Taunton, Massachusetts News & Information - Taunton, MA - Bristol County

Lactation Consultant Receives Recognition from Morton Hospital

Morton Hospital was recently recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for "Improving the health of the Commonwealth’s mothers and infants by actively engaging in the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding Program" and by eliminating the distribution of formula company-sponsored discharge bags for new mothers. The Hospital received two achievement awards from DPH as a direct result of the hard work and dedication of Deborah Lannon, RN, IBCLC.

Ms. Lannon, a former Morton lactation consultant, founded the Lactation Program at Morton Hospital and taught countless mothers on how to breastfeed their babies. Her protocols and the advancement of the Lactation Program continue today and have resulted in a well educated Maternity Department offering new mothers support and encouragement to successfully breastfeed their newborns.

Ms. Lannon also founded the Morton Hospital Outpatient Breastfeeding Clinic allowing new mothers to meet with a Certified Lactation Consultant on an individual basis.

According to Hospital President, Thomas Porter, "We owe Deb a sincere debt of gratitude for providing quality care to patients and their families and for the wonderful work she put into developing a lactation program of prominence."

Deborah Lannon, RN, IBCLC

Taunton Man Pleads Guilty, Sentenced for Collecting Nearly $12,000 in Unemployment Benefits While Working
December 16, 2008

BOSTON – A Taunton man pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court late yesterday to charges he schemed to collect nearly $12,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Clarence Lee, age 44, pled guilty to charges of Unemployment Fraud (23 counts) and Larceny Over $250. Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced Lee to two years supervised probation and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $11,920. 

Lee applied for unemployment benefits from the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development’s Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) in March 2006, while separated from his employer, and began receiving benefits from March 2006 through October 2006. During part of this time, Lee was working full-time at Monroe Muffler Brake, Inc., and failed to disclose his employment status to DUA. 

For each of the 23 weeks that Lee collected unemployment benefits from May 2006 through October 2006, he notified the DUA that he was not working, but that he was able to work and was available for work. The fraudulent activities were initially detected by investigators from the DUA. Lee collected fraudulent payments totaling $11,920 while working and collecting.

Indictments were returned against Lee on September 25, 2008. On October 15, 2008, Lee was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court at which time he entered a plea of not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. Yesterday, Lee entered a change of plea in Suffolk Superior Court.

Morton Hospital received a grant in the amount of $5,500 from Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation on December 2. The money will be used to purchase an oxygen blender and a code cart for Maternal Child Health Services. Used to blend proper levels of oxygen and air, an oxygen blender is a vital piece of equipment especially important to babies born prematurely. These two pieces of equipment enhance the hospital’s ability to respond to the immediate needs of its smallest patients.

Since it’s inception in 1996, the Foundation has awarded Morton Hospital over $65,000 to purchase equipment such as a urology camera, vital sign monitors, and beds for Elder Behavioral Health Services.

Pictured (left to right): Paula Boothman, Nurse Manager, Maternal Child Health Services and Pediatrics; Thomas Porter, President and CEO, Morton Hospital; Dennis Kelly, President, Bristol County Savings Bank; Marge Largey, Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation board member. Photo by Bob Bartlett

December 14, 2008

BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, announced today, a multi-state settlement with Mattel, Inc., and its subsidiary, Fisher-Price, Inc., regarding toys with excessive lead paint. The agreement requires Mattel to make a payment of $12 million by January 30, 2009, to be divided among the participating 39 states. Massachusetts will receive $625,000 as a result of the settlement; $500,000 will be dedicated to combating and preventing childhood lead poisoning and $125,000 will cover the costs of the 15-month investigation.   

“Lead is highly toxic, particularly to young children. Higher exposures to lead, such as the levels found in these toys, can cause grave health problems,” said Attorney General Coakley. “This agreement also includes important lead monitoring requirements that should prevent a similar public health scare from occurring in the future.”

From August 2 through October 25, 2007, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled approximately 2 million Mattel and Fisher-Price toys, all manufactured by contractors in China, because the toys contained excessive lead. At the time of the recalls, the federal standard permitted for lead in accessible surface coatings was 600 parts per million (ppm). During the states’ investigation, authorities found that lead levels in some recalled toys exceeded 10,000 ppm and 50,000 ppm.

Under the settlement, the new standards for manufactured toys after November 30, 2008 are 90 ppm for lead paint and surface coatings, and 300 ppm total lead for substrates.

Lead, at any level, is dangerous in the body. Very small amounts of lead can cause neurological damage, drops in IQ and long term behavioral problems. Higher exposures can lead to seizures, coma or death. Lead poisoning is cumulative and most children who have it do not look or act sick. Early signs of lead poisoning include: upset stomach, trouble eating or sleeping, headache and trouble paying attention.

Visit the Department of Public Health’s website section on the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for additional information about lead poisoning prevention.

While all affected toys have been removed from the market, consumers who are concerned that a toy they purchased may be affected can cross check the SKU number on the toy with the recall list on Mattel’s website, www.mattel.com, or by calling Mattel at (800) 916-4498.

Connecticut and Rhode Island were the only other New England states participating in today’s agreement.

'Tis The Season

Sons of Italy Holiday Tradition Continues
 

TAUNTON – Christmas came a few weeks early this year for CO-OP "consumers" and their caregivers. For the third year, Columbia Lodge #540 Order Sons of Italy in America and its charitable arm, Columbia Cultural Trust, held a holiday party on Thursday, December 4, 2008 at the Columbia Cultural Center.

More than 70 attended the holiday gathering – now an annual event for the Lodge, Trust and social service agency.

"We’re so pleased that we can once again give these very special people a special holiday memory," said David T. Gay, chairman of the Columbia Cultural Trust. "The excitement by consumers and the entire CO-OP organization make this the absolute highlight of our year."

William J. Corbett, president and chief executive officer of CO-OP, said "Once again the Sons of Italy and the Columbia Cultural Trust have outdone themselves. We are so fortunate to have these folks as part of the CO-OP family."

CO-OP provides a variety of residential, employment and other services to more than 200 men and women in Southeastern Massachusetts with intellectual disabilities. Now in its 36^th year of service, CO-OP’s purpose is to assist people with disabilities gain full presence and participation in the community.

Columbia Lodge 540 is Taunton’s chapter of the Order Sons of Italy in America – the largest and longest-established organizations of Italian Americans in the United States.

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     MONEY

A Rush Into Refinancing as Mortgage Rates Fall
By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD
Published: December 4, 2008
 

Tina Fineberg for The New York Times Low rates enticed Javier and Irina Lattanzio to refinance their four-bedroom apartment on Central Park West in Manhattan.

The Treasury’s efforts to jump-start the housing market led to a surge in mortgage refinancing activity, and officials are considering new ways to entice buyers. read more

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