Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 12, 2022 THE SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 13 gree in English and earned her PhD from the University of Virginia. After teaching English at the college level, Dr. Droisen opened KAD Tutoring and College Counseling, and she is a member of the New England Association for College Admissions Counseling (NEACAC). Parents and students are both welcome to join this free event! Navigating the College Search is being offered in person and by Zoom. To register to attend in person at the Saugus Public Library, please either email sau@noblenet. org, call 781-231-4168 ext. 3107 or visit the Reference Desk. To register for the Zoom meeting: https://us06web. zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZwudO6hpzsrGtGVGvEZqs7gg7q5k_NKs8rz “I’m an engaged, dedicated, supportive tutor and college counselor working in-person in the Boston area and remotely,” Droisen said. “In 1988, I earned my BA in English from Barnard College, Columbia University. I went on to earn an MA and PhD in English literature at the University of Virginia. After completing my doctorate, I joined the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as a tenure-track assistant professor of English,” she said. “In subsequent years, I worked as a fundraiser for local and international non-profit organizations. In 2015, I returned to my first love – education – and became a full-time tutor and college counselor.” Grand Knights Banquet in September The Saugus Knights of Columbus Council #1829 is hostSavvy Senior BY JIM MILLER How to Choose a 55-Plus Active Adult Community Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for choosing a good active adult housing community? My husband and I, who recently retired, are planning to relocate to an area closer to our grandkids and are interested in buying a house in an age-restricted 55-plus housing community. Active Retirees Dear Active, If you’re contemplating moving into an age-restricted community, finding one that’s right for you takes some legwork. While active adult communities generally offer the opportunity for a lower-maintenance lifestyle around similar aged people, they vary enormously. Here’s what you should know. Today’s active adult communities come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, ranging from small city-based apartment complexes, to single-family homes, to sprawling resort-style locations situated on a gated golf course. Most are owned by their occupants, but a growing number are rentals. Typically, at least one occupant of each property must be at least 55. It’s also important to understand that 55-plus active adult communities are not the same as retirement or independent living communities, which are primarily designed for older seniors in their 70s and 80s. Active adult communities do not typically include meals or have a central dining area, but many of them do offer a range of recreational amenities and activities. To help you locate and research active adult communities in the areas you’re interested in, the best resource is 55places.com. This is a comprehensive website that provides ratings, reviews and information on activities and amenities for thousands of communities across the country. Once you find a few you like, here are some questions to ask yourself that can help you choose: What’s our budget? To help you choose the right active adult community you’ll first need to determine what you can afford. Consider the home’s purchase price, whether you’ll need a mortgage, how much the property taxes and insurance are, and how much the homeowners’ association or community fees are. These fees, which typically run a few hundred dollars per month, go toward lawn care and possibly snow removal, as well as community areas like a clubhouse or pool. However, some communities may require additional memberships or fees for golf, tennis, classes, or other activities. You also need to consider the area’s cost of living for other things like food, utilities, transportation, health care and taxes. Numbeo. com and BestPlaces.net offer tools to compare the cost from your current location to where you would like to move. And Kiplinger’s has a tax guide for retirees at Kiplinger.com/links/retireetaxmap that lets you find and compare taxes state-by-state. How active is the community? Some communities provide fitness facilities, swimming pools, tennis courts and more, along with dozens of organized activities, classes and social events. Other communities are much simpler and more laid back with very limited amenities and structured activities. You’ll want to choose a community that has the types of people, facilities, activities and vibe that appeals to you. Will we like the surrounding area? Will the area around your prospective community serve your needs now and in the future? Ideally, this means having easy access to good doctors and hospitals, and a local airport if you plan to travel much. You’ll also want to research how far you’ll be from essential services like grocery stores, banks and pharmacies, as well as dining, shopping, and recreational attractions. Schedule a Visit Once you’ve narrowed your choices, call to make an appointment and visit them. Be sure to allow plenty of time at each community and, if possible, go back to your favorites more than once. Also be sure to ask questions while you are visiting, particularly about the community rules. Some developments will let you stay overnight in a model home for a few nights to get a feel of what it would be like to live there. While you are there, try the amenities and activities, and speak with as many residents as you can. 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. ing a Grand Knights’ Banquet on Friday, Sept. 9. The event will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall (57 Appleton St., Saugus) starting at 6 p.m. This event is to recognize all past Grand Knights, but it’s in special recognition of Former Grand Knight Chris Luongo for his devotion to charity and the Saugus Community. The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 and has 1.9 million members around the world. Core values include integrity, professionalism, excellence and respect. Charity is at the heart of everything they do. Everyone is welcome to attend this event! Tickets are $30 each. For more information, please call Richard at 781-858-1117. Saugus seeks student poll workers Town Clerk Ellen Schena’s Office is looking for student election workers. It is a great way for them to learn how their government functions and how important it is to vote. Sixteen-year-old students are eligible to work ½ day (six to eight hours); 17-18-year-old students may work a full day (eight to 12 hours). All students can receive community service which is imperative to them in order to satisfy their High School requirement mandated for graduation, or they can be paid for their hours worked. In addition, the Town Clerk’s Office will gladly write letters of recommendation for the National Honor Society, Colleges, etc. Interested students can stop by Town Hall or contact the Town Clerk’s Office to apply for work. Ask for Andrew DePatto, the Saugus Election Coordinator. He can be reached at 781-231-4102. In-Person Early Voting Town Election Coordinator Andrew DePatto also wants Saugus residents to know about some important dates coming up, as it relates to In-Person Early Voting for the Sept. 6 State Primary. There are several dates when folks can participate in Early Voting at the Saugus Public Library (295 Central St., Taylor Street Entrance): · Saturday, August 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Also last day to register to vote for September’s Election.) · Monday, August 29, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. · Tuesday, August 30, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. · Wednesday, August 31, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. · Thursday, Sept. 1, 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Friday, Sept. 2, 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. This pertinent information regarding early voting is also on the Town of Saugus website under the Town Clerk, https://www.saugus-ma.gov/ town-clerk/bulletins/person-early-voting Food pantry seeks volunteers Here’s a message from Pastor Joe Hoyle of Cliftondale Congregational Church about a collaborative community commitment to help needy Saugus residents: “The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is a partnership between the churches in Saugus to ensure that no one in our community faces food insecurity. “With faithful donations and volunteers, we have been able to give out thousands of meals to our neighbors in need throughout the years. The Food Pantry is open every Friday from 9:30am-11am, distributing pre-packaged groceries (including meat and produce) at 50 Essex St. “We are always in need of volunteers.If you would like to volunteer or donate, please contact Pastor Joe Hoyle, Executive Director at office@clindalecc.org or 781-233-2663.” Concerts for vets Rockin’ 4 Vets presents “Homegrown Rock Concerts” and “Throw Back Thursdays” for New England Vets this summer at the Kowloon Restaurant’s outdoor venue on Route 1 North in Saugus. For tickets and prices go to gimmelive.com. Home Grown Rock Lineup – doors open at 3 p.m. – concert at 4 p.m. AUGUST: August 14–Rockin the House! Deric Dyer; August 21–James Montgomery– Christine Ohlman; August 28– Veronica Lewis. Tribute Bands – doors open at 6pm – concert at 7 p.m. AUGUST: August 18–Another Tequila Sunrise–Eagles; August 25–Panorama–The Cars. SEPTEMBER: September 1– Being Petty–Tom Petty; September 8–Studio Two–The Beatles; September 15–Completely Unleashed–Van Halen. If you would like to attend a show, please call Lauren at 617-247-4112. Band photos are available upon request. More outdoor music at Kowloon The Kowloon Restaurant announced their outdoor concert series for August with a variety of live bands at their Route 1 North in Saugus outTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 15
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