Wimberley Valley PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #8 WIMBERLEY, TX 78676 ECRWSS News & Views Volume 18 Issue 1 • Wimberley, Texas • December 2014 Postal Patron T he Wimberley Way of Living Wimberley Valley News & Views Page 1 December 2014 Call Us First SOLD Reduce the stress of the real estate process and connect with experienced Sales Professionals that understand your unique needs and community. 512-847-2291 www.RandallMorris.com RESIDENTIAL FARM & RANCH COMMERCIAL Randall Morris & Associates • 13320 Ranch Road 12 • Wimberley Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. The heart of our business is giving back to our community! Join us in donating to the Emily Ann Theater & Gardens at www.EmilyAnn.org Trail of Lights: Nov 29th - Dec 31st Experienced Agents with Outstanding Results HOT Realty Realtors® : (L to R) Top Row: Steve Hysinger Marti Eveleigh Pam Shultz Julie Harris Jim Donaldson Bottom Row: Barbara Latimer Laura Bertelsen-Kilber Colleen Judd Angel Laughlin Debbie Donaldson Happy Holidays 14500 RR 12 | Wimberley Mountain Plaza | Suite 2 | 512.722.3267 | HillsOfTexasRealty.com | Info@HillsOfTexasRealty.com Wimberley Valley News & Views Page 2 December 2014 WVNV DEC 2014.qxp_Layout 1 10/28/14 12:14 PM Page 1 A beautiful scheme Being thankful and showing your love and appreciation with the giving of gifts are hallmarks of this season. Thinking about it on a larger scale, I realize that these are introspective thoughts on our part. And just like us, the northern hemisphere looks inward during this time. It is resting, regenerating. The diminished hours of daylight and the cold temperatures intuitively draw us within. The wisdom of this cycle of balance between pulling inward and stretching outward – time for reflection and time for creation – throughout the year I can only regard as divine. I am thankful to be part of this beautiful scheme. Happy Christmas and Hanukkah! May your blessings continue. Thank you for joining us. Current attraction! Tickets now The Odd Couple by nEil simon nov. 14 - Dec. 7 tony award for Comedy! Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. 2015 Season Tickets on sale through Nov. 26. Single Tickets sales start Dec. 8 Wait Until Dark by FrEDEriCK Knott Feb. 27 - march 22 masterful thriller. Presented by special arrangement with Dramatist Play Service, Inc. Wimberley Valley News & Views Publisher: Victoria Belue Schaefer Editor: Cyle Wells Ad Design: Joey Johnson Cover Photograph: Kevin Schaefer Greater Tuna by jaston Williams, joE sEars, & ED HoWarD april 24 - may 17 one of a kind texas comedy. Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Catch Me If You Can booK tErrEnCE mcnally musiC by marC sHaiman lyriCs by sCott Wittman & marC sHaiman july 10 - aug. 2 Fun filled musical. Presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) The 39 Steps aDaPtED by PatriCK barloW From tHE noVEl by joHn buCHan & moViE by alFrED HitCHCoCK Wimberley Valley News and Views, a subsidiary of Pedal Ranch Publications, is mailed monthly to all homes, businesses, and post office boxes in the 78676 zip code. You can also pick one up from local merchants. Contact us at Info@WVNewsViews.com for information on advertising and submissions. Wimberley Valley News & Views P.O. Box 91554 Austin Texas 78709 WVNewsViews.com 512 358-6271 Entire contents copyright ©2014. Reproduction of any of this publication requires written permission of publisher. We are not responsible for the products and services advertised or the views contained in this publication. Wimberley Valley News & Views sEPt. 11 - oCt. 4 Fast-paced comedic whodunit. Licensed by ITV Global Entertainment Limited Other Desert Cities by jon robin baitz noV. 13 - DEC. 6 Finalist 2012 Pulitzer for Drama. Presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. tickets: www.wimberleyplayers.org box office 512-847-0575 Wimberley Playhouse 450 old Kyle rd. Page 3 December 2014 ✯ CALENDAR OF EVENTS ✯ Visit WVNewsViews.com • Every Sun. Celebrate Freedom 6-8pm, pizza at 5:30pm at Cypress Creek Church. Call 512-847-1222 or visit CypressCreekChurch. com. • Every 1st Mon. Wimberley Merchants Association meets at the Wimberley Cafe at 6:15pm. For more info call 512-847-6544. • Every 2nd Mon. Wimberley Valley Art League meets at the Wimberley Community Center at 7pm. Call 512-826-4286 for information • Every Tue. Wimberley Home Health offers free blood pressure monitoring 10-10:30am at the Wimberley Community Center in the Seniors Lounge. • Every Tue. the Wimberley Rotary Club meets at the Wimberley Community Center at noon. For more info call 512-847-2510. • Every Tue. Jan-July the Hill Country Community Band rehearses at 7pm at the First Baptist Church on Winter’s Mill Parkway. Always recruiting new members. HillCountryCommunityBand.org • Every 1st Tue. the Wimberley Community Center hosts free medical checks 9:30-10:30am. For more info call 512-847-2510. • Every 1st and 3rd Tue. the Wimberley Lions Club meets at the Wimberley Community Center. Call 512-847-0207 for info. • Every 2nd Tue. Wimberley Shriners Club meets at the Masonic Lodge. Call 512-847-8696 for more information. • Every 2nd Tues. Art Society of Wimberley meets at the Art Center of Pitzer Gallery 13909 RR12 7pm. Call 512-964-7333. • Every 4th Wed. EmanciPet Low-Cost Mobile Spay/Neuter cinic in Brookshire parking lot. APPOINTMENTS required EmanciPet.org or 512 587-7729; contact ARF for more info 512 847-2878. WAG for dog vouchers WimberleyWAGRescue.org or 512 847-3200. Dog/cat vouchers PALS PreventaLitter.com or 512 754-7257. • Every 3rd Wed. Wimberley Valley Genealogical Society meets in the meeting room of the Wimberley Village Library from 6:308pm, September through June, except for December. For more information call 512-847-2034. • Every 4th Wed. Hill Country Neighbors meets at Wimberley Community Center starting at 10am. For more information contact 512-847-6888. • Every Thur. June-August, Café Susanna at Wimberley United Methodist Church (corner of RR12 and CR 1492), serves lunch from 11-1:00pm. For more information call 512-847-3144. • Every 1st Thur. The Wimberley Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Support Group meets at 1pm at the Presbyterian Church Library on FM 2325. Contact Linda Germain at 512-924-3661. • Every 2nd Thur. The Hill Country Bead Society meets at 1pm at the Wimberley Community Center, Blanco Room. Contact Marilyn Pierce, for more info call 512-722-3549 or visit HillCountryBeadSociety.com. • Every 3rd Thur. Live concerts at Susanna’s Kitchen Coffeehouse 7:30pm, $15 for adults, $5 for children, Free childcare. Wimberley United Methodist Church on the corner of RR 12 and CR 1492. For more information call 512-722-3316. • Every Fri. Celebrate Recovery meets in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church 6:30-9:30pm. Call 512-847-9035 for more info. • Every 3rd Fri. The Wimberley Area Parkinsons Association meets at the Chapel of The Hills Church, 14601 RR 12 in Wimberley at 11am. For more information contact Gae Koen 512-847-7953. • Every 2nd and 4th Sat. Wimberley Toastmaster Club meets at 10:30am in the Village Library. Toastmasters teaching public speaking and leadership skills. Call 512-913-4804 for information. • Every 2nd Sat. Wimberley’s Second Saturday Gallery Trail. Visit ten galleries for art, food and fun, 4-7pm. Call 830-708-7433 for information. • Every 3rd Sat. WAG Rescue’s monthly dog adoption 11-3pm at King Feed. • Thur. Nov. 6-23, The EmilyAnn Theatre presents Nuncrackers. Fri. and Sat. 7:30pm and Sun. 2pm. For more information visit EmilyAnn.org. • Thur. Nov. 13- Dec. 6, the Wimberley Players present Other Desert Cities. See ad (pg.3) for more information. • Sun. Nov. 16, The Starlight Symphony Orchestra presents Tranquility and Unity, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church. For more information visit Starlightsymphony.org • Fri. Nov. 21-23, 10-4pm. Wimberley Art League hosts 21st Annual Show and Sale. • Thur. Nov. 27, Thanksgiving • Sat. Nov. 29 - Dec. 31, The EmilyAnn Theatre presents the 16th annual Trail of Lights. Sign up online at EmilyAnn.org. • Thur. Dec. 12-14 and 19-21. The EmilyAnn Theatre presents A Monster Carol. For tickets and more information visit EmilyAnn.org. Entire contents copyright ©2014. Reproduction of any of this publication requires written permission of publisher. We are not responsible for the products and services advertised or the views contained in this publication. Please submit your event details at least six weeks prior to your event. Distribution is the 15st of each month. Wimberley Valley News and Views is a subsidiary of Pedal Ranch Publications. Wimberley Valley News & Views • 512-358-6271 • P.O. Box 91554 Austin, Texas 78709 WVNewsViews.com Wimberley Valley News & Views Page 4 December 2014 Feeding us all Omnia vivunt, omnia inter se conexa “Everything is alive; everything is interconnected." Cicero 106 BCE – 43 BCE. “I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.” John Lennon 1940-1980 I love nearly everything about gardening. The physical labor of turning a garden fork full of earth is rewarded by the joy of finding healthy earthworms wriggling their way through the soil. Setbacks like a fence that needs mending or an untimely spring hailstorm are more than compensated for by the miracle of tiny tendrils breaking the surface and the incomparable fresh smell of the garden after a refreshing rain. Spending time outdoors in the midst of Nature having its way with the Earth is just an added bonus. (not unlike getting to quote Cicero and John Lennon in the same column) It’ll be some time before we understand some of the secrets of the cosmos, but if we can manage to keep our species going for long enough, I am confident we will continue to pursue knowledge about everything that is, and that will certainly lead us to deeper understandings of how connected we really are to, well, everything. As I learn more about the laws that govern all life on Earth, I am amazed at how the intricate web of interdependent plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of which we are a part has evolved here over by Tim Thompson eons. The propensity of life to keep going seems perhaps as powerful as the physical laws that define what happens and where, how and when it happens. The mysteries we investigate are almost as fascinating as the answers to them. Next time you eat tasty vegetables from your garden or from the market, think about how the truly awesome chain of life brought that food to you. The light of our star, minerals, and gases of the Earth have conspired with the genetics of living things and the continuing spark of life to feed you and me and seven billion people every day. Amazing? Oh yeah. Every day is a gift of wonder. Horticulturist Tim Thompson has managed the garden center at King Feed and Hardware for the past 25 years. They offer everything you need to have the garden of your dreams without stressing your budget. Pick up Tim’s Tips, free one page sheets on how to carry out dozens of gardening projects available only at King Feed Nursery. Call Tim at 847-2618. Coding for elementary students What is all the buzz about coding – that is computer programing – for young students? A 2012 STEMconnector jobs overview, created by The Alliance for Science and Technology Research in America, proclaims that by 2018, there will be more than 8.6 million workers in the United States in science, technology, engineering and mathematics occupations. If self-employed individuals are included, the number jumps to 15.7 million workers. Seventy-one percent of those jobs will be in computing. This forecast of the future job market has encouraged educators to consider teaching the skills necessary to equip our students to enter this competitive field. In fact, the question has been asked why we don’t teach students to write the language of computers – coding – just like we teach students to write. The additional and even more pressing concern is the huge gender gap in the computer science field. Statistics indicate that currently only 18 percent of computer science majors in college are women even though women represent 57 percent of undergraduates. It seems that social pressure by the high school years significantly affects choices that girls are making about their future career paths. These pressures don’t seem to exist at the elementary level. Several groups have been actively creating coding curriculum for Wimberley Valley News & Views by Marsha Acock elementary students and making it freely available. Third through Sixth Grade students were introduced to coding at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School through a short course last spring. The course was full of creative activities and the programing concepts seem to come very easily to this age group. There was no difference in the enthusiasm from girls or boys. The school plans to expand the program in 2014-2015. Like so many other skills routinely introduced at an early age, it seems that everyone can understand and learn computer programming when they are young and unafraid! St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, established in 1989 as an active ministry of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, enrolls children from PreK3 through 6th grade at the 52-acre campus it shares with the Church. St. Stephen’s is fully accredited, including preschool, by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools and its curriculum includes weekly chapel services, Spanish instruction at all levels, studio art, music, technology, archery instruction and indoor and outdoor physical education. The campus consists of a fully-equipped gymnasium, library, technology and science labs, three play-grounds, discovery garden and outdoor classroom and nature trail. Marsha Acock is Head of School at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Wimberley. Enrollment is still open for the 2014-15 school year. To learn more, visit ststeveschool.org or contact Marsha Acock at marsha.acock@ststeveschool.org or at 512.847.9857. Page 5 December 2014 Get a head start on spring T R A N S F E RS W E LCO M E ! • Small Classes • Well-Rounded & Challenging • Character-Building Enrolling PreK3-6th Grade! Call Today! 512-847-9857 6000 FM 3237 • Wimberley, TX • www.ststeveschool.org LT Custom Framing & Creations 512-847-1666 LTCustomFraming.com Now Featuring a Variety of Local Artists in New Gallery Oils, Photograpghy, Watercolors, Jewelry, Pottery, Clay on Canvas Lorrie Dunks – Proprietor – 715 Fm 2325 – 512-847-1666 – M-F 10-5 S 10-3 STEAK NIGHT 5PM – 7PM 2ND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH RESERVATION ONLY 10 oz. Rib-eye Cooked over live coals, Salad, Baked potato, drink and dessert. MISSMAESBBQ.COM 10:30am-7pm Mon-Sat ONLY $19.99! 847-9808 419 FM 2325 by Lindley Pond Hopefully by the time you read this article, the great temps are still with us and the rains have continued, not in the torrential down pour fashion some of us experienced in October and November, just light drenching here and there to keep things plants thriving as well as our wildlife. Never in all of my years have I seen so many acorns…what a great sign! So as I said in my November article, it may not seem like a great time to do too much outdoors but planning and prep can make all the difference in your spring and summer enjoyment. By now, we’ve all cleaned up as much as we can. Hopefully we’ve mulched those things near and dear to our hearts and we can sit back and think about what it is that will make “our” place a haven for those outdoor gatherings. It’s still a great time to tackle tree trimming, removing dead wood and ball moss and raising the canopy for healthier growth. New trees can go in now and will have ample time to get established. If constant maintenance of wooden structures is eating a hole in your budget for “yardscapes”, a more permanent solution would be a stone patio. This will give you the space you need without the need for staining, painting… You may have also found that the force of water has given you drainage problems that were hidden due to the drought. Great time to tackle those before the spring rains as well. If you are a veggie gardener, it’s a perfect time for setting up your seed starting station for that spring bounty. Starting them now puts what you grow and eat in your hands and kids will love watching their seeds turn into transplants ready for the veggie patch next year. Which ever project tickles your fancy, Lindley Pond Landscaping is happy to help you set it in motion. Feel free to give us a call. .or drop us a line. We’ll help you make sense of it all. We’re here to help fulfill your “outside dreams.” Call us for a free consultation and design. Lindley Pond is owner of Lindley Pond Landscaping. We are here to make things out of your reach happen. Don’t hesitate to call or email. We’d love to help you design the shady spot you deserve. We’ve been helping folks in Central Texas for over 15 years. Give us a call for design and installation of your new “lawn.” Contact us at 512-775-1629. MAIL STOP Mail Stop Stop Mail Copies • Labels • Gifts • Rubber Stamps • Typing • Notary #OPIESs,ABELSs'IFTSs2UBBER3TAMPSs4YPING #OPIESs,ABELSs'IFTSs2UBBER3TAMPSs4YPING Postal Services • Packing Service & Supplies .OTARYs0OSTAL3ERVICESs0ACKING3ERVICE3UPPLIES .OTARYs0OSTAL3ERVICESs0ACKING3ERVICE3UPPLIES KODAK Digital Printing • Secure Shredding 89¢/pound 847-9622 847-9622 phone: 847-9622 ~ fax: 847-9832 M-F9-5 9-5&&Sat Sat10-3 10-3 FedEx M-F FedEx!TTHE6INEYARDs !TTHE6INEYARDs13501 13501Ranch RanchRd Rd12, 12,Ste. Ste.103 103 ® ® TEXAS HILL COUNTRY SHUTTERS Blinds & Shades, Too! Better Quality, Service & Prices than Big Box Stores • Lindley Pond 512.775.1629 • Lindley Pond April Saunders, Owner 830.624.6521 & Window Specialist ~ Canyon Lake ~ texashillcountryshutters.com Wimberley Valley News & Views Call, email or visit my website to request Alindley@landscapesyoulove.com complimentary consultation and design lindleypond171@gmail.com To help you enjoy your outdoors! 512.322.9519 [office] www.lindleypondllc.com 512.775.1629 [mobile] Page 6 171 Wren Road Johnson City, TX 78636 December 2014 Thanksgiving delights revisited One of the perks of the holiday season is that it presents a wonderful excuse to take time to peruse recipes and think about great food! There are innumerable resources for seasonal culinary delights – the online wonder Epicurious.com and good, old Martha Stewart, to name a couple. And of course, family recipes deserve serious consideration as we honor our history and enhance our traditions. I lick my lips as I read through the recipes I have accumulated, hoping to settle on a delectable menu to thrill my loved ones’ taste-buds. That, in itself, is a challenge, but the biggest test for me is always time. It is important to be very realistic, and carefully plan my time around work, conversation and rest. I select recipes for Thanksgiving dinner (served at around 2:00 at our house) which can be successfully accomplished in the free time I have before everyone takes a seat. Now to consider the visuals of Thanksgiving; it takes only a glance outside to thank our lucky stars that the Texas Hill Country is home. Bring the colors that are so prominent out-of-doors into your table – oranges, yellows and rust. Add a complimentary color to make them “pop” – dark purple or rich aqua candles and napkins could work well. Pull out your beautiful oven-to-table stoneware, dinnerware and serving pieces to be sure they are ready to go. Preprepare any recipe that can be made in advance and refrigerate. Weather permitting, start Thanksgiving Day on your porch or by Temple Wynne patio – your house guests will love it! Decorate the patio table (or your coffee table in front of the fire) with orange, yellow and purple pansies. Be sure that the insulated coffee carafe is ready for company and the rolls are in the warmer. Lastly, be secure in the fact that guests love a leisurely morning! Preplanning tasks that you would like to pass on to helpers definitely makes the day more pleasant. If you are organized enough, it will be a breeze! At noon, orchestrate the setting of the table; 12:30 pm, set out some good, locally-made cheeses, pears, apples and nuts, served with chilled wine or icy, spiced tea. At 1:30 carve the turkey and lay out the feast. And at 2:00, count your blessings and enjoy! Temple Wynne is the owner/buyer at River House, 104 Wimberley Square. River House specializes in customer service, offering gift registry, beautiful accents for home and table, ladies’ jewelry and accessories, fine paper and the best toffee ever! 512-847-7009 or RiverHouseWimberley.com. ssentials EH for Gracious ill Country Living Celebrating Our 9th Anniversary! Open Daily All Christmas 20% off 847-7009 Nov 15 - 17th 104 Wimberley Square • www.RiverHouseWimberley.com The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth by Jackie Maloy A seller of real property in Texas and a real estate broker must disclose to a prospective buyer any known material defect in the property. The broker’s duty to disclose known defects is the same without regard to whom the broker represents in a transaction. The Property Code Section 5.008 – the seller’s disclosure statute-requires a seller to complete a seller’s disclosure notice and deliver it to the buyer on or before the effective date of the contract (the date the contract is signed by both parties). If the seller fails to timely deliver the notice, the buyer may terminate the contract for any reason within seven days after the buyer receives the notice. Common questions concerning the seller’s disclosure notice: Are there any exemptions? New home exemption or builder exemption, trustee or executor of an estate exemption and the lender after foreclosing on a property are not required to complete the seller’s disclosure notice. However, all sellers are required by common law and other statutes to disclose any known material defect. Must a seller disclose a previous death on the property? Neither the seller nor a broker must disclose deaths that occurred by natural causes, suicide, or accidents unrelated to the condition of the property. A seller must disclose a death caused by murder or a death caused by an accident related to the condition of the propWimberley Valley News & Views erty. If a seller receives a copy of an inspection report from a buyer and the contract with that buyer falls through, must the seller or broker provide copies of the previous inspection report to the subsequent purchaser? Yes. Having received information about defects noted in the report, the broker and seller are charged with knowledge of any material defects revealed and are required to disclose these defects to the subsequent buyer. The Texas Association of Realtors seller’s disclosure notice asks the seller to identify and attach copies of any previous inspection reports. If a seller repairs all the items in need of repair, must a seller provide a purchaser with a copy of that inspection? Yes. It is prudent to provide the subsequent purchaser with the previous report and invoices showing that repairs were made. Once an item is repaired, it is no longer defective, and disclosure of repaired items is not required except as noted in the seller’s disclosure notice (previous fires, flooding, foundation repairs, termite treatment). Disclosure, disclosure, disclosure protects buyer, seller, and the broker from lawsuits. Source: Independence VOICE from mark Sprague, ITC State Director of Information Capital. Austin MLS. Jackie Maloy, Broker Assoc. of Partners In Real Estate Group, Keller Williams Realty. 512-842-1272. Building trust with her clients for over 28 years with Local Knowledge and Global Connections. Jackie@ jackiemaloy.com, WimberleyHillcountryRealEstate.com. Page 7 December 2014 Simplicity is not too much to ask Depending upon the quality of your water supply, water treatment systems can range in size from compact units designed to be tucked away in a small closet to multiple pieces of equipment requiring a large area. Often a system will have been modified over time with plumbing repairs, and the addition or replacement of equipment. In many cases, these modifications are done in a way which makes the installer’s job as easy as possible. Simply connecting a brand new softener to an existing maze of old pipe or running unsupported pipes at odd angles to connect a new piece of equipment are examples of shortcuts which demonstrate a lack of concern for the finished product. The result is a pieced together system which makes access for service difficult, and typically takes up far more space than necessary. While the operation of the equipment and the product water quality are the most pressing concerns, it is almost as important that the system be simple and streamlined to eliminate problems when the need arises for maintenance or service. When discussing the work to be performed, you should address any concerns you may have about the current system, and clarify the scope of work to be done. If a piece of equipment is to be replaced, ask how the new connections will be made. Also, be sure to ask what will happen to the old unit. Many times, the equipment will be simply left in the immediate area for the homeowner to dispose by Randy Lawrence of. Obviously, it affects the equipment dealer’s bottom line to perform work beyond a simple “cut and paste” installation, but it’s reasonable to expect your water system to be carefully planned and installed in a user-friendly and space efficient manner. It usually takes a little more time, and a few additional fittings, but when the technician puts forth the extra effort to simplify the system, it can make a world of difference. If you’re concerned about the treatment equipment you currently have, a trained and licensed professional can suggest ways to improve the layout, performance, and overall efficiency of your system. Randy Lawrence is the owner of ProQuality Water Systems, a full service water treatment company. He is one of only six Class III Certified Water Treatment Specialists in Hays County (LIC# WT0002693). With over 15 years of experience he has serviced Wimberley and surrounding areas for over a decade. “When you want quality, call a pro.” ProQuality Water Systems Randy Lawrence A 512-618-1334 (830) 822-3533 full service water treatment company specializing in customer service & integrity Certified by the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality Class III License # WT0002693 www.proqualitywater.com Freeze protection for your home Living in central Texas we are blessed with mild winters, but when it does freeze and ices over it can cause damage to your home as well as your plants. There are some simple steps you can take to make sure when it does freeze that your home and plants withstand the weather. First, let’s talk about freezing conditions and your pipes. When freezing temperatures occur, the water in your exposed pipe expands causing pressure to build up. Most piping systems allow for expansion and contraction, but only to a certain point. Once there is nowhere else for the pressure to go, the pipe will usually crack or burst. The damage from a busted pipe can be very costly. Here are some ways to help keep your pipes from busting Wrap all exposed pipes in foam pipe insulation that is split down the center and allows the user to slip it over pipes. Install cold weather faucet covers on all outdoor spigots (faucets). If you have a well house you can install heat tape, heat tape is basically a special insulated wire that runs along your pipe and is plugged in an 110v power outlet to prevent pipes from freezing. Heat tape usually has an automatic thermostat; most are activated around 380 F and turn off at 450 F. Remember if you decide to use heat tape follow the manufacturer’s instructions. One final tip is to install a heat lamp in your well house. When used in conjunction with Wimberley Valley News & Views by Cary Palumbo a thermostatically controlled device it’s a quick and inexpensive way to keep your pipes from freezing. Now here are a few tips to help keep your plants from freezing. My first tip is to purchase some frost protection fabric. Frost protection fabric is light weight permeable material that protects plants from frost, cold and freezing temperatures while also protecting against UV plant burn. You can also use old bed sheets; just keep in mind that they are made of a heavier material and are more likely to damage your plants when freezing rain adds weight. Another tip is to use empty plant pots or buckets to cover your plants. Cary Palumbo has been with Wimberley Ace Hardware for fifteen years. He is the Assistant Store Manager. Wimberley Ace Hardware Annex is open and located at 14307 Ranch Road 12 (at the Y) and open daily, Call 512-847-2356 or visit Facebook.com/WimberleyAceGift. Wimberley Ace Phone: 512-847-2356 14307 Ranch Road 12 Wimberley, TX 78676 www.WimberleyAce.com The helpful place. Canyon Lake Ace Phone: 830-964-2797 1150 FM 2673 Canyon Lake, TX 78133 www.CanyonLakeAce.com Unbeatable Customer Service, Selection, Competitive Prices, and Close to Home Page 8 December 2014 Five ways to pay it forward In celebration of Thanksgiving, take the opportunity to say “thanks” by doing a good deed for someone else. This month’s information features five actions to help you pay it forward. Whether you want to commit your time to volunteering or simply write a kind note to someone, the list is intended to help you make a positive impact on another person’s life while reaping the benefits of generosity. 1) Volunteer. It’s one of the best ways to help others and make an impact in your community. Find a local charity and volunteer for a few hours a month or help someone that you know. 2) Mentor someone. Mentors provide useful insight and help guide people along their career paths. A fancy title and corner office aren’t required to be a mentor; you just have to be comfortable enough to share your experiences, give advice and offer an ear to listen. 3) Share a skill. Are you a whiz at creating spreadsheets or using photo-editing software? Teach others how to do it. Many local colleges offer non-credit classes led by experts in the community. Additionally, many cities and towns offer classes through their community services divisions. If you don’t have time to teach a class in person, try online. Websites such as Skillshare.com give experts a platform to share their knowledge and skills with students from all over the globe. 4) Use your skills to help others. Knit hats for newborns, make dinner for a neighbor who is sick or just had a baby or help an elderly neighbor with repairs around the house. Whatever it is, let your skills help improve someone’s day. 5) Write a kind note to someone. It doesn’t matter who you write the note to; the only requirement is that it’s genuine. Write an encouraging note to your niece who’s in her first year of high school, write a note to a former teacher and explain how much they impacted your life. Not only will it boost the spirit of the person who receives it, it’ll also encourage them to strive higher and maybe write a note of their own. I wanted to take the opportunity to let you know how grateful I am for your business. It’s a pleasure to be your trusted real estate professional. This information is designed to provide a brief overview of the subject matter covered and is offered for general educational and informational purposes only. Used with permission by the Buffini & Company. Allison “AJ” Harwood, JD, MBA, GRI, CIAS is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX REAL PROPERTIES and is Wimberley’s “Peak Producer” offering Professional Representation for both Buyers and Sellers in Real Estate Transactions. He may be contacted at 512847-“SOLD” 7653 or at AJ@REMAX-Wimberley.com The importance of tree diversity In October, I attended the excellent Texas Tree Conference sponsored by the Texas Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. One of several outstanding presentations was from Dr. John Ball of South Dakota State University on the importance of tree diversity. Since my last column in this publication addressed fall and winter tree planting, some of Dr. Ball’s points fit nicely with that topic. He led with the observation that the greater the number of species in a genus, the greater numbers of pests that infest, and can bring harm to, those species. While many pests attack more than one species in a genus, they tend not to cross over to another genus. An example we’re familiar with in Texas is oak wilt, which pathogen can impact more than one species of oak but confines itself to the oak genus. Dr. Ball pointed out that with global commerce, we’ve seen pests introduced from overseas that are devastating tree populations. An example is the emerald ash borer from Asia that has killed millions of ash trees in the Midwest and is traveling south and west. The upshot of this is to plant diverse tree genera. For us, that means instead of planting, say, a live oak, a Monterrey Oak and a chinkapin oak, a better option would be to plant a chinkapin Wimberley Valley News & Views by AJ Harwood by Steven Austin oak (genus Quercus), a Mexican sycamore (genus Platanus) and an Arizona cypress (genus Cupressus). Some municipalities use guidelines such as the 10-20-30 rule to reduce the possibility of devastating tree loss from pests. This means the municipal tree population (as in street trees) would have no more than 10 percent of any one species, 20 percent of any one genus and 30 percent of any one family. Planting with a more diverse selection of genera will go a long way to reduce catastrophic tree loss in communities and the expenses related to those losses, such as tree removals. A place to start is the Texas Forest Service Tree Planting Guide that makes recommendations from various genera. See TexasTreePlanting.tamu.edu – Texas Tree Selector. A Wimberley resident, Steven Austin is a member of the Texas Chap¬ter of the International Society of Arboriculture and is an ISA Cer¬tified Arborist and ISA Tree Worker/Climber Specialist. His exper¬tise includes integrated pest management of trees and shrubs and state-of-the-art organic treatments. He holds a commercial pesti¬cide license with the Texas Department of Agriculture and is Texas Oak Wilt Certified by the Texas Forest Service. Steven is an Arborist Representative for Bartlett Tree Experts and can be reached at 512-392-1089 or toll-free at 800-443-8733. Page 9 December 2014 A fool and his money “I want the cheapest door you have.” We hear it all the time. A recent survey of residents in the Austin metropolitan area indicated that 5,000 homeowners planned to purchase a new garage door in the next year. I suspect there are another 5,000 homeowners that will need to purchase a new door but do not realize it. This is a perfect scenario for the marketing managers for garage door manufacturers – it proves planned obsolescence works. Most of the homes are not twenty years old. In fact, the majority of doors I see replaced are less than ten years old. Why they don’t last has been presented here in a number of forms over the years but some significant points are worth repeating as more new doors are purchased during the winter and early spring than the rest of the year. First, are warranties. No one in marketing is going to recommend a shorter warranty than necessary. Yet no one in engineering is going to recommend a longer one than the product will function. Check the moving parts warranty. With most doors you will be shocked. The critical parts on a garage door are inside. Ask questions, ask for documentation and pay attention to the terms of the warranty. Is it prorated, does it cover labor, who do I have to call to get service and what is the lead time.. Ever try to get a home warranty service from a big box store? Keep in mind the impact on your home. Studies have shown the right door can materially raise the resale value of your home. There are hundreds of styles, colors and options. Most of these guidelines apply to garage door openers as well. Why does one company offer a five year warranty while another stands behind their entire product for as long as you own your home? The guy touting the lowest price does not have the best product. The bottom line: Not all like products are the same. Do your homework, compare specifics and remember with garage doors, you get what you pay for. Rich Trader is a professional garage door installer for Precision Overhead Garage Door Service. For more information or to schedule an appointment please call 512-218-9720 or visit PrecisionDoor.net. A Name You Can Trust Rich Trader 512-218-9720 Canyon Bend @ 290 • Dripping Springs • www.precisiondoor.net Languages I am writing this on a train from Nice, France to Milan, Italy (of course). We missed a train connection in Ventimilia so I hope we are not sitting in someone else's seat, now that we caught the next train. Rhonda is pretty good with French and we had no problem in France, but, ten kilometers over the border, it's all Italian, and it may be embarrassing to have to explain ourselves in French, English, Spanish and by waving hands. In France, everyone was outrageously friendly to us just as soon as Rhonda broke out the French. Often we saw a smile and heard a relieved sigh followed by, "Ah, oui, en français!" when Rhonda spoke French to shopkeepers who really didn't speak English at all. But, hey, it's France and it's their country! Ten kilometers into Mexico I wouldn't expect to be addressed in English. I wonder if our unique American insistence on having our documents, ballots and answering machines be bilingual is an overcompensation for our American assumption, usually correct, that you can always find an English speaker anywhere, that we are nationally terrible at other languages and that we don't want to look that way. The French have often been criticized as being rude to Americans but everyone we met just wanted is to hear their language. Just trying to speak French showed them respect and they were satisfied with that. Are we any less patient with foreign visitors Wimberley Valley News & Views by Rich Trader by Kern Deschner who have no knowledge of English when they visit here? There are a lot of languages. The first two years of medical school were all about learning the language. Alpaca breeders have their language, too, and it can get technical. Visitors will hears us talk about general things like the personality and beauty of the alpacas but, before long, questions come up about comparative quality. That is when things get technical. Now we bring up EPD’s, conformational details, fiber micron statistics and all the strategies we use to maximize the breeding potential of the best alpacas. New visitors to the ranch usually glaze over at this point. My experience in France has helped remind me that sometimes, when we have ranch visitors, we need to slow down the technical talk and put things in simpler terms. We had to ask for that in France and our visitors need to feel free to ask for it at the ranch. When you visit our ranch, we promise to try hard to put the explanations "in English" so you can understand. Or in French, if Rhonda is around! Rhonda and Kern Deschner are experienced alpaca ranchers raising alpacas through all kinds of Texas weather since 1997. Tierra Prometida Alpaca Ranch, found on FM32 near the Devils Backbone rest stop, can be visited by calling Rhonda at 512-7539962, or at tierra@alpacausa.com. Page 10December 2014 Understanding negotiations by Brenda Samford 1) Human nature is the biggest problem for sellers and buyers to overcome in a changing market. Prices stagnate or drop a few percentage points and it’s amazing how different buyers and sellers react. Sellers still think their house is “special” and immune to the market. Buyers figure every seller is about to be foreclosed on and make ridiculous low-ball offers. Smart buyers do their homework, know what size home they need, how much they can afford and then search the market for what they want and negotiate fairly. 2) When you make an offer, know the recent comparable sales; it’s the best bargaining tool. Have your Realtor provide the comps you are basing your offer from and a brief letter explaining the offer. 3) Find out as much as you can about the seller’s motivation – retirement, job, divorce, wants to move up but only if he gets the right price. If a buyer knows the seller’s motivation they can negotiate a better deal or move on to the next property. 4) Multiple Listing Service (MLS) properties usually state what the seller owes. If not, your agent should be able to track down the figures. There’s a big difference in negotiating with an owner who owes more than the house is worth and one who has a lot of built-up equity. 5) After 45 to 60 days the seller is usually absolutely sick of keeping their house spotless and sick of people walking through. This is when a seller may be the most anxious about selling their house as traffic to their house has likely fallen sharply. 6) Unless you’re incredibly handy and have time and cash, go after houses that are as updated as you can afford. This is easier to do in a stagnant or falling market and fixers aren’t usually discounted enough to be worthwhile. 7) In a tighter market, it’s not too much to ask the seller to add the closing costs to the price of the house. It’s better to put 20 percent down and add the closing costs to the loan than put 15 percent down and pay the costs upfront. 8) Items to ask for that shouldn’t offend sellers are paying for new kitchen appliances or washer and dryer. Most sellers will be willing to do so to close the deal. 9) Don’t request anything that requires quality workmanship. Don’t ask them to paint. They won’t do it the way you want. Also, don’t get carried away and ask for the entire store. Be reasonable. 10) Make sure to look at the big picture. In changing markets you should be planning to stay for at least five years, so don’t get caught up in a $2,000 price difference. Remember, the goal is to get the house you want to live in for some time. Call us for a free market analysis of your home! Visit my new location at 2500 FM 2325, I would love to hear from you. This article was written by Chris Birk and published on Realtor.com. If Brenda Samford can be of assistance in answering any questions please call 512-842-1286. Wimberley Valley News & Views Savannah Homes “Affordable Luxury” 2500 FM 2325 Wimberley, TX 78676 512-826-5571 www.SavannahHomesTX.com DeMasters-Daniel Insurance Agency, Inc. Serving the Hill Country since 1983, call us for your insurance needs. 847-5549 • 847-9325 At the Corner of RR 12 and E Summit Dr. Page 11December 2014 eagle Mountain • Flags & Flag Poles • Patriotic giFts • knives & cutlery 512-847-0010 • 800-385-5605 Mon-thu 9-5 • Fri til 3 • 333 FM 2325 • Wimberley eagleMountainFlag.com Introducing Karen McGrath Shear Perfection at Vicky Mayo Salon 512-920-7885 Schedule an appointment. Vicky Mayo Salon 512-847-5707 Wimberley2x3.pdf 6/6/07 5:36:10 PM 101 F.M.3237 Suite D. Wimberley M Y Y Y Wimberley Office 150 RR 3237, P.O. Box 727 • Wimberley, TX 78676 Office: 512/847-2278 • Fax: 512/847-5131 Are you Flying Solo? Come fly with us. Your last diet by Becky Matthews Take back your health! That phrase means different things to different people. There is an epidemic of obesity in North America today. Millions of books have been written on numerous diets promising weight loss. The emphasis is almost always on losing the weight – that is the goal. What is lost on most people suffering with overweight is how to keep the weight off after losing it. This is our calling card. This is what makes us different and why this can be your “last diet”. There is robust scientific evidence showing an important link between heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome with its associated link to insulin resistance (pre-diabetes) and excess body fat has become an epidemic in this country because of the American diet and lifestyle. A routine blood test does not always detect insulin resistance, leaving many to have the false belief that their blood glucose (sugar) is okay. One of the goals of the Ideal Protein protocol is to remove much of the carbohydrates and sugars from the diet to give our insulin producing machine (pancreas) and the insulin receptors a rest. This is happening during the weight loss phase. When the dieter enters phases two, three, and four carbohydrates and natural sugars are reintroduced slowly. The insulin receptors are now more sensitive and working more efficiently, requiring less insulin. This decreases demand on the pancreas significantly reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Many physicians and other healthcare providers in the United States and Canada recommend this weight loss method. It is safe and drug free. Going back to the beginning of this article, we mentioned that most diets are focused on the weight loss but not on how to keep it off. This is what sets the Ideal Protein method apart and why it really can be “your last diet”. The innovators of this method have committed to making the maintenance phases easier to accomplish and more user friendly. They understand that losing the excess body fat will do little for us if we are not capable of keeping it off. Come see us at Ideal Weigh and we’ll help you “Take your health back.” Dr. Matthews and his wife Becky co/own the Ideal Weigh weight loss clinic in Wimberley. They invite you to partner with one of their personal coaches to take your weight loss journey. Ask about the discount for groups of 2 or more. Call Becky at 512-658-5488 to get the “skinny” on the program. Community Singles are welcome! Flying Solo Food • Fun Friendship & Fellowship ~•• www.FBCWimberley.com ••~ 2nd & 4th Friday of each month 847-9035 Activities & Location Varies. Car-Pooling Offered Sponsored by the Single Adult Ministry of First Baptist Church-Wimberley Wimberley Valley News & Views Page 12December 2014 There may be hope for Microsoft Windows after all Rebecca Minnick Realtor ® by Lee Campbell I’ve been testing Windows 10 for a few weeks now and so far I’m impressed. Yes, it’s a little different than Windows 7, but nothing like that Windows 8 mess. The installation process was quite easy except for getting around having to use a Microsoft email account as your login. Simply click on create a new account and then select local account and you can make one the old fashioned way like I did. The start menu uses file explorer instead of computer/network and is actually an improvement over Windows 7, plus they insist on change for its own sake anyway. Administrative functions are accessed with a right click of the start menu and has everything you need right there. This preview came with Internet Explorer 11, with flash built in and it works well. The right hand column of the start menu has the Metro-style icons that you can customize which I did easily. I removed the icons I didn’t like with a right click/remove and added Thunderbird for email and OpenOffice (free replacement of Microsoft Office), added help and the command window. This I really like. I’m running this Beta OS in a virtual machine it seems to run as quickly as Windows 7, and the boot time is real quick like Windows 8. Speaking of which, if you run this on a tablet you get the Metro interface by default which it’s better suited to. This release makes up for the fact that Windows 8 tried to force a phone/tablet interface down your throat if you were using a PC. On my PC it comes right up to a traditional desktop interface. Windows update is still with us and works the same old way. A picture really is worth a thousand words so I encourage you to get on the publications page of my website and view the Windows 10 screen shots. There is verbiage along with the pics. There is a little further detail on Thunderbird and OpenOffice there as well. After Windows 8, I really thought about switching to Linux but this looks like a fine release. Whether you’re buying or selling, let me put Sotheby’s incomparable service to work for you! Serving the Wimberley Valley Area 512.850.7435 rebecca.minnick@sothebysrealty.com Dedicated to the Extraordinary. The Exceptional. The Unique. The Cedar Removal Specialists Lee Campbell is a systems engineer with 38 years of experience following his 1976 graduation from Syracuse University. Lee lives in Wimberley and offers a full line of computer support. For more information visit tcw-tx.net. • Fully Insured • • envIronmentally ConsCIous • • Free estImates • TCW Certified Arborist Lee Campbell Networking Cloud Solutions Virus removal Business automation Systems Engineer 512-697-9831 13501 RR12, Ste 103 Wimberley, TX 78676 Wimberley Valley News & Views Tree Trimming & Pruning • Low-Impact Land Clearing Full Landscape Services • Oak Wilt Treatment Cedar Fencing • Lawn & Landscape Maintenance texstartreesandlandscapes.com 512-694-6607 Page 13December 2014 Grace and gratitude During this November month of thankfulness, I would like to bring your attention to grace and gratitude. The importance of expressing all aspects of thankfulness relates to the situations that are wanted as well as unwanted. For instance, it’s easy to be happy and grateful when you receive something you’ve wanted, needed or wished for however, what about when you are denied something or receive something you don’t want? Allowing grace to step in at this point is paramount in keeping your attitude of gratefulness alive. Sometimes it’s not about getting what you want when you want it, but about how you receive the answer you get. When you practice being balanced and centered in every aspect of your life, you receive a lot more than you are denied. Not to mention you receive what is best for you in every given moment. Perhaps it was bad timing, or maybe someone was more in need at the time than you and your time came a week later. The powers that be know a lot more than what our own conscious mind can conceive. Trust that you will always be taken care of, for we are not set up to fail. Always remember to breathe and smile in every situation. You never know what can come out of a response that’s delivered with grace or accepted with gratitude. Imagine, as you hold back those tears and step into grace, that someone notices your inner strength and poise. Then shortly thereafter you are offered an amazing op- by Shawn Dubois portunity by that same person who witnessed and commended your gracefulness. Gratitude steps in to take the place of grace and miracles happen. It is challenging to see things from a higher perspective but well worth the effort. Remember, sometimes denial of what we want does not necessarily mean no, it means not right now. When you respond to that answer with grace and gratitude it allows for something better to come along in Divine time. Be thankful for everything that comes into your life and gracefully accept that which doesn’t. Shawn Dubois is a Spiritual Counselor, Intuitive and Crystal Healer of 16 yrs. She is the owner of Inner Healing located at 111 Old Kyle Road, Suite #212 (upstairs in The Lumberyard Plaza.) Contact her at 512-895-9557 or shawn@innerhealing.biz and Facebook.com/innerhealing.bizmeetup.com/metaphysics-and-spirituality-in-wimberley . 50% off any session (First timers only please) Call 512-895-9557 www.InnerHealing.biz Just a peel: Better skin in 30 minutes by Karen Laine, Para-Medical Aesthetician Superficial or light peels are the gentlest type of peels available and one of the true 'lunchtime' aesthetic procedures. They only remove the top layer of the skin, known as the epidermis, and can give your skin and instantly brighter look as well as a smoother, more even texture. They can be used to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, mild acne scarring, age spots and dry or flaking skin. They are usually made from alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids, known as AHAs and BHAs and include glycolic acid, lactic acid and salicylic acid. Nowadays it is also common to use fruit enzymes and acids from natural sources such as pumpkins, cranberries and pineapples. There are now advanced peeling systems, which offer the kind of results you would expect from a medium depth peel but with the side effects of a superficial peel. These types of peels use active ingredients to penetrate and deliver anti-oxidants and vitamins deep into the skin encouraging the new cells to grow stronger and healthier. A course of between six and 10 treatments is usually recommended to achieve the best results. Superficial peels do not hurt, Wimberley Valley News & Views you only feel a slight tingling or stinging sensation, and have virtually no recovery time. You can be a little bit pink afterwards and may get some mild flaking of the skin but this can be disguised with make-up. With a superficial peel you would be able to return to work or go out straight afterwards and no one would know you had had the treatment done. Just get ready for the compliments to start rolling in! Karen Laine is a para-medical aesthetician and makeup artist with 18 years experience. She utilizes an internal and topical approach to reverse signs of skin aging, sun damage, uneven pigment, cellulite, acne and scarring. Contact her at 512-847-8052. Page 14December 2014 The new dental visit: It’s pain free Nobody loves going to the dentist, but ignoring or even skimping on your oral care can result in far worse complications than cavities! Multiple studies have linked gum disease to heart disease – oral bacteria may enter the bloodstream and travel to the arteries, causing inflammation and setting the stage for a heart attack. The inflammatory effects of gum disease also may increase risk for diabetes, stroke and certain types of cancer. One problem even health conscious individuals can have is that they suffer from dental anxiety and the thought of going to the dentist can be downright terrorizing. A solution we have to this is that our office has invested in cutting edge technology for our patients that make your experience literally pain free. Another concern patients often express about coming to the dentist is their phobia or fear of needles. Our fix to this problem is “The Wand,” a slender device that uses a computer to control how quickly an anesthetic is administered through an extremely fine needle. Since the pain associated with most needle-injected anesthetics usually is due to the practitioner injecting a drug too quickly, The Wand can eliminate injection pain and you may not even realize that you’ve been injected. Many patients dread the whir of the drill during dental treatment. A laser drill or electric motor hand piece are both quieter than the traditional drill, which we use both of in Dr. Donnelly’s by Robert Donnelly, DDS office. Also, headphones which allow our patients to listen to a wide variety of music helps to create a more soothing atmosphere. Sedation dentistry is another option for patients who have a fear of coming to the dentist. With sedation dentistry the patient receives an anti-anxiety medication that allows them to relax or in many cases fall asleep while under a dentist’s care. Call San Marcos Gentle Dental today to schedule your appointment by calling 512-396-5225. Voted Best Dentist in Hays County 2013! Thanks to everyone who brought in candy for our Halloween Candy Buyback and helped support our troops via Operation Gratitude! Be one of the many patients Dr. Donnelly has treated who are enjoying their new smiles. Call Dr. Donnelly’s office today at 512396-5225 for a free consultation. Don’t hold back-straight teeth are now within your reach. Voted Best Dentist in Hays County 2013. Dr. Donnelly’s goal is to provide all of his patients with a healthy smile they can be proud of showing off. J. Robert Donnelly, D.D.S. Master of The Academy of General Dentistry 1337 Thorpe Lane San Marcos, TX 78666 512-396-5225 Fax: 512-396-7022 Sanmarcosdental.com There’s no place like home for the holidays Compassionate Care Hospice helps patients and families experience less stress and more quality time all year round. At this very special time of year, we know how important it is for families to be together. Our dedicated staff will give the gift of comfort during this time of transition. We can offer the following services for those diagnosed with a terminal illness: After hours and registered nurse on call for patient care 24/7 everyday and during the holidays. We keep physicians informed of any change in status, assuring that all of your needs are met and communicated. Provide specialized nursing care. Controlling the symptoms associated with a life-limiting illness enabling you to participate in holiday activities and festivities. Help prevent repeat emergency room visits. Reducing stress for you and your family. Provide emotional and spiritual support. Relieving stress for you and your family during a heightened emotional time. Offer personal care services. Such as bathing, dressing, light housekeeping, meal preparation and feedings, which allows famiWimberley Valley News & Views by Barbara Rosen lies to focus on holiday preparations. Distribute medications, equipment and supplies. Reducing financial stress and providing relief that you have your comfort needs met. Compassionate Care Hospice (CCH) is proud to provide hospice and palliative care to individuals that reside in the Central Texas area. Palliative care focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness. Our professional staff consists of physicians, nurses, social workers, spiritual care coordinators and home care aides. The staff live in the areas that we service. Call 512-295-5333 or visit CCHNet.net. Barbara Rosen 201 Stillwater, Suite 1, Wimberley, TX 78676 phone: (512) 295-5333 | toll-free: (877) 920-5333 | fax: (512) 295-6333 | Page 15December 2014 Conveying property in Texas There are many methods to transfer title to real property in Texas. Although people try, Texas law prohibits a person from attempting to sell or transfer what is not wholly theirs. Therefore, you must keep in mind whether the property you wish to transfer is subject to a mortgage, lien, or home equity loan. If your property is subject to a note or claim of ownership by a bank or other third party, you will have to pay off the loan or lien before you can transfer valid title to the property. One of the most common tools for transferring title in Texas is through the general warranty deed. A general warranty deed is a conveyance in which the seller/grantor warrants good and clear title to the property in question against all others. This is what you should demand as a buyer unless you are very familiar with the seller or know how to conduct a comprehensive title search at the County's Real Property Records. A quicker and less thorough means to transfer title is through a special warranty deed or quitclaim deed. A special warranty deed is a promise that the seller will defend the title only against claims and demands by the seller and his agents. The seller in a special warranty deed makes no promises whether there is a mechanic's or tax lien on the property or other defect. by Carrie E. Campbell, J.D. When you are transferring title to land, less is not always more. Most courts will only look at what is written or contained within the "four corners" of the deed itself. When in doubt, be sure to purchase or require title insurance for the property in question and hire an attorney to conduct a review of your closing documents. A few hours of review by an attorney can save you months and possibly years of trouble. Documents must be filed with the real property records office in the county where the property is located! Filing fees are cheap insurance. Better to be safe than sorry before your liens, loans and deeds get misplaced or lost. Having your documents on file with the clerk will create a permanent record of the transaction and put all other persons on notice that you are or were the legal owner of a piece of land. Carrie Campbell is the managing law partner in the firm of Mounger & Campbell, LLP. She is also a wife, mother of two girls, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Wimberley. The office is located at 190 Oak Drive, Wimberley. For more information call 512-847-1308. Litigation: “I got this letter” You received a letter advising that you may be a member of a class of persons who may have been wronged in some manner, typically by a large corporation. In most lawsuits the liability facts are one of a kind – did that defendant run that particular red light? – or the injuries are unique – how will the loss of an eye affect the earning capacity of that plainitff? Sometimes though a single set of facts will produce a similar injury to a large number of persons. Familiar to many longtime residents of Texas was the Ruiz vs. Estelle lawsuit pursuant to which Federal Judge William Wayne Justice virtually ran the Texas prison system for many years trying to correct unsatisfactory prison conditions. As an aside, one of my most cherished possessions is a letter Judge Justice sent thanking my father whom he had appointed to represent an inmate in a prisoner abuse lawsuit. Another example might be a life insurance company which misrepresented how the value of a particular type policy might grow over time. The same misrepresentation may have influenced many people to buy the policy and they would all suffer similar damages, i.e. their policies would not be as valuable as represented. The only difference in their damages might be based on the amount of insurance they purchased, which could easily be accounted for in a Wimberley Valley News & Views by Roland Brown settlement by apportioning settlement monies in proportion to the size of the policies purchased. Let’s say you’re one of the purchasers and you receive a letter advising that you may be a member of the class of plaintiffs. It will advise you that you can “opt out” of the class but that unless you do so, you will remain a member of the class. If you call a lawyer to ask, “What should I do?” you will typically be told that generally you are best served by remaining in the class. Opting out means that you either will not share in any settlement or that you will have to file your own independent lawsuit. Unless your damages are large, you wouldn’t likely benefit from going it alone. Roland Brown is a litigation attorney with 38 years of experience following his 1975 graduation from Baylor School of Law. Roland resides and offices in Wimberley and handles civil litigation throughout the state. For more information visit RolandsLaw.com. Litigator THe RoLand BRoWn LaW FiRm Personal injury • Inheritance Disputes • Property Disputes • Business Litigation • Other Disputes 512-847-2500 12111 Ranch Road 12 • Wimberley • www.YourHillCountryLawyer.com Page 16December 2014 Common investor biases Can you relate to any of these? 1) Anchoring: tendency to become attached to something, even when it may not make sense. Examples include a piece of furniture that has outlived its usefulness or a home or car that one can no longer afford. It can also refer to the tendency to either hold an investment too long or place too much reliance on a certain piece of data or information. 2) Loss-aversion bias: the tendency to fear losses more than celebrate equivalent gains. For example, the thought of finding yourself $5,000 richer is nice, but the thought of losing $5,000 might provoke a far greater fear. 3) Endowment bias: investors to "endow" a greater value in what they currently own over other possibilities. You may presume the investments in your portfolio are of higher quality than other available alternatives, simply because you own them. 4) Overconfidence: having so much confidence in your own ability to select investments for your portfolio that you might ignore warning signals. 5) Confirmation bias: the tendency to latch onto, and assign more authority to, opinions that agree with your own. For example, you might give more credence to an analyst report that favors a stock you recently purchased, in spite of several other reports indicating a neutral or negative outlook. 6) Bandwagon effect: decisions are made simply because "everyone else is doing it." An example of this is the extraordinary interest in heavily hyped initial public offerings (IPO’s). 7) Recency bias: recent events can have a stronger influence on your decisions than other, more distant events. For example, if you suffered through the market downturn in 2008, you may have been hesitant to continue or increase your investments and may have missed subsequent Bull Run. Conversely, if you have been encouraged by the stock market's recent Bull Run, you may have increased your allocation to equities, also increasing your downside risk. 8) Negativity bias: tendency to give more importance to negative news than positive news, which can cause you to be more riskaverse than appropriate for your situation. Scott Hackett is the president of the Hackett Financial Group LLC (HFG), a fee-only registered investment advisor. HFG offers professional investment management, financial planning and wealth management services. Contact Scott at 512-847-0630. Thinking outside the Thanksgiving box Ah, Thanksgiving.. If you love to eat then this has to be one of your favorite times of the year. Such a wide variety of tastes and textures, this holiday is an epicurean delight. When it comes to pairing wines with your feast however, we usually hear the same old suggestions every year. Champagne, rosé, pinot noir, Beaujolais; these are the wines that grace most Thanksgiving tables out there. This year, think about trying something a little different. For me, some of the best pairings for the feast come from the small French region of Alsace. Straddling the French-German border, Alsace is frequently said to produce Germanic wines in a French style. As in Germany, most Alsatian wines are labeled by varietal so it is a little easier for most consumers to know exactly what grape is in the bottle. Almost exclusively white, most of the wines are very aromatic and fruity but dry, although sweeter styles are certainly available. If you like to start with some bubbly, there is Cremant d’Alsace. Usually very crisp and clean, this sparkler is the perfect thing to perk up the taste buds. Another great aperitif is Muscat. This wine has the grapey scent typical of this grape, but is usually made in a dry style. Pinot Blanc is one of the most common grapes of the region and is often features a smoky aroma. If you prefer a wine with a little more weight to it, try Pinot Gris which makes the fullest-bodied Wimberley Valley News & Views by Scott Hackett by Tim Hollaway wines of the region. The Rieslings of Alsace are very different from the sweet Rieslings of Germany that most people are accustomed to. Featuring floral and mineral aromas, these dry wines provide the perfect foil to many of the rich dishes on the Thanksgiving table. If your tastes run to the more rich and exotic, then Gewurztraminer (just ask for “guh-verts”) might be the wine for you. One of the world’s most aromatic wines, it is characterized by aromas of rose petals, grapefruit and lychee. And for dessert? Look for wines labeled as Vendange Tardive or Sélection de Grains Noble. These late-harvested wines are unctuous and sweet. Happy Thanksgiving and happy eating! Tim Hollaway is the manager of the Twin Liquors Marketplace at the Hill Country Galleria. In Dripping Springs, Twin Liquors is located at 598 Highway 290 E in the HEB shopping center. Visit them online at twinliquors.com for recipes, event listings and more. Tim can also be reached at 512-402-0060 or at store60@ P r o u d t o be a n A u s t i n twinliquors.com. of wines Hundreds to choose from ... V isit us online at www. twinliquors.com for recipes, event listings, and more! Store34@TwinLiquors.com 598 E. Hwy 290 suite 200 next to HEB ... phone 512-858-7744 Page 17December 2014 O Talking �������������������������� CUSTOM WINDOW COVERINGS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES by Tracy Sheffield, RVT Beat The Heat... Solara& Complete Cellular Shades •line The best for our Texas heat! Now Offering of insulation Custom Draperies! by Tracy Sheffield, RVT Beautiful new–Window • Save energy Stay coolTreatments, Blinds, Shutters, • Great colors, styles, and prices Woven Woods, Cellular Shades and More. •Most Fast available delivery and installation in two weeks or less. •Better Blinds,service Shades,&Shutters lower We’ll have you covered! prices than the big box stores. Free estimates 847-5630 • 12605 RR 12, Suite 1 512-847-8970 Superior service before and after the sale “Catering to Quilters” MadeintheShadeof Wimberley.com OPEN DAILY 9-7 • Sun 12-5 • Quilts •THE Classes • Alterations PLEASE Fabric DO• Notions FEED ANIMALS! WE EXPANDED & MOVED NEXTDOOR NEW WEBSITE: this CellasFabrics.com Redeem coupon for 847-3313 • Across from the Woodcreek Water Tower • 15950 RR12 Mark Smith ONE FREE BAG OF ANIMAL FOOD512-751-4705 Limit one bag per family. A To Z Mechanic Diesel, Domestic, Import Will Travel DSO 10807 Rawhide Trail, Austin,TX 78736 512.288.1490 | Open daily from Resident 10:00am Since – 6:00pm Over 30 Years Experience • Wimberley 1992 //////////////////////////////////////////////////// /////////////////////////////////////////////// ~ M ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// DeMasters-Daniel Insurance Agency, Inc. Television commercials often end withRaising one offleas the following from birth phrases: to adult- Talk tohood yourhas doctor. your With dentist. never Talk beentoeasier. all Talk totheyour In reality wet veterinarian. weather we have had thisfollowing year the fleas have been that instruction can thriving. be very Indoor difficult. It found themselves isonly verypets hardhave to talk to your doctor while infested. The onslaught of fleas has It is they are snapping on a rubber glove. left pets scratching impossible to talk totheir yourbodies dentistand with a owners scratching heads. and talkmouthful of dentaltheir equipment is an owner towhile do? There ing What to a veterinarian yourare dog is flea products in the grocery store, flea barking has it's drawbacks as well. products are available online, your veterinarian carries flea products. Sometimes you can't even remember what you were supposed How do you get the best flea control for the money spent? to talk Besides, shouldn't they about be doing mostlife of the talking First,about. you need to understand a little the fleaʼs cycle. anyway? Actually, there are a couple of points where you should Without knowing it you learned the flea life cycle in fourth grade weigh in, your pet's well-being may hang in the balance. science. It is exactly the same as a butterflyʼs life cycle. The folAn important topicwith to bring up is any herbal supplements you lowing chart may help the comparison: may be feeding to your pet. Just because an herbal supplement is all-natural does Butterfly not mean it is without Stage Flea side effects. The best example of this is St. John's Wort. St. John's Wort has been used by Eggto help manage Egg anxiety, depression Egg some and phobias. What many people do not realize is that St. John's Wort has an effect on the Larva pathways Caterpillar Thingdrugs are used metabolic that manageSmall howSquiggly anesthetic by the body. It is essential that your veterinarian be aware of any Pupasupplements Cocoon Super Cocoon herbal given to yourImpervious pet to avoid any potential herb/ drug interactions. Adult Beautiful Insect Blood Sucking, Itch Causing Another piece of information that your veterinarian will want to Nightmare know about is any change in water consumption. Increasing water volume or decreasing intake are serious indicators of Each intake flea product works onwater different stages of the lifecycle. a change in your pet's health. Also, if your pet is on Some products cause eggs to fail to reach the next stage.medication, Some any change food ortowater be reported products causeinthe larva fail toconsumption reach the next should stage. Some prod- to yourkill veterinarian immediately. ucts the adults. Nothing but a blowtorch affects the pupa stage. AnyFinally, pupa inyou yourshould house or on your property willhome turn into bring up any major life adult changes. fleas matter what relatives you do. decided to live with you for the next Havenoout-of-town Different products different Knowing three months? Have are youideal beenforaway fromsituations. home more often than which to useferal for your situation is the only wayAll of usual?product Have some cats particular moved into the neighborhood? to successfully manage Thecause clerk at the grocery store that these things can stressflea anproblems. animal and behavior changes is unlikely to be able to help you make the right choice and there is range from inappropriate elimination in the house to destruction a very real danger of getting a product the wrong strength for the of the house. size and type of pet you own. So make sure that you talk with your veterinarian when you You may feel you have saved money by purchasing your have theover opportunity. It can save pet's life. products the Internet but if it isyour not the right product for your situation you will RVT still have fleas even “savingDr. money the Tracy Sheffield, works with herafter husband, MikeonSheffield, Internet.” at Wimberley Veterinary Clinic. Wimberley Veterinary Clinic sees have thehorses, right products for your all Your kindsveterinarian of animals,will dogs, cats, birds, pocket pets,petʼs reptiles individual GettingMake flea control right the reservations first time is the and other situation. exotic animals. your boarding online way to save money and keepor you and pet from scratching at WimberleyVetClinic.com call usyour at 847-5630. your heads. Serving the Hill Country since 1983, call us for your insurance needs. 847-5549 • 847-9325 15501 Ranch Road 12 • Wimberley Wimberley Valley News & Views Wimberley Valley News & Views Tracy Sheffield, RVT works with her husband Dr. Mike Sheffield at Wimberley Veterinary Clinic. Wimberley Veterinary Clinic sees all kinds of animals, dogs, cats, horses, birds, pocket pets, reptiles and other exotic animals. Make your boarding reservations online at www.WimberleyVet Clinic.com or call us at 847-5630. Page 30 August 2007 847-5630 • 12605 RR 12, Suite 1 Page 18December 2014 Specializing in Wimberley and the Surrounding Hill Country Where your future Takes shape 13210 Ranch Rd.12, Wimberley, Tx Jackie Maloy 512-422-6381 Each office is independently owned and operated. Kim Cabler 512-695-8363 422 E Blanco Bend Dr. MLS 3294639 On the Blanco River, 2.26 Secluded Acres. 3 beds/3 baths. $875,000 351 Bluffview Dr. MLS 1342180 15 Acres, Beautiful home, Pool, Barn, Horse Ready. $1,150,000 5 Tremont Trace, MLS 3306508 Entertainer’s Dream, 4 beds/4.5 baths. $420,000 Reduced Mickey Brown 512-468-4509 Alice Lebkuecher 713-253-1311 300 Chapparal Drive, MLS 9147351 Charming 2/1, on 1/2 Acre, 2 living areas. $176,500 41 Doolittle Dr. MLS 6914075 3 beds, 2 baths, 2 dining and living area. $265,000 RR 3237, MLS 8888345 Waterfront lot! Appx. 106ft on Smith Creek. Cleared. $83,700 Active Contingent 108 River Road Cir. MLS 9251668 2 bedrooms, 1 & 1/2 baths, Blanco River Access. $415,000 12969 FM 2325, MLS 9928637 19 Acres, Main & Guest homes, Ag exempt. $545,000 41 Pebblebrook Ln. MLS 6471148 Charming 3/2 Cul de sac. 1 Car garage. $179,900 Victoria Welsh 512-567-5797 Melissa Lemmon 512-216-8822 Ann Marie Skunda 512-350-1365 130 B Utterback, Stylish Plum Creek Townhome, Including all Appliances, $143,500 237 Pebble Brook Ln MLS #9211492 Charming 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath on a quiet cul-de-sac. $192,000 Wimberley Valley News & Views 200 Rodney Lane, MLS#3637017 Panoramic views from custom built home. $199,900 Linda Germain 512-924-3661 Page 19December 2014 REAL PROPERTIES Home of the Best Agents ® Buying or Selling? Call us! (512) 847-SOLD (7653) Houston Direct: (713) 668-SOLD (7653) in the World SELLS more www.REMAX-Wimberley.com NOBODY Real Estate than RE/MAX! ® PENDING IN 11 DAYS NEW PRICE PENDING PENDING IN 2 DAYS ENCHANTING 3/2/1! BRIGHT & SPACIOUS Split Floor Plan w/High Ceilings & Lots of Windows, Backyard & Majestic Live Oak! $184,700 Call AJ today! AMAZING LIVE WATER & HILL COUNTRY Views w/2 Homes on 30.39 +/- Ag Exempt Acres on Lone Man Creek $1,347,000 Call AJ today! UPDATED ROCK HOME ORIGINALLY Built in the 1940’s Overlooking Cypress Creek on Historic Mil Race Ln! Downtown Wimberley! $631,500 Call AJ today! METICULOUS, CUSTOM 4/3/4 Home on Estate Sized Lot in Sierra West! Covered Patio & Stunning Back Yard. $424,700 Call AJ today! SOLD SOLD WATERFRONT SOLD EXTRAVAGANT HILL COUNTRY Estate on the Blanco River! Updated 2-Story 4/3.5/2 Main House on 2 Lots. $1,390,000 Call AJ today! AMAZING 4/2.5/2 HILL COUNTRY CUSTOM w/Separate 1/1 Guest Quarters on 5+/-Acres in Saddleridge! Sparkling In-Ground Pool! $460,000 Call AJ today! STUNNING CUSTOM 4/3/2 HOME on 1+/- Acre! Open Floor Plan! Grand Cedar Deck & Outdoor Pavilion. $324,700 Call AJ today! SPECTACULAR 3/2/2 HOME In Woodcreek! Recent Updates! Beautiful Live Oaks! Roomy Kitchen! High Ceilings! $202,750 Call AJ today! SAN MARCOS NEW PRICE COMMERCIAL REDUCED FALCONWOOD 5BD/2.5BA/2CG, +/-2,629 sqft +-/3 Acres! Open Kitchen! $399,700 Call Aaron today! SPACIOUS HOME, PEACEFUL VIEWS 5Bd/3Ba/2CG, +/-2,468 sqft Access to Cypress Creek! $234,700 Call Aaron today! PENDING REDUCED RIVER MOUNTAIN RANCH 5 Bedroom/3 Bath,3 Car Garage 5 +/- acre, Ag Exemption $530,000 Call Shelli today! Allison “AJ” Harwood JD, MBA, GRI BROKER/OWNER Member: Houston, Austin & Central Texas MLS PANORAMIC VIEWS ATOP BEAUTIFUL 10 +/- Acre Gem Known to Locals As Beautiful Spoon Mountain! $299,000 Call Shelli Today! Pat Bruns 512-376-8219 REALTOR® Wimberley Valley News & Views Shelli Beck 512-739-7780 REALTOR® 1,500+/-SQ.FT. OFFICE W/3.21+/- Acres with views! Minutes from town. $239,700 Call Ron today! LAST LOT AVAILABLE! 7.494 +/- acres in 4 Lot/Tract Tuscany Villa Subdivision. $184,500 Call Ron Today 26+/- AC UNRESTRICTED REDUCED 3300+/- SQ FT WORKSHOP 2428+/- Sq Ft Ranch Style Home 960 +/- Sq Ft Mobile Home $695,000 Call Pat Today! AMAZING VIEW! 2051+/- sq ft Home on +/-3.67 acres And +/- 320 sq ft Guest Cottage $469,000 Call Pat Today! Aaron Freeman 512-761-1158 REALTOR® ABR, SRES Cybill Wood 512-826-1782 REALTOR® Ron Freeman 512-838-1999 REALTOR® Page 20December 2014 Each office is independently owned and operated. MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE MLS EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
© Copyright 2024