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OCTOBER 2019
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A CREEPY CHANGE THE SPECTER LOOMING OVER HALLOWEEN
As hard as it is to believe, Halloween is almost upon us. At our house, the decorations are already going up, and we’re stockpiling bags of candy. I haven’t decided if I’m going to come to the door in costume this year or not, but I should probably get on that. But, to tell you the truth, I’ve been a little distracted by the proposed measures to change this fun-filled holiday. Some of you may be familiar with the petition making noise nationally, calling for Halloween to be moved to the last Saturday of October — like a candy-filled Thanksgiving. Maybe a few of our readers even support the measure. I don’t blame you; the convenience of trick-or-treating over the weekend is a strong reason to make the change. But, if you ask me, the negatives far outweigh just avoiding a late school night. I’ll start with the obvious. Halloween got its name from the shortening of All Hallows’ Eve, or the eve of All Saints’ Day, which has landed on Nov. 1 since roughly 731 A.D. In fact, Pope Gregory III inadvertently laid the foundations for our modern Halloween celebrations by choosing this date, which happened to coincide with the Celtic pagan holiday Samhain. This harvest festival placed a focus on the afterlife and was often celebrated by dressing up in costumes. Regardless of your faith, divorcing All Hallows’ Eve from this rich history would be a real shame. But my concerns don’t stop at the historical and theological — plenty of practical reasons support keeping the spookiest day of the year on the 31st. The most important is keeping Halloween from becoming another New Year’s Eve. Making it a weekend holiday will explicitly tie it to partying. Many adults already throw costume parties on the closest weekend to Halloween, but this move might explicitly tie the holiday to drinking with potentially dire consequences. Regardless of what day it lands on, Halloween is sadly one of the most dangerous days for kids. Because of the increased foot traffic from trick-or-treating, more children are hit by cars during the holiday than any other time of the year. One can only imagine how
much these rates would skyrocket if you add drunk drivers to the mix year after year. If you ask me, this change makes Halloween less safe. But let’s get to the root of where this idea came from in the first place. Originally a nonprofit organization representing costume and Halloween decoration companies started the petition. Since then, some major candy companies, including Mars, Inc., have started championing the cause. Their motivation is easy to see. If Halloween’s never on a school night, kids can stay out later and get more candy, meaning those of us manning the door better stock up on even more sugary treats. So, I ask you: Do we really want to see Halloween commodified more than it is? Are we really willing to divorce the day from its roots, all in the name of a little more convenience and a lot more candy? Time will tell, I suppose. For now, it’s fitting that this whole thing has me spooked.
Happy Halloween,
–Bra nnon Lloyd
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TALKING TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT CANCER A DIFFICULT DISCUSSION
As pink-clad products line store shelves this October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, children are bound to be curious. Since they rationalize the world around them with what they already know, kids may ask silly questions like, “Is cancer contagious?” Whether you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer or you just feel it’s time to educate your children about the disease, answering questions can be difficult. These tips can help you prepare. ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH Telling a child that you or a loved one has cancer can be complicated. To start, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends giving yourself time after hearing the news of a cancer diagnosis to process this new reality. Two-parent households should tell their children together, while single parents are encouraged to ask an adult with a positive influence on the child’s life to join the conversation. Remember, your child
will be experiencing the same emotions as you but in a kid’s body, where hormones and developmental changes are already wreaking havoc. Monitor their emotions and offer them space and opportunities to discuss their feelings with a professional. When it comes to explaining the disease and its consequences, younger children may require fewer details and broader concepts, while older kids may need more comprehensive answers to their questions. A 5-year-old is going to have different concerns than a 16-year-old, so your approach must be different. However, regardless of your child’s age, always tell the truth. FOCUS ON PREVENTION EDUCATION A loved one doesn’t have to be diagnosed with cancer for you to educate your family about the disease and its prevention. Studies have
linked prevention efforts, including anti-smoking campaigns and healthy lifestyle programs, to actually preventing cancer. (In fact, half of all cancers can be prevented!) Teach your child about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, and excessive sun exposure to foster healthy habits and lifestyles. Organizations that host walks, benefits, and other events for cancer prevention and research can be great sources of education for families, too. The ACS has resources for families living with cancer or those wanting to learn more. Visit Cancer.org for more information.
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“We had a great experience with TCMG. They were very helpful and well informed about the college application process.” –Patricia Seller-Wolff
“I love The College Money Guys! The advisors are so helpful, knowledgeable, and caring. My children are happily away at their dream colleges all thanks to TCMG!” –Luna Sharp
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JUMPSTART COLLEGE PLANNING
WITH THESE THREE STEPS
College planning is like most things in life; it never hurts to get a head start. But, if your student has started their junior year, you’re no longer ahead of the game. It’s time to get
planning now or be left scrambling later. Here are the three most important things you and your high school junior must get done this school year. START VISITING COLLEGES If you ask an average high schooler where they want to go to college, chances are you’ll get a blank stare, followed by whichever school houses their favorite sports team. This isn’t adolescent laziness — it’s just most students don’t have any context for what to look for in a campus. Planning out trips to visit various colleges over school breaks is a great way to give your student a feel for where they want to go. As an added bonus, these trips can often inspire students to double down on their studies. TAKE AN SAT PREP COURSE Speaking of studying, using a trusted SAT/ACT tutoring service is one of the best moves you
can make to get your student into the school they want to attend. Even if they already get straight-A grades, these sorts of courses are a must. Standardized tests aren’t a perfect measure of intelligence; getting a high score requires understanding unique strategies to successfully navigate the multiple-section, multiple-choice formats. ORGANIZE YOUR ASSETS This part of the list takes some homework on your part. Maximizing the financial aid your student will qualify for means doing some accounting. The government weighs some assets more heavily than others even if they are of equal value. Ensuring your wealth is arrayed in a way that doesn’t overly penalize you is the best way to get a favorable financial aid package. Our team can help guide you through this delicate balancing act. Give us a call and we’ll get you started!
CHOCOLATE-DIPPED FRUIT
HAVE A LAUGH
INGREDIENTS • 1 package melting chocolate • Assorted dried fruit, including apricots and mangoes DIRECTIONS 1. In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil.
2. Place a large, heatproof mixing bowl on top of saucepan so that no steam can escape. Place melting chocolate in mixing bowl and double boil until melted. 3. Dip half of each piece of fruit in chocolate before transferring to a parchment-lined baking sheet to rest. 4. Let cool for 10 minutes until chocolate solidifies. 5. Place in school lunches, serve at parties, and indulge in a few for yourself.
Inspired by Food Network
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“HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY.” –VINCE LOMBARDI INSIDE
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Halloween Is in Danger
Educating Your Kids About Cancer
Testimonial
3 Steps Toward Affordable College
Chocolate-Dipped Fruit
The Real Legend of Sleepy Hollow
BONUS MONEY-SAVING CONTENT INSIDE!
HAYRIDES AND HEADLESS HORSEMEN HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS IN SLEEPY HOLLOW
In 1790, a school teacher named Ichabod Crane was riding home alone from a harvest festival in the village of Sleepy Hollow when he encountered a mysterious rider on horseback. Crane, horrified by the horseman’s missing head, turned and ran in the opposite direction. The Headless Horseman gave chase, hurling his own decapitated head at the terrified teacher. Ichabod Crane was never heard from again ... or so goes “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. This story, first published in 1820, has become a Halloween favorite. The legend is so beloved that in 1997, the village of North Tarrytown, New York, where many events of the story take place, officially changed its name to Sleepy Hollow. Today, the town becomes one big Halloween party during the month of October. Sleepy Hollow is home to many historic landmarks, including the Headless Horseman Bridge and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery,
where Washington Irving himself was laid to rest. Evening lantern tours of the cemetery are a popular attraction, and Irving isn’t the only spooky celebrity buried there. Fans of the Gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows” will be delighted to enter the crypt of famed vampire Barnabas Collins. Another highly anticipated stop for many guests is Sleepy Hollow’s premier annual attraction, Horseman’s Hollow, an experience not for the faint of heart. During the event, the 300-year-old Philipsburg Manor is transformed into a living nightmare, where vampires, witches, ghouls, and undead soldiers lurk in the shadows. They all serve the dreaded Headless Horseman and are determined to make sure guests don’t leave alive! But it’s not all scares in Sleepy Hollow. There’s plenty of Halloween fun for all ages. Sleepy Hollow boasts relaxing hayrides, tours of Irving’s home, live readings of famous Halloween
stories, performances of a brand-new musical based on Irving’s spooky tale, and the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, an incredible exhibition of over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins. If you want a real Halloween experience, you can’t go wrong in Sleepy Hollow. Just be careful not to lose your head!
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