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Newsletter Title
t Celebrating Our History Craig Shares His Family’s Immigration Stories
Stories like my family’s are common. My wife is actually a second generation American on one side of her family. I’ve always been amazed by the courage of my ancestors. My favorite story, however comes from my great grandmother (or “my Bubbe,” as I called her). Her real name was Freda Beiloch. You can find a plaque with her name on it at Ellis Island, where she landed. Bubbe and I were very close. Our birthdays are one day apart, except she was born in March of 1890 in Austria. When she was still very young, her father left their home to establish a life in America. He scrimped and saved for four years, sending money back to Austria so his family could join him. When the time came for Freda and her mother to join him, she was anxious and nervous. In fact, she kept asking her mother if her father would recognize her after all of that time. Her mother assured her, in her native tongue of Yiddish, that he would. Once their vessel passed by the Statute of Liberty, reaching Ellis Island, Freda was separated from her mother to be tested for tuberculosis, among other things. This was frightening, for a failed test meant a return trip to Europe. Finally, Freda was reunited with her mother, and they were transported by boat to the docks on the Lower East Side. A big, burly man ran toward them on the docks, scooping her up into a big hug. It was then that Freda’s father handed her an 1890 silver dollar. That was a lot of money back then, but he said to her, “This represents the riches of America and the great life we’re going to build here.” Bubbe cherished that silver dollar her entire life. It was worth so much more than the monetary value attached to it. That coin
Every year, on July 4, our nation comes together to celebrate its founding. We are a nation built by patriots who believed they could create a better nation — a country founded by its people for the masses. America became a nation built by immigrants and the descendants of people who moved to this nation in search of a better life. As Independence Day neared, I became stuck on this idea: To be an American citizen is to be a member of a diverse group of people whose histories and perspectives vary. That reality and this country are both not possible without immigrants. There may be some bad apples that slip through our borders, but I genuinely believe that people who come to this nation in search of a better life for themselves and their families do so with good intentions.
I say this as the product of illegal and legal immigrants.
In Europe during the early 1900s, there were pogroms — violent genocidal attacks — against Jewish people and villages. Hate- filled groups would terrorize these towns, murdering their men and raping their women. My ancestors fled this reality to find refuge in America. However, at that time, the U.S. had limits on the number of Jewish people who were allowed entry. My paternal grandfather’s family was turned away, but through grit and determination they made it into Canada, where they illegally crossed the border into the U.S. through Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont. From there, they made it to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, joining other Jewish refugees, mostly from eastern European countries. They weren’t alone in their journey either. Many of their new neighbors experienced similarly difficult journeys. These legal and illegal immigrants went on to become contributing members of society, educating their children and becoming just as patriotic as any natural-born citizen.
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JULY 2021
Get Your Train of Thought Back on Track Recovery Hacks Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation,
don’t want to be bogged down by a chorus of “ums” escaping from your mouth. Write it all down. This hack works well when you know beforehand that you’ll be speaking with someone or in front of people. Even if you never refer to your notes while speaking, simply writing down a road map for your train of thought can help you recover from a detour and speak more confidently.
presentation, or debate, stringing together thoughts in a way you hope is coherent and insightful when — poof! — you lose your train of thought? It’s frustrating. You just want to make yourself understood, but your brain has other plans. What if there were a way to keep your train of thought on track? Well, the good news is that recovering your train of thought is easy with the following hacks in mind.
Remember your overall point. The easiest way to drive your train of thought into the weeds is to forget your overall point — or not to have an overriding point at all. Always have a short, overarching point you can use to recenter yourself and get back on track. With these hacks, your brain will have to work a lot harder to make you lose your train of thought! Now you’ll be more prepared to tackle any subject matter, no matter how deep or technical, that comes your way.
Repeat, repeat, repeat yourself. Paraphrasing your last few thoughts out loud can help you remember where you were going. Think of it as retracing your steps: You go back to the last words you remember saying, and more often than not, you’ll find your direction again. Take a short pause. Pausing briefly is a great way to make recovering your train of thought seem natural. This hack works really well if you’re answering a question and you need time to think, and you also
D o W i t h M y V
At the Sheppard Law Firm, we work with a lot of valuable, life- changing paperwork, making us experts in proper filing, handling, and care of priceless documentation.
important documents. Create a document that outlines where valuable paperwork — like house deeds or car registrations — are located, and add your COVID-19 vaccination card to that list. Don’t laminate it or post about it. If you’re vaccinated, you’re probably really excited — but don’t post a photo of the card on social media. There is personal information on that card, which can be used by scammers and hackers. Furthermore, since booster shots for COVID-19 are likely, don’t laminate your card. Medical professionals will add dates to those extra lines when you receive your boosters. (If it’s already laminated, you can ask for a replacement!) Document its existence. While it’s not wise to post about your card on social media, it is smart to take photos of it. Unlike Social Security cards or birth certificates, it’s unlikely that you will need to provide proof of the original version of your vaccination card. A photo copy or phone photo can provide ease of access while still protecting your original. For more details on vaccinations and vaccination cards, please talk to a trusted medical professional .
Starting in early 2021, the general population was forced to undergo a crash course in these very techniques.
As vaccination campaigns for COVID-19 continue, there are many questions about what the next steps should be — including what to do with that vaccine card. With some of our own expertise and guidance from experts, we’ve compiled a go-to guide for storing and protecting your vaccination card. Store it properly. While it’s still unclear as to how necessary these cards will be, it’s still important that we keep our vaccination cards in a safe place. Think of these cards like the receipt for a big purchase. You may never need to see or use it again — but won’t you be glad to have it if you do need it? Store your vaccination card in a cool, dry space, like in a filing cabinet or in a fire-safe box. If you worry about remembering where your vaccination card is, you can add it to a list of
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Keep It Simple? “Keep it simple stupid” is a phrase born out of the Navy, but many of us prefer this style when approaching legal matters. In his 2020 Sanibel Island Sun column, “The Irony of Keeping it Simple,” attorney Craig Hersch tackles this idea of a “simple” estate plan. You can read the full version and many others online at FloridaEstatePlanning.com.
Why ‘Detailed’ Is a Good Descriptor, According to Attorney Craig Hersch
It’s my feeling that when my clients say they want a “simple” estate plan, what they really mean are two things. First, it’s that their loved ones aren’t trapped in endless meetings with attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors as they are having to make important decisions about complex matters while they’re grieving and vulnerable. Second, they want to understand the plan. Most of our clients’ prior attorneys did a lousy job with cookie cutter plans and didn’t address their clients’ concerns. The clients walked away with an incomplete plan that they didn’t understand. This is where having relationships with qualified professionals will keep things “simple.” A good estate plan is thought out, where different scenarios are considered to ensure that the plan remains consistent with the client’s intent. This requires consistent reviews, so the attorney is aware of current family dynamics.
Taxes: Income tax planning is becoming more important, as many clients have significant balances in their retirement accounts, and proposed tax law changes could impact more people. Tax planning requires careful thought and consideration of various strategies. Avoid Court Processes: This goal coincides with the universal desire to minimize legal, accounting, and financial service firm expenses. Who we designate as trustee, our power of attorney agent, and the health care surrogate comes into focus, along with the instructions. Family and Financial Dynamics: Our families grow with the birth of new children and grandchildren, and our adult children’s needs change as they raise their own families.
When a new client first visits with me to update their estate plan, it isn’t unusual for them to say, “I just want to keep it simple.” The irony of that statement is that almost none of my clients have “simple” situations. What they really want are several things. Privacy: This usually requires the use of a trust as opposed to a will. Because they want to protect their family from scrambling, clients need an ongoing relationship with seasoned professionals, which is different from a transactional experience. Protection : They want to protect the inheritance of their children from a divorcing spouse, a business lawsuit, or creditors. Outright or staged distributions over time won’t achieve that goal.
When that happens, the plan works for the family. Now that’s simple.
It’s not so simple after all.
Plant-Based Blueberry Muffins
Inspired by MyDarlingVegan.com
... continued from Cover
It’s blueberry season! Whip up this simple muffin recipe to celebrate in style
served as a reminder of the sacrifices and commitment her father had made for his family. When I was 12 years old, Bubbe gave me that silver dollar. I still have it today, framed in my home beside the picture shown with this story. It’s my most prized possession, and every day that I see it, I’m reminded of my Bubbe and my family’s journey to America. It’s a tale of perseverance and commitment to making life better for future generations. And it continues today through other families from around the globe.
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • • •
1 cup soy milk
•
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp canola oil 1 tsp vanilla extract Zest of 1 lemon
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 cups flour
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2 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda
• •
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a muffin tin and set aside. 2. In a bowl, combine soy milk and apple cider vinegar. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. 4. In a third bowl, combine sugar, oil, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Add milk mixture and stir, then add flour mixture. Stir to combine until well-incorporated but not smooth. Fold in the blueberries. 5. Spoon batter into muffin tin, filling each well 3/4 full. Bake 20–25 minutes, cool, and enjoy!
It’s the story of America.
–Craig Hersch
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INSIDE this issue
9100 College Pointe Court Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 265-9779
The Perseverance of American Immigrants. ...............................................1 Life Hack: How to Recover Your Train of Thought.................................................2 Vaccinated? Here’s How to Protect That Card!..................................................2 Can You Keep Your Estate Plan Simple? Attorney Craig Hersch Explains..................3
Plant-Based Blueberry Muffins . .................3
The Paddleboard Craze Is Here to Stay. .....4
The best compliments we receive are your referrals. When you refer us to your loved ones, we do all we can to exceed expectations.
W h a The Stand-Up Paddleboard Craze That Never Went Away
Unlike other crazes, the gear was simple and the activity beginner- friendly. To start, you only need a paddle, a board, a life preserver, and of course, a place to go! It’s a new way to
Outdoor and exercise crazes come and go almost as fast as hairstyles and popular app games do. But
every once in a while, a trend comes along that remains popular — think karate, which spiked in the ‘60s and again in the ‘80s, and it can still be found in almost every American city to this day. Back in 2013, one such trend arose: the stand- up paddleboard, or SUP for short.
see the water, which only boosted its popularity. Even veteran water sports enthusiasts weren’t used to standing on the water instead of sitting in a boat! But according to the industry’s own numbers, that popularity never died down. As it turns out, SUP is a good way to get around, and a lot of folks need that. Many cities, such as San Antonio, feature “paddling trails” that let SUP practitioners see the city in a new way or even commute via their board. How cool is that?
The act of standing on a floating piece of wood in a surfboard shape and
paddling (or poling) yourself along likely goes back thousands of years, but the SUP craze can be traced back to one man — and he’s not even in his 60s yet! That man is famous surfer Laird Hamilton, a household name in
If you’re looking for a new hobby this summer, it’s easy to rent a stand-up paddleboard and learn the basics. Take a class, head out into the water, and give it a shot. Who knows, you might be one of the thousands of Americans to discover a lifelong passion!
a sport that doesn’t usually generate them. And Laird, along with the Waikiki Beachboys, showed the world a new way to hit the water in the first decade of the 21st century.
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