Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton August 2019
August 2019
M y love and faith in Christ has called me to a life of service, whether it is on a mission trip or in the courtroom. I go on mission trips frequently to help those in economic, physical, spiritual, or emotional need. At the firm, I serve my clients by counseling them, praying for them, and working hard to meet their needs and serve them. The mission trips have been a lot of fun, and they reinforce the kind of impact you can have when helping those in need. I’ve been going on missions since 1999, and they’re always an adventure. The time I went on a mission in the Ecuadorian jungle to help run a medical and an eye clinic was quite the experience. We were two hours from the nearest road. We had to carry everything we needed to survive for six days with us as well as enough equipment to run a medical and an eye clinic in just two canoes. In those six days, we canoed to two Quechua Indian villages. While the jungle was hot and humid, we were able to sleep in the village schoolhouses. Between 20 of us, we had to sleep six inches apart from each other under a mosquito net.
We had just a lightbulb on a string and a generator to enable us to work well past dusk. We used paddles that had
the different lenses fitted into them and the lens strength marked on the side. This way, when someone approached needing glasses, they could look through each lens and determine which best suited their eyes. Everyone was very warm and welcoming, and I found they were very family-oriented. Being able to help people that needed to see up close to make a living, and seeing the tears in their eyes as some of them read for the first time in years, was an amazing thing. It’s moments like those that remind me of the impact you can have when helping anyone in need. It’s what also drives me toward helping those in our own local community. With Lions Club supplying us, we were able to provide the Quechua people with 400 prescription pairs of eyeglasses and 800 pairs of sunglasses! Because of the intensity of the sun, the Quechua people have a horrible time with pterygium, which is a fibrous growth that develops over the eyes. Eventually, someone with pterygium can lose their vision, but the sunglasses help stop the pterygium from growing any further. Everyone was very thankful for the help and resources. While we were mainly running the eye clinic, we had the opportunity to help with some other tasks, including building a church! We utilized the Quechua’s designs to construct the building. The design and their construction methods were something to marvel. The Quechua villagers wanted an octagonal building, using wood for the walls and leaves for the roof. Never had I seen such creative ingenuity with the resources they had on hand. The tools the Quechua people worked with included nails, string, a hammer, a hatchet, a machete, and a chainsaw. While we did our best with logistical planning, we don’t always know what to expect, so we let God work out the details, which is always an exciting adventure. Seeing the happiness in the eyes of the villagers when the last wall went up on the church was a beautiful reminder of the effect you have on those you help who are in need. Until my next mission, I have a willing heart and willing hands, and I’ll do my best to help those in our community by representing them the best I can.
We worked from sunup to past sundown, providing proper medical and eye care for the Quechua people.
–Don McKenna,
Trial Lawyer
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Lawyers Helping People—Since 1890
Helping Humans Slow Down and Look Up Modern humans are stuck in a routine of expected and constant industriousness. But with all this rushing, people often drag themselves home at night with no energy left to enjoy the most splendid show nature has to offer: the wondrous night sky. 3. Utilize Assets. Put your phone to good use by downloading apps like Stellarium, Starwalk, and Google Sky Map. Each of these apps offers a unique benefit for aspiring stargazers. For example, Starwalk lets you point your phone at the sky to see stars, constellations, and planets in real time based on your location.
Most people go through life looking straight ahead, but if they would stop and peer skyward, they’d bear witness to a massive, unexplored frontier made up of the moon in all its phases, burning stars sailing through the sky, constellations with epic origin stories, and brilliant meteor showers. If you’re looking for a hobby to help you slow down and appreciate the world around you, stargazing is a great option. Here are some tips to get you started. 1. The Higher, the Better. If you’re a city dweller, meander a little way out of town or try to find a tall building to keep the light pollution to a minimum. 2. Extra Set of Eyes. While novice stargazers often want to immediately throw their money at a new telescope, astronomy experts recommend starting with binoculars instead. You’ll need to identify several anchor planets or constellations to help you navigate the sky before using a telescope.
4. Mark Your Calendar. In 1972, beloved singer- songwriter John Denver wrote about a meteor shower he witnessed during a camping trip in Colorado. He describes the scene by singing, “I’ve seen it raining fire in the sky.”The “fire” he recounted was actually the Perseids meteor shower, the most recognized shower on Earth. This astrological wonder takes place every year from July 17 to Aug. 24. During this time, viewers should be able to see shooting stars associated with the Perseids, but the shower reaches its maximum rate of activity on Aug. 12–13 this year. Grab some friends and family, and head outdoors to put your newfound stargazing knowledge to work.
Attorney Devan Byrd & “Elvin: The Elephant Who Forgets”
and learn through challenging, character-building activities that increase their reading skills.
With TBI cases involving children on the rise, the work AHIF does is critical for the health and well-being of so many communities. In recent years, there have been more than 800,000 concussion or TBI cases reported in the U.S. alone. One of our newest attorneys, Devan Byrd, read “Elvin: The Elephant Who Forgets,” by Heather Snyder. It’s an endearing story about an elephant who sustains a brain injury when a fig tree branch falls on his head. The story helps educate the kids on the importance of avoiding head trauma by wearing seat belts or bicycle helmets whenever they go out. Devan also discussed some simple prevention tips and helped pass out frozen treats for the kids to enjoy. If you want to find out how you can support or get involved with the Alabama Head Injury Foundation, you can call 205-823-3818 or email info@ahif.com to donate or volunteer.
The AHIF is an incredible organization with whom we are so lucky to work. Since their founding in 1983, the AHIF hopes to increase the awareness of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and develop support services. Their service doesn’t stop there, though; they also provide information and resources to their clients and their families to help them meet their unique needs and challenges.
W e care a lot about our community and are always eager to get involved when and where we can. Just recently, Hare Wynn had the opportunity to partner with the Alabama Head Injury Foundation (AHIF) to visit kids at a Jefferson County Board of Education summer camp! During the camp, we had a chance to teach the kids about the dangers of head trauma.
This summer program is an amazing event that provides kids with the opportunity to have fun
Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe
With school right around the corner, there are a lot of questions and concerns going through any parent’s head, including “How many binders does one kid need?” or “How many of these pens or markers should I get for them?” But you might also be wondering how to make sure your children stay safe on their way to school. Here are just a couple tips you can go over with your children. Rehearse the Route If your children are walking to and from school, this will help them remember the route. Before the school year starts, take them for a few walks, using the route they’re going to take to school. This helps them familiarize themselves with it, and while they walk, they can take note of route markers like specific houses, crosswalks, or any major buildings. Drop Off Carefully Every school has varying drop-off procedures, and if you don’t know them beforehand, it can make the experience a dangerous and stressful hassle. Make sure to find the procedures before the school year starts and go over them with your kids. Every school should have proper drop-off information available on a website or at the school. While you should make sure everyone knows what to do when you drop them off, there are a few rules that apply to every school zone. •Do not double park. This hinders the visibility of other cars and children for everyone in the drop-off zone. • Avoid picking up or dropping off your kids across the street from the school — the closer, the better. • Carpooling is always a great way to decrease the number of cars dropping off at the school and reduce the risk of an accident or a child getting hit by a car.
Solution on Page 4
Corn is plentiful during the summer months, and this easy-to-make salsa is sure to be a hit at your next get-together.
If you want to learn more about what you can do to keep your kids safe during the school year, you can visit the National Safety Council’s website at www.NSC.org.
Ingredients:
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2 medium ears of corn, shucked
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1/4 bunch cilantro leaves, sliced
1 jalapeño or Fresno chile, seeded and thinly sliced
Juice of 1 lime
Kosher salt, to taste
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1/2 red onion, diced
1 large tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
Directions:
1. Heat a cast-iron skillet to high. Char corn, turning occasionally, for 10–14 minutes until kernels begin to blacken in spots. 2. Using a sharp knife, remove corn kernels from cobs and transfer to a large mixing bowl. 3. With a wooden spoon or potato masher, gently crush corn to release starch and juices.
4. Add jalapeño, onion, tomato, and cilantro. Mix to combine. 5. Top with lime juice and season with salt. 6. Serve alongside your favorite tortilla chips.
Inspired by Food &Wine magazine.
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Sudoku solution.
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Serving People on Missions or in Courtrooms
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The Art of Stargazing
Attorney Devan Byrd & “Elvin: The Elephant Who Forgets”
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Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe Roasted Corn Salsa
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Get Your Kids Back on a Sleep Schedule
Establishing a Bedtime Routine for the School Year Between vacations, bonfires, and sporting tournaments, your children’s sleep schedule
Make It Easy Though the days may be getting shorter, it’s still relatively light out at night, making it nearly impossible for your kids to doze off when they should. Sleep experts recommend creating a sleeping space that mimics a cave: dark, cool, and quiet. This means sunlight shouldn’t sneak into the room, and the home should be a quiet zone after bedtime. No one wants to sleep while everyone else is having fun, so it’s important that everyone in the home is quiet at bedtime. Just Relax This is a rule your family should follow year-round, not just when you want to reestablish a routine. At a certain time each night, begin the nightly wind- down. For example, at 8 p.m. shut off your screens, put on pajamas, and engage in a relaxing activity, like reading a book or doing some yoga. Signaling to your body and your family that it’s time for bed will help your kiddos, and you, fall asleep at an appropriate time.
probably went on break this summer. With school quickly approaching, it’s vital to get your kids back on a proper sleep schedule. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, getting enough sleep can significantly improve a child’s growth and cognitive function. But getting a restful night’s sleep is easier said than done when kids have had almost complete freedom for three months. Try these tips to get your kids snoozing in early August and prepared for school. Start Early and Go Slowly When practicing this tip, think of the old adage: “It takes 21 days to break a habit.” If your kids have been going to bed late this summer, set a time when they must go to bed, but don’t make it too far off the time they have been regularly hitting the hay. If they shuffle off to bed around 10 p.m., push their bedtime to 9:45 p.m., and then push it back to 9:30 p.m. one week later. Slowly work your way back to an appropriate time, and bedtime will be easier when school starts.
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