c OLLEGE

P ARK Neighborhood Association

JANUARY 2017

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.CollegePark-Richardson.com

The City of Richardson

Cordially invites you to attend the

STATE OF

THE CITY

2017

Wednesday. February 1, 6:00pm

Bank of American Theatre

Eisemann Center

2351 Performance Drive

Richardson, Texas

Reception to follow in the Leftwich Grand Foyer

Free parking provided in the public parking garage

Seating is limited; plan to arrive early

RSVP to Krista Evans, City Manager's Office (972)744-4209 krista.evans@cor.gov

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Notes from the President Patti Glenn

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

My apology for the lateness of this January issue – I just got buried with holidays, changing brokers, out of town guests, etc. – My Christmas decorations are still up – they will be coming down THIS WEEK. Republic Services, Richardson’s recycling contractor, has made temporary arrangements that allowed for recycling service to resumed in Richardson. RISD and Methodist Richardson Medical Center (MRMC) showcased the recently expanded RISD Health Sci-ence Program, now housed in Medical Plaza 1 at the Methodist Richardson Campus for Continuing Care on Campbell Road. MRMC has donated 7,000 square feet to the program (including utilities) for 10 years, enabling the program to triple practicum enrollment and allow students in grades 10-12 from all four RISD high schools the opportunity to learn about high demand health careers in a real-world setting. Students began taking courses at the new location in August and can job shadow professionals at MRMC. Participants may choose from several health care fields in which to focus and test for certification or licensing up-on graduation. These fields include medical coding, emergency care, medical dispatching, phlebotomy, pharma-cology and vocational nursing. For more information, contact any RISD high school counselor or schedule a tour by contacting RISD at 469-593-0724. An online User Experience (UX) survey was launched today by the city, looking for opinions on how to enhance the City’s internet presence. The short questionnaire takes a few minutes to complete and will help significantly with future design improvements. The City’s website averages more than 100,000 visits each month, many of them from people looking for a variety of services offered in the community. You can share your experience and opinions by taking the survey available at www.cor.net. Due to recent severe weather in northwest Dallas County, the City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) wants to remind Richardson residents that if you are hearing an outdoor warning siren, whether from Dallas, Rich-ardson, or another city, seek shelter first, then tune to local media for weather reports for more information. (The City’s website, social media and OEM webpage are not sources of information for up-to-the-minute Richardson weather details.) If you have a NOAA all-hazards radio with Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology, it will alert at the same time warnings are being communicated to media, so this is the best way to get immediate alerts. Keep in mind each city has different parameters for activating their Outdoor Warning Siren System—Richardson’s is activated if one or more of the following occurs:

The National Weather Service issues a Richardson area Tornado Warning or Severe Thunderstorm Warning with destructive winds at or above 70 mph

Trained storm spotters report a tornado with the potential to affect Richardson

Hail of 1.25 inches in diameter is imminent

Any emergency when Richardson officials deem it necessary to get citizens to move indoors for their safety Our neighborhood is using a private online network called NextDoor College Park, and I think you'll benefit from joining us. On our NextDoor site, neighbors share community events, recommendations, items for sale/free, crime/safety concerns, ideas about how to make our neighborhood better, and more. Please join us to build a bet-ter neighborhood! If you have not signed up for the Next Door website site, I highly recommend it. There are lots of good things showing up. You may get to know you neighbors a bit better & help send pets home or even find a cabinet to work on if you are inclined. Richardson Police & the City both post to it & keep us informed on city things going on. You can lurk or participate. Discussions include things about the wild critters who sometimes visit our backyards. Who to call for tile work? Cleaning the vents? Foundation repair? Selling your stuff? (I purchased by car from an ad on Next Door) Need a babysitter? Police updates? Stranger danger from the neighbors-crime alerts that can travel very fast! Things for sale or FREE Giveaways. If you are interested, please send me an email & I will send you an electronic invite.

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CRIME TIPS

Crime Watch Patrol Stats

FOR DECEMBER

Patrol Hours: 70

Types of Observations

Open Garage Doors 12 Suspicious Persons 0 Other Property Observations 20 Suspicious Vehicles 3 House Watches 31 The following people patrolled this month

YARD OF THE MONTH

- Mark Arceneaux

913 Edgewood

HONORABLE MENTION

Bobby & Donna Patton 1007 East Berkeley

CPNA Yard of the Month

College Park’s Personal Officer

Ed Coleman cell 214.282.0843

Provided by the COR for our protection.

This dedicated police presence helps residents by deterring crime and providing another way to watch over the neighborhood.

Call Officer Coleman for:

• General Assistance

• To report Minor or Unusual Activities

• Cars on the Street

For Emergencies, continue to call 911.

Crime Tip: Lock your car & take your keys with you, even if you are just running inside a business for a quick coffee in the morning. Many car thieves steal cars that are left running but unattended. It is against the law to leave keys in an unattended vehicle. Crime Tip: Pay attention to your rear view mirror for traffic & for safety's sake. If you suspect you are being followed & possibly targeted by criminals seeking an opportunity, do not lead them to your home or business. Make several deliberate & repetitive turns or lane changes to confirm your suspicions. Call 9-1-1 to report the suspicious circumstances & continue to circle the block to help police quickly find you. Crime Tip: Always acknowledge someone at your front door. You do not want to give the impression to a would-be burglar that your home is vacant. Never

open your door to a stranger. Keep the door locked & speak through the door using phrases like “We can’t come to the door” to give the impression you are not alone.

Ben Parlapiano, Dieter Paul, Dale Klosterman,

Gordon Melton, John Thompson, Rick Skaggs,

Gala Partlow, John Partlow, Sara Bostelmann

Patti Glenn and Kathy Hill.

8 members attend CWP meeting in Dec

CPNA OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE HEADS 2016-2017

President Patti Glenn 972-699-1615 pattiglenn@tx.rr.com 972-900-9188 cell Vice President John Pantzer 903 720 4795 john.pantzer@vanquint.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@twc.com Welcome Comm. Kathy Hill 214-533-5295 kathyhill0878@yahoo.com Beautification/YOM Dale Klosterman 972-644-1583 daleklost@gmail.com Beautification/YOM Pam Young 214-415-4132 youngp99@att.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

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College Park Market Analysis Summary as of 1-23-17

Active Listings 7 (Includes 3 pending & 2 under option)

Avg list price $281.8K Avg price/sq ft $118.34 Sold past 6 months 16 Avg sold price $256.2K Avg price/sq ft $117.61 Please note this does not include “For Sale by Owner” Properties The Market Analysis combines College Park, College Park North, College Park East (Glenville Park), and Town North Park subdivisions If you would like additional information or a market

CPNA - Dedicated to improving our neighborhood & community

Membership dues covers June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017 Our College Park Neighbors (All neighbors, not just homeowners) are invited to join CPNA! Mail dues of $35.00 to

Treasurer Lynne Patterson PO Box 851021

Richardson, TX 75085

Questions? Lynne Patterson 972-890-1031

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

A Native Texan Serving the Metroplex

REALTOR®, Associate Broker GRI, ABR, SRS , SRES, PSA, BPOR

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

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It can be stressful to live your life as usual but keep your home looking its best. There are a few simple changes you can employ in your messiest spaces to improve your home's overall tidiness. These are the main places to consider:

The Junk Drawer

Ah, the infamous junk drawer. Its very existence is proof that if there is a void, it will be filled. Isaac Newton said that. (Not really.) But seriously, the sentiment behind the junk drawer is just that: Sometimes you need batteries or paperclips or earbuds to have a place of their own, but they're so random. They don't seem to belong anywhere.

The junk drawer only becomes a problem when you start cramming things in there without stopping to consider whether those things will be valuable in the future. Bread ties? Bottle caps? Receipts? Maybe those things are better off with the actual junk — in the trash can.

Go through your junk drawer & figure out which items can be disposed of. Once you have your miscellaneous items selected, you can organize what you're keeping in a series of fun ways:

Bundle your earbuds or loose cables with ribbon. Use a silverware divider to organize your things. Purchase a series of small boxes or containers &

label them.

The Laundry Room

The laundry room is a kind of strange purgatory in your home where socks go to get lost & lint goes to live. It's a room where things happen, but not one where people go to hang out, so it often gets neglected.

It might be best to include your laundry room in your cleaning regimen. Add wiping down your washer & dryer to your list of things to do. Don't forget to sweep & mop in there.

If you're doing what you can to clean the flat surfaces in your laundry room, then it stands to reason that clutter — from objects like clothes or sports gear — will not collect in that space.

Storage Solutions for Your Messiest Spaces

The Craft Closet

If your life were a soap opera, the craft closet would be the junk drawer's (more) evil twin. You need a space for all your paints, yarn & tools — as well as a space for all the items that you hope to eventually use for those DIY projects.

To get the craft closet under control, this is our first piece of advice: Don't buy or acquire anything that you don't have time to craft in the very near future. We're talking about a week, at most.

If you start to collect garage sale chairs or mirrors or window shutters with the intention of fixing & refinishing them but you don't have the time to do it, then your craft closet will eventually become a craft room. It will eventually become a craft graveyard. Just wait until you have time to craft before adding anything to the collection.

You can easily organize your crafting tools into a manageable configuration using simple containers. Clear bins can simultaneously help you organize your tools while keeping them in sight, so that you know where everything is.

You can also purchase some decorative boxes that reflect your own creativity & then label them for their contents. You could even break out your hand-lettering skills for the task. You could also repurpose a shoe carousel or shoe rack to hold your paintbrushes, yarn,

HOME CARE TIPS

FOR JANUARY

Check your attic for birds, squirrels, raccoons, etc.

Pour 1 gallon of water down unused drains.

Clean the refrigerator drain pan. Inspect your dishwasher for leaks. Check the operation of your sump pump,

if you have one. Have your air ducts cleaned. Service your kitchen disposal by grinding

several cups of ice cubes.

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Check your car & surroundings

Regularly look under the hood of your vehicle. Nests can easily be spotted & removed. Also, examine the wiring & mechanical systems for signs of chewing & fraying.

Scan the engine & driveway for leaks. Rodents like the taste of oil, gasoline & other automotive fluids, such leaks attract them. Leaking fluid can ignite leaves, trash & other debris in the roadway. In addition, leaks are dangerous to children, pets & the environment.

Listen for rattles. Flame-retardant materials are generally between the exhaust systems & floorboards of most vehicles. If you hear a rattle, a rodent or other animal may have loosened the materials.

If you see damaged wiring or suspect leaks, take the car for service. In fact, it’s a good idea to have mechanics check your car engine at least annually for such damage.

Don’t chance a fire. If you suspect or see a fire in your car as you drive, stop the car immediately, preferably on pavement rather than grass or other flammable materials. Turn off the ignition & abandon the vehicle. Then call for help.

Want to help prevent animals from getting under your hood? Put mothballs in fabric netting & hang it under the front of the hood. One caution: Make sure you don’t place the mothballs near the windshield washer area (where fluid is expelled) or the mothball smell will permeate the interior of the car.

How to Help Keep Mice Out of Your Car

Chilly days & nights prompt rodents, especially mice, to seek heat – often under the hoods of cars. Mice in your car is more than just a nuisance, it can be dangerous. Here are some tips on how to help keep mice & other pests out of your car.

The dangers of pests in cars

Their choice of shelter is not just a nuisance. When they are under the hood they might build nests or chew belts or wires. The result can cause serious engine malfunctions & even car fires. A nest located in a fan or intake manifold can ignite. Wires that are frayed from chewing can also cause fires.

Don’t dismiss this warning as something that only occurs in cars that aren’t regularly driven. Just as people seek the handiest shelter during storms, so do these animals.

The National Fire Protection Association warns almost two-thirds of vehicle fires are caused by faulty electrical or mechanical systems. Animals aren’t the sole cause of these fires but auto technicians note that animals in engines are not unusual.

Consider these strategies to make sure you protect your car from possible fires, according to automotive experts including those at AAA.

Park under shelter

If you have a garage or other vehicle-appropriate shelter, use it. Although squirrels, mice & other small animals flourish in rural areas, they are common everywhere. Save time & money by taking the extra time to park your car in a sheltered area.

Honk to Scare Pests Away

Honk your horn before you start the engine. If your key fob has that function, you’ll be able to do that from a distance. Making loud noises will scare most mice, cats, & other animals away.

Of course, it’s important not to go overboard, lest you upset your neighbors. A few honks will do.

Wait a few extra seconds after you sound the horn before you start the car. Small animals can wedge themselves into tiny spaces within the engine & may need some extra time to extract themselves & escape.

4. Give Up Your Excuses “It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand.” ― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

Successful people know that they are responsible for their life, no matter their starting point, weaknesses, & past failures. Realizing that you are responsible for what happens next in your life is both frightening & exciting. And when you do, that becomes the only way you can become successful, because excuses limit & prevent us from growing personally & professionally.

Own your life; no one else will.

5. Give Up The Fixed Mindset “The future belongs to those who learn more skills & combine them in creative ways.” ― Robert Greene, Mastery

People with a fixed mindset think their intelligence or talents are simply fixed traits & that talent alone creates success — without effort. They’re wrong.

Successful people know this. They invest an immense amount of time on a daily basis to develop a growth mindset, acquire new knowledge, learn new skills & change their perception so that it can benefit their lives. Remember, who you are today, it’s not who you have to be tomorrow.

6. Give Up Believing In The “Magic Bullet.” “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better & bet-ter” —  Émile Coué

Overnight success is a myth. Successful people know that making small continual improvement every day will be compounded over time & give them desirable results.

That is why you should plan for the future, but focus on the day that’s ahead of you & improve just 1% every day.

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Things You Should Give Up If You Want To Be Successful

Source: Zerotoskill.com

1. Give Up On The Unhealthy Lifestyle “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”  — Jim Rohn

If you want to achieve anything in life, everything starts here. First you have to take care of your health. There are only two things you need to keep in mind: 1. Healthy Diet 2. Physical Activity Small steps, but you will thank yourself one day.

2. Give Up The Short-term Mindset “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” — Mae West

Successful people set long-term goals, and they know these aims are merely the result of short-term habits that they need to do every day. These healthy habits shouldn’t be something you do; they should be something you embody.

There is a difference between: “Working out to get a summer body” & “Working out because that’s who you are.”

3. Give Up On Playing Small “Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone, and as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” —  Marianne Williamson

If you never try & take great opportunities, or allow your dreams to become realities, you will never unleash your true potential. And the world will never benefit from what you could have achieved.

So voice your ideas, don’t be afraid to fail, & certainly don’t be afraid to succeed.

7. Give Up Your Perfectionism “Shipping beats perfection.”  — Kahn Academy’s Development Mantra

Nothing will ever be perfect, no matter how much we try.

Fear of failure (or even fear of success) often prevents us from taking an action & putting our creation out there in the world. But a lot of opportunities will be lost if we wait for the things to be right.

So “ship,” & then improve (that 1%).

8. Give Up Multi-tasking “You will never reach your destination if you stop & throw stones at every dog that barks.” ― Winston S. Churchill

Successful people know this. That’s why they choose one thing & then beat it into submission. No matter what it is — a business idea, a conversation, or a workout. Being fully present & committed to one task, is indispensable.

9. Give Up Your Need to Control Everything “Some things are up to us, & some things are not up to us.” —  Epictetus, Stoic philosopher

Differentiating these two is important. Detach from the things you cannot control, & focus on the ones you can & know that sometimes, the only thing you will be able to control is you’re attitude towards something.

Remember, nobody can be frustrated while saying “Bubbles” in an angry voice.

10. Give Up On Saying YES To Things That Don’t Support Your Goals “He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.” —  James Allen

Successful people know that in order to accomplish their goals, they will have to say NO to certain tasks, activities and demands from their friends, family, and colleagues.

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Things You Should Give Up If You Want To Be Successful, cont’d.

In the short-term, you might sacrifice a bit of instant gratification, but when your goals come to fruition, it will all be worth it.

11. Give Up The Toxic People “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” ― Jim Rohn

People we spend the most time with, add up to who we become. There are people who are less accomplished in their personal & professional life & there are people who are more accomplished than us. If you spend time with those who are behind you, your average will go down & with it, your success.

But if you spend time with people who are more accomplished than you, no matter how challenging that might be, you will become more successful. Take a look at around you, & see if you need to make any changes.

12. Give Up Your Need To Be Liked “The only way to avoid pissing people off is to do nothing important.”  —  Oliver Emberton

Think of yourself as a market niche. There will be a lot of people who like that niche & there will be individuals who don’t. And no matter what you do, you won’t be able to make the entire market like you. This is entirely natural & there’s no need to justify yourself.

The only thing you can do is to remain authentic, improve & provide value every day & know that the growing number of “haters” means that you are doing important things.

13. Give Up Your Dependency on Social Media & Television “The trouble is, you think you have time” — Jack Kornfield

Impulsive web browsing & television watching are diseases of today’s society. These two should never be an escape from your life or your goals.

Unless your goals depend on either, you should minimize your dependency on them, & direct that time towards things that can enrich your life.

Is it time for you to upgrade your bathroom, but you don't want to break the bank? You don't have to settle for anything less than luxurious for your bathroom with these five bathroom upgrades under $1,000.

Vinyl Flooring If your bathroom floors are old, worn out & a different color than when you first had them installed, it's time for some new flooring. Today, vinyl flooring can be cut with scissors to fit the exact area of your bathroom, making it easier than ever to swap out your flooring. There are so many different types of vinyl to choose from as well. If you want a modern look, choose plank style flooring that can be installed in a brick-lay pattern. This won't cost a fortune & it will change the entire look of the space.

Lights A cost-effective way to upgrade your bathroom is to update the fixtures. Hang a small crystal chandelier or a beautiful semi-flush mount to add some style to your bathroom. You could also add fixtures that have pops of color or prints for statement pieces.

Decorative Mirror Is your bathroom mirror outdated & lacking in style? Consider upgrading it to an accent piece that can be found at stores like Home Goods, Walmart & Target. You can find a reasonably priced decorative mirror that will really give your bathroom an upscale look for a great price.

Soothing Color Scheme Paint your bathroom walls a comforting & relaxing color like a soft shade of gray, blue, green or tan. Create a spa-like environment just with a few coats of paint. Enhance the color of your walls with accent colors in your decorative items like towels.

New Shower Curtain In a small space like the bathroom, any item has the potential to become a focal point & most often in bathrooms, the focal point is the shower curtain. A textured curtain in a neutral color will give your bathroom a calm focal point without creating an overly dramatic effect. If you want your shower curtain to be eye-catching, consider a bold pattern or color to draw attention. This is one of the easiest & least expensive ways to upgrade your bathroom.

Create the bathroom you have always dreamed of without going over budget by implementing these five bathroom upgrades under $1,000. It's the little items that will really tie everything together, so make the space your own by including your own personal touch.

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Bathroom Upgrades Under $1000

FREEZING WEATHER HOME TIPS

Teach every member of your family to locate main cut-off valve, & have a cut-off key handy. Leave your pool running during freezing temperatures & maintain the water level. Insulating any Exposed Pipes or Hose Bibs Open with insulating foam covers. Open doors to cabinets- especially on north side of house

KEEP YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU

Did you hear the one about a guy who is working on a loading dock? After awhile, he steps back, falls off the dock & breaks his leg. How about the person working on a ladder, leans too far in one direction & tumbles down? Or the one who had car trouble, stepped back into the line of traffic & was hit by a truck? And then there was the one who didn't notice a box in the walkway & fell over it. You could go on & on adding to this list. The strange thing about it is that these men & women were all bright, responsible people. They just became preoccupied with their work & had an accident. Unfortunately, it's not unusual. The National Safety Council says lack of awareness of one's surroundings is a major cause of injuries. The line between being witless & awareness is so slight that anyone can cross it by stepping, leaning or dreaming. Being conscious of your circumstances is your main protection. Even situations that may not seem dangerous, like walking through the factory or office, can be hazardous if your mind is somewhere else. Keep your wits about you! Survey the area working in or passing through, not just once but frequently. This one action will take you a long way toward making your day less hazardous