Sara Goss, Realtor, Houston Bay Area, Texas

The City of League City, Texas announced it will be receiving $77,345 in funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds should be received on or about July 20, 2009 and are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding.

Funds may only be applied to projects eligible under current HUD regulations that meet one or more of the following objectives:

· Preserve or create jobs (permanent, seasonal or part-time)

· Assist those most impacted by the recession

· Provide investment needed to increase the area's economic recovery

· Provide investment in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure projects that will provide long-term economic benefits

· Minimize or avoid reduction in essential City services

· Foster National energy independence by employing alternative energy sources or making current systems more energy efficient

With $70,345 of the money it receives, the City of League City plans to install sidewalks along Park Street from Walker to Main, and construction is to include the installation of energy-efficient lighting. $7,000 of the funds received will go to administering the program and managing the construction.

You may view a copy of the draft Amendment on the City's website, the front desk of City Hall and at the Planning and Development Department in Amegy Bank (303 E. Main). Residents had until 5:00 PM June 2, 2009 to comment on the planned use of funds, and all comments are included anonymously in the Amendment prior to delivery to HUD for approval.

For further information or updated information on these U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided funds and their use, please call the city: 281-554-1080.

If you live in the greater Houston area, you may have seen the free magazine, Houston House & Home. I look forward each month to picking up the latest issue at Kroger or Randalls Supermarket, in the free magazine section at the entrance of certain stores. I can't believe it's FREE! Houston relocation new residents, please look for it, it's good looking with beautiful photographs on glossy paper and is a good read geared towards residents of the area.

This magazine, dedicated exclusively to the home, is full of resources for the Houston area homeowner. Articles range from how-to information and resources, remodeling transformations, inspiring designs in all styles, and inspiration for the homeowner - inside and outside the home. Trends and techniques are discussed in regular columns written by leaders in home interior design, remodeling and landscape architecture. History is not forgotten, features include historic neighborhoods and the preservation of the past in the present.

Over 65,000 copies are distributed areawide each month. I save my copies.

©2009 Sara Goss All rights reserved
____________________________

I am a full-time real estate agent serving the Houston area. I help sellers sell their houses and I help buyers locate a home that is right for them.

SARA GOSS
281-748-4380
HatmakerGroup.com GMAC Real Estate
www.har.com/saragoss

Have you just purchased a home or relocated to League City? Residents of League City, Texas are fortunate to have garbage pick-up twice a week. Recycling pick-up is once a week and items to be recycled should be placed in the red bins that are provided by the recycling contractor.

Check with your neighbors or call AmeriWaste at 281.585.3200 for garbage/recycling pick-up days on your street. Cans and bins should be placed at the curb. If you do not have one of those red recycling bins, you may pick one up at City Hall, 300 West Walker St., the front desk receptionist can direct you. They don't always have them so you may want to call first at 281-554-1000. If you see that digital sign with League City activities a little south of Main Street on Highway 3 you are at the right place. City Hall is next to the City Library.

Items Accepted for Recycling:

PAPER: Newspaper, cardboard (flatten it), magazines, corrugated paper and packaging materials. Basically all sorts. I keep a bag just inside the garage for junk mail and every week it gets full!

CANS: Aluminum, tin and steel cans are accepted.

METAL: You can recycle aluminum foil and some scrap metal.

PLASTIC: Look on the bottom of your item for numbers 1 through 7. Some acceptable containers include milk, water, juice, shampoo and detergent bottles or jugs, soft drink bottles, and polystyrene food containers, cups and plates.

DO NOT Place GLASS items in the red bin. Employees manually load the contents of your bin into the truck and employees manually sort the incoming items. Broken glass is a hazard for them.

If your regular Recycling day falls on a holiday, that week's pickup will be skipped, and pickup will occur the week after.

To Recycle GLASS: You can bring glass recycling items yourself to the collection site at League City Public Works, 1535 Dickinson Avenue. What a fun family fieldtrip this could be with the theme of environmental responsibility.

You can also drop off GLASS 24/7 at: City of Houston Recycling at Ellington Field, Highway 3@ Dixie Farm Road.

The Vehicle Maintenance Department, also located at 1535 Dickinson Avenue, is the place where residents can bring their used oil, oil filters and antifreeze. Open Monday - Thursday from 7:00 am until 4:30 pm, and on Friday from 7:00 to 11:00 am. Please check in at the front office of Vehicle Maintenance before leaving your items.

Heavy Trash pickup is the second garbage pickup day for each subdivision.
For example: If your garbage days are Tuesday & Friday. Heavy Trash pickup would be on Friday.

If you're looking to unload a refrigerator, air conditioner or other cooling device, you'll have to deal with Freon disposal as well. The item must be tagged by the freon removal company before it will be picked up.

For recycling question please call AmeriWaste at 281-585-3200.

I am a full-time Realtor in the Houston Bay Area of Texas, ready to help you sell your house or find the home of your dreams.

SARA GOSS
281-748-4380
HatmakerGroup.com GMAC Real Estate

www.har.com/saragoss

Copyright 2009 Sara Goss All Rights Reserved

The Hope Foundation for Retarded Children, Inc. has operated Hope Village, an 18-acre village-like center for children and adults with mental disabilities, since 1970. Located in Friendswood Texas, the mission of the non-profit foundation is to provide superior and yet affordable residential and support services.

Have you had lunch in this friendly and intimate cafe? Scott Lane is the professional chef for Hope Village, and serves fresh and delicious daily specials, sandwiches, homemade soups, salads and desserts, petite or regular size. And of course tea too! Food is made from scratch, the prices are very reasonable and the service is superb. The Village Tea Room & Cafe provides employment opportunities for the Villagers. They may work here as waiters, waitresses, table-cleaning helpers along with the community volunteers who serve as hostesses.

Download Menu (PDF Format)

You may reserve the tea room for your group, party or business luncheon.
Catering is available. Call 281.482.6271 for more information.

Open to the Public Tuesday through Friday from 11am. to 2pm.

Adjacent to the Tea Room is Hope Village Gift Shop and Ceramics, where you can find a selection of gifts, and also ceramics handmade by the Villagers. All proceeds benefit The Hope Foundation for Retarded Children. Stop by after you eat!
Hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.

The Hope Foundation for Retarded Children
15403 Hope Village Road
Friendswood, Texas 77546

http://www.hope-village.com/

_________________

I am a full-time Realtor serving the Friendswood area and neighboring communities. Houston Real Estate and Relocation, New Construction and Resale Homes, Home Buyer Representation.

SARA GOSS
281-748-4380
HatmakerGroup.com GMAC Real Estate
.
http://www.har.com/saragoss

I don't cook a full meal every night but when I do, I immerse myself in the entire process of making a meal. First, the stage is set with recipe books spread out on the coffee table bookmarked with a dozen possibilities. The glossy photos look delicious and I start forming a meal in my head. My entree and its supporting characters are cast, and it's on to the grocery store.


Before the joy of cooking comes the joy of grocery shopping. This is the 2nd pleasurable step to joyful cooking. I love to food shop in a market that is bright, incredibly clean and well laid out. Pleasant colors on the walls and graphics are a plus, and wide aisles let me linger at the olive bar without having to move my cart for a shopper hasty to find quick meal items. The produce area can almost bring a tear to my eye out of sheer appreciation for the beautiful mounds of polished, colorful fruits and vegetables. They might think I am their ideal shopper since I am so drawn in by the display. But, I refer back to my shopping list. Well maybe one or two little impulse items. Oh now really it's three things but that's all.

Back home in the kitchen I wash the produce and get out a large chopping board. Pans are on the stove, bowls of cut vegetables sit at attention, and fragrant spices are pulled out of the rack. Ah, in step three there is the pleasure of being a well-coordinated food preparation machine. Timing and being able to pull it all together and make adjustments as necessary leave me feeling so darn competent I am elated. The smells that are happening now in my house beat any candle or air freshener.

I set the table to suit the season and the food I am preparing. Placemats, dishes, glassware and silverware are all considered but my selection is impulsive. The fun here in step four is to combine what I have in new ways, satisfying my appetite for visual composition. Candles, flowers, pebbles, a scarf, or whatever will work I use to complete the table. My husband walks in and happily exclaims, "You're cooking!" (He can confirm that I don't cook meals every day.) "Yes!" I say.

Dining together is the culminating step. We compare thoughts on the results of my efforts and enjoy our time together, as we have made a pledge to keep dinner conversation about things other than our daily problems. Since my cleanup is ongoing as I cook, the dishes are manageable. Leftovers are tucked into the refrigerator nooks and crannies for lunches later in the week. Yes, life is good.


The joy of cooking. The joy of working. The joy of living.
.



Writing ©2009 Sara Goss All Rights Reserved
Grocery Store Photos ©2009 Sara Goss All Rights Reserved
.


Real Estate is my full-time job in the Houston Bay Area of Texas. I help sellers sell their homes and I help buyers find the home of their dreams.
.

Sara Goss
281-748-4380
HatmakerGroup.com GMAC Real Estate