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SEPTEMBER 2025
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The Gifts My Grandparents Gave CREEKSIDE CONNECTIONS
We could all benefit from skipping rocks on a creek every now and then. With Grandparents’ Day coming up on Sept. 7, I’ve been thinking a lot about how past generations in my family influenced who I am and what matters most to me. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my grandparents, who taught me valuable lessons about life — even when one of them was no longer here.
They were a fascinating pair, to say the least. My grandfather was one of 16 children and grew up on a farm. He and my grandmother met when they were only 4 years old and married when they were 17. I’ll never forget attending their 60th wedding anniversary party and marveling at the longevity of their love. My grandmother passed away first, followed by my grandfather seven years later. One day, when the family was with him at the house, my father, Paul, noticed that something didn’t seem right with him.
If I could sign on the dotted line for that kind of ending, I would. Sadly, the same can’t be said for my grandfather on my mother’s side, who passed away from a massive heart attack at 56 when I was 13 months old. He liked living in the fast lane, often with a drink in one hand and an unfiltered Lucky Strike cigarette in the other. His early death inspired me to do everything I can to lead a full and healthy life, as our time here is precious. I also recognized the toll someone’s absence has on their loved ones left behind. Despite not knowing my mother’s father, I was very close to her mother, whom we called “Mom-Mom.” She lived in a small Pennsylvania town called Paoli, near where my parents
“Is everything alright, Dad?” he asked.
“Paul,” my grandfather replied. “I could be surrounded by 80 people in a room and still feel alone.” Those words speak volumes about the connection my grandparents shared. In my grandfather’s mind, nothing and no one could replace my grandmother’s company. Fortunately, my grandfather’s later years weren’t hindered by a debilitating illness or any measure of physical or mental decline. After working in the yard one day, he went to the local casino, had a steak dinner, came home, went to sleep, and never woke up.
My grandparents on my father’s side started their lives together in Minnesota before moving to Pennsylvania when my dad was in his late teens. Once he and his siblings left the house, they returned to their roots and settled in a town outside St. Paul called Oakdale. Growing up, I’d join my family on long road trips from where we lived in the Philadelphia area to the Midwest to visit them at least once a year. Sometimes, they’d travel to the East Coast and stay with us.
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Investment Advisory Services is offered through Retirement Wealth Advisors (RWA), a Registered Investment Advisor. Patriot Wealth and RWA are not affiliated. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
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Home Café Vibes The Viral Trend Making Mornings Magical
If your morning coffee run is the highlight of your day, you’re not alone. But what if you could bring that cozy café vibe home? That’s the idea behind the wildly popular home café trend circling the internet, where people are turning their kitchens into photo-worthy coffee and bakery pop-ups. The best part is that you can do it, too! This trend taps into the power of cozy rituals and aesthetic spaces. It goes beyond just making a cup of coffee; it’s about creating an experience. Think rustic pastry displays, handwritten chalkboard menus, syrup pumps lined up like your favorite café, and fresh-baked muffins in a tiered stand. The vibe is charming and personal! Clear a designated “café corner” in your kitchen to get started. This doesn’t require a remodel — a small counter section or rolling cart works perfectly. Add your coffee essentials: a machine, frother, and your favorite mugs. Then, style it up! Install baskets for pastries, a tiny vase of flowers, and even a café bell for fun. If you want to go the extra mile, you can print a mini menu for your family with drink or bakery specials, try your hand
at homemade syrups or infused cold
foam, or even use glass jars for sugar and stirrers!
According to Eater, an online resource for all food-related trends, the home café craze exploded as a creative outlet during the pandemic and has stuck around to slow down and make mornings feel special. Hosting “pop-ups” for your family or friends on the weekend is also incredibly fun. Set out croissants, brew something fancy, and let them “order” their drink. You don’t need to be a trained barista, just someone who enjoys making a little magic. So, whether you’re channeling cozy bakery vibes or your favorite local roaster, a home café is a great way to have fun hosting. All it takes is a little creativity, some coffee beans, and the desire to add a little extra to your routine.
Your dream café may be one kitchen counter away!
HEAVY METAL PHILANTHROPY HOW LOUD GUITARS LED TO RECORD-BREAKING CHARITY
In celebration of the International Day of Charity on Sept. 5, let’s take a look at the most prolific philanthropist in the history of music:
$1,000, it’s no surprise that “Back to the Beginning” raised more than $190 million for Cure Parkinson’s, the Acorn Children’s Hospice, and the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The Parkinson’s charity was of particular significance to Osbourne, who had suffered from the disease for several years.
a 9/11-inspired solo CD, “Straws,” sold directly to fans for a suggested donation of $35. Proceeds from the autographed CD were provided to Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, the Alice Faith Mittelmen Foundation (an organization devoted to the prevention of toddler deaths), Bands Not Gangs (an inner-city music program), the National Veterans Foundation (an organization providing crisis services to veterans), and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (the organization that cleans and maintains the war memorial in Washington, D.C.). Whether Osbourne and Black Sabbath are among your favorite music artists or not to your taste, there’s no denying the extraordinary impact these unexpected benefactors have had on the lives of those in need — and no denying the singer left this world better than when he entered it.
The Late Ozzy Osbourne
Before his untimely passing on July 22 at 76, the British-born heavy metal singer was behind the highest-grossing charity concert ever . On July 5, Osbourne hosted “Back to the Beginning,” an epic, day-long event at an arena in his hometown of Birmingham, England. His final concert featured dozens of legendary acts and was headlined by a performance of his original band, Black Sabbath. In addition to 40,000 people attending the show in person, more than 5 million people worldwide experienced the landmark occasion via an online livestream. Considering that the livestream cost $29.99 and in-person ticket prices hovered around
To put the event’s success into perspective, the landmark 1985
Live Aid concerts — created by Irish musician Bob Geldof to raise funds for famine relief in Africa — raised roughly half that amount. Coincidentally, Osbourne and Black Sabbath also performed at that charity event. Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward, whose performance with the group at “Back to the Beginning” marked his return to the band after a 20-year absence, has a decadeslong history of charitable giving. In 2002, he released
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Imagine earning hundreds of millions from only spending what you’d use to buy a base-level automobile. That’s precisely what happened to the intrepid creators behind two low-budget films that surpassed expectations to become money-printing cultural phenomena. A fear-based financial windfall. Having $15,000 to spare might get you a decent used car, but it rarely earns you roughly four times the average annual U.S. income. That jaw-dropping scenario unfolded when “Paranormal Activity” — a film for which the lead actors were rumored to be compensated only $500 each for their roles — hit theaters in 2009. An immediate smash on the big screen, THE MOST LUCRATIVE INVESTMENTS IN MOVIE HISTORY THIN-BUDGET BLOCKBUSTERS
worked. She’d watch me many summers, and we had great times together. We’d walk to the local Wawa so I could get an orange creamsicle Flintstones Push Pop, which was my absolute favorite treat as a kid. On the way back, we’d stop at the local creek and skip rocks on the water.
Mom-Mom is still hanging in there at 84. She’s never been extravagant, and she still favors the simpler things in life. Sometimes, you
don’t have to travel to a massive amusement park or take an international trip with your family to give them lasting memories. Sometimes, all it takes is a walk to the creek to skip a few rocks. If you’re lucky enough still to have a multigenerational connection with living family members, cherish them with all your heart. If your grandparents have passed, hold your memories of them close on Sept. 7 and whenever you need a reminder of how much your loved ones mean to you. –Austin Kobilka
the film brought in nearly $200 million in ticket sales and birthed a franchise that has spawned six sequels. While many famous franchises have thrived through bank-bursting budgets (“Star Wars: The
Force Awakens” alone cost more than $500
million to produce), the ongoing success of the “Paranormal Activity” series proves that Hollywood offers just as much opportunity for fledgling upstarts as it does legendary filmmakers.
3:2:1 APEROL SPRITZ
Close out the season with the ultimate late summer sip — refreshing, light, and effortlessly elegant. With its perfect balance of bitter Aperol, crisp Prosecco, and a splash of club soda, this classic Italian cocktail is as easy to make as it is to enjoy.
Witches, woods, and wealth. While slightly more expensive than “Paranormal Activity,” the 1999 film “The Blair Witch Project” — made for approximately $60,000 — set the template for making the most of meager means. In the fall of 1997, three actors entered a forest with camcorders and a 35-page script. While that would be a reasonable set-up for a modest film by a trio of college students, it was the foundation for one of the biggest horror films ever released. With its faux “foot footage” approach to filmmaking, clever marketing that suggested that the fim’s stars were missing persons (spoiler alert: they weren’t), air of suspense that would have made the late Alfred Hitchcock blush, and storytelling that relied more on solid acting than grandiose special effects, “The Blair Witch Project” awed audiences upon its 1999 theatrical release — quickly catching an international buzz that generated nearly $300 million in revenue.
INGREDIENTS • 4 ice cubes (or more as desired) • 3 oz Prosecco • 2 oz Aperol (or other bitter orange aperitif)
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
• 1 oz club soda • 1 orange slice
DIRECTIONS 1. Fill a wine glass with ice cubes, then pour in Prosecco. 2. Add Aperol to the glass, then top with club soda. (For a sweeter sip, substitute San Pellegrino orange soda for the club soda) 3. Finish by garnishing with an orange slice and enjoy!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Farms, Flinstones, and Forever Bonds PAGE 1 From Countertop to Coffee Shop PAGE 2
Chords and Causes PAGE 2 3:2:1 Aperol Spritz PAGE 3 Paranormal Profits PAGE 3
The French City That Has It All (And Then Some) PAGE 4
liking, you can enjoy shopping in the historic Chartrons district. As you walk through the city, you’ll surely see towers that look straight out of a fairytale or Disney movie. If you’re visiting during the first Sunday of any month, you’ll get to hear the Grosse Cloche belfry ring its 250-year-old bell! For adventurers, just 37 miles southwest of Bordeaux is Dune du Pilat, Europe’s tallest sand dune, also famous for paragliding. Now, it wouldn’t be a visit to France without taking in some art, and Bordeaux won’t leave you disappointed. The Musée des Beaux-Arts and the contemporary art museum CAPC are both worth a visit, and your trip won’t be complete until you stop by the awe- inspiring Monument aux Girondins, a free-flowing fountain over a beautiful bronze sculpture. If a European vacation is on your bucket list, consider visiting Bordeaux when you go. It might just be the highlight of your entire trip!
Bordeaux Is France’s Best-Kept Secret Move Over, Paris
When you hear about people taking trips to France, your mind likely conjures images of the Eiffel Tower, delicious high-end French cuisine, and a view of the “Mona Lisa” at the Louvre Museum. However, there’s much more to France than the scenic beauty and decadent flavors found along the streets of Paris. If you want to experience the best of France, you must spend time in Bordeaux. While we often refer to Napa Valley and Sonoma County in California as wine country, Bordeaux is the original wine region. Its history with wine dates back over 2,000 years, and you can still
experience the area’s love of wine today. Le Bar à Vin and Le Bistro du Fromager are beautifully decorated wine bars that will leave you stunned, unlike anything you can experience stateside. And if you want to take it up a notch, you can visit La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux’s interactive wine museum, and enjoy a glass under a chandelier made from a thousand bottles. Even if you’re not a wine drinker, there’s plenty to enjoy in Bordeaux. Those interested in fashion or shopping will love walking down Rue Sainte Catherine, Europe’s longest pedestrianized shopping street. If that’s too crowded for your
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