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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 3, 2022 Page 21 Shuttle Buses to replace Orange Line service between Oak Grove and Wellington from July 29–Aug. 28 Orange Line Rail Yard improvements to be completed ahead of schedule; MBTA to discuss details at June 30 public meeting a y avvy S iorenniiooro a To date at the Wellington Yard, replacement of the track is 92% complete; special track work is 85% complete; and work on traction power and signals is 84% complete. B OSTON – To accommodate critical work at the Wellington Yard and Maintenance Facility as part of the MBTA’s Capital Program, shuttle buses will replace Orange Line train service between Oak Grove and Wellington Stations from approximately 8:45 p.m. on Friday, July 29, through Sunday, August 28. The Capital Transformation team will hold a virtual public meeting on June 30, 2022, at 6 p.m. to discuss this acceleration schedule and provide more details regarding work at the Wellington Yard. During this 30-day acceleration planned for the Yard, crews will replace over 7,000 feet of track, four units of special track work and over 2,000 feet of third rail. Capital Transformation is also working with other MBTA departments to identify additional improvements that can take place along the Orange Line to amplify the results during this 30-day period. A progress video of the ongoing work at Wellington Yard is available on YouTube. “Improvements made during the acceleration at Wellington Yard will drive this project closer to completion. Once complete, riders will experience more reliable service and less disruptions on the Orange Line. The completion of the yard and maintenance facility will also further support the delivery of our new Orange Line vehicles,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “We know these kinds of diversions can be frustrating, and I want to thank our Orange Line riders for their patience as we accomplish this important work on a much faster timeline.” Upgrades made to the Yard during the 30-day acceleration will improve service reliability and provide a safer, more accessible environment for workers. As a part of Capital Transformation, the Orange Line Transformation team will also continue to progress construction at Wellington’s Maintenance Facility throughout the acceleration. Once complete, Wellington will have a modWellington Yard is the only rail yard for the Orange Line. ernized, state-of-the-art facility where vehicles will be washed, maintained and inspected, and the Yard will have all new track, including six additional storage tracks used to accommodate the expanded Orange Line fl eet. “The Capital Transformation team is committed to finding ways to accelerate construction eff orts for our riders,” said MBTA Chief of Capital Transformation Angel Peña. “With Wellington’s 30-day acceleration scheduled, the new projected completion date of both the yard and maintenance facility is summer 2023 – a full year ahead of schedule. We are excited to continue working with communities along this area in order to deliver these improvements as quickly as possible.” More information about alternate service Due to the eff orts planned for Wellington Yard, service from Oak Grove to Wellington Stations will be replaced with free, avvyavvy iori n r by Jim Miller How to Get Underutilized COVID Funeral Assistance Funds Dear Savvy Senior, I recently saw a news segment on TV about a government funeral assistance program available to families who lost loved ones during the pandemic. What can you tell me about this? I lost my 78-yearold mother to COVID in 2021 and want to fi nd out if I’m still eligible for any funeral funds, and if so, what I need to do to get them. -Still Sad Dear Sad, I’m very sorry about the loss of your mother. The government From July 29 through August 28, shuttle buses will replace Orange Line train service in both directions between Oak Grove and Wellington. accessible shuttle buses beginning at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, July 29, through Sunday, August 28. Shuttle buses will be a combination of MBTA buses and private carrier shuttles. Service will be monitored throughout the scheduled construction timeline and adjusted as needed. Capital Transformation follows a holistic approach to transforming the Green, Orange and Red Lines. The program is aligned by six Levels of Transformation: Improving Safety & Bringing Infrastructure into a State of Good BUSES | SEE PAGE 24 - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Middlesex Division Docket No. 22P-2554EA Estate of: EDWARD J. TYNAN Date of Death: 2/13/22 INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Maureen Miksztal of Bridgewater, NJ Maureen Miksztal of Bridgewater, NJ has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond. The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner. June 3, 2022 program you are asking about is the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or FEMA). This program is part of the American Rescue Plan, a stimulus package passed in 2021 in an effort to help the country fi nancially manage amid the pandemic. This program, which has no end date, off ers up to $9,000 to cover the cost of a funeral for someone who died of COVID-19 as far back as January 2020. Unfortunately, less than half the people believed eligible for funeral assistance have actually applied for it. Here’s what you should know about the program’s requirements and how to apply. Where to Start? To apply for COVID-19 funeral assistance, you must do it over the phone by calling FEMA at 844-684-6333, anytime Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time. The application process takes about 20 minutes. After you apply, FEMA will provide you an application number, which you may use to create an online account at DisasterAssistance.gov if you choose. You will then need to submit supporting documents, including a death certifi cate for your mother, but it must state that her death “may have been caused by” or “was likely the result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Her death must also have occurred in the U.S. on or after Jan. 20, 2020. If you don’t have this, you won’t be eligible. You’ll also need to submit proof of funeral expenses, such as itemized receipts, invoices or funeral home contracts. These supporting documents can be submitted either online (through your DisasterAssistance.gov account), by mail (P.O. Box 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782) or via fax (855-261-3452). After the paperwork is received, it takes FEMA about 45 days to make an eligibility decision. Families who had multiple deaths due to the coronavirus can also apply. One family can receive up to $35,000 across multiple funerals. Reimbursements can be used to cover any portion of funeral expenses including burial plots, caskets, preparation of the body, cremation, urns, clergy, services and headstones as well as costs related to state or local ordinances and producing death certifi cates. But be aware that pre-paid funerals are not eligible for reimbursements. Any payment made specifi cally for a funeral prior to death is considered a duplication and is not eligible. If FEMA approves your application, the funds will either be deposited into your bank account or sent by mail via check, usually within a few days of approval. If, however, you receive a letter from FEMA saying you’re ineligible, or if the amount awarded is not enough, you have the right to appeal within 60 days of FEMA’s decision letter. For more information on the COVID Funeral Assistance program, visit FEMA.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance. 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.

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