January 28,
2009 - Taunton, MA - Ray Bala, Job Developer at CO-OP,
will be the guest on this week's Talking
Taunton with George Colajezzi on
WSAR 1480 AM from 2-3pm.
Call
George and Ray during the show at (508) 673-1480 with your questions
and comments!
Talking
Taunton broadcasts live every Thursday afternoon 2-3pm
from Runes Cafe in downtown Taunton.
Tune
in to WSAR 1480 AM or listen live online at: www.wsar.com.
Only
on the legendary 5,000 watts
WSAR 1480 AM
News . Talk . Sports
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Little
League Registration
Taunton
East Little League
Saturday,
January 31st - 9 AM to 2 PM Dick's
Sporting Goods - Silver City Galleria Mall --
Location: Mall Entrance
to Dick's
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AROUND
THE COMMONWEALTH
Spokesman:
DiMasi Quit to Avoid Leaving Mid-term
Rep.
Fagan nominated DiMasi for speakership three weeks ago;
now supporting Majority Leader John Rogers of Norwood
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BUSINESS
SPOTLIGHT
Al
& Sons Painting
Taunton
– In an age of the family business going by the
wayside, it’s nice to know that a family business
operating for more than 50 years is not only surviving,
but thriving.
(Top to
bottom) Peter Cravenho, Steve Cravenho and Michael
Cravenho
That’s
the case of Al & Sons Painting. The
business began back in 1959 when Al Cravenho began
painting homes and businesses in the Greater Taunton
area. He apparently did it pretty well and the business
grew. Al’s son, Steve entered the business learning
from his father and the business continued its steady
growth.
"I
think we were successful because we treated our customer’s
homes and businesses like they were ours," said
Steve Cravenho. "We always treated our customers
like they were family," added the now
"senior" member of Al & SonsPainting crew.
"We’ve
now got a third generation of Cravenho’s involved in
the business," said Steve. "My sons, Peter and
Michael work side by side with me on many projects, just
like I worked with my Dad."
With
commercial accounts like Bristol County Savings Bank, Al
& Sons still specialize in a quality job.
Steve says he still has customers that his father worked
for back in the 60’s 70’s 80’s and 90’s.
"There’s a real sense of satisfaction for me that
our reputation has endured," explained Steve.
"Look, there are a lot of guys out there that will
do it cheaper," said Steve, "but very few will
do it better than us." "After all,"
smiled Steve, "You’ve got my father’s name on
it and I have a reputation to uphold."
Al &
Sons Painting can be reached at (508) 822-6639.
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LOCAL NEWS
Morton
Hospital Partners with Local Radio to Offer Health
Education Program
January
24, 2009 –Taunton, MA – Morton Hospital will
sponsor "Medical Minutes" on WVBF 1530 AM’s
"Hometown Talk" morning show with Tony
Lopes, beginning the week of Monday, January 26. The
60-second segments, which will be aired at
approximately 8:15 a.m., will feature health tips from
the Hospital and its staff on topics ranging from
eating healthy and eliminating stress, to stroke
awareness.
In
addition to receiving beneficial information, viewers
will have opportunities to receive free giveaways
relating to various topics.
"’Hometown
Talk’ is a program that many local residents turn to
for news and entertainment," said Julie
Weisskirchen, Morton Hospital Public Affairs
Coordinator. "We think this is a perfect
opportunity for us to build and maintain community
relationships, while at the same time offering helpful
advice."
"Medical
Minutes" will air during "Hometown
Talk" on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings,
as well as during various other WVBF programs
throughout the week. Topics will vary weekly. For more
information about "Medical Minutes," contact
the Public Affairs and Development Office at (508)
828-7015. For information on Morton Hospital visit www.mortonhospital.org.
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LOCAL EVENT
Annual
Special Olympics Ten-Pin Assessment Round
to Be Held in Taunton
January 23,
2009 - Taunton, MA - On Sunday, January 25, Special
Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) will be hosting a crowd of
more than 500 ten-pin bowling athletes, volunteer
coaches, family members and spectators at the AMF Lanes
in Taunton for the 2009 SOMA South Section Ten-Pin
Assessment Round. This day-long competition will
showcase Special Olympics athletes-adults and children
with intellectual disabilities-of all ages and ability
levels in a fun, festive environment.
The large
number of ten-pin bowlers from southeastern
Massachusetts-260 are pre-registered-requires the
competition to be split into two sessions.
The Opening
Ceremonies prior to both sessions will feature a SOMA
athlete singing the national anthem. SOMA athlete Julie
Lynch from the Greater New Bedford Program will sing to
kick off the morning session, with athlete Jerry Smith
from the Cape-based Sunshine Capers team handling the
duties for the afternoon session.
During Sunday's
assessment round, each athlete or team is scheduled to
bowl two games apiece. The competition itself will consist
of both "traditional" individual bowling, in
which all athletes are intellectually disabled, and "UnifiedR"
team bowling. A Unified team is made up of two athletes
and two Unified partners (non-disabled teammates)
competing together as a team against other Unified teams.
The SOMA South
Ten-Pin Assessment Round is a mid-season competition in
which athletes' ability levels are assessed in order to
ensure fair competition match-ups (i.e. divisioning) at
the SOMA Winter Games, the season-ending statewide
tournament. The 2009 SOMA Winter Games will be held in
Worcester, MA on February 28 and March 1. The renowned
Special Olympics gold, silver and bronze medals are
reserved for the Winter Games.
"This is
the largest annual Special Olympics bowling event in
southeastern Massachusetts, and our pre-registered numbers
indicate it may turn out to be the largest we've ever held
in this part of the state," said Megan Benevides,
SOMA's Associate South Section Director.
Prospective
athletes, volunteers, donors and sponsors interested in
becoming involved in or learning more about Special
Olympics should contact Benevides at 508-821-3635 or megan.benevides@specialolympicsma.org.
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LOCAL NEWS
Taunton
Men Victims of Home Invasion
January
22 - Taunton Police are investigating after a city
homeowner comes home to find his home ransacked, and the
suspects still inside.
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LOCAL SPORTS
Taunton
Varsity Sports Today
January
21, 2009
Taunton
High School
3:30PM
Boys
Varsity Track @ Durfee High School
3:30PM
Girls
Varsity Track @ Durfee High School
6:00PM Varsity
Wrestling Durfee High School
Bristol
Plymouth Voc. Tech. H.S.
3:30PM
Boys
Varsity Wrestling @ Norwell High School
5:00PM Girls
Varsity Basketball @ Diman Reg Vo-tech High School
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This
Week on Talking Taunton Live - WSAR 1480 AM
TauntonWeb.com's
own Lyn Pelletier will be the guest on this week's Talking
Taunton with George Colajezzi on
WSAR 1480 AM from 2-3pm.
As
one of the founders of The Call (Newspapers) Group, Lyn is
now changing the way we get news and information online!
Find out about this exciting new venture and how it will
keep us better informed about the people, places and
things in the Greater Taunton area.
Call
Lyn during the show at 508.673.1480 with your questions
and comments!
Talking
Taunton broadcasts live every Thursday afternoon 2-3pm
from Runes Cafe in downtown Taunton.
Tune
in to WSAR 1480 AM or listen live online at: www.wsar.com.
Only
on the legendary 5,000 watts
WSAR 1480 AM
News . Talk . Sports
Hey
Taunton!
Send us your news, press releases & events! click
here
BUSINESS NEWS / LOCAL
EVENT
Business
After Hours at Roseland Function Hall
January
20, 2009 - Roseland Function Hall will be hosting the
Taunton Area Chamber’s first Business After Hours of
the new year on Thursday, January 22, from 5:00 – 7:00
p.m. Roseland Function Hall, formerly Roseland Ballroom,
is located on the second level at Hong Kong City Chinese
Restaurant on 174 Broadway in Taunton. Network while
enjoying some good food. Bring your business cards to
enter in the raffle.
The cost to
attend this event is $5 for Chamber Members and $10 for
Non-Members. Register by calling the Taunton Chamber of
Commerce at 508-824-4068.
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LOCAL NEWS
Teen
Attacked, Stabbed Outside Taunton Ice Rink
Police:
Suspect forced girl to drive about 1 mile
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LOCAL NEWS
CO-OP
Launches New Website
January
19, 2009 - N. Dighton – We have all heard the
phrase, "Good things come to those who wait."
After months of work and planning, the new CO-OP
website is up and running.
CO-OP
kicks off the New Year with its new website at www.co-op.cc.
"Early
reviews have been very complimentary," said Bill
Corbett, president and C.E.O. of the non-profit
disability organization. "The improvements were
designed to give viewers an easy, navigable profile of CO-OP
and our many services. It’s a useful tool for anyone
interested in who we are and what we do."
Corbett
added that a "special thanks" goes out to Ms.
Eva Gaffney, a member of CO-OP‘s board
of directors who oversaw the project. He also
acknowledged the "fantastic job" by Andy
Larrimore who created the site.
CO-OP
provides a variety of residential, employment and other
services to more than 200 men and women in Southeastern
MA with intellectual and other disabilities. Now in its
36thyear of service, CO-OP’s
purpose is to assist people with disabilities gain full
presence and participation in the community.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Dramatic
details released on plane crash into the Hudson
The wreckage of US Airways Flight 1549 was lifted from the waters of the Hudson River in lower Manhattan
late Saturday. (Michael Appleton for The New York Times)
By
Matthew L. Wald and Al Baker Sunday,
January 18, 2009 New York - Just seconds after the first
officer of US Airways Flight 1549, leaving La Guardia
Airport in New York and bound for Charlotte, North
Carolina, pointed the nose of his jet into the sky, he
noticed birds on the right side - "in a perfect
line formation."
The plane's captain, who had been busy watching the
cockpit instruments, managing the radios and looking at
charts, then looked up.
The windscreen, he told investigators, was filled
with birds. The plane was going at least 250 miles an
hour, or 400 kilometers per hour. The captain's first
instinct, he said, was to duck. [more]
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Precautions for
Extreme Cold Weather
Before
an Extreme Cold Emergency
Continue
to be aware of the weather conditions by monitoring
media reports.
Ensure
you have sufficient heating fuel, as well as
emergency heating equipment in case you lose
electricity.
Have
a well-stocked Winter Home Emergency Supply Kit that
includes flashlights, portable radio, extra
batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water and
non-perishable food.
Make
sure your car is properly winterized. Keep the
gas tank at least half-full. Carry a Winter
Survival Kit in the trunk including blankets, extra
clothing, flashlight with spare batteries, a can
& waterproof matches (to melt snow for drinking
water), non-perishable foods, windshields scraper,
shovel, sand, towrope and jumper cables.
During
an Extreme Cold Emergency
Minimize
outside activities, particularly the elderly and
very young. Also consider your pets.
Dress
in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight
clothing, rather than a single layer of heavy
clothing. Outer garments should be tightly
woven and water repellent.
Wear
a hat, mittens (rather than gloves) and sturdy
waterproof boots, protecting your extremities.
Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
[more]
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BUSINESS NEWS / LOCAL NEWS
Circuit City to Liquidate After Sale Efforts Fail
By Michael de la Merced
Published: January 16, 2009
Circuit City Stores announced Friday that it will liquidate, as the long-embattled electronics retailer failed to sell itself or refinance its debt. Circuit City, based in Richmond, Va., has become the latest in a growing line of retailers to shutter completely, as the recession weighs down on consumers’ appetite for everything from clothes to pricey flat-screen
[...]
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NATIONAL NEWS
US
AirWays Pilot: "Brace for Impact" Crash
Survivors Tell Their Stories
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LOCAL NEWS
Morton
Hospital Offers Specialized Testing for Asthma
and Other
Lung Diseases
TAUNTON, MA – January
16, 2009 –
Morton
Hospital and Medical Center
announces the availability of Plethysmography services
to diagnose lung and breathing problems. The body
plethysmograph, a unique, pulmonary function testing
device, allows physicians to more accurately and
effectively measure patient lung capacity and volume.
The body plethysmograph has a number of advantages
over standard pulmonary function systems, including
faster testing, more accurate lung volume determination
and enhanced diagnosis of airway obstructions. Morton
Hospital recognizes the region’s high incidence of
asthma and other lung diseases such as Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). There is a
critical need for more precise diagnosis and quick
medical intervention. Faster diagnosis leads to better
treatment and less long-term lung damage.
"Due to the prevalence of smoking in our
community, many people are affected by deteriorating
lung function, so the availability of cutting-edge
diagnostic capabilities in respiratory medicine is of
extreme importance," said Imad Bahhady, MD, Morton
Hospital’s Director of Respiratory Care and ICU.
"Not only will the plethysmograph increase the
level of accuracy in testing – it will enhance our
diagnoses and allow for more personalized care."
For more information about the body plethysmograph or
Morton Hospital and Medical Center, call 508-828-7985,
or visit
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BOOK REVIEW
Remember
Me? (Fiction)
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Review by Shirley
Hogan
About
the Author Sophie Kinsella
is a former financial journalist and the author of the
bestselling Shopaholic series, as well as The
Undomestic Goddess and Can You Keep a Secret?
She resides in England with her family. Visit www.Sophiekinsella.com
for more information.
Lexi
Smart wakes up in a London Hospital after a car
accident, with no memory of the last three
years. That is not the only shock. She believes
that she is a twenty five year-old working girl,
overweight with crooked teeth. She is amazed to
find out she is actually twenty eight and upon
looking in the mirror has perfect teeth, is slim
and very beautiful. What has happened? Adding to
her surprise, when she receives her personal
property from the nurse, she discovers she owns
a Vuitton bag and very expensive jewelry,
including a very beautiful diamond wedding ring.
She has no memory of getting married. Also, the
accident happened in her Mercedes, which she
couldn’t even imagine ever owning.
Trying
to unravel the mystery of the three missing
years which reveals a very handsome and rich
husband, a beautiful home and prestigious job
including all very rich new friends. It seems
almost too good to be true. Lexi is determined
to get her memory back. All is going well until
an oddly familiar man shows up making her second
guess everything up until now.
Sophie
Kinsella is a very entertaining author. Her
previous Shopaholic books are
light-hearted page-turners and very hard to put
down, as is Remember Me?. Her humor is a
little off beat and a lot of fun. This is a fast
read. If you have read any of her previous
books, I think you will enjoy Remember Me?
as well.
I
rate Remember Me? four out of five stars
and would be interested in your opinion. Please
email me at shirley@tauntonweb.com.
I will include your comments in my next review.
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