Loyalty Pawn Employee Services Corner

It is Still Winter

Here delicate snow-stars, out of the cloud, Come floating downward in airy play, Like spangles dropped from the glistening crowd That whiten by night the milky way.

“The Snow-Shower,” by William Cullen Bryant (1794–1878)

FEBRUARY… MORE THAN JUST VALENTINES DAY

February is African-American History Month. The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to African Americans living in the United States today.

Among the notable figures often spotlighted during Black History Month are Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought for equal rights for Blacks during the 1950s and ’60s; Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court in 1967; Mae Jemison, who became the first female African-American astronaut to travel to space in 1992; and Barack Obama, who was elected the first-ever African-American president of the United States in 2008.

More recently Ketanji Brown Jackson has been sworn in as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, becoming the first Black woman to serve as a justice in the 232-year history of the Court.

“With a full heart, I accept the solemn responsibility of supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States and administering justice without fear or favor, so help me God,” Jackson said. “I am truly grateful to be part of the promise of our great Nation.”

February comes from the Latin word februa, which means “to cleanse.”

Themonthwas namedaftertheRoman Februalia,whichwas amonth-long festival of purification and atonement that took place this time of year

Did you know:

• February is the only month to have a length of fewer than 30 days! Though it’s usually 28 days, February is 29 days long in leap years such as 2020 and 2024.

• January and February were the last two months to be added to the Roman calendar (c. 713 BC); originally, winter was considered a month-less period.

• Originally, February was made the last month of the calendar year. Eventually (c. 450 BC), February was moved to its place as the second month.

Celebration Days In February

• February 2 is Groundhog Day the day we find out whether winter will last six more weeks or call it quits early. How did this quirky tradition get started?

• February 12 is Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday. The 16th president of the United States was born in a one-room, 16x18-foot, log cabin with a dirt floor.

• February 14 is always Valentine’s Day. Heads up, lovebirds! Today, the holiday is celebrated with love, flowers, and chocolate, but how did this holiday get its start

• February 15 is Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday. How much do you know about this women’s right leader?

• February 15 is also National Flag of Canada Day!

• February 20 brings Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday also known as Washington’s Birthday that is celebrated on the third Monday in February. (George Washington’s actual birthday is February 22!)

• February 21 is Mardi Gras, (aka “Fat Tuesday” or Shrove Tuesday), which is the final feasting day before the Christian tradition of Lent begins on the following day, Ash Wednesday.

• February 22 is Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent.

• February 27 is Clean Monday. Also called Pure Monday, this day marks the beginning of Great Lent for followers of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church. This day is similar to Ash Wednesday of the Western Church.

INDULGENT HOT CHOCOLATE-not just for lovers!

Ingredients

Chocolate Whipped Cream

• 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk or sweetened condensed coconut milk (from 1 [11 1/4-ounce] can) 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Guittard or Ghirardelli Cocoa Rouge

Unsweetened Dutch-Process Cocoa Powder)

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2/3 cup heavy cream, chilled

Hot Chocolate

• 1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk , well shaken and stirred

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Guittard Cocoa Rouge

Unsweetened Dutch-Process Cocoa Powder), plus more if needed (about 1 1/8 ounces)

• 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar, preferably organic for deeper flavor, plus more if needed

• 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt (optional)

• Water, as needed

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Shaved or grated chocolate of choice

Directions

Make the chocolate whipped cream:

1. Stir together condensed milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Pour in cream; briefly stir and scrape down sides of bowl to combine well. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Cover and chill until ready to use

Make the Hot Chocolate:

1. Whisk together coconut milk, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt, if using, in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium, whisking often, until mixture comes to a gentle simmer, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, whisking often, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Taste hot chocolate, and whisk in additional cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed for earthy depth; or additional sugar, 1 teaspoon at a time, to curb bitterness; or water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to dilute. As needed, reheat hot chocolate in pan over medium, whisking to incorporate well. Remove from heat.

2. Let hot chocolate cool 3 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Pour evenly into 4 small cups. Top each with 1/4 cup chocolate whipped cream. Garnish with shaved chocolate and serve!

401K-Loyalty Pawn Retirement $avings Program

Are you saving for retirement? Why not start today?

If you have completed 12 months of service with Loyalty Pawn, you’re eligible to participate and start putting away those pretax (or post tax Roth) dollars into your very own 401k account. To enroll, send me an email and I’ll help you get started. Contact Employee Services at employeeservices@loyaltypawn.com Start saving for retirement’s tomorrow, today!

Loyalty Pawn | Payroll Transition is now complete!

Thank you to everyone for facilitating the Run to Workforce Now Transition! And if you completed the transition by registering with MobileHRnow Workforce Now account in the time frame requested, you all would have received your Starbucks eGift Cards by now. Enjoy! More cool things, features and benefits to review soon!

If you need HR, Payroll, Benefits, or Family support, Loyalty Pawn’s Employee Services is only a phone call, text message, or email away, on demand, anytime! 916-752-2255 employeeservices@loyaltypawn.com