Sienna Plantation News

May 2012

List your property

now!exterior painting:

an investMent with an iMMediate return

packing and storage tips

ORALCANCERSCREENING:

NOTHING TO FEARSWING

IMPROVEMENT GUIDE

June 2011

PRSRT STDU. S. POSTAL

PAIDPERMIT 40PEARLAND TX

POSTAL CUSTOMER

PRSRT STDECRWSS

U.S.POSTAGEPAID

EDDM Retail

16655 Southwest FreewaySugar Land, Texas 77479MethodistSugarLand.com

WOMEN’S HEALTH SEMINARJoin us for a Women’s Health Seminar about Gynecological Disorders and Minimally Invasive Treatments. Presented by Dr. Katherine Diase, Dr. Duc Le, Dr. Jagjit Khairah and Dr. Jane Starr.

Tuesday, May 22 • 6 p.m.Conference CenterRefreshments • Door Prizes

RSVP: 281-274-7500 [email protected].

NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVOR’S DAY

Celebration and LuncheonMethodist Sugar Land

Cancer Center welcomes cancer survivors, caregivers,

community leaders, physicians and anyone passionate about

the cause to join us as we honor America’s cancer survivors.

Friday, June 1 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.Conference Center

RSVP to Frances Goerlich

281-274-7930 or [email protected].

VEIN SEMINAR

Join us for a seminar presented by

Dr. Ulises Baltazar about Venous

Insufficiency: causes, symptoms, who

is at risk, treatments and prevention.

Wednesday, May 16 • 6 p.m.

Conference Center

Certificate for Free Vein Screening

Refreshments • Door Prizes

RSVP: 281-274-7500 or

[email protected].

MEDICAL SEMINARS & EVENTS at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

LIST YOURPROPERTY NOW!

PACKING ANDSTORAGE TIPS

EXTERIOR PAINTING: AN INVESTMENTWITH AN IMMEDIATE RETURN

LANDSCAPING INCREASESPROPERTY VALUE

SUPPORT OURMILITARY FAMILIES

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MONTHLY DEPARTMENTS:7 COMMUNITY PROFILEYOUR VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVEWANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU

8 DEAR DOCTOR SPONSORED BYUT PHYSICIANS AT SIENNA VILLAGE

9 MARSHALL YOUR MONEYLEAVING YOUR HOME OUT OFTHE RETIREMENT EQUATION

13 MARKETING MATTERSWHERE DO CUSTOMERS COME FROM?

15 ASK THE EXPERT

CONTENTSFEATURES

Sienna Plantation News is an advertiser-supported publication wholly owned by CommunityMagazines LLC, publishers of custom publications for narrowly focused audiences. There isno affiliation with Sienna Plantation, Sienna Plantation Residential Association Inc. orJohnson Development.Send correspondence to: Community Magazines LLC, 2245 Texas Drive,Suite 300, Sugar Land, Texas 77479To advertise in Sienna Plantation News, contact Denise Williams:(281) 566-2527 or [email protected]

ON THE COVER: Darnell L. Fuller with RE/MAX Fine Propertieswas awarded membership in the prestigious RE/MAX ExecutiveClub for Top Producers for closing more than $2.5 million intransactions during 2011.

TOP: Methodist Sugar Land Cancer Center welcomes all local cancersurvivors, caregivers, community leaders, physicians and anyonepassionate about the cause to join them as they honor the survivorsliving with a history of cancer in America today.BOTTOM: Experience the magic of Broadway as the Fort BendSymphony Orchestra presents award-winning show tunes on Sunday,May 20th at the Stafford Centre. Tickets may be ordered atwww.fbso.org or by calling (281) 276-9642.

The Real Estate issue

Neck and back pain is the second-leading reason people take sick leave in the United States. It

contributes to disability, lost productivity in the workplace and the need for healthcare services. In fact, lower back problems are one of the most expensive health issues facing our country today. At Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, the Spine and Cranium Program is offering Spine Camp as a way to help address these issues.

Spine Camp is a unique and innovative patient rehabilitation and recovery program to help speed recovery for individuals who have undergone thoracic, cervical or lumbar surgery. The goal of Spine Camp is to get these patients back to their active lifestyles more quickly. It creates a positive environment for patients to get up and start moving soon after surgery, which research shows leads to quicker recovery. It emphasizes wellness and encourages family and friends to participate throughout the patient’s hospital stay.

Spine Camp uses a multimodal approach, including early education, optimal operational techniques and instant progressive postoperative mobilization. The key to Spine Camp is informing and preparing the patient for a speedy recovery. Education begins about 10 days before surgery and includes information on the program’s methodology and expectations. Preadmission testing is performed to allow for a more efficient flow when the patient arrives on the day of surgery.

The Spine Camp program enables patients to play a more active role in the pre- and postoperative portions of their treatment and follows standardized clinical pathways which have been shown to result in better outcomes. As a result, Spine Camp participants are able to get back to living and enjoying an active life more quickly than through traditional rehabilitation.

“Spine Camp is an integral part of a dedicated spine care program,” says Ajay Bindal, M.D., a neurosurgeon affiliated with Memorial Hermann Southwest. “Patients have the comfort of knowing that their patient care is being delivered by a team of nurses that have experience in spine care. Familiarity with the facility, staff and postoperative care helps lower the patient’s anxiety, and patient satisfaction is elevated as a result.”

For more information on Spine Camp, call 866.201.BACK (2225).

Ajay Bindal, M.D., a neurosurgeon affiliated with Memorial Hermann Southwest

Spine Camp Speeds Patient Recovery

• 7www.siennaplantationnews.com

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Effective January, 2012,every village in SiennaPlantation is fullyrepresented by a

Village Representative, alsoknown as a VR or Village Rep.The Village of AndersonSprings is represented byMichalyn DeMaris, RonaldKapche and GrapesonWilson; Shipman’s Landing:Brian Galle, Amanda Gates,Paul Soloman, and JenniferMajor; Steep Bank East: JuneBjercke, Teri Clayton and WillWhitehouse; Steep BankWest, including the Village ofBees Creek: Rusty Brooks andLauren Travers; Waters Lake:Bill Lackey, Chris Fultbright,Necah Stewart Furhman andKara Stanicic.

The primary responsibilityof a Village Representative isto provide input from ownerswithin their Village to theSPRAI Board and staff onvarious issues relating to thecommunity and theassociation. On a monthlybasis, VRs attend the SPRAIBoard meetings and,periodically, meet on othermatters.

When residents havequestions for their VillageRepresentative, one emailaddress automatically deliversthe message to allrepresentatives for that village.Additionally, the VRs haveaccess to an electronicmessenger service throughSiennanet which allows themto provide residents with

Your Village Representativewants to hear from you

timely, up-to-the-moment updates on villageactivities that may impact their immediateneighborhoods.

This feature, along with email, is thequickest and most direct method ofcommunication between the VillageRepresentative and their residents. This featurewill also be used in the event of an emergencythat may affect one Village or all within theSienna community.

Also through Siennanet, the Village Reps

will be able to utilize the Sienna E-Newsletterto update residents on calendar-drivenactivities that may come up suddenly, or in-between the release of the monthly residentialnewsletter.You can reach your Village Representative byutilizing the email addresses listed below.Anderson Springs:[email protected] Bank West/Village of Bees Creek:[email protected] Bank East:[email protected]’s Landing:[email protected] Lake:[email protected]

For more information please contact yourVillage Representative or SPRAI at(281) 778-0778.

8 • www.siennaplantationnews.com

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MARSHALL YOUR MONEY

Leaving Your Home Out ofthe Retirement Equation

By James Marshall

Plummeting prices andincreased borrowing cut U.S.home equity by more than

60% during the Great Recession.Although the recession officiallyended in June 2009, home priceshave not recovered.1-2

In this type of market, it’s notsurprising that many homeowners whoborrowed against their home equityhave found themselves owing more

than their homes are worth.Homeowners with a second mortgageare more than twice as likely to be“underwater” than are homeownerswith only a first mortgage.3

The good news is that housingvalues typically recover fromdownturns. But no matter which waythe market heads, it’s probably not agood idea to count on the value of yourhome to help fund your retirement.

Potential Risks of DownsizingAlthough moving to a less expensive home could

be appropriate for some people, the falling marketof the last few years demonstrates that you may notalways be able to sell your current home at the priceyou expect. Transaction fees and moving expensescould also leave you with substantially less cash thanyou were anticipating. It might be more realistic toview downsizing or moving to a different area as apersonal choice rather than a way to pay forretirement. If you place too much emphasis on yourhome equity in your retirement strategy, it couldlead you to underestimate how much you may needto save for a comfortable retirement.

Shifting into ReverseA reverse mortgage may allow homeowners age

62 and older to borrow against the value of theirhomes. They don’t have to pay back the loans duringtheir lifetimes for as long as they continue living inthem. This strategy may be appropriate for someretirees, but it also involves substantial fees – andthe amount you can borrow is typically much lessthan the actual value of the home.

Because a reverse mortgage loan must be paidback after you stop living in the home for one yearor more, it’s likely that either you or your heirs mayeventually be forced to sell it, risking exposure tothe uncertainties of the housing market.

Your home might have substantial value, but italso provides shelter and may have sentimentalvalue. You may be in a stronger position to makedecisions about your home if you leave it out of theretirement equation.

If you would like to discuss your retirement planor other financial concerns, please call my office toschedule a complimentary consultation. ■

1Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 2011;2National Bureau of Economic Research. 2010;3The Wall Street Journal, June 8, 2011

Marshall Wealth Management, LLC ▪101Southwestern Blvd, Suite 136 ▪ Sugar Land, Texas77459 ▪ (281)903-7311www.marshallyourmoney.com ▪[email protected]


I recently checked my blood pressure at thesupermarket, and my blood pressure read-

ing fell in the Hypertension range. What do I donow?

One in four Americans have been diag-nosed with Hypertension – about 74 mil-

lion, therefore it is a very common problem thatone has to be aware of.

Hypertension is the medical term for eleva-tion in blood pressure. The blood pressure is theforce by which blood is being forced from theheart to the arteries of the body. The blood pres-sure is noted by a top number – called the sys-tolic pressure and a bottom number called thediastolic pressure. Different actions make yourblood pressure go up or down normally. For ex-ample, if you run for a bus, your blood pressuregoes up. When you sleep at night, your bloodpressure goes down.

Hypertension is defined as blood pressurethat is greater or equal to 140/90.

The higher the blood pressure - the higher therisk of causing damage to the end organs of thebody such as the brain, heart and kidneys. Hyper-tension is a serious medical problem and has beenlinked to the risk of having a heart attack, stroke andkidney failure. Hypertension is often called the“silent killer” because there are usually no symptomsuntil there has been major damage to the body. Theonly way to make the diagnosis of hypertension is tocheck your blood pressure regularly.

While a solitary elevated blood pressure read-ing is useful to identify a potential risk of hyper-tension, we recommend at least two differentabnormal readings taken during relaxation tomake the diagnosis. Based on this fact, it is ad-visable that you follow up with a physician for arepeat blood pressure measurement to confirmthe diagnosis and obtain the appropriate treat-ment if elevated.

DEAR DOCTOR sponsored by

Dr. Simbo Chiadika is a cardiologist at the UT HealthScience Center at Houston. She provides cardiologyservices at UT Physicians at Sienna Village. For more in-formation on cardiovascular consultations and imag-ing please call 713-486-1200.

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Q

A

After two years of marketuncertainty and sluggish homesales, 2012 is starting offstrong. Home resales have

reached the highest levels in the past fiveyears. If you are thinking about sellingyour house, now is the best time to list itand get it sold.

For the past several years, forcesoutside the laws of supply and demandhave influenced home sales. In 2010, theFederal government offered homebuying incentives designed to stimulatedemand and help pull the country out ofrecession. To capitalize on the resultinghome buying frenzy, builders boostedproduction which increased inventorylevel issues. People planning to buyrushed into the market and purchased inthe first four months of the year,resulting in sluggish sales for theremaining eight months of 2010 andcontinuing into the new year. Throughthe first part of 2011, the housingmarket continued to experience a TaxCredit hangover that pushed housingactivity into the second half of 2011.

List Your Pro


Bolstered by strong job growth andthe Federal Reserve’s commitment tokeep interest rates low, home buyingmomentum has continued into 2012.According to a monthly survey of 25local builders representing 72% oflocal housing activity conducted byMetrostudy, the leading provider ofprimary and secondary marketinformation to the housing and relatedindustries, for the first two months ofthe year, traffic is up 12% and sales areup over 30%.

In comparison to 2011, at thebeginning of 2012, Months of Supplywas 7.3 versus 10.1 months. A 6month supply is considered a balancedmarket between buyers and sellers.Thus far, 2012 home sales areoutpacing last year while inventory isnot significantly increasing whichmeans the market could start to seeincreasing home prices as it flips froma “buyers” market to a “sellers”market. Historically, in the yearsfollowing a recession, home pricesincreased on average 18%.

An increase in demand, however,will lead to increased supply. That’swhy the best time to list your house isbefore your neighbor puts up a ForSale sign, and builders add more singlefamily homes and rental units into themarketplace. In the short term, theaddition of apartments into a marketdecreases the pool of potential homebuyers. In the long run, however, aflourishing rental market stimulateshome sales as investors purchase low-priced inventory and renters growweary of annual rent increases and

conclude buying is a better use of thefunds they have allocated for dwelling.If you are thinking of selling yourhome, now is an opportune time.

Selling your home is one of thelargest financial decisions you willmake. So, second to making the deci-sion to sell, choosing a broker andagent to represent you during yourhome sale journey is the most impor-tant decision. Statistics show thatRE/Max agents average more salesthan other real estate agents. They arebetter qualified to set the right price forthe homes they list, better equipped tomarket those homes, and more likelyto find clients engaged in the homebuying process in a shorter period oftime.

As a RE/MAX agent and aSienna Plantation area resident, Ibring a wealth of real estateexperience to themanagement of yourresidential,

commercial, leasing, or propertymanagement needs throughout FortBend County and beyond. My salesteam, the Fuller Group, is experiencedat managing you through every type ofsales situation, including out-of-staterelocation, commercial space leasing,the selling of distressed and foreclosedproperties, as well as multi-family

transactions. With the heartof a teacher, we walk you

operty Now!


through the process, hand-lingevery client with the most delicatecare, assuring all decisions aremade in the best interest of allparties.

Questions you should considerasking a potential agent are:1. Is selling real estate a full time

or part time job for them?2. What was their most difficult

listing and how did they get theproperty sold?

3. What are their personal salesstats? How much property tothey list? How much gets sold?In what time frame?

4. How accessible will they bethroughout the process?

5. Are they experienced sellinghomes in Sienna Plantation?

6. How will they determine howto price your home?

7. How will they market my home?

If print, what publications andwith what frequency will adsappear? How will the web, mobile,social media, open houses, etc. beincorporated into the strategy?

8. What is their commission?9. For how many months is their

listing agreement?10. What do they suggest you do

to prepare your home for sale?As six year full time RE/Max

agent, native Houstonian andSienna Plantation area resident forthe past five years, I would behappy to answer those questionsand more. Please give me a call toschedule a complimentary marketvaluation for your home. ■

RE/Max Fine Properties ▪ 4500 High-way 6 ▪ Sugar Land, Texas 77478 ▪(281) 802-7729 cell ▪ (281) 265-5533office ▪ [email protected]

Avoiding ForeclosureThe Federal government has implemented a numberof programs to assist homeowners who are at risk offoreclosure and struggling with their monthly mort-gage payments. These programs include:Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP):Lowers your monthly mortgage payment to 31 percentof your verified monthly gross (pre-tax) income.Principal Reduction Alternative (PRA): Helps home-owners whose homes are worth significantly less thanthey owe.Second Lien Modification Program (2MP): If yourfirst mortgage was permanently modified under HAMPSM and you have a second mortgage on the same prop-erty, you may be eligible for a modification or principal re-duction on your second mortgage under 2MP.Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP): Ifyou are current on your mortgage and have been unableto obtain a traditional refinance because the value of yourhome has declined, you may be eligible to refinancethrough HARP.Programs are also available for unemployed homeown-ers, for those whose mortgages are “underwater”, andfor homeowners who want to transition from home-ownership. Visit www.hud.gov for more details.

Smoke alarmssave lives

Information provided by FEMA

Several studies have concluded that whenworking smoke alarms are present, the chanceof dying from the fire is cut in half.

Smoke alarms should be tested at least oncea month. All smoke alarms have a test buttonthat you push to check out the entire alarm, in-cluding its sensitivity (how much smoke it takesto set it off). If the testing mechanism does notwork properly, the alarm should be replaced im-mediately. Never use open flame devices to testan alarm.

Smoke alarms need no maintenance otherthan changing batteries (in those that have bat-teries) and an occasional vacuuming of dust orcobwebs. Smoke alarms have a useful life ofabout ten years. At that age they should be re-placed, even if they seem to be working. Thiswill assure that the alarm will be working whenyou need it. ■


Where do customers comefrom?

More often than not, fromyour own back yard.

According to research con-ducted by Google, 80% of retailtransactions happen within 15miles of a person’s home. So, itmakes sense for the majority ofyour marketing budget to be al-located to media that focuses onreaching the potential buyerswho live closest to your business.Some very effective marketingefforts, however, don’t cost any-thing at all.

Ninety seven (97%) of con-sumers gather shopping infor-mation online. And the majorityof those searches occur onGoogle. Yet, 85% of Googlebusiness listings have not beenclaimed. Adding your listing toGoogle Places is free, andGoogle doesn’t accept paymentto include particular listings orsites in their search results.Google “Google Places” tolearn how to claim your listing.You don’t need a storefront oran office. Mobile businesses andpeople who office from homecan specify a service area insteadof an address during the sign upprocess.

Encouraging satisfied cus-tomers to post positive reviewsof your business on sites likeSugarLandNetwork.com is an-other great, no-cost method ofpromoting your business. Onehundred percent (100%) of thebusinesses referred and re-viewed on SugarLandNet-work.com come to them fromlocal residents who freely sharethat information. Since 2005,

Where do customers come from?By Denise Williams

SugarLandNetwork.com has been “Neigh-bors Helping Neighbors.”

If your business is located within 15miles of Sienna Plantation, publicationslike Sienna Plantation News are a great wayto reach a targeted, highly valued customersegment. To determine whether a SiennaSaver or a content marketing program in

Sienna Plantation News is an effective in-vestment for your business, please give mea call.

Community Magazines LLC ▪ 2245 TexasDrive, Suite 300 ▪ Sugar Land, Texas 77478 ▪(281) 566-2527 ▪[email protected]

MARKETING MATTERS


8817 HWY. 6, STE. 470 MISSOURI CITY, TX 77459

281-778-6801 WWW.SCOOPPILATESHOUSTON.COM

Registration for the 2012 Texas SummerReading Club (SRC) will begin on Tuesday,

May 29, and continue through July 28, at all FortBend County Libraries (FBCL) locations. Childrenfrom infancy to early teens are invited to come tothe library to read a lot of great books, see someexciting programs, and join in some fun activitiesto kick off a great summer!

This year marks the 54th Anniversary of the TexasSummer Reading Club for children. The theme forthis year is “Get a Clue… at the Library!” Childrenare encouraged to read as many books as they can andthey will earn rewards based on the total number theyread or have read to them, or on the total number ofhours they spend reading.

“Research shows that children who are read tofrom an early age have a larger vocabulary and betterlanguage skills when they start school. They also havea greater interest in books,” says Susan King,Coordinator of Youth Services at Fort Bend CountyLibraries. “Children who want to have books read tothem are more likely to want to learn to read. You cangive your child a life-long advantage if you start nowto develop a love for books and reading. Children whoare good readers are usually the most successfullearners. That’s why we invite parents to enroll theirchildren, as young as possible, in the Summer ReadingClub. Reading is a good habit to start!”

Participants may register at any Fort Bend Countylibrary, or they may register online by going to theFBCL website (http://www.fortbend.lib.tx.us) andclicking on the “Youth SRC Sign-Up” image, whichwill become available May 29.

Upon registering, participants will then have theirown online page on which to record their books.Reading rewards can be redeemed beginning Monday,June 4. For the first five books read, the child willreceive a bookmark. The rewards continue with apencil for 10 books, a certificate for 15 books, and areading trophy for the first 20 books read. For every 20books read, the participant’s name will also be writtenon a paper dinosaur to be displayed in that branchlibrary. The last day to pick up awards is August 25.

There is no charge to join the Summer ReadingClub, and it is open to all children, regardless of thecounty of residence. The program is sponsored by theTexas State Library, Fort Bend County Libraries, andthe Friends organizations that support the countylibrary system. ■

For more information, call the library’s PublicInformation Office at 281-341-2677 or the Siennabranch library at (281) 238-2900.

2012 TEXAS SUMMER READINGCLUB FOR CHILDREN

Fort BendCounty Toll

Road ExtensionThe EZ Tag only toll road, Fort

Bend Parkway, is located one milefrom the main entrance of SiennaPlantation and will cut minutes off

your commute to and from theMedical Center and other locations in the Houston area. Near the endof this year, the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority plans to break

ground on an extension from Texas 6 to Sienna Parkway.

SiennaPkwy

University Blvd

The Galleria

Sugarland TownSquare Reliant Stadium

Greenway

Downtown

MedCenterGreenway

Sienna Springs

Sienna Plantation Boundaries

LJ Parkway

Sienna Ranch

Riverstone Boundaries

Colony KidsPre-k Graduation at 7 p.m. on May 23rd

Summer Open House from 7 to 9 pm on May 9thFree Registration until June 4th.

Visit www.colonykids.com for more information orcall (281) 499-2454

Panel of Experts

Dr. Sonhui ChungEye Connection

Dian Ginsberg, MD, FACOGWomen’s Specialty Healthcare

Stacy Leyk, M.A., CCC-SLPSpeech and Learning Center

Simbo Chiadika, MDUT Physicians

Dr. J. Michael BennettFondren Orthopedic Group, LLP

Dr. Brian SmithSienna Plantation Animal Clinic

Judy FeinsteinThe Towne Creek School

Faith Atai, MDUT Physicians

Terrace ClaytonRiver Pointe Church

Brenda FosterColony Kids

Lauren Ta, MD, FACOGWomen’s Specialty Healthcare

Father John RooneySt. Angela MericiCatholic Church

Sugar LandMethodist Hospital

Darnell FullerRe/Max Fine Properties

Ask the Expert

Zondria McKinneySienna Dance

Indu DudwalEuropean Wax Center

Denise WilliamsContent Marketing

Joni StingerTown Square Office Suites

QI’m 4 months pregnant and we’regetting the house spruced up for the

baby. Should I be concerned aboutbreathing in the paint fumes?

APregnancy brings with it joy,excitement, smiles and... fear! Safety

concerns usually rank above fashionchoices in the quest for the perfect nursery.Questions about cleaning products, fabricdyes and paint fumes are common in theobstetrician’s office. Good news... yourbody is designed to protect your babyduring pregnancy. Any foreign substancethat enters your body will be filtered by yourliver, detoxified and never enter your baby.

Continued on page 19

Chris BergerSugarLandNetwork.com

James MarshallMarshallWealthManagement, LLC

Philip and Tracey GriffinScoop Pilates andPersonal Training


Few people would put moving ontheir list of favorite things to do. Yet,according to US governmentstatistics, about 75% of Americans

moves an average of once every five years.Though nothing may make moving fun,here are a few tips to make packing andstoring your belongings a little less stressfuland more efficient.

Packing Tips• Start packing two weeks in advance ofyour moving day.

• It is always easier to stack boxes that havethe same dimensions.

• Utilize smaller boxes for heavier items.• Utilize larger boxes for lightweight bulkyitems.Fill each box completely and compactly.

• Do not overfill or under utilize eachpacking box.

• List the contents of each box on a pieceof paper and attach the list to each box.

• Seal all boxeswith heavy duty packing tape.• Wrap all dishes and glassware indivi-dually in tissue or packing paper.

• Avoid packing fragile and heavy itemsin the same box.

• Make sure the boxes you use are able towithstand 20-30 lbs. without tearing orcollapsing.

• Wrap mirrors and pictures in separatecardboard boxes and be sure to markthem “FRAGILE”.

• Tape drawers shut when moving inorder to prevent them from falling out.Clothes, silverware and other smallitems can be stored in these drawers tosave space.

• If you are moving large appliances, notethat they can be utilized for additionalstorage space for non-fragile items.(Example: blankets, tablecloths, linen,etc.)

• Shovels, rakes, brooms, etc. should betied together and stored in emptygarbage cans.

• REMEMBER: moving is a great timeto get rid of excess items that younever use anymore.

• Don’t store unnecessary items.

Packing and Storage TipsProvided by Rocky Creek Self Storage


Storage Tips• Furniture: remove legs and disassemble to conserve

space. Wrap legs together with packing paper and tapethem to protective cover of the corresponding item.Place tables face down with legs pointing up if youcan’t disassemble its legs. Individually wrap cushionsand tape them together. REMEMBER: lay downcardboard on storage unit floor to protect furniturefrom scratches.

• Large Appliances and Equipment: if your refrigeratoror freezer is not properly cleaned and dried beforebeing stored, you run the risk of them being damageddue to both moisture and mildew. REMEMBER: leavedoors slightly ajar when stored.

• Lawn Mowers: drain all gasoline and oil from all smallengines.

• Metal: wipe a few drops of oil on tools and bicyclesfor protection against rust.

• Books and Files: pack important documents in fileboxes. Pack books flat to avoid damage to their spines.Don’t overfill boxes and fill extra space with tissue.Keep moisture out by lining these boxes with plasticsheeting on both the top and the bottom.

• Mattresses: wrap a plastic covering to avoid damage.

Storage Organization Tips• Lay down cardboard or skids on the floor of your unit.• Create a walkway inside your unit to allow for easier

access to all of your items.• Keep items that you will need to get access to more

frequently at the front of your unit.• Draw and label a map of where everything is located

in your storage unit.• For better ventilation, leave a few inches of space

between your items and the walls.• Stack similar boxes together.• Stack heaviest items on the bottom and lighter items on

the top.• Stack pictures and mirrors on their sides.• Disassemble table legs to save space.• Place mattresses on end so they stand straight up.• To protect items against dust, cover exposed items with

old blankets.• Store sofas on end to conserve space.• Always lock the door to your storage unit when leaving.

Rocky Creek Storage is the premier storage facilitywithin an easy drive of Sienna Plantation. Fromcomputer-controlled security gates to 32 securitycameras, we do everything possible to ensure that yourbelongings are safe while they are in our care. You haveaccess to your belongings from 6:00 am through 10:00pm 365 days a year. Twenty-four hour access is availableat the discretion of management.

We carry a complete line of boxes and packingsupplies. Our extra wide driveways allow 18-wheeleraccess throughout the entire property. We also offer freeuse of a truck with your move-in. And, with storage units

from 25 to 300 square feet, climatecontrolled and non climatecontrolled, we have a unit to meetyour needs.

Stop by during office hoursMonday through Friday from 9:00am to 6:00 pm; Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00 pm or Sunday from 1:00

pm to 5:00 pm and one of ourknowledgeable staff can help youmake the best choice for yourbelongings and your budget. ■

Rocky Creek Self Storage ▪ 7210Highway 6 South ▪ Missouri City,Texas 77459 ▪ (281) 499-8844www.rockycreekselfstorage.com

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Specializing inDisorders Of the Shoulder,

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281-633-0320 www.jmichaelbennett.com

One of the most cost-effectiveways to increase your home’sequity comes by the gallon.Whether preparing your home

for sale, or simply sprucing it up for yourfamily (and neighbor’s) enjoyment, notonly does a new coat of paint refresh thelook of your home, an exterior paint jobforces you to make necessary repairs thatleft unattended can lower your home’svalue. According to experts, an exteriorpaint job can reap up to a 200% plus re-turn on investment.

Painting the exterior of your home, how-ever, is a major undertaking. Keep the timeof year and outside temperature in mindwhen deciding the type of paint to be used.All surfaces must be cleaned and preppedwhich includes making minor repairs, scrap-ping peeling paint, sanding rough surfaces,and priming exposed raw wood or bare metal.Shrubs, flowerbeds, sidewalks and drivewaysshould be covered.

Estimate how much paint you need bymeasuring the house’s perimeter then mul-tiplying that number by the height of thehouse excluding gable ends. If your house

Exterior paint:An Investment with an Immediate Return

has gables, add two feet. Ifyou are using a different painton your home’s trim, subtracttwenty-one square feet forevery door and fifteen squarefeet for each window. Dividethe final number by the squarefoot coverage indicated on thecan of paint to determine howmany gallons you will need forone coat. The rule of thumbfor the trim paint is one gallonfor every six gallons of wallpaint.

Follow the sun on the dayyou paint and don’t get caughtin the middle of a sectionwhen they sun goes down.Otherwise, you may leave lapmarks. Be sure to practice lad-der safety. Screens and stormwindows should be removedand painted separately. Doorsare easier to paint if you re-move the knobs, latch plates,and door knocker. Do notpaint the hinges.

Or, to ensure you get thebest possible results, use anexperienced, professionalpainter. By hiring RothschildPainters and Associate Con-tractors, you can rest easy thatthe job will be done right. A+rated by the Better BusinessBureau, Rothschild Paintersuses name-brand paints likeBehr, Benjamin Moore, Pitts-burgh Paints and SherwinWilliams. And, with over 30years of painting experience,owner, Hal Rothschild, or oneof his expert craftsmen, hasprobably worked with everycolor on the list of neutral col-ors approved by Sienna Plan-tation Residential Association.


Rely on your common sense andfollow the directions on any productyou use. Latex paints are generallyconsidered safe while recommendedprecautions should be taken with oil-based products and solvents. Alwaysmake sure you have adequateventilation and if you are concernedwith future indoor air quality there aremany low emission and zero VOC(Volatile Organic Compound) paintsavailable. So embrace the nestingprocess - open the windows if youwant to help paint, stay OFF anyladders and enjoy the preparation foryour new arrival.

Answer provided by Women’sSpecialty Healthcare.(281) 220-2069

Continued from page 15

Ask the Expert

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Rothschild Painters and AssociateContractors take care of all the exte-rior painting prep work including:1.High-pressure hydro blast to clean

your house using a bleach additiveto kill mold and mildew. This high-pressure cleaning helps to peel offloose and chipping paint in prob-lem areas. This also includes allwood, brick, stucco, and rock areason the house, and all cement areas,such as driveways, sidewalks, thewalkway to the house, back patios,and decks.

2.As needed, all peeling surface areas

are hand scraped and sanded.3.As required, all previously calked

areas are re-calked, as are areasaround doors, windows and fasciatrim boards.

4.All new wood and bare wood areasare primed using an exteriorprimer/sealer.

5.Plants, concrete, cars, windows, doors,knobs, etc. are covered and protectedusing tape paper and plastic.

6.Carpentry including general repairs, sidingand replacement of rotten wood.

Painting the exterior of your homeis a big job. But it’s not rocket science.If you have the time, tools and talent,do it yourself. If you would like a com-plimentary quote from a painting ex-pert with a host of satisfied clientsliving in Sienna Plantation, please con-tact Hal Rothschild of RothschildPainters and Associate Contractors. ■

Rothschild Painters and AssociateContractors ▪ (281) 313-8272www.rothschildpainters.net ▪[email protected]


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According to The FloridaNursery Growers and LandscapeAssociation landscaping can:• Increase the resale value of aproperty by as much as 14%

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Landscaping Increases Resale Value

property value by 4.4%• Hedges can add 3.6% to property value• Plants that have been properly selected and placedcan lower heating and cooling costs by as much as20%. Each year, a single tree can remove around 26pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere andabsorb sounds waves.The following is a partial list of plant material con-

sidered appropriate for Sienna Plantation. Other plantmaterial may be used but priority should be given tothe plants from this palette. A complete listing of plantmaterials can be found at www.siennanet.com.

All exterior modifications must meet SPRAI guide-lines and/or be approved in advance by the Modifica-tions Sub-Committee. If you are considering amodification or have any questions related to modifi-cations, please contact SPRAI at (281) 778-0778.

All grass exposed to public view should be solid sod St. Augus-tine or Bermuda. Lawns may be over seeded with fescue or ryegrass maintained to a 2 ½ inch height. No gravel or rock of anysize or color is permitted to substitute for ground cover, mulch,or grass lawn when visible from public view.

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According to the Department ofDefense (DOD), military familiesmove 10 times more often than

civilian families. For military spouses whowork outside the home, finding a new jobis added to the burden of settling into anew home and community. Per a Febru-ary 2012 DOD report, the unemploy-ment rate for civilian spouses of activeduty service members is 26%, which isover three times the national unemploy-ment rate, though 35% of militaryspouses have at least a bachelor’s or ad-vanced degree.

The First Lady, Mrs. MichelleObama, and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of vicepresident, Joe Biden, have met withmilitary families, learned about theirsuccesses and challenges, and made ittheir priority to support them. JoiningForces is a comprehensive national ini-tiative to mobilize all sectors of societyto give our service members and theirfamilies the opportunities and support

they have earned. Only 1% of Ameri-cans may be fighting our wars, but weneed 100% of Americans to be sup-porting our troops and their families.Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden are asking

Americans to get involved in any waythey can. ■

To find service opportunities, pledgeservice hours, and send your messageof thanks, go to www.joiningforces.gov

Support our military families

In an ongoing effort, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden are highlighting issues that are of special importance tothe military families they have met with across the country.

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Canine Leadership ProgramFort Bend County Juvenile Probation

The Fort Bend CountyJuvenile ProbationCanine Leadershipprogram finds homes forabandoned Fort BendCounty dogs whileteaching important lifeskills to cadets whoattend the JuvenileLeadership Academy.The dogs are trained inbasic obedience andlearn a few tricks. Dogs are spayed/neutered,wormed, vaccinated and given heartwormpreventative courtesy of the Houston Humane Society.

Call Jackie Brady at 281-633-7370 with questions.Screening and adoption fee is handled by Fort Bend

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Sienna Plantation News

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history of cancer

americas cancer survivors

community leaders

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texas drive

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