Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 5, 2024 CHAMPIONSHIPS | FROM PAGE 10 on some of that wisdom to them.” Stanley Cup still in the cards “I still have another year (with the Capitals organization), but honestly, I’ve had the most fun since turning pro playing right here in Hershey, and I can’t picture playing somewhere else right now. If we win another Calder Cup this year, I would then be looking for a threepeat,” Mike said on his future. “Like I said earlier, Hershey builds teams to win every year. They have already locked in our coaching staff and our leadership group, which really sets the foundation and culture of our team. You lose guys every year to free agency, but when guys sign with the Bears, they are hungry to win. They see the banners, they see all the pictures, they see the videos and hear the stories, and all they want is a taste of it. It’s a good recipe to build a team, and it’s a big reason why I signed here. When my contract is up after next year, we will see where the wind takes me. I think I’d be happy fi nishing my career as a Bear, but if a Stanley Cup contender calls me, I’m all ears. I’ll never completely shut the door on the potential of winning a Stanley Cup, but I’m also I’m BEACON HILL ROLL | FROM PAGE 12 ple way we can make sure our students have the resources they need to help themselves and their friends in a time of crisis,” said co-sponsor Rep. Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster). “The 988 Helpline is a critical support for our community, and ensuring all of our youth learn about it will help all future generations get the mental health support they need when they need it most.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “It might be a gray, rainy week, but progress on updating the state’s Bottle Bill is a ray of sunshine for everyone who wants to reduce litter and waste.” --- Janet Domenitz, Executive Director of MASSPIRG on the reporting out of committee a bill that would increase the deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents and expand it to include water bottles, vitamin drinks and other beverages that were not on the market when the Bottle Bill fi rst passed in 1982. “Because Massachusetts has entered a new era with sports betting now literally available at your fi ngertips, it is critical not an idiot. I’m a realist and understand I’ve only played three NHL games in my pro career. But anything can happen. You just have to be ready when it does.” Always a Saugonian Vecchione has traveled the country throughout his pro career, but Saugus remains his home. “I bought a home around Saugus Center about fi ve years ago, and live there in the summer. When I get home, I usually hit Joe’s Gym, where I get some good work in with my dad. I also like to put on the rollerblades, and work on my craft in the park. That has always been where I found peace. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always gone to the park to master the game I love. I’ve always found that the work you put in away from the rink has the biggest eff ect, because you only have a certain amount of ice time in the summer, and it’s expensive,” Mike said. “There’s nothing better than getting the boys together and playing hours of street hockey until we had blisters on our hands and feet. Later on in the summer, I would do more on ice skating and shooting to gear up for camp, but I live playing on the street hockey court. That being said, that we raise awareness of the public health risks associated with this activity, particularly for young people. This coalition brings together the business, professional sports, nonprofi t and responsible gaming communities to best achieve one common goal: better protect and educate young adults across the commonwealth.” ---Attorney General Andrea Campbell on formation of a new public-private partnership, the Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition, to raise awareness of the laws, risks and public health harms associated with sports betting and gambling among young people. “Expanding low-income fares will help to ensure that our transportation system is more equitable and more affordable, which supports the mission to give everyone greater access to mobility options, especially community members depending on transit.” ---Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt commenting on the MBTA board vote to approve a reduced fare program for low-income riders across most services. Saugus could really use a new street hockey rink. I’m no politician, but Anna Parker is a mess with weeds growing through the concrete. It really makes it nearly impossible to even go down there and enjoy playing. It’s been 25 years since the court was made, and no maintenance has been done on it over the years. It’s a shame the place I spent countless hours at is in such disarray, and so I have to drive to another town to get a good skate in. it’s time for an upgrade, please. “The tennis courts at Belmonte and the basketball courts at Evans are absolutely beautiful, but this has always been a hockey town and it’s time we fi nd a place to put a street hockey rink in with boards and a fence. I’d be willing to raise money and donate my own money to make it happen. A new or renovated facility would inspire more kids to chase their dreams like I did.” But Mike Vecchione’s dreams are far from over, and by June he just might be hoisting another Calder Cup trophy with the Hershey Bears, his fourth title in the past 13 years on three diff erent levels, an achievement that will certainly be diffi cult to replicate. “Park Serve Day exemplifi es the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s goals of promoting stewardship and conservation of our state’s green and open spaces. Encouraging the public to take an active role in protecting our environment is one way that we can foster the next generation of environmentalists who will take up the mantle of protecting these important natural resources.” ---Energy and Environmental Aff airs Secretary Rebecca Tepper announcing that registration is now open for the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s 18th annual Park Serve Day on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at which volunteers help clean coastlines, clear trails, pick up litter, plant fl owers or take part in other restorative projects More information at mass. gov/info-details/dcr-parkserve-day HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one asBEACON HILL ROLL | SEE PAGE 18 Say nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Recommended Vaccines for Medicare Recipients Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I recently turned 65 and would like to fi nd out which vaccines are recommended and covered by Medicare? New Benefi ciaries Dear New, All recommended vaccines for adults, age 65 and older, should be covered by either Medicare Part B or Part D, but there are some coverage challenges you should be aware of. Here’s a rundown of which vaccines are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and how Medicare covers them. Covid-19: Even though Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency, it can still cause severe illness, particularly in older adults. Because the Covid virus continues to mutate, new vaccines are being developed to keep pace, so the CDC recommends that all seniors stay up to date with the latest Covid vaccines, including booster shots. All Covid-19 shots are covered 100 percent by Medicare Part B. Flu: Considered an annual vaccination, most people of all ages receive fl u shots in the fall when fl u season begins. The CDC recommends seniors, 65 and older get a high-dose fl u shot for extra protection beyond what a standard fl u shot off ers. The Fluzone High Dose Quadrivalent, FLUAD Quadrivalent and FluBlok Quadrivalent are your three options. Annual fl u shots are covered under Medicare Part B. Pneumonia: These vaccines help protect against pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis and other infections. The CDC recommends everyone 65 and older get a pneumococcal vaccine. There are several diff erent vaccine options available, so talk to your doctor or pharmacists to fi nd out which is best for you or visit the CDC’s Pneumococcal Vaccination webpage at CDC.gov/ vaccines/vpd/pneumo/public/ index.html. Medicare Part B covers both single dose and two-dose pneumococcal shots once in your lifetime. Shingles: Caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash that aff ects more than 1 million Americans every year. All people over age 50 are recommended to get the two-dose Shingrix vaccine, which is given two to six months apart, even if you previously received Zostavax. In 2020, Shingrix replaced Zostavax, which is no longer available in the U.S. All Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cover shingles vaccinations, but coverage amounts, and reimbursement rules vary depending on where the shot is given. Check your plan. Tdap: Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) are diseases caused by bacteria that can lead to serious illness and death. Therefore, a one-time dose of the Tdap vaccine is recommended to all adults. If you’ve already had a Tdap shot, you should get a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster shot every 10 years. All Medicare Part D plans cover these vaccinations. RSV: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis and can worsen other chronic conditions common among older adults, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The CDC recommends all adults, age 60 and older, talk to their doctor about getting one of the RSV vaccines (either Arexvy or Abrysvo), usually in the fall and winter months when the virus is most prevalent. Most Medicare Part D plans cover the RSV vaccine, but not all. If your plan doesn’t cover it, you can ask for a coverage exception. You can also pay for the shot out of pocket and then follow-up with your plan to get reimbursed. If you pay for the shot upfront, your plan must pay you back. Other Vaccinations There are other vaccines you may need depending on your health, lifestyle or travel plans. To help you get a handle on which ones are appropriate for you, take the CDC’s What Vaccines Do You Need? quiz at www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultimmsched. Also, talk to your doctor during your next visit about what vaccinations you should get. 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. nior ior
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