Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – WEDnESDAy, nOVEmbEr 26, 2025 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 15 make the Tree Lighting such a resounding success each year. The Youth and Recreation Department, Department of Public Works, Building Maintenance Department, and other town employees all play key roles in planning and setting up the Tree Lighting. Senior Center Basket Raffle underway The Saugus Senior Center has launched the holidays with a Basket Raffle Fundraiser, featuring more than 40 baskets and 25 gift cards. The fundraiser will be open at the center (466 Central St.) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fifteen tickets cost $10 with a chance to win a door prize. The drawing will be held on Monday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. at the center. All proceeds benefit the Saugus Senior Center. Holiday crafts fair at St. John’s Dec. 6 St. John’s Episcopal Church is hosting a Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 8 Prospect St. in Saugus. We will have a number of assorted crafts, baked goods and vendor tables, as well as an indoor yard sale, snack bar, etc. Wills, Trusts and Asset Protection Presentation Dec. 8 The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee and Eagle Bank are sponsoring a Free Presentation for Wills, Trusts and Asset Protection. This event will be held on Monday, Dec. 8, from 10-11 a.m. at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St. in Saugus). Eagle Bank will be providing an attorney to discuss many issues: estate taxes, Medicaid, probate, property assignments, advantages and disadvantages of wills and living trusts and much more. To attend this free event, please call the Saugus Senior Center at 781-231-4178. Light refreshments will be served and walk-in’s are welcome. Library hosts Teen Creative Writing Group Dec. 8 Please join us on December 8 in the Brooks Room of the Saugus Public Library at 4 p.m. for a teen creative writing program! You can work on any creative writing project, such as a story, novel or poem. No registration is required; suitable for fifth grade and up. For details, contact Rachel at 781-2314168 (Reference) or rhuntington@nobel.org. Wreaths Across America deadline Nov. 28 On December 13 at noon, 2025 YEAR END TAX PLANNING T he State And Local Tax (SALT) deduction is now up to $40,000 for 2025. This would include real estate taxes, excise taxes and state income taxes. This is a substantial increase over the $10,000 limit placed into law by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. These deductions are claimed on Schedule A. Many more people will be itemizing their deductions in 2025 as a result, as the total of itemized deductions for many taxpayers will now exceed the standard deduction. Mortgage interest and charitable contributions are also itemized deductions. Nonitemizers can also claim a $1,000 charitable contribution ($2,000 for a joint return) beginning in 2026. Although this does not help you on your 2025 1040, it is good to keep in the back of your mind. Cash charitable contributions are limited to 60% of your adjusted gross income. Excess contributions can be carried over five years. There is also the new $6,000 deduction for taxpayers age 65 or older. For a joint return, the number is $12,000. This deduction was placed into law in order to help offset taxable social security income. There is also a new write-off for up out with MAGI of $200,000 for single taxpayers and $400,000 for joint filers. The right to take a deduction of $12,500 to offset your overtime pay begins to be phased out with MAGI of $150,000 for single taxpayers and $300,000 for joint filers, and is completely phased out with MAGI of $200,000 for single taxpayers and $400,000 for joint filers. Two energy-efficient home to $12,500 of overtime pay, up to $25,000 in tip income not having to be reported, and a write-off for up to $10,000 of interest on a car loan used to purchase a new car only. These deductions are subject to modified adjusted gross income limitations (MAGI). The $6,000 deduction for taxpayers age 65 or older begins to be phased out with MAGI of $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for joint filers, and is completely phased out with MAGI of $175,000 for single taxpayers and $250,000 for joint filers. The right to exclude $25,000 of tip income begins to be phased out with MAGI of $150,000 for single taxpayers and $300,000 for joint filers, and is completely phased improvement tax credits end after this year. The energy-efficient home improvement tax credit is for homeowners who install heat pumps, new doors, new windows, new boilers, new central air conditioning systems, etc. The 30% residential clean-energy tax credit is for homeowners that install solar panels, for example. Neither credit will be available starting in 2026. In order to claim either of these two tax credits, the installation and payment must be on or before 12-31-25. 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. the Parson Roby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (MA0136P) is sponsoring a Wreaths Across America event helping both Riverside and Old Burying Ground Cemeteries to remember and honor veterans by laying remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes. To sponsor your wreath(s) at $17 each or to volunteer to help place wreaths on December 13, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/MA0136P . There will be a brief ceremony at noon to honor all branches of the military followed by laying wreaths on our fallen heroes. Invite your friends and family to join us in honoring our servicemen and women. The cut-off date to order is November 28. In 2021, our first year sponsoring this event, we had over 360 wreaths sponsored. The community really stepped up and we are grateful for all the support we received. However, there are more than 1,200 veterans’ graves in Riverside and we are hoping that between the community and businesses there will be enough sponsored wreaths to cover all those graves this year. The Daughters of the American Revolution’s mission is to preserve American history and secure America’s future through education and promoting patriotism. For more information on how to participate or “What We Do,” email the Parson Roby Chapter DAR at parsonroby.saugusdar@ gmail.com.www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/MA0136P This ensures your wreath(s) are placed at Riverside Cemetery. Opening on the Finance Committee The Town Moderator is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Town’s FiTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 19 ~ School Bus Drivers Wanted ~ 7D Licensed School Bus Drivers Malden Trans is looking for reliable drivers for the new school year. We provide ongoing training and support for licensing requirements. Applicant preferably lives local (Malden, Everett, Revere). Part-time positions available and based on AM & PM school hours....15-30 hours per week. Good driver history from Registry a MUST! If interested, please call David @ 781-322-9401. CDL SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WANTED Compensation: $28/hour School bus transportation company seeking active CDL drivers who live LOCALLY (Malden, Everett, Chelsea and immediate surrounding communities). - Applicant MUST have BOTH S and P endorsements as well as Massachusetts school bus certificate. Good driver history from Registry a MUST! - Part-time hours, BUT GUARANTEED 20-35 HOURS PER WEEK depending on experience. Contact David @ 781-322-9401.
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