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THE LEGAL LEDGER 800-800-4300 DENMONPEARLMAN.COM STAY SAFE ON OUR ROADWAYS JULY 2021
However, these small vehicles and exposure to other vehicles can leave bikers of all kinds vulnerable.
Start protecting yourself by wearing the proper gear. Helmets are a must for motorized and manual cycling. Motorcyclists should wear long pants and jackets, while bikers should opt for padding and proper footwear. Always wear brightly colored clothing, too, especially when operating at night. Furthermore, it’s vital that you understand proper operation guidelines and rules. For example, bicyclists should utilize manual turn signaling, while motorcyclists need to function as if they were a standard vehicle. For Pedestrians As a pedestrian, you’re among some of the most vulnerable people out on the roadways. It’s important that you obey all traffic signals. While motorists are responsible for watching for obstacles of all kinds, you increase your risk when you don’t obey traffic signals and laws. Additionally, just as cyclists should wear bright clothing, it’s important that you do the same. Watch for vehicles of all kinds, stay clear of roadways when possible, and make yourself clearly visible. Bonus : Update your insurance! Review your policy to ensure it’s current with your needs and consider adding underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage. This can protect you from missed deserved compensation in the event that another motorist is not fully covered. Our Denmon Pearlman personal injury attorneys are dedicated to serving and fighting for our clients after an accident happens, but we also believe their responsibility to this community includes prevention. Our hope is that everyone heeds our recommendations this summer, but if an accident does occur, we can fight to get you the compensation you need to heal and recover.
As you prepare for your summertime adventures, the Denmon Pearlman team would like to offer a few reminders for summer safety. We’re all responsible for making our communities and recreation areas as safe as possible for all users, and with a little attention, we can ensure the summer fun doesn’t have to stop! Summer vacations and road trips are quintessential parts of the American summer, but local reports indicate that our roadways are becoming more dangerous. According to a local 2019 report, there has been a 7% increase in traffic fatalities, and crashes increased by 4% in Pinellas County. You can do your part to protect motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians by following a few simple guidelines. For Vehicle Drivers Motorists should keep their vehicles free of distractions, including food and cellphones. Be vigilant in checking blind spots when turning or merging and always give pedestrians, other vehicles, and cyclists plenty of space. Never drive after drinking or using drugs and discuss your medication side effects with your doctor. Those who are new drivers or older drivers, who may risk vision and hearing impairment along with cognitive decline affecting their ability to drive, should seek additional education for driving safety. Consider relying on a trusted friend or relative to help you improve your driving skills. For Bikers of All Kinds Bicyclists and motorcyclists share one thing in common: They love the freedom of the open road! THIS SUMMER PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND OTHERS
Stay safe and have a wonderful summer!
—The Denmon Pearlman Team 1 DENMONPEARLMAN.COM
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5 NEW SPORTS JOIN THE OLYMPIC ROSTER IN TOKYO “real‑world” elements like stairs and handrails, benches, planter boxes, and curbs. The park competition takes place within a more structured environment with a variety of slopes, curves, and other obstacles that will test skaters. Sport Climbing
Karate This martial art was developed in Japan in 1868, so it’s only appropriate to make its debut during the Tokyo Olympics. On top of that, the competitions will be held in Nippon Budokan, the site of the very first World Karate Championships in 1970. The Games will test two disciplines: kata (forms) and kumite (sparring). The sport will also be separated into men’s and women’s categories with three weight classes for each. Baseball and Softball These aren’t new sports to the Olympics, but they were removed from the Games after Beijing in 2008. Baseball is hugely popular in Japan. This year, only six countries will take part in the baseball and softball competitions.
After a year delay, the Tokyo Olympics are once again gearing up for two weeks of action and excitement. Athletes from around the world are descending on Japan to give it their all and, hopefully, walk away with gold. This year, however, the games will be folding five new sports into the mix. Four of these sports have never been part of the Olympics, while one sport hasn’t been part of the games in over a decade. Here’s what to expect: Surfing Both men’s and women’s competitions will be held on Tsurigasaki Beach in Chiba Prefecture. Officials say due to the nature of the competition (being in open water), they’ll be generous with the scheduling. Depending on weather and waves, the preliminary round heats and head-to-head competitions may shift around as necessary. Skateboarding There are two categories: park and street. The street competition takes place on a linear course featuring
This event combines three different disciplines on an artificial climbing wall: bouldering, lead climbing, and speed climbing. In the bouldering competition, climbers will navigate a fixed route to be completed within a specified time. In lead climbing, climbers aim to reach the high point within a specified time. Finally, in speed climbing, two climbers race against one another. Men and women, 20 per gender, will compete against each other, with the top eight advancing to the final round.
3 Daytrips That Won’t Break the Bank
YOU CAN EXPLORE ON A BUDGET!
Happy summer! Now that vaccination rollouts are increasing immunity across our communities, the classic summer vacation is back, and there’s no better place to explore than our local region. If you’re looking for an affordable family trip with tons of fun, be sure to check out these spots! Bike to Dunedin on the Pinellas Trail Whether you bike the full 38 miles or cruise for a few easy miles, the Pinellas Trail leads you to all sorts of Floridian locations. You never know what you are going to find around each bend! You will bike past parks, beaches, and restaurants before coming to a stop in Dunedin, Florida. This small town’s downtown was built around the railroad tracks, which were replaced by the trail, and has since become a gathering point for bicyclists. After a long ride, grab some ice cream or dinner — or both — and enjoy a well-deserved meal! Boat to Caladesi Island Did you know you can escape to an island paradise without ever leaving Florida? If that sounds like your type of adventure, you have to check out Caladesi
Island State Park. With crystal-clear blue waters and white sandy beaches, you will feel as if you have been dropped into a tropical island. In fact, the state park is only accessible by boat. (It costs $6 per boat.) Once on the island, you can spend the day at the beach, go kayaking, or hike or walk along the nature trails. We promise you won’t want to leave! Explore Rock Springs Run State Reserve This is the perfect spot for adventurers. At Rock Springs Run State Reserve, you can hop on the mountain bike or explore on the back of a horse! Trails link waterways with the forests in this untouched landscape. It’s the best remedy for escaping the city! If you’re a brave camper, you can even canoe to remote camping sites in the reserve. With more than 17 miles of trails to ride or hike, this trip is perfect for a little seclusion without spending too much money on an expensive getaway.
Note: Please review COVID-19 protocols before traveling. Safe travels!
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RENOVATING OUR REGION
LOCAL COUPLE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE HOMES
It’s blueberry season! Whip up this simple muffin recipe to celebrate in style.
INGREDIENTS
Lonnie and Malinda Shughart may look like your standard house-flipping husband and wife duo, but that’s not even part of their vocabulary.
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1 cup soy milk 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
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1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
“We do more than flip,” says Lonnie. “We renovate homes.”
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1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp canola oil 1 tsp vanilla extract
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2 cups flour
Together, they own Shughart Construction — a design and home renovation business that pulls together Lonnie’s expertise in home maintenance and construction with Malinda’s eye for design and her real estate career. Their path to this point was almost kismet. It began nearly 30 years ago, when Lonnie enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served his country, following in his father and father-in-law’s footsteps, for 20 years and 28 days, retiring in 2014. He and Malinda moved back to the Tampa area from where they were stationed in New Mexico, and Lonnie was promoted to stay-at-home dad. Meanwhile, Malinda immediately started her real estate business. (She now works with Lombardo Heights Realty.) Eventually, Lonnie went back to work doing maintenance at MacDill Air Force Base. That led to handyman work around the region, and as his talent and expertise continued to grow, Lonnie and Malinda took on a big step: They partnered with friends to renovate their first house. Since then, the Shugharts’ meticulous and well-designed work can be seen in numerous homes across the region, including projects for current homeowners with big dreams of improving their space. For Lonnie, seeing families enjoy their newly renovated homes is a source of pride. “I love the area. The views are awesome, and the communities are awesome,” says Lonnie, who adds that updating and renovating older homes in a growing region where new developments are common is a way of putting a little love back into the community. Together, Lonnie says he and Malinda make a great team. She has an eye for well-crafted design, while Lonnie has the tools and expertise to make it happen. Though Lonnie does a lot of work that doesn’t require Malinda’s real estate background, the duo often works together on their whole-home renovations and trusts each other’s instincts.
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2 1/2 tsp baking powder
Zest of 1 lemon
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1/4 tsp baking soda
2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 tsp salt
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a muffin tin and set aside. 2. In a bowl, combine soy milk and apple cider vinegar. Set aside. 3. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. 4. In a third bowl, combine sugar, oil, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Add milk mixture and stir, then add flour mixture. Stir to combine until well-incorporated but not smooth. Fold in the blueberries. 5. Spoon batter into muffin tin, filling each well 3/4 full. Bake 20–25 minutes, cool, and enjoy!
Inspired by MyDarlingVegan.com
And for this veteran, working with his hands, creating something for the place he loves to call home, and collaborating with his wife is a dream job come true.
You can learn more about Shughart Construction on their Facebook page or by calling 813-928-5251.
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INSIDE 1
Summer Safety Roadway Tips for All Users
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5 New Sports Join the Olympic Roster in Tokyo
Explore Western Florida on a Budget!
Meet the Husband and Wife Duo Helping Our Region’s Homes
Plant-Based Blueberry Muffins
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Fourth of July Fun Facts to Share With the Kids
W hat do your kids know about the Fourth of July? Do they know it’s a day when you have a barbecue, spend time with friends and neighbors, and watch a fireworks show? These hallmarks of the holiday certainly do make it fun and memorable, but they don’t really exemplify why we celebrate the Fourth of July, the anniversary of when the United States declared its independence from Britain. So, along with the sparklers and hot dogs, here are a few fun facts about Independence Day you can share with your kids to help them understand the significance of the holiday. The Fourth of July marks our country’s independence because it’s when the Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence. This fact might seem like a no-brainer, but it contextualizes the holiday for kids. It’s a great jumping-off point to talk about why the United States wanted to be its own country, what the Continental Congress was, what the Declaration of Independence said, and what it means to “ratify” something.
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE FOURTH OF JULY YOU CAN SHARE WITH YOUR KIDS
Two future presidents signed the Declaration of Independence: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. They both died exactly 50 years later, on July 4, 1826. This fact is an interesting coincidence sure to fascinate both kids and adults. It’s also a great way to introduce kids to some of the Founding Fathers and share how they helped shape the United States today. In 1776, the year the United States was founded, only 2.5 million people lived here. Today, the U.S. population is 331 million. Lots of people have been born in the United States since it was founded, and millions more came here from other places, hoping to find a better life. Many succeeded, too. Many people want to call this country home! On the Fourth of July, around 155 million hot dogs are eaten in the United States. Okay, so this fact might not have anything to do with American history, but it’s still pretty funny! If anything, the fact that we have so many hot dogs to eat on that day is evidence of the prosperity so many people enjoy in the United States of America.
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