Latest news with #BoardofHealth
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cyanobacteria bloom prompts warning about this Western Mass. pond
EASTHAMPTON — Stay out of Rubber Thread Pond. That's the message from the Easthampton Health Department, which issued a health advisory for the body of water behind the city's 50 Payson Ave. parking lot. The pond is loaded with a visible bloom of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae. Its blooms produce a toxin that's harmful to people and pets. Advisory signs are posted at local access points. The city Board of Health advises against people and their animals swimming where the bloom is visible. The city also warns not to allow pets to drink the water; to avoid contact with algae; to not let children or pets play near visible shoreline algae or scum; to rinse pets and people off immediately if they come into contact with the bloom; and to not swallow the affected water. Water that's murky, green or paint-like, or like pea soup, is likely affected by a bloom. As of Tuesday, Rubber Thread Pond has a greenish-yellow floating scum on its surface. 'When in doubt, stay out,' Easthampton's advisory says. The algae can cause skin and eye irritation; gastrointestinal symptoms; liver or neurological damage; or asthma-like symptoms. Small children and pets are more susceptible. Dogs can suffer serious illness or death. Their symptoms include vomiting, staggering, drooling, and convulsions, often occurring soon after exposure. If you or your pet are exposed, wash yourself or/pet immediately with clean water, and contact your doctor or veterinarian. To report a potential algae bloom in another water body or to check the status of the pond, contact the city Health Department at health@ or 413-529-1430. More information is available at WMass community summits seek to counter Trump attack on diversity, equity, inclusion How bad could mosquito season be in Mass.? For some, it's already itchy Western Mass. man sentenced to 18 to 20 years in prison for raping 3-year-old Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Only 4.2% of Ashland's registered voters cast ballots May 20. This may be why
Incumbent Select Board members Joe Magnani and Brandi Kinsman held off a challenge from Carlton Phelps in the only formally contested race in the May 20 Ashland Town Election. Only 548 — 4.2% — of the town's 13,054 registered voters came out to cast ballots on Tuesday. In the Select Board race, Kinsman, the current vice chair, earned another three-year term by topping the ticket with 407 votes, with Magnani collecting 345. Phelps, who also unsuccessfully challenged state Rep. Jack Lewis, D-Framingham, in the state Democratic Primary last fall, got 221 votes. A second contested race materialized in the form of two write-in candidates for a two-year seat on the Planning Board. In that race, Scott Pelletier earned 125 votes, defeating Sambasiva Pemmaraju (87 votes). Those winning uncontested races include the following: Assessor (three years, one seat): Samuel Thomas Murphy, 461; Board of Health (one seat, three years): John Byrnes (incumbent), 460; Board of Health (one seat, two years): Maurice Aaron Krasner, 444; Board of Library Trustees (three years, one seat): Bonnie Mitchell (incumbent), 475; Moderator (three years, one seat): Adam Bennett Shuster (incumbent), 446; Planning Board (five years, one seat): Camilo Espitia, 416; School Committee (three years, two seats): Marcy Diane Culverwell (incumbent), 451; Paul Kendall (incumbent), 410. There were no ballot questions. All results are unofficial until certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office. This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Ashland incumbent Select Board members keep seats in town election
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Local hospital visitors may have been exposed to measles
CLEVELAND (WJW) – A pediatric case of measles has been confirmed in Cuyahoga County, prompting urgent warnings from public health officials. The child, who was not vaccinated for measles, was treated at Hillcrest Hospital earlier this month. According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the case was reported on May 4 and officially confirmed on May 6. Urgent safety recall for eye care products The child first visited Hillcrest Hospital on May 2 for lab work and returned to the emergency department on May 4, where symptoms led to the measles diagnosis. The child is currently isolating at home. Officials say the public may have been exposed on May 2 between 3:50 and 6:15 p.m. in the Atrium lobby of Hillcrest Hospital. Those who were in the lobby during that time and cannot prove immunity to measles are being urged to quarantine for 21 days, even if they are not showing symptoms. 'We're acting quickly to limit the spread of this virus,' said Jana Rush, Director of Epidemiology for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. 'If you were there and you're not immune, the safest thing you can do is stay home.' A person is considered immune to measles if they've had two doses of the MMR vaccine, were born before 1957, or have had blood work showing measles immunity. Rethink when you fix your dog, new study says Measles is extremely contagious—one infected, unvaccinated person can spread it to up to 15 others. Symptoms often appear 7–14 days after exposure and typically start with fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (pink eye), followed by a spreading rash. Complications can include pneumonia, ear infections, brain inflammation, and—in rare cases—death. Infants, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable. Health officials are asking anyone who may have been exposed and is showing symptoms to call their doctor before going in, to avoid exposing others. The Board of Health also emphasizes that the best protection against measles is vaccination. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Chicken ordinance going back to City Council and Planning Board for public comment
WESTFIELD — An amended ordinance to allow backyard chickens by right in Westfield will be going for public hearings in the City Council on May 1 at 7 p.m. and to the Planning Board on May 6 at 7 p.m. Ward 3 Councilor Ralph Figy first introduced an ordinance to allow backyard chickens two years ago when he was approached by concerned residents in his ward who wanted to keep chickens, but are not allowed to in Westfield according to the animal control ordinances. Figy decided to propose a zoning ordinance change that would allow chickens within certain parameters. 'Currently, chickens are only allowed to be kept in Rural Residential zoning with a minimum of 5 acres,' Figy said at the time, adding that a lot of people living in residential zones had chickens that were illegal. He said the ordinance was only enforced by the Board of Health if there were complaints. After several well-attended public hearings, mostly in favor of backyard chickens, that ordinance went to committee but was eventually withdrawn without prejudice. Figy said the ordinance is being reintroduced for a number of reasons. 'I think there's a combination of reasons. When we withdrew it, we understood that we'd be bringing it back. There are also the spiking egg prices,' Figy said. Recently, Councilor Nicholas Morganelli got involved in updating the ordinance. The two met and discussed it with City Planner Jay Vinskey, and came up with a much simpler version. 'I personally will be listening to the public hearings so we can do our very best to create an ordinance that is safe and allows homeowners to have chickens. Many communities in Massachusetts have done this and are successful. We have used that as a guide to create this one,' Morganelli said. The new ordinance, which is available for viewing at under zoning ordinance amendments, proposes allowing backyard chickens to be maintained by right for single or two-family non-commercial use with certain conditions. On a lot containing at least 5,000 square feet a maximum of six hens — no roosters — would be allowed; or on a lot of at least 20,000 square feet, a maximum of 12 hens — no roosters. The owner must register with the city's animal control officer, who must be allowed access to the property for inspection. Figy said the animal control officer would be the assigned authority. A suitable coop must be provided, with it and any run areas located at least 30 feet from any neighborhood residence and 10 feet from any lot line. Other proposed requirements in the amended ordinance state that the birds are maintained only within the subject lot, but outside of the front yard setback, at all times; the shelter, run and feed storage areas are secured and maintained to limit rodents, stormwater runoff, dust and odor so as not to constitute a nuisance or safety hazard, and on-site slaughtering is prohibited outside of the Rural Residential District. Also, any quantity of birds, exclusive of immature offspring, kept in excess of the ordinance or on a lot smaller than specified will require a special permit from the Board of Appeals. Additionally, the ordinance goes on to say that where not otherwise regulated, any livestock or farm animal, including a horse, may not be kept on a lot of less than 5 acres. Farm animals/livestock of any type or quantity may be kept as an accessory use for personal and non-commercial purposes in the Rural Residential District on lots of 5 acres or more (subject to any non-zoning regulations), or if authorized by a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, on a lot of at least 60,000 square feet in the RR district. The proposed ordinance will be available for comment at a City Council public hearing next week on May 1 and at a Planning Board public hearing the following week on May 6 during the 7 p.m. meetings in City Council Chambers, Room 207, City Hall, 59 Court St.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kennewick water again found tainted with ‘forever chemicals.' What to know
For the second spring in a row the city of Kennewick has detected a 'forever chemical' in its drinking water that is above the action level set by the Washington state Board of Health. The Washington state Department of Health recommends that Kennewick city customers who are pregnant, breastfeeding or mixing infant formula with tap water consider using another source of water. Water sampled March 4 from its Ranney Collector source near the blue bridge had 16.7 parts per trillion of a certain type of PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are synthetic chemicals used in consumer products around the world since the 1950. They are sometimes called forever chemicals because they may last forever in the environment. The finding follows water tested a year ago from the same city water source that was found to have 17.4 parts per trillion of PFAS. The state limit is 15 parts per trillion, and under a Biden-era plan, the Environmental Protection Agency could take enforcement action starting in 2029 if 4 parts per trillion of PFAS are detected. The chemicals are present in city water in very small quantities, said Jeremy Lustig, Kennewick deputy director for public works. One part per trillion is equivalent to a single drop in enough water to fill 20 Olympic sized swimming pools. The issue may be cyclical, showing up in the spring, Lustig said, after March samples two years in a row exceeded state levels of concern. But data to show trends is still limited. The city has been following recent requirements to check water for PFAS four times a year. The city is working with engineers at Hazen Sawyer on a treatment facility at the blue bridge water collector source to address PFAS, with design work on the project starting now. The goal is to have the facility treating water before April 2028, Lustig said. The project will cost an estimated $20 million to $30 million, and the city has recently received an award of $15 million in federal money from the Washington Department of Health Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan program. The Washington state Department of Health says that scientists are still studying how PFAS affect people's health, with much of the information available from toxicity testing in laboratory animals. But higher exposure over many years to the type of PFAS detected in Kennewick water is believed to pose a risk of problems with cholesterol, liver, thyroid, kidney or immune systems or to having babies with lower birthweights. Almost all Americans have some type of PFAS in their blood, according to the Washington state Department of Ecology. Children up to age 5 and people who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding may be more vulnerable to health impacts from these chemicals, the Department of Health said. Boiling water does not reduce PFAS. But some home water treatments are effective, including reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters certified to lower levels of PFAS. Some bottled water also may contain PFAS. The Washington state Department of Health recommends looking for brands that have been purified with water filtration. PFAS chemicals are tasteless, colorless and odorless. They build up in animals, fish, birds, plants and people, taking many years to leave people's bodies, according to the Washington state Department of Health. They are produced to make many products, including stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, nonstick pans, fast food wrappers, grease-proof food containers, waterproof clothing and a particular kind of firefighting foam. PFAS in firefighting foam is a key suspected source of PFAS-contaminated drinking water in Washington, according to the state Department of Ecology. Over many years of manufacturing and use, the chemicals have been released into the environment from industrial plants, fire training sites, consumer products and other sources, according to the city of Kennewick. Once released, PFAS do not break down easily and last for a long time in the environment, it said.
