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HONOR NOVEMBER 11TH

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Vol 22, No. 7 • November 2022

News You Can Use

662-643-6842

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Whitfield Nursing Home: Almost 100 Years of Community Health Service By: Donna Langston It’s quite a history that from its beginning, spans decades and generations, and so it begins … “Benjamin Toy Whitfield met Sarah Bertha Loper” during WWI. He served in the Army’s famous First Division, “The Big Red One”. She was a Red Cross nurse, but when America entered that War, Red Cross nurses became the first nurses of the Army Nurses Corp. It was while Whitfield was a patient of Loper’s that the two met, later “married, and eventually moved to Corinth, MS.” They had two sons: Maury and Winston Whitfield. According to one of their granddaughters – Lynda Whitfield, RN, “At that point in time, nurses mostly did care in homes as there were few hospitals. Sometime between 1924-1927, [they] were approached by several doctors … who asked them to open a hospital. They added 10 beds, 10 bassinets, an operating room, and a delivery room, onto the back of their house. Over time, more additions were made until there were 38 beds. The original home [became] was what is now the two-hundred hall of [WNH]. Generations of people in Alcorn County and surrounding areas were born [here]. … [G]randmother became the Corinth Hospital Admin. in 1961, following the death of our grandfather, … and Return Address: P.O. Box 1292 Corinth, MS 38835

POSTAL PATRON

continued in that position until 1965 when Magnolia Hospital opened.” Lynda continued by explaining that it was then that her uncle, Maury, owner/operator of Whitfield Pharmacy in downtown Corinth, and her father, Winston, USA Hospital Admin. in Mobile, AL, converted Corinth Hospital into Whitfield Nursing Home (WNH). In 1977, Winston moved to Corinth and became Admin. of Magnolia Regional Healthcare (Hosp.), where

Jennie and Lynda Whitfield

he retired from in 1993. Recalling that when she was [a very young child], her family lived in a “… house on Lilac St., just across from what is now WNH. My oldest brother was born at the Corinth Hospital. I was able to unlock the [our] door, cross the street, and knock on the Hospital’s kitchen door.

The cooks would set me up on a stool and let me cut out biscuits or drop bread into the toaster. Nurse Dottie Murphy used to carry me on her hip as she made rounds with the doctors. I even rode my tricycle down the hallways. I have so many memories and experiences that helped make me the nurse I am today.” Additional memories included the following: “A daughter of one of our residents found her dad’s birth certificate and we learned our grandmother had delivered him. At another time, my father found a bill for the delivery of a baby … that lady was later a resident here. A bill for two weeks in the hospital was less than $20. They never turned anyone away. During the depression, they accepted chickens, vegetables, etc., in lieu of payment.” Like her grandmother, who became the Hospital’s Admin., Sarah Jennings “Jennie” Whitfield Hibbard, daughter of Ann and Maury Whitfield, eventually assumed the WNH Admin. position. As Hibbard tells it, it was on June 1, 1988, following completion of her Ole Miss education, “trial by fire” training, and under the direction of E. L. Burns, who was Administrator, and her preceptor, D.L. Westbrooke. She took over as licensed Admin. after passing her Boards July 1, 1989. Her mother, Ann Whitfield, passed 11/15/2012, at WNH, under Jennie’s care. Hibbard said, “I primarily grew up working in my father’s drug store, …, from about the age of 4 through college. That taught me the value of customer service and the importance of healthcare. Mother always said I was the last baby to be born at the Corinth Hospital. I have tried to find more poof of it than that, but from a young age, I visited the nursing home and remember many residents there. I recall that one time my parents see WHITFIELD.....pg 4

November 2022

The Community News Flash

Editor’s Corner

Jerry W. Porter CEO/Publisher PO Box 1292, Corinth, MS 38835-1292 Cell: 662-643-6842 Email: read.newsflash@gmail.com

I am sure we have all passed that person stranded on the side of the road because they ran out of gas. One must wonder – how does this happen? How does a person get in their automobile and not take stock of the gas gauge level? It blows my mind, but I have seen it happen to more than one person. I was driving out West many years ago. Somewhere around Nevada or Utah, I realized it was vitally important to stop at a gas station whenever I could because it was a frighteningly long drive until the next fueling station. If one became stranded on the side of the road out there, it could be a long wait for help. In the desert, it can even be life-threatening. I found it easy to feel superior to those people who allow their fuel to run out until one day, in the middle of a particularly stressful week, my “low fuel”

Pay attention to your fuel level light came on and I did some white-knuckle driving until I barely coasted into a gas station with a car running on fumes. I nearly became one of “those people” I had never understood – one of those people I had labeled unwary or unprepared for the daily journey of life. What happened to me? Looking back, I realized I had been running at full throttle all week. I was busy and the week had gone by where I had driven from one appointment to another, taking calls, putting out fires (from a business standpoint), and with all the events of a busy life packed into my week, I simply forgot to refuel the machine that carried me from one place to another to conduct all of this “important” business. I stopped seeing my fuel gauge because I was always looking over the top of the dashboard as I headed to the next thing. Running out of fuel can also happen to our spiritual lives just as it can happen to our automobiles in our regular lives. We could not run indefinitely without food or water. These are essential resources that take planning to replenish, or our health will suffer. How often have we had to take a few days off and get away from the stress of our daily lives to keep our mental and physical selves healthy? Jesus said in John 4:14, “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” God’s Word – the Bible – is the living word – the living water.

We need to get away with Jesus and spend time in His Word. This is our main source of spiritual nourishment and when our spirit is well nourished, our physical and mental state improves, and life is more manageable. Our spirit is the center of ourselves, everything flows outward

from there. We need to spend time in the Word, but also in meditation and prayer – in communion with the source of the living water. If we do not do this, then we run the risk of our spiritual well running dry. Like being stranded on the side of a hot highway in the middle of a desert, avoiding spiritual nourishment takes away the purpose from a daily life that can already be so very hard. The Word says that as our souls prosper, we will prosper and be in health. The status of the spirit dictates the status of the body. Spiritual reconnection and filling will without doubt take care of some physical ailments in one’s body. Most of the physical disease and ailments we suffer comes from stress and having a drained spirit. As we reconnect to God during a getaway with Him, heal-

The Community News Flash is published monthly by Porter Publishing, Inc., with all rights reserved – © 2001 Reproduction or use without permission of editorial on graphic contents in any manner is prohibited by law. This newspaper is designed to exhibit the positive by publishing only positive and uplifting personal profiles. The annual subscription rate is Twenty four dollars and forty eight cents ($26.00). Information is gathered from sources considered to be reliable and accurate. Thoughts expressed in letters to the editor and commentaries are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Community News Flash staff. Equal Opportunity. It is policy of the newspaper. 1. To employ people on the basis of their qualification and with assurance of equal opportunity and treatment regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or handicap. 2. To not knowingly accept any advertisement, which implies and preferences limitation or discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or handicap.

those with a solid, spiritual foundation. Make sure that you are paying attention to what is important. The reason many of our spiritual wells run dry is because we invite people and situations into our lives that drain us. While you may want to help your family and friends whenever you can, give yourself a chance to breathe. You cannot help anyone when you are not helping yourself. It is ok to take loving care of yourself. Do not become distracted, friends. Keep an eye on that spiritual fuel gauge. Whoo! Whoo! Until Next Time! All Aboard!

ing will flow from your spirit to replenish, rejuvenate, and energize your body for a robust life. Just as we need to check our resources before taking our automobile out on the road, we also need to make sure our spiritual tank is full, or we will not be able to withstand what life’s journey will throw at us. We also need to make sure we are not putting junk in our tank. Just as we would not want to put diesel fuel in a standard automobile that takes regular, unleaded gasoline, our bodies cannot live on a diet of potato chips alone, nor can our spirit endure the onslaught of negative people. Surround yourself with positive people, good influences, and

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November 2022

NOVEMBER BIBLE TRIVIA

If Your Business, Church, Civic Group or Organization would like to sponsor the Bible Trivia each month call (662) 643-6842 or email us read.newsflash@gmail.com

for sponsorship details.

The Community News Flash

1. Who acme to Peter late at night and released him from prison? 2. Who had a late-night visit from an angel, who assured him that he would be safe aboard a storm-tossed ship? 3. Who led some officers of the chief priest to pay a late-night call on Jesus? 4. What Pharisee came to Jesus late at night? 5. Who met a man with whom he engaged in an all-night wrestling match? 6. Who came through Egypt on a late-night visit to almost every household? 7. Where did shepherds receive angels as late visitors? 8. Who took Saul's spear after sneaking into his camp late one night? 9. Who visited a medium at night? 10. Who attacked a Midianite camp late at night? 11. Who paid the young Samuel a late-night call? 12. Who frightened his followers who thought he was a ghost when he passed by them late at night? 13. What New testament character was the "voice crying in the wilderness? 14. What blind father recognized Jacob's voice but was deceived by his glove-covered hands? 15. When Moses was in the tabernacle, where did God's voice come from? Send in your answers to the following Bible Trivia Questions and take a chance at winning a complimentary bible from the Community News Flash. Random drawing will be held monthly

October Answers 1. Adam (Genesis 2:21) 2. Sisear (Judges 4:21) 3. Jonah 1:5 4. Elijah (1 Kings 18:27) 5. Jacob (Genesis 28:11-15) 6. Uriah (2 Samuel 11:9) 7. King Ahasuerus (Esther 6:1) 8. Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:1) 9. Joseph (Matthew 2:13) 10. The disciples (Luke 22:45) 11. David and Abishai (1 Samuel 26:7) 12. God (Genesis 15: 12-16) 13. King Darius (Daniel 6:18) 14. Samson (Judges 16:19) 15. Jesus (Luke 8:23-24) 16. Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12) 17. Peter (Acts 12:6-7) 18. The Philippian jailer (Acts 16:27) 19. Jairus' daughter (Luke 8:52) 20. Jacob (Genesis 31:38-40)

November 2022

The Community News Flash

WHITFIELD....from page 1 had gone out of town and left me in the care of my grandmother, who was then living at the nursing home. They were called back home early because I had the mumps. Also, there were Big Annie and Joe, two employees, who lived directly behind WNH. They often looked after me. I played in their yard and often followed Big Annie over to the NH kitchen when she cooked. In time, Joe became a patient at the nursing home and I would go visit him, sometimes taking my naps up on the bed.” Hibbard has a “non-conflict” type of personality, and many times I heard it said that if someone couldn’t get along with her, more than likely they were the problem, not her. For sure, she has a kind heart. One example is that upon announcing her plan to close WNH she personally called each family’s representative person and met with every resident to explain the change. A second example is that there was a resident at one time, whose family absconded with all of her money that Medicaid expected to be paid toward her care before they would pay any monies toward her care. It would have not been safe for that resident to be returned to the family, nor did she want to be, and asked to be

Side view looking west of old Corinth Hospital

Benjamin Toy Whitfield

allowed to stay. Due to further, unusual, extenuating circumstances in that situation, Hibbard allowed her to remain in WNH until her

For the past 34 years, the facility usually kept a five-star rating, or close to it, by the Center of Medicare/Medicaid standards, and there has always been a lengthy waiting list of people wanting to become residents of the nursing home. With no out-

View of Corinth Hospital before the current front of Corinth hospital was added

years’ service, knew 4 generations of Whitfields; CNA Ruth Holder served 49 years; Joan Woolhouse was DON for 47 years, until her passing; Martha Middleton was SW here 32 years; Leon Tatum worked in Bldg. Maintenance 30+ years, until his passing; My grandparents with Maury and Winston

Lynda Whitfield, Sarah Shields, Jacqueline Hibbard, Jennie Whitfield Hibbard Sarah Shields 50th Retirement Party, she knew 4 generations of Whitfield’s. She was there when I was born.

death, absorbing the enormous unpaid expense. A third example is that she would give an advance on an employee’s paycheck if they needed it. And during State Survey, her steadfast employees always “had her back”.

of a resident’s bill, a pandemic, and a myriad of other business challenges, Hibbard has single-handedly steered WNH on a straight and steady course. When my application for employment at WNH was approved by her over 13 years ago, it wasn’t a bland “when can you start?” She personally

side support from “corporate”, a pandemic, several financial recessions, some unscrupulous family repre-

Cleo Whitfield-Hubbard, Very Important Pup

sentatives who just never paid the remaining portion

Lynda Whitfield

Maury Whitfield

Winston Whitfield, administrator at Magnolia Hospital 1977-1993

Sarah Bertha Loper

ronment was, in many ways, a unique “family”, with all its occasional squabbles, angst, dramas,

called and asked, “Are you ready to join the Whitfield family?” I immediately said yes and have never regretted it. I believe everyone, who has ever worked here, would agree that this envi-

heartaches, happiness, good-news/bad-news, loves and losses, that encompassed residents and staff alike. It has been just like a huge, extended family akin to that saying, “I may complain about my family member, but don’t you say anything bad about them.” At one time there was little employee turnover. Some long-time employees of WNH were: CNA Sarah Shields, who retired from the nursing home with 50

CNA Ramona Reed has invested 28 years; and Kitchen employee Donnie Patterson was here for 26 years, until it closed. Thus, it was bittersweet for most everyone, on October 14, 2022, to hear Hibbard announce her intention to retire and close Whitfield Nursing Home. On that, she says, “I am proud to have carried on our family’s legacy of providing healthcare to our community for almost 100 years. I hope that I have made them proud.” I feel certain that she has made them more than proud. As some would say, “Ya done good, girl!”

November 2022

Help for Caregivers November is National Caregivers Month. Caregivers are the angels who take care of someone who would otherwise be in a facility. It sounds simple, but the actual work involved can be backbreaking, challenging and stressful. Thanks to the National Family Caregiver Support Program, there are now more help resources for caregivers than ever before. Here are some examples: To learn about services to caregivers, your first call should be to the Eldercare Locator (managed by the Administration on Aging) at 1-800677-1116, or go online to www.eldercare.gov. On the local level, look for the Area Agency on Aging. Its role is to help you find solutions. Perhaps you need someone to stay at home while you buy groceries, or you need help with all the additional laundry. Maybe you could benefit from a support group where you can vent your frustrations, or need someone to fix the roof. It can find the help you need. One very comprehensive site is Caring (www.caring.com), for adult children who are caring for a parent. I also recommend it as an overview for any caregiver who needs information. Help topics include Alzheimer’s, COPD, incontinence, nursing homes, Parkinson’s and much more. Take a look at Family Caregiver Alliance Web site (caregiver.org) and click on Caregiving Info and Advice. Although based in California, the information is pertinent to all caregivers, especially the Caregiver Tips and FAQs. The Family Care Navigator at the above site has a list of resources by state. Click on the state graphic and it will take you to a menu of available services in your area and contact information. If you’re a caregiver, remember to take good care of yourself. Ask for the help you need. It’s out there. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send email to columnreply@gmail.com.

The Community News Flash

Triglyceride Levels Linked to Heart Disease DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My 31year-old son-in-law is 6 feet tall, weighs 185 pounds and is in good physical condition. His concern is triglycerides. His measure more than 600. His cholesterol is just a bit high. He eats very healthily, with little fast food. He drinks only diet soda and skim milk. He uses sugar substitutes in his coffee. He eats much Indian food. Any help is appreciated. — B.W. ANSWER: Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and HDL cholesterol (the good kind) have star billing when it comes to artery hardening and heart disease. The spotlight has begun to shine on triglycerides, and now they are sharing billing with cholesterol. Triglycerides are fats. The whitish, yellowish stuff you see in a cut of meat is triglycerides. Guidelines tell us that a triglyceride level below 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) is ideal; levels between 150 and 199 (1.7-2.2) are borderline bad; levels from 200 to 499 (2.2-5.6) are bad, and anything over 500 (5.6) is very bad. Your son-in-law is in the “very bad” category. For overweight people, weight loss is the first step in bringing down triglycerides. This doesn’t apply to your son-in-law. He should severely limit rapidly absorbed carbohydrates, like sugar. They raise triglycerides. He also should cut back on red meat and full-fat dairy products. He has to steer clear of trans fats, found in some commercially prepared foods, particularly baked goods and many fast-food deepfried items. He has to limit alcohol. Your son-in-law is doing all this, but his levels still are too high.

Three hours of weekly exercise can lower triglycerides. If this doesn’t get the job done, then he should consider the medicine route. Niacin and gemfibrozil can bring down the triglyceride reading. Diabetes, a low output of thyroid hormone, kidney disease and some medicines like beta blockers and thiazide diuretics raise triglyceride levels. Very high triglyceride levels can inflame the pancreas — pancreatitis. Your son-in-law is at the threshold of that complication. The cholesterol booklet explains triglycerides and their link to heart disease. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue — No. 201W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. *** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I need to know what is considered normal when it comes to menstrual cycles. Please tell me. — R.K. ANSWER: Most women have cycles that last from 21 to 35 days. For 90 percent of menstruating women, bleeding lasts seven days. A little more than 1 ounce of blood (30 to 35 ml) is lost with each cycle. That amount of bleeding requires three to five pads a day. *** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have diabetes, and a while back lost 25 pounds almost overnight. I cannot gain it back. What can I do? — Anon. ANSWER: A sudden, unintended loss of 25 pounds demands an explanation. If your diabetes was out of control, that might explain it. All the same, you must report this to your doctor right away so a search for a cause can begin. *** Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. © 2009 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

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November 2022

The Community News Flash

COMMUNITY

Confronting the Epidemic of Drug Overdose Deaths in Our Communities

(StatePoint) As America’s drug overdose and death epidemic continues to impact communities of every size in every corner of the country, new challenges have emerged. In 2021, more than 107,000 people died from drug-related overdoses, according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the bulk of which were from illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which shows up in fake pills, methamphetamine and cocaine. Since its founding in 2014, the American Medical Association (AMA) Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force has brought together medical societies and practicing physicians to develop and implement strategies that can help end this epidemic. The task force’s recommendations include urging physicians to enhance their education as well as advocate for comprehensive care for patients in pain and for those with a substance use disorder. The AMA also strongly urges states to update laws to make the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone more readily available, decriminalize fentanyl test strips, and take other harm reduction initiatives to save lives from overdose. When it comes to helping patients with a substance use disorder (SUD) so they can lead satisfying, productive lives, the science shows what works: medication prescribed by a physician or dispensed at Opioid Treatment Programs, combined with behavioral counseling and other services. Despite certain positive trends and clear science, of the 40.3 million people nationwide with a substance use disorder, 93% receive no treatment, according to federal officials. A 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Labor found that health insurance companies regularly violate state and federal laws designed to provide coverage for substance use disorders and mental illness. Health insurance companies also continue to but up barriers to accessing medications for opioid use disor-

ders (MOUD) and deny care to patients with pain— or make it so expensive that patients cannot access care. “No community has been—or will be—spared the pain of this epidemic. The spiking mortality numbers—with young people and Black and Brown Americans dying at the fastest growing rates—add yet another urgent call to remove health inequities from the health care system. We know policymakers have not exhausted all remedies. Until we have, we must keep advocating for humane, evidencebased responses,” said Bobby Mukkamala, M.D., chair of the AMA Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force. The AMA stresses that while physicians are leading in areas where they can have an influence, they cannot end the epidemic alone. To combat the issue at the state and national level, the organization has issued a national “roadmap” to policymakers and regulators focused on these specific actions: • Remove barriers to evidence-based care for patients with an SUD. This includes removing prior authorization, step therapy and dosage caps for MOUDs, continuing federal flexibilities for takehome medication for opioid treatment programs, continuing audio-visual and audio-only telehealth options for patients to begin treatment, and removing regulations that prevent most physicians from being able to prescribe MOUDs to their patients. • Take immediate steps to protect families by focusing on increasing access to evidence-based care rather than using punishment and the threat of family separation for persons with an SUD who are pregnant, peripartum, postpartum and parenting. • Enforce laws that require mental health benefits to be on par with other health benefits, thereby broadening access to treatment related to mental health and substance use disorders. • Pharmacy chains, health insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers should remove arbitrary barriers to opioid therapy as well as ensure patient access to affordable, accessible non-opioid pain care. • Patients and physicians should have conversations about safe storage and disposal of opioids and all medications; and increase access to naloxone to patients at risk of overdose. • Develop and implement systems to collect timely, adequate and standardized data to identify at-risk populations, fully understand polysubstance drug use, and implement public health interventions that directly address removing structural and racial inequities. To learn more about efforts to end the drug overdose and death epidemic, visit end-overdoseepidemic.org.

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November 2022

The Community News Flash

How to Get a Handle on Overdraft Fees (StatePoint) When your bank account balance is low, life can be stressful. For example, when it’s time to pay large expenses that can’t wait, like car loan payments or monthly rent, it’s all too easy to overdraft a bank account. In fact, U.S. consumers pay billions of dollars a year in overdraft fees for covering all types of purchases, both large and small. There is no doubt that overdraft fees serve as a pain point for many consumers, and as the issue of overdraft continues to be discussed and debated, several banks have taken different approaches in response. Some have taken steps to address overdrafts, mostly by eliminating fees or eliminating the ability to overdraft completely. Alternatively, PNC Bank now offers a solution that provides customers with greater control in

these circumstances. Low Cash Mode, a tool that offers transparency and choices to help customers avoid fees by managing low-cash moments or mistimed payments, is a feature available in the PNC Virtual Wallet account through the PNC Bank Mobile app. The feature notifies you when your available balance is near or below zero and gives you at least 24 hours (and often more) to bring a negative balance to at least $0 through a deposit or funds transfer before incurring a fee. It also gives you the choice of whether to pay or return certain pending checks and electronic payments when your balance is nearing negative territory. The Value of Overdraft The ability to choose to overdraft can help consumers avoid bigger repercussions like credit impacts and loss of access to banking that unpaid bills or late

payments can cause. Allowing customers to make their critical payments – albeit for a small fee – sometimes makes a difference that helps allow them to stay in the banking system.

For example, if you opt to pay your rent or car payment – and avoid a penalty or a negative impact to your credit score by simply paying an overdraft fee – then the option to overdraft has

provided a value. “Removing the ability to overdraw an account doesn’t address the fact that many customers need to pay bills, even during temporary cash shortfalls,” says Alex Overstrom, head of Retail Banking at PNC Bank. “The key is that the consumer should be making the decision to incur or avoid fees, not just the bank.” Control Pays Off This level of control has demonstrated real results. PNC reports that 64% of customers who have a negative-balance event cure their account in time to avoid incurring a fee. “Sometimes people just need a little more time to cover important expenses,” says Overstrom. “And in these moments, they should have choices to make things right.”

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The Community News Flash

November 2022

Veterans Day has deeper meaning for Reservist following deployment By Lucy Weber Growing up in Corinth, KaDarren Davis never envisioned a future in the armed forces. “I was not the child that anyone would ever think would join the military,” said Davis, a 2016 graduate of Corinth High School, even though he had a grandfather and a cousin who had been in the service. But in 2018 that future changed when he joined the U.S. Army Reserve. “I was in college just to be in college. A recruiter reached out to me, and I took a leap of faith. I asked the Lord for guidance,” he said. As a member of the 663 Engineering Company of the U.S. Army Reserve based out of Sheffield, Alabama, Davis now can’t image a life without the military. “I just wanted to see if I could do this,” he said. “I do know I will stay in the military.” This Veterans Day holds a special meaning for Davis now that he is a veteran of an Army deployment. In fall 2021, he volunteered to deploy with another Army Reserve unit on a mission that took him to West Africa. He

returned in June, grateful for the experience and glad to be home. “It was always hot and only rained three times. It was eye-opening to see how well off we have it in the U.S. I appreciate the smaller things like running water and flushing toilets.” Before working in Africa, his unit spent a month preparing in Germany. “That’s when it hit me, I’m really in the Army.” The entire experience left him eager to go on more deployments in support of the Army’s mission. “If I got another opportunity to go on another deployment, I will,” he said. “There’s a possibility our unit could possibly go to Romania, and I am seeking to go.” Davis, the son of LaTanya Prather and the late Keith Davis, said his mother was glad he got to go on deployment as he desired and happier when he got back home. “We stayed in contact. KaDarren Davis

“My mom is very much proud that I joined,” he said. In civilian life, Davis works at Magnolia Hospital. In the military, he is classified as a 91L, a construction equipment repairer. He is working to earn the rank of E5 Sargent. As a Reservist, Davis attends drills at the base in Sheffield monthly.” Being a member of the Army Reserve gives Davis the best of both worlds. “I get to see places I never would have, When I’m on active duty, I miss home being so far away.” Then he has the opportunity to spend time at home when he’s not on active duty. Davis said his time in the Reserves makes him “more appreciative of those who have served.” He plans to watch Corinth’s Veterans Day Parade with pride and in support of those before him who have served this country. “They were making a sacrifice.”

“I have always had respect for the uniform. Since I joined, my respect has grown.”

The Community News Flash would like to extend a heart felt thanks to the Whitfield Family for many years of service to Corinth, MS and surrounding cities. I would also like to wish the Whitfield Family good luck on the next journey of life.

November 2022

The Community News Flash

Pilot Club does so much in Iuka

Members of the Pilot Club of Iuka, Tishomingo County High School Anchor Club and Costume Club photographed at the Iuka Trunk-R-Treat.

By Lucy Weber For 40 years, the Pilot Club has made a difference in Iuka. Encouraging youth, helping the elderly, enriching the downtown area and in so many other big and small projects, the service organization has been a vital part of the community. "Volunteerism is alive and well in Iuka, Mississippi," said Beth Davis, the current president of the club who was also the first president in 1982. The club has a list of projects that club members do in the community. Club members supply ideas for projects that are ever changing. "We have touched many lives," Davis said. For the 17th year, the club offered TrunkR-Treat on Halloween in downtown, offering a safe and fun environment for families to share the enjoyment of the candy-filled holiday. During the year, club members regularly visit residents in nursing homes and visit caregivers in homes to take them a basket of goodies for their devotion in taking care of their friends and family members. "We do a meal for the Tishomingo High School band before the football games," she said, adding the club also gives parties during the year for those with special needs working through Tishomingo Industries. Through a Pilot Club grant, the volunteers are responsible for the sensory types of playground equipment in Mineral Springs Park that allows children with physical, cognitive and social issues to have a fun place to play. There are swings for wheelchairs, a xylophone, a corn-hole game, a merry-go-round with tricycles and other "cool stuff," Davis said. "People have been extremely appreciative. It's wonderful to have something specific for children with special needs," Davis said.

Currently, the club has 15 members, but all are avid supporters of the community and eager volunteers. "We are busy," Davis said. "A small group can do great things." The motto of Pilot Club is "Do more, care more, be more." "We can all do more," Davis said. "Caring is a central part of what we do." Jaybird Park in the heart of downtown was an early project of the organization. "Pilot Club wrote the grant for Jaybird Park. It was an old, unattractive parking lot." Through the club's work, the park was paved, green spaces added with benches and a gazebo that is now "the centerpiece of downtown Iuka," Davis said. The club partners with the Anchor Club at Tishomingo High in volunteering in the community "Three of our members in the club served as Anchors when they were in school," Davis said. "We give generous scholarships to two Anchor members each year, and we're proud to do that." During the winter, the club concentrates on fund-raising to support events throughout the year. During Dickens Christmas on Dec. 16, the club will be selling soup to hungry festival-goers with members of the Anchor Club dressed in holiday attire. A new fund-raiser in January will be the Snowflake Ball for dads and daughters. "It's a slightly ambitious project, but I think we can pull that off," Davis said. The club also sells a specially designed afghan showing scenes of the town. Those will be available on Nov. 12 at the Jaybird Market in Jaybird Park. "These are great presents for newcomers," Davis said. The Pilot Club plays an important role in Iuka's history. "Clubs may come and go but the Pilot Club has been a stalwart here. We have seen the need and followed through and done it all with so much joy."

November 2022

The Community News Flash

Life is a box of fresh crayons for this artistic 7-year-old

Corinth Elementary Teacher, Anna Humphreys and art student, Emma'Rie Weeks

Register Your Child For Head Start Now! Head Start centers in Alcorn, Tippah, and Tishomingo counties are recruiting students for the 2022-2023 school year. We are registering children for Early Head Start and Regular Head Start. If you have a child 8 weeks to 4 years old stop by and register your child at a center in your community from 8:00-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Birth certificate, 121 form, and proof of 2021 family income are needed for registration.

Call us today! Enrollment slots are limited. Belmont 662-454-7346 Burnsville 662-427-8883 Chalybeate 662-223-5522 Corinth 662-287-0318

Iuka 662-423-5410 Prather 662-837-3269 Booneville (662) 728-7120 Regional Office (662) 728-7137

By Lucy Weber There are two ways Emma’Rie Weeks loves her hamburgers. One is a juicy burger covered in lots and lots of ketchup with long, perfectly cooked French fries on the side. The seven-yearold’s other favorite is to draw her own yummy hamburger and perfectly color in the buns, red condiment and beef patty before adding the fries to the page. For Emma’Rie, the meticulously drawn meal is just as much fun to create as the read one is to eat. Tishara Cook, Emma’Rie’s mother said the Corinth Elementary second-grader’s drawings of burgers and more decorate the family refrigerator. “I like to draw my family

too,” Emma-Rie said. She is the big sister to 5year-old Jeremiah, a kindergartener, and 2-yearold MacKenzie. Emma’Rie is looking forward to another little sister due in January. “She’s my big helper,” her mom said. “She’s so loveable and so independent. At school she works hard at school and makes good grades and is always on top of her studies.” Selected for the gifted program at school, Emma’Rie said what she likes about school – besides playing with friends – are “math, reading and books.” “We take art classes too. I like to paint, to color and to draw,” she said. Art is such a big part of Emma’Rie’s personality,

her mom said. “She wakes up coloring and drawing. She’s coloring every day. We have her pictures everywhere and we’ve also got a bin full. She is so artistic.”’ Emma’Rie has been drawing and loving that activity since she was a toddler. “My favorite colors are blue, purple and pink. I like to color and play. It’s a fun thing to do,” she said. When she’s not busy coloring at home, she said she likes to play with her brother and sister. “We play tag, and I win.” For this polite, imaginative and smart 7-year-old, the future is as bright and full of promise as the biggest box of crayons she loves to draw with.

November 2022

The Community News Flash

NEWS FLASH

Kids Zone

November 2022

The Community News Flash

Salmon and Pomegranates Are a Flavorful Combination

If you’ve never tried eating or cooking with pomegranates, now’s the time! Pomegranates are in season and the Wonderful, Red Wonderful and Early Foothill varieties are available in grocery stores nationwide. Pomegranate concentrate is available throughout the year. A pomegranate is about the size of an apple, and has a leathery, deep-red to purplishred rind. When choosing the perfect pomegranate, look at the skin. It should be thin, tough and unbroken, indicating the flavor is welldeveloped. The pithy membrane around the seeds should not be too prominent, and the seed-coats tender and edible. When you split the hard fruit open, a mass of red seeds in a spongy white membrane is revealed. Only the seeds, with their sweet-tart flavor and juicesquirting texture, are edible. Also, for the fullest of flavor, the seeds should have an abundance of juice. One medium-size

pomegranate will yield about 1/2 cup of juice or 3/4 cup of seeds. Pomegranates can be held at room temperature for reasonable periods of time, out of direct sun. The whole fruit or seeds can be refrigerated in plastic bags, or the seeds can be frozen separately. For longer storage, refrigerate the pomegranates at 32 F to 41 F. Most of the fiber you get from eating pomegranates comes from the seeds. So to keep up with a healthy dose of daily fiber, crunch away! You also can sprinkle pomegranate seeds over salads, fruit desserts, cakes and puddings, or use them in marinades, glazes and for garnish. Pomegranate seeds also are a delicious topping for waffles, oatmeal, pancakes, cereal or sundaes. For a unique way of incorporating pomegranates into your cooking repertoire, try this flavorful recipe from Rick Rodgers’ “Autumn Gatherings: Casual Food to Enjoy With Family and Friends” (Morrow Cookbooks). “If you’ve never roasted salmon, get ready for a treat,” Rogers says, “as the oven heat seals in the flavor better than moist-heat methods like poaching or steaming. It isn’t fancy — that is until it comes into contact with this spe-

cial sauce, a variation of the classic beurre blanc. “One important tip: Incorporate the butter over very low heat so it softens into a creamy emulsion with the acidic base; if the heat is too high, the butter will simply melt. While the sauce is made with bottled pomegranate juice, garnish each serving with a few pomegranate seeds, if you wish.” ROASTED SALMON WITH POMEGRANATE BUTTER SAUCE

1 (2-pound) center-cut salmon fillet, with skin 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Pomegranate Beurre Rouge 1/2 cup bottled pomegranate juice 1/2 cup chicken broth or vegetarian broth 2 tablespoons minced shallots 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon crumbled dried rosemary 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 8 equal portions Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Lightly oil a large rimmed baking sheet. 2. Run your fingers over the cut side of the salmon, feeling for any pin bones. If necessary, pull out the bones with sterilized tweezers. Place the salmon on the baking sheet, skin side up. Season with salt and pepper. 3. Cut the salmon vertically into 6 equal portions, but do not separate the pieces. (This makes the salmon easier to serve after cooking.) 4. Roast until the salmon show just a hint

of bright pink when prodded in the center of the fillet at one of the cuts with the tip of a knife, 12 to 15 minutes. 5. Meanwhile, make the Beurre Rouge. In a medium saucepan, bring the pomegranate juice, wine, shallots and rosemary to a boil over high heat. Cook until the liquid is reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to very low. 6. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon of butter. Whisk until the butter softens into a creamy texture, occasionally returning the pan to the heat to keep it warm, but not hot. Repeat with the remaining butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Season with the salt and pepper to taste. If you wish, strain the sauce through a coarse-mesh wire strainer into a serving bowl, but I usually skip this refinement, as the sauce will taste great one way or the other. Do not bother to try to keep the sauce piping hot — it will be heated by the warmth of the salmon. Serve the salmon on individual dinner plates, and spoon the sauce on top. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.

November 2022

The Community News Flash

By Samantha Weaver

• “Save some Halloween candy for making cookies or decorating pies throughout the holidays. Put it in the freezer. Small candy bars are great for adding to brownies. Caramels and chocolate chews can be melted to add to cookies as well. It’s better than the kids eating it all in one go, and they can anticipate the holidays to come.” — I.S. in Illinois • Cabbage leaves go limp in the freezer, making them easier to roll. This tip is especially good to know if you are making cabbage rolls or stuffed cabbage. • “Defog your bathroom mirror with shaving cream. If you are constantly wiping the steam away from the mirror to shave, try this old trick. Rub a healthy amount of shaving cream on the mirror surface, then wipe away with a towel. You can rub it with newspaper to get the cream off, but don’t clean it with glass cleaner. The next time you shower or shave at the sink, the fog just won’t accumulate!” — B.G. in Idaho • “Mayonnaise can stand in for cooking oil in a recipe. Use in an equal amount. It works especially well in brownies.” — F.A. in Massachusetts • Go Green Tip: Most large chains have really gotten on the bandwagon with reusable shopping bags. Here’s a tip to help you have one handy at the right moment. Keep several in the trunk of your car. Also purchase one or two foldable bags. There are some that fold small enough to fit comfortably in a woman’s purse. Keep one of them hanging from your gearshift lever, and if you attach a carabiner clip, you might remember to clip it right to your belt! Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or e-mail JoAnn at heresatip@yahoo.com. © 2009 Ki

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• It was American columnist Franklin Pierce Adams who made the following sage observation: “Seeing ourselves as others see us would probably confirm our worst suspicions about them.” • If you’re like the average human, your heart will beat 100,000 times today. • Before Humphrey Bogart became a famed star of the silver screen, he was famous for another reason. Bogart’s mother painted a portrait of little Humphrey as a baby, and that portrait was used as a trademark for Mellin’s baby-food company. • John Quincy Adams was the first U.S. president to be photographed. • If you’re a stargazer — or a night owl — you might already be aware of the fact that you can see about five times as many shooting stars after midnight as you can see before. • Lexicographers claim that “queue” is the only word in the English language whose pronunciation does not change when the last four letters are removed. • Only about 5 percent of the salt produced every year winds up on the dinner table to be used as a seasoning. And you might be surprised to learn the diverse purposes for which the other 95 percent is used: packing meat and feeding livestock, of course, but also building roads, tanning leather and manufacturing such items as soap, ash, detergents and glass. • Here’s a fun experiment: Pour a glass of champagne, then drop in a raisin. The carbonation in the drink will cause the raisin to bounce up and down continuously until the wine goes flat. *** Thought for the Day: “There are two things to aim at in life; first to get what you want, and after that to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second.” — Logan Pearsall Smith © 2009 Ki

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November 2022

The Community News Flash

How American Farmers are Helping Game Day Foods Spice Up Game Day With Solve Critical Global Issues These Mouthwatering Recipes

(StatePoint) With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supply chain problems stemming from the global pandemic, and the world struggling under escalating inflation and a rapidly changing climate, the global hunger crisis has reached new levels. Every night, more than 800 million people go to bed hungry, with the number of severely food-insecure people more than doubling from 135 million before COVID-19 to 345 million today, according to the World Food Program. At the same time, American agricultural exports of farm and food products shattered records in 2021 to total $177 billion, according to the USDA, demonstrating the instrumental role American farmers play in the U.S. economy, and in feeding the world. “It’s more important than ever that the United States continues to lead globally to protect food systems abroad and our citizens at home from supply chain disruptions and rising prices,” said Dan Glickman, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Senior Advisor at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. “As we face growing threats and crises on the global stage from wars, drought, climate change and food insecurity, farmers are part of the solution and will play a key role helping to save lives.” This is the driving idea behind a newly-launched initiative: Farmers for Prosperity. This network of agribusiness leaders is committed to U.S. global engagement by harnessing American resources to feed the world. Convened by the USGLC, Farmers for Prosperity will also shine a spot-

light on both the role farmers play in solving critical global issues, and on why U.S. global leadership is essential to protect the security, health and economic interests of American families. The launch of Farmers for Prosperity recently took place at USGLC’s Heartland Summit, hosted in Minnetonka, Minnesota, West Lafayette, Indiana, and Wichita, Kansas. The Summit, an annual event, convenes leaders this year from across the heartland with the aim of unpacking how strategic investments in agriculture, digital technology and global development help create jobs, feed the hungry, reduce poverty and keep America safe. Advocates are highlighting this year’s biggest takeaways: • When communities are food insecure, it can lead to instability, slowing economic growth, perpetuating conflict, impacting child development and worsening malnutrition. Working with partners around the world, American farmers can help feed the world and save lives. • U.S. leadership on the global stage is vital to advancing national economic and security interests, and agriculture is a part of that equation. Farmers have unique and important views on what it takes for the United States and the world to prosper, making it important for them to help shape foreign policy by educating policymakers on the challenges on the ground. • Ensuring that American farmers have access to developing and emerging markets around the world is critical for the domestic economy. U.S. agricultural exports support over 1.3 million jobs on the farm and in related industries such as food processing and transportation. To watch the 2022 Heartland Summit or learn more about Farmers for Prosperity, visit heartland.usglc.org “Farmers around the world are not all that different. Together, they grow the food that sustains communities. At a time of global crisis, American farmers can lead the effort to tackle hunger and food insecurity,” says Glickman.

(StatePoint) It’s football season, and there’s only one thing to make game day a bigger win: delicious game day food! Looking to add some kick to kickoff? Take flavor and heat off the bench and put them into the game with these recipes from Frank’s RedHot, America’s number one hot sauce. Whether you’re tailgating or hosting from home, Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce, made with a premium blend of aged cayenne peppers, is a must-have ingredient. Classic Buffalo Chicken Wings If you’re someone who agrees that no tailgate or watch party is complete without wings, you’re in good company. According to Chef Jordan Carfagno of Frank’s RedHot, chicken wings are the brand’s most searched recipe during football season. And it’s no wonder, Frank’s is the original Buffalo wings sauce flavor. Anyone looking to kick their wings up a notch can try this mouthwatering recipe for a classic take on wings, and it can be made in the oven at home, or in an air fryer if you’re tailgating. Ingredients: • 1/3 cup butter, melted •1/2 cup Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce • 2 and 1/2 pounds chicken wing pieces Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Mix butter and RedHot Sauce in medium bowl; set aside. 2. Arrange wings on large foil-lined pan. Bake on lowest oven rack for 30 minutes or until crispy, turning once. 3. Toss wings in sauce mixture until well coated. Serve with blue cheese and celery, if desired. Buffalo Chicken Dip Chef Carfagno says dip recipes are gaining popularity this year, and this spicy creamy Buffalo chicken dip is the MVP of them all. Make it in the oven at home or plug in an instant pot or slow cooker for on-the-go prep. Ingredients: • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened • 1/2 cups Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce • 1/2 cup ranch dressing • 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Spoon into a shallow 1-quart baking dish. 2. Bake 20 minutes or until mixture is heated through; stir. Sprinkle with green onions, if desired, and serve with chips, crackers and

cut up veggies. Check out franksredhot.com for more game-day recipes and inspiration.

Apple Pie in a Bag Good Housekeeping’s famous recipe from 1961. We’ve updated it to bake the pie in a plastic oven-cooking bag, which is safer and simple than the brown bag originally called for. 8 medium Golden Delicious apples 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus 3 tablespoons for every 1/2 cup 1 frozen 9-inch pie shell, thawed 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1 large oven-cooking bag (20 by 14-inches) with nylon tie 1. Peel, core and thinly slice apples to make 8 heaping cups. 2. In large bowl, toss apples with cinnamon, 1/4 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons flour. Fill pie shell with apple mixture, piling them high in center. 3. In small bowl, with hand, knead margarine or butter, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup flour into a soft dough. Pull dough into small pieces; flatten each slightly and arrange on top of apple mixture. (It is not necessary to completely cover the apple mixture.) Insert several wooden skewers (about 4 inches tall) in pie so that oven-cooking bag will not touch top of pie during baking. 4. Preheat oven to 400 F. Place pie in oven-cooking bag. Close bag with nylon tie; cut six 1/2-inch slits in top of bag. Place pie in jelly-roll pan or on cookie sheet. Set pan on rack in center of oven (make sure bag does not touch oven walls or oven racks). Bake pie 1 hour and 15 minutes or until top of pie is golden brown. 5. Remove pie from oven, bag and all. Carefully, with kitchen shears, cut bag open. Remove pie. (The bottom of the bag will be greasy!) Set pie on plate on wire rack to cool. Serves 10. • Each serving: About 300 calories, 14g total fat, 220mg sodium. For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our Web site at www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipe finder/.

1. ANATOMY: What is the largest bone in the foot? 2. MUSIC: What did the title of the song “Pennsylvania 6-5000” refer to? 3. GEOGRAPHY: What is the westernmost point in the contiguous United States? 4. LITERATURE: How many daughters did the king have in Shakespeare’s play “King Lear”? 5. HISTORY: Who founded the abolitionist newspaper “The North Star”? 6. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin phrase “non compos mentis” mean? 7. PSYCHOLOGY: Someone who suffers from didaskaleinophobia would have an abnormal fear of what? 8. COMICS: What is the name of the family dog in the “Dennis the Menace” comic panel? 9. SCIENCE: How fast can a bolt of lightning travel? 10. TELEVISION: In what fictional city does the soap opera “All My Children” take place? Answers 1. The heel bone, or calcaneus 2. A telephone number 3. Cape Alava, Wash. 4. Three 5. Frederick Douglass 6. Not of sound mind 7. Going to school 8. Ruff 9. Up to 130,000 mph. 10. Pine Valley, Pa.

1. When was the last time before 2007-08 that the Chicago Cubs won back-to-back division titles? 2. Who was the first player chosen by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1997 expansion draft? 3. When was the last time before 2008 (Arizona State) that a Division I college football team tallied four defensive touchdowns in a game? 4. In 2008, the Denver Nuggets tallied 168 points in a game. When was the last time an NBA team had that many points in a regulation game? 5. How many 40-goal seasons had Marian Hossa tallied entering the 2009-10 NHL campaign? 6. In 2008, Chris Barnes became the third bowler to win both the PBA Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year awards in his career. Name either of the other two to do it. 7. Name the only filly in the Kentucky Derby between 1945 and 1980. Answers 1. It was 1907-08. 2. Pitcher Brian Anderson. 3. The University of Houston did it in 1987. 4. Phoenix had 173 points in a game in 1990. 5. Three, with a high of 45 goals for Ottawa in 2002-03. 6. Mike Aulby and Tommy Jones. 7. Silver Spoon finished fifth in 1959.

November 2022

The Community News Flash

BUSINESS

FITNESS

An Unhappy Workforce Can Cost Money. How to Turn Things Around

(StatePoint) Amid the Great Resignation, the pandemic-era phenomenon of employees leaving their jobs, new research studying employees in the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland are shedding light on how employers can retain their staff and keep them happy. “Unleashing the Human Element at Work: Transforming Workplaces Through Recognition,” a new research report by Gallup and Workhuman, reveals that currently, only about one-third of employees say their employer has a formal recognition program, and 81% of senior leaders say recognition is not a major strategic priority for their organization. Industry experts define a culture of recognition at its most basic level as one in which gratitude, praise and appreciation are freely given and regularly received in an authentic and equitable way throughout the organization. The data suggests that not embracing this ethos is a missed opportunity. Indeed, Gallup’s analysis of the study data shows that an organization of 10,000 people with an already engaged workforce can save up to $16.1 million in turnover

annually when they make recognition an important part of their culture. What’s more, employees who feel recognized are more likely to be engaged and feel loyal to their organization. “The data clearly shows that when recognition is genuinely embedded in workplace culture, people feel its full impact -- they feel seen, valued and motivated to put in a little extra effort,” says Dr. Meisha-Ann Martin, senior director of People Analytics and Research at Workhuman. Employee recognition doesn’t just have an impact on work performance though, it also has an insulating effect that can help shield employees from burnout and support their overall wellbeing. More than 70% of employees who have good recognition experiences at work rate their lives more positively overall and are more likely to be “thriving” in their everyday lives compared to those who are not being fully recognized. But Dr. Martin advises companies to consider how they go about recognizing their employees. The study found that more than half of employees who say the recognition they receive at work is not authentic or

equitable are actively looking or watching for new employment opportunities. Further, two in five employees say they are not receiving enough recognition from leaders at their organization - only a few times a year at most -- when the bare minimum for positive impact is at least a few times a month. Recognition of employees is not only useful for retention, it can assist with recruitment too, say analysts. “In today’s competitive talent marketplace, the power of employee referrals cannot be understated. Yet, only 28% of employees in this study strongly agree they would recommend their organization as a great place to work. Organizations that acknowledge employees through strong cultures of recognition can boost this figure to 68%,” says Ed O`Boyle, Gallup’s global practice leader. “When organizations celebrate employees’ successes and contributions, those employees pay it forward and become brand ambassadors.” To read the full report and learn more about Workhuman, a leading global provider of technology solutions, analytics, expertise and services to build human-centered workplaces, visit workhuman.com. “Recognizing employees is a simple way organizations can demonstrate their commitment to their employees and inspire them to feel connected, confident and cared about, and in today’s climate, it’s no longer a nice-to-have program but rather a business imperative,” says Dr. Martin.

How to Work Out Without Excuses

(StatePoint) It’s all-too-common for those embarking on a regular exercise routine to skip a planned workout for one reason or another. Here are some of the most common excuses that people make not to exercise, along with some solutions to overcome these challenges: “I need low-impact exercises.” Many traditional workouts are tough on joints, which over time, can cause overuse injuries or exacerbate existing conditions. To achieve your fitness goals pain-free, consider lowimpact exercises such as yoga, swimming and elliptical machines. “I don’t have the space to work out at home.” Whether you live in a small apartment or just can’t dedicate too much space to a home gym, there’s good news. Certain manufacturers of exercise equipment have your back and are developing versatile, sleek fitness equipment to address your needs. At less than 23 pounds, the Cubii Total Body+ (available now for pre-order) is a good example of a compact machine offering a low-impact, approachable and achievable workout that targets everything from abs and arms to quads and calves. With a

low-impact motion, you can hit eight key muscle groups using one machine. Its elliptical component features 12 resistance levels that can be adjusted from your phone, and its resistance bands range from 2 to 7 pounds, allowing you, to tone, sculpt and strengthen your upper body, no matter what your fitness level is. “I’m not seeing results.” If you’ve been working out for a little while and haven’t seen immediate results, don’t get discouraged. Whether your fitness goal centers around weight loss or getting toned, it’s important to remember that little changes add up over time. “I’m just not motivated.” If keeping the exercise spark alive is difficult, consider turning to tech. New apps that connect to your equipment via Bluetooth, like the Cubii App, can send you reminders to get moving, as well as help you track your goals. They can also help you stay accountable by allowing you to connect with a fitness community and compete with friends, or join live and ondemand classes. “I don’t have any time.” Between work, family and other commitments, finding the time

to hit the gym for an hour or more isn’t always possible. But practicing self-care and prioritizing your own health and wellness is essential. What you may not realize is that a highquality workout doesn’t need to happen in a specific place or require a lot of time. In fact, some forms of exercise can occur while you’re working or watching TV. What’s more, even a short burst of activity is very beneficial to getting you strong, boosting your metabolism and energy, and improving your mood. That’s where a great versatile piece of equipment for the home or office can come into play. For example, unlike a traditional standalone piece of fitness equipment, the Cubii Total Body+ is a 2-in-1 system that combines cardio with upper body strength training for a fullbody workout you can do anytime, anywhere. To learn more about how to get active today, visit cubii.com. Creating a new exercise habit can be an uphill struggle, especially if you are short on time, space or motivation. Luckily, new tools are emerging that can help you work out without excuses.

The Community News Flash

November 2022

Using Family Volunteer Day to Deepen Children’s Civic Engagement

(StatePoint) November 19, 2022 is Family Volunteer Day, a global day of service that empowers families to work together to support their communities. Increasingly, parents of young children are placing a larger focus on civic engagement and giving back, and this annual event is a great way for your family to get started or strengthen your involvement. Need some guidance? The following actions draw upon Points of Light’s Civic Circle, a framework that helps people understand the many facets of civic engagement and provides an opportunity to show children the variety of ways they can support causes they care about this Family Volunteer Day. Combine these ideas to engage your whole family, strengthen your community and amplify your efforts: 1. Volunteer. Hands-on action is always an impactful way to get involved, especially on Family Volunteer Day. Whether you find time to volunteer at a local organization or use one of Points of Light’s DIY project guides, there are plenty of options for families of all ages and abilities. Consider projects that focus on issue areas that children can easily understand and get involved with, such as food insecurity, animal welfare and climate change. 2. Donate. Most organizations need financial support to continue their operations and deliver on their missions. Having a family fundraiser can be a great way to support an organization or cause. Whether you run a lemonade stand, plan a virtual fundraiser, sell friendship bracelets or do something else creative, activities like these help youth learn planning skills and the value of supporting organizations financially.

3. Purchase Power. With the holiday season quickly approaching, gift giving is on many people’s minds. Have young people help you select gifts from small local businesses or BIPOC- or women-owned businesses. You can also find and support companies that give back – either with a percentage of proceeds or by working sustainably. 4. Listen and Learn. A critical element of civic engagement is listening to and learning from the community you hope to serve. Before taking action, learn about what’s really needed. If you can’t talk to those directly impacted, ask a local nonprofit organization if they have suggestions or more information. You can also read books, listen to podcasts or watch documentaries about the causes you wish to support. 5. Use Your Voice. Helping kids find their voice is important because they can use it to harness their power in bringing awareness to important causes. Kids can share information by telling friends and family what they learned over a dinner, sharing a report at school, or providing information for others with an action item to take. If you’re looking for tactical ideas, Points of Light’s website has family-friendly toolkits for youth of all ages that incorporates some of these elements. Visit www.pointsoflight.org/familyvolunteerday/ to find a project that’s right for you. Family Volunteer Day can be just a starting point. Taking action and understanding the impact of your work can lead to a lifetime of civic engagement and service.