BiggerPockets

Special Olympics Torch Run Comes Through Bryan-College Station

Tuesday, May 22

You already know about that other Olympics happening in London this summer. But were you aware that it is also time for the Special Olympics right here in Texas? To help raise awareness for the Texas Summer Games happening this weekend at the University of Texas' Arlington campus, Texas law enforcement officers will be running part of the Gulf Coast leg of the Special Olympics Torch run through Bryan-College Station tomorrow, May 23, 2012. Runners of this leg of the torch run are comprised of law enforcement officers all across the state.

Once the officers involved in the Texas Law Enforcement Torch Run meet up at Texas Roadhouse in College Station (1601 University Dr E) at 2pm, they will depart from the parking lot around 2:30pm, run along Spring Loop to Tarrow/E 29th and on to the Brazos Valley Council of Government located at 3991 E 29th St. From there, the group that will bring the torch directly to the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics in Arlington TX will continue through Brenham, Conroe and Huntsville on Thursday and then on to the University of Texas Arlington on Friday. The opening ceremony for the Texas Summer Games takes place Friday evening. For a complete schedule of events, please visit the Special Olympics Texas website here.

If you have the opportunity, visit the Texas Roadhouse in College Station or set up a chair anywhere along the route they are taking afterwards this Wednesday, May 23rd, to watch as the Special Olympics Torch Run makes its way through Bryan-College Station and on to the University of Texas at Arlington for this weekend's Texas Summer Games. Also, if you can, visit the UTA campus this weekend to watch some impressive athletes show off their skills as they compete for medals in basketball, cycling, track, gymnastics, tennis and soccer. These athletes are an inspiration for all of us.

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

Originally posted on my Living in Bryan-College Station real estate blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/special-olympics-torch-run-bryan-college-station/.

Rodney Atkins Headlines Family Fest 2012 in College Station

Tuesday, May 08

Auggieland Pregnancy Outreach is holding its annual family friendly fundraiser, Family Fest 2012, in College Station. Country superstar Rodney Atkins will be headlining the day's festivities. Wolf Pen Creek (1015 Colgate Dr) will be holding the day of family fun on Saturday, May 12, 2012 beginning at 11am and continuing through until 10:30pm.

There will be tons of great food, carnival games, face painting, karaoke and much, much more. Inflatables for the kids, a rock climbing wall, a quad (not one, not two, not three, but FOUR) bungee jump and much more inhabit the College Station Family Fest Midway. Hot rods and motorcycles will be on display as well. There is so much great live music to be heard that it couldn't be contained to just one stage. So, visit either one of the two music stages set up throughout Wolf Pen Creek to listen to some amazing live musical talent.

Gates open at 11am. No outside food or drinks are allowed. There will be plenty to choose from inside, don't worry. No alcohol is allowed on the grounds. All Family Fest 2012 visitors can come and go as they please all day. If you purchase your tickets in advance, adults ages 13 and older are just $20 each, kids ages 6-12 or just $7.50 and kids under 6 are free. Tickets can be bought at the gate for $25 for adults and $10 for kids (kids under 6 years old are still free). The Midway attractions are an additional fee. Visitors can purchase an unlimited access wristband for just $20. All vendors at the College Station Family Fest will accept cash only (no checks or credit cards). ATMs are available on-site and tickets are non-refundable.

Come to Wolf Pen Creek this Saturday, May 12, 2012 for a day of fun, family, fundraising and live music. Country music superstar Rodney Atkins is headlining Family Fest 2012 in College Station. You and your family will have tons of fun and help a very worth cause, Auggieland Pregnancy Outreach.

FEATURED PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

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For more about this property and other College Station/Bryan homes for sale, please click here.

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

Originally posted on my Living in Bryan-College Station real estate blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/rodney-atkins-headlines-family-fest-2012-college-station/.

Bicycle Safety Rodeo in College Station

Tuesday, May 01

Now that the weather has become so nice, families all across Brazos County are hopping on their bikes and taking a nice ride around our beautiful cities. Now is as good a time as any to teach your young ones the rules of the road and how to be safe while riding their bikes along our city streets. This Saturday, May 5, 2012, the College Station Police Department will be holding a bicycle safety rodeo in College Station at Stephen C Beachy Central Park (1000 Krenek Tap Rd).

Beginning at 9am, all children ages 7 or older who come to the park will be allowed to participate in a specially prepared obstacle course that teaches them about bike rules and safety in a fun way. All children must bring their own bicycles, helmets and other protective gear. Each participating child is required to have an accompanying adult with them. The rodeo is absolutely free to the public. Seats are limited, so registering ahead of time is highly recommended. To do so, please click here so you can register your child online for the Bicycle Safety Rodeo in College Station. For more info and to ask any questions, please contact Vanessa Garza at (979) 764-3674 or via email at vgarza@cstx.gov. This fun free event is a great way to make sure your child learns how to be safe when riding their bikes.

FEATURED PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

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For more about this property and other College Station/Bryan homes for sale, please click here.

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

Originally posted on my Living in Bryan-College Station real estate blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/bicycle-safety-rodeo-college-station/.

College Town Properties Make a Great Investment

Tuesday, April 24

College Town properties make a great investment. With rents rising approximately 5% over the last year and experts projecting them to continue to rise another 5% over the next 12 months, investing in a College Station property makes both dollars AND sense. The closer to the college, the better.

When you consider that a school like Texas A&M has been around for over 130 years, there are thousands of students who attend the college every year and those students need a place to live, you can quickly see how College Station rental properties are perfect for even the greenest of real estate investors. Even community colleges are an unending source of potential College Station renters. Real estate developers that have slowed other projects have increased development in college towns like College Station. They seem to be one of the few almost recession-proof investments anyone can make, especially if you can get a property close to campus.

With rents continuing to climb and housing prices remaining low, many College Station investors have found that they have no trouble covering their mortgage, maintenance costs and property taxes with their rental income. Anything extra can go towards purchasing even more College Station investment properties. Remember that college town properties make a great investment the next time you are looking at purchasing a College Station/Bryan home. When that happens, contact me so I can show you some of the best investment properties available.

FEATURED COLLEGE STATION HOME OF THE WEEK

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For more about this property and other College Station/Bryan homes for sale, please click here.

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

Originally posted on my Living in Bryan/College Station real estate blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/college-town-properties-great-investment/.

Bryan Family Camp Out

Tuesday, April 17

Early last month, I wrote about registration for the Bryan Family Camp Out. Even though it takes place this weekend, beginning 3pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012, it isn't too late to sign your family up. Bring your family down to Austin's Colony Park, located behind Harvey Mitchell Elementary School (2500 Austin's Colony Parkway, Bryan) for an evening of movies, games, food and fun. Hot dogs will be roasted, games will be played, campfire stories will be told, crafts will be made, s'mores will be eaten and the family-friendly Yogi Bear movie will be shown throughout the course of the evening.

The Bryan Family Camp Out will conclude on Sunday morning. Everyone will be packing up around 9am, after a nice hot breakfast (with coffee for the adults) is served. If you register before Friday, April 20th, the cost to attend this evening of family fun is just $5 per child and $7 for adults. Even if you decide at the very last minute (the day of) to come down and join in, the cost will only be $7 per child and $10 per adult. For anyone who doesn't have their own tent, you can rent a four-person tent at Austin's Colony Park for just $13, while six-person tents will run $20 each. So, no one needs to be left out.

To register for the Bryan Family Camp Out, simply click here to download the form and either hand it in to the Bryan Parks and Recreation offices during regular business hours or the Bryan Aquatic Center after 5pm. Welcome Spring family-style at the Bryan Family Camp Out this Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Austin's Colony Park in Bryan, TX. Create a magical memory with your children. It will be a night full of family-friendly fun under the stars.

FEATURED HOME OF THE WEEK

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

Originally posted on my Living in Bryan-College Station real estate blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/bryan-family-camp/.

Summer Fun for Kids in Bryan-College Station

Tuesday, April 10

Can you believe it's already April? Where does the time go? Bryan-College Station school children will be getting out of school for their summer break at the end of next month. Don't worry about keeping them busy, though. I know of some great summer fun for kids in Bryan-College Station...BCS Art Camp.

Designed for kids who have not yet entered their high school years (grades K-8th), BCS Art Camp is meant to encourage creativity and spark the imagination. From June 4, 2012 to July 27, 2012, your child can learn about the history of art, how to draw classic cartoons, watercoloring, Asian art, dying shirts and even how to use food to create art. Camp Explosion! combines elements of science, history and music with art, melding physical activity with artistic creativity. Your child can attend the morning (9am to 12pm) or afternoon (1pm to 4pm) sessions of the Four Day Art Camp (Monday through Thursday), the morning or afternoon sessions of Fantastic Fridays or all of them, if you'd like. Each Fantastic Friday session is a complete class. That way, no matter which time your youngster attends, they will benefit from all that day has to offer.

The cost for the Four Day BCS Art Camp is $125 for either morning or afternoon, while Fantastic Fridays are $40 each. There is a discount offered for Bryan-College Station area children to attend both the morning and afternoon Fantastic Fridays sessions in June (four classes total) for just $145. To register your child, you can sign up at the BCS Art Camp website or download the registration form and mail it in to the BCS Art Camp offices (PO Box 11892, College Station, TX, 77842). Class sizes are extremely limited to make sure that each child gets the attention they deserve. So, please register soon. You will be required to pay a $25 deposit for each camp you register for and all balances are due by May 31, 2012.

Parents...don't fret about what to do to keep your child occupied during summer break. BCS Art Camp offers summer fun for kids in Bryan-College Station. Don't let them spend the next three months cooped up inside playing video games. Instead, encourage a healthy mind and body with the BCS Art Camp!

FEATURED HOME OF THE WEEK

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

Originally posted on my Living in Bryan-College Station real estate blog here: http://livinginbryancollegestation.com/summer-fun-kids-bryan-college-station/.