Newspaper Page Text
Page 2 — Wednesday, October 26, 2022, The True Citizen
Trick or Treat: Why do we do it?
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
According to the National
Retail Federation, Flalloween
is the country’s second largest
commercial holiday, boasting
an estimated $3.1 billion in
candy sales.
The roots of the holiday
stem from the ancient Celtic
festival of Samhain in which
people gathered during the
Middle Ages, dressed and per-
Covering the gap
formed as ghosts and demons
in exchange for food and drink,
possibly paving the way for
modern trick or treating.
The spread of Christianity
brought about All Soul’s Day
celebrations, a time for hon
oring the dead. Resembling
the ancient Samhain festivals,
they consisted of bonfires and
masquerades.
“Poor people would visit the
houses of wealthier families
and receive pastries called
soul cakes in exchange for a
promise to pray for the souls
of the homeowners’ dead rela
tives,” according to Flistory.
com. “Known as souling, the
practice was later taken up by
children, who would go from
door-to-door asking for gifts
such as food, money and ale.”
In Scotland and Ireland,
young people took part in a tra
dition called guising. Dressed
in costumes, they would sing
or recite a poem in exchange
Foundation targets unserved
patients in Burke County
The lump shows up at a rou
tine mammogram. The thyroid
has enlarged. There’s blood in
the stool. The EKG reading is
abnormal.
Every one of these indica
tors are symptoms of potential
ly life-threatening conditions
or disease. These conditions
are often identified through
preventive screenings at the
local health department, and
additional tests are needed
to diagnose and determine
severity.
But for so many of the
under-privileged and under
insured residents of Burke
County, they have no way to
cover the cost of further evalu
ation to learn their diagnosis
and treatment options.
“There is potential for dev
astating health effects to fol
low due to lack of access and
continuity of care,” Burke
County Health Department
Nurse Manager Gina Rich
ardson somberly points out,
noting many of these patients
simply go untreated.
A significant population
in our county, Richardson
says, falls in the gap between
eligibility for state and fed
eral programs and having the
ability to afford primary care
services. Many of those that
qualify for government health
insurance programs don’t have
the resources to cover the high
deductibles.
This literal life and death
gap is what led to the estab
lishment of the Burke County
Health Foundation, the first of
its kind in the State of Geor
gia. The foundation will pro
vide resources for established
health department patients
who need further evaluation
for potentially life-threatening
conditions but can’t afford
these next steps. They must
meet current federal poverty
guidelines, be residents of
Burke County and be estab
lished patients at the Burke
County Health Department.
“The beauty of the health
foundation is that it com
pliments health services we
already provide,” Richardson
says, noting the health depart
ment’s mission to provide pre
ventive health care. “And it is
one-hundred percent supported
by caring members of our
community, including those
who are generously donating
as well as partnering providers
who have agreed to offer these
services at reduced rates.”
KICK OFF EVENT
The BCHF welcomes Tim Tebow on Thursday,
November 10.
The Heisman trophy winner will speak at the Burke
County High School J.D. Smith Auditorium at 6:30
p.m.
Tickets sales benefit the foundation and its mission
to serve our community’s underprivileged.
For tickets, call 706-55-3456.
Make a plan to
VOTE!
November 8, 2022
General Election
Vote Early In-Person
Any registered voter in Burke County may vote early in-person at the Board of Elections and Registration
Office, 602 North Liberty St. Waynesboro, GA 30830, on one of the following dates:
October 17—October 22: Monday through Saturday from 9:00AM to 5:00PM
October 24—October 29: Monday through Saturday from 9:00AM to 5:00PM
October 31—November 4: Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Vote By-Mail
Any registered voter in Burke County may request an absentee ballot by-mail. The deadline to request an
absentee ballot by-mail is October 28, 2022. Ballot requests may be submitted in one of the following
ways:
-In-person at the Board of Elections Office 602 North Liberty St. Waynesboro, GA 30830
-By-mail at P.O. Box 923 Waynesboro, GA 30830
-Via email at burkereg@burkecounty-ga.gov
Via fax at 1-866-914-7974
Vote Election Day
On November 8, 2022, all 16 Burke County polling locations will be open from 7:00AM to 7:00PM. Voters
must vote at their assigned polling location on Election Day.
To verify your registration information or view your sample ballot, please visit:
mvp.sos.ga.gov
For additional information or questions please contact the Burke County Board of Elections
and Registration Office at:
Email: burkereg@burkecounty-ga.gov -OR- Phone: 706-554-7457
for a treat. In England, chil
dren dressed in costumes and
begged for pennies in honor
of Guy Fawkes Night. Fawkes
was executed for his role in
the Catholic-led conspiracy to
blow up England’s parliament
building, thereby removing
Protestant King James I from
power, according to History,
com. Some
American
SEE
colonists
continued to
HALLOWEEN,
FREE WILLS CLINIC
Georgia
Legal
Services
Program
DO YOU NEED HELP DRAFTING A WILL,
OR OTHER DOCUMENTS TO MAKE YOUR
IMPORTANT WISHES KNOWN?
MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2022 10:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M.
BURKE COUNTY SENIOR CENTER
717 W. 6TH STREET, WAYNESBORO, GA 30830
Space is limited and advance registration is required!
Interested individuals
must complete the
registration process by
calling (762) 201-3331
no later than Friday,
November 11.
For more information,
contact Michelle Torres
at mtorres@glsp.org.
Attorneys from GLSP will
provide FREE assistance
for eligible individuals
who need help with:
• Simple Wills
• Financial Powers of
Attorney
• Advanced Directives
for Healthcare
GLSP serves individuals with low incomes, as well as eligible seniors. If you meet these requirements
and live in a GA county OTHER THAN Fulton, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, or Gwinnett, you may call 833-
457-7529 (833-GLSP LAW) to apply for assistance with civil legal matters not addressed at this clinic.
J
a/ Non, Oct 311 3:00pm-5:30pm
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#1
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Iks/
BURKE HEALTH
Healthcare
isn’t Scary.
I This is a Drive-Thru Trick-or-Treat
Event through Waynesboro’s
Medical District. Turn off Liberty
3 Street onto Dogwood Drive to
begin. Event Ends beside
Medical Specialist.
SAMANTHA CARR