A Christian-music artist healing others through song

By Sue Baldani

“My goal is to really encourage people, and remind them that there’s always hope, regardless of the pain and the trials that we go through,” says Katy Nichole. She should know. A few years ago, she felt like giving up, but says she heard God’s voice telling her He wasn’t done with her yet. She persevered, and today, at the age of 22, she’s a Christian music superstar who has accomplished her dream of singing at the Grand Ole Opry.

Her lyrics are deep and meaningful, and many of the words come from the despair and challenges she’s experienced. Katy Nichole was born with congenital scoliosis, and at the age of 15, had to have surgery to try to correct it. It left her in pain every single day which led to a deep depression and debilitating anxiety.

Another operation, along with her strong faith, brought Katy Nichole out of the darkness. “After the second back surgery, I had an encounter with the Lord and it was really like the light had come back into my life.”

She adds, “I know pain, I know struggle, and I know the feeling of hopelessness, so when I write songs, I write to reach the person who thinks that hope is gone and who maybe is in the middle of what I’ve been through. I want to make them feel like they’re not alone in their struggles, whether it’s me reminding them or the Lord speaking through my songs.”

Katy Nichole grew up singing in church choirs and always had an interest in music and being on stage. Her Grandma Jan, who is also a singer, asked her to perform Amazing Grace with her one day. “I have a video of us singing together – it’s the sweetest thing,” she says. “She always encouraged me to sing.”

In 2020, on a whim, she posted herself singing one of her songs, In Jesus Name (God of Possible), on TikTok. She never could have foreseen what was about to happen. A few hours after posting, the video had over one million views.

In 2022, the song became the biggest hit of the decade on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and stayed there for a record-breaking 20 weeks. Katy Nichole was also nominated for an American Music Award, co-hosted and performed on the GMA Dove Awards Pre-Telecast and saw another one of her songs, God is in This Story, hit number one as well last year.  

In February, she launched her full-length debut album, Jesus Changed My Life, and has become one of Christian music’s fastest-rising artists. She is also set to release her third radio single, “Hold On.”

Her family, she says, gave her a solid foundation and the tools to have a relationship with the Lord. It’s this foundation and faith she relies on today to manage her meteorological rise to fame.

“I didn’t expect my music to do what it did or even hit radio stations, and then suddenly, it’s reached a lot of people,” says Katy Nichole. “I’m just taking in the ways that it’s impacted people and brought healing into their lives. I’m on a stage and I have a platform to be able to share my love of Jesus with so many.  God has given me that opportunity.”

Last year, she toured venues across the country with Jeremy Camp, Matthew West and other Christian musicians on the K-LOVE Christmas Tour. “It’s pretty surreal,” she says. “I’ve been able to meet the people who I’ve looked up to for so long and I’ve made some friends. I’m really grateful for the way that I’ve been welcomed into a community of really good people.” This March, she began a 30-city tour.

“I definitely want to stick with it for as long as the Lord leads me to do so, but I would say that my greatest passion is in writing the music,” she says. “It’s where I find myself most alive.”

KatyNichole.com

Written for Franklin Lifestyle magazine in Tennessee.

By Sue Baldani

We often wait to give gifts on special days, such as birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, and/or anniversaries. But, who doesn’t like to receive a little treat “just because”? It can be just because someone is a good friend, or just because we want to let a loved one know how much he or she means to us.

The gift doesn’t have to be large or expensive – as the saying goes, it’s the thought that counts. So, if your sister likes candles, buy her one at the little gift store in town and she’ll think of you every time she lights it. If your best friend loves chocolate, pick up a special bar or box the next time you spot a chocolate shop. When she indulges, she’ll think about what a great friend she has. How about a nice tin of tea for your mom? Again, the gift can be small, but extremely meaningful. Best of all, the recipients will know that you’re thinking about them and listening when they talk about the things that bring them joy.

If you’re not sure what to buy for one of your favorite people, ask a salesperson for help. Small local stores are treasure troves of great advice when it comes to buying the perfect something. If your uncle likes fishing, they may be able to steer you to a box of cookies shaped like fish, or a sign that declares, “I’d rather be fishing.”

Many of our local mom and pop shops are hidden gems full of the most unique and special items. Even if you don’t need to buy something at the moment, it’s fun to walk around, chat with the owners and get ideas. One day, when in need of a gift, something they have might be the perfect thing. Or, someone else may mention needing a particular present, and you can send them to the right place.

Gifting can be all about love and appreciation. It doesn’t have to be congratulatory or obligatory, and it’s more fun to choose items at will. Next time you see a scarf that Aunt Betty might like, pick it up and give it to her right away. There’s no bad time to receive a present.

Written for The Country Register newspapers across the U.S.

By Sue Baldani

When something goes wrong or breaks, a common refrain is “Call the guy.” This is the person who’s an expert in his craft and whom homeowners and business owners trust to get the job done, and done right.

When it comes to technology, New Jersey native Giovanni Atanasio is the guy. With over 30 years of experience in the field, and after working for prestigious corporations like Goldman Sachs and Liz Claiborne, he founded MyPCGuy, LLC in 2017.

“I’m a Microsoft Cloud service provider, Dell certified and can handle all types of technology,” he says. “I personally go to people’s homes and improve their internet reception, pick up laptops with cracked screens, fix them and drop them back off, and do anything else needed. I provide white glove service.”

Gio also has many corporate clients who pay a monthly fee for him to maintain their networks, do backups, set up websites and professional email systems, handle cybersecurity and build networks and servers from the ground up.

“I manage and monitor clients’ networks 24/7 and at the end of the month they get a document showing all the work I’ve done.”

One small business client whose computer died was told by another tech person that her data was lost. “I couldn’t save the computer, but I was able to extract all the data,” says Gio. “I was even able to provide her with another laptop, migrate the data and get her up and running quickly.”

Gio believes in providing the best service with honesty and integrity and at very fair prices. “I will never sell you something that you don’t need. My father taught us if we wanted to be successful in life, we always had to show customers the value of our work.”

Word of mouth is the backbone of MyPCGuy. “People trust me and call me again and again,” he says. “Corporations who provide technology services only look at numbers, but I want a lifetime relationship with my clients.”

He services the entire state and will even go further for bigger jobs. He’s actually traveling to Nantucket to assist a new client.

Gio’s future goal, as his business grows and he’s able to hire more and more people, is to give back to those who make his company successful. “When the company does well, I want my employees to do well,” he says. “This mean giving out bonuses and maybe having a raffle where people can win trips. I want to give people the ability to enjoy their lives and spend time with their families, not just work.”

Gio loves helping others and doesn’t have much downtime, but when he does, he loves spending time with his family. He and his wife, Lucy, recently celebrated their 19th anniversary. They have two daughters, 17-year-old Gabriella and 14-year-old Francesca. “We also have a little Yorkie dog named Rocky,” he says. “He’s the only other male in the house.”

Contact Gio at 973-963-4407, email info@mypcguy.us or go to MyPCGuy.US.

Written for The Showcase Magazine in New Jersey.

Tips and strategies for raising kids to be the salt of the earth

By Sue Baldani

Steve Hines of Thompson’s Station has always had a need to express himself creatively, and for many years, he did that musically. But last fall, he had a sudden inspiration to write a book. “It was September of 2022 and I was sitting in total silence when the Lord told me to write a book on parenting. It had never even crossed my mind before, but I knew that was what I was supposed to do.”

He went home and started writing, and about 15 hours later, he had the first draft of Salt, Light & Kids: Parenting Well in Today’s Culture. “It’s about 200 pages and it just poured out of me,” says Steve. “I have a lot of frustration with society today. There are just so many voices, so much noise, so much clutter, and a lot of that feeds into self-centered tendencies with us and our kids. I really wanted to call parents back to teaching their kids how to be the salt of the earth – how to be responsible, hardworking, honest, humble, and how to have a servant heart and respect others.”

Steve also wants parents to examine their own behaviors. “One of the biggest problems is social media and technology, and I challenge parents in both their own consumption and their children’s consumption. It not only leads to a cluttered mind, but a huge increase in mental health issues.” 

There are many tips for parents throughout the book. One is that kids don’t have to be entertained all the time. “Kids can have a day off and not have to go to every activity or do everything their schoolmates are doing,” he says. “Let them just play and entertain themselves.” 

The book, which was published this year, can be found everywhere books, e-books and audio books are sold.  

Published in Thompson’s Station Lifestyle magazine in Tennessee.

Spend the day at the zoo and experience a world of fun

By Sue Baldani

“The World In Your Backyard” is the perfect tagline for the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. For the past 60 years, it has been bringing incredible species from around the world for children and adults to experience up close and in person. With over 400 animals representing 156 species, the zoo draws over 900,000 visitors in an average year.

Two popular attractions include the Africa Adventure exhibit featuring giraffes, lions, hyenas, and penguins, and the Amazing Asia exhibit, with its clouded leopards and red pandas. And of course, the flamingos, with their colorful plumage, receive a lot of attention.

While there, guests can also visit Andy, a 64-year-old Aldabra tortoise, and Adak, a bald eagle estimated to be 33 years old and who’s also the zoo’s longest resident, having arrived in 1997. There are also reptiles, birds, incredible insects and more.

“Most of our animals come from other zoos and facilities,” says Katherine Hartwyk, deputy director of the Essex County Parks Department. In addition to housing and feeding the animals, taking care of their mental and physical health are top priorities. In September of 2006, Turtle Back Zoo was granted accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, which means that it adheres to the highest standards for zoos in the country.

Along with the exhibits, there are other experiences that shouldn’t be missed. “Our train ride takes riders past our giraffe yard, which is always a hit, and the carousel is fun to ride,” Hartwyk says.

When it’s time for a bite to eat, the Savanna Café features a variety of food options and, for adults who wish to relax with a beer or cocktail, there’s a full bar on the second floor.

Turtle Back Zoo also offers rental pavilions for private events such as birthday celebrations, weddings and corporate parties. If the event is held after hours, guests have the whole zoo to themselves.

Many educational programs are held on site too, and the zoo has an outreach team that goes to festivals and other public events, as well as into schools to present programs throughout the year.

In addition to buying tickets and donating, another great way to support everything that the zoo offers is to become a member, which includes a lot of special perks. “When you’re a member of the zoo, you’re also supporting our nonprofit arm, the New Jersey Zoological Society,” says Katherine.

Since Turtle Back Zoo is part of the South Mountain Recreation Complex, visitors can also find a mini golf course, paddle boats, zip lining, a picnic area, playground and other attractions within walking distance. In the summer, there are free movies on the parking deck every Wednesday night. After a day of fun-filled activities, many people walk over to McLoone’s Boathouse for a nice dinner.

Says Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., “We are proud of how our zoo has grown and been transformed into a respected educational resource and recreational destination.”

To plan your visit, go to TurtleBackZoo.com.

Published in Chatham & Short Hills Lifestyle magazine in New Jersey.