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KC Quarterly Q4 2024
Every kid deserves to open presents on Christmas Day. This year, I’m excited to share that our firm will again participate in the Gift of Hope Christmas Collection hosted by 4Kids. This initiative is about giving toys to kids and providing direct support to local foster families and the children in their care, ensuring they have a bright Christmas like any other family. The Gift of Hope effort centers around collecting brand-new, unwrapped toys and gift cards, ensuring every child in the foster system has a special gift to open on Christmas morning. This cause is particularly close to our hearts because it supports our Treasure Coast community, ensuring our contributions make a meaningful, local impact. Driven by the vision of ensuring a home for every child, 4Kids actively provides essential services ranging from finding immediate foster placements to long-term therapeutic support all across six Florida counties. They stand up for families facing the risk of separation, offer trauma-informed care to those in need, and ensure siblings entering the foster system can stay together. This remarkable commitment has been sustained through partnerships with local donors, churches, and businesses like ours, each sharing in the mission to offer Hope, Homes, and Healing. Participation in this toy drive is a simple way for all of us to impact a young person’s life. Whether it’s fun toys for kids or self-care luxuries for teenagers like hair care or cologne, your generosity can bring a smile to a child’s face this holiday season. Often overlooked in toy drives, teenagers appreciate gifts that resonate with their interests. Sports equipment, beauty products, or even tech gadgets can significantly brighten their Christmas and show How You Can Make Christmas Special for Kids in Need Brighten a Child’s Holiday With a Simple Gift
them that their community cares about their happiness. Think about what you might’ve wished for Christmas when you were 16!
What I treasure most about this drive is the tangible joy it brings — not only to the children who receive the gifts but to everyone who contributes. It truly embodies the spirit of Christmas — giving, sharing, and caring for those around us. Each year, as I witness our community rallying together to support this cause, it reinforces the importance of our contributions. It’s about making a real, positive difference in the lives of children who need it most. As the holiday season approaches, I encourage everyone to get involved in making the Gift of Hope Annual Christmas Collection a success. Let’s unite to ensure that every child in our area experiences the joy and magic of the season. After all, the true gift of Christmas is the happiness we can bring to others. Let’s keep the spirit of giving alive and ensure that no child in our community goes without a gift this Christmas. The Gift of Hope Christmas Collection will be accepting gift donations until December 13, and your unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at 2100 SE Hillmoor Drive, Suite 105, in Port St. Lucie. Your support can light up the holiday season for a child in need right here in Treasure Coast. Together, let’s spread joy, one gift at a time.
–Josh Crawford
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Cat-apulting Into History The Feline-Flying Military Tactic That Never Took Off
Throughout military history, you’ll find strategic experiments ranging from the genius to the downright bizarre. But few can top the zany brainchild of Franz Helm, a 16th-century German artillery aficionado whose bright idea left historians — and cat lovers — utterly bewildered. Let’s set the scene with Helm’s magnum opus, the “Feuer Buech,” published in 1584, a treasure trove of ( literally ) explosive innovations in warfare. Imagine this: a battlefield in the Renaissance, not just filled with the clang of swords and the thunder of cannons, but also — wait for it — flying, flaming cats. Yes, you read that right. Franz Helm’s groundbreaking military tactic involved jetpacks for cats. Picture a kitty,
strapped with a sack of gunpowder, zipping through the air like a furry missile aimed at enemy strongholds. The hope? These feline projectiles would scamper back to their homes — presumably in enemy territory — and start a blazing inferno. One can only wonder about how they would train cats to become arsonists. The method was straightforward: kidnap an enemy cat, strap it into a gunpowder-laden backpack, light the fuse, and hope Mr. Whiskers doesn’t get cold paws about blowing up its evil overlords. Preserved for posterity at the University of Pennsylvania, the “Feuer Buech” reminds us of the lengths human creativity can
go — especially when combined with a profound misunderstanding of cat behavior. As any cat owner will tell you, cats have their own agendas. The chances of a cat completing its fiery mission are about as high as it bringing you the morning newspaper. Thankfully, we have no evidence that this pyrotechnic plan ever came to pass. Considering cats’ notorious independence, we can rest assured that no self- respecting felines took part in these explosive escapades. So, next time you’re cuddling with your cat, be thankful its biggest inclination is to knock pens off your table rather than infiltrate enemy castles with fire.
Essential Estate Planning Updates You Need Now Wrap Up the Year Right
As the year winds down, reflecting on whether your estate plan needs an update is essential. An outdated estate plan can create unnecessary stress and complications for your family and loved ones, potentially leading to disputes or financial hardships during a time of grief. To protect your loved ones, here’s a quick checklist to ensure your estate plan accurately reflects your current wishes and circumstances. Update Your List of Assets It’s essential to keep an up-to-date list of your assets. Changes such as closing bank accounts, opening new ones, or switching investment companies should be recorded. Our clients often split their time between different states, like heading to Florida for the winter, making this time of year ideal for reviewing and updating their assets with us. We include a form in your provided estate plan
binder to maintain an organized record of your assets. Making these updates at year-end helps ensure all your assets are accounted for and properly managed within your estate plan. Schedule a Review Meeting If it’s been a while since you last reviewed your estate plan, now is a perfect time. We encourage all clients, especially those who haven’t visited recently, to come in for a check-up to ensure that their plan accurately reflects their current wishes and circumstances. This is also an opportunity to ask questions and make any necessary adjustments. Remember, if you’re spending winter here in Florida, drop by our office to make this update a breeze. Lifetime Communications Policy We are committed to the ongoing accuracy and effectiveness of your estate plan. That’s why we offer continuous
support even after your plan has been finalized. For existing clients, we do not charge for answering questions by phone, email, or in-person review meetings. Additionally, if your estate plan includes a Living Trust, we offer funding assistance for any assets acquired after your initial setup at no extra charge. However, it’s your responsibility to inform us about any new assets. Stay Up-to-Date With Your Estate Plan Don’t wait until it’s too late to update your estate plan. Contact us to schedule your end-of-year review today. Ensure that your plan reflects your current situation and continues to protect you and your loved ones. Remember, at our firm, your questions about your estate plan are always answered free of charge, ensuring you can manage your estate confidently and with peace of mind.
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HOW ESTATE PLANNING GIFTS TRANQUILITY TO YOUR FAMILY Unwrap Peace of Mind
The Gift That Keeps on Giving 1. Gives You and Your Loved Ones Peace of Mind: The foremost benefit of estate planning is the peace of mind it offers. Knowing that your affairs are in order and your loved ones won’t be burdened with difficult decisions during a time of loss is comforting. It reassures everyone involved that there is a clear plan in place. 2. Facilitates Financial Management: An estate plan includes vital components like trusts and powers of attorney, guaranteeing your assets are managed and distributed as you see fit. This can protect your family’s future, provide for any minors or dependents you’re responsible for, and minimize the emotional and financial strain on your relatives.
While gifts are often wrapped in festive paper and adorned with bows, one of the most profound presents you can offer doesn’t come in a box — it comes in peace of mind through thoughtful estate planning. Estate Planning Is the Best Holiday Present Estate planning might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of holiday cheer, but it’s truly a gift to yourself and your loved ones. It’s time to reframe estate planning from being a burdensome chore to a considerate and caring act. It’s about respecting your wishes and caring for your loved ones, even when you’re not around to do so yourself.
3. Supports Charitable Giving: If philanthropy is important to you, estate planning can help cement your legacy by allocating parts of your estate to charities or causes you care about. This way, your spirit of giving can continue even after you’ve passed away. Consider setting an appointment with our team this holiday season to review or start your estate plan. Our firm is committed to helping you provide this invaluable gift to your loved ones. Whether you’re updating an old plan or starting anew, our team is here to ensure that your future — and the future of those you care most about — is secure. This act of love and foresight might be the most significant gift you give this holiday season.
Inspired by Delicious.com
STICKY FIG AND PECAN PUDDING WITH TOFFEE SAUCE
Ingredients •
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 6-cup ovenproof bowl and line the bottom with waxed paper. 2. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs, baking powder, and flour until smooth. Stir in pecans and figs, then add 1/2 cup hot water. 3. Pour batter into prepared bowl, cover with a circle of waxed paper, then cover tightly with foil. Bake for 50–60 minutes until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. 4. For toffee sauce, put butter and sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves. Stir in cream and increase heat to medium. Bring to just below boiling, then reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5–7 minutes until thickened. 5. Turn pudding onto a plate and drizzle with toffee sauce.
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
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2/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp baking powder 3/4 cup self-rising flour
3/4 cup dried figs, roughly chopped 3/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped 1/2 cup hot water
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Toffee sauce •
Take a Break
1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup heavy cream
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
2100 SE Hillmoor Dr., Ste. 105 Port St. Lucie, FL 34952 Also Serving Vero Beach 772-398-0720 • KulasLaw.com
Inside
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Celebrate the Season of Giving With the 4Kids Christmas Toy Drive!
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Unravel the Myth of the 16th‑Century Rocket Cat
The Essential End-of-Year Estate Planning Checklist This Holiday Season, Put Estate Planning on Your Gift List Sticky Fig and Pecan Pudding With Toffee Sauce
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Porky Myths and High Society
A Legend Worth Its Weight in Bacon THE FASCINATING TALE OF THE PIG-FACED LADY
Ready for a tale that really brings home the bacon? Legends dating back to the 1700s tell the story of women who were a mix of beauty and beast — pig-faced ladies! Myths about noblewomen with hog heads lasted in France, Holland, and Britain for hundreds of years. These glamorous piglets were said to roam the city streets, take carriage rides through town, and show up at fancy parties or homes to beg for money. Let’s ham it up royally and take a porky peek at the pig-faced ladies Londoners talked about for centuries. One of the earliest tales starring a woman with a boarish face was in the 17th century. A pregnant Dutch housewife reportedly had a visit from a mysterious poor woman begging for money for her children. The housewife turned her away, and the cast-off beggar
people packed the streets, a horse-drawn carriage caught their attention. The passenger was none other than the pig-faced lady. Rumors and interest around the event spread, and London’s growing newspaper industry took the story and ran with it. In the following years, the masses sought proof of these pig- faced women. One woman put out an ad in the paper offering to provide care for a woman with the affliction. Another paper ran a request from a man with a marriage proposal for the elusive “baconess.” The famous author Charles Dickens even referred to her in a book he wrote in 1861.
Chances are that people born with physical disabilities inspired the pig-faced lady story and reflected the sad way society treated
cursed her unborn child to be born with a pig’s face. Stories that followed had similar themes of women cursed to look like pigs. Our swine superstar was launched into legendary status in the summer of 1815 when Londoners were celebrating the recent victory of Britain over Napoleon and France. As
them. The pig-faced lady likely represented London’s biggest anxieties, like class tensions and women’s limited roles. So, whether she was the embodiment of society’s fears or just a bit of hogwash, the tale of the pig-faced lady shows how the wildest legends can hog the spotlight for centuries.
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