Resident Newsletter October 2023

Comfy and Cozy

Prepare your home for fall and winter by making it feel cozy and inviting. Create texture by pulling out soft blankets and pillows and spreading out a new throw rug. Embrace soft, warm lighting with lamps in your living area. Finally, keep your space tidy so your home is a comfortable retreat in the months ahead.

Brainteaser

Q: What is harder to catch the faster you run?

A: Your breath!

Colonial Heights Residents

Attention!! Your recertification packets will be sent to you in mid-September 2023. Please start getting your information together, such as child support, Social Security award letters, school and work documentation, etc. The recertification appointments will begin Monday, October 2nd, and go on through Wednesday, October 4th, 2023.

Stop Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

October is Protect Your Hearing Month. In the U.S., 40 million people between the ages of 20 and 69 have noise-induced hearing loss. To help prevent this, turn down the volume on media devices, wear earplugs or protective earmuffs, and take breaks from noisy environments.

Columbus Day

The Gaffney Housing Authority Office will be closed on Monday, October 9th, 2023, in observance of Columbus Day.

Highlights

Speedy Charging

Gain a quicker charge on your phone or tablet with these tips:

Turn down the screen's brightness.
Close apps you're not using.
Switch to do not disturb, low-power or airplane mode. Or turn the device completely off if you're not using it.
Plug your device into a wall outlet instead of a computer.

Thank You, Truckers

Literally the driving force behind much of the economy, millions of men and women serve as truck drivers, transporting goods across the country. The often-dangerous job keeps truckers on the road away from loved ones for extended periods of time-so give them a nod on Oct. 4, National Truckers Appreciation Day.

Nurture Yourself

"I've learned that for change to happen through me, growth needs to first happen in me." -Marie Beecham

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

A Rainbow of Sound

A humming air conditioner or the pitter-patter of a gentle rain are familiar examples of ambient noise. Many people play what they call "white noise" to help them focus or fall asleep, but this is only one type of ambient noise. Noise, just like light, can be categorized into different colors based on the size and frequency of their sound waves. The most well-known is white noise, which includes frequencies we can hear. It's characterized as a steady hum, such as TV static or the buzz of a fan. White noise is the go-to setting on a sound machine to drown out disruptive noise.

Pink noise, a touch deeper than white noise, has gained attention for helping people get better, more restful sleep, which can improve memory. Examples of pink noise include rain, ocean waves, and a heartbeat.

In the middle of the sound spectrum, green noise has a calming effect. Often containing steady sounds of nature, such as a babbling brook, green noise is recommended for studying or working.

If you prefer something low and rumbly, brown, aka red noise-like 1, crashing waves, thunder, or the hum of an airline jet is great for blocking out other unwanted sounds.

Higher on the spectrum are blue and violet noises, similar to the hiss of a kinked hose. While the average person may find these sounds irritating, they can be effective therapies for tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing in the ears).

Featured Recipe

Chipotle Chicken Flatbreads

Simple flavors shine in this meal that you can make in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

2 flatbreads
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 clove garlic, diced
4 chicken tenders, cooked and cubed
1 pint of cherry tomatoes, quartered
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1 1/2 teaspoons chipotle seasoning
Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Place flatbreads on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan. Sprinkle cheese on flatbreads, and then add garlic, chicken, and tomatoes. Season each flatbread with salt and pepper to taste.
Bake flatbreads for 16 minutes or until cheese is melted.
In a small bowl, mix ranch dressing and chipotle seasoning.
Drizzle dressing over cooked flatbreads and garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired.
Find more recipes at Culinary.net.

Wit and Wisdom

"Leaves sway sharp, and through the shadow-swallowed tree-tops, the low nocturnal music of the wind makes the magic of the vast night." -James Oppenheim
"Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind ." -Nathaniel Hawthorne
"The poet is like the Earth's shadow. The sun moves, and the poet writes something down." -Eileen Myles
"Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?" -Benjamin Franklin
"Shadow owes its birth to light." -John Gay
"Keep your face to the sunshine, and you cannot see a shadow." -Helen Keller
"My shadow ... is one way I trace who I was and where I have been. My shadow and I have been on a journey for quite a while now!" -Angela Cartwright
"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing ." -Abraham Lincoln
"Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance." -Carl Sandburg
"Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey towards it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us." -Samuel Smiles