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T he A tlanta ‘S nowpocalypse ’ REMEMBERING THE STORM THAT BROUGHT THE CITY TO A STANDSTILL
JANUARY 2024
So, you can imagine how Atlanta came to a staggering halt on Jan. 28, 2014, when the city was blanketed with ice and snow. I’ll never forget how the day unfolded. I was at work. Usually, on a day when severe weather starts to move in, most people would already be home. But for whatever reason, we were at work when the precipitation started. We were probably still there because we are all too familiar with everything shutting down for no real reason when there are some flurries (think the boy who cried wolf). We had just bought a new car. I remember when we got it, we debated whether or not we should get four-wheel drive on the new vehicle. Eventually, we decided to go with it — just in case. That day, my husband went to pick up the vehicle in Lawrenceville.
before the weather got worse since it had already started snowing.
I sent one of our staffers home and prepared to leave. The funny thing is that I remembered I needed to go to the restroom, but I decided I could wait until we got home since it was only a 10-minute drive to our house. But my husband urged me to take the time to go to the restroom before we left. I’m glad he did. Because what normally took 10 minutes actually took four hours that day. As the snow and ice engulfed Atlanta, the city ground to a halt. It was as if everything was frozen in place, including scores of cars on the highway. Many people ended up spending the night in their vehicles on the roadway. It took 18 hours for the city to get back up to speed after more than 500 accidents. Again, it’s funny what you remember from experiences like that. As we made our slow journey home in our four-wheel drive, I remember thanking my husband for urging me to use the restroom before leaving the office. In fact, if there’s any doubt, I make it a point to visit the restroom before getting in the car. And, of course, I make my kids do the same. A decade later, many events have come and gone in the lives of area residents. But people still recount the day in January 2014 when streets turned into parking lots, and people were reminded of the importance of packing a winter survival kit in their vehicles. Although, in all honesty, I doubt we’ll be any better prepared for the next Atlanta “Snowpocalypse.”
After making the hourlong trip, he returned and told me we needed to head out
It’s natural for people to remember where they were and how they reacted during historic events from our past. One of those events that stands out for many Georgians is what we have come to call the “Snowpocalypse” that struck Atlanta 10 years ago. Our neighbors to the north always get snow, so they’re used to seeing it, removing it, and driving on it. Obviously, it’s a different story in Atlanta: We usually only get a day or two of snow, typically light flurries, each year. And without the routine experience of dealing with snow, even light snow closes the city down. Even the threat of snow closes the city down.
ATLANTA CAME TO A
STAGGERING HALT ON JAN. 28, 2014, WHEN THE CITY WAS BLANKETED WITH ICE AND SNOW.”
- Esther Vayman
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Managing your personal finances can be a daunting task, and traditional budgeting methods don’t work for everyone. However, “reverse budgeting,” a unique approach that empowers you to take control of your finances and achieve your goals more efficiently, may work for you. In a typical budgeting process, you track your income, expenses, and savings goals in a forward-facing manner, allocating your earnings to various expenses and saving whatever is left over. Reverse budgeting flips this process. Instead of allocating money to expenses first, you focus on saving and investing a predetermined amount before covering your expenditures. Here’s how it works. SET YOUR SAVINGS GOAL Start by determining your financial goals, whether saving for emergencies, retirement, a vacation, or a down payment on a house. Consider creating separate savings accounts for different goals to track your progress. M aster Y our M oney W ith R everse B udgeting A NEW APPROACH TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM
AUTOMATE YOUR SAVINGS Arrange for automated transfers from your income to your savings accounts on payday. By doing this, you treat savings as a non- negotiable expense, similar to rent or utility bills. COVER YOUR EXPENSES After setting aside your savings, use the remaining money to cover your monthly expenses and discretionary spending. This process forces you to be mindful of your spending and live within your means. ADJUST YOUR LIFESTYLE If your expenses exceed your remaining income after savings, it’s time to make lifestyle adjustments. Look for areas where you can cut back without compromising your essential needs. TRACK YOUR SPENDING Keep an eye on your spending habits by reviewing your bank and credit card statements, using budgeting apps, or maintaining a spending journal. This helps you identify areas where you can make further financial improvements and adjustments.
Whether saving for a specific goal or simply building a stronger financial foundation, reverse budgeting can be a valuable tool in your financial toolkit. Give it a try!
M aking a D ifference W ith H er A ll -I n A pproach MEET CHEVELLE DOUGLAS
Chevelle’s legal career began 16 years ago and she joined our team in July 2023. She smiles as she thinks back to her first meeting with Esther. “I felt like I knew her for a very long time, and it was just easy talking with her,” she emphasizes. “You want to be at a place where it doesn’t feel like work. So, working with people you like and respect is very important to me.” Prior to joining the team, Chevelle worked as a Fulton County Magistrate Judge and also in juvenile court, where she represented the interests of children in juvenile court dependency cases and superior court divorce and child custody actions. As she recalls, it was rewarding for her to protect their interests and earn their trust. She believes her own family makes her life richer. As she talks about her upbringing, she shares the genuine respect and love she has for three people in particular.
very difficult issues, being kind goes a really long way. I’m also inspired by my great-grandmother Ruth. She was a lady of grace. I carry that with me each day because it’s important in the work we do, to be honest and have grace providing difficult information to clients and working with other attorneys,” Chevelle. “The other lady was my grandmother Shirley. She was a small lady, but she was mighty. I take that with me because, in some cases, there is a difficult set of facts, and you still need to represent your clients to the best of your ability.” In her free time, Chevelle looks forward to purchasing a trailer and using it to explore the outdoors. She also likes taking in new experiences, including hot air ballooning, ziplining, and swimming with manatees. Whether in her day-to-day work with her clients or her free time, Chevelle takes a true all-in approach to life.
True leaders give their all to those around them. That’s the spirit Chevelle Douglas brings to her work at Vayman & Teitelbaum, with her focus on all types of family law, including divorce, custody, visitation, child support, and juvenile court. “A lot of the time, the people who are going through family or divorce issues have a lot of different problems they’re facing,” Chevelle says. “What I enjoy is taking chaotic situations, organizing those, and developing solutions to problems. It’s a challenge. I do a lot of redirecting of situations and helping my clients find peace.”
“One is my great-aunt Selma, who was one of the kindest people. In my work, dealing with
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WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO TRAVEL
Madison Paris, France Emily T. China! Loni Any quiet, quaint beach town Bella
Abby Alaska Emily L. Montana and Greece Kimberly
Hong Kong and visit the Hong Kong Disneyland with my son! Maggie Anywhere in Europe, preferably Portugal and Spain Ashlyn New York City Mari The Florida Keys
TO IN 2024?
Portofino, Italy Amanda H. Any beach Julia The Pacific Northwest Sara Seattle Kendall Greece!
B ell P epper S andwich
ingredients • 1 medium bell pepper, any color
BRAIN BREAK
• 1 1/2 oz Swiss cheese, thinly sliced • 1/2 small cucumber, cut into 6–8 thin slices • 2 tbsp guacamole or a few slices of avocado
Inspired by TheSpruceEats.com
• 2–3 tbsp cream cheese
• 1 tsp whole-grain mustard
The new year is all about new and fresh beginnings. So, why not start the year with a quick, refreshing meal that is both flavorful and nutritious?
• 2 oz ham (or other deli meat), thinly sliced
• Dash of salt and pepper
directions 1. On a cutting board, remove the stem of the bell pepper with a sharp knife. Cut the pepper in half lengthwise and remove the ribs and seeds. 2. Lay the pepper halves on the cutting board and spread cream cheese inside each half. Spread whole-grain mustard on top of the cream cheese. 3. Layer your deli meat, cheese, cucumbers, and guacamole on each bell pepper half. Add a dash of salt and pepper, then combine both halves and serve!
BOOTS CANDLES CARNATION FURNACE
INSULATE JANUS OPPOSITE RESOLUTION
GARNET HOCKEY
SKATING SWEATER
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I nside 1
A LOOK BACK AT THE ATLANTA ‘SNOWPOCALYPSE’
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TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR FINANCES WITH REVERSE BUDGETING
MEET CHEVELLE DOUGLAS
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QUESTION AND ANSWERS
BELL PEPPER SANDWICH
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THE REMARKABLE REUNION 50 YEARS IN THE MAKING
H ow a DNA T est U nraveled a 50-Y ear -O ld M ystery AGAINST ALL ODDS
As a parent, there’s no scenario more horrifying than your child going missing or getting abducted. Most of us can’t even imagine the despair and helplessness many parents have felt after the unimaginable happens to their family. There’s always hope the child resurfaces, even after many years — and one Fort Worth
responded to the ad and agreed to meet Alta to discuss the position but never showed up.
While that lead didn’t pan out, the family felt reinvigorated to restart the search. Melissa’s father submitted a DNA test to 23andMe, and when the results came back, he learned about a granddaughter he didn’t know he had. Through some sleuthing, the family found Melissa under a different name on Facebook. It took time to convince Melissa that she had been kidnapped, but after the family asked her about a birthmark, there was no doubt in her mind. The woman who raised her had been abusive, so Melissa ran away at age 15 and eventually started a family of her own in a town less than 20 miles from where she was kidnapped. She’s since reconnected with her family and looks forward to making up for their missed time together. “It’s overwhelming, but at the same time, it’s the most wonderful feeling in the world,” Melissa stated.
Ruth called Apantenco back days later, stating that she had a large backyard and would love to watch Melissa there. Desperate for child care, Apantenco agreed. A woman wearing white gloves and multiple scarves in the August heat came to pick up Melissa from Apantenco’s roommate at her apartment —
family recently learned why you should never give up that hope.
In 1971, Alta Apantenco placed an advertisement in the local
and that was the last anyone saw Melissa for over 50 years.
newspaper for a babysitter for her 21-month-old daughter,
The family searched for decades to no avail.
Melissa. Apantenco was recently separated from her husband and struggled to make ends meet. A woman named Ruth Johnson
Then, in November 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip that Melissa was in South Carolina.
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