Cover Image Credits: Chea Chea Media Inc. Glam Squad Cover photo credits: Photographer: Dee Johnson Photography aphy h Hair: All Phases Salon Naturals Stylist/Jewelry Maverick: Myisha Reaves v s ve Nail Artist: Sondra Wilkerson of Big City t Styles Make Up: MYA DANAYE MCCLAIN Hair provided by: Lavish Life Hair Boutique/ Melinda Dixon Footwear Consultant: Tonya Godsey-Lowe/ Foxy Feet Boutique
Game Changers Editor in Chief Chea K. Woolfolk Assistant Editor Little Chea Chea General Manager Craig Shanklin Executive Art Director Chea K. Woolfolk Staff Writer Chea K. Woolfolk, Craig Shanklin,
EDITORIAL OFFICES Chea Chea Media Inc 1115 Garvin place. Louisville Ky 40203
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Columnists: Gay Polk Payton-White, Angel Elliot, Bill Houston Contributing Writers for this issue: Korea Howard, Valorie Lasley, Lettie Johnson,
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bASHAS JEWELRYBOX WWW.ASHASGLAM.COM
ALL PHASES SALON NATURALS 3405 Breckenridge Ln Louisville, Kentucky FACEBOOK: @allphasessalon Call (502) 822-0095
SONDRA WILKERSON BIG CITY STYLES 312 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202 Phone: (502) 584-2489 http://www.bigcitystyleslouisville.com/
MYA DANAYE MCCLAIN DOLLED UP BY DANAYE MUA 502-299-6570 MELINDA DIXON LAVISH LIFE HAIR BOUTIQUE WWW.LAVISHLIFEHAIR.COM (502) ( ) 558-9195
http://www.deejohnsonphotography.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CKW-THE CHEA K. WOOLFOLK MAGAZINE A DIVISION OF CHEA CHEA MEDIA
Feb/March
b b bBEAUTY, HEALTH & FASHION
CKW-THE K. WOOLFOLK MAGAZINE Table CHEA of Content
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5 WAYS TO FEEL GOOD WHILE GETTIN FIT MEET ANGEL ELLIOTT BRAIN DRAINED FROM CANCER NURSE TO CANCER PATIENT: ONE WOMAN’S STORY HUMAN INTAMACY WITH TECHNOLOGY ARE WE ALL BECOMING CYBORGS? RESOLVE TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH WITH OMEGA-3S SCIENCE BASED SUGGESTIONS FOR SELF-CONFIDENCE THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT MAKES YOUR SKIN DRY AND ITCHY IN THE WINTER WANT A BEAUTIFUL SMILE? PROTECT YOURSELF!
FOOD & BEVERAGES 61 65 69 72 75 77 82
3 SIMPLE TIPS TO GET DELICIOUS BALANCED WEEKNIGHT MEALS ON THE TABLE BOOMERS: 10 REASONS TO GO NUTS HEALTHY HALF-TIME SNACKING TIPS FROM A PRO MAKE YOUR CHIPS AND DIPS A LITTLE MORE HIP SAY GOODBYE TO WINTER BLUES TOP 4 NUTRITION PREDICITONS FOR 2018 FOOD AND BEVERAGE SPECIAL INSERT: RECIPIES
SPOTLIGHT 92 96 99 104 107 111
124 126 129 133 136 138 141 145 149 154 156 161 165
GAY’S PSA- GAY POLK-PAYTON THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF MUSIC-TAMRA MEANS GIFTED BY DESIGN-LETTIE JOHNSON THAT’S MY STORY- KOREA HOWARD IN THE AGES OF MY MIND- VALORIE HOWIE LASLEY MUSIC WILL TAKE YOU WHERE WORDS CANNOT- CHEA K. WOOLFOLK & CRAIG SHANKLIN
1 IN 5 DRIVERS CAN’T FIX A FLAT TIRE. CAN YOU? 3 SPRING REMODELING PROJECTS SURE TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME 5 TIPS FOR SPEED CLEANING YOUR HOME BABY ON THE WAY CREATING A DREAM HOME WITH CYPRESS DEEPER THAN GRASSROOTS RENT VS. OWN: WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU SENIOR GUEST? STAYING SAFE IN THE MOUNTIANS THIS WINTER STUCK INSIDE? EASY STEPS TO FRESHEN UP YOUR LIVING SPACE THE 1ST RULE OF THE ROAD: FOCUS ON DRIVING. WHEN TO INTRODUCE TECH TO CHILDREN WHY WINTER IS THE PERFEECT TIME TO BUY A BOAT
169 177 181 184 187 190 193
THE CROWD ECONOMY A BLACK IMPERATIVE – BILL HOUSTON FINANCE INSERT-COMMON TAX MISTAKES TO AVOID IN 2018 GROWING NEED FOR AG EXPERTISE HERE’S HOW THE TAX REFORM PLAN COULD AFFECT YOU OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO HELP STUDENTS PAY FOR COLLEGE RETIREMENT READINESS Feb/Mar 2018 STARTING A CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM BUSINESS CAN BE TOUGH. GROWING ONE CAN BE EVEN HARDER
EDITOR'S LETTER FEB/MARCH 2018
Hello my loves! I have truly missed you all and I am so excited to publish this first issue of 2018. Lately I’ve noticed that music has been the way I’ve coped with some life issues and professional concerns. Each day as I pull up a play list I am guided by the days mindset. I realized that music speaks the words I can not form with mind and tongue on many days. I had the revelation that “Music will take us where words cannot”. I want to send heartfelt thanks to DJ Kaos and Jeremiah Ekoe for allowing me time to feel musical and gain knowledge of their worlds. Enjoy this issue and take time to reflect on what music means to you and how it impacts your life.
“Music… will help dissolve your perplexities and purify your character and sensibilities, and in time of care and sorrow, will keep a fountain of joy alive in you.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer May your February be blessed beyond measure. Much musical Love!
“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” ― Confucius
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BEHIND THE SCENES
“WITHOUT MUSIC, LIFE WOULD BE A MISTAKE”Å ÇFriedrich Nietzsche
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This issues photoshoot was one the whole team enjoyed. Joining the February/March issue of CKW-The Chea K. Woolfolk Magazine are none other than Jeremiah Ekoe and DJ Kaos. We wanted to not only showcase the tremendous talents of these two but offer some mages to continue a positive feeling. Music will take us where words cannot. The same can be said regarding images. We wanted to showcase the great time we had during the photoshoot for this issue cover. Special thanks you to photographer Dee Johnson of Dee Johnson Photography and LG TV, Glam Squad team members Darla Styles and Myisha Reaves. Also, on set with us was General manager of Chea Chea Media, Craig Shanklin. During the photoshoot we also filmed an upcoming episode of “Kickback Chats� which will air on LG TV soon. Be sure and connect with everyone involved to stay update on all upcoming happenings!
Writers: Chea K. Woolfolk & Craig Shanklin. bbPhoto bybDee Johnson Photography
The cover photoshoot!
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CONTACT INFO Djkaos7
lakeithentertainment@gmail.com www.djkaos7.com
Jeremiah Ekoe
ekoe_alexanda EkoeAlexanda
m.facebook.com/EkoeUnplugged/reviews CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
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Health, Beauty & Fashion
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5 WAYS TO FEEL GOOD WHILE GETTING FIT
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Streamline your routine: Don't let your fear of sweat keep you from getting fit. With a few tricks, you can get back to glam in minutes, even when you lack time to shower. First, make smart use of the tools they have on hand at the gym. Grab some extra towels and pound out that treadmill run with the high-powered fan on full blast. In the locker room, hand dryers (and a dab of dry shampoo) are great for getting your tresses looking great again. Cleansing cloths at the ready can also be a lifesaver. Summer's Eve Cleansing Cloths let you freshen up on the go and are balanced to a woman's natural pH, so you'll always leave the gym feeling fresh and ready to take on the world. Inspire your ears: Let's face facts: Workouts get tedious. If the thought of sprinting and lifting your way through the next circuit bores you to tears, try uploading your playlist with fast-paced music that gets your heart racing. Don't worry what others think this is for your ears only! If it makes you feel good, you'll be more likely to experience a positive workout. Be ready for action: As soon as you're home from your session, re-pack your gym bag as soon as possible so you'll never waste a moment hunting around the house for your workout gear, such as sneakers, earbuds and products that help you ease back into your day. Stash essentials like Summer's Eve Cleansing Wash in your bag as well for days that you can fit in a quick shower after your workout. It not only gently cleanses and freshens your skin after a grueling workout, it removes odor-causing bacteria, so you'll feel fantastic, inside and out. Update your attire: Ever notice how easy it is to get out of bed when you know you have a new outfit to wear to work? Feeling good about how you look can put a spring in your step and motivate you to get up and out the door. When you notice that your fitness routine is lagging, maybe it's time to spruce up your workout attire. Bonus: If you've lost a few pounds, you'll get an extra lift from that ego boost! CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
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ANGEL ELLIOTT
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Diffuse Lemongrass and Lavender Essential Oils: Lemongrass is known to be an oil that provides an energy cleanse, helps to remove negative vibes. And Lavender helps promote relaxation and sleep Dead Sea Salt Soaks Promotes healing of the skin, reduces fine lines, while purifying the skin CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
Unplug: Remove all phones, tablets or laptops, take at least 20 minutes to Be Still and meditate. Clearing your mind, helps to fight off anxiety, enhances selfawareness and reduces stress. Breathe: Deep breathing helps to reduce curb negative energy, reduces blood pressure as well as help you feel better. Its time make 2018, the year you focus on being good to yourself.
Angel Elliott 332 W Broadway Suite 216 B Louisville, Kentucky Get Directions @angelstherpeuticmassage (social media) Call (502) 777-9098 angelblu1002@gmail.com http://www.styleseat/angelelliott2
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Asha and Nia’s Jewelry Box
Mya McC lain
@theoriginalglamsquad CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
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BRAIN DRAINED? THESE HABITS CAN HELP MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BRAIN
(BPT) - Everyone has those days. You're operating in a fog, or perhaps you spaced out on a family member's name in the middle of dinner, or maybe you just find it hard to concentrate on work or hobbies. When these unwanted situations begin to come up more often, you may start to worry. Aging has long been associated with a slow mental decline.
"Think of your brain like a bank account," Dow says. "Every time you learn something new, or play a challenging game or read a book, it's like depositing a dollar into that account. The more cash deposits you make, the more you have to spare." Feed your brain Like other parts of the body, the brain needs food and nutrients, and the right food can go a long way to support brain health. An antioxidant-rich diet including things like unsweetened tea, berries and turmeric can protect the brain from damage that comes from aging and oxidative stress.
The good news is there are simple things you can do to clear the cobwebs and regain your focus. Dr. Mike Dow, a psychotherapist and bestselling author, says we often don't realize the brain is just like the heart, our muscles, our lungs and bones - it needs maintenance, and healthy habits to help keep it working at its very best.
Dow also recommends taking a supplement like Natrol Cognium. It contains a unique silk protein that's been shown in human clinical studies to protect the brain from oxidative stress. The studies also show that it improves memory and concentration by increasing blood flow and nutrition to the brain. If you're interested in learning more about the benefits of Natrol Cognium, visit natrol.com/benefits/brain-health/.
"People understand pretty well that if they eat healthy, quit smoking and start exercising, they can improve their cardiovascular health," Dow says. "But they don't always connect the dots of living a healthy lifestyle to improving cognitive health."
Tend to your relationships As life and circumstances bring inevitable changes, the number of people we count as friends and loved ones can change over the years. It takes effort, but Dow says it's important to try to maintain our relationships and be open to creating new ones, because they can have a profound effect on brain health.
To help you reach your optimal brain health, Dow offers these everyday tips. Give yourself a daily challenge If you catch yourself in a rut or locked in your routine, it may be time to find ways to stretch your mind muscles with a new and challenging activity. Researchers have discovered that healthy brains need certain levels of reserves, and challenging them is one way to build those reserves.
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"Relationships tend to buffer us from the stress of daily life, which is good because over time, excess stress can cause inflammation," Dow says. "At the same time, good, healthy relationships give our lives meaning." Feb/Mar 2018
To meet new people, try simple things like inviting a neighbor over for dessert, joining a book club or volunteering for a nonprofit or cause that's important to you. Get enough sleep We often short ourselves on sleep when life gets busy, but it's important to make it a priority, Dow says. "Think of nighttime sleep as a wash-and-rinse cycle that clears away the 'bad stuff' that builds up during the day," Dow says. "Brain fog and dementia-causing plaques are washed away by cerebrospinal fluid, and this process is more effective when you're sleeping." Dow recommends practicing healthy sleep habits, such as striving for eight hours each night, being consistent with your bedtime routine and using melatonin instead of prescription and over-the-counter sleep aids to help you drift off.
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Feb/Mar 2018
Dear Supporters, Friends, and Families, On behalf of Booker Autism Foundation of Learning, Inc. (BAFOL), we are pleased to announce BAFOL’s Fundraising Dinner on Friday, May 11, 2018, at 7:00 pm, at the new KYE’S l, located at 500 Missouri Avenue, Jeffersonville, IN 47130. This year’s theme of “Heart of the Community” honors community spirit and partnership that enabled BAFOL to achieve significant milestones over the last year on behalf of our families and children. Over 300 business, civic, national & local community leaders will gather at the BAFOL Gala to celebrate our collective work in building healthy, thriving Autism families and community. To order tickets, visit https://www.bafol.org/events. Corporations, we ask you to join us as our Table Sponsor. Your support will allow us to reach more vulnerable children and teens with quality programs that change lives and strengthen families. Since 2012, BAFOL has been steadfastly serving the needs of various families in the greater KY, IN, GA, TN area. Last year, over 50 children and adults were served Holiday Gift Bags filled with a dinner, dessert, holiday card, and toys for Christmas. And, we successfully do this with no budget, we were able to personally assist families in getting the vital programs and services they needed. Such as: mental health services, child nutrition & wellness services. And, our very own BYC Executive Director established a BAFOL BEARS ART CAMP to work with the colleges in Autism Support Activities and Services. And, a BAFOL PC Lab to allow for children on the Spectrum of Autism, learn at their own pace in a sensory friendly environment. To sponsor a table, please visit https://www.bafol.org/events. We ask for your support on this special night to celebrate the strength, heart and soul of our community. BAFOL has always been a 100% volunteer ran and operated organization that brings together “Like Minded” individuals who believe in our mission and can see the vision. We have attached information regarding our sponsorship levels. All donations will be recognized in our program book, auction table, social media platforms and website www.bafol.org. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by law (Federal Tax ID# 45-4871106). Any donation would be greatly appreciated, large or small. Please visit https://www.gofundme.com/bafol. And, to show our appreciation to P.E.E.R Group Members for their generosity in working with us towards Autism Awareness, tickets are discounted to 33% off. Thank you for your support. Rev. Dr. Jasmine L. Booker Miss Tiffany L. Proctor Chair
Fundraising Chair
Brittany N. Sears Fundraising Co-Chair
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“Great HAIR doesn’t happen by chance, it happens by appointment.”
Darla Styles 502-419-9589 #DARLASTYLES IG: darla_styles502502 Book online @vagaro.com
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KbAmour Hair FB: KbAmour Hair 502-550-0553
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Linda Toogood To book an appointment call 502-262-4191
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Feb/Mar 2018
Darla has been in the industry for over 19 years. she takes great pride in creating, maintaining and achieving healthy hair for her clients. It is important to Darla to educate her clients on maintaining healthy hair in between salon visits. Creating a new look and attitude for her clients is Darla's favorite part of her job. Her talent and pride shows in all of her work. Seeing her vision come to life and a happy client looking fabulous truly makes her day.
Linda Toogood with over 35 years’ experience as a master stylist, over 23 years owning Toogood and Company. She also has more than 2 years as an instructor at 1 of the top cosmetology institutes. Her greatest passion is keeping clients excited about their best accessory, their hair. Her love for color and cutting keeps clients coming back and referring friends. Linda continues to strive for excellence through our ongoing educational programs and attending hair shows. Working alongside the best stylist, she is a sought-after mentor for all future professionals.
Lekeisha has had a passion for the hair and beauty industry most of her life. When she became a mother she decided to become serious about her passion. She received her education at Paul Mitchell, and is currently styling hair at All Phases Salon Naturals. She is currently perfecting her skills in a wide range of hair techniques including long hair, cutting, and up-dos. However, her specialty and passion is color. Lekeisha uses a wide range of design essential and Paul Mitchell and Joico color products. She truly believes Keeping God first that anything is possible.
Add a little bit of body text
Keep your eye open for “The Red Mic Series” coming to LG TV…SOON!
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DERMATOLOGIST DEBUNKS TOP 5 SKINCARE MISCONCEPTIONS Figuring out what's best for your skin can feel like solving a difficult mystery - everyone's condition is unique, there are countless treatment options and people will do almost anything for a clear complexion. "When it comes to your skin, there are many elements to consider," says Dr. David Lortscher, board-certified dermatologist, CEO and founder of Curology. "Clogged pores, acne and other common issues can be a result of age, genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors. I often hear about common misconceptions that cause otherwise wellmeaning people to make mistakes that trigger larger skincare problems." To help people better understand skincare and take control of their daily regimen, Dr. Lortscher shares the top misconceptions about skincare and acne. Misconception: Exercise and sweat can cause acne. Fact: Sweating while exercising doesn't cause acne. The eccrine glands produce sweat and the sebaceous glands produce oil - so revving up the sweat glands doesn't actually turn on the oil glands involved in acne breakouts. The truth is sweating and humidity can aggravate breakouts by giving the bacteria on the skin a better environment to grow. Cleansing is key post-workout, but keep in mind vigorously cleansing your skin can also be a source of friction that aggravates acne. The best strategy is to splash comfortabletemperature water on your face and neck, then pat dry gently. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
Misconception: Chocolate and greasy foods cause acne. Fact: Many people have heard that chocolate and junk food are the worst foods for your skin, but modern science hasn't found a direct link between acne and oily foods. Diets are like acne treatments: highly individual. That's not to say your eating habits can't affect your skin. Eating simple carbs and sugar raises your blood sugar levels, causing your body to produce excess insulin, in turn stimulating oil production and leading to more inflammation and increased acne severity. Misconception: DIY skincare and home remedies are good for your skin. Fact: The DIY craze has extended to skincare routines, giving people ample ways to create their own remedies at home. However, it's wise to be careful about the ingredients applied to your skin. Some people try baking soda as a cost-effective scrub or mask. Baking soda is pH 9 and the pH of the skin is 4.5-5 or so. Therefore, scrubbing your face with a baking soda paste can be harsh and disturb your skin's natural barrier, leading to red, raw and sensitive skin and leaving it susceptible to breakout. Others suggest lemon juice as a home remedy for acne but it can cause significant dryness, redness and irritation. Lemon juice may have an exfoliating effect on the most superficial dead skin cells, but there are better ways to treat your acne. If you're fed up with DIY remedies and over-the-counter products just haven't worked for you, you have options. Try custom prescription skincare like Curology, a service that gets you expert dermatology care from the comfort of your home. Just take a few photos and a skin quiz to get a prescription formula customized to your individual needs. Misconception: You can make your pores smaller. Fact: Most people want smaller pores, but in reality, you can't change the size or force them "open" or "closed." Pore size is genetic; you can't shrink them or make pores go away. To keep large pores from worsening, treat acne breakouts, don't pick and use sun protection. Sun exposure breaks down collagen, which is the support structure surrounding the pores, so pores do appear larger as you age. Misconception: You only need to wear sunscreen on sunny days. Fact: It doesn't matter if it's sunny or cloudy; if you plan to spend time outdoors, wear sunscreen daily. It is estimated that damage caused by ultraviolet rays from the sun is responsible for up to 80 percent of skin aging. SPF is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
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From cancer nurse to cancer patient: One woman's story Throughout her career, Lindsay Norris had a close connection with cancer, helping others battle the disease. Then one day, it became even more personal.
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The 33-year-old oncology nurse still remembers the moment she heard the news of her own diagnosis - Stage 3 colorectal cancer. "I've been in those conversations so many times," she said. "I've shared a plan of care so many times. I've explained this stuff so many times." Lindsay knew the cancer journey but now she was the one on the receiving end of the conversation. Living with cancer While the magnitude of a cancer diagnosis cannot be denied, a Pfizer-sponsored survey of over 1,500 cancer patients and caregivers to assess resources, tools and general perceptions of cancer shows nearly 85 percent of the patients surveyed have a positive outlook on cancer and 83 percent have been inspired to make positive changes in their life following their diagnosis. In fact, nearly 90 percent of patients surveyed believe cancer has forced them to prioritize important things in their life and 3 in 5 patients surveyed said cancer allowed them to discover the "real me." That said, day-to-day life with cancer is challenging and the same survey shows a majority of those patients and caregivers surveyed say it would be helpful to have an all-in-one mobile tool or app while managing life with cancer, stating some of the most helpful resources would be the ability to keep track of questions that come up during the day (77 percent) and during medical appointments (76 percent), keeping track of medications (71 percent) and being able to communicate with loved ones (71 percent). Pfizer recently launched LivingWith(TM), a free mobile app to help patients and their loved ones manage life with cancer and organize certain important information in one place, which may help to address some of these tasks and communication challenges. While Lindsay has adjusted some things in her life since her diagnosis, her commitment to her work as a nurse has remained steadfast and each day she comes to the hospital as both patient and professional. "I figured I have to come every day for treatment anyway, so I might as well work," she said of juggling care for her patients with her own treatment schedule. "I've always taken pride in my job and taking care of my patients. I have always tried to put others before myself." Of course, like most people with cancer, Lindsay, a mother of two young children, has her good days and her bad days. On her good days she can go without taking a nap and is able to make dinner for the family and enjoy bath time. But on her bad days, she simply can't enjoy these activities and that's when her husband steps in to help. The missed opportunities sadden her, but she understands these struggles are part of living with cancer and refuses to let them define her.
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She still remembers breaking the news of her diagnosis to her family and her 3-year-old son Harrison referring to the disease as mom's "cancer owie." He said to me, "Mom, after your cancer owies are all gone and you're done taking your special medicine, you can have a sleepover in my boys-only fort." Lindsay keeps this goal in mind, and while her battle with cancer is far from over, she'll have her sleepover in that fort. Chronicling a patient's story Lindsay's story is one of several featured now on ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com, a novel program sponsored by Pfizer that allows people to share inspiring stories and follow along on Facebook and Instagram to receive and share daily stories of inspiration. Lindsay is extremely proud to be part of the campaign and is hoping the LivingWith(TM) app and her story connects with others. "I want to make it a positive experience. And hopefully when my son is an adult he'll look back and be proud of the way his mom handled it. The best piece of advice I received is to 'do everything you can today, and then do everything you can tomorrow.'" Lindsay and others involved in the campaign are interested in the possibilities of the LivingWith app, particularly how it may give patients and caregivers a sense of control when it comes to managing the many aspects of life with cancer such as building a network of support from friends and family to get help with daily tasks, recording and remembering important information from doctor visits and finding information about local events and nutrition articles. It even provides a section to track those "cancer-owies" that Lindsay's son noted, to help people provide an accurate assessment during their doctor visits. Join Lindsay and others affected by cancer who have downloaded LivingWith(TM) from the Apple App store or Google Play and visit ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com to help you or a loved one manage life with cancer.
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Feb/Mar 2018
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RESOLVE TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH WITH OMEGA-3S
Now that the holidays are over, many health-conscious Americans do their best to make healthier choices in the new year. But according to new research, even those who do their best to eat a balanced diet aren't getting enough omega-3s - essential nutrients that the body requires to function.
BPT
Among their numerous benefits, omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA), have been associated with overall heart health, improving eye, brain and joint performance as we age. But when it comes to health, knowledge is just the first step. People should consider if they are consuming enough omega-3s and take action. A study recently published in Nutrients compared consumers' knowledge and perception about omega-3s in their diet with the actual levels in their blood. Interestingly, participants were familiar with omega-3s, their health benefits and appropriate food sources, yet they simply weren't getting enough. In fact, 98 percent of adults who were not using dietary supplements had low omega-3 levels. Many experts recommend 1,000mg of EPA and DHA per day. Since omega-3s are not produced naturally within the body, you can increase your intake by eating two fatty fish meals per week, such as salmon, mackerel, herring or tuna, or by taking a supplement. But if you are like many others who do not consume significant amounts of fish on a regular basis due to dietary preferences, or if you simply don't have access to fresh fish, consider adding a supplement to your selfcare routine. Look for omega-3 supplements high in EPA and DHA, such as MegaRed 4-in-1 900mg, which contains a special combination of high-concentration fish oil and high-absorption krill oil and delivers one of the highest amounts of omega-3s per dose. Omega-3 supplements are a great start to supporting heart, brain, eye and joint health in the new year.
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Big City Styles Now Hiring! Big City Styles Barbershop & Nail Salon 312 W. Chestnut Louisville KY 40202 502-584-CITY(2489) Join our professional team of Licensed Master Barbers and enjoy working in a clean, comfortable, classic barbershop where customer service and satisfaction are our top priorities.
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features
Science-based suggestions for self-confidence A recent study shows your perception of your own image has a profound effect on how you present yourself to the rest of the world. Those findings could be empowering since even small changes to your self-care routine can significantly boost your self-confidence. BY BPT
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The truth about what makes your skin dry and itchy in the winter
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"In the winter, the conditions are much harsher on the skin, which means your skin has different needs," Henry says. "
"In the winter, the conditions are much harsher on the skin, which means your skin has different needs," Henry says. "So when the seasons change, that just means it's time to switch up your skincare routine, just like you change the way you dress and how you spend time outdoors."
Henry shares some of the common causes of dry winter skin, along with her expert tips for cold-weather skincare so you can start feeling better all over.
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Feb/Mar 2018
2. Too much (or not enough) exfoliation Make no mistake, exfoliation is important to year-round skincare, but adding it in the winter is essential. This process clears away dead skin cells and product residue, letting your winter moisturizers penetrate the skin and work more effectively, Henry says. Steer clear of products with beads and grains that strip and irritate the skin, especially in the winter. Instead, choose formulas designed to be gentle on sensitive complexions. 3. Too many long, hot showers On a cold winter morning, a long shower that really steams up the mirror is relaxing and feels great. However, Dr. Henry says these long sessions are drying for the skin (and don't get you any cleaner). "I recommend that my patients keep showers under 10 minutes in lukewarm water," Henry says. Afterwards, she says, pat yourself with a towel so some moisture is left behind on the skin, and then seal it in by applying lotion all over. 4. Excessive hand washing Hands can take a beating during the winter months. With germs running rampant all season, hand -washing is important to stay healthy, but those who wash their hands frequently tend to suffer more from dry skin, she says. Give hands some extra TLC this time of year. After washing, always apply a thick lotion to protect against and heal dry, cracked hands. Henry recommends CeraVe Healing Ointment, a gentle formula that contains three essential ceramides to provide intense, long-lasting moisturization, while soothing dry, chapped skin. 5. Your products are too harsh Your winter skin care regimen should be different from your summer routine. Many summertime products are designed to remove dirt, oil and sweat, but when it gets colder and dryer, these products may become drying and irritating. Henry recommends switching your facial cleanser or body wash from a foam or gel to a cream-based moisturizing formula. For more ideas on how to get soothing relief and protection for your sensitive winter skin, visit cerave.com.
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Feb/Mar 2018
bWant a beautiful smile? Protect yourself!b bThey say you can tell a lot about a person from their smile. From braces to whitening treatments, regular dental visits and good brushing habits, Americans do a lot to make sure their teeth look great when they flash a smile. However, one of the most important parts of a great smile, and indeed an essential part of healthy teeth, often gets overlooked: your enamel.
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The enamel is the hard, protective coating that covers your teeth and is the first and most important line of defense against tooth decay. Even though maintaining a strong, healthy layer of enamel is essential to preserving your smile, it often isn't the focus of someone's oral care routine. "I like to share valuable information like enamel erosion with my patients and friends because most people don't understand it or know how to prevent it and, most importantly, that once enamel is gone, you can never get it back," says Ann Ross, RDH. "Because of this, prevention, through avoiding certain foods and practicing good oral hygiene, is essential." Proactive approach To preserve your enamel and prevent further erosion, dental professionals recommend a proactive and defensive approach. The first step is to take proactive measures. This includes proper brushing and using the right toothpaste. In October of this year, the American Dental Association (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs announced that Crest Pro-Health Advanced, Deep Clean Mint toothpaste earned the first ADA Seal of Acceptance in the enamel erosion category, based on the finding that the product is safe and has shown efficacy in helping to prevent or reduce enamel erosion from dietary acids, when used as directed. A good defense You may be causing enamel erosion without knowing it. On a daily basis, people ingest acidic drinks and foods that are especially harmful to teeth. The biggest culprits are: Lemon (including lemonade)Cola drinksSport drinksOrange juiceEnergy drinksIf you drink these daily, make sure you are taking steps to protect your enamel, like using the right toothpaste, and drinking plenty of water. Ross adds, "If you want to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile, make sure you protect your enamel by brushing twice a day with toothpaste that has been scientifically shown to prevent the erosion of enamel, like Crest Pro-Health Advanced, Deep Clean Mint." For more information, visit www.crest.com. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
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Dee Johnson Photography With over 30 years in photography and videography Dee Johnson has been a major part of the imagery you see with our publication. He brings an eye for detail but a fun approach to getting the projects completed.
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3 SIMPLE TIPS TO GET DELICIOUS, BALANCED WEEKNIGHT MEALS ON THE TABLE CKW-THE CHEA K. WOOLFOLK MAGAZINE
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.PROVEN TIPS TO STREAMLINE MEAL PREP ON BUSY WEEKNIGHTS
Weekday schedules get crazy, which is why the first casualty of all that chaos is the family dinner. While most families say eating together is a high priority, day-to-day reality is different. According to a 2013 poll by NPR and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, only half of children in the U.S. are in families that dine together. Yet research cited by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that children reap many benefits from regular family meals, from improved academic performance to developing a deeper sense of resilience. But busy families can find time to sit down together more often, says Colleen Burns, a lifestyle expert and spokeswoman for Nestle's Balance Your Plate program. To be successful, set the intention with good planning and smart strategies. What's more, these meals can also be delicious and nutritious. "When you have simple solutions in your toolbox to get those well-balanced and tasty meals on the table in the little time that you have, it lets you establish and keep an important family ritual," says Burns, who is also a busy mom of six boys. "At the same time, you don't get burned out, and that's key to staying motivated and inspired."
.Shop the freezer section: When you're in a time pinch, frozen foods have many offerings that set a good foundation for any home-cooked meal, Burns says. Oftentimes, the quality is just as good as their fresh counterparts, and they eliminate many steps of prep time, whether you're looking at entrees, veggies or sides. On top of all that, fruits and veggies are flash-frozen, which locks the nutrients in place. Don't sacrifice: If you know what to look for when shopping the grocery aisles, you can find convenient entrees and sides without sacrificing taste or quality. Burns recommends Stouffer's Macaroni & Cheese as one easy solution that helps you get a great meal on the table. It has ingredients that consumers would use in their own kitchens, such as freshly made pasta, butter, cheddar cheese and milk. Burns likes to serve it as a side to marinated chicken (see recipe below) and roasted seasonal veggies, because it's a simple solution that makes her and her family feel good about dinner. Maintain balance: Look to a variety of entrees and sides to bring a nutritional balance as well as delicious flavors to your dinner menu. Burns recommends opting for lean proteins like fish and chicken served with fresh or frozen veggies. Check out her how-to video, https://youtu.be/fKcY-jiTWJg, to learn more.
To help you get started, Burns shares her top three simple tips to get delicious and nutritious meals on the CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM table quickly.
Feb/Mar 2018
Marinated Garlic and Lemon Roasted Chicken Drumsticks with Honey Mustard Sauce 10 chicken drumsticks 1 large lemon zested and juiced 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 3 whole cloves garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon oregano 1 pinch each salt and pepper Minced parsley for garnish Honey Mustard Sauce: 3 tablespoons melted butter 1/2 cup honey 1/2 cup mustard 1 tablespoon lemon juice
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Directions In a bowl, mix together lemon juice, zest, olive oil, chopped garlic, paprika, oregano, salt and pepper. Add chicken drumsticks and toss to coat evenly. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. When ready to cook, let chicken come to room temperature for about 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange chicken on oiled foil-lined sheet pan. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Flip chicken pieces and cook another 10 minutes until chicken reaches 165 degrees and is no longer pink. Make sauce in a small bowl by whisking together the mustard and honey. Add water as needed for a workable consistency. With a small pastry brush, brush sauce over chicken and broil 5 minutes until bubbly. Place chicken pieces on a serving platter and sprinkle minced parsley over all. Source: Nestle's Balance Your Plate CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
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aBOOMERS: 10 REASONS TO GO NUTS For the roughly 75 million Americans who make up the baby boom generation, a healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons against age-related diseases. "It's vital at any age to adopt good habits to live a strong, fit and healthy life," says Dr. Mike Roussell, a nationally recognized nutrition consultant and nutrition adviser to Men's Health and Shape. "Fueling your life with tasty and nutrient-rich foods while making sure to be active every single day are essential components to keeping your body young and vibrant."
Roussell's recommendation? Nuts. In particular, pistachios. "Pistachios are a multitasking nut with fiber, healthy fats, and three specific types of antioxidants that may help fight the onset of age-related conditions that lead to poor health in these 10 ways." 1. Heart health Large population studies show that people who regularly eat nuts, such as pistachios, have a lower risk of dying from heart disease or suffering a heart attack. Pistachios provide 360-degree cardiovascular support in that they can promote improvements in cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood vessel function. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
By BPT
Feb/Mar 2018
4. Digestion The fiber in pistachios also can help with digestion. Research shows that the fiber in pistachios works as a prebiotic and feeds the good bacteria in our digestive tract to improve the health of our digestive system. A single serving of pistachios contains as much as 3 grams of dietary fiber.
2. Anti-inflammatory Excessive inflammation is one of the root causes of age-related conditions, such as arthritis. Pistachios contain a special form of vitamin E called gamma tocopherol, which has unique anti-inflammatory properties. Gamma tocopherol levels have also been shown to decrease as we age. 3. Weight loss Being overweight can also contribute to a number of age-related illnesses. Studies show pistachios positively promote weight maintenance as the dietary fiber, fat and protein all work together to make us feel fuller and satiated longer, plus removing them from the shell slows down eating. Pistachios are also the lowest-fat nut.o
By BPTE
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5. Blood glucose level Developing adult onset diabetes, or Type 2 diabetes, is a common fear for boomers. The American Diabetes Association praises the health benefits of nuts, including pistachios, calling them a diabetes superfood because they improve how the body's cells use glucose and how insulin responds to a carbohydratecontaining meal, namely, stabilizing blood glucose levels. 6. Skin health and appearance UV light from the sun promotes damage and accelerates the aging of our skin. Pistachios contain two carotenoid antioxidants that are concentrated in the skin and work to filter out and protect it against the damaging effects of UV light. 7. Eyesight Pistachios contain lutein, a nutrient known to help improve eye health, especially in older individuals. Lutein has been shown to prevent and slow down macular degeneration by providing more pigment for the eye, thereby reflecting more of the sun's light, preventing damage to the retina. 8. Memory Preliminary research shows that the fatty acids and antioxidants found in pistachios can help support brain health. The antioxidants in pistachios can help ward off excessive inflammation in the brain, a major cause of accelerated cognitive decline. Another study found that eating pistachios stimulated brain waves that aid the formation of ideas and memory processing. 9. Sleep Nuts, including pistachios, are rich in minerals such as magnesium. One benefit of magnesium is that it may aid sleep because it assists in helping the muscles relax and quiet activity in the brain by working as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. 10. Energy Pistachios have been shown to promote energy, which is why so many professional athletes consume them while training. More energy means we'll commit to getting enough exercise. But what is Dr. Mike's main reason for having his clients eat pistachios? "They taste good. People are much more likely to stick to a healthy diet when the food is tasty and fun to eat." CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
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ARTICLE BY BPT
BYbBPT bHealthy snacking and making good food choices can be difficult any time of the year, but it can be especially tough during the big game. Business Insider reports that only 80 percent of people who start a New Year's resolution keep that resolution through February. This happens to correspond with the biggest football game of the year and the common food temptations that go along with it - chicken wings, chips and salsa, pizza, not to mention beer.
Snyder describes a sustainable meal plan as one that allows some flexibility to have a meal here and there that might have a higher calorie intake. "I often see people go from eating a poor diet and choosing unhealthy snacks, in combination with not exercising, to all of a sudden deciding to work out every day and eat perfectly every meal. The issue that can arise from that behavior is that it isn't a sustainable plan, and it doesn't allow any room for those big game snacks."
Snyder's recommendation is to find a nice middle
Bryan Snyder, registered dietitian and nutrition director for ground. Allow yourself to sneak in some of those notthe Denver Broncos, who is responsible for keeping the so-healthy calories on game day, but also give yourself year-round nutrition strategies for the team's players on some healthier options that you can have while track, also knows the pitfalls for the fans. "I advise people keeping a guilt-free conscience. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM Feb/Mar 2018 trying to eat healthier to follow a sustainable meal plan."
Snyder's snack of choice? Pistachios. "Pistachios are loaded with antioxidants and fiber, which will help you feel full and prevent you from overeating during the big game, and give you an immune system boost as well." Other healthy options are pita chips with hummus, vegetables with vegetable dip, bison or turkey burger sliders, popcorn, baked sweet potato fries, or a cup of turkey chili. For those who can't imagine game day without wings, Snyder suggests baking the wings instead of deep-frying to replace some of the unwanted and unnecessary fats. "Oftentimes we want to eat healthier, but we simply don't know what to eat," says Snyder. "All of these options are healthy swaps for satisfying game day enjoyment." Snyder recommends, too, having a backup plan if you're going over to someone else's house to watch the game, as this can be one of the biggest pitfalls to straying from a diet. "Don't give yourself an excuse to eat poorly. Take along some portable healthy snacks - such as healthy bars, trail mix or pistachios - to be sure you have options and don't indulge in hours of unhealthy snacking." While it is certainly understandable and sometimes difficult to eat healthy during the big game, it is something that can be done with the right planning and preparation, according to Snyder. "One other common misconception about healthy snacking is that you have to sacrifice great taste," warns Snyder. "Follow this game plan, and I guarantee you won't."
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Feb/Mar 2018
Make your chip and dip a little more hip Savvy hosts and hostesses know that the keys to a successful soiree are a room filled with laughter and delicious treats served. If you're hosting a special event with friends and family, impress and delight your guests with fresh, new takes on the classics. Here are some ideas for a simple, yet indulgent, chip buffet: * Vary the chip choices. It's hard to beat the classic potato chip at any snacking occasion. Make your snacks special by adding crispy kettle cooked chips to the mix. Lay's Kettle Cooked Chips are cooked in small batches to create extra crunch in 11 flavors, from betterfor-you Lightly Salted Olive Oil & Herbs to a spicy JalapeĂąo. * Play with presentation. Bowls are a triedand-true way to serve chips, but try some Pinterest-worthy ideas like glass jars for guests to see all the delicious flavors, mini apple baskets with metal scoops for a rustic look or individual take-out boxes for your guests to quickly grab. * Do it up with dip. Dips and spreads dress up a potato chip and when you're entertaining a crowd, the more the merrier! Serve the classics like French onion, spinach and artichoke and baked brie, all of which are simple to prepare and can even be prepped a day ahead of time. To really impress your guests, mix in a few out-of-the-ordinary recipes such as a JalapeĂąo Pimento Cheese dip.
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Jalapeño Pimento Cheese Ingredients: 1 bag Lay's Kettle Cooked Chips 8 ounces jalapeño cheddar cheese, grated 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 4-ounce jar of pimentos, drained and chopped 1/4 cup Greek yogurt 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 cup pickled jalapeños, drained and chopped 1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper 2 teaspoons lemon juice Directions: Using a food processor or grater, shred cheddar cheese. Add chopped pimentos, chopped jalapeños, cayenne powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, mayo and 1/4 cup thick Greek yogurt. Mix until combined. Depending on texture you want, add more Greek yogurt. Stir in lemon juice. Serve with Lay's Kettle Cooked Original or 40% Less Fat Jalapeño Cheddar Chips. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
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bWITH VITAMIN D-RICH FOODS Winter got you down? Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is estimated to affect 10 million Americans, according to Psychology Today. Another 10 percent to 20 percent may have mild SAD. Even if you don't have diagnosed SAD, it's not uncommon to have bouts of the winter blues. There are many reasons people experience a "winter funk:" cold weather, little sunlight, shorter days, limited outdoor activity, etc. Additionally, between the months of November and March, the lack of vitamin D absorption from the sun can be taxing on your immune system and may also be contributing to your winter blues. Dubbed "the happy vitamin" by some researchers, vitamin D could be the key to turning seasonal frowns upside-down. Maintaining vitamin D levels during the cold winter months may help keep you healthy during cold and flu season while also boosting your mood. What's more, vitamin D may help you maintain a healthy weight. It's no secret that many people experience weight gain due to the flood of comfort foods available during cooler months. This, paired with lower physical activity, causes many people to put on a few winter pounds.
According to a study quoted in Men's Health, a University of Minnesota doctor found that people with adequate vitamin D levels lost more weight than those with low levels, even though all study participants reduced their calorie intake equally. To get all the benefits of vitamin D, start by adjusting your diet. Vitamin D occurs naturally in eggs and oily fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel, but it's important to look for foods that contain even higher levels of vitamin D to naturally boost your intake, especially in the winter. "Food is quite literally one of the best medicines out there when it comes to improving your mental and physical health," says registered dietitian nutritionist, Dawn Jackson Blatner. "One of my favorite tips for boosting Vitamin D intake is to simply swap out ordinary eggs for Eggland's Best eggs, since you'll automatically get six times more vitamin D - it doesn't get any easier than that!"
In addition to added vitamin D, Eggland's Best eggs provide superior nutritional benefits such as 10 times more vitamin E, double the omega-3s, more than double the vitamin B12 and 25 percent less saturated fat than ordinary eggs. A healthy diet that uses mood-boosting ingredients doesn't have to be boring. Get creative in the kitchen and try new recipes featuring vitamin D-rich ingredients like this BLT Salmon Caesar Salad from Eggland's Best and TheAlmondEater.com.
By BPT CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
BLT Salmon Caesar Salad Makes two servings Ingredients: 1 salmon filet, baked and seasoned to your liking; 2 slices bacon; 1 Eggland's Best egg (large); 5 cups lettuce; 1/2 cup tomatoes; 1 avocado, sliced; 1 cup croutons; 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese; 2 tablespoons Caesar dressing Directions: Heat bacon in a skillet and cook completely; set aside and then cut or break into bite-size pieces once cooled. Soft boil the egg over the stovetop. While egg is cooking, place lettuce in a large bowl and add tomatoes, avocado, croutons and cheese to the bowl; stir to combine. Next, add the baked salmon to the salad, along with the bacon; add the Caesar dressing and stir to combine. Last, add the soft-boiled egg and enjoy!
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TOP 4 NUTRITION PREDICTIONS FOR 2018 PRESENTED BY BPT
MaSeveral food and nutrition trends were in the spotlight this year, including the continued rise of plant-based diets, non-dairy ice creams and superfoods that are blasts from the past - legumes, apples and cabbage. It can be easy to experience nutrition whiplash in the New Year, but don't be a victim. Get a jump-start on understanding the top nutrition trends that will impact quality of life and make it easier to add important vitamins and nutrients to the body. "The start of a fresh year always ushers in new opportunities to make one's health better," said Elizabeth Somer, MA, RD and author of "Eat Your Way to Sexy." "Study after study consistently finds that most Americans don't meet even minimum standards of a balanced diet, so it's important to be aware of advances in nutrition, so you can optimize your health all year long." There are four key nutrition predictions that will top 2018.
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Feb/Mar 2018
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bNo. 1 - Personalized nutrition A one-size-fits-all approach that can be applied to vitamins, minerals, omega-3s and other essential nutrients doesn't align with what research reveals about individual nutrient needs. Many factors tweak the basic recommendations, including age, gender, health status, medication use, stress level, sleep habits, exercise routines and more. For example, when the body is exposed to ultra violet (UV) light, it manufactures vitamin D; however, as we age, the body becomes less and less efficient at making vitamin D. This is when dietary and supplement sources become increasingly more important while the needs for the vitamin increase. It is no wonder there will be a growing trend and demand for personalized nutrition recommendations in 2018. Nutrition innovators - like www.vitaminpacks.com - are already responding by developing comprehensive nutritional assessments to curate unique combinations of vitamins and nutrients designed specifically to the individual consumer.
No. 2 - Awareness of drug nutrient interactions According to a recent paper published in the European Journal of Nutrition, vitamins and other nutrients play a crucial role in metabolism - the process in the body that supports overall health. How vitamins and phytonutrients interact with prescription medications can impact metabolism. In one example, antacid medications can interfere with vitamin B12 and calcium absorption, so requirements for these and other nutrients may increase, yet people don't make the adjustment in their supplement plans. Therefore, it is important to consult a health care practitioner before adding a dietary supplement, so prescription medications and vitamin supplements can live in harmony.
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Feb/Mar 2018
No. 3 - Go with your gut Probiotics are live bacteria that are good for health, especially the digestive system. It may be easy to think of bacteria as something that causes diseases, but the body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are the "good" or "helpful" bacteria because they have been known for years to help keep the gut healthy. What's more, research has shown that the benefits of probiotics may span more than the gut, including the circulatory, hormonal and nervous systems. Probiotics are naturally found in the body to varying degrees, and there are high levels of probiotics in some foods and supplements. Encouraging the growth of probiotic bacteria is important in maintaining an effective intestinal barrier, enhancing nutrient absorption and blocking toxins and pathogens. A focus on gut health and spotlighting food and dietary supplements that support a healthy belly will top 2018 nutrition trends. No. 4 - Vitamin K2 Don't confuse this K2 with the mountain in the Himalayas. Vitamin K2 is an overlooked vitamin that helps control calcium movement in the body and supports healthy arteries and bone health. It is found at sub-optimal levels in the traditional diet, but can be found at high levels in fermented foods, like sauerkraut and the Korean dish kimchi. Vitamin K2 will no longer be overlooked in 2018. Ask a health care practitioner about adding this important vitamin to the diet, especially if fermented foods aren't served regularly for dinner. It doesn't take a crystal ball to predict what will be the hottest nutrition trends in 2018; it only requires a look at the latest nutrition research and connecting with a health care provider or registered dietitian.
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FOOD & BEVERAGE b
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RECIPES When making apple pies, keep in mind that some apples are better for baking than others. Granny Smith apples are a baking favorite. Experiment with different baking apples to find your family's favorite. Tart varieties work best for baking.
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Feb/Mar 2018
APPLE PIE .Old-Fashioned Apple Pie 6 c. sliced apples 1 c. sugar 2 tbsp. flour 1 tsp. ground cinnamon Dash ground nutmeg Dash salt 1 (9 inch) unbaked double pie crust 2 tbsp. butter Combine sugar, flour, spices, and salt. Stir together with apples. Line a 9-inch pie plate with bottom crust. Fill with apple mixture. Dot with butter. Adjust top crust, cutting slits for escape of steam; seal. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 400 degrees for 50 minutes or until done.
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Sour Cream Apple Pie
3 c. sliced apples 2 tsp. flour 1 c. sour cream 1 tsp. cinnamon 3/4 c. sugar 1 egg 1/4 c. butter 1/8 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 c. brown sugar 1 (9 inch) unbaked single pie crust Mix together apples, sugar, salt, flour, egg, vanilla, and sour cream. Put in 9-in. unbaked crust. Crumble together butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and sprinkle on top of apples. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Finish baking at 375 degrees until apples are done. Apple Crumb Pie 6 c. sliced apples 1 tbsp. sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 c. flour 1 c. sugar 1 egg 1/2 c. butter, melted 1/3 cup nuts and/or 1/3 cup raisins Fill a 9-inch pie plate with apples. Sprinkle apples with 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon. Combine the flour, remaining sugar, egg, butter, nuts and raisins. Pour the combination over the apples. Bake at 325 degrees for 45-55 minutes. Sugar Free Apple Pie 2 1/2 tbsp. flour 6 c. apples 2/3 c. frozen unsweetened apple juice 2 tsp. cornstarch 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1 (9 inch) unbaked double pie crust Sprinkle flour over sliced apples and stir gently to combine. In saucepan combine apple juice concentrate, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir until smooth. Over medium heat, stir constantly until mixture thickens. Pour over apples, and mix gently until apples are coated. Pour apples into bottom pie crust. Top with second crust. Bake 10 minutes at 425 degrees. Reduce heat to 375 degrees. Bake 35-40 minutes. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What's for Dinner? an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, gardening, organizing tips, home decorating, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
EASY SALADS Save time and money with these easy to prepare salads
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Three Bean Salad 1 can green beans 1 can kidney beans 1 can wax beans 3/4 c. sugar 1/2 c. vinegar 1/2 c. vegetable oil 1/2 tsp. salt Drain beans. Heat remaining ingredients in a saucepan until heated through. Pour over beans and refrigerate before serving. Oriental Bean Salad 1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced 1/4 c. vegetable oil 1/4 c. lemon juice 2 tbsp. soy sauce 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 tsp. ginger 1/8 tsp. pepper 1 (9 oz.) pkg. French cut green beans, cooked 1 (9 oz.) pkg. Italian green beans, cooked 2 cups bean sprouts, drained 1/2 cup sliced water chestnuts Combine oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and pepper; pour over the mushrooms and toss to coat. Combine remaining vegetables and add to mushrooms; mix well. Chill thoroughly. Turn into serving bowl. Green Bean Salad 2 (16 oz. each) cans cut green beans 1 small to medium onion, sliced thin 1/2 medium green pepper, cut in thin strips 1/8 tsp. oregano 1/8 tsp. dill weed 1/8 tsp. sweet basil 1/4 tsp. celery salt 1 clove garlic, crushed 1/4 c. red wine vinegar 1/4 c. vegetable oil Salt and pepper to taste Drain beans well and place in mixing bowl; add all remaining ingredients (crush herbs before adding for better flavor); toss mixture gently; cover and store in refrigerator at least 2 hours, tossing several times. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
CHOWDERS! Salmon Chowder 1 can cream of mushroom soup 4 c. potatoes, peeled and cubed 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 can salmon 3 tbsp. butter 1 c. onion, finely chopped 2 carrots, chopped finely 1 c. broccoli, chopped finely 2 tsp. Mrs. Dash seasoning Melt butter in large saucepan. Add onions, garlic, carrots, and broccoli and sautĂŠ for about 5 minutes. Add potatoes and enough water to barely cover the potatoes. Stir in salmon with juices. Cook, covered, until the potatoes are tender (15 to 20 minutes). Add cream of mushroom soup and Mrs. Dash and stir until soup is well blended. Heat but do not boil.
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Corn Chowder
5 slices bacon, diced 1 1/2 c. potatoes, peeled and diced 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 1/2 c. water 1 can cream-style corn 2 c. milk 1 tsp. salt Pepper Butter In a large saucepan, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from pan and set aside. Drain grease, leaving 3 tbsp. in the pan. Add onion slices and cook until lightly browned. Add potatoes and water and cook until potatoes are tender (10 to 15 minutes). Add corn, milk, salt, and pepper. Cook until heated through. Top each serving with bacon and butter. Sausage Bean Chowder 2 lb. link sausage 2 cans (16 oz. each) kidney beans 1 can (1 lb. 13 oz.) tomatoes, broken up 1 qt. water 1 large onion, chopped 1 bay leaf 1 1/2 tsp. seasoned salt 1/2 tsp. garlic 1/2 tsp. thyme 1/8 tsp. pepper 1 c. diced potatoes 1/2 green pepper, chopped In a skillet, cook sausage until brown. Pour off fat. In large kettle or crock pot combine kidney beans, tomatoes, water, onion, bay leaf, salt, thyme, and pepper. Add sausage, simmer for at least an hour. If using crock pot, you may simmer all day. The longer this soup cooks the better it is. Add potatoes and green pepper. Cook, covered, until potatoes are tender. Remove bay leaf. Ham Chowder 4 large carrots, diced 4 stalks celery, diced 1 small onion 4 large potatoes 5 cups water 4 cups diced ham 2 tbsp. butter Salt to taste Freshly ground black pepper 6 tbsp. flour 2 1/2 cups milk Garnish with paprika and chopped parsley In a stock pot or soup kettle, cook carrots, celery, onion, and potatoes in 5 cups water until tender (about 20 minutes). Add ham, butter, salt, and pepper. Blend flour into milk until smooth, stir into soup. (Warm milk in microwave before adding flour). Heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Turn heat to low and allow to simmer, partially covered, 10-20 minutes to develop flavor. Pour soup into bowls, sprinkle top with paprika and chopped parsley. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
Look Good, Feel Better! Positive self image.
There are many opinions regarding how to improve self image but ultimately confidence is the key to a positive self image. We must discover our worth and it is our individual responsibility as part of the human community to build, encourage, and uplift one another. I have found through my years of experience in the beauty industry, we do not truly transform people externally without impacting them internally.
When we share goodness and kindness while providing our services, people’s attitudes and at times, lives are transformed. Be a Blessing today by touching someone’s life with love and kindness. Sondra Wilkerson, Manicurist Big City Styles 312 W Chestnut Street Louisville, KY 40202 502-584-2489
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Gay 's P SA
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#2 - Separated: SAME AS MARRIED!! These guys could come in various forms. Either: 1) You still live with your wife but Y’all aren’t speaking and you've joined internet dating sites trying to see what else is out there before you move out and risk destroying your financial interests; 2) You're on military deployment in another state but your wife has no idea that you're considering yourself "separated" and will be waiting with the kids waving an American flag when you return; 3) You've moved out, but you have no legal documents filed or executed by a judge, so you're still MARRIED which means as soon as your new girl makes you mad, you can go back home and skip the paperwork; 4) You've moved out, you're still MARRIED (no paperwork filed or executed) and you live with your mama who runs your life and is probably one of the main reasons you're getting a divorce in the first place. You want to move out of your mom's place (with her and them foster kids) but you're broke because of the child support wage withholding so your new woman always ends up footing the bill; or 5) You and your wife are openly living your own lives, but you haven't bothered to file and/or finalize the paperwork to be divorced because you are just trifling. LADIES: DO NOT DATE THIS MAN in any form!! It's easier for him to go back home than to start over. Once he figures up how much it will cost to live on one income with child support and/or alimony being deducted, he will soon see that it's "cheaper to keep her" and tuck tail and beg his way back into Wifey’s house! And no matter how long he and wifey have been apart, if he is still legally married, if he dies naturally or has a wrongful death claim without a will, the wife and kids take all and you get NOTHING...unless you are the beneficiary on a life insurance policy or you have survivorship rights on property or a bank account. #3 - In a relationship: You have a girlfriend in or out of town who you cheat on constantly, but you love her, and you plan to marry her, but you are unfulfilled "somehow"! LADIES: DO NOT DATE THIS MAN!! He will use you to fill the gaps left by his "unfulfilling" relationship and then when he dumps you, he will only feel remorse about hurting her and if the girlfriend confronts the both of you, he will turn on YOU! #4 - Divorced: You have a properly executed divorce decree, but you are overly suspicious and question the motives of all women because your ex-wife wiped you out financially and emotionally and now you are just out looking for revenge kills. LADIES: Proceed with extreme caution. Keep your mind and eyes open and keep your heart and legs CLOSED. Do not get attached to this man or take him seriously until he proves beyond a REASONABLE DOUBT that he is an exception to the general rule!!
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#5 - Single: You have no wife or girlfriend, but you keep a sampler platter full of women. When one falls off, you quickly replace her with someone else. LADIES: Proceed with EXTREME CAUTION. You may be looking to get serious but he's just chilling and enjoying what you bring to his life while bringing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to yours until: 1) he has no more use for you; 2) someone "better" comes along to replace you on his buffet; 3) you leave because you finally get tired of being in his dating rotation; or 4) you're the "lucky" one who ends up with somewhere to sit at the end of his musical chairs dating game and he chooses to settle down with you. If he is always coming to your house and never invites you to his, this could be a sign that he: a. lives with his mama b. lives with another woman or c. lives in a "gated community" where he is only allowed to leave on a prison workrelease program. *See divorced man commentary for additional advice* #6 - The down-low brother - you are gay but you also like women...maybe because society expects you to, maybe because you want to dress your woman up like the Barbie Doll you never had or maybe because you're waiting for your parents or grandparents to die so that the real you can shine through. I'm not gay bashing...I don't believe in that. I believe in everyone's right to live life as they choose to live it. I'm just saying that if you're gay, be gay and leave women out of it. LADIES: DO NOT BE DELUSIONAL!! Wait to meet a man who ONLY likes women and save yourself some heartbreak. If he is excessively promiscuous or a hypermasculine gay basher, this may be a sign that he is protesting too much against who he really is. USE EXTREME CAUTION!! For your copy of my book, go to this link: http://teardropspublishing.net/gay_polk-payton/contact_me #reallove #gregandgay #beingMrsWhite #marriagedonewhite #gayspsa
Gay Polk Payton-White, Attorney at Law Forrest County Justice Court Judge P.O. Box 17914 Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39404 (601) 467-5665 (office) (601) 596-6620 (mobile) Gpplaw@comcast.net www.gaypolkpayton.com
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The Power And Influence Of Music "Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand..with an equal opportunity for all to sing, dance and clap their hands...." Stevie Wonder was and is absolutely right about this. Music is therapeutic. Music helps in expressing thoughts that can sometimes be deemed difficult to express. While often aiding in many ways to gather thoughts, music has a way of soothing and calming the mind. A lot of life's realities are seen and heard through music and it's influence. Always having been old spirited, lol and loving many older genres of music, I can now understand and appreciate the meaning behind a lot of it, though there is some that sends poor, disturbing and distorted messages. Music can aid in bringing people and cultures together. It can aid in sending positive messages throughout the world, it helps to bring awareness to so many of life's issues. Arts, crafts and businesses have been created as the artist worked while listening to music. When I was manufacturing Paradise Island Tea myself, my #1 rule was to first turn the music on. While sometimes, people cannot understand certain things, we all can understand the power of music. Music offers a solemn form of communication, like non other.
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www.paradiseislandtea.com
mscteao CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
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Lettie Johnson, Gifted By Design Leadership and Consulting trains over 12,000 Students at John Maxwell’s Global Youth Initiative in Kentuckiana The cities of Louisville & Southern Indiana came alive and colorful during its transition to Fall starting October 9th until the late Winter season November 2017. In conjunction as the John Maxwell Team, led locally by Leadership Coach Lettie Johnson, Chief Empowerment Officer of a fast growing small Business Gifted By Design Leadership and Consulting, hosted and trained over 12,000 students between the ages of 8-18 years in schools around Kentuckiana. The John Maxwell Team Global Youth Initiative is an international movement comprising hundreds of free community events with topics ranging from leadership development to anti-bullying, self-esteem and more to help the youth in communities around the world thrive. This event is dedicated to helping kids, teens, and College-Age Students between the ages of 8-26 years old in our community, schools around Kentuckiana become change makers was part of a global event where 264,000 young people were served through The John Maxwell Team Global Youth Initiative at a series of programmes held worldwide. Speaking on the importance of the event, Lettie Johnson said, “With John Maxwell, I’ve learned that leadership develops daily, not in a day. Our goal is to spark an intentional and lifelong leadership interest in today’s youth,” she said. According to the United Nation International Children’s Education Fund, two out of every person below the age of 20 years is faced with struggles rising from low confidence, fear of failure, and bullying – a challenge the John Maxwell Team are committed to solving. Check out a few of the highlights from the school and community events held below; we would with Community Partners such as Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, YouthBuild Louisville, CityLife, & Jefferson County Public Schools and more. Our special feature was sharing the platform with JCPS Male High School Graduate, Intern for GBD, & Simmons Scholar Ms. Tierra Beard. “Peers, learn to use your failure, pain, and heart ache to thrust you into greatness”. The youth leadership training is available to any youth organization or school group. For more information about Presentations, visit www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/LettieJohnson Gifted By Design Leadership and Consulting is an business comprised of John Maxwell Team Members with an emphasis on connecting, consulting and coaching. The John Maxwell Team is a group of independent John Maxwell Certified Coaches, Teachers and Speakers, who offer workshops, seminars, keynote speaking, and
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coaching to aid personal and professional growth through study and practical application of John Maxwell’s proven leadership methods.
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WTHAT’S MY SONG BY KOREA HOWARD
Have you ever listened to some music that stopped you right in your tracks? Has there ever been a song that takes you on a memory roller coaster? Was there ever a time that you have been driving and that one song comes on that makes you just want to dance? What about that song that makes you cry every time you hear it?
Are you anything like me when a favorite song comes on and you just start singing like your life depended on it? How about when you just burst out singing a song because it was on your heart and mind? I like to sing and write songs as well. I can usually hear how it should sound in my mind, but I couldn’t play the tune if my life really did depend on it.
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Anytime I hear Whitney Houston’s song -Saving All My Love, it just takes me back to when I was younger. I want to grab anything that imitates a microphone and sing my little heart out. Every time I hear George Michael’s song - One More Try, I tear up or burst out in tears. I am always hoping to not hear the song Atomic Dog while I am driving because I immediately start dancing. Keith Sweat’s songs make me want to make sweet love. Anything I hear by Cardi B or Nicki Minaj makes me want to twerk. Why do these songs and many others have such an effect on me? Is it because my daddy was a deejay or because me and my mom used to sing together when I was younger? No...it is because music can literally soothe a savage beast. Music can also heal the soul. When we hear songs that are familiar or sound good to us it permeates in our being. There have been times that I will listen to or sing my favorite gospel hymn - Come Thy Fount or song His Eye Is on The Sparrow and it always lifts my spirit. I don’t know if it is the beat, melody, rhythm, lyrics, or the singer that makes me love a song. I have leaned to music in some of the hardest times in my life just as I have listened to music as a way to celebrate. If I can’t feel a song, then it is a waste of my time and energy. Music is a form of expression and creativity so when I listen to music I need to feel what the artist is conveying.
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No matter what genre of music you listen to just be sure that it makes you feel something. Think of a song right now that was so revolutionary that it will never go out of style. Songs like We Are the World, Man in The Mirror, War, What’s Going On, and Everyday People are just to name a few. These songs united a nation and created a cause for action. If you don’t have these songs in your playlist then you don’t know what you are missing. The next time you hear a song that makes you cry, laugh, smile, dance or feel anything I triple dog dare you to keep yourself from yelling out, “THAT’S MY SONG!” Go ahead and give it a try or better yet just enjoy yourself!
Korea L. Howard www.koreahoward.wordpress.c om eyewriteit4u@gmail.com
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IN THE AGES OF MY MIND VALORIE HOWIE LASLEY b b EMPOWERED LIVING INSTITUTE b CHANGE YOUR MIND, CHANGE YOUR WORLD Some of my first and fondest memories of music soothing my soul are from the gospel meetings down in the country in North Carolina back in the 1960s. Someone banged on the piano as various singers bellowed out the words to songs that were meant to make you feel good. The first time I was invited to participate I knew that the loud piano would most certainly drown out my small voice. And so, I inquired as to whether I could sing without it. bNobody seemed to care much one way or another. It was a small country Baptist church, with no air conditioning and large fans blowing stifling air around. The piano player moved to a seat away from the piano as I approached the microphone. The microphone was too tall for me to reach but I tried to stretch myself to reach it. Finally, an usher came to help.
The song was, “Come Ye Disconsolate”. It was not the song of an average 9 or 10-year-old, but it was the song I chose. I chose that song because of the words, “earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” I wasn’t sure how heaven could heal earthly sorrow, but I knew it should make me feel good when I didn’t feel happy. I really enjoyed singing for the church and traveling to the small country churches. It brought me a sense of peace that I could not explain. I felt accepted. But I also had a thing for the ballads of Ray Charles with “Georgia” and Sam Cooke with “A Change Is Gonna Come.” I guess I was an old soul even then. What in the world did I know about needing a change in life?
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But I also enjoyed the Motown Sound and would get carried away in the dreams like most girls. I dreamed of being Dianna Ross. I loved her songs, but I also loved the fact that she made it cool to be a skinny black girl. Then a few years down the road the social justice movement was ushered in by such artist as Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” and Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life”. But at my age I was not fooled into thinking that I knew what was going on, neither did I have a key. The songs themselves had a message about right and wrong, justice, and loving your brother. Now in the 1970’s we had that sexy, slow music from Barry White and Isaac Hayes. You remember when you would be leaving home for one of those basement parties and your mama would tell you, “don’t be all up in no dark corner with some boy”. And you would laugh knowing if you got the chance that’s exactly where you would be. The disco clubs, dancing beneath the turning ball until you got dizzy were all part of the array of music. But I also liked Sly and the Family Stone, The O’Jays, and Gladys Knight and the Pips. The 70’s brought the spoken word, rap, and on into hiphop, none of which I ever embraced. It never spoke to my heart like other music before it. The 1980’s encompass the beginning of my very limited partying years. I loved the music of the 80’s and I loved to move to the music. There were way too many artists to name but let me try. There was Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Janet Jackson, Lionel Ritchie, Prince. And then hip-hop flourished. But songs had real meaning back then. The rapping scene also shared the stage with some pretty good beats and poetry. I enjoyed the music of LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, and Tupac Shakur. I loved clean music, the songs I could relate to, like Tupac’s, “Dear Momma”. And I was her, listening to some variation of that song from one of my three sons.
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The 1990’s brought a lot of groups to the mainstream New Edition, Boyz to Men, Blackstreet all with good beats to make you move. Female groups like TLC, Destiny’s Child, SWV, and En Vogue had us sisters wanting to be bold and in charge. And the 2000’s brought in so many talented artists that I just absolutely loved. I will only name a few like Erykah Badu, the voice, the look, the whole package. Mary J. Blige, could be any chick from the bricks with one hell of a voice. Alicia Keys, Maxwell. India Aire, Jill Scott and Angie Stone. D’Angelo, R. Kelley, and Musiq Soulchild. All telling stories of our lives. Oh and let’s remember the blue-eyed soul singers like Michael McDonald, Teena Marie, George Michael, Christina Aguilera, and Justine Timberlake. But today’s songs. Sometimes today, it is all I can do to keep from screaming simply because I can’t understand the words, or it doesn’t make common sense to me. For instance, does a woman singing “I’d rather go blind than lose you to her” make sense? I ask you, does it? Today, in 2018, I believe some of our music, R&B, pop, soul, rap, hip-hop, or whatever else does more harm than good. I enjoyed music of decency before the world of profanity and vulgarity was so widely accepted.
Anyhow let’s move on. A few years ago, I had a particularly rough time on my job. I felt as though I was trapped in a hostile work environment. This caused me to return to the strength and wisdom of gospel music. I would worship the Lord with Yolanda Adams on my way to work every morning. Her album, “Believe” kept me going and wouldn’t allow me to give up. The music of John P. Kee, “Live at the Fellowship” would take me home with songs like, “Bread of Heaven” and “Let Us Praise Him.” Gospel music will always be my first love in music. It takes me to another place and time. It is always a place of peace and serenity. When Tamela Mann sings, “Take me to the king. Lay me at the throne. Leave me there alone.” I see me prostrate before the Lord with tears streaming down my face. There is no better place. Or when Marvin Sapp says, “He saw the best in me, when everyone else around could only see the worst in me”. What more do I need? My music keeps me grounded and focused. I believe on the promises in this music. I believe on the promises in His Word. When I pour good and power into my mind I can change the world around me.
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A MEETINGbWITHbMUSICAL GAME CHANGERS
INCLUDES INTERVIEWS WITH bJEREMIAH EKOE AND DJ KAOS
MUSIC WILL TAKE US WHERE WORDS CANNOT.
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It was a Thursday night and I was doing something I rarely do, attending an event simply to enjoy myself. I was in my hometown of Louisville, KY and I had heard that DJ Kaos was doing a “Throwback Thursday” event at a well known local bar. As I entered the room I noticed an eclectic blend of demographics and age groups. Everyone seemed to be in full enjoyment mode and immersed in the vibe. I didn’t catch a negative glance or any looks of worry of violence or trouble from anyone. Lately, there had been a lot of violence in the city, but not in this venue. The room was vibrant, and jumping, and that alone was refreshing.
As I found a seat and began my usual routine of counting heads and surveying the crowd I was struck by the number of older patrons. I knew this was a throwback event, so I was happy to see this demographic of the city well represented, but what really struck me was the way that they seemed to have a cohesion with the younger attendees. It was as if there was a feeling of silent mentorship, reverence and respect.
As I spent a little more time watching DJ Kaos control his set and handle the crowd I noticed a table of African American women who were sitting together, enjoying each other and the music. I would later find out these women did not even know each other until they met by chance due to seating in the venue. Yet, here was a group of black women who are often given negative and stereotypical labels of being angry and unable to get along.
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“I am a Grace Case, I walk by faith and not by sight. “ – DJ Kaos CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
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I was able to witness the energy exchange between Kaos and the crowd first hand. When it looked as if things were maybe quieting down Kaos used his turntables like a Vitamin B12 infusion to the crowd. A new jolt of energy was given with each new song or remark that he made on the mic. When I had the chance to interview DJ Kaos he said, “I look at the audience and see what prescription I can write each person using music”. That night I witnessed him defibrillate the crowd, providing a dose of enjoyment to those listeners. He used his gift like a surgeon uses a scalpel, to heal the people who needed to heal their souls. DJ Kaos, has found a way to be a light during society’s dark times simply by getting on stage and sharing his God given gifts. He uses his gifts to provide an escape from the negativity of the world that seems to weigh on us daily.
“Music can take you back to a better time when your mother and dad may have been or live or whatever. It can sustain you, it can propel you” b b b b b b b b b b- DJ Kaos
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Q; How does it feel to see a room full of people joined together by your turntables? A: It feels good, it’s a gift, it’s a calling, it’s a responsibility. It’s a gift that I have to share with others. I realized that I wasn’t called to preach. I wasn’t called to do other things that I would have liked to do in life. However, I do realize that God gave me a gift and the more I use it the higher the platform He puts me on grows. “The party series that you came to that night is a part of my giving back form. My goal is to come for the person who probably can’t afford to come to a concert, or a New Year’s Eve bash or whatever the case may be.
Q: I know you talk about your faith a lot. What has it been like for you to hold on to your faith as you walk through the journey of entertainment? A: It was like when I joined the church home. I will never forget when I joined church I thought it was going to be one way, totally not what I expected because, I was already “DJ Kaos” at that time and I realized that people will gravitate towards you for who you are and how they can benefit from who you are. Verses how they can be beneficial to you in your growth and your walk in life. I’ll never forget when I joined one church and a guy took me in with open arms and they greeted me. Then they said “we are going to get all the women with you being in church you’re DJ Kaos”. I think that made me realize that you have to develop your own relationship with God. I treat every day as if it may be the last day. Being someone who has experienced domestic abuse from an outside position and losing a brother and sister form a murder-suicide it gives me a different take on life now. Each day is something that I truly value. I have a saying “Go where you are celebrated and not tolerated.” My wife has a way of keeping me grounded because I tend to want to fly, I’m a runner. If things don’t seem right I get out of sight. By the grace of God, I have a partner in my life to help me realize that it is not my will but its His will. Stay in that faith.
“Music is a salve, a form of healing” – DJ Kaos Q: When you are on stage and you see that audience what’s that feeling like for you, take us there? A: Its like an out of body experience sometimes. I am just the vessel. I don’t practice, its freestyle, everything is freestyle with me. That’s just how DJ’ing is for me. That’s how God uses me, and I must be open and available for Him to use me.
My faith is something that causes me to have to read daily. I have to read daily because there is so much negativity, so much drama so many forces that will pull us away and into what the world wants us to do. What people want us to be. You turn on the news and you can become fearful. I say, “faith over fear, facts over fear, God’s facts over fear.” My faith is so important to me that if I’m not walking by faith I sometimes won’t come out the house. Just because I don’t want to be controlled by what this person thinks or that person feels or what the news said.
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“Music is like the voice of God" -Jeremiah Ekoe
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“Without music, life would be a mistake” ― Friedrich Nietzsche “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” b― Plato
I equate music to a skeletal system. It’s a foundation that is withhold race, religion or economic status. Music sees past flesh and into the very soul of being. Music like the music skeletal system strengthens our neighborhoods, families, communities and human connections. Music has a different eye than the human sight, the eye of music sees into the true spirit of our nature.
“Music is a language that doesn’t speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions, and if it’s in the bones, it’s in the bones.” b― Keith Richards
Jeremiah Ekoe stated in his interview that “Music is like the voice of God”. Ekoe a member of the group Linkin’ Bridge, is a man of many facets. He is a performer, a producer and arranger, a writer and most importantly a consumer of music. I was blessed with the opportunity to do an in-depth sit-down interview with Jeremiah Ekoe.
Ekoe has a passion for music but more specifically R & B music. I was able to get a glimpse into his world. Join me in this lyrical, spiritual and uplifting journey. With a firm belief that allowing the power of music, Especially R & B music to strengthen our community to its former glory and a desire to walk his own journey Jeremiah Ekoe is a musical mind to watch.
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Q: What is it about R & B that you’re so passionate about? A: I feel that it comes from the soul, its rhythm and groove is just in me. It just speaks to my soul. Q: If we look at music as your ministry, at R & B what is the one song that you feel describes today's society and its conditions? A: Marvin gay’s “what’s going on” or Bob Marley’s “No woman no Cry”.
Q: Lets look at music in 2018, what changes do you see in today’s music? A. I feel like the soul of the music is just gone. Its more centered on materialism. Before it was more lovemaking, family and home. Now it’s more of a Me, Me, Me mentality. I think it’s manifesting in the streets, in the schools and everywhere. That selfish all abut me mentality has people spending their lives trying to attain and be what they really are not. We need to slow the hell down, let’s get back to the basics, work to discover who you are and let’s get that family structure back together. Q: What was your musical AHA moment? The moment where you knew without a shadow of a doubt you were going to use music to have your voice heard and, to make the world a better place? A: It was two moments for me really. I was abut 10 years old and I was singing “MY, My, My by Johnny Gil” and this young lady I was digging at the time. She had a response to it and I learned very quickly this was something that maybe I needed to explore. Then later in life when I got about 20 or 21 I was playing the piano in the church and I noticed all these people crying. There was no words or lyrics or even a format, but that music spoke to them in a way that they needed to hear.
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Q: when you use music what’s the one thing you want anyone who has a n encounter with you to walk away with? A: Experience for one, I want them t leave better than they came. I want them to think about that experience. Maybe go on a better journey get them closer to a healing. Music creates shapes, is all frequencies and tones. It creates shapes in individuals. That’s why when music comes around they are really picking up those frequencies. To the point where it may be calming, may be exciting, may make them sad, take them to a place from their childhood and more. Its supposed to do that. When music comes on the scene everyone kind of gets saturated by it. Its supposed to do that. If you look at certain scientific, Music Semantics, musical tones when applied to a salt solution during an experiment took shape. It resembled a snowflake, which was kind of dope because it made me think maybe that is the mind or voice of God that’s playing. When we have that snowy day all these different snowflakes fall because they’ve been hit by a different frequency. A different mode of sounds because its been hit with a different frequency. Which is beautiful to us, but we often don’t understand it. Music is always around. When music is played everybody is affected in some way or another. Q: What are some nuggets of wisdom you can share? Let’s pretend we have a 16 years old young person sitting in front of us who needs some motivation. What do you say to them? A: 1. Always run towards what you are afraid of because fear is an illusion. If you’re afraid of it, it’s probably something you need to do. 2. Dont focus only on things you like. Go outside the box and try something different. Explore different things. . 3. Take risks. Always take risks. If you are not investing into what you are trying to do, then it’s not worth anything to you or anyone else, and always look for the greatest risk.
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After having the pleasure of spending some time with both of these incredible artists I know for sure that there is still music being made from the soul, and as I look at our youth today and the influence that music and social media has on them I am happy to see that there are still people making great music that speaks to them and can soften hearts, but can also create joy and excitement.
There is something about music that stirs the soul. As many of us can attest there’s nothing like listening to our favorite tunes while we work or engage in many of life’s mundane activities. Good music is usually the soundtrack of our lives, and it can literally transport us back to places and events if we close our eyes and listen. In my opinion music and the platform it creates, is the equivalency of a ministry. How one uses this ministerial gift is a personal choice. Both Jeremiah Ekoe and DJ Kaos have chosen to vibrate on a positive level. A level of not only social responsibility but global connections. We live in a time that has many dark frequencies, yet both talented men share a frequency that vibrates in such a positive manner that it pierces the world’s darkness. It allows a beam of hope and a feeling of family, even in a room full of strangers.
Keeping a song in your heart is good advice to anyone who wants to lead a quality existence, and we are excited about this issue that brings not one, but two established musical talents that have a love for music, family, and a sense of community. We’d like to thank both artists for being open, for being honest and for sharing their unique perspectives with us and our readers to help inspire us to keep reaching for greatness… Until next Time
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1 in 5 drivers can't fix a flat tire. Can you? %< %37
Ă&#x2026;For many Americans, fixing a flat tire remains a mystery. According to a survey from AAA, nearly 20 percent of U.S. drivers don't know how to change a flat. This is compounded by research saying there are 220 million flat tires annually and each driver will experience up to five flat tires in their lifetime. Before hitting the road, study up on these flat-tire-fixing hacks and build up the confidence to complete this allAmerican road test: Be spared: Spare tires are usually hidden under the carpet in the trunk area, but they aren't always included in newer vehicles (allowing manufacturers to make lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles). When purchasing a new vehicle, ask the dealer about the inclusion of a spare.
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Flatlining signs: A flat tire is usually accompanied by a loud noise or rubber flapping. The vehicle will feel like it is being pulled toward the side of the flat tire, and it will feel as if the vehicle can no longer accelerate. When in doubt, activate hazard lights and move the vehicle safely out of traffic, ideally on a flat area with enough space on the side of the road. Once in a safe spot, remember to practice high visibility: Wear a reflective vest and position reflective emergency warning triangles to alert motorists - add these items to your roadside toolkit. Hit the road, Jack: Having the right tools on board is critical, of course, and that's where a jack comes in, like a Strongway Jack from Northern Tool + Equipment. Remember, the jack is only used to get the vehicle off the ground, not to hold the vehicle in place - that's where the jack stands come in to ensure a safe and sustained lift. Refer to the owner's manual for the proper placement of the jack and the stands, typically the sturdiest part of the vehicle. Rider's block: A common, and dangerous, error when changing a tire is not using blocks to prevent the wheels from rolling once the vehicle is raised. A tirechanging tool pack should include bricks or wooden wedges to be placed behind the wheels at the end of the vehicle that isn't being raised. Get loose: Once the jack has been cranked up, and the wheel is slightly off the ground, it's time to remove the hubcap and then call for another key tool, a tire iron, to loosen the lug nuts and then pull off the flat tire. Be careful not to strip the lug nuts. On the road again: With the flat tire off, line up the spare tire's holes with the wheel bolts and push on, hand-screwing the lug nuts back on. Then, lower the jack a touch so the wheel is in slight contact with the ground. Use the tire iron to further secure the lug nuts in a "star-like" pattern: After tightening the first lug nut, tighten the one that is diagonally across from it and continue in that pattern. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM This will prevent the wheel from wobbling.
Feb/Mar 2018
5 spring remodeling projects sure to brighten your home %< %37
During the coldest months of the year, it's hard not to think about the warmer months to come and all that they hold. You may already be planning your next vacation or outdoor activities to host in your backyard this summer. Now is the time to brainstorm about your spring home remodeling projects that can add enjoyment and value to your humble abode. Home remodeling projects on the rise As the U.S. economy continues to strengthen, home improvement project investment by homeowners has increased, according to the latest Residential Remodeling Index (RRI) study. As spring is a popular time for renovation projects, you may want to start checking out popular design trends, researching product choices and figuring out what you like and what works for your family. Here are five projects that can help you reinvent your home this spring. Besides making your home more livable and meeting your family's needs, you will be investing in the real estate value of your property. * Take the mud out of the room. You don't have to allow the mudroom to live up to its name. Consider installing a Fiat Molded Stone mop service basin with a multifunction hand shower to give your family a convenient and stylish spot to wash off boots and other bulky items. It's also a great place to give your dog a bath or wash off dirty paws to ensure nothing is tracked into the house.
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* Shed a little (more) light in your foyer. Your foyer is the entry point into your home, and the right lighting solution can make this space all the more welcoming. Newer LEDs or halogen light sources naturally generate a warmth that's perfect for the entryway. Be sure to install a dimmer switch with your new lighting solution; it's the best way to ensure your lights provide exactly the right ambiance for your entrance hall. * A masterful master bath. Perhaps no room is more capable of providing luxurious relaxation than your bathroom. If yours isn't living up to this billing, it may be time for some changes. The DXV Oak Hill bathroom collection offers a freestanding slipper tub for ultimate bathing comfort, along with a stylish highefficiency toilet with a unique traditional farmhouse style. A coordinating high-back sink accented with a charming wall-mount faucet can finish off this bathroom remodel for ultimate enjoyment and function. This may be just the spruce-up needed to enhance your personal space, while adding value to your home at the same time. * Make your outdoor space amazing. Once the weather turns warm, spending time outdoors will be top on your list. That makes now the perfect time to plan how you'll use this outside space. A pergola is an easyto-build addition that can give you a relaxing place to avoid the sun. Adding a flagstone seating area or creating a decorative border for a new fire pit might be perfect for your family. Try planting flowers for a pop of color, or invest more with new bushes or trees to round out your landscaping project. Plants like day lilies or hostas can survive in almost any environment and are an easy, effective way to optimize your green space. * Shower power for all. For the all-purpose family bathroom, upgrading to a highly functional shower system will deliver results efficiently and enjoyably for all users. The American Standard Spectra+ shower system employs first-to-market technology that allows you to change the spray patterns simply by touching the outside ring of the showerhead for a customizable experience. The Spectra+ eTouch system also includes a remote control that can be mounted to any surface, allowing anyone having trouble reaching the showerhead to enjoy the same personalized shower satisfaction. It's luxurious and accommodating. What could be better than that? Finding the perfect project for you The spring season is home improvement season, so don't let it pass you by. Start thinking now, while staying warm inside during the colder months. Figure out what needs to get done first, then look online or in stores for ideas and get inspired for your spring home renovations. It will be project time before you know it. Headline: Start planning your home improvement projects now Here are projects that can help you reinvent your home this spring. * Take the mud out of the room. Installing a Fiat Molded Stone mop service basin with a multi-function hand shower gives you and your family a convenient place to wash off boots, pets and other bulky items. * Shed a little (more) light in your foyer. Incandescent or halogen light sources naturally generate a warmth that's perfect for the entryway. Be sure to always install a dimmer switch as well. * Shower power for all. For the all-purpose family bathroom, upgrading to a highly functional shower system will deliver results efficiently and enjoyably for all users. The American Standard Spectra+ shower system employs first-tomarket technology that allows spray patterns to be changed simply by touching the showerhead for a truly customizable experience.
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5 TIPS FOR SPEED CLEANING YOUR HOME
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In an online survey conducted by Toluna, more than half of respondents admitted that most of their cleaning takes place just before guests arrive. With a bit more focus, this preparation can be quick and effective, without stress. After all, parties shouldn't be a race against the clock. They're about spending time with friends and family. Johnson shares the following tips to clean smarter, not harder, in the limited time you have before guests arrive. 1. Ready, set ... declutter The important first step is to declutter rooms. Set a timer if needed to help you stay on track and avoid spending too much time in one room. Put things where they belong, or if they don't have a home, put them in a room or under beds where no one will see. Save decluttering those hidden storage areas for later. Prioritize rooms you use most, so if you run out of time, guests won't notice an untidy area. 2. Only clean what guests will see Join the more than one-third of Americans who don't bother cleaning rooms people won't see. You have enough to stress about as the host. Don't waste your precious time cleaning parts of the home no one will ever see. Simply shut doors to rooms that you want to keep private, signaling to guests not to enter. If you have family staying with you, give guest rooms a once-over, clean the bathrooms that will be used and, of course, the kitchen and living room.
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3. Skip the sweep Don't spend time sweeping with a dry mop when you can vacuum instead. Vacuuming is far more efficient and faster at removing dust, dirt and other debris from the floors. Keep a portable handheld vacuum nearby in case of a big mess, like a glass breaking during a party. Within seconds, the mess will be gone and you can go back to enjoying the festivities. 4. Speed-clean the bathrooms All you need to clean your bathroom quickly is a damp microfiber cloth to give every surface a quick wipe-down and a toilet brush to clean the inside walls of the toilet. To freshen it up even more, pour a half-cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl and add white vinegar along with a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Allow the mixture to bubble for a bit and scrub with a toilet brush. Then, voila: your bathroom is clean, shiny and smelling great. 5. Tackle the microwave mess You know people will want seconds well after the leftovers are put away, so use this tip to tackle microwave build-up: Combine lemon juice and water in a microwave-safe bowl and run it for about two minutes. The lemon water will loosen any gunk or food in the microwave for an easy wipe down with a microfiber cloth. Now guests can reheat their leftovers in a clean microwave. With the cleaning under control, all that's left for you to do is to light a few candles, conquer the grocery list and, of course, enjoy your special guests. If you simply don't have any time to spare, Merry Maids has the resources and experts to help. Find information at www.merrymaids.com. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
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BABY ON THE WAY? HERE ARE SOME TIPS
A It's only a matter of time now. Your little bundle of joy is on its way, and for the first time you are about to be a parent. Think you're ready? Many people do and then the reality of parenthood strikes them. Remember your friends who said being a parent is nothing like they expected? They were right. Parenting is a wild ride, but it's also one of the if not the - most rewarding things you'll ever do in your life. Just don't expect it to be smooth sailing right from the get-go. It's going to be challenging, but there are things you can do to prepare before your life changes forever.
To give you the leg up you so desperately need, Dawn Dais, author of the parenting book "The S--- No One Tells You," offers this advice:
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* Take advantage of your freedom. If this is your first baby, you need to maximize every second of freedom you have left. Go to the movies, order an appetizer and a dessert at dinner, travel, decide to leave the house and then do so 25 seconds later. Watch television shows with cuss words. * Sleep now. Earlier this year, Dais and Store Brand infant formula released a "Baby's First Year" survey that found 25 percent of new moms confessed their biggest fear before their baby's arrival was never sleeping again. You will sleep again, but it might not be for a few months, so it's important to get it in while you still can!
* Do your research. Make sure to discuss important topics before the baby arrives, such as feeding. The survey found infant formula is the last topic researched by new moms while pregnant, but the No. 1 topic researched after their baby arrives. A lot of new parents don't think about this because they just assume they will breastfeed. They are told that it is the most natural thing on the planet and so it's not even a consideration or option not to breastfeed. But what people don't tell you is that breastfeeding can be hard and there may be challenges. The survey also found that more than 50 percent of moms experience issues when it comes to breastfeeding baby, with low breast milk supply being the top concern. So, knowing your feeding options before baby arrives is vital. * Babies are expensive, so know where you can save big. It's important to note that all infant formulas are required to meet the same FDA standards. That means you can choose store-brand infant formulas that meet the same federal nutrient requirements for baby as nationally advertised brands, and in fact, cost up to 50 percent less! Having a child is the most monumental change you can make to your life, but the joys that come with parenting make the process entirely worth it. Apply the tips above and you'll eliminate some of those potential headaches. To learn more, visit storebrandformula.com.
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Transforming the ordinary When a coat of paint just won't do, think paneling. For Christopher Rose, an architect based in Johns Island, South Carolina, solid wood paneling provides a sense of warmth and richness to a room. But not just any wood. "I particularly like working with cypress," says Rose. "It has a wonderful grain pattern that offers a relaxed, yet elegant look. Vertical beadboard or tongueand-groove patterns are popular options that add perceived height to a room. And more recently, horizontal shiplap paneling and accent walls have been requested by many clients." Reaching new heights Looking to add dimension and visual interest to otherwise flat, dull ceilings? Architect Geoff Chick of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, says it's not enough to simply add crown molding. Too basic! "Owners today are looking to celebrate their ceilings with more creative design solutions and materials," Chick says. "In large rooms where I have tall ceilings to work with, I typically use a coffered ceiling. Filling in the coffers with wood helps to warm up a room and add another layer of detail. Cypress with a square groove is my favorite wood to use for ceiling treatments. I just love how it looks, especially when combined with cypress beams." Adding the finishing touch When selecting a finish for his interior cypress woodwork, Chick prefers stains. "It's a shame to cover cypress with paint," Chick says. "To help bring out its grain pattern, I like finishing it with a matte stain or pickled finish. Some rooms require a lighter finish than others, and it can be a challenge to coordinate with flooring. But from my experience with cypress, it's all worth it when it comes together." And remember, much like wood cabinets and floors, solid cypress paneling and ceilings can be refinished. If you're envisioning a fresh look down the road, swap neutral tones for bold colors, or sand the wood and apply a transparent stain to let cypress's natural beauty speak for itself. Browse the Photo Gallery at www.CypressInfo.org and see how cypress transforms the unremarkable to the extraordinary. It's time to make your dream home a reality. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
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Often an afterthought for spectators, the choice of playing surface - natural vs. artificial - is a major decision for sports teams and field managers that goes far beyond aesthetics. According to Don Follett, director of fields and grounds for the Baltimore Ravens, the decision to transition M&T Bank Stadium back to natural grass at the start of the 2016 season was driven by the players. "A few of our key players asked that we entertain natural grass," said Follett. "Ultimately, we decided that real football should be played on real grass." Why the fuss over real grass for sports fields? Venues choose one surface versus another for reasons that are highly specific to their situations. The following themes, however, consistently pop up: Injury considerations When first introduced, artificial turf had less cushioning and more surface hardness than it does today, affecting the probability and severity of injuries. Today, the installation of artificial turf involves a mix of sand or crumb rubber infill, which absorbs impact energy and provides cushioning. Over time, however, as infill levels decrease from being packed down or migrating, more infill must be added. Additionally, based on some of the research, an athlete's foot is more likely to snag in a synthetic system, which creates more force on the foot, ankle and knee when trying to turn or change directions. Natural grass can be more forgiving when players stop or turn quickly. While injury rates are not statistically significant between one playing surface and another, given a choice, professional football players tend to favor natural grass fields over artificial turf. In a 2010 survey of NFL players, 69 percent preferred a natural surface.
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Health and comfort issues Natural grass fields have regular growth, watering and mowing cycles, allowing for constant rejuvenation and decomposition of various compounds. The dense root and shoot systems characteristic of healthy turfgrass support a population of soil micro-flora and -fauna. These organisms offer one of the most active biological systems for the degradation of trapped organic chemicals and pesticides. According to Tim Van Loo, president of the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and a certified sports field manager, "the soil of natural turfgrass systems includes microbes that break down certain compounds, such as pesticides, potentially noxious organic chemicals and even bacteria from bodily fluids, such as blood and spit." With synthetic fields, regular maintenance - sweeping, dragging, loosening and redistribution of infill, and cleaning - is necessary to keep them in top form. Turfgrass has the added benefit of contributing to noise and glare reductions. Playability factors Artificial fields are cited for enabling more continuous play than their natural counterparts, which may need time to recover between heavy use. With a little pre-planning, turf managers can mitigate most of these challenges and protect the long-term playability of their natural turf fields. "The life of a natural field can be extended by rotating activities between fields, changing the daily location of practice on a field, or moving drills and practices around the field," said Van Loo. Taking care to preserve the quality and coverage of natural turf can also reduce unpredictable ball roll and bounce that may occur with bare, patchy growth. Likewise, modern drainage systems are mitigating much of the water concern previously associated with natural grass. When asked how the Ravens' field manages heavy rains, Follett explained, "We put in a full sand-based drainage system that percolates at 13 inches an hour; it would take a remarkable amount of rain." In warmer regions, heat presents a different challenge. Synthetic fields dissipate radiant heat, with surface temperatures regularly exceeding that of natural grass fields by 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure player safety, teams must schedule practice and game times to cooler periods of the day or run irrigation systems that cool fields. Environmental concerns Fertilizer and pesticides are often associated with natural turf. However, organic options are proving successful and newer environmentally friendly fertilizer applications are available. Additionally, the root and thatch layer in natural turf systems acts as a filter and removes pollutants before they enter surface or groundwater. If water use is a concern, field managers can take conservation steps. Devices such as rain sensors can help manage irrigation efficiency. Other water-saving options include using drought-resistant species and encouraging deeper root development by allowing grass to grow taller. With artificial turf, other environmental issues lurk below the surface. Crumb rubber infill comes from shredded tires that contain zinc and other metals. Some fear such elements could escape into the air or leach into water. Additionally, when artificial fields are replaced, the synthetic turf often ends up in landfills. Economic impacts The final decision on natural grass or synthetic often comes down to immediate and long-term costs. According to the STMA, a natural field can cost from $0.60 to $5 per square foot, depending on soils and drainage installation, while construction of synthetic systems can run from $4.50 to $10.25 per square foot. Annual natural turf maintenance costs vary based on the facility and climate regions, but annual expenditures average between $20,000 to $30,000 per field and are competitive with synthetic field maintenance and repairs. Based on Follett's experience, while there were initial costs to transition M&T Bank Stadium back to natural turf, CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM "there is not a significant difference in the ongoing maintenance of well-kept artificial turf and grass."
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Making the best choices for you.
Rent vs. own: Which is right for you? Contributed by BPT If you're thinking of buying your first home, you've probably wrestled with the decision to rent or own your home and for good reason. Owning a home is a big commitment. With it comes a lot of responsibility and a long-term financial relationship. But which is right for you? To answer that, let's lean into the facts.
The improving housing market Then there are utilities. The median monthly electricity
Good news! Since the depths of the recession, the housing market has made a heroic comeback. That can be attributed to a number of factors, including a drop in unemployment and a stronger economy.
cost for renters in 2015 was $82, with owners paying $117. For piped gas, the median amount renters pay monthly is $42, while owners pay $58. For renters, it is wise to carry renter's insurance. Some
But as the housing market has recovered, it has experienced some growing pains. With a sharp increase in demand, housing supplies are being strained. This means, among other things, that prices are going up. For families and individuals still recovering financially, finding affordable housing options can be difficult. This applies to home sales and rentals.
landlords will also charge maintenance and other fees. Utility costs will also vary depending on the quality of the structure and materials used as well as size of the rental space. Homeowners will pay property taxes, insurance and an estimated $500 annually for routine maintenance, according to the Census Bureau.
Making the decision
The benefits of homeownership
With rental and sales markets heading toward record highs, the decision falls back to what is best for you.
At a glance, it may seem that renting is the lower cost option. But there are certain benefits to homeownership
Specifically, what is financially feasible.
that may offset the additional regular costs. According to
Let's look at the basic numbers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median gross rent paid from 2012 to 2016 was $949 monthly. Compare that with the median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage, which was
the Tax Policy Center, the primary benefit to owning a home is imputed rental income. Simply put, making a monthly payment on a home that you own is like paying rent to yourself.
$1,491 over the same time period. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
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While that money is not taxed, it comes with another benefit - potential tax deductions. When you file your federal taxes, you may be able to deduct a portion of the mortgage interest you pay. Talk to a tax professional for more information on the expenses you can deduct and the limits for those deductions. Beyond the numbers Homeownership provides a variety of benefits beyond the numbers. For many people, a home is the largest investment they will ever make. The upgrades, work and care put into the home that you own can add value to your investment. It also adds a sense of pride knowing that it is yours. "Having a place to call your own, a place to return to at the end of the day, makes life better," said Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. President Eric Hamilton. "You can see it from the moment they make the decision - that sense of pride. It's a life-changing event and a memory that will last a lifetime." Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc., 500 Alcoa Trail, Maryville, TN 37804, 865-3803000, NMLS #1561, (http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/), AZ Lic. #BK-0902616, Loans made or arranged pursuant to a California Finance Lenders Law license, GA Residential Mortgage (Lic. #6911), Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee, Licensed by the NH Banking Department, MT Lic. #1561, Licensed by PA Dept. of Banking.
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PremiumPlusbrushes.com Build Your Beautiful Smile with our quality replacements Premium Plus Replacement Toothbrush Heads for Philips Sonicare 4-Pack Durable, Medium, Dual Contoured Bristles for Maximum Oral Hygiene â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Covers & Color Coding Rings
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SENIOR GUEST? HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR OLDER VISITORS How to host a senior guest in your home with success !%
Whether it's for a special occasion or just because, hosting an older adult in your home can be a wonderful experience with lots of memory-making potential. However, for a safe and successful visit, you may want to make a few adjustments to your home before they arrive to make it more senior-friendly. "Spending time with aging parents or grandparents is a wonderful experience for all generations," says Sara Terry, Brookdale Senior Living's senior vice president of resident and family engagement. "Creating a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere is the job of any good host and that is no different when entertaining seniors. Considering older adults' varying mobility and comfort levels, there are a few adjustments you can make to your home to meet their needs."
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Whether your guest is staying short- or long-term, Terry offers these six tips to help you transform your home into a more senior-friendly environment so you can focus on what matters most: making memories with your entire family. Outdoors The walkways to many homes are cracked or uneven, which is a risk factor for falls. Make sure the pathway is cleared and easy to see, shovel show in the winter and sweep leaves in the fall. Stairs can be tricky to maneuver as well. If possible, add a ramp that leads to your door. If there are stairs, install handrails on each side. Entryways divided by a threshold can be tricky for someone with mobility issues. Eliminate this common tripping hazard when seniors visit. Clutter The easiest thing you can do is remove clutter (especially on the floor) to allow sufficient space for senior guests who may be in a wheelchair to maneuver around rooms. Remove or tape down all cords. Rugs may look nice but they are a leading tripping hazard. Remove all accent rugs from your home, and in areas like the entryway where you must have mats, make sure they are secured with non-slip material. Light Seniors need more light than you do in your home, particularly in notoriously dim areas such as entryways, hallways and staircases. Replace existing soft light bulbs with brighter or higher wattage ones and add motion-sensor lights to bathrooms. Adding night lights throughout your home is an easy addition that helps seniors see better, especially at night or on darker winter days. Stairs Ideally, a senior won't have to navigate stairs, but if you have some in your home, you can make the space safer by having railings on both sides. Railings should be at least 1.5 inches in diameter to accommodate seniors with limited dexterity and aging grips. What's more, help each stair be more visible by using contrast strips (available at your local hardware store). Bathrooms Make bathrooms safer by adding well-placed grab bars next to the toilet and in bathing spaces. In the shower or tub, add non-slip strips and a shower seat for comfort and ease of use. For guests who are staying awhile, consider adding a handheld, adjustable-height showerhead. Finally, set the hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees as to avoid unintended burns. Room selection Whether your loved one is staying one night, one month or more, selecting the right room will increase their comfort and safety. One-level living is key, so if possible use a room on the main floor with easy access to the bathroom, kitchen and living room. Furniture, including the bed and chairs, should be at a good height (neither too low nor too high) to be easily used. Knobs can be difficult, so consider replacing round door handles with lever handles. "In addition to these tips, I recommend having a conversation with your loved one before their stay," says Terry. "Talk to them about what will make them feel at home in your home. What's most important is enjoying your visit to the fullest and spending valuable time together." CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
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STAYING SAFE ON THE MOUNTAIN THIS WINTER
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Feb/Mar 2018
With the increase in skier and rider visits, safety is always a top concern. Substantial growth in the number of skiers and riders wearing helmets has made participation in snow sports safer, along with awareness and education campaigns that emphasize the responsibility each skier and rider has every time they take to the slopes. For example, The NSAA and Craig Hospital, a world-renowned rehabilitation and research hospital in Denver for people who have sustained a spinal cord and/or brain injury, are partnering to promote several industry safety campaigns: #RideAnotherDay and ParkSmart. Helmet usage on the rise Eighty percent of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets during the most recent ski season, setting yet another record for helmet usage at ski areas across the country. While helmets can help to reduce or prevent certain injuries, they are not foolproof, and there are other safety concerns while skiing. Proving that helmets alone do not prevent all injuries, data from Craig Hospital shows an increase in the number of patients admitted each year from snow sports accidents (up 50 percent in 2017 over 2012). As an avid skier, ski racer and one of the early pioneers of adaptive skiing programs, Dr. Thomas E. Balazy, medical director of Craig Hospital, is a strong proponent of helmets. "Helmets can definitely prevent head injuries while skiing or riding," said Dr. Balazy. "I would never go out without one, and while I believe that everyone who participates in this sport should wear one at all times, responsible, safe skiing and riding is the best way to prevent serious injuries on the mountain." Ride another day Kelli Johnson, along with her daughter Elise, inspired the #RideAnotherDay campaign. On the day before Christmas in 2010, Kelli was skiing in northern Wyoming near their home with her oldest child, Elise, 5. When Kelli stopped to help Elise put her ski back on, a snowboarder traveling at more than 50 mph collided with them. The accident was devastating. Elise and the 23-year-old snowboarder died instantly, and Kelli sustained a traumatic brain injury and paralyzed arm.
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After months of rehabilitating at Craig Hospital, learning to walk, eat and swallow, Kelli has made a remarkable recovery, although she still has some paralysis on the right side of her body. To honor their daughter and create a lasting legacy, Kelli and her husband, Chauncy, partnered with the NSAA to launch a safety campaign titled #RideAnotherDay. "My hope is to get this message out to others," said Kelli. "If anyone hears this message just once, they will hopefully change how they act and conduct themselves out on the mountain." These types of accidents, while horrific, are rare. In fact, during the 2015-16 season, only 39 fatalities occurred at U.S. ski areas out of the 52.8 million skier/snowboarder days reported for the season. To put that in perspective, more than 1,000 people died from bicycle collisions with automobiles during that same time. Keeping skiers and riders safe while skiing and riding is top of mind for those in the ski industry. The following tips are from the #RideAnotherDay campaign, which is being promoted at more than 300 ski areas around the country: * Be ready to avoid objects and other skiers. * Maintain a safe speed and always ski in control. * Stay alert to what's going on around you, especially other skiers and riders. * Plan ahead and ease up at blind spots, check uphill when merging onto trails and give others plenty of room when passing. Terrain park safety The explosive growth of terrain parks at ski resorts (94 percent of U.S. ski resorts have at least one terrain park), has led to the NSAA launching the ParkSmart campaign. It tackles some of the unique differences between skiing or riding on traditional ski area trails versus riding in the ever-popular terrain parks. Freestyle terrain parks can include jumps, half pipes, rails, ramps and more. Some simple safety and etiquette tips for terrain parks include: * Start small - Work your way up. Build your skills. Know your limits and ability level and select the appropriate freestyle terrain for you. * Make a plan - Every feature. Every time. Some features are set up to be used one after the other, without stopping, and others individually; jumps are for jumping and rail takeoffs are for using the rail. * Always look - Before you drop. * Respect - The features and other users. * Take it easy - Know your limits. Land on your feet. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Learning how to ski and ride safely and understanding the rules and etiquette of the mountain can help ensure a fun, safe season on the slopes. For more information on
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Feb/Mar 2018
Stuck inside? Easy tips to freshen up your living space Winter weather means more time living indoors - working, playing, relaxing and staying warm. It's important to keep your home fresh by staying ahead of the continual buildup of dirt, dust and allergens. The following are some key areas to tackle for a comfortable and efficient home. Wash windows Washing away dirt and water marks from your windows and screens gives you a clear view of the outdoors and lets in more natural light. It will also make your home feel lighter and brighter, keeping cabin fever at bay. And to help maintain a controlled climate inside the home, prevent air from leaking in or escaping by using weatherstripping or caulk around your windows. You'll stay cozy inside and save money on your energy bill.
BPT
ThCheck and replace your vacuum bag, filter and belt A full vacuum bag, clogged filter or broken belt can hinder your vacuum's effectiveness, leaving dirt, dust and allergens behind. Replacing your vacuum bags every 1-2 months, filters every 3-6 months and belts once per year is recommended to help your vacuum achieve peak performance. Even more, a Filtrete HEPA vacuum filter will help trap particles 75 times smaller than a human hair, including 99.97 percent of dust mite debris, animal dander, molds and pollen.
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Don't forget to look up After tackling floors, dust ceiling fans and light fixtures. These hard-to-reach and hard-to-see places can harbor dust. And while you're up there, change the direction of your ceiling fans to counterclockwise for the winter. This will keep air moving, but circulate warm air instead of cooling the room down. Clean around your HVAC With the heater on, be sure to clear the area around your HVAC unit to make sure there is nothing blocking the flow of air. Next, remember to swap out that filter for maximum effectiveness and change your filter every 90 days. Turn on the humidifier Increasing the humidity in your home during the cooler months adds moisture to your air and living space. This raises the "heat index," making 68 degrees feel more like 76 degrees. If your house has low humidity, you may notice chapped lips, dry skin or a dry, sore throat. Be sure to maintain a relative humidity in the home between 20 and 40 percent. As the temperature outside drops, lower this percentage so condensation does not form on the windows. Add extra insulation to all areas of your home Adding insulation to your home reduces energy usage and increases comfort. If your home uses less than 12 inches of insulation, chances are heat is escaping. Add insulation in the attic to prevent warm air from escaping. Also consider adding insulation in crawl spaces, under floors and against basement walls to stop the transfer of cold through the house. Take back your clean, fresh home today Tackling each of these simple projects will help you take on winter with a fresh, cozy home you and your family can enjoy. For more information, visit www.filtretevac.com.
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Feb/Mar 2018
The first rule of the road: Focus on driving -
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"Rear-end collisions are the most common claims we see nationwide. We had nearly 60,000 customers report they were involved in rear-end collisions last year," said Vice President of Claims at Mercury Insurance Kevin Quinn.
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Have you noticed that traffic seems to be worse lately? There's a good reason for that - there are more vehicles on the road than at any time in recent history. Unemployment is low and gas is affordable, which means more people are driving more miles. And more drivers means an increased risk of getting into a collision, which impacts the number of auto insurance claims and, potentially, the cost of insurance premiums. There is some good news, however, because vehicle technology has advanced significantly in the past decade, with features like backup cameras, active braking and pedestrian detection, which employ radar, camera, lidar and other sensors to detect and track vehicles, pedestrians or objects around the vehicle. Many of these enhancements are designed to help prevent collisions and make driving safer, but that doesn't mean you should let your guard down. When you're driving, the road should get your full and complete attention, because as great as all of this new technology is, it's not perfect and collisions can still occur. "Rear-end collisions are the most common claims we see nationwide. We had nearly 60,000 customers report they were involved in rear-end collisions last year," said Vice President of Claims at Mercury Insurance Kevin Quinn. "People are surprised to find out they're at fault if they hit the vehicle ahead of them, even if the other driver brakes suddenly. This is why active braking technology, which can slow down your vehicle while using cruise control or even stop it completely if someone walks in front of your car or you aren't able to react quickly enough to hit your brakes, is a great development. But, even if you have this technology, CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM Feb/Mar 2018 you still need to focus on the road to avoid getting into collisions."
The most common auto collisions to be aware of, according to Mercury Insurance, include: 1. Your vehicle is rear-ended by another vehicle; 2. Your vehicle rear-ends another vehicle; 3. Another vehicle hits your parked car; 4. Another vehicle fails to yield in an intersection and hits your vehicle; 5. Collision with a fixed object; 6. Glass damage; 7. Another vehicle hits yours while changing lanes; 8. Your vehicle hits a parked car; 9. You fail to yield in an intersection and hit another car; and 10. You back into another vehicle. "Most of these collisions are avoidable if people pay attention to their surroundings. Cars are safer, but drivers are more distracted than ever, especially by phone apps, texting and taking calls. And it's not just drivers who are distracted, we're also seeing more pedestrian accidents, because they have their heads buried in their phones and aren't paying attention while they're walking," said Quinn. "No message, photo or phone call is more important than your safety and the safety of others, so please drive - and walk responsibly." Drivers should annually review their auto insurance policy with a local independent insurance agent. Knowing what is and isn't covered will help in the event you're involved in one of the common auto insurance collisions.
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Between laptop computers, desktop PCs, tablets, televisions and smartphones, there's probably a screen in nearly every room of your home. Although these screens can and often do serve as virtual babysitters, games, apps and other content should be carefully selected, and screen time should be limited to an hour or less a day for toddlers. Parental involvement By using technology with your children, you'll introduce them to the most beneficial content, while also bonding with them over an exciting, shared experience. Something as simple and fun as taking turns in a game or reading together on a tablet can also help ensure technology is being consumed in a responsible way that can educate and aid development. While education is key, it doesn't always have to be about learning your ABCs and 123s. Plenty of games and apps combine learning and entertainment experiences that are fun for kids. Checking the ESRB age and content rating information in console and online stores (like the Nintendo eShop, the PlayStation Store, the Xbox Store and Windows Store) is a great way to find appropriate games for kids of all ages. ESRB ratings are also assigned to mobile games and apps in the Google Play Store, complete with content descriptors and interactive elements when applicable. As your little ones mature from toddlers to tweens, their use of technology as well as the technology itself will certainly evolve. The breadth of content they enjoy will CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM greatly expand, highlighting the importance of parental involvement in managing and monitoring their time with tech. Regardless of where our smartphones and
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“CONFRONTING THE PAST TO REDESIGN THE FUTURE”
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bWhy winter is the perfect time to buy a boat
Winter may be frigid for many, but it's an ideal time to plan for warmer days ahead and make dreams of owning a boat a reality. Beginning in January, boat shows across the country offer some of the hottest post-holiday deals around, with special pricing and incentives on new boat models and marine accessories - a major draw for the 142 million Americans who take to the water each year, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. For those ready to plan their summer adventures on the water, boat shows are the best place to start. Whether you fish or sail, enjoy cruising, riding personal watercraft or wakesurfing, boat shows provide the unique opportunity to browse and board hundreds, sometimes thousands, of boats while taking advantage of once-a-year pricing and boat show specials. Boat shows also provide an avenue to enjoy a taste of the boating lifestyle during the off-season, plus they offer educational opportunities and alternative ways to get on the water for novices looking to get their feet wet. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
.Whether you want to fulfill that New Year's resolution of spending more time on the water with family and friends, or are simply in the mood to escape the winter doldrums, Discover Boating, the national awareness program to help get people on the water, offers three tips to get started in boating at a 2018 boat show: * Escape cabin fever for the year's best deals. Unlike auto shows, boat shows are the place to buy. Hundreds of new-year models are available to buy right on the show floor at some of the best prices of the year, with many exhibitors offering special show pricing and other incentives. Boat shows make it easy for you to shop all the region's dealers in one location. Plus, it's the perfect time to order a new boat to ensure it arrives ready to launch in the spring. * Test the waters. Boat shows are a great place to learn the ropes of boating and take advantage of onsite training, which is usually offered at little to no cost. Educational opportunities at boat shows include everything from knot-tying and DIY boat maintenance seminars, to sailing simulators and boating lessons. You can often find fun activities to entertain the family and get everyone into the outdoors, from practicing how to reel in a fish to learning to dock and more. * Look for the seal of approval. When shopping for a boat at a show, online or at a dealership, always check to make sure it is certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. An "NMMA Certified" seal means a boat has met strict industry standards for safety, construction and federal regulations, enhancing an improved and safer boater experience. Look for the NMMA Certified sticker near the helm of a boat, and find a full list of certified boat manufacturers at DiscoverBoating.com. Visit DiscoverBoating.com to find a boat show near you, a list of certified dealers and manufacturers, and unbiased advice for getting started in boating.
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THE CROWD ECONOMY A BLACK IMPERATIVE° BY BILL HUSTON
I came across an article by Antonio Moore titled Black Wealth Hardly Exists, Even When You Include NBA, NFL And Rap Stars. Wealth more than any other socio-economic measure picks up long-term historical legacies that are being passed from generation to generation. Given large wealth disparity between whites and blacks, there really is an unequal economic playing field. The argument over whether we live in a “post-racial society” very often doesn’t account for intergenerational wealth and the fact that for most of US history, blacks have been deprived of the opportunity to build wealth — through both legal and illegal means, and often under the threat of violence or the weight of the criminal justice system. It wasn’t until the mid-1960s that AfricanAmericans became full citizens of the United States.
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Feb/Mar 2018
This article is going to focus on the Black-White wealth gap, its symptoms, and the solutions as I see them through the black community’s participation in the “Crowd Economy” driven by digital technology, social media, impact investing, and crowd investing. I will touch on impact investing from wealthy black entertainers, athletes, and in the United States. Let me be clear and unambiguous about this one point before we delve deeply into this article. It has taken over 400 years of slavery, segregation, and institutionalized discrimination in the labor and housing markets to build the wealth gap that we see today. This wealth gap is the long-term result of public-private policies of discrimination, incarceration, violence, and terror. Many of the racist policies that were enacted had an economic benefit that enriched white families, white businesses and the United States economy and were built on the backs of black people. The racial wealth divide is how the past shows up in the present. The United States has a deep legacy of wealth inequality that undermines the fallacious idea that we have a meritocracy—that there’s an equal economic playing field. The persistence—and growth— of the racial wealth gap provides a powerful rationale for reparations for African Americans, who are the furthest behind whites in accumulating wealth and have endured the most brutal forms of racism. The racial wealth gap continues to grow not only because of income inequality—whites have more dollars to sock away—but because accumulated wealth is a mechanism for transmitting economic success from generation to generation. It’s a vicious cycle—poor communities have limited tax bases to fund their public-school systems, which lead to sharp disparities in educational quality. A family with some assets can help their kids pay for an education or put a down payment on a first home or invest some seed capital to start a small business. All of these things help the next generation climb the economic ladder.
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Wealth also provides an important cushion against unexpected life events— things like temporary job losses or unexpected medical bills. If you have some wealth, you can weather these storms without getting in over your head in debt. If your family has no wealth, then chances are increased that you will already suffer under the lash of accumulated debt. Most of your life you will have to borrow money to increase your earning power starting with your pursuit of higher education. But every dollar that must be repaid with interest to maintain your lifestyle is money that won’t be used for the accumulation of intergenerational wealth and its compounding effect for your future generations. A truly perverse aspect of this story is that just as past public policies created the racial wealth gap, current policy continues to widen them. The federal government spends a fortune subsidizing wealth-building activity like paying for college, saving for retirement, or buying a home, but most of those dollars go to people who already have wealth. Similarly, an estimated two-thirds of all public subsidies for retirement savings go to those with incomes in the top 20 percent of the distribution. The United States is spending a fortune on wealth building, but very little of it ends up bolstering the net worth of poor people and people of color. Racial and economic inequality are the most pressing social and economic issues of our time. In the last decade, we have seen the catastrophic economic impact of the Great Recession and an ensuing recovery that has bypassed millions of black Americans. This period of economic turmoil has been punctuated by civil unrest throughout the country in the wake of a series of high-profile African-American deaths at the hands of police. These senseless and violent events have not only given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement, they have also sharpened the nation’s focus on the inequities and structural barriers facing the black. This growing wealth divide is no accident. It is the result of public policy designed to widen the economic chasm between white households and households of color and between the wealthy and everyone else. In the absence of significant reforms, the racial wealth divide—and overall wealth inequality—are on track to become even wider in the future. I have proposed some solutions for revitalizing inner-city black communities through real estate development, creating retail businesses and jobs in these communities, and building black wealth that are based on the emerging crowd economy. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
The Crowd Economy The crowd economy is a dynamic ecosystem of productive people who participate through online platforms with a purpose to achieve mutually beneficial goals. Social connections boosted by the web and mobile networks have sown the seeds of mass collaboration and cooperation at the speed of internet. Ironically the advances in social media and productivity technology has helped increase human interactions that have gone beyond social media likes and shares. The social web as we know is great and I believe that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just beginning to experience the impact of networked crowds and social productivity layered on top of the Internet in its current state. We are seeing the maturing of the crowd economy to save resources, open innovation for idea enhancements, provide funding for startups and real estate development, or crowdsourcing for user generated projects. I am making the argument that all these interactions fall under a more powerful human-powered umbrella called the crowd economy. The emergence of these new solutions that rely on networks (Crowds) and their interdependencies, you will find they thrive on collective action. And this collective action is more than a bunch of people coming together. It is characterized by five fundamentals - people, purpose, platform, participation, and productivity. It is not just about sharing, collaboration, crowdfunding, or crowdsourcing it is about creating new and innovative pathways to social and economic solutions.
Black Impact Investing I think of another writer that is deeply engaged in the fight for the growth and development of black wealth and that is Dr. Michael Isimbabi author of the seminal book Pooling Our Resources to Foster Black Progress: An Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing Framework that outlines things we, as a community must do to pool our immense financial resources to organically build our communities and intergenerational black wealth through entrepreneurship, crowd investing, and impact investing. One of the areas of overlap I find between Mr. Moore and Dr. Isimbabi is the desire to tap the high net worth black celebrities to create impact investment funds that are specifically targeted at distressed predominantly black inner-city communities. The pooling of their wealth in the form of impact investment funds would provide professional management, diversity, and focused investment objectives on Black business creation and real estate investment.
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Many times, we read of the shocking loss of financial resources of professional athletes. According to Lorimer Wilson The average professional athlete in the U.S. will make more in one season than most of us earn in our entire lives, but despite those staggering salaries, 78% of NFL players and 60% of NBA players file bankruptcy within five years of retirement. According to racial equality activist Richard Lapchick, the NBA in 2015 was composed of 74.4 percent black players and according to VICE, “African-American males are only six percent of the United States population, but comprise nearly 70 percent of the players in the National Football League.” The NFL’s 32 teams earned around $12 billion in 2015 with merchandise sales over $1.55 billion.
Buy the Block Linda P Smith the black female serial entrepreneur that raised over $110,000 to build out the first Black owned real estate crowdfunding platform Buy The Block that provides a low entry fee of $100 that lowers the barrier of entry for many of the people in the Black community to make their first foray into the world of real estate investing. She has demonstrated that crowd investing works by using the law to create the first black owned real estate crowd investing platform. This Serial Entrepreneur founded Buy the Block in a toolshed in Cincinnati in 2013. The company allowed her to couple her two passions, real estate investing and teaching others the art and science of real estate investment, into a seamless online crowd investing experience for the black community. Buy the Block has solved two of the major issues of the Black community. The first is access to capital for businesses and real estate development and the second is an investment platform with a low barrier to entry to facilitate the building of community equity and Black wealth at the same time. Buy the Block now serves investors and developers all over the US and is thrilled to be a part of the global crowd investing and alternative finance industry. By bringing investors together with entrepreneurs, we are not just building stronger communities; we are building wealthier communities. In that wealth lies the only real independence. Black people in the United States have a combined purchasing power of $1.3 trillion which would make us the 13th largest economy in the world, yet our wealth is encroaching zero as our income and education attainment continue to rise. We must as a community embrace the crowd economy and pool our immense financial resources through impact investing, crowd investing, and entrepreneurship to create companies and build intergenerational wealth. This is the first of a 5-part series on the revitalizing inner-city communities using the crowd economy to build wealth community equity and black wealth.
CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
Bill Huston is an Urban Development Consultant that is working to build inner-city economies that work for everyone and provide opportunities for every resident to participate, thrive, and build wealth. To do this, he: • Designs and implement community capital offerings • Help clients raise capital from their own communities in alignment with their values and goals. • Work in collaboration with wealthy investors, government entities, corporate and philanthropic foundations to create impact investment funds Bill founded Our Crowd Rocks Consulting to upend the traditional models for raising capital that has left out vast, untapped numbers of low-moderate income Black inner-city residents who want to invest in the businesses and organizations that provide real value to their communities. Our Crowd Rocks is leading a movement that is bringing new capital — by directly engaging the average person in the Black community as investors, real estate developers, and entrepreneurs — to the new crowd economy — an economy that is open, democratized, resilient, just, and sustainable. This movement of “crowd capitalists” is questioning the old paradigms and bringing new models to the table that expand the capital aggregation options for nonprofits and social enterprises that are more democratic and values-driven. These models allow all stakeholders to benefit as ventures thrive. Bill was named one of the Top 19 Global Crowdfunding Experts by Inc. Magazine in 2014, featured on the Marketing and PR panel at the 2017 Crowd Invest Summit.
Event involvement: • Cadia Startup Exchange Business Engineering for Funding & Growth http://bit.ly/2hLzr4L • The Virtual Crowdfunding Summit 2015 Event Page http://bit.ly/2hJ7bzx • The 2017 Crowd Invest Summit http://bit.ly/2j4S1RG • BDPA Education and Technology Foundation iRadio Show http://bit.ly/2zPWrpz • The 14th annual Bluegrass Minority Business Expo http://bit.ly/2hKS096 • The 15th annual Bluegrass Minority Business Expo http://bit.ly/2mEibA4 • Cincinnati Blacks in Technology: Serving the community through Crowdfunding http://bit.ly/2zOURVc • Crowdfunding consultant Bill Huston share campaign advice http://bit.ly/2zQwHK3 • The digital inclusion video http://bit.ly/2D11enC • The Crowd Invest Summit Video http://bit.ly/2AHPkMP Two Successful Kickstarter Campaigns Louisville BeSpoke: http://kck.st/2mjtgE0 Kens Interactive: http://kck.st/2Fj7eJp
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Bill Huston is an Urban Development Consultant that is working to build innercity economies that work for everyone and provide opportunities for every resident to participate, thrive, and build wealth.b CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
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Using the correct filing status One of the most common mistakes taxpayers make is selecting the wrong filing status. A taxpayer's filing status can affect which credits and deductions they're eligible for, the value of their standard deduction and their tax bracket. One situation that can make choosing a filing status difficult is when more than one filing status seems to fit. For example, if a taxpayer with children is in the process of getting a divorce, they may not be sure if they should file as married filing jointly or married filing separately or, in some instances, whether they qualify to file as head of household. In this case, the taxpayers should run the numbers to see if filing jointly or separately is more to their advantage rather than guessing. In addition, common clerical errors such as mixing up names, forgetting to include information reported on your W-2, 1099 or other forms, or even making mathematical errors can also affect your tax benefits. Commonly overlooked credits and deductions Most taxpayers file their taxes using the standard deduction, but you may be eligible for a variety of itemized deductions that could possibly save you more. Also, you may be eligible for "above-the-line" deductions and tax credits, none of which require you to itemize. And it's important to note that the newly passed tax reform generally does not impact these credits or deductions until you file your 2018 tax return in 2019. Earned Income Tax Credit for lower-income workers: Twenty percent of eligible taxpayers, particularly lower-income workers, do not claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Depending on their income and the number of children they have, these taxpayers may be eligible for an EITC of $503 to $6,242. Since eligibility can fluctuate based on financial, marital and parental status, taxpayers can be ineligible one year and eligible the next. Under the PATH Act, taxpayers who claim the EITC and who file early will have their refunds delayed until mid-February. Despite the delay, taxpayers should file as they normally would to get their refund as soon as possible.
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Education credits: Depending on your academic program, what year the student is in, income and other restrictions, there are federal tax credits that can help offset the costs of higher education for yourself or your dependents. To qualify, you must pay for post-secondary tuition and fees for yourself, your spouse or your dependent. Depending on the criteria, a student may use the American Opportunity Credit of up to $2,500 or the Lifetime Learning Credit of up to $2,000. Itemizing deductions: Itemizing can save taxpayers hundreds of dollars, as only one third of taxpayers itemize but millions more should - especially homeowners. Owning a home is often the key that unlocks itemization, but some taxpayers with high state taxes and charitable contributions may also be able to itemize. Itemizing enables eligible taxpayers to take deductions such as: * Charitable donations * Medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income * Personal property taxes * State income or sales taxes * Casualty losses such as a fire, hurricane or earthquake * Mortgage interest payments Not filing On average, the IRS announces annually that approximately $1 billion goes unclaimed in federal tax refunds. Taxpayers can claim a refund for up to three years after the filing deadline. So, in addition to filing your 2017 return, keep in mind to file your 2015 return by April 17, 2018. If not, you will lose your 2015 refund. There is no late-filing penalty if a taxpayer is due a refund. Also, even if you are not required to file a return, you may be entitled to a refund. Taxpayers who want to ensure they get the maximum refund without a delay should visit https://www.hrblock.com/offers/refund-advance/ to see if you are eligible for a Refund Advance, or you can make an appointment with a tax professional.
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GROWING NEED FOR AG EXPERTISE: NOT ALL HIGH-PAID CAREERS ARE ON THE FARM CKW-THE CHEA K. WOOLFOLK MAGAZINE
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As the farming industry faces growing consolidation in the U.S., one might get the impression fewer jobs are now available in agriculture.
AIn fact, just the opposite is true. Today, one in three people worldwide - more than a billion employees - work in an ag-related industry. Industry growth and digital innovation combined with retirements are driving significant demand for college grads and other professionals, including those without experience in typical ag-related subjects, and many feature excellent salaries. The USDA and Purdue University predict 57,900 jobs requiring ag skills will become available each year between now and 2020 while only 35,000 grads in food, ag, renewable resources or environment studies will look to fill those jobs each year. Further, the average starting salary in the U.S. for those graduating with bachelor's degrees in agriculture or natural resources was a healthy $54,364 as of winter 2017, a 12 percent increase from 2016. "People are starting to discover (agriculture) is a pretty good industry to be in," Iowa State College Career Services Director Mike Gaul recently told CNBC. "They realize this sector isn't our traditional what-we-joke 'cows, plows and sows' industry anymore. It's incredibly diverse." The expectation is that grads with expertise in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and/or the environment will fill 61 percent of all ag-related openings, while employers must seek grads in other majors to fill the 39 percent gap. Notably, women already make up more than half of the higher-ed grads in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and environmental studies. High school grads considering degrees in agriculture might consider one of these highestpaying ag occupations: 1. C-suite executives: The CEOs, COOs and CFOs at ag startups or established corporations routinely earn $200,000-plus for overseeing company growth and profitability. A bachelor's or master's degree is generally needed in addition to a background in leadership and at least five years' industry experience. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
2015 Syngenta Scholarship Graduate Winner Mitch Roth pursuing a Ph.D. in Genetics at Michigan State University.
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Growing need for ag expertise Contributd by BPT
2. Ag lawyers: Because ag is so highly regulated, such professionals may handle issues related to water, land use, pesticides, seeds, the environment, labor/HR, immigration, commerce, intellectual property, mergers/acquisitions, etc. Salaries average out at $160,000. Required: a bachelor's degree followed by a J.D. and completed state bar exam. 3. Ag sales managers: Those skilled in overseeing sales teams are earning an average $125,000plus annually. Most hold bachelor's degrees in agronomy, crop science, soil science, biology, agricultural business or a related field. 4. Ag scientists: Salaries average out at $120,000. A bachelor's degree is usually sufficient, with indemand specialties including bioinformatics, animal genetics or the regulatory environment (managing and strategizing a product through the regulatory process). 5. Ag engineers: Among specialties in demand are environmental, ethanol and mechanical engineers, with average salaries running upwards of $80,000 for those holding bachelor's degrees. Bottom line: The next generation of ag specialists will be crucial to helping solve the world's most pressing issues. Agricultural company Syngenta is supporting that cause by bestowing multiple college scholarships to ag students each year, and of course hiring many grads in various majors. "This is an exciting time in agriculture because we have new tools to develop better seeds and crop protection products, as well as digital solutions to help farmers be more productive," says Ian Jepson, head of trait research and developmental biology at Syngenta. "We encourage students to think about the wide range of challenging and rewarding careers in companies like ours to help develop and deliver what farmers need to feed the world."
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FINANCE
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This tax reform affects virtually everyone; however, families, homeowners, residents of high-tax states, the medically uninsured and small businesses will be especially affected. Most taxpayers will experience changes that could reduce or increase their taxes owed. If you're not sure how this may affect you, here is a summary of possibilities. Families Like most taxpayers, many families will be affected by the loss of personal and dependent exemptions of $4,050 per person. However, families with income under $200,000 ($400,000 for joint filers) will be eligible for an increased child tax credit of $2,000. Those with income over that amount may be eligible for a smaller credit. This, along with larger standard deductions, may or may not make up for the loss of the personal exemption. Families with dependents over the age of 16 may also qualify for a new family tax credit of $500 for each dependent who does not qualify for the child tax credit. Homeowners and residents of high-tax states Homeowners and residents of high-tax states like California, New York and New Jersey, who typically itemize because they have large expenses like real estate taxes and state and local income taxes, may not be able to get the full tax benefit for these expenses, which are capped at $10,000. Some may not find it worthwhile to itemize going forward. Itemizing deductions is only worthwhile if all expenses exceed the standard deduction. Medically uninsured Starting in 2019, there will no longer be a penalty for those without health insurance. The penalty, which had become more and more expensive since first implemented in 2014, will not apply to taxpayers without insurance in 2019. Taxpayers who did not have insurance for all of 2017 and do not expect to be insured in 2018 need to make sure to talk to a tax professional, who can help you identify if you qualify for a penalty exemption. Small-business owners Some of the largest changes in the tax reform legislation apply to businesses, both large and small. These changes may also affect some rental activities. Corporations will see their top tax rate reduced to 21 percent from the current top rate of 35 percent, starting in 2018. Pass-through entities (LLCs, partnerships and S corporations) and self-employed individuals will be able to deduct 20 percent of their business income, subject to some limits (based on the type of business and income) and phase-outs (based on the partner's/shareholder's total income). Retirement Under the current law, taxpayers can reconvert a Roth IRA into a traditional IRA. This allows taxpayers to avoid paying high tax bills on an amount of money that had fallen in value after the conversion. Now, taxpayers will no longer be able to reconvert a Roth IRA to a traditional IRA. The bottom line is that with this new tax legislation, you're still going to need to get your documents in order and file your taxes, as well as decide if you're going to itemize and what deductions work for your personal situation. This year, it's more important than ever to talk to a tax professional about how this affects you to ensure that your taxes are done right and that you have a clear understanding of how changes that take effect in 2018 will impact how you file in 2019. To learn more about the tax reform, how it may affect you and what steps you can begin taking to reduceFeb/Mar what 2018 CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM you owe in 2018, visit www.hrblock.com or make an appointment with a tax professional.
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OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO HELP STUDENTS PAY FOR COLLEGE
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For families that must use student loans, the federal government is making it easier to understand how to borrow, process applications and repay loans through new online tools. Since 2010, all new federal loans, except Federal Perkins Loans, have been issued through the U.S. Department of Education, which offers information about borrowing and repaying loans. There are multiple options to repay federally funded student loans, which generally require repayments to start six or nine months after a student graduates, leaves school or drops to half-time enrollment. A few popular choices for repayment include types of income-driven plans, which calculate payments based on a borrower's ability to repay. One catch: It's critical to re-certify income and family size annually to avoid huge monthly payment increases. When debt becomes too burdensome, some loan programs offer forgiveness through public service, federal government employment, and options like teaching in underserved school districts. Private loans are trickier since there is no standard: Interest rates and repayment terms vary from lender to lender. It's also worth considering the need for life insurance to cover the full loan balance to aid co-signers or beneficiaries in the event of the borrower's death, says Gayle. Financial advisors would be well-equipped to help explore this and other options, Gayle notes. Employers are also beginning to offer employee student debt benefits to put their employees on a course for financial security. At Prudential Financial, for example, new employees hired through the company's campus recruitment program beginning in January 2017 could earn an incentive of up to $5,000 toward paying off student loans after one year of service. Other companies match student debt payments with contributions to employee retirement savings plans. Studies show college education can be worth the price. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that students who attend college can earn nearly twice as much over their lifetimes as those with only a high school diploma. But with college tuition continuing to rise, families must find the most effective way to finance a child's college education to avoid jeopardizing their ability to save for retirement. "Prudential Advisors" is a brand name of The Prudential Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries located in Newark, New Jersey.
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Retirement readiness: Hitting the retirement preparation sweet spot A recent study by the Center for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College suggests an alarming state of awareness about retirement readiness: Of surveyed households, 33 percent realize they are not well prepared, 19 percent are not well prepared but don't know it, and 24 percent are well prepared but don't know it. For the Americans at risk of not being able to maintain an adequate retirement lifestyle, it's critical to take action. For the households that are well prepared and don't know it, they risk sacrificing a comfortable retirement. Understanding the behaviors associated with good retirement planning, in turn, can help you get a better sense of where you stand. Consider the following behaviors, which are more likely to be modeled by those who are well prepared for retirement. Asset accumulation A high-level approach to ensuring adequate retirement assets is to save a minimum of 10 percent of your gross income each year. You may need to save even more depending on your asset accumulation goals and how many years you have left to save before retirement. If you would rather have a dollar goal, multiply your annual income goal by 25 to arrive at the amount you should try to save. For example, if after considering Social Security and any pension payment, you want $30,000 more of annual income in retirement, you will need to save $750,000. Lower goals mean you need to withdraw at a faster rate and increase the risk you will deplete your assets too soon. Budgeting Not all budgets need to detail specific spending items. Rather, you can consider yourself working within a budget if you know that each year you are saving and not creating new debt (and paying off legacy debt for your education or home). If you want to squeeze out more savings, a line-by-line review of spending may well be fruitful. Personal debt Many of us are saddled with personal debt from college and graduate school. This debt has become so burdensome that the customary progression to home ownership has been delayed for many. The debt has also had a domino effect on the ability to save for retirement. Paying down personal debt should be job one. Other personal debt, such as for a car purchase, should be avoided, minimized or paid down as quickly as possible. Credit card debt, which carries high interest rates, should be avoided entirely. Remember, each dollar of debt limits your ability to save for the future.
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Mortgage debt It used to be commonly accepted that you pay off your mortgage before retirement, but more and more retirees are entering retirement with mortgage debt. The old rule remains the best approach, since any indebtedness in retirement will limit your ability to react and adjust to poor investment return on your assets. Social Security With traditional pension plans less commonly offered by employers, Social Security has become an even more important source of guaranteed lifetime retirement income. By waiting to age 70, you can increase the benefit payment significantly, which is also the base for annual Social Security cost-of-living increases for the rest of your life. That increased Social Security benefit may also increase the benefit that a surviving spouse will receive after you die. Unless you have a health care issue that could reduce your life expectancy and no spouse who might need a spousal benefit based on your earnings record, claiming Social Security early is the greatest retirement planning mistake made. Health care Health care is the single greatest cost in retirement, and various studies estimate the cost to be $250,000 or more for a healthy 65-year-old couple. The cost of health care will be even greater to the extent one retires before age 65 and Medicare eligibility. Moreover, health care costs can vary and may come sooner than expected. The best plan, then, is to work until at least age 65 and understand that health care is a unique challenge in retirement. To the extent possible, utilize Health Savings Accounts and bank any unused amounts annually to build up a tax-free health care fund for retirement. Income planning No later than 10 years before your planned retirement, you should be translating your retirement assets into an annual or monthly retirement income stream. Start with your Social Security and any pension plan payments as your income base, and then consider how much income your other assets can safely generate. Depending on this analysis, you may want to consider purchasing an annuity to make more of your retirement income guaranteed and avoid the twin risks of poor investment return and living longer than expected. Consider also that many of your retirement assets have an embedded tax liability. You will need to look through your retirement assets to determine after-tax income, since your food, rent and cable bills are paid with after-tax money. Only by seeing your after-tax income can you decide if you have enough to live on. Annual financial wellness check-ups During your early working years, you are likely to be focused on debt reduction and asset accumulation. As you get closer to retirement, you will need to focus on the strategies associated with Social Security, health care and income generation. At all times you should annually revisit your goals and make adjustments, as needed, to how much and where you are saving, how much you are spending, how aggressively you are investing, and when your target retirement date is. Modeling such behaviors will make it more likely you will be well prepared for retirement. By doing so you will also make it more likely that you are properly assessing the state of your retirement readiness and not over- or underestimating your financial health.
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Dr. Nacondus Gamble, owner of The South Eastern Eye Center, an optometry practice in Georgia, found a business loan through Funding Circle.
STARTING A BUSINESS CAN BE TOUGH. GROWING ONE CAN BE EVEN HARDER. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
Feb/Mar 2018
Dr. Nacondus Gamble knows this all too well. After her optometry practice, The South Eastern Eye Center, began to establish a reputation for great patient care, Dr. Gamble decided she was ready to expand. So she began looking for business financing to open another location in Georgia. That's when she discovered that many lenders don't share her commitment to high-quality service. "I called a couple of places, but I just felt like they were taking advantage of me," she said. "It was unnecessarily harsh." Dr. Gamble ended up borrowing through Funding Circle, an online platform focused exclusively on small business loans. Known for its speed, transparency and customer service, Funding Circle has helped more than 40,000 businesses around the world get financing, says co-founder and U.S. managing director Sam Hodges. Today there are more options than ever before for businesses looking to grow. While some of these newer options can offer a significant leg up, others can actually end up doing more harm than good. So how can you get the best deal on a business loan? It helps to watch out for these three common mistakes: 1. Not understanding the true cost of your loan When shopping for a business loan, it's easy to become overwhelmed by fast-talking salespeople, endless strings of acronyms and confusing terms. If it's unclear how much you'll really pay for financing, that's a good sign you should walk away, Hodges cautions. A good lender will always be willing to help you calculate the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and explain all the terms of your loan clearly. They'll also help you understand what fees you can expect over the life of the loan - some lenders sneak in additional hidden fees, concealing them in fine print or confusing legalese, which can significantly inflate the cost. 2. Getting trapped in daily or weekly repayment cycles Some types of business financing can seem like a godsend for a company in need of fast cash. These providers promise easy approval with quick access to funds. However, that speed can come at a steep price - in many cases, the provider takes a portion of your sales on a daily or weekly basis until the debt is repaid. Term loans are often the better option, Hodges says. They allow businesses to borrow a set amount of money for a specific purpose, like hiring new staff or stocking up on inventory. The funds are then paid back over a set amount of time, with consistent monthly payments and no surprise fees.
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3. Not knowing what you deserve While many finance providers have your best interests at heart, the truth is that not all do. Some use irresponsible or misleading practices and take advantage of small business owners' need for cash. After seeing countless small businesses get stuck with credit products they couldn't afford or understand, a coalition of small business advocates, lenders and online credit marketplaces came together to launch the Small Business Borrowers' Bill of Rights. As the first-ever gold standard for responsible business lending, the Bill of Rights outlines the rights and safeguards that small businesses should expect from finance providers. These include the right to transparent pricing and terms - ensuring business owners can see the cost and terms of any financing being offered in writing and in a form that is clear, complete and easy to compare with other options - and the right to non-abusive products that won't trap you in an expensive cycle of re-borrowing. Before you take out any financing, check if your lender has signed on at ResponsibleBusinessLending.org. Considering a loan for your business? You should know the five things business lenders typically care about when evaluating your application. To maximize your success, read more at www.Made2DoMore.com. CHEAKWOOLFOLK.COM
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http://www.blogtalkradio.com/heartandmogulnetwork
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Dear Supporters, Friends, and Families, On behalf of Booker Autism Foundation of Learning, Inc. (BAFOL), we are pleased to announce BAFOL’s Fundraising Dinner on Friday, May 11, 2018, at 7:00 pm, at the new KYE’S l, located at 500 Missouri Avenue, Jeffersonville, IN 47130. This year’s theme of “Heart of the Community” honors community spirit and partnership that enabled BAFOL to achieve significant milestones over the last year on behalf of our families and children. Over 300 business, civic, national & local community leaders will gather at the BAFOL Gala to celebrate our collective work in building healthy, thriving Autism families and community. We ask you to join us as our Fundraising Gala Sponsor. Your support will allow us to reach more vulnerable children and teens with quality programs that change lives and strengthen families. Since 2012, BAFOL has been steadfastly serving the needs of various families in the greater KY, IN, GA, TN area. Last year, over 50 children and adults were served Holiday Gift Bags filled with a dinner, dessert, holiday card, and toys for Christmas. And, we successfully do this with no budget, we were able to personally assist families in getting the vital programs and services they needed. Such as: mental health services, child nutrition & wellness services. And, our very own BYC Executive Director established a BAFOL BEARS ART CAMP to work with the colleges in Autism Support Activities and Services. And, a BAFOL PC Lab to allow for children on the Spectrum of Autism, learn at their own pace in a sensory friendly environment. We ask for your support on this special night to celebrate the strength, heart and soul of our community. BAFOL has always been a 100% volunteer ran and operated organization that brings together “Like Minded” individuals who believe in our mission and can see the vision. We have attached information regarding our sponsorship levels. All donations will be recognized in our program book, auction table, social media platforms and website www.bafol.org. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by law (Federal Tax ID# 45-4871106). Any donation would be greatly appreciated, large or small.
Thank you for your support.
Rev. Dr. Jasmine L. Booker
Miss Tiffany L. Proctor
Brittany N. Sears
Chair
Fundraising Chair
Fundraising Co-Chair
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2018 Our Faces of Autism 4th Gala May 11, 2018 * 7-11 PM at KYE’S l
TABLE SPONSORSHIP FORM DONOR / BUSINESS NAME: ____________________________________________________________________________ (Please print name as it should appear in any written materials. Please circle alphabetizing letter.)
CONTACT PERSON’S NAME: ___________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS/CITY/STATE/ZIP: ____________________________________________________________________________ PHONE: ________________________________________ EMAIL: _____________________________________________ DONOR SIGNATURE: ____________________________________________ DATE: _______________________________ ***Contract must be received by April 3rd, 2018 to be listed as a sponsor in the Gala Program***
STAR SPONSOR - $10,000
GOLD SPONSOR - $3,000
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Gala Naming Opportunity Name listed on all Gala Entry Tickets 3 VIP tables for 30 guests with priority seating & open bar* One full page color ad in Gala Program Meet and Greet with a Dignitary Prominent signage and recognition at the Gala Company logo and hyperlink on our website Feature story on our website and Facebook page Corporate banner placement on our Facebook for 8 weeks Opportunity to distribute samples of products and promote services at event
PLATINUM SPONSOR - $5,000 • • • • • • • •
2 VIP tables for 20 guests with priority seating & open bar* Name listed on all Gala Entry Tickets Half page color ad in Gala Program Meet and Greet with a Dignitary Prominent signage and recognition at the Gala Company logo and hyperlink on our website Feature story on our website and Facebook page Corporate banner placement on our Facebook for 4 weeks • Opportunity to distribute samples of products and promote services at event (promo table)
• • • • • •
One VIP table for 10 guests with priority seating 1/2 page color ad in Gala Program Recognition at the Gala Company logo and hyperlink on our website Corporate banner placement on our Facebook for 2 weeks Opportunity to distribute samples of products and promote services at event (promo table)
SILVER SPONSOR - $2,000 • • • •
One table for 10 guests 1/4 page color ad in Gala Program Verbal Recognition at the Gala Company logo and hyperlink on our website
BLUE SPONSOR - $1,000 • •
One full page color advertisement in Gala Program Company logo and hyperlink on our website & Verbal Recognition at the Gala Please note that the deadline to submit is April 3, 2018
PAYMENT INFORMATION I wish to purchase one Table for _____ at $______________. Priority seating and table signage included. I am unable to attend, but would like to make a tax-deductible donation in the amount of $_________. Mention in program. My check payable to “Booker Autism Foundation of Learning, Inc.” in the amount of $ ______ is enclosed. I pledge to donate on BAFOL website https://bafol.org/donate
Please complete & return with full payment by April 3rd 2018 for best seating and full recognition. _______________________________________________________ Signature
_______________________________________ Date
Please return completed contract by April 9, 2018: Booker Autism Foundation of Learning, Attn: Miss Tiffany Proctor, Administrator for the Gala Committee, PO BOX 654, Prospect, KY 40059 or give us a call for more information at (502) 408-1847.
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”Heart of the Community” Gala Friday, May 11, 2018 at the KYES I
PROCUREMENT FORM Please complete the below information for Silent Auction, Swag Bag and/or In-Kind Donations Company Name: ____________________________________________________________________________ Contact Name: __________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________ Name (Company or Person) that should appear as donor in our program: __________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ Email Address: _____________________________________________________________________________ Item(s) Donated: ____________________________________________________________________________ Description of Item(s): __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Value of (each) item: _________________ Expiration Date: ______________ Physical Item?: ___________ Gift Certificate? _________ Need Gift Certificate Created? _________ Ready for Pick Up?: ______________ Donor Signature _______________________________________
Date ______________________________
Please return this form via email to bafol1@aol.com to coordinate pick up or mail with donated item(s) to: Booker Autism Foundation of Learning, Inc. Attn: Fundraising Committee, PO BOX 654, Prospect, KY 40059. Booker Autism Foundation of Learning, Inc. is a 501c3 organization and all donations to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
For more information, please contact: Miss Tiffany Proctor Phone: 502-408-1847 E-mail: bafol1@aol.com www.bafol.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For Committee Use Only Date Form Received:____________________ Auction: YES__ NO__
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Package #________ Item# ____ Item is received: YES__ NO__ Guest Swag Bag: YES__ NO__ (250x) Acknowledgement Sent: YES__ NO___ By: __________________ In-Kind: YES__ NO__ Additional Notes: __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you and we look forward in seeing you there!
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Every Thursday Night @ 8 PM ET. Facebook Live Stream