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Review Brooks & Crowley
July 2017
781-277-7321
www.brooksandcrowley.com
439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026
*Services Throughout Massachusetts
A HOLIDAY WORTH CELEBRATING Have A Fun, Safe Independence Day
Every year, thousands of Americans celebrate the Fourth of July in style. From family gatherings and community barbecues to sporting events, Independence Day is, without a doubt, the most important secular holiday of the year. And it should be. It marks the beginning of a nation based on values that were not well-represented at that point in time. In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams wrote that July 4 “will be celebrated … as the great anniversary festival.” He believe that it should be commemorated “with pomp and parade, with
shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations” from one end of America to the other. Keep in mind that when he wrote that letter, America was in its infancy. Colonists barely had control
"From family gatherings and community barbecues to sporting events, Independence Day is, without a doubt, the most important secular holiday of the year. And it should be. It marks the beginning of a nation based on values that were not well-represented at that point in time."
celebrating, and this month, I know we’ll do just that.
Jason Pierre-Paul managed to salvage most of his hand, as well as his NFL career, but only barely — and only after receiving the best medical treatment money can buy. Many others in America won’t be so lucky this holiday. Please take care that you aren’t one of them. Later this month, I’m headed to Ireland for a wedding. Like many Americans, my family is originally from somewhere else. In my case, my parents came over from Ireland to chase the American dream that John Adams and other founders envisioned. You’ll hear all about the wedding in a future edition of the newsletter. For now, celebrate Independence Day safely. But please do celebrate it. It’s a holiday worth commemorating. – Neil Crowley
over the Eastern Seaboard, never mind the entire continent. But he was right that, in the future, the country would cover the continent. And he was also right about the ways Americans would celebrate Independence Day 240 years later. Like the other founders, Adams wasn’t a misty-eyed romantic. “I am well aware of the toil and blood,” he wrote, “that it will cost us … to support and defend these states.” But through that, he saw that “the end is more than worth all the means.” The end, of course, was a country of free citizens from all over the world whose rights were protected by a government they elected peacefully and democratically. That vision is still worth
Of course, as a personal injury attorney, I have to squeeze in a word of caution about celebrating with fireworks. Not only is it illegal for Massachusetts residents to use fireworks privately, but it can also be dangerous, as Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end for the New York Giants, found out back in 2015. He lost one finger and most of another in a fireworks accident, and he wasn’t even being unsafe! The next day, a 9-year-old boy lost his own hand in Dorchester in a similar incident. Fireworks are inherently dangerous, and when something bad happens, it happens too quick to avoid. You are not likely to be prosecuted for possessing fireworks, but the injury risks are real.
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Get Up Offa That Thing! If You Want to Live More, Sit Less
“Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV, and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death.” Those are the words of Dr. James Levine, who made headlines back in 2014 when he released the results of years of research into what’s really killing Americans. Just as cigarette use was killing Americans in droves back when the population still smoked, the prevalence of desk jobs is a huge health risk today. Humans, it turns out, are meant to be on their feet and on the go, just like our ancestors were. “We have created for ourselves a modern way of living that clashes with the way we’re meant to be,” Levine says.
We’ve seen that sitting can also lead to other health issues, like carpal tunnel syndrome, pinched nerves, and strained eyes and muscles. And if you’re not in good shape (because you sit all day at work), you’re more likely to get injured doing other activities in your life. Levine says that, ideally, you should spend four hours a day on your feet. Of course, that may not be an option for many of you, especially if you work a desk job. We recommend getting up at least once an hour and walking around for a few minutes. Even a trip to the water cooler is better than nothing!
But the real way to combat a sedentary job is to live an active life after hours. A lot of us want to plop down in front of the TV, but we’d be better off taking a long walk after work and spending some time cooking in the kitchen — on our feet, of course.
You can also go to a standing desk, or even a treadmill desk — which Levine invented.
Dear Diary ...
Why Keeping a Post-Accident Journal Helps Your Case
One of the most important things you can do after an injury — whether due to an auto accident, something that happened at work, or someone else’s negligence — is keep a regular diary of your injury and how it’s affecting your life. Start on page one with a detailed description of the accident and what you remember occurring. Write about the initial medical care, the long-term prognosis given by the physicians, and any further treatment you seek or will be seeking. Names, dates, and tracking numbers are all good to have written down. Then, every day, write about how your injury is affecting your life. Are you able to work? Does working make it hurt more? Does pain seem to be getting better or worse? Have you had trouble sleeping as a result of the injury? Don’t forget to write about your daily routine and how it’s been shaken up. If the
injury is inconveniencing you, explain how. Basically, write down everything the injury prevented you from doing that day. Were you unable to hold your child or grandchild? Unable to play sports or go dancing? Unable to go to the movies because you couldn’t sit still? The purpose of this diary is twofold. First, it’s good for you to have a record of your accident and your treatment for your own purposes. It’s likely you’ll need to consult names, dates, and specifics of that nature many times in the coming months, so it helps to have it all in one place. But the real benefit is that you’ll have a complete, dated record of every way the injury is affecting you. That way we can take it to the insurance company and show them what’s going on, ensuring the best possible result for your case.
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(Good) Help Wanted 5 Things You Need to Know About Hiring a Real Estate Agent
Don’t hire a real estate agent just to “do them a favor.” Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial transactions you will make in your life. A real estate agent should be helping you, not the other way around. What we’re trying to say is, don’t hire your cousin who just got their real estate license last month. Do some research. Check with your state’s regulatory body to find out if a potential real estate agent is licensed and if they have any complaints against them. This information may be available online, and you should also look up credentials, peer-given awards, and reviews. Zillow.com is a great place to find reviews from previous clients. Always interview a potential real estate agent in person. Someone could look great on paper, but meeting them in person is the only way to know if you like them enough to work with them.
Ask about other listings in your area. It’s in your best interest to hire a real estate agent who’s familiar with your area or the area you want to move to. A knowledgeable real estate agent will be able to name a few listings off the top of their head and tell you a bit about them. Request references. A talented real estate agent will confidently give you contact information of previous clients or employers. Ask how the agent knows the people on the list and if you can call them with additional questions. Ultimately, you need to treat finding a real estate agent as you would treat conducting a job interview. Don’t feel uncomfortable about asking questions or doing a background check. Remember, you are hiring a real estate agent to do a job for you. You should feel confident about your decision to work with someone before you hire them.
Here’s a dirty little secret about real estate agents: Not everyone is cut out to be one.
A real estate license doesn't automatically make someone experienced enough to handle your listing. Bad real estate agents have been known to move up closing dates just to get their commission faster, make critical mistakes on paperwork, and cost their clients more money in the long run. Here are five hiring strategies you need to remember when looking for a real estate agent, so you can avoid an expensive mistake.
Laugh Out Loud
One-Pan Mexican Quinoa
This healthy, tasty, filling dish is a cinch to make on a busy weeknight. And cleanup’s a breeze!
Ingredients
• • • • • •
1 tablespoon olive oil
•
1 cup corn kernels, frozen, canned, or roasted
2 cloves garlic, minced
• • • •
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 jalapeno, minced
½ teaspoon cumin
1 cup quinoa
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup vegetable broth
1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and diced
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• •
Juice of 1 lime
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2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and jalapeno and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. 2. Stir in quinoa, vegetable broth, beans, tomatoes, corn, chili powder, and cumin; season with salt and Instructions
pepper to taste. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until quinoa is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Stir in avocado, lime juice, and cilantro.
3. Serve immediately.
Recipe adapted from DamnDelicious.net.
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Inside This Issue
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A Holiday Worth Celebrating
Get Up Offa That Thing! Post-Accident Journals
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Is Your Real Estate Agent Going to Ruin Your Listing? One-Pan Mexican Quinoa
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Fourth of July Events
A Historical Fourth Celebrate Independence Day Right Obviously, there are a lot of options for celebrating the Fourth of July. Like any other city, Boston has fireworks, concerts, and festivities to ring in Independence Day. But unlike many metropolitan areas in the United the American Revolution. As cool as this is, it’s also part of perhaps the most important event you can attend — the 10 a.m. reading of the Declaration of Independence from the Old State House Balcony, exactly as was done in July of 1776. Last but not least, be sure to check out the U.S.S. Constitution Museum. This warship was launched during the Revolution, and you can interact with history directly as well as learn about its construction and use. It’s one of the few places like it in the world.
States, Boston also has a strong historical connection to the holiday. This year, you can enjoy the usual events, but you may also want to get off the beaten path and reconnect with your history as a Bostonian and as an American. Whether your family came here on the Mayflower or just arrived last year, you’re a part of a unique city with deep ties to American Independence. All of the following events occur on July 4, 2017. The Meetings, Mobs, and Martyrs tours start at Faneuil Hall and visit the Old State House, the Boston Massacre site, and the Old South Meeting House. You’ll learn more about the history of each site and the reality of colonial Massachusetts, including the complicated and turbulent events that led a small group of idealists to throw off oppression and live as free Americans. Visitors to the Old State House will be greeted by a cast of costumed characters. These characters will describe the details of their lives during the period of
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