Category Archives: Golden Rule

Peter Gregerson| Special to The Times

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (II Peter 3:9)

So it is God's desire that everyone should be saved. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17) Again, Jesus said about His first coming: "I did not come to judge the world but to save the world." (John 12:47)

God did not send his son to fail. He will accomplish His mission to "save the world" whatever the term "the world" means to God. In scripture, "all" and "the world" mean, at the very least, many will be saved. (John 12:32, I Timothy 2:4)

Jesus unlocks history and gives us insight as to the time required for the Kingdom of God to accomplish its life-saving work. (Luke 13:18-21)

Jesus asked, "What is the Kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches." And again He said, "To what shall I liken the Kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all harvested."

Jesus indicated a long time period when he describes a tiny mustard seed slowly growing into a great tree, the Bible symbol of a populous, world-dominating nation which provided security for national groups (birds) in its branches. Compare with Egypt or Babylon as great world powers. (Daniel 4:10, 22; Ezekiel 31:2-6)

The second parable also tells why it takes so long. A woman inserted a tiny bit of yeast into a large glob of bread dough. This is a very slow process, but it changes the very character of the bread, from hard to soft. The key: "till it was all leavened." A slow process.

But is that true? Has the Kingdom of God very slowly changed the world of mankind? Many great historians testify that Christianity has changed the world.

Listen to H.G. Wells: "Jesus is easily the most dominant figure in history. A historian without any theological bias whatever should find that he cannot portray the progress of humanity honestly without giving a foremost place to a penniless teacher from Nazareth."

And what was the main idea from Jesus which is slowly changing the conscience of mankind? It is love of God and love of others.

This way of loving God and of loving and treating others was taught by Jesus to be "the greatest of all the commandments" given by God; "no commandment is greater," and it's the way to eternal life. (Matthew 22:36-39; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-28)

Jesus put this love into 11 unforgettable words: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Those 11 words of love have changed the world like yeast spreading in bread dough.

Look at the historical record of slavery and oppression of all kinds, economic and racial. Look at the world of women and girls. The world of babies, of workers, of the poor and the sick, of the mentally challenged or mentally ill, of the hungry and on and on. Yes, the glob of mankind is being slowly leavened by the yeast: the Kingdom of God.

Stop and imagine this world without Christianity!

Will you assist Jesus in his kingdom work? You will find a life of purpose, meaning and of personal happiness for yourself as we try -- with God's help -- to live by Christ's Golden Rule of Love.

And, He will return soon. Expect him!

Peter Gregerson is a lifelong student of the Bible and is a retired local businessman.

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PAPER PULPIT: Eleven words of love that have changed the world - Gadsden Times

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As companies roll out a return to the office, many of us will be working in close quarters with colleagues once again. Depending on applicable mandates, it may not be a given that your co-workers will all be vaccinated and if this is the case, can you ask if they are?

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A recent LinkedIn survey found that many professionals will ask their colleagues about their vaccination status 28% say theyll ask everyone they work closely with and 24% say theyll ask when they feel its necessary. That percentage is even greater among those with children at home under the age of 18 33% of parents say theyll ask everyone they work with.

But is this question OK to ask? Or does it cross a professional boundary?

Yes or No? Do You Always Have To Pitch In for an Event or Gift at Work?

According to etiquette expert Joy Weaver, you should use your best judgment before asking a co-worker about their vaccination status.

While there are no etiquette rules on this very touchy topic, we must stick to the golden rule as we should in all difficult situations, and ask ourselves, How would I want to be treated?' she said. After all, half of the population wants to know if their co-worker has received the vaccine, while the other half does not care to know even if they have been vaccinated themselves.

If you do decide to ask a co-worker about their vaccination status, be sure to approach the subject in a way that seems objective and free of any judgment.

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Instead of individually asking co-workers if they are vaccinated, consider talking to an HR professional at your company about your concerns.

My advice is to take any concerns you may have to your human resources department and let them handle questions regarding your co-workers vaccination status, Weaver said. They should be prepared and well equipped at this point to answer ongoing questions from a legal standpoint that is not based on their opinion or yours.

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Last updated: Oct. 22, 2021

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Can You Ask Your Co-Worker If They Are Vaccinated? - Yahoo Finance

The economy of the European Union is emerging from the worst recession since World War II and growth forecasts have been revised upwards for 2021 and 2022. As the economy recovers, the strategy for withdrawing the massive fiscal support injected during the pandemic will be crucial to ensure sustainable public finances.

For this reason, the European Commission has now kicked off the review of the blocs rules, which have so far compelled member states to keep their public deficit under 3% and debt under 60% of GDP. Should they stay the same?

One important aspect of the consultation concerns the investment needs. The Commission is already warning that substantial investments in digital and green infrastructure, as well as regulatory and tax measures, will be needed to meet the blocs medium- and long-term objectives.

Just the goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% before the end of the decade will demand 520 billion annually in extra contributions compared to the numbers seen in the previous decade , with 390 billion for the transport and energy sectors alone, Brussels says.

A significant portion of this fresh expenditure will have to be financed by the public sector, with the public-private sector ratio estimated to be 1 for every 4 in private capital. Given that some of the investments required are public goods, government spending must be increased by around 100 billion per year. This means a great effort waiting to be bankrolled.

The main political challenge for European finance ministries in the coming years will be to decrease deficits while simultaneously increasing green investment. In the midst of the euro crisis, budget consolidation in the EU took place very quickly, prompting a new recession in 2012. Most countries chose to embrace austerity policies and cut down public expenses. This scenario must be avoided in the post-Covid years.

However, a general relaxation of fiscal rules like Madrid, Rome and Paris are pushing for would not provide direct incentives to boost green investment and it would instead risk excessive deficits in good times. It is therefore not a suitable approach to pursue a far-reaching reform of the current rules. But, on the other hand, if member states agree to exempt their green projects from the deficit requirements, they would create incentives to keep money flowing into environmental action over the coming decade, even during the consolidation phase.

This is why I believe the EU should put in place a green fiscal pact based on a green golden rule that would exclude net public contributions in climate protection from deficit and debt calculations under the new fiscal rules. Without the possibility of deficit financing, the EU will not achieve its goal of carbon neutrality. Due to political and economic constraints, budget consolidation would come at the expense of investments.

Still, I do advise against a general relaxation of fiscal rules: debt sustainability concerns need to be taken seriously and global warming in itself may reduce growth.

While the idea of exempting investments from deficits has been rejected in the past, there are now good reasons to justify deficit financing for environmental projects. The restructuring of the energy system and the transport infrastructure is a huge effort, which, in view of the political and economic constraints, simply cannot be financed from current budgets. The need for injecting money into the climate transition is so colossal that it inevitably acquires a macroeconomic dimension.

The key to a successful green golden rule lies in a clear system that determines and controls what is actual green investment and what is just greenwashing. This requires careful definitions and institutional oversight. By and large, setting a new green golden rule would be a useful addition to the existing EU fiscal framework.

--

Guntram Wolff is a German economist and current director of Bruegel, a Brussels-based think tank.

This article is part of The Briefing, Euronews' weekly political newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

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Can the EU fiscal rules jump on the green bandwagon? | View - Euronews

On his day off in London, James Garner tried to take his young daughter sightseeing. Greta Gigi Garner recalls arriving at the famed Tower of London with her father, who was in England filming a movie. We got out of the car, and we got mobbed, Gigi tells Closer. I think thats when it dawned on me that there was something different about my dad.

The witty, beloved actor starred in some 50 films, was nominated for an Oscar and brought TV underdog heroes Bret Maverick and Jim Rockford to life on the small screen but disliked the trappings of stardom. He and his wife, Lois, raised their family quietly, out of the spotlight, in Brentwood, Calif., when it was still considered a rural outpost of Los Angeles. I absolutely hate publicity, James once said. Id rather dig a ditch than do an interview.

The Oklahoma-born star admitted he got into show business on a whim. Though hed done some modeling in high school, James didnt truly consider acting until he knocked on the door of a talent agent hed met some time before while pumping gas. Cast in a nonspeaking role in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, which eventually landed on Broadway, he had a chance to study the plays leading man, Henry Fonda, up close. I swiped practically all my acting style from him, James said.

Henry would become a lifelong pal, but James, who confessed that he suffered from stage fright, didnt continue in live theater. Instead, he moved into films, including 1957s Sayonara with Marlon Brando, and, more important, television, where he brought poker player Bret Maverick to life from 1957 to 1960 and donned the tatty sport coat of Jim Rockford from 1974 to 1980. If you look at Maverick and Rockford, theyre pretty much the same guy, he wrote in his 2011 memoir The Garner Files. One is a gambler and the other a detective, but their attitudes are identical.

James met his future wife, Lois Clarke, in 1956 at an event for presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson. It was love at first sight, said James, who proposed marriage two weeks later. They wed over his familys objections Lois was raised Jewish, James was Methodist and the actor adopted her daughter, Kimberly. Two years later, their daughter Gigi was born. I really hit the jackpot with my dad, she confides. He was the type of father that got down on the floor and played with you. He was very present. The greatest father in the world.

Being a good father and husband meant everything to James, whose own dad had been an alcoholic who married several times. One of James stepmothers, Red, seemed to take pleasure in belittling and beating James and his two brothers. People that had abusive childhoods like my dad often continue the cycle, notes Gigi, an artist and philanthropist. My dad stopped the cycle, and he tried to give us everything that he never had.

James found satisfaction at home with his family. He was a homebody. He was very happy being home with us, watching sports and hanging with the dogs, Gigi says. I think if he wasnt an actor, he probably would have been a sports announcer because he knew sports so well.

Yet James troubled upbringing left him prone to bouts of depression and anxiety. He was something when he got angry, but he would never take it out on anyone except himself, Maverick director Leslie H. Martinson once said. Hed turn around and very quietly haul off and slam his fist into the wall or a board. Typical of his generation of men, James tried not to bring his troubles home. He didnt walk around complaining, Gigi says. He handled things quietly.

But the grind of television gave James ulcers, and he suffered injuries doing his own stunts. During the 1971 TV season, when he starred on Nichols, he and Lois separated for a period. They reunited but separated again when the pressure and hoopla surrounding The Rockford Files became too much for him. The reason my wife and I are separated is that I was so physically and mentally exhausted from work that I said I had to take a sabbatical, James said. I needed a hiatusand my wife understood that.

The Rockford Files brought James his biggest TV success, but he paid a high price for all the punch-outs and high-speed car chases his private eye got into each week. James suffered back issues and endured several knee operations while starring on the show. He had to stop doing The Rockford Files just because he was so beat up. He physically couldnt do it anymore, says Gigi. He used to say, If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.'

James continued to work into his later years. A whole new generation fell in love with him in 2004s romance The Notebook. He also returned to television in comedies like 8 Simple Rules (2002).

In 2014, he died away at his Brentwood home at age 86 after a heart attack. My father was an all-around good guy and a big animal lover, says Gigi, who founded the James Garner Animal Rescue Fund (jgarf .org) in his honor. He was just a genuine person who lived by the Golden Rule. You just dont get people like that nowadays.

More here:

James Garner: Being a Good Husband and Father Meant Everything to Him, Says Daughter of Late Actor - Closer Weekly

Jews regularly recite a prayer called the Vahavtah, which comes from Deuteronomy and Numbers. The word Vahavtah means and you shall love, and it entreats us to love God with all our heart and soul and with all our might. It goes on to teach us how we can embody these principles in our lives.

Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Teach them to your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up Inscribe them on the doorposts of your house Thus you shall remember to observe all My commandments and to be holy to your God.

This prayer shows us that we must follow these moral guidelines no matter where we are or what we are doing. And we must teach our children that this is how to live life in a caring and compassionate way.

Rabbi Sidney Greenberg in his book, Words to Live By, asks us to consider if a stranger saw us or our children in our everyday activities, would they be able to tell from our actions that we were living with morally upright choices? He encourages us to always act as if someone were watching over our shoulder.

In the last few months, we have seen distressing situations in which people have been treating others in callous, hurtful and threatening ways, not caring that they are doing so in full public view. It seems to have become acceptable to threaten violence against someone simply because of a disagreement in viewpoints. Teachers, election workers, politicians, journalists and even health care workers are all receiving threats of violence, even death, to themselves and their families.

When people are being assaulted and harassed, and the media reports it day after day, one cannot help but think of our children who are watching and the commandment in the Vavatah that you shall teach it to your children.

What lesson are people teaching when they follow parents who are walking their small children to school and scream in their faces that wearing masks is equal to rape? Seeing those terrified children in tears and parents trying to shield them from such vitriol was heartbreaking.

In another incident, older students waiting to enter their school were told by adults, Just go in. They cant do anything to you if you dont wear a mask.

The faces of those kids were filled with confusion as their parents told them to ignore the schools rules. What should they do? Listen to their parents or follow the rules of masking which will protect them? What a difficult burden to put on their young shoulders.

School board meetings have become so contentious over mask mandates that the National School Board Association has requested help from the federal government to deal with threats and actual violence erupting all across the country

Apparently, none of the people openly encouraging and perpetrating such harassment and violence seem to care that our children are watching. They arent concerned about what others might think of their behavior. Rabbi Greenbergs admonition that they should worry about how others might see their actions doesnt seem to register. Their lack of concern for our children is tragic.

We must begin to change the narrative in our culture so that disagreements are just that a back and forth of differing ideas and that compromise is not a weakness. Remember that our children learn more when they watch what we do than what we say. If adults preach compassion and kindness but then treat others in a disrespectful and cruel manner, that is the lesson the children will learn.

All faith traditions have a version of the Golden Rule at their foundation. Treating others as we wish to be treated and teaching our children the importance of that principle can do so much to heal our world. When we respond to others with love and respect rather than anger, we pave the way to reconciliation. Anger is destructive to our very souls.

The Talmud teaches, One who does not lose control of his temper is a beloved of God.

May we learn to recognize that everyone is imbued with a holy spark, created in the divine image and treat them accordingly.

Repairing our world begins with us. Our children are watching.

Kein yehi ratzon may it be Gods will.

_________

Issues of Faith is a rotating column by five religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. Suzanne DeBey is a lay leader of the Port Angeles Jewish community. Her email is [emailprotected].

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ISSUES OF FAITH: Teaching our children through our actions - Peninsula Daily News

The argument now distracting and dominating the European Union is an unequal battle with the potential for far-reaching consequences.

On one side is Poland, enthusiastically supported by Hungary, and determined to prove that one of the fundamental tenets of European solidarity isn't so fundamental after all.

On the other side is, well, just about everyone else. Some of them pressing for a conciliatory "let's not be too harsh" debate; others wanting to go in hard.

The cause of all this anger is one of those bits of domestic news that sounds dry but has explosive potential.

In short, the country's top court, acting on a request from Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, declared that, in some areas, the national constitution took precedence over European law.

And that has set great, big alarm bells ringing. Because the golden rule of EU Club is that EU Club laws always come first. They must take primacy, to coin a phrase that has popped up a lot over the past few days.

"If you want to have the advantages of being in a club, then you need to respect the rules," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said. "You can't be a member of a club and say 'the rules don't apply to me'."

The Polish Prime Minister does not agree, accusing the EU of "blackmail" because of suggestions that Poland could now face sanctions. He said his country was "ready for dialogue" but refused to distance himself from the controversial court ruling.

There is no mechanism for throwing Poland out of the EU (not that anybody would want to go anywhere near that far) and, realistically, Poland has no desire to leave, either. So instead, the question is whether the EU wants to levy a punishment.

That could mean withholding financial payments, for instance, or curtailing the country's rights as a member state.

It wouldn't be unprecedented - Poland is already facing daily fines of half a million Euros for continuing to extract lignite from a mine near the border with the Czech Republic in defiance of a court order. There is a suspicion that Mr Morawiecki is rather relishing his battle with Brussels.

But he is not alone. Viktor Orban, the populist prime minister of Hungary, has repeatedly infuriated the EU with his own policies. Here, he came to town ready to leap to Poland's defence.

"Poland - the best country in Europe - there's no need to have any sanctions," he said.

"We are not building fronts here, we are fighting for issues which are important for our own nations. So we make an alliance and fight together - this is the logic we are doing here. It's not like the cold war or something like that, creating blocs."

So, I asked Mr Orban, did he agree - did he think that Hungarian law held primacy over EU law?

He smiled. In fact, he almost laughed. "The fact is very clear that the primacy of EU law is not in the treaty at all. So the EU has primacy where it has competences. The question is about the competences.

"What's going on here is that - regularly - European Institutions circumvent the rights of the national parliament and government and modify the treaty without having any legitimate authority to do so. So the Polish are right."

He told me there was no schism between the east and west of Europe, but rather "between common sense and non-common sense". With a shrug, he declared that the idea of levying sanctions against Poland was "ridiculous".

So we are heading for a proper row. Is it worth it - the EU going into a political battle with one of its own members? It's a question I put to the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte.

"I think we have to be tough but I think the question is how do you get there," he told me. "My argument will be that the independence of the Polish judiciary is the key issue which we have to discuss and we have to settle.

"Poland has to take the necessary steps - that is non-negotiable. This has to do with the foundations of our democracy in this part of the world. So here we cannot negotiate."

Of course, the EU has plenty of form at creating a crisis, only to then come up with a way to solve it. But this doesn't feel stage-managed. It feels awkward and painful - the Germans, for instance, don't seem to want to interfere, but nor do they want to be seen as too passive.

But Poland has popped up repeatedly in recent missives from Brussels. Its border with Belarus has been the site for migrants being pushed towards Europe by President Lukashenko, only to be stopped in their tracks by the Polish police.

Its rules on LGBTQ+ rights have been widely criticised, as have the country's laws on equality.

And, just like Mr Orban, Poland's prime minister seems to see political capital in having a row with other EU leaders (especially ones from the west) while retaining the financial advantages of EU membership.

So this won't end with Poland leaving, or being dismissed from the club. But we may be heading for an almighty row, that leads to we don't know where.

Read more from the original source:

EU summit: Poland told to 'respect the rules' of the club in rule-of-law row - Sky News

The Golden Rule: treat others as you want to be treated. A simple statement, biblical reference and rule to guide our moral compass as we live our lives. Unfortunately, we commonly hear, see and feel the negative impacts of a bully. Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that includes a repetitive action to achieve an imbalance of power. Bullying occurs at all ages and in many different forms.

Verbal bullying is speaking or writing harmful comments. This includes teasing, name-calling, inappropriate comments, taunting or threatening to cause harm. Social bullying involves hurting ones reputation or relationships by purposely excluding them, telling others not to befriend them, spreading rumors about them or publically embarrassing them. Physical bullying involves hurting a persons body or possessions. Physical bullying includes forceful contact, stealing belongings, making mean or rude gestures. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital media. Cyberbullying can occur via SMS, text, apps or online in social media, forums or gaming where people can view, participate or share information.

There are a multitude of factors as to why some individuals bully others. The first are peer factors, this leads one to be a bully to impress their peers. This is an attempt to attain or maintain social power or to elevate their status among their peer group. Family factors also play a large role in bullying. Those who live in a home where bullying, aggression and violence are common are more likely to be a bully themselves. There is also evidence that the parents of a bully are not providing emotional support and have low involvement in the childs life. Emotional factors can contribute as the bully doesnt know how to properly manage their feelings. Research suggests that insecurity, low self-esteem and not possessing skills to handle tough social situations positively are all common traits of a bully.

The signs of being a bully are often evident and necessitate immediate action. Signs include becoming increasingly aggressive, blaming others for their problems, not accepting responsibility for their actions and consistently worrying about their reputation or popularity.

Being on the receiving end of a bully can have a negative impact. Being bullied is linked to outcomes such as declined mental health, substance abuse, extremely violent retaliation and suicide. With such negative outcomes, it is important to identify if someone is being bullied. Signs of an individual being bullied include depression, anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness. They might exhibit changes in sleep and eating patterns or a loss of interest in the activities they used to enjoy. Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations and self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, inflicting self-harm or talking about suicide are all red flags that require immediate attention.

We have the capability to stop bullying. Being conscious of our in-person and online words, actions and their impact on others is the first step in the right direction. We are all role-models. Some of us are role-models to our children, friends, co-workers, congregation, ect Our actions and words can either make a positive or negative impact on someone else. Lets make certain we are all creating a positive impact on others as we move forward. Be the reason a friend smiles, be the reason your children had great day, be the reason that Meigs County is such a great place to live.

For more information, visit stopbullying.gov

Barr

Marc Barr is Meigs County Health Commissioner.

Excerpt from:

Meigs Health Matters: The impacts of bullying - Daily Sentinel

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Oct 17, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio challenges a call in the third quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

After the Denver Broncos loss to the Las Vegas Raiders 34-24 Sunday, its apparent that this team needs to revert back to fundamental football.

It was too often that the Broncos were caught looking for a late-quarter comeback or last-minute first down just to stay afloat with the Raiders. Bridgewater threw three interceptions in a performance that has a lot of Broncos fans questioning his ability to lead the team.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, the Broncos coaching staff struggled to keep Derek Carr and the Raiders contained all afternoon. Lots of fingers have been pointed to Head Coach Vic Fangio for the teams performance, as well as Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur for his lackluster play calling.

If theres one big takeaway that Broncos fans should be taking away from this game, its this: The Broncos cannot play simple football.

The golden rule for any team is to stick to fundamental football. The offense calls the shots as scheduled, and if that doesnt work, run it down their throats.

For the defense, its simple. Pick up your man in the backfield and stick like glue. The defensive line is focused on getting to the quarterback, and if needed, pick up your guy on the outside. Simple and effective football.

With Denver, it seems as though these simple things have gone out of the window. Vegas exposed them on all aspects of the ball, and as a result, Denver loses their third game in a row.

Lets take a closer look at the two biggest simple things that Denver couldnt execute on and what to improve on for Thursdays game versus the Cleveland Browns.

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Denver Broncos: Its all about improving the simple things - Predominantly Orange

GUILFORD, CT A kitten was hit by a car in Guilford early Thursday morning. Good Samaritans stopped to help when the mother showed up with her other kittens. Bobcat kittens.

A heartbreaking story, and a cautionary tale as police remind folks that animals are still out and about and some, like this female bobcat, with their young, many often trying to navigate crossing roads.

Here's the full story from the Guilford Police Animal Shelter.

"Earlier this morning, officers responded to a kitten struck on Boston Post Rd. Several amazing women had stopped to save the kitten from the roadway.

After a short period of time, Mama kitty returned to the area with her other babies and it was clear this was no ordinary kit. She was a Bobcat kit

Mama stayed close by but knew her little one was too badly injured and took her remaining kittens back into the marsh to safety.

Unfortunately, this beautiful creature had severe injuries and was not able to be saved, but with the assistance of the Guilford Veterinarian Hospital, humanely euthanized.

Even though it is Fall, baby animals are still out and about with their parents and unfortunately can't always keep up as they dart across the road.

In addition, the roadways of Guilford will soon be filled with Deer during the rutting season and pose a significant hazard to motorists. Please continually scan the roadways, and edges of the road, while driving. Remember the golden rule of, "where there is one, there are more," as it relates to animals crossing the road. Leave your high beams on when driving at night when safe to do so. Attach deer alert whistles to the front of your vehicle to deter deer encounters."

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A Kitten Hit By A Car Thursday Turned Out To Be A Bobcat Kit - Patch.com

Maurie Backman| The Motley Fool

Credit card debt: 6 steps to help get you through paying them off

If you're ready to start tackling your credit card debt, here are 6 steps to help you out along the way.

USA TODAY

There's a reason supermarkets have had Halloween candy on display since Labor Day. Americans love Halloween. From spooky decorations to creative costumes to treats galore, Halloween is one of those holidays that's easy to embrace.

But Americans' love of Halloween could also end up hurting their bank accounts. A good 36% of consumers plan to spend more money this year on the holiday than they did last year, according to a recent survey by CIT Bank. And if you're planning to go a similar route, that's a mistake that could haunt you for years.

Taking on even a small amount of debt for Halloween spending could end up hurting you more than you'd think. Say you rack up a $200 credit card balance during spooky season, thinking you'll pay it off in a few months' time.

Even if your credit card charges more interest than the average card, if you manage to pay off a $200 balance by the end of the year, the damage should be minimal. But if you had to charge that $200 in Halloween expenses and carry the balance forward, you might be likely to also rack up a balance for Thanksgiving and the year-end winter holidays. The result? A pile of debt going into 2022.

Not only can credit card debt cost you money in the form of interest, but too much of it can hurt your credit score. And that could kick off a cycle where borrowing in the first place becomes more expensive. So you're better off avoiding that horror if at all possible.

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If you have a tendency to go all out on Halloween and have money to pull from savings, then go for it. It's been a tough year, and there's nothing wrong with littering your lawn with giant pumpkins and buying 12 varieties of fun-sized treats at the grocery store.

But if you're living paycheck to paycheck and don't have much wiggle room to spend on Halloween, set a spending limit. Figure out what your priorities are for the holiday and then put together a budget you can stick to.

Say you can afford to spend an extra $50 on Halloween this year. That may mean skipping the decorations so you can buy your kids new costumes and have money left over to give out candy to trick-or-treaters.

Check your bank account:The October child tax credit payment was deposited last week

Remember, too, that there may be options for adjusting your plans so you're not forced to spend as much. If you can't swing a big Halloween display, enlist the help of your kids to create a spooky vibe at home. Have them draw pictures of monsters and goblins, and if you have a few old sheets lying around, converting them to hanging ghosts should be a pretty easy feat.

It's great to be excited about Halloween, but do your best to not land in credit card debt because of it. Otherwise, you could end up with a real nightmare on your hands.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.CIT Group is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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36% of Americans will spend more on Halloween this year. Don't go into debt over it. - USA TODAY