Council & Associates April 2019

Council & Associates April 2019

Chronicles APRIL 2019 COUNCIL

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MY MAIN MEMORY OF THE EASTERS OF MY CHILDHOOD

AHigh-Pressure Holiday

I don’t even want to think about what it would take to get my son into a new suit for Easter church service. Luckily, I don’t have to. These days, a young man showing up to church in what I think of as his “Sunday best” would make him incredibly overdressed for the occasion. A freshly ironed button up and some slacks does the trick just fine. But it wasn’t that way when I was growing up — that’s for sure. My main memory of the Easters of my childhood was getting a new Easter outfit every year. “Being immaculate,” was the goal for the most important church service of the year. My brother and I would get brand new clothes and shoes for the big day, but that’s not the only preparation we had to undertake. I don’t know if anyone reading this grew up in a congregation like mine, but if so, you certainly have memories of the anxiety associated with Easter speeches. For those of you who didn’t, let me explain a little bit about this nerve-racking tradition. In my church, all of the children would give a short speech during Easter service. The idea was that your speech would be memorized and delivered to the congregation. I don’t ‘BEING IMMACULATE,’ WAS THE GOAL FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT CHURCH SERVICE OF THE YEAR.” WAS GETTING A NEW EASTER OUTFIT EVERY YEAR.

EASTER MEMORIES FROM ANOTHER ERA

know if this practice was designed to make us less scared of public speaking or turn us all into Hollywood-ready line-learners, but you can bet I studied my butt off before the time came to deliver my speech. I was not going to be one of the kids who flubbed her lines or had to resort to whipping out her index cards. I was going to know my lines cold and deliver them with confidence. Basically, my speech was going to be perfect. I can still remember a few disastrous performances, the kind that made you wince in sympathy for the child on stage. Let’s just hope my reviews were always positive! Of course, after Easter service we’d head over to my grandma’s house. Honey-baked ham was always on the menu, as well as my grandma’s cornbread dressing. Mostly, though, what I remember is how happy everyone was to be sharing the holiday together. Easter, during that time, was one of the marquee events of the entire year. It’s not quite that way today, though it’s still an important date on the calendar. As things have changed in our collective lives, the idea

of “Sunday best” has gone by the wayside. It would take more time and space than I have here to explain exactly why the Easters of my childhood are so different than the ones kids experience today. What’s important is that we still make time for loved ones on this special day — whether that means putting on a new dress and enormous hat or coming as you are.

–Lashonda Council- Rogers, Esq.

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GUIDE TO A SAFE AND FUN SUMMER PREMISES LIABILITY FOR CHILDHOOD ATTRACTIONS As the temperatures climb and kids get ready to wind down the school year, it’s time to start looking forward to summer adventures. While that’s an exciting prospect, it can also be a worrisome one for many parents. Nobody wants to see a fun day out end with an evening spent at the emergency room. To avoid that fate, it’s important to know what obligations a business has in terms of keeping your child safe. The laws that govern accidents and injuries occurring on private property are called premises liability. These can include slip-and-fall accidents that are common in grocery stores and roller coaster injuries sustained at Six Flags, for example. Under Georgia law, you can bring a suit against a business owner if you sustain an injury there or

Despite guidance from ratings systems, it can be difficult for parents to discern what digital content is appropriate for their children. Learn more about ratings guidelines for common entertainment media and how to decipher that information so you can make educated decisions that work for your family. MOVIES: G-rated movies are considered suitable for all ages, whereas PG, PG-13, and R-rated movies are progressively less appropriate for kids because of violence, nudity, and language. Some ratings come with age limits; children who are under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult at R-rated movies. TV SHOWS: Due to laws that limit inappropriate content on public airwaves, TV rating systems follow unique codes. In the U.S., shows that are rated as TV-14 (content that is suitable for those ages 14 and older) can only air after 5 p.m. Meanwhile, TV-MA (content that is appropriate for mature audiences) can only air between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Most shows airing between the hours of 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. are rated TV-G or TV-PG. These are similar in content to their movie counterparts. Some television children’s shows will also be rated as TV-Y or TV-Y7, and their only distinction is that TV-Y7 has been deemed appropriate for young children ages 7 and older. TV ratings can also have additional descriptors attached to them to explain what kind of content earned the rating. VIDEO GAMES: There are seven video game ratings: Early Childhood (EC), Everyone (E), Everyone 10+ (E10), Teen (T), Mature (M), Adults Only (AO), or Rating Pending (RP). These ratings provide consumers with more information about content. Again, as the age of the intended user increases, content progresses from allowing mild violence or suggestive content to adult themes. When choosing family entertainment, experts suggest using both the rating and the description of the media to make your decision since the rating system may not fully explain media content. For example, studies have found that a PG-13 movie can sometimes have just as much violence as an R-rated movie. Additionally, you may be fine with the content in a T-rated video game for a more developmentally advanced 11-year-old. Once you get past all the combinations of numbers and letters, you as a parent might find that ratings for video games, movies, and TV shows provide helpful information. Couple the ratings with your own research and your own values, and put an end to worrying about what surprises may lurk in your children’s media. RATED E FOR EVERYONE WHAT DO RAT I NGS MEAN , AND HOW SHOULD YOU USE THEM?

your child does. However, whether you’ll win that suit or not depends on a few important factors.

First, you must determine whether or not you willingly signed an accident waiver. If a company runs a risky attraction with a high chance of injury, they will more than likely ask any participant

to sign a document absolving the business of liability. You’ll find these waivers everywhere from trampoline parks to river tubing destinations. A waiver doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t participate in an activity, but you should read the waiver carefully and completely before you sign it.

A waiver doesn’t mean that you can’t bring suit in the event of an injury. No matter the circumstances, business owners are required to make their attractions as safe as possible for participants. If you can prove that a

business owner should’ve remedied a hazard at their establishment that caused an injury, you may have a viable case regardless of whether or not a

waiver was signed.

The best advice to avoid a summer injury while out and about is to be mindful of the risks and act in the safest manner possible. If you are injured this summer, or your child is, call our office to learn more about your rights.

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Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

THE BEST OPENING DAYS IN BASEBALL HISTORY sluggers like Lou Gehrig, Earle Combs, Babe Ruth, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri, it’s no wonder this team went on to win its fifth championship that year. Ruth. The Great Bambino’s all-time home run record seemed like an impossible feat of strength — that is, until Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron came along. On opening day, April 4, 1974, Aaron smashed his 714th homer, tying Babe Ruth for the most home runs ever hit and extending the Atlanta Braves’ shutout lead over the Cincinnati Reds. A few weeks later, Aaron surpassed Ruth’s record, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd. THE HAMMER TIES BAMBINO For decades, no one could match George Herman

Baseball’s opening day has been an American holiday of sorts since the Cincinnati Red Stockings threw out the first major league pitch in 1869. To celebrate the start of the 150th season of professional baseball, here are three of the best opening days in baseball history. A NEW BEGINNING On April 15, 1947, an opening-day game changed the course of Major League Baseball. On this day, Jackie Robinson started for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American player to start for a major league baseball team. Robinson’s historic showing was lackluster, going 0-for-3 at the plate and making a solid showing on the infield at first base, but his mere presence in a Dodgers

uniform had already broken history. Despite his nationally-recognized skills — Robinson was named MVP of the MLB farm team league in 1946 — the backlash that followed his rise to the pros, both from fans and teammates, was palpable. Still, as well-known sportscaster Howard Cosell said, “Suddenly, it was a new beginning.” LOU, COMBS, AND BABE — OH MY! Considered one of the best teams in baseball history, the 1927 New York Yankees started their historic run and 25th season by dismantling the Philadelphia Athletics with a score of 8–3. The slugfest was true to form for the 1927 Yankees, whose players would go on to make up baseball’s famous “Murderers’ Row.” With

FRESH LEMONGRASS MASSAGE Massage therapy is one of the most relaxing and beneficial ways to treat yourself to a little pampering. Fresh Lemongrass Massage is located in Tyrone, Georgia, just a short scenic drive south from the city. Local Business Spotlight Owned and operated by Sheba Bonner, Fresh Lemongrass Massage features a well-rounded staff who are experts in many different kinds of massage therapy. Every therapist is licensed and has studied extensively to provide you with the best possible experience. From traditional Thai massages to hot stone massages and more, the team at Fresh Lemongrass

Massage will help you customize a treatment that meets your needs. Far from simply being soothing and invigorating, massage therapy can help you alleviate pain, making its effects last much longer than the hour you spend in the chair. In addition to their extensive suite of massage options, Fresh Lemongrass excels at creating a peaceful, welcoming environment you’ll want to visit again and again. You can learn more about them on their Facebook page @FreshLemongrassMassage. Make sure you schedule an appointment via their website: FreshLemongrassMassage.com. Tell the fantastic staff that we referred you!

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Inside YOU BETTER BE IMMACULATE! 1 UNDERSTANDING MEDIA RATINGS SUMMER SAFETY TIPS FOR KIDS 2 3 GREAT OPENING DAYS IN BASEBALL

FRESH LEMONGRASS MASSAGE IN TYRONE, GEORGIA 3 LOCAL EASTER EVENTS 4

FESTIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE Egg-cellent Easter Events

Getting dressed in your Sunday best for church service may not be as important as it once was (more on that in this month’s cover article), but that doesn’t mean Easter celebrations aren’t still a huge deal in Atlanta. Festivities come in many forms throughout the city, but we want to highlight a few of our favorite ways to celebrate. If you’ll be in town along with the Easter Bunny, be sure to check out these fun events.

children. You can buy tickets and learn more at Callanwolde.org.

NATURAL EGG DYEING Where: Atlanta Botanical Garden When: April 13, 19, and 20, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dyeing eggs is a longstanding Easter tradition, and there’s no better place to learn about plant dyes than the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Their classes offer a chance to learn about the history of natural dyes while creating some beautiful Easter-themed eggs. Kids will love discovering how plants become dyes and dyes turn eggs into an art project. You’ll probably learn a few things yourself. As a bonus, you won’t have to worry about staining your kitchen table dyeing eggs at home. Head to AtlantaBG.org for all the details.

EGGSTRAVAGANZA Where: Callanwolde Fine Arts Center When: April 20

BRUNCH Where: Restaurants throughout the city When: Reservations required at most places Easter plus brunch is a classic combination on the level of peanut butter and jelly. Scoring reservations is no easy task, but it’s worth it to sit down to a meal you’ll be remembering all year. Check out Thrillist’s “The Very Best Easter Brunches in Atlanta” list for inspiration and be sure to book sooner rather than later.

With more than 1,000 eggs hidden throughout the grounds, you’d be hard pressed to find a more well-stocked Easter egg hunt anywhere in the city. The Callanwolde Fine Arts Centers Eggstravaganza has become one of Atlanta’s most beloved holiday events. With a massive egg hunt, family-friendly activities, and even a kids’ dance floor, it’s an all-day party unlike any other. Parents will be happy to know that both coffee and mimosas are served at the event, ensuring that your smiles are just as wide as those of your

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