MARCH 2015

c OLLEGE

P ARK Neighborhood Association

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.CollegeParkRichardson.com

Events & Competitions are open to ALL ages All Grown-Ups are encouraged (and challenged) to be kids for the day.

SPRING

CELEBRATION @ Glenville Park

Saturday March 21 Rain Date March 28

Start time 10:00am

Hula Hoop Competition

Egg Spoon Race

3 Legged Race

Egg Toss

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WITH THIS EVENT

Photo OP Area

(Bring your own camera)

Egg Hunt

(Bring your own basket)

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Notes from the President

Patti Glenn pattiglenn@tx.rr.com 972-900-9188 or 972-699-1615

Well, like most people, I thought we were going to get by with a mild winter and no ice or snow – As they say, Texas weather is unpredictable, but at least we have not had the terrible winter that they have had in the northeast, I have a friend in Boston and they have got over 7 feet (yes, feet) of snow in the last 30 days. Hopefully, spring is on its way. I am certainly ready!. Sand and debris removal from roadways due to the recent winter weather has already begun. City street sweeping crews have begun their cleanup focusing on parking lots and public building access. Begin-ning Saturday, March 7 a total of five sweepers will be working to begin the removal of sand from road-ways and continuing the work at public buildings. The cleanup of roadways will occur in priority order. Median tips and elevated bridge surfaces will follow after significant progress has been made on city streets and thoroughfares. It is anticipated that the cleaning effort will take up to five weeks, pending any delays due to rain that might occur. Residents should notice a significant improvement within 2-3 weeks. The Texas Department of Transportation will take care of the cleanup on Central Expressway and the service roads. Sherrill Park Course No.1 has closed for renovations that will include new green surfaces and reworked fairways. Work is expected to take about eight months, with the newly renovated course scheduled to be open in late September or early October. Since I put out the note about coyotes in the neighborhood again, I have had 2 reports coyotes getting pets in the area. Please be carefully when you let your pets out. Usually, coyotes are on the prowl more at dawn and dusk, but the recent cases have occurred during the day. Construction on the City’s first dog park is 40% complete and will be open, weather permitting, by the end of April or early May. Crews have already finished the parking lot and half of the fencing. The decel-eration lane and plaza concrete is in process and the restroom building will be complete in about four weeks. The six-acre site is under and along the President George Bush Turnpike west of US 75. It will include separate areas for large and small dogs, and for puppy parents who wish to host a doggy birth-day party, a rental area will be available. Not only that, but if your pooch isn’t as perky anymore, is now settling into a slower pace or recovering from surgery, an area for sedentary dogs will also be available. The park will have a central plaza with restrooms, shade structures and open space with different tex-tures that include grass, decomposed granite, stone and logs. The park will be the 18th in the DFW Metroplex and will serve the estimated 36,000 to 46,000 dogs that call Richardson home. The City has completed the installation of new playground equipment at Glenville Park. Join CPNA and our neighboring HOA for our Spring Celebration at Glenville Park and check out the new equipment. This is part of Richardson’s goal to maintain a healthy and active city. Funding for the project came from the 2010 Bond Program. Are you working on getting ready for the Spring Garage Sale – The dates are May 1 -3 (Friday-Sunday) – Each participate can decide to have their sale on any or all of these days – totally up to the individual. The neighboring HOAs all plan to participate on this weekend. We will have signs for major intersec-tions and entrances to neighborhoods, but individuals put out their own signs in the neighborhood. We will advise the city so individuals participating do not have to register individual sales. I have sent CPNA rosters (by address and by last name) via email to all paid members. If you did not receive the email or if you had trouble printing the documents, let me know and I’ll deliver a hardcopy.

Reminder - you can load Free Classified Ads on the website such as:

Baby sitting Lessons/Tutoring Pet Sitting/walking

Tax preparation

3

CRIME TIPS

Crime Watch Patrol Stats

For February

Patrol Hours: 58.25

(This includes both patrol & meeting hours)

Types of Observations

Open Garage Doors 6 Suspicious Persons 2 Other Property Observations. 5 Suspicious Vehicles 0 House Checks 9

The following people patrolled this month

Crime Tip: Protect your computer from viruses, malware & other malicious software that could compromise your credit card numbers & personal information. Download the latest operating system patches & consider turning on automatic updates to do this. Use anti-virus software, and only shop with well-known trusted websites that are secure, indicated by "https" in the web address, or look for the security padlock icon in your web browser for confirmation the site is using a secure connection.

Crime Tip: Working out at the gym before work or school, during lunch, or during the evening is a great convenience. Never store your clothing & personal belongings in an unlocked locker. Invest in a high quality disc or puck lock, or a hardened steel padlock with a protective shackle guard, to prevent cutting or sawing by locker room predators.

Crime Tip: Keep your blinds & curtains closed when you are away from home. Leaving them open allows a thief to shop for quality items in your home.

YARD OF THE MONTH

Steve & Becky Rodick

1208 E Berkeley

HONORABLE MENTION

John Hughes

924 Dunbarton

Our thanks to Callaway's Nursery, located on Plano Road, north of Campbell, for sponsoring

CPNA Yard of the Month

Welcome to the Neighborhood !

Rick Skaggs, Ben Parlapiano, Dale Klosterman, Len Foster, Peggy Williams, Art Kaplan, Denise Lane, Dieter Paul and Kathy Hill

There were 11 who attended the last Crime Watch Patrol Meeting at Target

1004 Grinnell

John Luke & Adrianne Enriquez

Their children are Sage & Simon

Simon goes to Jess Harben Sage will start next Fall

They lived in a College Park rental about 5 years ago & have now

purchased in the neighborhood

John Luke works for a family-owned oil company.

Arianne is a stay-at-home Mom

1201 Edgewood

Shel Prince

Shel is the owner of Aboca's Italian Grill at 10455 N. Central Expressway

(75 & Meadow)

CPNA OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE HEADS 2014-2015

President Patti Glenn 972-699-1615 pattiglenn@tx.rr.com 972-900-9188 cell Vice President Todd Gurganus 214-478-1908 todd@regentroofingonline.com Secretary Sharlee Skaggs 972-690-3172 sharlee@mac.com Treasurer Lynne Patterson 972-890-1031 lynne.patterson@yahoo.com Parliamentarian Jerry Silverman 972-231-2300 ljstex@att.net Welcome Comm. Kathy Hill 214-533-5295 kathyhill0878@yahoo.com Beautification/YOM Dale & Hilda Klosterman 972-644-1583 daleklosterman@sbcglobal.net Newsletter Helene Levitan 972-519-0270 hdlevitan@gmail.com Crime Watch Patrol Kathy Hill 214-533-5295 kathyhill0878@yahoo.com AT LARGE Member Chris Xeros 972-740-4151 cxeros@tx.rr.com AT LARGE Member Chieu Mai 972-235-0028 maihennhouse@sbcglobal.net AT LARGE Member Peggy Williams 972-680-2863 pjwillia@sbcglobal.net AT LARGE Member Laura Koloc 972-235-6516 lkoloc@email.com

College Park Market Analysis Summary as of 3-9-15

Active Listings 6 (Includes 3 pending) Avg list price $205.2K Avg price/sq ft $90.73

This includes 1 home listed for $140K or less

Sold past 6 months 14 Avg sold price $203.4K Avg price/sq ft $90.74

Please note this does not include “For Sale by Owner” Properties

After doing some analysis, I have determined that there is no significant difference between looking at just College Park and combining College Park, College Park North, College Park East, and Town North Park subdivisions so going forward I will do the CMA on this slightly larger area to give a better idea of the market in our area. If you would like additional information or a market analysis of your property, please contact me at

972-900-9188 pattiglenn@tx.rr.com

CPNA - Dedicated to improving our neighborhood & community

Membership dues covers June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016

Our College Park Neighbors (All neighbors, not just homeowners) are invited to join CPNA!

Mail dues of $25.00 to Treasurer Lynne Patterson

PO Box 851021 Richardson, TX 75085

Questions? Lynne Patterson 972-890-1031

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

4

TIMELY TIPS FOR MARCH GARDENERS

C ALLOWAY’S

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FREE N-STORE CLINICS

One of the busiest gardening months of the year is here! March weather can be very fickle – it could still freeze since the average last freeze is mid-March or it could be very balmy & pleasant. You can’t predict the weather in Texas.

March is a great month to plant almost every kind of landscape plant. The sooner you plant, the quicker the plant will start getting established. This is important if the plants are to do well through the hot, stressful summer. Calloway’s Nursery is receiving weekly shipments of fresh nursery stock & this is the prime to buy & plant.

Do not be too eager to apply fertilizer to your warm season lawn grasses (St. Augustine & Bermuda); it is best to wait until April. Spring green-up results from nutrients that were stored by the grass last; fall proving importance of fall fertilization. Pushing the lawn too hard in the early spring could result in a weaker root system going into summer.

A few great early season flower choices are sweet alyssum, geraniums, stocks, snapdragons & petunias.

If you missed applying the pre-emergent weed preventer in February, then go ahead & make an application now. You may miss a portion of the weeds which germinate in early Spring but it may still control many of the types that germinate in the warmer part of the year.

Shear back Asiatic jasmine, if needed just as new growth starts to encourage new growth from the base.

Begin fertilizing roses every 4 to 6 weeks now until September with Calloway’s Rose Food

Saturday, March 14th Save water & money with

Drip Irrigation

Saturday, March 21st Fashionista Flower Design

With Flower from Hort Couture

Saturday, March 28th Secrets to Spectacular Roses

Saturday, Aprill 4th Lavish, Colorful, Stylish Shade Gardens

Saturday, April 11th Plant for Butterfly & Hummingbird Gardens

Saturday, April 18th Native Plants for Texas Gardens

Clinics available at all stores at 10:15am

The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow

The key is the timing. Pre-emergent her-bicides MUST be applied BEFORE crabgrass & weed seeds germinate.

Treat early for weeds- before they SPROUT. Treat your lawn with a PRE-EMERGENT HERBECIDE.

Best time: Mid- February to mid- March depending on surface temperature.

Although the term 'weed' is subjective, it is usually applied to invasive plants that compete with the grass for space to grow - clover & dandelions, coarse-leaved grasses, daisies & buttercups as just some examples.

Early identification & prompt removal can alleviate large-scale problems. This can be as simple as following a yearly lawn main-tenance plan.

Thanks to the Royal Horticultural Society for this information.

When you're done with your regular cleaning

routine, you may assume you've eliminated any

allergy triggers that were lurking in your home. But

the truth is, if you don't clean the right way, you

might be making the problem worse.

More than 40M Americans suffer from allergy

problems, and 25M have asthma. If your cleaning

routine doesn't specifically focus on allergen

control & removal, you may be only moving dust

around, sending allergens & irritating cleaning

chemicals into the air which can affect allergy &

asthma symptoms. To maximize your cleaning

efforts & reduce allergens, consider these simple

tips from the asthma & allergy friendly Certification

Program, the healthy home initiative of the

nonprofit Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America

(AAFA):

Use a certified vacuum that has a high

efficiency filter with tight seams & seals to

prevent particles from leaking out while you

vacuum. Also, choose a style that requires

minimal exposure during canister emptying or

bag changes.

Dusting improperly can actually increase

airborne dust particles in your home. Use

moist cloths or special dry dusters designed to

trap & lock dust from hard surfaces. Use

vacuum attachments to remove dust from soft

& upholstered surfaces.

Certain cleaning products can also contribute

to airborne irritants, especially if they contain

harsh chemicals, strong odors or volatile

organic compounds (VOCs). Choose products

that contain none of these irritants, but also

beware of "green" labels, as some of these

solutions may be made with natural allergenic

ingredients, such as lemon, coconut or

tea-tree oils.

Rodent dander & cockroach particles are

common household asthma triggers. However,

some pesticides may do more harm than good

for people with asthma & allergies. If you have

a pest problem, look for an exterminator with

expertise in integrated pest management &

experience treating homes of people with

asthma.

Whether you have a cat or dog, pet dander is

present in most U.S. homes. If it is possible,

keep pets out of the bedroom. Your cleaning

routine should include frequently washing

linens in your bedroom, where cat or dog

dander can settle.

Keep Indoor Air Free of Allergens

6

Place certified allergen barrier covers on your

mattresses & pillows. Wash your bedding at

least once a week in 130° or higher hot water to

kill dust mites & their eggs.

Mold, a common allergy trigger, can grow

anywhere in your home where moisture is

present. Look for cleaning products that help

kill & prevent mold from returning. Also, keep

household humidity below 50% & fix leaky

pipes & cracks to reduce standing puddles of

moisture where mold can prosper.

If children live in your home, look for certified

plush toys. Dust mites, mold & pet dander can

accumulate on plush toys over time. Certified

toys can be placed in the freezer for 24 hours,

then rinsed in cold water to remove dead mites.

Dry completely. Do this monthly.

Lots of air passes through window areas, and

airborne dust & allergens accumulate on all

types of window treatments - which are rarely

cleaned. In the family room & throughout the

home, replace big, heavy linen drapes with

more sensible window treatments such as

wood blinds or flat screens that are easy to

wipe & keep clean.

If your home uses central air conditioning or

heat, replace the filter in the machine regularly,

typically every 30 to 90 days. Choose an HVAC

filter that has been certified to effectively

capture fine airborne particles like pollen, dust

& dander.

Keep in mind that while consumers spend nearly

$18B annually on asthma & allergy medications,

they also spend more than $20B on non-medical

consumer products marketed for people with

asthma & allergies such as room air cleaners,

bedding, vacuums & more, according to AAFA.

While demand for such products continues to grow,

there is little regulation governing product claims,

the Foundation notes. AAFA's asthma & allergy

friendly Certification Program helps consumers

evaluate & verify the allergen-reducing

effectiveness of a variety of products, from cleaning

supplies, air cleaning devices and vacuums , to

toys, bedding, home improvement products, paints,

clothes washers & more. You can learn more at

www.AAFA.org/certified.

7

Source: Sharon Horesh Bergquist, MD, a physician with the

Emory Clinic in Atlanta. She is assistant professor of medicine at Emory University, Atlanta. EmoryHealthCare.org

Do not throw away prescription & over-the-counter drugs just because they are past their expiration dates. These dates are not when the drugs will go bad—they are merely the dates beyond which the drugmakers no longer guarantee full potency. While there is a lot of variability among different drugs, drugmakers tend to be overly conservative with these potency guarantees because they don’t want to go to the expense of testing drug longevity over longer periods.

A 20-year Food & Drug Administration study found that 88% of the 122 medicines that were properly stored & tested still were perfectly fine a full year after their expiration dates & the average expiration date could be extended by five-and-a-half years.

Expired drugs do not “spoil” as some expired foods do. There has not been a single confirmed case of an expired medication becoming toxic. The only potential risk from using an expired medication is that the drug might have lost some of its potency. A past-its-use-by-date pain medication might retain only 90% or 95% of its original potency, for example.

But using expired drugs is not worth the risk for lower potency when your life depends on the potency of the medication.

Examples: Replace your EpiPen when it reaches its expiration date if you have a potentially lethal allergy. Replace your nitroglycerine pills when they reach their expiration date if you have them for a serious heart condition.

Store medications in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. A bedroom drawer or kitchen cabinet can be a good spot (though not the kitchen cabinet above the stove). Do not store medications in the bathroom, where heat & humidity can reduce their useful life.

Medicine is especially likely to remain effective if it is in tablet or capsule form. Ointments, creams, liquid medications & any medications requiring refrigeration are significantly less likely to remain viable long after their expiration dates.

Expired Drugs Are Still Good

NEW Department of Energy (DOE) man-

date effective April, 2015

New federal rules which are taking effect after April will mean changes for anyone installing a new water heater after that date. The requirements will make the appliances more energy efficient, but it's going to mean higher costs & possibly some head-aches for homeowners during their installation.

New units will be, taller, wider & heavier. If your

unit is in a tight fitting place, it may have to be moved to a new location.

Installation will probably take 2 technicians.

Because new units are in production right now,

there could be delays in obtaining one because of shortages.

The good news is that new energy efficient water heaters will save money for the homeowner on utility bills & will cut down on excessive energy use.

Water Heaters

A new year often means new projects & new up-dates to your house! But renovations are not for the faint of heart (or light of wallet). But you can save money on your remodel with these tips from Bank-rate.com.

Shop online. This comes with plenty of risks - the product looking different than in the pictures, items ar-riving damaged, or unexpected shipping costs - but it certainly opens up your options.

Ask for a discount. Talk to neighbors & friends to see if they want to go in on the purchase with you & then ask the vendor for a volume discount. Sometimes of-fering to pay cash can score you a discount as well.

Do it yourself. If you are handy & have the right tools, you may be able to tackle some or even all of a project yourself. (A contractor could put up drywall and then you could do the sanding & painting.)’

Be Flexible: Keep your options open. Stores often sell discontinued or overstocked lines at a significant dis-count. You can also try your local Habitat for Hu-manity ReStore retail outlet.

Save Money on Home Renovations

These items don’t just clutter up our kitchen cabinets, making it hard to find the things that we do use. They also serve as an unpleasant reminder of the life we don’t have—the one where we throw parties & have hours to devote to cooking.

What to do: Imagine that you are going to throw that fancy dinner party. Write up the menu (this is the first step to actually having that dinner party), then take out all the dishes, glassware, utensils & cooking tools you would need. Now scan whatever remains in your kitchen cabinets with a critical eye. Anything that you don’t need for your dream party and that you don’t use regularly likely is something you don’t really need in your kitchen at all.

Donate these unneeded items to a secondhand store run by a charity. Donating things to a good cause helps overcome guilt about getting rid of possessions you paid good money for but never used. Plus, your donation may be tax-deductible.

Helpful: If it makes you anxious to give away things

that you might need someday, remind yourself that

you are not really giving them away. Instead, you’re

trading them for something better—an uncluttered

kitchen where you feel at peace.

LIVING ROOM

A living room should be a place for relaxing & enjoying life’s blessings. It should feature comfortable seating & decor that makes us feel joy. Scan your living room for things that do not serve this purpose or, worse, that stand in the way of your relaxation & joy.

Examples: Is your living room full of furniture that looks nice but is not ­comfortable? Is there a stack of magazines blocking your view of pictures of your kids or grandkids?

What to do: Remove anything from your living room that doesn’t make you feel relaxed & joyful. Select living room furniture that’s comfortable, not stiff & for-mal.

STUDY

The study is where we pay our bills, do our taxes, make investment decisions & wade through all the other important paperwork that comes into the home. (In some homes, this might occur at a desk located in a bedroom or kitchen.)

Declutter Your Home Forever, A Psychiatrist’s Surprising Tricks

8

A cluttered home is more than just unsightly—living in the midst of a mess actually takes a toll on our mood & our quality of life.

A home is supposed to be a peaceful, joyful retreat. A disorderly home instead makes us feel anxious & unsettled. It’s hard to relax when surrounded by chaos.

Here’s a strategy for decluttering each room in your

house that also can boost your mood…

DINING ROOM

The dining room table serves as a multipurpose space in many homes. It’s a craft table where we pursue hobbies…a library where we read newspapers…a game room where we play cards with friends…and a workstation where our kids do their homework. (In some homes, the kitchen table serves this multipurpose role.)

That wide range of uses can lead to a very cluttered table. Half-completed projects pile up, making it difficult for the family to gather for a peaceful meal.

When the table is cleared, this clutter typically gets stacked in a corner of the dining room—where it serves as a mealtime distraction & source of stress, with potentially significant consequences to our health.

Distractions in dining areas increase the odds that we will overeat because our minds are not focused on our meal. And it increases the odds that we will indulge in unhealthy comfort foods in an attempt to make ourselves feel better.

What to do: Make a list of each project & activity that regularly occur on your dining room (or kitchen) table, aside from eating. Purchase a stackable plastic container for each of these, and label these containers appropriately. Before meals, put everything on the table into its container, then place these containers somewhere that they cannot be seen from the dining room.

KITCHEN

Many of us have kitchens that serve our unfulfilled dreams, not our reality. They’re stocked with specialized cooking tools for making meals that we never actually prepare…or fancy glassware & china for dinner parties that we never actually throw.

Source: Melva Green, MD, psychiatrist and expert on the A&E program Hoarders. She is coauthor of Breathing Room: Open Your Heart by

Decluttering Your Home (Atria). DrMelvaGreen.com

Continued on next page

5 Scams to Watch for in 2015

Thieves have their tried & tested scams that they turn to again & again to trick unsuspecting victims. I can’t tell you what scams 2015 will bring, but odds are the majority of them will resemble these scams found on the list top 5 reported scams from Stay-SafeOnline. Keeping watch for variations of this scam will help you protect your identity this year.

Fake Check Scams In this scam, you receive a check & are asked to cash it through your account. You get a portion of the money received as ‘payment’ & send the rest off to another bank account or by wire transfer. Turns out, the check is fake. Fall victim to this scam & you’ll be on the hook for the full amount of the check plus any fees.

Internet Merchandise Scams You buy an item online from a bogus retailer & it never arrives. Spot this scam by looking for deals that are too good to be true – any deal that promises to sell you top shelf items at less than half the cost, for instance. Protect yourself by paying with a credit card (they offer protections against fraud like this).

Prize Scams “You’re a winner!” Only if you fall victim to this scam, you’re not. This scam tells you that you’ve won a prize & asks for money to cover the fees, taxes, etc. There is no prize; pay out & you’ll simply lose the money & won’t receive the promised prize.

Loan Scams Pay a fee & get a loan. This scam offers a line of credit in exchange for a sign-up fee. Once the fee is paid, the loan never materializes & you’re out the money you paid.

Phishing Scams You receive an email (often from an organization that you’re associated with) that asks for personal information or asks you to follow a link. Share your info & you’ll likely fall victim to ID theft or fraud very soon. Avoid phishing scams by clicking on email links carefully. If you’re not sure if an email is legitimate, contact the company in question yourself & ask. Most legitimate companies will not ask you to share your personal information over email. Watching out for scams such as these will help you protect your identity this year.

The trouble is that many of the responsibilities & decisions that await our attention in the study are tedious or, worse, frightening. If this leads to procrastination, we’re likely to end up with a cluttered room choked with piles of paper.

What to do: Sort all of the paperwork that requires your attention into 10 stacks. Stack number one is for things that you can deal with without any anxiety. Stack number two is for things that trigger a very slight twinge of anxiety…on through stack 10, which is for things that you’re terrified to confront.

Today, deal with only stack number one…tomorrow tackle only stack two…and so on for 10 days. This strategy allows us to get through most of the clutter in our studies—and feel good about having accomplished so much—before we come to a terrifying task that could bring our progress to a halt.

It also enforces a slow-and-steady 10-day pace, reducing the odds that we try to do everything at once—which usually results in burnout & bad decisions.

BEDROOM

Clutter in the bedroom can interfere with our ability to feel at peace, costing us sleep. When we don’t get enough sleep, it becomes especially difficult to be happy, healthy & productive.

What to do: Clear all clutter from the bedroom. Everything that doesn’t absolutely need to be in this room must go. The only exception is objects & artwork that give you a sense of peacefulness & love—for example, your framed wedding photo.

Take special care to clear out anything that causes your mind to relive old wounds. If your relationship with one of your family members currently is strained, for example, temporarily remove photos of that family member from your bedroom.

BATHROOM

Many of us have bathrooms full of various products that stoke our insecurities. A jar of wrinkle cream might remind us that we’re not young anymore. A bathroom scale might remind us that we’re not as thin as we would like to be.

What to do: Consider each beauty & grooming product in your bathroom one by one. Do you feel better about yourself when you use that hair-coloring product? That skin cream? Or does this product only remind you of your physical imperfections? Throw away anything that makes you feel bad about yourself. Such things have no place in your home.

9

DECLUTTER (continued)

10

Fix Your Home’s Weak Wi-Fi

Source: Eric Geier, CEO of NoWiresSecurity, a cloud-based Wi-Fi

security service, & On Spot Techs, an on-site computer services com-pany. Based in Fairborn, Ohio, he is a certified wireless network adminis-trator & author of nine books on computer technology, including Geeks on Call: Wireless Networking: 5-Minute Fixes (Wiley). EGeier.com

Do Netflix movies keep stopping & starting when you stream them to a laptop or TV over your wireless Internet (Wi-Fi)? Does e-mail take forever to download on your iPad in certain rooms? The problem is likely your wireless router. The radio wave signals that your router emits may be too weak when they reach your devices. Some smart solutions to get a stronger, steadier signal…

Make sure that the router signals aren’t impaired by physical barriers that cause interference & sig-nal degradation. These may include concrete & brick walls, heavy furniture & metal objects such as tall filing cabinets.

Move the router to a more central location in relation to where you use your wireless devices most. Resource: Use the free Android smartphone app Wi-Fi Analyzer to locate the areas of your home where the router signals are strongest & weakest, and then place the router in the best possible spot that still is close enough to an available Internet cable or phone jack.

Helpful: It’s usually best to place the router in a high position, such as on a high shelf or on top of a bookcase, to avoid barriers such as furniture.

Pay your Internet service provider for more speed. No matter what kind of router you have or where it is positioned, it can transmit data only as fast as the connection you have from your cable or telephone company. Internet speed is measured in bits-per-second (bps) and can vary at different times of day based on what else you are doing at that time on your home network.

To stream HD movies, for instance, at least 10 megabits/second (mbps) is recommended to avoid having the picture freeze up. Keep in mind that having multiple users in your home requires higher speeds. A dial-up modem transmits at up to 56 kilobits/second (1,024 kilobits is a megabit)…DSL service, typically up to 6 mbps…standard Internet cable service, typically 10 mbps or faster for an extra charge. More elaborate fixes are possible…

Add a wireless repeater. Plug one of these small devices into any electrical socket at the outer range of your existing router’s coverage, and it acts as a mini router, catching the original router signal & extending it. Repeater to consider: SharePort Mo-bile Companion by D-Link (about $40).

Switch your router’s channel. Wi-Fi routers send radio waves on different frequencies or channels. During setup, some routers automatically detect the least crowded channel as the default setting. But if you live in a neighborhood or apartment building with lots of new wireless connections, those routers may be using the same channel & weakening your signal. What to do: Start by downloading to your com-puter the inSSIDer diagnostic tool, which will analyze what channel your router is using & which one can offer you the best signal strength ($19.99, inS-SIDer.com). Then refer to your router owner’s man-ual for instructions on how to change the router channels.

Uneven Watering

When watering the foundation or yard, always remember the important thing is to maintain an even amount of moisture under & around your foundation. Now, we don't mean you should float your foundation; too much water is just as bad as not enough. The easiest way to maintain a constant amount of moisture under & around your foundation is with an automatic sprinkler system.

Do you have a home surveillance

camera system?

The Richardson Police Department has established a Neighborhood Video Crime Watch program. Residents that have a video surveillance system may help solve crimes. To learn more about this new program visit this page on RPD webpage:

http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=1670

Continued on next page

Source: David E. MacLellan, a home builder in the California Bay area

for 25 years & a 2011 inductee into the California Homebuilding Founda-tion Hall of Fame. He is now CEO of Pacific InterWest Building Consult-ants, Inc., which inspects homes during the construction process. He is a licensed general contractor & one of the coauthors of The Home Book: A Complete Guide to Homeowner & Homebuilder Responsibilities (Building Standards Institute). HouseFixIt.com

Some seemingly simple do-it-yourself projects can do substantial damage to a home. And placing certain possessions in the wrong spot in a house can lead to expensive problems, too. Eight common & potentially costly home owner mistakes…

Overloading upper kitchen cabinets. The upper cabinets in a kitchen are hung from the walls by a relatively modest number of screws—or sometimes only by nails in older homes. If you fill every shelf of one of these cabinets with stacks of heavy dinnerware or cookware, the cabinet could sag or even come crashing down from the wall.

Better: If you have lots of heavy kitchen items, store some or all of them in lower cabinets, which are supported by the floor. Or at least divide heavy kitchen items among several different upper cabinets. Each cabinet might contain some heavy dinnerware & some light glassware, for example. Peek behind upper kitchen cabinets every few years to see if they have begun to pull away from the wall behind. If so, reduce the load they’re carrying immediately, then add more or longer screws for greater support. Make sure that these screws enter wood framing, not just drywall.

Hanging a ceiling fan from a light mounting box. When home owners replace an overhead light with a ceiling fan, they often just attach the new fan to the existing mounting box. But ceiling fans typically need more support than can be provided by a mounting box designed for a light. Fans not only weigh more than the average light fixture, they also vibrate when in use, adding greatly to the strain on the mounting. A mounting box that isn’t up to the challenge could rip free from the ceiling.

Better: If you’re not certain that the existing mounting box is designed to support a ceiling fan, buy & install a new mounting box that is. Make sure that it’s rated to handle your fan’s weight. Mounting boxes generally cost about $10 at hardware stores or home centers. Professional installation of a fan box could range from $40 to $150, depending on your area of the country.

8 Common Mistakes Home Owners Make

Improperly attaching a trellis or similar structure. Some home owners bolt or nail these structures to their home’s siding. But siding often isn’t strong enough to support the added weight, so the structure comes crashing down, damaging the siding & anyone or anything that is under it when it falls. Some home owners also fail to adequately prevent rainwater from getting into the bolt or nail holes.

Better: When attaching anything heavy to your home’s exterior, bolt holes should be drilled into the home’s framing, not just into the siding. To keep out rainwater, after you drill bolt holes, fill them with caulk before inserting the bolts. If you attach something made of wood to the exterior of your home, such as a trellis, insert metal flashing between the house & this wood to prevent termites from using it as a path into the house. Check whether local building codes require you to obtain a permit before attaching a trellis or other structure to the outside of your home.

Overloading upper floors. Heavy items such as pool tables, waterbeds, large aquariums, pianos & weight-lifting equipment can overload floor systems—even when those floor systems are built to code. That’s especially true when these heavy items are on a home’s second floor. Even when there’s a basement underneath, a home’s first floor tends to be much better supported than upper floors, particularly near first-floor walls.

Better: If you have something very heavy in your home, keep it downstairs, ideally next to a wall. Watch for signs of excessive floor deflection, or movement, such as cracking in nearby walls.

Tinting the inside of multi-pane windows. Home owners in the southern & western US often attach adhesive tinted films to their windows to limit the amount of sunlight & UV rays that get through. This can reduce both air-conditioning bills & sun damage to furniture & carpeting. But if you tint the inside of a multiple-pane window—most modern windows incorporate more than one pane of glass—the tinting will reflect the sun’s rays back into the area between the panes, raising the temperature of the air or other gases sealed inside until the window’s seals rupture. Ruptured seals greatly diminish a window’s insulating value. Window warranties typically do not cover multi-pane windows that have been tinted on their interior.

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Mistakes Home Owners Make, cont’d

Better: Apply tinting film on the outside of multi-pane windows, not the inside. Use a high quality product, such as 3M’s Sun Control Window Films. A low-quality tinting film won’t last long exposed to the elements on a window’s exterior. This generally does not void window warranties—but read your windows’ warranty literature to confirm this before proceeding. Alternately, you could purchase & install pre-tinted windows

Connecting fences to the exterior of a home. Nailing or screwing the final post of a fence to the side of your home could cause rainwater to be-come trapped between the post & the wall, lead-ing to rot or mold. It also could create a path for ter-mites to enter the home.

Better: Leave a gap of perhaps one inch between the final fence post & the home.

Installing a patio or sidewalk that blocks the slope of the land near a home. The ground im-mediately surrounding most homes is sloped away from the structure to discourage water from pooling against the foundation. But when home owners put in patios or sidewalks adjacent to their homes, the concrete often juts up above the “finished grade,” creating a barrier that prevents water from flowing away. Over time, the resulting pool of water can lead to curled slabs, foundation cracks or moisture or mold problems in basements or crawl spaces.

Better: Dig a few inches down into the ground be-fore putting in a sidewalk or patio near your home. The top surface should not extend above the origi-nal soil level.

Walking on tile roofs. Roofing tiles made of con-crete, clay, slate or another relatively brittle mate-rial can crack under the weight of a single person & should be walked on only by a professional roofer.

(Composition asphalt shingles can be walked on, but it is not recommended, since walking will loosen the protective mineral granules.) Cracked tiles are likely to shift out of place, allowing water to enter the home where it can cause damage or encourage mold. Damage to a roof caused by walking on it usually is not covered by roof warranties. Walking on roofs also is quite dangerous for home owners.

Better: If you have a tile roof, use a ladder & telescop-ing pole to clear any debris from it, rather than walk on the tiles.

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There's a new Little Free Library with books available for use by the College Park

neighborhood. Take a book - leave a book - enjoy your book! There are

thrillers, novels, poetry, children's books, & nonfiction.

The Friends of the Richardson Public Library provided the do-it-yourself kit to the College Park Neighborhood Association. It's small box mounted on a poles that hold a small collection of books that are available on a free “take a book, return a book” basis.

Carol Adams, CPNA member & Member of Library Board has setup a “Little Free Library” for the College Park neighborhood. It is located at 812 Grinnell. Thank you so very much Carol, nice addition to the neighborhood.

A Little Free Library often becomes a magnet for those in the neighborhood out for a walk, who might want to stop by & see what books are available. And the books never run out, because these same neighbors are encouraged to leave books when they are finished with them or to add even more books that they think their neighbors may enjoy.

The Friends of the Richardson Public Library believes that it is important as a community building tool. Stop by & pick up a Jane Austen or a Lee Child or any of the other books waiting

College Park has Little FREE LIBRARY

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Design Tips to Make the Most of Your

Living Room Space

If you have a small living room space, or a living

room that needs sectioning off, some quick

decorating tricks can expand & define your space.

Here are five ideas that can give the illusion of

space with a little rearranging or DIY projects.

1. Use Rugs to Define Space

Sometimes continuous hardwood or carpet can end

a room before it begins. Area rugs positioned under

end tables or coffee tables can section off space. A

large rug positioned in the middle of the entertaining

area, framing a couch, chairs & television will

instantly create invisible lines defining the living

room area. This is a great trick if a living room tends

to flow into the dining or front room, it can be

defined as a living room with an area rug.

2. Beat the Clutter

Walls will shrink into your living space if you have

clutter lining the walls & on top of every surface.

Clean lines & cleared off table tops can make a

space feel less claustrophobic. Well placed furniture

& a minimalist look will open up any living room

space.

3. Strategic Lighting

Low lighting can make a room feel more spacious.

Glaring ceiling lights can cause a room to shrink.

Strategically placed floor & table lamps will bring a

flow & a warmer feel to the space. Lighting

placement in walking areas or framing a couch will

make for defined spaces within your living room.

4. Expand Space with Mirrors

Mirrors can instantly open up a space with a

reflection giving the impression of more space. A

taller mirror in a corner or backed behind a

bookshelf can expand a room instantly. Strategically

placing mirrors across from windows can bring a

reflection of the outdoors & make a space feel larger

& bring in light.

5. Wall & Ceiling Paint Tricks If your home has a lower ceiling, or if your living room has a cramped feeling, painting techniques can add an expanded airy look to your space. Paint the walls one or two shades darker than the ceiling. Another trick is to paint down a few inches from the ceiling, the lighter color wrapping around the top of the wall. This will open up the room & give the ceiling a heightened feeling

Get your couch potato pets moving again

Want to get off the couch & shed a few pounds? Create a workout customized for you & your pet!

You love your pet & want the best for her. Unfortunately, it’s easy to go overboard & give too much of a good thing (food) & not enough of another good thing (exercise). If you find yourself vegging out on the couch & spending less time with your pet, it’s easy for her to become a lethargic cat or dog — otherwise known as a couch potato pet. Follow along as Pu-rina’s Director of Veterinary Technical Marketing, Dr. Grace Long, shares tips to determine if you have an overweight cat or dog & how to make exercise enticing.

How to Determine If You Have an Overweight Cat or Dog Dr. Long explains the body condition score, a method to see if your pet is overweight. Use the following criteria to determine if your pet’s weight is in a healthy range:

Ribs – By running your hands along the sides of your pet & applying gentle pressure, you should feel the ribs. Visible ribs can be a sign that your pet is underweight.

Waist – When you view your pet from above, you should see a discernible “waist.”

Tuck – The tuck is more pronounced on a dog, so you may not see it on a cat, but if you view her from the side, you might see a slight tuck behind the ribs.

Using these criteria, you can quickly determine whether your pet may have a weight problem. If you have any doubts, remember that your vet is a reliable resource.

Weight Control for a Lethargic Cat or Dog "The number one cause of excess weight is that we overfeed our pets," says Dr. Long. She suggests a combination of reducing food & increasing exercise to help combat this problem. Your vet can recommend an appropriate weight-control formula as well as the appropriate frequency & amount you should be feeding your pet.

When you play with your pet, she needs to be able to “win.” “When she can’t win, you’re teasing her,” says Dr. Long. For example, a pole with a toy or feather on the end allows a cat to win, but a laser pointer does not.

Dr. Long suggests ways to use food to “bribe” a lethargic cat or dog into exercising by using food as a reward.

Place a few pieces of kibble on different levels of a cat condo or tree climb.

Purchase toys that hold food in their center & play fetch with your pet.

If you can’t get her to play, divide the food into several bowls & place the bowls in different rooms. "Because they’re so motivated by food, it provides the stimulation & incentive for exercise," she says. Cats in particular are often kept as indoor pets. If you neglect to provide cats with year-round exercise, they could easily turn into couch potatoes.

Playing with your lethargic cat or dog gets you off the couch, too. Think of yourself as a personal trainer for your pet — you could even shed a few pounds before summer rolls around!

Do Pets Feel Love? By Rebecca Desfosse

When your furry friend snuggles up to you, you may have asked yourself: Do pets feel love like we do? Read on to get the skinny on pet

affection.

As a pet owner, you may often think about just how much your dog or cat means to you — and it seems fairly certain that our pets care for us, too. But are they really capable of such complex emotions as love? Do pets feel love the same way we do?

Skeptical Scientists

Many scientists are skeptical about pets’ emotions, saying that only animals with higher intelligence such as humans can experience feelings like love. Instead, they claim that pets make investments in humans because they have something to gain from their relationship with us — namely food, treats, & attention.

Psychology Today, for example, examined the emotional intellect of dogs. They concluded that a dog can feel love for his owners, but his emotions remain stunted at the level of a two-year-old child.

A True Story of Love

Most pet owners, however, know beyond a doubt that dogs & cats have a great capacity for love. Take the story of Marcie & Madge from Toms River, N.J. Madge, a very shy cat, was 4-years old when Marcie adopted her from a shelter. Marcie coaxed the timid Madge out of her shell, feeding her treats, petting her, & even teaching her how to “shake.”

Then, Marcie was diagnosed with breast cancer. As she underwent chemotherapy & radiation treatment, she rarely had the energy to leave her bed, let alone play with Madge. Yet Madge continued to be her faithful companion, rarely leaving her side through those long months of recovery. “Madge would just curl up next to me as I rested & wouldn’t leave for the whole day. That’s how I knew she loved me.”

Marcie’s cancer is in remission now. Madge — still her closest companion — remains a source of inspiration. “Without Madge, recovery would have been much more difficult, & a lot lonelier,” Marcie told Petcentric.

Top 6 missed home-related

tax deductions

You've got your W-2 forms, and it’s time to go through your finances to file taxes. This usually isn't a fun task, but there’s good news if you bought a home, moved for a job or paid a mortgage or property taxes last year!

Check out the list below for the top 6 commonly overlooked deductions for homeowners:

Moving expenses. To qualify to deduct moving ex-penses, you must meet a three-part test: closely related to the start of work, distance & time. First, you must have spent money on a move within one year of starting work in a new location. Next, your new work location must be at least 50 miles farther away from your old home than your old job was. And finally, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during your first year in that new job.

Mortgage interest. Like most homeowners, a good chunk of your mortgage payment likely goes toward interest on your loan. The good news is all of this interest is deductible in a lot of cases! There are limits on this rule if you refinanced, have a loan for more than $1 million or own multiple properties.

Property taxes. You can include all property taxes you paid, according to your 1098. If you bought your home in 2014, you can also count taxes you reimbursed the seller for—that amount will be on your settlement sheet.

Home office. If you work from home, you may be able to claim a deduction for your home office. In general, this deduction is based on how much you use a room in your home for business, like an extra bedroom or garage. There are some limitations based on how often you use that room, and how much of your business is conducted there.

Points. These are prepaid interest, and are used to obtain a mortgage. Like mortgage interest, there are limits on how large your mortgage is, and how the points were paid when you bought your home.

Home improvements for medical care. For people with disabilities, home improvements that are required by a doctor may be deductible. In a rented house (where other costs were not reduced by a landlord), these costs may be listed as medical expenses.

As always, your individual situation is just that- different from everyone else’s, and may not meet each requirement. You should always check with an account-ant or the IRS directly to be sure you qualify for these deductions. Happy filing!

Continued on next page

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Prevent Mold Growth

Not only can mold result in expensive damage, but it releases spores that can pose a major health risk as well. By managing humidity & temperature, it is possible to deprive mold of the resources it needs to flourish, preventing mold growth & protecting your home. Below are some tried & true tips for dealing with mold before it takes hold:

1. Use a Dehumidifier

Mold grows rapidly at humidity levels above 55%, so

anyone living in a particularly humid region would be

wise to invest in a dehumidifier. In dryer climates, a

dehumidifier can still be extremely useful in rooms

where moisture accumulates, such as the bathroom,

kitchen, & laundry room. Watch for classic signs of

high humidity to determine whether you need a

dehumidifier: condensation on walls, windows, or

floors is a sure sign of a mold-friendly environment.

2. Provide Ventilation

Good air flow in the home is essential to preventing

mold, especially when cooler weather sets in. Run

bathroom & kitchen fans for an extra 10 minutes

after you finish showering or cooking. In pleasant

weather, opening a few windows will boost air

circulation.

3. Clean Thoroughly

Mold tends to grow on organic surfaces or surfaces

that have accumulated dust & grime. In fact, studies

have shown that almost 80% of mold grows on dust,

which makes regular vacuuming essential in homes

with carpeting. For tile & hardwood, clean with

anti-fungal & grease-fighting agents in order to stop

the growth of mold.

4. Check for Leaks

Water leaks can be a major source of extensive

mold damage. A damaged roof can cause water to

build up behind drywall, where the mold will often go

unnoticed until it is too late. Leaking pipes are

another common culprit, so take the time to make

an in-depth inspection of the home periodically. In

cold climates, it may be necessary to insulate pipes

in order to prevent them from cracking.

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5. Use Mold-Resistant Products

Certain brands of house paint contain special

mold inhibitors that can keep mold from growing,

which can be especially useful in bathrooms &

laundry rooms. For sinks & showers, consider

applying a cured or urethane-based caulking

agent. Many times, developers use silicone or

latex-based caulks to save money, but these

materials serve as a food source for mold. If you

are planning on doing renovations in the future,

it may be worthwhile to invest in special

mold-resistant drywall & sheetrock.

6. Reduce Moisture Around the Foundation

If the soil around your home isn't sloped away

from the foundation, mold growth is much more

likely. Rainwater can seep into cracks in the

foundation, which is especially problematic if the

home has a basement or crawlspace. Sprinkler

systems & crowded gutters can also contribute

to excessive moisture around the foundation.

Once mold takes hold it can be virtually impossible to eradicate without expensive professional treatments & renovations. By using the tips above, any homeowner can take steps towards eliminating mold at its source.

Prevent Mold Growth, cont’d

Unconditional Love

Our pets are always by our side. Service dogs, in particular, consistently place the needs of their loved ones above their own. Scientists may remain skeptical, but pet owners don’t need scientific proof know that their pets love them too.

So, do pets feel love? Ask any pet owner & they’ll tell you: They sure do! So why not snuggle up with your pet the next time you see him — and give him an extra smooch to show you love him,

Do Pets Feel Love? cont’d