Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 8, 2024 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 16 A new town tradition? Halloween at the Hall. It could become a new town tradition if Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree has his way. Hundreds of kids stopped by Saugus Town Hall on Halloween (Oct. 31) for the first-ever community-wide Town Hall Trick-or-Treat, according to the Town Manager’s Office. Children wearing their favorite Halloween costumes strolled through Town Hall from 2:30-4 p.m. collecting candy and treats at different offices. Town Hall employees dressed up for the special occasion while handing out the goodies in the first floor and basement hallways. Town Manager Crabtree got into the Halloween spirit, too, as he sported a Buzz Lightyear costume while passing out candy and welcoming families to the Town Hall Trickor-Treat. “As a first-time community-wide event we weren’t sure what to expect, but the turnout was terrific,” Crabtree said. “It was great to see so many children and parent caregivers really get into the trick-or-treat experience at Town Hall. Thank you to all of our town employees who pitched in to make this event possible – hopefully the first of many community-wide Saugus Town Hall Trick-orTreats.” “Saugus 4-1-1” gearing up for 2025 Selectman Corinne Riley, who was the driving force behind a nifty program that helps newcomers to Saugus – as well as old-timers – get better acquainted with their community, said she regrets that “Saugus 4-1-1” didn’t happen this fall after successful Saturdays at the Saugus Middle-High School over the past two years. “The Saugus 4-1-1 Committee would like everyone to know that the Saugus 4-1-1 event will be taking place, but will be held in March 2025,” Selectman Riley said in a recent announcement. “Invitations to all new residents as well as non-profits will be mailed out in January. We are looking forward to having this wonderful event for new residents as well as those who have been here for years to learn what Saugus has to offer! More detailed information will be coming soon,” she said. Stay tuned for updates on “Saugus 4-1-1.” Fall curbside leaf collection dates Town Manager Scott Crabtree’s office has released the dates for the fall curbside RON’S OIL Call For PRICE MELROSE, MA 02176 NEW CUSTOMER’S WELCOME ACCEPTING VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER (781) 397-1930 OR (781) 662-8884 100 GALLON MINIMUM leaf collection: Tuesday, Nov. 12 to Saturday, Nov. 16 (oneday delay this week due to Veterans Day) and Monday, Dec. 2 to Friday, Dec. 6. Residents may dispose of leaves curbside on their regularly scheduled collection day, between Monday and Friday on these dates listed. Leaves should be left outside at the curb by 7 a.m. on the appropriate days. Please ensure that leaf containers are physically separated from trash and recycling. Paper leaf bags are the preferred method of leaf disposal. If you are using barrels, they must be clearly marked with yard waste stickers. Yard waste stickers, which are free, may be obtained at Inspectional Services in the lower level of Saugus Town Hall at 298 Central St., or at the Saugus Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. Barrel covers must remain removed so that the leaves are visible. Plastic bags, cardboard boxes, branches and brush will not be accepted. Please note that separate trucks collect the rubbish, recycling and leaves, so the leaves may be collected at a different time of day. “Missed pickups” will not be conducted. Please contact Recycling Director Scott Brazis at 781231-4036 with any questions. Here’s what’s going on at the Saugus Public Library Five bucks for a bag of books! The New Friends of the Saugus Public Library are offering quite a bargain – $5 for a bag of books. Purchase a New Friends of the Saugus Public Library mesh book bag at the Main Desk for $5 THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 19 Say nior How to Write a Living Will Say nr Sa y Senior Senio by Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, What’s the best way to go about writing a living will? I’m approaching age 73 and in poor health and would like to get this done without spending a lot of money. Need Help Dear Need, Preparing a living will now is a smart decision that gives you say in how you want to be treated at the end of your life. Here’s what you should know, along with some resources to help you write one. What to Prepare To adequately spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment you need two legal documents: A “living will” which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated, and a “health care power of attorney” (or health care proxy), which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to. These two documents are known as an “advance directive,” and will only be utilized if you are too ill to make medical decisions yourself. You can also change or update it whenever you please. It isn’t necessary to hire a lawyer to prepare an advance directive. There are a number of free or low-cost do-it-yourself resources available today to help you create one, and it takes only a few minutes from start to fi nish. Some top options include: CaringInfo.org: This is a program created by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization that provides free state-specifi c living will forms that you can download, print and fi ll out. Or you can call 800-658-8898 and they will mail them to you and answer any questions you may have. MyDirectives.com: If you’d rather create a digital (online only) advance directive, MyDirectives is an online tool and mobile app that will help you create, store and share a detailed, customized digital advance directive. FiveWishes.org: This is another top-rated resource for creating a comprehensive paper or digital advance directive. They charge $5 for the paper form and $15 for the digital version, which is stored on the Other Options If you’re interested in making an entire estate plan that will include your will and/or trust, power of attorney and advance directive, there are many do-it-yourself online services that typically run between $100 and $250. Some top services include Quicken WillMaker & Trust software (WillMaker.com), Trust & Will (TrustandWill.com), and Legal Zoom (LegalZoom.com), which also makes basic living wills for only $39. Or, if you’d rather have a professional do it for you, contact an estate planning attorney. See NAELA. org or NAEPC.org to help you locate someone in your area. Costs will vary depending on where you live, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $500 and $2,000 for a basic estate plan. Add-ons You should also consider getting a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) as part of your advance directive, since advanced directives do little to protect you from unwanted emergency care like CPR. To create a DNR, ask your doctor to fi ll out a state appropriate form and sign it. Another tool you should know about that will complement your advance directive is the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or POLST (sometimes called Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or MOLST). A POLST form translates your end-of-life wishes into medical orders to be honored by your doctors. To learn more about your state’s program or set one up, see POLST.org. Tell Your Family To ensure your fi nal wishes are followed, make sure to tell your family members, health care proxy and doctors so they all know what you want. You should also provide them copies of your advance directive or if you create a digital version, make sure you share it electronically. 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. ior website that you or your family can access anytime. VA Advance Directive: If you’re a veteran, the VA also provides a free advance directive form specifi cally for you at VA.gov/fi nd-forms/aboutform-10-0137.
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