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August/September 2023 Advisor
CellinoLaw.com
FROM WIDE-EYED GRANDKID TO DOTING PAPA MY JOURNEY ACROSS 4 GENERATIONS
Being a grandfather is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. Grandparents’ Day is Sept. 10, and while it doesn’t have the same prominence as Mother’s and Father’s Day, I’ll take any excuse to brag about my fantastic grandkids. Grandparents’ Day also got me thinking about my childhood relationship with my grandparents. Those bonds stick with you throughout life. I was closest with my paternal grandfather, Michael Cellino. It boiled down to one particular summer I spent with him and my grandmother, Rose. I was about 11 years old and upset with my dad for reasons I can’t remember. “I’m moving in with Grandpa,” I announced. My dad, who had nine kids and little patience for my sass, thought that was a great idea. Within about five minutes, we were in the car for an hour drive on the way to my grandparents’ house in Dunkirk. That was one of the best summers of my life — mainly because my grandparents let me do whatever I wanted. I still remember catching baby rabbits in my grandparents’ backyard and building a pen and raising them. Grandpa would take me out to his vineyard and let me drive the station wagon, even though I was a little kid. Thankfully, we were on quiet country roads, but he had to put a phone book on the seat so I could see over the steering wheel. I was worried another driver would see me, but Grandpa
would say, “Don’t worry about it!” I loved working with my grandfather on the farm and running the tractor. On the other side of the family, my maternal grandfather was more of a genteel farmer, and he and my grandmother had a very nice house with an impressive color TV. It was all very well-maintained and proper. We’d sit stiffly on the couch watching the documentary television show “Wild Kingdom.” I loved both sets of grandparents, but it was a pretty different experience visiting my mom’s side of the family. I try to take after my father’s side of the family and be a fun grandpa — though more in line with today’s safety standards. I have nine grandchildren and another on the way; they call me Papa and my wife Nanni. It’s funny how much grandkids adore you. Mine seem to think the sun revolves around me, and I don’t get it. I’m not that great! Then again, it probably doesn’t hurt that I never say no to them. One of my most rewarding experiences as a grandfather occurred about a year and a half ago when my ninth grandchild was born. Our youngest daughter wanted help for her first couple of months as a new mother, and she temporarily moved in with us. It was a rare and beautiful opportunity to relive the days of having a tiny baby in the house.
I bond a lot with the older grandkids through sports. They’re all involved in teams at various levels, and it’s funny to see their personalities shine through as they compete. My oldest grandson, 13-year-old Rocco, is very aggressive in the hockey rink even though he plays up in the older kids’ division. Whether it is hockey, football, soccer, baseball or wrestling, all of my grandchildren are involved in sports. Several of my grandchildren have participated in wrestling, which feels special because that was one of my sports growing up, and it reminds me of my glory days. One of my proudest moments as a grandfather was watching my granddaughter, Marie, make it to the final round in a wrestling competition by pinning boy after boy to the mat. Getting older comes with few rewards, but being a grandparent is certainly one of them. Grandchildren seem to view you with respect and admiration that your kids seldom did. I guess that’s how it’s supposed to be. But now that it’s my turn to be Papa, I’m enjoying it for all it’s worth.
Cellino and the lawyers who have worked for him have recovered over $2 billion in settlements for their clients. ––––-Ross Cellino 800-555-5555 1
CellinoLaw.com $2 Billion
If one thing is for sure, Americans are not getting enough sleep. One in three people report not getting enough rest, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 40% of people admit to falling asleep during the day without meaning to at least once a month. Celebrities are no exception, which is why many stars use "sleep syncing" to ensure they get their beauty rest every night. And you can use it, too! SO, WHAT IS SLEEP SYNCING? Sleep syncing aligns your circadian rhythm, your body's natural internal clock, with your daily routine. Unlike many celebrities, ordinary people don't have much control over what they do every day; things like work, appointments, children's schedules, and family duties more or less set our daily schedules for us. That's why the trick with sleep syncing is to align your body around that schedule so waking up for work or taking the kids to school feels natural. After a while, you may not even need an alarm! HOW DO YOU START SLEEP SYNCING? The first step to sleep syncing is to create a consistent sleep schedule, which requires a bit of self-research. Start by writing down the time of night you feel sleepy, when you fall asleep, and how many hours of sleep you need to feel rested. Collecting data may take a week or two, but once you know how much sleep you need and when you start to feel sleepy, you can choose your new sleep and wake times. Pick a realistic morning wake time to get ready (no snoozing!), and then reverse engineer your sleep time. For example, if you need eight hours of sleep and must be up by 7 a.m., you likely need to be in bed by 10:30 p.m. to fall asleep by 11 p.m. The key to successful sleep syncing is to stick to your schedule — even on the weekends. With consistency and practice, you'll wake up naturally feeling more rested and ready to take on your day! Sleep Like a Celebrity WAKE UP REFRESHED WITH SLEEP SYNCING
25 Years of Dedication Maureen Napoli Reflects on Her Career With Cellino Law
Since beginning her work with Ross Cellino in 1998, law firm administrator Maureen Napoli has worn many hats. She started doing part-time dictation at night, but her experience working in payroll and management at a previous law firm made her the perfect fit for the position of Cellino & Barnes’ office manager. She went full-time in 2000 and was instrumental in moving the firm past its humble beginnings.
“I was also Ross’ paralegal when I became office manager,” Maureen says. “The firm was small enough that I could handle both. But as we started to grow, it was very apparent there was no way I could continue.” She remembers a year in the early 2000s when Cellino & Barnes hired 52 people. “I was placing ads, screening resumes, interviewing people, checking references, and onboarding new employees,” she says. “It was a crazy time, but exciting that we had that growth. And I’m glad to say many people we hired back then are still with the firm.” Maureen is responsible for hiring, benefits, payroll, and other human resources tasks across Cellino Law’s offices. “I’ve had a sense through my whole life that I wanted to help people,” she says. “This job has been a great opportunity to be a part of helping thousands of people over the years — hopefully including our employees.” Maureen has stuck with Ross Cellino for 25 years for a few reasons: “We’ve got a great team attitude. There’s no division between attorneys and staff.” She also notes the work/life balance at the firm, which she attributes partly to Ross coming from a large family and understanding the struggles that working parents face. As evidence, Maureen explains that she works longer days to have Wednesdays off. “I’m very fortunate to still have my mother, who is 91. I spend Wednesdays with her and my youngest granddaughter, Lucy, who is 2,” she explains. “It’s my girls’ day and my favorite day of the week.” Maureen looks forward to having more leisure time when she retires at the end of 2024 and hopes to join her husband, Richard, in golfing. She was supposed to retire at the end of 2022. “But Ross talked me into two more years,” she says. Maureen jokes that she’s leaving earlier if she wins the lottery, but adds, “I guess I should be flattered that Ross wants me to stick around — he isn’t ready to send me out to pasture yet.”
2 Legal disclaimer. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising.
EXPLAINING SUM COVERAGE
And Why You Need It
In New York, all drivers (yes, even motorcyclists) are required to carry liability insurance coverage, which helps protect them in the unfortunate event of an accident. However, there are drivers on the road who are operating vehicles with insufficient or no coverage. So, how can you protect yourself in case you’re involved in an accident with one of these drivers? By obtaining supplemental uninsured/underinsured motorist (SUM) coverage! SUM coverage is additional protection that is available to a policyholder in the event the other driver’s liability insurance has been exhausted. It can provide crucial relief if you are hit by a driver who does not have enough liability coverage to pay for the damages he or she has caused. AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SUM COVERAGE WORKS Jane Doe is hit by a driver who carries only the minimum coverage required by law ($25,000). The other driver’s insurance carrier pays Jane Doe the full $25,000 available under the policy. But Jane Doe is seriously injured, and her damages exceed $25,000. Fortunately, prior to the accident, she had obtained $250,000 in SUM coverage. As a result, she can recover up to $225,000 in additional compensation (the difference between her $250,000 in SUM coverage and the other driver’s $25,000 of available coverage). Significantly, unlike no-fault and liability insurance coverage, SUM coverage is not mandatory in New York. Instead, insurance companies are required to offer this coverage, and policyholders may elect or decline to opt in
to it — although it is not recommended to forego this additional protection.
To protect yourself and your loved ones, it is imperative to consider opting into SUM coverage. Moreover, when obtaining SUM coverage, consider getting more than the minimum amount insurance carriers are required to offer. Injuries can often far exceed no-fault and liability coverage limits, and additional SUM coverage could provide critical relief in the event you are seriously injured. If you’ve been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, contact a trusted personal injury attorney who understands the ins and outs of SUM coverage. For a free consultation with one of our attorneys, contact us at 800-555-5555 .
Brain Break
BACKPACK BOOKS DAFFODIL FESTIVAL FRIENDS HARVEST LEARNING METEOR PRODUCE SMORES SUNSCREEN YARDWORK
Solution on Page 4
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 Ross’ Journey From Grandchild to Grandfather 2 Say Goodbye to Grogginess! Maureen Napoli's Lasting Contributions to Cellino Law 3 What Is SUM Coverage? Brain Break! 4 Ditch the Textbook — Go Travel Instead!
Why Traveling Is the Best Form of Education A TEXTBOOK WON’T DO YOU JUSTICE!
As you mark your calendars with upcoming holidays, get-togethers, events, and school activities, there may be one you’re missing: American Adventures Month. This monthlong event encourages you to be adventurous and travel so you can better understand the world around you. While you can research online or open a book to learn more about any part of the world, nothing beats visiting these places yourself. Here are three reasons why traveling is the best form of education.
walking the same roads or staring at the same landmarks that civilizations did centuries ago. When you immerse yourself in the history of a place, you can better understand why its origins are meaningful. YOU LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE. Traveling somewhere new can be nerve- wracking! You won’t know the best mode of transportation or know anyone there — you may not even speak any native languages! By leaving what makes you comfortable, you’ll learn to depend on yourself and embrace change and uncertainty. These skills can and will help you in all aspects of life. So, travel this month and learn something new! If you can’t drop everything just to hop on a plane to another country, you might try venturing to a nearby city you’ve never visited to learn about its history.
things you’ve never considered before and have a deeper appreciation for the views of others. YOU GAIN A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR HISTORY. When you walk through important historical locations, you understand the past better because you’re living it! You’re
YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT PEOPLE. When you travel to other states or
internationally, you can learn a lot about the culture of these places by speaking to residents. They can suggest historical places for you to visit that teach you about their heritage, lifestyle, and what life was like for their ancestors. You will think about
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Buffalo ● Garden City ● Manhattan ● Melville ● Rochester
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