Resident Newsletter December 2023

Bulletin Board

Limestone residents' recertification beginning Tues., Jan 2nd, through Thur., Jan 4th, 2024, recertification for Limestone Courts will begin.

You will receive your recertification packets in your black mailbox along with your rent notice at the end of December. It is very important that you report any changes in your income immediately! Please have these forms completed when you come to your appointment.

Notes and News

Christmas Holiday Closing Dates

The Gaffney Housing Authority will be closed Monday, December 25th, Tuesday, December 26th, Wednesday, December 27th, and Thursday, December 28th, 2023. The office will also be closed on Monday, January 1st, 2024, in observance of the New Year's holiday.

Rent change request for January 2024 GHA residents: Important information please read!!!

During the month of December, please make sure any rent-change-request information is reported to your Property Manager by Monday, December 11th, 2023, in order to have your rent adjusted for January 2024. After this date, due to our holiday schedule, it is not guaranteed your information will be sent to and received back from your former employer on time to make these changes effective for January 2024 rent.

Color of the Year: Viva Magenta

The color of 2023, according to the Pantone Color Institute, was Viva Magenta. This lively red hue is certainly a sight to see, but we'll leave the choice up to you: Was 2023 Viva Magenta? If not, what color would you choose to describe the year?

Write a Letter

Celebrate National Letter Writing Day on Dec. 7. It's the perfect time of year to reach out to loved ones, and getting a handwritten letter in the mail is always a welcome surprise.

Stay Healthy with Hydration

We're always told that drinking plenty of fluids helps us recover from an illness. But staying hydrated also aids in avoiding sickness in the first place! Drinking water helps keep your nasal passages moist and working properly to fight viruses that enter your body.

Sparkly Snow Globes

There's something magical about shaking a snow globe and peering at the miniature scene inside as the glittery specks-known as "flitter"-fall to the bottom. These charming collectibles have been around since the late 1800s and are popular gift shop souvenirs as well as holiday decor. To prevent the water from clouding or leaking over time, store snow globes out of direct sunlight.

Important Numbers

Central Office 864.489.3193
Emergency Maintenance 864.489-3193
TTY# 864.487.9460
Fire, Police, Ambulance 911
Lisa Dewberry - Property Manager
Beltline Courts 864.489.3193
Colonial Heights 864.488.1085
Geraldine Bullock - Property Manager
Limestone Courts 864.489.1042
Bonnie Sanford - Property Manager
Granard Courts 864.488.1179

VR in Real Life

Slipping on a virtual reality headset allows the user to enter into a virtual world, where they are able to interact with artificial objects seen on the screen. These innovative headsets have many uses, from fun to functional!

Entertainment. Many people's first encounter with a VR headset is using it to play a video game. The immersive experience allows players to feel like they are really in the game, making gaming headsets some of the hottest gadgets on holiday gift lists. Other entertaining ways to use a VR headset include watching movies, television, or sports; visiting a landmark or museum; riding roller coasters; and meeting new friends.

Education. Engineers and designers can use VR to experiment before making pricey prototypes. As a result, various industries-such as automotive, retail, architecture and interior design-have adopted VR as a valuable tool. By creating lifelike simulations, VR also aids in job training for roles like surgeons, law enforcement officers, or space and military personnel.

Business. Although many offices use video conferencing software to keep in touch with their at-home workers, some innovative companies are having VR meetings instead, allowing for stronger collaboration. VR has also been used for recruitment, marketing, and team building.

Featured Recipe

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat melt butter and cook until it foams and turns golden brown. Transfer butter to a heat-safe bowl and refrigerate until solid, about 45 minutes.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set it aside.
Transfer solidified butter to a large bowl. Add brown sugar. Use an electric mixer to beat for 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed until contents are light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Reduce speed and add dry ingredients, mix until combined. Add pecans and chocolate chips and mix on low until incorporated.
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Portion dough into balls and place on baking sheets, about 3 inches apart.
Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Find more recipes at CH Sugar.com.

Wit and Wisdom

"When you hear the bell, you feel a tug at your heart." -Vera Nazarian
"Life's not always going to be bells and whistles ... the only thing you can control is your attitude." -Gary Woodland
"A bell is no bell till you ring it, a song is no song till you sing it, and love in your heart wasn't put there to stay, love isn't love till you give it away!" -Oscar Hammerstein II
"Bells are music's laughter." -Thomas Hood
"True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked." -Erich Segal
"Those evening bells! Those evening bells! How many a tale their music tells ... " -Thomas Moore
"Don't bother to ring a bell in the ear that doesn't listen." -Michael Bassey Johnson
"The game is not lost-or won-until the last bell goes." -John Curtin
"There were no violins or warning bells ... no sense that my little life was about to change. But we never know, do we? Life turns on a dime." -Stephen King
"Ring in the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true." -Alfred Lord Tennyson