Check out our June newsletter!
DELICATE CRANES, POWERFUL HOPE
I’m thankful to share an uplifting project in our community. Full disclosure: The reason I know so much about it is because it involves my wife, Amy, who I call Mamie. If you go to the main branch of the Spartanburg County Public Library, the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, or Greenville/Spartanburg Airport, you might wonder how and why the displays of origami cranes got there. I can tell you. Mamie tells the story that not long after Russia attacked the Ukraine, she found herself at a studio owned by a high school friend, Kristi Lanford. Kristi’s artistic mind conceived a perfect way to respond to the brutality — a classic image of simple, intentional beauty that’s a powerful symbol of peace and hope for all humankind. It’s an origami crane.
Memorial Park unveiled a statute of her featuring a plaque reading, “This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.”
Sadako inspired Kristi to set an
ambitious goal to make 1,000 cranes and put them on display. Mamie volunteered to help
and thought some of her students at Spartanburg County Early College High School might be interested. She pitched the idea to her principal, Dr. Kerns, who enthusiastically approved it. The project got a big boost from Sidewalk Hope, a “church on wheels” providing services to children in our community who don’t have access to a regular church. Our family also pitched in, especially my daughter Addie (Bunny) and our nieces Leila Jane and Annabelle. Mamie’s quick to say many others joined this special effort. Like Sadako, they exceeded their goal. They made 3,000 cranes. Mamie explained that it takes 3–5 minutes to make the intricate folds composing the crane. Then you string it by pushing a big needle through it. Getting them hung took hours. The end result is a graceful, delicate display reminding me of the goodness that comes from us all, if we just intend it. As Mamie says, “These cranes are symbols of hope for all of mankind, even in the darkest of times.”
“But why a paper crane?” I interrupted. So, Mamie revealed the story behind the story.
In 1955, a 12-year-old Japanese schoolgirl named Sadako contracted leukemia from radiation unleashed by the atomic bomb dropped near her home in Hiroshima. She was soon hospitalized. There, a friend told her of a Japanese legend that if you made 1,000 origami cranes, you were granted a wish. Sadako exceeded her goal, stringing them and hanging them
from the ceiling of her hospital room. Sadly, it didn’t bring her the healing she hoped for. She died October 25, 1955, but it did make her a hero to generations of Japanese girls. In 1958, the Hiroshima Peace
You should check it out, and think about what little thing you can do to extend kindness in the world. Every little bit helps.
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SCHOOL’S OUT! WHAT CAN YOU DO?
4 Activities to Keep Your Kids Busy
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!
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
Testimonials
“I normally do not write reviews. I am doing so because anyone who is looking for a personal injury attorney needs to know about our experience with Atty Robert Usry. I promise you cannot find a better personal injury attorney. We are from PA, and involved in a car accident in SC. Aside from our injuries, different states, different laws, we knew it was going to be a battle and really didn’t expect a good outcome. After speaking with 2 other attorneys I found Atty. Rob Usry in Spartanburg, SC. While speaking with him, we knew we found the right one. We both felt very comfortable with him, he was a different kind of attorney, in a good way! He was professional, yet he truly cared like he knew us our whole lives. Due to my injuries, I became a very angry, and sad person. I wanted to give up. Every phone call or email was always returned with encouragement. Our case was a difficult one. They not only did so much legal work, they supported us emotionally and got us through a terrible time in our lives. My health insurance had a subrogation lien, I was expecting to be paying back a lot of money, Rob found a legal loophole. I was beyond impressed with that! In hindsight, I would have to say I was probably their most difficult client, but he made me feel like I was his ONLY client. We were both more than happy with the outcome of our cases, we feel like we got justice, and the much needed closure to move forward.”
–Michael and Michaela F.
www.bhollandlawfirm.com
CASE RESULTS SNAPSHOT Even With Preexisting Conditions, You Can Still Be Compensated!
3. Doctors were involved. To be sure we could clearly prove the shoulder injury, we met with her orthopedic surgeon so
Michelle came to us after a Spartanburg car crash that worsened her chronic migraines and a right shoulder condition. Even though it wasn’t her fault, she felt bogged down by her injuries and the fear that she’d never be compensated because she had these problems before the crash.
he could give his view of injuries caused by the crash. This brief, critical meeting yielded a powerful questionnaire
with a simple, powerful YES, the crash required a surgical procedure — a noninvasive shoulder manipulation under anesthesia, where the surgeon moved the joint around to loosen a “frozen shoulder.”
We assured her that if you can prove that your preexisting conditions were worsened by the accident, you can be compensated. However, insurance companies love to hide behind what they call “preexisting injuries,” using them to deny claims.
4. We never denied the prior injury to the insurance company. In fact, we admitted it. When the insurance company demanded prior medical records about the shoulder, we gladly handed them over with a critical explanation. We used it as a chance to restate our case: The crash worsened Michelle’s shoulder to the point she needed surgery, as shown by her surgeon’s questionnaire. Armed with this evidence, we got the liability limits of $50,000 plus $12,500 from Michelle’s own policy of underinsurance. Michelle was thrilled and relieved. We were proud to be part of her case’s $62,500 success after such a doubtful start for her.
Here’s how Michelle’s car crash legal team helped:
1. We evaluated complex medical evidence. We gathered and carefully analyzed years of medical records before and after the crash.
This allowed us to gain a clinical understanding of her problems and how the crash made them worse.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” –Galatians 6:2 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” –Ephesians 1:18-19 Good News 2. We helped Michelle pick her battles. Because I saw the migraines weren’t clearly worsened, I discussed with Michelle a strategy of letting that claim go. She agreed. It allowed us to focus on the real problem: her shoulder.
Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken Skewers
Inspired by RecipeRunner.com
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
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* This newsletter is intended to educate the public about personal injury, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, and family law issues. You can copy and distribute it as long as you copy the entire newsletter. But the newsletter is not intended to be legal advice; you should ask a lawyer about your specific case. Every case is different, and all case outcomes depend on unique facts and laws.
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
101 W. St. John St. Suite 206 Spartanburg, SC 29306
INSIDE this issue
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Delicate Cranes, Powerful Hope
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Kid-Friendly Summer Activities!
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Testimonial
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3.
Case Results Snapshot
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Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken Skewers Make Your Place the ‘Cool House’ This Summer
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If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, call Pam at 864.582.0416 or email rob@bhollandlawfirm.com .
Plan the Ultimate Water Balloon Fight
(And Score Parent Brownie Points)
Summer is here, which means your kids are probably about to disappear for endless play dates, outdoor adventures, or even summer jobs. Fortunately, there’s one way to keep them home and make your house the “cool” spot for their friends to hang out: Plan an epic water balloon fight. Water balloons are the essence of summer, and everyone can get in on the action. If you have a big family, you can plan the ultimate family battle, or your children can invite their friends over for a showdown. (Teenagers will love this as much as elementary schoolers!) Whichever option you choose, use these tips to level up the fun: 1. Provide plenty of ammunition. Fill at least 100 water balloons, or 25–50 balloons per player, to extend the window of your battle. 2. Up the stakes with water guns. Water balloons are great, but water balloons and water guns are even better! Spy magazine recommends hiding the guns around your yard or piling them in the center of the war zone where players will have a hard time grabbing them without getting wet. 3. Extend the battle with refill/dump buckets. If you have water guns in the fight, make sure to strategically place buckets
of water around the war zone. Big buckets are great for refilling guns, and small ones can fuel splash battles when your balloons run out. 4. Create an epic kickoff. Increase the drama of your game by having the players stand in a big circle with the ammunition in the center (like “The Hunger Games”) or splitting into groups and having each team start on opposite sides of no man’s land. Don’t forget the countdown! 5. Shake up the format. Come up with rules for your fight instead of making it an all-out brawl. Do you want to do
a tag-style game, where someone is “it” until they balloon someone else? Or would you rather imitate dodgeball and tag each other “out” with balloons? Poll your players to see which idea is a hit.
Pro Tip: Consider swapping water balloons for sponges to save water. You can simply re- soak them to continue the battle!
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