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Steve Young
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Steve Young
Too Good Not to Post!
Why a 180-year-old event from Texas history remains relevant today
In Lehman’s Terms
We do things a little different in Texas … we even have our own holidays. One such occasion was the discussion topic on my favorite drive-time radio talk show last Thursday. You may recognize April 21 as San Jacinto Day, the official state holiday commemorating the final battle of the Texas Revolution in 1836-the battle that secured the state’s independence from Mexico.
I was struck by one caller who said, “As a newcomer to Texas, I really cannot understand all the media attention given to this 18-minute battle. I have lived in seven other states and they don’t do this type of thing.”
That last statement got my attention because she’s right-other states don’t recognize their battles like Texas does. But that’s because other states don’t have the history of fighting for independence that makes Texas unique.
So, why should we continue to commemorate this event from 180 years ago? Here’s my take-in “Lehman’s” terms-on the relevance of San Jacinto Day today: It’s not just a day to celebrate a victory in battle … it’s a day to celebrate Texas values.
It’s these values that entice hundreds of people to move to Texas every day. Corporations relocate because they like our business-friendly environment and stable tax structure. New residents appreciate that Texas doesn’t have a state income tax, real estate transfer tax, or tax on professional services, and homebuyers move here because the cost of owning a home remains low.
Texans have always had a can-do spirit that rivals most states and even other countries, and many people see the Battle of San Jacinto as the symbol of this spirit. A few hundred ragtag volunteers took only minutes to defeat one of the largest and most powerful armies in the world. Texas was born from the battle cries “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember Goliad” made famous at this fight.
For the last 180 years, elected officials in Texas have maintained that San Jacinto spirit and determination when addressing the needs of our growing and ever-changing state. In fact, visitors to the Texas Capitol in Austin see firsthand that the chambers of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives are dominated by historic tributes to the Battle of San Jacinto.
The original 1836 San Jacinto battle flag hangs directly behind the speaker’s podium in the House chamber when the legislature is in session. (A replica takes its place between sessions to help preserve the flag.) And the artist Henry Arthur McArdle’s famous 1895 painting “Battle of San Jacinto” (pictured here courtesy of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission) is prominently displayed in the Senate chamber. Both historic treasures serve as daily reminders to current lawmakers of the important place they have in history.
Although San Jacinto Day has passed this year, we don’t have to wait until 2017 to commemorate the occasion. We can honor our revolutionary heroes by maintaining the Texas spirit and taking pride in our state’s reputation for independence every day.
Mark Lehman is vice president of Governmental Affairs at the Texas Association of REALTORS®.
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Steve Young
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Steve Young
Pigs and Pugs?
It’s actually National Pigs in a Blanket day but in honor of my little friend Zeke who is sadly is no longer with us I’ve decided to change it to Pugs in a Blanket Day!
P.S. That is not Zeke in the picture as I never saw him sit still for that long.
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Steve Young
Amazon in Fort Worth
Since my wonderful clients just closed on a home on Amazon I thought this was apropos…
Amazon is creating 1,000 full-time jobs in North Texas with a one million-sf fulfillment center.
Initially planned for Haslet, the new facility will be constructed at 15201 Heritage Pkwy. and will ship small items like books, electronics, and toys.
This will be the company’s sixth fulfillment center in the state. Amazon currently employs over 8,000 full-time hourly workers at facilities in Haslet, Coppell, southern Dallas, and Schertz. Another facility is underway in San Marcos.
Article from: The Real Estate Center
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Steve Young
San Jacinto Day
On this day in 1836, Texas forces won the battle of San Jacinto, the concluding military event of the Texas Revolution. Facing General Santa Anna’s Mexican army of some 1,200 men encamped in what is now southeastern Harris County, General Sam Houston disposed his forces in battle order about 3:30 p.m., during siesta time.
The Texans’ movements were screened by trees and the rising ground, and evidently Santa Anna had no lookouts posted. The Texan line sprang forward on the run with the cries “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!” The battle lasted but eighteen minutes. According to Houston’s official report, the casualties were 630 Mexicans killed and 730 taken prisoner. Against this, only nine of the 910 Texans were killed or mortally wounded and thirty were wounded less serious.
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Steve Young
April 19th Events in History
1775 The American Revolution begins
1861 First blood in the Civil War
1897 First Boston Marathon run
1993 Branch Davidian compound burns
1995 Truck bomb explodes in Oklahoma City and this day is National Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day
And April 19th is NATIONAL HANGING OUT DAY. I got all excited thinking this meant like hanging out at Mac’s or somewhere with friends. Oh no, it has to do with hanging laundry out on a clothesline! What’s up with that? But to go with this it’s also National Garlic Day and Will Rogers was once quoted speaking of Gilroy, California known as the Garlic Capital of the World“…the only place in America where you can marinate a steak just by hanging it out on a clothesline.” What a great correlation to all this stuff.
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Steve Young
NATIONAL ANIMAL CRACKERS DAY
Thank you to the office for keeping these around! The most common variety are light-colored and slightly sweet. However, chocolate and frosted varieties are also available.
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Steve Young
Remodeling projects that don’t pay of
It’s surprising how many remodeling projects don’t pay for themselves when you eventually sell your home. In other words, the value added to your sale price is less than the price tag of the remodel.
In fact, the majority of home updates and additions fall into that category, according to the 2016 Cost Vs. Value Report from the National Association of REALTORS® and Remodeling magazine.
Even so, there are many good reasons to remodel your home. You may get more than your money’s worth of enjoyment from functional and aesthetic improvements to your home. Also, outdated kitchens, bath, and decor can make it difficult to attract buyers. Perhaps most important to remember, though, is that reports like this deal with estimates, averages, and assumptions. The value of a remodeling project may have different results in different cities or neighborhoods and may vary from one type or price of home compared to another.
You can get a general idea of the most and least valuable remodeling projects in Texas from the infographic below, but to really dig into the details of how a remodeling decision might affect your property’s value and attractiveness to buyers, talk to a Texas REALTOR®.
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Steve Young
Death, Tax’s & Rubber Erasers
April 15th, 1865 at 7:22 AM President Lincoln dies from a gunshot the previous day.
April 15th, 1912 the Titanic sinks at 2:20 AM.
Then I came across these “National Days” that I thought were apropos…
April 15th is National Take a Wild Guess Day and National Rubber Eraser Day
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