BE SMART, GET RINEHARDT Rinehardt Law | RinehardtLawFirm.com | 419-LAW-2020
DECEMBER 2020
PUTTING A BOW ON 2020
Not every week is smooth or easy, but I’m so glad to say that my boys are continuing to learn and grow. I’m also happy to report that my extended family has stayed healthy. In the year of a pandemic, that is no small feat. It is certainly not something I take for granted anymore. Another truly positive part of the year for me has been my position here at Rinehardt Injury Attorneys. Though the methods of meeting with clients have changed, I still love getting to know the people who come here. We connect with them because of their struggles, but we also have the pleasure of being able to share a bit in their joys. Even though I have spent most days worrying about quarantines, shutdowns, and positive cases, I routinely get to see clients light up when they tell me about a new grandchild, a promotion, or the purchase of a new house. Those snippets of good news keep me grounded. Probably the best part of 2020 for me, however, has been realizing that I have the ability to adapt. In the spring, everything felt a bit awkward and a little scary, too. Using videoconferencing for court appearances, wearing masks for client meetings, and standing far across the room from my coworkers made my job feel foreign. Grocery shopping was
challenging and uncomfortable. Routine medical appointments were downright terrifying. But adapting is one of the things that humans do best. It’s how we continue to survive and thrive. Looking back over the last nine months, I’d have to say I’m pretty proud of myself and my kids. We are no longer just getting by. We are once again actually enjoying school, work, errands, and spending quality time together. I bet a lot of you have adapted to these challenging times, too. Maybe you’ve found new ways to connect with the people you love. Maybe you’ve learned to work from home. Maybe you’ve discovered (or rediscovered) the pleasure of grilling out or playing board games with your family. Maybe you’ve picked up a new pastime like camping or fishing. Whatever has helped you get through 2020, please take a moment to celebrate it. This past year, no matter how hard, has still been a gift. So, as we wrap up 2020, let’s all use this last month of the year as an opportunity to “put a bow on it” by focusing on the bright spots and rejoicing in our personal achievements and victories. After all, we made it through, and we’re ready for a new year!
D ecember is upon us. For many of us, December is the big holiday month, and those twinkling lights started showing up on porches right after Thanksgiving (or even earlier)! But this year feels a bit different. I think I can speak for a lot of us when I say that the biggest gift December will bring this year is the end of 2020. While I’m as eager as the next person to see this most challenging year come to a close, I’d like to suggest that, maybe, the end of this difficult period is a pretty good time to reflect on the positive aspects of the year we’re about to leave behind. Even the bleakest of times must have bright spots, right? So, where have the bright spots been in 2020? Because I have kids in high school and college, the first bright spot that comes to mind is the fact that they have been able to stay in school (although not always in person) and have had the benefit of truly dedicated teachers and administrators who have put in loads of extra time to deal with rapidly changing situations.
–Melanie
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A BICYCLE FOR How the ARC Is Giving Back to Children in the Community
3 GIFT-GIVING TIPS That Won’t Kill Your Savings Ah, the holidays. It’s a time of sweet treats, family, and giving back — and sometimes giving a little too much. When it comes to the perfect holiday gift, many people spend too much money. The average American spends nearly $1,000 on gifts during the December holidays alone! It’s possible to cut back and make it to January without major debt. Here’s how. Check your list — twice! The list is going to be your secret weapon to tackling the holidays with your savings still intact. Start by writing down the name of every person you’d like to get a gift for. Now, with the exception of your immediate family members, narrow the names down to your top five — top 10 if you’re really popular. Now, place the names of the people who didn’t make the cut into a second list. If you still feel the need to do something for them, send homemade cookies or a handwritten note instead of purchasing something. This limits how much you actually have to spend! Think beyond store-bought or expensive items. Sure, everyone wants this holiday season’s “it” item, but sometimes the best gifts don’t even come wrapped under the tree. Instead, look to your own talents as a clue to what you should give. If you’re a great crafter, create something unique for the people on your list. If you can offer the gift of time, provide a free night of babysitting for your friends with kids or an experience at the local theater. These gifts have a bonus factor: Recipients love the gift when they open it, and they love it when they get to use it! Set a budget — and stick to it. Setting a holiday budget ensures you only spend what you can afford. It also narrows down your search. If you choose to buy your neighbor something, but they aren’t your top priority, set their budget at a lower level, like $25–$50. If you have a sibling who has had a rough year and you’d like to make their holidays a little brighter, bump their budget up. This narrows the focus of what you’re looking for so you don’t stumble into something you can’t afford. Ultimately, it’s the spirit of giving during the holidays that makes them so rewarding. With a little ingenuity, you can be generous and avoid the stress of excess debt come January.
The Christmas season is certainly the most
wonderful time of the year for many children, but for those whose parents may be struggling financially, it can be a time of unfulfilled wishes. For this reason, ARC Empowerment Center in Mansfield, Ohio, came up with the idea of collecting 100 new and gently used bicycles for Christmas to donate to local children who may otherwise not receive many gifts this holiday season.
DASH CAMS: A GREAT HOL This holiday season, when making your wish list for Santa or trying to come up with gift ideas for family and friends, consider a dash cam. The ARC Empowerment Center opened its doors in June 2020 with a mission to give a place of operation to many local community services. Currently, the massive stone building, which was built in 1907, hosts a number of organizations, including Project One, Christian Classical Academy, Addy’s Attic, Rubies Women’s Group, Independent Living
A dash cam is a dashboard camera that’s typically mounted on the front windshield of a vehicle. Dash cams, depending on the make and model,
record both when the vehicle is driving and when it is parked. Many also record audio and connect to smartphones so the user can watch recorded video — much like a home security system. All dash cams turn on automatically and begin recording when the vehicle is in use. Dash cams with parking mode will also record when the vehicle is off and parked. These devices can serve as a virtual witness to incidents and are more reliable than simply recalling an incident from memory. Some insurance companies offer discounts to customers who install a dash cam in their vehicle, and we have handled many cases where dash cam footage helped us solve a dispute about who was at fault in an auto accident.
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R CHRISTMAS
Center, Alter Home Care, and Psalm and Thread. The mission of the ARC is to be a place where ministries and organizations equip, empower, and bring hope to the community. In fact, the ARC is an acronym for All Our Community and All Our Children, and that is specifically whom the small group of pastors and volunteers aim to serve. In early fall, the staff of ARC pastors discussed what the organization could do for local children to help brighten their Christmas experience. The discussion led to a bicycle giveaway, and the event was quickly launched. Rinehardt Law Case Manager Stephanie Hunt is an outreach pastor at the ARC. As with everything she does, Stephanie jumped in and helped get things moving forward. The first step was to host a Bike Application Handout event, which took place on a chilly Thursday evening. ARC opened its doors to the community, providing hot cocoa and popcorn to the children and adults who stopped by to fill out a bike application. In the first night of accepting applications, the ARC received over 50 requests and continued to accept requests through Dec. 1. With the help of local generous businesses, such as Rinehardt Injury Attorneys, the ARC will give away 100 bicycles during the Christmas Bike Giveaway, which will take place on Dec. 12 from 1–3 p.m. The ARC is truly grateful for the community support and is anticipating even bigger community events in the future. To learn more about the ARC and the services provided there, follow its Facebook page or stop by 378 PAW to attend a worship service, which take place on Thursday and Sunday evenings at 6 p.m.
Aspen Bread & Bagel Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies
Consider this easy and delicious bakery favorite when making your Christmas cookies this season!
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter • 1 cup sugar • 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour • 2 1/2 cups quick cooking oats • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 tsp baking powder • 1 tsp baking soda • 8 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips • 8 oz milk chocolate chips • 8 oz white chocolate chips • 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted (optional)
LIDAY GIFT IDEA
We have used our clients’ dash cam footage to create a clear picture of what happened in crashes. Sometimes the footage even shows that the person who caused the accident was driving distracted or driving erratically. Dash cams also protect against vandalism and theft. While the dash cam itself can be stolen, many dash cams are so discreet that they are usually unnoticeable. A dash cam can capture footage of accidental dings, vandalism, or interior theft. Dash cams can also capture hit-and-runs, showing who is responsible for the damage and preventing insurance spikes for the owner of the damaged vehicle. There are several kinds of dash cams and cost varies by model and features, like whether they record only from the front windshield or also the rear and interior of the vehicle. Dash cams can cost anywhere from $30 to more than $300 depending on the make and model of the camera, with the highest-ranked cameras averaging $100 and the best-selling dash cams averaging under $50. Higher-end dash cams have touchscreens and smartphone compatibility, and higher resolution cameras provide clarity enough to read license plates, have a wider field of view, and include more storage capacity. A dash cam can help save thousands when dealing with unexpected insurance claims and can hold responsible parties accountable for bodily injuries due to automobile accidents. We think they make a great Christmas gift. Follow us on Facebook and watch for a dash cam giveaway coming soon!
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and brown sugar.
2. Mix in eggs and vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. 4. Mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture. 5. Add in chocolate chips (or chocolate chunks for an alternative) and nuts if desired. 6. Place cookies 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets (or lined with parchment paper) and bake for 8–10 minutes.
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INSIDE THIS EDITION
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Putting a Bow on 2020
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3 Fool-Proof Ways to Pay for the Holidays Without Going Broke How the ARC Is Giving Back to Children in the Community Dash Cams: A Great Holiday Gift Idea
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Aspen Bread & Bagel Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies
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3 New Board Games to Try This Winter
SNOWED IN FOR CHRISTMAS? IT’S BOARD GAME TIME!
3 New Games to Entertain You Through the Holidays
1. The Alpha: A Nature Lover’s Dream Game If your childhood dream was joining a wolf pack like Mowgli in “The Jungle Book,” this is the board game for you! The Alpha is a beautifully illustrated strategic game where players act as pack leaders and compete with other players to acquire territory and snag the best food. Gameplay is done in rounds that include four stages: stalk, chase, resolve, and advance. The game is rated for 3–6 players ages 10 and up. 2. Half Truth: Brilliant Minds Meet Here If you’re a fan of Trivial Pursuit, you’ll love Half Truth. At its heart, it’s a trivia game, but it ups the stakes by giving players the opportunity to bet on how many correct answers they’ll get. Really though, there’s only one thing you need to know about this game, and Thrillist
said it best: “It’s the brainchild of legendary Magic: The Gathering creator Richard Garfield and 74-time Jeopardy! winner Ken Jennings.” What a pedigree! Everyone 12 and over will want a seat at the table. 3. getCrewd: A Playground for Movie Buffs getCrewd is a card game that comes in a retro-style film can, and that single trait speaks volumes. In this PG-13-rated game, you play a film producer in search of the perfect actor, director, and crew to make your movie happen. However, the deck will keep throwing obstacles in your way, including everything from flash floods to writers’ strikes. If you have a competitive side, you’ll love this mad scramble to the finish line. With these games in your cabinet, you won’t even notice the snowbanks outside!
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the games are so delightful …” Those might not be the exact lyrics from the famous Christmas carol, but it’s true that decks of cards and various board games get many families through the holiday season. You can only rewatch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” so many times before the jokes grow stale. While new movie releases can be fun, many have been stalled this year because of the pandemic. Luckily, board games are still coming out on schedule. If you’re on the hunt for alternatives to Monopoly, Clue, and Scrabble, check out these fresh 2020 games, which all come recommended by the experts at Thrillist.
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