Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The first day to pull nomination papers is today, who would you like to see run?
With the new year comes new elections. While National and State elections may be behind us, here in Easton we're gearing up for local elections. Believe it or not, Easton residents will be voting for town officials in just four months on April 23. Residents can begin to pull nomination papers beginning this week through the beginning of March. Here is a look at what positions are available this year, according to Town Clerk Jeremy Gillis: We'll be keeping an eye on who is pulling papers. A full list of deadlines, provided by Gillis, is attached. In the meantime, who do you think should run for Town Office?
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Hard frost Friday night ended Easton's "critical" threat level.
The Easton Board of Health announced Monday that there is no longer a need to curtail nighttime activities in response to a heightened Eastern Equine Encephalitis threat. Friday night's hard frost ended Easton's "critical" threat level, which had been in place since early August. EEE was first found in the Shovel Town in early July. Easton officials have recommended the curtailment of activities as a result. While the Board of Health enacted a regulation giving it the authority to ban night-time activities, it did not put the regulation into action. Below is a full message from Health Agent Mark Taylor: The Easton Board of Health would like to first thank all the residents, school groups and recreational organizations in town for their …
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
A Plymouth County resident was diagnosed with EEE.
A seventh human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis was found in Massachusetts yesterday. A Plymouth County male under the age of 18 was diagnosed with the virus, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced. It is the second human case from Plymouth County. Other human findings have been Middlesex, Worcester, Franklin and Essex Counties. Two of the human findings have resulted in death. So far, no human cases have been reported in Easton or anywhere in Bristol County. Easton has been labeled at a "critical" risk level, however, due to over 70 positive mosquito pools found in town. “Summer may be over but the threat of mosquito-borne illness is not — we can expect to continue seeing mosquito activity until the first hard …
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
For the first time this month, EEE-positive mosquitoes were found in Easton.
The Easton Health Department announced today that three pools of mosquitoes collected on Monday have tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis. The positive tests represent both a bird biting species and mammal biting species, and represent the first positive pools found in the Shovel Town this month. The last positive pools were found on Aug. 28. Easton is currently at a "critical" risk level for mosquito-borne illness. "The State of Massachusetts Department of Public Health is urging communities which have been designated at either 'Critical' or 'High' risk of EEE to cancel all planned evening outdoor events for the remainder of the season until the first hard frost," Heath Agent Kristin Kennedy said in an email message Wednesday. …
Monday, September 10, 2012
Board of Health issues an updated advisory.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, September 10, 2012
Below is an updated advisory from the Board of Health regarding mosquito-born illness: We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that Easton remains at the Critical Level as per DPH. There continues to be a Critical Threat of EEE and West Nile Virus to the human population in the Town of Easton. Documentation from the state shows that although the two rounds of aerial spraying was somewhat effective in reducing the overall number of mosquitoes in the environment, trapping and testing that has been done since the spraying, continues to show the persistence of mammal biting EEE and West Nile positive mosquitoes. Considering all the factors, including continued test results, the Easton Board of Health continues to encourage that …
A Worcester resident in his 60s with severe underlying medical conditions was diagnosed with WNV in mid-August and has since died of the illness. Easton's mosquito-borne illness threat level remains "critical."
EEE isn't the only reason state officials are raising red flags. The first death of a Massachusetts resident due to West Nile Virus (WNV) since 2005 and additional human cases have led state officials to raise the threat level statewide to at least 'moderate." Due to multiple EEE-positive mosquito pools and WNV-positive mosquito pools found in Easton, Easton's threat level remains "critical." A Worcester resident in his 60s with severe underlying medical conditions was diagnosed with WNV in mid-August and has since died of the illness, the state Department of Public Health (DPH) announced on Friday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this gentleman during this difficult time," Worcester Division of Public Health …
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
With the regulation, the Board of Health now has the authority to issue a nighttime activities ban in public places.
The Easton Board of Health approved a Regulation Tuesday night that provides it with the authority to issue a nighttime activity ban in public places due to mosquito-borne illness such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) or West Nile virus. The vote was taken after a spirited two hour public hearing that included arguments for and against the Regulation. Board of Health members Gil Heino and Scott Aronson voted 2-0 in it's favor and defended the Regulation against residents who felt it was an example of an "overreach." Board Chair Jennifer Nichols was not present at the hearing due to a previously scheduled vacation. Heino and Aronson were joined by Health Agents Mark Taylor and Kristin Kennedy, Town Counsel Jay Talerman and Massachusetts…
42.07411
-71.09678
Town of Easton Offices
136 Elm St, North Easton, MA
/articles/easton-board-of-health-approves-regulation-for-mosquito-born-illness-containment
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Thursday, August 23, 2012
A Letter to the Editor from Board of Health Member Gil Heino regarding proposed regulation.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, August 23, 2012
I have been in Easton my whole life. I've served the town in a number of capacities and have never been so taken back by some people's vitriolic comments. I realize that once I comment, I will be subjecting myself to more insults by people who are unaware of the actual facts. However I can no longer sit back without commentating. The B.O.H. has worked many hours trying to resolve the problem Easton people may be facing. When we originally worked on this reg, it was done under the pressure of a critical alert with 55 Triple E mosquitos trapped in Easton alone. We did not have the time or state of mind to analyze each and every word that was put in the original draft. Since listening to the people of Easton's comments, we are in the process …
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Most town organizations are already taking precautions to avoid mosquitoes, officials say.
Easton health officials said Monday night that a number of factors would play into a decision to enact any type of nighttime activities ban in Easton. The Board of Health is holding a public hearing on Sept. 4 to vote on a regulation that would give it the ability to enact Orders to protect the public from threats of mosquito-borne illnesses. Even with the passage of the regulation, though, officials stressed that a nighttime activities ban is not definite. Health Agent Kristen Kennedy said the regulation would act as a "tool in the toolkit" should there be an imminent risk of public health and safety from mosquito borne illness. "We may never use this regulation," said Board of Health Member Gil Heino. Board of Health Chair Jennifer …
42.07411
-71.09678
Town of Easton Offices
136 Elm St, North Easton, MA
/articles/easton-health-officials-discuss-eee-threat-proposed-regulation
1632724
/locations/7645953
Friday, August 10, 2012
The Easton Board of Health is holding a public hearing on Sept. 4 to discuss a regulation that would give it the authority to ban outdoor, nighttime activities because of EEE.
While Easton health officials have strongly urged residents to curtail nighttime activities since the first Eastern-equine-encephalitis-politive mosquito was found last month, there is a newly proposed regulation that could give them more authority. The Easton Board of Health is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 4 to vote on a regulation that would give it the authority to ban nighttime outdoor activities in public places. "What this regulation does is it gives the power to the Board of Health to in fact ban outdoor activities when things are reasonable like when you have documented cases of EEE pools in the town or you’re at a "high" status put forth by the state, or - as we're at now - a "critical" status," Easton Health Agent…
Patrick Maguire
11:01 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
Dan Smith and Dorothy Fulginiti have both pulled nomination papers, according to Town Clerk Jeremy Gillis more ›