Take a look at our June newsletter!
Makin’ It Better NEWSLETTER
June 2022
Oregon Workers’ Compensation | Personal Injury | Social Security Disability
1139 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103 • 503-325-8600 • JoeDiBartolomeo.com
Almost every day, we have our phones, computers, and TVs that keep us entertained. With all of these devices, it can be difficult to keep kids occupied without the use of technology. Camping is a classic childhood activity that will have your kids off of their phones so they can enjoy everything Mother Nature has to offer. This is also an activity that can bring your family close together and create memories to last a lifetime. I understand that finding activities while camping can be challenging, but there are tons of fun and simple things you can do with your kids while in the great outdoors. Here are a few of my favorites. GO ON A NATURE WALK. The campsite you’re going to probably has several trails that you and your family can check out. It’s a surreal experience walking around in nature and seeing animals and plants in their natural habitat. If you want to make things more interesting, you can create a scavenger hunt. Write down a list of things you could find or see on the trail and ask your kids to see if they can spot any of the items. This will keep them entertained, and they may find a souvenir they can bring home. CREATE ‘NATURE SOUP.’ This activity is for little kids who like to get their hands dirty. Bring a 5-gallon bucket with you on your trip so your kids can create nature recipes. Although these recipes are not edible, they will have your children searching around the campsite for their ingredients. Here are two of my favorite “nature soup” recipes: • Pine Cone Soup: First, fill your bucket with water and add three spoonfuls of dirt. Next, find five pine cones, two rocks, and one handful of grass to finish off your soup. • Flower Bisque: Add three spoonfuls of dirt into your bucket and mix in three leaves, four rocks, and seven flowers. Finish off with some water, and begin creating your bisque. 3 Camping Activities for Your Kids
MAKE NATURE ARTS AND CRAFTS. Your children can create their own rock friends by coloring on rocks they find around the camping grounds. You can also bring googly eyes and pipe cleaners so your kids can add eyes, legs, and feet. They can also create campsite signs with crayons and colored pencils. With these signs, they can put a rock, leaf, or pine cone underneath the paper and color on it to get the texture of the item they are drawing over. GO TUBING IN A RIVER. If you have older children, they will love this activity. It’s like a lazy river you would see at water parks, but you’re surrounded by nature. Some campsites may provide this activity, but if not, you can purchase a tube and float around in the lake or river. If you have younger children who want to go tubing, make sure they are under your supervision while they are in the water. You can get tubes that have two-person seating, and you can tag along with them during their ride. Camping is a great summer activity to spend quality time with your family without having to worry about phones. My friends have told me about their childhood camping trips, and they speak of those memories fondly. So before the camping season ends, try and take your family on a trip they will never forget.
–Joe Di Bartolomeo | 1
The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
4 Activities to Keep Your Kids Busy School’s Out! What Can You Do?
It’s summertime, which means your kids are out of school and at home during their break. This is an exciting time because you get to spend more time with your children, but it can also be stressful. Since your kids are not engaged in school every day with their peers, you may have to find ways to keep them entertained during the summer. Luckily, there are a few activities your children can do to stay busy and active while they’re on summer break. VISIT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. Make a habit of visiting your local library once a week for your children to pick out books they can read. You can challenge them to see how many books they can complete over the summer. Although your child may read educational books for school, now is their time to pick out something they want to read just for fun. Some libraries offer summer reading programs and activities that your child can participate in. By going to the library over the summer, your child’s
mind will stay engaged, and their love for reading can increase.
GO TO LOCAL ATTRACTIONS. In most states, there are history and science museums, art galleries, and zoos that you and your children can visit. If these attractions are state-funded, they often have free admission for visitors. These activities are great if your child is a visual learner. They can touch and interact with exhibits and learn more about history or science. Who said learning couldn’t be both fun and educational? CREATE A CRAFT STATION. Do you have creative children? Then a craft station is a perfect activity to get their creative minds turning! You can either go to your big-box store and pick up some arts and crafts supplies, or you can use items from around your home, such as used printer paper, toilet paper rolls, old colored pencils or crayons, and items from
nature. If you need inspiration on what to make, you can look online for different crafts your child can create. VISIT PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS. Summer camps can be expensive; luckily, some parks and recreation centers host day camps that are much cheaper than private camps. Sometimes they will have daily activities that your child can participate in to burn off some energy. If you’re looking for a place where your children can play outside and stay active, going to your local parks is a great resource. If they aren’t hosting day camps, you and your children can play outside by throwing a Frisbee, having a picnic, or going on a nature walk. Summer is an exciting time, and with these activities, you and your child can spend some quality time together!
What Are They — And Should You Take One? DISPUTED CLAIMS SETTLEMENTS
The workers’ compensation process is not as simple as it should be. Many claims are denied and appealed, and the process can be lengthy, frustrating, and stressful. So, it can seem like a blessing when the insurance company approaches an injured worker before the appeals hearing with a disputed claims settlement (DCS). The process ends, and the worker gets paid. What’s not to like? While the insurance company may offer an attractive-looking settlement, they aren’t in the business of giving away money. More often than not, they settle to avoid paying out any additional funds. More importantly, when someone accepts a DCS, they essentially sell their rights to the insurance company. To make an educated decision, one has to know what those rights are worth. The first matter to consider is your outstanding medical bills. The insurance company will generally pay a portion out of the settlement, but the injured worker is often left holding the bag on the rest. Before signing an agreement, a worker should fully understand what bills the insurance company will pay and what they will owe out of their own pocket.
Then there is the matter of future medical care. Most health insurance won’t cover medical care for a work injury. So, if the injured worker’s health worsens in the future or they develop a new condition, they will need a plan to pay for the medical bills. Therefore, a DCS is probably not the best option for a worker who will require ongoing care or is likely to suffer complications. But there are times when a DCS can benefit an injured worker. When the doctors involved in a case have disagreements regarding whether an injury happened on the job, a claimant’s chances in the appeals process become unpredictable. The more in dispute the claim is, the riskier leaving the decision up to a judge becomes, and a DCS may be the best option. Before making any decisions about a disputed claims settlement, it’s most important to consider your future. Will you be able to return to work? What will you do when the money runs out? Di Bartolomeo Law Office helps clients evaluate these questions and more every day. If you’ve been offered a DCS, get expert help before making a decision by calling us at 503-325-8600.
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The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
SAFETY TIPS YOUR FAMILY NEEDS Pour Cold Water on Swimming Accidents
Did you know that drowning is the top cause of injury-related deaths for children aged 1–4? Worse, the American Red Cross reports that 69% of children who drowned were not expected to be near water at the time of the incident. As the weather heats up and families turn to swimming as a quick and fun way to cool down, you and your children must know the basics of water safety. In 2018, 918 children under 19 drowned, and more than 7,000 children visited the emergency room for water-related incidents. Autistic children are particularly at risk, with a 160 times greater likelihood of experiencing a water-related injury or death. Almost all of these accidents were avoidable. So, what can you do to keep your children safe in the water? For a start, every family member should know how to swim. Yes, that means you, too — kids with parents who have inadequate swimming skills are more likely to suffer water-related injuries. Plus, if there’s ever a dangerous incident, you want the ability to help your child as quickly as possible. Swimming lessons are not a luxury — they’re a crucial life skill!
If you have a pool on your property, it’s essential to always have it locked and inaccessible without an adult present. If your child is visiting a friend’s house, ensure that their parents follow the same rules. Kiddie pools can be very dangerous to younger children, so never leave kids unsupervised when they can even momentarily access water.
When your kids are swimming, an adult who can swim should always be present and paying close attention — it’s vital to avoid distractions, especially something
that can captivate us like cellphones. Even a child with a flotation device can get into trouble in the water, and every parent should know that drowning doesn’t look like what we’ve seen in the movies. Splashing and screaming signal distress, but drowning is silent — typically, a drowning person’s head will be tilted back with their mouth at water level and they will usually have a vacant look in their eyes. Finally, always check the water first if a child goes missing. Minutes and even seconds can be the difference between life and death. No family should suffer a water-related tragedy — visit RedCross.org for more safety tips so you and your family can enjoy a safe and happy summer.
PUZZLE
Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken Skewers Inspired by RecipeRunner.com
Summer is here, and you know what that means: It’s time to break out the barbecue and meat skewers! Ingredients Directions
1. In a bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. 2. In a reusable freezer bag, combine cubed chicken and all but 1/4 cup of the marinade. 3. Seal bag and massage marinade into the chicken. Chill in the fridge overnight. 4. The following day, preheat the grill to 400 F. Thread chicken and pineapple onto skewers, adding two cubes of chicken for each cube of pineapple. 5. Grill the skewers for 3–4 minutes per side, brushing with the reserved marinade in the final minutes. 6. Serve over rice or with your favorite barbecue sides!
For the Marinade • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp soy sauce • 2 tbsp chili garlic sauce • 2 tbsp rice vinegar • 3 tbsp honey • Juice of 1 lime • 3/4 tsp smoked paprika • 1/2 tsp salt For the Skewers • 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into bite-size cubes • 1 small pineapple, cut into 1-inch cubes
The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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503-325-8600 JoeDiBartolomeo.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1139 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103
What’s Inside
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3 Camping Activities for Your Kids
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Kid-Friendly Summer Activities! Should You Accept a Disputed Settlement Claim?
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Water Safety Tips for Summer Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken Skewers
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3 Fun Alternatives to Instagram
Try These 3 Apps Instead! TIRED OF INSTAGRAM?
IMGUR If you don’t take social media as seriously as others, you may love this next app. Like Instagram, Imgur allows you to share photos and short videos with your followers. But Imgur is more lighthearted and has a less personal approach when it comes to posting content. So, if you’re a fan of memes, GIFs, and inspirational quotes, this app is for you! Just because Instagram and other social media platforms may be a little too social for you doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun of posting online. Give these apps a shot and enjoy the freedom of posting what you want without any pressure!
Numerous studies show social media’s negative effects on children, teens, and adults. Luckily, a few social media apps allow you to post your pictures without the stress of likes and comments. Here are three apps you can use if you want to post your memories for your friends and family to see that aren’t as social as Instagram.
VSCO This app is very popular for those who like to edit their pictures, as you can use tons of different filters and editing tools. But this app also allows you to post your photos to your feed. People can follow your page, but they cannot like or comment on your pictures. VSCO focuses on photography instead of the social aspect. It’s an excellent choice for those who want to edit photos but don’t want to deal with the social media interaction.
DISPO Did you miss taking pictures on a disposable camera? Well, this app is for you! When you open the camera, it shows you the tiny lens you would typically have to look into if you were holding a real camera. Then, you have to wait an entire day until your film loads so you can see the pictures you took. Like VSCO, people can follow you, but they can’t like or comment on your photos. This app is great for those who want a modern twist on a nostalgic item.
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The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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