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THE LEGAL LEDGER 800-800-4300 DENMONPEARLMAN.COM ‘FINALLY’ A STORY OF ADOPTION, PERSISTENCE, AND DEDICATION TO PROTECTING CHILDREN OCT 2021
On Aug. 24, 2020, Cassie, her family, and Layla all agreed that adoption was the best route for Layla and their family. However, as Cassie explains, foster parents are taught from the very beginning that their role is to serve as a temporary home and support for children in the foster care system, and it’s been ingrained in her that adoption isn’t always the solution — regardless of how attached both sides become. Adoption can happen in many foster family cases, but the goal is purely to help children find a loving home while their family’s case moves forward. But adopting Layla felt like the right move for Cassie, and she knew that as a preteen, it would be very hard for Layla to get adopted elsewhere, too. Luckily, her four biological children and Layla agreed. More than one year after agreeing to begin their adoption — and it was a very anxious year at that — Layla legally joined the Boisvert family this September. It was the culmination of years together, but in the moments during adoption day, when Cassie watched as her biological son hugged her adopted daughter, clinging together like siblings do, the moment felt surreal.
In the past two years, Cassandra “Cassie” Boisvert has had more than 500 children live in her home. This single mom of five felt compelled to become a foster parent after a graduate school case study project revealed to her just how great the need was to support children in Pinellas County. “I’ve advocated for them. I’ve helped a lot of them get into long-term or permanent placement. I’ve helped siblings stay together,” recalls Cassie, whose sister, Ashley Boisvert, serves as Denmon Pearlman’s intake specialist. “I knew if I was going to do this, I was going to do it with a full heart.” That full-hearted dedication grew on Thursday, Sept. 9 when Cassie officially and formally adopted one of her foster children, Layla. Cassie, Layla, and their entire family’s story begins years before this happy day. Layla’s start in life wasn’t an easy one. She came to Cassie’s home years ago as a child full of love who had spent years sleeping in a car. Layla didn’t even want to sleep in her bed those first few nights in her foster home, Cassie recalls. The floor felt more comfortable and familiar to her. Slowly, Layla warmed up to her new space and family, and almost instantly, Cassie’s biological daughter and Layla bonded at the hip! Layla’s spirit and dedication to her siblings was apparent from the beginning, and the longer she was with Cassie and her family, the more her academic pursuits grew, too.
“It makes my heart so happy to know that here we are. We did it,” Cassie says. “We finally freaking did it.”
Today, Cassie has four biological children, one adopted child, and is currently housing two foster children. She continues to remain steadfast in her mission to help children in Florida, and she encourages those considering the same to be patient. Foster care and adoption takes an open mind, Cassie explains. Through it all, foster families have to remember the end goal: finding loving homes for kids, regardless of how long they stay. “This was a challenge. This took a lot of effort and time and patience,” Cassie says, reflecting on her tenure as a foster parent and the road to adoption. “But when I look back, I say, ‘Every second was worth it.’” —The Denmon Pearlman Team 1 DENMONPEARLMAN.COM
“She’s so resilient and strong,” Cassie says.
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THE TIGER KING REMAINS BEHIND BARS
Judges Deny Joe Exotic’s Appeal
Even more than a year after the release of “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness,” Joseph Maldonado-Passage, more popularly known as Joe Exotic, continues to make headlines. Following the fame that came with having his story at the center of a wildly popular Netflix series, Maldonado- Passage saw fit to appeal his 22-year prison sentence for plotting to murder big cat rescue activist Carole Baskin on a few different grounds. However, in July, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his appeal. The primary reason for Maldonado- Passage’s appeal, as reported by his legal team, was that Baskin was allowed
to attend the entirety of Maldonado-Passage’s trial, despite her role as a witness in the case. As a general rule, witnesses are not permitted to attend proceedings in their entirety, as other witness testimonies might affect the objectivity of their own testimony. However, Baskin was also in attendance at the trial as a victim, since she was the target of Maldonado- Passage’s murder-for-hire scheme. Victims are allowed to attend court proceedings so long as the judge decides their testimony (if they are also a witness) will not be affected by their attendance. Maldonado-Passage’s legal team asserted that Baskin was not a victim of any sort, since the murder-for-hire plot did not result in her murder. However, U.S. Circuit Court judges ruled that she still suffered emotional and financial harm because of the incident. In addition to this, since Maldonado-Passage conspired to have Baskin murdered two different times, the judge at his trial in 2019 had incorrectly considered them as two separate plots, rather than two attempts at the same murder. The U.S. Circuit Court judges ordered the trial judge to resentence him. So, even for all that trouble, Maldonado-Passage remains behind bars. However, so long as the Tiger King’s popularity continues, it won’t be surprising if Joe Exotic and his legal team keep searching for ways to get him out of prison.
FRIGHTS, FALL, AND FUN 3 Local Events You Have to Try This Fall
Fall has returned to Pinellas County, and there is no shortage of events. From family- friendly activities to the perfect way to get scared, be sure to add these Halloween and autumn events to your calendar. 10th Annual Fox Squirrel Corn Maze Where: 3002 Charlie Taylor, Plant City When: Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 9–24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $10–$11, free for children ages 2 and under Website: FutchEntertainment.com Load up the car and travel to Plant City for a fun afternoon of fall activities. Challenge your family to a cornhole game, see if you can hit the scarecrow from the gigantic slingshot, or walk through the butterfly garden! When you’re ready to “get lost,” be sure to visit the corn maze for an exciting adventure through the Florida countryside. Don’t forget to pick up your pumpkin from the patch, too! Pets are not allowed, but parking is free. Learn more and purchase your tickets online. Frightfully Fun Trick-or-Treat Parade Where: 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota When: Oct. 30 from 3–5 p.m. Admission: Free Website: MallAtUTC.com/events
The Mall at UTC will invite your children’s favorite characters to march through its annual Halloween parade, passing out surprise “frightfully fun” gifts. Be sure to
arrive early — the first 500 children in attendance will be given goodie bags! The parade is the perfect way to begin your night of trick-or-treating. Learn more about the event online.
Scream-A-Geddon Horror Park Where: 27839 Saint Joe Road, Dade City When: Friday and Saturday from
7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. Admission: $27–$48 Website: ScreamAGeddon.com
This is the perfect spot for horror fans! With six terrifying spots to explore, a beer garden to relax in, and a paintball zone to challenge your friends, there’s no better place to get scared and share in your favorite horror events. Explore places like the abandoned Ravenhill Asylum, which was reportedly sealed up with patients left inside,
or discover Avalon, a mythical, creepy village whose history
includes witchcraft and the occult. Buy tickets, plan your trip, and learn
Break out the costumes and prepare for a trick-or- treating adventure your family is sure to remember!
more online — if you dare!
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CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER’S CREATIONS SPARK IMAGINATION AND LIFELONG MEMORIES
Jeanine McLeod always dreamed of opening her own business — she just never
“I love creating sets, and I think that goes back to all that time in the amusement park
[design],” Jeanine says. “[Children] get to use
expected it would be photography.
Bring the salty taste of Oktoberfest to your home kitchen with these soft pretzels!
their imagination. They get to dress up, they get to come play, and
Originally born in New York, Jeanine and her family moved to New Port Richey, Florida, when Jeanine was still a toddler. Jeanine earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida, then picked
INGREDIENTS
they pretend to be a fairy, a wizard, their favorite athlete — whatever it is, they get to transform.” The results, Jeanine says, are photos that children love and that parents treasure for a lifetime. Furthermore, having professional-grade photos are not meant to replace phone photos that everyone can take, Jeanine
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1 1/2 cups warm water
• • • • •
4 1/2 cups flour 3 tbsp oil, divided 2/3 cup baking soda
• • •
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
2 eggs, beaten Coarse salt, for sprinkling
1 packet active dry yeast
DIRECTIONS
up a job with a company that designed rides for theme parks across the globe.
1.
In a bowl, combine water, salt, and sugar. Add yeast and let rest for 5 minutes. Add flour and 2 tbsp oil, then mix thoroughly into a dough.
2. Remove the dough from the bowl. Coat bowl with remaining oil, then return the dough, cover with plastic wrap, and set it aside in a warm place for 1 hour. 3. Preheat oven to 450 F. 4. Cut dough into 8 pieces. Roll them into thin ropes, then twist ropes into pretzel shapes. 5. In a large pot, boil water. Add baking soda, then boil each pretzel for 1 minute, flipping halfway through.
“I’ve always been technical and creative,” Jeannine says. “I fell in love with the
explains. Instead, these are meant to capture specific milestones in children’s lives and provide printed memories that remind children how valuable they are. As her business has grown, so has Jeanine’s presence in her community. Today, it’s impossible for Jeanine to go out in public without running into a family, employees, or children she’s photographed. “The longer I’ve been here, I feel like I’ve photographed this community as it has grown,” Jeanine says. “It’s a privilege … and I love it.” We are honored to have relied on Jeanine’s expertise for our Denmon Pearlman headshots! To learn more about Jeanine’s work and to schedule your session, please visit PhotosOnCloud9.com.
theatrical aspects and creating a world … [riders] felt like they were transported to a different place.” Still, that spirit of entrepreneurship kept nagging at Jeannine, so when she moved to the region in 2005, she decided to make the leap. Only,
6.
Transfer pretzels to a baking sheet. Brush them with egg and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 10–15 minutes. Enjoy!
Inspired by Tasty.co
she didn’t open the consulting firm she always thought she would be destined for.
Instead, she chose photography, creating Cloud 9 Studios.
Combining her love of people with a passion for creating new worlds, Jeanine soon gained a reputation for her children’s themed portraits. To this day, that specialty is Jeanine’s favorite part of her job.
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INSIDE 1 An Adoption Story You Don’t Want to Miss!
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The Tiger King Remains Behind Bars 3 Fall Events for Everyone!
Meet the Local Photographer Whose Photos Create New Worlds Oktoberfest Soft Pretzels
A Few New Legal Dramas for Your List
NEW LEGAL DRAMAS FOR YOUR LIST
Few places house events with higher stakes than the courtroom. Lawyers, judges, and jury work with (and against) one another, all while the fate of a person’s livelihood hangs in the balance. The courtroom has indeed captured our collective imagination, which is why television dramas about lawyers and courtrooms have been so popular for decades. Even in 2021, that hasn’t changed. So, if you’re a courtroom drama junkie and are looking for your next binge, then check out some of the following titles as we begin the season of new TV shows. ‘FOR LIFE’ The verdict isn’t always the end of the story — sometimes it’s the beginning. “For Life” follows a prison inmate wrongfully convicted of a life sentence and his desperate struggle to become a lawyer. He then works toward overturning his case and returning to his family. This ABC show was a huge hit with critics and fans alike and has been greenlighted for a second season. ‘DEFENDING JACOB’ Oaths in the court of law are strong, but are they stronger than the bonds of family? That’s what one former assistant district attorney will have to answer when one of his son’s classmates is discovered murdered, and many signs point to his son, Jacob, as the killer. This miniseries debuted on Apple TV+ in April 2020 and stars Chris Evans of “Captain America” fame. ‘PERRY MASON’ If your taste in story settings is more art deco than postmodern, then you might enjoy this Emmy Award-nominated show from HBO. Set in 1931, Perry Mason is a top-notch criminal defense attorney, who takes on what could be the biggest case the bustling city of Los Angeles has ever seen. As much a character study as it is a crime drama, the performances in this show may suck you in even more than the story itself.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THESE GRIPPING STORIES!
But if none of these seem particularly interesting to you, “Law & Order” is still there to help scratch your crime drama itch.
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