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77 Central Street, Manchester, NH 03101 • www.DaveNixonLaw.com • 603.669.7070 • June 2018
ONE OF THE GREATEST BUSINESS DEALS IN MY LIFE HE DEFINITELY KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING
W hen I was growing up, summer break usually meant the end of the school year, and the start of a busy summer. Every year, I would leave my home and my friends to help my dad,
every one of the houses. My grandfather told me that this was the first and only time he had ever thought, “That poor deaf bastard. He has no idea what he’s doing.” Simco Parking was a huge hit — within one year, it had made more money than in the decades my grandfather owned and ran the rental cottages. Simco Parking was a huge part of my life, as it was for my dad and the rest of my family. I went from helping out at the parking lot as a kid and in my early teens to being in charge of the whole lot for one or two seasons in my late teens. It even paid for my college and the condo where my mom lives now.
wasn’t a dream summer vacation, but it meant a lot to my dad.
My family had owned that piece of land for a long time, even before it became a parking lot. It was a bunch of rental cottages — a couple of blocks of them. During the Great Depression, my grandfather bought them, and for decades he owned the rental properties and hated it. He didn’t like to chase down people whose checks bounced or deal with the upkeep those cottages required. Eventually, he decided he’d had enough and wanted to sell it, and that’s where my dad came in — he wanted to buy it.
Then the day came when Dad wanted to retire and give up the property that had been in the family for decades. But he wanted to sell it for 3–4 times the price of what it was worth — it was insane! I didn’t think that there was anyone who would be willing to pay that much for the spot, but Dad knew what he was doing. Across the street, there was a guy who owned an arcade, and Dad had the great idea to send me over to him and talk him into buying the parking lot.
“
My grandfather gave him the price, and for the next year, my then 21-year-old dad worked hard to raise enough money to put a down payment on the cottages. Dad ended up buying it around the beginning of summer
Dad told me to tell the guy, Ray, that he should buy the parking lot for the inflated price. I should tell him he could give out coupons to go to the arcade, people could stop by before or after the beach, and he could give them free tokens. These people would end up spending more money in the arcade. So I went over there, told him about the plan and the price, and the next thing I knew, Ray shook my hand and gave me the deal. Now, fast forward 5–7 years later to my dad’s funeral. Ray showed up, went right up to me, and said, “I’m so sorry for your loss, but I’m so glad I was able to make that deal with you and your dad.” He then tells me that
” He drove an hour up there only to find that Dad and 15 of his deaf buddies, with sledgehammers and crowbars, had leveled every one of the houses.
and got to work on his plans for the land — little to my grandfather’s knowledge. At one point, he started to wonder if Norman might need some help with the cottages. He drove an hour up there only to find that Dad and 15 of his deaf buddies, with sledgehammers and crowbars, had leveled
Dad had worked out the whole deal before I even talked to Ray. He had wanted me to go make the deal and learn how to do it myself.
I’ll always remember the summers spent working on that parking lot, where my dad’s sign “Simco Parking” still hangs. It turned out that “the poor deaf bastard” was, in fact, a superb business guy.
–Kirk Simoneau 603.669. 7070 • 1
Guiding You Through Life’s Trials
How to Protect Your Eyes and Minimize Exposure THE HAZARDS OF BLUE LIGHT
You may have been warned about blue light and its impending threat to your eyes. It comes from your computer screen, your phone, and even from the sun. Why is this form of light harmful, and how can you keep your eyes safe? IS BLUE LIGHT A NEW THING? Blue light occurs in nature and is nothing new. However, because many electronics emit blue
other forms of light, so instead of being filtered by the corneas and lenses, almost all of it reaches the more sensitive retinas.
The high energy output of blue light and our eyes’ inability to protect the retinas from it appears to cause damage similar to macular degeneration, an eye disease mostly affecting people over 65 that can lead to blindness. These similarities to macular degeneration have scientists worried that our increased exposure to blue light could lead to more cases of it. HOW CAN YOU MINIMIZE EXPOSURE? Many computers and electronic devices have a “night shift” option built into them. Enabling this feature will dim the screen and lower the amount of blue light that your device emits. There are also removable filters you can put on your computer screen. Brands like RetinaShield/Tech Armor and Eyesafe are designed to limit the amount of blue light your eyes are exposed to. To avoid eye strain, talk to your eye doctor about blue light glasses. These tinted glasses, which come in prescription and nonprescription versions, reduce the amount of blue light that reaches your eyes. Remember, blue light itself is just a natural form of light and isn’t inherently bad. During the day, it can even be beneficial to get some natural blue light from sunshine — while wearing sunglasses, of course. But it’s also a good idea to take precautions to protect your eyes from artificial blue light, especially if your work environment and hobbies expose you to it frequently.
light, it’s more of an issue now than it was just 10 years ago. Backlit LED screens emit strong blue light waves, so our use of devices like cellphones, tablets, and flat- screen TVs means we are exposed to more blue light than ever before. WHY ARE EYE DOCTORS WORRIED? Blue light isn’t inherently bad — it’s found in sunlight and lightbulbs — but our increased exposure to it might be. Our eyes are pretty good at blocking UV rays but not so good at blocking blue light. Blue light has a higher energy output than
Advice That Keeps Giving i e Tha eps G n
Better Insurance Coverage Is Better for Your Overall Well-Being
New Hampshire is one of only a few states that doesn’t require their drivers to have vehicle insurance coverage. Yet, by law, drivers who cause an accident still have to pay for any damages and medical bills that occur. Most car drivers will choose to purchase auto insurance, but they often opt for a cheap policy. While some coverage is better than nothing, it won’t be enough if you end up in a horrible accident. Twenty years ago, our founder, Dave Nixon, would lecture his clients if they didn’t have enough insurance coverage. Not only would he encourage them to get better insurance, but he would explain what would happen if they wound up gravely injured in an accident. Recently, Nixon, Vogelman, Barry, Slawsky & Simoneau settled a case where this warning came to fruition. The firm handled a case of two motorcyclists who were hit by an older woman’s car. The couple were Dave’s clients 20 years ago and, during that time, he had previously talked to them about increasing their vehicle insurance. The pair took his advice and made sure to get better coverage, which included any and all damages if they were to get into an accident.
were owed and needed. The woman who hit them didn’t have any insurance, and the two of them were seriously hurt. If they hadn’t taken the advice when they did, it could have been a worse situation for them. The couple wouldn’t have managed to pay for any of the medical bills or cover the damages. Don’t wait until it’s too late for you to realize insurance was something you should have had. We strive to follow in our founder’s footsteps to emphasize the importance of vehicle insurance. Getting enough coverage can save you from a mountain of hardship that would have been otherwise impossible to climb over. If you need help taking the first steps toward better coverage, don’t hesitate to call us. We are here to help guide you through the necessary processes for a better future.
Because the motorcyclists took Dave’s advice all those years ago, Nixon, Vogelman, Barry, Slawsky & Simoneau were able to get them the full $500k they
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Intern, Student, Outdoor Enthusiast MEET KATHERINE MCDONOUGH!
This month, we’re putting our fantastic intern, Katherine McDonough, into the spotlight! Katherine first became interested in law while living in Colorado. She worked with adults with disabilities who were facing problems in housing and benefits. “We had a staff attorney,” Katherine says, “and I ended up talking with her about one of my clients, and that sparked my interest.” Katherine first heard of Nixon, Vogelman, Slawsky & Simoneau from an email while she was in the Daniel Webster College. Our attorney, Kirk Simoneau, had connections with the college and had sent out an email through them, asking for help in a domestic violence case. “I was working with DOVE at the time,” Katherine remembers. DOVE is a domestic violence pro bono project and a critical part of the referral process. “It’s run by Pam Dodge, who’s really great at taking in all the referrals and calling up attorneys to help these people out. I assisted her with that process.” From that email, Katherine became interested in working for our firm. She volunteered twice before Kirk asked if she would work as an intern within Nixon, Vogelman, Slawsky & Simoneau. “I knew I wanted to work here,” she
says. “A lot of the firms that I had interviews with — there just wasn’t a lot of character. When I met all the partners in this firm, everyone was just themselves and working together as a great team.” She’s been working with our firm for quite a while, and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed having her. “I love Nixon,” she explains. “It’s a great place to work. Everyone gets really involved, and there’s a lot of hands-on experience. They don’t just put you in the back to push through paper. It’s the best learning experience of my law firm career.” When Katherine isn’t in the office working diligently, she enjoys spending time with her friends and being outdoors. “I moved here from Colorado. So I’m very much into hiking and paddleboarding, just things that get you outside. I love getting into Concord, as it’s close to both the mountains and the beach.” Katherine has been a significant addition to our team at Nixon, Vogelman, Slawsky & Simoneau. We’re proud to have such an excellent person working here.
Be Inspired and
Have a Laugh
603.669. 7070 • 3
Guiding You Through Life’s Trials
77 Central Street Manchester, NH 03101 www.DaveNixonLaw.com 603.669.7070
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INSIDE This Issue
‘That Poor Deaf Bastard’
1
What’s All the Fuss About Blue Light? 20-Year-Old Advice Still Holds Water
2 3
Meeting Our Marvelous Intern
Cut Down on Flight Costs With This Simple Rule
4
THE BEST TIME TO BOOK A FLIGHT Save Big on Airfare With This Simple Rule
In case you haven’t noticed, traveling is expensive. It can feel like you’re signing away your soul when you sit down to plan a vacation. But when it comes to flights, there’s good news: They’re getting cheaper! According to a 2017 report published by online travel company ODIGEO, long-distance trips across Europe fell 7 percent last year. Luckily, the same trend is reflected in North American airlines as they engage in a price war to woo a growing base of ultrafrugal travelers. Still, a $600 summer flight to Honolulu isn’t exactly pocket change. What’s worse, flight prices are slippery; CheapAir.com’s 2017 Annual Airfare Study determined that the fares for any given trip go up or down an average of 71 times, about $33 each shift. When you purchase your flight is nearly as important as where you’re going. But how do you choose a booking window that will maximize your savings?
According to the CheapAir. com study, in which they evaluated 921 million airfares, the best time to book is 21–105 days in advance of your flight, on average. If you want to get even more specific, try to book 55–75 days out, and book on a Sunday. Many travelers swear by Tuesday and Wednesday bookings, but as Condé Nast Traveler
reports, Expedia and the Airlines Reporting
Corporation say that Sunday is the way to go, based on data from billions of flights. Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the cheapest days to actually fly, though.
days for winter trips, 75 days for spring, 76 days for summer, and 45 days for fall. Of course, these are averages, but if you stick to these rules and check fares regularly on sites like Kayak.com, SkyScanner.com, Momondo.com, and on the handy app Hopper, you can rest easy knowing you’re getting close to the best price possible.
The CheapAir.com study also pinpoints the absolute best windows for specific seasons: 54
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