Page 22 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2023 BEACON | FROM Page 20 commission to help combat Lyme disease. “Massachusetts is a leader in public education on the cutting edge of student development and advancement. Despite these gains, many of our children attend school in older buildings, where outdated plumbing puts them at risk of lead ingestion. REVERE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ~ Public Hearing ~ Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of Section 61 of Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws, that the Revere School Committee will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Emmanuel M. Ferrante School Committee Room and via Zoom. School, 101 School Street, for the purpose of discussing and voting the enrollment of non-resident students (also known as School Choice) in the Revere Public Schools. May 12, 2023 This cannot continue.” ---Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) on the third edition of the MASSPIRG Education Fund report “Get The Lead Out” which gave Massachusetts a C- grade for its lack of a statewide requirement to prevent lead contamination of schools’ drinking water. “If we give away hundreds of millions of dollars each year in new tax breaks for the ultra-rich and large corporations, we won’t be able to make the investments in housing, childcare and transportation that are needed to make Massachusetts truly affordable, equitable and competitive.” ---Andrew Farnitano, spokesperson for Raise Up Massachusetts in response to new data showing that state tax revenues plummeted last month, falling $2.2 billion below April 2022 collections. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and enate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible latenight sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session During the week of May 1-5, the House and Senate each met for a total of 20 minutes. Mon. May 1 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:08 a.m. Senate 11:05 a.m. to 11:11 a.m. Tues. May 2 No House session No Senate session Wed. May 3 No House session No Senate session Thurs. May 4 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Senate 11:24 a.m. to 11:38 a.m. Fri. May 5 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall. com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019 COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SALES & RENTALS Happy Mother’s Day! Sandy Juliano Broker/President EVERETT - 26-26A Victoria Street. 2 family, 5 & 6 room, $850,000. Call Sandy at 617-448-0854 Follow Us On: UNDER AGREEMENT OPEN HOUSE Saturday, May 13 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM 5 Bedroom Single LISTED BY NORMA! Family. 129 Walnut St., Everett $629,900. Call Norma for details 617-590-9143 List Your Home or Apartment With Us! Open Daily From 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. 433 Broadway, Suite B, Everett, MA 02149 www.jrs-properties.com Norma Capuano Parziale 617-590-9143 Rosemarie Ciampi 617-957-9222 How to Prepare a Will Dear Savvy Senior, I would like to make my last will and testament and would like to know if I can do it myself, or do I need to hire a lawyer? Don’t Have Much Dear Don’t, Very good question! Almost everyone needs a will, but only around one-third of American have actually prepared one. Having a last will and testament is important because it ensures your money and property will be distributed to the people you want to receive it after your death. If you die without a will (a.k.a. dying “intestate”), your estate will be settled in accordance with state law. Details vary by state, but assets typically are distributed using a hierarchy of survivors i.e., fi rst to a spouse, then to children, then your siblings, and so on. You also need to be aware Joe DiNuzzo 617-680-7610 that certain accounts take precedence over a will. If you jointly own a home or a bank account, for example, the house, and the funds in the account, will go to the joint holder, even if your will directs otherwise. Similarly, retirement accounts and life insurance policies are distributed to the beneficiaries you designate, so it is important to keep them up to date too. Do You Need a Lawyer? Not necessarily. Creating a will with a do-it-yourself software program may be acceptable in some cases, particularly if you have a simple, straightforward estate and an uncomplicated family situation. Otherwise, it’s best to seek professional advice. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone. If you need help finding someone the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org), the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC.org) and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC.org) websites are good resources that have online directories to help you search. Costs will vary depending on your location and the complexity of your situation, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,000 or more to get your will made. To help you save, shop around and get price quotes from several diff erent fi rms. And before you meet with an attorney, make a detailed list of your assets and accounts to help make your visit more effi cient. If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (see FindLegalHelp.org) to fi nd lowcost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 for a referral. If you are interested in a do-ityourself will, some top options to consider are Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust (Nolo.com, $99) and Trust & Will (TrustandWill.com, $159). Or, if that’s more than you’re willing to pay, you can make your will for free at FreeWill.com or DoYourOwnWill.com. It’s also recommended that if you do create your own will, have a lawyer review it to make sure it covers all the important bases. Where to Store it? Once your will is written, the best place to keep it is either in a fi reproof safe or fi le cabinet at home, in a safe deposit box in your bank or online at sites like Everplans.com. But make sure your executor knows where it is and has access to it. Or, if a professional prepares your will, keep the original document at your lawyer’s office. Also, be sure to update your will if your family or fi nancial circumstances change, or if you move to another state. 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. Denise Matarazzo 617-953-3023 617-294-1041 For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net
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