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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 22, 2023 Page 19 INVESTMENT | FROM PAGE 3 vironments and implementation of best practices. “It is critical we support early education programs and schools to intentionally align policies, curricula and assessments to ensure a smooth transition between preschool and kindergarten – which is essential for a child’s educational success and love of reading,” said Commissioner Kershaw. “Early education is the start of the educational journey for our youngest learners. I am proud to be partnering with our education colleagues and these organizations to develop and provide programs with resources and supports so children can develop the language and literacy skills they need, closing the learning gap before they enter kindergarten.” This investment in high-quality, effective early literacy programming supports for preschoolers expands DESE’s Mass Literacy initiative. This initiative helps every student to develop language comprehension, fluent word reading, and writing skills for a strong foundation for literacy in grades preK3. Also, under Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts (GLEAM) and Accelerating Literacy grants, DESE has been offering opportunities for districts to receive multiyear technical support and financial reMUSINGS | FROM PAGE 6 posts honoring her life were what makes social media special in such tragic times. Mother would have loved to have read them and would have bragged unabashedly about one particular photo of her shoveling snow, reaching over 300 likes! My saint of a mother shoveling her sidewalk on Charles St. as her four big strong boys slept through the morning. They don't make them like Dorothy Drago Levine any longer. For mom, her favorite Dr. Seuss Christmas quote. “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. sources for improvements in English Language Arts/Literacy teaching and learning. In the 2022-2023 school year, DESE released the Commonwealth’s own early literacy curriculum, a completely free, high-quality reading foundational skills curriculum for students in pre-K-2, called Appleseed. In an Appleseed district, kindergarten students at or above reading benchmark went from 28% to 85% in just one year. The $850,000 comes from several funding sources: $700,000 from CCPI funding in the fiscal year 2024 budget and $150,000 through the federal Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5). Through CPPI, EEC funds districts across the state to develop partnerships between the school district and local private EEC programs to expand access to high-quality preschool within the district. Massachusetts was awarded a three-year, $36 million federal PDG B-5 grant in January 2023. “This is a most important investment as we believe that the key to upward mobility in life is literacy,” said Malden Mayor Gary Christenson. “What makes this investment especially important is that it is targeted toward our preschoolers, which is critical in a city like ours with several community-based partners as well as the Malden Early Learning Center. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?” Postscript 1: It won't soon replace 'It's A Wonderful Life' as the holiday go-to but the 1960 Rod Serling penned Twilight Zone episode with Art Carney, "The Night of the Meek," is a minor classic and is worth a watch. Postscript 2: To my grandchildren Christian, Lola, Jack, Lana, and Milo - thank you once again for taking me along with you through another magical holiday season. Postscript 3: Shane “Fairytale of New York” McGowan - "and the bells were ringing out, for Christmas day" - may his memory be a blessing. Postscript 4:I love Malden during the holiday season. It is tattooed on my heart and soul made extra special with memoThanks to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our State Delegation for making this possible and for officially announcing it in our community.” “We are thrilled that the Healey-Driscoll Administration is allocating $850,000 towards early education and literacy programs,” said Representative Donato. “As a long-standing advocate of childhood education, I recognize that it is extremely important to build a strong educational foundation starting from a young age. The children in Malden and in the rest of the state will greatly benefit under the guidance and support of Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Secretary Tutwiler, and Commissioner Kershaw.” “As an educator and a former school principal, I have seen first-hand how important early literacy is in shaping our children’s future,” said Representative Ultrino. “Here in Malden, we are fortunate to have teachers and staff who are dedicated to helping our students develop these critical, foundational skills. With the additional investment and leadership from Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Secretary Tutwiler, and Commissioner Kershaw, we can ensure that all young students in Malden, and across the Commonwealth, are equipped to succeed in the classroom and beyond.” ries of my late mom on that special morning. With that said… one of my favorite Boston Globe columnists, Beverly Beckham, at her very best: "Maybe this is the miracle of Christmas, not only that the heart remembers but that it speaks. And we listen. And while we do, it's not the craziness and busyness of the season that we feel. It's a kind of peace mixed with joy and love and gratitude. For what was. And for who was. And who is. And for all the Christmases past and this next one that's yet to come." Merry Christmas and happy new year, Malden! Postscript 5: One more for the road, could not wait; congratulations to Malden's brand-new City Solicitor, Alicia McNeil!! Ali is the best! Malden is in the very best of hands with Ali in control! Way to go Malden! Way to go, Ali! REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS BUYER1 HUYNH, THAO PINTO, HENRY B SOKOL, RANDI TADESSE, TAMERAT BUYER2 NGUYEN, THUAN WONDIMAGEGN, KALKIDAN SELLER1 REARDON FT VIHAAN LLC KAUFFMAN, MATTHEW EPHESUS LLC SELLER2 REARDON, JOSEPH KAUFFMAN, MELISSA TESTAMENTARY SPECIAL POWERS OF APPOINTMENT T estamentary special powers of appointment provisions contained in an irrevocable trust allow the Settlor of the trust to exercise the power via his or her Last Will and Testament. The Last Will and Testament will have to be submitted to a probate court and allowed. It is through the Last Will and Testament of the Settlor of the Trust that the exercise of the testamentary special power of appointment contained within the terms of the irrevocable trust is achieved. If the Settlor of an irrevocable Medicaid trust includes such a provision in the Trust to appoint (i.e.redirect) the Trust principal to a class of individuals such as the descendants of the Settlor, the Settlor thereby reserves the right to change the ultimate beneficiaries of the Trust that were originally going to receive the balance of the Trust estate upon the Settlor’s death. If the Settlor simply wants to change who would actually receive the Trust estate, the Settlor, by reserving this testamentary special power of appointment, can include a provision in his or her Will that exercises the power by having the Will allowed in probate court. Therefore, such a change can still be made even though the trust is otherwise irrevocable. This special power of appointment, also referred to as a limited power of appointment, cannot include the power to appoint to the Settlor, the Settlor’s estate or the creditors of the Settlor’s estate. If such a power was included within the terms of the Trust, it would simply not be a special power of appointment, and would cause the assets in the Trust to be countable for MassHealth eligibility purposes. One other benefit of such a provision in an irrevocable trust is the obtainment of the step-up in cost basis under Internal Revenue Code Section 2038. This is because when the assets are transferred to the irrevocable trust an incomplete gift results due to the special power of appointment provision thereby causing the Trust assets to be included in the gross taxable estate of the Settlor upon his or her death. Treasury Regulation 25.2511-2(b). If your home is transferred to such a Trust that you may have purchased 40 years ago for $150,000, but that is now worth $800,000, upon your death, the cost basis of the home will then become $800,000 in the hands of your beneficiaries due to the step-up in cost basis provisions of IRC Section 1014. A subsequent sale of the home by your children shortly after your death for $800,000 will result in no capital gain. If your total estate is below $2million, there also will be no Massachusetts estate tax to be paid. In a typical Medicaid irrevocable Trust, this is but one provision that will result in a much-desirable step-up in cost basis in order to avoid a substantial future capital gain and a corresponding substantial capital gains tax. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a master’s degree in taxation. Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information visit: www.thewarrengroup.com. ADDRESS 91 WEST ST 36-38 BRYANT ST 47 CLIFTON ST 45 LOOMIS ST #121 CITY MALDEN MALDEN MALDEN MALDEN DATE 12.07.23 12.08.23 12.06.23 12.08.23 PRICE 800000 1445000 750000 403000 For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net

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