Gumbo 4th Quarter

October - December 2020

Ascension Credit Union Sponsor

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Around the House Make more out of chores —Page 8

Your Best Health Living with diabetes —Page 16

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OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

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Gonzales • Donaldsonville • Galvez • Dutchtown

Ask a Librarian • Online Learning • Homework Help/Live Tutors Research Databases • Digital Media • Computers • Copiers Study Rooms • Required Reading • Teacher Services Home School Resources • Adult Literacy & ESL Classes — 3.—

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BUSINESS MANAGER K Stephanie Schexnaydre EDITOR K Scott Anderson GRAPHICS K Liz Arceneaux • Shaun Hebert • Brittney Naquin • Aanifa LeBlanc MULTIMEDIA SALES EXECUTIVES K Martine Duhe • John Mouton INSIDE CLASSIFIED SALES REP K T’Shanda Baldridge Published by GANNETT Ascension Gumbo Magazine

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231 W. Cornerview, Gonzales, LA 70737 K Phone: 225-644-6397 ©2020 GANNETT Ascension Gumbo Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. Any advertisements published in Ascension Gumbo Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. Ascension Gumbo Magazine is published quarterly by GANNETT

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K–On the Cover: Ascension Credit Union is here to meet all your financial needs.

K–Table of Contents: 5—Editor's Note 6—Family Time 7—Christmas in October 8—Children and Chores 10—Sponsor - Ascension Credit Union 12—Winter Garden 14—Around the House 16—Your Best Health 18—Car Talk 19—Home Talk

Due to the rising concerns with COVID-19, the visitor center in Sorrento is closed to the public in conjunction with visitor center closings across the state.

However, the staff of Tour Ascension is diligently working to contact tourism partners and the hospitality community in order to navigate through this unprecedented time.

Updates from tourism entities as well as events/festival updates will be posted updated as we receive more information.

Swamp Pop Musical Festival ....................... October 10 Country Roads Supper Club Beyond the Boat ......................................... October 11 St. Mark Light and Lane Festival.................. October 16 Repticon Repitile & Exotic Animal Show ..... October 17 Mistletoe Market.................................... November 14 Gonzales Gun & Knife Show.................... November 14 Rockin' the Bayou ................................... November 28 Helen Brett Holiday Market .....................December 11

For more visit TourAscension.com OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

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K–From the Editor: SCOTT ANDERSON

Here we are, entering the last quarter of the year. If we aren't careful, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas will disappear into the vapor, and we'll be sitting at home in our quarantine pajamas on New Year's Eve, wondering what the heck happened to 2020.

It's been a year unlike any other, that's for sure. When LSU won the college football National Championship back in January, none of us predicted what the rest of this year would look like. A global pandemic. Quarantines and mask mandates.

Protests and counter-protests. Stay-at-Home orders. Virtual school. No sports, then no fans at sporting events.

Fall is a time of reflection and transition. We are celebrating summer's harvest and bracing for winter's chill. It's time to gather our notes on what we have learned this year as we set our sights on the year ahead.

And what have we learned this year? Plenty.

Early on, we learned that toilet paper is a hotter commodity than we ever imagined. How many of you stacked packages of toilet paper floor to ceiling in your garage, right next to the cases of hand sanitizer and New Coke?

We learned that sick days and snow days are a thing of the past. We adopted Zoom and other technology in the name of progress. We actually started working in our home offices, even if they were our dining room tables. And now, in the fall, it's finally sinking -- the trade off for accepting all of these technological advances is losing the opportunity to call the office and say, "Boss, I can't come in today. I'm sick."

We learned how to mix and match one set of pajamas and three shirts for a full week's wardrobe. And we've all identified that one co-worker who will never remember to mute or unmute

their microphone at the right time.

Seriously, though, we all have learned something, haven't we?

In late August and early September, we learned that not even a pandemic will keep us from helping people in need. Hurricane Laura roared ashore Aug. 27 as a Category 4 storm. We donned our face masks, rolled up our sleeves and didn't hesitate to rush to the aid of those in Cameron, Lake Charles and other areas devastated by the storm.

We learned we are more adaptable that we realized. You might have hated it, but how long did you have to go without visiting your favorite bar, restaurant, bookstore or coffee shop? And how many finally figured out how to get groceries delivered, or at least how to take advantage of curbside pickup?

Many of us picked up new pandemic hobbies -- cooking, playing a musical instrument or some new sport we always wanted to try. We read more, spent more time with our families and our pets. We learned that virtual experiences are nice, but they can't replace the real thing.

Fall is traditionally as season when we prepare for things to die. The leaves change colors and fall to the ground, where they decay and nourish the soil before winter sets in. The dead of winter is right around the corner. But hold onto hope. The life of spring follows right behind.

As you consider the season of transition this year, reflect on what you have learned throughout 2020. Forget returning to what we knew as "normal." A new normal will rise up for us. We must approach it with the same resilience that carried us through the year of the coronavirus.

We might not get to enjoy Friday night lights with large crowds, or pumpkin spice lattes face to face with old friends. But enjoy the crisp morning air and the earthy smell of leaves burning in the distance. We will get through this; amd we will be stronger on the other side.

Scott Anderson is the interim editor for Gumbo magazine.

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OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

How to manage kids' exposure to news coverage

MORE CONTENT NOW

T

he 24-hour news cycle, the internet and social media all allow people to stay much more connected to the events going on around the world, but as parents, we often don't know the extent of our children's exposure to news coverage when it comes to tragic events - especially in 2020.

While it is important for kids to understand the world around them and the events that shape and affect their lives, parents and caregivers can struggle with the question, "How much is too much?"

According to the American Psychological Association, parents should learn to manage the amount of exposure their children have to tragic news events and prevent overexposure to such events. Experts say taking a break from news coverage increases our own resilience and the resilience of our children to cope with difficult situations.

Here are a few ways you can help manage the amount of exposure your children have to tragic news events, according to the APA. 1. Talk to your children: Parents should OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

have an age appropriate conversation with your children and teens about what they have seen and heard. Explain or correct rumors or misunderstandings that they may have.

2. Be mindful of your children: It's easy to get caught up in news coverage and not even realize your children are present.

It's unnecessary for very young children to watch news coverage at all. They may not understand that what they see are replays which can be misconstrued as circumstances happening again.

3. Find other ways to connect: Children may want to send pictures they made or letters they have written to families, first responders, hospitals or teachers. This can be a way to take positive actions and express caring.

4. Plan your TV/internet viewing: Find windows of time each day (like in the morning, midday and evening) to watch.

Limit this to 30–60 minutes. Then get up and do something else. If you continue to want to stay with TV/Internet, switch to another show or site that has programming you enjoy.

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Family Movie Night "Bill & Ted Face the Music" Rated: PG-13 Length: 91 minutes Synopsis: Once told they'd save the universe during a time-traveling adventure, 2 would-be rockers from San Dimas, California find themselves as middle-aged dads still trying to crank out a hit song and fulfill their destiny.

- Hammerstone Studios Book Report "Agent Moose" Ages: 6-9 Pages: 128 Synopsis: Agent Moose, the best (worst) secret agent in the Big Forest, and his slightly-more-intelligent sidekick Owlfred are on the case in this new full color graphic novel chapter book series from Mo O'Hara, author of "My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish."

- Feiwel & Friends Did You Know The oldest human footprint every found is 350,000 years old.

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DAVE RAMSEY Dear Dave, I know it may be early to talk about Christmas, but do you have any advice on saving for the holiday season?

Carlie Dear Carlie, It's never too early to talk about Christmas!

I'm glad you're thinking about things ahead of time. A lot of people wait until December to buy gifts and make plans. That's fine if they've got the money set aside to handle things, but most of them don't. Then, they panic and turn to credit cards. You don't want to end up in a situation where you're still paying off Christmas in April.

If you don't have anything put aside yet, I'd suggest setting some spending goals now. Taking a close look at your income and expenses should be part of this. If you're not doing it already, what I'm talking about here is living on a written, monthly budget. Look at how much you can afford to put toward Christmas each month, make a gift-giving goal amount and stick to it. Along with this, you might consider opening a separate account just for your Christmas savings.

Start looking for gift deals now, too. There are end-of-summer sales still going on, and you never know what you might find.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to have a wonderful Christmas or make the season special for others - even when it comes to giving. Thoughtful handmade items, meaningful photographs set in a frame, or special baked goods are great ways to show the folks in your life you're

thinking about them and how much you care.

Now, let's talk about next year. There's absolutely nothing wrong with including a line just for Christmas in your budget each month. Christmas doesn't sneak up on you.

It's on December 25th every single year.

Putting a little money aside all year long might just take some of the stress out of your Yuletide planning.

Good question, Carlie!

Dave Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions.

He has authored seven best-selling books, including "The Total Money Makeover."

"The Dave Ramsey Show" is heard by more than 14 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms.

Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.

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OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

MAKING MORE OUT OF CHORES: Weekly tasks can help kids be more caring, responsible

MELISSA ERICKSON

T

elling your children it's fun to be productive probably won't convince them that doing household chores is a great way to spend a Saturday morning.

It's worth the struggle, though, because doing chores is good for kids in many ways.

"Chores are incredibly important for developing children and teenagers," said Dr. Gene Beresin, executive director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital. "By mastering new skills in daily life, they will build positive self-esteem and essential life skills.

In short, chores will make them feel like they are growing up."

Additionally, chores are necessary to prepare kids and teens to be more independent, responsible individuals.

"Even if they don't recognize it at first, they will enjoy being able to take care of themselves and others," Beresin said. "It is valuable for them to feel and be recognized that they are making important contributions to the family."

Choose a motivating reward Assigning chores will likely be met with OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

resistance and eye rolls.

"The stigma of chores as boring activities does still exist, so it's important parents stand their ground in enforcing them, as they will be beneficial to everyone down the road," Beresin said.

Parents may have to be creative to get children to cooperate.

"Rewarding kids and teens for completing chores is a great way to motivate them.

One of these ways is by giving them more freedom. For example, allow school-age kids to choose how to spend their dow-time after completing their chores, such as using their iPad or watching TV. For teenagers, allow them a later curfew or more use of the car if they have a license," Beresin said.

Supplying child-sized cleaning tools may help children get in on the fun, but role modeling good behavior helps set the right tone.

"Doing chores alongside kids is also a way that you could make it more fun. Kids love spending time with their parents, so helping them do things like putting toys away or cleaning up after dinner will give them that opportunity," Beresin said. "You could also put on some music while you do the chores, which will brighten the mood."

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Helping kids succeed Parents should gear a task toward a child's maturity and ability to perform to help them succeed, Beresin said.

"Reframing chores as responsibilities will show kids and teens that chores are just life skills that have a great payoff," he said. "Not only are they learning to be more independent, which will obviously help when they grow up, it gives them opportunities to learn something and perfect it for use later in life."

Chores help teach kids and teens that they have a responsibility for themselves, but also to care for other people.

"This will later help them with relationships and working in a group to accomplish a common goal," Beresin said. "Because our brains are wired for giving, performing acts that help others release powerful neurochemicals that make us feel good."

Avoid overloading kids and teens with too many family chores, because that can affect their schoolwork or ability to just be a kid.

"Children require time to play, learn social skills and pursue their own hobbies and interests," Beresin said.

Age-appropriate tasks Assigning age-appropriate chores helps

to cut down on frustration at kids' and teens' inability to complete them, Beresin said Preschoolers are learning the basics of taking care of themselves, so keep things very simple.

"Things like carrying their plate to the sink after dinner or feeding the cat will make them feel important and accomplished," he said. "They may also help in putting their toys away or tucking their stuffed animals away and putting them to bed."

School-age kids will succeed with more responsibility, such as setting the table for dinner or taking the dog for a walk.

"They also are old enough to help in cooking meals with older siblings or parents.

This age group might be more likely to push back and complain about being assigned chores, so remembering to express praise and gratitude will go a long way," Beresin said.

As they're getting ready for adulthood, teenagers' chores should revolve around preparing them to be independent.

"Babysitting, cooking meals on their own or cleaning the bathroom are great things they can do for the family, and skills they will eventually need later in life. Teens, in particular will be motivated with more freedom, so consider that as a reward for completing chores," Beresin said.

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OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

color the fall and winter garden CAROLE MCCRAY

P

lant ornamental kales and cabbages for texture and color in the fall and winter garden. I planted several varieties and placed them in containers, the garden and even a window box. Surprisingly, they weathered well in zone 7 and were not removed until early spring the following year.

The ornamental kale and cabbage are not grown for flavor, but when added to your autumn garden, they lend a decorative touch through the winter. Frilly, but not delicate, they survive the erratic weather patterns from late fall through the spring. The plants are showy and come in an array of colors.

You will find them in shades of deep purple, pink, red and white. They are not heattolerant, but they can tolerate the cold, and can survive winter temperatures as low as 5 degrees F. The colors of ornamental kale OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

and cabbage are made brighter when they experience light and moderate frosts.

Ornamental kales and cabbages complement so many other fall plants. Pair them with chrysanthemums, the russet sedums, fall pansies and asters to echo the palette of autumn's rich tones. There are many possibilities for displaying kale and cabbage to brighten the fall and winter garden. Try grouping kale and cabbage in pots at an entryway, in window boxes with dwarf evergreens or planted in a large container in the garden to serve as an attractive accent.

The best time to purchase ornamental kales and cabbages is in September. Look for plants with a short rosette-type stem.

To avoid plants becoming root-bound, purchase the largest plants available. If temperatures are not cool when planting, the plants can become leggy and lose their

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color. Often planting before cool weather will subject the plants to cabbage loopers that bore holes in the plants.

Striving for color in the winter months gives gardeners the opportunity to do just that with ornamental kales and cabbages.

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OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

Tips to grandchild-proof your home MELISSA ERICKSON

C

aring for grandchildren can be joyful and exhausting, but it's most certainly a responsibility. It's easy to forget how to keep them safe from potentially dangerous, everyday household items like cleaning supplies.

"You often think about car seat safety, gates on stairs and how to prevent drowning or burns, but what about laundry room safety or storage of products used in the kitchen?" said Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communication, outreach and membership at the American Cleaning Institute. For those who normally don't have children roaming the house, it can be easy to forget what necessary precautions should be in place where cleaning products are stored, including the kitchen, bathroom, garage and laundry room.

Accidents can happen quickly "Although the laundry room is usually home to many cleaning products and can be one of the busiest spots in the house, it can easily go overlooked when it comes to safety," Sansoni said.

Almost 70 percent of parents with children younger than 4 said their laundry room is accessible to their children, and more than 50 percent said they do laundry while their children are in the same room, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Cleaning Institute, "Children are naturally curious and tend to explore with their hands and their mouths," Sansoni said. "Accidental exposures to liquid laundry packets and other cleaning products can happen in a split-second, but can be easily prevented by practicing simple safety habits during the daily routine."

The cleaning, household and hygiene products we depend on will do their jobs safely if stored and used properly, Sansoni said.

"All hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting products should be used as directed ... It is up to all of us to use them properly and store them OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

safely to prevent unintended injuries. Staying healthy also means being safe," he said.

Read the labels A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that about 1 in 3 adults used chemicals or disinfectants unsafely while trying to protect against COVID-19.

"Clearly there's a lot of improvement we want to see here," Sansoni said. "When using any cleaning product, you should always read and follow the label directions for effective results and to ensure safe handling."

Store up and out of sight One trend to avoid is storing cleaning products like laundry packets in clear containers or glass jars.

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"While this can be tempting and aesthetically pleasing, it is vital to keep cleaning products stored in the original packaging with labels intact, so you have that information in the event of an emergency," Sansoni said. "Product labels are designed with easy-to-use instructions and safety protocols that are quick to reference."

All cleaning products should be stored up and out of sight and reach from young children, preferably in a cabinet with doors.

"If you don't have a cabinet available, place all cleaning products in their original packaging into a larger bin and store them where those at risk won't be able to see it," Sansoni said.

Notice important safety instructions that could be useful to poison control centers should an accident occur, Sansoni said.

"Be sure to completely close and seal all cleaning products during and after use to avoid any accidental exposures," he said.

Some other helpful safety tips include: • When purchasing liquid laundry packets and household cleaners, have them bagged separately and put them away in their designated safe storage spot out of sight and out of reach as soon as you get home.

• Have the Poison Help Line (800-222-1222) handy and call immediately if an accidental exposure occurs.

• Conduct routine safety checks in the home to prevent accidents, particularly ahead of a visit from a grandchild or younger family members.

For more information, check out the American Cleaning Institute's Packets Up! campaign, cleaninginstitute.org/liquidlaundrypacketsafety.

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OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

Expert Advice on

living

with

diabetes

MELISSA ERICKSON

M

ore than 34 million Americans are living with diabetes, which means they have to monitor their nutrition, weight and behavior, take medication, work with a health care team and remain positive.

"I like people with diabetes to know there is hope," said Dawn Noe, a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Cleveland Clinic.

Drastically increasing in the United States, diabetes often goes undetected. About 100 million people either have the disease but are undiagnosed or are prediabetic and at risk of developing it, said Dr. Robert Gabbay, chief scientific and medical officer at the American Diabetes Association.

A person can have type 2 diabetes for years without even knowing it and suffer long-term complications including heart disease or kidney disease, Gabbay said. Other serious health complications from diabetes include high blood pressure, vision loss and blindness, nerve damage, foot problems and amputation.

Many options exist for both managing and reversing type 2 diabetes, Noe said.

"Diabetes reversal/remission typically depends how long the person has lived with diabetes and if that person is still making their own insulin. We have seen diabetes reversal with weight loss surgery and now we have two studies each with two-year data to show that this can be done without surgery as well," she said.

"It's important to catch it early," said Gabbay, who encouraged people to be screened for diabetes periodically. "It's a simple blood test," he said.

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

Visit diabetes. org to take a brief quiz to acccess your personal risk.

Here are sone tips for living with diabetes.

A team approach Engage a health care team who you will be comfortable with for the long haul, Noe said. That may include endocrinologists or primary care doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and a diabetes care and education specialist.

"Diabetes care can change over time, so it's very important to make sure you have a team

of caregivers who listen to you and meet your needs.

If they don't, find one that does," Noe said.

"Diabetes education can be as effective as a medication in terms of helping to manage blood sugar levels," said Shannon Knapp, manager of diabetes care and education at Cleveland Clinic.

Customize your nutrition "Managing blood sugar is about so much more than just food intake, but meal planning is certainly the most popular of the diabetes self-care behaviors," Knapp said.

— 16.—

There is no one right meal plan that will work for everyone.

"Individualization is the key, because if you don't like your eating pattern, it will be harder to stick with it," she said. "Meeting with a registered dietitian who is also a certified diabetes care and education specialist is an important step in finding the best meal plan for you."

Commit to fitness "Exercise is often as good or better than medication and can be used daily," Noe said.

"In fact, diabetes professionals always say if we could put it in a pill, we would."

"Just like meal plans, the best activity plan is one you enjoy so you can stick with it," Knapp said. "So if starting an activity plan is one of your goals, find an activity that you enjoy, start slowly and build as you go."

Connect with others It's common for people to struggle with a diabetes diagnoses. About 30% report feeling depressed, Gabbay said.

"Reach out and connect with others. You are not the only one.

Don't hide the fact that you have diabetes," he said.

"There is no right way to approach this change, and it's absolutely normal to go through the stages of grief related to diagnosis of diabetes. However, seeking out specialists in diabetes care will give the person with diabetes tools and options," said Noe, who recommends mental health care to all her patients: "It is equally as important as nutrition and exercise for diabetes."

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new treatments for

MIGRAINES MELISSA ERICKSON

K

hloe Kardashian may be part of the Kardashian-Jenner business empire, but she is also a mother who suffers from migraines.

"My daughter relies on me solely. When I get woken up at 5 a.m. with a migraine it's like a knock on the head, and I think, 'How am I going to get through the day?'" said Kardashian, who is a paid spokesperson for Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, maker of Nurtec ODT, a new tablet that is an acute treatment for migraines.

A migraine sufferer since sixth grade, Kardashian is a single mom to True Thompson, 2.

"Nurtec ODT is such a relief. It works in 15 to 20 minutes. It allows me to get out of bed, make breakfast and care for my daughter.

Without it, before, I would lose my day," she said.

Migraines are misunderstood and more debilitating than many people realize, Kardashian said.

"It infuriates me that people say it's just a headache. I know people don't mean any harm, but they need to become more aware. Migraines are debilitating. They make me feel violently nauseous," she said.

Considered a pervasive disease, migraine affects not just the sufferer but everyone around them, said Dr. Vincent Martin, president of the National Headache Foundation and professor of clinical medicine at University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

"There's an enormous effect on the family, on children, between spouses and also friends and coworkers," he said. "There's a ripple effect on every aspect of life."

When a migraine strikes it can cause throbbing head pain accompanied

by nausea and vomiting, which can incapacitate a person and make them retreat into a darkened room because of extreme sensitivity to light. Migraines can last hours or days and can be unpredictable, making working or parenting even more difficult.

The good news is that migraines can be managed with new treatments and lifestyle changes, Martin said.

There are two new classes of drugs. One is CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors) monoclonal antibodies, which are shots used to prevent migraine. They are only given every one to three months. The other class of medications -- gepants -- are abortive and only used when a person has migraine.

"Both classes of medications prevent the binding of CGRP to nerve cells and blood vessels that promote a migraine attack. So both work by similar mechanisms but one

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class prevents, and another is only used to get rid of migraine when it occurs," Martin said.

The less good news is that people have to put the effort in.

"You can't just pop a pill or take a shot.

You need to make healthy lifestyle changes," Martin said.

More than 37 million Americans suffer from migraine, and it is three to four times more common in women, mostly because estrogen is a factor, Martin said. A number of factors such as stress and weather changes can trigger migraine, but there is also a strong genetic basis to this biochemical disorder, he said.

"What mom said was true," Martin said. To manage migraines, stay hydrated. Eat three meals a day and maybe a healthy nighttime snack. Keep a good sleep schedule.

Manage your stress and get exercise.

"Live a balanced life and learn to say no," Martin said.

Improving lifestyle habits can help decrease migraine frequency, Martin said.

Kardashian suggests the following tips: • Consult with your doctor. Seek help from specialists, if needed.

Be sure migraines are not masking some other medical condition.

• Be a part of the community. Reach out to others for help.

• Have empathy for people who suffer.

• Try different medications. Acupuncture, pressure point massages — try anything. Not every treatment works for everyone. Find what works for you.

–C–

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

Electric 2021 Polestar 2

arrives as one of the year's best, most advanced new cars

T

here's a surprising new contender for 2020's best and most advanced new car: The Polestar 2.

The handsome four-door fastback from Volvo's performance and technology brand is loaded with useful features and accelerates and handles like a first-rate sport sedan.

Don't feel bad if you've never heard of Polestar. The brand's a baby, founded by Volvo and its Chinese owner, Geely, in 2017.

The Polestar 2 goes on sale in September, but the brand's total presence in America so far is about 150 units of the Polestar 1, an expensive carbon-fiber plug-in hybrid.

The 2021 Polestar 2 is the brand's bid for wider awareness, but it's not exactly mainstream. True to its Scandinavian roots a "vegan" interior - no leather and no wood - is standard on the $59,900 base model.

Leather is not exactly disapproved - Swedes are practical people; hand them a check, they'll cash it - but it is a $4,000 option.

The Polestar 2's features include all-wheel drive with a motor on each axle, and the first production use of Android Automotive.

Not to be confused with the Android Auto smartphone - right, that'll never happen - Android Automotive provides voice recognition, navigation, music, control of some vehicle functions and more through Google computing.

You can also set it to provide information OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

about road conditions to Google, making it a precursor to the connected vehicles expected to reduce traffic congestion in the future.

The car can even connect to your Google account for full access to addresses, calendar and more, but that'll be a bit Big Brotherly for some, so it's optional.

I spent a recent afternoon driving a Polestar 2 around lakes, highways and cities in southeast Michigan. I barely scratched the surface of its features, but it was fun to drive and the features seemed reasonably easy to use.

The Polestar 2 has all the best driving characteristics of an electric vehicle - instant torque, low center of gravity, regenerative braking that can virtually replace the brake pedal - but it takes remarkably little time to adjust from a conventional vehicle.

Acceleration is immediate and satisfying, as you'd expect with 487 pound-feet of torque available at all times.

Polestar claims a 4.45-second 0-60 mph time, and 12.76-second time in the quartermile because you just know EV drag racing will be a thing.

The 51/49 weight distribution and low center of gravity - both thanks to locating the heavy batteries low and in the middle of the floorpan - keep it planted on the road. Direct tuning and a slight rearward bias in power delivery mimic the feel of a well-balanced,

— 18.—

rear-drive performance car.

You can set the brakes to mimic the feel of a conventional car but why bother, when you've got the "one-pedal driving" setting in the portrait-style touch screen? The setting maximizes regenerative braking, the amount of power recovered and fed back to the battery when you release the accelerator pedal. The vehicle slows so quickly that I had almost no need for the brake pedal after a quick learning curve. Because it charges the batteries, the feature also extends driving range.

The steering is also adjustable. I usually prefer the "sport" setting, but it seemed to deliver higher effort and less feedback in the 2. I found the base setting for steering most satisfying.

Prices for the Polestar start at $59,900.

All-wheel drive, twin motors and a battery pack projected to deliver 275 miles of range are standard. As with most electric vehicles, the transmission is a single-speed automatic.

The company expects to sell about 2,000 2s in the U.S. through four outlets this year.

It plans to have 10 U.S. dealers by mid-2021 and about 30 U.S. dealers by the end of 2023. Polestar aims for around 50,000 sales a year eventually, probably with four or five models. They'll all be electric. Next up, a sporty SUV, probably in 2023.

–C–

Can real estate agents legally go door-to-door?

RICHARD MONTGOMERY Reader Question: Last night, about 7:30 p.m., a local real estate agent rang our doorbell to ask if we wanted to sell our house or knew anyone who wanted to sell. I was always under the impression that this sort of solicitation was considered inappropriate by real estate agents. Have things changed in the industry, or was I laboring under a false impression?

Monty's Answer: When I began selling real estate in 1966, "door-to-door" prospecting was an ordinary real estate business practice in my home state. Most more established agents saw the method as a waste of time. However, a veteran local real estate agent was very effective in developing business using the door-to-door approach. A nationally known real estate convention speaker named Tom Hopkins provided "tips" on canvassing door-to-door.

It suggests canvassing was happening in other areas of the country.

I did participate in the activity. I had

people invite me in, slam the door on me, peer out the window, but not answer the door, and more. I was 21 years old, and my mentor suggested it would be worth the effort. I gained business doing it. When no one was at home, I would leave a business card in the door and write a message on the back. I had people who saved that card call me four or five years later when they needed real estate help.

Times have changed Many moms did not work outside the home. They do today. There was no internet. Today many new methods exist for reaching customers on the internet that are more efficient. Today some communities have ordinances that prohibit door-to-door solicitation without a permit or at all. There are unique circumstances that can cause a community to enact an anti-solicitation rule.

Some people see door-to-door solicitations as an intrusion; some people feel safer, etcetera. I believe societal changes have driven some communities to enact such ordinances. On the other hand, many cities do not have such regulations.

Some ordinance research Here is one example of a definition from several communities I reviewed.

Rochester, NY, a solicitor; "A person

— 19.—

doing business through the acts of vending, selling or offering for sale, soliciting orders for, demonstrating or making estimates of goods, services or merchandise, and persons in the home improvement industry, directly to the public in the public streets, sidewalks or public places from a vending truck, vending trailer, vending cart or special event table, or by going from house to house, whether by appointment, referral, uninvited solicitation, route sales or party plan, within the City of Rochester."

One could make a case that these definitions would not prevent a real estate agent from knocking on your door. It would not shock me if a customer asked the agent who knocked on your door to solicit you because they liked your home's appearance.

Consider checking your municipality's ordinances online or calling the business office to learn how your community handles door-to-door solicitation.

Richard Montgomery is the author of "House Money - An Insider's Secrets to Saving Thousands When You Buy or Sell a Home." He advocates industry reform and offers readers unbiased real estate advice.

Follow him on Twitter at @dearmonty, or at DearMonty.com.

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

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