August is an Interesting Month

Interesting things you probably never knew about August…. :)

“After Lammas Day, corn ripens as much by night as by day.”

• August 1, traditionally known as Lammas Day, was an old festival to mark the annual wheat and corn harvest. It was a sort of Thanksgiving (harvest time) in Britain. Lammas also marked the mid-point between the summer solstice and autumn equinox.  

• August 10 is St. Lawrence’s Day. “Fair weather on St. Lawrence’s Day presages a fair autumn.” 
   

• August 11 marks the end of the Dog Days of Summer, which began on July 3.
   

• August 17 is when the Cat Nights begin, harking back to a rather obscure Irish legend concerning witches; this bit of folklore also led to the idea that a cat has nine lives.
   

• August 19 brings National Aviation Day, chosen for the birthday of Orville Wright who piloted the first recorded flight of a powered heavier-than-air machine in 1903.
   

• August 24 is St. Bartholomew Day. “At St. Bartholomew, there comes cold dew.”
   

• August 26 is Women’s Equality Day, which celebrates the 1920 ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment and, with it, women’s right to vote in the United States.

Digital Wallet - What is That?

We live in an era dominated by smartphones and online transactions. Traditional wallets are gradually being replaced by their digital counterparts. Also known as e-wallets, these innovative payment solutions have gained popularity and are transforming the way we make payments and conduct banking transactions. Digital wallets are a game-changer in personal finance.

What are digital wallets?

Digital wallets are software-based platforms or applications that securely store payment information on a mobile device or computer. They allow people to make in-person and online purchases, send and receive money, pay bills, keep different cards, and much more. Digital wallets use near-field communication (NFC) technology and QR codes to facilitate seamless and contactless transactions with another person or business establishment.

How to use digital wallets?

Apple, Android, and Samsung smartphones have a pre-installed and secure Wallet app to hold your credit cards, banking information, insurance cards, events tickets, boarding passes, loyalty reward cards, etc. The first step to using your digital wallet is to add a card or banking information to your Wallet app. Once you’ve added a payment method on iPhones, double-press the power button to quickly access your cards from the lock screen. On Androids, tap on the small wallet icon in the bottom right corner of your lock screen. Then, simply hold your phone near the card reader and authenticate the payment with your fingerprint, PIN, or facial recognition.

What are the risks of digital wallets?

Although most people are concerned about the security of mobile digital wallets, the truth is that it is the most secure payment method:

• All transactions are encrypted, and your bank account or card information is hidden from vendors.

• Making any payment requires you to authenticate biometrically or with your PIN or password.

• Many mobile digital wallets offer fraud protection if your account gets compromised.

The biggest risk of using a digital wallet is your phone battery dying: no battery, no wallet, no cash.

What if I lose my phone?

Just like the pickle you might find yourself in when you lose a regular wallet, losing your smartphone does not affect your digital wallet. Not only can you remotely erase a lost phone from any computer, but also, making any payment using your wallet requires a secret pass code, and each time you make a transaction, the wallet keeps a detailed transaction receipt, including the map address for each transaction.

Helping Veterans is Helping America

Your work matters. Enjoy your holiday with your family! Our office will open again on Wednesday.

Grand Rapids is Age-Friendly (Copy)

Did you know that Grand Rapids is recognized as an Age-Friendly community? In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched Age-Friendly Communities to help cities prepare for the parallel trends of a rapidly aging world population and increasing urbanization. In 2016 the City of Grand Rapids partnered with AARP, an institutional affiliate of WHO, to pursue and obtain accreditation as an Age-Friendly Community. The global initiative aspires to:

The Work of AARP and the City included extensive community engagement and resulted in the draft Grand Rapids Age-Friendly Action Plan. The Action Plan aligns with the City of Grand Rapids values and focuses on Four Domains of Livability with each domain having its own set of Goals and Action Steps.

Click here to learn more.