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9 THE BUZZ AROUND WAYNE COUNTY OCTOBER 2026 Every Step Counts: Step Into Better Health This Fall By Billy Tart. DNP, RN Fall is arriving in Wayne County! Cooler tem- peratures, colorful leaves, pumpkin patch- es, fall festivals, and other outdoor activities make October a great time to get out- side and get moving. Physical activity doesn't have to mean going to a gym or running a marathon. Explore a fall festival, work in the yard, take the dog for a walk, play with the grandchildren, or enjoy a 10-minute walk after dinner. The important thing is to move more and sit less. Regular physical activity can help your body use insulin more effectively, sup- port a healthy weight, strengthen your heart, reduce stress, and lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. You don't have to become an athlete to become more active. Start where you are and choose activities you enjoy. Every step counts. This fall, don't just enjoy the changing season—use it as an opportunity to make a healthy change of your own. UNC Health Wayne Diabetes Health- Check offers free diabetes risk screen- ings at workplaces, churches, and community gatherings, as well as pre- sentations on diabetes prevention and healthy living. To schedule a screening or presentation, contact Billy Tart at 919-731-6807 or billy.tartjr@unchealth. unc.edu. CHRIST CHRIST KNOWS KNOWS ABOUT IT ABOUT IT By Clara Barnes Costner OCTOBER: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalms 27:2 Being mistreated makes one feel pow- erless. We are exhausted because of the tears we shed and feel hopeless and unsure. We try moving forward in a con- fused, weak and frightened state of mind. Some with broken spirits, hearts, homes, lives, just broken. In a perpetual state of trying to self-mend. Psalms 34:18, David writes to us "the Lord is nigh them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." When we realize and admit we are not powerful enough to eradicate unpleasant- ries we must go to God and leave broken situations with Him because He loves us. Christ says in St. John 10:10, "…..I am come that they we might have life, and they might have it more abundantly." Admit sin and turn from it, believe Jesus is the Son of God, invite Him into your heart, was crucified, died, was buried and rose on the third day. He will increase your faith, strengthen your heart, and direct your path and mend all that is broken. He loves you. Roth the Vote! By Jonathan Greeson,CFP® Nothing bothers me more than election campaign advertisements. According to them, we must choose between two demons in a suit. How can we be stuck with these choices if they're so awful? Finance makes more sense to me. If you own a stock, but no longer like the company or their leadership, then you sell it. By selling the company's stock you're "voting with your feet." I wish elections were that simple. We can't just leave the greatest country in the world. We must wait until another election. We can also open a Roth IRA. Financial planning is more about freedom than greed. A Roth IRA can be your first step to that freedom. Also, Roth IRAs aren't taxable, which is always good news! Financial independence isn't only about paying bills. It also limits the impact political deci - sions have on us. When we have nothing, a cut to Medicaid can be devastating. However, with enough wealth to buy our own health insurance, we become less dependent on our government. Voting is our duty. However, our choice should be based on our personal beliefs, not fear. Save what you can, open a Roth IRA, and let it be your first step to financial indepen - dence. Email me! Jonathan Greeson Financial Planning is located in Pikeville. For more information, visit www.jonathangree- son.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 Financial 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: Not Just Opening New Doors By Matthew Whittle We talk a lot at Habitat about opening new doors to new opportunities for families through our new home construction program. But sometimes that opportunity can be just behind an old door that's stuck. And that's where our home repair program comes in. Maybe it's not the best metaphor, but the folks, often elderly, who apply to Habitat for our critical home roof repair program are stuck behind closed doors. They are living in a home they own, dealing with the physical and mental health impacts of having a roof that is leaking, with few affordable repair options. Physically, when roofs begin leaking, moisture and mold are not far behind. Psychologically, our clients often tell us how anxious and on edge they become when there are storms at night or while they're away, because they're always wondering what new damage they will find when they wake up or return. And so even as we have just ended our new home application period and continue work on McNair Heights, critical home roof repairs are becoming a bigger and bigger part of our efforts in the community. But the challenge, as always, is funding, especially since Habitat subsidizes 75% of the cost of repairs and the homeowners pay their portion as they are able. So if you're interested this repair mission, visit www. habitatgoldsboro.org, and earmark your donation for repairs. .