Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 8, 2024 MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 6 School System Barbara Levine Scibelli and American actress and fi lmmaker Dyan Cannon. • Yes, I’ve been called a “name dropping, derriere kisser” by a certain Maldonian but ya know what? Sticks and stones and all that jazz. Anyway, this one’s for you, Douglas Tran, he of All Season’s Table (AST) fame. I love Douglas. We in Malden love Douglas, the man who singlehandedly – arguably – is the one responsible for bringing Malden Square back from the verge of extinction. The Barney Kahn y io of 2024! The Anthony “Papa” Spadafora of Malden Square. The dynamic duo of Malden Square, Douglas Tran – and his gal Friday – Jackie Bouley, making the Square swanky again. With that said here’s what the Sunday Boston Globe Magazine had to say about AST in 2008 in an article avvya yavvy eniiooravvy S iorn or vy oiori by Jim Miller How to Write a Living Will Dear Savvy Senior, What’s the best way to go about writing a living will? I’m approaching age 73 and in poor health and would like to get this done without spending a lot of money. Need Help Dear Need, Preparing a living will now is a smart decision that gives you say in how you want to be treated at the end of your life. Here’s what you should know, along with some resources to help you write one. What to Prepare To adequately spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment you need two legal documents: A “living will” which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated, and a “health care power of attorney” (or health care proxy), which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to. These two documents are known as an “advance directive,” and will only be utilized if you are too ill to make medical decisions yourself. You can also change or update it whenever you please. It isn’t necessary to hire a lawyer to prepare an advance directive. There are a number of free or low-cost do-it-yourself resources available today to help you create one, and it takes only a few minutes from start to fi nish. Some top options include: CaringInfo.org: This is a program created by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization that provides free state-specifi c living will forms that you can download, print and fi ll out. Or you can call 800-658-8898 and they will mail them to you and answer any questions you may have. MyDirectives.com: If you’d rather create a digital (online only) advance directive, MyDirectives is an online tool and mobile app that will help you create, store and share a detailed, customized digital advance directive. FiveWishes.org: This is another top-rated resource for creating a comprehensive paper or digital advance directive. They charge $5 for the paper form and $15 for the digital version, which is stored on the website that you or your family can access anytime. VA Advance Directive: If you’re a veteran, the VA also provides a free advance directive form specifi cally for you at VA.gov/fi nd-forms/aboutform-10-0137. Other Options If you’re interested in making an entire estate plan that will include your will and/or trust, power of attorney and advance directive, there are many do-it-yourself online services that typically run between $100 and $250. Some top services include Quicken WillMaker & Trust software (WillMaker.com), Trust & Will (TrustandWill.com), and Legal Zoom (LegalZoom.com), which also makes basic living wills for only $39. Or, if you’d rather have a professional do it for you, contact an estate planning attorney. See NAELA.org or NAEPC.org to help you locate someone in your area. Costs will vary depending on where you live, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $500 and $2,000 for a basic estate plan. Add-ons You should also consider getting a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) as part of your advance directive, since advanced directives do little to protect you from unwanted emergency care like CPR. To create a DNR, ask your doctor to fi ll out a state appropriate form and sign it. Another tool you should know about that will complement your advance directive is the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or POLST (sometimes called Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or MOLST). A POLST form translates your end-of-life wishes into medical orders to be honored by your doctors. To learn more about your state’s program or set one up, see POLST.org. Tell Your Family To ensure your fi nal wishes are followed, make sure to tell your family members, health care proxy and doctors so they all know what you want. You should also provide them copies of your advance directive or if you create a digital version, make sure you share it electronically. 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. titled “Northern Exposure - Malden just might be the hotspot waiting to happen:” “Modern Asian décor, cheery lighting, and wide-open space make AST the place for weekend cocktails in Malden. Hell, even mid-week, the bar is hopping! And why not? The drink menu is kicky and creative, and the sushi is fantastic.” • AST had barely opened for business when these nice words appeared on May 20, 2007, in the Globe North section of The Boston Sunday Globe: “Not bad for a place with fl at screens, ikebana fl oral arrangements, and fancy hand soap in the bathroom. When we left, Tran rushed over to say goodbye. Meredith and Jessica, he said, smiling, to prove he had remembered. And with that, we were offi cially charmed. Most likely, there will soon be too many customers for Tran to give us that kind of personal attention, but we’ll forgive him. We’d rather the place get busy so that is stays around for a long time.” • Meredith and Jessica, just for the record, in 2024 I would bet my last dollar bill that Douglas would remember both your names. That is just how that cat rolls. • Dr. Ralph Lazer Epstein, 83, of Danvers, formerly of Malden. May his memory be a blessing. • Toby (Klasky) Bondy, 84, of Boca Raton, Fla., and Lexington, formerly of Malden. May her memory be a blessing. As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – I recently ran a picture (again) on Facebook of legendary singer/songwriter/human rights activist Stevie Wonder playing at the Jenkins Auditorium back in 1973. The photo is going viral with tons of comments and remembrances of that fabled day. The photo was taken by well-known Maldonian (M.H.S. Class of 1973’s) Kenny Mazonson. Stevie did a short set of songs at the Jenkins at the behest of one of our beloved educators at the time, Mrs. Phillips. The announcement came early in the day that an “emergency gathering for the whole school” was to take place almost immediately. For some odd reason, the sophomore class was excluded – so much for the “whole school.” Once all were seated, to the delight of the student body assembled, our Principal Arthur Boyle announced from the stage that “Steve Wonder (NOT Stevie, as he was known to all) was in the Auditorium.” Stevie comes strutting down the Auditorium steps – accompanied by Mrs. Phillips – decked out in all his 1973 glory! From the story I have heard, another educator, Mrs. Cliff ord, had become friends with Stevie’s manager while the Class of 1973 were doing a Sickle Cell Anemia Fundraiser. Although sophomores weren’t initially invited, as soon as word spread of who was in the house, teachers soon relented, and the rest of the student body came rushing in. I had a prime seat already. I had a “study hall” across from the Jenkins, and as soon as I got wind of what was going on, I gate crashed. Mrs. Philip’s son Brian remembers the day like this: “I was in 8th grade, only 14 at the time and I really lucked out being there. I knew Stevie was famous, but I don’t think it really hit me HOW big a deal it was till he won all those Grammys a few months later and the years that followed. I was just starting to discover music in general and my own personal taste. Sadly, I think I only have one picture and it appeared in the yearbook that year. I know there are others fl oating around somewhere, my mom, who orchestrated the whole thing moved in with my sister and her husband in Virginia and photos she had are probably packed away somewhere.” Stevie played a short set. I remember being awestruck, as were most in the Jenkins that day, Stevie being one of the biggest recording artists of the day and already on his way to becoming an icon. We wanted it to last forever; it certainly does in ALL our memories, but Mr. Boyle fi nally took the stage and announced (and I quote), “Mr. Wonder, the boys and girls have to get back to class.” Helen Mae (Battle) Phillips was described as a “wonderful and gracious woman” with a “gentle spirit and caring ways.” She passed away in April of 2014 at 89 years young. May her memory be a blessing. —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate and can be reached at PeteL39@ aol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms.
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