Take a look at this month's edition of the Brooks & Crowley Review!
Review Brooks & Crowley
November 2020
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WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS THANKSGIVING
I’ll be honest: At the time of writing this, we have no idea what our holidays will look like this year. In fairness, many things are running sort of back to normal except for some restaurants that are still only offering delivery or pick-up. However, I know this pandemic is far from over. Every year, we typically drive to my wife’s parents’ house, and I'd make pies and desserts to bring over — who doesn’t love a nice pumpkin cheesecake? I grew up working in an Italian bakery, so you could say I’m a zealous dessert maker and eater! However, with travel being limited because of health concerns, it’s hard to say if that’ll still happen. It’s not often that our holiday rituals get disrupted like this, but there’s plenty for us to look forward to this Thanksgiving. Personally, I might try to eat a pumpkin cheesecake all by myself. (Just kidding.) Also, while we might not see our family members in the same massive 25–30-person groups we’re used to, I’m confident that we’ll still find a way to enjoy the company of our friends and family. It might take a little extra effort, whether the gatherings are organized through Zoom or by hosting small gatherings instead of large ones, but I’m grateful we will still be able to connect with our loved ones over Thanksgiving. I’m also grateful that football is on again! My son just started playing fantasy football and getting deeper into the sport. We have been spending time watching since the games came back on, even if I don’t play fantasy football. So, I don’t necessarily cheer for individual players the way my son does. It’s easy to realize how fast kids grow up when they start explaining how a player’s value is determined, and why people put more faith in certain players than others. He gets excited
when his chosen players start performing well — and that’s fun — but honestly, I’ll just be happy whenever the Patriots win. Another thing that I think more people should look forward to is avoiding Black Friday! I’ll admit my bias here: I’ve never done Black Friday. I’m happy to order online. I didn’t want to rub up against crowds in a Best Buy even before the pandemic. Looks too much like a Who concert in there! Lastly, no matter what side they’re on, I think everyone is looking forward to the end of the political season. It’s been very consuming and exhausting for all of us to constantly talk about politics — whether at home or in the public space. Because ultimately, even if November doesn’t go in the direction that you would’ve hoped, we can still enjoy a little extra peace and quiet this Thanksgiving. Let’s stock up on comfort food and enjoy the good things in life. Plus, football is on. “It’s not often that our holiday rituals get disrupted like this, but there’s plenty for us to look forward to this Thanksgiving.”
Wishing you all beautiful holidays.
–Steve Brooks
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3 Memorable Thanksgiving Day Football Plays
Thanksgiving is all about good food, family, and football. Each year, football fans look forward to sitting down and watching the game with their family, regardless of whether or not their team is playing. While many games have been played over the years, some stand out more than others because of some major players and their quick actions. Here are three individuals who made their Thanksgiving Day games ones to remember. Lawrence Taylor New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor was said to have “single-handedly” beat the Detroit Lions in this memorable 1982
Thanksgiving Day matchup. The game was only the fourth of the season for Taylor, who had just recovered from a sprained knee injury suffered in a previous game. With the score tied at 6-6 in the fourth quarter, Taylor intercepted the ball from the Lions quarterback, Gary Danielson, and ran it 97 yards for a touchdown. Leon Lett The Miami Dolphins were up against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in 1993. This game was marked by its strange weather: Snow covered the field in Dallas, and temperatures reached only 26 degrees F. But
that wasn’t what made the game memorable. In the last 15 seconds of the game, the Cowboys blocked the Dolphins’ last 40-yard field goal attempt. As the ball was rolling on the ground, Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett dove for it but slipped and missed. The Dolphins recovered the ball and were given the chance to kick another field goal at the 1-yard line. The attempt was successful, and they won the game. Phil Luckett One of the most memorable moments during a Thanksgiving game took place in 1998, when the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions entered overtime in a 16-16 tie. Referee Phil Luckett oversaw the coin toss, and that’s when things became tense. Steelers running back Jerome Bettis appeared to call tails, but Luckett said, “Heads is the call.” Upon review later, officials discovered that Bettis changed his mind mid-toss and had indeed called heads first. The Lions got first possession and scored a field goal to win the game.
Lessons Learned From Bizarre Property Legal Cases
Just because a case is very unusual doesn’t mean there aren’t lessons to be learned from it! Here are just a few legal cases that caught our eye. Hollywood Silver Fox Farm v. Emmett Can your neighbor get in trouble for playing loud music intentionally to irritate you? Yes — because the Hollywood Silver Fox Farm got in trouble for a similar issue, except it was about foxes. Silver foxes are very jittery creatures and are likely to miscarry when disturbed during pregnancy — and after the fox farm had a falling out with Emmett, their neighbor, he got his son to fire a gun repeatedly along the border of their land to upset the foxes and disrupt the Hollywood Silver Fox Farm business. In court, Emmett tried to defend himself by saying that foxes were “unusually sensitive,” and he had the right to use his land in any manner he pleased.
However, the court ruled that nobody has “the absolute right to create noises upon his own land, because any right which the law gives him is qualified by the condition that it must not be exercised to the nuisance of his neighbors.” Whew! Presho v. Doohan Imagine finding out that your house has disappeared. That’s exactly what happened to filmmaker and engineer Neville Presho after buying a 150-year-old home from an island off the northern Ireland coast. He planned to film the life of locals on the island and purchased the home in 1982, but settled in New Zealand instead. Still, he kept the house. Then, in 1992, he received an offer for the home for nearly 1/7 of what he wanted to sell it for. Presho refused. Suddenly, in 1994, he received a letter saying that the home was in
terrible shape. This struck Presho as highly unusual, since he knew the structure of the home was sound against any threat of storms. When he flew back to the island, he found out that his home had vanished, and a parking lot for a hotel replaced it. It turned out that the home suffered a fire and was slowly removed as the hotel expanded. He then hired an attorney to help him. Thankfully, the court favored Presho and said that the owner of the hotel, Patrick Doohan, was responsible for trespassing and interfering with Presho’s property, although it was never confirmed if he was the arsonist. Have an interesting real estate story? Share it with us at StevenBrooks@ BrooksAndCrowley.com and maybe we’ll publish it for you in our newsletter!
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‘Dare to Lead’ With Brené Brown’s Bestselling Book
How many leaders do you know who will admit to their mistakes openly and honestly to their team? How many leaders have you heard ask their team for direction? How many leaders are willing to step aside so someone else can shine? Chances are if you know that leader — or if you are that leader — then you understand the future of leadership, according to author, researcher, and teacher Brené Brown, Ph.D., author of “Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.” In this book, Brown details her seven years researching and gaining a better understanding of leadership. She interviewed business leaders at both small and large companies, asking questions that revealed what great leadership looks like. Together with her research team, she learned why certain workspaces thrive and grow while others, with seemingly just as powerful of ideas, wither and die. And it all boiled down to one thing, Brown says: courage.
In “Dare to Lead,” Brown examines the four pillars of courageous leadership and how business leaders today can practice
remove these negative traits, Brown offers leaders a road map to
build their courage while practicing vulnerability
and perfect it. Brown teaches the four pillars through her consulting
and creating happier work environments.
work and has seen radical changes in organizations that practice courageous leadership. Brown offers examples — from well-known CEOs and within her own business — to walk readers through
Brown has spent the past two decades researching and breaking down emotional concepts into tangible goals for her readers and followers. She is the owner of The Daring Way, a consulting firm
real-life applications of courage and how to create stronger teams through vulnerability.
that helps businesses develop vulnerability in leadership and the workplace. She is also the host of the podcast “Unlocking Us” and has one of the most-watched videos of all time, “The Power of Vulnerability.” You can learn more about Brown’s work and find “Dare to Lead” at BreneBrown.com.
Brown exposes how business cultures that don’t practice vulnerability are ineffective as a result. She theorizes that often, these workspaces are filled with fear, uncertainty, and scarcity. To
LAUGH OUT LOUD
Zesty Orange Cranberry Sauce
Skip the can-shaped cranberry sauce this year and bring a jar of homemade sauce to Thanksgiving instead. This easy recipe can be made ahead of the big event and keeps for 10 days in the fridge. Ingredients
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1/2 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
• • •
12 oz fresh cranberries
2 tsp orange zest
• •
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste
3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
1. In a medium saucepan, heat the orange juice, water, and sugar to a boil. Add other ingredients, then bring mixture back to boiling. 2. Reduce the heat to medium and cook gently for 10–12 minutes, until the cranberries burst. 3. Transfer the sauce to a bowl or jar, cover, and refrigerate until serving. directions
Inspired by OnceUponAChef.com
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439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026 Inside This Issue
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What I’m Looking Forward to This Thanksgiving
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3 Memorable Thanksgiving Day Football Plays Lessons Learned From Bizarre Property Legal Cases Researcher Brené Brown Helps Leaders Find Their Vulnerability — and Succeed
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Zesty Orange Cranberry Sauce
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Good News in Boston!
Good News in Boston! When Massachusettsans Look Out for Each Other
The pandemic might be longer than any of us hoped, but there’s still plenty to look forward to. And even when there isn’t, sometimes really awesome people step up and give everyone something to be excited about. Here are just a couple stories that really caught our attention with that spirit in mind. Massachusetts Teen Donates Gift Bags to Hospitalized Children 15-year-old Bella Adlah spent some time in a hospital as a young child and described the experience as “boring.” She can’t imagine what being in a hospital during the COVID-19 era would be like. So, as a passionate local hospital volunteer, she didn’t want to stop just because Reading Public Schools online classes are in session. Adlah, an aspiring pediatric nurse, decided she still wanted to do something to help.
With a gift-giving campaign called “Have Fun & Stay Strong,” Adlah put together gift bags for age groups ranging from infants to teenagers, which can include markers, stress balls, games, card games, and more. Over 200 bags have gone out. So far, Adlah is focused on providing bags for children in the local Boston Medical Center, but she plans to bring her bags to children across the country. One Farmer’s Unique Way of Thanking Pandemic First Responders If you love corn mazes, you just might love this one even more: a giant 5-acre corn maze designed as a tribute to first responders and
health care workers. Underneath, you’ll weave through the words “thank you,” and there are symbols representing the EMS, police, firefighters, doctors, and nurses who fight so tirelessly on the pandemic front lines. The man behind the idea is Eric Schartner, the manager of Schartner Farm in Bolton, a family- operated business for the past 118 years. “You can never really compensate them enough, there’s never enough ‘thank-you’s’; just the show of support I think really helps,” he told Boston 25 News. There’s nothing more heartwarming than seeing humans looking out for fellow humans, and being kind just for the sake of it. It’s something the world always needs a little more of. Thank you, Bella Adlah and Eric Schartner, for helping set the example for the rest of us!
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