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9 THE BUZZ AROUND WAYNE COUNTY SEPTEMBER 2026 Your Family History Isn't Your Destiny By Billy Tart. DNP, RN Does diabetes run in your family? Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes does increase your risk, but it does not mean diabetes is inevitable. While you cannot change your genet- ics, you can make choices that influ- ence your future health. Regular phys- ical activity, healthier food choices, maintaining a healthy weight, getting adequate sleep, and managing stress can all help reduce the risk of develop- ing type 2 diabetes. The key is not perfection. Small, sustainable changes made over time can make a meaningful difference. Knowing your risk is an important first step, especially because prediabetes often has no symptoms. If you are at increased risk or have been told you have prediabetes, UNC Health Wayne Diabetes HealthCheck can help. A new year-long Diabetes Prevention Pro- gram cohort begins in late September, providing education, encouragement, and support to help participants build healthier habits and reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes. Your family history is part of your story—but it doesn't have to determine the next chapter. For a free diabetes risk screening or to learn about the upcoming Diabe- tes Prevention Program, contact Billy Tart at 919-731-6807 or billy.tartjr@ unchealth.unc.edu. OUR TALK OUR TALK By Clara Barnes Costner Pages now have yellowed The ink, a faded blue shade Poems I had written down Were prayers I had prayed It was during one of those times I had decided to give my life To the only one I knew could help God and His son, Jesus Christ Our Father in heaven, I wrote I need your strength right away Need peace, only you can give It is to you, my closest friend, I pray The few words I had written Came easily to me, very clear Not wanting to share with anyone Knew the Lord was always near Teachers at Calvary Baptist Church Scriptures carefully, patiently taught There at the end of my pen that day, Came easily, without much thought That little flimsy orange notepad Soon, filled with words of praise Our talks, were my prayers to God Taught me never to be afraid God blesses us, Holy Spirit comforts We grow closer, then, we know Feel his presence, love and patience He gives us time to learn and grow "Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you."1st Pet. 5:7 Oh no, it's Crypto! By Jonathan Greeson,CFP® When I started practicing financial planning, the main thing people wanted to know about was cryptocur- rency. Unfortunately, those interested in cryptocurrency were mostly looking for "get rich quick schemes," which is always a red flag. The questions slowed down eventually, but the "fandom" still concerns me. Cryptocurrency may be the future, but do we really understand it? It trades like gold and oth- er commodities, but it moves like those "com- panies" in the Dotcom bubble. For example, in 2018, Bitcoin was $14,644.00. In July 2025, it reached $116,000.00. Then, on August 12, 2026, it was back down to $63,397.00. Yes, some people made money during that roller- coaster ride, but many others lost. I fear that those who lost money in cryptocur- rency may turn against investing in general, which could harm their retirement plans. Loss aversion is very real. It's our tendency to feel the pain of losing more than the happiness of winning. Please don't allow loss aversion to prevent you from pursuing your dreams. There are many ways to invest your money. Life is stressful enough. Why add to it with an uncomfortable level of risk? Yes, you can plan for your future and sleep well at night. I'll be glad to help. Email me! Jonathan Greeson Financial Planning is located in Pikev- ille. For more information, visit www.jonathangreeson. com. Investment advisory services offered through Brookstone Wealth Advisors, LLC (BWA), a registered investment advisor and an affiliate of Brookstone Capital Management, LLC. BWA and Jonathan Greeson Finan- cial Planning are independent of each other. Insurance products and services are not offered through BWA but are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed agents. OPENING DOORS Habitat Homeowner Applications OPEN NOW By Matthew Whittle We don't normally think of late summer and early fall as a time of new beginnings, but for Habitat for Humanity of Golds- boro-Wayne, this is when everything kicks off. This is when our next group of homeowners begins their journey as each September we take new homeownership applications. For the last several months, our staff has been holding information sessions and talking to potential applicants who are preparing and wanting to walk through this door that the community helps us open each year. And so, this is a good time to remind everyone that after a thorough application process that reviews income, debt load, and housing need, our families then spend more than 250 hours partnering to build their homes and prepare themselves for homeownership – all before purchasing their homes. It's also a good time to remind everyone that many of the families applying for Habitat homeownership are the folks who hold our community together – educators, childcare workers, healthcare providers, retail and factory employees, and others who just want a safe, stable, healthy, and affordable place to raise their families and build a better future for themselves. That's why your support is so critical. That's why we want you to help open the door! You can learn more about how to help at our website www.habitatgoldsboro.org, where you can also find our homeowner- ship applications. OCT 15 NOV 14 DEC 8 BREAST HEALTH ADVANCE DIRECTIVES YOGA 7:00 PM Learn practical steps for prevention, early detection, and support. 10:00 AM Make your healthcare wishes known and bring peace of mind to you and your loved ones. 7:00 PM Build your mind-body connection to reduce stress and improve overall health. All levels. FREE UPCOMING SESSIONS Wellness for all Women KNOWLEDGE · CONNECTION · WELL-BEING is always free to the community and is hosted by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church We're here to support, encourage, and walk alongside women in every season of life. 532 Country Day Road Goldsboro, NC 27530 919-735-0128