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Review Brooks & Crowley
August 2025
781-251-0555
www.brooksandcrowley.com
439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026
*Services Throughout Massachusetts
HAPPINESS ISN’T COMPLICATED FINDING THE GOOD IN EVERY DAY
We have a national day for just about everything, but when I heard August was Happiness Happens Month, I paused. I’m not necessarily big on feel-good slogans, but I liked the idea. It’s not chasing a big goal or trying to force anything — just paying attention to the stuff that already brings joy. For me, it’s pretty simple. I’m happiest when I’m with family and friends, especially if we’re exploring somewhere new or heading back to a favorite spot. Every August, we spend time down the Cape, but this year will be different. Our daughter just wrapped up college, and now our son’s about to start at Wisconsin. That means we’ll only have one kid left at home, which is wild to think about. We’ve already got tickets to some Wisconsin football games, so we’ll be out there visiting, meeting his new friends, and getting to know the campus. Honestly, I’m looking forward to it. We’ve done it all before with our daughter — the packing, the dropoff, the visits, the texts that turn into calls, and the occasional “Can you send…” message. It’s a phase of life that keeps you on your toes, but it’s also really rewarding. Even when we’re not traveling, we make it a point to enjoy where we are. That might mean heading to a farmers market or grilling for a crowd when the kids bring friends down to the Cape. We take everyone for a boat ride, come back and cook seafood, and just hang out. People come and go, and we catch the sunset and maybe share a few stories or laughs. That’s the good stuff. It doesn’t have to be flashy. Sometimes, the best moments sneak up on you. I think those moments feel so good because we’re not rushing. We’re not checking the clock or running from one thing to the next. It’s just us, in the moment. And when I think about happiness, that’s really what it comes down to. It’s being present, making space for the people you care about, and letting the day carry you instead of trying to control every second. Even at work, I find joy in the smaller stuff. Every day brings a new set of phone calls and problems to solve. Sometimes, it’s a frantic real estate agent. Others, it’s a lawyer or client who doesn’t know where to turn. I get pulled into all kinds of situations — some routine, some complete curveballs — but I enjoy it. I like figuring things out. There’s satisfaction
in being able to take a complicated issue and say, “Okay, here’s how we fix this.” And it doesn’t have to be a big win to feel meaningful. I get thank- you cards for things that didn’t take me long to handle but meant the world to the person on the other end. That’s what keeps me going.
At home, it’s more of the same. Dinner with the kids. A quick trip to the movies. Just checking in and catching up. You don’t need a big plan to be happy. You just need to show up and be present. We talk a lot about vacations and escapes, but honestly, I feel lucky for everything we have at home. It’s where we slow down, reset, and remind ourselves what really matters. If happiness happens, it happens there. But really, it’s not about the place at all. It’s about being with the people who make you feel like you’re already where you’re supposed to be. –Steve Brooks
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Frontier Ingenuity at Its Finest How 1800s Pioneers Turned Tree Stumps Into Cozy Homes
Imagine wandering through a dense, misty forest when you spot a cozy little home carved into the base of a towering tree stump. It sounds like something straight out of a fairytale, but in the rugged 1800s, it was everyday reality for some of America’s earliest settlers on the West Coast. Back then, before the lumber industry toppled millions of ancient giants, the forests were filled with trees so massive their trunks could measure 20 feet across or more. Once felled (a task so intense it could take a month), these colossal stumps were too big, stubborn, and abundant to remove easily. Rather than blowing them up (though
house met its end in 1946, you can still marvel at an 18-foot stump house today at the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum nearby. But stump houses weren’t just for surviving; they were for celebrating, too. In Calaveras, California, settlers turned a massive hollowed-out tree into a grand dance hall and hotel. Guests waltzed under twinkling candlelight and cedar boughs strung high above the forest floor. As one 1850s newspaper gushed, it was “romantic and beautiful beyond description” ( although the ladies did wish the stump-turned-dance floor had a little more bounce )!
some tried with dynamite), the pioneers did what pioneers do best: They got scrappy. They turned the stumps into homes, post offices, barns, and even dance floors!
In a time when luxury was a warm fire and a sturdy roof (or stump) over your head, these quirky homes captured the best of pioneer spirit: grit, resourcefulness, and a little bit of magic. Next time you pass an ancient stump on a hike, imagine what stories it might hold. In the right hands and with a bit of imagination, it might have been the coziest home on the frontier!
One of the most legendary stump homes was the Lennstrom Stump House in Edgecomb, Washington. Crafted from a cedar stump 22 feet wide, it sheltered three adults and three children, proving that creativity could turn leftover lumber into a home. Though the original Lennstrom
Tax Relief for Massachusetts Homeowners
What the Changes Mean for You
If you own property in Massachusetts, you already know local taxes can hit hard. Between property taxes, excise taxes, and other local levies, the bills add up fast. Until recently, though, many homeowners couldn’t deduct the full amount of those taxes on their federal returns. That’s because of a cap known as the SALT deduction limit — short for state and local taxes. When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into effect in 2018, it placed a $10,000 ceiling on how much homeowners could deduct in state and local taxes. For many homeowners in the Boston area and beyond, that barely made a dent in their actual payments. The limit was especially tough on those with higher property values or those in towns with steeper rates.
Now, there’s a change worth paying attention to. The recently passed tax bill — dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” — raises the SALT cap from $10,000 to $40,000, effective in 2025. For Massachusetts homeowners, this means more breathing room and potentially thousands more in deductions when tax season comes around. It’s worth noting that the deduction will return to $10,000 in 2030. While the exact impact will vary depending on your income and filing status, the new limit is expected to benefit many property owners in high-tax states. It could make a difference for those buying and selling real estate, especially when decisions hinge on long-term financial planning. SALT deductions could also potentially boost the
housing market in Massachusetts and other states with high local taxes.
Other key changes in the new tax bill include the restoration of a deduction for mortgage insurance and an expansion of a housing tax credit for builders of low-income housing. The latter is expected to significantly increase the number of low-income rental properties nationwide over the next decade. Whether you’re thinking about refinancing, investing in a second property, or finally making that move, knowing how the SALT cap and other recent tax changes apply to you can help you make better decisions. And if you have questions about how the changes could affect your real estate plans, we’re always happy to talk.
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THE $100K REASON TO GET A PET NEW STUDY SAYS PETS ARE WORTH PLENTY
Have a Laugh! It’s not just a fun fact, either. Experts say findings like this could affect everything from housing laws to public health programs. If pets fight loneliness and lift people’s moods, it might make sense to rethink rules that prevent pet ownership in some apartments and assisted living facilities. To determine whether pets actually improve happiness, rather than the opposite — happy people are more likely to have pets — the team factored in things like age, income, personality traits, and family size. They also used a clever workaround: They asked people whether they look after their neighbor’s house while they’re away. That behavior is linked to pet ownership but not directly to happiness, which helped researchers isolate the impact of pet ownership. Most pet owners already know their furry friends make life better, but according to a new study, the value might be higher than anyone realized. Some researchers say it’s close to $100,000. Researchers in the U.K. aimed to measure how much happiness dogs and cats bring to people’s lives. Using data from more than 700 people, they found that owning a pet can boost life satisfaction as much as getting married or landing a massive raise. In economic terms, it’s the emotional equivalent of earning nearly $93,000 more per year.
While the researchers focused only on cats and dogs, the message came through clearly. Pets matter, maybe even more than we thought. And if you already live with one and know how they benefit your well-being, the science now backs you up. That wagging tail or soft purr might be worth more than you ever guessed.
Summer Chickpea Salad Inspired by HowSweetEats.com
Ingredients
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2 (15-oz) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed 4 green onions, thinly sliced 2 ears grilled corn, kernels cut from the cob 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered 3 tbsp chopped fresh basil 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
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1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper 3 tbsp olive oil
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2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 1/2 tbsp honey
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3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed 1 lime, zested and juiced
• •
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1. In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, onions, corn, tomatoes, basil, and chives. 2. Toss well with salt and pepper and set aside. 3. In a small saucepan over low heat, add oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, lime juice, and zest. 4. Whisk until the mixture is warm and garlic begins sizzling. 5. Pour over the chickpea mixture and toss well to coat. 6. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. directions
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439 Washington St. • Dedham, MA 02026
Inside THIS ISSUE
1 A Look at What Really Matters 2 The Wild History of the Wild West’s Stump Houses
Key Takeaways From the New Tax Bill
3 Why Pets Beat Pay Raises
Summer Chickpea Salad
4 Live Shows and Local Artists
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From the Harbor to the Hills An Event Lineup You Can’t Miss
BOSTON ARTS FESTIVAL — SEPT. 6–7 Set in Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, the Boston Arts Festival brings local artists, craftspeople, and performers together for a weekend of creativity by the harbor. The event is free to attend and features a wide range of original work, from paintings and pottery to live music throughout the day. It’s one of the best places to discover new talent and support local makers while enjoying the city’s waterfront views. OUTLAW MUSIC FESTIVAL — SEPT. 7 AT XFINITY CENTER If live music is more your speed, the Outlaw Music Festival is making a one-night stop at Mansfield’s Xfinity Center with a lineup that’s hard to beat. This year, Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Billy Strings, and many more are on the bill. Now in its 10th year,
The end of summer may be around the corner, but Boston’s festival season is still going strong. Whether you’re into indie films, legendary live music, or local arts, Boston has something to get excited about. Here are three upcoming events to put on your calendar.
the festival has built a reputation for relaxed vibes, surprising collaborations, and legendary artists who still know how to deliver. It’s an ideal way to wrap up the summer concert season in the Boston area. BOSTON FILM FESTIVAL — SEPT. 18–22 The Boston Film Festival returns in 2025 for its 41st year of bringing a long weekend of screenings, premieres, and filmmaker Q&As to some of the city’s best venues. The lineup includes independent features, thought- provoking documentaries, and short films by emerging voices. Past editions have drawn big- name directors and Oscar-winning actors, but the real draw is the chance to see something fresh before it hits the mainstream. Most events are open to the public, and with panels and discussions throughout the festival, the experiences go beyond the screen.
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