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Review Brooks & Crowley
May 2023
781-251-0555
www.brooksandcrowley.com
439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026
*Services Throughout Massachusetts
Laughter Is the Best Medicine HUMOR AND COURT HEARINGS CAN COINCIDE!
“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” This quote by Charles Dickens couldn’t be more accurate. As most of you know, everyone at Brooks & Crowley always tries our best to laugh daily. We are always cracking jokes with one another, sharing funny stories, and we even get our clients in on the fun. Laughter is important because it can help you relax and decompress from stressful situations. It lets you take your mind off pressing matters and embrace the people around you. Sometimes, we tend to be laser-focused on conditions and forget to find the silver lining or positives in every circumstance. I try to incorporate humor in my daily routine because solely focusing on legal material can become overwhelming — we all can use a break every so often! While you may doubt that there is hardly ever laughter in the courtroom, you’d be surprised! While in court and attending hearings, I shared many laughs with those around me. Every court has a personality; if the court has a great staff, court officers, clerks, and judges, you can get a lot
and understand we have a job to do. Because of this, we can set our differences aside for a few moments and enjoy our time before the court is in session.
“Every court has a personality; if the court has a great staff, court officers, clerks, and judges, you can get a lot done while sharing a laugh doing it!”
When I think about humor in the courtroom, one name comes to mind: Attorney John Burns. The late, great John Burns was a brilliant lawyer who always knew how to find humor, and when you were around him the humor was infectious. There are a hundred examples, but one comes to mind: one morning, John and I were representing co-defendants during a bail hearing on a felony charge. The assistant district attorney argued to the court that John’s client had a four-page criminal record, and noted the record included five different aliases. So the prosecutor requested a substantial bail. As he stood at the podium about to make his counter argument to the judge, John elbowed
done while sharing a laugh doing it! While not every court will have the perfect combination for this to happen, I’ve experienced it a lot — and you’d be shocked by the difference it can make. Ten years ago, when I spent most of my time in court, I would often travel to different courts throughout the week. As you can imagine, this can take a toll on you because you’re constantly engaging in serious conversations. So, when I was able to spend time in a court with an incredible team who encouraged lighthearted banter, it was like a breath of fresh air!
me as his eyes lit up and quietly said, “That’s not a bad record for this many guys.” Of course it took everything in me not to bust out laughing while I stood there before the court. John was able to work through every day with clever quips like this, and I’m grateful I often got to work alongside him.
While being in court and trying different cases can be draining, the people I’ve met and the laughter I’ve shared with them makes it all worth it. Therefore, I implore you to find humor in any situation. It can positively impact you and the people around you in more ways than one. As Charlie Chaplin said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted!” –Steve Brooks
Additionally, when you have a court hearing, you may be at the courthouse for hours before your case is heard. Waiting for long periods can make you want to pull your hair out. Trust me; I’ve been there! But when the right people surround you, the hours you spend waiting can feel like a few minutes. While it may seem mindblowing that you can laugh with people you have serious cases with, we all have mutual respect
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PIRATES STOLE OUR METRIC SYSTEM WHY AMERICA NEVER CHANGED TO KILOS AND GRAMS
Pirates, that’s right, pirates stopped America from changing to the metric system. While they can’t take all the blame, they steal a good chunk of it. There was a specific time in history when America did consider taking up the metric system. But pirates intercepted the standards, and America has refused to change its measuring system ever since. Way back when America was still a new country, there was no regulated measuring system throughout the states. Each territory was using some bizarre system that stayed only within state lines. For example, people were using Roman measurements, Dutch systems, and British systems dating back to King Henry VII. In 1789, Thomas Jefferson decided that some order needed to be in place. A lover of all things French, Jefferson admired the metric system’s logic and principle. He asked the French to help the U.S. transition to the metric system, and they were kind enough to send scientist Joseph Dombey. Dombey boarded a ship and set sail for America with two items pivotal to our measuring system change. The first gadget was a copper cylinder 3 inches in height and width, weighing precisely 1 kilogram. The second was another copper object, but this time a rod estimated
to be a meter in length. These simple trinkets would have eased us into the metric system. Except, we never received them. In fact, Dombey never set foot in America. Unfortunately, storm winds blew his ship off course and into the pirate-filled Caribbean. The pirates hijacked his boat and held him captive, hoping to use him
for ransom. In a tragic turn of events, Dombey died in that pirate prison before any ransom money could be sent. The
pirates then auctioned off everything Dombey had on his boat, metric measuring tools included.
So, you can thank the pirates for all the painstaking work we have to go through when using metric-based recipes. Why Americans never swapped systems after 1789 is still a mystery!
It’s Time to Close on Your Home! 3 Down Payment Myths to Look Out For
When you’re looking at purchasing a home, you must make a down payment. Unfortunately, there are several myths regarding down payments that many people fall for — and it can hinder or prevent people from making a purchase. Here are three misconceptions about down payments and the truth regarding these items. Myth No.1: You need to put 20% down. Most mortgages have smaller minimum down payment requirements. For example, if you were to look at a conventional loan, you would only need to make a 3% down payment. For FHA loans, a 3.5% down payment is required. If you are a veteran, you could get a VA or USDA loan that does not require a down payments. However, while the down payment requirement is low, a larger one may be beneficial. If you put down 20%, you won’t have to pay additional mortgage insurance (which varies depending
on your loan). It can also be used to lower your monthly payment overall. Myth No.2: You only need to bring your down payment to the closing table. While you only need a down payment to purchase a home, you must bring extra money to cover closing costs. Several fees may be associated with your purchase, such as inspection, origination, or appraisal fees. These additional expenses are typically split between the buyer and seller and add 1-2% of the property’s purchase price. Lenders also require you to have a certain amount of cash reserves at closing. Cash reserves represent the amount of money you need to have in your bank account at the time of closing. This allows lenders to see that you have money left over in the bank so you can make mortgage payments.
Myth No.3: Only first-time home buyers can have down payment assistance. If you’re not a first-time buyer, you can still get assistance because lenders will take your income, the location of the home you’re looking at, and the home’s purchase price into consideration. Furthermore, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers anyone a first-time home buyer if you haven’t owned a home in the last three years. If you have questions about down payments or other factors that go into purchasing a home, allow Brooks & Crowley to assist you with all your real estate needs. Please give us a call today to get started!
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The World Isn’t Ending 3 Strategies to Reduce Anxiety
Have a Laugh! Sometimes, taking a step back, focusing on your breathing, and letting your thoughts flow in one ear and out the other can help you put things in perspective. JAMA Internal Medicine published an article stating that practicing mindfulness can help ease feelings of anxiety, depression, and pain. You can meditate by following a guided meditation or silently sitting in a quiet area and breathing slowly. While meditating will be challenging at first, it will become easier with practice. When most people think of anxiety, they likely have negative connotations tied to it. Many make the assumption that anxiety will always lead to panic attacks and fears of major change, but just about anything can generate feelings of anxiety, and not all of them are harmful. However, if your anxiety stops you from doing something, it can hinder you almost every day. In honor of May being National Anxiety Month, here are three ways to reduce your anxiety. Daily Exercise Physical activity can increase your self-confidence, improve your mood, help you relax, and lower anxiety symptoms. You don’t have to do anything significant — you can go for a walk, take a hike, conduct at-home workouts, go to the gym for at least 30 minutes, or participate in yoga and Pilates. Meditate
Face Anxiety Head-On Many people try to avoid anything that could make them feel anxious. While this method may make you feel short-term comfort, it can cause you to be more anxious about specific scenarios. The best strategy to overcome anxiety is to face it head-on. Although it will be uncomfortable and challenging, don’t let it stop you! The more you put yourself out there, the less anxious you’ll feel. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for! Please contact your health care provider if you’re worried about the anxious feelings you get. They can assist you with identifying your triggers, why anxiety is occurring, and methods you can use to reduce your symptoms.
Ginger Pork Stir-Fry Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Looking for a healthy stir-fry that has all of the delicious flavors and none of the heavy ingredients? This one might be perfect for you!
• 1 tbsp cornstarch • 1 cup orange juice • 2 tbsp soy sauce Ingredients
• 1 small onion, sliced • 1/4 lb fresh snow peas • 1/2 sweet red pepper, julienned • Cooked rice • Green onion, chopped (optional) • Sesame seeds (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1/4 tsp ground ginger • 1 lb pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips • 2 tbsp canola oil
directions
1. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch, orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger until smooth; set aside. 2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, stir-fry pork in oil until lightly browned, about 4–5 minutes. Remove pork and add onion, peas, and red pepper. Cook until crisp-tender, about 3–5 minutes. 3. Stir in orange juice mixture and pork. Bring to a boil, and then cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve over rice. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds, if desired.
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439 Washington St. • Dedham, MA 02026 Inside THIS ISSUE
1 We Used to Joke Around in the Courtroom 2 The Mysteriously Missing Metric System Do You Need a 20% Down Payment? 3 Anxiety CAN Be Overcome Ginger Pork Stir-Fry 4 What’s the Hype in Boston This Month?
What’s Going On, Boston? Get Outside With These 3 Events
Summer is quickly approaching us! What better way to celebrate warmer weather and sunshine than going outside and spending time with your loved ones? Here are a few of our favorite events! Duckling Day Parade May 14 Boston Common 115 Boylston St. FriendsOfThePublicGarden.org/Events/ DucklingDay/ For over 30 years, the Duckling Day Parade has celebrated a classic children’s book, “Make Way for Ducklings” by Rober McCloskey. Every year, hundreds of children attend and participate in the parade as they dress up as one of their favorite characters from “Make Way for Ducklings.” On top of taking your child’s picture as they walk through the parade, there will also be other attractions, such as a
creative play area, a magician, circus games, live music, and much more. Before attending the parade, please register for the event! Admission is $35 per family. Revere Beach Kite Festival May 20, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Revere Beach 410 Revere Beach Blvd. RevereBeachPartnership.com/Events/ Kite‑Festival/ Celebrate spring by heading to one of America’s oldest public beaches, Revere Beach, and attend the eighth annual kite festival! Your children will have the opportunity to build, decorate, and fly their own kites. If you need help handling your kite, the event will have a handful of professional kite flyers who are happy to provide pointers for you and your children. On top of flying kites, there will be live music and other family-friendly activities
for you to participate in. So, come down to Revere Beach and welcome beach season the right way — by hanging out by the ocean! Boston Calling Music Festival May 26-28 Harvard Athletic Complex 65 N Harvard St. BostonCalling.com Music festival season is upon us! Over Memorial Day Weekend, you can attend the Boston Calling Music Festival, see over 50 musical acts, eat from over 30 food vendors, and try out a wide selection of beer and wine. Some artists you will be able to see are the Foo Fighters, Paramore, Niall Horan, The Lumineers, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs! You can either purchase a weekend pass or purchase day passes if there is a particular day you want to go to. What better way to celebrate Memorial Day weekend than with some live music?
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