will return as Grand Marshals of the boat parade, with a special guest appearance by Santa Claus.
“After 30 years, the Holiday Boat Parade still captivates, bringing together old friends and new,” said MIAPBC Executive Director Alyssa Freeman. “Traditions only shine brighter with time, creating countless memories and smiles by giving back to the community.”
MIAPBC will collect toys by land and by sea for Toys for Tots and Little Smiles. During the first week of November, donation boxes will be placed throughout the county for toy drop-offs. A “toy fleet” of boats traveling along the parade route will offer easy dockside pickups for your donations. Simply wave a flashlight when you see a boat with toy drive signage, and uniformed Marines and volunteers will pull right up to your dock to collect your donations. Last year, MIAPBC collected more than 15,000 toys.
“We’re thrilled to sponsor this year’s Holiday Boat Parade and help bring the magic of the season to life on the water,” said Michael Lessing, CEO of Lessing’s Hospitality Group. “It’s an honor to be part of a cherished tradition that brings joy to so many!”
This year, the boat parade and Charlie & Joe’s at Love Street will be featured in an upcoming holiday movie, Christmas Overtime, which will be released digitally in December and land on the streaming service NBC Peacock in the early spring.
The MIAPBC invites local businesses to join us as sponsors of the parade, with packages starting at $500. Package benefits vary and include business exposure
through television, radio, print, digital, social media, and public relations. A sponsorship guarantees access to the MIAPBC’s exclusive VIP Viewing Party, with premium views of the boat parade, along with entertainment, food, and drinks. This year, the parade’s top sponsors include Lessing’s Hospitality Group, Amazon, 1000 NORTH, The Clubhouse, The Twisted Tuna, Town of Jupiter, Safe Harbor North Palm Beach Marina, Harbourside Place, Florida Blue, Freedom Boat Club, and All My Sons Moving and Storage.
Register your boat today to join this festive tradition! A panel of judges will assess each entry based on lights, enthusiasm, and themed décor! Participating vessels are eligible to receive up to $10,000 in cash and prizes.
All vessels must be registered by Tuesday, December 3. Boat registrants are also required to attend the 6 p.m. Captains’
Meeting on December 3 at The Twisted Tuna in Jupiter, Fla. Entry is free with a $50 refundable deposit. For more information, visit palmbeachboatparade.com or call (561) 863-0012.
Follow the boat parade virtually using the free GPS app KnowWake! KnowWake maps coastal waterways for both Android and iPhone users. Simply download the app, create an account, and track the parade as it makes its way to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.
Light up the holidays this year with MIAPBC!
For more information about the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, please visit marinepbc.org.
of
Marines – Tom Serio Photography
U.S. Marines – Tom Serio Photography
First Place Boat #3 Busted Barnacles (Barnacle Busters) – Tom Serio Photography
Boat #19 Nauti Kitty – photography by Susan Speaks McGirt
First Place Boat #40 Time Out – Tom Serio Photography
First Place Boat #30 Nailed it – Tom Serio Photography
Blue Heron – Lighthouse – photography by Susan Speaks McGirt
First Place Boat #41 Suits Us Too – Tom Serio Photography
Photos courtesy
Tom Serio Photography and Susan Speaks McGirt Photography
Swimming Resource Executive Director Ashleigh Bullivant presented the WAVE Award to Christina Canavan. Special guest Mrs. Florida’s Amber Uhler spoke movingly about her
reasons for focusing on drowning prevention as her platform before auctioneer Jay Zeager began the live auction and a “glowing” Call to Heart.
The evening concluded with guests invited to the dance floor and treated to the heel-raising sounds of country music singer, Ricky Young.
All monies raised from the fun-filled event go to support Live Like Jake’s mission of raising awareness for drowning prevention through self-rescue swim scholarships, outreach programs and financial assistance to families who have lost a child or have a child with critical care needs following a non-fatal drowning.
Sponsors for the night included The Atkins Family, Life Saver Pool Fence, Infant Swimming Resource (ISR), The Weinberger Family, Counter Forced Labor Technologies, Hobgood Estate Services, Ritter & Ramsey General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Window Doctor, Trelles Injury Law, 16 Handles, The Forgatch Group - Compass, Atlantis Car Wash, Allyson Sullivan & Lang Realty, Nanny, Pandora, Illustrated Properties and Love, Tito’s.
Table sponsors included A&S Electric; Premier Pediatrics; Dr. Michael Connor, M.D.; Guardian Angel Inspections, Inc.; Lee Petereit; The Gilbert Family; The Barone Family; The Broadhead Family; and The McCarty Family.
For information about future events, scholarships, or the foundation, please visit www.livelikejake.org or call (561) 441-7611.
About The Live Like Jake Foundation
Committed to honoring the life and joy of Jake Roarke Morrison, the foundation’s mission is to raise awareness for drowning prevention. Following the 2013 tragic drowning of their 2-year-old son, Keri Morrison and her husband Roarke created the Live Like Jake Foundation to raise awareness for childhood drowning prevention. Partnering with other drowning prevention agencies and instructors, supporting other families who have experienced the same loss; providing an indoor, heated pool dedicated to ISR instruction; and connecting with their community, the foundation has been able to provide thousands of self-rescue swim scholarships and critical care funds around the nation.
Visit livelikejake.org and facebook.com/livelikejake and @livelikejake3939 on Instagram.
Won’t My Spouse And Kids Inherit Everything When I Die?
Part 2 Of 2
By Anné DesormierCartwright, JD, Esq.
You may think that if you die while you are married, everything you own will automatically go to your spouse and children. Last month we talked about traditional families and blended families.
What really happens at death with transferring your assets. Another issue with relying on state law is that none of the transfers to your loved ones happen automatically. Your family typically must open a probate estate with the court and go through the process specified in state law before your property can transfer out of your name and into theirs. This process can be long and costly. It is also public. Many people would prefer that an inventory of their property and the details of their family life be kept out of the public eye. Perhaps the best way to keep your matters private is by creating and funding a revocable living trust while you are alive and have the legal capacity to do so.
Families with minor children. If both parents of minoraged children die without an estate plan, then the children are left without a legal guardian. Kids do not automatically go to a godparent or grandparent, even if that is what everyone knew the parents had intended. Instead, a court will appoint someone
Medicare Corner
With Kathy O
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Think about your healthcare needs when you read this surprising list of other common services that are not included in Original Medicare.
Medicare Corner on page 5
to be the children’s guardian. In such situations, the judge seeks to act in the children’s best interests and gathers information on the parents, the children, and the family circumstances. But the decision is up to the court; the judge, following the priority listed in the state’s law, may not choose the person that you, as their parent, would have chosen. If you had created a valid will during your lifetime, you would have been able to communicate with the judge whom you would have liked to appoint as guardian. You can also name a preneed guardian in preparation for the death of both parents while a child is a minor.
More importantly is when the parents own a home, the minor children cannot hold legal title to anything. That means the home is held in the name of the guardianship until the youngest biological child turns 18 years of age. There are ways to avoid this through a homestead trust, but you must own the home outright to use this vehicle of ownership. If not, the guardianship owns the home unless the court approves the sale of the home but there must be compelling circumstances for approval.
What if you and your spouse are separated? State law decides what happens to your money and property if you are separated from your spouse when you die. In some states, the court ignores your separation and still considers you legally married. If the state intestacy law (which, again, applies if you die without a valid will) grants spouses a share of your property at your death, as most do, then your estranged spouse may be entitled to all or a portion of it when you die.
Also, some state laws or court orders prohibit you from disinheriting your spouse after you file for divorce but before it is finalized unless you have a prenuptial or postnuptial
agreement. Without one of these agreements, you can try to omit your spouse from your will or your trust, but state law may kick in to require that a surviving spouse (who, again, is treated as being legally married to you) be given a share of what you own.
If you are separated from your spouse and your divorce is pending, talk with your divorce lawyer and an estate planning attorney about your options.
The best way to safeguard and pass along what you have worked so hard to build is to talk to a qualified estate planning attorney. Protect yourself, your family, and your money and property by contacting us today.
If you have questions about your estate plan and what documents you should have in place to plan your estate, schedule a free consultation today by calling our office at (561) 694-7827, Anné Desormier-Cartwright, Esq., Elder and Estate Planning Attorneys PA, 480 Maplewood Drive, Suite 3, Jupiter, FL 33458.
The content of this article is general and should not be relied upon without review of your specific circumstances by competent legal counsel. Reliance on the information herein is at your own risk, as it expresses no opinion by the firm on your specific circumstances or legal needs. An attorney client relationship is not created through the information provided herein.
To comply with the U.S. Treasury regulations, we must inform you that (i) any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this newsletter was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal tax penalties that may be imposed on such person and (ii) each taxpayer should seek advice from their tax advisor based on the taxpayer’s particular circumstances.
The Pet Cottage Post
Senior Maltese Mix Needs Rehabilitation
At The Pet Cottage, we often welcome pets in need of rehabilitation due to their owners’ declining health, both physical and mental. As a person’s health deteriorates – whether from aging or illness – the care they provide to their beloved pets often suffers. We frequently encounter animals that have not been groomed for a long time, arriving matted and dirty. Others come to us underweight because their owners have forgotten to feed them, while some are significantly overweight due to overfeeding during periods of neglect. Fleas and other parasites are not uncommon as well.
In our society, it’s common for families to live far apart, especially in South Florida, where many seniors retire and leave their extended families behind. Family members often visit during the holidays, only to be heartbroken by the changes in their parents or grandparents. Difficult decisions are sometimes made during these visits, including moving loved ones into assisted living or memory care facilities. Unfortunately, this often means they can no longer care for their pets. Similarly, when a relative passes away, pets may be left in the care of family members who are now faced with making urgent decisions.
loving homes. This essential service comes at a great cost, as we currently care for 56 pets, 47 of whom are seniors. Your generous donation can make a meaningful difference in the lives of Sophie and many other deserving animals.
To become an active part of our work for all pets please consider donating today!
Your heart will grow a whole size bigger, and our tails will wag even more.
The Pet Cottage
Wendy Derhak Founder/Executive Director 17049 Thunder Road Jupiter, FL 33478
Please visit https://www.thepetcottage.org or call (561) 818-5025 for more information.
Recently, The Pet Cottage welcomed Sophie, a 10-year-old Maltipoo, in terrible shape. Her owner had suffered a stroke, was hospitalized, and never returned home. Family members, overwhelmed with grief, struggled to manage her affairs. For three months, Sophie was left alone in the home, receiving only brief visits for feeding and walking. When a niece flew in to check on things, she was shocked to discover Sophie still living there. The little dog was terrified of people, severely matted, in clear pain, and had become aggressive. Her owner had been unable to care for her for some time before being hospitalized, leaving Sophie in a dire situation.
The Pet Cottage is fortunate to have dedicated volunteers like Michelle and Matt, who possess a special talent for caring for these hurting souls. They open their hearts and home to pups like Sophie, providing the extra TLC and time needed before these animals can be placed with a Forever Guardian. It takes patience, perseverance, and an abundance of love to build trust with a senior pet that has experienced neglect.
Now, with the support of our Lifelong Guardianship Program, we are committed to helping Sophie heal and
recover, ensuring she receives the love and care she deserves. By matching pets with caring Forever Guardians and covering all their medical expenses, The Pet Cottage ensures these cherished animals can enjoy their golden years in
Visitors are welcome by appointment.
Sophie in the car
Sophie
Michelle Perunko and Sophie
Understanding Moody Teenagers
By Jim Forgan, Ph.D., Licensed School Psychologist
“My teen son has a hard time showing emotions, has a hard time to make friendships, has a hard time to feel happy and contented, has a hard time to do activities that he considers useless or are mentally or physically demanding. Help me figure out what is wrong with him!” It’s not uncommon for teenagers to be moody since they are a ball of changing hormones, have variable sleep patterns, and are vying for independence. All this occurs while your teen is dealing with the pressures of school, social media, and exposure to drugs and porn. As the mom wrote, her teen was withdrawn and his behavior had changed within the past few months. Prior to this he was a happier person and a decent student. Our testing revealed this teen was depressed. Mom had wondered if he was depressed but thought looking down at him from the 30,000-foot view he had a good
life. He had an intact family, a cell phone, nice place to live, and he was doing well in school. She thought, “What is there to be depressed about?” Testing revealed he had very strong feelings of inadequacy and was struggling with his identity. He believed he was not in control of his outcomes so, “Why should he try?”
It took mom a while to get dad to recognize the struggle but after our results review meeting he understood additional support was needed. Dad actually initiated the conversation with his teen by saying, “I feel that our relationship is strained. It may not bother you but it bothers me and if you would, I’d like you to meet with a counselor. I will as well because I need some help knowing how to help you and our family.” The teen agreed to dad’s request.
School neuropsychological testing was the process which provided answers. Call (561) 625-4125 if you are concerned about your child and would like understanding. Testing is completed in one day and we test children through young adults for autism, dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Our website is JimForgan.com.
Financial Focus®
Donor-Advised Funds: A Smart Way To Give
By Sally Sima Stahl
You can find several ways to make charitable gifts but if you’re looking for a method that can provide multiple tax benefits, along with an efficient platform for giving year after year, you might want to consider a donor-advised fund.
Once you open a donor-advised fund (DAF), you can contribute many types of assets, including cash, publicly traded stocks, bonds, CDs or non-cash items such as closely held business interests, art or collectibles. You can then decide how to invest the money, possibly following a strategy suggested by the DAF sponsor organization you’ve selected. The next step involves choosing which charities to support, how often to provide support (such as once a year) and how much to give each time. You’re essentially free to direct the money to any charities you like, provided they’re IRS-approved charitable organizations.
Now, let’s look at the possible tax advantages offered by a DAF:
• Immediate tax deduction – A few years ago, changes in tax laws resulted in a vastly increased standard deduction, which, in turn, led to far fewer people itemizing on their tax returns and having less incentive, at least from a tax standpoint, to contribute to charities. But if you don’t typically give enough each year to itemize deductions, you could combine several years’ worth of giving into one contribution to a DAF and take a larger deduction in that tax year. And you can claim that deduction, even though the DAF may distribute funds to charities over several years.
• Tax-free growth of earnings – Once you contribute an asset to a DAF, any earnings growth is not taxable to you, the DAF or the charitable groups that receive grants from the DAF.
• Avoidance of capital gains taxes – When you donate appreciated stocks or other investments – or for that matter, virtually any appreciated asset – to a DAF, you can avoid paying the capital gains taxes that would otherwise be due if you were to simply sell the asset and then donate the proceeds to charitable organizations. Plus, by receiving the appreciated asset, rather than the proceeds from a sale, the charitable groups can gain more from your contribution. And you can also take a tax deduction for your donation. While these potential tax benefits can certainly make a DAF an attractive method of charitable giving, you should be aware of some potential tradeoffs. Once you contribute assets to a DAF, that gift is irrevocable, and you can’t access the money for any reason other than charitable giving. Also, your investment options are limited to what’s available in the DAF program you’ve chosen. And DAFs can incur administrative costs in addition to the fees charged on the underlying investments.
You may want to consult with your financial professional about other potential benefits and tradeoffs of DAFs and whether a DAF can help you with your charitable giving goals. Also, different DAF sponsors offer different features, so you will want to do some comparisons. And because DAFs can have such significant implications for your tax situation, you should consult with your tax professional before taking action.
If a DAF is appropriate for your situation, though, consider it carefully — it might be a good way to support your charitable giving efforts for years to come.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Edward Jones, Member SIPC.
Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.; Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax advice. You should consult your qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.
Contact us at (561) 748-7600, Sally Sima Stahl, CFP® , AAMS , 1851 W. Indiantown Road, Ste. 106, Jupiter, FL 33458.
