CRONIN CALLER
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October/November 2020
INTRODUCING OUR NEWATTORNEYS We’ve Added to Our Team to Serve You!
Dear Valued Friends and Family,
I am pleased to announce two incredible additions to The Cronin Law Firm: Roberta “Bobbie” Balon-Vaughn and Varun DaCosta. Together, they bring decades of experience as the newest attorneys to join our team. Expanding the breadth of our firm and continuing our relentless mission to provide superior customer service are achievements for which The Cronin Law Firm is grateful to have accomplished. While we continue to push the envelope, ambitiously pursuing to serve at higher levels, our goals of providing quality work remain steadfast. Thank you for letting us continue to care for your legal needs. We do not take the trust you place in us lightly. At The Cronin Law Firm, we believe it is a privilege and an honor to be at your service. Bobbie Balon-Vaughn earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Denver and her law degree from the University of Detroit-Mercy, where she was a member of the law review. She started her career as the chief appellate attorney in the Jackson County prosecutor’s office and transitioned her practice into family lawwhen she married and moved to Livingston county. Bobbie’s education in psychology has been integral to her success as an attorney, giving her a genuine understanding of the emotional dynamics involved in litigating family law matters. Bobbie also has a unique skill set as the Hamburg Township treasurer for two terms, a Director of the Livingston Community Bank, a hearing panelist for the State Bar of Michigan Attorney Discipline Board, and an Ambassador of the Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce. She’s known for her compassion, dedication, and skills as an effective counselor, negotiator, and trial lawyer. Her more than 20 years of legal experience have given her a goal-oriented approach when it comes to representation, so you and your family are in good hands. When she’s not engaged in representing her clients, she enjoys spending time with her four children, avidly cheering for the Green Bay Packers, bowling, golfing, workout out, and spending time on the water up north. Varun DaCosta was born in the middle east to Indian parents and is a first-generation immigrant who has called Detroit his home since 2002. These early life experiences have taught him the endless value of hard work and determination, propelling him to seek out a career in law. He completed his undergraduate degree in business at Purdue, then went on to graduate magna cum laude from Michigan State College of Law. During law school, he received a grant from the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan and interned at the Livingston County prosecutor’s office. After passing the bar exam, Varun received a grant to work at the Wayne County prosecutor’s office, where he served in both
the felony trial and examination divisions. While there, he gained even more experience litigating for Circuit Court bind-over and prosecuted felony bench and jury trials. He has even served as the sole in-house counsel for a multinational IT consulting firm and worked as an associate immigration attorney for a small boutique firm. Varun’s vast array of experiences in several different fields of law make him a valuable asset to our team as we strive to help our clients with a variety of legal matters. His dedication to working hard for every client and every case makes him a relentless advocate for the people. Outside work, Varun is an avid fan of the Purdue Boilermakers and the Detroit Pistons. When he isn’t cheering on his favorite teams, he enjoys working out and spending time with family, and he can’t wait to get back to his hobby of traveling. He’s already visited five of the seven continents. Our dedication to giving our clients the absolute best service starts with making sure we have the right team for the job. Attorneys like Bobbie and Varun bring experience and expertise to The Cronin Law Firm that we can’t wait to share with those of you who need our help.
P.S. If you retain prior to Nov. 15 and mention this article, you will get 10% off any retainer fee owed. Call us today!
248-258-3500 | www.croninlawfirm.com
DON’T TURN YOUR FACE MASKS INTO PETRI DISHES
BLOG YOUR WAY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC
The Power of Writing
Tips for Proper Care and Cleaning
Everyone has faced trying times over the past few months. While many activities help get us through these challenges, blogging can be one of the most impactful. Writing enables you to express your feelings and experiences, and blogging allows you to share them with others. Here are a few reasons why starting a blog can be an important part of coping with the pandemic. Connect with your readers. At times, it can feel like you are alone in the world, especially now. However, your blog can reach people who feel the same as you or who have had similar experiences as you. Also, writing down your story will inspire other people, and they may even start their own blog. In this way, you not only help yourself and others, but you also spark change in their lives. Meet new people. In addition to encouraging others, you might find a community of like- minded people through sharing your blog. You never know — from new readers and followers, you might learn of support groups to provide additional insights to your experiences. You can also find empathy and provide support to others. An online community can help you feel less isolated due to the pandemic or provide support through other challenging aspects of your life. Express your anxieties. Writing helps people cope with stressful experiences, and the pandemic has ushered a huge amount of uncertainty into their lives. Many people have felt afraid and anxious in the last eight months, and they continue to wonder what the future may hold. Your blog gives you a chance to express those fears and ease your stress. Harvard Medical School studies have shown that writing your thoughts down helps you organize ideas and even regulate emotions. With less on your mind, your body can relax.
In the span of a few months, face masks went from being something Americans only saw in hospital settings to an item we can’t leave home without. Since everyday use of face masks is still relatively new in the United States, here are some answers from Johns Hopkins Medicine to common questions regarding the proper care and cleaning of your face mask.
‘How often should I clean my face mask?’
Disposable, surgical face masks cannot be cleaned. Johns Hopkins recommends throwing surgical masks away when they are “visibly soiled or damaged.” If you wear a reusable fabric face mask, then you should wash your mask after each day of use to help prevent bacterial growth.
‘What’s the best way to clean my face mask?’
Earlier this year, a video circulated on social media claiming that you could use a rice cooker to sanitize disposable face masks. This claim is untrue. As stated previously, disposable face masks cannot be cleaned. However, fabric face masks, especially those made of cotton, can be washed with the rest of your laundry. Run them through the washing machine with hot water, then tumble dry on high heat. If you are sensitive to perfumes, use an unscented laundry detergent.
Write out your experiences, no matter what situation you find yourself in. You will help other people and especially yourself.
‘Is it safe to hand-wash face masks?’
Since fabric face masks need to be washed after each use, running a wash cycle just to clean a couple of masks can feel pretty wasteful — like doing a load of laundry only to wash the socks you wore yesterday. The Johns Hopkins Medicine website states that you can hand-wash your face masks if needed. Use hot, soapy water to wash your masks, scrub the mask for at least 20 seconds, and dry on high heat in your dryer.
‘Where should I store my cloth face masks when I’m not wearing them?’
Put used cloth face masks directly into the laundry basket when you arrive home to ensure they get cleaned in a timely manner and to prevent you from accidentally spreading germs. Have a sanitized place designated to store clean face masks only. Avoid putting face masks in your pocket or purse. Face masks are supposed to help keep us all healthy. Follow these tips to make sure your mask doesn’t become a petri dish. Cronin Law Firm | 248-258-3500
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THE ALLURE OF HOLLYWOOD HAS NOTHING ON MICHIGAN The Place Actor Jeff Daniels Will Always Call Home
Actor Jeff Daniels has become a big Hollywood name over the last few decades, even scoring an Emmy award and several Golden Globe nominations. But early in his career, he made the unusual choice to settle not in Hollywood or New York, but in the place he always called home: Chelsea, Michigan. Daniels grew up in Chelsea, where his father owned the Chelsea Lumber Company and even served as mayor of the city for a short stint. Daniels attended Central Michigan University and was a member of their theater program. During a summer spent at Eastern Michigan University, his participation in a special repertory program caught him a few eyes that helped him land several stage acting roles in New York. From the mid-70s through the early 90s, Daniels played dozens of roles both on and off Broadway and began his foray into film and television in the 80s. Just as his career was taking off, Daniels married his college sweetheart and moved back to his hometown of Chelsea, where they raised three kids. Raising a family with the same quality of life he knew and loved was most important to Daniels, even above his acting career. But living inMichigan didn’t stop his love of performing arts. In 1991, Daniels founded the nonprofit stage company Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, for which he’s written nearly two dozen screenplays. He’s also a musician and has released six albums, the proceeds from which go to supporting the Purple Rose. He’s also appeared as the TV spokesman for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation featured on CNBC and was inducted into the Michigan Walk of Fame in 2006. He even delivered the commencement address at the University of Michigan in 2009 and was granted an honorary doctorate in fine arts.
Many know Daniels as one of the goofy guys from the “Dumb and Dumber” movie series or from award-winning TV roles on shows like “The Newsroom,” “The Looming Tower,” and “Godless.” But first and foremost, he’s an inspiring Michigander through and through.
CLASSIC PUMPKIN SOUP
UPCOMING ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHOPS:
INGREDIENTS •
Sept. 22: 5:30–7 p.m. Oct. 22: 5:30–7 p.m.
Nov. 18: 5:30–7 p.m. Dec. 17: 5:30–7 p.m.
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2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp olive oil 2 shallots, diced
1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg
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3 cloves garlic, minced
DON’T MISS OUT ON MORE INSIGHTS FROM THE CRONIN LAW FIRM! Every Tuesday, we host a new Cronin Challenge2Change episode on Facebook Live, where we raise awareness about issues in our world. You can also find those episodes replayed on our Podcast and YouTube channels. Every Thursday is our Cronin Law Show , where we answer questions from our viewers and discuss relevant topics in today’s legal news. Participate and get your legal questions answered!
2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned)
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2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup canned light coconut milk
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes. 2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. 3. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan. 4. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!
You can catch these shows live every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:30 a.m. EST and access previous shows by heading to these websites:
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INSIDE
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Meet Bobbie and Varun, Our New Attorneys Blogging Through the Pandemic Keep Your Face Masks Safe and Clean This Actor Brings a Little Bit of Hollywood to Michigan Classic Pumpkin Soup
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Weird and Wacky Halloween Laws
SPOOKY CITY REGULATIONS Halloween Laws Across the U.S.
Hollywood, California: No Silly String The Los Angeles City Council has banned Silly String and all other brands of aerosol string from use on Halloween in the Hollywood area. From midnight on Oct. 31 until noon on Nov. 1, no one is allowed to spray, sell, or distribute Silly String in public locations. Use of Silly String got so popular in the city on Halloween that the mess left behind became a strain on sanitation workers, and the city sympathized with them. Belleville, Illinois: No 8th Graders Trick-or-treating is most often viewed as an activity reserved for younger generations, but how do you determine what age is “too old” for this type of generally good-natured fun? Well, the city of Belleville settled the ambiguity by passing a law restricting teenagers who are past the eighth grade — generally older than 13 — from going door to door on Halloween. Walnut, California: No Masks Without Permits In a simpler time, there was no paperwork required to celebrate Halloween to the fullest. But in the city ofWalnut, no one canwear a mask or other disguise on public streets without a permit from the sheriff. The law doesn’t specify any exceptions, so residents are left to assume that everyone from age 5 to 100 must abide. Whatever your Halloween celebrations might look like this year, it’s important to have fun, but remember to abide by any rules or laws your city might have in place in an effort to keep its citizens safe.
Halloween can be a mischievous holiday. The most innocent of us reserve it for backyard parties and trick-or-treating, but some like to get a little rowdier than others. That’s exactly why various city councils across the U.S. have passed some seemingly unusual laws to regulate spooky festivities. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware: No Sunday Trick-or-Treating If Halloween falls on a Sunday, children in Rehoboth Beach are required to trick-or-treat the night before. The explanation in the city code is simple, but ambiguous: to prevent children and their guardians from going door to door on Sunday evenings. Rehoboth Beach law also forbids children from roaming the streets on Halloween “with the intent to cause trouble,” but what exactly that means is ambiguous as well.
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