Copyright © 2016 Peel, Inc. The Voice - July 2016 1
The Voice
VOLUME 13 | ISSUE 7 | JULY 2016
Questions as asked by Gordon Watson Editor of “The Voice” to Kay Serventi, Municipal Territory Representative, Tanner
Market, Republic Services.• Whatphonenumbershouldresidentscalliftheyhavequestions
aboutRepublicRecycling andTrash? 713.726.7300Are thenumbersthesameforrecyclingandtrash?Answer:Yes
• Is there an email address for the public to contactRepublic?Answer:ThewebsiteallowsforemailtoRepubliccustomerserviceatrepublicservices.com.
• Howcanaresidentgetanewrecyclecontaineriftheoldonewasdamaged?Answer:Theywouldneedtocontactcustomerservice.Areplacementisfree.Iftheyrequestanadditionalbin,therewillbeafeetotheresident,andtheywouldneedtosetupanaccountfortheextrabin.
• Whatlargeitems(suchaswashersanddryers)canandcannotbeputonthecurb?Whatistheweightand/orsizelimit?Iwouldassume, forexample, thata300poundcampershellwouldbetoobig,butresidentsdon'tknowonewayoranother.Answer:The contract allows forRefrigerators (Freon removed taggedaccordingly), stoves,water tanks (drained),washingmachines,dryersanddishwashers.
• Iflargemetalitems,suchasawasherordryerareputonthecurb,aretheserecycledortrashed?Answer:Trashed.
• Ifwehavemorerecycleditemsthanthegreencontainercanhold,is itOK toplace themoutside and adjacent to the container?Answer:No,everythingneedstobeinthebin.
• Ifwe havemetals (copper, steel, aluminum) other than foodcontainers,isitOKtoputtheminoradjacenttothebin?Isthereaweight limit for recycledobjects (suchas an electricmotor)?Answer:Wedonotrecyclecopper,steeloraluminumonlywhatisontherecycleprotocol.
Commonly Asked Trash and Recycle QuestionsBy Gordon R. Watson
• Isarecycleflyeravailableonline?Where?Answer:No,itisnot.• Doesrecycledmaterialneedtobeinabag?Onlyifitislight-weight
andmightblowoutofthecontainer.• Whataretherequirementsforthetrashcontainersuchasmaterial
andsize?Answer:Trashcannotexceedone95gallonbarrel.Bagscannotexceed35pounds.Youmustbuyyourowngarbagecan.
• DoyouacceptPVCandABSpipetorecycle?Answer:No• Shouldbottlecapsberemovedfromglassbottlesorplastic?Are
theyrecyclable?Answer:No,theyarerecyclable.• Arebeerorsodaplasticringholdersrecyclable?Isthereaneedto
cutthesetopreventanimalsfrombeingtrappedinthem?Answer:Yes,theycanberecycled.Iwouldcutthem.
• Doresidentsneedtocallintoaskthatheavyitemsberemoved?Whileittheoreticallyisn’tnecessary,thecrewwouldappreciateaheads-upcallat713.726.7300tomakesuretheyareawarethatitistrash,andtheyhavethepersonneltohandleit.Allitemsshouldbeplacedcurbsideby7amonFridaytoensurepickup.ItwouldalsohelptoputanoteontheheavyitemindicatingitistobepickedupasHEAVYTRASHbyRepublic.
• Howmanybagsorbundlesofbranchesmaybeputout?Answer:Residentsmayputout6bagsor6bundlesofbranchesinadditiontothegarbagecanoneitherTuesdayorFriday.Anyyarddebrismustbecutto4footlengthorsmallerandtiedorbundled.
• CanIputloosetrashintothetrashcan?No.Itisimportantthatalltrashisbagged.Thishelpskeeptheneighborhoodclean.Forexample,don'tputsawdustorlawnclippingsdirectlyintothegarbagecan.Puttheminabagfirst.
• Doyouacceptplasticgrocerybags?Answer:No.Wedonotacceptplasticbagsforrecycling.Thisisbecauseoftheirlightweightandtendencytojamtherecyclingequipment.Therearesomegrocerystoresthathavebinstorecycleplasticbag.
2 The Voice - July 2016 Copyright © 2016 Peel, Inc.
The Voice
IMPORTANT NUMBERSIN CASE OF ANY EMERGENCY DIAL 911
SCHOOLS
TomballISD............ 281-357-3100,www.tomballisd.net
WillowCreekElem(K-4)...........................281-357-3080
NorthpointeInt(5-6).................................281-357-3020
WillowWoodJr(7-8)................................281-357-3030
TomballHigh(9-12)..................................281-357-3220
TomballMemorialHighSchool.................281-357-3230
Transportation............................................281-357-3193
SERVICES
HarrisCountyAnimalControl..................281-999-3191
Lost/FoundPets.........................................Nextdoor.com
HarrisCountyVeterinaryPublicHealth.....281-999-3191
MunicipalDistrictServices(24hrs)...........281-290-6503
...Forwaterleaks,wateroutages,waterquality,orsewer
leaksorstoppage.”
Streetlightsout&poweroutages:www.centerpointenergy.
com/outage
HarrisCountytrafficsignaloutages............713-881-3210
RepublicWaste...........................................713-849-0400
TrashonTueandFri.HeavyitemsonFrionly.
RecycleFri(#1through#7plastics;aluminum,steel&tin
containers;glassbottlesandcontainers;newspapers;
cardboard;andmixedpaper)
Digging?TwodayspriortoANYdigginginyouryard,call
811orusehttp://www.lonestar811.com/
NEWSLETTER
Publisher-Peel,Inc....................................512-263-9181
[email protected],888-687-6444
Editor..................................................GordonR.Watson
... [email protected]@sbcglobal.net
ELECTRICAL SERVICES SERVICING ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS
713.467.1125 or 281.897.0001www.WiredES.com
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(Editor’s note: This letter is in response to the May, 2016, article on EZTAG. As the writer indicates, the one method to use depends on your visitor’s situation).IreadyourEZPlatearticlewithinterest,andthoughtitwouldhelp
togiveyoumyexperiencewithit.WehadfamilyfromIowacometovisitinMarch,andIthoughtitwouldreallyhelpthemiftheycoulddriveonI-99,soIcheckedtheEZPlateideawithHarrisCountryTollRoadAuthority(HCTRA).Tomysurprise,IfoundoutthetollroadoperationsinTexasareaconfusedmess.ThereareactuallythreeseparateentitiesinTexas.TwoofthemnowhavetollroadsintheHoustonarea:HCTRAwithEZTAG,andTXDOTwithTXTAG.249tollroadisHCTRA,butI-99isTXTAG.HCTRAinformedmethattheEZPlateONLYworksonHCTRAtollroads,consequentlytheycanNOTuseitonI-99.IcametotheconclusionthatthebestoptionforatouristwouldbetheTXTAG.Iftheyordereditonlinefarenoughinadvance,theycouldinstallthetagbeforetheycametoTexas.ItisgoodonalmostalltollroadsinTexas.ButthebestpartisiftheysetitupforautopaywithacreditordebitcardtheTXTAGisFREE.TheEZTAGcosts$15.00.InadditiontheTXTAGonlytakes$20.00atatimeforonecar.EZTAGtakes$40.00atatime.
Hopethisishelpful,J.R.(fullnamewithheldatwriter’srequest)
Letters to the Editor
Copyright © 2016 Peel, Inc. The Voice - July 2016 3
The Voice
Modified and submitted by Donna Lowe and from http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/2010/07/30/texas-brittle/•Cover a 9 x 13 cookie sheet w/ a lip
w/ foil•Layer a single layer of pretzel sticks
on the foil (a few handfuls)•Put a few handfuls of Fritos (not the
big scoops) on the pretzels•Melt (microwave or double-boiler)
about 4 oz. milk chocolate (I used chips) and drizzle over the pretzels/Fritos
•Top w/ chopped pecan pieces (I toasted mine first)
•Put in freezer about an hour til it sets•Break apart - keep in sealed container
in cool spot
TEXAS FRITO BRITTLE
4 The Voice - July 2016 Copyright © 2016 Peel, Inc.
The Voice
July is hot andhumid inTomball, like aLouisiana swampwithoutthegators.Ihadthecarwindowsallrolleddown,butIamsureitwashotterinthePackardthanoutside.Thetwo-toneblacktopdidn’thelpmuch.Sweatrandownmybrowandneck.Myhandsglistened.Thehotcoffeewasabadidea.TheAMradiohadjustmentionedthatTomballhadreached95degrees.Themovingcarcooledmeabit,butIwasstillhot.IpulledintoaDairyQueen.ThePackardrolledtoastoppreciselybetweenthetwowhitelinesontheblacktop.Igotout.Thepavingwasashotasapancakegriddleatachurchbreakfast.Theslidingwalk-uporderdooropened.Thecalorie-ladenfragranceoffries,hamburgers,andice-creamrushedout.Theteenagegirlcheerfullytookmyorder:onesinglechocolatedippedcone.Ifeltthecoolairfromtheirairconditioner.Itfeltwonderfullycooling,butshequicklyclosedtheorderdoortokeeptheevilheatout.IwasthankfulthatIwasatleaststandingintheshade.
Mysecretaryhadjustreceivedacallthataclient’sclothesdryerwasnotworking.Theclothesweren’tgettingdry.Igotbackinthecar,andatetheconeasIheadedtoherhouse.IhadfinisheditbeforeIpulledup.ThereisnothinglikeaDairyQueenconeonahotday.
ThehousewasatypicalhomeinTomball:niceyardwithhugeoaks, a few crapemyrtles, and roses…lots of roses. I noticednothingawrywiththeentrance.Asmymomusedtosay, thefirstimpressionpeoplehaveofyourhomeisyourdoor.Nah,shedidn’tsaythat.Shesaidthatfirst impressionswere important.Alwayskeepyourhaircut,shoespolished,andbrushyourteeth.Iaddedthepartaboutthedoor.
The Riddle of the Wet Laundry: Another House Detective Mystery
By Gordon R. Watson
Thewomanwas concerned. She had just purchased a newclothesdryerbecause theoldoneno longerworked.She alsomentionedthatherchurchwashavingarummagesalethatweek.Iadvisedhertostickwiththefacts.SheseemedOKwiththat.Itooknotesonmyspiralpad.Theolddryerslowlydied.Itwastenyearsold.Clothesnevergotdry.AsImadenotes,Ibeganaddinguptheclues.
Ithoughtbackovermydryercases.Themostinterestingcaseinvolved some friendswhodid some sleuthing on their own.Theydiscoveredthattheboosterfanwasconnectedphysically(andsealedinwithsheetrock),butithadneverbeenconnectedtoanelectricalsource.Asthedryerwasused,lintbuiltupinthefan,andthedryereventuallywouldnotworkatall.Inthiscase,thehomeownerremovedthefan,re-connectedtheduct,andthedryerworkedfinewithoutit.
Ipulled thedryerout from thewall.Theyare so light thatanyonecandoit.Thehosewasaflimsyplasticone.Itwasbenttightly.Iwonderedifiteverworkedatall.Thankfully,itnevercausedafire.
Thiswasafairlyeasyfix.Iadvisedherthattheventhosewascrushed,andthatsuchrestrictionscancausefires.ItoldherthatIwouldorderheroneofthosefancynewmetaltelescopingvents.Ialsomentionedthattheexpertsrecommendusingmetalductratherthanplastic(lesstoburnifthereisafire).IcarefullyshovedthedryerbackagainstthewallandadvisedhernottouseituntilIcouldreturnwithasuitabletelescopingvent.IreturnedtothehotPackardanddrovedowntheoak-linedsteamysummerstreetsofbeautifulTomball.
By the EditorABoardelectioniscomingupthismonth,andtwoseatsareopen.
Bothoftheseseatswerefilledbyappointment.Infact,threeofthefiveBoardmemberswereappointedbecauseofresignations.
Whenyouvote,makesureyoureadasmuchasyoucanaboutthe candidates. Vote smartly. TheBoard spends a significantamountofyourafter-taxincome,andtheirworkcangreatlyaffectourneighborhood.
We hope that thosewho are running have provided a clearstatementoftheirvisionforVillageCreek.
Village Creek Board Election
Copyright © 2016 Peel, Inc. The Voice - July 2016 5
The Voice
By the EditorUntilveryrecently,nasalrinsingwasbothunfamiliarandstrangetoourfamily.Then,aftersomesinusissues,mydoctorsuggestedusingit.Hehappenedtomentionthatitactuallywasapleasuretodoandinnowaypainful.Itgenerallydoessuchgoodthatpatientsquicklyget intothenasalrinsehabit. Beforeallelse,checkwithyourdoctortomakesurethatnasalrinsingisOKforyou.Ifitis,IsuggestyousearchYouTubefor“Neilmedsinusrinsetutorial.”YoucanbuyNeilMed’sstarterpackforabout$7.00,butthatincludesonlyonesaltpackage.Youmaywanttocheckatthedrugstore,bigboxstores,oron-lineforlargerpackagesformoreoptionsandbestprices.Generally,youwillfindthatthesaltpackageswillcostaboutfifteencentsperdayorso.Acoupleofimportantreminders:• Qualityofwaterisimportant.Mostwatersmustbeboiled(and
cooled).FollowtheDoctor’sandNeilmed’sadvice.• Makesureyoudon’tusewaterwithoutthesaltpackage.Itwill
bepainful.• Again,makesureitisOKwithyourdoctor!
Our HealthBy the National Highway Safety Administration (edited for space)In2014,3,179peoplewerekilledincrashesinvolvingadistracted
driver.Oneofthemostalarmingandwidespreadformsofdistracteddrivingiscellphoneusage.AccordingtoastudybytheVirginiaTechTransportationInstitute(VTTI),sendingorreceivingatexttakesadriver'seyesofftheroadforanaverageof5seconds,theequivalentofdrivingblindat55-mphforthelengthofanentirefootballfield.Anda2014specialarticleintheNewEnglandJournalofMedicinefoundthattheriskofacrashornear-crashamongnovicedriversincreasedwiththeperformanceofmanysecondarytasks,includingtextinganddialingcellphones.
Textmessagingisofheightenedconcernbecauseitcombinesthreetypesofdistraction–visual,manualandcognitive.Inotherwords,textinginvolvestakingyoureyesofftheroad,yourhandsoffthewheel,andyourmindoffthetaskofdriving.
NHTSA’smessageissimple–“OneTextorCallCouldWreckitAll.”Legislationisbeingpassedacrossthenationtodiscouragedistracteddriving.Wehopedriversgetthemessageloudandclear.
So the next time you are pressed for time, and it seems likemultitaskinginthecaristhebestdecision,rememberthose3,179livesthatweretakenbecausesomeonedecidedtheycoulddotwothingsatonce.Atextorcallisnotworthyourlife,oranyoneelse’s.
Texting and Cell Phone Use during Driving
6 The Voice - July 2016 Copyright © 2016 Peel, Inc.
The VoiceTomball Gardens
Vegetables:This is a greatmonth (start as soon as feasible) toplantthese:eggplant,cantaloupe,okra,southernpeas,sweetpotato,pumpkin,andwatermelon.
TreesandBushes:Treesandbushes,particularlyyoungones,willneedsomewaterifitdoesn’train.Don’tover-water,butallowtherootstobemoist(neitherwetnordry).Ifitdoesn’trainduringtheweek,givethemadeepwatering.Digdownafewinchesintherootareatocheckthemoisture.Itisdesirabletohavethesoildamp(notwet)12”belowthesurface.Fertilizenewplantswithalawnfertilizerwithabout1to2cupsperinchoftrunkdiameter…accordingtothe“TexasGardenerMagazine.”Wateritinwell!Abermaroundyoungtreeswillhelpyoukeepsufficientwatertotheiryoungroots.
Lawns:Aswewritethis,rainfallhasbeenplentiful,butoneneverknows.Youwillneedtomakeupthedeficiencyusingyourirrigationsystem. Strive to oneweekly….deepwatering.Deepwateringencourages deep roots.Most peoplewater too little…too often.Notethatirrigationtimerscangenerallybesettowaterseveraltimesduringoneday…toallowtimeforthewatertobeabsorbedinthesoil.Forthoseareaswhichhavesparsegrass,itispossibletheyarenotgettingenoughwater.Addoradjustsprinklerheadsaccordingly.
Reminder:Most experts advise keeping lawn clippings on the
By The Editorlawn.Theyarethesameasaddingfertilizer…plustheyenhancethesoil,overtime.
PersonalHealth:Gardeninearlymorningifpossible.Drinklotsofwater.Wearhatsandsunscreen.Userepellant.Considerkneelingonfoampadsorkneepads.Weargloves.
Recommendedwebsite:https://www.wildflower.org/ThisistheUniversityofTexasatAustinLadyBirdJohnsonWildflowerCenter.GothereforinformationaboutalmostanyplantinTexas.
Untilnexttime,HappyGardening!
By theEditor (with help fromLadybird JohnsonWildflowerCenter,UniversityofTexasatAustin)
The Sunflower is one of themost commonflowers inTexas.VarietiesgrowwildthroughouttheStates.Somevarietiesgrowupto8’.Theygrowquickly,soareagoodplantforchildrentotryasoneoftheirfirstgardeningadventures.Pointouttothemthattheflowerheadsfollowthesuninaremarkableway,facingEastinthemorningandWestatsunset.InfacttheSpanishnamefortheSunflowerisGyrosol,whichmeans“followthesun.”TheEnglishscientificwordforsuchturningisheliotropism.RemindthemthattheSunfloweristheStateFlowerofKansas.Theflowerwasusedtoobtainyellow,black,andbluedyeswhichwereusedbytheAmericanIndiansforbasket-making.
TheSunflower is drought-tolerant (once established), and theseedsmaybeplantedasdeepas3inches,thoughgenerallyaboutaninch.Doplanttheminthesun.Watersparingly,butwater.Inoursoil,itislikelythattheywillbecometopheavy,soyoumayneedtostakethem.Birdsandbeeslovethem,andthereisacertainstrangespindlyspeciesofinsectthatyouwillprobablyfindontheplantswhentheyaremature.
LateAprilisthebesttimetoplant,butJulyisnottoolateaslongasyoucankeepthesoilmoistduringthefirstfewweeksofearlylife.Expectthemtomatureinabout90days.Ittakesaverycoldfrosttokillthem.
Plant of the Month: Sunflower
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