Herbs to Promote a Healthy FluSeason

Herbs to Promote a Healthy Flu Season

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

The best prevention to ward off a potential illness is preparedness. Not the sense of waiting until the first few sneezes arrive, coupled with an aching head and body. Invest in science and the long-celebrated ancient natural medicines that reward the body with a top-notch immunity system. It could be as simple as a tablespoon of syrup or digesting a warm cup of herbal tea. For every ailment, there is an herbal remedy to make the body feel great! Elderberry: One popular cure for flu is a deep-purple berry which supplies the body with antioxidants to create a natural immune response. The Sambucus berry is antifungal, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anticatarrhal, and provides decongestant relief.) In addition to syrups, you can also find supplements in the form of lozenges, gummies, pills, and teas that work toward boosting immunity.

TIP: Save at the expense of purchasing natural medicines and grow an elderberry bush. In three years, you can make your own syrups and gummies to keep the family and you in a state of good health year-round. Echinacea: Products promoting immunity to infection in the body, especially the upper respiratory tract, contain echinacea. Plant matter comprising roots, leaves, and flowers offers antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant, and anticatarrhal properties. Consuming echinacea daily as a supplement or tea stimulates every aspect of the immune system to fight infection, while promoting wellness.

TIP: While herbal teas are widely available, use freshly harvested leaves and flowers from your garden. You’ll reap the rewards from a more robust potency. Chamomile: For thousands of years, the solution to relieve pain, while calming nerves, has been derived from these small daisy-like flowers. While the tea encourages relaxation and sleep, the antibacterial compounds explain the plant’s infection-fighting ability during colds and flu symptoms. It relieves the pain of menstrual cramps, lowers insulin and cholesterol levels. After two weeks, the chamomile compounds remain in the bloodstream to continue fighting for wellness. Lemon is ideal for cleansing the liver and flushing out waste and toxins; therefore, add a slice of fresh lemon to your tea! Peppermint: Widely known to help an upset stomach and abdominal bloating, peppermint opens pores in the body to release excess heat in situations of fever. It also aids to ease colds, flu, headaches, and sinus congestion.

TIP:

Steam is another option to promote health. Use hot water and a few fresh leaves. Place a towel over your head to focus the rising heat towards your face; yet, not too close to cause burning. Rosemary: Containing beneficial properties, such as Vitamins A and C, Rosemary is an anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic herb, renowned for fighting infection. In the stage of feeling cold and shivering, try Rosemary to reduce fever. Parsley: Often associated with fresh breath and used as a side garnish, parsley is high in antioxidants, reduces systemic inflammations, and is beneficial to the urinary system. While stimulating the appetite, it relieves the body of bloating, constipation, and gas. Thyme: One of the best herbs for immune support and pain relief. As mucus develops in the lungs, leading to coughing, thyme provides respiratory comfort. When the body aches, cramps, or headaches develop, the cure is thyme. It is another anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory herb.

TIP:

In an eight-ounce jar, fill half with thyme; then, pour in raw honey. Allow the jar to sit in the sun for two weeks, shaking occasionally. Once the infusion sets, strain out the plant matter. Use in teas or consume one teaspoon when the throat begins to tickle or feel sore. This year, try an alternative to cold and flu medications that result in drowsiness, or the sugary aftertaste of Vitamin C tablets. Plant leaves and flowers can boost the levels of your immunity and aid when the possibility of infection exists. If in doubt that teas do work, try steeping it longer in a French press for at least thirty minutes. For deep flavors, try more than one tea bag or a potent flavor in bulk tea!

A real contact tracer might get in touch to discuss results of a test you know you took, or because someone you’ve been in contact with tested positive. They may ask you for your name and address; health information; the names of places and people you have visited. Scammers will ask you to do more.

Legitimate contact tracers may call, email, text, or visit your home to collect information. The North Carolina Attorney General’s office says that you will get an initial text from the number 45394 or email from address NC-ARIAS-NoReply@dhhs.nc.gov – and that it is safe to click on links in this text or email. After this, you will receive a call from your local health department or NC Outreach – if you can’t be reached, in-person visits using PPE will be conducted. Multiple attempts will be made to reach out. To protect yourself, be on the lookout for anyone who asks for social security or account numbers, or immigration status. Legitimate tracers Don’t Sleep on Evolving won’t ask for this and it’s best not to respond to those requests. Real COVID 19 Scams tracers will only send texts or emails and say they will be calling you. The FTC also recommends checking with your state’s health department Scammers are preying on uncertainty and financial hardship and adjusting to make sure the person is a real contact tracer. their tactics to take consumers personal information and deplete their COVID Mask Exemption Cards wallets. In the second quarter of 2020, the total loss to North Carolinians in COVID-19 scams came at a cost of $11 million. Of 24,358 total fraud To help limit the spread of the Coronavirus, many states are requiring reports, 8,279 were identity theft. people to wear face coverings in places open to the public. The FTC warns there are “official looking” seals on cards circulating online and It’s more important than ever to remain vigilant against cyberattacks on social media that say the holder has a disability that prevents them as tactics change and threats evolve. The Federal Trade Commission from wearing a mask, and that it’s illegal for any business to ask them advises that one of the biggest clues you’re dealing with a scammer to disclose their condition. Truliant is that they want it fast and they’ll ask you to pay in ways that make it hard to track them down. These cards aren’t issued or endorsed by U.S. Department of Justice, or any other federal agency, and the agency urges the public to visit ADA. Utility Scams gov for Americans with Disabilities Act information issued by the agency. Scams targeting electric and natural gas customers are on the rise, with new tactics related to COVID-19 that aim to trick utility customers out of money and personal information. A record number of scammers attempts to targeted Duke Energy customers in June, hitting more than 4,000. The total number of scam attempts reported by Duke Energy customers so far in 2020 – more than 15,000 – already is approaching 2019’s full-year total of 18,000. One of the newer tactics used by scammers promises to mail customers refund checks for overpayments on their accounts if they can confirm their personal data, including birthdays and, in some cases, social security numbers. Duke Energy and its subsidiary Piedmont Natural Gas say they typically apply refunds as a credit to customers’ accounts and will not contact them to verify personal information by phone, email or in person in order to mail a check.

Stimulus Check Calls

Earlier this year, the Internal Revenue Service reported that scammers were rigging up caller ID to look like a call is coming from the government. The agency advises consumers to hang up the phone or delete emails asking for personal information or money, and that government agencies usually will not call or email you — especially about something related to money. They almost always contact you by U.S. mail. If you have questions about Economic Impact Payments, the IRS urges you to visit their website, IRS.gov, to get answers to frequently asked questions. But you also can call the IRS at 800-919-9835 if you have questions.

Federally insured by NCUA.

Contact Tracing Scams

Contact tracers work for state health departments to try to track anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19. Some scammers are using contact tracing to steal your identity, your money – or both. To tell the difference, the Federal Trade Commission recommends watching for a few signs.

Small prints are everywhere this fall. Simply and playful, they exude personality and warmth. Small is mighty, so start living large with small prints.

FALL DESIGN TRENDS

• Tropical motifs and botanicals remain strong in home decor.

Palm fronds and leaf designs

• Geometrics are the new norm but with a more organic feel

• Classic design are reemerging in updated color pallets for a more modern feel

• Make way for infl uence from India and Morocco bringing the bohemian vibes strong for fall.

Dero’s

CHEESY BACON BROCCOLI QUICHE

INGREDIENTS 1 Cheesy Bacon Dip Mix 1 - 9” frozen pie crust 2 cups frozen broccoli fl orets 1 cup Colby jack cheese 3/4 cup milk 1/2 cup heavy cream 3 eggs DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl whisk together the Dip Mix, milk, heavy cream, eggs, and half the cheese. Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Top mixture with the broccoli and the remainder of the cheese. Bake for 30-40 minutes. The quiche is ready when you can no longer see liquid but the center of the quiche jiggles slightly when moved and the crust is golden brown. Cut into pieces and serve! TIP: Garnish with crumbled bacon and serve with rustic bread.

Kids’ and Kids’-at-Heart A U T U M N DIY Arts & Crafts

BRING NATURE’S BEAUTY INDOORS

Get inspired by nature’s beauty and collect cool things on your next outdoor walk with the kids. What’s out there this season? Gather acorns, colorful leaves, pine cones, gumballs (those prickly brown balls with spikes), and seedpods for your DIY projects this fall.

ARTS & CRAFTS WITH LOVELY LEAVES

Place a leaf on scrap paper, put a blank white paper over it and rub with a crayon or oil pastel. The leaf’s intricate anatomy will take shape in your colorful leaf rubbing. Leaf rubbings make lovely greeting cards. Use different leaf shapes and a variety of colors for a montage effect. Try lifelike shades of yellow, orange, red, green, and brown, or make them fancifully hued in any shades of the color spectrum. You can make a real leaf mandala by punching a hole at the bottom of each leaf and threading them with yarn, raffia or hemp string. Make one to BY SUSAN B. B. SCHABACKER

Working with your hands and tapping into your creativity can be a fun adventure, and you’ll also have handmade gifts to share this fall! Celebrate the

beauty of autumn and get crafty—arts and crafty! wear as a garland for your hair. And, while making fashion accessories out of leaves, why not make some dangly leaf earrings? Whether matched or mismatched, they’ll be fun to wear as long as they last.

What else can you use to beautify fall leaves? Add some sparkle by gluing on glitter. How about making your leaf into a face with googly eyes? Try gluing leaves to smooth stones for decorations, indoors or out in the garden. You can even glue decorated leaves to pumpkins!

SEASHELL ARTS & CRAFTS

Summer may be the typical time to head to the beach, but why not take a trip to the ocean when it’s a bit cooler? You may not feel like getting into the water, but it’s the ideal temperature to take a stroll barefoot along the shore as your toes sink into the sand and surf. While you’re at it, you can search for seashells. Don’t just pick what you think are the prettiest ones that are perfectly shaped. Some of the broken shells can be ideal for jewelry and other DIY arts and crafts projects. Find the ones the ocean already drilled holes in, or use a Dremel and make them into beautiful sea-made jewelry. Don’t forget to bring a bag or bucket with you, rinse off the sand and sea residue when you get home and let them dry out before using them.

Hair barrettes are super easy to make. You can glue seashells on with a glue gun or Gorilla Glue, but be careful not to glue your fingers together! If seashells have holes in them, thread a small piece of pliable wire through the hole, attach the wire to a jump ring and then add a silver or gold chain, or a linen, nylon, or hemp string to make a simple—but oh, so pretty—necklace.

DRIED, PRESSED FLOWER ARTS & CRAFTS

Press flowers and herbs between tissues placed between pages of old catalogs or novels. Create your own floral and herbal bookmarks, or glue flowers you have pressed to cardstock for handmade greeting cards. There’s nothing like getting a bouquet on a card in the mail to put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart. You can also add pressed flowers to a canvas or poster board by gluing them on and painting around them. Love music? Print out some sheet music and glue the dried flowers to it. Rice paper and handmade paper decorated with dried rose petals and lavender are particularly beautiful.

Not only are these creative projects fun to do, they are even more fun to give as gifts when you’re done! Your kids’ family, friends, and neighbors will be thrilled and honored to receive works of art from aspiring artists. It will definitely brighten their day and light up their life.

There’s so much you can make yourself and with your loved ones. . . So, enjoy DIY arts and crafts this season! Make some apple cider and put your creativity and hands to work!

The Future Is Near – Kaleideum Reveals Plans for the New Building Downtown

BY DENISE HEIDEL, WITH COLLABORATION FROM KALEIDEUM In 2016, The Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem and SciWorks joined together to form Kaleideum – two locations with a common mission – “Inspiring wonder, Elizabeth Dampier, Kaleideum’s executive director, shared, “Museums are catalysts for thriving communities. After weeks of adjusting to our new norms, a contemporary, interactive curiosity and lifelong learning in our children and community museum of arts, sciences and exploration as an accessible through interactive play and discovery.” Collectively – destination in the heart of downtown becomes even more between the two organizations and since the merger, they important. Our team is excited to move into this new phase have a combined 68+ years of community commitment to of our organization and to share with this community we offering interactive learning experiences for children and love a visual manifestation of the values and identity of families. Together, for the last four years, these two locations Kaleideum. After all, we are a place where individuals of have attracted visitors, inspired guests and served as a vital all ages can challenge themselves, push boundaries, ask part of the educational fabric of our community. questions and engage with their surroundings.”

Now, it is the time for a relocation…one that will create an exciting family destination in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem. Kaleideum has received tremendous public and private support for this initiative. “The Kaleideum mission is centered around the arts and sciences,” Dampier said. “We thrive on

In June 2020, Kaleideum unveiled the design for the the educational importance of the sciences, technology, museum’s new building in downtown Winston-Salem. This engineering and math, and we use the arts as a thread is the result of years of collaboration and strategic planning that brings all of it together in an inclusive environment by the Kaleideum staff, board of directors and community that combines creative learning with problem-solving and leaders. And, after weeks of stay-at-home orders and experimentation. It’s a hands-on approach to ‘learning discouraging news in the media, this announcement was reimagined,’ and it is something that is meant to be a most welcome breath of fresh air for the Piedmont Triad. experienced by everyone.”

Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm with an office based in Raleigh, and Stitch Design Shop, based in Winston-Salem, are the architects of the project, which is a five-story, approximately 72,000-square-foot museum with a 13,000-square-foot rooftop playground adventure and event space.

“The new museum aligns the visitor experience with Kaleideum’s mission by creating a welcoming, visible hub for the community,” said Brad Burns, Gensler Design Director. “The building concept, grounded in the idea of experiencing spaces from diverse perspectives, integrates the natural environment and provides flexible spaces that allow for a wide range of learning experiences. One of the most unique aspects of the museum is the multi-level rooftop exhibit experience that provides opportunities for learning, play and fantastic views to surrounding areas of downtown and beyond.”

The new family destination will be a link between the arts and cultural district to the north and the more historic and civic district to the south, and it will be flanked by two public spaces, Merschel Park and Liberty Plaza. When completed, the new museum will anchor the southern end of Merschel Park, a downtown open space to the south of where Trade and Fourth streets intersect.

The project site is also a highly accessible location at the corner of 3rd Street and Town Run Lane, and the new building will sit on the site of the former Sheriff’s Building, an office building that has been demolished because of limitations that would not allow renovation to maximize the potential museum exhibits. The construction project was awarded to Winston-Salem’s Frank L. Blum Construction Company.

“The Children’s Museum and SciWorks, now Kaleideum Downtown and Kaleideum North, have always been wonderful resources to the Forsyth County community,” said Mark Dunnagan, Vice President of Blum. “Through the years, these facilities have been special places for the employees of Blum Construction and our families. We continue to treasure the memories made there, and we look forward to creating new memories in Kaleideum’s new home.”

The new building is a public/private partnership with Forsyth County, which committed $30.5 million toward the project. The City of WinstonSalem is contributing $2 million for the Liberty Plaza demolition and renovation. “We are very thankful for the generous funds that are financing this project,” said Dampier. “These funds will help us create a magnificent place of learning that will be enjoyed for generations to come.”

The building concept is grounded in the idea of experiencing spaces and places from diverse perspectives. Two primary materials are used on the exterior – smooth, colorful metal panels and highly textured precast concrete panels. The design is inspired by the geometric forms and triangulated shapes captured in a kaleidoscope, the instrument of art and science upon which the museum’s name is based.

“The exterior of the building will offer interesting viewpoints of light, shadow and color based on the time of day and the vantage point,” Dampier said. “It’s going to be a visual experience, even from the outside.

“One of the things our team is most excited about is the rooftop experience,” Dampier continued. “It is an amazing opportunity for a child to play and learn from the top of the building, which will provide a unique perspective, interesting views and encourage curiosity through play.’

The new Kaleideum building is also representative of WinstonSalem’s tagline – the City of Arts and Innovation, providing space for imaginations to soar and creativity to thrive, and a welcoming experience for everyone who is eager to learn and grow.

“As a native of this community, I can vividly remember visiting the then Nature Science Center in the mid 1980s and how it sparked a sense of wonder and an excitement for learning,” said Adam Sebastian with STITCH Design Shop. “Through the innovative use of form, materials and color to provide compelling visual effects, the new Kaleideum building embodies the spirit of the City of Arts & Innovation while embracing Kaleideum’s mission of inspiring wonder, curiosity and lifelong learning, and providing a safe and welcoming place for our entire community to learn and dream together.”

Construction on the new Kaleideum building is expected to begin in summer 2021 with an anticipated opening date in Spring 2023.

Visit kaleideum.org for information on Kaleideum’s most up-to-date plans on reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure to like Kaleideum on Facebook and follow them on Instagram. Engage in fun online learning through Kaleideum’s blog or YouTube channel. Donations can be made to Kaleideum through their website.

“The new museum aligns the visitor experience with Kaleideum’s mission by creating a welcoming, visible hub for the community. The building concept, grounded in the idea of experiencing spaces from diverse perspectives, integrates the natural environment and provides flexible spaces that allow for a wide range of learning experiences. One of the most unique aspects of the museum is the multi-level rooftop exhibit experience that provides opportunities for learning, play and fantastic views to surrounding areas of downtown and beyond.”

Brad Burns, Design Director + Associate, Gensler

“The Children’s Museum and SciWorks, now Kaleideum Downtown and Kaleideum North, have always been wonderful resources to the Forsyth County community. Through the years, these facilities have been special places for the employees of Blum Construction and our families. We continue to treasure the memories made there, and we look forward to creating new memories in Kaleideum’s new home.”

Mark Dunnagan, Vice President, Frank L. Blum Construction Company

REMOTE LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT KALEIDEUM

While Kaleideum remains closed to the public during the week, the museum is responding to the community need with options for remote learning support and enrichment. All options take place at Kaleideum North, located at 400 West Hanes Mill Road.

Kaleideum is offering half-day options for enrichment.

• Morning Preschool Enrichment Camp for ages 3 – 5. Offered

August 17 – October 23 from 9 AM – 12:30 PM Monday – Friday.

• Afternoon Enrichment Camp for students in Kindergarten – 5th

Grade. Offered August 17 – October 23 from 9 AM – 12:30 PM

Monday – Friday.

Kids can enjoy games, explore the outdoors and take part in science, art and engineering enrichment programming to support social/emotional development.

Kaleideum is offering a full-day option for Remote Learning Support.

• Remote Learning Support for students in Kindergarten – 8th

Grade. Offered August 17 – October 23 from 9 AM – 12:30 PM

Monday – Friday.

Students will be in small group sizes and will work within the remote learning curricula provided by your child’s school and participate in afternoon enrichment activities.

Visit kaleideum.org for more information or to register.

Questions? Contact Christy Ferguson at cferguson@kaleideum.org.