Page 12 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 10, 2020 avvyavvya y n iorvy S oreniioor vv io iori by Jim Miller RV Travel Tips in the Summer of COVID Dear Savvy Senior, Can you write a column on RV travel for novices? My husband and I have been cooped up all spring and summer because of the coronavirus and would like to take a trip using a rented RV but could use some tips and want to be safe. Recently Retired Dear Recently, Recreational-vehicle (or RV) travel has become a very popular option among U.S. retirees over the past few decades and is probably one of the safest and most convenient ways to get away this summer. Because it’s a small home on wheels, RV travel will allow you to distance yourself from crowds of people and reduce your risk of COVID exposure that comes with other forms of travel, i.e. air/train travel, hotel/Airbnb lodging and eating in restaurants. But there are still risks – especially in public places like gas stations, shared restrooms and picnic areas – so exercise caution. If you’ve never traveled by motor home or RV, here are a few tips to consider. Renting an RV To help you determine the RV size and model you need for your trip, consider your budget, destination and the number of travelers. If it’s just you and your husband, and you’re visiting several locations and driving lots of miles you may want a smaller motor home with better fuel economy. But if you’re taking other family members or friends, you may want a larger RV with slide outs and more sleeping areas. See GoRVing.com for a breakdown of all the diff erent types of RVs available today. To locate an RV rental dealer near you visit CruiseAmerica. com, one of the largest RV rental companies in the world or search the Recreation Vehicle Rental Association at RVRA.org. Or use peer-to-peer RV rental sites like RVshare.com or Outdoorsy. com, which are usually a little cheaper. Rental costs will vary greatly depending on what you choose and how far you drive, ranging anywhere from $50 up to $500 per day. When renting a rig, be sure you get detailed instructions from the owner or rental company on how to use the RV’s systems, including the generator, air-conditioning, leveling, slide outs, electric and entertainment, as well as how to empty waste tanks and refi ll fresh water. You should also know that because of COVID-19, most RV rental companies are vigilant about cleaning and disinfecting their units. But if you want to be extra safe, the CDC off ers tips at CDC.gov/COVID19 – type “Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home” in the search bar. Trip Planning Tips It’s always wise to map out your trip route and reserve your campgrounds in advance, especially now during the pandemic, because some campgrounds and RV parks, as well as local, state, and national public parks may be closed or operating with restrictions. A free tool that can help you plan your trip is Roadtrippers. com, which lets you plot out routes, calculate mileage and travel time, and will identify RV campgrounds, points of interest and restaurants along the way. You should also consider becoming a Good Sam Club member (GoodSam.com/club, $29/year), which provides access to its web-based trip planner, camping and fuel discounts, and a copy of the Good Sam Guide Series that features detailed information on more than 12,000 private RV parks and public campgrounds. Most RV parks rent spaces on a nightly or weekly basis with rates typically ranging from $30 to $50 per night, however some in city and country parks may be $10 or even free. RV parks can also range from rustic facilities with limited or no utility hookups, as are more often found in state and national parks, to luxury resorts with amenities that rival fi ne hotels. For fi rst-time RV renters, staying at a fully loaded RV park or campground with full hookups, a dump station, and staff on site is highly recommended. Look at Kampgrounds of America (KOA.com) or ReserveAmerica.com to browse the accommodations. For more safe travel tips this summer, visit Coronavirus.gov – click on “specifi c resources for travelers. 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. Callahan reelected President of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council T he Massachusetts Building Tr ades Council (MBTC) – the state’s largest construction organization, representing 75,000 building trade union members – has announced the reelection of President Frank Callahan. “I ’m honored to be re-elected to serve as MBTC President at this critical moment,” said Frank Callahan. “Business as usual isn’t good enough. As we face a global pandemic and continued threats to labor unions, the Council will continue leading the way to better wages, benefi ts, and job site safety; equal opportunity in our industry; pro-worker legislation; electing public offi - cials who protect working families; and much more.” Under Callahan’s leadership, MBTC has undertaken a wide range of ongoing initiatives that have successfully increased the number of women and people of color in the trades, provided career opportunities for veterans, tackled the issue of opioid use and advocated for stronger COVID-19 worker protections. “We’ve got serious work ahead of us to safely rebuild our economy,” said Callahan. “Across our state and at every level of government, we’ll stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our members to make sure ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ that our economy works for all working people.” Callahan was sworn in for the four-year term on July 1, 2020; he was fi rst elected in 2007. He currently resides in Arlington, Mass. About the Massachusetts Building Trades Council MBTC is a 100-year-old organization dedicated to helping working people improve their quality of life. MBTC serves as a public voice and legislative advocate on behalf of 74 labor unions and over 75,000 workers across the state. For more information: www.massbuildingtrades.org. PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF MALDEN - LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held before the Licensing Board for the City of Malden via Zoom on the 28th day of July, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. regarding the application of Gary, Inc. D/B/A Robinson News for a Section 15 license to sell ALL ALCOHOLIC beverages as a Package Store at 1556 Eastern Avenue, Malden, Massachusetts. The hearing will be hosted by the City of Malden on Zoom and will be accessible to members of the public who are invited to attend and provide comments via remote participation by accessing the following link and/or telephone. Time: Jul 28, 2020 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/95936191846?pwd=b3N6b1ZaZTBUQ243VytETGRBMHI5UT09 Meeting ID: 959 3619 1846 Password: 937601 One tap mobile +19294362866,,95936191846#,,,,0#,,937601# US (New York) +13017158592,,95936191846#,,,,0#,,937601# US (Germantown) Dial by your location +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 959 3619 1846 Password: 937601 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adI5bPRxBU Lee A. Kinnon, Chairman Andrew Zeiberg, Member July 10, 2020
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