Life

New Insurance and Condo Reforms: What the Laws Mean for You

William C. Davell
13 Jul 2022
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condo

The Good News provides a monthly column with important content having to do with topics from the legal community. William “Bill” C. Davell and Matthew Zifrony, a member of Tripp Scott’s acclaimed condominium and homeowners’ association practice, examines what new legislation means for you. Mission accomplished. Governor Ron DeSantis brought the Legislature back to undertake reforms of Florida’s troubled insurance industry and address condo safety concerns 11 months after the Surfside collapse that claimed 98 lives, and the two bills promptly passed. What does this new legislation mean for you?   Bill Davell: Let’s start with the insurance reform bill. […]

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Some Assembly Required

Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts
7 Jul 2022
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(Scroll down to leave a comment on the assembly process of parenting.) Recently I bought a piece of furniture—a large hardwood table. When it arrived, the table came in a box from another country and had 80 pieces to assemble. The package included a small wrench and a 28-page book of directions. The picture of the completed project looked great, but the process was overwhelming, especially for a guy who thinks “wrench” is something you do to your back. All along I kept wondering how much it would cost to hire someone else to assemble it. Yet I took my […]

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assembly

BRANSON CARES: How the Entertainment Industry is Leading a Community to Make a Global Impact

Shelly Pond
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branson

In the center of America’s heartland, Branson, Missouri, has embraced a mission to help children with severe disabilities across the globe through an initiative aptly titled BRANSON CARES. Dubbed “The Live Entertainment Capital of America,” Branson attracts more than 9 million visitors a year to experience thrilling attractions and the outdoor beauty of the Ozarks in a hospitable, family-friendly environment. But it’s the theater industry in Branson that’s leading the charge by inviting audiences to join the community in donating to Hope Haven International Ministries, an organization that provides free pediatric wheelchairs to children who would otherwise be without mobility. […]

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Is the Destruction of our Families Fostering Mental Illness?

Lisa May
6 Jul 2022
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In the light of current events, our entire country is collectively moving through the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and inevitably for some, acceptance. While the motivating factors are different, the overarching question resounds in the same outcry: WHY? Why must the innocent, our children, be the object of suffering and hatred? When we blow away the chaff, what’s left is the family or the lack thereof.  What defines families? While the world defines family in many ways, the Biblical definition has remained the same: two parents, a father and a mother, guiding children through childhood, adolescence […]

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mental

Your “Side Hustle” is Serious Business

William C. Davell
20 Jun 2022
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side hustle

The Good News provides a monthly column with important content having to do with topics from the legal community. This month Tripp Scott directors Bill Davell and Tanya L. Bower, a business, tax and estate planning expert, delve into what you need to know and watch out for in a “side hustle.”   The “Side Hustle” may sound like a laterally moving disco dance, but it’s actually one of the hottest trends in business today.   Bill Davell: What in the world is a “side hustle?”   Tanya Bower: A “side hustle” is a business operated in addition to a […]

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How to Create an Atmosphere of Joy

Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts
15 Jun 2022
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(Scroll down to leave a comment on how you create an atmosphere of joy for your kids.) Music is a big thing in our house. We try to have music on while we are doing jobs, we serve in music ministry at our church, and the first thing that our youngest does as soon as the car starts is to ask for the music to be on. There is a song on the radio by Zach Williams that both my kids sing to at the top of their lungs and it is called “Old Church Choir.” As I was listening […]

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atmosphere

Dads: Iron Men

Newton Fairweather
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iron men

Dads are not from the Marvel Comic Universe but are expected to perform like they are. It’s not easy to be a dad. There is no orientation for the job. It comes with moments of joy and pain. Often you get blamed for things you know nothing about, or you are expected to be a problem solver with or without experience. There are no manuals. However, the best possible, closest thing to a manual, that will give you some directions is the bible. For example, consider Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way […]

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Compassionate Education

Dr. Maria E. Saunders
4 Jun 2022
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When I’m asked about the differences between the Elementary Education program at Trinity Florida and that of other local universities, my answer is always the same, “Nothing, but everything.” On the surface, they seem identical. We all have a state-approved teacher training program; we teach the same basic course work; our professors are all highly qualified, and we issue the same degree – a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. However, the difference is not in what we teach but how we teach. When filtering education through the work of Christ, we emphasize a parallel between Jesus’ ministry of compassion and […]

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compassion

Homeowner’s Insurance: “Insuring” You Get Your Money’s Worth

William C. Davell
17 May 2022
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homeowners

The Good News provides a monthly column with important content having to do with topics from the legal community. This month Bill Davell discusses homeowner’s insurance with Tripp Scott director Ed Curtis. The business model for insurers involves two main principles: first, minimize risk, and second, maximize premiums while minimizing payout. Homeowners here feel the effects of both principles. The $30-billion combined costs of Hurricanes Irma and Michael and use of legal loopholes by unscrupulous actors to turn the tables and gouge insurers have led to waves of premium hikes, non-renewal notices and often, an aggressive posture by insurers toward […]

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STEMing with Girls

Susie M. Cohen, Ph.D.
11 May 2022
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Mae Jameson, the first African American woman in space, referred to protecting imagination and interest and making life into one that you would be comfortable and happy with. When it comes to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), many women across America lose interest and deviate from their dreams of a secure life within a STEM-related career. This decision might be based on several factors such as their stereotypical views about STEM and negative thoughts about their abilities. As a result of decreased interest, women are vastly underrepresented in STEM-related fields, and this issue has been a growing concern across […]

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STEM