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Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition March 2014
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Dock Dock
Line Magazine
- The -Woodlands
Edition
December
2013
2523
Line Magazine
The Woodlands
Edition
January
2014
From the Managing Editor
The Woodlands
table of
CONTENTS
dece m b e r 2 0 1 4
7
16
Before you say anything, yes the picture above is last years’ picture and let me
tell you why. When they tried to take a new
picture with Coconut and me in the same
frame they were not able to get both of us in
the picture unless they backed up so far we
were too small to see or they had to use the
panoramic setting! Now, I know I’ve put on
a couple of pounds but Coconut looks like a
ripe watermelon ready to burst! I’m not going
to say anymore because she will be writing
in the January edition and we will let you be
the judge.
OK, here we are, December 2014! I just
can’t believe it’s almost over! I was looking
at some old issues the other day and GT1
used to say time was like standing on a banana peel sliding down hill. Before you know
it, it’s over. Well, he sure was right. It is also
the time of year we look back and realize how
fortunate we are here at Dock Line Magazine.
We are thankful for our advertisers, contributors and most of all our readers because we
know without all of you Dock Line Magazine
would have never been possible. Our final
wish for 2014 is that everyone has a safe and
wonderful Holiday season and we wish everyone much success in the New Year.
Well, that’s it for now, see ya in 2015!!!
In & Around
8 A Seasonal Celebration of Good Taste: “South of the
Border” Style
12 A Commitment to Life - Diagnosing and Treating the
Number One Cause of Death in America
15 A Crash Course in Insurance
16 SJRA - Protecting Lake Conroe’s Water Quality
20 The Doc’s Line
28
22 LSGCD: New District Website Features Hidden Gems!
24 STAGE RIGHT: Look Out, The Herdman’s Are Coming!!
27 Clear Direction for Your Retirement™
28 The Players Theatre Production of A Christmas Carol:
The Broadway Musical is No Humbug!
32 Back to Health
34 Beautiful Lawns Year Round
ON THE COVER
35 Can You Hear Me Now?
36 Legal Issues: Accessing Safe Deposit Boxes
GT2
Look for our QR code
in the upcoming Dock
Line Issues and use it
as a shortcut to link to
our website using your
smart phone’s camera.
24
Juan Rodriguez is the proud
owner of the El Bosque
Mexican Grill restaurants and
Hacienda Mis Padres Mexican
Restaurant.
Visit us on the web! www.docklinemagazine.com
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 5
WE CLEAN ORIENTAL RUGS
RUG CLEANING
20% Cash & Carry
Discount
Cannot be combined with other offers.
Call for information. 281-255-0024.
A ProSteam Company
212 E. MAIN ST. TOMBALL, TX 77375
The Woodlands
free
Verle “Ozzy” Osborne
Call for details
Susan Osborne
Pick Up and Delivery
Restrictions apply.
281-255-0024
See our process at www.AmericanRugCleaning.com
Other services available: carpet cleaning - tile cleaning - upholstery cleaning
PUBLISHER
editor
GT2 /Coconut
Managing Editors
Kelly L. O’Quinn
Art Director
Octavio Tierranegra
Graphic Designer
Linda Sharver
office manager
Jay Osborne
editorial director
Walt Thompson
director of sales
Angela Glezman
Tyler Forner
sales
Brad Meyer
writer
Contributors:
James M. Bright
Gerald W. Brzozowski, Jr., D.V.M., M.B.A.
Walt Crowder • Kathryn Rogers
Craig Wear, CFP® • Marlisa Briggs
Joe Viser • Michael Pittman
Carolyn Corsano Wong
Dave Kotowych
Dr. Lindsey Thomas, DC
DOCK LINE MAGAZINE is published by:
Dock Line Magazine, Inc.
P.O. Box 1203, Willis, TX 77378
Telephone: 936-890-7234
E-mail: ozzy@docklinemagazine.com
Subscriptions to DOCK LINE MAGAZINE
cost $20.00 per year. To subscribe, mail a
check with your name and address to:
P.O. Box 1203
Willis, TX 77378
Dock Line Magazine, Inc. welcomes reader
correspondence. We reserve the right to edit
or reject any material submitted. The publisher
assumes no responsibility for the return of any
unsolicited material.
DOCK LINE MAGAZINE, INC.© 2014, all
rights reserved. All editorial and advertising copy
belongs solely to DOCK LINE MAGAZINE, INC.
Reproduction in whole or part without express
written permission is strictly prohibited.
Articles are the opinions and experiences of
other people and we do not necessarily approve,
agree with, and/or condone those opinions.
6
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
Free “Law Line” Still Going Strong After Five
Years
When: December 1, 2014
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Navigating legal issues can be intimidating for a
lot people. For residents of Montgomery County
who have legal questions, a Law Line is offered as a
free community service for legal assistance on the
first Monday of each month (unless that date is a
Federal holiday, for which Law Line is offered on
the second Monday). This free public service is a
project of The Woodlands Bar Association (WBA)
in conjunction with the Montgomery County
United Way. The WBA’s volunteer attorneys are on
the line at 281-645-6344 from 5 to 8 p.m. to provide general legal information and guidance about
legal resources. The identities of the callers, as well
as the volunteer lawyers, remain anonymous and
all calls are confidential. For more information
about Law Line visit www.WoodlandsBarAssociation.com and click the “News” tab.
Grogan’s Mill Farmer’s Market
Date: Saturdays* - December 6, 13 & 20, 2014
Time: 8:00 a.m. – Noon
Where: 2230 Buckthorne Place, The Woodlands,
TX 77380 - Buckthorne Place & Grogan’s Mill
Road at Grogan’s Mill Village Center
Presented by Grogan’s Mill Village Association.
For more information call 713-992-5893. * (Except
for some holidays)
Kids Night Out!
When: December 12, 2014
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Where: The Woodlands Township Recreation
Center, 5310 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
Admission: $30 Resident, $35 Non-resident,
$5 sibling discount.
Kid’s Night Out has tons of games, arts and crafts
and extra special activities each month! Children
should wear comfy clothes so they can play and
get wild! Dinner included. Ages: 4 – 10. For more
information call 281-210-3950.
Deck the Halls, Christmas Tree Creations
When: December 19, 2014
Time: All Day
Where: The Woodlands Township Recreation
Center, 5310 Research Forest Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77381
Admission: **$60 Resident Family, $70 NonResident family
Gather the family for festive fun! Make ornaments and decorate a take-home 4-foot tree! Includes hot cocoa and snack. **Pre Registration
is required. For more information call 281-2103950.
Christian Youth Theater Houston Mary Poppins
When: Friday, January 2 – 4, 2015
Time: Friday, Jan 2nd – 7:00p.m.; Saturday, Jan
3rd – 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.;
Sunday, Jan 4th – 2:00 p.m.
Where: Nancy Bock Center for Performing
Arts, 3800 S. Panther Creek, The Woodlands
Admission: $15 - Individual Online; $18 At-the-Door Price; $12 - Group Discount (20
ticket minimum)
Come and enjoy CYT Houston’s production of
Mary Poppins. One of the most popular Disney
movies of all time is capturing hearts in a whole
new way: as a practically perfect musical! Mary
Poppins delighted Broadway audiences and received nominations for nine Olivier and seven
TONY Awards, including Best Musical. Tickets
are available online at www.cythouston.org. u
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 7
A Seasonal Celebration
of Good Taste:
“South of the Border” Style
By: Brad Meyer
At A
Glance
El Bosque Mexican Grill
offers three great locations in
Montgomery County:
19073 Interstate 45 in Shenandoah
14543 Texas 105 in Montgomery
and their newest location at
2101 W. Davis in Conroe.
For more information, visit
www.elbosquemexicangrill.com
or call 936-321-9860.
8
If you have a hankering for great Mexican fare in Montgomery County, there’s
one name that stands out for great food,
friendly atmosphere, personable service
and good value.
For more than a dozen years, El
Bosque Mexican Grill has been serving up
great Mexican food from its trio of locations: in Conroe, Shenandoah and Montgomery. Patrons can dine in, carry out
or have a catered meal delivered to their
home, office or reception hall.
“We are doing a lot more catering
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
for business and corporate events,” said
Juan Rodriguez, owner of the growing El
Bosque franchise. “El Bosque has always
been a popular choice for quinceaneras,
private parties, receptions and special
events. The corporate community has
discovered people are tired of cold meat
sandwiches – they want something heartier and more flavorful.”
It’s hard to find a better option than
savory Mexican food to spice up mealtimes at social or business events. While
the catering experts at El Bosque can pro-
Juan and Ruby Rodriquez are the
owners of the El Bosque Mexican
Grill restaurants and Hacienda Mis
Padres Mexican Restaurant.
vide a wide range of Mexican specialties,
the number one request from the public
is for fajita buffets. In addition to the El
Bosque restaurants, Rodriguez also owns
Hacienda Mis Padres Mexican Restaurant
at 5104 W. Davis in Conroe.
“We can do beef, chicken, shrimp and
even veggie fajitas,” said Rodriguez. “Just
about everybody loves fajitas and all the
fixings.”
Part of the reason people love fajitas
from El Bosque is the restaurant’s commitment to quality. The kitchen crews arrive
early to prepare fresh food for group and
individual customers. The corn and flour
tortillas are made fresh daily by hand. All
of the ingredients are freshly prepared onsite to assure the best possible taste.
Have Fajitas,
Will Travel
The great taste of El Bosque
Mexican Grill is now available in your
home, office or reception hall. For great catering,
including food, serving equipment and staff,
visit www.elbosquemexicanrestaurant.com.
Continued on page 10 1
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 9
Evette Galvan, co-manager of the
Shenandoah El Bosque, puts the
finishing touches on the setup for a
private party.
Co-manager Jessica Santos
supervises food and service
at El Bosque Mexican Grill in
Shenandoah.
That’s true in all El Bosque locations,
including the newest restaurant in Conroe. The recently opened facility is much
larger than its previous location. Groups
can also take advantage of large, spacious
private rooms for parties and special
events in both Conroe and The Woodlands
area − and enjoy the great food for which
El Bosque is well known.
Service is another important aspect of
El Bosque’s catering operation.
“We don’t just drop of trays of food off
at the door,” said Rodriguez. “We provide
professional grade chafing dishes and
serving utensils; plates and silverware –
even tables if they need them. When the
meal is over, we’ll pick up the serving
equipment and clean the area.”
And while corporate and special event
catering from El Bosque is increasingly
popular, the mainstay of the business is
family and friends coming to the restaurant for a great meal in pleasant surroundings.
“We’ve expanded the menu to offer
greater variety,” said Rodriguez, “especially for those that are more health conscious.”
Indeed, the new menu at El Bosque
Mexican Grill offers the best of both
The staff and management of El Bosque Mexican Grill invite you to celebrate the holiday season with them.
10
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
worlds. Fans of traditional Mexican cuisine can enjoy the same, flavorful specialties they have come to know and
love. The enchiladas, chalupas and fajita
platters have all the rich flavor one would
expect.
But the new menu adds a variety of
salads, steaks and other selections to
appeal to even the most finicky eaters.
Not in the mood for Mexican? No
problem.
“A lot of people are counting calories
or worried about their cholesterol,” said
Rodriguez. “We have added more selections so they have more options.”
In addition to taco salad, for example, El Bosque offers a garden salad, a
chicken tender salad and a chicken Caesar salad. Dieting was never so much fun
or delicious.
“We’ve also enhanced our seafood
menu,” said Rodriguez. “We have fried
shrimp, mahi-mahi and a Sponge Bob
Special – featuring shrimp, fish and crab
with onions and bell peppers.” And for
children, El Bosque offers a special kids’
menu – with a variety of Mexican and
American favorites that will appeal to
even the pickiest eaters.
Among the most popular dishes on
El Bosque’s new menu is the stuffed avocado – filled with beef or chicken fajitas
and white cheese, served with one taco
al carbon, pico de gallo, rice and beans.
For those who want to kick back and
relax with an adult beverage with their
meal, El Bosque offers a full bar with a
wide range of traditional and specialty
beers – domestic and international – and
the best brands of tequila available in
Texas.
You don’t need to have a margarita
to enjoy your meal at El Bosque, but you
have the option with a full bar and your
choice of top tequilas.
“Our ‘top shelf’ and ‘skinny’ margaritas are popular choices,” said Rodriguez.
“They’re two of the best in Montgomery
County.”
Dine in, carry out or have great food
delivered for your next corporate meeting, social gathering or special event.
From small executive events to groups of
300 or more participants, El Bosque has
you covered.
“We can customize the menu based
on your preferences and budget,” said
Rodriquez. “We’re pretty flexible on everything but quality.”
For information on the new menu or
catering opportunities from El Bosque
Mexican Grill, visit www.elbosquemexicanrestaurant.com or call 936-321-9860. u
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 11
A Commitment to Life
Diagnosing and
Treating the Number
One Cause of Death
in America
By: Brad Meyer
The holidays are a wonderful time of year in so many ways − but they
are also symptomatic of factors that can cut short the joys of life and
enjoyment of the world around us.
This is the time of year when stress, over-indulgence of food and
drink and a lack of exercise are all too common. Sliding into a pattern
of bad habits now and throughout the year can lead to cardiovascular
disease (CVD), the number one cause of death in both men and women in
America, according to the Center for Disease Control.
“Now is a good time to make a strong commitment to taking steps
to improve your health,” said Dr. Laura Fernandes, a leading specialist in
diagnosing and treating heart and cardiovascular disorders. “There are
new ways to diagnose and reverse existing and potential problems
that can lead to a longer, healthier life.”
Board certified in cardiology and internal medicine, Fernandes
has nearly 30 years of medical experience, along with specialized
training at the DeBakey Heart Center and Baylor College of Medicine.
Her practice treats a wide range of cardiovascular disorders including
chest and leg pain, vein insufficiency and other heart and vascular
problems.
Treatment is not a one-size-fits-all situation.
“It’s important to determine the exact nature of any potential
problems with the cardiovascular system before designing a treatment program,” said Fernandes. “Every individual is unique, so once
we understand the risk factors, we can work together on an aggressive plan to minimize or reverse the problem.”
While genetics are a factor in the risk of developing CVD, lifestyle
choices of diet, exercise and dealing with stress can play important
roles in overall health. Ignoring persistent problems won’t make
them go away.
“Most people realize if they are out of shape or are predisposed
to CVD, but many are afraid to make changes in their lifestyle because
Dr. Laura Fernandes is board certified in cardiology,
interventional cardiology and internal medicine.
12
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
At a Glance
Board certified cardiologist Dr. Laura Fernandes
sees patients in Conroe, Huntsville and her new
office suite at 920 Medical Plaza Drive in The
Woodlands. For information, call 832-562-3974.
they see it as overwhelming,” said Fernandes. “Big
changes start with small
steps.”
Fernandes assesses
a broad spectrum of characteristics in identifying
risk factors and developing a specific regimen to
improve cardiovascular
health − including overall
fitness, lipid management
and diet management. The
process is not necessarily a
radical change in lifestyle,
but a reorientation toward
healthier goals.
Dr. Laura Fernandes is a specialist treating
“A lot of people don’t
a wide range of cardiovascular disorders.
realize how important
their lifestyle is in determining health until a major event occurs,” said Fernandes. “Some feel the
situation is hopeless and they can’t change their behavior.”
The first step in the process is understanding the nature of the
cardiovascular system and the unique, potentially problematic factors
an individual faces. From there a process is established that will lead to
healthier lifestyle choices.
The first priority in most cases isn’t fixing the body, it’s fixing the
mind, said Fernandes. The body is a reflection of a person’s experiences
and attitudes − both good and bad. Developing healthy lifestyle choices
can be done over time to reverse previous problems and set the stage for
improved health and vitality. In many cases, it’s the mind that sabotages
the body.
“American media overloads us with images of fast food and carbloaded foods that our bodies don’t need,” she said. “We are constantly
bombarded by food images and clever marketing that isn’t really beneficial to us.”
How we see ourselves can lead to self denial about the reality of our
situation or feelings of hopelessness that we are powerless to effect a
change. Rather than wait for a life threatening event, Fernandes recommends adopting habits that support individual health.
“Start with two minutes a day − maybe as simple as walking around
the house − but do it regularly,” said Fernandes. “You’ll be amazed how
much better you feel.”
Changes on the inside can lead to changes on the outside, she said.
Continued on page 14 1
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 13
The nuclear camera located on site provides sophisticated imaging
capabilities to stress tests and other diagnostics.
“Patients tend to be weak after a serious event and require specialized care to restore their strength and functionality,” said Fernandes.
“It’s very rewarding to work with patients to get their heart stronger and
allow them to return to a more normal way of life.”
Facing up to fear and taking positive steps will help emotionally as
well as physically.
“Aging is a normal part of life; sickness is not,” said Fernandes. “We
owe it to our friends and family to be active, healthy, vibrant and a good
role model. It’s not just about what you say; it’s about what you do. The
holidays are a perfect time to make real resolutions for the future − and
act like your life depends on them.”
Board certified cardiologist Dr. Laura Fernandes sees patients in
Conroe, Huntsville and her new office suite at 920 Medical Plaza Drive in
The Woodlands. For information, call 832-562-3974. u
Office staffer Michelle Aguilar provides a friendly, personable
welcome to patients of Dr. Laura Fernandes.
It’s especially important as people get older and are more prone to potential problems.
“Age is a stage of life,” noted Fernandes. “As we get older, it’s
important to make an effort to recognize warning signs and take better
care of ourselves. The benefits are a longer, healthier and more fulfilling
life.”
Occasional or chronic pain in the chest or extremities, for example,
can be a warning sign of vascular problems, according to Fernandes. Restricted blood flow that can lead to problems ranging from discomfort to
a life-threatening condition can often be treated with diet, exercise and
medications. In some situations, Fernandes employs stents for vascular
intervention. Patients who have experienced serious CVD, hypertension,
high cholesterol or who have experienced a heart event like congestive
heart failure, require greater attention.
14
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
Medical assistant Megan Null helps coordinate medical procedures
for patients of Dr. Laura Fernandes.
of travel, be cognizant of the duration of your journey. Gauge how much your pet eats and drinks according to the length of the trip. If you’re traveling
by train, find out in advance if there are stops when
you and your pet can get out and get relief.
Prodigy Insurance Group, LLC wishes you,
your family (pets included) a very safe and joyous
holiday! u
Holiday Home Security and Traveling With
Your Pets
6110 FM 1488 Suite 100
Magnolia TX 77354
We have a new larger office to keep up
with Prodigy Insurance Group’s growth.
Here at Prodigy our number one priority is
our customer- YOU!
It will be our pleasure to exceed your
expectations of price, service and
Insurance expertise! Please come visit us!
As we continue to grow and expand our
business, please remember without your
kind referrals and support we would not be
such a success. Prodigy Insurance Groupappreciates your business!
Porter office is now by appointment only,
please feel free to give us a call and we
will meet you in Porter.
Open house date to be announced soon!
H O M E • AU TO • L I F E
COMMERCIAL
N
1488
Ln
Magnolia
Egyp
t
Make Sure Your Pets Travel Well For The
Holidays
If you are gearing up to travel and have pets
at home, you’re probably considering their holiday
options, perhaps a dog sitter, cat spa or kennel. If
you just can’t bear leaving your furry friends behind, you’re in luck! With the following tips, you
and your cuddly companions can be on your way
— via car, plane or train — in safety and comfort.
• Pre-travel honesty. Before you consider
making Fido your backseat driver or your wingman, consider whether he will feel safer en route
or at home. Some pets simply don’t like to travel,
while others are more versatile.
• Hit the rails. If you’re traveling by train,
plan ahead. Make sure pets are allowed on the
train and find out what rules apply. Also, ensure
your pet can stay with you in the passenger compartment, versus needing to be placed in cargo.
• Comfort your four-legged friends in
flight. Before you book your flight, make sure the
air carrier allows pets in the cabin or if they need
to ride in cargo. Research weight requirements
ahead of time, and check the airline’s website for
additional regulations.
• Pack their bags with care. Pack a travel bag
for your pet, just as you do for yourself and your
family. Consider items like food bowls, leashes,
treats and favorite toys, as well as immunization
records and identification tags.
• Put the pedal to the metal. If you have a
choice, travel by car. This way you can stop as frequently as necessary for potty stops and feedings.
• Avoid accidents. Regardless of your mode
29
78
Make Home Safety a Priority While You’re
Away For The Holidays
The holidays can be a great time to get out
of The Woodlands, to visit family you rarely get to
see, hit the slopes or flee to the beach. Regardless
of how you spend your time away, you need to ensure your house stays safe while you’re gone.
A house left empty can be an opportunity for
burglars, so before you pack your bags, prepare to
protect the stuff that’s staying at home in Texas.
At Prodigy Insurance Group, we want to
make it a little easier for you to get out of town
with peace of mind and return to everything you
left behind, so here are some pointers for prepping
your home before you travel.
Lock it up. Check and double-check that you
have locked all the doors and windows.
Check under the mat. If you store an extra
key outside your house, remove it. Instead, give
the key to a trusted friend or neighbor in case
someone needs to enter in an emergency.
Communicate. Inform a friend or neighbor
that you will be away. Ask them to keep an eye on
the house, and give them a way to reach you to report any suspicious activity. But don’t communicate your absence on social media!
Forego deliveries. Make sure to stop delivery
of packages, mail, newspapers, and anything else
that could pile up on your porch. Ask your trusted
friend or neighbor to pick these items up every
other day.
Remove temptations. Do not leave wrapped
gifts or expensive electronics visible through windows and doors.
Prodigy Insurance Group,
LLC is excited to announce
our new location!
Research Forest
Dr.
Magnolia
6110 FM 1488 Rd Suite 100
Magnolia, TX • 77354
The Woodlands
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 15
Protecting Lake Conroe’s
Water Quality
The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) has been monitoring the water
quality in Lake Conroe since the lake was
originally built in 1973. During that time,
many things have changed, but one important thing has stayed the same – the
water quality in Lake Conroe has remained
very good.
The water quality report card for our
region is contained in a document produced by the Houston-Galveston Area
Council (HGAC) as part of its Clean Rivers
Program (CRP). The document is called
the 2014 Basin Highlights Report, and it
can be found at www.h-gac.com. As you
can see in Table 1 taken from the Report,
Lake Conroe recently received a “five
frog” rating. While the rating has a humorous note to it, the important thing to note
is that Lake Conroe continues to receive
strong reports year after year related to
water quality conditions.
Table 1. In this summary table from
the HGAC 2014 Basin Highlights Reports,
blue boxes represent parameters that are
“improving,” brown boxes are “degrading,” and white boxes represent no significant change. The numbers in the table
represent the percent of total stream “segment length” (or shoreline miles) that had
samples that were “of concern” for each
parameter.
As mentioned above, while overall
water quality has remained basically the
same, a number of things have changed
with regard to Lake Conroe’s water qual-
Table 1
16
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
ity, and those things relate to the strategies used for monitoring and protecting
water quality.
SJRA’s early water quality monitoring program consisted primarily of a
voluntary set of basic parameters that
were tested on a monthly basis through
a partnership between SJRA and the City
of Houston. The primary parameters
were dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature,
hardness, ammonia, nitrogen, biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids,
iron, manganese, total organic carbon,
sulphates, and total phosphorous.
Over the years, sampling technologies improved allowing for more accurate results and more cost-effective sampling programs. The list of parameters of
interest also increased greatly.
In addition to the parameters listed
above, the following is a PARTIAL list of
the parameters that we currently test for:
specific conductance, turbidity, alkalinity,
color, UV-254 (related to organic carbon),
total Kjeldahl nitrogen (related to organic
nitrogen and ammonia that can promote
algae growth), E. Coli, fecal coliform,
metals (including silver, mercury, cadmium, nickel, arsenic, barium, lead, copper,
etc.), pesticides, herbicides, Giardia, MIB
and Geosmin (related to taste and odor),
organic compounds, and volatiles.
In addition to an aggressive moniContinued on page 18 1
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 17
toring program, SJRA
is also in the process of
developing a formal watershed protection plan,
which is a coordinated
framework for implementing water quality protection
and restoration strategies.
The watershed protection
plan is like a menu of options
for protecting water quality with an associated costbenefit analysis for each
menu option. Working with
a group of local stakeholders, including representatives from around Lake
Conroe, SJRA is working to determine which
menu options, or strategies, make sense for
implementing here
on Lake Conroe.
The first step in
development of the
watershed
protection was “characterizing” the watershed,
which identifies potential pollution sources. We
have mapped the on-site sewage facilities (septic systems), sewage treatment
plants, sewage lift stations, all major
stormwater outfalls that dump into the
lake, and much more. After reviewing the
watershed characterization, the stakeholder group has spent many months
learning about water quality protection
strategies. Eventually, the stakeholder
group will recommend certain strategies
to be considered by SJRA’s board of directors for implementation.
Almost certainly, one of the major
strategies will be public education and
outreach because many of our own personal behaviors can have a significant
impact on water quality. Good examples
include over-fertilization of our lawns and
over-use of herbicides. Other strategies
being considered include an improved
program for ensuring proper septic system maintenance and enhanced requirements for storm water runoff from new
developments.
Our goal is to have the watershed
protection plan in place by June, 2015.
You will be hearing more in the months
to come. For more information on the
watershed protection plan, please visit
www.sjra.net. u
18
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 19
‘Tis the season of holiday gatherings, gift giving, and decor galore! Although our furry family
members may not have to stress about what gifts
to buy, party planning, store hours, or traffic...
they may feel very stressed because we are, not to
mention the big green twinkling tree towering in
the corner of the living room. As we kick off this
holiday season, here are a few holiday tips to keep
your furry loved one safe and maybe a little less
stressed.
Since I just mentioned the big twinkling tree,
let’s start there. While everyone loves the smell of
a beautifully decorated tree, sometimes the water
under the tree becomes just another conveniently
located water bowl. You may think it’s the tree’s
sap that’s harmful and contaminates the water, but
it’s actually the fertilizers the tree absorbs before
being cut that can cause real harm. So this year, try
placing your tree in a large metal or ceramic pot,
base and all. This will not only make it easy for you
to water, but keep thirsty companions away.
In keeping with the theme of the decorated
tree, let’s go into those beautiful decorations that
dangle and look oh-so tempting to most of our
furry friends. Our kitties
seem to be the most dazzled
by what seems like a tug of
war game between the shiny
piece of tinsel and the big
green monster. If they win,
though, this often leads to
a trip to see me for surgery
to remove what was swallowed. So if you have a
curious and playful kitty at
your house, it’s probably not
a good idea to use the ribbon and tinsel.
Not that our canine
companions discriminate,
they often find the ball all
the way at the top of the big
twinkling tree that is teasing them and they must
play with it! I have seen plenty of lacerations from
them finding out it’s really not a shiny new tennis
ball! So, make sure your tree is standing securely
and the shiny tennis balls stay out of reach.
It’s also a good idea to keep wrapped-up yummy treats from under the tree, even the ones meant
for them. Their keen sense of smell usually leads
to them opened prematurely.
Aside from the tree, the Poinsettia is another
holiday favorite that is commonly used in our holiday decor. This beautiful plant has sure had a lot
of media hype over the years! The truth is that it
takes a significant amount of this plant to be consumed to reveal symptoms such as vomiting and
diarrhea. Not that I’m suggesting you chop some
up to serve on a plate to your furry companion, but
you can use them as part of your holiday home decor with a little less worry. Just remember to keep
them out of your little omnivore’s reach.
Kissing under the mistletoe is a long-lived
holiday tradition, but holly and mistletoe berries
are very toxic to our furry companions and would
definitely warrant a trip to my office or the emergency clinic. So, let’s keep this tradition to the us
and maybe hang a biscuit for your furry little ones.
Lets talk a little bit about the stress of the holidays and how it takes a toll on our loving companions. I see several cases of stress related diarrhea
around this time of the year and it not only takes
a lot out of our furry friends, it adds stress to your
already busy lives. Helping your pet feel more at
ease around this time of the year is really easier
than you may think. Here are a few steps you can
take to help you and them have a happier holiday.
• Give them their own space. If your companion feels a little overwhelmed by the stress
of the party, let them have a dark, quiet room to
themselves. Turn on some quiet soothing music to
help drown out the noise and let friends and family
know that room is off limits and why. I’m sure they
will understand since they more than likely have
pets of their own.
• Try not to change up their diet too much.
I know it’s very tempting to give your furry friend
a little treat, but to an already stressed and upset
tummy, you may end up causing more harm than
good. If you read my article last month (http://
docklinemagazine.com/images/magazine/2014/
nov/DLM-TWnov2014.pdf), there’s a lot of holiday snacking they should avoid anyway. So, keep
20
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
Y
to their routine and diet, as it could really help everyone in the long run.
• If you have family members staying with
you, let them know your companion’s routine.
If anyone is taking medication, make sure they
keep it up and out of harms way so sniffing noses
aren’t tempted to try Grandma’s heart medication.
It’s also a good idea to let family members know
that table food is off limits! Friends and relatives
may look at you and think to themselves “You’re so
mean!” but they don’t have to clean up the mess or
take the time out of their schedule to bring them in
to see me. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Keeping their collar with proper identification and microchips up to date is also very important. In all the hustle and bustle of the family,
your furry friend can very easily make it out the
door undetected. No one wants to spend the holidays heartbroken and posting lost and found signs.
Well, folks, I hope I make your holidays a little easier this year, if not, a little safer. I would like
to mention one last thing...never give pets as gifts
unless it has been fully discussed with the recipient. There are so many loving pets in shelters and
rescues that would love nothing more than to have
a home for the holidays. Nothing is more devastating than to see so many of them end up back in
shelters or rescues because they were unexpected
or impulsively acquired. If you have made the decision to add a loving furry friend to your family,
please reach out to a rescue group or shelter. They
have so much love to give too!
Happy Howlidays from all of us at Windvale
Pet Hospital!
TOTTu
2015 Dockline Ad 11.14.14 HALF PG.pdf 1 11/14/2014
10:09:19 AM
Your New Year’s Resolution will have to wait!
Thursday, January 29, 2015
4:00 – 9:00 PM
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
& Convention Center
One Night, One Price, One Fabulous Feast!
Enjoy mouth-watering appetizers, entrees, desserts,
pastries and beverages from some of the area’s
finest restaurants, caterers, bakeries and beverage
companies. Your ticket includes food, beverages
and festivities.
Get Your Tickets Today!
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door.
Ticket packages are available for discounted rates!
Purchase your tickets online or at
The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce,
select Woodforest Bank locations, The Woodlands Mall
and the Market Street Concierge Booth.
www.tasteofthetown.org
PRESENTED BY
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 21
New District Website
Features
Hidden Gems!
By: Marlisa Briggs, Education/Public Awareness Coordinator, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District
Did you know that “Black Friday” 2013
was that holiday season’s first billion-dollarplus online shopping day? Total online
purchasing for that day totaled $1.2 billion
(a 15% increase from the previous year).
The Black Friday shopping trend is just one
example of how we turn to the Internet for
nearly everything, including helping our kids
with math homework when we’ve forgotten
how to solve those alegbraic formulas.
We at Lone Star Groundwater
Conservation
District want to be Montgomery County’s
source for groundwater and conservation
information, so our website needed to step
up to the task.
The District conducted an internal review
of our website, realizing it contains a lot of
valuable information, however it was a little
tricky to find.
For this reason, we recently launched a
redesigned site with the purpose of being
clean, simple and to the point. This is
especially important when viewing a
website from a mobile device.
Our hope is that you explore the new site
for yourself, but let’s take a look at some
highlights:
will be even more utilized in the spring
and summer. Before the warmer months
are upon us, we wanted to ensure the
recommendations are easy to find.
Now you can click on the green icon on
our front page, and it will take you straight
to the week’s recommendations.
Currently, we post watering guidelines for
eight Montgomery County locations, but
plan to add additional sites in the future.
Well Applications and Reporting
Well Applications
and Reporting
If you are a permittee, or need to register
a water well, we’ve made it easier for you.
Simply click on the blue icon, also on
the front page, and you will be taken to
a page that has links to all the forms and
documents you need. Our goal is to make it
as easy as possible for you to register with
the District.
GIS Map of Montgomery County
Wells
This powerful tool has always been on
our website, but you had to know just
Weekly Watering Recommendations
How Much You Should
Water This Week?
We recently launched a program that
provides weekly watering recommendations
based on the previous week’s rain,
combined with evapotranspiration numbers.
This has been a great tool this fall, but
22
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
where to look. Now it can be found under
“Resources/Maps”.
Once you access the map, you can choose
to see exempt wells, non-exempt wells,
the county line, water lines, sewer lines,
groundwater conservation districts, river
authorities, cities, and MUDs, just to name
a few.
Also, when looking at the wells, you can
select individual wells to learn more about
them, and can even measure the distance
between two wells. The map even has
options to show FEMA floodplains and
topography.
Educational Information
Our “Just for Kids” page provides the
basics on water, but also has links to
some really fun games and activities!
We start off our page by explaining the
water cycle and showing a graphic that
depicts the distribution of the earth’s
water. Did you know out of all the water
throughout the globe, only 2.5% of that is
freshwater? Check out our kids page, even
if you’re an adult; odds are you’ll learn
something new!
Also in our kids’ section are links to
other valuable water-related websites,
some geared towared the very young, all
the way up to high-schoolers.
Meetings and Minutes
Our monthly board meeting schedule,
along with the corresponding minutes,
can still be found under our Board of
Directors tab.
You will also find updated board photos,
as well as information about GMA
14 meetings.
And finally, if you want to see the latest
happenings at the District, our most
recent announcements and blogs are
scrolling on the front page, and they
are also on our “News Releases” page.
It’s our hope to provide the most current
information on groundwater and
conservation in Montgomery County
for the public in a way that’s easy to
access and understand.
Take a moment to check out the new
site at www.lonestargcd.org.
The Lone Star Groundwater
Conservation District was created by
the 77th Legislature in 2001 to protect
and manage the groundwater resources
of Montgomery County. Lone Star works
to maintain a balance between protecting
the rights of private landowners and the
responsibility to conserve groundwater. u
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 23
Presents
Look Out, The Herdman’s
Are Coming!!
By: Carolyn Corsano Wong
Photos: Michael Pittman Images
Head for the hills; The Herdmans are almost here!! The hilarious story of how the Herdmans turned their town
upside down takes the stage of the historic Crighton Theatre when STAGE RIGHT presents the comedy holiday classic:
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Dec. 5-21. The Herdmans are six scrawny children (Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude,
Ollie and Gladys) who are notorious delinquents in their community. Among other things, they lie, steal, smoke cigars
(even the girls!), and hit little kids. The kids basically raise themselves. Their father walked out when the youngest was
two years old, and their mother works double shifts at the shoe factory.
The story is narrated by Beth Bradley, a girl in Imogene Herdman’s class. Beth’s brother, Charlie, unwisely lies to
Leroy Herdman, saying that he doesn’t mind Leroy stealing his dessert at school because Charlie gets all the snacks
he wants at Sunday School. This leads to all six Herdmans showing up at church the next Sunday for the first time in
their lives.
Beth’s mother Grace is put in charge of the Christmas pageant when the original leader, Mrs. Helen Armstrong, falls
and breaks her leg. The announcement for the auditions happens to be on the day the Herdmans show up at church,
and, avid movie fans that they are, the Herdman’s volunteer (and threaten) their way into all six of the main parts.
In spite of the Herdmans never having heard the Christmas story before (and wanting to change the script so they
can hunt down the evil King Herod) and in spite of never making it through a complete rehearsal, the show does go on
and turns out to be, as everyone says, the best Christmas pageant they have ever seen. We think you’ll agree!
We have a very large cast to bring this wonderful story to the Crighton stage for
your enjoyment. Director Brenda Storseth has assembled a cast
of folks that have graced the Crighton stage for many years, and
those new to the theatre:
Continued on page 26 1
Run for
your lives;
it’s the
Herdmans!
24
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
Montgomery County
Choral Society
presents
presents
This project is supported by funds from the City of Conroe Commission on Arts and Culture & ExxonMobil
Music for
Choirs,
Strings, Piano
& Organ
with the choirs of
First United Methodist Church-Conroe
4308 West Davis
936-756-3395
www.mcchoral.org
www.fumc-conroe.org
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 25
Beth Bradley.................. Lauren Ferro
Grace Bradley............... Cristy Campobella
Bob Bradley................... Bob Galley
Charlie Bradley.............. Bradley Rice
Ralph Herdman............. Andrew Mathieson
Leroy Herdman.............. Cole Smith
Imogene Herdman......... Maddie Rodriguez
Claude Herdman........... John Wallace
Barton
Ollie Herdman............... James Pate
Gladys Herdman........... Lucy Barrera
Alice Wendleken............ Elena Yanez
Maxine........................... Brooklyn Spikes
Elmer............................. Kolby Hughes
David............................. Palmer Smith
Hobie............................. Cash Fournier
Beverly.......................... Lena Marlo Clarke
Mrs. Slocum................... Katie Kelly
Mrs. McCartthy.............. Tiffany Rutledge
Mrs. Armstrong.............. Wendy Albright
Mrs. Clark...................... Tina Lockhart
Reverend Hopkins......... Craig Campobella
Firemen......................... Phil Clarke,
John Barton
Angel Choir
Cordelia Barton, Piper Lout,
Avery McGoveran, Annie Tenhet
Shepherds
Jackson Glover, Stephen Twinney
Choir
Alik Brisby, Hannah Glover, Abby Harrison,
Joy Jones Luce, Allison Rodriguez,
Dominique Roman, Sarah Shingler, Allyssa
Smith, Ally Spottswood, Emili Stowe, Alysa
Yanez
As with every STAGE RIGHT show, we
highlight a need in our community and then
throw a spotlight on an organization that is
helping with that need. We are once again
partnering with The Salvation Army to share
some Christmas cheer with those less fortunate by bringing an unwrapped gift to be
donated to low income senior citizens thru
the Salvation Army’s Senior Holiday gift program. Personal care items will be greatly
appreciated. We will have a collection box
in the lobby of the Crighton during the run of
the show.
SHOW DATES & TICKET INFORMATION:
December 5-21, 2014 , Friday & Saturday nights at 8 pm and three Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Tickets are available at 936441-7469 or www.stage-right.org. Tickets
can also be purchased at the Crighton Theatre box office. The historic Crighton Theatre
is located at 234 N. Main St. in downtown
Conroe, TX.
Bring Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa
and especially the kids. Nothing amuses
children more than watching other children
be absolute stinkers on stage! We hope
you’ll join us to see The Best Christmas
Pageant Ever! u
26
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
Clear Direction for Your Retirement™
by Craig Wear, CFP®
Tame the Beast!
I’ve written several articles about the bitter-sweet
of accumulating large amounts in your 401k or
IRA account. The single biggest challenge I deal
with regarding my retiring and retired clients
is this issue. If you have saved well and have
significant amounts in those type of before tax
accounts there may very well be an uncomfortable tax drain in your future; I can guarantee that
there is one coming for your beneficiaries. The
question is ‘what to do about it?’
Three or four issues back in this magazine, I
wrote of the ‘Retirement Traps’. They were all
traps that ensnare the retiring man and woman
with the deadly grip of taxes during their life,
in their income and upon their death. The short
term feel-good of saving on our yearly tax
returns winds up biting us in unthinkable ways
just at the time in your life when we want to
begin enjoying them. We can reason all we want
and from several vantage points about saving
taxes now and enjoying the benefit of building
deferred earnings. If you can create the result
of a tax-balanced financial portfolio, it is my
opinion that you’ll enjoy the fruits of your lifelong labors to a much greater degree.
long term care coverage is that the premiums
are not guaranteed and eventually will increase.
A relatively new financial product uses a special
cash value life insurance contract to guarantee
that long term care premiums never increase
and that there is value later in case there were no
nursing home expenses. If you have an IRA that
you’re never going to spend down, another strategy would be to make annual shifts from the IRA
into something like this. You will pay taxes now,
but you’ll receive tax free benefits for long term
care and your heirs later. Otherwise, every distribution from your IRA for those expenses creates
added tax liability at a time when life is already
complicated.
3
Create a legacy for your kids: When you
die and leave your big IRA to your kids,
they get to pay taxes on it and then do
whatever they will with it. So a more creative
strategy I’ve used of late is to ‘harvest’ the IRA
annually and shift that gift to your kids into a
vehicle that creates a totally tax free retirement
income for the kids when they retire. This takes
10 or 15 years for the buildup to be significant,
but it’s a great way of getting to see the benefit of
your family charity while you are living. It is also
a great strategy to use when the kids are not very
financial savvy – they aren’t saddled with hundreds of thousands or millions to figure out how
to manage and you’ll have some assurance that
they’ll have income for later in life.
4
Stop making it worse: The longer you wait
to act, and the more you put into these
before tax accounts, the worse the problem
becomes.
Each of these ideas needs to be considered as
part of an organized game plan for your future.
Please don’t run out and buy financial products before you develop an organized detailed
strategy that works uniquely for your life.
Please call if I can assist with putting that on
paper with you.
Call us at 936-449-5952 or log onto
www.CraigWear.com.
Craig Wear, CFP®, is an investment advisor
representative of Game Plan Advisors, Inc.,
a registered investment advisor. ©
This large 401k, or ‘Beast’, will have amazing
power over your life. During retirement every
dollar you want to spend from these accounts for
your enjoyment will have a tax bill associated
with it – and perhaps at increasing tax brackets in
the future. At age 70 ½ you will be forced to take
sums of money and pay taxes on them. And at the
death of you and your spouse, your heirs will pay
taxes on the whole ball of wax.
1
Strategies for Taming the Beast
Harvest your tax bracket: Our progressive
tax system comes with tax brackets that increase the rate of tax as you receive more
taxable income. Many people are somewhere
in the middle of their current tax bracket each
year. That means that you could have withdrawn
‘some’ more money from your IRA (after age 59
½) and not paid at any higher tax bracket. The
obvious strategy here is to work with your tax
preparer and systematically, every year, take as
much as you can out of your IRA, even if you
don’t need to spend it. There are several vehicles
to re-invest into; oftentimes we like to see
folks make this shift into a Roth IRA where all
earnings/gains become totally tax free for your
life and your heirs.
2
Shift to a greater benefit: Who isn’t concerned about the cost of long term nursing
or assisted living expenses? Only those
who already have funds set aside or insurance
coverage for that. The problem with traditional
Learn how your future income
will be impacted even more.
our free report –
7 Tax Traps Hidden in Your IRA
Visit www.7TaxTraps.com/TaxCalculator
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 27
By: Joe Viser
The Players Theatre Company, Montgomery County’s oldest theatre organization, welcomes the Yuletide season with a
delightful new musical version of the Holiday favorite, “A Christmas Carol”. This
marks the first time this particular version
of the Charles Dickens’ classic has ever
been produced in the Conroe area.
The show features music by Alan Menken, winner of multiple Tony and Academy
28
Award awards for such favorites as Disney’s “The Little Mermaid “ and “Beauty
and the Beast” as well as “Little Shop of
Horrors”, and lyrics by the award winning
Lynn Ahrens (“Ragtime, “Suessical, The
Musical”). The show, produced by Radio
City Music Hall, was the Christmas musical at Madison Square Gardens for over
10 years. It was also turned into a popular
Hallmark Channel television movie star-
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
ring Kelsey Grammer
The story is a familiar one. Ebenezer
Scrooge (played by Jeffrey L. Baldwin) is
a prosperous curmudgeon who believes
personal wealth is far more valuable
than the happiness and comfort of others. With an infuriated “Bah! Humbug!”
Scrooge sums up his feelings of Christmas tidings and charitable giving, but
he’s forced to face his selfish ways when
three ghosts on Christmas Eve lead him
through his Past, Present, & Future.
Thanks to their guidance, Scrooge recognizes his faults and greets Christmas
morning with a cheerful “Happy Christmas” before spending the day reconnecting and sharing love with those that
mean the most to him.
All the other iconic Dickens characters are there as well - Bob Cratchit (Timothy Eggert) and his inspirational young
Continued on page 30 1
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 29
son, Tiny Tim (played by Players’ newcomer Jacob Sutton), and Marley’s Ghost
(Orvis Melvin). However, director Travis
Bryant says that this version retells the
story in a fresh, new way.
“The whole show is very much in the
style of modern Broadway musical,” says
Travis. “It is almost completely sung,
with very little spoken dialog. The music
spans a large number of styles, but is very
much like those fantastic Disney musicals
Alan Menken is famous for.”
In addition, there are new twists on
the story that add dimension and insight
to the characters. “For instance, during
the Christmas Past segment, we get to
see those incidents in Scrooge’s life that
caused him to become the hard-hearted
miser he is at the beginning. “ In addition, the three spirits who visit Scrooge
are introduced in a fun and novel way.
“Scrooge encounters them for the first
time much earlier in this version, and
their incarnations are quite symbolic of
who they will be when he meets them in
their spirit forms,” Bryant explains.
However, the core message of the
work has not been lost. “It’s gets to heart
of what Christmas is all about - faith,
love, compassion, and most importantly,
home and family.”
This production features one of the
largest casts to grace the Owen Theatre
stage in quite some time, adds Travis.
“We have many Players veterans as well
many new people from the community.
And children - lots and lots of children.”
While the scale of the musical is big, it
packs a great deal of storytelling into a
short amount of time, as it is a one-act
musical with a running time of about 90
minutes, a perfect length for the busy
holiday season.
The Players Theater Company production of “A Christmas Carol” opens
Friday, December 5th at the Owen Theatre in downtown Conroe, Texas. Friday and Saturday evening performances
begin at 8 pm and continue through December 20th. Three Sunday matinee performances will be held on December 7th,
14th and 21st at 2 pm. There will also be
one Thursday evening performance on
December 18th at 8 pm. For tickets or
more information, call the Owen Theatre
Box Office at 936-539-4090 or online at
www.owentheatre.com. u
30
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 31
What Does Health Mean
To You and Your Family?
The current view of health holds that if we
have symptoms, we are sick and if we are without symptoms then we are healthy. So much of
modern health care is geared toward getting rid of
symptoms. Some of the sickest people are symptom free. They just don’t feel anything. Their bodies are so consumed with toxins, stress and injury
(emotional and physical) that they have shut down.
So lack of symptoms does not necessarily prove to
be a healthy individual. Conversely, a person with
symptoms is not necessarily “sick.”
Many of the symptoms people experience are
actually signs that the body is healing, and abating those symptoms can interfere with the healing
process. For example, a fever is the body’s first line
32
of defense against infection. The temperature goes
up, which increases the body’s activity and signals
the immune system to essentially “turn on.” When
we take something to lower the temperature it
compromises the body’s natural healing response.
When we ingest something that the body considers to be toxic, nausea and diarrhea are healthy
responses. When a joint is injured, the body, along
with a host of inflammatory chemicals, gives us
pain to let us know to be careful, to avoid using
it and re-injuring it. It swells to provide a natural
splint to the area to protect the injured joint and
gets hot as the body increases the circulation to repair and heal the injured tissue. The runny nose we
get at the change of seasons is the body sluffing off
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
the old respiratory lining, much like the trees sluff
off their leaves and animals sluff off winter coats.
Every symptom our body gives us is a message. The body can only speak to us in two ways,
pain or pleasure, discomfort or comfort, ease or
dis-ease. When symptoms occur, when our body
is trying its best to communicate with us, do we
listen to what it is trying to say? Or, do we just try
to stop the symptoms?
For example, antibiotics remain the most
popular medical treatment for an earache, with
doctors reportedly writing 15 million prescriptions per year in the United States alone. It is estimated that at least half of the prescriptions are
unnecessary and ineffective for helping this problem. To add to that, most ear infections are viral
in nature so antibiotics, in many cases, will not be
effective in eradicating the problem. Quieting the
symptoms will most likely lead to a recurrence of
the symptoms later on. It has been shown that 80
percent of people with ear infections or earaches
get better without antibiotics within 48 to 72 hours.
Due to the widespread overuse of antibiotics,
drug-resistant germs have been reproducing rapidly, constantly evolving new levels of drug resistance. For over a decade our health leaders have
been sounding the alarm to doctors to stop writing so many prescriptions for antibiotics because
of growing drug resistance as well as serious health
risks to the user.
As these statistics are becoming better
known, people are seeking alternative treatment
to keep themselves as well as their family healthy.
Chiropractic is becoming more and more the popular choice.
Chiropractic is not the diagnosis or treatment
of any condition or disease. The focus of chiropractic is to reduce stress to your nervous system
so your whole body can function better. At Sandstone Chiropractic, we use techniques designed for
adults and children that are very gentle, effective
and safe.
It’s important to note that chiropractors are
not opposed to antibiotics when necessary, but the
chiropractic profession acknowledges that over usage is prevalent in our country and that the habits
of some prescribing doctors may not have caught
up with the latest research, or simply give-in to the
persistent demands of uninformed parents.
Health is not the absence of symptoms, as
sickness is not the presence of symptoms. Health
is a condition of wholeness in which all of your organs are functioning 100%. Symptomatic or not,
chiropractic care offers your body the best possibilities for better function, therefore better health.
For the overall wellness of you and your family, participate in all decisions when it comes to the
usage of antibiotics and seek other non-invasive
forms of care. Remember, it’s your body and you
have a choice. Most importantly, initiate healthy
lifestyle choices for your family and include regular chiropractic care as part of your family’s goal
towards wellness. u
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 33
GARDENING IN DECEMBER
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
From the entire staff at Lawn Ranger Company, we wish our readers a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! And we wish you the very best throughout
the coming year. Our offices will be closed December 24, 2014 through January 4, 2015. Have fun
with family and friends this Christmas season!
Make it special!
TROPICAL PLANTS
You’d think it wouldn’t be necessary to worry
about “winter protection” of our plants during the
relatively mild winters in this part of the country.
And it probably wouldn’t be necessary…IF we
didn’t have such a love for tropical plants. The fact
is that a large number of landscapes in our area
include tropicals – either in the ground or in containers. Occasionally we have temperatures that
dip cold enough to remind us of just how fragile
tender plants can be. Tropicals aren’t exactly “win-
ter hardy” plants.
Here is some good news: while the temperature may drop into the 20’s for a few nights and the
tops of the plants may get frost-bitten, the ground
generally doesn’t freeze in Southeast Texas. Therefore the roots and bulbs or rhizomes are generally
very reliable about coming back. Cannas, gingers,
caladiums, and amaryllis are examples of plants
that can be left in the ground if the soil drains
well. I would be careful about leaving them in the
ground in wet or poorly drained soils.
PROTECT YOUR PLANTS
You can help ensure the survival of the below-ground parts of your plants by placing several inches of mulch over the soil in the shrub
and flower beds. We recommend a 2”- 3” depth
in flower beds, and 3”- 6” around the base of
shrubs. Fine shredded pine mulch and pine straw
are among the better options. These products stay
loose and don’t pack, thereby improving their in-
sulating qualities.
Mulch may help keep the lower stems, crown,
and roots alive, but it won’t protect the uncovered
upper part of the plant. To protect the upper parts
of these plants when temperatures dip into the
20’s, consider covering them with canvas or fabric. Plastic is not recommended. It’s best to build a
frame to support the weight of the cover, and provide a heat source under the cover. A light bulb or
a heat lamp is most commonly used.
Another idea is to wrap the plants with miniature Christmas lights. Not enough heat is generated to cause damage to the plant, but it can make a
big difference in the plant’s survival. However, this
may not be practical in larger landscapes.
“Can I turn off my sprinkler system now?
Unless you’ve overseeded with rye-grass, lawns are
now quite care-free. And cooler weather and frequent rains will reduce the need for watering the
turf. However, I suggest you monitor the moisture
in the soil – not too dry, not too wet. And remember, flowers and plants might have watering needs
that are different from the turf grass.
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS
Thank you for continuing to send us your questions and comments. We can be contacted at our
offices at 281-681-1025, or through our web site:
www.LawnRangerCompany.com
“Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.
com/lawnrangercompany. Follow us on Twitter: @
lawnranger_walt. Check out a few videos at www.
youtube.com/lawnrangercompany. u
VOTED “BEST OF THE WOODLANDS”
2010, ’11, ’12, ’13, 14
Be Prepared.
Choose Honda.
Nothing Says Security Like A Honda Generator Get Prepared Now Before The Storm Arrives!
EU3000is
MSRP $2,329.95
$
Handi EU3000i
MSRP $2,599.95 †
†
1,999
††
• 3000 watts (25 A) of Honda
inverter 120V AC power
• Super quiet operation –
49 to 58 dB(A)
• Eco-Throttle ™ – Runs up to
20 hr. on 3.4 gal. of fuel
• Convenient electric starting
Brand New!
From Honda!
EU7000is
MSRP $4,499.95 †
$
3,999
$
2,299
• 3000 watts (25 A) of Honda
inverter 120V AC power
• Eco-Throttle ™– Runs up to
7.7 hr. on 1.56 gal. of fuel
• Convenient swing-up handle
for easy transport
• Lightweight – Only 78 lb.!
EM5000SX
MSRP $2,429.95
††
• 7000 watts of 120/240
(58.3/29.1A) power
• Fuel injected for reliable
starting and longer run times
• New push button starting –
no choke required
• Runs up to 18 hours at ¼ load
• Integrated folding handles with wheel kit
††
$
†
2,249
††
• 5000 watts 120/240V
• 120/240V Selector Switch
• Honda-exclusive iAVR
(intelligent auto voltage
regulation) provides 7,000
watts for 10 secs to start larger equipment
• Electric start (battery included) with recoil
back-up
Career Minded
Sales People
Wanted
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expanding and we need more
sales people.
If you are an energetic,
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call us today.
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†Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. ††Manufacturer’s Minimum Advertised Price. Please read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment and never use in an enclosed or partially enclosed area where you could be exposed to odorless,
poisonous carbon monoxide. Connection of a generator to house power requires a transfer device to avoid possible injury to power company personnel. Consult a qualified electrician. ©2014 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
34
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
713-858-7874
or email your resume to
walt@docklinemagazine.com
Why Do Hearing Aids Cost So Much?
Have you asked that question, too? Here’s a breakdown of what they cost and why
by Ian Cropp, AARP, October 3, 2014
Research accounts for a substantial portion of the
cost of hearing aids. — Corbis
Just as you can buy $3 reading glasses at the
supermarket, you can get a pair of hearing aids for
a few hundred dollars online or at a big-box store.
But if you’re looking to purchase a custom-fitted,
quality pair from an audiologist, you can expect
to pay anywhere from about $2,200 to more than
$7,000 a pair for devices with the latest tech, such
as the ability to wirelessly stream sound from your
television and link up to your smartphone.
According to a survey recently published by
the Hearing Review, the average price of a mid-level pair of aids hovers between $4,400 and $4,500.
Prices vary by region. At UCLA’s Audiology Clinic,
for example, the average price is $4,200, says audiologist Alison Grimes. Audiologist Janice Trent
says the average price is $4,000 at her suburban
Maryland clinic.
The same survey found that the average prices
of both high-end and mid-level aids have dropped
since 2005. The price of most budget-oriented aids
has remained steady.
No matter how you look at it, hearing aids are
expensive. So why exactly do they cost what they
do? Experts say you are not only buying a hightech device that requires extensive research, but
also likely paying for services from highly trained
hearing specialists during the life span of your
hearing aids.
On the manufacturing end, materials such as
microprocessors and microphones may be about
10 percent of the final cost for some hearing aids.
Research may account for as much as triple the
cost of materials.
“It is a substantial part of the price: All the
major companies have phenomenal research,” said
Patricia Kricos, an audiology professor at the University of Florida and president of the American
Academy of Audiology. Between electrical engineers, audiologists, computer programmers and
musicologists, an immense amount of technical
knowledge is required to produce these miniature
devices. Once made, the hearing aids must then be
marketed and sold, an expense that also includes
the cost of staff responsible for training the audiologists and other hearing specialists in their use.
Why are aids more expensive at hearing clinics
and other outlets?
At hearing clinics and other outlets, aids sell
for approximately 2-1/2 times the wholesale price.
Many factors contribute to the markup. When customers visit an audiologist in an office — where
rent and overhead can be 10 to 15 percent — they
spend time learning about their condition, going
over various products available and then getting
fitted — often requiring a hearing-test booth and
a sound box for calibration. These high-tech machines need to be replaced every few years and can
account for about 8 percent of the total cost.
But even before the customers walk in the
door, the audiologist needs to purchase licenses
and insurance, about 3 percent for some practices. Customers frequently return for adjustments,
cleaning and seminars, all of which take time and
are usually included in the price of the hearing aids.
Salaries can account for 10 to 20 percent of the cost,
depending on the size and scope of the practice.
Like any business, there are marketing activities to attract and retain customers, accounting for
5 to 10 percent, as well as continuing-education
requirements and staff training, which make up 5
percent of the total. It all adds up quickly for the
audiologist, who in a good year may take home
from 10 to 15 percent of a practice’s revenue — and
that’s before taxes and interest payments.
“You can buy a hearing aid anywhere, but it
will only be as good as the person fitting it,” says St.
Joseph, Mich., audiologist Gyl A. Kasewurm.
Using the average price of $4,400 for a pair
of hearing aids, we break down the costs below.
Please note that these figures are estimates drawn
from a variety of sources, including discussions
and correspondence with audiologists, manufacturers and industry experts.
Overall cost — $4,400
Costs for the manufacturer:
• Materials — $440
• Research — $1,320
Other retailer costs:
• Rent/overhead — $473
• Testing/diagnostic machines — $352
• Licenses/insurance — $132
• Salaries — $660
• Marketing — $330
• Continuing education/training — $220
• Potential profit for the retailer (pretax) — $473
Approximate product cost for retailer — $1,760
Additional reporting by Matt McMillen, a freelance
health writer living in Portland, Ore. u
DO YOU HEAR
WHAT I HEAR?
HEARING AIDS
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+ Price Match Guarantee‡
If not, get your hearing checked before the holidays.
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As the strongest network of Hearing Care Professionals in the country, with over 300 centers nationwide, we are committed
to helping more people stay connected to all the joyful sounds this holiday season through better hearing,
better care and the best state-of-the-art digital hearing aids.
Take advantage of these special offers all month long:
• Connect Hearing Price Match Guarantee‡
• 0% Financing†
• Free Hearing Consultation
Stay Connected. Call or visit us today!
1.888.4CONNECT • connecthearing.com
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Most insurances accepted including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Aetna & Cigna
CONNECT HEARING
FORMERLY BEAL HEARING AID CENTERS
FORMERLY AUDIOLOGY AND HEARING AIDS OF THE WOODLANDS
Houston – 350 N Sam Houston Pkwy E, Ste 255
Houston – 3924 N Shepherd Dr
Humble – 1702 E First St, Ste F
Kingwood – 2665 Royal Forest Drive, Suite B140 (*Lyric Center)
Montgomery – 18001 Hwy 105 West, Suite 101 (*Lyric Center)
The Woodlands – 9001 Forest Crossing, Suite E (*Lyric Center)
1-888-644-2568
*Provider of Lyric, the world’s first and only 100% invisible, 24/7 wearable, hearing aid offered at this location.
*Certain types of hearing loss may require a hearing aid model that is not appropriate for the Two Week Free Trial. See center for details. Lyric excluded. ‡ As a member of the Connect Hearing network, if we don’t already have the lowest price, we will match any valid competitor quote or advertised price on
hearing aids within 60 days of purchase. † 0% financing offer is subject to credit approval. If at the time of your application you do not meet the credit criteria previously established for this offer, or the income you report is insufficient based on your obligations, we may not be able to offer this financing.
Complimentary hearing screening and consultation required. Some restrictions apply. Offer expires 12/31/14.
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 35
The following is provided for informational
purposes only and is not, nor should it be construed
as legal advice.
One problem that may arise after the death of
From our Family to yours...
a loved one is how to gain access to the decedent’s
life insurance policies or Will if they were kept in
a safe deposit box.
There are two basic approaches to accessing
a decedent’s safe deposit
box which are authorized
by the Texas Estate Code.
WITHOUT A COURT
ORDER:
If the institution
(bank) which has leased
the safe deposit box to
the decedent is willing to
work with you, §151.003
of the Texas Estate Code
authorizes an examination of a decedent’s safe
deposit box without a
court order.
The person or bank
Merry Christmas
. Gayla Wigs
*
from
*
Gayle Stan-Bucher
Owner
27327 Robinson Rd. Ste 1
Oak Ridge North, TX
281-782-1555
GaylaWigs.com
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014
.
*
(off Woodlands Pkwy & I-45)
36
or other institution which possesses or controls a
document delivered to them by the decedent for
safekeeping or who leases a safe deposit box to a
decedent may permit certain persons to examine
the document or the contents of the safe deposit
box.
The persons who may be authorized without
a court order are the surviving spouse of the decedent, a surviving parent of the decedent, a descendant of the decedent who is at least eighteen
(18) years old or a person named as executor of
the decedent’s estate in a copy of a document that
that person possesses which appears to be a Will
of the decedent.
The examination should be conducted in the
presence of a person who possesses or controls the
document or who leases the safe deposit box. In
the case of a bank safe deposit box, the examination should be conducted in the presence of one of
the bank’s officers or the officer’s designated representative.
If the bank or other entity that leased the safe
deposit box to the deceased person cooperates in
permitting examination, what happens next?
A document found in the safe deposit box
which appears to be decedent’s will may be delivered to the clerk of the court that has probate jurisdiction in the county where the decedent resided
or to the person named in the document as the
executor of the decedent’s estate. The bank should
make a copy of any document appearing to be a
will and should retain that copy for four years.
A document which appears to be the deed to
a burial plot in which the decedent is to be buried
or which appears to give burial information may
*
*
be turned over to the person conducting the examination.
Before any of the documents referenced may
be delivered by the bank or other entity holding
the documents, they must be requested by the person making the examination. The person making
the examination must then issue a receipt for the
document(s). Est.§151.004(c).
WITH A COURT ORDER:
If the bank or other institution controlling
the safe deposit box will not voluntarily offer inspection under the guidelines outlined above, then
what are the steps involved in obtaining a court
order permitting examination? This question is
answered in Est. §151.001-151.002.
A petition should be filed with the judge of
the court having probate jurisdiction of the decedent’s estate. (It is probable that you will require
the services of an attorney to perform this task on
your behalf.)
The judge may order a person or entity to
permit a representative named in the court’s order
to examine a decedent’s documents or safe deposit
box if, at a hearing before the court, it has been
shown to the judge that:
1. The person so ordered is in possession of or controls documents sought or that they
leased the safe deposit box to the decedent; and
2. The documents or safe deposit box may
contain a will of the decedent, burial policies or life
insurance polices.
After a court hearing and declaration by the
court, the representative named in the court’s order shall examine the decedent’s documents or
safe deposit box in the presence of the judge or an
agent of the judge and an officer of the bank or an
agent of an officer of the bank.
The judge may order the representative appointed by the court to take charge of the will,
deed to burial plot or life insurance policies and
deliver them to the proper persons to review each.
Obviously, the quickest and easiest manner to
examine a safe deposit box is with the lawful cooperation of the bank or other entity that leased the
box to the decedent.
This attempt at cooperation should always be
tried first and a court order sought only when efforts to achieve cooperation have failed.
Depending upon the exact relationship and
the persons involved, it may be advisable to avoid
the entire procedure by giving trusted persons permission to access the safe deposit box long before
the death of the decedent. Typically, this can be
accomplished by adding the name(s) of trusted
person(s) to the bank’s applicable records and advising such trusted persons that your will, insurance policies, burial policies, etc., may be found in
the safe deposit box.
James Bright is admitted to practice before the
Federal Courts for the Southern District of Texas
and Eastern District of Texas as well as all of the
Justice Courts, Probate Courts, County Courts at
Law, District Courts, Courts of Appeal and Supreme
Court for the State of Texas. He maintains an office in Houston and by appointment another at 208
McCown Street in the heart of the historic City of
Montgomery. Contact may be made by telephone
(936) 449-4455 or (281) 586-8277. For more information about wills or probate in Texas, please seewww.houstontxprobate.com. u
Dock Line Magazine - The Woodlands Edition December 2014 37