Pearland Texas Real Estate : December 2010

PLEASE Don’t send that Christmas Tree to the Landfill!

Keep Pearland Beautiful has two recycling great options for you!

 

First, In order to recycle your tree do not get a tree with flocking or add flocking to your tree. Please remove your tree from the stand, remove all tinsel, lights and ornaments.

Option One: For those of you who want to help restore the “Brazoria County” sand dunes you have to do this from December 28, 2010 to January 13, 2011: Bring your Christmas tree to the Stella Roberts Recycling Center, 5800 Magnolia Dr., Pearland, TX 77584 during the center's operating hours. The Center is open Monday to Friday from noon to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. The Center will be closed December 24, 25, 27, 2010 and January 3, 2011 for the holidays. Trees will also be accepted at the Brazoria County Precinct 2 Work Yard 7315 Corporate Dr, Manvel, TX Monday-Thursday 7:30AM-5:30PM. It is behind the Brazoria County Service Center (turn onto Corporate drive and pass the service center building).

Trees collected at these sites in Pearland and Manvel will be used for the Brazoria County Dune Project on January 15, 2011. At 9:00 a.m., volunteers will meet at Quintana Beach County Park and Stahlman Park, Surfside to rebuild, restore and strengthen our dune line against storm surges. There will be a lunch following the staking of the trees. For more information about where to drop off your tree call our offices (281-652-1659).

For more information about the Dunes Day project call James at (979) 864-1541.

Option Two: If you cannot transport your tree, you live in a single family dwelling and you are within Pearland City of limits,  your tree can be set out curbside on your Green Waste Day (second trash day of the week). These trees will go to a commercial composting facility or chopped up for mulch at the facility along with the rest of your green waste.

 

These two options are a great way to help reduce landfill space AND have a postive effect on our enviorment!

For more information, please contact Keep Pearland Beautiful at 281-652-1659.

DECEMBER-2010 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.

The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau and Realtor.org reports, videos, key market indicators and real estate sales statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, plus local neighborhood information and more. Please click here to view the DECEMBER-2010 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter.

If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the Home Evaluator link for a free evaluation report.

I would like to take the time to wish you a very Merry Christmas. It is my deepest hope that each of you have a holiday filled with joy, laughter and all the love you can handle!

 

In just a few days we will celebrate Christmas.  I love this time of year - especially all the deserts that seem to be in abundance!  This past week, I made Pretzel Pecan Tasty Treats.  They were so easy and very delicious so I thought I'd share the recipe here! They were such a hit at my son's class party!

 

Pretzel Pecan Tasty Treats

 

Ingredients:

1 bag of mini yogurt pretzels (not sticks) - I found my bag in the fruit & veggie section of the grocery store

1 bag Rolos candies

1 bag halved pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 250°F.

Place pretzels on a baking sheet.

Unwrap Rolos and place one on each pretzel.

Bake in oven for no more than 5 minutes.

Candies should be slightly soft, but not melted. Remove from oven and push a pecan half into the center of each candy.

Refrigerate until firm. Will look like a small turtle.

 

Total time to make these were about 15 minutes start to finish! How simple and fast is that?  Hope you enjoy!

Congratulations Pearland Oilers 2010 State High School Champions!!

 

 

Great Season and Awesome Championship game.  Thanks for all your hard work this year!

 

The Pearland Oilers are heading to Texas Stadium to battle it out against Euless Trinity for the 5A-D1 State Championship on Saturday, December 18, 2010! We are so proud of our hometown team!

If you are interested in going to the game, you can ride the Pearland Oiler fan bus. The Pearland Oiler fan bus will leave for the State Championship Game at 12:00 pm on Saturday. Bus tickets are $40 per person which does not include game tickets. Reserve your seat by emailing universalcoach10@yahoo.com or by calling 281-691-3824

You canpurchase your tickets to the Oiler State Championship game at the High School Athletic office Wednesday & Thursday from 7:00 am -11:00 am and 12:00 pm - 3 :00 pm. Come cheer on our boys!

Earlier this year, the state of Texas offered rebates to those who purchased Energy Star® appliances.  Unfortunately, citizens wanting using the program found it difficult due to website failures and the inability to reach customer service.

Consequently, Texas still has approximately $10 million to re-offer Texans.  The new program, which starts on December 20, 2010, has instituted safe guards to make receiving rebates easier.

To participate, you would first research and select your new appliance and then, on or after December 20, 2010:

1.  Purchase a qualifying ENERGY STAR® appliance from a Texas retailer or contractor and retain your receipt;
2.  Install the new, qualifying appliance in your valid Texas residential address;
3.  Either properly dispose of or recycle the old appliance being replaced;
4.  Completely fill out a rebate application form, including the appliance disposal or recycling information;
5.  Mail in the completed application form with your receipt and any other required documentation (e.g., disposal or recycling verification) to the address that will be available before the start of the purchase period on December 20, 2010.
6. Application forms will be ordered by the postmark date on the envelope of the application. If a postmark is missing, the application will be placed in the order based on the day it arrives at the processing facility.

Eligible appliances are:

• Air-Source Heat Pumps
• Central Air Conditioners
• Clothes Washers (Jan. 1, 2011 ENERGY STAR qualifications)
• Dishwashers Freezers (14.5 cubic feet or greater)
• Refrigerators (14.5 cubic feet or greater)
• Room Air Conditioners Water Heaters

 

A residential consumer may only receive one rebate for each appliance category, for a maximum of two rebates total. This includes any rebates received during the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program (April 2010). If a consumer received one appliance rebate through the April program, he/she is only eligible for one appliance rebate during the new mail-in program launching on December 20, 2010. If a consumer received two appliance rebates through the April program, he/she is not eligible for a rebate during the new mail-in program. A family unit living in a household is considered a residential consumer such that the household is collectively entitled to two rebates total. For example, a husband and wife with two children living in a household are entitled to two rebates; not eight rebates; not four rebates; just two. Each family member is NOT entitled to two rebates each.

To learn more about the program and to download a rebate application, go to www.TexasPowerfulSmart.org before the start of the program.

 

TheWinter/Spring Leisure Learning Class Registration began on Saturday, December 11 in the Parks & Recreation main office (4141 Bailey Road). There are a lot of great leisure learning classes this winter & spring for the entire family ranging from early childhood to fitness to sports leagues and more!  You can review classes and programs in advance by visiting the Leisure Brochure.

 

For questions, call Pearland Parks & Recreation at 281-412-8930.

We've had some cold weather lately in Pearland! As people who live in South Texas, we sometimes can be caught off-guard! Homeowners can take steps to help plants to cold temperatures and to protect plants from temperature extremes. Here are a few tips from Dewayne L. Ingram and Thomas H. Yeager from the The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS):

 

WHAT TO DO DURING A FREEZE

Ornamental plants can be protected during a freeze by sprinkling the plants with water. Sprinkling for cold protection helps keep leaf surface temperatures near 32°F (0°C) because sprinkling utilizes latent heat released when water changes from a liquid to a solid state. Sprinkling must begin as freezing temperatures are reached and continue until thawing is completed. Water must be evenly distributed and supplied in ample quantity to maintain a film of liquid water on the foliage surfaces. Irrigation for several days may water soak the soil resulting in damaged root systems and/or plant breakage due to ice build up. **Remember to bring in your plants for extreme cold tempertures!

 

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE FREEZE

Water Needs Plant water needs should be checked after a freeze. The foliage could be transpiring (losing water vapor) on a sunny day after a freeze while water in the soil or container medium is frozen. Apply water to thaw the soil and provide available water for the plant. Soils or media with high soluble salts should not be allowed to dry because salts would be concentrated into a small volume of water and can burn plant roots. Pruning  Severe pruning should be delayed until new growth appears to ensure that live wood is not removed. Dead, unsightly leaves may be removed as soon as they turn brown after a freeze if a high level of maintenance is desired. Cold injury may appear as a lack of spring bud break on a portion or all of the plant, or as an overall weak appearance. Branch tips may be damaged while older wood is free of injury. Cold injured wood can be identified by examining the cambium layer (food conducting tissue) under the bark for black or brown coloration. Prune these branches behind the point of discoloration.

I hope this helps you protect your plants this winter! Have a great day!

 

Pearland Neighborhood Center's "Share Your Holidays Food Drive"

When: Friday, December 10, 2010

Where: Pearland Neighborhood Center, 2335 Texas Ave., Pearland, TX

 

This time of year, its so easy to get caught up in all the shopping, preparing for guests to arrive and cooking that we sometimes forget that there are so many people in the Pearland community that are going without this holiday season.  That's why I want to encourage you to participate in the Pearland Neighborhood Center's "Share Your Holidays Food Drive." on Friday December 10th from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.

I have been involved with the Pearland Neighborhood Center for many years now and the impact they have in Pearland and the surrounding communities is phenomenal! Hundreds of people pass receive assistance through the Pearland Neighborhood Center.

This Friday is your opportunity to impact your community. There are many areas to volunteer for this major and most rewarding event. This invitation goes out to the city, businesses, service clubs, churches, schools, families, and individuals. At the food drive, the mood it festive with music from area bands and choirs, Santa Clause greeting children, and volunteers working together. The need is serious. Over 34,000 pounds of food collected last year met the needs of Pearland's underprivileged during the holiday season and stocked the shelves of Pearland Neighborhood Center's food pantry for several months.

I urge you to get involved this Friday and participate in the food drive.  For more information, please call the Center at 281-485-1987.