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NOVEMBER 2023
MY SECRET FOR GIVING PRICELESS HOLIDAY GIFTS USE IT TO WOW YOUR FAMILY THIS CHRISTMAS!
This month, my son John is introducing his wife to one of our best family traditions. He’s taking her to the St. Louis City Museum! I’m excited for Cassidy to experience the museum because there’s no other place on Earth like it. It’s 600,000 square feet of jungle gyms, sculptures, Ferris wheels, slides, and tunnels squeezed into an old shoe factory. It’s also the site of some of my favorite family memories. I first heard about the City Museum from my sister and brother-in-law many years ago. They took the church youth there one summer and absolutely raved about it! When they described climbing giant slinkies and crawling through holes in the floor, I immediately started dreaming about taking my kids on the same adventure. There was only one problem: it felt too expensive when so many other St. Louis places are free.
budget, and my sister and brother-in-law knew it — so they did something incredibly kind. That Christmas, they bought tickets for the kids and me! They also asked my parents to gift them tickets for Christmas so they could go with us and show us the ropes (sometimes literally). On the day of our trip, I didn’t hold back. Even though I was out of shape, I threw myself completely into the experience and played like a big kid. Katie, Jessica, John, Zachary, and I adventured for hours, scaling rope ladders, scrambling across narrow ledges, and crawling through tunnels. At one point, I even followed them into a hole in the floor! I had to squeeze myself inside, and when it got too tight for me to flip around, I found myself crawling head first down a hill! I was just starting to doubt my judgment when little John (who was sliding through the tunnel ahead of me), looked back over his shoulder. “We’ll always remember this day, won’t we, Mommy?” he asked with a big smile. The glowing look on his face made me melt!
We’ve gone back to City Museum many times, and those memories will always stay with me. Once, I got stuck in one of the floor holes! My kids scrambled out ahead of me like little monkeys and started laughing when they saw my torso sticking halfway out of the ground. Their giggles made me lose it, too! I laughed so hard that I lost all of my upper body strength. It probably took me five minutes to get out of the hole. On another occasion, I had a little too much fun in the Skateless Park (an area full of ramps and pikes you’re supposed to slide down on your butt). I ripped a massive hole right in the seat of my pants! I had to spend the rest of our visit with a jacket wrapped around my waist. The next Christmas, my mom stole those old jeans and with the help of my girls, turned them into a purse. If you lift the flap on the bag, you can even see fake “underwear” sewn inside! Those inside jokes are priceless to me, which is why I always recommend gifting experiences (like museum tickets) during the holidays instead of things. Sure, it’s nice to have a new kitchen gadget or collectible, but nothing beats spending time with the people you love. To help you do just that, my team and I are giving away a free family membership to a local museum here in Louisville. Turn the page to learn how to win.
At the time, I was a single mom of four. The museum’s $10 per person price tag was out of my
“Yes, we will,” I told him — and we did.
Win a FREE Annual Membership to the Frazier History Museum! Turn to Page 3 to enter our raffle and win a full year’s admission for your whole family.
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HANG ON — THE FBI ROBBED A BANK? THE STORY BEHIND A MIND-BLOWING CALIFORNIA RAID
"This was the largest armed robbery in United States history, and it was committed by the FBI." That jaw-dropping statement came from Robert Frommer, an attorney representing several hundred people whose safe deposit boxes were emptied during an FBI raid in 2021. The story is wild from start to finish. On that fateful day in March, armed FBI agents stormed a California strip mall and burst into a U.S. Private Vaults bank branch. They searched 1,400 safe deposit boxes and confiscated the contents of many of them — making off with roughly $86 million, plus valuable collectibles like coins, gold, and jewelry. Why would the agency do this? Well, after a two-year investigation, the FBI suspected U.S. Private Vaults was catering to drug dealers and other criminals hiding cash in Los Angeles. So, the agency obtained a warrant and raided the bank to look for proof.
drug money and closed its doors for good. However, that wasn’t the end of the saga.
Remember attorney Robert Frommer? Roughly 400 people who kept their money at U.S. Private Vaults hired him to get the contents of their safe deposit boxes back from the FBI. They said they weren’t criminals and wanted their money back. One of those people was Joseph Ruiz, who lost $57,000 in savings during the FBI raid. He filed a lawsuit, claiming the raid was unconstitutional. When the FBI accused Ruiz of making his money through illegal drug sales, Ruiz showed proof of his income, and in August 2021, the FBI agreed to return his funds. However, not every U.S. Private Vaults customer has been so lucky. In September 2022, a judge ruled that the FBI raid was legal under civil forfeiture laws and dismissed the depositors’ class-action lawsuit. An FBI spokesperson also said the agency was putting a process in place to return items to innocent owners, but as of March 2023, at least one person still claimed she hadn’t gotten her money back — even though she wasn’t criminally charged.
And apparently, they found it. After the raid, U.S. Private Vaults pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder
If this story ever becomes a Hollywood movie, we’ll be first in line at the box office.
5 LOCAL SPOTS TO ENJOY WITH YOUR FAMILY
The Kentucky Science Center (KYScienceCenter. org) — The Kentucky Science Center is Louisville's version of Melissa’s beloved City Museum in St. Louis. It’s an interactive place to let your inner child run wild alongside your kids or grandkids! Together, you can build a city, learn the science of water, build a circuit, or try leatherworking. Admission costs $23 per person, but people who receive SNAP or WIC can claim a free membership. Louisville Zoo (LouisvilleZoo.org) — Our local zoo lets you meet animals from Africa, Australia, South America, and islands worldwide! In addition to giraffes, zebras, and wallabies, your family can see polar bears, jaguars, and maned wolves. Wander through the Herpaquarium to learn about reptiles and fish, watch professional animal presentations, or enjoy the petting zoo (weather permitting). Admission rates vary, so visit LouisvilleZoo.org/plan for today’s prices.
The 21c Museum Hotel (21cMuseumHotels. com/Louisville) — You don’t have to stay at the 21c Museum Hotel to enjoy its contemporary art collection! If you have art lovers in your family, consider stopping in just to tour the 9,000 square feet of gallery space. It features sculptures, photos, textile art, and rotating interactive installations. Best of all, admission is always free! Louisville Nature Center (LouisvilleNatureCenter.org) — If a visit to the zoo is out of your price range (or you want to see more animals), head across the street to the Louisville Nature Center for a free education on our local wildlife. Meander through the gardens, peek at critters in the indoor terrariums, or enjoy a seasonal Turkey Trek or Owl Prowl. The Frazier History Museum (FrazierMuseum. org) — If you want to give your kids or grandkids an overview of Kentucky history in a single
afternoon, the Frazier History Museum is the place to go! The museum’s impressive collection of historical artifacts and its interactive exhibitions make learning history fun. To learn more about the Frazier History Museum and win a FREE annual pass for your family, check out Page 3 of this newsletter.
2 | call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
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ENTER OUR RAFFLE BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE WIN A FREE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TO THE FRAZIER HISTORY MUSEUM! If you want to make priceless memories with your family this holiday season, there’s no better place to start in the Louisville area than the Frazier History Museum!
HAVE A LAUGH!
The museum has a permanent collection of mindblowing artifacts like President Teddy Roosevelt’s “Big Stick,” Apache leader Geronimo’s bow and arrows, and
the arrest warrant issued for First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln
(President Abraham Lincoln’s wife). It also hosts the “KentuckyShow!” video experience, an “immersive, educational adventure” mimicking the Oregon Trail, the “Spirit of Kentucky Bourbon” exhibition, one of the world’s biggest collections of miniatures, and other rotating exhibits.
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
INGREDIENTS
There’s something to see for all ages, and if you’re lucky enough to win our contest, you can spend an entire year exploring the museum with your family for FREE!
• • • •
2 lbs ground beef
• • • • • •
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
6 cups water
2 tsp salt
To celebrate the holidays, we’re giving away an Annual Family/Dual Membership ($50 value). If you win, you’ll enjoy:
1 28-oz can tomato sauce 1 28-oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tsp beef bouillon granules
1 tsp black pepper
2 cups cooked long-grain rice
• Free admission for yourself, your partner, and all of your kids/grandkids under 18 • 10% off all purchases at the Museum Store • 50% off museum parking • Discounted camp admission for your kids or grandkids • And more!
•
2 cups chopped green peppers
Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
DIRECTIONS
WE WANT YOU TO THINK OF US AS YOUR LAW FIRM. If you have a legal matter that needs attention, let us know. If we can’t handle the matter, we will refer you to a firm that can. Please feel free to refer us to your friends and family for their legal needs. We welcome the opportunity to help. 1. In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook beef until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. Add beef back to the pot and stir in all ingredients except the cooked rice. Bring to a boil. 2. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered until peppers are tender, about 30 minutes. 3. Add cooked rice and simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
There are two easy ways to enter:
1. Visit our Facebook page (Facebook.com/EmeryLawOffice/) , find our post about the raffle, and make a comment on something you’re thankful for. 2. Email us at Info@emerylawoffice.com. Use the subject line, “Thankful Giveaway,” and write something you’re thankful for in the email. That’s it! We’ll draw a big winner on Friday, Dec. 15, and send your tickets to you in time for Christmas. You can use them yourself or give them away to a family member, friend, or client as a holiday gift. Enter now before the Friday, Dec. 15, deadline to put your name in the hat. Then, keep an eye on our Facebook page. We’ll announce the winner there and reach out to you with the good news!
call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
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INSIDE
MELISSA SHARES A FAMILY INSIDE JOKE (AND A GIFT-GIVING TIP!) 1
DID THE FBI REALLY ‘STEAL’ $86 MILLION?
5 LOCAL SPOTS FOR YOUR FAMILY’S BUCKET LIST 2 WIN A FREE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TO THE FRAZIER HISTORY MUSEUM!
STUFFED PEPPER SOUP 3
THE HEROIC HOUND WHO SAVED A LIFE IN JAPAN'S TSUNAMI 4
A DOG’S INTUITION: HOW BABU SAVED HER HUMAN FROM A TSUNAMI
The tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011 was unimaginable; the natural disaster killed nearly 20,000 people in minutes. But amid the chaos, there was at least one tiny miracle: an 11-year-old Shih Tzu named Babu. Tami Akanuma, an 83-year-old woman living in the coastal city of Miyako, had her typical morning interrupted by a 9.0 earthquake that shook her house roughly 200 yards from the coast. When
it stopped, she breathed a sigh of relief, but Babu became extremely agitated. The small dog began frantically pacing around the living room, moaning, and jumping at the door. Though it was early for Babu’s morning walk, Akanuma decided to appease her. Sources differ on what happened next. Some say officials broadcast a tsunami warning, and Akanuma realized she must evacuate, while others state she knew nothing of the impending disaster. But everyone agrees that Babu jumped into action. She instantly headed for a large hill near Akanuma’s home — the opposite direction of the pair’s usual walk. Akanuma did not dismiss the dog’s instincts. Babu tugged urgently at her leash, running as far as she could before turning to her owner. Akanuma said Babu seemed to be encouraging her to move faster, and the dog ran ahead every time Akanuma caught up. Akanuma later estimated they walked more than half a mile in a few minutes.
Only moments after the duo finally reached the top of the hill, they watched an enormous wave wash over their home. The house was destroyed, but Akanuma and Babu escaped with their lives. How did Babu do it? People have long suspected that animals can predict natural disasters, but the truth is elusive. Scientists agree that animals aren’t psychic but disagree on whether something else might be at play. Some attribute the supposed phenomenon to the “psychological focusing effect,” or a human tendency to emphasize one detail in our memories while discarding others. But others point to dogs’ heightened senses of hearing and smell, suggesting animals may be able to detect small atmospheric changes that humans can’t. No matter the explanation, Akanuma credited her dog with saving her life, and the two gratefully celebrated Babu’s 12th birthday from an evacuation shelter only weeks later.
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