neat & orderly. Sheets, towels & other household linens do not last forever — go through them this month & make some space.
Recycle worn-out & stained towels, washcloths, sheets & tea towels at a textile recycling center — search for one near you through the Council for Textile Recycling
If your child has graduated a bed size, donate the old bedding to charity
Clean under sinks & in any cupboards where cleaning supplies are stored. Get rid of empty containers & products you tried but did not like
Habit to cultivate: Don’t downgrade old towels & sheets to “guest” status. Only keep linens you would personally want to use — get rid of the rest. Your guests deserve better!
June: Family room, playroom, media, art & schoolwork. The end of the school year is a good time to review collected artwork & school papers. Choose a small number of special pieces to save in a portfolio or document box. Edit schoolwork & art from the past year Gather a bag of DVDs, books & CDs to give away
or sell Sort through toys & games; get rid of those your
family no longer enjoys, as well as anything missing key pieces
Habit to cultivate: At the beginning of each school year, pick up a simple art portfolio. When your child brings work home, enjoy all of it for a while, but choose only a few special pieces to put in the portfolio.
July: Yard, shed, garage & tools. Being outdoors in midsummer makes this a good time to get outdoor tools & equipment in order. Get rid of broken tools & those you no longer need Sort through gardening supplies Toss worn-out outdoor furnishings & decor If you’ve been collecting items to sell, hold a yard sale this month. At the end of the day, take unsold items to a charity donation center
Habit to cultivate: Keep everything in your garage or shed on shelving, not on the floor. This helps prevent accumulating a pileup of junk & keeps your gear cleaner.
August: Photos. Photos seem to be one of the most problematic items for many people to keep organized. Use the lazy days of August to sort through old photos & make books or prints from new ones. Choose a few favorite photos from this year & have
them framed Edit digital photos & back up using a cloud service,
as well as, an external drive Make a photo album or book from recent photos Sort through any bins of loose photos & put them in
acid-free photo boxes or simple albums
Habit to cultivate: Take a few extra moments to tag favorite digital photos each time you upload. Then when it’s time to print or make an album, you can go straight to your favorites.
September: Mudroom, entrances & junk drawers. Embrace the back-to-school spirit (whether or not you have kids) by getting the busiest zones of your house clutter-free this month. Put away stray items in entrances that belong
elsewhere Add extra hooks or shelves if you need them to help
corral items Sort through junk drawers, baskets, trays & any
other spots that accumulate random junk Invest in drawer organizers or a wall-mounted
organizer to keep small items neat
Habit to cultivate: Do an end-of-day tidy-up of the entryway, putting shoes, coats & random items back where they belong.
October: Dining room & entertaining supplies. With the big holidays coming up over the next few months, October is a good time to get ahead of the curve & sort out your entertaining arsenal. Get rid of worn-out & stained tablecloths, placemats
& napkins Count your dinnerware & serving pieces & consider
whether you have enough, too much or too little for the amount you entertain
Get rid of decor, table linens & serving pieces that you don’t like or that no longer fit your lifestyle
Habit to cultivate: Just like creating a wardrobe with lots of pieces that work together, think of creating an entertaining wardrobe that you can mix & match, rather than having lots of distinct sets of dishes.
Your Clutter-Cleaning Plan for The New Year, cont’d
Continued on next page, left column
November: Hobbies & crafts. Get ready for holiday crafting & gift wrapping by clearing out your stash & organizing supplies this month.
Clean out gift-wrapping supplies, tossing empty tape dispensers, out-of-ink pens & shreds of gift wrap & ribbon
Downsize your craft stash by donating spare fabric scraps, yarn, scrapbooking paper & other materials — many organizations (schools, retirement centers & the like) are happy to accept donations of craft supplies & there are even some craft-specific donation centers, like Scrap in San Francisco
Keep works in progress together in bags, bins or boxes
Habit to cultivate: Take the time to put away your craft supplies neatly when you are done working. A messy stash makes it more likely you will buy something you already have simply because you couldn’t find it!
December: Holiday items & decor. With so much going on around the holidays, it’s wise not to expect too much of yourself when it comes to clutter-clearing. That said, with all of the new gifts coming in, it does make sense to do some paring back to preserve balance in the house.
Give away holiday ornaments & decor that you did not use this year, or that you no longer love
Toss broken ornaments & strands of lights that no longer work
Exchange or give away gifts you received but know you will never use & do not like — don’t keep things out of guilt. The one exception to this rule may be hand-knit sweaters. The knitter will never forgive you; that’s just how it is.
Habit to cultivate: Tell friends & family who ask (in advance of the holidays) that you & your family would prefer gifts that are experiential or edible. Most people honestly want to give you something you will like & are happy for the guidance.
With 68% of Americans now owning one, the smartphone has become the go-to camera for most people. Here are tips for better smartphone pictures.
Steady as she goes. Keep the phone still when shooting. Brace your elbows against your body or on a table, or steady your arm against a wall.
Don’t zoom. Either get closer or crop the shot in software. You’ll be working with a higher quality image.
Forget the flash. Shoot first with the flash off. Too often, flash overexposes the photo or messes up the colors.
Key on one subject. It’s easier to get a good composition when you’re focusing on a single subject.
Include empty space. Sometimes called “negative space”, an empty expanse around a subject or between multiple subjects can be dramatic. Look for a large wall, an empty field, or a stretch of open sky or water.
Find a different perspective. Taking a shot at an unusual angle, such as looking up to the sky or down to the ground, can create an arresting picture.
Seek out symmetry. A symmetrical photo is one you can cut into two halves that are mirror images of each other. Whether you find symmetry or set it up, it makes for a very pleasing photo.
Look for a leading line. This is a line that draws you into the picture. It could be a path, road, spiral staircase, wall, or a line of flowers or trees.
Grab candids. Posed photos capture a memory, but candids of people doing things or just interacting can capture a real emotion. The way to get a great candid is to shoot lots of them.
Pick up on reflections. Putting one in a photo can be stunning. Look for images reflected in sunglasses, puddles, windows, on shiny metal surfaces, and, of course, in mirrors.
Tricks for Great Smartphone Photos
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Your Clutter-Cleaning Plan for The New Year, cont’d
16
Draft Proof Doors
FROM “THIS OLD HOUSE” (TOH)
WHY NOW:
It's not just the front and back doors that you need to worry about. Cold air can also enter the house through gaps around any door leading to an uninsulated space, such as a garage or basement.
HOW TO DO IT:
Weatherstrip the top and sides, and add an inexpensive door sweep to the bottom. TOH general contractor Tom Silva recommends a wood sweep that you can stain or paint to match your door and that has an attached nylon brush to follow the contours of irregular flooring or carpeting. Sweeps usually need to be cut to size, so be sure to measure the width of the door first. To insulate the top and lock-side jambs, use peel-and-stick high-density foam tape or nail-on vinyl gaskets. For the hinge-side jamb, a premium adhesive-backed strip made of EDPM rubber will retain its shape after years of use.
THE PAYOFF:
For $20 and 30 minutes of your time, reduce cold air infiltration by as much as 11%.
Home decorating is full of traps for the unwary.
Sometimes rules are made to be broken & skillful
decorators can often ignore the guidelines. They
may even create striking effects by breaking
convention, but it takes a trained eye to do so. For
the less experienced, there are small & easy tips to
follow to achieve a more professional look.
Paint: A color that looks just right as a small
sample may appear either far brighter or much
darker when applied to a large wall. To be safe,
choose a color slightly lighter than the effect you
wish to achieve. Consider also the amount of
natural light the wall or room receives, as this will
influence the final effect.
Pictures: A surprisingly common error is
hanging paintings or pictures too high. Enlist
someone's help to hold the pictures in place while
you "eyeball" them to see where they look best.
When hanging pictures, think of the wall (or other
space) where it will hang like a frame. Would you
put a 4-inch thick frame around a postcard? You
may be able to get away with large pictures in a
small space, but small pictures in a large space are
seldom effective.
Rugs: To be effective, a rug or mat should
define an area, not just cover bare floor. Use rugs to
unify arrangements of furniture, such as two easy
chairs & a coffee table.
Furniture arrangement: It's often tempting to
push sofas & chairs right against the wall, especially
in a smaller room. Ideally, leave a gap of at least 4
inches or more if space permits.
Scale: Matching an item of décor to the space it
will occupy is key. Most of us know intuitively that
large, heavy furniture may look incongruous in a
small room; equally, spindly furniture may be too
delicate in a larger space.
The same principles apply to patterns, whether it's
on wallpaper or curtains. A big & bold pattern may
overwhelm a small space, whereas a small print
may seem to disappear in a large area.
Home Decorating Tips: Avoid the Top Mistakes
Eclectic styles: It's possible to mix styles from
different periods; for example, juxtapose & contrast
old cottage furniture with bright modern prints.
However, unless done carefully, it can appear a bit
mishmash. When combining different styles, try to
find something that brings them together. If your
furniture is a mix of styles & ages, then look for
coordinating pieces of similar type & color. A mix of
woods & styles tends to look untidy &
uncoordinated. Similarly, you can bring together a
display of diverse pictures or family photos with
frames that are the same style & color.
When planning a home makeover, give yourself
space for experimentation & error. Never leap into
irreversible decisions that could be expensive to
remedy—or that you might have to live with for a
long time.
