The Greenville Pioneer - 2022-01-14

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18 The Greenville Pioneer • Friday, January 14, 2022 Be A Better Gardener Ecotypes: Native plants and their adaptability By Thomas Christopher For Capital Region Independent Media Did you know the native red maple tree you bought from your local nursery may have originated with a clone collected in Florida? Or that the native meadow seed you planted likely was collected in the Midwest? So, what does that matter? Over millennia, truly local plants have evolved to flourish in the local conditions and to harmonize with the local wildlife, Sefra Alexandra explains. These locally evolved plants are what scientists describe as ecotypes. Sefra — an agroecological educator with a master’s degree from Cornell University and international experience as a plant collector, she calls herself “the Seed Huntress” — points out that using local ecotypes is more likely to produce plants that bloom precisely when their local pollination partners need them. In the case of monarch butterflies, for example, the local milkweed ecotypes flower when the butterflies are migrating through that area; planting non-local ecotypes may cause the butterflies to linger too long, or it may produce a premature bloom that peaks before they arrive. Unfortunately, nurseries do not typically advertise the provenance of native plants, and too carefully supervised to avoid stressing the remnant wild pop- hopes that the impact of the often locally sourced native cle of preserving and promoting ulations. These seeds are then Ecotype Project will be felt far and lasting impact on issues The Greenville Pioneer • Friday, December 20, 2019 13 plants are not available at all. locally sourced native plants planted out in “founder plots” outside Ecoregion 59. Pollinators, and gardeners and farmers, GCA. Tom’s companion broad- that are most important to the If Sefra has her way, though, a along the lower Connecticut on organic farms across the region. could benefit from similar efcast to this column, Growing program she is coordinating for River corridor (Ecoregion 59 the Connecticut chapter of the on the U.S. Environmental Pro- The seeds borne in the forts in any area of the country. Greener, streams on WESUFM. of a change. Qualified households may now apply for Home Energy Assistance Pro¬gram (HEAP) grants, a federally funded program that provides both reg¬ular and emergency financial assistance to help pay heating and utility bills. The grants are available through local Department of Social Services (DSS) offices and Offices for the Aging. Customers of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. who receive a HEAP benefit toward their ac¬count will also be issued a monthly credit on their bill for a max¬imum of 12 months based on service type and amount of HEAP benefit. “We’re pleased to offer additional assistance to families who may be struggling and depend on HEAP benefits, and encourage all eligible households to apply,” said Anthony Campagiorni, Vice President of Customer Services and Regulatory Affairs. Campagiorni explained that qualified families using electricity or natural gas as their primary heating source may receive a regular HEAP benefit $350 or more, depending on family income and size guidelines, applied toward their Central Hudson account. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Agroecological educator Sefra Alexandra says local plant ecotypes are more likely to produce plants that bloom just when their local pollination partners, such a butterflies, need them. Begun in 2019, the Ecotype Project pursues a complete cy- wildflowers, a process that is “In addition to these grants, eligible customers will also receive a credit on their utility bills that provide further assistance in lowering their energy costs,” said Campagiorni. The bill credit is based on the type of heating source and income level. He added that qualified households receiving a HEAP benefit for non-utility heating fuels such as oil, propane, wood/wood pellets, kero¬sene, coal or corn are also eligible for a monthly credit on their electric or non-heating gas bill. “We’re happy to provide bill discounts to customers who heat with these fuels, as well,” said Campagiorni. Customers should email their HEAP Notice of Decision Letter to Central Hudson at CareUnit@cenhud.com to be enrolled and receive the bill credit. Regular HEAP grants for the fall and upcoming winter are available between now and Mar. 16, 2020, or until funding is exhausted. Emergency HEAP grants will be available between Jan. 2 and Mar. 16, 2020. These benefits are designed to meet an eligible household’s immediate energy needs. Home heating assistance grants now available Real, Reputable, Trusted. Your News Media. portant to gather seeds of the An additional benefit, the Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement (HERR) program, is available to assist income qualified homeowners in repairing or replacing their primary heating equipment when the systems are inoper¬able or unsafe. Applications for HERR are accepted through Sept. 30, 2020, or until the funding is ex¬hausted. To apply for HEAP and HERR benefits, customers may contact their local DSS office, call (800) 342-3009, or visit www.mybenefits.ny.gov. In¬dividuals who are 60 and older and do not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may contact their local Office for the Aging to learn of the eligibil¬ity requirements by calling 800-342- 9871 or by visiting www.aging. ny.gov. For more information on HEAP eligibility requirements and benefits, visit www.Central- Hudson.com/HEAP or http://otda. ny.gov/programs/heap/program. asp; and for more on all of Central Hudson’s assistance and billing programs, visit www.CentralHudson.com, and click on “My Account.” widest range of genetic types, including early and late blooming specimens. These harvests are cleaned and processed with equipment maintained by the Northeast Organic Farming Association, and the results made available to growers through a farmer-led collective known as “Eco59.” Some of the seeds go to farmers to plant their own pollinator habitats, others to gardeners and members of pollinator pathways, and still others to local nurseries growing plants for ecological restoration projects. Sefra is a believer that good work needs to be celebrated, and she has publicized the Ecotype Project with annual “BOA- Tanical expeditions.” For these she takes a party of citizen scientists paddling down the Connecticut River with a cargo of ecotype plants to plant along the shores, either reinforcing wild populations or creating new founder plots. Although she has travelled far and wide in pursuit of locally adapted plants herself and is a member of the Explorers’ Club, she wants to make the point that you don’t have to fly to the Himalayas to mount an expedition — there are plenty of opportunities for exploration and botanical (and BOATanical) adventures in your own backyard. In a similar vein, Sefra also CMH unveils where.” To this end, the Connecticut chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association has published on its website (ctnofa.org) a “Getting Started Tool Kit” with protocols for seed saving and growing, as well tips for planting and thumbnail guides to the different wildflower species it has included in its founder plots. For more information about the Ecotype Project and Sefra Alexandra’s adventures as the Seed Huntress, go to the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Growing Greener podcast, at thomaschristophergardens.com/ podcast. Be-a-Better-Gardener is a community service of Berkshire Botanical Garden, located in Stockbridge, MA. Its mission, to provide knowledge of gardening and the environment through a diverse range of classes and programs, informs and inspires thousands of students and visitors each year. Thomas Christopher is a volunteer at Berkshire Botanical Garden and is the author or co-author of more than a dozen books, including Nature into Art and The Gardens of Wave Hill (Timber Press, 2019). He is the 2021 Garden Club of America’s National Medalist for Literature, a distinction reserved to recognize those who have left a profound Northeast Organic Farming Association, “The Ecotype Project,” tection Agency map). The cycle begins with the collection founder plots are harvested when ripe — this typically involves “What we’re really trying to do with the Ecotype Project,” org, Pacifica Radio and NPR and is available at his website, could mark the beginning of seeds of 17 species of local The Greenville Pioneer • Friday, January 17, 2020 several visits as it is im- Sefra said, “is create a replica- https://www.thomaschristoph- 13 ble 3D model for biopsy ecoregions every- technology ergardens.com/podcast. HUDSON — Medical and community leaders joined in Hudson recently to Hannacroix unveil state-of-the-art 3D breast biopsy Rural technology that officials at Columbia Memorial Health say will significantly improve the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for breast cancer patients Greene and Columbia counties. Cemetery seeks 2020 mowing donations The stereotactic 3D biopsy system, known as Affirm, will provide more precise targeting of tissue abnormalities identified through CMH’s 3D mammography capabilities, yielding earlier and more accurate detection of breast cancer. The technology was acquired through HANNACROIX the generosity — of The community Hannacroix members Rural Cemetery, who contributed which is to located the Columbia on Route Memorial 411 in Dormansville/Westerlo, Health Foundation. is seeking donations for the 2020 mowing expense for the cemetery. “This life-saving 3D biopsy technology, paired with our 3D mammography service, provides our patients with the most advanced diag- Whether you have a loved one buried there or would just like to give a donation, it would be greatly appreciated, organizers said. They nostic also thank care available all who have in locations helped that in the are past. comfortable, convenient and close Organizers to home,” said need CMH your help President to keep and the CEO cemetery Jay P. maintained. Cahalan. Contributions In addition can be to sent offering to: Hannacroix 3D mammography Rural Cemetery, and 3D biopsy C/O Linda services, Smith, CMH Treasurer, has significantly 115 State Route augmented 143, Westerlo, its radiology New and York pathology 12193. expertise through its affiliation with Albany Medical Center. The Albany Med and CMH radiology and pathology services are now fully integrated, which means that mammograms, and all imaging and diagnostic studies, are interpreted by the region’s leading experts. “Each year in the U.S. more than 268,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Tariq Gill, M.D., chief of Radiology at CHM. “This technology, now available right here in our community, is a tremendous step forward in our ability to detect and diagnose early stage breast cancer, significantly improving the likelihood of successful treatment.” Columbia Memorial Health Foundation Vice Chair Anne Schomaker said: “This technology is truly a gift of life made possible through the tremendous generosity of our donors. We are grateful beyond words to our supporters who continue to rally around CMH to ensure its essential mission can continue and expand.” WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! The Greenville Pioneer wants to hear from you. Send information about upcoming events and news to news@ greenvillepioneer.com. (We need to have announcements at least two weeks in advance.) THIS PUBLICATION SUPPORTS REAL NEWS. — Approaching 1 year in business July 9th, 2019 — WE ACCEPT ALL N.Y.STATE DEPOSITS THE PUBLIC NEEDS THE TRUTH; NOT SOCIAL MEDIA HEADLINES & FAKE NEWS. Drop Off Service NO Waiting at Machines We Count for You! Want to Help with Raising Money — Invest in Energy Efficient Double Hung Windows This Fall and SAVE! Invest in your home's energy efficiency this fall and save at GNH! For a limited time #SupportRealNews only, 2200 Series Smarter Windows Double Hung Replacements are ONLY $169.OO!
The Greenville Pioneer • Friday, January 14, 2022 19 Social Security Matters Why is my Medicare Part B premium so high? By Russell Gloor For Capital Region Independent Media Dear Rusty: Social Security is deducting $297 per month for my Medicare Part B coverage. I have what’s called a “Windfall Elimination Provision” because I receive a pension from my former state employer. Prior to my 65th birthday in July of this year, Social Security was paying me $764 per month, but when I turned 65 they reduced my amount to $467 per month. I read that the Part B premiums for 2021 are $148.50, so I wonder why I’m paying double that amount? Could it be that I never enrolled in Medicare Part B and they just automatically started deducting that amount? Some sort of penalty? If so, it seems kind of high. Can you explain why I’m paying so much for Medicare Part B? Signed: Curious About Medicare Dear Curious: Your Part B premium of $297/month has nothing to do with the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). WEP affects (reduces) your Social Security retirement benefit amount but doesn’t affect your Medicare premium. Your Medicare Part B premium is $297/ month because of a different Medicare rule known as “IRMAA,” which is the “Income Related Medicare Adjustment Amount.” Here’s how IRMAA works: Medicare determines your Part B premium amount each year using your combined income (from all sources) from two years prior, so your 2021 Part B premium is based upon your 2019 income. The income amount used to set your Part B premium is called your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), which is your normal Adjusted Gross Income on your tax return plus any other non-taxable income you may have had (including half of your SS benefits, non-taxable interest, etc.). If your MAGI is over a certain threshold, your Part B premium is more than the standard $148.50. The IRMAA thresholds at which you pay a higher Part B premium depend upon your tax filing status. A married couple filing jointly with MAGI under $176,001 pays the standard premium ($148.50 for 2021), and a single tax filer whose MAGI is under $88,001 also pays the standard Part B premium, but income exceeding those thresholds means a higher Part B premium. How much higher depends upon how much your MAGI exceeds the base amounts above. The Part B IRMAA premium increases on a scale relative to how much your MAGI exceeds the base threshold and, from what you’ve shared, it appears that your 2019 MAGI resulted in a 2021 Part B premium of $297/month. Since you were already collecting Social Security when you turned 65, you were automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A (which is free) and Medicare Part B (for which you pay a premium), which is why your Medicare premium increased at that time. If you also have “creditable” health care from either your or your wife’s employer (“creditable” is a group plan with at least 20 participants), you can disenroll from Medicare Part B by filing form CMS-1763 and having an interview with Social Security. That way you could save that $297 monthly Part B premium for as long as you have other “creditable” employer coverage, and then re-enroll in Part B during the Special Enrollment Period, which starts when your employer coverage ends (or shortly before to avoid a gap in health care coverage). If you have retired from working and your combined income in 2020 was much lower than in 2019, Social Security will automatically adjust your 2022 Medicare Part B premium as appropriate for your combined income reported to the IRS on your 2020 tax return. If you retired in 2020, you might also wish to submit form SSA- 44 (www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-44-ext.pdf) to claim a “life changing event,” which may result in a smaller Part B premium for 2021 as well. This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@ amacfoundation.org.
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