Lifeline for

the poor

To the editor:

Telephone service has evolved a great deal over the years and has become an integral part of all of our lives. Whether it is traditional telephone service or, increasingly, wireless telephone service, staying connected to family, friends, clients, co-workers and others is important.

Today, many Kentuckians are facing financial hardships as a result of the downturn in the economy.  Many older Kentuckians are on fixed incomes and there are also many families who have lost jobs or income who for the first time face financial challenges.  For many low-income Kentuckians, there is help to stay connected through programs known as Lifeline (not to be confused with a medical alert program with a similar name) and Link-up. 

The qualifications for telephone Link-up and Lifeline are the same. You can qualify if you presently receive Food Stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). You may also qualify if you participate in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or the National Free School Lunch program or live in Federal Public Housing/Section 8. 

Link-up will pay half of the installation charges for new telephone service, to a maximum of $30.00.  Lifeline will provide a discount of up to $13.50 per month on the local service portion of your telephone bill.  Your local telephone service provider will be able to assist you in selecting a service plan to meet your needs. These programs provide discounts only for the primary telephone in a household.  

If you think you qualify, you can call your local telephone service provider directly and receive instructions on how to apply. You can also find further information on Link-up and Lifeline programs on the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s Web site at http://psc.ky.gov/agencies/psc/consumer/lifeline.pdf.    

Governor Beshear has proclaimed September 14 – 20, 2009 as Lifeline Awareness Week. If you know of someone that may benefit from these programs, please help spread the word.  Staying connected is important today, especially if you and your family are experiencing financial challenges.  There is help to stay connected. Please use it.

Sincerely,

Kentucky Public Service Commission Chairman David L. Armstrong

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway

Kentucky Telephone Association Executive Director Forest Skaggs

 

Saddened by Swayze’s death

To the editor:

I was saddened to hear about legendary actor Patrick Swayze’s death. His brave, public fight against pancreatic cancer inspired many others. Millions of Americans will miss him, and people are also looking for ways to protect themselves from this deadly disease.

Pancreatic cancer is almost impossible to cure. But as a dietitian, I know that diet and lifestyle changes can help prevent this disease. According to a new study, fat from red meat and dairy products significantly increases the risk of pancreatic cancer. Researchers analyzed the diets of more than 525,000 participants to determine whether there is an association between dietary fat and pancreatic cancer. The study found no association between plant-food fat and pancreatic cancer.

Fruits, vegetables, and other low-fat vegetarian foods could actually prevent pancreatic cancer, according to other studies. One study found that consuming foods rich in flavonoids—apples, grapefruit, broccoli, and berries—may decrease pancreatic cancer risk by up to 59 percent. For more information about how a healthy diet can help prevent cancer, go to www.CancerProject.org.

Sincerely,

Susan Levin, M.S., R.D. 

Washington, DC