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Review Brooks & Crowley
January 2023
781-251-0555
www.brooksandcrowley.com
439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026
*Services Throughout Massachusetts
Driving Can Be Unpredictable ENSURE YOUR CHILDREN ARE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING
My son recently got his permit, and I can’t help but think about the days when I learned how to drive. Most of us teach our kids how to drive by being their co-pilots and logging day and night hours once they get their permits. This is when we share our insight and years of experience on the road. While our parents taught us how to drive in this same manner, there is one crucial difference — most of us probably learned how to drive a manual.
needed to check or replace anything. I can’t thank my dad enough for his insight because it’s helped me a lot during my life. He also taught me how to be a defensive driver and how I can not only look out for myself while on the road but also for others.
In my line of work, I regularly hear heartbreaking stories about tragic car accidents. Victims come to our office to talk about their
injuries. I understand the gravity car accidents have not only on the victims but also their families. And as a parent, I never want my children to endure these experiences while on the road. Because of this, I teach my children the importance of paying attention to their surroundings. You always want to look far ahead at what’s going on down the road — not just what’s in front of you. I teach them to be defensive drivers but also tell them that they need to look out for others and always be ready to react to unexpected events. You can do everything right, but other drivers may not be paying attention. They can be distracted by their phones or other people in the car, or they may be impaired or suffer from a medical condition that causes them to lose control of their vehicle.
When I was growing up, manual cars were everywhere. Almost everyone knew how to drive a stick shift. But today, manual cars are much rarer, and only 18% of Americans can drive a manual. I remember my dad telling me at a young age that if I knew how to drive with a clutch, I could drive anything — I took his words to heart. I remember how we used to go to an empty shopping center or cemetery, so I could learn how to shift through the gears, feather the clutch, and smoothly take my foot off the brake pedal and place it on the gas pedal. For those
who know how to drive manual cars, you know how nerve-wracking it is to first shift through the gears. It was a bumpy ride, and the car would jolt forward or stall out if I didn’t go through the motions correctly. But with some practice, driving a stick became second nature.
Driving will always have risks because you can’t control what others are doing behind the wheel — you can only control what you do. But I’ve tried to equip my kids with the knowledge they need to prepare for anything coming their way. So, in honor of January being Teen Driving Awareness Month, talk to your kids about the importance of being aware of your surroundings and looking out for themselves and others. Putting away your phone or taking an extra second to look both ways can make all the difference. –Steve Brooks
On top of learning how to shift through the gears and conquer the clutch, my dad taught me how to check my transmission, brake, and steering fluids, along with how to replace my air filters. He wanted me to be well-informed about my car if I ever
“I understand the gravity car accidents have not only on the victims but also their families. And as a parent, I never want my children to endure these experiences while on the road.”
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SHOWING APPRECIATION IN THE WORKPLACE THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT AND CONSIDERATION
Tangible Gifts A nice, personalized gift can be a display that you acknowledge your employee’s or coworker’s passions and preferences. The more you converse with them and learn about their personal lives, the easier it’ll be to choose a meaningful gift and bring a smile to their face. Appropriate Physical Touch This language can be tricky, but it’s about respecting boundaries. A high-five, fist bump, pat on the shoulder, and a handshake are generally acceptable, but it is best not to assume. Everyone’s level of comfort differs, so always ask before initiating any type of appropriate physical touch. If you take the time to understand your employees’ preferred language of appreciation, you can communicate more meaningfully and positively.
Have you ever heard of “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman? It’s an incredibly popular book that identifies different ways individuals prefer to give and receive love. You can communicate more effectively with your partners, friends, and family by considering their personal needs and using the language that speaks to them best. encouragement at work? When you understand and use your employees’ preferred language of appreciation, your workplace culture will significantly improve. Words of Affirmation A “thank you” note or shout-out from a But did you know you can apply these same principles to show appreciation and colleague is quite powerful, but it’s even more effective when it’s specific to an act or moment because it shows that you are paying attention
to what matters. For your message to be clear, consider describing the situation you’re referring to, discussing the behavior you are looking to celebrate, and highlighting the impact of the behavior on you, the team, and the organization. Quality Time This language is all about receiving complete and focused attention. This means taking the time for mentorships, checking in meaningfully, and creating moments for teams to connect. For employees who value quality time, having dedicated time to connect and learn from their employers and coworkers can be significantly impactful as they feel seen and heard. Acts of Service Simply picking up an extra coffee for a team member, or alleviating a work task off someone’s plate, shows that you care about their overall well-being and brings them joy.
Selling Your Home in Today’s Market: 3 Things to Know Before You Start
Selling your home at any time can be confusing and time-consuming. But the housing market has changed over the past few years — especially after the pandemic. With inflation on the rise, it’s not only affecting gas prices, supermarket prices, the cost of living, and other expenses, but also the housing market. Here are three things you should know before you plan to sell your home this year. 1. Home prices can vary. Buyer traffic is slower due to the rise of inflation and other factors. Along with mortgage rates increasing, these factors could decrease the value and price of your house. Therefore, you want to price your home reasonably to sell quicker than other competing real estate. In addition, be open to the concept of negotiating the price of your house. Today, buyers have a few more options than a couple years ago — which comes with more negotiating power. 2. Make upgrades before selling. With the housing market tightening, preparing your home before posting a listing is more important than ever. The days of listing a home without addressing problem areas are over. Identifying which upgrades and renovations will land you the highest return
on investment can be an important factor in selling your home at a reasonable price. So, take the time to spruce up your house — it will be worth it in the end. 3. Research your area and other regions.
Inflation may impact the entire housing market, but some regions may be more affected than others. It’s best to research your region’s housing market and dig into the specifics before you sell your home. One of the ways you can do this is by hiring an experienced real estate agent – one who is familiar with your market, and requesting a comparative market analysis for your home. This will give you a chance to overview your property’s value, characteristics, and how other nearby sales are doing. Selling your home can be stressful. But with Brooks and Crowley on your side, putting up a “for sale” sign will be a lot easier. When selling a home, you want an attorney committed to your success. We will be happy to help you navigate this market and get you to the closing table.
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Up in Smoke
The Tobacco Industry’s Free Rein Ends
The causal link between tobacco products and health risks is one of the most well-established in medicine, but that wasn’t always the case. Not that long ago, cigarettes were everywhere, and people would light up in hospitals, airplanes, and even schools. But Americans’ relationship with smoking began to change on Jan. 11, 1964, with a devastating report from the surgeon general’s office. Before that fateful day, no one knew whether smoking was bad for your health. Unsurprisingly, many people already suspected the truth — 44% of surveyed Americans believed smoking caused cancer in 1958 — but even many medical professionals were in denial. Confusing the issue further, big tobacco companies vehemently denied their products came with health risks. Surgeon General Luther Terry commissioned the report in 1962, which gathered 10 experts and 150 consultants to review more than 7,000 scientific articles on smoking. Terry
himself was a lifelong smoker, but the Kennedy administration was under pressure to do something about the dangers of tobacco, and he valued the medical truth over his pride. The report entitled “Smoking and Health” contained many conclusions that will not surprise readers today. Though most of the findings referred to male smokers, later research would show women experience similar risks. The report found that smoking causes lung cancer, the risk of lung cancer increases with the length and quantity of cigarette use, and smokers have a higher rate of coronary heart disease. It also concluded that smoking was associated with a 70% increased death rate among men. Dr. Terry later recalled that the report “hit the country like a bombshell.” His office had specifically decided to release the news on a Saturday to limit its effects on the stock market. In 1964, 70 million Americans smoked, comprising 42% of the population.
So, in the face of such definitive science, Congress felt compelled to take action.
In 1965, Congress began requiring all cigarette packages to contain a warning about the health effects of smoking, and in 1970, a ban on television and radio advertising took effect. While the tobacco lobby successfully held off most indoor smoking bans until the 1990s, the surgeon general’s report profoundly impacted individual people’s choices in the meantime. In 2014, a study found that over 50 years, the surgeon general’s report had saved 8 million lives — and counting. In 2020, an estimated 12.5% of U.S. adults (about 31 million adults) regularly smoked cigarettes.
Have a Laugh!
Slow Cooker Chicken and White Bean Stew
Inspired by EatingWell.com
Ingredients
• 4 15-oz cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed • 6 cups chicken broth • 1 cup chopped yellow onion • 1 cup sliced carrots • 1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary • 1 4-oz Parmesan cheese rind
• 2 1-lb bone-in chicken breasts • 4 cups chopped kale • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1/2 tsp kosher salt • 1/2 tsp ground pepper • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 1/4 cup parsley leaves
directions
1. In a 6-quart slow cooker, combine beans, broth, onion, carrots, rosemary, and Parmesan rind. Top with chicken. Cover and cook on low until the beans and vegetables are tender, about 7–8 hours. 2. Remove chicken from slow cooker. On a clean cutting board, let the chicken rest until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Shred the chicken and discard bones. 3. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in kale. Cover and cook on high until kale is tender, 20–30 minutes. 4. Stir in lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Discard the Parmesan rind. Serve the stew drizzled with oil and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and parsley.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
439 Washington St. • Dedham, MA 02026 Inside THIS ISSUE
1 Do You Remember Driving Manual Cars? 2 The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace Is Now a Good Time to Sell Your Home? 3 Health Risks of Smoking Revealed in 1964 Slow Cooker Chicken and White Bean Stew 4 January Local Events
What’s Going On, Boston? 3 January Events
Happy New Year, everyone! While we may be exiting the holiday season, there are still many events you and your family can enjoy this month. Watch and cheer on your favorite college hockey teams, attend Laser Floyd, or observe contemporary art! The possibilities are endless this month. These are a few of our favorites. Frozen Fenway Jan. 6-7 Fenway Park 4 Jersey St. MLB.com/RedSox/tickets/events/frozen-fenway College hockey is back! During the first weekend of January, you’ll have a chance to see some of the most prestigious teams in college hockey. On Friday, Jan. 6, the women’s doubleheader will take place. At 3 p.m., you’ll see a match-up between Harvard and Quinnipiac. Then, at 6:30 p.m., watch Boston
University and Holy Cross. On Saturday, Jan 7., the men’s doubleheader will hit Fenway park. At 2:30 p.m., it’s Northeastern University and UConn. Then, at 6 p.m., it’s UMass and Boston College. Come see some college hockey at your favorite baseball stadium this month! Laser Floyd Jan. 15 Big Night Live 110 Causeway St. LaserSpectacular.com We’ve all heard the classic tale of “The Nutcracker” and the magical ballet you can see during the Christmas season. But now it’s time to reimagine the story with Anthony Williams’ “Urban Nutcracker.” You will see various dance styles during the show, such as classical ballet, tap, hip-hop, jazz, flamenco, and more. So, join Ruby and her Nutcracker
guide as she explores some of the most iconic Boston locations, such as Chinatown and the Boston Public Garden. To Begin Again: Artists and Childhood Jan. 22 Institute of Contemporary Art 25 Harbor Shore Dr. ICABoston.org/events/begin-again-exhibition- tour#all-dates Look into the influences of children and childhood on visual artists from the early 20th century to the present day. This free exhibition features 40 artists who use paintings, sculpture, photographs, and videos to share the different viewpoints and experiences of children and childhood. Walk through the exhibit and learn more about the pieces from an ICA Graduate Student Lecturer; you’ll see how childhood inspires artwork and reflects and contributes to the perception of childhood.
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