About College Station's Texas A&m Campus

I know Halloween hasn't even happened yet, but it's never too early to start planning for Christmas. From now until November 18, 2011, the Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade will be accepting applications for entries for this year's annual Christmas parade. For the last 83 years, a volunteer group of local Bryan-College Station residents have put together this fun event for anyone who loves Christmas to join in.

This year, the Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade takes place on Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 2pm. All participants in the parade are only required to attend one mandatory meeting at the College Station Hilton's Oakwood Ballroom at 7pm on November 30th to go over the line-up. Only one person from each entry needs to attend.

The theme for this year's parade is "Santa's Workshop". The parade will begin at Parking Lot 50 of the Texas A&M University, will march along University Drive to Texas Avenue and will then conclude at Sulphur Springs in the City of Bryan. Everyone is welcome to participate. There will only be a limited amount of entries allowed. In order to keep the Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade fun and interesting for viewers, the committee is looking for a nice variety. Floats and bands are especially encouraged.

If you are interested in signing up for the 2011 Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade, simply click here to download an application. Make sure you mail it in plenty of time for the committee to receive it by the November 18, 2011 5pm deadline. If your application doesn't make it in the office by then, you will not be allowed entry in the parade. There will be absolutely no exceptions. All groups using motorized vehicles as part of their parade entry will need to provide proof of insurance.

Join in on one of Bryan-College Station's most fun traditions by participating in the Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade. Applications are currently being accepted, so don't hesitate to sign you and your company/group up for a spot in line. The parade is always a fun way to kick off the Christmas season. Hope to see you there!

Stephanie Hansson, Living the Good Life in Bryan – College Station Real Estate

Originally posted on my Living in Bryan-College Station real estate blog: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/bryan-college-station-christmas-parade-applications/.

What do you do with your old, outdated medications, pesticides, used motor oils, paint, computers and other materials that don't go in your regular College Station trash? Bring it to the public household hazardous waste collection event in College Station on Saturday, October 1, 2011. Beginning at 7am and concluding at 2pm, Texas A&M University will host this public household hazardous waste event at the University Services Building (3380 University Drive East).

The following items can be brought in for disposal:

• Adhesives/Glue
• Antifreeze
• Automotive Fluids
• Battery Cleaner
• Brake Fluid
• Caustic Soda
• Car Battery Acid
• Carpet Cleaner
• Charcoal Lighter Fluid
• Computers
• Disinfectants
• Drain Cleaner
• Flea Powder/Spray
• Floor Polish
• Gasoline
• Insecticide
• Kerosene
• Light Bulbs (fluorescent and CFLs)
• Lighter Fluid
• Medicine
• Metal Cleaner and Polish
• Nail Polish Remover
• Oven Cleaner
• Paint
• Paint Stripper
• Toilet Bowl Cleaner
• WD-40
• Wood Cleaner and Polish

The following items will not be accepted at the public household hazardous waste collection event in College Station:

• 55-Gallon Drums
• Ammunition
• Explosives
• Household Trash
• Tires
• TVs

Small businesses can only bring in their old computers. They will need to make arrangements for any other hazardous waste they need to dispose of. If you have any questions, please call the Household Hazardous Waste Hotline at 979-764-3809.

In order to keep hazardous waste out of our landfills, they need to be disposed of properly. That's why the public household hazardous waste collection event in College Station is necessary. Bring your hazardous items you need to get rid of to Texas A&M University on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 7am to 2pm. Help keep College Station beautiful.

Stephanie Hansson, Living the Good Life in Bryan – College Station Real Estate

Originally posted on my Living in Bryan College Station blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/public-household-hazardous-waste-collection-event-college-station/.

Southern Living has recognized what anyone living here knows: Bryan-College Station is one of the South's Best College Towns. Southern Living was so impressed with the area, that they even named it twice; once for Bryan-College Station and once for Texas A&M University itself, which calls College Station home.

What are the criteria to be named the Best College Town? The city must be comprised of less than 200,000 regular residents. This ensures that the college has a major affect on the city it inhabits. There need to be plenty of good restaurants that a student's meager income could afford, nice boutiques and a healthy support of the arts. The alumni of the college must be both involved and dedicated in supporting their alma mater (that fits Texas A&M Aggies to a "T"). And, of course, the infamous Southern charm must be in full force. Bryan-College Station has all of that in spades.

Isn't it time you stopped renting and bought a Bryan-College Station home? Even if you aren't in college or have put your college years long behind you, it has never been a better time than now to buy a Bryan-College Station home. With rents on the rise (and only going higher), Byran-College Station real estate remains incredibly affordable. Couple that with low interest rates and a nice inventory to choose from and there really is no reason to wait on purchasing your dream home in one of the South's best college towns now, is there?

What's the difference between renting a home and buying one? When you rent, your payment only stays the same for the life of your current lease agreement. After that, you are almost guaranteed to have an increase. Also, since you do not own the home you rent, you are not entitled to the tax benefits that Bryan-College Station homeownership gives you. In fact, when you amortize the tax credit you receive for part of your interest rate paid (which is most of your monthly mortgage payments for the first several years), owning a home is actually cheaper than renting one. Also, you get to decide how to decorate your home when you own it because you don't have to answer to a landlord. You can even remodel your home if you want to make it exactly what you need for your lifestyle without having to ask permission. That can't be done in a rental unit.

Owning Bryan-College Station property continues to be one of the best investments you can make for a secure future. The longer you live on the property, the better the investment. Renting doesn't give you any investment at all. And, since Bryan-College Station was named one of the South's Best College Towns, you have even more reason to consider this for your home. Just contact me to find out how you can buy your dream home today.

Stephanie Hansson, Living the Good Life in Bryan – College Station Real Estate

Original post can be viewed at http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/bryan-college-station-named-souths-college-towns/.

Do you have any items in your household that are considered too hazardous for normal trash disposal that you wish to get rid of? Residents of the Brazos Valley are welcome to come to the Texas A&M Services Building (3380 University Dr) on Saturday, April 23, 2011 from 7am to 2pm for their Household Hazardous Waste and Computer Collection event in College Station.

Typical household hazardous waste that will be accepted include: acids, ammonia, antifreeze, brake fluid, car battery acid, cleaners (carpet, oven, wood, toilet bowl, etc), computers, flea spray or powder, fluorescent light bulbs, gasoline, insect repellents, kerosene, lighter fluid, lye, medicine, motor oil, nail polish remover, paint, paint strippers, plant food, poisons, polishes (wood, metal, etc), rock salt, snail or slug killer, WD-40 and weed or grass killer. For a complete list, please visit the City of College Station website. Things that will not be accepted at the event include:

55-gallon drums
Ammunition
Explosives
Household garbage
Tires
TVs

The Brazos Valley is committed to reducing the amount of hazardous materials that get dumped into our landfills, in turn, creating a better environment for our community. Events like this are one way to keep College Station, Bryan and the rest of the Brazos Valley beautiful for our children and our children's children. The Household Hazardous Waste and Computer Collection event is held twice a year in College Station. The next scheduled event will be for October 8, 2011.

Volunteers are still needed to assist in helping collect materials on-site at the event. If you are interested in participating in the Household Hazardous Waste and Computer Collection event in College Station, please call Sheila McQueen at 979-764-3806. Help do your part to keep our planet healthy for future generations to enjoy.

Stephanie Hansson, Living the Good Life in Bryan - College Station Real Estate