Take a look at our November newsletter!
Review Brooks & Crowley
November 2021
781-251-0555
www.brooksandcrowley.com
439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026
*Services Throughout Massachusetts
Right after the craziness of Black Friday, there’s one more important holiday during Thanksgiving week — Small Business Saturday. CELEBRATING SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY It’s no secret in Boston that the pandemic has emptied many of our local mom-and-pop shops, whether due to financial hardship, the breakdown of the supply chain in nearly every industry, or a combination of both. Even used car dealerships are struggling to find old cars to buy! The past year’s troubles have made it difficult for many factories to make new cars at all. Buy Local — It Might Mean More Than You Think
Nobody ever thought that Doyle’s would shut down or run out of money. Then, the pandemic forced its hand. The point isn’t to say that buying local will always save the business — Doyle’s couldn’t serve anyone, even fans, during lockdown. But your favorite small businesses (and the families tied to them) are dependent on their communities for business.
But it’s not just about the pandemic, either. In today’s world, you might wonder if the internet has made it easier for business owners to pursue
their dreams. It really depends on whom you ask. Unless you have a niche service (like law!), it’s pretty hard to compete against giants like Amazon. It comes down to this: Would you rather order a cheap replacement belt off Amazon and get it a couple days later, or go around the corner today to buy one from your neighbor? In the spirit of Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I think it’s worth considering the latter, especially this year.
For all of the small businesses that have survived into late 2021 and, hopefully, the upcoming year, we should do our part to support them. Not only will you get better service than a giant chain restaurant or shop, but you’ll also be helping your neighbor, whose kids go to school with your kids. In fact, according to Civic Economics, “On average, 48% of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally, compared to less than 14% of purchases at chain stores.”
“Nobody ever thought that Doyle’s would shut down or run out of money. Then, the pandemic forced its hand.”
Look at Doyle’s Cafe. It was an institution in Jamaica Plain for nearly 140 years. Since it had a
It’s worth checking out your local vendors while shopping for gifts this year. Or, if you enjoy trying
relationship with the original Samuel Adams brewery, having been the first establishment to agree to sell Boston Lager, it would get “first dibs” on the latest Samuel Adams beers. It drew in both neighborhood folks and national celebrities, including Boston mayors, professional athletes, and every sort of Bostonian, proper and not. Nine times out of 10 visits, you’d see someone you’d recognize.
new foods, order from smaller, non-chain restaurants whenever you can. For small-business owners like Neil and me, every customer is important. You’ll likely get that feeling when you start buying local, even just 1% more often. Thanks for reading, friends. –Steve Brooks
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Thanksgiving Dinner for All How to Cook for Diabetics and Vegans on Turkey Day
Alongside family and football, food is often the highlight of Thanksgiving. But if you’re cooking dinner for a large group, crafting the perfect menu can be difficult. Veganism and vegetarianism are more popular than ever, and it can be frustrating finding dishes that everyone can enjoy — or even eat at all, in the case of a diabetic friend or family member. Luckily, there are plenty of options to create an amazing meal for any group of diverse diners. Diabetics Thanksgiving is a stressful time for anyone who monitors their blood sugar. Sweet potato casserole and sugar-packed pies can tempt even the most diet-conscious diabetic. But undereating can be as unhealthy for diabetics as overeating, so it’s important to include appetizers in your Thanksgiving menu. Healthy options include raw vegetables and hummus, roasted nuts, shrimp cocktail, or a cheeseboard. For the main meal, turkey is fine if you hold off on any brown sugar or honey glaze. Green bean casserole is safe as well, and stuffing can be included as long as you use whole-grain bread. For dessert, parfaits made with Greek
yogurt, fresh fruit, and sliced almonds are healthy and tasty and can round out the perfect meal. Vegans The best thing about cooking Thanksgiving for a vegan is that there are plenty of substitutes for classic dishes. Vegan turkeys are available at most grocery stores. It may not look like your traditional turkey since there are no bones, but it still cooks and tastes like a turkey. If a vegan turkey is out of the question, you can try making a mushroom Wellington or roasted cauliflower as a replacement. For side dishes, vegan macaroni and cheese and roasted Brussels sprouts are easy and safe. As for dessert, most grocery stores carry a variety of gluten-free and vegan desserts at their bakery, such as nondairy ice cream and flourless cookies, that taste similar or identical to their gluten-filled, non- vegan counterparts. The holidays are a great time to come together, and with these options, you can make everyone feel included in the celebration.
PSA: A Living Trust Can Protect Your Home
A Living Trust Can Protect Against Creditors and Lawsuits There is a way to keep your home even if you’re being pursued by creditors and lawsuits. In order to judgment-proof your property, you must create an irrevocable living trust. Unlike a revocable living trust, which you can terminate at any time, an irrevocable trust requires you to permanently hand over control of assets to be held by the trust. And yes, you can often choose yourself. What if your beneficiaries are in debt? A “spendthrift clause” in a living trust can help prevent the trustee from transferring the title of a living trust’s assets to anyone other than the beneficiaries, blocking claims by
Lately, a lot of people have been calling us to get their estates in order due to losing a family member during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nobody expects to pass away and leave a mess for their family to sort through. Unfortunately, your debts, taxes, and probate court will take away a lot of the inheritance — even your home in some cases — that you might’ve intended to pass to your family. If you want to best protect your estate for the future generations of your family, here’s how you can do that. Create a Living Trust The very best thing you can do for your home is to create a living trust. It’s a legal entity created to hold ownership of your property, such as your home. With a living trust, your beneficiaries can retain your property after your death without going through probate. Additionally, since there’s no public court process, any financial information related to your living trust — from the assets it holds to the people who inherit them — remains completely private. Lastly, you won’t have to worry about your estate plan if you’re ever incapacitated. If you’re unable to manage your home or finances for any reason, you’ll have an appointed trustee who will take care of the assets according to your wishes.
creditors. However, keep in mind that if you transfer your home to a trust after you’ve already lost a lawsuit, your judgment creditor can claim that you’ve fraudulently transferred your property to a trust simply to avoid judgment against you. If you’re not sure how to start this process, don’t be afraid to give us a call at Brooks & Crowley — we’d be happy to help!
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Football and Thanksgiving: A Match Made in Marketing Heaven
Last year, 30.3 million people tuned in to watch the NFL’s Thanksgiving showdown between the Washington Football Team and the Dallas Cowboys. For those Americans (and probably for you if you’re reading this article), football is as essential to Thanksgiving as turkey and stuffing — but why? As it turns out, there are two answers to that question. The first is that games have been played on the holiday for almost as long as it has officially existed. Thanksgiving became a holiday in 1863, and just six years later, the third American football game in history was played on it.
The second reason we watch football on Thanksgiving is more about money than tradition. In 1934, a Detroit Lions coach, George A. Richards, decided that in order to attract more fans, his team would make a point to always play on Thanksgiving when most people were off work. To sweeten the pot, he committed his radio station (an affiliate of the NBC Blue Network) to broadcasting the Thanksgiving game live on 94 different stations across America. This idea was a hit from day one! According to Sporting News, the long- unloved Lions “not only sold out the stadium, they also had to turn people away at the gates.” In 1966, the Dallas Cowboys signed on to play every Thanksgiving, too, for similar publicity reasons. Since those early days, football-themed traditions have flourished in American families. Apart from watching games on TV, one of the most popular is organizing a pre-turkey game of family touch football a la the sitcom “Friends.” (Its famed episode “The One With the Football” aired Nov. 21, 1996.) If you’ve never organized a game, this could be your year! To get started, Google “Scott’s Family-Friendly Touch Football” and click the first link.
According to SB Nation, the Young America Cricket Club and the Germantown Cricket Club faced off in that inaugural Thanksgiving game in Philadelphia, and football
has been played on Thanksgiving pretty
much ever since! When the NFL was founded in 1920, the Thanksgiving game was official from the get-go.
EASY PUMPKIN BROWNIES Inspired by TheCookieRookie.com
INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT?
If you have a hard time choosing between chocolate cake and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, this 2-for-1 treat will knock your socks off. Ingredients
•
1 box brownie mix, plus other ingredients listed on box
• • • •
1/2 can pumpkin purée 6 oz cream cheese, softened
•
1/2 cup chocolate chips
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
directions
1. Preheat the oven as directed on the brownie box, then make the brownie mix. Fold in chocolate chips. 2. In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin purée, cream cheese, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. 3. Choose your pan as directed on the brownie box. Grease it if needed. 4. Pour half of the brownie mix into the pan and spread evenly. 5. Add the pumpkin mixture to the pan, evenly or in a pattern. Cover with the rest of the brownie mix and spread evenly. 6. Bake as directed on the brownie box, adding 10 minutes to account for the pumpkin. Test for doneness, and when your toothpick comes out clean, cool and enjoy!
Get Neil Crowley’s comprehensive guide to Massachusetts car accident claims and expert advice you need to get your life back on track. Go to BrooksAndCrowley.com/reports to request your free copy!
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
439 Washington St. • Dedham, MA 02026 Inside THIS ISSUE
1
Why It’s Powerful to Buy Local
2 Thanksgiving Dinner That Everyone Can Enjoy
PSA: A Living Trust Can Protect Your Home
3 Football and Thanksgiving:
A Match Made in Marketing Heaven
Easy Pumpkin Brownies
4 November Events in Boston
Savor November Before Winter Officially Starts What’s Going On, Boston?
26th Annual Comics Come Home Benefit Nov. 13, 8 p.m. TD Garden, 100 Legends Way TDGarden.com Comics Come Home is the longest-running comedy fundraiser in the nation, and it’s back for its 26th annual benefit! This year, the host will be Denis Leary with A-list comedians such as Sam Jay, Jon Stewart, and Roy Wood Jr. as well as our local Boston favorites like Orlando Baxter, Lenny Clarke, Robert Kelly, and Carolyn Plummer. This year, all event proceeds will go directly to The Neely Integrative Center, which supports evidence-based nutrition care for cancer patients.
Boston Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ Nov. 26–Dec. 26 Citizens Bank Opera House, 539 Washington St. BostonBallet.org Maybe you want to sneak in a little festive cheer just before December gets here — well, that’s fine because it’s Boston tradition! Proclaimed one of New England’s most beloved holiday events, enjoy watching the Sugar Plum Fairy, brave toy soldiers, dancing snowflakes, and a tree that grows in the sky all come to life. This classical ballet will conjure your childlike wonder in no time at all.
No matter how excited you are for the upcoming holidays, it’s a great time to take advantage of November while it’s still around, especially with many farmers markets going away for the colder weather. Here are a few other events that’ll help you enjoy the present. Copley Square Farmers Market Every Tuesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Ends Nov. 23) Copley Square, 139 St. James Ave. MassFarmersMarkets.org If you want to go to the biggest and busiest farmers market in the city, you won’t want to go anywhere else other than Copley Square Farmers Market. It features over two dozen Massachusetts farmers offering a wide, vibrant selection of local and delicious produce and meat!
We hope you go out and support one of these events before they slip away until next year!
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