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c OLLEGE
P ARK Neighborhood Association
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.CollegePark-Richardson.com
JANUARY 2016
Happy New Year ! May the New Year be One
of Many Happy Moments
Very Special Memories
And Very Good Health
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Notes from the President
Patti Glenn [email protected] 972-900-9188 or 972-699-1615
I can’t believe that it is 2016. It seems like just a few years ago we were worried about moving from 1999 to 2000. Hope you had a wonderful holiday season. CPNA gives a special thanks to the Tom Cooke family, 1200 block of Grinnell—they put up and took down the holiday garlands and bows on all the streets signs in CPNA As you may have noticed, the DFW real estate market is out of the meltdown. I did a quick check of our current College Park area market. I include the four subdivisions – College Park, College Park North, College Park East (aka Glenville Park) and Town North Park. Using SOLD information as of December 2012, our average price/sq ft was $72. In December of 2015, our average price/sq ft was $106. This is a 47% increase in the price/sq ft. However, remember these are averages going back 6 months from the respective period. There are higher and LOWER prices. Richardson is the first city in Texas and one of only 10 in the United States to have its restaurant health scores directly available to Yelp, an online publisher of crowd-sourced reviews about businesses, in an effort to get food safety scores in the hands of consumers. As of Friday, Dec. 18, health scores for more than 330 Richardson restaurants are viewable at www.yelp.com. When an inspector from the Richardson Health Department enters a restaurant’s food safety score into the City’s computer system, the information is automatically displayed on the right side of that restaurant’s Yelp page near the price range and hours of operation. Restaurant health scores are also available on the Health Department’s web page www.cor.net/restaurantscores. The Richardson Fire Department is warning residents to be aware of an organization falsely portraying itself as an affiliate of the Department soliciting donations via telephone. The group, which is in no way associated with the City of Richardson or the Richardson Fire Department, calls itself the Association of Firefighters and Paramedics. Richardson FD does not solicit donations via telephone. Anyone who receives a call from someone claiming to be a representative of the Richardson Fire Department is encouraged to call the Department at 972-744-5700 for verification. Phone Scams Continue to be Serious Threat – Richardson Fire Dept is just one of the recent phone scams. Please note the IRS will not call or email regarding ISR issues. The RPD has asked that if you receive ANY phone scam, please note the phone number that shows on your caller ID – please send this info to Kathy Hill, our Crime Watch Coordinator, at (214) 533-5295 or [email protected]. Kathy will consolidate the various calls and turn the info into RPD.
Richardson Parks and Recreation Department have completed the winterization of restrooms and
drinking fountains in parks across the city. This is required to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting
when temperatures drop below freezing. From now through spring, restrooms and drinking fountains will
remain closed. The only exception is the restroom at Bush Central Barkway, which has pipes designed
to withstand freezing temperatures, but the sinks inside the restrooms will remain operational.
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 better 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 and help send pets home or even find a cabinet to work on if you are inclined. Richardson Police and the City both post to it and 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 and I will send you an electronic invite.
3
CRIME TIPS
YARD OF THE MONTH
Doug & Anne Miller
1207 Dunbarton Drive
HONORABLE MENTION
Mike & Georgia Niotis
904 East Berkeley Our thanks to Callaway's Nursery, located on
Plano Road, north of Campbell, for sponsoring Yard of the Month
Crime Watch Patrol Stats
for December
Patrol Hours 65.25 (This includes both patrol and meeting hours)
Types of Observations Open Garage Doors 20 Suspicious Persons 2 Other Property Observations 8 Suspicious Vehicles 9
House Checks 63
The following people patrolled this month Dieter Paul, Rick Skaggs, John Thompson, Dale
Klosterman, Ben Parlapiano, Chris Williams, Peggy
Williams, Len Foster, Sara Bostelmann, Patti Glenn,
Roz Kaplan, & Kathy Hill.
We had 9 CWP Members that attended the Crime
Watch Patrol meeting with RPD at Target on 12/1
Our Neighborhood Patrol Officer
Ed Coleman (Cell) 214-282-0843
Call Officer Coleman for
General Assistance To Report Minor or Unusual Activities Cars on the Street
For Emergencies, call 911
Crime Watch Patrol has volunteered to install locking mailboxes. You provide the material & they will install it for you. If interest, contact Chris Williams at (469) 274-3500 or
Brandon Hudson
1204 Grinnell
Brandon Hudson will be living in CPNA for about 8 months or so — His house is being repaired from a fire in Richland Park a few months ago.
Welcome to the Neighborhood !
1205 North Park
Jeremy & Maria Hopper
They have Tank, a 9 year old vizsla, Shiloh, a lab mix and Victor, a beautiful black cat.
They formerly lived in UPTOWN Dallas
Jeremy is a property manager in McKinney
Maria is an attorney in Dallas
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.
Rodent Activity in Neighborhood
There has been some rodent activity reported in the neighborhood recently. Rodents will readily feed on pet food left out for your pet, bird seed in feeders, & fruit from fruit trees. It is against city ordinances to discard any garbage, vegetative debris or other waste on any public street, alley or other public property (i.e. Oncor easement behind Hillsdale). Illegal dumping can result in undesirable conditions which promote the harborage of rodents or insects & may negatively impact neighboring properties.
A CPNA resident recently saw a big pile of discarded bread, cookies, etc. on the grass near the hike & bike trail. This was probably done with intentions of feeding the birds, but of course will end up attracting rodents, which attract coyotes to the neighborhood. Please stop this practice.
College Park Market Analysis Summary as of 01/16/16
Active Listings 7 (Includes 2 pending & 2 under option)
Avg list price $237.0K Avg price/sq ft $107.55
Sold past 6 months 20 Avg sold price $242.5K Avg price/sq ft $108.37
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 [email protected]
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 $35.00 to Treasurer Lynne Patterson
PO Box 851021 Richardson, TX 75085
Questions? Lynne Patterson 972-890-1031
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
4
CPNA OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE HEADS 2015-2016
President Patti Glenn 972-699-1615 [email protected] 972-900-9188 cell Vice President John Pantzer 903 720 4795 [email protected] Secretary Sharlee Skaggs 972-690-3172 [email protected] Treasurer Lynne Patterson 972-890-1031 [email protected] Parliamentarian Jerry Silverman 972-231-2300 [email protected] Welcome Comm. Kathy Hill 214-533-5295 [email protected] Beautification/YOM Dale Klosterman 972-644-1583 [email protected] Beautification/YOM Pam Young 214-415-4132 [email protected] Newsletter Helene Levitan 972-519-0270 [email protected] Crime Watch Patrol Kathy Hill 214-533-5295 [email protected] AT LARGE Member Chris Xeros 972-740-4151 [email protected] AT LARGE Member Chieu Mai 972-235-0028 [email protected] AT LARGE Member Peggy Williams 972-680-2863 [email protected]
TIMELY TIPS FOR JANUARY GARDENERS
C ALLOWAY’S
5 Continued in next column
With the Holiday decorations all packed away
revive those empty indoor spaces in your home
with living breathing houseplants! Researchers
for NASA while developing technology that would
allow humans to live in a closed environment on
the moon or Mars, discovered that houseplants
are the quickest & most effective filters of
common dangerous air pollutants. One medium
sized houseplant is needed every 100 square
feet of living area to achieve this natural filtering
of the air in your home. With the great variety of
houseplants you can dress up a room & make
the air better too. Keep the leaves clear of dust
since most pollutants are absorbed by the
leaves.
It may be chilly outside at this time of the year, but
winter is a perfect time for a number of outdoor
chores. Just consider how much better outdoor
chores like soil preparation, planting, transplanting
& pruning can be done without toiling in hot
summer temperatures.
If you need to move a plant to a different spot in
the landscape, this is the month to accomplish this
job. Most plants move best when they are fully
dormant as a result of prolonged exposure to cold
temperatures. Remove some of the top growth to
compensate for the inevitable loss of some of the
roots. Once the plant is moved, water thoroughly,
apply root stimulator, and a few inches of mulch
over the root area.
January is a great month to accomplish pruning
of fruit trees. Annual pruning keeps the harvest
within reach, thins crowded branches, allowing
more light to penetrate developing fruit &
stimulates new growth for next year’s crop.
Shade trees can also be pruned at this time.
Fruit trees & vines can be planted at this time as the
ground usually does not freeze here in north Texas.
You can also prepare the soil for new flower, rose
or shrub beds by mixing plenty of organic material
like compost & Calloway’s Organic Flower Bed Mix
or Tree & Shrub Mix. This way the soil is ready for
immediate planting when temperatures get a little
warmer.
Fertilize pansies to keep them actively growing.
Houseplants can be fertilized with reduced rates of
water- soluble fertilizer this month. Do not over-water
your houseplants.
Birds of all kinds appreciate a constant source of
seed, suet & water during the winter & you will enjoy
the activity they create in your backyard. Just
remember once you start feeding, you should keep it
up through the winter.
Mobile Security Your Smartphone has much more in common with your desktop computer than with your old mobile phone. Criminals know you’re literally carrying a small “PC” in your pocket & will do all they can to access your personal information. Following a few simple steps can dramatically reduce your risk of having your money & identity stolen.
Tips to Stay Safe - if your Smartphone is lost or stolen
Follow the recommended steps of your mobile service provider to report a lost or stolen phone.
Password-protect your smart phone Always lock your phone when it’s not in use. Set your phone to automatically lock after being
idle for a set amount of time. Set your phone to use a longer & stronger
password than the default 4-digit unlock code, if this option is available on your phone.
For even better security, set your phone to erase all data after 10 bad password attempts.
6
An Inventory of Your Life
Taking inventory
It’s easiest to take the inventory room by room. Set up the same system for each room so your documentation makes sense to you & to whomever must decipher it if you are not around.
Take several photos of each room, from different angles. A good way to go about this is to stand in the doorway & slowly rotate clockwise, taking overlapping frames that eventually take in the whole room.
Open blinds, curtains & turn on the lights, even in the daytime, so your photos are well-lit & clear.
Using sticky notes, label each item with its name so you can clearly refer to it in the documentation.
Zero in on documentation, labels & marks that establish to whom valuable items have belonged.
Focus on details that illustrate the unique properties of each item, such as stained glass, carving & painted trim.
Scan or copy receipts, appraisals & other documentation about each item.
For electronics & appliances, include warranties, receipts, repair bills & serial numbers.
Organize the inventory
Include a cover sheet that explains how you organized & tagged items.
Create a subfolder for each room. Group all the documentation for each item, from
photos to repair bills. Be sure you refer to each item with the term on its
sticky note label. For instance, if the label says, “blue & white pitcher” use the phrase “blue & white pitcher” on all related documents, appraisals & receipts.
Make a printed copy of the inventory to include with your essential legal documents, even if you are storing digital copies in the cloud & with legal advisers or trusted ones. Finally, be sure your will includes access information, including passwords, to your inventory, no matter where it is stored.
The things you value are part of your everyday life – so much so that you might not even be able to list them if they weren’t there.
That’s the value of a home inventory. Making a detailed list of what you own ensures that you won’t overlook anything if you have to recall what was in your house should it be lost by fire, theft or other circumstance.
Start by assembling the tools for documenting what you own & by figuring out how you will store the inventory list. The way you document what you own dictates how you’ll store the information.
If you document with a notebook & with a traditional camera, you’ll need to store the inventory in a physical location like a safety deposit box, with a lawyer or with a trusted family member or friend.
Consider making three copies of the inventory: one to keep at home; & one each for two trusted sources. This increases the chances that at least one record will be easily accessible when you need it. Make paper copies of documents such as warranties & receipts.
If you document your belongings digitally, you’ll want to make digital duplicates, with the option of storing the files in the cloud.
Use a digital camera to take photos. Scan documents. Have at least a couple of thumb drives on hand
so you can copy the inventory for offsite storage. Set up a digital storage account & be sure you
have documented how to access it, including the password. Decide how you’ll ensure the account is maintained & paid for so the inventory doesn’t evaporate in the cloud.
7
Insure This, Not That: What’s Truly Valuable in Your House?
If it’s in your house or on your property, you’re responsible for it. That means that you might need to be sure that things you don’t actually own are covered by your homeowners’ insurance.
Obvious? Not as much as you might think. While the process of taking inventory is about documenting what you own, figuring out what to insure is different.
Home as storage unit
These days, many American households include a mix of generations & that means a mix of possessions. You don’t own your son’s collectible guitar or your cousin’s boat, so those items would not be included in your household inventory. But if you regularly help others out by letting them live with you or by storing their things, you’ll need to sort out what your policy covers & what might need to be covered by the owners of things you are storing or borrowing. Owners may need a tenants’ policy. Often-overlooked items that might be in your home but that you don’t own include:
Furniture Collectibles Musical instruments Professional or scientific equipment or gear Sports gear Seasonal gear Power & hand tools Art Vehicles Boats Recreational vehicles Family heirlooms
As a prerequisite to taking a home inventory, list & photograph items that are on your premises but do not belong to you. If this list is long, or if it includes items that are obviously valuable, talk with your insurance agent about the best way for you & the items’ owner(s) to cover the liability.
Value in the heart, not on the spreadsheet Meanwhile, sort your possessions into three categories: things that probably require additional insurance; things that definitely are not worth insuring & things that are probably worth adding insurance protection. This will streamline your conversation with your agent. Your spreadsheet may look something like this:
Probably worth insuring:
Fine furniture Genuine jewelry High-end electronics Sterling silver Antiques Art with an established provenance, such as signed
limited-edition prints
Probably adequately insured by your homeowner’s policy:
Easily replaceable items such as not-rare books, electronics & appliances
Unfinished projects Nonfunctional and obsolete electronics &
appliances Toys Office supplies, pantry inventory & other
consumables
Holiday decorations
Some items have more sentimental value than market value. You can’t put a price on your family scrapbooks, for instance – and that’s the point. A scrapbook is insured only for the cost of replacing the actual book. That’s why it’s important to have duplicates of irreplaceable photos & memorabilia either digitally stored or in a safe place, perhaps with friends or relatives.
When in doubt, hire a licensed appraiser to review your collections. While it’s tempting to simply use online auction sites as a gauge of value, such services won’t give you a defensible estimate of value.
Your home is full of things & memories. Realizing the difference lets you concentrate your insurance investment on the things that matter most.
8
Top 5 Credit Lessons from 2015 2015 has been an eventful year in the world of credit. With a number of big data breaches, it’s more important than ever to protect your personal information & be vigilant when it comes to your credit reports. While some hard lessons were learned about credit security, there were some useful takeaways too, as more Americans are getting their credit back on track.
Mind Your Credit Accounts
Keeping an eye on your wallet is one thing, but that shouldn’t be your only concern when it comes to your credit card. Company data breaches can also be a big problem. For example, in 2015, someone hacked into the Hilton database & nabbed customer credit card information. If you used your credit card in a Hilton restaurant or gift shop at any time since 2014, your information may have been compromised.
Lesson: Review your credit card statements at least once a month for unauthorized purchases. Have your card provider send you email alerts for out-of-country charges & purchases over $100. If a company you buy from is hacked, notify your credit card company immediately.
Protect Your Email
In October 2015, the world learned that CIA Director John Brennan’s email was hacked — apparently, by teenagers. If the head of the CIA isn’t immune to having his password hacked, it’s a major lesson for the rest of us to be extra attentive to potential credit card problems. Having your email account compromised can expose you to a host of serious problems. For example, if someone goes to your banking website & clicks the “Forgot Password” button, he could have access to your bank account within seconds & lock you out.
Lesson: Use random letters & numbers for your passwords instead of words or names. The longer the password is, the harder it is to hack, so use 12 or 16 characters instead of the minimum of eight.
Strengthen Your Passwords
Ashley Madison wasn’t the only company that had its customers’ login credentials compromised in 2015. The list included health-care providers, universities & hundreds of banks. While passwords are usually encrypted, they are still at risk of being compromised. If you use the same password for all of your accounts, you make it much easier for hackers to gain access to your personal information, leaving you exposed to theft & identity fraud.
Lesson: Use a different password for every service you sign into. If you find out a service you use has been hacked, change your password immediately.
Safeguard Your Social Security
As it turns out, not even the federal government is immune to data hackers. In June 2015, two separate massive computer data breaches compromised the personal information of roughly 21.5 million current, former federal employees & contractors, when the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was the victim of a cyber attack. In this case, the data included names, Social Security numbers & even 5.6 million fingerprints collected for background investigation databases.
With just a name & a social security number, criminals can apply for jobs & file fraudulent tax returns in your name, as well as apply for credit cards. As a result, the government provided victims with three years of credit monitoring, identity monitoring, identity theft insurance & identity restoration service.
Lesson: Review your free annual credit report every year for suspicious activity. If you find inquiries or transactions from companies you don’t recognize, contact one of the 3 major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your report.
You Can Start Fresh
Not all the news in 2015 was disheartening. It was a very good year for millions of Americans, if the March 2015 report from the U.S. Federal Courts is any indication. Personal bankruptcy filings declined this year for the fifth straight year, by a margin of 12% compared to 2014. If you have poor credit, review your free annual credit report & look for ways to begin improving it.
Lesson: It’s never too late to start building your credit. If you don’t qualify for a standard credit card, try applying for a secured credit card. Because you’re asked to put a deposit down on the card beforehand, secured credit cards are much easier to get. By making regular payments, the card can help you rebuild your credit.
How to Find and Hire a Painting Contractor for Your Home’s Exterior
9
Julie Sheer, Houzz Contributor
There’s nothing like a fresh paint job to punch up a house’s curb appeal. And hiring a professional to do it is the best way to get a superior result — and save you the headache of ladders, repairs & other hassles
Project: Working with a professional on painting your house’s exterior.
Why: Whether your house is wood-frame or shingle, stucco or brick, you’ll get knowledge, accuracy & efficiency by hiring a professional.
Who to hire: Many painters do both interior & exterior projects. A painting contractor should be licensed & insured. You should obtain a written contract with details about the work to be done. Review the contract to make sure it’s clear which parts of your house’s exterior are to be painted, how long the project will take & how the contractor will be paid.
Cost: A cost estimate should include all labor & materials. Additional detail work, such as painting intricate trim or repairing surface imperfections as part of the preparation work, will usually increase the cost due to the extra time required.
Costs vary by region, size of the project & amount of detail work. Jeff Dupont, of Sound Painting Solutions in Seattle, says a typical range for his medium- to large-size exterior projects (a 1,200- to 1,700- square-foot house is his medium size) is $9,000 to $12,000. Dupont says his contracts have a warranty that includes any touchups needed due to their workmanship or material defects.
How long the project will take: Prepping & painting a house’s exterior usually takes several days, depending on the size of the house. Dupont says if only minimal prep work is needed, a single story home will take two to three days & a two-story house two to four days.
First steps: Many painters visit the site for a free initial consultation to talk about the scope of the project, including giving an estimate of how much it will cost & how long it will take to complete. Benjamin Moore recommends walking each potential contractor around the house, outlining which areas will be painted (siding, trim, window frames, porches, doors).
During the project: After repairing holes & cracks in stucco surfaces & using wood filler to fix frame siding, the contractor will apply a primer. Two coats of latex paint are almost always used, but in some areas, such as the Northwest, an oil-based paint might be applied to tannin-rich cedar or redwood exteriors, to better seal the wood & prevent the tannin from bleeding through the primer, Dupont says. In areas where stucco, masonry & brick homes are prevalent, a durable latex acrylic elastomeric paint might be used — it stretches if cracks form underneath.
Before painting begins, homeowners should remove patio furniture, potted plants & other outdoor accessories in the work area. In general, painters usually remove items like hose holders & mailboxes & replace them when done. Mari Hensley, of Kennedy Painting in St. Louis, says her company asks homeowners to take any fabric cushions on patio furniture inside during the project to prevent damage.
Color considerations: Some painters provide color swatches & consultation, while others expect homeowners to research color combinations on their own. Hensley says samples can be applied to surfaces upon a homeowner’s request. Most large paint companies have online exterior color guides.
Sherwin-Williams has color suggestions based on region & style — from traditional or contemporary suburban to desert Southwest. Behr’s Colors Gallery lets users choose from cool, neutral & warm tones.
Things to consider: A reputable professional should have all the necessary supplies, so a homeowner is not expected to provide anything. If your house was built before 1978 & lead paint is suspected, be sure your painter is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency to handle lead. Even exteriors require certain procedures if lead is detected.
Best time to do this project: Summer is the most popular time of year for painting exteriors in regions with cold, wet winters. Even in mild-weather regions, spring & summer are best for tackling exterior paint jobs.
A well-stocked first aid kit is a handy thing to have. To be prepared for emergencies:
Keep a first aid kit in your home & in your car. Carry a first aid kit with you or know where you can
find one. Find out the location of first aid kits where you
work.
First aid kits come in many shapes & sizes. You can purchase one from the Red Cross Store or your local American Red Cross chapter. Your local drug store may sell them. You can also make your own. Some kits are designed for specific activities, such as hiking, camping or boating.
Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together, make sure it has all the items you may need: Include any personal items such as medications &
emergency phone numbers or other items your health-care provider may suggest.
Check the kit regularly. Make sure the flashlight batteries work. Check expiration dates & replace any used or
out-of-date contents.
The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following:
2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately1gram)
5 antiseptic wipe packets
2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
1 blanket (space blanket)
1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
1 instant cold compress
2 pair of non-latex gloves (size: large)
2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (1 gram each)
Scissors
1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
Oral thermometer (non-mercury/non-glass)
2 triangular bandages
Tweezers First aid instruction booklet
Anatomy of a First Aid Kit
10
Identity thieves are bold & their efforts can be very sophisticated. People are fooled every day, so it’s important for you to be alert to the ways thieves will try to get your personal information, & knowledgeable about what to do when that happens.
In what’s known as “phishing,” large numbers of recipients are sent email messages referencing a well-known bank or retailer. In these cases, the thieves don’t expect all the recipients to have a relationship with the company, but they are targeting the smaller percentage of people who do & who in their concern about the message, will “click through” the links on the email to verify their personal information.
In order for this to work – and it does – the emails must be convincing. To help you recognize phishing, remember that fake emails will:
appear to be from legitimate banks, financial institutions or retailers using copied logos & content style.
use fake websites or pop-up windows to collect your personal information.
may incorporate links to real websites to help convince you the email is legitimate.
request confidential information like account numbers, personal IDs, passwords, card numbers & PINs.
use upsetting or alarming statements to elicit an immediate response from the recipient.
Recent scam attempts are increasingly including telephone numbers to call. Called “vishing,” these calls are answered by official-sounding representatives or automated response systems that collect your personal information over the phone.
No matter how they get your personal information, thieves act very quickly to transfer money, charge goods & services to credit cards and/or use social security information to set up new accounts. A great deal of damage can be done in a very short time.
Protect yourself by: taking the time to calmly examine the claims in the
email. checking the authenticity of the email by
contacting the company appearing to be the originator – but don’t use contact information provided in the email.
never sharing any personal information, especially your Social Security Number, account numbers, login or password information through email.
Remember: Most legitimate banks, financial institutions or retailers will never send you an email requesting sensitive personal information.
Recognize Email Fraud
Continued in next page column
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that all Americans have some basic supplies on hand in order to survive for at least three days if an emergency occurs. It is recommended that the Ready Kit should be assembled well in advance of an emergency.
The concept is to be able to survive for at least 72 hours until local officials & relief workers arrive on the scene. The disaster could be wide-spread & involve a lot of people that makes it difficult for relief workers to reach everyone immediately.
Water, one gallon/person per day for at least three days
Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
Battery powered or hand-crank radio & a NOAA weather radio with tone alert & extra batteries for both
Flashlight & extra batteries First aid kit Medications (prescription & basic) and Glasses Whistle to signal for help Dust mask to help filter contaminated air & plastic
sheeting & duct tape to shelter in place Moist towelettes, garbage bags & plastic ties for
personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Manual can opener for food Local maps Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar
charger Family & emergency contact information Cash or traveler’s checks & change Pet supplies (food & water), if necessary Infant formula & diapers, if appropriate Important family documents such as copies of
insurance policies, identification & bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate
Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants & sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
Emergency Ready Kit
Household chlorine bleach & medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one-part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach/gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
Fire Extinguisher Matches in a waterproof container Feminine supplies & personal hygiene items Mess kits, paper cups, plates & plastic utensils,
paper towels Paper & pencil Books, games, puzzles or other activities for
children
11
Emergency Ready Kit, cont’d
Web-enabled thermostats, door locks & lighting can be convenient for you, but also for hackers. Here are three security steps to take now.
While new connected-home devices promise great savings & convenience, they also may carry security risks. Here are simple steps you can take to protect the private information you store on home devices & networks. Secure your Wi-Fi. Automating aspects of your
home life with smart technology usually means having a Wi-Fi connection. Before you connect new smart devices, though, make sure your Wi-Fi network is secured with a strong password & firewall.
Secure your devices. When setting up devices, pay close attention to the instructions. Make sure you reset any default passwords to more secure ones. Existing devices—laptops, tablets, desktops—should also be secured with anti-virus & anti-malware software.
Consider setting up multiple home networks. Many routers allow you to set up more than one Wi-Fi network. So if one network were to be compromised, devices connected to another would not be as easily accessible.
No home is completely secure from break-ins & breaches. But by taking the above steps, you’re making it harder on those snooping for your data.
Simple Security Steps for the Connected Home
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It’s safe to say we don’t leave our homes thinking an accident is just around the corner. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t leave the house prepared for one. Planning ahead means that, in case an accident does happen, you’ll know what to do. Here are five things you need to do to make sure you’re prepared if the unexpected happens:
1. Keep your insurance card on hand.
Of course, you want to make sure you have your insurance information with you at all times. It’s also important for you to know what your coverage is; if you don’t have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, consider adding it to your policy.
2. Carry your phone with you.
Having a mobile phone with you at all times means you can call 911 if necessary or contact police, family or friends, & your insurance agent. (It also allows you to take pictures of the accident, which could be useful later when filing claims or if there’s a dispute.)
3. Always keep a pen & paper in your vehicle.
You’ll want to be able to write down details of the accident, as well as getting the other person’s name & information. While still at the scene, write down everything you can – such as the license plate number & make of the other car, a description of the driver & passengers, & details of what happened, including what direction each car was traveling. Get the names & contact information for passengers, and if there are witnesses to the accident, get their names & phone numbers or email, in case their statements need to be verified. Write down weather & road conditions at the time of the accident & include your approximate speed. Remember, it’s better to get too much information than not enough.
4. Learn your state laws.
Different states have different laws when it comes to accidents, so it’s important to know what your state requires of you if an accident occurs. In some states, leaving the scene without exchanging your personal information can result in a hit-and-run charge, which could lead to losing your license. There are also fault & no-fault laws and limits on compensation available, so it’s a good idea to know what your individual rights & responsibilities are in the event on an accident.
Be Prepared: Planning Ahead Makes Sure Your Bases Are Covered in Case
of an Accident
5. Stow an empty box or bag in your trunk.
If you’re in an accident & your car has to be towed, you’ll want to take any personal items with you from the car phone charger & personal items in the glove box to child safety seats & CDs. Having an empty box or sturdy bag on hand makes it easier to pack up those small items.
Finally, put all of this information in your glove box! In the unfortunate event of an accident, your heart is racing & anxiety can run high – which makes it difficult to remember everything that you need to do. Carrying a list of the do’s & don'ts of responding to an accident can help walk you through the process more easily & ensure you remember to do what’s necessary.
Continued in next column
Make Sure Your Bases are Covered, cont’d.
When you move, it seems like
everything in life gets much more complicated. Well don't let that ruin your
moving plans; if you do decide to hire a moving team, there are a couple of things you should know & watch out for.
Most importantly you should only use a
company that is licensed & uses a contract; be sure you know which dates they plan on working & are ready for them to arrive. Once all
your items have been moved & before you sign anything make sure all your stuff is still in good
condition.
One thing you should know that can cause issues, especially if this is the first time you've
used movers, is that you have to pay them cash at the time you sign off that all your items have
been moved successfully.
When You’re Planning to Move
With each passing year, more Americans are opting
to do their shopping from the convenience of their
home computer & that trend is expected to increase.
As popular as online shopping is, it also poses some
inherent risks. While many retailers take pains to
protect their customers, some of the responsibility for
keeping your identity & personal information safe lies
in your own hands. By learning to take these
precautions, you'll develop good habits that will
benefit you throughout the year & help you avoid
identity theft.
1. Look at the address.
If you're shopping on a website & you've hit the
"checkout" button, you should see a change in the
Web address at the top of your browser. If the site
you're shopping on is equipped with security layers,
you should see "http" change to "https" & you might
also see a small padlock icon, depending on your
browser. If you don't see either of those things or get
an alert that your information is unencrypted & could
be viewed by a third party, take your purchases
elsewhere—it's not worth the risk.
2. Be careful about the information you give out.
We're often asked for our email addresses, zip codes
& shopping habits online—while these can seem like
innocent questions, they're often used to create a
profile of you for marketing purposes. And in the
wrong hands, all of that information about what you
like & how you shop can provide clues that are
helpful in stealing your identity. Think carefully about
whether you need to answer a question & how the
information you provide could be used. In almost
every case, you should avoid giving out your Social
Security number online—if a shopping site asks for it,
move on.
3. Monitor yourself.
To keep track of how your personal information is
being used, consider signing up for a credit
monitoring service. With this service, you will be
notified if anyone signs up for an account in your
name or with your personal information. Keep a
close eye on your bank account to make sure that
the purchases that are logged are ones you've made.
It's also a good idea to make the effort to check your
own credit reports sporadically throughout the year
for illicit activity.
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It’s a New Year, which means new opportunities to make 2016 the best ever for you & your dog. When you’re thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions, set some goals you can accomplish together.
Exercise more. Get moving together for at least 30 minutes a day, whether that’s from the daily walk, extra playtime or even a jog.
Try a new activity. Create new ways to
deepen your bond with your dog by mixing up the routine. Enroll him in an agility or obedience class, teach new tricks, or even try doga (yoga with your dog).
Visit the veterinarian. Schedule your dog’s
annual veterinarian appointment. Even if he seems healthy, veterinarians know how to spot signs of illness that your dog may be hiding. This could also help motivate you to stay on top of your own appointments so that you & your dog are living healthy lives together.
Enjoy life to the fullest. Who could teach
you better than your dog? This year, take a cue from your four-legged friend. Slow down. Cherish the little moments. Chase a squirrel when the mood strikes.
Eat healthy. Are you feeding your dog the
food that’s right for him? Be sure your food has high-quality nutrients tailored for the individual needs. (i.e. age, size, activity)
New Year’s Resolutions You Should Make with Your Dog
Continued in next column
Take Steps to Protect Yourself
from Identity Theft
4. Change your passwords.
It's good to switch your log-in passwords every so
often, but now is an ideal time to make the effort.
Making a change can be hard, because you should
ideally be using a variety of passwords, all of which
are hard to guess & contain a variety of characters—
and it's not easy to remember all of them. However,
consider which is worse—taking the time to memorize
a few new passwords or dealing with the
repercussions of having your identity stolen?
Take Steps to Protect Yourself from Identity
Theft. Cont’d
Learn about layering. For neutrals to work cohesively in a large, open-plan space, it’s a case of intertwining lots of similar colors, a few darker shades (in the same tone) & brights (sparingly). This low-key layering can be used for paint, furniture & accessories to create a soothing design that’s neither too loud nor boring.
Step up the shine. Boost flat neutrals with a little metallic magic. Take your color cue from the existing decor, but choose metallic accessories in a complementary shade to introduce subtle sparkle. Alternatively, look to metallic wallpaper with a slight sheen & incorporate it on a feature wall or in an alcove
Get creative. It’s an obvious tip but one worth remembering: Well-chosen artwork has transformative powers. Set against a neutral backdrop, abstract prints will spring to life. The fact that the backgrounds of the images are similar to the walls only enhances the effect.
Pick out a pattern. Bold pattern can add instant attitude to a neutral room — but to keep the theme muted, choose a print that features one of the shades in the rest of your palette & gently builds on it.
Make mine a mocha. Indulge that coffee craving with a creamy palette of cappuccino shades. Brown may have fallen off the interior design radar in recent years, but it’s rapidly making a comeback, thanks to the popularity of everything nude & neutral. Pair it with white or cream for a tasty mocha swirl.
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How to Do Neutrals With Attitude
Laura Wheat Houzz Contributor Add a little edge to a neutral palette with pattern, texture, contrast — and a dash of color If your favorite paint hues are gray, “greige,” biscuit or polished pebble, chances are you’ve incorporated neutral tones into your home. We’re told that creating a palette using these neutral shades is terrifically easy — there’s less that could go wrong than when binging on brights. But play it too safe & your decor could end up going from beige to blah.
Or perhaps you’re not totally sold on the neutrals idea & long for a touch more contrast & a dash more color? Either way, read on for tips to help rev up your neutrals while keeping things chic & serene. Triple the texture. The key to giving neutrals an edge is texture, texture & more texture. Soft, tonal colors blossom when combined in a way that creates visual interest: rough with smooth, matte with shiny. The contrast of wooden planks & a metal table and lamp with the soft bed makes sleep space a winner.
Become a color pro. A soothing selection of neutral grays & beiges keeps things from becoming too busy. A colored chair can create a cool spot of color that energizes the office environment & perhaps even promotes creativity.
Avoid sterility. All-white spaces can appear rather clinical. One way to avoid this is to incorporate rough finishes, such as wood, concrete & brick, which all create the opposite effect. A kitchen may have very little in the way of color but can certainly packs a powerful design punch, with textured or industrial-inspired elements.
Look for light & shade. Neutral needn’t mean pale. Choose a highly saturated version of your favorite shade & use it to add dimension & depth alongside lighter neutrals.
Go monochrome from floor to ceiling. Imbue your neutrals with extra impact by using one shade on both baseboards & walls. You can then use furniture & accessories to dial up the contrast as much or as little as you like.
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Discussion with your Insurance Agent
Insurance & homeowners go together like peanut butter & jelly. Lenders require fire insurance at a minimum for homes with a mortgage but many owners opt for a more comprehensive coverage with a homeowner’s policy.
However, comprehensive doesn’t mean that everything is covered. Filing a claim is not the time to learn that you don’t have the right coverage. Discuss the following issues with your insurance agent to get a better understanding of your policy and whether some adjustments might be in order.
Flooding?
Rising water?
Mold?
Earthquakes?
Pools?
Termites?
Certain kinds of pets or breeds of dogs?
Limits on jewelry and cash?
Deductible amount?
The whole concept behind buying insurance is to transfer the risk of loss that you cannot afford for an annual premium that you can. Price & coverage need to be considered when comparing policies. Call your agent & make sure you understand what you’re insured for & if there are alternatives available.
Unclogging Your Disposal Doesn’t
Have To Be Draining
When you’re cooking or cleaning up after a meal, the last thing you need is for the garbage disposal to clog & stop working. While it may be a helpless feeling to watch the sink fill with water & debris, you don’t have to panic.
Even if you’ve turned the disposal power switch off, don’t be tempted to put your hand down into the unit. Instead, use a flashlight to peer down into the disposal to see if you can determine what’s causing the problem. If you can see something, shut off the power to the unit either by unplugging it from the wall, turning off the breaker, or pulling the fuse. Then, use pliers, tongs, or a wooden spoon handle to remove the item that’s caught.
If the flywheel is jammed, you may be able to free it using the supplied tool or wrench that came with the unit. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions about where to insert the tool & how to turn it.
If you can’t see anything obstructing the disposal, the unit may have overheated. Try pushing the reset button which is usually found under the bottom or on the side of the main disposal unit (under the sink), & turn the unit on again.
Don’t be tempted to use commercial drain cleaners. The chemicals used in these cleaners can harm disposal parts. Instead, try pouring a kettle or pot of boiling water down the drain to break up clogs. It may be necessary to repeat this several times to free the clog.
If plain boiling water doesn’t work, try pouring a half-cup of baking soda followed by a cup or two of white or apple cider vinegar down the unit. Let this mixture sit for 10 minutes or so, then try pouring boiling water down again. You can repeat this process as many times as needed.
For stubborn clogs, a toilet plunger may do the trick. Place the plunger over the disposal opening, & run enough water over the plunger to create suction. If you have a double sink & one plunger doesn’t work, get two plungers & ask someone to help you. Have one person use a plunger to seal off the second sink side while the other person plunges the disposal side.
If you have a dishwasher attached to the main line that runs to the garbage disposal, you can try running the dishwasher to see if that helps clear the clog.
Of course, the easiest way to deal with clogs is to avoid them! When using your disposal, remember to run water during use & for at least 20 seconds after you turn off the unit. Read your manual carefully & avoid disposing non-food items or foods that are known to cause problems. Some common clog culprits include potato skins, carrots, celery, corncobs, artichokes, bones, & congealed grease. Feed food slowly into the disposal, & avoid dumping large amounts in at one time.
If you can’t clear a clog, or if your disposal isn’t working correctly after clogging, you’ll need to call a qualified repair professional.
Unclogging Your Disposal (cont’d)
Continued in next column
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Do You Need the "DROPS"?
Drop caring about the mistakes that you have made
in your life—at least you learned what “not to do.” Drop the past – You can’t change it. Drop your “perceived” image of yourself – Be your
authentic self. Drop feeling sorry for yourself – Get over it & be
happy. Drop saying YES to everyone – Say no to things
that you really don’t want to do. Drop trying to please everyone – It’s impossible. Drop trying to always say the right thing – If you
have an opinion about something—speak your mind.
Drop trying to be Superwoman/Superman – Ask for help.
Drop worrying about the future – If you’ve done your best, your future is taken care of.
What else would you “drop” from your life?
PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR WINTER WEATHER
Winter weather is quickly approaching the North Texas area. Taking a few precautionary steps can ensure that your home is protected against the cold. A few of the easiest and quickest things you can do include:
Caulk your trim and baseboards and inspect your doors to ensure the cold wind stays out of your home.
Have your heating system checked by professionals. Preventive measures make emer-gency situations during the winter less likely.
Install or check all carbon monoxide detectors to safeguard your family!
Trim any trees or vegetation near roofs, windows, or driveways. Ice and snow may weigh trees down and cause limbs to break. Trimming around these important areas may prevent damage to your home.
Reverse your ceiling fans so that they rotate counterclockwise; this will push warm air down and force it to recirculate throughout the room.
Wrap or insulate your pipes to prevent them from freezing.
Have your chimney inspected; doing so drastically reduces the risk of fire during the winter season.
Clean out your gutters. Make sure all leaves and debris are removed before winter precipita-tion. Clean gutters allows for water to flow freely; major clogs may result in water being trapped and coming into your home.
Utilize programmable thermostats to save mon-ey! Program the thermostat to cooler tempera-tures when you are away from your property.
Furnaces can be fueled by many different things. Electric Furnaces are the cleanest but the most expensive to operate. These furnaces require very little maintenance other than changing the filter & occasionally replacing a burnt out heating element. Forced air gas furnaces are quite efficient & are much more common than the oil furnace. The heat exchanger in these is quite difficult to inspect because it is encased inside the cabinet. If a hole develops in the heat exchanger, the entire unit should be replaced. If there is an accumulation of rust flakes in the bottom of the unit you should have it checked out. Maintenance of a Forced Gas Furnace is fairly easy, consisting of cleaning the combustion compartment & flue annually. Gas furnaces should be serviced by a qualified technician every year or two.
FURNACES
17 Continued on next page
Consider a Plant as Living Sculpture If traditional garden art isn’t really your thing, plant living art
Conifers. Conifers, such as cloud-pruned specimen, have been used in Asian gardens for hundreds of years. Their strong form & the fact that they tolerate artistic pruning make them a go-to tree for living sculpture.
For highly stylized trees, it is better to display a single specimen or, in a larger space, separate them so that only one is seen from any particular vantage point.
Many conifers, left unpruned, sport unique characteristics that raise them to the level of living sculpture.
A weeping blue atlas cedar (Cedrusatlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’, zones 7 to 9) presides over a garden composed primarily of dark green foliage. The contrast in foliage colors is subtle & sublime, lending a peaceful air to this space. The cedar’s shape brings to mind an apparition, a dinosaur or perhaps a blue heron on the lookout for lunch.
As with the Japanese maples, again it is recommended that you hand-picking specimens because shapes vary widely. Look for a tree that conjures up mental images that appropriately tell your garden’s story. Doing so will allow your garden to linger in the minds of its visitors long after they depart.
Plants can be paired with boulders, architectural elements & sculptures to create high-powered vignettes that are greater than the sum of their parts.
A blue atlas cedar can be wrapped around a granite parking lot car stop set on end to create an unexpected vignette. Either would be interesting on its own, but the marriage makes for a one-of-a-kind focal point. Turn your imagination loose to find just the right combination that tells your story.
Pollarded trees. Pollarding is a centuries-old technique that originated in Europe. It involves pruning a tree (originally to above livestock grazing height) when it is dormant so that it produces multiple new growths once the tree breaks dormancy. Correctly performed, pollarding keeps a tree within a manageable & predetermined scale.
The following trees are good candidates for pollarding: beeches (Fagus spp., zones 4 to 8, depending on species), black locust (Robiniapseudoacacia, zones 3 to 9), lindens & limes (Tiliaspp., zones 3 to 8, depending on species), & planes (Platanusspp., zones 4 to 9, depending on species).
Jay Sifford, Houzz contributor
From a design standpoint, every garden needs two things: structure & a focal point. Without these, a space lacks coherence & interest, losing the opportunity for personality & becoming just a collection of plants through which we are left to wander. Many gardeners employ stone, steel or glass sculpture to provide that structural spine & to function as a focal point, directing the eye peacefully & purposefully through the space. Plants themselves can function as garden art, either by standing on their own or by intermingling with sculpted art to strengthen the impact of both. Let’s look at some options & how to put them to work in your garden.
Trees
When we think of plants & structure, trees immediately spring to mind. Very straight & narrow trees, such as European hornbeam (Carpinusbetulus ‘Fastigiata’, USDA zones 4 to 8); ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’, zones 5 to 10) & ‘Tokyo Tower’ Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthusretusus ‘Tokyo Tower’, zones 6 to 9) can add height to a garden. These are particularly effective when used in small courtyards that adjoin taller structures, as they reinforce the lines & scale of the architecture.
Japanese maples. Japanese maples (Acer palmatum, zones 5 to 8) are prime candidates for artistic & structural use in the garden, because they tend to have such a strong form. Each tree is unique in its shape; some are narrow & upright, some are low & spreading, & some are weeping. Because each tree has its own shape, It is necessary to hand-pick a tree that lends itself to the particular style of a space.
When choosing a Japanese maple, research on the front end will limit future disappointment. Some Japanese maples attain a height of 25 feet or more, while others remain under 10 feet.
Contorted trees. Contorted trees, such as Harry Lauder’s walking stick (CorylusAvellana‘Contorta’, zones 3 to 9), are favored for their strong sculptural form. Contorted trees have raised arthritis to an art form.
Consider a Plant as Living Sculpture, cont’d
Pleached trees. Like pollarding, pleaching is a centuries-old European technique. You can think of pleached trees as a raised hedge. They generally connect but can also be pruned into rectangular shapes for more sculptural interest. Pleached trees are becoming popular in geometric contemporary gardens.
Hornbeams are often seen in a pleached form & many trees that are recommended for pollarding may also be pleached.
Espaliered trees. Like pollarding & pleaching, espalier is an old technique that originated in Europe. Espalier involves growing small trees in a two-dimensional form, usually against a fence or a wall. This maximizes space in a smaller garden & when trees are placed against stone or brick walls, creates microclimates by keeping the plants warmer.
Espaliered trees can perform reliably as wall sculpture. Used in multiples, they produce rhythm in the garden.
Fruit trees, such as apple & pear, are most frequently used for espalier, although espaliered conifers are sometimes available. Annual maintenance is needed for these trees to retain their desired shapes.
Shrubs
Shrubs, either with a natural sculptural form or pruned into various shapes, are obvious choices when sculptural plants are needed in the garden.
Boxwood (Buxus spp., zones 4 to 8) plants are often seen in both traditional & contemporary gardens, because of their naturally rounded shape. In traditional gardens they may function as foundation plants or as edging along a path. Boxwood meets the challenges of more contemporary gardens when planted in a grid pattern or when placed on a hardscaped terrace. In fact, placing a plant on a terrace or wide walkway gives it an element of surprise & sets it off as a sculptural piece.
Perennials
Many perennials, plants that die down in the winter & reemerge in the spring, have sculptural characteristics. Look for perennials that have a natural vase-shaped, globose or very vertical form.
New Zealand flax (Phormiumsp., zones 8 to 11) can effectively be paired with a sculpture. Let the flax pick up the shape & hue of the sculpture, but because the flax leaves curl downward, the plant actually lends its organic form to the art.
Ornamental grasses, most of which are technically perennials, bring a sculptural presence to a space when they are planted thoughtfully. The strong verticality of grasses such as ‘Northwind’ switchgrass (Panicumvirgatum‘Northwind’, zones 2 to 9) & ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, zones 5 to 9) plays well with wispy seed heads, creating an interesting study in form & texture.
Ornamental grasses work well in contemporary gardens when planted in blocks, in grids or in parallel lines amid hardscape. Additionally, they can be worked into more traditional beds of flowering perennials for contrast & year-round interest.
Succulents & Cactuses
Drought-tolerant plants such as succulents & cactuses are increasingly earning their place in our landscapes. Many succulents, such as these yuccas (Yucca sp., zones 4 to 10, depending on type), have a strong sculptural form that elevates them to the status of garden art. They can be paired with very sculptural Italian cypresses (Cupressussempervirens, zones 7 to 10) to create an art installation filled with juxtaposition & interest.
Succulents, despite their strong sculptural form, do not automatically fit every garden style. If you have a traditional, formal or prairie-style garden, consider planting succulents in a large container. The container will function as the transition between styles. This works because containers work equally well in arid, traditional & contemporary gardens. Additionally, containers frame & elevate sculptural plants in a way that draws attention to their form.
Cactuses, such as this organ pipe cactus (Stenocereusthurberi, zones 9 to 11), are unexcelled as sculptural plants in the arid regions where they grow. This specimen breaks up the continuum of low plantings in a recessed bed by providing height that both speaks to & grounds a home.
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