ment of the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund in 2018. I am thrilled that MassDEP is awarding grants to these six Cape Cod towns. If we keep up with these efforts, we can restore our waterways and relegate excessive nitrogen pollution to the history books.” $7.2 MILLION FOR LOCAL CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS — Gov. Healey announced $7.2 million in grants to cities and towns across Massachusetts to fund clean energy projects. “We are happy to help our cities and towns move forward with initiatives that create healthier communities and boost local economies,” said Gov. Healey. “These projects will ultimately save people, businesses and municipalities money and will help Massachusetts achieve energy independence.” “These projects refl ect the hard work and dedication of our local offi cials to make Massachusetts a healthier, more affordable place for families and businesses,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “We are committed to partnering with our local leaders to support eff orts that save cities and towns money and strengthen communities.” STRENGTHEN HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING IN MASSACHUSETTS HOTELS — Massachusetts state legislators, hospitality industry leaders and survivor advocates gathered at the Statehouse to highlight the urgent need to implement human traffi cking recognition training across the hotel industry in the Bay State. They urged approval of legislation that would mandate human traffi cking training for all hotel employees in the Bay State, from the front desk to housekeeping and food service, in order to equip them to recognize and respond to traffi cking situations. “Prevention training is already a standard practice at many hotels in Massachusetts, and we remain committed to partnering with law enforcement and survivor advocacy organizations to strengthen these eff orts,” said Kevin Carey, President and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. “Human traffi cking remains a vicious crime and modernday version of slavery that exists in almost every community across the commonwealth and the United States,” said Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), the lead author of the fi rst anti-human traffi cking law approved in Massachusetts and the sponsor of this new legislation (S 1729) which would mandate human trafficking training for all hotel employees. “This is not simply some awful problem occurring in some far away land. Many victims are vulnerable women or children from our own communities, and hotels and motels are often exploited by traffi ckers to perpetuate this heinous crime. We must break through the inertia on Beacon Hill and mandate training for hospitality workers who can play a lifesaving role in combatting traffi cking.” DON’T MISS THIS SPECIAL EVENT — Join Massachusetts energy leaders in government, industry and advocacy at the MCLE in Boston on March 26 for an important discussion about the state’s energy policy and its goals for a net-zero future, hosted by the State House News Service. With the return of a new Trump administration and policies hindering wind power development, the state’s plan to expand its off shore wind portfolio faces uncertainty. While solar power offers potential, its scalability is limited by grid capacity issues and requires substantial investment. Other promising technologies like fusion and lowcarbon hydrogen have yet to be implemented in the commonwealth. Tickets/more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/power-interruption-tickets-1219762716119? aff =oddtdtcreator QUOTABLE QUOTES “[President Trump] is taking the bureaucracy out of education so that more money fl ows to the states. Better education is closest to the kids, with parents, with local superintendents, with local school boards.” ---U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon on the Trump Administration’s announcement of a cut to nearly half of the Department of Education’s 4,000-person workforce. THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2025 “By attempting to dismantle the Department of Education which, among many things, funds educational programs that benefi t low-income children and students with disabilities and enforces laws that prohibit discrimination in education, the Trump Administration is making it crystal clear that it does not prioritize our students, teachers or families.” Page 19 ---Attorney General Andrea Campbell and 20 other attorneys general on their lawsuit against U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the U.S. Department of Education and President Trump over their attempt to dismantle the Department of Education. “Right now, our democracy is being attacked from every angle. Our commonsense, pro-democracy reforms put the most essential element of our democracy — the people — front and center. Together, we’ll continue advocating for critical legislation that strengthens our voting rights, makes it easier for people to participate in their government and increases transparency to hold those in power accountable.” BEACON | SEE Page 20 When to Worry About Your Memory Dear Savvy Senior, At age 70, I’ve become more and more forgetful lately and am concerned it may be an early sign of dementia. Are there any memory screening tools or services that you can recommend to help me gage my problem, without going to a neurologist? Forgetful Frank Dear Frank, Many older adults, like yourself, worry about memory lapses as they get older fearing it may be the fi rst signs of Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia. To get some insight on the seriousness of your problem, here are some tips and resources you can turn to. Warning Signs As we grow older, some memory diffi culties — such as forgetting names or misplacing items from time to time — are associated with normal aging. But the symptoms of dementia are much more than simple memory lapses. While symptoms can vary greatly, people with dementia may have problems with short-term memory, keeping track of a purse or wallet, paying bills, planning and preparing meals, remembering appointments or traveling out of the neighborhood. To help you recognize the diff erence between typical age-related memory loss and a more serious problem, the Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of 10 warning signs that you can assess at 10signs.org. They also provide information including the signs and symptoms on other conditions that can cause dementia like vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy and others — see ALZ.org/dementia. Memory Screening A great resource and fi rst step to help you get a handle on your memory problem is the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, which offers a National Memory Screening Program. This is a free, confi dential, faceto-face memory screening done virtually in real-time that takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete and consists of questions and/or tasks to evaluate your memory status. Once the screening is complete, the screener will review the results with you. Available to everyone, these memory screenings are done daily Monday through Friday, and are given by doctors, nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers or other healthcare professionals across the country. A smart phone, computer, tablet or any other device with a webcam and Internet capability is all that’s needed. Appointments can be requested online at ALZFDN.org/memory-screening or by calling 866-232-8484. It’s also important to know that this screening is not a diagnosis of any particular condition but can indicate whether you should see your doctor for more extensive assessment. See Your Doctor If you fi nd that you need further evaluation, make an appointment with your primary care doctor for a cognitive checkup and medical examination. Depending on what’s found, you may be referred to a geriatrician or neurologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease. Keep in mind that even if you are experiencing some memory problems, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have dementia. Many memory problems are brought on by other factors like stress, depression, thyroid disease, side eff ects of medications, sleep disorders, vitamin defi ciencies and other medical conditions. And by treating these conditions he can reduce or eliminate the problem. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box5443, 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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