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Connected by love and wine: this is how this devoted couple has been running their vineyard for 52 years

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Marilyn and Dexter Meadows

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When you’re thinking that of the strong and delicious bouquets of wine, one’s mind will drift to imagining the roaring hills in the guts of the Napa or Sonoma Valley. But Dexter and Marilyn Meadows turned that assumption the other way up by making a picturesque family winery and vineyard, Meadows Estatein the guts of the Umpqua Valley in southern Oregon.

The couple has been married for 52 years, met at Tuskegee University in Alabama during college, and have been together ever since. Although they ran a successful real estate business within the South, recently after retiring they decided to embark on a brand new adventure: the wine business, specifically out west in Oregon. The glaring statistics surrounding vineyard ownership and entrepreneurship within the wine industry didn’t deter Meadows. According to African American Winemakers AssociationBlack winemakers represent lower than 1% of 11,500 wineries. In addition to its charming setting, Meadows Estate is special to locals and visitors since it is proudly Black-owned.

“What makes us unique is the shock and surprise on people’s faces after they discover that we own our vineyard. People tell us that it’s special, that we own it, because few black people own vineyards and wineries. I realize that these are young individuals who admire us,” Marilyn gushed.

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The Meadows’ persistence and willingness to enter a brand new, competitive skilled arena was due partially to their personalities. Marilyn told me that her husband is trustworthy, kind and cares concerning the feelings of others, and Dexter shared the next words about his wife:

“My wife is just brilliant. She was smarter than me. I had to be sure that I had chosen someone who was definitely smarter than me. You need this to ground yourself. We were guided by the same values ​​in terms of what we were looking for in life,” he shared with ESSENCE.

He continued, “We shared traditional Southern values, and part of that was growing up in the same church and having faith.”

This belief led them to Oregon, where they found Meadows Estate Vineyard and Winery, in addition to their real estate experience and passion for discovering premier properties. “At first we weren’t looking for a vineyard, just another property,” Marilyn said. While looking for a business constructing, they encountered several problems, a very powerful of which was the COVID-19 virus. “We were looking for a commercial office building because we had been in the residential management business for over 30 years and were trying to downsize due to working with so many people. However, things started to change in the industry when the Covid-19 virus emerged; most people started working from home,” Dexter said.

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Although it wasn’t the proper time to speculate in a conventional office constructing, Dexter was the right fit to make use of his knowledge of agriculture and construction. “We all the time had this aspiration, as my wife said, to purchase land due to my background in construction and agriculture. And I believed that in retirement we could do something like this on a smaller scale, and that is how we ended up with the vineyard. The idea was to purchase a small vineyard and perhaps sell the fruit,” he said.

Seeds planted several years ago led to the event of their vineyard, which has turn out to be famous throughout the country and in Oregon. Marilyn attributes the acquisition of the land to her destiny. “I think we were destined to find this property. The facility was and is very beautiful. That’s the first thing we noticed about him. It’s also 100 acres and the sunsets were gorgeous. I believe we were destined to find it as we had no problems with the property. This is our dream property. “I said, Dexter, this will be the Meadows estate.” Marilyn became lost in thought.

The Meadows will definitely include their two children in their business as well. “My son lives in Northern California and our daughter Angela lives here with us. She is very committed to making our name famous. He works in the financial industry. So he knows Los Angeles very well. He works closely with us, handling marketing strategy and social media. She is very hands-on and is becoming more familiar with the industry,” Marilyn said.

Like their love, their wines – Grenache, Merlot, Syrah and others (that are delicious, I need to add) are created on a solid foundation of fruit that is cultivated with time, precision and care over the years. “What excites me concerning the wine industry or winemaking is the vineyard-to-bottle perspective. This entire process is essential to producing great wine. You cannot make great wine in case you haven’t got good fruit,” Dexter said.

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Dexter has a self-proclaimed old-school mindset in relation to staying committed to love, and that may extend to wine. “It starts from the very beginning. Once you decide who your partner will be, commit to him and don’t look back. Sure, there will be differences because you are different people. But whatever it is, you have to deal with it and move on. But it’s not hard if you’re committed to the same principles of family values.”

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

The investigation showed that there are less CDC health warnings

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The study reveals that health warnings from disease control centers (CDC) have It decreased amongst explosions across the country.

As the very best within the country, the healthcare agency, CDC goals to save lots of lives and protect people from health threats through critical scientific research and health information. However, as NPR notes, communication with the audience on its platforms died down or was not recurrently updated, as before.

“It works best when his experts can convey the work they do in real time, and this does not happen,” said Kevin Griffis, former communication director at CDC until March.

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He says that people’s lives could be threatened without critical health updates.

Which has modified to CDC

Before the inauguration of President Donald Trump, CDC managed most of her communication through social media platforms and newsletters. The staff communicated health messages every single day, weekly, monthly and quarterly via their network of 150 Bulletins on topics, including diabetes and food safety.

After the inauguration of President Trump, the Department of Health and Social Welfare, who supervises CDC, instructed CDC to vary his communication. Trump The administration sent directives to HHS, which stopped communication At the National Institutes of Health, FDA and CDC until further notice, reports.

As Americans, the change in CDC in health warnings affects

Social media is considered one of the fastest and effective ways to disseminate CDC information. Doctors, scientists and researchers could quickly update the platforms. CDC has over 13 million people on Instagram, X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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ACLeading to the NPR study, some publications that died down include CDC and a weekly publication on diseases. This is among the many historical growth of the Oder in some parts of the USA, Salmonella, Listeria and Viral Inflammation A and C.

The approval of HHS is currently a requirement for publishingBut CDC employees told investigators that the health department officials didn’t accept their content Social media.

However, the communication director at HHS Andrew Nixon says that CDC staff spread false rumors.

Looking on the CDC social media account, Last post on the foremost Facebook The page is a reel with germs and humidifiers on March 31 on the time of this report.

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In the last post of May 14, preliminary data showing a decrease in overdose deaths in 2023–2024 was discussed. Post previously responded to the message of May 3 on inaccurate reports.

(Tagstranslate) Centers for control and prevention of diseases (T) CDC (T) Department of Health and Social Welfare

This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Health and Wellness

Do you think you are too late to build wealth? This is why your 40th is actually the perfect time – essence

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Do you think you are too late to build wealth? This is why your 40th is actually the perfect time

Portrait of a stupendous and trendy young woman on a white background

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For many ladies, achieving a 40-yr-old character is a key moment.

Career stability is often in place, life is in full bloom, and the vision of the next many years begins to crystallize. But for many who haven’t yet began saving for retirement, the same milestone could cause a distinct feeling – a shade. Racquel Oden, head of property management at HSBC USA, is determined to dismantle the myth that it is too late to start constructing wealth.

“The biggest barrier is the fear of starting and the feeling that it is too late,” divides Oden. “I am always clear with everyone – there is no such thing. It is never too late to start thinking about financial health, breath and investing.”

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Confrontation with fear and variability

Traveling towards financial security is often affected by fear – especially in the climate of economic variability. Inflation, changing markets and an unpredictable global economy could make the idea of ​​investing more discouraging than ever. Oden recognizes these reality, but encourages women to confront them.

“Regardless of whether you are in the 1920s, 1930s, 40 or even the 50s, we all feel the same uncertainty,” he explains. “At the moment, many people are paralyzed – they are doing nothing because they do not know what to do. But it’s time to get involved and not reverse. When such an active administration introduces changes every day, it is important to remain active in their investments.”

Instead of avoiding market fluctuations, Oden encourages women to accept financial knowledge as a tool to strengthen. “Understanding how your money works is the first step to grow it,” he insists. “The variability we see is not a reason to resign – this is a reason to resist and learn.”

Building wealth, not only reading skills

Under the leadership of ODEN HSBC, USA focuses on raising financial knowledge amongst women and colourful communities, but he wants to focus outside of education and creating tangible wealth. Through initiatives corresponding to Workshops on the aspiration of wealth, HSBC USA equips women with the ability to build generational wealth.

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“We only need to bypass the ability to read and go towards creating wealth,” emphasizes Oden. “It is not enough to understand what a check account is – you need to know how to earn your money.”

Oden suggests that considered one of the fundamental steps is simply starting. Regardless of whether it is 401 (K), Roth IRA, or diverse investments in shares and everlasting income, the key is to engage in financial planning. “Many women think:” I haven’t got enough to hire a wealth advisor, “but that’s not true. It is about obtaining the right advice, not necessarily having millions in the bank, “he confirms.

Oden also emphasizes the strength of building clear financial goals. “Financial literary without a plan is just information,” he explains. “What are you building? House? Comfortable pension? Set the goal to make your investments a goal.”

Intelligent investments for late starters

In the case of ladies starting their financial travels at the age of 40, Oden recommends low -risk investments that also offer a solid return. “Treasuries now have a good return. Gold is extremely popular, and hedge funds can be intelligent arts,” he advises. “You want to separate your long -term needs from short -term and make sure that your money is still working for you, even if you are just starting.”

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He also emphasizes the importance of remaining in the market despite its variability, citing that many individuals will paralyze fear. “If you withdrew, you would miss the fact that he literally returned to the place where he was – slightly above. Stay on the course with what you have.”

According to Oden, the 40s. They are also a really perfect time for looking for skilled financial advice. “Because you have a shorter window – maybe 10, 15 or 20 years – it is important to get professional tips. It also receives anxiety related to thinking, you need to know everything about investments. That is what a financial planner is for.”

Heritage constructing: why does it matter

Oden also wants women to understand that constructing wealth is not just for individual safety – it is about heritage. “When you take control of your finances, you not only influence your life. You establish a standard for your children, communities and generations,” he says. “We need more black women building wealth, not only for today, but for the future.”

Looking into the future, definitely

Despite the challenges, Oden believes that girls aged 40 are in a perfect position to take control of their financial future. “You are not too late. The best time to start was yesterday. The next best time is today,” he insists.

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Thanks to strategic planning, reasonable investments and the right suggestions, constructing wealth after 40 is not only possible – this is powerful. “Wealth is not just about money; it is about freedom,” sums up Oden. “And every woman deserves it.”

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

Why the quality of gait is important as it ages

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Walking is one of the most important things that we do for our quality of life. In fact, Research shows It contributes greater than another physical activity in how well we live overnight. Already one in three People over the age of 60 report some difficulties in walking.

With age, gradual changes in our bodies and health can change the way I walk, often without realizing. But the way we go, known as our gait pattern, is more important than we might sound. Poor gait not only makes walking harder and more tiring; It can result in joint deformation, instability and greater risk of falls.

Think about your walk like a heart rhythm. Like electrocardiogram (EKG) shows whether your heart works properly, your walk also has a rhythm. When this rhythm is turned off, it will be one of the earliest signs that you’ll not age as well as you’ll be able to.

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Thanks New technologyWe can now easier and thoroughly measure the quality of gait. One promising tool is Heel2toe wearing sensor. This small device attaches to the shoe and follows the movement of the ankle while walking, grabbing the series of gait in real time.



A healthy step begins with a heavy heel impact. Your weight moves on the sole of the foot, ending with pushing out of your toes. When the foot rises, it changes cleanly – without dragging or drawing. This smooth sequence creates a rhythm in the movement of the ankle, which, when it is coherent, resembles the type of “walking ECG”.

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But with time, Many individuals are unknowingly accepting Less efficient movement patterns. These modified gaits could appear normal, but they are sometimes unstable, tiring or dangerous.

The older man fell to the floor while walking
A weak gait can increase the risk of falls.
https://www.shtterstock.com/image-photo/asian-senior-palling-on-grund-2147078055

Weak gait reduces confidenceIt increases the risk of falling and might discourage people from walking in any respect. The less we walk, the weaker our muscles turn out to be – deterioration of the problem. This is a flawed cycle.

Giving as much as walk well

The excellent news is that we are able to Losing our gait.

The Heel2toe sensor not only monitors your movements – that is also Encourages higher walking. When he detects a superb step (the one which starts with a heavy heel impact), provides audio guidance as positive feedback. Over time, the following pointers help discover a stronger, more stable walking pattern. Good gait becomes your latest norm. Tools such as Heel2toe help people tune in to their body signals and achieve sustainable progress.

The goal is not only to maneuver – it’s higher.

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Of course, being physically energetic is Only one aspect What does it mean to live well as you aged.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjujlrx9GC

To get a more complete picture of healthy aging Researchers have developed A tool that measures how often older adults experience key facets of well -being. This tool – a tan measure (elderly people to energetic life) – goes beyond tracking what people do. He asks how they feel about their lives.

Opal may help people understand their very own well -being and offers decision -makers and communities a option to assess how their services support older residents – not only physically, but in addition socially and emotionally.

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For people, which means that even small improvements, such as higher gait, can result in significant changes in how you’re feeling: more confident, more mobile and more independent.

For the community, it is a reminder that promoting physical activity is important – but insufficient. We also need programs, spaces and services that support the combination, goal, creativity and joy.

What does “active life” really mean?

IN International study 2024Older adults in Canada, Great Britain, the USA and the Netherlands shared, which suggests “active life” for them – in 4 languages ​​and cultural contexts.

They identified 17 different “ways of being” that contribute to activity. Physical health was just one part. Others included the feeling: self -confidence, combined, creative, energized, encouraged, engaged, glad, mentally healthy, independent, interested, mentally, motivated, resistant and self -sufficient.

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In other words, energetic life is not only taking (or counting) steps, it’s about how you’re feeling while taking them.

Aging is inevitable. But is getting old well? This is something that we are able to shape – step-by-step.

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This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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