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THE SLG ADVISOR
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JULY 2019
What’s Your Favorite Season?
Finding the True Beauty of Summer
bike ride or run almost every day. It really boosts my mood. isn’t as interesting a question as ‘Why is it your favorite season?’” The warm weather also brings more opportunities to spend time together, for humans have a need for social interaction. Save for a few weeks during the holidays, most people spend the winter months pretty isolated. We want to stay inside and away from the cold, so we avoid traveling much. In the summer, it’s so much easier to connect with other people. You can get together with friends for a backyard barbecue, talk to your neighbors while you’re walking around town, or spend a long day boating with the family. When I really think about it, that last reason is why I look forward to summertime. I love the summer because it means I have more family time. My children are out of school, so I get to see them more and have more quality time with the family. Nothing makes me happier than getting my wife and my kids together for something special. “‘What’s your favorite season?’
If you ask someone on the street “What’s your favorite season?” there’s a 60% chance their answer will be “summer.” A Pew study found that people tend to prefer warmer weather on a 2 to 1 margin. To be honest, I don’t think anyone needed a study to tell them people like summer better than winter. Most people could guess humans like warm, bright months over the cold, dark winter. I lean toward the summer more myself, but only slightly. I really do enjoy the winter months and my time on the mountains. But as soon as I can’t ski anymore, I’m ready to be out there on the boat. “What’s your favorite season?” isn’t as interesting a question as “Why is it your favorite season?” The fact that so many people prefer summertime means there’s something about the season that resonates with us. There are the obvious reasons, of course: The days are longer, there’s more sunlight, and people tend to be more comfortable when they’re warmer. But I think our love of summer goes deeper than that. It’s about what we can do in the nice weather that makes summer valuable. We’re able to enjoy the freedom of being outdoors rather than being held captive by the cold inside. For example, I’m able to enjoy more outdoor physical activity in the summer. During the winter, it’s dark when I go to work in the morning and when I come home at night. Meanwhile, the longer daylight hours mean I can enjoy a sunny early morning ride to work and an evening
These days, my herd has grown to include my daughter’s friends and my son’s girlfriend. I look forward to the warm days when we can have a cookout or be on the boat together. Those are great memories you can only make in the summer and the sunshine. I’m not the kind of guy who wishes for summer all the time. We enjoy some pretty dramatic seasons here in Massachusetts, and I try to enjoy them all. If we had summer all year, it would lose some of its luster for me. Summer doesn’t last, and that’s another thing that makes it special. There’s that added incentive to enjoy every moment while it’s still here. So, get outside and enjoy what is left of summer 2019! -Len Spada
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Food for a Clear Mind
W hat W e C an L earn F rom C ooking W ithout A lliums
Can you imagine cooking without alliums, aka garlic, onions, chives, or leeks? In Buddhist temples in Korea, avoiding alliums is something that has been practiced for hundreds of years. Days are filled with prayer, meditation, and meals centered on vegetables and fermented foods — no meat, fish, or alliums. Monks and nuns who live in these temples cook with intention, to keep a clear mind and a healthy body. As one nun explains, “The food creates the entire human being.” A typical temple meal might include rice, mushroom fritters, fried potatoes, kimchi, fermented radishes, marinated tofu, and crispy greens. Despite missing the ingredients so many of us rely on for flavor, anyone who’s tried temple food attests to how aromatic and delicious it is. How is this achieved? With fermented foods, carefully aged sauces, and fresh ingredients picked straight from the source. Many temples grow their own food and use what’s in season, preserving vegetables and fruits at the end of summer to sustain them through the winter. Soy sauce is traditionally fermented in large jars throughout the year and can be aged for 50 years or more to elicit the deep umami flavor that makes temple cuisine so flavorful. Each meal is intended to be fulfilling and nourishing so residents can focus on their meditation and prayers.
the pungent properties in them are believed to distract the mind. Those following a low-FODMAP diet (a diet restricting foods not well absorbed by the small intestine) and those suffering from IBS also opt to cut alliums from their diet to improve digestion. It may be worth avoiding alliums for a day or two and noting how you feel. Maybe, like the nuns and monks in Korea, you’ll find yourself graced with a clear mind and a happy belly.
Several different cultures and religions, including Buddhism and Ayurvedic medicine, have traditionally avoided alliums because
Top of the Class MBA Law Day at Chelsea High School
Law Day was first conceived by the American Bar Association in 1957 to celebrate and bring attention to the principles of justice and the practice of law. By 1961, Congress named May 1 as the official date of Law Day in the United States. Today, the MBA embraces Law Day as an opportunity to help students become informed and engaged citizens. We at Spada Law Group are proud to be part of that mission. If you’re interested in learning more about Law Day, visit MassBar.org/ public/2019-law-day-education-program .
Before school let out this past spring, Spada Law Group was proud to participate in Massachusetts Bar Association’s (MBA) 2019 Law Day Program. This is an annual event in which attorneys and judges visit local high schools and engage history or political science classes on a specific legal topic. Attorney Len Spada visited Chelsea High School and spoke to Ms. Ilana Ascher’s Advanced Placement History class on this year’s topic: “Free Press, Free Speech, Free Society.” Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are two of the most important foundations of a free society in the United States and around the world. It’s important that the next generation of American citizens understand the value of these freedoms and why they must be protected. The MBA Law Day Program focuses on what freedom of speech and freedom of the press are and how Supreme Court decisions have helped establish what these freedoms look like in the United States today. “It was really great to speak to these super bright students about our freedoms,” Len says. “I requested to speak at Chelsea High, since our main office has been located in Chelsea since 1998. These students were so engaged and asked some really great questions. I always find it energizing to be around young people who have strong opinions and aren’t afraid to express them and to discuss important topics. It was a great experience!”
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Expert Witnesses: Who Are They? How Can They Help You?
Word Search
When handling a personal injury case, our mission is to prove to a jury that our client sustained accident-related injuries that were caused by the negligence of another. In order to do this, we often call on expert witnesses who are able to use their knowledge, skills, training, and experience in a particular field to explain complicated or technical aspects of our client’s case. Here are a few types of expert witnesses who have helped us on cases at Spada Law Group. Accident Reconstruction Expert – These experts are trained in the physics, math, and sciences involved in motor vehicle collisions and can help present our case to prove the other party’s negligence by establishing important facts such as speed, distance, sightlines, etc. Economist – When a client suffers substantial economic loss due to an accident-related injury, an economist can help a jury or insurance company understand the full extent of our client’s losses, including long- term future monetary losses. Vocational Expert – A vocational expert’s testimony can help the jury understand the type of jobs that may be available for our injured client and prove our client’s reduced earning capacity. Orthopedic Surgeon – Orthopedic surgeons can explain the full extent of our client’s injuries, presenting medical information about surgical procedures, recovery and rehabilitation protocols, the pain and suffering associated with the type of injury, and whether our client will be left with a permanent physical disability as a result of their injuries. Neurologist – When injuries are related to the brain, spinal cord, or nerve, a neurologist may be called on to help the jury understand the extent of the damage. Plastic Surgeon – If our clients sustained lacerations that result in scarring or have scarring from surgical procedures, we call on a plastic surgeon to testify about the nature of the scarring. Certain scars can have a dramatic impact on the value of a case. Engineer – Engineers are very important in slip and fall cases. They can evaluate structures, including stairwells and workplace environments, and explain any physical hazards that may have contributed to the accident. Expert witnesses are a crucial part of a personal injury case, and the costs of hiring an expert can be substantial. You need to know whether you will be required to advance the costs of the witness or whether your attorney will advance the costs themselves and recover the costs if and when you obtain a settlement or verdict. Ideally, your lawyer should have the financial ability to hire the necessary experts. It’s your future on the line. Do not be afraid to ask your lawyer how they plan to pay for any necessary experts in your case.
BARBEQUE CAMPFIRE CAMPING FIREWORK
HOT INDEPENDENCE JULY
SUMMER SUN SWIMMING TANNING UFO VOLLEYBALL WATERMELON
LEMONADE OUTDOORS
FISHING FRIENDS HIKING
SANDALS SKEWERS
Chelsea Station’s White Sangria Local Chef’s Corner Inspired by CookingLight.com
It’s summertime, and there’s no better way to celebrate blue skies and long days than with a crisp, refreshing white sangria. Try out this fantastic recipe provided by Mike Sheridan of Chelsea Station.
INGREDIENTS • 3 bottles white wine (Pinot Grigio is best) • 1/2 cup Combier Peche liqueur • 1/4 cup orange liqueur
• 1 cup fresh orange juice • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice • 2 sliced oranges • 3 sliced limes • 2 sliced lemons
DIRECTIONS 1. Chill all ingredients except for liqueurs. Pour liquids into large pitcher, then add sliced fruits and stir well. Serve in ice-filled glasses and drink responsibly! Thank you to Mike for sharing this great recipe with us! Visit TheChelseaStation.com to check out all the great food and drink at Chelsea Station.
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111 Everett Ave #1F Chelsea, MA 02150 617.889.5000 SpadaLawGroup.com
Inside This Issue
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Summer’s Here! Why Do We Care? Food for a Clear Mind Freedom and the First Amendment White Sangria Time to Call My Expert Witness A Tail of Bravery
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The GuardianWhoWould Not Leave His Watch
ODIN LIVES UP TO HIS LEGENDARY NAME
Amid the devastation of the wildfires that tore through California in the fall of 2017, a few heroic tales rose up to give people hope. One such tale was of Odin, a loyal Great Pyrenees guard dog. Along with his sister, Tessa, and eight rescue goats, Odin is part of the Hendel family. It was mid-October when the Hendels were awoken by the smell of smoke, a fierce orange sky, and sounds of destruction — urgent warnings from Mother Nature. Gathering everyone as quickly as they could, the Hendels got their human family members and Tessa in the car, but Odin, seated proudly next to the eight goats, refused to get in. Try as they might, the Hendels could not get him to come with them, and there wasn’t enough room in the car for the eight goats. With the firestorm quickly approaching and the risk of losing even more family members increasing with each passing minute, the Hendels made the heart-wrenching decision to leave Odin and the goats behind. The family made it to safety with Tessa in tow, relieved to be together but heartbroken that Odin and the goats weren’t with them. After several agonizing days, it was finally safe enough for them to return home and survey the destruction.
eight goats and some small deer that had sought shelter with the brave canine. Weakened, burned, and limping, but nevertheless steadfast, Odin had never left his goats, even as the fire raged around them. Odin wagged his tail as he saw his family, happy to see they were also safe. The Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and the Goatlandia Animal Sanctuary provided temporary shelter for the goats and pups while the Hendels rebuilt their barn. Odin received all the care he needed, along with a lot of love and treats. Today, Odin and his goats are back with their family, rebuilding their lives after this devastating wildfire. But the Hendels, and anyone who’s heard the story, won’t soon forget the bravery of this amazing pup.
What did the Hendels find? Ashes, rubble, their barn and home burned to the ground — and Odin. There he was, still guarding his
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