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THE KRAMER CHRONICLES THE BEST FAMILY VACATION I’VE EVER HAD IN HONOR OF NATIONAL TOURISM DAY 05.19 WWW.KRAMERLAWGROUP.ORG | 801.601.1229
E xploring new places is a pastime my family and I greatly enjoy, and since we are starting to sit down and plan some upcoming summer trips, I figured all my readers might be doing the same. What better way to build excitement for warm summer days than to recount some nostalgic memories of the best vacation my family shared: a weeklong adventure in Costa Rica. For the last seven years or so, I’ve traveled to Costa Rica to attend a seminar to advance my knowledge of law and learn various trial techniques. I’ve periodically had sons and daughters join me for these trips in the past, but it wasn’t until recently that we were able to get the entire family there together. We ended up making plans to go the week before Christmas. We typically spend the month of December layering up our coats and shoveling snow, so we felt lucky to be able to escape the brisk temperatures and find some sunshine. On my last day at the seminar, I left during a quick break to pick them up at the airport. With eight of us on the adventure together, I had to rent a van to make sure we all fit! Once the seminar was over, we hopped in
would actually be, especially after spending the last few days soaking in the sun on the warm beaches. We reserved a small log cabin in the heart of the forest, which was a sight to behold. There was moss growing on the outside of the cabin, and there were skylights so we could see the trees towering above us from inside. While we had a hard time "WHENWEWEREN’T IN THE BEACH HOUSE, WE TRIED OUT TASTY LOCAL EATERIES AND SPENT TIME PLAYING IN THE SAND; NO MATTERWHAT WE DID ORWHEREWE LOOKED, THE SCENES SURROUNDING USWERE ABSOLUTELY PICTURESQUE."
getting a fire started (due to all the wetness) and spent the night feeling pretty chilly, our experience there ended up being the most memorable of the whole trip. To this day, all my kids still talk fondly about that cold rainforest cabin.
The next morning, we put on our rain gear and
ponchos for a ziplining adventure. Weaving in and out of the trees to take in the rainy landscape was like nothing any of us had experienced, and it’s still one of my favorite memories.
the van and continued to Playa Hermosa, where we’d rented a house next to the beach. It was an amazing place filled with lots of great activities. We spent a lot of time playing billiards
and swimming in the pool that overlooked the beach. When we weren’t in the beach house, we tried out tasty local eateries and spent time playing in the sand; no matter what we did or where we looked, the scenes surrounding us were absolutely picturesque.
While our journey in Costa Rica was certainly a unique and different way to prepare for our Christmas celebration, we came back to Utah with fun-filled memories we will never forget. If you ever have the opportunity to visit this beautiful country, I speak for my entire family: We highly encourage you to give it a try! You won’t regret it!
While there, we decided to take a trip to the rainforest as well. While we expected the rainforest to be, well, rainy, we didn’t anticipate how wet and green it
–Ron Kramer
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Contrary to popular American belief, Mexico celebrates the anniversary of its independence on September 16 each year. On that day, Mexicans commemorate El Grito de Dolores, an inspiring historical event in which a battle speech was made by Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla that fueled the movement that ultimately freed Mexico from Spanish rule. But while Cinco de Mayo doesn’t represent Mexico’s independence from Spain, it does mark the anniversary of a different battle. In 1861, Mexico declared a temporary postponement on the repayment of foreign debts, which caused English, Spanish, and French troops to invade the country. By April of the following year, the English and Spanish had withdrawn their soldiers, but the French remained. Then on May 5, 1862, the mestizo and Zapotec forces, who were poorly equipped to face the French soldiers, nevertheless gained a victory at the Battle of Puebla. Although the fighting continued and the French were not driven out for another five years, the victory at Puebla became a symbol of Mexican resistance to foreign domination. The city, which was later renamed Puebla de Zaragoza, is the site of a museum devoted to the battle, and the battlefield itself is maintained as a park. INDEPENDENCE DAY? IS CINCO DE MAYO MEXICO’S THE BATTLE OF PUEBLA Cinco de Mayo is commemorated in the state of Puebla each year, but throughout the rest of the country, the holiday goes mostly unrecognized. In the U.S., however, Cinco de Mayo originally gained popularity among Mexican immigrants as a way to take pride in their heritage. Critics have noted that American enthusiasm for this holiday didn’t occur until it was explicitly linked with alcohol consumption. In fact, many U.S. celebrations tend to both perpetuate negative stereotypes of Mexicans and promote excessive drinking. Bactrack Breathalyzers named Cinco De Mayo one of the deadliest holidays for young drivers. If you or someone you know has to be out on the roads on May 5, make sure you keep an eye out for inebriated drivers. Likewise, if you plan to toast to the festivities, plan ahead and have a designated driver. A special thank you to the following persons who referred clients to us this year. A referral is the best compliment you could ever pay us! THANK YOU FOR YOUR REFERRALS CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATIONS
LEARNING TO BE GRATEFUL
Teacher Appreciation Week runs from May 6–10 this year, and there are plenty of ways students of all ages can thank their educators for everything they do. Being a teacher isn’t an easy job, and the people who make it their profession are passionate about helping kids learn. Depending on how old your child is, they may need a parent’s help in showing their appreciation. Here are a few ways parents and children can appreciate teachers together. SOME WAYS TO HELP CHILDREN APPRECIATE THEIR TEACHERS This gesture is simple and sweet and can be very thoughtful. Telling a teacher what makes them outstanding can often be just as valuable as a gift. Help your child write an appreciative note and then write one yourself. Teachers often have to maintain the happiness of students, administrators, and parents. Your card could relieve some of the stress of that balancing act and let them know that you acknowledge their efforts. THANK-YOU NOTES
A HOMEMADE MEAL
Making a homemade meal (or dessert) shows teachers that you went the extra mile to appreciate their hard work. You could make a favorite dish of yours or try to find a new recipe online. Either way, encourage your child to help you with the process so that the meal is truly a gift from both of you.
DONATING SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Many teachers use their own money to buy school supplies for their classroom. This is just one of the ways teachers go above and beyond on a daily basis, and buying some extra school supplies can help ease that cost. Take your child shopping with you and help them pick out supplies that you know their teacher will appreciate. Your children spend several hours a day with their teachers, so fostering relationships with them is vital. Use this day to help your children understand the importance of teachers, to teach them the power of gratitude, and to encourage them to show respect for everyone who helps them in life.
Servando Renova Gustavo Camacho Heather Roush
Adelita Espinoza Raul Monago
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AUTO INSURANCE MINIMUM POLICIES AREN’T ENOUGH FOR GOOD PEACE OF MIND DON’T SETTLE FOR LESS THAN YOU NEED
I n Utah, laws require all drivers to purchase car insurance, but how do you know which type to buy? If you want to keep your monthly bills as low as possible, you might think getting a minimum policy makes the most sense. When you look at what you risk by only buying a minimum policy, however, you will likely change your mind and spend a little extra for a policy that can better protect you and your family. The minimum Utah policy only gets you $25,000 in coverage for one person or $65,000 total for all persons injured in an accident. This might sound like a lot of money at face value, but when it comes to paying for accrued medical expenses, $25,000 only gets you so far. I recently took on a case for a client who was seriously injured during an accident. Immediately following the crash, he had to spend two days in the emergency room and have extensive surgery to ensure his survival. Now he is facing rehabilitation that will keep him from being able to go back to work for at least 6 months. Staying the night at the hospital costs thousands of dollars, and that doesn’t even include the cost of major procedures, ambulance fees, and so on. For this client in particular, the $25,000 coverage that
Utah’s minimum policy offers won’t even come close to paying his medical bills.
Increasing your insurance limits may be as simple as logging in to your insurance account and increasing it online. It doesn't cost much to jump up a tier or two; I typically encourage my clients to carry at least a 100/300 policy: $100,000 maximum per person, and $300,000 maximum for all persons hurt. Once you increase
your coverage, the higher limits should be available to you immediately. Check with your agent though, as insurance policy terms will vary.
The bottom line is that increasing your insurance coverage is a way to protect yourself, your family, and others from the unexpected expenses that come when the unexpected happens out on the roads. If you have any further questions about this process, don’t hesitate to give our office a call!
TAKE A BREAK
STRAWBERRY MANGO PALETAS
INGREDIENTS
• 1 1/4 cups strawberries, chopped • 1/2 cup granulated sugar • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt • 2 medium ripe mangoes,
peeled, pitted, and chopped
DIRECTIONS
1. In a saucepan, toss strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. 2. Add 1/4 cup water and bring to a simmer over moderate heat. Cook strawberries until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. 3. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of lime juice and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Let cool completely, about 45 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, in a blender, purée mangoes with 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons lime juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until smooth. Scrape into a medium bowl and clean the blender. Then, purée strawberry mixture until smooth. 5. Into 8 3-ounce ice pop molds, spoon 2 tablespoons mango purée. Add 2 tablespoons strawberry purée to each mold, then top with remaining mango purée, leaving 1/2 inch between filling and top of mold. 6. Using a small knife, gently swirl layers together. 7. Insert ice pop sticks and freeze until solid. 8. Dip molds in hot water for a few seconds, then unmold paletas and serve immediately.
GARDEN BLOOMING DAY GEMINI MOTHER MEMORIAL NIGHTINGALE
SPRING CINCO MAYO EMERALD MAY REMEMBER
Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine
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KRAMER LAWGROUP UTAH PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Where Is Your Favorite Vacation Spot?
Teacher Appreciation Week Is Here!
Is Cinco de Mayo Mexico’s Independence Day?
Are You Only Getting the Minimum Auto Insurance Policy?
Strawberry Mango Paletas
The War Pigeon Who Saved the ‘Lost Battalion’
BRAVE LITTLE CHER AMI
THE WAR PIGEON WHO SAVED THE ‘LOST BATTALION’
L ong before the invention of radios and cellphones, homing pigeons were used to send messages as early as the sixth century. During World War I, war pigeons carried lifesaving messages past enemy lines for the American and French armies, often being wounded in the process. In 1918, Cher Ami, a black check hen used by the U.S. Signal Corps, became the most famous of them all.
Charles White Whittlesey felt he had no choice but to send the last pigeon, Cher Ami. The pigeon’s desperate note read: “We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake, stop it.” As Cher Ami rose from the brush, she was shot down, to the despair of the watching soldiers. However, after a few seconds, she fought her way back into the air, flew through a torrent of gunfire, and made it to division headquarters 25 miles away. She had been shot in the breast, the eye, and the leg. Because of Cher Ami’s brave flight, 194 of the original 554 men of the 77th Infantry Division survived the battle. One month later, World War I came to an end. Cher Ami survived the war as well, thanks to the surgeons who performed emergency surgery on her. One soldier even carved her a little wooden leg. She became a well-known hero to both soldiers and children in the States. For her service in Verdun, the French Army awarded her the Croix de Guerre, and she was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame. Cher Ami finally succumbed to her wounds in June of 1919 and is now on display in the Smithsonian alongside Sergeant Stubby, a terrier who served 18 months on the Western Front.
On Oct. 2, the United States 77th Infantry Division was
trapped behind enemy lines in the Argonne Forest during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, a three-month push by the Allies during the final throes of World War I to force the Germans to surrender. It became the bloodiest battle in U.S. history. For six days, the encircled division endured relentless attacks and suffered heavy casualties, but their orders were clear: Don’t retreat and don’t surrender. The division dispatched two homing pigeons with requests for help, but both birds were shot down. When friendly fire began raining down on the 77th, Major
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