RACING | FROM PAGE 15 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, May 17, 2019 TRANSPORTATION | FROM PAGE 15 is at 12:55 p.m. and gates open at 11:00 a.m. In addition to live racing, the track will be hosting a food truck festival featuring food trucks from numerous local vendors, craft beer, live music and family fun activities. Live racing will continue on Sunday with eleven races and the track will again off er approximately $500,000 in purses and awards. For more information, visit www.suffolkdowns.com About Suff olk Downs: Built by 3,000 workers in just 62 days when Massachusetts authorized pari-mutuel wagering in 1935, the historic track has been a showcase for some of the most famous names in Thoroughbred racing history, including Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, John Henry, Cigar and Skip Away. process of developing regulations to manage traffi c and parking. Revere and Malden were also the only two communities in the Study Committee’s group of cities and towns that had no offi cial transit staff to manage transportation issues and questions, such as changes to bus stops and routes. Winslow said the Committee is recommending that the city hire a transportation planner, a proposal that already has Mayor Gary Christenson’s support and will be included in the upcoming budget. Winslow also said that Malden has a predilection for advisory committees, and plenty of residents who are willing to step up and serve as members. The Study Committee will also be recommending expanding the role of the Walkability Advisory Committee as well as creating advisory committees on cycling and other transit-related topics. Malden to eliminate single-use plastic bags O n Tuesday, May 7, Mayor Gary Christenson signed a bill into law that amends the City of Malden Ordinances to include a section regarding the use of recyclable and reusable bags. Eff ective Jan. 1, 2020, checkout bags used by Malden retail establishments may only be reusable, multiuse bags. The single-use plastic bags which are currently being used will no longer be allowed at any point of sale. Last year Christenson was approached by 8th grade students at the Beebe School as well as the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School to consider a ban on single-use plastic bags in Malden. A group of residents had also recently spoken to him about this issue. The environmentally conscious students’ and residents’ concerns regarding the bags included that they are non-biodegradable, end up as waste in landfi lls, often get stuck in storm drains and clog pipes, and even end up stuck in trees. Additionally, continued production of bags contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Christenson was on board and proposed the ordinance which was sponsored by Ward 6 Councillor David Camell. The proposal was brought before the City Council, which sent it for review by its Ordinance Committee. The City Council’s Public Engagement Committee hosted a community foy Jim Mille Understanding Medicare’s Enrollment Periods Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about the different enrollment periods for Medicare? I’m planning to work past age 65 and understand Medicare off ers Initial, Special and General periods in which I can enroll. How does this work? Medicare Illiterate rum to engage residents and businesses about the initiative and get public support. The initiative was passed by the City Council, and Christenson invited the students to witness as he signed the legislation enacting the new ordinance. The City of Malden will provide information to retail establishments as well as educate the public in the next few months before the law goes into eff ect. Customers are encouraged to bring their own bags into retail establishments but may also purchase a paper or recyclable bag from the establishment. Stop & Shop will sell reusable bags and will donate the proceeds to Bread of Life. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM: FOOD SERVICES VENDOR RFP Number 05-15-001 Pioneer Charter School of Science is seeking a food service vendor •PCSS is open 195 School days. •PCSS needs service 5 days a week. •Number of Students in all campuses 1140 Please send your proposals to Pioneer Charter School of Science located at 466 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149, before 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 7, 2019. The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder offering the lowest total price. The contract will be awarded in accordance with Pioneer Charter School of Science Fiscal Policy. For more information, please contact: Pioneer Charter School of Science Business Office www.pioneercss.org 466 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 business@pioneercss.org Phone: 617-294-4737 Fax: 617-294-0596 Dear Medicare, The rules for signing up for Medicare can be quite confusing, especially if you plan to work past age 65. But it’s critical to understand the ins and outs of enrolling because the consequences of missing a deadline can be costly and last a lifetime. Here’s what you should know about Medicare’s three different enrollment periods. Initial Enrollment Period At age 65, the Initial Enrollment Period is the fi rst opportunity that most people are eligible to enroll in Medicare. If you’re already claiming Social Security benefi ts at least 4 months before age 65, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare, with coverage starting the fi rst day of month you turn 65. If you’re not receiving Social Security benefi ts, it’s up to you to enroll in Medicare either online at SSA.gov/Medicare, over the phone at 800-772-1213 or through your local Social Security offi ce. You can enroll any time during the Initial Enrollment Period, which is a seven-month period that includes the three months before, the month of, and the three months after your 65th birthday. It’s best to enroll three months before your birth month to ensure your coverage starts when you turn 65. If, however, you plan to keep working and have health coverage from your employer, or from a spouse’s employer, you may want to delay Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient services, and Part D, which covers prescription drugs. But fi rst check with the human resources department to see how your employer insurance works with Medicare. Typically, if your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare will be your primary insurer and you should enroll. But if you work for a company that has 20 or more employees, your employer’s group health plan will be your primary insurer as long as you remain an active employee. If this is the case, you don’t need to enroll in Part B or Part D when you turn 65 if you’re satisfi ed with the coverage you are getting through your job. But in most cases, unless you’re contributing to a Health Savings Account, you should at least sign-up for Medicare Part A, which is free and covers hospital services. Special Enrollment Period If you delay Part B and Part D past age 65, you can sign up for Medicare during the Special Enrollment Period. Once you (or your spouse) stop working and you no longer have group health coverage, you have eight months to enroll in Part B. But if you miss that deadline, you’ll pay a late-enrollment penalty for the rest of your life. The penalty increases your premiums by 10 percent for each 12-month period that you don’t have coverage. The window for Part D is shorter. You must sign up for Part D within two months of losing drug coverage. If you go 63 days or more without drug coverage, you’ll pay a lifetime late-enrollment penalty that equals 1 percent of the monthly base premium (about $33 in 2019) times the number of months you don’t have Part D of other creditable coverage. General Enrollment Period If you miss either of these first two enrollment periods, you’ll have to wait until the General Enrollment Period, which is January 1 through March 31 of each year, but your Part B and Part D coverage will not begin until July 1. And you’ll be subject to late-enrollment penalties. There is, however, no penalty for late enrollment for Part A. You can sign up anytime with coverage beginning the first day of the following month. 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. Page 17
18 Publizr Home