Risk & Associates County Civil - December 2020

Risk & Associates County Civil - December 2020

COUNTYCIVIL.COM

DECEMBER 2020

Make the Most out of Christmas — by Smelling the Roses

3 TIPS FOR ENJOYING CHRISTMAS IN TURBULENT TIMES

A s kids, you get used to seeing the whole gang together every single Christmas. Now, since my wife and I are grandparents, we expect that our sons will spend time with their own families on Christmas, or be forced to divide their time between us and the in- laws. That’s pretty understandable because, well, that’s life. Christmas, much like Thanksgiving, is an ever-changing holiday in our lives. Humans aren’t always great with change. It can be challenging and tiring for us to constantly adapt to new circumstances — wouldn’t it be easier to enforce martial law for Christmas to be celebrated with your designated list of people every year? But, pandemic or not, big family gatherings can be tough to put together.

about spending time with our family at any time of the year. Even before the pandemic, we rely on seeing the kids somewhere close to Christmas because, due to the families being spread farther and farther apart, we can’t expect everyone to be together on Christmas Day. Second, enjoy the offerings of the cold season. I’ll admit I spend more time working in the snow than playing in it, but I actually really enjoy cold weather. (Hot and humid weather isn’t my cup of tea at all. We visited Banff, Canada, once for our 25th wedding anniversary, and I’ve thought ever since that we should move up there.) So, whenever our family gets the chance to play snow football, it’s a ton of fun. My grandsons are getting older, so we might even do a little ice fishing or snowmobiling this winter. Third, don’t be afraid to come up with brand new ideas and experiences to share with the family. Personally, I think of new ideas and activities on the fly most of the time. That’s just how my brain works! But I think there’s something very useful about being willing to be a little impulsive. It can help put together new memories for

the whole family that you never would’ve expected or planned otherwise.

I talked in our last edition about the profound effect my grandfather’s passing had on me. It was a stark reminder that life is short. There might not seem to be much incentive to make the most of the day, or even the next hour, but we shouldn’t miss it. There’s a rule in my household that the grandkids will never, ever leave the house without hugs, kisses, and “I love yous.” Even as the kids and grandkids get older and care less for the extra affection, we make sure to never miss it. Tomorrow is guaranteed to no one. This Christmas, whether we’re near our loved ones or far from them, let’s make sure we spend enough time making our loved ones feel cared for. Despite everything happening in 2020, the extra attention might just make this Christmas the most special one yet.

So, the question becomes this: How do we make the best out of changing times?

First, I think it’s important to accept that your family members’ lives are complicated and big beyond your own family’s events. It’s okay to be disappointed if not everyone can make it to the Christmas table this year, but we can still focus on the great things

-Rick Risk

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3 LAWS NAMED AFTER PEOPLE

THAT ALL AMERICANS SHOULD KNOW

Perusing a list of federal laws may read like a yearbook of crime history. Bills introduced in Congress are often named after the victims of horrific crimes, greed, and exploitation to honor those victims. Below are three such laws. Each has made a lasting impression on society and culture. THE ADAM WALSH CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFETY ACT The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act was signed in 2006 — 25 years after 6-year-old Adam Walsh was abducted from a Florida shopping mall. Adam’s body was found 16 days later, and his father’s reaction to his son’s horrific death impacted generations of victims. His father, John Walsh, went on to create the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and hosted the popular TV show “America’s Most Wanted” for 23 years. The act created a three- tiered categorization for sex offenders, designated requirements for registering as a sex offender, and included a provision that requires offenders to report their whereabouts. THE MUHAMMAD ALI BOXING REFORM ACT Boxing is a tradition that stretches back to the early Egyptians, but it wasn’t until 1999 that Congress took action to protect these heavyweight fighters from greed and exhaustion. The Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act — known as the Ali Act — sought to protect boxers from promoters who took advantage of sports bets to make a

quick buck. Experts identified many unethical business practices that put boxers in danger and stripped them of their rights to payment. The act was signed into law on May 26, 2000. Though it bears the name of famed boxer Muhammad Ali, there are no explicit ties to him, but the boxer did fervently support the bill in Congress. KARI’S LAW In 2013, Kari Hunt Dunn was killed

by her estranged husband in a hotel room in Texas. Her daughter, who witnessed the event, knew to call 911 but was unaware that she had to dial 9 first to make an outbound call. Kari’s parents sought to change that by advocating for Kari’s Law, which was introduced in the Texas legislature in 2015. The law was signed into effect nationwide in 2018. It mandates that hotels, businesses, and other multiline phone operating systems can no longer require dialing a 9, or any other number, prior to making a 911 call.

Ever Wondered About the Most Expensive Coins in the World?

FLOWING HAIR SILVER/COPPER DOLLAR, 1794-1795 Many researchers believe that the Flowing Hair silver/copper dollar was the very first silver coin to be minted and issued by the U.S. government. When the U.S. Mint first began in 1792, they only minted copper and patterned coins for two years until they began minting silver coins. Coin collectors have managed to preserve these coins for over 200 years, and in 2013, the Flowing Hair silver/copper dollar became the most expensive coin in the world, selling for more than $10 million. We hope you enjoyed these fun coin facts as much as we did. And if you do happen to buy any rare coins this shopping season, we hope you’ll let us know!

In County Civil’s very first newsletter, we talked about how Rick E. Risk’s favorite hobby with his grandchildren is coin collecting. If you have a coin collector in your life, you may have to do research on what type of coins they’re interested in to choose the best minted gift for them. However, if you have a few million dollars of pocket change lying around, you might also pick up one of these! LIBERTY HEAD NICKEL, 1913

GOLD CANADIAN MAPLE LEAF, 2007 The world’s first $1 million coin ever minted, the Gold Maple Leaf coin is one of the most expensive coins, both as currency and as a collectible. The coin is made of 99.999% pure gold and weighs nearly 100 kilograms (that’s one heavy coin!). Currently, only five of these coins have ever been purchased by coin collectors. Although you can make a huge profit from doing so, it seems — one sold for $4,020,000 in June 2010 at the Dorotheum Auction House in Vienna, Austria.

Everyone knows that a nickel is worth 5 cents — unless it’s the Liberty Head nickel, minted in 1913. Like the name suggests, it’s a nickel except with the head of the Statue of Liberty minted on one side. Only five were ever made, and it’s rumored that the coins are only circulating in private collections because they were stolen by an ex-employee. The Liberty Head nickel then made its way into private auctions and last sold in 2018 for $4.5 million.

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BEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS OF 2020 December is Read a Book month, but we should remember that adults aren’t the only readers in the house! Research shows that kids who are read to frequently at a young age have a larger vocabulary and more advanced comprehension skills, making reading one of the most important habits for parents of young families to have. There are many contemporary classics when it comes to children’s books, including “The Little Prince,” “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “Chika Chika Boom Boom,” and “The Giving Tree,” but here are a few fresh releases from 2020 that might catch your eye. ‘THE OLD TRUCK’ BY JARRETT AND JEROME PUMPHREY (0–5 YEARS OLD) ‘A WISH IN THE DARK’ BY CHRISTINA SOONTORNVAT (8 YEARS OLD AND OLDER) Looking for a longer read? Or maybe your little one is an advanced reader/listener? “A Wish in the Dark” is an acclaimed Thai-inspired twist on “Les Miserables.” Not only is it well-written, but its atmospheric descriptions and entertaining characters also make it a fantastic entry into the wondrous world of mystery and adventure fiction, which your child can return to for the rest of their lives.

While Jerome Pumphrey was driving to meet his brother Jarrett in central Texas, he kept seeing old trucks in fields and wondered what stories they might tell. That wonder turned into a beautiful children’s book written by two brothers, illustrated with hundreds of handmade stamps. You’ll adore the clever retro design as you traverse through a young girl’s life as an old truck gives her memories again and again. ‘FRED’S BIG FEELINGS: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MISTER ROGERS’ BY LAURA RENAULD (4–8 YEARS OLD) Mister Rogers left behind a wonderful legacy of joy and happiness — but that’s because he had an admirable understanding of sadness, too. How do we cope when we feel “big feelings”? Laura Renauld dives into Mister Rogers’ own personal childhood story and how he turned into the positive figure in pop culture that he is today.

Reading is a hobby, but it’s one that can enrich so many important skills in our personal, social, and professional lives. We hope these suggestions inspire

some new, exciting selections for your kids’ bookshelf!

CAROL CHEER COCOA FAMILY GIFT HOLIDAY

HOLLY PEACE SHOVEL SLEDDING SNOW TURQUOISE

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2383 Tamarack St., Lake Odessa, MI 48849 616-374-7170 | COUNTYCIVIL.COM R isk & A ssociates

Rick Risk is Founder and President of Risk & Associates, a legal support service provider in Michigan, and has assisted hundreds of attorneys, municipalities, courts, Sheriff Offices, businesses, and others with their strategic process needs.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Make the Most out of Christmas — by Smelling the Roses

The Story Behind 3 Laws Named After People

The Most Expensive Coins in the World Best Children’s Books Of 2020 The Surprising History of the Snowman

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Not Just a Corn Cob Pipe and Button Nose THE SURPRISING HISTORY OF THE SNOWMAN

Building a snowman is one of the most picturesque winter activities, which is why snowmen have become a wintertime cultural icon. A snowman appeared on the very first postcards, was the subject of some of the earliest photos, and even

THE SCHENECTADY MASSACRE Not all snowmen have an innocent history. In 1690, former Fort Schenectady in upstate New York was home to a remote Dutch settlement, which was under the constant threat of attack. Soldiers guarded the gates at all times

starred in silent movies. Frosty may be a happy snowman now, but his ancestors have a much more varied — and sometimes dark — history. THE MIDDLE AGES Snowmen were a phenomenon in the Middle Ages. They were constructed with deep thought and great skill because, during a time of limited means of expression, snow was a free art supply that literally fell from the sky. These artistic feats were popular winter attractions for well-to-do couples who wanted to get their fix of temporary art. Snowmen were often created by famous artists, including 19-year-old Michelangelo who, in 1494, was commissioned by the ruler of Florence to sculpt a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard. THE MIRACLE OF 1511 In Brussels in 1511, during six weeks of subzero temperatures called the Winter of Death, the city was miraculously adorned with hundreds of snowmen. The spectacle told stories on every street corner — some political and some demonstrating anger with the church, many too risque to speak of. For the people of Brussels, this Miracle of 1511 was a defining moment of artistic freedom. But when spring came and the snow thawed, the Belgians were left with damaging floods.

because they were frozen open, but during a blizzard, they left a pair of snowmen to protect the gates while they sought shelter. That’s when 200 French Canadian soldiers and Native Americans approached. Naturally, they were unfazed by the snowmen and ruthlessly invaded the settlement.

Building a snowman seems like a simple and charming activity, but after learning about its surprising

history, you might find that those piles of snow seem a little more complicated and a lot more meaningful than before.

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