Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 24, 2026 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 9 possible through the generous support of the Saugus Cultural Council, Richard A. Kowalsky Insurance Agency, Inc., community partners, local businesses and sponsors. Saugus Television is currently seeking additional sponsors to help support this free community event. Businesses and organizations interested in sponsorship opportunities are encouraged to contact Saugus Television for more information. Volunteers are also needed to - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Essex Probate and Family Court 36 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 (978) 744-1020 Docket No. ES26P0122EA Estate of: RICHARD GREGORY WELLS Date of Death: 12/16/2025 CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION To all interested persons: A Petition for S/A - Formal Probate of Will with Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Make-A-Wish Foundation of Ame of Phoenix, AZ requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: Melissa A. Howitt of Franklin, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 08/20/2026. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, Hon. Frances M. Giordano, First Justice of this Court. Date: July 16, 2026 PAMELA A. CASEY O’BRIEN REGISTER OF PROBATE July 24, 2026 Virgina Rooney continues to shine: The 84-year-old longtime Saugus resident was recently presented with her 2nd Degree Blackbelt at Danvers Sun Taekwondo Academy, where she has been training under Grand Master Hong for almost 10 years. Ginnie’s indomitable spirit continues to shine! (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) assist with event setup, activities and operations throughout the evening. Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to contact Maureen Whitcomb at Saugus Community Television. Building on the anticipated success of this year’s event, Saugus Television hopes to continue the Starlight Cinema series with a special Halloween-themed movie night later this year. “This is the fi rst time Saugus is doing the movie,” said Whitcomb, the station’s administrative assistant. “Saugus TV wants to do a second one for Halloween, then wants to continue them next summer too. Similar to Wakefi eld and surrounding towns,” she said. Additional details will be announced as plans are fi nalized. Continued community support through sponsorships and volunteers will help make future free family events possible. Residents are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and bug spray and to gather with family and friends for an evening of outdoor entertainment, community spirit and summertime fun. For more information about Starlight Cinema, sponsorship opportunities or volunteer opTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 11 Sa Sa a Sa y Senior enior Sen by Jim Miller What to Do When Medical Bills Pile Up Dear Savvy Senior, I’m 63 and recently had a hospital stay that left me with bills I can’t aff ord to pay. I had Aff ordable Care Act health insurance, but after my premiums went up in January, I had to drop my coverage. Now I’m overwhelmed by medical bills. What can I do? --Struggling Patient Dear Struggling, You’re definitely not alone. Medical debt is very common. About 1 in 12 Americans are dealing with it, and many had insurance when the bills started piling up. The good news is there are ways to reduce what you owe and make it more manageable. Here are some steps that can help. Check your bills Medical billing errors are more common than you might think, so start by taking a close look at every bill and explanation of benefits you receive. Watch for duplicate charges, services you did not receive or prices that seem off . If something does not look right, call your provider’s billing offi ce and ask for an itemized bill. Do not be shy about asking questions. Even small mistakes can add up. Ask about help Most hospitals, especially nonprofi t ones, are required to off er fi nancial assistance programs, often called charity care. Depending on your income, you may qualify to have part or even all of your bill forgiven. Call the hospital billing offi ce and ask specifi cally about fi nancial assistance. You can also visit DollarFor.org, a nonprofi t that helps patients apply for charity care programs at no cost. Negotiate costs If you do not qualify for assistance, you still have options. Many hospitals and doctors are willing to work with patients, especially if you reach out early. Ask if they can lower the bill or off er a discount if you can pay something upfront. You can also request a no interest payment plan to spread the cost out over time. If this feels overwhelming, a medical billing advocate can help. The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates, at aphadvocates.org, can connect you with professionals who review bills and negotiate on your behalf. Find programs Since you recently lost coverage, it is also worth checking whether you qualify for Medicaid, especially if your income has dropped. You can apply through Healthcare.gov or your state Medicaid offi ce. Another helpful tool is Benefi tsCheckUp.org, from the National Council on Aging, which can point you to programs that help lower health care and prescription costs. Get support You do not have to handle this on your own. There are several trusted organizations that off er free or low-cost help. The Patient Advocate Foundation (patientadvocate.org) provides case management services and can help you fi nd fi nancial assistance. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (nfcc.org) off ers nonprofi t credit counseling and guidance on managing debt. You can also visit NeedyMeds.org to locate programs that can help lower the cost of prescriptions and other medical expenses. he most important thing is to act sooner rather than later. Ignoring medical bills can lead to collections and added stress, but many providers are willing to work with you if you reach out. Start by reviewing your bills, then explore assistance programs and payment options. With some persistence, you can often lower what you owe and set up a plan that fi ts your budget. Medical debt is common, even among people who had insurance, but it is often negotiable, and there are real resources available to help you through it. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior,P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. nr ior
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