THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 POLLINATOR | FROM Page 13 their pollinator progress on social media using the hashtag #GrowingWildMA. “Our native plants and polliHelping Seniors Find Discounted High-Speed Internet Services Dear Savvy Senior, Do you know where I can fi nd cheaper high-speed internet services for my home? I’m 70-years old and live strictly on my Social Security and would like to fi nd something faster and less expensive than I currently have. Surfi ng Susan Dear Susan, There are actually two new resources available today that can help you save money on your home internet services, but what’s available to you will depend on your income level and where you live. Here’s where to begin. Internet Discounts Depending on your fi nancial situation, a good fi rst step to reducing your home internet costs is through the new Emergency Broadband Benefi t (EBB) program. This is a temporary federal benefi t that provides a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute $10 to $50 toward the purchase price. To qualify, you’ll need to show that your annual household income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, which is $17,388 for one person or $23,517 for two. Or, if you’re receiving certain types of government benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps (SNAP), SSI, public housing assistance, veterans’ pension or survivors pension benefi t, or live on federally recognized tribal lands. Households that experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020 due to job loss or furlough can also qualify for the EBB program, as long as their household income for 2020 was at or below $99,000 for single fi lers and $198,000 for joint fi lers. To apply, go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org where you can apply online or print out an application and mail it in. If you’re already receiving assistance through the federal Lifeline benefit (see LifelineSupport.org), which is a $9.25 monthly subsidy for phone or internet costs, you automatically qualify for the EBB program, and you can receive both benefi ts at the same time. You can apply your EBB and your Lifeline benefit to the same or separate services. Or, if your broadband provider already has its own low-income or COVID-19 relief program, you may be able to qualify through this program as well. Talk to your broadband provider for more information. Low-Cost Internet If you’re not eligible for the EBB program, another resource for locating cheaper high-speed internet is Aging Connected, which has a higher income qualifi cation. Created by Older Adults Technology Services from AARP (OATS) and the Humana Foundation, Aging Connected is a nationwide campaign created to help lower-income seniors fi nd low-cost, in-home broadband options in their area. Partnering with telecommunications companies, nonprofi ts and public entities, Aging Connected will help you search for services in your area that provide high-speed internet at a very low cost. Most participating companies charge around $10 to $15 per month, with no contract and no equipment fee. Aging Connected also provides referrals to aff ordable desktop and laptop computers for under $160. To qualify, you’ll need to show that your annual household income is at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, which is $23,800 for one person or $32,200 for two. Or, if you’re receiving certain types of government benefi ts similar to the EBB program. To search, go to AgingConnected. org and type in your ZIP code, name and email address, or you can call 877-745-1930. Other Search Options If you fi nd that you’re not eligible for either of the previously listed resources, you may still be able to save on your internet by shopping and comparing. The best way to do this is at websites like InMyArea.com and BroadbandNow.com, both of which provide a list of internet providers in your area, along with pricing and download speeds. 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. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net nators depend on our support so that we can do our part as environmental stewards,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “We encourage Massachusetts residents to get involved by being active in this movement to ensure sustainability in not only pollinator populations, but throughout the local food system and the natural world around us. We hope these Growing Wild Massachusetts starter kits will inspire people to “Bee the Change!” and start creating more pollinator habitats statewide that will bring lasting benefi ts to us now, and to future generations.” Pollinators include bees, birds, bats, butterfl ies and other species. More than 45 percent of agricultural commodities in Massachusetts rely on pollinator species for crop pollination and food production. Pollinator species provide signifi cant environmental benefi ts that are necessary for maintaining healthy, diverse ecosystems, and they produce valuable products, including honey, propolis, royal Page 33 jelly and wax. However, many pollinator species are struggling due to loss of forage and habitat, the spread of invasive plant and insect species, climate change and improper use of pesticides. To promote and protect pollinator habitat within DCR land, the agency continues to plant pollinator gardens, manage wildfl ower meadows and maintain limited-mow zones. While DCR properties provide habitat for a variety of native species, public lands alone cannot support the needs of native pollinators. DCR and MDAR are encouraging residents to support the Growing Wild Massachusetts initiative by planting pollinator-friendly native plant habitat in their yards, patios and/or window boxes. “According to the Natural Resource Conservation Service, more than 75 percent of the world’s fl owering plants and 35 percent of those we eat rely on pollinators to reproduce, making pollinators vital to human life,” said DCR Deputy Commissioner for Conservation and Resource Stewardship Priscilla Geigis. “The goal of Growing Wild Massachusetts is to galvanize the public by educating residents about the critical roles that native plants and pollinators play in our lives and inspire people to create habitat that supports and preserves these important parts of our ecosystem.” "Bees and pollinators are essential to food production, wildlife sustainability, and native habitats here in Massachusetts,” said State Representative Carolyn Dykema, who is House Chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture. “With this new program, our local nurseries will help us all play a role in protecting pollinators right in our own backyards. I’m so pleased that our state agencies have taken a leading role in this important partnership.” “We are very proud to be a part of this program alongside DCR, MDAR, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and other well-respected garden centers,” said Weston Nurseries Owner/President Peter Mezitt, who is president of the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association. “Pollinators and native species are so very important to our environment and we are committed to doing everything we can to help people learn about and successfully grow them.”
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