We have a louder voice in the NC legislature, thanks to our supportive members! We welcome our newest members who joined this July 2023. Feel free to contact us with any questions at our NCRGEA office: 919.834.4652 or 800.356.1190.
As we get through the Dog Days of Summer, this recipe provides a refreshing flavor, healthy nutrients, and a creamy, balanced sauce. The secret weapons that make this dish unique are the teaspoon of Dijon added to the sauce and the juicy segments of tangerine. Thai chili brings a touch of heat, while The fresh crab is augmented with mint, basil, and parsley. Depending on your palate, the Thai chili can bring just the right amount of spiciness.
You can add a crispy bread crumb mixture to go on top, made of bread crumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder and lemon zest.
Ingredients
Directions
Have a recipe you’d like to share?
NCRGEA is compiling a Digital Holiday Dessert collection of recipes for 2023! If you have a dessert recipe you’d like to share, Submit A Dessert here by October 10, 2023.
Posted on behalf of Joyce Massey-Smith, Director, NCDHHS Division of Aging and Adult Services
LivingPower July-August 2023
Plans are underway for the upcoming NCRGEA Fall Conferences, and we are excited to be heading your way in September at three locations across the state. On Wednesday, Sep. 13, we will be at the Statesville Civic Center; On Tuesday, Sep. 19, you can find us at the Durham Convention Center; and on Tuesday, Sep. 26, the final NCRGEA Fall Conference will be held at the Greenville Convention Center.
Back by popular demand will be some improvements to the schedule and changes in events and sponsor participation, which were introduced last spring at our conference in Hendersonville and scored highly in survey results.
Get ready for plenty of local flair at each conference, including an outstanding lunch served by a local caterer focusing on regional, featured food from the area, and exciting door prizes from local merchants. Another local angle includes having a representative from the local NCSU Cooperative Extension office on hand to lead a presentation on a regional landscaping topic and answer attendees’ questions. “We are making a point to highlight the cultural aspects of each community,” said Tim O’Connell, NCRGEA Executive Director.
Each conference will have our partnering sponsors ready to discuss many aspects of retired life – from healthcare to social security to hobbies and activities. Sponsors will start the session with quick, two-minute introductions, which provides attendees with an overview, helping them decide how to engage throughout the day by to the information and assistance most important to them.
Stephanie Bias, a representative from the North Carolina Department of Insurance’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) said, “The approach of the two-minute greeting by the sponsors made a big difference to attendees. It put a face with a name, agency, or business, so attendees could target their visits to the exhibit booths.”
The schedule will allow time for attendees to visit the information tables, visit with each other, and make new friends. “One of our goals is to bring retirees together,” said O’Connell. “This allows them to share ideas and make connections. This time together also allows staff to get new ideas for future programs and events.”
Look for invitations and additional information coming soon with details on registering for NCRGEA’s Fall Conferences in:
9.13.23 Statesville: Statesville Civic Center | 300 S Center St | Statesville, NC 28677
9.19.23 Durham: Durham Convention Center | (inside Marriott) | 301 W Morgan St | Durham, NC 27701
9.26.23 Greenville: Greenville Convention Center | 303 Greenville Blvd SW | Greenville, NC 27834
June 28, 2023
Thank you to those who today attended this very informative and passionate presentation and panel discussion. The presenters, Dr. Megan Smith, Ms. Rebecca Freeman and Dr. Cheryl Greenberg provided invaluable information and resources for attendees to use to help combat isolation and loneliness. Please take advantage of these resources as they provide helpful information to curtail isolation and loneliness. The presenters have also provided their contact information in their presentation materials. Please feel free to connect with them directly.
If you would like to listen to the recording of the presentation, use this Zoom link and you will need to enter the passcode: L850vP!% . Click to download a copy of the slide deck in .pdf format, which includes resources and speaker contact information.
We are scheduling upcoming Lunch and Learn virtual sessions ~ would you please complete this survey and let us know what topics you are interested in learning? We look forward to seeing you at our next Virtual Lunch & Learn. Watch for information coming soon!
Talk about making the grade! When it comes to remarkable teaching careers, Grace Adkins definitely has earned an A+. Grace Adkins began her teaching career when she was just a junior in high school. Now, for her 95th birthday, she has given herself the perfect birthday gift: retirement!
Adkins was first hired in 1976 by Westwood Schools and has also taught at Deerfield Academy. Throughout the decades, Adkins philosophy remained consistent: to ensure that each student received the most effective education by accommodating each student with the tools that would work best for them.
“I never say a child can’t learn. I find out how they learn and I don’t give up,” she says.
Her determination and tenacity have paid off for the children who were her students. For example, one former student struggled with ADHD and dyslexia, but Adkins worked hard and created a roadmap for success with him and his parents.
“We had an educational prescription that we filled – and his parents filled at home – and he didn’t give up. His family didn’t give up. And we didn’t give up. And so there he is,” Adkins said. He is now a vascular surgeon.
“And of course, I have many others, too, that you wonder if they’re going to make it. But you keep on working with them every day. And… they make it. Big time!”
Many of her students praised the longtime teacher for her dedication and compassion. One said, “She really truly wants to change students’ lives, and she did,” one of her former students says. “She changed my life.”
Not only will she not be forgotten by her former students, but Adkins legacy will also live on. The Learning Lab that she founded at Westwood Schools will continue under the guidance of other teachers.
On her final day, her Westwood Schools student sang happy birthday to her in honor of her special day. Adkins was so moved by the appreciation and love that the students began to cry.
But just because she’s retiring from teaching, that doesn’t mean that Adkins is going to slow down! She not only gets up at 3am every morning and stays fit by riding her bike for a total of 100 miles a week, she also keeps her mind active by reading up to 40 books a year!
Examples like Adkins’ is another proof why teaching is often ranked as one of the most rewarding professions. There is no greater sense of reward for a teacher than to see their students succeed. Passing on knowledge to the next generation to achieve their goals is truly a fulfilling experience for them. Congratulations on 75 years of giving your students your best!
Attention all Retirement Eligible state-employed teachers! We have some exciting news for you. NCRGEA has benefits that you may be eligible to receive TODAY. Sign up to become a Member and discuss your options with our Benefits Specialists.
Most people have more than one source of debt. From credit card balances to your mortgage to your auto loan, getting a full scope of what you owe is important. In addition to the impact to your financial health, your mental health can also suffer. The stress and worry can lead to high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, ulcers, and worse. The deeper you get into debt, the more likely it is that your health will be impacted.
A common practice to take control and manage what you owe is to plan to pay the minimum each month on each debt and put extra money towards one debt. Once you’ve paid that one off, you can then turn your attention to the next bill.
There are two popular methods to where you make that additional payment: The Snowball or The Avalanche Method.
Like a snowball rolling down a hill, The Snowball Method starts small and builds momentum. Many people favor it because it’s simple, helps them feel motivated, and shows tangible accomplishments quickly. This method focuses on the smallest debts and eliminates them quickly. Once your smallest debt is paid off, you then progress to the next smallest.
You don’t reduce the amount you’re contributing to your debt payments. Instead, you’re redirecting the total amount from the first debt to the next. Your payments don’t decrease as you go through your list, but your list becomes smaller and smaller.
The advantage of this approach is you focus on paying off the debts with the highest interest rates so, in the long run, you save more money. Create a list of your debts from highest interest rate to the lowest. Plan to make minimum payments on all your debts, as well as an additional amount toward the first debt on your list.
Once you’ve paid off your highest-interest rate debt, move onto the second highest. Continue until your debts are all paid.
Keeping control of your finances is important. That’s why NCRGEA and AMBA offer a Tax-Deferred Asset Protection Plan. Annuities are a smart and safe way to diversify your savings. You can potentially earn much more interest than CDs or savings accounts. Plus, annuities have excellent advantages, including tax-deferred accumulation of interest, a guaranteed competitive interest rate, multiple payout options, and a nursing home waiver. Get more info at rgea.info/benefits or 800-956-1228.
Source: https://www.debt.org/advice/10-mistakes-getting-out-of-debt/
We all know the importance of wearing sunscreen to protect our skin from prolonged exposure to the sun. What many people don’t realize or neglect to do is to take an equal amount of precaution to protect their eyes. Sunglasses are more than just a cool fashion statement or way to keep the sun out of your eyes on bright days.
1) You Immediately See the Difference
From the moment you put them on, sunglasses provide instant relief from the sun’s brightness and glare. Polarized lenses cut down on the sun’s harsh glare.
And it’s not just the sun’s intense rays that sunglasses protect your eyes from. As a physical barrier, sunglasses protect from wind, blowing dust, sand, and other airborne debris that could irritate your eyes and even scratch the cornea, which could cause permanent damage.
2) Protection Against Ultra-Violet Rays
In rain or shine, the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays are always present every day of the year. In fact, water, snow, and car windshields can reflect light into the eyes. So, if you’re in a car, on a boat, or around snow you’re getting a double dose of UV rays on a sunny day – the direct exposure from the sun and a second exposure from the reflected light.
It doesn’t matter how dark or the color of the lenses of the sunglasses. The most important thing is that they block 99 to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. A pair of high-quality sunglasses t can make the difference between enjoying a pleasant outdoor activity or damaging your eyes.
3) Prevent Sun-Related Eye Disease
Daily exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays over the course of years will significantly increase your risk for developing cataracts, macular degeneration, or other eye conditions. The sun’s rays can also cause eye cancer and a condition called pterygium, a growth of excess tissue on the eyeball. Fortunately, there’s a simple, convenient way to reduce the risk whenever you’re outside: wear sunglasses.
4) Avoid Headaches or Migraines
The sun’s bright light can trigger people who suffer from migraines or painful headaches. Wearing a high-quality pair of sunglasses that blocks out the sun’s light and protects your eyes is an effective, proven deterrent.
Select sunglasses with dark, high-quality lenses if you’re prone to such headaches.
Sunglasses are an essential part of summer and lifelong health! If you need a new pair, then the Vision Plan from NCRGEA and AMBA is perfect for you. The plan has so many benefits for members, including coverage for a wide variety of sunglasses that look great and offer all of the protective elements you need to keep seeing your best for years to come! The plan covers an annual WellVision exam, 100% coverage for most lenses, even progressives, and thousands of nationwide in-network providers. Plus, the plan has NO WAITING PERIOD for covered services. Members, sign up today – www.AMBAdentalvision.com/ncrgea#vision or call 800-956-1228.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24798334/
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2266015
Action film stars are no strangers to physical injuries. From minor slips to severe injuries, even the best precautions aren’t always able to prevent an accident. Still, these examples of the rich and famous losing their teeth can be a healthy reminder that accidents and injuries can happen to all of us, and dental emergencies can occur suddenly when you least expect it.
In The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Viggo Mortensen played Aragorn. While filming a fight scene for The Two Towers, Mortensen was hit in the face with a poorly aimed sword. His front tooth cracked. However, being a consummate professional, he simply picked the piece up and asked the crew to superglue it back into his mouth. He then continued with the scene.
Daniel Craig had two of his front teeth knocked out while filming Casino Royale, his first James Bond movie. Of course, the legendary James Bond can’t have a gap in his front teeth, so they flew Craig’s dentist in from London to replace Craig’s teeth as soon as possible.
Charlize Theron cracked two of her back teeth when training for her role in Atomic Blonde. According to her, the teeth cracked because she was clenching them while she was fighting, and the injury required surgery before shooting could start.
Perhaps the most bizarre example of all is when, during the filming of the 1972 classic Deliverance (1972), screenwriter James Dickey and film director John Boorman got into an on-set fistfight. Dickey broke Boorman’s nose and knocked out some of his teeth.
Having a tooth knocked out of your mouth can be a serious injury. For one thing, the sockets will all require a root canal since the nerves and blood vessels cannot be restored. However, the teeth can reattach to the bone when you put them back in.
Although it’s easier to save a tooth for children than adults, it’s still possible.
If you should have a tooth knocked out, it’s important to see a dentist as soon as possible to avoid potential additional damage.
Follow these tips to increase the chances of saving a tooth:
A tooth cracking or getting knocked out can hurt, but frequently the expense of a dental procedure is just as painful. Fortunately, NCRGEA and AMBA offer an excellent Dental Plan that covers many procedures and features low deductibles and high maximums. This plan lets you see out-of-network providers and gives even bigger savings when you see one of our 400,000+ nationwide in-network providers. Sign up as a Member today – No Open Enrollment Period, benefits at Signup. www.AMBAdentalvision.com/ncrgea or call 800-956-1228.
Summertime health and fitness is synonymous with outdoor pursuits like golfing, cycling, or hiking. From great gear to wearable tech, AMBA Discounts has you covered with amazing discounts and promotions.
Hurley Bikes
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Garmin
From the driving range to the final putt, Garmin has made groundbreaking advances in the game of golf. Garmin’s devices include Golf Watches, Launch Monitors, and Simulators, and Range Finders. Whether you’re just enjoying the game or want to shave strokes from your handicap, Garmin’s devices will put you on course for new lows with the insights and data you need to play your best – no matter your age or skill level.
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Adidas
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