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MAY 2022 KunkelCase Files 888-228-9680 • www.KunkelLawFirm.com • GKunkel@KunkelLawFirm.com
FROM THE DESK OF
How to Overcome Stress — Together If You’re Stressed, Don’t Fight It Alone
Gregory Kunkel, Esq.
We are expecting to see an increase in DUI arrests across the Commonwealth as the weather begins to warm and bars and restaurants reopen after a the long pandemic- related hiatus. If you are pulled over after you have been drinking, keep some general rules in mind. First, try to stay calm and pull your car over to the right-hand side of the road. Second, be polite to the officer and provide them with your license, registration, and insurance card if requested. If you are asked to perform field sobriety testing, you have the right refuse to perform the testing, but your refusal will be admissible in court as evidence of consciousness of guilt. Finally, you may be asked to submit to a Breathalyzer test or blood testing. You generally have the right to refuse this testing, but your refusal will likely result in a license suspension of one year under Pennsylvania’s Implied Consent Law, and you may still be charged with DUI. What Do You Do if You’re Pulled Over for Suspected DUI?
I know the past couple of years of the pandemic have been isolating and stressful for many. Unfortunately, this is bad news in more ways than one: Developing chronic stress can lead to increased risk of heart disease, heartburn, and many other health problems. So, keeping stress low is crucial as we age. Have you been experiencing tension headaches, back pain, indigestion, heart palpitations, poor concentration, indecisiveness, crying, irritability, or edginess lately? Don’t ignore the symptoms of stress — even if you’ve maintained a healthy lifestyle, stress might be taking a weighty toll on your well-being. But, luckily, you don’t have to seek stress relief all on your own. You might think it’s easier to keep stress to yourself, but that’s not true. In fact, it’s usually easier to manage if you allow friends, family, and even community relationships to help you through it. I have five tips for you on how to do just that. No. 1: Start or join a walking group (or another active hobby). Finding people to stay fit with can be one of the most helpful ways to relieve stress on a regular basis. Not only do you get fitness into your day, which can help improve your current and long-term flexibility, balance, and health, but you also spend time with a group of people who are interested in doing the same thing. You might be surprised by how easy it is to start a conversation and get to know people in walking groups! If walking isn’t your thing, try out other fit group activities like Pilates, yoga, golf, or tennis.
If you or a loved one has been charged with DUI, call our firm to schedule your free DUI strategy session so we can review your case. –Greg Kunkel
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No. 2: Make time to share a laugh. Laughter isn’t just the best medicine — it’s a personal antidote you can share with your friends and family! Would it surprise you to know that laughter has huge benefits for stress relief and overall health? It releases endorphins, stimulates your organs, and releases tension in your body. Ask friends and family to watch funny movies, tell jokes, or share hilarious stories. Likewise, don’t be afraid to try and make someone else laugh. Even a good-hearted attempt might be enough to get the laughter flowing. No. 3: Take a break from the routine. Of course, we don’t want to surrender our healthy habits, but stepping away from our typical routine when we’re stressed can sometimes work wonders. In times of stress, we’re more likely to
lose our cool, say harsh things, break down into tears, or shut down all communication. We may also be tempted to keep to ourselves, but remember that winding down doesn’t automatically mean you have to be alone. You can always “break away” by getting coffee with an old friend or reconnecting with family members you haven’t spent time with in a while. No. 4: Share a meal with good company. Whether it’s with family, friends, or fellow members of a church community, find ways to sit down and share a meal with people you care for. Not only does it feel good to be nourished together, but it’s one of the oldest ways human beings congregate, begin long discussions, allow chances to vent, and connect with one another. No. 5: Take an art class. We’re all a little vulnerable when we release our inner artist and take the chance to paint, color, or sculpt away our stress. That’s why art classes are an awesome way to meet new people and connect. Vulnerability allows us to see new perspectives of people and ourselves. You can even take art classes with current friends and family! It’s a great chance to pause a busy lifestyle, relax your mind, and do something creative. Every human being experiences stress, even those who appear the most carefree. If you’re stressed this month, just remember you’re never alone. I hope these ideas will inspire you to take action
BLACK MAGIC How One Cat Saved His Owner’s Life
According to Longmuir, “She had gone through the barbed wire and was laying in the stream — we think she had been in there for hours.” Emergency services were called and quickly rescued the
Black cats can have it rough. People associate them with Halloween and bad luck, they can be tricky to photograph, and they make up a full third of all cats surrendered to animal shelters. But one special black feline named Piran proved his worth when he led rescuers to his 83-year-old owner after she fell down a ravine. In August 2021, the woman went for a walk near her home in Cornwall, England. When she didn’t return, her neighbors started to worry. They formed a search operation, but there was a lot of ground to cover in their rural surroundings. They had little luck in their investigation until they heeded the advice of her cat.
woman. “Without the cat waiting at the gate to that field,” Longmuir added, “it could have been hours later that I or anyone else would have checked in there.” The injured woman was taken to the hospital in good spirits and stable condition, avoiding a potential tragedy. Meanwhile, the police posted a photograph of Piran’s handsome black face on social media and declared him a hero. Though he reportedly received many treats, Piran’s real reward was a job well done. “The cat is very attached to her,” Longmuir said. Cats may not generally be known for their loyalty, but maybe it’s time for the stereotype to get an update. Clearly, Piran the black cat was anything but bad luck. He proved it with the grandest act possible — saving his human’s life.
While the search crew worked, Piran refused to move from one specific spot, and he meowed incessantly. That wasn’t like him, so eventually, Tamar Longmuir, a neighbor assisting in the search, decided to find out the reason for all the racket. Longmuir called to the woman while investigating the cat’s noises and heard a faint response. Piran had staked out his position where his owner had fallen — 70 feet down a ravine located at the edge of a cornfield.
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Woman Attempts to Sue Wendy’s For an Alleged Finger in Her Chili
Back in 2005, a woman became imaginative and filed a claim against the owner of a Wendy’s franchise in San Jose, California, stating that she was served a bowl of chili with a human finger in it. Her allegation cost the fast- food chain millions in damages, and as it turns out, the woman’s claim was false. She was eventually arrested and convicted of attempting to extort Wendy’s. On March 25, 2005, Wendy’s was put in the spotlight under false allegations. A woman, Anna Ayala, visited a Wendy’s with her family and ordered a bowl of chili. She then made a large scene, claiming that she bit into something crunchy and discovered that it was the fingernail of a human finger inside her chili! All of the employees in that particular Wendy’s were astonished because they each had all 10 fingers still attached. Even more, all Wendy’s employees at other locations who handled raw materials still had all of their fingers. When a forensic investigation was done on the finger, it was found that the finger was not cooked at 170 degrees F for three hours, like the rest of the chili was.
Eventually, it was discovered that Ayala had 13 different lawsuits open against different companies, and when her story began to waver, she dropped the lawsuit on April 12, 2005, claiming it was putting too much pressure on her. But Wendy’s, having already lost millions of dollars, was hard-pressed to prove this was not negligence on their part. They set up a tip line and offered $50,000 to anyone who had information on the owner of the finger. Eventually, after genetic testing, authorities discovered that the finger belonged to a Nevada man who was a coworker of Ayala’s husband; the man had recently lost a finger in an industrial accident and had given it to Ayala to settle a $50 debt. Both Ayala and her husband were charged and ordered to pay restitution. It was quite the finger feud!
ONE-PAN BAKED SALMON AND VEGGIES
Inspiration
A winner is a dreamer who never
Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
gives up. –Nelson Mandela
Ingredients
• 1 lb spring potatoes, halved • 2 tbsp olive oil (divided) • 8 asparagus spears, trimmed and halved
• 2 handfuls cherry tomatoes • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 5-oz salmon fillets • 1 handful fresh basil
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. 2. In an oven-proof dish, combine the potatoes and 1 tbsp olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes. 3. Remove the dish from the oven and add the asparagus. Toss, and bake for 15 more minutes. 4. Remove the dish from the oven and add the cherry tomatoes. Toss. Drizzle with balsamic, then nestle the salmon fillets into the vegetables. Drizzle with the remaining oil, and bake for 10–15 minutes. 5. Remove the dish from the oven, garnish with basil leaves, and serve!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Gregory Kunkel, Esq. PAGE 1 Overcome Stress —With the Right Help PAGE 1 Cat Saves 83-Year-Old From Potentially Fatal Tumble PAGE 2 Liar, Liar, Fingers on Fire PAGE 3 Inspiration PAGE 3 One-Pan Baked Salmon and Veggies PAGE 3 The Surprising History of Play-Doh PAGE 4
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FromWall Cleaner to Kid Pleaser Play-Doh’s Unexpected Origins
1930s was not water-resistant, so homeowners needed a means to dab the dirt rather than wash it away. Then, in the 1950s, many families converted their home furnaces to oil or gas. That was good news for anyone tasked with cleaning the house, but not for Kutol. Sales plummeted, and the company again faced ruin. This time, Joseph McVicker (Cleo’s son) took the advice of his sister-in-law, a teacher named Kay Zufall. She told him that children loved to use the wallpaper cleaner as a craft product, and she even had an idea for its new name. In 1956, Kutol created their subsidiary Rainbow Crafts and unveiled Play-Doh. Kutol didn’t have much of an advertising budget, but Joseph scored a meeting with Bob Keeshan, better known as Captain Kangaroo. Keeshen loved the product (and his 2% cut of the profits), and once Play-Doh made its television debut, sales skyrocketed. Despite the company changing hands several times, Play-Doh is now a childhood staple with endless color options, accessories, and playsets. It sells more than 100 million cans every year and was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998. That’s a lot of success for a company that just wanted to stay afloat without getting its hands dirty.
Since the 1950s, Play-Doh has delighted children, inspired creativity, and made messes for parents to scrub. So, it’s ironic that the child’s toy was invented for a very dull and much tidier adult activity — cleaning wallpaper. In 1933, Kutol Products was not doing well financially. Cleo McVicker was tasked with shutting the soap company down, but instead, he saved it from collapse. When meeting with national grocery chain Kroger, they asked if Kutol could supply ready-made wallpaper cleaner. McVicker said yes, even though they didn’t carry the product. He promised Kroger 15,000 cases, with a $5,000 penalty to be paid if Kutol couldn’t deliver on time. Kutol didn’t have $5,000, so it was lucky that McVicker did have his product developer brother, Noah. Noah created the wallpaper cleaner from a well-known home formula — water, salt, and flour. The product turned Kutol’s fortunes around and helped the company to remain solvent. In the 1930s, people had a much larger need for wallpaper cleaner than you might imagine. Most homes used coal furnaces, which left black soot residue on walls. Worse, the wallpaper available in the
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