Brooks & Crowley LLP - September 2020

Brooks & Crowley LLP - September 2020

Review Brooks & Crowley

September 2020

781-277-7321

www.brooksandcrowley.com

439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026

*Services Throughout Massachusetts

REFLECTING ON NORMALCY THIS BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON How Do We Achieve It From Here?

It’s hard for me to write this and not say outright what’s on all our minds: How in the world are our kids going to school this year? Some school districts have announced hybrid in-person and virtual classes, while others are going fully remote. There’s potential for school hours to change, as well. Achieving normalcy is something I’ve been talking a lot about with my family, friends, and even clients. To contribute to that ongoing conversation, I thought I’d share the insights I’ve gathered so far. One of the biggest challenges to finding normalcy is our children’s ability to interact with friends in a learning environment. While online learning is beneficial for some kids, it doesn’t easily bring kids closer together. Extra Zoom calls can certainly help, but let’s be honest: Kids don’t always like to play and bond when it doesn’t feel spontaneous. Thankfully, we are seeing some ways that children can maintain some in-person interaction this school year. I have a friend with a young daughter who’s bringing together a group of kids so they can get a tutor to teach the group privately. Whether through tutoring in small groups or home-schooling your kids yourself, there are ways for kids to connect with their teacher in-person. The other challenge is that if your kids are home, it can affect when you’re able to work. When you have younger kids, it’s especially worth worrying about. As we shift out of the pandemic, will schools and workplaces be transitioning at the same time? If not, what then? Teachers have their own families and kids to worry about, too.

Many workplaces may be required to pay for child care depending on whether they’re requiring parents to leave their children at home or not. If schools don’t start taking kids back next year, it could affect parents’ careers. NPR reports that “to minimize disruption to children’s education, keep a strict schedule and a list of goals to meet” — wisdom shared by Michael Rich, Director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Boston Children's Hospital. Parents will have to make sure they’re not too distracted themselves if they’re directly managing their kids’ education. The last aspect that needs attention is extracurricular activities, like sports. For high schoolers, sports can be their ticket to important scholarships and potential college placements. If the high school sports teams aren’t active, neither are the college scouts. Tennis might still be

around, but soccer, football, lacrosse, and other team sports are shut down. Many athletic kids have been playing different games to fill the time, like tennis, but it can’t replace their main sport. Hopefully there will be a private or smaller-scale tournament for teams in the near future. But it’s really hard to say right now. I’m hopeful that things will continue to improve this school year. In our office, we’ve installed an Airfix industrial-sized machine that completely turns over the air in the building four times an hour. It’s the same thing they use in hospitals, which has given our staff and clients a lot of comfort in terms of safety. Let’s all continue to do our part in fighting this pandemic so our kids can return to their usual classrooms and team sports soon. –Steve Brooks

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5 Ways to Improve Your Home’s Air Quality

And Protect the Health of Your Family

Fourth, pick laundry products and air fresheners that don’t list ‘fragrance’ as an ingredient. The composition of synthetic “fragrances” is considered a trade secret, but most scents are derived from petroleum products. There hasn’t been enough testing done to know how inhaling synthetic fragrances affects us because most current testing focuses on skin irritation. Still, scented products may induce allergy symptoms, so if you have a sensitive family member, stick to unscented products.

Many people have been spending more time at home in the past several months, and it's felt more important than ever to have good indoor air quality. Air pollution isn’t limited to smog visibly affecting the air around us. More often than not, indoor air can be just as polluted, or even more polluted, than outdoor air. Microscopic dust mites, chemicals, and allergens can aggravate your family members’ allergies or asthma. Here are some easy ways to improve your home’s air quality and better protect your family today. First, vacuum and mop regularly. We recommend vacuuming twice a week or more. Letting dust accumulate will increase how much dust you breathe in. A vacuum that has both strong suction and a HEPA filter can ensure that dust and dirt won’t be blown back out. Floor mats outside your

front and back doors can also really help keep contaminants out!

Second, keep the humidity moderate. Too much humidity attracts dust mites and mold. Keeping the humidity in your home around 30%–50% can help keep dust mites and mold under control. Third, test your home for radon. No matter how new your home may be, it’s important to test for this colorless, odorless, and radioactive gas. Radon is one of the top indoor air pollutants, and it’s the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking. It occurs from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils and tends to move up through the ground and into the cracks of a home’s foundation.

Fifth, replace your home’s air filters regularly. Talk to an expert about how

frequently you should be replacing your filters. This can depend on several factors, such as the number of pets in the household, the size and location of your home, what allergies you may be prone to, and seasonal changes.

Parents, Give Yourselves a Breather Tips for Taking the Pressure Off While Balancing Remote Work and Family

Our parents at Brooks & Crowley totally understand that right now, having empathy for your work-life balance is more important than ever. On top of your career, you might be thinking, “Is my child getting enough productive, social playtime in their day?” Along with Steve Brooks’ personal reflections on our cover, we thought we’d offer additional advice for this unusual back- to-school season. Create a (flexible) schedule. If your schedule didn’t stick around after a few weeks of the pandemic, don’t be hard on yourself. A strict schedule just isn’t always going to stick. Structure is good, but kids famously love spontaneity and interruptions. According to Parents.org, Christine Durst — a mom of two in Woodstock, Connecticut, and co-founder of RatRaceRebellion.com (a

site for remote jobs) — says that you’ll get more done if you work smarter, not harder. Keeping a flexible schedule (like an hour block that’s able to be dedicated to kids or work, depending on the day’s flow) can help you and your kids stay on track. But if your schedule is defined by your employer, don’t be afraid to try to arrange a nontraditional work schedule to fit your current parenting needs. It will help take the pressure off your shoulders. Keep kids entertained — or don’t. Speaking of pressure, you’ve probably heard your kids complain more than once about their boredom. That’s okay! Sometimes, kids need to be forced to overcome their “boredom” by using their own creativity (without a screen), and that’s a healthy thing. Steven Mintz, author of “Huck’s Raft: A History of American Childhood,” recently

told the New York Times, “All play is productive. They will learn something from whatever they do.” Kids can embrace this even when they’re very young. Renee Belbeck, a mom in Columbus, Ohio, and CEO and founder of the National Association of W.O.M.E.N. (Women, Owners, Moms, Entrepreneurs, and Networkers), discovered a rule when her kids were toddlers. “If I gave them a little quality time, I’d get two hours to work.” But don’t feel bad if you need to put on YouTube to distract them, too. The internet has become an integral part of our lives, and it’s always going to be there for your toddler when you can’t miss your 10 a.m. Zoom meeting. We hope this back-to-school season goes smoothly for you and your family!

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Change Can Be Easy Pam Marmon’s Outline for Effective Post-Pandemic Transformation

Pam Marmon understands what it means to adapt. After growing up in Bulgaria, Marmon had to modify her way of living when she emigrated to the U.S. Today, she’s a CEO, entrepreneur, wife, and mother who believes that change doesn’t

During Organizational Transformations,” she outlines her proven methods for effective communication in any company setting, from a major corporation to a family business. Released on March 24, 2020, Marmon’s advice is timely in a period when many business owners are searching for proactive solutions and the next step in finding post-pandemic success. Marmon’s book is the perfect guide for business leaders who recognize the need for tangible change and want to execute it as effectively as possible. The key, Marmon explains, is to identify your company’s culture and cater your plan’s language to suit what will resonate with your employees the most. This will establish a sense of alignment with your business’s vision and direction, which can be one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. You cannot achieve

success in a period of change if your team is doubtful and unwilling. With your company united toward your vision, you can begin to enact real change. However, this is only the beginning. Marmon’s book also outlines how to connect with fellow leaders in your company to develop a framework for growth. By creating a stable foundation and inspiring change, you’ll find this time of major transition to be much smoother than you may have anticipated. As a result, your company will come out on top at the end of the COVID-19 era. Marmon’s mantra is inspiring: “With the proper process, change is not hard.” And with her book, “No One’s Listening and It’s Your Fault,” business leaders can see just how simple change can be.

have to be difficult. In fact, she’s mastered it. Marmon has even established a company, Marmon Consulting, that helps other companies develop strategies for executing transformation.

In Marmon’s book, “No One’s Listening and It’s Your Fault: Get Your Message Heard

LAUGH OUT LOUD

Pizza Soup

Ingredients

•

12 oz chicken sausage, sliced

•

16 oz mushrooms, sliced

•

4 oz uncured pepperoni, quartered

•

1 3-oz can sliced black olives (optional)

•

1 25-oz jar marinara sauce

•

1 tbsp dried oregano

•

1 14.5-oz can fire roasted tomatoes

•

1 tsp garlic powder

•

1 large onion, diced

•

1/2 tsp salt

directions

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients. 2. Cook for 30 minutes or until onions and mushrooms have softened. 3. Taste and add additional salt if needed. 4. Serve hot.

Note: This recipe makes great leftovers!

Inspired by RealFoodWithJessica.com

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439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026 Inside This Issue Reflecting on Normalcy This Back-to-School Season 2 5 Ways to Improve Your Home’s Air Quality 1

Parents, Give Yourselves a Breather

3 How to Enact Effective Change

Pizza Soup

4 Good News in Boston!

Good News in Boston!

Whether you need a passionate fighter for your case or a nice, quiet spot to reminisce over some good news, Brooks & Crowley has your back. Here are our favorite good news stories from Massachusetts. The Farm in the Middle of Boston You might not expect a 2-acre farm to suddenly sprawl before you in the middle of Boston’s tight streets and daily blaring car horns. But, in the Dorchester neighborhood, the Food Project built a farm that does just that. Yasser Aponte is a Northeastern student who has been volunteering for the nonprofit organization, The Food Project, for several years now. Between studying international affairs and religious studies, he spends a lot of time weeding, watering, harvesting, and planting new crops on the farm before they’re distributed to local residents and businesses. The Food Project’s goal is to create a more sustainable, community- oriented food system, and it employs nearly 120 teenagers every year to work 70 acres of farmland. Over 200,000 pounds of affordable produce are sold to local restaurants and residents.

Some of the farmland, though, is reserved for use by local residents. With the economic challenges of COVID-19, The Food Project’s work has become even more vital for its community. Great work, Aponte! We thank you and the many other hardworking volunteers! Massachusetts State Trooper Rescues 8 Ducklings A stormy day recently left a family of baby ducks stuck beneath a heavy grate. Only the mother and one of the siblings hadn’t fallen through. Massachusetts State Police Trooper Jim Maloney found them and quickly got to work. Before long, other state officials working with Animal Control and the Department of Public Works helped pry open the storm drain grate. With a long net, they scooped the ducklings out of the drain and placed them in a cardboard box.

Forty minutes after the operation began, the duck family was reunited in a safe grassy area.

There are plenty of good news stories, even with everything going on right now. What’s your favorite recent good news? Let us know!

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