More fun is on the way to Edmond, Oklahoma, just in time for the spring and summer. The spacecraft-themed Chitwood Park will launch a fun, new design for kids of all ages in March, weather permitting of course. The design will expand on the current spacecraft theme of the old rocket slide with new custom-made playground equipment.
The original rocket slide has become somewhat of a safety issue over the years. Children are able to crawl through spaces that they shouldn't have and pull bars off. The rocket slide was added to Chitwood Park in the late 1960s. Many of Edmond's adult residents can remember playing on the rocket slide as a child.
Since the rocket slide is no longer in compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines, the Edmond Parks and Recreation Department decided to remove it and add a new custom made one. The new playground will also be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which will allow every child with a disability to enjoy the playground equipment, too. Padding around areas of the playground will also be added for softer landings.
The Parks and Recreation Department decided almost five years ago, as part of a five-year strategic plan, to update the facility with custom made equipment totaling just over $100,000. Usually, the neighborhood association members assist with updating area parks, but the Chitwood Neighborhood Alliance was not formed until 2007. So, the Parks and Recreation Department is doing it themselves.
Edmond residents seem really excited about the update to the park. It will be the most unique playground in all of Edmond's parks system. It really shows that Edmond is looking into the future.
The Centennial Groves are a gateway to Edmond , Oklahoma and they are getting a financial boost from the Edmond City Council for improvement projects. The Centennial Groves welcoming site will receive just over $34,000 to plant new trees and for a good irrigation system.
The Centennial Groves project will include long-term development and quality of tree parks as well as other landscaping at 2nd Street , 15th Street and 33rd Street along I-35.
A budget of $187,000 was approved and setup by the City Council for Street Scape and median maintenance which included Centennial Groves. Some of the money will pay for contracting services. Some of it will also pay for electrical costs. Some money will also be dedicated to paying for mowing the grass and tree replacements and the expenses of entrance improvements that have already been done.
The Centennial Groves project truly shows that the City of Edmond really does value its environment and is looking out for the future by making the community a better place to live now. It looks like Edmond is trying to maintain its integrity as being named one of the top 100 "Best Places to Live" in 2006 by Money Magazine.
In today's economy , it is harder than ever to save for a downpayment to buy a new home. It's now one of the biggest problems facing potential homebuyers. On one hand money can give you the greatest purchasing power if you have enough, but on the other hand it can also greatly limit your purchasing power if you don't have enough.
Many people are looking for alternatives to saving the money themselves. Therefore, I have some tips on how to accumulate the necessary funds to purchase a new home :
· Borrow or sell against an asset. Borrowing against an asset such as a car is acceptable but can be a little risky. You will have to still qualify with the additional debt. Selling an asset is the most acceptable because it increases the amount of money you have available.
· Have a relative or a really good friend give you the money as a gift. You will have to prove the money was given as a gift and not a loan. This can easily be done by documentation. Anyone who pays taxes is allowed to give a gift of $10,000 per year per person without paying a gift tax. Here's an example of how that will work: Your father could give you $10,000 and your spouse $10,000. Your mother could do the same. You would then have $40,000. Most lenders don't require that much down, but that is how it can work. If the money needs to be paid back, do so in monthly installments that can be agreed upon.
· Borrow against your 401K policy. You can borrow against your 401K or cash it out. If you borrow against it , you will have added debt and will still have to qualify for the loan with the additional debt. If you cash it out, you will be subject to withdraw penalties.
· Ask the seller to pay. You can ask the seller to pay for all or part of the non-recurring closing cost as long as they're within allowable limits. Your real estate agent will help you make an offer on any home you are interested in buying. You can also ask the seller to carry back financing. In any case that the seller does not need all their equity right away, you can ask them to carry some of the financing. This will reduce the amount you pay down.
· Try to obtain zero point or low point loan. If you are able to obtain a low or zero point loan, your closing costs will be reduced substantially.
· Consider a different loan program. There are several loan programs out there. Your loan officer will help you choose the loan that's best for your situation. There are also several programs that will assist homebuyers with their downpayments.
Here's a wonderful story about a great high school in Edmond , Oklahoma .
Soon Edmond will see tornados, lions and witches flying through the air of the Edmond North High School . The dreams of fifty-two local high school students will come true when they star in the Wizard of Oz musical in March. These energetic students will dance, sing and fly in the upcoming musical.
The Wizard of Oz has been an iconic American musical fantasy since 1939. The musical was based on the 1900 children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
Tickets go on sale this week in Edmond , Oklahoma as rehearsals also begin. Seats and equipment will be rented, totaling $55,000. The money used to rent the seats and equipment came through the support of the community over a two year period.
The flying effects will be supplied by ZFX in Kentucky and costumes and set design will be rented from a music theater in Wichita .
Chris Castleberry, a choreographer, will teach the students the dances and oversee all practices. He will also oversee a full orchestra that will be performing for the musical.
Students will set up and maintain all lights and sound. It's unique and will have mistakes. Remember, it's live theater. There will also be over 100 parents participating in the set up of the musical. Parents will help with ticket sales, publicity, merchandise, concessions, decorations, food, t-shirts and programs.
Performances will be held on March 5th & 6th at 2 p.m. and March 7th at 8 p.m. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $7 for senior citizens and children under 3.
It looks like Edmond is not only a great place to live, but also a great place for education and fun.
Many new homeowners have the same question, "How will my status as a new homeowner affect my taxes?" and "What are some deductions I should be aware of?". Although I cannot provide specific directions on taxes, I can, however, tell you a few things you can deduct on your return to receive the full benefits of home ownership.
For the 2008 tax year, homeowners who do not itemize will be able to deduct property taxes up to $500 for single taxpayers and $1,000 for married couples filing jointly. This can be deducted on top of standard deductions.
Tax rules can be complex for many of us as they are always changing. It is best to consult with your tax professional to determine how deductions will apply in your situation.
Typically, itemizers can deduct interest paid on home mortgages, state and local property taxes, interest paid on home equity loans for credit lines, some or all private mortgage insurance premiums if your household income is under $109,000, and mortgage points.
Good luck in your new home and on your taxes. Be sure to ask your tax professional about these deductions so you can get the maximum on your tax refund.
Because of today's real estate market, every homebuyer needs a real estate professional. However, finding a great agent will require a little research. Your real estate agent needs to be able to answer all your questions and be knowledgeable in the home buying and selling process.
In your search for a great real estate professional, some good questions to ask the real estate agent are:
· What kind of advertising will the agent do for the home?
· What is the agents marketing strategy?
· Can the agent present and still sell the less-noticeable assets of the property?
· Is the agent willing to communicate effectively on a regular basis?
The real estate professional you choose should be knowledgeable about the community you are buying or selling in. They should know the history of the area and know what people in that area are willing to pay.
The agent should also know exactly what the competition is, and let you know how the competition can affect your sale. You should never choose your Realtor® based on price alone. A Realtor® cannot raise the selling price of your home. You wouldn't want that anyway. If your home is priced too high, buyers will simply overlook your home.
Following these tips should help you find a great real estate professional that will get your home sold in today's market, or find you the right house for your money.
Winter holidays are a time when everyone comes together for celebrating, giving and helping others. This holiday season Edmond , Oklahoma will have many wonderful events for residents and visitors to enjoy. So bundle up and go have some fun.
· Now - 31st - 2nd Annual First Lights: Come to the First Baptist Church at 33rd & Bryant for a nightly lighting ceremony. Starts at 6:00pm each evening. Free for all.
· December 18th - 20th - Merry Memories: The UCO Music Theatre will be performing their annual jazzy holiday revue that will feature the tunes of yuletides past and present. Songs will be performed by UCO's Searle Pop/Jazz Quartet. A perfect way to kick off your holidays. Price is $12 and program begins at 8pm each evening at the UCO Jazz Lab.
· December 21st - Horseshoe Road with Kyle Dillingham & Brad Benge: Come to the UCO Jazz Lab for great food and beverages at 7:00pm. $10 to enter.
· December 26th - The Dennis Borycki Trio: The UCO Jazz Lab will present traditional and contemporary Jazz with food and beverages. Doors open at 7:00pm. $7 to enter.
· December 27th - The Michael Summers Band: UCO Jazz Lab will feature the Michael Summers and Band at 7:00pm. $7 to enter.
· December 31st - January 4th - US Team Roping Superbowl II: Come enjoy the entertainment of live cowboy roping at the Lazy E Arena. Call 405-282-7433 for time and ticket information.
· December 31st - Shortt Dogg New Year's Eve Party: The perfect place to bring in the New Year with Blues and Soul tunes at the UCO Jazz Lab. Admission is $50, which includes an all you can eat Pizza Bar. Doors and dance floor open at 7:30pm.
Don't let the holiday season pass you by without enjoying some of these great festivities.
The holidays are just around the corner, and many of us are planning to invite guests into our homes. And, of us who are fortunate enough to have an extra room to offer our guests, we want them to feel as comfortable as possible during their stay.
I have been thinking of some ways to make my own guest room comfortable, hospitable and inviting for my guests. So there's no better time than now to share some of my ideas.
Comfort comes first and foremost. Start with clean bed linens. You may even want to consider adding extra pillows, blankets and even a featherbed mattress topper for your guests. A couple of bottles of water in a small ice bucket and a light snack will make your guests feel even more comfortable when they arrive. Also, make sure the room has plenty of light and a small, low light lamp on the night-table.
Space is another key factor when having guests. De-clutter the room. Take away all your knick-knacks to make extra space. Providing your guests with extra space for their luggage and small items like keys or a purse will make them happy, too. Make space in the closet and leave a few empty hangers and clear out a couple of drawers from your chest. This will be helpful to your guests.
Privacy is very important to many people. So, check to see if your window coverings give good light control and privacy. If they do, you're good to go. If they don't, consider replacing them with new ones. And, make sure your guest room has a lock on the door for added privacy.
Little extras can go a long way in helping your guests feel comfortable. Add an alarm clock to the room. Install a phone and put a note pad with pens next to it. Leave a box of tissues near the bed. If possible add a small television with a remote in your guestroom. Magazines or newspaper are great for those guests who love to read.
A great idea, if you have guests visiting that are interested in visiting the local attractions, is to fill a basket with tourist brochures and a map of the area.
I hope your guests will feel right at home during the holidays.
As many homeowners already know, owning a home can be a never ending job. As a homeowner myself, it seems like I finish one repair job just in time to start another. But over the years, I have also found that regular home maintenance goes a long way in repair prevention. Following a regular maintenance schedule will only take a short time and can be spread out over the fall months. And it will save you time and money in the end.
Here are some tips I find helpful:
· Change your furnace filter. If you have forced-air heat, it is simple and inexpensive to change this filter. If not changed on a regular basis, the furnace can't push warm or cool air into your homes rooms. Having a clean filter will also cut down on your energy bills. Some filters can be reused once washed, but check your filters requirements before washing it to make sure it's reusable. Also, change filters again each season.
· Reseal windows. It's a good idea to reseal your windows every fall. Check windows for cracked or missing seal. The seal is a putty that seals a bond around the window frame. Begin with adding the putting in needed areas and gently press the new putty in place. Be sure to also use a flexible blade putty knife to smooth the putty and give it a flat look. If you plan to paint around the windows, let the putty dry for at least three weeks.
· Replace door weather stripping. Check the weather stripping on every exterior door of your home. If there is any stripping torn or missing, replace it. Weather stripping is easy to install and is inexpensive.
· Clean chimney. This is more of a safety issue. It is very important to have your chimney swept out once a year, and the fall is the best time to do it.
· Clean gutters. Toward the end of fall is a great time to clear the debris from your homes gutters. Clogged gutters can cause water damage, and that can be a very expensive repair that can easily be avoided. Clean them again at the end of spring.
· Replace smoke detector batteries. It's a good idea to replace your smoke detector batteries on a regular basis. Changing them at the beginning of each season will help you remember better. Even if your smoke detectors are hardwired to your home, you still need to replace the batteries on a regular basis in case of power outages.
Simple home maintenance like this can save you so much hassle when it comes to repairs. Winter begins December 21st, so you may want to get started now.
Anyone looking to relocate to a great community with awesome schools can count on Edmond , Oklahoma . Students in Edmond are smart and love to read. The principal of Deer Creek Elementary recently had to pay-up on a challenge she offered her students. Mrs. Straughn challenged her students to read 6,000 books. She called the challenge "Cruise into a Good Book."
The students of Deer Creek Elementary not only read 6,000 books, they went far and above that mark reading over 12,500 books. So, to pay-up on the challenge, Mrs. Straughn had to pack for a cruise in 1 minute, scuba dive in a kiddy pool and dance with a ship captain.
The challenge lasted for three weeks. The first week the students blew teachers away by reading over 4,500 books. The second week students read over 3,700 books, and over 4,200 in the last week.
Mrs. Straughn actually went scuba diving in a kiddy pool that was set up in the school's gym. From the looks of it, the kids really got into the challenge. This is Mrs. Straughn's fourth consecutive year winning the state's Reading Challenge contest. Deer Creek student's even donated six suitcases filled to the top with books to a local women's shelter.
The goal of the Reading Challenge in to instill the love of reading in children at a young age. After thirteen years of the challenge, it still shows today in Edmond 's students.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
And, of us who are fortunate enough to have an extra room to offer our guests, we want them to feel as comfortable as possible during their stay.
;)
;)
