Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MAy 1, 2026 Saugus Gardens in the Spring Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener A month like this only comes along once in a blue moon! Literally. Today, May Day, is the first full moon of this month, known as the Flower Moon. We have another full moon on the 31st, however, and the second of two full moons in any month is known as the blue moon. May Day, known as Beltane in parts of the UK, has been celebrated for thousands of years as the start of summer and a celebration of fertility and fire. People would decorate their homes with flowers and green boughs. It is the point midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Dancing around a maypole was a longtime tradition, although Puritans in New England disapproved highly of it, and people who participated in this ritual were often punished in the 17th century. If you wondered where the “Saugus Gardens” column was last week on Arbor Day, it appeared on The Advocate facebook page. Another garden-related article you will find there is an account of this year’s “Books In Bloom,” which was held at the library April 10 and 11, written by Gabriella Galbadis. There is just too much going on in town now that spring has sprung! Anyone driving down Walnut Street this week would be rewarded if they glanced away This beautiful border of daffodils, tulips and hyacinths cheers drivers on Walnut Street. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) A FEW WORDS ON THE TAXATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS f your only source of income is social security benefits, none of your social security benefits will be taxable. However, if you have other sources of income, the amount of your social security benefits that will be taxable will depend upon your provisional income (PI). PI equals the total of (1) tax-exempt interest, (2) 50% of your social security benefits and (3) other income items that comprise your adjusted gross income, less certain deductions and exclusions. For a single taxpayer, if PI I is less than $25,000, then the social security benefits are fully tax-free; if PI is between $25,000 and $34,000, then up to 50% of the benefits are taxable. If PI is over $34,000, then up to 85% of the benefits are subject to tax. For a married couple filing a joint tax return, if PI is less than $32,000, then the social security benefits are fully tax free; if PI is between $32,000 and $44,000, then up to 50% of the benefits are taxable; if PI is over $44,000, then up to 85% of the benefits are subject to tax. of age or older. A married couple filing a joint return where each taxpayer is at least age 65 will be entitled to a $12,000 deduction. This is the so-called “no tax on social security” deduction. The deduction begins Your PI will include taxable interest, dividends, capital gain income, W-2 income, net rental real estate income, unemployment income, IRA distributions, pension income, gambling income, etc. Therefore, for many taxpayers, much of their social security income then becomes taxable. The question then becomes how much is taxable? As part of the tax return preparation process, a tax software program will automatically perform the calculation to arrive at the answer. The Big Beautiful Bill provides for a $6,000 deduction for a single person 65 years to be phased out for a single taxpayer and a taxpayer filing as head of household once modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) reaches $75,000 and is completely phased out once MAGI reaches $175,000. For a joint tax return, the deduction begins to be phased out once MAGI reaches $150,000 and is completely phased out once MAGI reaches $250,000. This deduction is available whether you take the standard deduction or you itemize your deductions. Eliminating income taxes on social security would simply have been too costly for our federal government. Such a bill was never going to pass. The $6,000 deduction has helped reduce income taxes for many Americans for the 2025 tax year. The deduction is good until 2028. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a masters degree in taxation. A relaxing spot at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site under the magnolia is just waiting for you to sit and enjoy the flowers! (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) from the blue waters of Birch Pond to admire the beautiful array of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths along the front of a yellow house across the street. This beautiful garden is radiant with a rainbow of colors at the foundation and colorful pansies lining the narrow strip between the parking area and street. Nap Aut and his wife Amab Van just moved in about a year ago and wanted to make the gardens around their home facing the reservoir look beautiful for passersby. They certainly succeeded, since both my niece and I were both struck by the new gardens as we drove through GARDEN | SEE PAGE 11
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