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TRUE NORTH
BY
STEVE LINGENBRINK | CHRIS CAZARES
Sometimes as a coach, you form a special bond with one of your players, and you admire them and everything about them. The hustle, the talk, the walk. They have something that just can’t be described and they are different. They make a lasting impact on you. When you find a player like that, you make sure they are on the field and everyone knows this is a model player. They are the kind of player and person that everyone should learn from. This was Mike Torres. I coached Mike Torres when he was a sophomore on our junior varsity squad at Cathedral High School, where I also attended and played football. I had the privilege of coaching the defense that year, and he played defensive end — I was thrilled for the opportunity to coach him and work closely with him. He truly was a fascinating player. He always hustled, always said, “Yes coach” or “Yes sir.” He was number 81, and that was the number that always stood out to the fans — he was a golden player. When he enlisted in the Marine Corps, it didn’t surprise me. In fact, it made sense. After all, it was a good fit for him. However, shortly after he enlisted, the Cathedral High School Football team each wore a small 81 on their jerseys in memory of Mike. He had lost his life serving our country, as on July 5, 2004, he was killed by enemy forces in Anbar Province, Iraq, at the age of 21. He left behind his fiancé and parents. FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS THE LEGACY OF NO. 81, MIKE TORRES
the same. Mike was already heroic before he swore to defend the Constitution and put on a uniform. He will always be a hero to me.
As we celebrate Memorial Day, I call on us all to take the time to remember all of the men and women of the Armed Forces who lost their lives defending our country and fighting for our freedoms — a debt that we can never truly repay. May we honor their families and memorialize their service to the United States.
To Mike, and all of the other brave service members, I thank you for your bravery and commitment to our nation — you are true heroes.
“I would like all my young players to act like him,” said David Portillo, the head coach. “He was a fine young man.”
I had just graduated from law school when I found out about Mike passing away. I was absolutely crushed, and I knew that everyone who knew him felt
CHRIS CAZARES
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THE TRAVELING SLEEP TREND SHAPING HOTELS OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL SLEEP!
The Cadogan, a Belmond Hotel (London): This hotel offers a “sleep concierge,” which boasts prerecorded sleep meditations and a pillow selection menu for every type of sleeper. Sleepers can even benefit from the hotel’s weighted blankets, scented pillow mist service, and their proprietary sleep tea.
If you’ve ever planned a vacation, you’ve probably picked a few key places to visit, like a museum, restaurant, or historic site. However, a new vacation trend is becoming increasingly popular: sleep tourism, where a traveler plans their entire vacation to get the best quality sleep during their time away. Before, common goals for vacations were to eat delicious foods, stay up late to see the sights, and fit in as much activity as possible. However, this left travelers completely exhausted. And as our culture continues to understand how important sleep is to our health, more people are prioritizing rest even while they’re away. But being a sleep tourist is about more than going to bed early and ensuring you get your recommended eight hours of rest. It’s about building your vacation around sleep. Some hotels even offer rooms tailored to sleep tourists, with
amenities so popular that their sleep options have become regular offerings.
So, if sleep tourism sounds like something you’d be interested in, here are three hotels that help you catch those z’s. Park Hyatt New York (NYC): This hotel features a “Sleep Suite” designed by Bryte, a company that uses AI to facilitate sleep. The room touts an intuitive
Zedwell (London): The first ever “sleep-centric” hotel, Zedwell uses
recycled materials to insulate every door, wall, and floor from sound. This hotel also purifies the air within the hotel and
“Restorative Bed,” which adjusts to relieve pressure points and controls climate temperature throughout the night, according to each person’s needs. This suite also
fills every space with ambient lighting.
includes an array of soothing essential oils, a diffuser, and books about sleep.
IN THE LIMELIGHT
4 HEALTH BENEFITS OF WHEATGRASS
Wheatgrass helps regulate your blood sugar levels.
We all want to lead healthier lives, and in an effort to get all of the right nutrients and vitamins, we often turn to nature. Surely, you’ve heard of wheatgrass, the main ingredient in trendy juices and supplements — wheatgrass shots, anyone? — but is it worth all the hype? Wheatgrass, the green leaves of a wheat plant that closely resemble grass in its younger stages, is extremely versatile. It can be sprouted and grown at home in just a few days, used in powder form, purchased as a juice, or even ingested as a supplement. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of this powerful superfood. Wheatgrass packs in nutrients and antioxidants. Just like all other green plants, wheatgrass is chock-full of chlorophyll to help your body
neutralize toxins, oxygenate your blood, and reduce inflammation. It also contains iron, calcium, magnesium, amino acids, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E, all of which are essential to our bodies.
High blood sugar can result in frequent headaches and urination, fatigue, or thirst. However, wheatgrass can help control your blood sugar. Wheatgrass contains compounds that are very similar to insulin that help to reduce elevated blood sugar levels. Wheatgrass certainly is a powerhouse — how will you incorporate it into your diet to reap the benefits? While wheatgrass is safe to consume in small amounts, it’s important to check with your doctor first and discontinue use if you experience any adverse reactions!
Wheatgrass can aid in reducing cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol can be detrimental if your levels get too high and may even increase your risk of heart disease and complications. Some animal studies have proven that wheatgrass aids in reducing the LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol in the body. Wheatgrass boosts your immune system . Wheatgrass contains phytochemicals, the compounds that are responsible for the colors, smells, and tastes of the plant. Phytochemicals help repair damage to our cells.
Bottoms up!
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HOST A MURDER MYSTERY DINNER!
THE BEST WAY TO CELEBRATE MYSTERY MONTH
Did you know May is Mystery Month? There are dozens of ways to
celebrate this enigmatic occasion, from playing Clue to rewatching “Glass Onion” — but why not bring those experiences to life and host your own murder mystery dinner at home? Thanks to a plethora of kits on the market, doing so is easier than ever! What is a murder mystery dinner? A murder mystery dinner is essentially a real-life game of Clue. You invite friends over for dinner and turn your home into the set of “Knives Out” — without the blood, of course. Each of your friends takes on the persona of a character in the story, and when one of them is “murdered,” you compete to uncover who dunnit. Step 1: Pick your kit. Planning a murder mystery dinner from scratch would take the ingenuity of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Luckily, you have several ready-made mysteries to choose from! You can find boxes from Masters of Mystery and My Mystery Party at your local board game store, but you can find many options available online, too. Night of Mystery (NightOfMystery.com), for example, sells both in-person and virtual kits with themes ranging from ‘80s prom to Christmas homicide.
If your friends and family don’t like the idea of acting and dressing up, that’s okay — you can still solve a mystery over dinner! Look into kits available through Unsolved Case Files (UnsolvedCaseFiles.com) or Hunt A Killer (Shop.HuntAKiller.com), which involve collaborative mystery-solving without the character work. Step 2: Curate your guest list. Most murder mystery dinners require at least four people, while some include characters for six, eight, or more! Check the number of players on your kit and invite your most creative, analytical, theatrical, and mystery-loving friends. Step 3: Decorate and plan the menu. If you choose a themed murder mystery, level up your event with a matching menu and decor! For games taking place in England, whip up a shepherd’s pie and make a cardboard cutout of Big Ben. For Havana Nights, plan a build-your-own Cubano bar and throw on an Afro-Cuban playlist. You can be as over-the-top as you like. Remember, it’s Mystery Month!
ROASTED SWEET POTATO ARUGULA SALAD INSPIRED BY NUTRICIOUSLY.COM
PUZZLE BREAK
INGREDIENTS •
3 medium sweet potatoes, cubed
• • • •
1 bell pepper, thinly sliced 3 small radishes, thinly sliced 2 cups arugula, thinly sliced 1 1/2 cups cooked lima beans, drained and rinsed Balsamic salad dressing of choice
• • • • • •
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Salt and pepper, to taste 1 red onion, thinly sliced
•
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a bowl, toss sweet potato cubes with smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. 3. Roast for 25–30 minutes until sweet potatoes are nicely browned and fork-tender. 4. In a large salad bowl, combine onion, bell pepper, radishes, arugula, and lima beans. 5. Toss the salad with dressing, then top with roasted sweet potatoes.
(SOLUTION ON PG. 4)
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We Carry On the Legacy of Mike Torres
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3 Hotels to Visit for a Great Night’s Sleep
Wheatgrass Shots, Anyone?
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Host an Unforgettable Murder Mystery Dinner
Roasted Sweet Potato Arugula Salad
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Steve’s Corner: Let’s Keep Motorcyclists Seen, Not Hurt
SUDOKU SOLUTION FROM PG. 3
BEST PRACTICES TO PROMOTE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY DON’T FORGET TO CHECK TWICE!
According to the National Safety Council, in the United States, only 3% of all registered motor vehicles are motorcycles — yet motorcycles are involved in about 14% of all motor vehicle traffic deaths. Keeping motorcyclists (and everyone sharing the road) safe is a two-way street! This month, as we celebrate Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, here are some tips for all drivers to ensure the safety of everyone — especially motorcycle riders. CHECK FOR MOTORCYCLES — THEN CHECK AGAIN! As the saying goes, check twice for motorcycles! In comparison to most cars on the road, motorcycles are much smaller and therefore easy to miss. When driving, check your blindspots, scan your mirrors, turn and look over your shoulder, and use all your signals! While these are basic driver’s safety rules, any time motorcycles are present, it’s important to ensure you are on your A-game. MAINTAIN SAFE FOLLOWING AND PASSING DISTANCES. When sharing the road with a motorcyclist,
make sure to allow enough space. Oftentimes, motorcycles will start to slow down by letting off the throttle a little bit before braking. This means that you may not see brake lights right away, so it’s important to allow enough room to stop. When it comes to passing a motorcycle, be sure to never cut off a motorcycle or force them to brake quickly, as this could lead to the bike sliding out and the motorcyclist falling. DIM YOUR HEADLIGHTS AND AVOID YOUR HIGH BEAMS. For motorcyclists, high beams can be blinding and extremely dangerous. Whether you are behind a motorcycle or approaching an oncoming bike, be sure to dim your headlights to ensure that they can see. BE CAUTIOUS OF LEFT TURNS. Did you know that left turns can be especially detrimental to your blind spots? With any turns, especially left ones, watch for motorcycles and how fast they are going — T-boning a motorcycle could be incredibly damaging or fatal to the driver of the bike!
STEVE’S CORNER Steve Lingenbrink is the founding partner of Polaris Injury Law, formerly Lingenbrink Law and Lingenbrink Cazares Injury Lawyers.
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