THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 22, 2023 Page 17 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 16 them to step out and dance, last week’s message was, “‘It’s brisk, but beautiful outside! Put your holiday to-do list on hold and come dancing.’ Corinne’s welcoming attitude is reflected in her own words ‘we get to have fun with a great group of people sharing new dances while reinforcing the basic steps of line dancing.’ “Corinne’s been involved in the line dancing community for over twenty years both as a dancer and instructor. In addition to Saugus she teaches Dance at the Stoneham Senior Center, [Wednesday] afternoons. Corinne said she’s always happy to help out filling in when her schedule allows and that you may find her in place of your regular instructor, or just dancing at another venue. “Along with a megawatt smile, she has a heart of love to share with her classes. She says come join her class so she can share her love of dance with you. Steve usually is in the back row in perfect step with his wife which helps back row dancers who may miss a step or two like myself. We can look over and catch on. “Thank you Corinne and Steve “You both shine your light brightly Artist” “Yours Truly, The Sketch Compost/Recycling DropOff Site winter hours The Town of Saugus Compost/Recycling Drop-Off Site is closed for the winter. But it will reopen for recycling on the third Saturday of January, February and March 2024 weather permitting. Please note the following dates that the site will be open during the period from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Saturday, January 20, 2024 Saturday, February 17, 2024 Saturday, March 16, 2024 Please contact Scott Brazis, Director of Solid Waste/Recycling, with any questions at 781-231-4036. RMV offers a Senior Hotline Like the vast majority of Massachusetts residents, I don’t enjoy being at the state’s Registry of Motor Vehicles. I never have and never will. The last time I had my driver’s license renewed, I was able to avoid the RMV by going to the local AAA office. Recently, I had a bad experience with the registry when I tried to help my brother renew his driver’s license – online. I found it to be not very user friendly – which seems to be a key trait for most things dealing with the RMV. Probably because Wayne was about to turn 72, it was a waste of time to attempt the online. Disgusted, I decided it might be best to just walk into the RMV Fall River office and handle Wayne’s business in person. What a mistake that turned out to be! When I was down in the Fall River area last weekend, I decided to take Wayne to the registry. But I quickly learned that drivers won’t be served anymore unless they make an appointment for a specific date and time. “You people don’t care about Senior Citizens, do you?” I said angrily to an office clerk. (I drove all the way down from Essex County, and you can’t help me?” I added. At that point, the clerk handed me a sheet of paper headlined “Senior Hotline.” To my surprise, I got a voice pretty quickly. But I wasn’t allowed to schedule an appointment for that day. But there was a silver lining to my latest RMV encounter. “Call 857-368-8005, the RMV’s dedicated appointment line for customers who are at least 65 years of age or have a disability,” the information sheet said. “The RMV’s Senior License Renewal Appointment Line warns customers that they will not be served if they do not meet the above qualifications.” The information sheet went on to say that customers could also email the RMV for assistance at MassDOTRMVSeniors@dot. state.ma.us. I’ve already gotten to use the Senior Hotline twice and I would recommend it. But I told one of the customer service representatives that it was a huge mistake to not allow walk-ins at the local registry office. So, check it out for yourself the next time you have a matter to square away with the RMV. Check out our Year-inReview issue next week Next week’s edition will be dedicated to our “Year-in-Review.” What were the top stories during 2023 and who were the movers and shakers in Saugus? We’ll ask the School Committee members and Board of Selectmen to share their views on what they thought were the major stories. We’ll also ask them to designate their top priorities for the New Year. Readers are also welcome to chime in on what they think are the top stories of the year and the challenges ahead. Email me with your file title “Year-in-Review” at mvoge@comcast.net or leave me a message at mvoge@ comcast.net. What’s new at the Saugus Public Library? There’s always something interesting going on. Below are a few activities worth checking out. The library will be closed next Monday (Dec. 25) and next Tuesday (Dec. 26) in observance of Christmas. Nutcracker Celebration: Kids from ages five to 12 will be able to enjoy a special ballerina reading of “The Nutcracker” with festive crafts and treats, next Thursday (Dec. 28) at 10:30 a.m. $5 for a bag of books: If you love reading, here’s a great deal. Buy a New Friends of the Saugus Public Library mesh book bag for $5 and fill it with as many books as you’d like. Proceeds benefit the New Friends so they can support public library service in Saugus. Town Meeting Sessions: Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian is offering quite a Christmas present for Saugus citizens who want to learn the basics about Town Meeting – the legislative body of Saugus town government. Manoogian is a veteran of about four decades in local town government at various levels – including many years as a Town Meeting member. The three sessions Manoogian will be leading next year are tailored for newly elected Town Meeting members or veterans who want to refresh themselves about Robert’s Rules of Order or how to put forward an article for consideration. But the sessions that Manoogian is planning are free and open to the public – for all interested citizens. The sessions will take place on four nights in 2024 – Jan. 29, Feb. 16 & 29 and March 25 – from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library at 295 Central St. Saugus Library Book Club: “Me Before You,” a novel by Jojo Moyes, will be the topic of discussion for the next meeting of the Saugus Library Book Club – set for next Thursday (Dec.. 28) at 6:30 in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library. No sign-up is required. Drop-ins are welcome. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk. Adult Coloring Group: Here’s an invitation to grown-ups to attend the adult coloring group. It’s a great opportunity to take time to unwind, be creative and have fun. No experience is necessary. Pencils, gel pens and coloring pages are ready and waiting. Spaces are limited, so please call to register at 781-231-4168. The next session is set for Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Brooks Room on the second floor of the library. About The Saugus Advocate We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is noon Wednesday. If you have a story idea, an article or photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a message at 978-683-7773. Let us become your hometown newspaper. The Saugus Advocate is available in the Saugus Public Library, the Saugus Senior Center, Saugus Town Hall, local convenience stores and restaurants throughout town. TESTAMENTARY SPECIAL POWERS OF APPOINTMENT Testamentary special powers of appointment provisions contained in an irrevocable trust allow the Settlor of the trust to exercise the power via his or her Last Will and Testament. The Last Will and Testament will have to be submitted to a probate court and allowed. It is through the Last Will and Testament of the Settlor of the Trust that the exercise of the testamentary special power of appointment contained within the terms of the irrevocable trust is achieved. If the Settlor of an irrevocable Medicaid trust includes such a provision in the Trust to appoint (i.e.redirect) the Trust principal to a class of individuals such as the descendants of the Settlor, the Settlor thereby reserves the right to change the ultimate beneficiaries of the Trust that were originally going to receive the balance of the Trust estate upon the Settlor’s death. If the Settlor simply wants to change who would actually receive the Trust estate, the Settlor, by reserving this testamentary special power of appointment, can include a provision in his or her Will that exercises the power by having the Will allowed in probate court. Therefore, such a change can still be made even though the trust is otherwise irrevocable. This special power of appointment, also referred to as a limited power of appointment, cannot include the power to appoint to the Settlor, the Settlor’s estate or the creditors of the Settlor’s estate. If such a power was included within the terms of the Trust, it would simply not be a special power of appointment, and would cause the assets in the Trust to be countable for MassHealth eligibility purposes. One other benefit of such a provision in an irrevocable trust is the obtainment of the step-up in cost basis under Internal Revenue Code Section 2038. This is because when the assets are transferred to the irrevocable trust an incomplete gift results due to the special power of appointment provision thereby causing the Trust assets to be included in the gross taxable estate of the Settlor upon his or her death. Treasury Regulation 25.2511-2(b). If your home is transferred to such a Trust that you may have purchased 40 years ago for $150,000, but that is now worth $800,000, upon your death, the cost basis of the home will then become $800,000 in the hands of your beneficiaries due to the step-up in cost basis provisions of IRC Section 1014. A subsequent sale of the home by your children shortly after your death for $800,000 will result in no capital gain. If your total estate is below $2million, there also will be no Massachusetts estate tax to be paid. In a typical Medicaid irrevocable Trust, this is but one provision that will result in a much-desirable step-up in cost basis in order to avoid a substantial future capital gain and a corresponding substantial capital gains tax. 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.
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