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DECEMBER 2019
Porscha’s Law Journey
My journey into law hasn’t been an easy one. The road was filled with bumps, but without them, I wouldn’t be the lawyer I am today. But every journey has a starting point, and mine was the East Side of Detroit, Michigan. I lived in Michigan until I was 12 when my family moved to Virginia Beach. Throughout my high school career, I was so active that I couldn’t sit still. I was in Spanish club, on the softball team, and I played the flute in band! The flute would serve me well as I was in the marching and symphonic bands when I went to Norfolk State University. At Norfolk, I received my Bachelor’s in Political Science with a Minor in Accounting, but later, I ended up getting another Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. I loved Norfolk State University, and the experiences I had there defined how I work with my clients to this day. While I was there, I interned for the Nortfolk Commonwealth Attorney’s office in the victim/witness department. It was different, but I enjoyed it. The situations were tough because I was tasked with consoling the victims and keeping them calm, but rewarding because I got to help people. I now utilize that experience to better communicate with my clients. It’s important to negate any legal jargon and talk to them as people. It can make anyone uneasy if they don’t
Porscha (left) with her mom, Phyllis, and brother, Patrick.
functions consisted of roundtable discussions with professors on a variety of subjects where students could ask questions for finals. When I wasn’t hosting events, I was neck- deep in dispute resolution and mock trial competitions. I knew if I stayed focused, it would help my grades. When I was at WMU, I also had the opportunity to become a teaching assistant to Patrick Corbett. Patrick allowed me to improve my writing, and I even helped co- write a criminal law textbook with him. I knew I had to make the most of my time at WMU so I took a clerkship with the Pentagon, where I worked with NAVSEA. It was a fantastic opportunity, and I gained a lot of experience running motions and reporting on employment matters, like discrimination. After I graduated in 2016, I worked as an contract attorney doing estate planning, personal injury, and criminal law until I found a home at Pendleton! I love the work we do here and the people with whom I work. But I wouldn’t be where I am today without God, my mother Phyllis, my brother Patrick, and all the bumps I endured along the way.
understand the terminology. Their way of life hangs in the balance, so I empathize with them and break down everything so they’re fully aware of what’s going on. I didn’t initially get into law school, which is why I went back for my Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. However, due to my LSAT essay, I was invited into the Professional Exploration Program at Western Michigan University (WMU) Cooley Law School. The Professional Exploration Program was a probationary period during my first three semesters. There was a lot of pressure, as the program consists of difficult testing and training, and it made the transition very difficult. During that time, it was hard balancing school and my well-being. I was visiting my family back in Detroit, Michigan, but it wasn’t enough. To combat the depression I was experiencing, I became active on campus as I did in high school. I knew if I was feeling this way, other students on campus surely were. So, I ran for president of my class and Vice President of the Student Bar Association on a mental health platform and won! I made sure we had all sorts of wellness events, including Zumba classes and massages. When we didn’t have wellness events, we were hosting academic events. A lot of the
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There’s No Expiration Date on Entrepreneurship THE JOYS OF STARTING A BUSINESS AFTER YOU ‘RETIRE’
As a nation, America is getting older. By 2030, 20% of Americans will be 65 or older. With people living longer than ever before and the baby boomers approaching retirement age en masse, older adults will continue to have a massive impact on the American economy at large. Normally, we think of seniors as people who cash in on the hard work they’ve already accomplished. Many young people even worry Social Security will be wiped out by the time they reach retirement age. But who’s to say older adults can’t contribute to the economy? If you’ve ever tried to change jobs late in your career or pick up some part-time work after retirement, you know it’s hard to be hired as a senior. Quartz recently called seniors “the economy’s most underused natural resource.” Until more employers understand the value and potential of older workers, entrepreneurship remains the most viable avenue for seniors wanting to work after their primary career has ended. There are a number of reasons why seniors find creating their own business to be rewarding and why they tend to succeed when they do. Unlike younger people, who often become business owners in an attempt to make a fortune, older entrepreneurs can be content with small, sustainable micro-businesses. They also approach their businesses with a wealth of experience that can’t be purchased. As a result, 70% of ventures founded by older entrepreneurs are still open five years later, more than double the rate of the general population.
With so much potential to be found in senior-run businesses, it’s no surprise that organizations are rushing to empower older adults with the tools they need to succeed. Senior Planet, a coworking space for seniors with outposts nationwide, teaches classes on skills like website creation in a space that makes older learners feel welcome and comfortable. On top of being an important economic driver, entrepreneurship can be a wonderful way for seniors to generate meaning and value in their lives. It’s never too late to start the business of your dreams.
Royal Rinks CURLING ATHLETES EVERY FAN SHOULD KNOW Every four years, as some of the world’s best Olympic athletes battle for gold medals, the world falls in love with curling. Curling originated in 16th-century Scotland and is most popular in Canada, where many Scots immigrated. Now, 480 years after the first recorded instance of curling occurred on a frozen pond in Scotland, many devotees have left their mark on the sport’s history. These are just a few of the greats. Harvey Mazinke Curling Team In 1973, Canada held its collective breath as the Harvey Mazinke Curling Team took their final shot in a world championship match against Sweden. The rock ultimately failed to reach the rings, crowning Sweden as world
champions and snapping the 10-0 record Harvey Mazinke had built during a week of competition. But regardless of that final score, Harvey Mazinke’s impact on the sport was not diminished. The teamwas crowned the Canadian Men’s Curling Champions in 1973, and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame recognizes them as“ambassadors to the game.” Joyce McKee Curling Team Without Joyce McKee, Sylvia Fedoruk, Donna Belding, and Muriel Coben, the Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship, now called the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, would have never become the nationally recognized organization it is today. The aforementioned women were part of the Joyce McKee rink and were the first winners of the championship in 1960. Their style, play, and knowledge propelled women’s curling into the leagues of men’s competitions, proving that women could compete at just as high of a level as their male peers. To this day, the Joyce McKee rink’s accuracy is unparalleled. If you can’t wait another two years before curling hits center stage at the Winter Olympics, check out the podcast “Curling Legends” to get your fix of curling greatness.
Roy Thiessen Choosing only one devoted coach to highlight is difficult, but it must be Roy Thiessen. Roy coached championship teams —or rinks, as they are called in curling— at both provincial and national levels. His expertise led him to chair the first Saskatchewan Summer Games in 1972, theWorld Junior Men’s Curling Championships in 1979, and theWorld Ladies’Curling Championships in 1983. Budding athletes can learn all of Roy’s secrets and the fundamentals of curling in the numerous books he wrote.
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TAKE A BREAK
We all know reindeer visit our rooftops every Christmas Eve, but what brings them there? Follow the unique and complicated history of Santa’s reindeer to find out. A visit fromwho on what night? In the 1820s, Clement Clarke Moore penned a holiday poem that became the foundation for a phenomenon still alive today. Commonly known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,”“A Visit From St. Nicholas” is a beloved story shared by every generation. It is in this poem that reindeer were first credited with powering Santa’s sleigh around the globe. Many popular songs, movies, and plays have preserved Moore’s vision of St. Nick, and his reindeer and their names are no exception. (Well, kind of.) Rudolph wouldn’t join the squad until a department store added him as part of their promotions in the 1930s. What’s in a name? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, and Cupid were all brought to life by Moore, but have you ever heard of Dunder and Blixem? Though we now know the duo as Donner and Blitzen, Moore originally named them Dunder and Blixem— the Dutch words for thunder and lightning — but publishing companies wanted names that would rhyme better with the rest of the poem. Still, it was a few decades before Donner and Blitzen made their appearances in the version of the poem we know today. Reindeer burgers, anyone? Moore’s poem paved the way for Santa’s most famous form of transportation, but it was actually Carl Lomen, an Alaskan businessman, who mass-marketed reindeer as Santa’s companions. In the late 1890s, the Sami natives of Northern Europe, who were longtime reindeer herders, made their passage from Norway to the U.S. with a herd of reindeer to invigorate the Alaskan landscape and help their native neighbors. Lomen saw the reindeer as an opportunity and partnered with the Macy’s department store company to create a promotional Christmas parade in which Santa, led by his reindeer, a sleigh, and Sami herders, were prominently featured. Lomen’s goal was to promote his massive reindeer conglomerate for the production and sale of reindeer meat. Instead, a holiday story was born. WHAT ABOUT DUNDER AND BLIXEM? The Strange History of Santa’s Reindeer
CLASSIC ROAST CHICKEN
Inspired by Ina Garten
Ingredients
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1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise
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1 chicken, approx. 5–6 lbs
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2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
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Kosher salt
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1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
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Freshly ground pepper
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1 large bunch fresh thyme, 20 sprigs removed
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1 lemon, halved
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Olive oil
Directions
1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Rinse chicken inside and out, removing giblets if included. Move to a work surface, pat dry, and liberally season with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with thyme bunch, lemon halves, and garlic head. Brush outside with butter, and then season again. Tie chicken legs together with kitchen string. 3. Meanwhile, in a roasting pan, toss onions and carrots in olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and 20 sprigs of thyme. 4. Place the chicken on the vegetables and roast for 1 1/2 hours. 5. Remove from oven, and let stand for 20 minutes covered with foil. 6. Slice and serve with the vegetables.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Porscha’s Law Journey
The Power of Senior Entrepreneurship Get to Know Some of Curling’s Best Athletes
2
Classic Roast Chicken How Santa Claus Became Powered by Reindeer
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Glamping at Its Finest
YURT SWEET YURT GLAMPING IN BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS
Spruce Hole Yurt, Colorado
The allure of the great outdoors calls to many, but pitching a tent and cooking over a fire isn’t for everyone. If that describes you, consider the yurt: a small, permanent structure often outfitted with electricity, plumbing, and other modern amenities. Expertly nestled in remote locations, they provide comforts of home in the midst of nature. Here are just a few around the United States available for rent. For those new to the glamping scene, this is a great choice for an easy transition. With picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean, the Treebones Resort in Big Sur has an array of spaciously comfortable yurts to choose from. The resort has heated pools, a cozy lodge, and even a sushi bar. About an hour up the coastline, you can find a few shops, restaurants, and art galleries if you decide you’ve gotten your dose of nature for the day. Treebones Resort, California
Nestled in the San Juan Mountains about 10 miles north of New Mexico, this yurt is a snow- lover’s paradise. Skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking trails are plentiful in this backcountry location. At the end of a chilly day, come home to comfy beds, cooking supplies, and decor made to feel like you’re camping — but with sturdy walls to keep out the cold. For the glampers who truly want to get away, hike just under 1 mile into the woods of the Adirondack Mountains to discover rustic yurts beckoning you to cook over a fire or bundle up with a book. At night, the yurt’s domed skylight offers excellent stargazing. For those keen on winter activities, skiing and snowshoeing trails start right outside the front door. In the summer, enjoy hiking, fishing, and swimming. Falls Brook Yurts, NewYork
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