Along the Robeson Trail
The Trickster was in Pembroke last
week. It wasn't the first time 1 had
seen him in town by any means, but
this was different. Sometimes I see
him sitting with the elders having midmorning
coffee at Hardee's, and he's
alwaystellingstoriesabouthowthings
used to be. Sometimes he'll be
gathered with the business lunch crowd
at Linda's talking politics ? these
days mostly about the school board or
the county commissioners or how
things are going over at the
' community college. Other times he's
, at the Hardware laughing with some of
; the construction crowd about a fish he
' caught last weekend or some big
contract job they're hoping to get
that' 11 pay serious money to them and
their brothers and cousins and all the
framers and pi umbers and sheelrockers
they can find.
Any of those times the Trickster
always seems to be right at home, right
at his natural best ? so well disguised
you might not even pick him out of the
crowd if you didn't know to look for
' that subtle piercing twinkle in his eye.
' He has that way of not looking the
same one time as he did last lime you
saw him.
But this was different. It was
Wednesday afternoon ? that
wonderful time in the middle of the
week when many of lite shops are
closed down tight as Sunday mpming
? and the Trickster was by himself,
just standing on the comer out in front
of the Road Runner, watching the cars
go past.
I didn't recognize him at first,
knowing how usually he is somewhere
in the midst of a crowd laughing and
politicking and telling and twinkling.
But it was the Trickster, alright.
A fellow from out of town had
pulled over to ask directions to
somebody's house, and although I
didn't hear him say where he was
trying to go, I began to notice it was the
Trickster about the time he started
giving him directions. He had that
fellow turning left and bearing right
and doubling back over the railroad
tracks and crossing over one or two
swamps and if you had drawn a map of
all the directions he had that fellow
going it would have looked like a blind
rabbit's trail through the piney woods
on a dark night.
The man in the car was obviously
confused ? he looked like some kind
of bill collector, from the way he was
dressed and the kind of papers he had
on the dashboard of his company car
? so the patient Trickster went back
through the directions all over again
while the fellow wrote it all down
r-? ... . A.?A?a
leaving nothing out and including
every turn and the Trickster added at
the end: "You can't miss it."
I heard the fellow in the car say
that whoever it was he was looking for
owed some money and that he was
going to "gel what's coming to me, if
I have to stay there all night waiting for
him." He thanked the Trickster for the
directions and said what a nice little
town this was and how helpful folks
around here seemed to be. although it
looked like the place was half closed
down. But he obviously didn't know
the true identity of the person to whom
he had been speaking.
As he drove away in his company
car the Trickster glanced over at me
and twinkled: "He ain't got nothing
coming to him but a twisted road and
a long evening."
"Yeah," I said, "sometimes it be's
that way." He grinned and walked off
singing something under his breath
about blessed assurance.
For more information about the
Trickster and his tribal and
international adventures, visit the
Native American Resource Center in
historic Old Main Building, on the
campus of The University of North
Carolina at Pembroke (our Internet
address is www.uncp.edu/
nativemuseum).
Farm Service Agency Seeks County
. Committee Candidates
The Farms Service Agency (FSA) is looking for candidates for the farmer'
elected County Committee election to be held this fall. "It is crucial that every
eligible agricultural producer take part in this election because county comminees
are a direct link between the farm community and the US Department
of Agriculture," says Giles B Floyd, Robeson/Scotland FSA, County Executive
Director. "The County Committee system needs everyone to get involvedffom
voters to committee candidates. Almost anyone eligible to take part in a
local FSA program may be a candidate for the committee."
Nomination forms can be obtained from FSA County offices. Completed
nomination forms are due back to the FSA office by October 29. FSA will
notify nominees and mail election ballots to eligible voters in mid-November,
and completed ballots will then be due back to FSA offices by December 3.
The election will end December 10, and elected members and alternates will
take office January 1, 2002.
FSA County Committees make decisions on: commodity price support
loans and payments; establishment of allotments, yield and marketing quotes;
farmer loans; and other farm disaster assistance.
"The County Committee is an important part of the service delivery of the
USDA. We'd like to include more farmers in nontraditional operations and
peoples who livelihoods depend on farming", said Floyd. "We're also looking
for small farmers, specialty crop farmers, truck farmers, and spouses or business
partners- anyone who would be able to add some new or different experiences
to their Local County Committee."
For more information contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency office
at (910)739-3349.
It Is not enough to do good; one must do it the right way.
, ?John, Viscount Morfey of Blackburn
-
% ' - i '?*! t j"t\
J. U K?.p^ ?' ? ..-,1 . .N.I . I * I , , 4. I .
WHEELCHAIR PROGRAM FOR SENIORS
Mobility Equipment Available for Seniors
a.
The "Seniors in Motion" program of North and South Carolina is making
motorized and manual wheelchairs, three & four wheel scooters and other
medical items avaliable to Senior Citizens (65+) and physically handicapped
individuals. This equipment is available usually at no cost to those who qualify.
The program features in-home assessments by trained local rehab specialists, and
a hardship policy is in place to help those without a full funding source. This
program allows you to remain in your home and out of a nursing facility.
Today, physical impairments do not have to equal loss of independence. There is
help.
Call 800-594-1225 for more information or to see if you qualify.
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MANAGING YOUR MONEY
What Are You Worth?
by Chuck Aulino
First Vice President
Financial Planning.
The Glenmede Trust Company
INAPS*?Whether you are
already retired or planning for
retirement, personal financial
planning provides a perspective
on your current financial condition
and a sense of control over
your future that is otherwise dif
ficult to achieve.
Once you have established
your goals and
objectives with your
financial advisor,
evaluating your net
worth, together with
an analysis of your
income tax and cash
Chuck Aullno
flow, is the most crucial part of
developing a sound financial
plan.
Determining your net worth
requires detailed information
gathering upon which all elements
of your financial plan will
be based. This includes a complete
inventory and valuation of
all your assets and liabilities.
It may be necessary to examine
this information in different
ways in order to develop your
optimal financial plan. For
example:
1. The value of personal assets,
such as residential property, may
be separated from the value of
assets that will be needed for
future financial support or for
other goals.
2. Your investments may be
arranged in categories that facilitate
a comparison of your existing
asset allocation to other allocation
models.
3. Information on income tax
cost basis may be included along
with an analysis of realized and
unrealized gains on sales or
potential sales of investments.
4. Balances held in qualified
retirement savings plans, such
as a 401(k), may be examined
separately from your investment
portfolio.
By virtue of these different techniques,
Glenmede advisors work
with clients' present and future
financial needs and objectives.
The next step involves an
analysis of your income tax and
cash flow and an examination of
the ways in which these components
are inter-related. Your current
cash flow may indicate a surplus
or a shortfall, thereby
influencing recommendations concerning
asset allocation. For
example:
1. The income tax bracket as
well as the total amount of income
tax liability may affect the asset
mix.
2. For clients approaching a
financial crossroads in life, such as
retirement, multiple-year income
tax and cash flow projections are
vital to the transition period.
3. For clients who have not yet
retired, current cash flow, with
carefully identified modifications,
serves as the starting point for estimates
of spending needs and financial
sufficiency after retirement.
The ability to determine your
net worth and identify basic and
discretionary spending patterns is
Asutl 4k Liabilities
Residences
Automobiles
Furniture and furnishings
Fine art and collections
Long-term investment assets
Cosh equivalents
Fixed income and equity
investments
Qualified retirement savings
plan balances
401 (k) plans
Profit sharing and other
defined contribution plans
Investment real estate
Closely-held business interests ?
of vital importance in the financial
planning process. Whether
you are used to maintaining complete
and detailed accounts and
records of your finances or you
have difficulty accurately estimating
your total spending, your
advisor can work with you to
determine your net worth and
develop a sound financial plan for
your future.
Mr. Aulino is first vice president,
financial planning for
Glenmede Trust Company. Glenmede
is among the nation's premier
wealth advisory firms, with
more than $18 billion in assets
under supervision for high net
worth individuals and institutional
clients. Headquartered in
Philadelphia, the firm has offices
in Princeton and Morristown,
NJ, Wilmington, DE and Cleveland,
OH. For additional information,
visit www.glenmede.com.
:
^jERGY^NEW^ANlTNOTES
Getting To The Source Of Power Costs
(NAPS)?Shopping for electricity
is a new concept for Tbxans, and
the Public Utility Commission of
Texas (PUC) is providing electric
customers with the information
necessary to make an "apples to
apples" comparison of offers from
competitive Retail Electric Providers
(REP).
The Electricity Facts Label is a
product of a 1999 Texas law that
restructures the electric industry
and allows customers to choose a
REP?-the company that provides
electricity to homes and businesses.
Each REP offering service will
supply a customer with its Electricity
Facts Label upon request. The
Electricity Facts Label, similar to a
nutrition label found on many food
products, allows a customer to compare
information, in a standardized
format, making it easier for customers
to select a REP based on
what matters most to them.
The Electricity Facts Label provides
information on electric prices,
contract terms, sources of generation
and emissions levels., These
"ingredients" will help customers
make an informed decision about
their electric service.
Electricity Price?This includes
the average cost of electricity
in cents per kilowatt-hour
at various usage levels. The price
includes all charges for generation
(including fuel), delivery, and
customer service. Any incentives
or promotional offers from the
REP are also included in this
price.
Contract Tferms f
?Specifically informs
customers about the
duration of a contract
and cancellation fees
(if any).
Sources of
Power Generation
?A percentage
based list of the
fuel used to generate
electricity;
REPs may purchase
power from
different generation'
plants that use
various fuels such
as co$l, natural
gas, nuclear energy
or renewable
sources like wind.
Emissions?
The amount of air
emissions attributed
to the sources
of generation used
to produce power.
Use the bar chart
at the bottom to see
how REP emissions
compare to the Ttexas
average.
Customers of
Texas' investorowned
utilities may
begin choosing a
new REP through a
Pilot Program that ,
began this summer. :
TEtfag
|E l E C T R I c|
CHOICE
thi PowtmiTDURi. u?crr.
' " ' " DMBMlffMtt . ' .
(Name of REP). [Name of Product11Service arra f i/apphcohU>\
10^1
H Average monthly use 500k Wh I.OOOkWh IJOOkWh
lifJUWHM Average price per kilowatt -hour: |t-?)? l? ?(? |u)<
Th? price diacloture it an ciample based o? (cntena used to construct (he
exarapte) ft your average price for electric service mil vary according to
(relevant vanauoa). See the Tcrma of Senkc document for actual prices
H (11 applicable) Price fUcd for (xa| months.
H (If applicable) On-peak (season or nme):|aju)
gfl (If applicable) Average on-pcak price per Li lov. art-hour [?j)r
^^^(l^pp4icab^Av^^g^f^pea^nc^akilowanJ|i?ir^*j)e^^
EES Minimum term (aa) months Penalty for early carscettatfctf
1 Set Ttrmi dfUfifkt oatnmmtf* a /mil h,ri# I
BBBm| Texas
This product i/or comport torn)
RHVP9 Coal and Itgruu |a|* (a*J*
M|fl Natural gas |n|4 [uf*|MmH
Nuclear (o)% |?r*
Renewable energy (nJS 1**M
B Other jo)* I" I*
Total 100% 100*
Ic"***
hisragtaasiiet
ta.ii.alMs. m||M
I |0
Better than Texas average Worse titan Texas osvroyi
(Iftdeeed values. lOOTeaas average)
New law helps customers make Informed decisions
when shopping for electricity.
The Texas utility market opens for Choice in Texas, visit www.powerfull
competition in January 2002. tochoose.org or call toll-free 1-866For
more information on Electric PWR-4-TEX.
Expert Advice For Family Trips With Your Infant
(NAPS)?In 2002, more than
one billion Americans will hit the
road, according to the American
Automobile Association, and many
of them will travel with infants.
In fact, this past summer nearly
three out of four families with
infants planned to take a trip with
a baby, according to a survey conducted
by the makers of Enfamil*
infant formula.
Marybeth Bond, author of
?Gutsy Mamas: Travel Tips and
Wisdom for Mothers on the Road,"
and the experts at Enfamil have
some advice to help make any trip
with your infant go smoothly.
"It's best to keep babies on a
regular schedule, so as much as
possible, try to maintain the
baby's routine when it comes to
naptime and feeding," says Bond.
"There are a host of products that
will help make your trip easier, so
take advantage of them. A little
preparation can prevent a lot of
anxiety down the road."
Bond also recommends that
you consider the environment to
which you are traveling before
packing larger equipment. For
instance, strollers are great for
cities while child carriers work
better on beaches, amusement
parks and rural areas with
uneven pavement.
The ABCs to Getting Your
Baby's ZZZs
Babies are adaptable travel
companions and are mostly content
wherever you go. Sticking to
a regular sleeping schedule will
increase your chances of keeping
your baby happy and relaxed
when on the road. Babies can fall
asleep just about anywhere and
most sleep well in cars, so when
you schedule your daily driving
time take your baby's patterns
into account. Try to make car time
and naptime coincide so you and
your baby will be in a good mood
after the trip?just in time for
sightseeing.
Feeding as Simple as 1-2-3
Don't shortchange nutrition
while on the road?make stops for
your baby's regular feedings and,
if you are bottle-feeding, take
advantage of products that can
help simplify your travel life. For
example, instead of lugging along
full-size canisters of infant formula
and fumbling in the car with
a measuring scoop, try Enfamil
Easy Ones" pre-measured singleserve
packets of formula powder.
Jars of unopened baby food are
easy to stow in your diaper bag
and great insurance for those long
airplane trips.
Safety First
Babies can accompany you on
almost any adventure as long as
you plan ahead and keep safety
top of mind. Keep your baby in ?
car seat appropriate for his or her
age and weight and always seat
him or her in the back seat. If
your child is under 12 months and
under 20 pounds, the seat should
face the rear of the vehicle.
Remember to dress your baby in
clothes that keep legs free and
comfortable on long drives. %
When visiting the homes of
family and friends, always make
sure harmful objects are out of
your baby's reach. Don't assume
every house is "baby-proof," and
be on the lookout for sharp objects
and anything that can be swallowed,
including buttons, balloons
and toys. If your baby has already
started cradling and moving
around, make sure all stairway
doors are closed and find out if
safety gates can be placed at the
tops and bottoms of stairs.
Bond advises that planning your
vacation in order to keep your family
safe and happy will enable you
to make the most of any family
trip, whether it means driving 200
miles or flying 2,000 miles. "Taking
a few easy steps toward a successful
trip can make all the difference,"
says Bond. "Most importantly,
remember that family trips
often make great family memories?so
be sure to relax and enjoy."
Enfamil* infant formula is
manufactured by Mead Johnson
Nutritionals, a world leader in
nutrition, recognized for developing
and marketing high quality
products that meet the nutritional
and lifestyle needs of children and
adults of all ages. Mead Johnson
Nutritioiials is a Bristol-Meyers
Squioo Company. For more information
about Enfamil and traveling
with infants, call 1-800-BABY123
or visit www.enfamil.com.