NOVEMBER 2018 THE
COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE
THE MOST DANGEROUS THING YOUR CHILD WILL DO HAVE YOU PUT YOUR CHILD BEHIND THE WHEEL YET?
Raising kids can be a challenging endeavor. When Heather and I were
suffered in motor vehicle crashes. If that statistic does not keep you up at night, nothing will. What was mind blowing to me were some of the reasons the CDC reported for teen death and injury in motor vehicle crashes: Compared to other age groups, teens have among the lowest rates of seat belt use. In 2015, ONLY 61 percent of high school students reported they always used their seat belts when riding with someone else. Among male drivers between 15 and 20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes in 2015, 32 percent were speeding at the time of the crash, and 22 percent had been drinking. • •
•
Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter headways (the distance from the front of one vehicle to the front of the next). The presence of male passengers increases the likelihood of risky driving behavior.
married in 2013, Heather agreed to take on not only a husband, but also two boys, Andrew, 12, and Chandler, 11. The boys are now 17 and 18 years old and face growing up in a world that is very different from the one Heather and I knew when we were teenagers. We are far from perfect parents, but we do our best. Here are some strategies we’ve come up with to protect our kids on the road. THE MOST DANGEROUS THING YOUR KID WILL DO According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015, 2,333 teens in the U.S. from 16–19 years of age were killed and 235,845 were treated in emergency departments for injuries
Heather and I have both ridden in the passenger seat as our teen drivers took control. Who needs Jesus to take the wheel when Andrew and Chandler can cause us to see our lives flash before our eyes? This white-knuckled experience has given us a newfound respect for those men and women who are brave enough to serve as driver’s education instructors. Although Montana teens are not immune to the types of statistics we see above, driving in this part of the world is expected
continued on page 2 ...
406-587-3720 • 1
continued from cover ...
at a very early age. Because I missed the Bozeman High School driver’s education enrollment, my son Andrew had to go down the road to Belgrade for his class. This was a real educational experience for Drew. He took the class with kids he had never met, and he was partnered with a driver who had been operating a stick shift on his family farm since he was 8 years old. This was more than a little intimidating for Drew, but he got through it, and I feel more comfortable with his driving each and every day. Heather and I do not have any magic beans or sage advice that can keep your kids from being one of the statistics listed above. We live in a scary world, and as long as we want the freedom of driving, some bad things will happen. The most important rules we have for Andrew and Chandler driving include the following: Absolutely, positively no alcohol. This does not mean no alcohol in the vehicle. It means no alcohol anywhere. This is a little easier now that Heather and I no longer drink. •
•
You will be home by your curfew. (10 p.m. for sophomores, 11 p.m. for juniors, and midnight for seniors.) Nothing good ever happens after midnight, and there is absolutely no good reason to be out so late. You will tell us each and every time you use the vehicle. We know where you are going and when we can expect you back.
•
•
Driving at night is limited to short trips with a purpose. Absolutely no joy riding after dark.
We do our best to enforce these rules. However, like anything in life, there are no guarantees. We hope and pray that your kids find their ways home safely.
- Lucas Foust
Thanksgiving Prep for the Whole Family
HAVE A ‘ROLLER DERBY’
Thanksgiving is more than just a feast; it’s about coming together as a family and being thankful for one another. So why wait to get into the spirit until everyone is seated at the table? Here are a few ways you can make the actual preparation of Thanksgiving dinner fun and engaging for the whole family! No, not those rolls — yet. Making the feast a family project can turn the day from a hectic list of chores into a magical bonding experience. It’s important to match each family member to a job that best fits their abilities. Young children can mash potatoes or rinse ingredients in the sink. Older kids can take on more responsibility, like measuring ingredients, keeping an eye on timers, and GIVE EVERYONE A ROLE
setting the table. Teens and young adults can supervise their younger siblings and cousins in these important tasks and may be called upon to stir what’s on the stove while an adult checks on the football game.
Finally . While an adult should be the one to put these delicious baked goods in the oven, the whole family can help shape the dough. In fact, Care.com recommends making this a contest. Set aside a time when everyone can vie for the title of Fastest Roll Maker, and you’ll have plenty of warm, flaky, delicious treats come dinnertime. Letting everyone play a part may take a little more planning and add slightly more chaos to your Thanksgiving preparations. But it’s sure to produce a lot of great memories and bonding moments among your loved ones. And by the time you sit down to eat, you’ll all have something to be thankful for right in front of you — Those. Delicious. Rolls.
ROLL OUT THE DECORATIONS
Still not talking about bread. Not everything in Thanksgiving preparation needs to be tied to the kitchen. Creative family members of all ages can work together to bring some seasonal flare to the dining room. Maybe this means picking up some Thanksgiving coloring books, or perhaps the family can venture outdoors to collect autumn trimmings for crafts. It’s a great way to let each family member put their own personal spin on the holiday!
2 • www.lucasfoustlaw.com
Fun for the Whole Family! Enjoy These 6 Autumn Activities
Throughout November, everyone is eagerly looking forward to Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, but you shouldn’t let the rest of the month slip past you! Enjoy these other fall activities with the whole family.
fall flower arrangements for your kitchen table or wreaths for your front door to greet guests will create the desired autumn vibe you’ve been searching for. MOVIE NIGHT Gather your loved ones in the living room with popcorn, blankets, and a great film. Make the most of your autumn evenings by cozying up and spending quality time with each other while watching some family holiday favorites, like “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” or the Thanksgiving comedy- drama “Pieces of April.” HOME-COOKED FOOD When autumn rolls around, pie and warm cider may be high on your list of tasty treats you’re eagerly anticipating. This fall, encourage your family to take part in making annual goodies and sharing them with your neighbors. Nothing warms the heart more than receiving a loaf of freshly baked pumpkin bread during these increasingly cold days. KNITTED SCARVES If you’re handy with knitting needles, now is the season to put them to work. Hand-knitted scarves are great gifts to give throughout the fall and winter, and you can also make it a family activity! Take some time to teach your kids how to knit and crochet to create scarves of their very own.
HOMEMADE CARAMEL APPLES Homemade treats are no doubt far better than their store-
bought counterparts. Try your hand at making your own caramel apples for the whole family to enjoy. You can also add a number of toppings to liven things up, such as nuts, white or milk chocolate, coconut, sprinkles, or pecans. BACKYARD BONFIRE During these cold months, you may be tempted to stay indoors, but heading outside for a bonfire is a great way to spend time with your family while enjoying the brisk weather. If you have a fire pit in your backyard, now is the perfect time to take advantage of it by bundling up with some hot chocolate and s’mores. AUTUMN ARRANGEMENTS It’s time to get crafty! Creating your own fall arrangements will ensure that your home has the seasonal decorations you want. Making beautiful
Take a Break!
PUMPKIN CHICKPEA FRITTERS INGREDIENTS
•
1 can chickpeas, drained
•
1–2 teaspoons flour, for binding (optional) 1 cup panko bread crumbs, for coating 1/4–1/2 cup safflower or canola oil, for frying
•
1/2 cup organic pumpkin purée
•
•
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
•
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
•
•
1 teaspoon garlic granules
•
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large mixing bowl, mash together chickpeas and pumpkin purée until the majority of peas are mixed with purée. 2. Add sunflower seeds, apple cider vinegar, spices, and flour tomixture. Fold until fully integrated. 3. In a large skillet, heat oil on medium-high.
4. Formmixture into golf-ball- sized spheres and roll to coat in panko breadcrumbs. Pat into flat cakes and carefully drop into hot oil. 5. Fry fritters, flipping once, until golden and toasty, about 2 minutes per side. 6. Transfer cooked fritters to a paper towel to dry and cool. Serve 5 minutes after cooking.
BLACK FRIDAY COLONIES FEAST FOOTBALL
GOBBLE GRATEFUL GRAVY POTATOES
THANKFUL THANKSGIVING TRADITION TURKEY
Recipe courtesy of Healthy.Happy.Life
406-587-3720 • 3
Foust Law Office
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.lucasfoustlaw.com 406-587-3720 Fax: 406-879-4400
3390 South 30th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59718
INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Most Dangerous Thing Your ChildWill Do PAGE 1 Let Kids Play a RoleThis Thanksgiving PAGE 2 Caramel Apples, Knitting, and Bonfires PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Pumpkin Chickpea Fritters PAGE 3 True Crime Makes for Gripping TV PAGE 4
3 TRUE CRIME SHOWS YOU HAVE TO SEE Move Over, Sitcoms, There’s a New Trend in Town
There’s a genre of entertainment that many Americans are afraid to admit is their secret obsession. It’s as if you’re hiding a secret that you desperately want to confess, but you’re afraid of the judgment and concerned looks from your friends. Then one day, you muster the courage to casually mention a docu-series you watched — hoping for absolution but concerned the jury won’t understand — and the floodgates open. Suddenly your closest friends and family have passionate opinions on the justice system and can tell you they know exactly who murdered who and how. Deep down inside, everyone loves a good mystery. Here are three of the best. ‘MAKING A MURDERER’ Directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos take viewers through an experience that feels like the most maddening game of ping pong ever played — in any given episode, your view may bounce from one polarizing opinion to
another. After watching 10 mind-bending episodes of Steven Avery and his attorneys going back and forth during the trial, you’ll have questions that demand answers. So many, in fact, that Netflix has confirmed the production of a second season and a spin-off series titled “Convicting a Murderer.” murders make for one compelling HBO series. Robert Durst goes under the spotlight after speaking for the first time about the death of three people connected to him. A web of lies, convolution, and gritty storytelling comes to one bone-chilling conclusion that will make your jaw drop. ‘THE STAIRCASE’ Did Michael Peterson kill his wife? Did the American justice system tear apart the dream it so righteously attempts to protect? What is ‘THE JINX’ Forty years of conflicting reports on three
considered fact in a murder trial? These are just a few of the questions you’ll contemplate as you go on a 16-year journey told over 13 gripping episodes. Questionable expert testimony and crime scene evidence are juxtaposed with a competent defense team and a convincing defendant, making for a story that begs viewers to take sides. In the end, the only fact you’ll know to be true is that you can’t trust your intuition.
4 • www.lucasfoustlaw.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog