Melrose Retirement
Melrose MA 02176
Melrose Retirement Office
562 Main Street, Melrose, Ma 02176
781-979-4151 Fax: 781-979-4206
Volume 42
Retirement News and Notes
April 2015
Open Enrollment for Health & Dental Insurance
Begins April 8 – May 6 for Changes Effective July 1, 2015
Open Enrollment gives retirees the opportunity to review your benefit options and choose a new health plan if
you desire. If you are satisfied with your current GIC health plan, do nothing! Your coverage will continue
automatically.
IMPORTANT FOR ALL RETIREES (Medicare and Non-Medicare)!
1. Be an Educated Health Care Consumer
a. Review the 2015-2016 GIC Benefit Decision Guide for benefit changes effective July 1
b. Regularly go to your plan’s website for useful and cost saving information
2. You cannot change plans during the year unless you move out of the plan’s service area. If your doctor or
hospital leaves your health plan, you must find a new participating provider in your chosen plan. The plan
will help you with this.
3. Retirees/Survivors may join the GIC Retiree Dental plan effective July 1, 2015. You must return enrollment
forms to City of Melrose Human Resource Office no later than May 6, 2015.
IMPORTANT FOR NON-MEDICARE RETIREES!
1. Your Contribution has increased to 15% and the City contributes 85%
2. You Must Choose a PCP if Enrolled in Harvard Independence or Tufts Navigator
a. Harvard Independence & Tufts Navigator PPO plans will change to Point of Service Plans
b. Requires a Primary Care Physician (PCP)
c. Requires referrals from your PCP
3. Know Tier Ratings for Your Doctors, Hospitals & Medicines
a. Review cost increases designed so that consumers stay away from Tier 3
b. Consult with your PCP about Tier 1 and 2 alternatives
c. Regularly go to your plan’s website for tier designations
d. Avoid Tier 3 designations to avoid the most expensive co-pays
4. Study Your Options to Save Money
a. Consider Less Expensive-High Quality Health Insurance Plans such as UniCare Community Choice,
Tufts Spirit or HP Primary Choice (narrower networks)
b. Verify Provider/Hospital Network Participation Every Year
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS BELOW:
• www.cityofmelrose.org, under “Quicklinks”, click on “Open Enrollment” (beginning April 8)
• Group Insurance Commission 617-727-2310
• Polly Latta at 781-979-4145 or [email protected]
• Marianne Long at 781-979-4146 or [email protected]
• Member Services, Your Health Insurance Plan (phone number is on your card)
News from the Public Health Office: Contributed by Karen Cronin.
Colorectal Cancer Month: Colorectal Cancer is equally common in men as it is in women. According to the
Prevent Cancer Foundation, approximately 136,830 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and of
those, approximately 50,000 people will die. With screening, this can be prevented. There are several screening
tools available for early detection. Early detection means early treatment and ultimately successful results.
Before we discuss early screening we must discuss risk factors. People most at risk are 50 years old or above.
Those at risk are usually people who smoke, are overweight, physically inactive, who drink alcohol
excessively(especially men), those who engage in a diet rich in red meat and processed meat, and those with a
family history of colorectal cancer or personal history of polyps, and those with a history of bowel
inflammatory illnesses.
What you can do if you have any of these risk factors is, is to be physically active for at least 30 minutes 5 days
a week. Maintain a healthy weight. Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains to get healthy. If you drink, limit it
to, no more than 1 drink per day for a woman and no more than 2 drinks per day for a man. If you are 50 years
old you should be routinely screened for colorectal cancer. If you are at high risk you should perhaps be
screened earlier. Some of the tests used for screening are the colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, both done under
a physician’s care every 5-10 years depending on risk factors. There are also tests you can do at home, for
instance the guaiac stool cards given to you by your physician and sent back into the office for testing, these
may be done every year.
Early stages of cancer don’t usually have symptoms, again reinforcing early detection. Later symptoms of
colorectal cancer include: bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool, change in bowel habits, stool that is
narrower than usual, bloating, fullness or cramps in the abdomen, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue and vomiting
and sometimes weight loss. In the case of colorectal cancer as with most cancers is, “A good defense is your
best offense”. Discuss this with your healthcare provider and decide what your “defense” will be.
Happenings at the MPL: Contributed by Diane Wall.
Special Hours: The Library will close at 1pm on Friday., April 3rd & will be closed on Sunday., April 5th. The
Library will be closed on Sunday, April 19 and Monday, April 20 in observance of Patriots' Day.
Great Books Discussion Group - 7:00 to 8:30pm, Tuesdays, April 7 and 21, 2015
This group meets on the first and third Tuesdays of every month (September to June) to discuss short stories
from anthologies. The members continue to read selections from Classical American Short Stories. New
members are always welcome.
MPL Book Group - 7:30pm, Thursday, April 16. The Melrose Public Library Book Discussion Group (for
adults) will meet to discuss Cascade by Maryanne O'Hara. Stop by the circulation desk (or call 781-665-2313)
and arrange to pick up this month's title in advance so you can join in the discussion!
Local resident, Gayle Saks speaks about her mother, a Holocaust survivor - 7:30pm, Wed., April 22.
Gayle's mother, was a "hidden child" like Anne Frank. Gayle's grandmother, with two of her children, somehow
found her way to the Jewish Underground and found a couple to hide them in their Bruxelles-area basement for
about two years. Please plan on attending to hear more about this remarkable story. Sign up online at
melrosepubliclibrary.org on the Events & Programs calendar, or with library staff.
MPL History Book Club with William Tobin – 7pm, Wed., April 1st. Join William Tobin, retired history and
economics teacher at Cambridge Rindge & Latin, for the History Book Club! The topic for this meeting is
Mongols and their Impact on China, Japan, Russia and Turkey. Any nonfiction history book on what you
consider to be a major impact. New members are welcome to join and experience history from many points of
view on one topic. No other history book club offers this unique approach!
Great Books Discussion Group – 7 - 8:30pm, Tues., April 7th. This group meets on the first and third Tues. of
every month (September to June) to discuss short stories from anthologies. The members continue to read
selections from Classical American Short Stories. New members are always welcome.
The Author’s corner with Douglaas Heath: 7pm, Tues., April 14. Author Douglas Heath will speak aboaut
his new Images of America book Middlesex Fells. Doug is an environmental scientist with an interest in local
history. For this book he traced the history of the Fells using images selected fromprivate collections and public
archieves. Sign up online at melrosepubliclibrary.org on the Events &Programs calendar or with library staff.
Books availabale for purchase and signing. Sponsored by Friends of MPL.
Happenings at the Milano Center:
Take Me Out To The Ballgame! Spring Special Luncheon with Entertainment. Wed., April 8, 12 – 2.
Join us on this special date as we celebrate the opening of the Red Sox Season! You will dine on ballpark food
and be entertained by Howie Newman (sponsored by Melrose Friends of the Aging) who will sing songs about
baseball. Don’t forget to wear your Red Sox jerseys and hats! Raffle is being donated by the Melrose Emblem
Club. · Reservations are Required, · Transportation is Available, · $2.00 suggested donation towards lunch
Sign up at Milano front desk or call 781-662-6886.
Senior Day at Mt. Hood Park; May 12, 2015; 11 - 2 p.m. Lunch, lecture and sightseeing at Mt. Hood
Memorial Park and Golf Course. Call 781-665-8172 to reserve your place. Last day to register is May 9th.
For transportation, please call 781-665-4304 between 8 - 11:30 a.m. and 781-662-6886 between 12 - 4:00 p.m.
Monthly Movies: Mamma Mia, April 14th; 1:15 pm and Tom Jones. April 28th; 1:15 pm.
Rep. Paul Brodeur: 3rd Fri. of the month, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. 617-722-2030
Anthony J. Moreschi, Office of Katherine Clark, 1st & 3rd Tues. of the month, 1-2. 781-396-2900
Senator Jason Lewis, 3rd Fri. of the month, 11:30 - 12:30 p.m. 617-722-1206
News from the Veterans’Services: contributed by Ryan McLane, Director
Veteran Mobile Food Market - April 1st at Memorial Hall @12 p.m. Veterans and their family members are
eligible for a monthly delivery of fresh produce and food goods if they sign up in advance at Melrose Veteran
Services. The distribution is always on the first Wednesday of every month.
Operation Remember Fundraiser – Liberty Bell Melrose 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. East great food and help
MVMMS raise money for Operation Remember, our annual trip to Washington DC where veterans experience
the national memorials and students research and present veteran history. This year’s focus is Remembering the
Korean War.
Veteran Town Hall Meeting - April 21, 2015 at the Melrose Elks @7p.m. We will be joined by MA
Secretary of Veteran Services Francisco Urena for a question and answer. Additionally, city officials will
discuss upcoming programming, seek feedback on city initiatives and help locate the final site for the Korean
War monument.
Recipe of the month:
Glazed Orange Scones: Recipe from Vegan with a Vengeance: reformulated by Winnie Canton: Green
Street. Natural Foods: Makes 8
Scone Ingredients:
1/4 c Coconut Creamer
3 tbsp. Sugar of Choice
1/3 c + 1 1/2 tsp. Milk of Choice
1 tbsp. Baking Powder
1 1/2 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
1/8 tsp. Salt
1 1/2 c All purpose flour (whole wheat or gluten
5 1/2 tbsp. Grapeseed Oil
free)
1 1/2 tbsp. Orange Zest
Glaze Ingredients:
1/2 c Confectioner’s Sugar (if you prefer less sugar, substitute 2 tbsp. Arrowroot Powder for 2 tbsp. Sugar)
1 tbsp. Earth Balance (or butter)
1 tbsp. Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
1/2 tsp. Orange Zest
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 400.
2) Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
3) In a measuring cup, combine cream, milk, and vinegar. Set aside to let curdle.
4) In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
5) Add cream mixture, oil, and orange zest to dry ingredients. Mix until everything combines (should be slightly
clumpy).
6) Knead the dough then form a 6″ disk. Cut into 8 slices like you would cut a pizza. Place each slice on the
cookie sheet.
7) Bake 12-15 minutes (until slightly brown on bottom and firm).
8) Transfer to cooling rack.
Glaze:
1) Melt the Earth Balance (or butter) in a saucepan.
2) Add remaining ingredients to melted butter. Mix until smooth.
When scones are cool, transfer to plate and drizzle about 2 tbsp. of glaze over each scone. Enjoy :)
We would like to welcome the following new member(s):
Marco DePalma, Travis Nally, Brian Trainor: Police Dept.
We would like to offer our condolences to the family and friends of: John Galiano: DPW
Note: Special Note to Members IF YOU NEED TO UPDATE your personal information:
• Please go to cityofmelrose.org
• Go to Department Directory located on left hand side
• Click Retirement Board
Select which forms you wish to update (listed below). Access the forms at
http://www.cityofmelrose.org/departments/retirement-board/.
Application for Withdrawal
Application for Survivor Benefits
Application for Voluntary Superannuation
Beneficiary Selection
Blank Direct Deposit: Please attach a blank check with the word VOID written on it
Change of Address
Retirement Option
Fill out the forms and mail them back to City of Melrose, Retirement Office, 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA
02176 or send them to [email protected] or [email protected]
Opening Day is April 13th against the Nationals at 3:15. (A National League Team?? Really!!)
Adam and Marty
Bring this coupon in and get
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Lorenzo
G
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