12 - The Dockline

Transcription

12 - The Dockline

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Star-Spangled Salute with the Houston
Symphony
When: Tuesday July 3, 2012
Time: 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Where: The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Admission: Free
Ignite your patriotic spirit at this free Independence Eve spectacular featuring all your
patriotic favorites including Tchaikovsky’s
“1812 Overture” with cannons blasting from
atop the hill. Joining the symphony are AJ
Swearingen and Jonathan Beedle to perform
their remarkable tribute to Simon & Garfunkel. Free seating sponsored by The Woodlands
Development Company. For more information call 281-210-1113 or email [email protected]
15th Annual Red,
Hot & Blue Festival
When: Wednesday
July 4, 2012
Time: 6:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.
Where: Town Green
Park & Waterway
Square both located
along The Woodlands Waterway®
Admission: Free
Join The Woodlands Convention & Visitors
Bureau at the annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival
on Wednesday, July 4, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 10
p.m. at Town Green Park & Waterway Square
along The Woodlands Waterway. The Festival
will feature live music, face painting, strolling
performers, games, hot dog and watermelon
eating contests, vendor booths, concessions
and much more! For more information, a
complete schedule of activities, maps and upto-date parking information, or a listing of
hotels and pools in the area visit www.redhotblue.org or contact Julie Deguerre at 281-3632447 or email [email protected].
This event is open to the public.
Shoot Out Hunger
When: Thursday July 19, 2012
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Where: Conroe Shooting Center
Admission: $100
Satisfy your appetite for shooting at the 1st
Annual Shoot Out Hunger. Join the MCFB
for a fun day of shooting sporting clays at
the Conroe Gun Emporium. Lunch included
with every shooter registered. Sponsored by
Montgomery County Food Bank. Contact
Margie Taylor at 936-539-6686 or email her
at mtaylor@montgomerycountyfoodbank.
com for more information. u
4
Dock Line Magazine, Inc. - The Woodlands Edition July 2012
From the Managing Editor
The Magazine About Life on the Water’s Edge
I’ve had it! You know, George T. made
this magazine thing look so easy, well it’s not.
I was so stressed I had to see Dr. Romero and
he confirmed all my symptoms were stress related. I have been taking 2 different medications for the last 10 days plus I now take doggie Valium! So you see I’m so laid back I’m
literally laying on my back staring at clouds,
nice huh? Whatever... Ozzy say’s that he’s going to gather up about 6 hats George used to
wear and the first one at the animal shelter
that wears them and doesn’t complain is in
and I’m out! I’ll get back with you and let you
know how it goes.
Here we are July, half the year is gone
and it’s hot, hot, hot, and so is this months’
Dock Line Magazine! The ads and articles are
smokin’ hot and you all should read each one
to make sure you don’t miss anything. Dock
Line Magazine tries very hard to print and
mail as many copies as possible, 25,000 in the
The Woodlands market alone, to make sure
as many households get to read Dock Line
Magazine as well as our advertisers having the
opportunity to sell their product. We want to
thank you, the readers for continuing to tell
‘em where you saw ‘em, Dock Line Magazine!
Well, got to run I hope to see you guys
next month, guess that depends on Ozzy
finding a less stressed replacement, huh?
table of
CONTENTS
july 2012
4
In & Around
8
Remodel Your Home with Confidence, Trust and
Endless Creations
16
11 LSGCD: Montgomery County Water Use Differs
Significantly from the Rest of Texas
12 Stage Right Takes You Behind the Magic of Cinderella
16 SJRA High-Hazard Tree Removal Project
18 The Doc’s Line
20 Health Talk
22 Types of Probate Proceedings
24 Can You Hear Me Now?
29
26 The Bug Guy Chronicles
27 Clear Direction for Your Retirement™
28 Seniors & Siblings
ON THE COVER
29 Beautiful Lawns Year Round
Follow Us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/
TheDockLineMagazine
Doing What’s Right
Construction: Remodel Your
Home With Confidence, Trust
and Endless Creations
12
Visit us on the web! www.docklinemagazine.com
Dock Line Magazine, Inc. - The Woodlands Edition July 2012 5
The Magazine About Life on the Waters Edge
Verle “Ozzy” Osborne
PUBLISHER
Susan Osborne
editor
Coconut
Managing Editor
Kelly L. O’Quinn
Art Director
Lindsey Kasprzak
Graphic Designer
Linda Sharver
office manager
Jay Osborne
director of sales
Angela Glezman
Mary Daily
sales
Glynda Huddleston
writer/sales
Contributors:
David Sidney • Jordan Austin
James M. Bright
Gerald W. Brzozowski, Jr., D.V.M., M.B.A.
Steven Wong • Cary Wortham
L. C. “Polo” LaCoste, Sr., B.S., CLU, CSA
Sharon LaCoste, B.S.N., R.N.
Walt Crowder • Kathryn Rogers
Craig Wear, CFP®
Benton Baker III, MD, FACOG, FACS
DOCK LINE MAGAZINE is published by:
Dock Line Magazine, Inc.
P.O. Box 1203, Willis, TX 77378
Telephone: 936-890-7234
Fax: 936-890-7244
E-mail: [email protected]
Subscriptions to DOCK LINE MAGAZINE
cost $20.00 per year. To subscribe, mail a
check with your name and address to:
P.O. Box 1203
Willis, TX 77378
Dock Line Magazine, Inc. welcomes reader
correspondence. We reserve the right to edit
or reject any material submitted. The publisher
assumes no responsibility for the return of any
unsolicited material.
DOCK LINE MAGAZINE, INC.© 2012, all
rights reserved. All editorial and advertising copy
belongs solely to DOCK LINE MAGAZINE, INC.
Reproduction in whole or part without express
written permission is strictly prohibited.
Articles are the opinions and experiences of
other people and we do not necessarily approve,
agree with, and/or condone those opinions.
6
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6/7/2012 9:09:14 AM
By: Glynda Huddleston
445 Spring Hill Drive • Spring, TX 77386
The Woodlands 281-419-4144
Conroe 936-271-5185
Homeowners, have you considered remodeling your home? Maybe upgrading a bathroom, the kitchen, living area, or even better
– adding an enclosed sunroom or turning your
garage into extra living space by converting it
into an extra room? Creating an outdoor entertainment space is also a nice way to add fun to
your patio experience and value to your home.
DWR Construction does it all at the best price
with an experienced and fully insured staff.
Celebrating 11 years in business this year,
DWR Construction has been proudly serving
Montgomery County, North Harris County,
Kingwood, Humble, Spring, The Woodlands
and Huntsville giving them a list of satisfied
customers that seems almost infinite. DWR
8
Construction is your one stop shop for any
construction job. They handle everything
from start to finish; with their in house design
consultants, a very impressive 5,000 square
foot showroom filled with beautiful product
samples in various prices ranges, experienced
construction crews and financing options (including 12 months at 0%), DWR Construction
turns your vision into a reality! Their professional experience helps them interpret your
home’s age, architecture style, neighborhood
parameters, market value, resale optimization
and design trends. This provides you with the
best long-term value.
DWR Construction is able to offer customers competitive pricing with their buying pow-
er because they purchase products in bulk and
directly from the manufacturers. The strive to
match or beat competitor’s prices, and they
stand by their work with their ‘ Workmanship
Guarantee Policy ’: 10 year structural warranty,
1 year warranty on workmanship and materials and 2 years on mechanical delivery systems.
There is never a charge to the client for labor or
materials on any repair and DWR Construction
schedules a personal allotted time with the
customers so there to eliminate wait time.
Mike Arnett, Owner of DWR Construction
of the National Association of the Remodeling
Industry, will tell you that he believes in, “doing what’s right.” It’s not only the name of his
family owned business, but also the philosophy
he lives by and encourages others to do the same. Sitting at the Mission
Control center of one of the most high-tech companies in the industry,
from behind three servers and oversized computer monitors Mike says, “I
just believe in doing what’s right all the time in whatever I’m doing. It’s
something I’ve always said and it’s how I live my life”. His philosophy, credibility, success and the capabilities of this man’s company make it easy to
put your project in the hands of DWR Construction knowing and trusting
that it will be done correctly, and by the letter of Texas law, all while always
keeping your best interest in the equation!
Outdoor Kitchens
An outdoor kitchen is the perfect way to transform your backyard
into a functioning space that your family and friends can enjoy every day.
Host a party, have a neighborhood barbeque or just a nice quiet family
dinner while enjoying the great outdoors in luxury. DWR Construction
will incorporate appliances such as refrigerators, grills, cook tops, drawers, sinks and even trash compactors. With choices such as stone, brick,
stucco and granite, the combinations of building materials for your custom design are endless!
Continued on page 10 1
Screen Rooms & Sunrooms
Brighten up your home by adding a pest-free paradise filled
with sunlight that gives you a space that becomes your very own
relaxing sanctuary and allows you to connect with the beauty of
the outdoors. Adding an enclosed room to your home isn’t just a
home improvement, it’s a lifestyle improvement that becomes a focal point of a family’s activities. DWR Construction has everything
you need to create your special space with quality materials, expert
and warranted workmanship, and a transferable lifetime warranty.
Covered Patios
Cool down your outdoor space with a covered patio. A well-designed patio cover extends your living space while staying protected
from the sun and rain. It creates a great area to enjoy the outdoors in
any weather. Design and material choices, again, are endless. Add
some appliances, decking, an arbor and custom lighting to give your
covered patio its own special touches. DWR Construction designs
and builds every custom patio cover to match your home perfectly.
Kitchen Remodeling
Bring you dream kitchen to life when you make the decision
to remodel. The kitchen designers at DWR Construction will create
a kitchen that represents your personal vision. They begin by conducting a thorough assessment of your existing space to determine
the best possible design. Then, the construction experts will assist
with flooring, cabinetry, counter tops, lighting, appliances and everything in between to create an environment that highlights your
personality and style.
Bathroom Remodeling
We spend more time in our bathrooms than we realize, so it
tends to be one of the most important rooms that we use every
day. Shower in luxury by converting your bathroom into a warm,
private space that allows you to rid yourself of the day’s stress. Add
an invigorating walk-in shower, a whirlpool tub or even an infrared
sauna. The investment return on the average bathroom remodel
is an astounding 80-90%, that makes your new bathroom almost
FREE!! DWR Construction’s showroom offers you up close and personal, hands on time with fixtures and appliances. They provide a
large selection of products from several different manufacturers at
competitive pricing.
Room Additions
Many homeowners love where they live and have no desire to
move so adding a room addition is the perfect solution for those customers who want to remain in their established home and neighborhood. As with every project, room additions have countless options
– a luxurious master bedroom suite, and attractive family room, a
media or home theater room or even something as simple as an attached garage. Any addition adds value and comfort to your home
without the headaches and stress of relocating. DWR Construction’s
design team is waiting to help you create your new room!
Now’s The Time! With interest rates at a historic low, now is the
perfect time to upgrade and remodel any area of your home. DWR
Construction will help you with all of your financing needs offering several options for every budget. DWR Construction has been
awarded by the BBB with the ‘Winner of Distinction’, they were
10
named ‘Woodlands Contractor of the Year’ and they are ranked at an impressive #62
by ‘The Remodeling 550’; a list of the largest full-service remodeling companies in
the nation.
Visit www.dwrconstruction.com for additional information about DWR Construction, to view their massive photo gallery, read impressive customer testimonials and chat with a live operator right from their site! u
Take a look at what
DWR Construction can do
to improve your home:
➢Interior
ROOM ADDITIONS
KITCHEN, LIVING AREA AND BATHROOM REMODELING
GARAGE ATTIC SPACE CONVERSIONS
CLOSET STORAGE SYSTEMS
CARPET, HARDWOOD, TILE & SLATE FLOORING
GRANITE COUNTERTOPS
SUNROOMS & SCREENED ROOMS
CUSTOM INTERIOR PAINTING
THEATER ROOMS & ELECTRICAL NEEDS
CUSTOM CABINETRY
HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE REMODELING
➢Exterior
OUTDOOR KITCHENS
WHOLE-HOUSE GENERATOR BACKUP SYSTEMS
STORAGE BUILDINGS
DECKING
HARDI PLANK OR VINYL SIDING, STUCCO, ROCK FINISHES
ROOFING
FENCING
REPLACEMENT WINDOWS
CARPORTS
COVERED PATIOS
GARAGE DOORS AND SCREEN SYSTEMS
CUSTOM EXTERIOR PAINTING
DRIVEWAYS AND PATIOS
Montgomery County Water Use Differs
Significantly from the Rest of Texas
No matter how you use water, it is essential
to your life, your workplace, and your future. But
Texas is a very big place, and each region uses water a little differently.
Here in Montgomery County, our water use
differs significantly from the rest of the state. That’s
why local action and local management is so important -- each area knows its needs best.
In 2010, according to the State Water Plan,
agricultural irrigation used 56 percent of the
18,010,599 acre-feet of water consumed in Texas.
An acre-foot is the amount of water it takes to cover one acre, about 325,800 gallons. A theoretical
flat-bottomed 10,000-acre reservoir that is 10 feet
deep would hold 100,000 acre-feet.
Water used by cities is the next biggest category -- no surprise in a state with 25 million
people. Municipal water demand consists of water
to be used for residential (single family and multifamily), commercial (including some manufacturing firms that do not use water in their production
process), and institutional purposes (establishments dedicated to public service). Municipal use
accounted for 27 percent, a little less than half agriculture’s demand. Here’s the rest of the rundown
from the State Water Plan.
[
Now, that’s not our experience here in Montgomery County. Of the water withdrawn from
wells drilled into the Gulf Coast Aquifer, municipal use accounts for 97 percent of the roughly
90,000 acre-feet used, with no substantial water
used for crop irrigation.
Municipal use is so important because Texas’
water population is growing. The state is planning
to host 46,323,000 people in 2060, and none of
those 20 million babies and people coming from
other parts of the United States is bringing their
own water.
At the state level, it is clear that there is not
enough water to fulfill all demands now, and it is
not going to get better as those demands increase.
There is expected to be some surface water development, but the heyday of building new reservoirs
in Texas came in the 1930s, with the New Deal,
and the 1960s, following the great drought that
seized Texas from 1949-1956.
We have about as much reservoir capacity per
Texan now as we did a half-century ago, much less
than we had in the 1970s, when capacity peaked.
According to the State Water Plan, groundwater supplies will actually drop 30 percent by
2060, because of depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer
in the Panhandle area and reduction of use of the
Gulf Coast Aquifer, closer to home.
Another answer may be storing water in
aquifers. In some cases, one can pump excess water into an aquifer and withdraw it later. That process is not very effective in the Gulf Coast aquifer.
One can reuse treated wastewater for industrial and irrigation purposes; it happens all the
time. It will become more important in the future,
the plan says.
End-user conservation is critical. Clearly,
even with some additional water development, average use will have to fall. We will start using water
more prudently and our concept of conservation
will move away from “we do when we have to” and
towards “simply the way we live in Texas.”
By the way, the estimated bill for water development strategies statewide is $53 billion. What is
the cost to industry and the economy of running
out of water during droughts? Phenomenal.
What does this mean for Montgomery County? Like the rest of the state, the population and
municipal demand is growing. Here, it’s just growing faster. Water demand is expected to rise from
56,277 acre-feet in 2000 to 237,116 acre-feet in
2060.
You may be hearing a lot of about water and
the need for conservation – drought or no drought.
There’s good reason. Easy answers just aren’t there,
either at the state level or locally. But with cooperation, innovation and good research of the science
of water, we will have adequate water. Thankfully,
Texas has an abundance of those qualities.
For additional information, please visit the
District’s website, www.lonestargcd.org. u
]
Water demand is expected to rise from 56,277
acre-feet in 2000 to 237,116 acre-feet in 2060
By: Steven Wong
L to R front. Lena Clarke, Isabella Munson, Rachel Ivy, and Sally Johnson. L to R middle row
– Alexandra Casey, Kathleen Baker, Louis Crespo, Jr., Marilyn Lewellen, and Miriam Richard.
L to R back row – Leona Hoegsberg, April Alzamora, Sharon Everett, Zach Davis, and Crystal
Stampes. Missing: John Thees (king)
L to R – Kathleen Baker, Louis Crespo, Jr., Alexandra Casey,
and April Alzamora, and Leona Hoegsberg.
12
The magic of Cinderella begins at the
Crighton Theatre July 13, 2012. Both the story’s
title and the character’s name change in different
languages. Nevertheless, Cinderella has come
to mean one whose attributes are unrecognized
or one who achieves recognition or success in
a spectacular or inspirational manner. We all
know the Disney version of Cinderella. But the
stories of this production, its cast and crew and
how they came to Cinderella are as fascinating
as the fantasy tale.
Cinderella
Kathleen Baker is a relative newcomer to
the area. After graduating from Kansas State
University in 2009, she performed in musicals
with Houston Family Arts Center (HFAC) including Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, and
Seussical; The Musical. However, her love of
musical theatre started long before coming to
the Houston area. Through her Drama Therapy
class with Special Populations she saw how theatre has the power to help people release emotions that result in growth experiences.
These experiences fueled her passion for
music and theatre.
While musicals are Kathleen’s
favorites, musical comedy can happen – intended or accidental. While
onstage delivering a monologue in
Metamorphoses, one of her fellow actors left little puddles of water
on stage. After ending her
monologue, she walked
through the puddles and
fell down. It looked just
like the classic cartoon of
a banana peel slide. She
got up to walk offstage and
fell again. Now that’s starting ones acting career with
a bang!
Princes
Louis Crespo, Jr.
and Zach Davis play
the princes in this
musical. Louis has
done both musicals
and dramas as far
south as Galveston.
Recent work includes I Love You,
You’re
Perfect,
Now Change, The
Fantasticks and Guys and Dolls. Some of
his best work was in The Boys Next Door
at ACE Theatre where the cast bonded and
have been following each other ever since.
The stepsisters love trying to break up Louis during rehearsal and they usually succeed. The prince’s right hand man is played
by Zach Davis. Zach stepped into this role
after another actor had to leave the production due to work issues (such is life in community theatre). Zach, also known as “Not
Louis” during rehearsals, is studying to be a
nurse at Sam Houston.
Step Family
The evil stepsisters are played by Alexandra Casey and April Alzamora. Individually they are bubbly, animated, and funny.
Together they act as twin sisters from different mothers – only they just met. April’s
performances cover 15 years of musicals
including Thoroughly Modern Millie, Fiddler on the Roof, Anchors Aweigh, and Jekyll
and Hyde. April remembers her first performance: singing “Tomorrow” from Annie. She was nervous, very shy and hated
crowds. The music starts, her turn is coming and all she can do is bite her bottom lip.
The music continues, the tears start and everyone runs up to check on her. When they
all ask “What’s wrong?” she tells them “Her
parents are watching.” April did sing for her
parents and now they can’t seem to get her
off the stage! Since then she has gotten her
mother – Stephanie – to get on stage, but
has yet to perform with her.
Alexandra’s story is truly a Cinderella
tale. She knows others who have done theatre but has never trained or acted before
in her life. Her sister and her sister’s best
friend encouraged her to tryout for a musical and she was offered the role of Maria
in The Player’s production of The Sound of
Music. Not bad for a first audition! Cinderella will be her third musical in a year.
By the way, her sister’s best friend is Scarlett Czarnopsis who played Eliza in My Fair
Lady at the Crighton 5 years ago.
The evil step-mother is played by one
of the nicest actresses in Houston; Leona
Hoegsberg. Leona is a library specialist
and professional story teller by day and actress the rest of the time. Storytelling has
taken her to various competitions including “Liar’s” contests. While she has done
many musicals and dramas around the
country, one of her favorite roles was playing sisters in Arsenic and Old Lace at ACE
Theatre with her best friend, Carolyn Corsano Wong. Since that time they continue
to refer to each other as “Sis”. Leona is an
avid Broadway and theatre fan. She has
traveled as far as Saudi Arabia to see a show
her brother was in. That’s dedication.
The King and Queen
The royals are played by John Thees
and Marilyn Lewellen. Marilyn says she
and John have been paired up so often in
Continued on page 14 1
musicals that patrons think of them
as married. When Marilyn isn’t dancing
and singing in a musical, she’s working on
her real estate business which loves to promote the
arts. Patrons still remember Marilyn as a singer
in The Buddy Holly Story who was always adjusting her falling stockings. John was also in The
Buddy Holly Story as the band’s manager. In his
spare time John travels, studies voice and sends
out financial articles of interest to his friends.
Fairy Godmother
Crystal Stampes IS the Fairy Godmother.
We know Crystal from the very first show for
STAGE RIGHT: Christmas Belles (2008) where
she was on the running crew. At that time she
was attending Sam Houston State University and
decided to check out the Crighton. A native of
Conroe, Crystal has gone on to perform in
many plays including Private Lives, Lend
Me a Tenor, Bus Stop, and Rent. Crystal is elated
that this version of Cinderella allows the fairy
Godmother to have an attitude. Her dream is to
play Mama Morton in Chicago.
Chorus
As in any musical, you need a chorus. The
role of the chorus is often downplayed but is critical to the full musical impact of a performance
piece. We are glad to have Lena Clarke and Isabella Munson (both from Annie – 2010), Sally Johnson (The Carol Burnett Show, Dracula, Peter Pan),
and Sachi Tanaka (The Music Man, The Secret Garden) back as mice and townspeople. Rachel Ivy,
Sharon Everett, and Miriam Richard are new to
STAGE RIGHT but have a variety of experiences
from public schools and acting classes.
Set Construction
One of our new construction and design
volunteers is Jon King. Jon’s help
w a s
‘volunteered’ by his son Jim while we were constructing the set for The Carol Burnett Show. We’re
glad Jon is back to help us create ‘a magic kingdom.’ Jon’s blood runs deep maroon; he is a proud
graduate of Texas A&M; Class of ’64, his father was
in the Texas Aggie Class of ’41 (the class that left
en mass to fight in WWII), Jon’s wife was one of
the first women to attend A&M, and Jon and his
wife were the first married couple from Aggieland
(1965). As a member of the Aggie Marching Band,
Jon wrote the drum cadence that is still played today. His career as an architect spans many years
with notable construction of the Galleria Towers
in downtown Houston and the Animal Kingdom
Lodge at Disney World. He continues to marvel at
the view of the horizon from any tall tower and the
birds that like to visit those same towers.
Spotlight on Children
One of our
unsung heroes during
Isabella Munson
(mouse) and
Crystal Stampes (fairy
godmother)
Kathleen Baker, Zach Davis, and
Louis Crespo, Jr.
14
Sharon Everett, Rachel Ivy
and Lena Clarke
this production is our sponsored charity for Cinderella: Children’s Safe Harbor. Their mission is to
protect and enhance the life of every child who has
the courage to battle abuse. Please bring gift cards
or cash donations to Cinderella when you come
to the show to help this noteworthy organization.
You can drop off your donation in the lobby prior
to the show or during intermission.
Come Join the Magic
Now that you know a little bit about the folks
that are going to bring you the magic of Cinderella,
we hope you will enjoy the show even more. Maybe, next time we announce auditions, you’ll consider being a part of the magic too! Performances
of Cinderella are July 13 – 29 Friday and Saturday
nights at 8 pm and Sunday July 22 & 29 at 2 pm.
A tea party with Cinderella will be at Chelsea’s Tea
Room right down the street from the theatre after
both Sunday matinees. A ticket to the show and
a ticket to the tea party are required. There will
be drinks and sweets and an opportunity to meet
and have a picture taken with Cinderella and her
Prince. Tickets to the tea party are $10 per child
and can be obtained by calling the Crighton box
office 936-441-7469. Tickets to the show can also
be obtained by calling the box office or online at
Alexandra Casey, Leona Hoegsberg and April Alzamora
www.stage-right.org.
CINDERELLA, July 13-29, Fri. & Sat.
8 pm, Sunday July 22 & 29 2 pm. The historic Crighton Theatre, 234 N. Main, downtown
Conroe, www.stage-right.org or
936-441-7469. u
Kathleen Baker, Miriam Richard,
Sally Johnson, and Louis Crespo, Jr.
Marilyn Lewellen and
Louis Crespo, Jr.
SJRA High-Hazard Tree
Removal Project
by David Sidney and Jordan Austin
SJRA Lake Conroe Division
After suffering through the most severe
one-year drought in Texas history, we are
now seeing the effect that it has had on area
trees. The Woodlands, in particular, has experienced a loss of a large number of trees.
Many of these trees lie within the flowage
easements that drain storm water away from
The Woodlands. These easements include
Bear Branch, Alden Branch and Panther
Branch as illustrated below. The San Jacinto
River Authority’s Lake Conroe Division maintains these flowage easements, referred to as
the Bear Branch System, pursuant to a contract with several municipal utility districts in
The Woodlands. The SJRA’s job is to mow,
de-silt, and maintain the flowage ways so that
they can safely drain away storm water and
protect private property.
and four.
While
these trees do present a potential future
hazard as they begin to dry out and
decay, they are not
an immediate concern.
Considering
that the majority of
the marked trees
are located within
the “unimproved” or
forested areas of the
flowage easements,
they will be dropped
and left in place
to naturally decay.
Ben and George Pylant, of SprayCo, reviewing the day’s activities
This unimproved area
is a heavily wooded location between private
property lines and the
maintained
(mowed)
portions of the SJRA
flowage
easement.
The fallen trees will
quickly degrade, adding to the natural health
of the forest ecosystem. If a tree does fall
In addition to protecting people’s property
from flood waters, the drought has created a
new concern – potential damage from falling
trees. In order to protect people and property
along the Bear Branch flowage easements,
the SJRA completed an assessment to mark
dead trees standing within 100 feet of private
property lines. The trees were ranked one
thru four with one being the highest hazard
in terms of potential property damage in the
event that the tree were to fall on its own.
There were over 400 trees marked and of
those, more than 250 were classified as high
hazard trees with a category of one or two.
This dead tree removal project is being
executed in two separate phases. The first
phase, which is currently underway, consists
of falling all of the trees with a classification
ranking of one or two. The second phase will
address trees designated as a category three
16
into the mowed area
of the SJRA flowage
easement, it will be
returned to the unimproved area.
The contract for
the tree-cutting project was awarded to
SprayCo. They are a
Houston-based vegetation management
company specializing in environmental
risk, brush control,
and bare ground and
aquatic plant management.
The SJRA anticipates that a number of trees will con-
tinue to succumb to the effects of last year’s
drought. Some of these trees have already
died since the initial assessment and are
marked with blue paint to be addressed in a
future contract.
The latest drought monitor provided by
the National Drought Mitigation Center shows
that Montgomery County is still in a state of
moderate to severe drought as shown below.
As the drought continues, the SJRA will monitor, assess, and address any trees identified
in this ongoing project.
Felling a Category One tree
The goal of this project is to reduce or eliminate the risk of falling
trees causing damage
to the structures of area
property owners. During
this project, it will be necessary for the contractor
to temporarily rope off
the immediate area surrounding falling trees.
The mowed areas along
Bear, Panther, and AlBen Pylant provides instruction to his employees
den Branch are used by
many people as hiking and biking trails, and
If you identify a tree that
while the SJRA and its contractors are doing
you believe is in a hazardous
all we can to minimize the danger of falling
location, please submit your relimbs and trees, EXTREME CAUTION should
quest for tree removal directly to
be used when accessing these areas for hikthe SJRA. No requests should
ing and recreational purposes. Please stay
be made to the contractor as
outside of the areas marked with warning tape
they are working under the strict
until the contractors finish removing the trees
scope of their contract. For furand declare the area to be safe. The project
ther information please contact
will proceed very quickly, and the temporary
the Lake Conroe Division at 936disruption to walking trails will be short.
588-1111. u
The SJRA anticipates that a number of
trees will continue to succumb to the effects of
last year’s drought. Some of these trees have already died since the initial assessment and are
marked with blue paint to be addressed in a future contract.
The latest drought monitor provided by
the National Drought Mitigation Center shows
that Montgomery County is still in a state of
moderate to severe drought as shown below. As
the drought continues, the SJRA will monitor,
assess, and address any trees identified in this
ongoing project.
The goal of this project is to reduce or
eliminate the risk of falling trees causing damage to the structures of area property owners.
During this project, it will be necessary for the
contractor to temporarily rope off the immediate area surrounding falling trees. The mowed
areas along Bear, Panther, and Alden Branch
are used by many people as hiking and biking
trails, and while the SJRA and its contractors
are doing all we can to minimize the danger of
falling limbs and trees, EXTREME CAUTION
should be used when accessing these areas for
hiking and recreational purposes. Please stay
outside of the areas marked with warning tape
until the contractors finish removing the trees
and declare the area to be safe. The project will
proceed very quickly, and the temporary disruption to walking trails will be short.
If you identify a tree that you believe is in
a hazardous location, please submit your request
for tree removal directly to the SJRA. No requests
should be made to the contractor as they are work-
ing under the strict scope of their contract. For
further information please contact the Lake
Conroe Division at 936-588-1111. u
Welcome to Windvale
Pet Hospital’s monthly
topic about caring for our
cherished companions!
“Who is Windvale Pet Hospital?” you may ask...
We are a full service veterinary hospital (see
our advertisement) that prides ourselves in not
only compassionately caring for your beloved
companion, but their family members as well.
Dr. Brzozowski and Dr. Hay are thorough in their
evaluation of your “four legged” family members
to either practice preventative medicine to keep
them well or get to the underlying disease so that it
can be treated effectively.
We invite you to come by and have a cup of
coffee to meet us with or without
your furry friend. Mention this article for one complimentary examination and visit with a doctor and
staff with no obligation. We can’t
wait to meet you!
This month’s discussion will be
about the heat we live with and will
strive to keep our family friend from
suffering. We will be emphasizing
running, but this discussion is appropriate for any extended period of
time outdoors in the heat.
Do you have a furry fourlegged friend who enthusiastically wags its tail
while you lace up your running shoes?
Dogs love doing things with us, and while
many of them come from lineages who were bred
to work, hunt, or herd, many of our companions these days are suited more for a casual stroll
around the block. Before you take your fourlegged partner out to hit the pavement with you,
consider the following:
What’s their Breed?
Knowing if the breed of your dog can handle
running is very important. There are many wonderful breeds that make the list of great running
companions, and many that run short...no pun
intended. Although there are some shorter legged
breeds that make great runners there are many
who don’t. If they are a breed that has an adorable smushed face, they are probably NOT an ideal
candidate. They are just simply not able to move
enough air into their lungs to keep them going. It
is always a good idea to check with your veterinarian to see if your pet would make a good running
partner before you head to the trail!
How old are they?
Most veterinarians do not recommend running with a puppy until it is fully-grown which
depends on their breed. A larger breed dog matures more slowly than a smaller breed. Some
larger breeds do not reach their full maturity until
14 months while some smaller breeds mature at
around 6 months. The maturing process is very
important for their bone development. Older
dogs, like us, can develop arthritis and other age
related diseases. Although exercise can be good
for arthritis, it can also cause pain if they aren’t
exercised consistently. For both young and old,
make sure they see their veterinarian on a regular
basis to get a clean bill of health.
Have they ran before?
Just like us, our dogs need to build up a tolerance to heat and exercise. You wouldn’t go out and
run a 5K without preparing your body...so neither
should your dog. When we play with our dogs in
the yard, it seems like they have boundless energy
and could run for hours and miles.
Knowing your dogs’ health status prior to
starting any exercise regime is highly recommended. Start with a through physical exam by
your veterinarian to assess your companions’ over
all health to make sure it’s safe for them to exercise.
Knowing your pet’s heartworm status is also very
important! Remember, heartworms are transmitted through mosquitoes!
What about their feet?
Since our four legged runners are not wearing shoes, can they handle the pavement? If your
dog isn’t used to running on the pavement, it could
become a very serious issue. Dog’s pads are soft
unless they have been seasoned by hard surfaces.
It takes time for them to build up that tolerance...
so if they normally run on soft surfaces, such as
grass, you will need to keep a close eye on their
feet. Watch for any signs of lameness and occasionally check their pads for any abrasions or irritation during and after your run. You should also
keep an eye out for sharp objects that could hurt
their pads, such as glass. After running on pavement, it’s a good idea to clean your pets’ feet. Sand,
dirt, and other debris can become irritating to the
pads and nail beds. A simple rinse with some soap
and water followed by towel drying is a good way
to avoid any irritation.
Should you feed your dog?
It’s not a good idea to feed your dog a large
meal right before running. If the stomach becomes
too full of food and gas, it can dilate and twist (bloat)
which can be fatal. You should also allow your pup
to cool down after a run before you feed them.
Feeding light snacks is usually okay, but they should
be snacks that they are used to eating. They need
to stay hydrated just like us so if they are thirsty,
let them drink, but in moderation. You don’t want
them to overdo it and swallow air, which can also
put them at risk of having their stomach bloat.
18
Knowing when to stop!
Do you know when your running partner has
had enough? It has to be your responsibility to
know when your pup needs to stop or needs medical attention, so knowing what signs you should
look for before you start your run is very important and cannot be stressed enough!
If you notice your dog is starting to lag behind
and is no longer able to keep up with your pace, it
may be time to stop and let them cool down. This
is also a good time to check their pads.
Knowing the signs of fatigue, dehydration,
and heat exhaustion will help you determine if
your pet needs medical attention. Pets who have
become overheated and dehydrated tend to have
an extremely lolling tongue, glossy eyes, be weak,
wobbly or may even collapse. Dogs cool themselves by panting, but if the heat and exercise becomes too much, it may not be enough to just stop
and offer them water.
If your pet exhibits any of these signs, they
may need immediate medical attention. Knowing when to stop cannot be stressed enough, and if
not taken seriously, could result in the loss of your
companion!
Remember...check with your veterinarian
to assure your four-legged friend is able to participate in runs and outdoor activities without
limitations. u
Keep in mind...
We wear shoes to protect our feet and clothes
that breathe to help keep us cool. Most dogs run
barefoot in fur coats!
Character
Several years ago, I read a quote by former Oklahoma Representative J.C. Watts that resonates with me
to this day: “Character is doing the right thing when no
one is looking.” If we all conducted ourselves that way
this country and world would be a much better place.
I recently read an article in a local newspaper that
told the tale of a group of physicians, nurses, medical
assistant and other medical staff who exemplify “character” as Mr. Watts defined it. Many of you are aware
of the recent dissolution of an esteemed medical group
practice that has cared for patients in this area for fifty
years. I am not privy to the reasons for this group’s apparent demise apart from the declining reimbursement
for medical care and therefore make no judgment as to
what has happened. I do however want to express my
admiration to those individuals, physicians and staff
alike, who as the article stated are “working for perhaps a little gas money…doing what they can to help
patients” during this time of transition following the
group practice closing its doors. The aforementioned
20
individuals continue to staff a former urgent care clinic
of the shuttered group practice where they care for the
medical needs of patients. Why do they do this? They
do it because they have to, not because of law or regulation but because each one’s personal code demands it.
This is character personified.
Clearly we are fortunate to have such individuals
in our community and one of the greatest blessings of
living in Texas is the high quality of medical care providers to whom we have access, particularly physicians.
Let’s explore how men and women of the kind
mentioned above become physicians. Although each
story is slightly different the idea of becoming a doctor
frequently begins in childhood when the seed is planted
in one’s mind due to a positive personal experience with
a physician. The idea germinates slowly but often gains
momentum through elementary school and junior high
school with increasing exposure to math and science
and the mentoring of excellent teachers. Frequently it
grows even more rapidly in high school. Indeed, many
high school students engage in paid or volunteer work
in physician’s offices, clinics and hospitals in an effort to
learn more about the profession. Along the way, most
individuals find that their interests and talents would be
better utilized in other careers and seek other goals but
for the few that remain steadfast in this pursuit, college
is the next step. Unfortunately, this is the place where
many dreams of becoming a physician wither and die.
The medical school admission requirements include a variety of college subjects that are known as
“flunk out” courses. A few examples are General and
Organic Chemistry and General Biology. Each of these
is a prerequisite for medical school admission and less
than stellar performance in just one frequently voids
any chance of acceptance. These courses “weed out” a
substantial number of potential physicians.
Many assume that the college majors of physicians are always science and math but this is not true.
Medical schools do not require given majors just specific courses. I know physicians who majored in such
diverse areas as art, political science, dance, Russian
and physical education. In addition to specific course
requirements, general academic excellence is required
throughout college. This is best demonstrated by the
fact that the college Grade Point Average (GPA) of students admitted to medical school is greater than 3.5 on
a 4.0 scale.
Obviously, excellent grades are required for admission but outstanding performance on the Medical
College Admission Test (MCAT) is demanded by almost all U.S. medical schools. This is a standardized
test that contains four sections encompassing basic
knowledge in biological science, physical sciences,
verbal reasoning and essay writing. Successful performance in the classroom and the MCAT must also be
demonstrated by involvement in other activities such as
sports, research, community development, etc. If one’s
performance in each of these areas meets with the approval of the medical school’s Admission Committee an
interview with the committee may be granted. This is
a critical step for acceptance to medical school and indeed, evidence of character is sought during the interview sessions. Not all applicants granted an interview
will be accepted. Many times the interview cements
acceptance but the lack of necessary personality traits
such as character will be apparent and no letter of acceptance will be forthcoming. On average, less than
one medical school applicant in three is admitted.
As you can clearly see, admission to medical
school is an outstanding accomplishment but the most
important and arduous parts of the journey lie ahead.
Medical school is traditionally an intense four year
program in which the first two years are principally
devoted to the “Basic Sciences” such as Anatomy, Biochemistry, Histology, etc. Lecture halls and laboratories
are the venues where these courses are held and night
after night of intense study is the norm. In addition to
the Basic Sciences, the students’ first exposure to patient
care is found in a course such as Physical Diagnosis.
Upon successful completion of these courses
the student is promoted to the last two years of medical school known as the “Clinical Sciences”. Here the
education includes courses in Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Family Medicine
among others. These generally take place in clinics and
hospitals but frequent lectures in the classroom continue. Within these clinical rotations, medical students
start pulling together all they have learned and many
students find them to be the most enjoyable experience
of their entire education.
Along the way in these four years, students are
graded in each class and in addition are required to take
Part 1 and Part 2 of the United States Medical Licensing
Exam (USMLE). This test is a three part examination
and successful completion of each is required to obtain
a license to practice medicine. There is no national licensing because each State set its own medical licensing
criteria.
During the fourth year of medical school students
usually decide which area of medicine they would like
to practice and apply for a residency in that specialty.
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
recognizes 24 Specialty Boards. These member Boards
establish criteria for Board Certification in their respective specialty. The student applies to one or more
residencies (average 13) for a position in that program.
This application includes a process similar to the medical school application process and is just as daunting.
Upon completion of the application process, the students rank the residency programs in order of choice
and residency programs similarly rank the applicants.
Each sends their prioritization to a central clearing
house (NRMP) for the “Match” - the day on which the
student learns where she or he has been accepted for
residency. Students not selected on Match Day then go
through a process known as the “Scramble.” (This event
is somewhat akin to a rodeo event but nobody gets a
fancy belt buckle!)
July of each year is the traditional start of residencies and for this reason the month holds a special place
in a physician’s heart. Twenty years of formal education-12 years of elementary and secondary school, 4
years of college and 4 years of medical school - are behind and now residency is beginning. It is difficult to
believe that more education is necessary but residency
is where the newly graduated physician learns how to
care for the patient in the given specialty. During the
first year of residency the new physician takes Part 3 of
the USMLE. Residency length varies by specialty but
if one is to become Board Certified in a specialty recognized by the ABMS it will be a minimum of 3 more
years of training but may be 10 or more for some specialties and subspecialties.
Residencies are predicated upon optimal patient
care provided by both faculty and residents with graduated responsibility given to the resident as he or she progresses through the program. The ultimate goal of the
program being that each resident develops the skills and
knowledge necessary to practice independently upon
completion of the residency. Independent practice does
not imply caring for patients alone but rather providing
excellence in patient care personally delivered and utilizing the expertise of colleagues when required.
Upon successful completion of the residency, the
physician is allowed to sit for the Board Examination.
All Boards have a written test but several also require
an additional Oral Examination. Once a physician becomes Board Certified by an ABMS recognized board
he or she must recertify on a regular basis (every six to
ten years). This is to verify that the physician remains
up to date in the specialty. State licensing boards also
require ongoing education. Lifelong learning is an essential part of each doctor’s practice and each patient
benefits because of it!
The care provided by these highly educated individuals and the commitment each made and continues
to make to his or her professional development are the
primary reasons we have the best medicine in the world
- that and the character with which they are imbued.
Benton Baker III, M.D, FACS, FACOG., 200 River
Pointe, Suite 115, 936-756-8446 (THIN), www.hateyourweight.com. u
The following is provided for informational
purposes only and is not, nor should it be construed
as legal advice.
The old saying, “there’s more than one way
to skin a cat,” was never more true than when attempting to determine the best way to settle an estate through probate.
The one clear truth is that it is always faster and
more economical to take advantage of rights under
Texas law to utilize independent administration.
The following is intended as a partial list of the
most common probate procedures which may be
utilized in Texas. Each of these procedures is triggered by a slightly different fact situation than each
other procedure. One goal of your probate attorney is to determine which probate procedures have
been triggered by your particular fact situation.
Independent Administration
If a person’s Will provides for appointment
of an “independent” administrator or executor
22
and states that “no other action is to be had in the
county court in relation to the settlement of the
estate than the probating and recording of their
Will and the return of an inventory, appraisement
and list of claims of the estate,” then the estate can
be administered without judicial supervision and,
therefore, without added costs at time of probate.
If the person’s Will does not have the abovereferenced language, it is still possible to have an
independent administration if all distributees of
the document agree on the advisability of acting
independently. Your attorney can be of great assistance in memorializing this agreement.
Muniment of Title
If a deceased person leaves a Will, but there
are no unpaid debts except those which have a
secured interest in real property, then there may
be no need for administration. Under these circumstances, the Will may be admitted to probate
as a Muniment of Title which passes title to real
property to the heir in the shortest time possible.
No letters testamentary or letters of administration
are issued under a Muniment of Title.
Proceedings to Determine Heirship
This procedure is used when a person dies in
Texas without having a Will. The Texas statutes
of intestate succession determine the identities
of the rightful heirs and determine what portion
of the community property passes to that heir as
well as what portion of separate property passes
to that heir. All heirs and beneficiaries must either be served with citation or enter an appearance
through answer or a waiver.
It is possible to combine this proceeding to
determine heirship with a proceeding which determines that no necessity exists for an administration or, if applicable, it may be combined with
a request for appointment of an administrator to
gather and distribute the assets.
It is also important to note that if all of the
heirs agree, then the administration may be made
independent and, therefore, far less expensive and
time consuming than an administration which
must seek court approval for each act done on behalf of the estate.
Small Estate Affidavit
In order to be eligible for treatment as a
“small estate” under Sections 137 and 138 of the
Texas Probate Code, the estate must meet certain
criteria. These criteria are:
(1) the decedent’s non-exempt assets must be
greater in value than the known liabilities; (2) the
gross value of all of the decedent’s property, not including exempt property and a homestead, must
not exceed $50,000.00.
This procedure is not usually recommended
if a Will exists.
This entire procedure is done via affidavit of
witnesses who are familiar with the family history
of the decedent and can swear to facts regarding
the identity of the heirs.
Administration with Will Annexed
This is the procedure utilized when there is
a Will, but the Will fails to name an executor, the
executor predeceased the decedent or the named
executor is unwilling or unable to serve.
Persons who are interested in the estate may
ask for Administration with Will Annexed and
petition the Court to appoint an administrator.
There is an order of appointment which gives preference to those persons who were more closely related to the decedent.
The Administration with Will Annexed, like
some of the other procedures previously discussed,
may be made “independent” if the distributees of
the estate can agree on the advisability of acting
independently.
Dependent Administration
If your Will does not provide for independent
administration or if your heirs do not agree regarding the freedom to be given an administrator
to act without court supervision, your estate will
become one utilizing dependent administration.
The subject of “dependent administration” is
far too complex to attempt coverage in the limited
space provided, but let it suffice to say that it is far
more difficult and far more expensive to administer an estate which cannot rely upon independent
powers of administration.
You are encouraged to discuss the virtues of
“independent” administration with your attorney
at the time that your Will is drafted so that your
estate does not inadvertently get caught up in “dependent” administration.
Each of the above-referenced “types of probate proceedings” is a tool to be utilized to meet
the goal of settling an estate with the least possible
time, effort or expense, but the right tool must be
selected and properly used.
The bottom line ends up, as usual, being that
probate utilizing independent administration is a
relatively simple and relatively inexpensive procedure, but you will need the services of an attorney experienced in probate law and procedures to
guide you through the process.
James Bright is admitted to practice before the
Federal Courts for the Southern District of Texas and
Eastern District of Texas as well as all of the Justice
Courts, Probate Courts, County Courts at Law, District Courts, Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court for
the State of Texas. He maintains an office in Houston
and by appointment another at 208 McCown Street
in the heart of historic Montgomery. Contact may
be made by telephone (936) 449-4455 or (281) 5868277. For more information about wills or probate
in Texas, please see www.houstontxprobate.com. u
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IF YOU WISH TO SUGGEST A TOPIC FOR
THIS COLUMN RELATED TO EITHER WILLS
OR PROBATE QUESTIONS - SEND TO:
JAMES M. BRIGHT ATTORNEY AT LAW
14450 T.C. JESTER, SUITE 255
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77014
Email: [email protected]
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Lower Level near Center Court • 281.419.0030
MKTG41283_P_WOODLA_M.indd 1
6/5/2012 9:33:04 AM
Choosing the best hearing aid and hearing health professional for you can be a confusing process. Your
hearing health is important, and your need to be sure that you select the proper hearing aid and hearing
health professional. Below are some suggestions in the selection of hearing aids and professionals.
STEPS IN SELECTING HEARING AIDS
1. Select an audiologist. The audiologist is a
professional with at least a master’s degree in hearing science. They will assist you in choosing the
best hearing aid for your hearing loss and your
budget.
2. Make an appointment for a hearing evaluation. The evaluation will test for both permanent
and conduction hearing losses. The audiologist
will make appropriate recommendations including physician referral if needed, and/or hearing
aid selection.
3. Once you and your audiologist have chosen the appropriate instrument for you, it will be
ordered and you can expect to have a fitting ap-
pointment usually within 1 week.
4. Upon receipt of the hearing aid, the audiologist will program it via computer software, to
the expected settings to meet your hearing needs.
5. Following the programming the audiology
center will contact you for a fitting appointment.
6. During the fitting appointment you will
be taught how to clean the aids, how to adjust to
them, and receive valuable suggestions regarding
integrating your new hearing aids into your daily
life. You will also be given a return option (usually
30-60 days) so that you may exchange or return
the hearing aids for any reason.
7. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled
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Complimentary screening and consultation with Phonak/Lyric representatives
July 10, 2012 — 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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April Sound Blvd, Montgomery, TX 77356 1-877-705-1659
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within a week or two for fine tuning of the instruments if necessary.
HOW TO SELECT AN AUDIOLOGIST
1. Check when scheduling your appointment
regarding the return option, both in terms of time
window and percentage of refund. We offer a 60day return option.
2. Make sure you have selected an audiologist
that will likely be available for the next few months
or maybe years to meet your hearing health needs.
Many audiologists who are not self employed frequently change job settings. A self employed audiologist will likely be around for your future needs.
We have been in our current location for 10 years.
3. Make sure you have selected an experienced audiologist that is able to troubleshoot your
hearing aids and make appropriate adjustments
to best meet your needs. Our audiologist has 34
years of experience with hearing aids.
4. Many facilities will not bill insurance for
hearing aids. If you think that you may have insurance to cover some of the hearing aid cost, ask
before making an appointment if they are willing
to file your insurance. Our office accepts all insurances including Medicare and Medicaid.
We offer comprehensive and caring treatment
for our patients. Most often than not you can be
seen within at least a week or less. Our office is
user friendly, we are a first level office with store
front at the curb, no elevators or lengthy halls to
maneuver. Give us a call to discuss with you your
hearing health.
WHO DO I LISTEN TO
Often patients are confused because of conflicting facts that they hear regarding whether they
need hearing aids, how effective they can expect
the hearing aids to perform, and what type of
hearing aids are the best choice. This well meaning advice may originate from family, friends, or
even physicians. As with any health care decision,
select the professional that can provide reasonable
answers to questions, understandable explanations
for symptoms, and educated solutions for the hearing impaired issues. If your intent is to choose an
audiologist for your hearing health care, check the
credentials carefully, some who are hearing instrument specialists, not audiologists, are advertising
in various magazines, telephone directories, and
newspapers as audiologists.
WHAT’S NEW AT AUDIOLOGY & HEARING
AIDS OF THE WOODLANDS
We are proud to share that our office is one
of 10 in the country selected to launch the LYRIC
2. This update to the successful LYRIC 1 comes
in more sizes, and is smaller. As a result, more
of those who begin a 30-day, no risk trial will be
successful and comfortable with the LYRIC 2.
Whether or not you have tried the LYRIC 1, call
for a free 30-day trial with the LYRIC 2. More information on this completely invisible, waterproof,
daily wear for up to 3 month hearing aid can be
found on our website, in the ad in this publication,
or at www.lyrichearing.com. u
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• Painting
• Fencing
Outdoor Living
DESIGN CONSULTANTS
AVAILABLE
Call Today For A Free
At Home Estimate
281.419.4144
936.271.5185
Screen Rooms
Room Additions
Patio Covers
Outdoor Living
DWRConstruction.com
445 Spring Hill Dr.
Spring, Texas 77386
All offers subject to change.
Winner of Distinction
2010 & 2011
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
THE REMODELING INDUSTRY
By: Cary Wortham
Well Hello July! What
took you so long to bring
us some heat? (And, please don’t hang around a
long time.) If you could just give us a little rain,
we would be greatly appreciative! You know it’s
hot and dry when the big Texas “tree roaches” are
carrying their own cups asking for water and using
wasps as fans!!!
I wish I could tell you that at this time of year
you would only be experiencing a couple of insect
issues. But, the reality is that ALL of the insects
and varmints are active. (Good thing about that
is that they are getting ready for “winter”…3-5
months from now… maybe.) There truly has not
been one specific continuous insect issue this season. We continue to have requests for spider, wasp,
roach, flea, scorpion, termite and rodent control.
(At least our days are not boring.) All of these
insects can be controlled and minimized with consistent services. Even for the “Do-it-Yourselfers”.
The key, as I have mentioned in the past, is to read
your product label. Mix properly. Apply properly.
And, re-apply at the prescribed intervals. Over the
counter products are effective, but generally do not
last as long as our “commercial” grade products.
Additionally, with our extreme environmental
changes, these products dissipate faster. Hence,
consistency.
We do have some ant issues that are a challenge, even for the “professionals”. The Rover,
Ghost and Crazy Raspberry ants are really making an appearance around our structures. Proper
identification, detailed inspection and product applications are the only way to manage these ants.
Control is obtained only when/if consistent applications are performed.
If you are located in one of the many growing areas around Montgomery County, I can pretty
much tell you that you are having issues with spiders, ants, “tree roaches”, scorpions and field mice.
Because of all the new developments around your
home or office these intruders are searching for a
new “home”, as well. Don’t allow them to select
yours. It is greatly recommended that you have
your property professionally treated and maintained so that pest infestations are minimized.
Additionally, please do not overlook the
protection of your home or office from termites.
Chances are extremely high that termites were on
that property before the structure was built, and
they are not leaving unless you “persuade” them to
vacate. It has always amazed me that such a little
insect can cause so much damage. And, for less
than 1% of the value of the structure, protection
from termite damage can generally be obtained.
(It’s the old saying…”you can pay me now or you
can pay me, the carpenter, the painter and the
decorator later”.) When choosing a company for
termite control; select a company that has been
performing termite treatments for many years; is
stable and will be around for many years; utilizes a
proven quality product with good residual values;
and, will take the required amount of time to fully
explain the treatment procedures and options. Every home and office should have termite protection, especially in our region.
If you would like more information on any
pest related services, please contact me at Chase
Pest Control. Our office number is 936-441-2847
or by email at [email protected].
Until the next issue, have a great time outdoors.
Drink plenty of Water and take many breaks….
And, just think… only 5 months until Christmas
and cooler weather. u
my
f
chiq riend
uita
Visit us on the web! www.docklinemagazine.com
26
For example, Panama has the Caribbean to the
north and the Pacific Ocean on the south. Boquette,
Panama is in the mountains, if that suits you better.
Panama City has over one million population
with U.S. trained doctors and great medical facilities. A two bedroom condo downtown can start at
$125,000. A three bedroom beach front house an
hour outside of Panama City can be found in the
$300’s. The cost of living is much more affordable
and they have some pretty special tax incentives
and discounts for expats over age 55; and you’re
only a three hour flight from Miami – and then back
to the grandkids.
Clear Direction for Your Retirement™
by Craig Wear, CFP®
Real Estate Options
in Retirement
Should you downsize for added financial security?
Do you need to make changes now that will add
greater security to your longevity in retirement?
What are the limits to how much lifestyle your
retirement assets can generate for the rest of your
life? These are all questions that have simple solutions if you begin with some good old fashioned
retirement planning.
Downsize here or
move to Panama?
There’s no doubt that our housing and related costs
can be a substantial drain on financial resources
into retirement. And for most people, having less
costs in retirement can mean a more secure retirement. Although most of the people I work with will
continue to live and enjoy the home they’ve lived
in for years, there are many who will consider a variety of other real estate options to maximize their
lifestyle or security into retirement.
Not long ago my wife and I decided to do the
‘downsize routine’. I’m not quite sure of the timing
of this great epiphany but it may have been shortly
after I received my annual property tax statement.
On second thought, it may have become a priority one Saturday after a long day of yard work on
the acre of lush beautiful lawn and accompanying
flower beds. Regardless of the when, it was time.
Boy did we discover a whole new freedom from
the responsibility and financial load. It has worked
out wonderfully and we feel very satisfied in having simplified our lives.
Not all downsizing is a result of financial distress.
One of the fastest ways to stretch your retirement
nest egg is to downsize. Selling a more expensive
home that is mortgage free and moving to a smaller
home can give an instant boost to the retirement
savings balances to open the door to a variety of
ways to generate more income. Moving to a smaller
home reduces your cost of living much more dramatically and faster than skipping the expensive
coffee or clipping coupons.
There are vast expat communities that an American
can fit right in with familiar people, language and
culture while being fully immersed in the local culture as well. If you’re up for an adventure of your
life at bargain prices then this might be something
to look in to. If your income for retirement is looking
slim in the U.S., you will be very surprised at how
far it will go in other parts of this big old world.
A simple internet search on retiring overseas will
produce enough reading for weeks and weeks.
I’d like to help. If you’ll tell me that you saw this
article, we’ll complete a comprehensive retirement
analysis and game plan for you at no charge –
totally complimentary! No gimmicks and nothing
to sell you. My marketing model stems from the
time-tested message; ‘You can have everything in
life you want if you just give enough other people
what they want’. I’d like to help you find a more
secure retirement.
“The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading
what you want most for what you want right now.”
– Zig Ziglar
Call us at 936-449-5952 or log onto
www.CraigWear.com.
Craig Wear, CFP®, is an investment advisor representative of
Game Plan Advisors, Inc., a registered investment advisor. ©
Excited to announce our new
relationship with KPRC
www.click2houston.com/retire
Saturdays 9 - 10:00 AM
Simulcast Live at
www.CraigWear.com
In the process of helping clients plan for their retirement,
I enjoy the visible response I receive when they see
the impact on their future by the implementation of
a few simple steps to lower their annual expenses.
It never ceases to amaze me how often a client’s
long term security is greatly enhanced by reducing
annual expenses by a mere $5000.
Another option that millions of Baby Boomers are
embracing is the move overseas. A recent guest on
my radio show provided an amazing look at the
variety of spectacular locations where an American
retiree can live like a king on $30,000 a year. Costa
Rica, Belize, Panama, Thailand and France are just
a few of the locations that offer retirees plenty of
alternatives for a new full time address.
936-449-5952
2040 N. Loop 336 West, Suite 227
Conroe, TX 77304
Craig Wear, CFP®, is an investment advisor representative of
Game Plan Advisors, Inc., a registered investment advisor.
10 Signs of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease: what is and what isn’t? It’s
sometimes difficult to tell.
Dementia is the umbrella term for the variety
of conditions that can cause the brain to fail. One of
those is Alzheimer’s disease, which represents the majority of cases, noted Dr. Jane F. Potter, chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the University
of Nebraska Medical Center.
“It’s safe to say that the thing that Alzheimer’s
and other dementias have in common is a high risk of
behavioral disorders – change in personality, people
behaving in ways counter to their prior personality,’’ Dr. Potter said. “Normal old age does not cause
memory loss. It’s not normal when people can’t take
care of daily business, such as paying bills and writing
checks.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, following are 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s compared
with what are typical age-related changes:
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life: One of
the most common signs is memory loss, especially
forgetting recently learned information. Typical agerelated change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems:
Some people may experience changes in their ability
to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers.
Typical? Making occasional errors when balancing a
checkbook.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home,
at work or at leisure: People sometimes may have
trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a
budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite
game. Typical? Occasionally needing help to use the
settings on a microwave or to record a television show.
4. Confusion with time or place: Losing track of
dates, seasons and the passage of time. Typical? Getting confused about the day of the week, but figuring
28
it out later.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and
spatial relationships: For some people, having vision
problems is a sign. They may not realize they are the
person in the mirror, for instance. Typical? Vision
changes related to cataracts.
6. New problems with words in speaking or
writing: There is trouble following or joining a conversation. Typical? Sometimes having trouble finding
the right word.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps: Placing things in unusual places. Sometimes they may accuse others of stealing. Typical?
Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair
of glasses.
8. Decreased or poor judgment: Experiencing
changes in judgment or decision-making. Typical?
Making a bad decision once in a while.
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities:
Some may start to remove themselves from hobbies,
social activities, work projects or sports. Typical?
Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social
obligations.
10. Changes in mood and personality: Some can
become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or
anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work
or with friends or in places where they are out of their
comfort zone. Typical? Developing specific ways of
doing things and becoming irritable when a routine
is disrupted.
The Home Instead Senior Care® network is a
corporate member of the Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance, whose goal is to
educate about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s, the
importance of early detection and the resources available to help them.
What to Expect with Alzheimer’s
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can trigger
anxiety for seniors and their family caregivers who
wonder what’s ahead as the disease progresses. So
what can someone with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis expect?
Based on Home Instead Senior Care® network
research, those with Alzheimer’s disease or other
dementias who live at home without in-home care
reported these common problems: challenges in planning (70 percent with dementia compared with 22
percent who did not have dementia); memory loss
that disrupts daily life (86 percent with dementia
compared with 13 percent who did not have dementia); confusion with time or place (76 percent with
dementia compared with 10 percent who did not have
dementia); and misplacing things (80 percent with
dementia compared with 16 percent who did not have
dementia).
Other common problems identified by this
Home Instead Senior Care network research included:
• New problems with words in speaking or writing – 43 percent with dementia compared with 13
percent who did not have dementia.
• Nighttime wakefulness and other sleep problems – 48 percent with dementia compared with 39
percent who did not have dementia.
• Rummaging around or hiding things – 48 percent with dementia compared with 6 percent who did
not have dementia.
• Trouble understanding visual image and spatial relationships – 37 percent with dementia compared with 7 percent who did not have dementia.
• Belligerence, anger or aggressive behavior – 28
percent with dementia compared with 15 percent who
did not have dementia.
• Hallucinations, delusions or paranoia – 20 percent with dementia compared with 6 percent who did
not have dementia.
• Wandering – 22 percent with dementia compared with 1 percent who did not have dementia.
• Refusing to eat – 14 percent with dementia
compared with 7 percent who did not have dementia.
Despite this grim expectation, there is hope on
the horizon. “The currently available treatments are
used when dementia has fully developed,” said Dr.
Jane F. Potter, chief of the Division of Geriatrics and
Gerontology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “All of the new trials are focused on early
identification to target the stage before dementia –
mild cognitive impairment. In the future we should
be able to identify and treat people with mild cognitive impairment to keep the disease from progressing,” she said.
“One of the promising areas under study is exercise; it appears that avid exercisers have a lower risk
of dementia. So identifying people at risk and developing an activity program are among therapies being
considered. All we would have to do is delay the onset of dementia by five years and we eliminate by half
the number of years spent with dementia because we
would die of other things.”
For more information about free Family Caregiver Training for family caregivers of seniors dealing
with the behavioral changes of Alzheimer’s or other
dementias, contact your local Home Instead Senior
Care office, or visit HelpforAlzheimersFamilies.com
to engage in an e-learning course.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, contact your local office at (936) 441-3223
or [email protected]. You can visit
our website at www.homeinstead.com/607. u
Montgomery County is the fastest growing
region of the Greater Houston Metropolitan area,
and one of, if not THE fastest growing area in
all of Texas. Many businesses, including DOCK
LINE MAGAZINE and LAWN RANGER COMPANY, are enjoying steady and sustained growth
as a result of the increase in area housing, jobs, and
economy. Magnolia and Northwest Montgomery
County are no small part of that increase.
Meanwhile, our loyal readers in The Woodlands area are asking questions, providing comments, and needing answers to the current “hotbutton” in lawn and landscape care.
COMMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS FROM
READERS
From a new customer, referring to Lawn
Ranger Company’s fertilization and lawn care program, THE GREEN LAWN SYSTEM: “Love it!
The difference after the first treatment is fantastic!”
~ SH, Lake Windcrest
From a PLATINUM LEVEL customer (one
who utilizes services from ALL Divisions): ”…the
reason I plan on staying with Lawn Ranger...a guy
like [GLS Sr. Technician]Craig is an incredible asset…he delivers the customer service that not only
I expect but that I am willing to pay for.”
~ RG, The Woodlands
“What’s the deal with my grass dying along my
driveway?”
This question must be from someone who
is new to the area! Welcome to the world of the
deadly and hated “Chinch Bug.” When it gets hot
and dry in the summertime, these little guys will
kill your lawn faster than anything else! They attack the stems of St. Augustine grass and suck it
dead.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
If the leaves on your Azaleas become discolored, and eventually look like a “skeleton,” treat
for Lace Bugs. Catch ‘em early. By the time you
see the damage to the leaves, the bugs have usually
already moved on. They are 1/8 to 1/4 inch long
with a netlike pattern on the wings, which are dotted with brown and black.
Lantana can be attacked by Lace Bugs, but
most generally it’s the spider mites that cause its
demise.
WHITE FLIES may be present on plants such
as Crepe Myrtles and Hibiscus. They feed on phloem sap. They also excrete a sugar-rich substance
called “honeydew”, which can encourage the development of sooty mold fungi. The sooty mold
reduces the plant’s photosynthetic capability.
Typical Chinch Bug damage
Generally, the first signs of Chinch Bug activity will appear along driveways and sidewalks,
but they will quickly spread throughout the lawn.
They can devastate a lawn in a few days, leaving the
grass brown and brittle – as in DEAD! You won’t
find them in the dead part of the yard, but look
closely in the edge of the grass that is still green.
When you part the grass blades, you can see the
little marauders scampering about.
Adult Chinch Bug
Attack them! Kill them! Or call Lawn Ranger Company for a treatment by our renowned
GREEN LAWN SYSTEM.
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS
We can be contacted at our offices at 281-6811025, or through our web site: www.LawnRangerCompany.com.
“Like” us on FaceBook at www.facebook.
com/lawnrangercompany and receive $5.00 off
your bill. Follow us on Twitter: @lawnranger_walt.
Lawn Ranger Company’s services include fertilization and weed control, lawn mowing, sprinkler systems, and landscape services to The Woodlands, Montgomery County, and northern Harris
County. u
VOTED #1 IN THE WOODLANDS
2010, 2011, 2012
Chinch Bugs multiply rapidly
REMODELING SPECIALISTS
It’s more than just a name, it’s a way of doing business...
The Company
That Does It All!
Interior Services:
12
• Granite Countertops
MONTHS
• Bathrooms
NO INTEREST
If paid in full in
• Kitchens
12 months
• Game Rooms
• Tile / Carpet / Hardwood
• Painting
Kitchen Remodel
SUMMER SPECIAL
20%
Exterior Services:
Off
• Carports
• Patio Covers
VISIT OUR
4500 SQ. FT.
• Sunrooms
SHOWROOM
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DESIGN CONSULTANTS
AVAILABLE
• Outdoor Kitchens
• Room Additions
• Garage Doors
• Stucco & Hardie Siding
• Roofing
• Windows
• Painting
• Fencing
Call Today For A Free
At Home Estimate
Bath Remodel
Screen Rooms
Room Additions
281.419.4144
936.271.5185
DWRConstruction.com
445 Spring Hill Dr.
Spring, Texas 77386
All offers subject to change.
Winner of Distinction
2010 & 2011
30
Patio Covers
Outdoor Kitchen
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
THE REMODELING INDUSTRY
Daily
Drink
Specials
at our
Full Bar!
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$5
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12 - The Dockline

Transcription

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