Page 12 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 23, 2021 Rep. Lipper-Garabedian accepting applications for fall 2021 legislative internship S tate Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian is searching for motivated, civic-minded individuals interested in a part-time fall legislative internship (roughly mid-September through December). Lipper-Garabedian proudly represents the people of the 32nd Middlesex District of Massachusetts, which includes Melrose and parts of Wakefield and Malden. Interns will have the rewarding opportunity to experience policymaking, politics and government through participating in the day-to-day functioning of a State Representative’s office. Interns will report mainly to Legislative Aide Becca Bueno and Lipper-Garabedian. They will be responsible for assisting with a variety of tasks ranging from constituent correspondence, scheduling, legislative research, and database management to communications and social media assignments. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to attend various virtual events, such as hearings, meetings and listening to guest speakers, while gaining the satisfaction of serving the Commonwealth along with adding beneficial experience to their resume. Due to COVID-19, those interested should be prepared to report and work remotely, with possible in-person opportunities. Interested applicants should have the following: • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • A high level of attention to detail • Ability to conduct themselves and dress professionally • Respect for confidentiality • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications. Those with a particular interest in communications, public relations, graphic design, video production or social media should indicate so in their application. Applicants should send a resume with a brief cover letter of interest and a oneto two-page writing sample to Rebecca.Bueno@mahouse. gov by the end of the day on Friday, August 13. References should be available upon request. Potential applicants with any questions can call 617-7222020. Mystic Valley Elder Services offers tips to beat the heat this summer W e have already had many heatwaves descend upon us this summer and it is expected they will continue throughout the season. During these hot and humid summer months, Mystic Valley Elder Services recommends that it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on the older adults in our lives. Older adults are much more likely to develop heat-related illnesses than younger people because as we age our bodies don’t adjust as well to drastic changes of temperature. Also, some medications that older adults are taking can affect the way their bodies regulate heat. Here are some tips and resources to help you beat the heat: • Slow down and avoid strenuous activity; don’t try to do too much on a hot day. • Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing; light colors will reflect heat and sunlight and help maintain normal body temperature. Protect your face with a widebrimmed hat. • Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals; avoid high protein foods that increase metabolic heat. • Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers; outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent. • Air-conditioning can provide a lot of relief in the summer; on the most unbearably hot days when it’s too hot for fans to be effective, air conditioners can even help you stay safe. If you don’t have air-conditioning, stay on your lowest floor, out of the sun. Electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help evaporate perspiration, which cools your body. • The heat affects more than just people; our pets can be in danger when the temperature rises. Keep your animals safe and healthy in this heat; do not leave them in a hot car or without water. Staying hydrated The ability to feel thirst lessens with age so you may not realize when you need to drink more. You may find you have to use the bathroom more often, losing more fluid. As we age, our bodies start losing muscle (which holds water) and gain fat (which cannot hold water). Medications that increase urination or help constipation can also cause dehydration. Dehydration occurs when you don’t have enough fluid in your body. It can cause serious health problems, but luckily, it is easy to prevent. Dehydration might be caused or worsened by diarrhea, vomiting, overheating, diabetes, high fever or excessive sweating. If you experience any of these, be aware and make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids. Hydration tips: • Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink; by this time you are already dehydrated. • Keep a glass of water near you and drink from it regularly. • Eat foods which contain water (fruits, soups, gelatin). • Keep a full water bottle in the refrigerator and take a drink every time you open it. • Drink extra in extreme heat to replace the water lost from sweating. • Start and end the day with a cup of water. • Do not replace water with alcohol or caffeinated drinks. • Recognize when your body is asking for more water. In extreme heat, it’s important that we watch out for each other and stay informed about how to remain healthy and safe when the thermometer climbs. Stay cool, hydrated and out of the harmful rays of the sun. Malden to receive $908K in Chapter 90 road repair funds S tate Senator Jason Lewis, as well as State Representatives Paul Donato, Steven Ultrino and Kate Lipper-Garabedian, worked to pass legislation that will provide the City of Malden with $908,906 to help fund local transportation infrastructure upgrades. The bill, An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges, authorizes $200 million for municipal roads and bridges through the Chapter 90 program and $150 million to support statewide projects to address congestion, support electric vehicle infrastructure and improve public transit. The bill also includes language that clarifies that COVID-19 recovery funding received by the state from the federal government will be eligible for transportation infrastructure projects. An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges was signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker on July 16. “Leaders at the state and local level continue to work together to ensure that our public infrastructure and transportation network are safe, reliable and useful,” said Lewis. “As we work towards a strong and equitable post-pandemic economic recovery, investment into our transportation infrastructure will produce significant benefits for our communities and our region.” “The Chapter 90 Program plays an important role in in the maintenance and development of our state’s transportation infrastructure projects,” said Donato. “Malden is a lively, hard-working community and there is no doubt that this investment will be of great benefit to the city, its citizens, and the surrounding area. It was a pleasure working with my colleagues to approve this funding, and I look forward to seeing the results in the next year.” “Public transportation and infrastructure are pillars of a healthy community and economy. They are also our most powerful tools to increase job opportunities and create sustainable growth,” said Ultrino. “The funds received from the Chapter 90 program represents another big step towards economic recovery and rebuilding our community in the post-pandemic world. I am proud to have worked alongside the rest of the delegation to secure such important funding for Malden.” “I am pleased to have secured $908,906 for Malden along with Senator Lewis and Representatives Donato and Ultrino,” said Lipper-Garabedian. “This important funding will be used for preservation, infrastructure, and important municipal improvement projects that improve the quality of life in our cities and towns. I am proud to secure funding that will help our community grow and prosper.” “We all know that that the funds borrowed by the state to help us get through COVID-19 will have to be paid back at some point,” said Mayor Gary Christenson. “As a result, we thought this program might have been one of the first to do that but not only was Chapter 90 not reduced but it was actually kept at the same funding levels as pre-COVID. As always, thank you to our State Delegation for always supporting our community.” In addition to providing funding for local road and bridge repairs and maintenance, this legislation provides funding to communities to meet other local transportation needs. Specifically, the bill authorizes the following additional funding: • $25 million for the municipal small bridge program • $25 million for a traffic congestion relief program • $25 million for transit-supportive infrastructure • $25 million for municipal bus transit grants • $25 million for municipal mass transit access • $25 million for electric vehicles and electric-vehicle infrastructure for cities, towns and regional transit authorities Established by the Legislature in 1973, the Chapter 90 program provides funding to municipalities on an annual basis to assist with critical transportation infrastructure projects, including road and bridge repairs. The funding is allocated using a formula that is based on the weighted average of a community’s population, employment and total road miles. Chapter 90 funding can be used for a variety of purposes, including road resurfacing, sidewalks, street lighting, traffic control measures and roadside drainage. Municipalities can also use the money for the purchase, replacement and long-term lease of road-building machinery, equipment and tools.
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