Laurel Creek - February 2017

LAUREL CREEK February 2017

Official Newsletter of the Residents of Laurel Creek

LAUREL CREEK

Volume 4, Issue 2

General Financial Review for the New Year John Overstreet, CPA Your 2017 resolutions have been committed to paper. You are full of confidence that this year will be the year your life really comes together. You vow not to repeat past mistakes. You are ready for 2017. You hope.

In case you have any doubt about how the year is going to go, however, you may want to make sure your fiscal house is in order before the new year quickly becomes the same-old-same-old year.

So before you get caught up in day-to-day living and forget all those resolutions about watching your bank account, making more money, paying off credit card debt and not buying things you don't need, consider a money checklist for the new year. Do any of the following, and your finances in 2017 should see an improvement over 2016.

Meet with a financial advisor. If you haven't had a discussion with a financial advisor in ages, or ever, this is a suggestion from just about every personal finance expert – especially financial advisors. But that doesn't mean it isn't a good idea.

If you don't have a financial advisor and don't feel you're in the market for one for a while, you can always talk to your spouse or another family member, a friend or perhaps the manager at your bank, depending on what advice you think you need.

Look at your taxes. If you typically do your taxes hours before the April 15 deadline, this could be your year to change that. You could make sure your receipts are in order or schedule an appointment with a tax preparer and pay early, especially if you know you're getting a refund. Why wait to file your return on April 15 and receive a refund up to eight weeks later?

Budget. If you haven't created a budget in a year or more or you haven't looked at your budget in eons, update it. Something has probably changed. Perhaps your cable company raised its rates, without you really noticing or thinking about it. Maybe you bought an iPhone over the summer and your monthly phone bill shot up, but you didn't reduce other monthly expenses. Maybe you adopted a dog in the fall and never thought to add the cost of pet supplies to your budget.

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This is the time to study how your budget changed in 2016, especially if you were having trouble paying bills at the end of the year. Are there expensive home improvements you want to tackle this year, like buying a new heating or cooling system or putting on a new roof? Plan to take a particularly expensive vacation? If you think it's going to be a rough year, and even if you think it'll be swell, now is a smart time to engage in a fiscal cleansing. Cancel subscriptions you never utilize and contact some of the places you do business with – your cable company, for example – to see if they can offer you a better monthly deal.

Update your will. That is, if something big has happened, such as a new baby in the house, or if the news is less happy, and you're newly divorced. Or this might be a good time to draft a will if you don't have one.

Check your credit report. You've heard all the horror stories about identity theft. At annualcreditreport.com, you can get a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies once a year.

You could get all three reports, or even better, stagger it so that you request a free report from one of the bureaus every four months. You want to make sure the information is accurate and that no one is buying anything in your name – sticking you with debt and harming your credit score.

Study your retirement situation. Maybe you haven't begun setting money aside for retirement, in which case, this would be a good time to start – or at least resolve to get serious this year. Most financial planners will tell you to put away 10 to 15 percent of your annual income for retirement, and if you can't do that, put away as much as possible.

You may also want to increase your final 401(k) contribution.

Workers can contribute up to $18,000 in 2017, plus an additional $6,000 if they are 50 or older. The more you put away, the better off you will be in retirement, even if your investment returns wind up being not so great.

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LAUREL CREEK COMMUNITY CONTACTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ann Murphree......................................................... President Nathan Overstreet............................................ Vice President Heather Flynn Mace................................................. Secretary Greg Magness........................................................... Treasurer Valerie Phelps............................................................ Director

NEWSLETTER INFO NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER Peel, Inc............................888.687.6444, www.PEELinc.com Advertising.................................... advertising@PEELinc.com

IMPORTANT NUMBERS Crest Management.................... www.crest-management.com .........................................................................281.579.0761 Association Manager Jennifer Petras...........jennifer.petras@crest-management.com Assistant Manager Victoria Schoon........Victoria.schoon@crest-managemen.com .........................................................................281.945.4623 Call Before You Dig ...................................................................1.800.344.8377 Street Light Outage www.centerpointenergy.com (Have light number) ......................................................................713.207.2222 Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Service ............................................. http://records.txdps.state.tx.us Police Information If you witness a crime or suspicious activity call Pct. 4 Constable

......................................................... 281.376.3472 or 911 Police Emergency..............................................................911 Constable's Office Precinct 4.............................281.376.3472 ......................... Laurel Creek has a contract for faster response Cy Fair Volunteer Dept. (Ambulance) ........................................ (Non-emergency) 713.466.6151 Harris County Alarm (Permit) ..................................................................... 713-755-4660 TOPS (Water Issues) ......................................................................281.807.9500 Poison Center ...................................................................1.800.222.1222

(Continued from Cover) And if you're kicking yourself simply because you wish you had been financially smarter in 2016, not to worry. That's the whole point of a new year financial checklist. It's a particularly useful tool for people who believe they're a financial dunce: Follow your money checklist and do what you need to do now, and a year from now, whatever you're currently feeling will be a distant memory. Your future self will think you're brilliant.

BABY / PET SITTERS NAME

AGE

BABY

PET

PHONE

Arabella DeLuca................14.............................• ..........832-465-8708 ...................................................................(Mom's cell) 713-417-5429 Katie Cherington..............15..............•.............. •...........713-466-5003 Brandon Johnson..............16..............•............... ............281-900-8057 Ethan Lam........................16..............•.............. •............832-420-5735 ....................................................................(Mom's cell) 713-459-1423 Heather Lam....................................................... .............713-459-1423

BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS Classified Ads: Business classifieds (offering a service or product line for profit) are $50, limit 40 words, please contact Peel, Inc. Sales Office at 1-888-687-6444 or advertising@PEELinc.com.

PERSONAL CLASSIFIEDS Personal Ads: Personal classifieds (offering a one-time item for sale) are free to Laurel Creek residents, limit 30 words, please contact Peel, Inc. Sales Office at 1-888-687-6444 or advertising@ PEELinc.com.

Please remember: We do not live in the City of Houston but in Harris County.

Inform the emergency operator of this to assure a more prompt response.

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LAUREL CREEK

Making your Health More than Just a New Year’s Resolution By: Cathrine Reed, B.S. Human Science and Food Nutrition, CPT It is that time of the year when you hear everyone discussing how they are working on getting healthier. The gyms are packed and supplement sales are soaring because everyone thinks these are the best things to help get them in shape. Perhaps your coworkers have started a new diet in hopes of losing that weight they promised themselves they would lose last year. Broken New Year’s resolutions often lead to frustration. The let-downs stem many times from setting unrealistic goals, and it is inherently more difficult to set goals which take a year to achieve. While it is laudable and beneficial to set goals, a better approach is to set realistic goals which can garner gradual benefits but can be accomplished on a day to day basis rather than one large time frame of a year.

Making your health a priority is the first step. In order to prioritize improving your health, you must decide what good health means to you. Does it mean working out five days a week or cutting carbohydrates out of your diet because your friend says that is healthy?

Health is a general statement that has its own understanding to each individual and that definition changes throughout our lifetime. For example, as children we can run around all day without realizing we were “exercising” and as adults jogging for 5 to 10 minutes might sound almost impossible. The phrase, “I’m just getting old” is a common complaint. Age certainly plays a role, but many times this is merely our own personal limitation.

Why is it so difficult to alter our habits when we truly want to make health our priority? The key to success lies in the motivation behind the goal we have set. Wanting to obtain a certain look or body weight is typically not a sufficient driver and will l lead to failure for most. However, wanting to compete in athletics or trying to prevent an illness which runs in the family serves as stronger motivators.

Altering diet and exercise habits is necessary, but diet and exercise regimens should be individualized. However, everyone can benefit from reducing their consumption of all foods that are prepackaged and sold in a box or bag. A good rule of thumb is to read the ingredient list found directly below a nutrition facts label and avoid all foods that contain ingredients that look like they belong in chemistry textbook. Increasing activity does not have to be something dreadful; instead, make it something to look forward to such as a group class, jogging the park with a friend, or simply walking your dog. By changing these activities it is easier to stay motivated daily, and you should be active at 4-5 days a week. At the end of the day, working towards living a healthier lifestyle is a marathon not a sprint, so start small and achieve something each day to reap the benefits for a lifetime.

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Smart Talk About Home Remodeling The temperatures feel like Spring already and the time of year that you start looking at your home and thinking about remodeling is almost here. You may have noticed that the outside of your home needs a little work or you may be looking at putting your home on the market. When it comes to remodeling, where do you start?

Every year, “Remodeling” magazine looks at the average costs of home remodeling projects with the value of those projects retain at resale in over 100 U.S. cities. The smartest investment that you can make when remodeling may surprise you. Many homeowners go to the time honored update of the kitchen and bathrooms to garner the best price per square foot at resale.

However, “Remodeling” magazine ranks “re-siding with fiber cement as the #1 return on investment when compared to other mid-size remodeling projects” for the fourth year in a row. Compared to adding a bathroom, re-siding your house with fiber cement nets a 25 percent higher return on investment. Re-siding with fiber cement will also increase your return by 11 percent over vinyl windows and a whopping 24 percent greater than a major kitchen remodel or roof replacement.

The next question in remodeling is who to trust with your home remodeling project. Choose a company with a good reputation that offers solutions for your remodeling needs. Ask trusted friends for recommendations, check out the company’s BBB rating and know that the cheapest estimate may not always be the best. Michael Berry, KTRH 740AM personality and host of the Michael Berry Show, endorses Houston Siding. Berry states, “I have spoken for Houston Siding Company for 10 years and have never had a complaint.”

Texas has its own set of challenges with temperatures in the highs and lows as well as high humidity and storm potential. With a familiar slogan in Texas being “if you don’t like the temperature just wait a few minutes,” you should look for products that are durable as well as suited for the climate.

An innovative product from James Hardie brings new technology to siding. James Hardie Insulated Lap Siding offers siding backed with foam insulation. It is engineered to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Because foam insulation helps maintain a more consistent temperature in your home, it can help reduce your energy bills and conserve resources for long-term energy efficiency. James Hardie insulated siding is available at Houston Siding, a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor.

As Spring time approaches and remodeling projects start, you want to ensure that you’re using the best possible products and company for your next remodeling project.

ABOUT HOUSTON SIDING Houston Siding Company is a Houston based company that provides replacement siding, installation and repairs along with windows and roofing. They were established in 1991. They are a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor. For more information, please see www.houstonsiding.com.

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LAUREL CREEK

Common Structural Termites There are three main types of termites that can cause problems for homeowners in Texas- native subterranean termites, formosan subterranean termites and drywood termites.

Native subterranean termites have nests in the soil and must maintain contact with soil or an above-ground moisture source to survive. If native subterranean termites move to areas above ground they make shelter (mud) tubes of fecal material, saliva and soil to protect themselves.

Formosan termites feed on a wider variety of cellulose than other subterranean termites, including live plants (and can be found living and feeding on trees), consuming both spring and summer growth wood whereas native subterranean termites feed only on spring growth. Formosan termites have also been known to chew through non-cellulose materials such as soft metals, plaster or plastic.

Drywood termites do not need contact with soil and reside in sound, dry wood. These termites obtain moisture from the wood they digest. Drywood termites create a dry fecal pellet that can be used as an identifying characteristic. They have smaller coloniesaround 1,000 termites- than subterranean termites; they also do not build shelter tubes.

Native subterranean termite workers and soldiers.

Formosan termites are a more voracious type of subterranean termite. These termites have been spread throughout Texas through transport of infested material or soil. Formosan termites build carton nests that allow them to survive above ground without contact with the soil. Nests are often located in hollow spaces, such as wall voids.

Drywood termite fecal pellets.

If you are concerned that you may have termites, call a pest management professional to inspect your home for termites.

For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist at 512.854.9600. Check out my blog at www.urban-ipm.blogspot.com The information given herein is for educational purposes only.

Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service or the Texas A&M AgriLife Research is implied.

Formosan subterranean termite workers and soldiers.

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Laurel Creek - February 2017

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides equal access in its programs, activities, education and employment, without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity.

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LAUREL CREEK

Winter Alert!

Protect Your Plants and Irrigation Systems PROTECT YOUR PLANTS: Water your plants thoroughly ahead of time. You need to be sure the roots are wet, not just the leaves. Much of freeze damage is from dehydration. Watering before a freeze could make a big difference in your tropicals and tender perennials.

Cover your delicate plants. Remember, you want to be sure the roots are protected, covered, or mulched well. Even if you lose the top growth of these tender plants, if the roots are alive the plants will come back in the spring. Do not cover them with plastic touching the leaves of your plants. If possible, use woven frost protection sheets such as N-Sulate (which can be folded, stored, and reused for many years) or sheets and blankets. In a mild freeze or frost, one blanket will probably do for most plants. In a hard freeze (below 30 degrees for any period of time), use a heavy blanket or several layers of sheets. You can even add a plastic over that if you want, since it won’t be touching the foliage. Also, don’t forget to put rocks or something heavy on the edges of your N-Sulate or blanket to be sure the wind doesn’t blow it away, exposing the roots of your plants.

Don’t do any heavy pruning on freeze-damaged plants until late

winter, when you think all chance of frost is over.

Remove all protective covering if the sun comes out and the temperature goes up, because it can be 32 degrees today and 70 degrees tomorrow.

Along with protecting your tender plants during the winter, remember it’s not a good idea to fertilize tender tropicals that are exposed to outside temperatures during these cold months.

Fertilizing encourages new growth, and that new growth is more vulnerable to freezing and near-freezing conditions than old growth is. It’s OK to fertilize and encourage growth with indoor or greenhoused tropicals, although shorter days usually slow down growth no matter how much you fertilize.

PROTECT YOUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM: Your backflow-prevention device is the most important part of your irrigation system. It’s also the most vulnerable part of your system if there is a freeze. It may be located somewhere right outside the garage and next to the foundation. Cover the top by wrapping the part that is above ground with a towel. It is also best to turn off your valve.

Reaching youR neighboRs • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Atascocita CIA Blackhorse Ranch Briar Hills Bridgeland Canyon Gate at Northpointe Cardiff Ranch Cypress Creek Lakes Cypress Mill Cypress Park Eagle Springs Fairfield Grand Lake Estates Lakeshore Lakes of Fairhaven Lakes of Rosehill Lakes on Eldridge Lakes on Eldridge North Laurel Creek Legends Ranch Meyerland Normandy Forest

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

and many others...

North Lake Forest Park Creek Park Lakes Riata Ranch Shadow Creek Ranch Silverlake Steeplechase Sterling Lakes Stone Forest Summerwood Towne Lakes Village Creek Villages of Decker Oaks Villages of NorthPointe Walden on Lake Houston Willowbridge Willow Pointe Winchester Country Windermere Lakes Woodwind Lakes Wortham Villages

contact us today foR adveRtising infoRmation

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LAUREL CREEK At no time will any source be allowed to use Laurel Creek's contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in Laurel Creek is exclusively for the private use of the Laurel Creek HOA and Peel, Inc. DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser. * The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. * Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. * Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

SERVICING ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS

• Panel Upgrades • Home Inspections • TV Install/Mounting • Troubleshooting • Remodeling • Landscaping Lighting • Home Generators RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL LICENSED & INSURED

Ingredients

3 - 4 Chicken Breasts 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup 1 can Cream of Celery soup 1 can Cream of Chicken soup 1 can of green salsa 1 16-oz can of chili (without beans) 1 small can of green chilies 4-6 nine-inch flour (or corn) tortilla, cut to 1” square strips 1 ½ cups grated American, Cheddar, & Gouda cheeses

Directions

Boil chicken breasts in boiling water for 25-30 minutes, or until done; let cool. Tear chicken off the bones (unless boneless) into strips, or bite-size pieces. Place into crock pot. Add all other ingredients until blended.

Place crock pot on low for 1 hour to heat thoroughly.

Can be enjoyed by itself as an appetizer, or use hearty tortilla chips for a dip.

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Crock Pot Chicken Chili Dip

Laurel Creek - February 2017

Description: The position includes marketing our community newsletters to local and area businesses. It is a flexible position that allows you to work from home and set your own hours.

Roles: Stimulate new advertising accounts in our community newsletters. Maintain current accounts assigned to you by Sales Manager. Service your accounts by assisting them from ad design to final proof approval.

Skills: Excellent communication through email and phone, with high level presentation and relationship-building skills. Strong prospecting and business development skills are a must. Previous sales experience preferred but not required.

Benefits: Commission Based Apply by sending resume to jobs@peelinc.com Copyright © 2017 Peel, Inc.

LAUREL CREEK

Color the drawing below and mail the finished artwork to us at: Peel, Inc. - Kids Club 308 Meadowlark St Lakeway, TX 78734-4717 We will select the top few and post their artwork on our Facebook Page - Facebook.com/PeelInc. DUE: Feb 28th

Be sure to include the following so we can let you know!

Name: _______________________________ (first name, last initial)

Age:________________

LAU Copyright Š 2017 Peel, Inc.

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