What's Happening in July 2018

Here’s what’s happening in the month of July around our neck of the woods!

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July 1^{th -} The Lacs at Devils Branch on Smith Lake

Fredricks Outdoor is proud to welcome The LACS back to our turf for our Third Annual Rock the Boat concert on beautiful, scenic Lewis Smith Lake. This is a FREE on-the-water event. No admission necessary. Just our way of adding a little extra fun to Smith Lake. FREE SHOW!

July 3^rd – 2018 Firecracker 5K & Fun Run Presented by Encore

Firecracker 5k & Fun Run
- Big Door Prizes
- Great Runner Swag
- Raises Money for Santa's Workshop of Guin

July 3rd, 2018
- 8:00 PM Packet Pickup Begins
- 10:00 PM - Fun Run
- 10:30 PM - 5k
- Awards Ceremony & Door Prizes will begin after all 5k runners are in.

July 4^th- Town of Addison July 4th Celebration

Start off your July 4th with our annual parade! Line-up is at 9 a.m. and the parade starts at 10 a.m. The Addison Volunteer Fire Dept. will be sponsoring live music this year at our July 4th celebration! There will be several different bands/artists performing starting at 5pm and ending at 9pm just before our annual fireworks show! The stage will be set up behind the Addison Community Center and concessions and bathrooms will be available. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and come join the Town of Addison as we celebrate Independence Day!

July 13^th -15 - Seussical JR. Birmingham, AL

Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Horton must protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, and he must also guard an abandoned egg that’s been left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family, and community are challenged and emerge triumphant! Seussical JR. is one of RMTC’s Discovery Theatre Shows, which feature young performers in family-friendly shows. Although adults help behind the scenes, these productions are “for kids, by kids.”

 July 14-15^th – Sloss Music and Arts Festival

Join us in Birmingham, Alabama to see Chris Stapleton, Arcade Fire, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, GRiZ and many more!
Tickets on Sale Friday, Jan 19 at 10am CT.

 

July 20 -21^st – Saddle Up for St. Jude-Tuscumbia AL

Largest horse-related event that benefits St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, in the Southeast. Featuring major Country Music Artist John Michael Montgomery, auction, trail rides, wagon rides, horse show, roping, seminars and demonstrations. Event Coordinator, Jimmy King, (256) 446-5392

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Thank you,

Wenona Mertens

Summer Sun Safety

 Summer, summer, summer! It’s time to get outdoors, swim, hike, watch kids play sports, walk the outdoor festivals, -all the things we love about this time of year. But at the same time we have to fight that hot, Alabama sun which can be terrible on your exposed skin.  Did you know that even though the sun is a major cause of cancer most doctors believe that the majority of skin cancers can be avoided by protecting your skin?  So this means we need to do one of two things: Stay inside and completely avoid the sun for the rest of our lives OR get smarter about protecting ourselves from the sun.  If you decided the vampire life isn’t for you, read on for some great tips:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/19/sunscreen-benefits_n_3464687.html                https://www.unitypoint.org/desmoines/article.aspx?id=e0a22a4f-77c7-4a9a-b779-ed3c37956982

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1. Always wear sunscreen. Apply it on your skin every day. Make it a habit, as you do with brushing your teeth.
2. Avoid sun in the middle of the day, from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The ultraviolet rays, which cause sunburn, are strongest during this time.
3. Wear protective clothing. When you do go outdoors, especially for long periods in the middle of the day. Long sleeves and slacks, as well as a wide-brimmed hat, help protect your body against the sun's harmful effects.
4. Wear sunglasses that filter UV light.
5. Apply the sunscreen at least 20 to 30 minutes before you go outdoors, whenever you will be exposed for 30 minutes or more.
6. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours while you are outdoors, even if the product is labeled “all-day.” If you get wet or perspire heavily, reapply sunscreen more frequently.

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Thank you,

Wenona Mertens

Teach Your Child About Money

Do you talk to your children about money?
Do they understand why they can’t have a new toy or an $80 Xbox game every time you walk into a store? It’s a very important subject to teach them about. According to the attached article, curtesy of Jeff, 1 in 5 teens did not know that you have to pay interest on a loan and less than 1/3 of teens know how to budget. Walking into adulthood with this basic knowledge can make such a difference in a young adult’s new life.

Here’s some tips from a few websites and the attached document to help guide you in setting up your child with a good financial base:

https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-to-teach-kids-about-money     https://www.forbes.com/                https://www.parents.com/

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1. Use a clear jar to save.

The piggy bank is a great idea, but it doesn’t give kids a visual. When you use a clear jar, they see the money growing. Yesterday, they had a dollar bill and five dimes. Today, they have a dollar bill, five dimes, and a quarter! Talk through this with them and make a big deal about it growing!

2. Set an example.

A study by the University of Cambridge found that money habits in children are formed by the time they’re 7 years old.⁽¹⁾ Little eyes are watching you. If you’re slapping down plastic every time you go out to dinner or the grocery store, they’ll eventually notice. Or if you and your spouse are arguing about money, they’ll notice that too. Set a healthy example for them and they’ll be much more likely to follow it when they get older.

3. Avoid impulse buys.

“Mom, I just found this cute dress. It’s perfect and I love it! Can we buy it please?” Does this sound familiar? The teen age group really knows how to capitalize on the impulse buy—especially when it uses someone else’s money.
Instead of giving in, let your child know they can use their hard-earned commission to pay for it. But encourage your child to wait at least a day before they purchase anything over $15. It will likely still be there tomorrow, and they’ll be able to make that money decision with a level head the next day.

4. Give them the responsibility of a bank account.

By the time your kid’s a teenager, you should be able to set them up with a simple bank account if you’ve been doing some of the above along the way. This takes money management to the next level, and will (hopefully) prepare them for managing a much heftier account when they get older.

5. Help them figure out how to make money.

When you think about it, teenagers have plenty of free time—fall break, summer break, winter break, spring break. If your teen wants some money (and what teen doesn’t?), then help them find a job. Better yet, help them become an entrepreneur! These days, it’s easier than ever for your teen to start up their own business and turn a profit.

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Thank you,

Wenona Mertens

Summertime Water Safety Tips

Summer is here! So it’s that time to get a little sun by the water with the family. It doesn’t matter if you’re enjoying a backyard pool or a dip in the lake there’s a few safety tips we all need to be aware of to keep your fun day in the water enjoyable.

http://www.redcross.org/           https://www.safekids.org         

https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/family/swimming-and-water-safety-tips

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1. Enroll children in swimming lessons at an early age. Risk of drowning is decreased by as much as 88% when children aged 1-4 years take swimming lessons. Adults can also benefit from refresher courses. Many cities have swimming lessons available through local parks and recreation programs as well as gyms with pools.

2. Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). It can mean the difference between life and death.

3. Children should always be supervised. Whether you're in the backyard, a public pool, or at the beach, make sure there is a responsible, designated person to watch the water when children are swimming.

4. Keep toys that are not in use away from the pool and out of sight. Toys can attract young children to the pool.

5. Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.

6. Even if you do not plan on swimming, be cautious around natural bodies of water including ocean shoreline, rivers and lakes. Cold temperatures, currents and underwater hazards can make a fall into these bodies of water dangerous.

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Thank you,

Wenona Mertens

June C2 Employee Spotlight

World traveler, loving wife, insurance expert, and the best carrier set-up department that C2 has ever had....yes, all of these describe our amazing Shanda Anders.

Shanda has been with C2 Freight for 2 years. When she's not working at C2 she's helping out with her family's business or volunteering at her church. She will also be celebrating her 9th wedding anniversary with her husband Jarrod this June!