THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 21, 2025 Page 9 Winthrop Harbormaster and Mass. Environmental Police Off ering Newly Required Basic Safety Boating Course W INTHROP — Town Manager Anthony Mar ino and Harbormaster Arthur Hickey share that the Winthrop Harbormaster’s Marine Unit, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Environmental Police, will be offering Basic Boating Safety courses at the Town Landing. The Massachusetts Legislature recently passed legislation requiring that anyone operating a motorized vessel in Massachusetts possess a Boater Safety Certifi cate by April 1, 2028. Those who were born after 1989 must obtain a certifi - cate by April 1, 2026. In response, the Winthrop Harbormaster will be off ering Boating Safety Courses to anyone age 12 and up throughout 2025. The classes are being off ered at no cost. The courses are nationally approved. Course completion will allow anyone to operate a boat in states requiring Basic Boating Safety courses. All classes will be held at the Town Marina, 707 Shirley St. Classes are scheduled for May 3, May 10, May 17, May 24, May 31 and June 7, all from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, or to register to take one of the courses, visit the Winthrop Harbormaster’s website at: https://www.winthropma.gov/659/Boating-Safety-Course. TOWN MEETING | FROM PAGE 8 ly working on any articles. Maureen Whitcomb: I have not been working with anyone on articles; however, I stay in touch with other Town Meeting members to discuss various happenings in town and matters related to Town Meeting. Question Four: Please feel free to share any other views about the upcoming Town Meeting. Glen R. Davis: I’m looking forward to another informative town meeting. We should be receiving our budget packets with recommendation from the Finance Committee and other boards. I always spend a good amount of time reviewing each line item and understanding how money is allocated every year. Stephanie M. Shalkoski: I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as a Town Meeting Member for Precinct Four, and I have great respect for my fellow Town Meeting members, as well as the many dedicated volunteers who serve on committees and boards that help advance the business of our Town. Last year was my fi rst Town Meeting, and I gained valuable insight into the extensive work done behind the scenes to prepare. I look forward to attending more committee meetings and continuing to volunteer at events around Town to stay informed and connect directly with residents. Maureen Whitcomb: I am looking forward to the new dog park, as I know there is a lot of community interest in it. I would also like to see a charter review team or board established to evaluate potential updates. Additionally, I encourage all Town Meeting members to attend regularly, as we consistently have a few who do not participate each year. S nior When to Worry Sa nir Sa y Senior Senio by Jim Miller 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 difference 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 ofior About Your Memory fers a National Memory Screening Program. This is a free, confi dential, face-to-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 find 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. 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.
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