THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, January 21, 2022 Page 19 MALDEN: TODAY | FROM PAGE 6 ily and friends all to keep myself healthy and to enjoy the outdoors. 9. My favorite movie of all time is Field of Dreams. Just loved the journey that the lead character took as far Fenway and ultimately led back to his own family/father in Iowa. 10. My all-time role model is growing up as an aspiring athlete in the San Francisco Bay Area Willie Mays of the Giants and Rick Barry of the Warriors were my heroes. My political inspiration has been Jerry Brown of California who always impressed me with his creative approach to governing as a progressive. 11. I respect people who can empathize with other people’s point of view even if they may not agree with them. 12. The best thing anyone has ever said to me is all the people who expressed their thanks and amazement on my persistence on advocating for the Northern Strand Trail (aka Bike to the Sea Trail) 13. I am happy when I am biking with my wife Helen and friends and playing with my granddaughter. 14. I fi nd (My brothers in law who range on the conservative side, glad that we can joke across the political divide) funny/hilarious. 15. I am named after…see above. 16. I have two daughters Marie and Erika and three granddaughters, Ashley and Hannah – who both went to Cheverus. Hannah is well known for her teaching at the Wah Lum Kung Fu studio under the guidance of Sifu Mai Du. Our youngest granddaughter Teagan stayed with us much of 2020 to do her virtual schoolwork and visits the Trafton Dog Park frequently. 17. The furthest I’ve ever been from home is Ecuador, Italy and Denali Park in Alaska. Glad I was able to do all that in the year before COVID. We’ve enjoyed the privilege of traveling but we are very happy when we return home to Malden. 18. My special talents are versatility and being a team player. I may not get the recognition that a pitching ace or a slugger does. But I always work to make those around me better. 19. I have zero pets but all the wildlife that enjoy our backyard in Maplewood. We have many squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, blue jays, cardinals and sparrows and have hosted a woodchuck and an owl. 20. I played sports as a youngster at…my local schoolyard in California where we would play baseball until dark or when the sprinklers came on. “Throwback Thursday on Friday Redux – Ghosts of Malden’s Past – here we get “just the facts” from guitarist/singer/founder of the Malden punk-pop band Boy’s Life, John Surette: “The night before we played with The Jam, we were asked to take them out for a good time. Met Paul and Bruce at the Newton Marriott hotel bar. First rule: no limos. So, we (my brothers David and Stephen) took our own cars. Paul (Weller) and I hit it off right away. U2 were playing at The Metro so we figured we would check it out. Upon arriving The Metro refused to let us in because we were playing (at the rival club) The Channel. We ended up at The Underground in Boston. I kept pestering Paul to play a couple of songs. He fi - nally said if I would, he would. So, I assembled a band comprised of myself, Paul, Bruce Foxton, Richie Parsons, Port Charles Quintet (Cam Ackland), and another Maldonian Dennis McCarthy from the Prime Movers. We did ‘Substitute,’ ‘Heat Wave,’ ‘Slow Down’ and ‘Batman.’ We didn’t know how to end Batman. Bruce put his bass down and said that’s it! I think we did one more song, but I can’t remember...this also was our fi rst show back at The Channel after being banned. I almost forgot, when we stepped off the stage, who was standing up front? Bono and The Edge! Bono asked Paul what was up? Paul responding, ‘just hanging with my mates’ and we walked away.” “This is the end, beautiful friend, this is the end, my only friend, the end” – “I was standing in our dining-room thinking of nothing in particular, when a cablegram was put into my hand. It said, ‘Susy was peacefully released today.’” “It is one of the mysteries of our nature that a man, all unprepared, can receive a thunder-stroke like that and live”— Mark Twain Rest in peace, Richie (Cremone), Dom (Patania), Vinnie (Straccia). Postscript 1: I’ve been a little under the weather recently but will continue to plug away at these articles as long as you are out there reading. Let me know that you’re still reading. Thank you. Postscript 2: more on Richie and Vinnie when I get better. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net ~ Home of the Week ~ MALDEN...This two bedroom one bath Cape has been meticulously maintained by one owner for over 70 years! Walk through the fireplace living room into the eat-in kitchen with lovely vintage details and access to the three season porch. This home has two first floor bedrooms with hardwood floors, and a dormered attic with plumbing and replacement windows just waiting for expansion. The finished basement offers additional flexibility with a work area, bar, and access to the just-right back yard. A one car attached garage fenced corner lot, and excellent access to route one and public transportation with direct access to Boston complete this adorable home. Offered at $499,900 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. a y avvy S iorenniiooro a avvyavvy iori n r by Jim Miller Tax Breaks for Caregiver of Elderly Parents Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any tax breaks that you know of for family caregivers? I help fi nancially support my 82-year-old mother and would like to fi nd out if I can write any of these expenses off on my taxes. Supplemental Sam Dear Sam, There are actually several tax credits and deductions available to adult children who help look after their aging parents or other relatives. Here are some options along with the IRS requirements to help you determine if you’re eligible to receive them. Tax Credit for Other Dependents If your mom lives with you and you’re paying more than 50 percent of her living expenses (housing, food, utilities, health care, repairs, clothing, travel and other necessities), and her 2021 gross income was under $4,300, you can claim your mom as a dependent and get a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $500. If you happen to split your mom’s expenses with other siblings, only one of you can claim your mom as a dependent, and that person must pay at least 10 percent of her support costs. This is called a “multiple support agreement.” The IRS has an interactive tool that will help you determine if your mom qualifi es as a dependent. Go to IRS.gov/help/ita, scroll down to “Credits,” and click on “Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents?” Medical Deductions If you claim you mom as a dependent and you help pay her medical, dental and/or long-term care expenses, and weren’t reimbursed by insurance, you can deduct the expenses that are more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI). So, for example, if your adjusted gross income is $80,000, anything beyond the fi rst $6,000 of your mom’s medical bills – or 7.5 percent of your AGI – could be deductible on your return. So, if you paid $8,000 in medical bills for her, $2,000 of it could be deductible. You can also include your own medical expenses in calculating the total. You should also know that your state might have a lower AGI threshold, which means you might get a break on your state income taxes even if you can’t get one on your federal income taxes. To see which medical expenses you can and can’t deduct, see IRS Publication 502 at IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf. Dependent Care Credit If you’re paying for in-home care or adult day care for your mom so you are free to work, you might qualify for the Dependent Care Tax Credit which can be worth as much as $4,000. To be eligible your mom must have been physically or mentally incapable of self-care and must have lived with you for more than six months. To claim this tax credit, fi ll out IRS Form 2441 (IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2441.pdf) when you fi le your federal return. Flexible Health Savings Accounts If you have a health savings account (HSA) or your employer offers a fl exible savings account (FSA), you can use them to pay for your mom’s medical expenses if she qualifi es as a dependent. But be aware that if you use an HSA or FSA to pay for your mom’s medical costs, you can’t take a tax deduction on those expenses too. For more information, see IRS Publication 969, “Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans” at IRS.gov/pub/ irs-pdf/p969.pdf. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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