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KC Quarterly Q3 2024
CELEBRATING LABOR DAY WITH OUR EXCEPTIONAL TEAM THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR FIRM
No firm or business can survive without a strong team, and lucky for me, I have one of the best teams anyone can ask for. As we approach Labor Day, I can’t help but think of the incredible team that keeps our firm thriving. Being surrounded by such a dedicated and close-knit group of professionals is truly a blessing. I want to share a bit about our team, our traditions, and why these relationships are vital to our success. We have seven talented individuals on our team. Including myself, we have three attorneys, three paralegals, and one fantastic receptionist who all work tirelessly to support our clients and each other. This dynamic and supportive environment didn’t just happen overnight — we built it over years of shared experiences, challenges, and successes. One of our favorite traditions is our annual baseball outing. In July, the team went to a baseball game together, enjoying the sunshine, game-day hot dogs, and some good old-fashioned baseball. We look forward to relaxing and spending time together outside the office. These outings are more than just a break from work; they are a chance to strengthen our bonds and remind ourselves why we love working together. But our commitment to team-building doesn’t stop with baseball. We also have quarterly outings where we try different activities; some have been pretty wild. We’ve gone axe throwing, visited arcades, and enjoyed an impressive number of lunches together. These moments of laughter and camaraderie are essential — they keep us connected and make our work environment feel more like a family. Our firm has come a long way since Robert and Roberta Kulas founded it in 1993. Initially, it was just the two of them, a dedicated husband-and-wife duo building a practice from the
ground up. Their hard work and vision laid a strong
foundation for the firm, and over the years, we have grown and evolved significantly. Today, as Robert and Roberta enjoy their well-deserved retirement, I have the honor of leading this great team and caring for the legacy they created.
I’m filled with gratitude as I look back on our journey. Each team member brings unique skills and a shared commitment to excellence. Our paralegals meticulously handle complex tasks, ensuring every detail is perfect. Our receptionist makes everyone feel welcome and valued with her warm smile, and my fellow attorneys work tirelessly to provide the best legal services possible. We are more than just colleagues — we are a team supporting each other through thick and thin. This sense of unity is central to our firm’s success. It allows us to tackle challenges with confidence and celebrate our victories together. This camaraderie enables us to provide top-notch service to our clients, who trust us with their most pressing estate planning needs. So, as we celebrate Labor Day, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my team. Your commitment and passion are the heartbeat of our firm. Together, we can continue to build a bright future for our practice. Here’s to many more baseball games, fun-filled outings, and prosperous years ahead. Thank you for being the best team anyone could ask for.
–Josh Crawford
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Our diets can affect our mood and health, but no one food or drink provides instant, long-lasting relief for anxiety symptoms. As awesome as it would be to say, “I think I’m feeling anxious. Pass me that popcorn chicken, stat,” the truth is that removing certain foods and drinks from your diet can help calm your anxiety. So, if you’re after a more peaceful mood, here are some ingredients to avoid and include to achieve the best result! Nourishment for the Mind DIETARY TIPS TO COMBAT ANXIETY Avoid Alcohol We’ve all heard it, but alcohol is not the solution to your problems. Although ingesting alcoholic beverages can result in short-term relief, the long-term effects are anything but helpful. Alcohol can make getting to sleep more difficult and lead to an overall worsened mood as it leaves your system. In fact, alcohol is a depressant and can make your anxiety much worse.
More of These, Please Enough about things to cut out of your diet; how about things we can eat to make ourselves feel better? Berries contain antioxidants, which can aid in combating stress and depression. Complex carbohydrates in oatmeal, breads, and quinoa can help increase the serotonin in your brain, resulting in a calming effect over time. If you like fish, try out salmon. It contains vitamin D, which helps produce dopamine and serotonin, easing anxiety symptoms. Now you have the right ingredients for a successful, calming diet! Enjoy tax benefits of charitable giving. Another substantial benefit of charitable giving in estate planning is the potential for tax savings. When you leave assets to a charity, those assets are commonly exempt from federal estate taxes. This means that more of your estate can go directly to the charitable organizations you support rather than being reduced by taxes. Utilize IRA accounts for charitable giving. A particularly effective way to include charitable giving in your estate plan is through IRA accounts. When you pass an IRA on to a non-charitable beneficiary, such as a family member, the IRS requires that taxes be paid on the amount, reducing the overall value of the inheritance. By leaving your IRA to a charity, you can ensure the account’s total value goes to the intended cause without the IRS taking a chunk out of it. Establish charitable trusts. In addition to IRAs, there are other ways to incorporate charitable giving into your estate plan. You can establish charitable trusts, which can provide income to you or your beneficiaries during your lifetime, with the remainder going to charity. These trusts offer estate tax and income tax benefits. Charitable giving through your estate plan offers a dual benefit: It allows you to support meaningful causes and provides significant tax advantages. If you’re considering incorporating charitable giving into your estate plan, consult with our team to explore the best options for you.
Cut Back on Caffeine Millions of people rely on coffee to start their day. However, caffeine — a core component of coffee — can make you feel nervous and fidgety if ingested in large quantities. If you suffer from jitters in the morning, it might be time to taper your caffeine intake.
How Charitable Donations Benefit Your Estate Make a Difference
When it comes to estate planning, we often arrange ways to leave our assets to loved ones, but incorporating charitable giving can offer significant benefits. Not only does it allow you to leave a meaningful legacy and help those in need, but it also provides substantial tax advantages. With Sept. 5 being the International Day of Charity, we’ll explore how charitable giving through your estate can benefit both you and the causes you care about. Leave a lasting legacy. One of the primary benefits of charitable giving in estate planning is the ability to leave a lasting legacy. When you designate a portion of your estate to charity, you can support causes that are important to you, ensuring that your values continue to make an impact even after you’re gone. This can be a profoundly fulfilling way to reflect your lifetime of giving and generosity.
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SIP, SAVOR, AND SUPPORT JOIN OUR ATTORNEY/HOMEBREWER ANDREW AT THE TREASURE COAST BREW FEST!
• We Do Good works tirelessly to
Instant Pot Beef Stew Our very own attorney is not just a legal whiz but also an avid homebrewer. Once a year, Andrew and his club help host the Treasure Coast Brew Fest, a prominent charity event that brings together craft beer lovers from all over. This year, Andrew’s club is proud to support three fantastic organizations: We Do Good, the Angler Action Foundation, and the Florida Brewers Guild. We’re not done celebrating the International Day of Charity, and neither is our attorney Andrew Smith, who’s combining his two favorite things: craft beer and giving back. Mark your calendars for the Treasure Coast Brew Fest on Nov. 2, 2024, from 1–5 p.m. at Stuart Memorial Park, hosted by Andrew and his club of dedicated homebrewers! It’s going to be an unforgettable afternoon, and all proceeds will go to three amazing local charities.
find wine, food trucks, live music, and games. The event is
support veterans, first responders, health care workers, single parents, and children, helping them achieve brighter futures.
family-friendly, so feel free to bring the kids along! Guests not sampling beer can attend for free, making it a great outing for everyone. Last year, the Treasure Coast Brew Fest raised an impressive $27,000 for local charities; this year, they aim to beat that number. Every ticket sold helps support these wonderful causes, so come out and enjoy a fantastic day of beer tasting and community spirit. If you see Andrew at the event, don’t forget to say hi! Whether you’re a craft beer connoisseur or just looking for a fun day out, the Treasure Coast Brew Fest is the place to be!
• Angler Action Foundation is
dedicated to the conservation of gamefish. Their work ensures that future generations can enjoy fishing just as much as we do today. • The Florida Brewers Guild supports the rights and interests of craft brewers across the state. Since 1996, they’ve been instrumental in promoting the growth of the craft beer industry in Florida. At the Brew Fest, you can sample over 200 brews from over 50 different breweries. In addition to craft beer, you’ll
Ingredients •
2 tbsp olive oil
• • • • • • •
2 cups beef broth
• • • • • •
2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
1 14-oz can diced tomatoes
1 onion, diced
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 carrots, diced
1 tsp dried thyme
2 stalks celery, diced 2 potatoes, diced
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions 1. Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté setting and heat olive oil. 2. Add beef and cook until browned, then add onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and potatoes. 3. Pour in the beef broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. 4. Secure the lid and set the pressure cook feature to high for 30 minutes. 5. When the stew is done cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes before releasing the remaining pressure. Serve and enjoy!
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Inside
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Labor Day Love for the Kulas & Crawford Team Foods to Embrace and Avoid to Calm Your Anxiety The Advantages of Charitable Estate Planning Craft Beer Lovers Unite for a Great Cause
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Instant Pot Beef Stew
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Exploring Turkey’s Underground City
JOURNEY BENEATH THE SURFACE THE FASCINATING UNDERGROUND CITY OF DERINKUYU
When you hear the word “turkey,” you probably think of a large bird with a scaley red neck associated with Thanksgiving feasts nationwide. What you may not immediately think of is the historic nation of Turkey, officially known as the Republic of Türkiye, on the geographic and cultural border of Europe and Asia, straddling the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The country was once the
its massive size and over 600 entrances scattered around its labyrinthine network of underground homes, granaries, stables, and religious structures, a local chicken farmer only rediscovered it in 1963. As the story goes, the chicken farmer kept losing his chickens to a small crevice near his home, from which
they would never emerge. After digging, the farmer discovered a passageway, one of the many lost entryways leading to Derinkuyu.
center of the great Ottoman Empire, which existed for over six centuries and encompassed much of Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. But long before the Ottomans ruled this land, thousands lived underground in the fantastical city of Elengubu, known today as Derinkuyu. Unearthing Derinkuyu Derinkuyu is more than 275 feet beneath the surface of the volcanic region of Cappadocia Valley in modern-day Turkey. At one point, this gargantuan, cavernous city accommodated up to 20,000 people. Despite
Mysterious Origin No one knows precisely when Derinkuyu
was constructed. Some theories say the ancient Hittites could have built it during the Bronze Age. However, whoever originally started the city did not expand it to its current sprawling dimensions. The Phyrgians later inherited the city in the Iron Age and expanded it to accommodate their larger population. Whatever the whole story, one thing remains true: A remarkable, mysterious city with cavernous confines is just begging to be explored.
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