Makin’ It Better NEWSLETTER
March 2020
Oregon Workers’ Compensation | Personal Injury | Social Security Disability
1139 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103 • 503-325-8600 • JoeDiBartolomeo.com
THANK YOU, JAMES MADISON
Celebrating a Life of Service
As a fully grown man, James Madison stood at just 5 feet, 4 inches tall. He had a health condition that, while never diagnosed, bore a resemblance to epilepsy, and he weighed only 100 pounds. He was so soft-spoken that his speeches were often difficult to hear, and he was frequently described as shy and quiet. Despite those qualities, Madison, whose birthday we celebrate on March 16, went on to become the fourth president of the United States. He held office for two terms, and, during that time, he helped establish America as a force to be reckoned with. For example, he led America through the War of 1812, which was our first war as an independent nation. Today, Madison is most well-known for co-writing the U.S. Constitution. In fact, so many of Madison’s ideas made it into the document that he is widely credited with being the father of the Constitution. If it were not for Madison, the Constitution might have never been ratified. To garner widespread support for the Constitution, Madison co-wrote 85 letters to the public with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay that explained the political philosophy underpinning the Constitution and defended its contents. Known as “The Federalist Papers,” these letters are still celebrated as some of the most groundbreaking political philosophy ever
published, and it is broadly accepted that without them, the Constitution would not have been sworn into law. Even with “The Federalist Papers” circulating, the Constitution was only ratified in Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina under the assurance that amendments would soon be proposed that would provide additional protections. Tireless in his efforts, Madison went to work on the Bill of Rights, which he promptly wrote and passed into law. Madison was an abolitionist, and although he did not free his own slaves or write the end of slavery into the Constitution, he helped lay the groundwork for ending slavery. In a historically groundbreaking move, Madison referred to slaves as people rather than belongings, which was remarkable since not many people were speaking, let alone thinking, in that way at the time. On his birthday this year, Madison should be remembered not only as a man of great intellect and accomplishment, but also as a man whose life was characterized by hard work and humility. With that in mind, he would not want his birthday to come and go without a nod to his wife, Dolley, born Dolley Payne Todd.
was famous for being vivacious, loud, and well-loved by everyone. During Madison’s presidency, she hosted and entertained countless guests at the White House, where politicians from many different backgrounds and viewpoints gathered and socialized. Many political alliances and bridges were built under Dolley’s watch, and, for this reason, she is often credited with defining the role of the first lady. Many of the good aspects of America today can be traced back to the efforts of James Madison. On his birthday this year, let’s celebrate him by remembering the contributions he made to our government, our freedom, our justice, and the very fabric of our nation.
While Madison was described as shy and quiet, Dolley, who was 17 years his junior,
The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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WHOSE PICKS WILL GO ALL THE WAY? March Madness Fun for the Whole Family
REWARD THE WINNERS WITH PRIZES.
One of the greatest things about March Madness is that you don’t have to be a huge college basketball fan to get in on the fun. Kids of all ages can fill out brackets — or have a parent fill one out for them — and watch their picks duke it out on the court. While healthy competition among family members can be fun all on its own, check out the following tips if you’re looking to go the extra mile and reap as much fun from March Madness as you can. Not every kid may like watching basketball, but if they fill out a bracket, then they might gain at least a passing interest in who will win each game. To elevate their interest, turn each March Madness matchup into a little party. It doesn’t have to be fancy; make fun snacks to eat while you watch or bet pieces of candy on who will have the most points to create great family bonding opportunities. TURN EACH GAME INTO AN EVENT.
Offer prizes to each round winner as well as the overall bracket winner to get the whole family involved. Small prize ideas for each round can include a homemade dinner of the winner’s choice, a week’s supply of their favorite snack, or a coupon for getting out of a chore. Whoever wins the whole tournament (or makes it the furthest with their bracket) deserves a bigger reward. Offer them the chance to see a movie of their choice in theaters or to eat a meal at their favorite restaurant. Learning math or geography might not sound like your child’s idea of fun, but it can be when they learn it through the lens of March Madness. See if your kids would be interested in understanding the inner workings of the ranking system or studying where some of the qualifying colleges are located on a map of the United States. They may find it so interesting that they don’t even realize they’re learning valuable skills. CREATE A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.
SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS IN 2020 The Inspector General’s Advice to Stay Safe
THREATEN TO ARREST YOU OR TAKE OTHER LEGAL ACTION UNLESS YOU IMMEDIATELY PAY A FINE Scammers will often require payment by a retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card. But if there’s currently a legitimate pending fee or payment, the agency will send a letter with instructions and your payment options — you should never pay through any of these other options. Scammers ask for things like cash or a retail gift card because they are difficult to trace and recover. PROMISE A BENEFIT INCREASE OR OTHER ASSISTANCE IN EXCHANGE FOR PAYMENT You’d be notified by mail for any offered assistance or new programs by the Social Security Administration.
SEND OFFICIAL LETTERS OR REPORTS CONTAINING PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION VIA EMAIL
Phone call scammers have been rampant in the U.S. for a long time, but every year, they seem to think of new ways to come across as trustworthy; some even appear as legitimate staffers of the Social Security Administration. That’s why the Inspector General Gail S. Ennis has come forward with some new advice for the new decade. According to him and recent reports to the SSA, the latest variation of Social Security phone scams includes fake emails. Usually, robocallers or live callers will pretend to be government employees telling you your identity has been stolen, or there have been problems with your Social Security number, account, or benefits. Ennis urges citizens to give nothing to these callers, no matter what threat or offer they make. The Social Security Administration will NEVER do any of the following:
Again, in most cases, you receive official documents containing your personally identifiable information through the mail, not email. Fraudulent documents will often use official letterheads and political jargon to confuse readers. They also may contain grammatical errors. If you think you’ve received a suspicious call or email, hang up or do not respond. But if you ever get concerned about your Social Security and how to claim it after exiting the workforce, call our team of experts at DiBartolomeo Law Office at 503-325-8600.
The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and here at DiBartolomeo Law Office, we want to do our part. Those with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often still feel and experience the world like we do, but their injury can affect their ability to express their thoughts normally. But even the smartest people in the world, like Stephan Hawking, can have these unexpected injuries and thrive. No two brain injuries are exactly the same. Our brains are intensely complicated, and so the effects of an injury will vary greatly from person to person. It also highly depends on factors such as cause, location, and severity. Different locations on the brain are responsible for different functions; if someone’s frontal lobes are affected, they can lose their ability to control their emotions or even speak. If their temporal lobes are affected, their memory often struggles. The list of variations can go on and on. Nearly 2.5 million TBIs occur every year. Car accidents are a huge source of the nation’s TBI incidents — between 50– 70%. So, while you hear it all the time, wear your seatbelt and don’t get distracted while driving. Ignore your texts and don’t drink and drive under any circumstances; even one incident of brain injury can change your entire life. Make sure your younger family members have age-appropriate safety HOW DO YOU PREVENT BRAIN INJURY? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET A BRAIN INJURY?
seats as well; these can not only save their lives but also prevent serious brain injuries. Currently, 9 million Americans live with a disability due to a brain injury. Other ways of preventing brain injuries include wearing a helmet and protective gear when participating in sports and recreational activities, wearing reflective material when walking in the dark, and making sure you take measures to prevent falls within your home. This can include installing handrails in bathrooms and stairways, improving lighting, removing tripping hazards, and using nonslip mats in the bathtub or shower floor. Sometimes, you can only do so much when another person is responsible for you or a loved one getting a TBI. Get one of our expert lawyers to fight by your side because nobody with a brain injury deserves to fight in court alone.
PESTO CHICKEN WITH BLISTERED TOMATOES Inspired by CookingLight.com
Ingredients
• 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil, divided • 4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, pounded to a 1-inch thickness • Salt and pepper to taste • 1/4 cup whole-wheat panko • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted • 6 tbsp spinach pesto • 2 cups cherry tomatoes • 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced • 1 tsp red wine vinegar
Directions
1. In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. 2. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and add it to pan. Cook chicken for 5 minutes on each side, then remove pan from heat. 3. In a bowl, combine panko, Parmesan cheese, and butter. 4. Spread pesto over chicken and top with panko mixture. 5. Broil chicken for 2 minutes on high heat until browned. 6. In a skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. 7. Add tomatoes and cook for 6 minutes. 8. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. 9. Season tomato mixture with salt and pepper, and add red wine vinegar. 10. Serve tomatoes with broiled chicken.
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
1
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuits of James Madison
2
March Madness Fun for the Whole Family
Protect Your Identity in 2020
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Brain Injury Awareness and Prevention
Pesto Chicken With Blistered Tomatoes
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Celebrating National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day GIVING BACK TO LOCAL COMPANIES ON NATIONAL MOM AND POP BUSINESS OWNERS DAY
March 29 is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, which is huge for small businesses everywhere. Mom and pop businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy; Small Business Trends reports that mom and pop businesses account for 64% of gross domestic product (GDP) and generate 78% of all new jobs. Furthermore, no matter what turns the economy takes, small- business owners are less likely to lay off their employees than big corporations. Mom and pop businesses support all communities, and you can support them by celebrating this unofficial holiday!
In addition to the economic boost, products from small businesses are usually higher quality, which makes them a better value for your dollar. Take this day to shop for birthday and holiday gifts for your loved ones that will bring them great joy and last a lifetime.
GET SOCIAL AND SPREAD THE WORD!
While small businesses utilize every form of marketing available, social media is essential for their success and growth. After shopping at your favorite mom and pop business, share that experience on your social media! When you write a post on Facebook or take a picture for Instagram, be sure to tag the business and use relevant hashtags so your friends, family, and everyone else in your community can shop there, too. Writing reviews on Google Reviews and Yelp helps establish validity for the company. When another potential customer looks for reviews, they know they’re getting quality products and services from a well-established pillar of the community. The local businesses that are active on social media may post deals and sales for that day only, so keep your eyes peeled and be sure to follow all your favorite businesses!
GIVE YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY A BOOST!
Shopping locally has a massive impact on your community. Local businesses return three times the amount of money to the local economy than larger corporations do. With that big of a returned investment, your community can support even more small businesses that generate a wealth of jobs and keep the cycle going.
The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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