THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 23, 2024 Page 11 Music at the Iron Works An orange-colored moon and Neil young’s “Harvest Moon” entertained the crowd at last week’s free concert By Laura Eisener T he Ditto Band played many favorites, including “Harvest Moon” written by Neil Young; “Southern Cross” written by Stephen Stills, Michael Curtis and Rick Curtis; “For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey, What’s That Sound)” by Stephen Stills; and “Teach Your Children” written by Graham Nash. A few other songs on the long list were Harry Chapin’s song “Cat’s In The Cradle,” “Drift Away” written by Mentor Williams and “To Love Somebody” written by Barry and Robin Gibb. Last week’s free concert (Wednesday, Aug. 14) also featured The Beatles’ song “Eleanor Rigby,” “Horse With No Name” written ASKS | FROM PAGE 7 and I’m excited to see it all come together. What I am most looking forward to is seeing all of the enrichment programs come to fruition after a few years of trying to get it together. I am also looking forward to the fresh and experienced perspective that Dr. Scuzzarella brings to the High School. Oh, and of course I am excited to see all of the happy faces walking through the doors! er School Committee Member Ryan FishQ: What are your top priorities or concerns as a School Committee member facing the new school year? A: My top priority for the new school year is continued focus on student achievement. Many of the investments we’ve made into classrooms, in terms of teaching methods and new high quality curriculum, needed time to show results, and that time is now. Families are going to be very pleased by the results they’ll see this year, but there’s always more work to do. We have several new administrators, amazing teachers, and great students. We owe them a lot and we’re going to have a great year. Q: What are you most looking forward to in the new year? Is there a program or a few programs that give you great expectations for the new year? A: I’m most excited to see the after school enrichment program that had such a successful pilot last year be sized up and expanded to all buildings. The programs are academic oriented, and help kids break out of their molds with new activities and new friend groups. Students learned entire skill sets without feeling like they were at school and were so proud of themselves. School Committee Member Stephanie Mastrocola Q: What are your top priorities or concerns as a School Committee member facing the new school year? A: My top priorities for this school year The Ditto Band played at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for an appreciative crowd of all ages in mid-August. (Courtesy Photo of Laura Eisener) by Dewey Bunnell and “The Boxer” written by Paul Simon. These songs had a few of the spectators up on their feet. As usual at the Iron Works, there were some wildlife sightings. Adults and children enjoyed watching a rabbit graze are the new policies we spent hours on revamping. Such as dress code and the use of the cell phones. We have to start somewhere. I know it will not be easy, but we have to take these steps to try and get back on track with learning and not being distracted. The teachers and all of the staff have to feel supported. They can no longer do this alone. There will be pushback I’m sure, but we have to work together on these issues. We can talk about things until we are blue in the face but it’s the actions and follow through that parents and guardians want to see. I want to instill these policies at an early age so when the students reach the complex, they know what to expect. We have to focus on bringing back RESPECT. Not just for one another but also for the students themselves. We are living in a social media world, which we can no longer fight. We need to reflect and focus in the moment. What we can do is strengthen how our kids view themselves and how they treat each other. My priorities of course will be increased MCAS scores but also making sure the students feel challenged enough. Taking small steps in the right direction is my main goal. If we work together as a team, I know we can accomplish great things. Teaching kids the value of their success comes in all different ways. I say to my son more than once a day “Follow through with what you start. It may not always be the result or outcome you want but it will always teach you something”. Q: What are you most looking forward to in the new year? Is there a program or a few programs that give you great expectations for the new year? A: I am looking forward to some of the new staff that have joined us. Their energy and what they will bring to this district has been exciting to see. I am looking forward to working with the leadership and bringing a new sense of pride back to Saugus. I know things will take time, but I am hopeful and will always work to do better for our community and our children. An orange color tinted the moon from wildfire smoke during the August 14 concert at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. (Courtesy Photo of Laura Eisener) on the grass near the band before it retreated to its burrow under the stage. Ducks frequently flew by. The rising WONG | FROM PAGE 5 the Commonwealth for at least one year, six months, or three months, respectively, and can provide documented proof of residency. These amendments, which were not adopted, included language providing an exemption for victims of domestic violence or individuals whose living situation has been affected by a fire or other natural disaster that occurred in Massachusetts. During the Fiscal Year 2025 House budget debate in April, Representative Wong supported a House Republican Leadership amendment to prioritize emergency shelter assistance placement eligibility for honorably discharged homeless veterans. While the amendment was rejected, new guidelines for the emergency shelter assistance program – issued on July 23 by Governor Maura Healey and effective on August 1 – include a requirement that families with at least one member who is a veteran receive priority placement in shelters. In addition to voting against supplemental funding for the emergency assistance family shelter program due to the lack of reforms to rein in costs, Representative Wong also opposed an overreaching gun reform bill that threatens the Second Amendment rights of the state’s lawful gun owners. Noting that Massachusetts already has some of the strongest gun laws in the country and the second-lowest gun violence rate in the nation, he called the bill “a solution in search of a problem” that will do nothing to reduce crime in Massachusetts. Representative Wong also supported a comprehensive tax relief package included as part of a 2023 economic development bill that is expected to provide taxpayers with an estimated $1.02 billion in savings once the changes are fully implemented in 2026. Highlights of the tax relief package include provisions to: • double the Senior Circuit Breaker tax credit from $1,200 to $2,400, indexed to inflation, to assist nearly 100,000 seniors with their housing costs; • eliminate the estate tax for all estates valued under $2 million and allow for a uniform credit of $99,600, effective January 1, 2023; • combine the child and dependent tax credits into one while eliminating the existing cap and increasing the credit from $180 to $310 in FY23 and to $440 in FY24, which will benefit over 565,000 families; • increase the rental deduction cap from $3,000 to $4,000, which will assist approximately 800,000 renters; • raise the Earned Income Tax Credit from 30% to 40% of the federal credit, which will benefit approximately 400,000 taxpayers earning less than $60,000; • allow municipalities to provide up to $2,000 in property WONG | SEE PAGE 15 moon had an orange tinge due to the smoke from Canadian wildfires that drifted our way.
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