Up Front

First Things

Please Note: Due to the COVID–19 virus, some of these events may have been cancelled after press time. Please check with the venue and organizations for up-to-date information.

Something Edible Food trucks take to the road

If you aren’t a night owl but crave street food, the organizers of Kalamazoo’s Late Night Food Truck Rally have you covered. Each Tuesday this month the Food Truck Rally will take its show on the road, bringing a variety of outdoor mobile dining options to different Southwest Michigan locations.

The Tuesday Food Truck Rally runs from 5-8 p.m., and the dates and locations of this month’s events are: • Aug. 4: Flesher Field, 3664 S. Ninth St., Oshtemo

Township. • Aug. 11 (two locations): Oswalt Park, 109 N.

Main St., Vicksburg, and Midtown Fresh, 1693 S

Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo. • Aug. 18: Antwerp Activity Center, 24821 Front

St., Mattawan. • Aug. 25: ChemLink, 353 E. Lyons St., Schoolcraft.

COVID-19 protocols are in place. The food trucks will be separated by 15 to 20 feet, hand sanitizer is on site, and the ground is marked with “X’s” to ensure that those waiting in line are kept 6 feet apart. Attendees are asked to wear masks when not eating to ensure that everyone feels comfortable at each event.

For more information, visit foodtruckrallykz.com or the event’s Facebook page: @Kalamazoo Food Truck Rally.

Something Reopened Air Zoo features new exhibits

The Air Zoo has reopened with new and redesigned exhibits and new visitor protocols related to COVID-19 precautions.

During the shutdown, which ended mid-July, two new exhibits were installed at the Air Zoo. The first, Alien Worlds and Androids, explores the search for alien life. It was on temporary display at the Air Zoo in 2017 but is now a permanent exhibit at the museum. Spanning almost 5,000 square feet, the exhibit explores nine outer space environments as well as advances in technology that have led to increased speculation on the possibility of life beyond planet Earth.

The second new exhibit, Amelia: Adventurous Aviatrix, explores the legacy of pilot Amelia Earhart, who broke through gender barriers by becoming the first woman (and second person) to pilot an aircraft across the Atlantic and setting women’s world altitude, speed and endurance records.

Due to COVID-19, a number of new visitor protocols will be in place, including new hours of operation and indoor amusement park rides, flight simulators, Missions Theater and several of the hands-on exhibits and stations being temporarily inaccessible for guest safety. To learn more, visit airzoo.org.

Something Helpful Got deer? Show these guys

The next time a doe deigns to take a healthy nibble of your hostas, snap a picture and share it with two Kalamazoo College students who are tabulating deer populations in Kalamazooarea neighborhoods for a school project.

Jake Osen and Zach Brazil need volunteers to submit deer pictures through the free mobile app iNaturalist. The pictures will help the students identify where deer populations are reaching problematic levels in local neighborhoods. Osen, Brazil and scientists then will confirm what the app finds and use the location data to ascertain what’s attracting deer to those areas.

You can find the iNaturalist app in the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). After downloading it, create a free account using an email address, social media account or Google account. The app will ask to use your location. After confirming permission, use the “Explore” tab to find observations submitted by others. Click the “More” tab and search “Projects” for “Deer populations in the residential areas of Kalamazoo” to volunteer for Osen and Brazil’s project. After joining, simply upload pictures of deer you find in Kalamazoo.

Something Musical Catch an outdoor concert

You know you’ll miss outdoor music when the leaves start to fall, so take the opportunity to catch a free concert before summer ends. The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo’s Summertime Live! program offers concerts in several locations throughout the region and people should bring and wear a mask. Kalamazoo

Concerts in the Park, Bronson Park

Bring lawn chairs or blankets for these Sunday afternoon concerts that begin at 4 p.m. Social distancing measures will be in place and organizers ask that people bring and wear a mask. This month’s performers are: • Aug. 2: Outer Vibe, a three-piece rock band. • Aug. 16: Knific Quartet with Olivacce, a jazz quartet and vocalist. • Aug. 23: Airtight, offering Motown, blues, jazz and R&B music. • Aug. 30: Michigan Global Roots

Celebration, featuring An Dro, the

Samuel Nalangria Trio and Michigan

Hiryu Daiko Japanese Taiko.

In case of rain, the concerts will be held in First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St., across from the park.

Beats on Bates, Downtown Kalamazoo

This Wednesday night series runs from 5-8 p.m. on Bates Alley, located between 200 and 276 E. Michigan Ave., and will feature: • Aug. 5: Strumble Head Band, a cover band performing music from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. • Aug. 12: Zion Lion, a reggae band. • Aug. 19: James Reeser and the

Backseat Drivers, an electric blues band.

Al Hight & M6-West

• Aug. 26: So Long Belladonna, a

Kalamazoo singer/songwriter. Portage

This month’s concert is “drive-in style” — attendees will listen to the music from the comfort of their own cars or while tailgating. It will feature:

Al Hight & M6-West, an R&B band, 7 p.m. Aug. 6, Ramona Park, 8600 S. Sprinkle Road.

For more information or to check for schedule changes, visit kalamazooarts.org.

ASK THE BUSINESS AND ESTATE PLANNING LAWYER

Ask THE BUSINESS AND ESTATE PLANNING LAWYER

Please send your questions to: Michael J. Willis, J.D., C.P.A. Please send your questions to: Michael J. Willis, J.D., C.P.A. Willis Law 491 West South Street Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269.492.1040 www.willis.law MICHAEL J. WILLIS, J.D., C.P.A., WILLIS LAW Q. My husband is going into a nursing home. I’ve been told it is possible for me to create a trust and protect my assets from the spend down at the nursing home. Is that true? A. Yes. Most often when folks talk on trust planning, they are referencing a revocable trust. In fact, that is the case probably more than 99% of the time. A revocable trust under Michigan law generally is set up only to avoid probate--that’s its only benefit. However, there is an irrevocable trust for persons in your circumstances that can be established with your assets to the extent they exceed the protected Please send your questions to: Michael J. Willis, J.D., C.P.A. ASK LAWYER THE BUSINESS AND ESTATE PLANNING MICHAEL J. WILLIS, J.D., C.P.A., WILLIS LAW Q. My husband is going into a nursing home. I’ve been told it is possible for me to create a trust and protect my assets from the spend ASK LAWYER THE BUSINESS AND ESTATE PLANNING Q. My uncle died recently. He left a handwritten note that Willis Law 491 West South Street Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269.492.1040 www.willis.law Michael J. Willis is the Managing Partner of Willis Law, Attorneys and Counselors at Law, is licensed to practice law in Florida and Michigan, and is registered as a certified public accountant in the state of Illinois. Attorney Willis is rated as an A V -Preeminent Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell. This rating, according to Martindale, which has been rating lawyers for over a century, signifies that an attorney has reached the heights of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America. amount (which under Michigan law will cap at a little over $125,000). If the trust is irrevocable and the assets are effectively established in an annuity income stream back to you per the terms of the trust, then in such a circumstance the trust will no longer be considered a countable asset, but instead an income stream and thereby exempt for Medicaid purposes. This is a sophisticated planning technique, and I highly encourage you to seek counsel before implementing this technique or any other Medicaid planning. 9471992-01 Willis Law 491 West South Street Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269.492.1040 www.willis.law down at the nursing home. Is that true? A. Yes. Most often when folks talk on trust planning, they are referencing a revocable trust. In fact, that is the case probably more than 99% of the time. A revocable trust under Michigan law generally is set up only to avoid probate--that’s its only benefit. However, there is an irrevocable trust for persons in your circumstances that can be established with your assets to the extent they exceed the protected amount (which under Michigan law will cap at a little over $125,000). If the trust is irrevocable and the assets are effectively established in an annuity income stream back to you per the terms of the trust, then in such a circumstance the trust will no longer be considered a countable asset, but instead an income stream and thereby exempt for Medicaid Please send your questions to: Michael J. Willis, J.D., C.P.A. Willis Law 491 West South Street Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269.492.1040 www.willis.law MICHAEL J. WILLIS, J.D., C.P.A., WILLIS LAW Q. My husband is going into a nursing home. I’ve been told it is possible for me to create a trust and protect my assets from the spend down at the nursing home. Is that true? A. Yes. Most often when folks talk on trust planning, they are referencing a revocable trust. In fact, that is the case probably more than 99% of the time. A revocable trust under Michigan law generally is set up only to avoid probate--that’s its only benefit. However, there appears to distribute his property to family and friends. Is a handwritten purposes. This is a sophisticated planning technique, and I highly encourage you to seek counsel before implementing this technique or any other Medicaid planning. is an irrevocable trust for persons in your circumstances that can be established with your assets to the extent they exceed the protected amount (which under Michigan law will cap at a little over $125,000). document a valid Will?

Michael J. Willis is the Managing Partner of Willis Law, Attorneys and Counselors at Law, is licensed to practice law in Florida and Michigan, and is registered as a certified public accountant in the state of Illinois. Attorney Willis is rated as an A V -Preeminent Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell. This rating, according to Martindale, which has been rating lawyers for over a century, signifies that an attorney has reached the heights of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America. 9471992-01 If the trust is irrevocable and the assets are effectively established in an annuity income stream back to you per the terms of the trust, then in such a circumstance the trust will no longer be considered a countable A.Sometimes. Although the best evidence of a Will is a document drafted by a lawyer and signed in the presence of two disinterested witnesses and a separate notary, this is not necessary to complete a valid Will in Michigan. Michigan law allows handwritten documents to be admitted as Wills, although they must usually be dated and signed by the decedent. Michigan has also opened up a “Wild West” in answer to the question “what makes a Will?” and some will have success admitting electronic documents as a Will, or handwritten documents that aren’t dated or signed. Currently the law informs that if it might be a Will and it meets the decedent’s intent, it is worth offering it to the court.

asset, but instead an income stream and thereby exempt for Medicaid Michael J. Willis is the Managing Partner of Willis Law, Attorneys and Counselors at Law, is licensed to practice law in Florida and Michigan, and is registered as a certified public accountant in the state of Illinois. Attorney Willis is rated as an A V -Preeminent purposes. This is a sophisticated planning technique, and I highly Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell. This rating, according to Martindale, which has been rating lawyers for over a century, signifies that an attorney has reached the heights of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. encourage you to seek counsel before implementing this technique or He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America. any other Medicaid planning.