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Kevin’s Peace of Mind
www.kevintharpe.com (770) 503-1022
March 2025
MY FRIEND MORDECAI
REFLECTIONS ON AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE
If you knew for sure that you would live to be 99, how would you spend your life? It’s an intriguing question. I suspect some people would devote as many waking hours as possible to acquiring lavish wealth, while others might spend their days traveling the world. However, other folks might dedicate their lives to bringing joy and hope to their communities and loved ones without a thought of personal gain. That’s how my dear friend, Mordecai Wilson, spent his nearly 100 years on this earth. We lost Mordecai last Christmas Eve, and he would have turned 100 this month. A true pillar of his community, he served several roles in his beloved
Lula, including a celebrated run on the city council. Additionally, he was a staunch advocate for mental health and the elderly, participating in several organizations committed to improving the lives of many. A decorated naval officer, he served his country proudly and bravely during World War II. After many years in Massachusetts, he and his wife, Mary, returned to Lula when Mary’s health began to decline. Mordecai’s selflessness extended to his everyday life in Lula. He never locked the door to his home and greeted everyone who entered with warmth and a kind word. His home life was often as full as his heart, as he and Mary fostered over a dozen children through adulthood. Most amazingly, Mordecai achieved all these things in life as a person of color at times in our history when Black men weren’t treated well — even in the military. If anyone had the right to be bitter in life, it was him. Despite facing obstacles in life, he maintained a positive outlook and treated everyone equally regardless of race or gender. He was someone you just wanted to be around. It was impossible not to be his friend, and his friends were many. I met Mordecai decades ago when we served as board members for The Guest House, a nonprofit senior care center in Gainesville. We became fast friends, and he later became one
of my clients. Whenever he’d introduce me to people, he’d say, “This is my lawyer, and this is my friend.” His visits to my office were legendary. The ladies here loved him; he’d always greet them with candies, flowers, or other gifts. Spending time with him and his beloved caregiver, Ruby, was always a joy. He was the same loving, giving soul in private as in public. There was only one Mordecai, and he was extraordinary. It only takes a glance at the news to know we live in stressful and divisive times. It’s easier than ever for people to get into disagreements and refuse to see eye-to-eye on even the most essential things. My friend lived as a minority in some of the most tumultuous times in our history, and he never once lost his sense of generosity and humanity. When I think of him, I see his smile and remember his effortless gift of approaching everyone with genuine kindness and care. His goodness touched generations, and his impact will be felt by generations to come. He left us with a tremendous example to follow, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to carry on his lessons. God bless you, Mordecai. Thank you for making our world a much better place.
Mordecai Wilson as a Navy Seaman in WWII
—Kevin
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LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE CTA Should You Wait or Act Now on Your Reporting Requirements?
One of your most important responsibilities as a business owner is ensuring your company stays compliant with your industry’s laws, regulations, and standards. Business owners always need to manage something related to finances, staffing, or workplace safety, but this past year, a new transparency standard went into effect. The federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) rules went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. This legislation requires nearly all small and medium-sized businesses to report any beneficial ownership information (BOI) of their company to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The deadline to file was Jan. 1, 2025, but that was thrown into question when a federal district court in Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking any enforcement of the CTA and its reporting requirements. This isn’t the first time that the CTA has faced legal challenges. In March 2024, an Alabama court declared the act unconstitutional. However, FinCEN quickly appealed and stated they would continue implementing and enforcing the act outside the small group of plaintiffs in Alabama. FinCEN’s response to the Texas injunction is different. It stated that companies were not required to file BOI with FinCEN and were not subject
“One of your most important responsibilities as a business owner is ensuring your company stays compliant with your industry’s laws, regulations, and standards.”
to liability. It also held that reporting companies could still voluntarily submit this information while they fight the injunction in court. Business owners who have yet to file their beneficial ownership information with FinCEN now have a decision to make. There is a chance the appeals in Alabama and Texas could kill the CTA and require Congress to take another shot at crafting a similar law. If you firmly believe this will be the outcome, hold off on filing your information, waiting for news that the CTA is no more. This may save you some time you could allocate elsewhere, but if the CTA remains, you might have to scramble to report that information before any deadline. Another option is to gather and sit on all relevant information until the court battle concludes. That way, you can submit it promptly, even on a shortened deadline. Your last option is to file your BOI with FinCEN now. You can save yourself from a potential future headache and get it out of the way early. Remember that punishments for failing to file include fines of at least $500 per day up to $10,000. There’s no telling how this will all play out right now, but the current situation leaves you with a decision: Will you be proactive or reactive?
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TAKE A BREAK
By now, you’re probably tired of hearing about healthy aging. Every article says you should eat specific things and exercise regularly, but what if you’ve never enjoyed going to the gym or jogging? You’re probably not going to start running marathons, lifting weights, or joining a sports club at this point. It can make you wonder if other options exist to add more physical activity to your daily routine. The answer is yes. Instead of going to the gym or running through your neighborhood, you can find creative activities to provide extra movement to your day. Even better? You’ll improve your physical and mental agility. Here are two creative aging activities you can explore. Take the Stage Acting is an excellent activity for anyone to start, but it becomes even more beneficial to aging Americans. Through acting, you’ll notice improvements in your concentration and memorization. Depending on the play, you may be required to stay moving, which will benefit your physical health. Plus, you’ll get many opportunities to socialize with your castmates. Many local theaters actively look for aspiring actors to audition. Bust a Move You may have fond memories of dancing in clubs, at weddings, or during special events, but the opportunities to boogie become rarer as we age. Thankfully, dance classes and studios love sharing the enjoyment of dance with people of all ages. Whether you like salsa, tap, waltz, swing, or some other type of dance, you can find a class or group ready to welcome you. No Gym Required! Age Gracefully With Movement You Enjoy
AQUAMARINE BASKETBALL BLUEBIRD CLOVER GREEN IDES LEPRECHAUN MADNESS
PISCES SPRING TANGERINE TULIP
Not Your Mom’s Corned Beef and Cabbage Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Ingredients
• 3 qts water • 1 onion, quartered • 3 carrots, cut into large chunks • 3 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 tsp salt • 2 lbs red potatoes, halved • 1 small head of cabbage, cut into eighths
Directions 1. In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine corned beef, spice packet contents, water, onions, carrots, celery, and salt. Bring to a simmer (skimming off any foam on top). 2. Cover pot, reduce to low heat, and let simmer for 3 hours until meat is fork tender. 3. Add potatoes to the pot and let simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until potatoes are al dente. 4. Add cabbage along the edges of the meat and on top. Cover and let simmer until cabbage is tender, 20–30 minutes. 5. Place meat on a cutting board and let rest for 10–15 minutes. After meat has cooled, slice against the grain. 6. Add to a large serving bowl, ladle vegetables and broth over top, and serve.
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(770) 503-1022 www.KevinTharpe.com 405 Broad St. Gainesville, GA 30501
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
In Memory of a Remarkable Man
1
To File or Not to File?
2
Not Your Mom’s Corned Beef and Cabbage
3
How Creative Activities Promote Healthy Aging
A Chef’s Truest Triumph
4
For culinary creators worldwide, earning a Michelin star is like winning an Olympic gold medal. Chefs with excellent kitchen skills and outstanding customer service receive the honor. Late French chef Joël Robuchon holds the world record with 31, while TV star Gordon Ramsay rose to international fame and marked his hot-tempered journey to TV stardom by achieving 17 stars for his many restaurants. But how did this legendary distinction in the cooking world begin? If you’ve ever had the pleasure of dining at a Michelin-honored establishment, you have the automotive industry to thank. As its name implies, the star system was the brainchild of the Michelin tire company. To help inspire consumers to drive more — and increase the demand for tire purchases — it began publishing “The Michelin Guide” in France in 1900. The publication included maps, tips on tire care, and recommendations for hotels and restaurants along popular French travel routes. As the guide grew in popularity, the company expanded its content to include anonymous MICHELIN MAGIC The Mark of Culinary Mastery
restaurant reviews. In 1926, it introduced “the Michelin star” to recognize the eateries it considered the best in the country. Today, the bestselling publication reviews more than 40,000 restaurants across three continents. Only 146 restaurants worldwide — or less than 1% of those rated by the guide — have received three Michelin stars. In Ramsay’s mind, receiving that rare level remains the ultimate benchmark in his profession. As he stated in a 2024 article in Parade, “As a soccer player, I wanted an FA Cup winner’s medal. As an actor, you want an Oscar. As a chef, it’s three Michelin stars; there’s no greater than that.”
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