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Review Brooks & Crowley
April 2025
781-251-0555
www.brooksandcrowley.com
439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026
*Services Throughout Massachusetts
THE DANGER YOU DON’T SEE COMING Staying Safe in a Distracted World As a kid, I dreamed of having a little MG convertible. Flying down the road with the engine humming and the wind in my hair sounded like the coolest thing anyone could do. But these days? I wouldn’t drive an MG on our roads if you gave it to me. It’s too dangerous. I want something big and sturdy, with extra steel between me and the Tahoe tailgating at 65 mph. Driving seems different now. It was once fun, but now, it sometimes feels more like a game of survival every time you hit the freeway. And with April being Distracted Driving Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to talk about why — distraction. I’d say 90% of the cases we handle are related to distracted driving. You see it every day. And it’s not just people adjusting their radios or GPS. Distractions are everywhere. People are texting, eating, and talking on the phone while driving. Drivers are even watching videos or have pets on their laps, all while barreling down the highway. People do this so often that they don’t recognize it as a problem until it’s too late. HOW DID WE GET HERE? Once upon a time, you would get some warning before an accident — horns blaring and tires screeching as a driver does their best to avoid disaster. Not anymore. Most accidents these days involve a driver so distracted that they don’t tap their brakes until it’s too late. In my line of work, I’ve seen it all. We handled a case where a pickup truck slammed into a client’s parked minivan without braking. The driver took off from the scene but was later caught because the impact imprinted his license plate onto the rear of the minivan. We’ve also had cases involving cars bouncing off plastic highway barriers like it’s a pinball game. I could go on and on. So many of our cases would never have been necessary if people had simply paid attention. SIMPLE STEPS TO STAY SAFER BEHIND THE WHEEL It doesn’t take much for a simple distraction to turn into a disaster. The stats on this are scary. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sending a text takes the drivers eyes off the road for approximately five seconds. At highway speed, that’s equivalent to traveling
Credit: Benedek
the length of a football field blindfolded. That’s a lot of road to cover without your eyes on it and plenty of time for trouble to find you. And you might think, “I’m a good driver … I’ll be fine.” It’s not just your driving that matters, though. Fortunately, there are practical ways to lower your risk:
• • • •
Position your mirrors correctly.
Put your phone away.
Create a calm driving environment.
Drive defensively.
Ensuring your rearview and side mirrors are angled correctly every time you hit the road makes a big difference. You want a full picture of what’s happening around you. Also, while it’s difficult for many people to resist, driving and phones don’t mix. Keep your phone out of reach, and turn on auto-reply or “Do Not Disturb” mode to prevent notifications from causing a distraction. Too many people also use their commutes to multitask — juggling 20 things as they travel from point A to B. Don’t do this. Instead, reduce driving stress and use the time as a mini break. Listening to some calm music can help you stay relaxed and alert. And always assume the person in the car next to you is distracted. Keep a safe distance, especially from larger vehicles, and avoid driving next to someone obviously not paying attention. WHY IT’S WORTH THE EFFORT Every day, nine people in the United States are killed in distracted driving accidents. These tragedies are completely avoidable, and the solution isn’t complicated. After all, your wheels go where your eyes go. So, slow down and keep your eyes on the road. Stay alert, be courteous, and let’s all try to make the roads safer for everyone around us. –Neil Crowley
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Rome’s Awesome Aquatic Battles
The Colosseum’s Wildest Spectacle
The Roman Colosseum is famous for its gladiator combat, but did you know it could be flooded with water for full-scale naval battles called naumachiae? These aquatic battles were a feat of ancient engineering and showcased Rome’s obsession with over-the-top entertainment. Thousands of spectators cheered as warships clashed in a flooded arena, with soldiers, prisoners, and even seals and hippos playing roles in the reenactments. Of course, flooding the Colosseum was not easy. It’s believed aqueducts supplied the water, and special flat-bottomed ships were used to navigate the shallow depths. However, the logistical challenges proved too much, leading the Romans to abandon the naumachiae after only a handful of events. These extravagant battles weren’t just for entertainment — they were a display of imperial power. While short-lived, the story of the naumachiae remains a testament to Roman ingenuity and their flair for creating spectacles that still captivate us today.
Stay Ahead of Springtime Road Hazards Pedestrians, Potholes, and Downpours
Spring is beautiful in Massachusetts. Flowers are blooming, temperatures are rising, and the snow’s finally gone. It seems like the perfect time for driving. But while the warmer weather is certainly a welcome change, spring often brings new challenges to the open road. That’s why we usually see a spike in accidents this time of year, but many of them can be prevented. SPRINGTIME DRIVING HAZARDS The weather in Massachusetts is unpredictable this time of year. It can be sunny and warm one day and pouring the next. Just like snow, rain brings terrible driving conditions. Wet roads lengthen stopping time and make accidents more likely and more dangerous. Beyond the weather, the roads themselves often pose a hazard in spring. The freeze-thaw
cycles during Massachusetts winters create potholes that add extra problems. Potholes can damage your car and knock it out of alignment, and drivers swerving to avoid them put you at greater risk of an accident. Road conditions aren’t the only issue, either. The streets get busy with people enjoying the sunshine, walking, biking, and running. This means there’s more to pay attention to, especially in busy areas like downtown Boston. STAY SAFE ON THE STREETS Driving with the road conditions in mind is the easiest way to avoid accidents this spring. Slow down in wet weather and put plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you. Check your tires regularly for pothole damage and to ensure they have adequate tread. Stay aware at all times and be
particularly careful near schools, parks, and other areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.
Spring is also a good time to review your auto insurance coverage. Consider uninsured/ underinsured coverage if you don’t already have it, and review your liability limits. Whether or not you’re at fault in an accident, having the right coverage can make all the difference in helping you cover the cost of injuries and damage. PROTECT YOURSELF THIS SPRING You can protect yourself by staying aware and planning for the conditions, but accidents can still occur. If the unexpected happens, it’s best to seek advice from experienced legal professionals to help you recover from the aftermath.
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CRASH AND BURN WHY FAD DIETS FAIL
SIDESTEPPING UNDERLYING ISSUES Many people try to diet without addressing the underlying reasons they overeat. Perhaps eating is a coping mechanism for dealing with low self-esteem or past trauma. Without exploring those reasons and finding alternative comforts, a crash diet is unlikely to work in the long run. PERPETUATING THE YO-YO CYCLE Restrictive diets also fail to change a person’s basic relationship with food. Many dieters slash their intake to ease their guilt or to punish themselves for binging. This can result in a repeated diet-and-binge cycle, reinforcing the dieter’s despair. Over time, the muscle loss and metabolic slowdown caused by diet-and-binge cycles make it even harder to slim down. SO, WHAT DOES WORK? Consider working with a dietitian or a therapist to examine your relationship with food. Rather than cutting out entire food groups, balance your plate with a mix of
As summer draws near, many people are embracing detox diets, intermittent fasting, low-carb programs, or other buzzy regimens to slim down. Before you fall for the latest dieting fad, consider this: About 95% of all these diets fail to produce lasting weight loss! Why are so many popular dieting regimens self-defeating? Here are the primary reasons and better strategies to try. DISRUPTING YOUR METABOLISM Crash diets clash with your body’s basic needs, setting you up for intense cravings and rebound eating. Low-carb and ultra-low-calorie regimens may seem to work quickly because they reduce water weight and deplete the body’s stored glycogen. Depriving your body of essential nutrients, however, can trigger cravings and binge eating and can slow your resting metabolic rate so much that you gain more weight in the future. Intermittent fasting is also hard to sustain because it clashes with a dieter’s natural hunger patterns and daily routines.
vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and healthy fat. Read food labels and monitor your daily calories, protein, carbs, fats, fiber, and sugar. Finally, focus on small changes you can stick with rather than a drastic diet overhaul. As you work with your body instead of against it, remember: Our bodies crave consistency!
Have a Laugh!
Classic Fish Fry Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
We’re in the middle of Lent, so there’s no better time to host your own fish fry for your loved ones!
Ingredients
• • • •
Vegetable oil 2 lbs fresh cod
• • • • •
2 tbsp water
2 cups plain bread crumbs 1/2 tsp mustard powder 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup all-purpose unbleached flour
Lemon wedges
•
2 large eggs
directions
1. Pour 2 inches of vegetable oil into a large skillet over medium- high heat. 2. Cut cod into 4 servings and season with salt and pepper. 3. Place flour into a pie tin. Whisk egg and water in a second pie tin. Combine bread crumbs, mustard powder, and cayenne in a third pie tin. 4. Coat your fish in the flour tin, then the egg tin, then the bread crumb tin. 5. Set coated fish in hot oil and fry for 5 minutes on each side. 6. Serve with lemon wedges and enjoy!
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439 Washington St. • Dedham, MA 02026
Inside THIS ISSUE
1 Distractions Make Routine Drives Dangerous 2 Naval Combat Inside the Roman Colosseum?
The Hidden Dangers of Spring Driving
3 Why Fad Diets Fail Classic Fish Fry 4 What’s Happening in Boston This Spring?
Springtime in Boston Upcoming Events You Won’t Want to Miss
GARDEN OF FLAGS — MAY 22–26 For Memorial Day Weekend, Boston Common transforms into a tribute to Massachusetts service members. The Massachusetts Military Heroes plants over 37,000 American flags, each representing a fallen soldier or sailor. This solemn and beautiful display offers Bostonians a chance to reflect on the sacrifices of American service members in every conflict since the Revolutionary War. Garden of Flags starts with the volunteer flag planting on May 22 and continues with activities throughout the weekend. BOSTON CALLING MUSIC FESTIVAL — MAY 23–25 Live music fans won’t want to miss the Boston Calling Music Festival at the Harvard Athletic Complex. This three-day event will feature dozens of top musical acts. Headliners include Dave Mathews Band, Luke Combs, Vampire
It’s springtime in Boston. The weather’s heating up, the Sox are back at Fenway, and the Public Garden is bursting with tulips. Plenty is going on to keep you busy this time of year. Between baseball games and walks in the park, take in some of Boston’s best spring events. Here are three you won’t want to miss. DUCKLING DAY PARADE — MAY 11 Boston has celebrated Mother’s Day for over three decades with its annual Duckling Day event. Join families from across the area for a fun parade inspired by Robert McCloskey’s children’s book “ Make Way for Ducklings . ” Led by the Harvard Marching Band, parade participants dress like characters from the story and make their way from Boston Common to the Public Garden. There are also family activities, including circus games, storytelling, and live music.
Weekend, and Fall Out Boy. Regardless of your musical tastes, there’s a performance for you. Boston Calling also features art installations, a 100-foot Ferris wheel, and food from over 30 local vendors. It’s the perfect way to kick off the unofficial start of summer with live music, great eats, and good vibes.
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