Massachusetts Sales Tax Free Weekend

Reblogged from the Massachusetts Website

Shop and eat local.

Massachusetts Retailers Set for Sales Tax-Free Weekend on August 9, 10

 

Legislature Adopts Resolution Designating 2025 Sales Tax Holiday

(BOSTON—6/12/2025) Saturday, August 9, 2025, and Sunday, August 10, 2025, are the official dates of Massachusetts’ annual sales tax holiday thanks to actions taken by the Massachusetts Legislature today. During the holiday, the state’s 6.25 per cent sales tax is suspended for most retail items priced under $2,500.

A 2018 state law, which made the sales tax holiday permanent, requires the Legislature to vote to set the dates of the holiday each year. Both branches adopted resolutions setting this year’s dates (S.2530 / H.4220), sponsored by Senator Adam Gómez (D-Springfield) and Representative Carole A. Fiola (D-Fall River).

“Lowering costs for Massachusetts residents and supporting local businesses is critical for our communities in this time of economic uncertainty,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I’d like to thank Senator Gómez, my colleagues in the Senate and our partners in the House for their work to set this year’s sales tax holiday.”

“This year’s temporary suspension of the sales tax will bring consumers needed economic relief while boosting revenue for small businesses and retailers,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Chair Fiola and my colleagues in the House, along with our partners in the Senate, for their annual support for this economic development initiative.”

“The sales tax holiday is a wonderful opportunity for our residents to get out into their communities, support local businesses, get their kids ready for school in fall or make a purchase that they’ve been putting off,” said Senator Gómez, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses. “I am glad that our leaders here in the Legislature have been able to work and get this done again for our residents this year, and I look forward to hearing how residents are able to make the most of the tax reprieve.”

“I was proud to sponsor the legislation establishing this year’s sales tax holiday that helps boost our economy and provides support and relief for our residents and small businesses,” said Representative Fiola, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “This is an important weekend that helps bolster our economy and I applaud my colleagues in passing this legislation to provide individuals, families and businesses across the Commonwealth with some relief.”

A spike in consumer activity routinely boosts indirect tax revenues. According to the Department of Revenue, the 2024 sales tax holiday generated $3.54 million in indirect tax revenues due to increased economic activity.

At a time when consumers are seeing prices on store shelves spike, driven in part by federally imposed tariffs, this year’s Massachusetts sales tax holiday will give shoppers a much-needed break. The holiday also encourages families looking to shop for back-to-school season to support local small businesses and retailers.

Information about eligible purchases is available on the Department of Revenue website.

From the Gloucester Daily Times

Magnolia art gallery returns with much local art  

Arts Abound, a Magnolia gallery and gift boutique, is celebrating a grand re-opening with new handcrafted items and original artwork. Store owner Sue Wheeler is an artist who paints colorful cold wax and oil, and acrylic sea, floral, and abstract pieces. The featured artist is Eve Perkins, who creates whimsical beach and maritime illustrations of Gloucester and Manchester. The gallery features photographer Donna Ardizzoni’s popular beach towels in a choice of local scenes as well as works by local photographers Laurinda Butcher, John Abisamra and Melissa Cox and others.

Also featured is Gloucester’s Stephanie Mason, who is known for her fish mugs, ornaments, and place mats, and Tin Can Sally (Seamans) who makes earrings using tin cans from all over the world. Rocky Neck’s Brenda Malloy features her hand-painted magnets and cards. Other Cape Ann artists are Gloucester’s Sue Ingram with local paintings of florals and seagulls, Rockport’s Deb Schradieck who paints watercolors of Rockport and Gloucester, and Manchester’s Christine Gauthier Kelley who creates hand-painted silk scarves and shawls. The shop features many other handmade items including ocean-inspired pottery, “Glosta” and Magnolia caps and tees, handblown glass and jewelry.

“Thank you for supporting neighboring artists and small businesses challenged by the pandemic,” said Wheeler. She also noted that the Magnolia’s farmers market will start the first Sunday in June on Lexington Avenue. Arts Abound is located at 21C Lexington Ave., in Magnolia village.  For hours and more information visit www.artsaboundmagnolia.com.

Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-675-2706 or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com at least two weeks in advance.

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Examples of products for sale, remember to please shop local

As of Monday, December 14th, 2020 will be the last day to order any of my products to be able to get before Christmas.  Thank you so much for all your support and shopping local.

Ornaments

Boxed puzzles

Fleece Blankets

Thank you all and there are also coasters, placemats, calendars and beach towels.  You can purchase through me directly or Arts Abound 21 C Lexington Street, Village of Magnolia, Gloucester, MA and my calendars are at Pauline’s Gifts 512 Essex Avenue, Gloucester, MA. and on Saturday from 9 – 12 at the Magnolia Historical Society 46 Magnolia Avenue, Magnolia, Gloucester, MA

http://www.ardizzoniphotography.wordpress.com

 

Arts Abound

21 C Lexington Avenue

magnolia Village, Gloucester, MA  01930

603-359-2173

if you wish to subscribe to our newsletter please email:
artsaboundmagnolia@gmail.com

  LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHY

JOHN ABISAMRA

Arts Abound is pleased to announce our new Featured Artist, John Abisamra. He has a large following in the local area for his intriguing photographs.

His large framed prints are available for $230 each for 19×25″; smaller 11×14″ framed versions are $95; unframed, with mat is $65. Please contact us at: artsaboundmagnolia@gmail.com to order. They make fabulous gifts for friends, family, or for yourself! Come visit Arts Abound and view this amazing photography.

John’s Artist Statement
My real passion is to capture the beauty of nature through the eye of my camera. A native New Englander, my inspiration primarily comes from photographing New England landscapes. I try to capture the uniqueness each season brings along with the magic light that exists. I love capturing the beauty of the coastline. I particularly enjoy photographing during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset and also am drawn to images where nature and man made elements meet. Photography for me is all about capturing a moment in time which may never be repeated. I spend a good amount of time driving on backroads or hiking to secluded places to capture the beauty of nature. My photographs have been published in the Photographer’s Forum Magazine, Cape Ann Magazine (including three cover photos), Lowell Sun and Gloucester Times. I am a juried member of  Gallery 53 on Rocky Neck, Rockport Art Association, and Newburyport Art Association where my work can be viewed along with the Depot Diner in Beverly and Cape Ann Coffee in Gloucester. I can make matted/framed photos in a variety of sizes or as framed canvas, metal or glass photos.

Cape Ann Magazine cover photo
Lantern Reflections
Rockport, MA
Dinghies at Rest
Rockport Harbor
Rising from the Fog
Arts Abound is pleased to announce our new Featured Artist, John

Abisamra. He has a large following in the local area for his intriguing

photographs.

John’s large framed prints are available for $230 each for 19Ă—25″; smaller

11×14″ framed versions are $95; unframed, with mat are $65. Please contact

us at: artsaboundmagnolia@gmail.com to order. They make fabulous gifts for

friends, family, or for yourself! Come visit Arts Abound and view this amazing

photography.

John tries to capture the uniqueness each season brings. along with the magic

light that exists. He loves capturing the beauty of the coastline. He particularly

enjoys photographing during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset and also is

drawn to images where nature and man-made elements meet. Photography for

him is all about capturing a moment in time which may never be repeated.

GREAT GIFTS

As we continue to endure the financial challenges of the pandemic, Arts

Abound believes it is more important than ever to buy local. Below are some

gift suggestions – for an upcoming birthday or anniversary perhaps, or yourself!

Stop in and see what other treasures we have, or set up an appointment to do

a FaceTime session.

Joyful Sunflowers – Sue Wheeler, mixed media

Gloucester-made Ryan & Wood hand sanitizer, paired with a hand-sewn

mask or two, makes an ideal gift. Ryan & Wood is a local distillery that

has temporarily converted their production to hand sanitizer to help folks stay

safe during the pandemic. $40 as shown here with mask.

 

Donna’s beach towels featuring local images have been a huge hit! At $30 each, they are soft and beautiful.

Our wonderful lobster prints, created by Martha (Landfall Gallery), are

perfect for celebrating summer! Available in several different sizes; framed

and unframed.

Ceramic artist Jenny has a wonderful selection of pottery, including these

stunning bowls!

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!Ann’s beautiful seagrass jewelry makes a fabulous gift!

 

 Arts Abound continues to sell many masks! We recently developed a new

style of mask that includes a pocket for a filter. You can use a coffee filter or

a vacuum bag filter, to name a couple of options. We also have way cool

summer fabrics as seen above. And our nose piece has been improved. The

traditional style face mask is still available.

Check out our new face masks page.

Our Fabulous Artists

Sue Wheeler (owner), Stephanie Mason, Brenda Malloy, Melissa Cox,

Karen Keough, Lisa Knebel, Tin Can Sally, Donna Ardizzoni, Deb

Schradieck, Erik Hahr, Alissa Cohen, John Abisamra, Alan

Bourgault, Hermit Hill, Jenny Rangan, and Larry Parsons

BUY LOCAL

What to do with all your boxes, another reason why I like to shop locally.

We always shop locally most of the time but with our company Circle Consulting Group sometimes we have to order from Amazon for computer parts such as hard drives, certain cables, etc.  so we have many Amazon Boxes.  Here is something you can do to dispose of them properly.