Page 18 - Pakistan Link - March 17, 2023

P18 - PAKISTAN LINK - MARCH 17, 2023 COMMENTARY
Coping with Mountains of Snow in the delivering medicine.
n By Tim Arango networks, shoveling out neighbors and

CRESTLINE, CA: Goodwin & Sons Still, there was growing concern
Market, with its old-fashioned soda San Bernardino Mountains for neighbors still trapped and fears
counter and sweet shop, has been a that more people might not be found
hub of civic life in Crestline, high in the residents trickled into the Stockade alive. The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Of-
San Bernardino Mountains, for nearly Grub & Whiskey, open in the town fice said Thursday that it was investi-
eight decades. since 1954, for beers or bison burgers. gating 13 deaths that happened during
Now it’s starting over. Farther up in the mountains, the storm, although it had determined
When a devastating storm swept along winding, narrow passageways, so far that just one, from a traffic acci-
through the region northeast of Los rescue crews were still reaching people dent, was directly related to the storm.
Angeles, dropping nearly 10 feet of who had been trapped for more than Officials were examining another eight
snow, the roof of the market caved in a week, after a storm dropped a deep deaths that were possibly linked to the
one snowy night, leaving the Good- blanket of snow that collapsed roofs, storm.
wins scrambling to save the family buried houses and cars, sent trees But with rescues still underway,
business. crashing down and left roads impass- and more bad weather bearing down,
“We’ve got to start rebuilding,” able. a race was on to save people. A fam-
Bridgett Goodwin said this week as she “They’re still getting people out,” ily was rescued on Thursday after they
cleared out the office to get ready for said Paul Holaday, a public informa- were snowed in, and their roof partially
bulldozers to raze the property. “We’re tion officer for the Orange County Fire collapsed. (“They are outdoor people,
the only market in town.” Authority. “There are still areas they so they had food for a month,” said
Snowstorms are a fact of life here. haven’t gotten to.” Brandon Halle, a firefighter involved in
During winters in childhood, Good- Jeremy Cote, an employee at Goodwin & Sons Market, and Bridgett Goodwin, one of the Jammie Kline, 54, trudged along the rescue effort.)
win would snowshoe to the store with owners, carry out boxes after the roof caved in at the business, in Crestline, Calif., March 9, Lake Drive on Thursday after picking Crestline was developed early
her family to make sure marooned res- 2023 - Jenna Schoenefeld/The New York Times) up her mail for the first time in a week in the last century by a citrus grower
idents could get food. their homes. During the storm, she “You’re going to hear more stories and a half. “We’re helping each other who was looking to set up a sawmill
“But never anything like this,” said, her nephew, a firefighter in near- like that,” she said. up here,” she said. to make wooden boxes for ship-
she said, describing the moment the by Lake Arrowhead, was constantly All along Lake Drive in the cen- Kline, who bags groceries at a ping oranges around the country.
building collapsed as being like an ava- checking on older residents, making ter of Crestline, there was a beehive of Stater Bros store in Lake Arrowhead, The town has long drawn a mixture
lanche. “The whole roof went poof. My sure they had enough food and de- activity this week. Crews of firefighters said that like many other residents of woodsy types, New Age seekers
brother was blown a hundred feet.” livering medications to them. When in yellow pants shoveled snow from the she was frustrated by the slow initial looking to escape city life, and more
As she worked, she thought of the a neighbor, a man in his 80s who had roof of the post office. Traffic moved response to the storm from county au- recently, blue-collar workers who
rest of the community, and the many health problems, died, the body was slowly, confined by high walls of snow thorities, but that the community came commute to warehouses around
people who might still be trapped in kept in the garage for days to stay cool. on each side of the street. A few weary together, organizing food distribution (Continued on page 23)

n By Miriam Mohamed Book Review: Nusaiba and the 5th Grade Bullies defended the Prophet against physical
Chicago, IL harm! This main character Nusaiba de-
fends her mother and the hijab!
t is no secret that Islamophobia is cause the next day Nusaiba is still wor- Nusaiba and the 5th Grade Bul-
rampant throughout the world in ried the bullies will continue comment- lies is an exciting and engaging book
I this day and age. Muslims and espe- ing on her mom and is self-conscious about self-acceptance and the impor-
cially children suffer from bullying and the entire day. After school her mother tance of standing up to bullying. This
alienation. According to recent studies, picks her and Emily up and takes them book is a creative way to open the door
Muslim students in public schools face shopping. It is at the store where Nu- to important conversations about the
bullying at twice the rate of their non- saiba realizes that she loves her mother’s challenges of Islamophobia and bul-
Muslim peers. These days, being a prac- hijab and enjoys wrapping herself with- lying and to model the importance of
ticing Muslim is becoming very chal- in them. With each hijab she tries on, self-acceptance, confidence, standing
lenging. It is crucial to building a young Nusaiba is swept away to far off lands up for one’s self, harnessing our imagi-
Islamic identity from an early age. with amazing adventures. Through the nation, and to focus on what matters
In Nusaiba and the 5th Grade fantastical journey of adventure and most in life.
Bullies by Asmaa Hussein, third-grad- self-discovery, Nusaiba gains the con- (Miriam Mohamed is a mother
er Nusaiba enjoys going to school! She fidence necessary to embrace her iden- to seven children and a granny to two
is skipping beside her mother excited tity and stand up for herself. cats! She loves trying new things and
for today’s Show and Tell and cannot The book has an interesting twist learning cool facts. She has taught in an
wait to share a snail she found in her such a weirdo!” one of them chuckles her teacher asks if something is wrong at the end, but it is a definite must read Islamic school setting, has experience
garden! She kisses her mother goodbye to the other. Nusaiba says no. Her best friend, Emily for all young Muslim children. The assisting children with special needs,
and hurries to her classroom when she This comment affects the rest of reassures her that this is typical bully main character Nusaiba is named af- and enjoys volunteering and being a
hears muffled laughter from two fifth- little Nusaiba’s day, she cannot stop behavior, and that Nusaiba should for- ter the companion of the Prophet Mu- part of the community. Miriam lives in
grade boys behind her. “Did you see thinking about it, and assumes they are get about it. hammad, peace and blessings be upon Chicago with her beautiful flowering
what Nusaiba’s mom is wearing? She’s referring to her mother’s hijab. When But the damage has been done be- him, who fought alongside men and cherry tree and big family.)

n By Saghir A. Aslam Financially Speaking, What’s Your Money’s Worth though the premium is going up every
Rawalpindi, Pakistan year. I do not want to take a chance
to use my savings if the house burns
(The following information is pro- nor retiree-friendly, it's legal under Someone asks a question that our down, and the second part, if someone
vided solely to educate the Muslim com- federal law, says St Louis attorney Jerry house insurance goes up every year. We sues you. You don’t know how large the
munity about investing and financial Schlitter. He should know; his firm has own our home with no mortgage and amount is going to be that you have to
planning. It is hoped that the Ummah will filed more than 30 lawsuits alleging we have saved. We are in our 70s. Is pay. It may be all of your savings and
benefit from this effort through greater fi- that other types of plan fees are exces- there a case in which not buying hom- much more.
nancial empowerment, enabling the com- sive. eowners insurance makes sense? (Saghir A. Aslam only explains
munity to live securely with dignity and More bad news: That $50 charge is My answer is we all should know strategies and formulas that he has
fulfill their religious and moral obligations not only legal but is also commonplace. that insurance is almost a necessity un- been using. He is merely providing
towards charitable activities) Twenty-two percent of 403(b) plans less one wants to ensure himself. This information, and NO ADVICE is
and 56 percent of 401(k) plans charge means if the house burns down you given. Mr Aslam does not endorse
ast year, when one person, let’s a fee for retirement plan distributions, have enough money to rebuild the or recommend any broker, broker-
call him Raza, took a required according to the Plan Sponsor Council house and at another point, if some- age firm, or any investment at all,
L minimum distribution from of America; the median cost for both fees you'll be saving on future with- body falls down on your property you nor does he suggest that anyone will
my 403(b) account, I was charged types of accounts is $50. drawals - for example, if you'd have to have plenty of amount to pay whatever earn a profit when or if they purchase
a $50 fee. I under- So, what to do? If your former pay a big surrender charge on a vari- the person deaminates or whatever the stocks, bonds, or any other invest-
stand being charged employer won't drop the fee based on able annuity. To avoid the possibility court decides that you should pay. ments. All stocks or investment ve-
for other withdraw- complaints from you and other retir- of a big tax bill for a switch, do what's You should evaluate yourself: do hicles mentioned are for illustrative
als but not for gov- ees, you could roll your 403(b) over called a direct rollover to an IRA. And you want to take this chance and en- purposes only. Mr Aslam is not an at-
ernment-mandated to an IRA at a brokerage that doesn't make sure that the investments avail- sure yourself or continue to pay the torney, accountant, real estate broker,
MDs. Is this legal? charge for taking MDs. If you go that able in the new IRA carry fees, or ex- ensure even though it does go up every stockbroker, investment advisor, or
Unfortunately, route, however, don't do anything that pense ratios, no higher than those of year? Personally, I would prefer to buy certified financial planner. Mr Aslam
while this charge is neither employee- will end up costing you more than the the investments you're in right now. insurance and pay the premium even does not have anything for sale.)
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