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A Story to Warm Your Heart During These Trying Times A NIGHT TO SHINE
It sure has been a strange month, hasn’t it? In the past few weeks, we have gone from joking about toilet paper and monitoring a crisis that felt worlds away to battling a war on our homefront. My goal is to help you manage the chaos and remain calm. It’s not easy to invest in retirement or prepare for it right now, but trust me, the market responds to your emotions. It’s frightening, but as I said in an email I sent in early spring, being patient is the best thing you can do right now. Since COVID-19 makes up nearly everything we read or hear about, this month, I want to share a different kind of story with you. It’s a story that makes me smile whenever I think of it, and I hope it does the same for you. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for people with special needs. I previously served on the Special Olympics New Jersey board. I always got really psyched for that each year. I even once bought swimming gear for an entire swim team of Special Olympics athletes. The look of pride on their faces as they came out of the locker room was a sight to behold!
The best way to describe the event is that it’s emotional and beautiful. It’s just hundreds of people — both with special
needs and without — enjoying a wonderful night together. I was particularly proud of the response from my church community when it came to this event. The sign-up sheet for volunteers was posted on New Year’s Day, and we had enough volunteers to host two Night to Shine events after just one day. There were more than 1,500 volunteers! We had a whopping total of 800 guests, and we still had enough volunteers to make every attendee feel like royalty. It’s nice to think back on Night to Shine and the fun times I had with my “buddies”while I’m abiding by quarantine rules. I’ve been trying to use this time to be grateful because working from home does have its advantages. I’ve been working on additional ways to connect with my clients, like hosting webinars and teleconferencing, and as a bonus, I’ve been working with my Labrador at my feet and have more options for lunch than I know what to do with. Sometimes the greatest value we can find is in the small moments, like Night to Shine. I hope you find time to look back on the moments that made you smile and find small ways to warm your heart during this strange time in our world. It may not always be easy, but as I’ve said before, we’ll get through it together P.S. If you didn’t receive my email in late March, give me a call at 973.652.8155 or email me at brian@brybeck.com. I shared my thoughts on the state of our current world and advice on navigating the fluctuating market. I’d love to share it with you. —Brian Irving
So, when I learned about a special event my church was hosting, I knew I had to get involved.
I’ve been attending Liquid Church for the past five years. During that time, the church has partnered with the Tim Tebow Foundation to host the Night to Shine event, which the foundation has organized at churches across the globe for the past six years. Night to Shine creates a prom night event for those with special needs or disabilities who are 14 years old and older. Guests are treated like royalty with limousine rides, a paparazzi welcome, flowers, dancing, singing, games, and food. Finally, every attendee is crowned king or queen of the prom. I signed up to volunteer with Night to Shine a few years ago, and I volunteered once again this past February. I typically sign up to be a “buddy,”which means I am assigned to an attendee. I can still remember my partner a few years ago. He has autism, and he was obsessed with the shoeshine station! As long as he was having fun, I was having fun, too.
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If your child is between 3–5 years old, you’ve probably noticed that they’re becoming a lot more talkative. By the time children are 4, they can usually speak in 5–8-word sentences. That makes this age range the perfect time to get your child interested in reading. However, this can raise a lot of questions. For starters, the question of how to get your child interested in reading is almost more important than when you do it. You may wonder how much time you should spend reading with them, how intensive reading time should be, and if you should make everything involving words and letters into a reading lesson. While the answers to these questions will vary from child to child, there’s one goal that every parent should strive for when teaching their child to read: Above all, help them enjoy it. When your child starts kindergarten, learning to read will be a part of the curriculum. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to teach them to read earlier, though. If your child loves to read, it can make their learning experience much more enjoyable. WHEN SHOULD YOU TEACH YOUR CHILD TO READ? And How Should You Do It?
Have you ever walked through a park and seen a plastic bottle or wrapper lying on the ground? If so, did you pick it up and properly dispose of it? You might not have realized it, but in that moment, you took a small step toward keeping your community — and, by extension, America — beautiful! April is Keep America Beautiful Month, and folks who celebrate aim to help each community in every state stay clean and green. Created by the nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful, this holiday offers a perfect opportunity to roll up your sleeves and work to better the place you live in. Here are three ways to show your appreciation for a green America this month. Take action online. With the current COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the world, it might be difficult to get outside and participate in a few community cleanup programs. But that doesn’t mean the public still can’t participate in Keep America Beautiful Month. April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and to celebrate, Earth Day Network is providing digital events for everyone around the world to take part in. Follow Earth Day Network’s social media accounts and stay updated on efforts to keep the Earth green or participate in an event yourself! For more information, visit EarthDay.org. Start plogging. If you’re passionate about staying active and cleaning up your neighborhood, then this is the perfect activity for you! Plogging combines jogging and picking up litter, which takes care of your health and keeps your community clean. Anybody can do it: Just throw on your running shoes, grab a bag, head out the door, and pick up any stray bits of trash you see on your morning jog or evening walk. Improve recycling through education. An important goal during Keep America Beautiful Month is to spread awareness about recycling. There are various ways to educate those around you about recycling and encourage them to do their part. At work, for example, you can volunteer to lead a recycling initiative by printing off guides and fostering discussions on why recycling is so essential. At home, you can make a commitment with your family to fulfill the three R’s of recycling: reduce, reuse, recycle. DO YOUR PART TO KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AND MAINTAIN GREEN LIVING SPACES FOR EVERYONE
There are plenty of ways to help your child enjoy reading from an early age. One is to simply read to them and make storytime fun. If the pig goes oink or the mailman
has a funny, nasally voice, bring those features to life. You can also have your kids help you with daily tasks that require reading, like making a
to-do list or shopping at the grocery store. When they’re helping you and having fun, it won’t feel like learning at all!
Finally, the best way to make reading enjoyable
for your children is to enjoy it yourself. Your kids watch what you do, and if they see you enjoying a good book, they’ll want to read even more. Reading opens up the world to them, and with your help, nothing will dull their
To discover more ways to participate in Keep America Beautiful Month, visit their website at KAB.org today!
love of learning.
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THE OLDEST LIBRARIES IN AMERICA A Story of Many Firsts
What’s the oldest library in America? It’s an easy question to ask, but it has an unexpectedly complicated answer. Before the Industrial Revolution generated greater interest in public services, a library’s function and purpose varied widely. Several libraries in the United States claim to be the country’s “first,” but for different reasons.
libraries throughout the colonies to encourage the spread of the Anglican Church. Not surprisingly, most of the libraries’ holdings were theological.
A Few More Firsts
During the 1700s, a few more “first” libraries were established. In 1731, Ben Franklin and a few others started the first subscription library in the United States. Members of subscription libraries could pay to buy books or borrow them for free. In 1757, 60 men founded the Library Company of Burlington in New Jersey, and Thomas Rodman received a charter from King George II to operate the business in 1758. The library still operates under that charter today. The Library of Burlington was the first library to operate out of its own building after a prominent resident donated the land in 1789.
Colleges and the Clergy
Some believe Harvard University hosted the first library in the United States. Harvard was the first university in the United States, founded in 1636, and clergyman John Harvard seeded the library with a 400-book collection. Soon after, however, Thomas Bray, another clergyman, began establishing the first free lending
By the People, for the People
In 1833, just as the Industrial Revolution was picking up steam, the Peterborough Town Library was founded in Peterborough, New Hampshire, at a town meeting. It was the first tax-supported free public library in the United States and in the world. Not long after that, the Boston Public Library, known as the “palace for the people,” became the first municipal public library in the country. The Boston Public Library was also the first library to have a space specifically for children.
Out of all the “first” libraries in the country, these are the most probable progenitors of most libraries today — even if they weren’t exactly “first.”
EASY DEVILED EGGS
TAKE A BREAK
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
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1/2 cup mayonnaise
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1/2 tsp ground mustard
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2 tbsp milk
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Salt, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper, to taste
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1 tsp dried parsley flakes
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12 large eggs, hard-boiled
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1/2 tsp dill weed
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Fresh parsley, minced, and paprika for garnish
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1/2 tsp fresh chives, minced
Directions
1.
In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, milk, parsley flakes, dill, chives, mustard, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well and set aside. Cut eggs lengthwise and remove yolks carefully to preserve egg whites.
4.
Mix mashed yolks with mayonnaise mixture. Spoon or pipe the mixture back into the egg whites. Garnish with fresh parsley and paprika. Refrigerate before serving.
5.
Solution on Page 4
2.
6.
3.
In a small bowl, mash yolks.
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INSIDE
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Celebrating Life’s Little Moments in the Middle of Quarantine Keep America Beautiful Fostering a Love of Reading in Your Child
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The History of Libraries in America Easy Deviled Eggs Did You Spot These Movie Easter Eggs?
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DID YOU SEE IT? 3 of Hollywood’s Best Movie Easter Eggs
This April, many kids will search excitedly for Easter eggs, but aside from the holiday treat, the term “Easter egg” has a fun alternate meaning when it comes to media. In this context, an Easter egg refers to a hidden surprise or message, and people often enjoy trying to find as many as they can. This spring, turn on some of these classic movies and see if you can spot a few of Hollywood’s Easter eggs yourself.
ocean. Their destination is unknown, and sadly, a treacherous storm sinks their ship. Three years later, their eldest daughter, Elsa, is coronated, and guests arrive at the castle. If viewers scan the crowd of visitors, they will see Flynn and Rapunzel from the 2010 Disney movie “Tangled.” (Notice the time difference?) The theory, confirmed by filmmakers, is that Elsa and Anna’s parents were traveling to Flynn and Rapunzel’s wedding. The connections continue with claims that the shipwreck in “The Little Mermaid” was their ship, and some even think that Tarzan’s parents were actually Anna and Elsa’s parents, who survived the wreck.
In 2002, “Catch Me If You Can,” starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio, created just that. The movie follows the life of Abagnale, who briefly appears in the movie himself to arrest DiCaprio, who plays a young Abagnale. Today, Abagnale serves as a security consultant and teaches courses for the FBI.
Indiana Jones and Han Solo Teaming Up
No movie franchises are as prolific as George Lucas’ “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones,” but they also share another Hollywood connection. Both series feature Harrison Ford, who plays Indiana Jones and Han Solo, and the franchises make references to each other, including hieroglyphics in “Indiana Jones” that feature R2-D2, C-3PO, and Princess Leia, as well as a club named Club Obi Wan. Though “The Empire Strikes Back”was filmed before “Indiana Jones,” Lucas had Ford in mind for his next great story and gave Han Solo a bullwhip in reference to Indy’s famous go-to tool.
Disney Royalty’s Family Tree
Frank Abagnale Arresting ‘Himself’
At the beginning of Disney’s “Frozen,” released in 2013, Elsa and
At 15 years old, Frank Abagnale Jr. started his career as one of the U.S.’s most prolific con artists. Abagnale scammed the government out of money, impersonated pilots and doctors, and swindled banks, making his story seem like a Hollywood plot.
Anna’s parents leave
to journey across the
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