Currently the beaches use a posting and fl agging system to alert the public to high bacteria levels. Unfortunately, the best technology available takes 24 hours to return results, meaning by the time the posting goes up, the information is already out of date. Save the Harbor/Save the Bay thanks Dr. Judy Pederson, former Chair of their Beaches Science Advisory Committee, Bruce Berman, former Director of Strategy & Communications at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, and Kelly Coughlin of Stony Brook Partners for their guidance in developing the methodology used in this report. The organization commends THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2025 They also thank the Healey/ Page 19 Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano, Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chairs Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn and Rep. Adrian Madaro of East Boston, and each of the legislative and community members of the Commission for their commitment to clean water and the region’s public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket. Beach Pleasure Bay City Point Nantasket M Street Carson Revere Constitution Short Winthrop Wollaston Nahant Malibu Savin Hill Tenean King’s All Beaches (avg.) Six-year average safety rating (2019-2024) 100% 100% 97% 96% 96% 92% 92% 90% 89% 86% 84% 84% 80% 74% 69% 88% FARMER’S | FROM Page 3 Livelihood, community, and quality food and goods.” The Revere Beach Farmer’s Market accepts payments made through assistance programs: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Driscoll Administration, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, The Massachusetts Executive Offi ce of Energy and Environmental Aff airs, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. This work is supported by JetBlue, the Richard M. Saltonstall Charitable Foundation, The Barr Foundation, and The Rose Family Foundation. 2024 Water Quality Report Card 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 92% 98% 94% 100% 98% 97% 94% 100% 94% 94% 94% 91% 91% 100% 92% 100% 100% 100% 86% 89% 98% 94% 100% 87% 86% 88% 97% 91% 98% 90% 83% 94% 94% 89% 94% 88% 80% 82% 94% 100% Gravesite Care When You Can’t Get There Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend any services that off er gravesite cleaning and care? I recently visited my parent’s cemetery gravesite over Memorial Day weekend and found that their headstones were overtaken by weeds and moss and need to be cleaned. I live in a diff erent state and can’t get back very often. Who can I call on to help me with this? Long-Distance Linda Dear Linda, Depending on where your parents are buried, there are a hodgepodge of places you can turn to for gravesite grooming, decorating and special care when you can’t get there. Here’s what you should know. 100% 78% 88% 88% 88% 82% 85% 87% 78% 80% 81% 77% 96% 93% 83% 76% 95% 73% 91% 83% 68% 80% 94% 70% 89% 79% 71% 73% 89% 63% 79% 67% 66% 55% 74% 68% 70% 79% 84% 85% 93% 86% 93% 89% (SFMNP); and the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP). In addition, this summer the Revere Beach Farmer’s Market will be debuting a special SNAP Match program in partnership with Mass in Motion and Cambridge Health Alliance’s Department of Community Health. SNAP recipients who spend $15.00 at specifi c vendors will be able to get a $15.00 coupon from the Revere Public Health Department to be spent on those same vendors. Be sure to follow the Revere Beach Farmer’s Market on social media for weekly event schedules and exciting collaborations that bring fun familyfriendly activities to the market every Friday. You can fi nd the Revere Beach Farmer’s Market on Instagram (@reverebeachfarmersmarket) and Facebook (Revere Beach Farmer’s Market). Gravesite Care It’s important to know that as a general rule, most cemeteries, like the one your parents are buried in, only provide basic grounds maintenance like mowing the grass and trash pickup. Special gravesite care and headstone cleaning is almost always up to the family. But for families who live a distance from their loved one’s burial place and can’t get back very often, what options are available? A good place to start is to contact the cemetery staff where your parents are buried to see if they off er any special gravesite cleaning services or know of anyone who does. If not, try reaching out to some local funeral homes in the area to see if they can help or refer you. If you don’t have any luck there, another option is to hire a gravesite care provider on your own. These are small or individually run businesses that provide services like plot maintenance including grass trimming and weeding, headstone cleaning and restoration, fl ower and wreath deliveries and more. And so you know the work was completed or the fl owers were delivered, many companies will take pictures of the gravesite and email or text them to you. There are literally hundreds of small businesses that provide gravesite care services in local communities or regions across the country. To find them, do a simple Google or Bing internet search, and type in something like “grave care services” or “cemetery headstone cleaning” plus your city or state. Or use an AI tool like Chat GPT or Gemini to do a search. You can also seek help by contacting the local memorial society or funeral consumer alliance program near your parent’s gravesite — see Funerals. org/fi nd-an-affi liate for contact information. These are volunteer groups that off er a wide range of information on local funeral and cremation providers, cemeteries and more. The cost for most gravesite care services can range anywhere from $50 to over $250 for headstone cleaning and memorial restoration (depending on the job size), $50 to $200 for fl ower and wreath deliveries, and $30 to $80 for plot grooming. Special discounts for multiple gravesite services and visits may also exist. Floral Services If you’re interested in decorating your parent’s gravesite next Memorial Day with fresh cut fl owers or live plants, another option is to call a local fl orist to see if they can make a delivery directly to their grave site. Many fl orists will accommodate this request if you provide them the cemetery location and plot number, but you may not get a photo verifying the delivery. 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.
20 Publizr Home