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757.852.3000 | LegalDefense.com DECEMBER 2022 TRYING TO DO MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY A Shift in Company Culture
In just a few short weeks, we’ll be closing out 2022 as we kick off a new year. Many people use the new year as an opportunity to improve themselves. They’ll reflect on the past few years of their lives to try and see where they could do better. Most will then set goals in the form of resolutions and plan a path to ensure their goals can be accomplished. It’s a time-honored tradition many Americans participate in every year. I’m not one for setting New Year’s resolutions, but I have caught myself in moments of reflection more often in the past few years than before. As I’ve grown older, I’m thinking more and more about what’s important in life and what’s not. There are areas within my personal life and business I want to improve in 2023. We’ve already started working on some in the last few months of 2022, but there will be an even bigger push once the new year begins. The two main areas I want to focus on in 2023 include becoming more involved with the community and improving my and my team’s work/life balance. Improving these areas will ideally result in a positive culture shift for the business. So much of our culture and the business world revolves around the idea of being profitable. Many business owners think profit means more than anything else, and I disagree with that. I want my team to be motivated, not by profit but by helping those in our community. We’ve already had a strong start with helping our community through community service projects and fundraisers. In October, the team and I cleaned up over 55 pounds of trash and 8 pounds of recycling from Mt. Trashmore. Our team also wrapped Halloween goodie bags for 100 children at St. Mary’s Home. Earlier in the year, we stuffed boxes for the Southeastern Food Bank and have been gathering funds and donations for them throughout the holiday season. Many team members also plan to assist a soup kitchen throughout the holiday season. We’re truly trying to help out wherever we can.
and donating money to social needs and programs. I’m even planning to hire additional people for our team to better assist more community members who need our help. I know that by hiring more qualified individuals, the team will be less stressed, have a better work/life balance, and be able to help more of our clients and members of our community. If I focus on doing good in the community or hiring more people, even if it makes the business slightly less profitable initially, I know my employees will be happier, creating a more cohesive team. And we get the added benefit of helping the community! P.S. We are going paperless! This will be the last newsletter you will receive in the mail. To keep up with what’s happening with our team and the business, follow us on Facebook and check out our website! –Daniel J Miller
While we’ve helped many individuals and organizations in our community, we know we could do more by volunteering our time
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D omestic A buse D uring the H olidays
Suffering from domestic abuse and violence is difficult for anyone to navigate, but it can become even more challenging during the holidays. The holiday season can bring all sorts of extra stress between finances, holiday shopping, and attending holiday-themed events, which can lead to an increase in domestic violence calls throughout the season. Additionally, abusers are more likely to be off work during the holiday season, placing them at home with their victims for extended periods. Domestic abusers have many reasons for their actions, though none are acceptable. More often than not, the abuser wants power over someone else and will deploy several tactics to gain control. From gaslighting to physical violence to forced isolation, abusers will do whatever is necessary to make their victims feel helpless, worthless, or unworthy of respect. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, or economic status. That’s why it’s so important to know what to do if you become the victim of a domestic abuser.
support system behind you. There will be fears and boundaries that try to prevent you from going, but you have to push through them, and we’ll help you along the way.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, leaving an abuser is the most dangerous time for a victim of domestic violence. When the abuser learns you’re trying to go, they may become hostile and even more violent. You need to create a solid plan before you attempt to leave, and it helps to have a strong At The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller, we are committed to helping our clients reclaim their safety in any situation. If you’re the victim of domestic abuse, our family law team can help you file a protective order against your abuser and assist you with the following steps, including divorce. 5 R easons to S ee a P lay T his S eason
THE THEATER IS CALLING YOUR NAME
3. YOU’LL PROVOKE FAMILY
To get in the holiday spirit this season, consider making a family trip to your local theater. There are a surprising number of benefits to seeing a play in person.
Exposing your kids to the work of Shakespeare and Dickens at the theater is a great way to help them get ahead in their studies.
DISCUSSIONS. Chatting about the play with your family during intermission and the drive home will help you learn more about each other and forge stronger bonds. What did your kids enjoy about the plot? Which character did your spouse identify with most? Are there any plot holes or unanswered questions that are bothering them? 4. YOU’LL BOOST YOUR FAMILY’S LITERARY KNOWLEDGE. A study from the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform found that students remembered more about stories like “A Christmas Carol” after watching them as plays than they did after watching movies or even reading the original books.
1. YOU’LL SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL
5. YOUR KIDS WILL DEVELOP THEIR TOLERANCE AND EMPATHY. The same study out of Arkansas found that students who attended the theater scored higher on tolerance and empathy tests. Watching live helped them identify and relate to the emotional turmoil of the characters. This winter, check your local theaters for holiday-themed productions like “A Christmas Carol,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and “Miracle on 34th Street.” You’ll bring your family closer and embrace the holiday spirit one curtain call at a time.
ECONOMY. Theater companies are almost always local organizations, and many of them are nonprofits. That means the money you spend on your tickets will go into the pockets of the actors and/or right back into the company to bring more productions to the community.
2. YOUR KIDS COULD DISCOVER
AN INTEREST IN THE ARTS. Your children might have a passion for acting or stage design. They’ll never know unless they see both firsthand.
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Common Juvenile Crimes During the Holidays
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Kids across the country are preparing to go on break from school for a couple of weeks for the holidays. It’s an exciting time for many of them, but some will take things too far and end up in legal trouble. It happens all the time during the holiday season, and there are two crimes that juveniles are regularly charged with during the final weeks of the year: shoplifting and theft. Shoplifting occurs when an individual enters a place of business and steals something without purchasing it. The holiday season is the busiest time of year for many brick- and-mortar stores. They’ll often hire more security and loss prevention staff to reduce shoplifting attempts. Yet, many people, including minors, will try to steal from stores. The individual could be charged with a
misdemeanor or felony, depending on what’s stolen. Some stores will even give lifetime bans to anyone caught stealing from them. With increases in e-commerce and online sales, many gifts are sent through the mail and placed on people’s doorsteps. This has caused a rise in theft, and it often involves minors. Many have become aware of package thieves and have improved their home security with doorbell cameras that can identify the thief. Once again, an individual can be charged with a felony or misdemeanor for juvenile theft, depending on the incident’s circumstances. A Virginia juvenile felony conviction will remain on your child’s criminal record for the rest of their life. It could affect their
employment opportunities and even prevent them from being admitted to specific colleges. A Virginia juvenile misdemeanor conviction will be removed from your child’s criminal record after five years or after they’ve turned 19 years old, whichever situation occurs later. If your child has been convicted of a juvenile crime, it’s imperative to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer to represent them in court. Their future could be at stake, so you want the best representation possible. Give us a call, and we’ll be there to assist.
BEST PORK ROAST
SUDOKU
Inspired by RecipeTinEats.com
What’s better than slow-roasted pork that’s caramelized on the outside and tender on the inside? Nothing! Enjoy this sweet and savory meal on cold winter nights.
INGREDIENTS
• 4 lbs pork shoulder/butt • Salt and pepper, to taste • 7 tbsp unsalted butter • 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar • 4 garlic cloves, minced • 1/4 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp pepper
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 320 F. 2. Season pork with salt and pepper and set aside.
3. In a saucepan over medium heat, add butter, sugar, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine ingredients and wait for the sugar to melt completely. Remove from heat. 4. Line roasting pan with foil and then parchment paper. Place pork on top of the parchment. Pour half of the sauce over the pork, cover with foil, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. 5. Remove from oven, remove foil, and flip pork onto the other side. Spoon the rest of the sauce over the pork, and cook uncovered for 20 minutes or until the pork is golden brown.
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HOW WE’RE ADJUSTING OUR COMPANY CULTURE PAGE 1 UNDERSTANDING DOMESTIC ABUSE DURING THE HOLIDAYS THE THEATER IS CALLING YOUR NAME PAGE 2 JUVENILE THEFT AND SHOPLIFTING BEST PORK ROAST PAGE 3 BANISH TRASH WITH PLOGGING PAGE 4 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
BOOST YOUR HEALTH WHILE HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT HAVE YOU HEARD OF PLOGGING?
ADD IN DIFFERENT EXERCISES. Plogging doesn’t only have to incorporate jogging — while gathering trash; you can do squats, burpees, lunges, or even pushups. SWITCH UP ARMS. While plogging, holding the garbage bag in the same hand can become uncomfortable, especially as that bag gets heavier! Be sure to change which arm holds it from time to time! INCORPORATE SPRINTS. If jogging becomes too simple for you, try sprinting between trash to intensify the activity. Plogging is a great way to reduce pollution while getting in your workout! Local parks, neighborhoods, and common areas are a great place to start!
According to Our World in Data, the world manufactures more than 270 million tons of plastic annually. About 8 million tons of this plastic winds up in the ocean — that’s 3%! Plogging, a fad that originated in Sweden to help minimize pollution, is taking the world by storm. Essentially, you jog and pick up litter at the same time! Some cardio and a giant clean-up effort? It’s a great way to enjoy the cool winter temperatures while doing something good for the environment! Plogging can be done with others, at any time,
according to the Farmer’s Almanac, comes from a combination of jogging and the Swedish word for “pick up,” which is “plocka upp.” All you need is a pair of running shoes, a trash bag, stamina, some free time, and water to stay hydrated! If you’re interested in taking up the hobby or plogging every now and then to make a difference in our environment, here are some tips to keep the activity fun and interesting!
HEAD OUT IN GROUPS.
Everything is more fun
with others! Round up a group of friends, family, or coworkers and join the initiative together. If you’re up for it, you can even make it a contest!
and pretty much anywhere litter or trash exists. It’s a win-win!
The origin of the word “plogging,”
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