Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The ban on outdoor activity after dusk has been lifted in Marlborough.
The ban that has been in place since September on evening activities in City Parks has been lifted following the hard frost over the weekend. "The Marlborough Board of Health has lifted the night-time restriction on outdoor activity in city parks due to lowered risk of West Nile Virus and EEE in the area," according to an announcement on the city's website. The ban went into effect due to the risk of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and after West Nile Virus (WNV) was discovered in Marlborough in August. The Board of Health encourages residents to continue to use enhanced precautions with the use of Bug Spray containing DEET and wear long sleeves and long pants from dusk until dawn. Tim Deschamps, the executive director of the Central …
From the second to last day to register to vote and being able to use city parks after dark; we have what you need to know right here.
1. It has been said if you don't vote you can't complain. The final day to register to vote is tomorrow. Make sure you are registered to vote in the presidential election. 2. The restrictions on outdoor activities have been lifted due to a lowered threat from EEE and West Nile Virus in the area. A ban was placed on outdoor activities for both High School sports and at all city parks after West Nile Virus was discovered in area mosquitos. 3. In a tight race money talks. It was announced yesterday that Elisabeth Warren out fund-raised Scott Brown in the third quarter. 4. Patch is doing a nation-wide costume contest with a cash prize. This is your chance to have your creativity rewarded! 5. There was a good amount of crime this weekend and we…
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
With spraying for mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus to take place tonight in Marlborough, the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project explains the plan of attack.
Spraying for mosquitoes along the border with Northborough in Marlborough tonight is just one of the steps in fighting the threat of West Nile Virus, according to officials at the the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project. “Treating wetlands for mosquito larvae is a program we do in the city,” said Tim Deschamps, the executive director of CMMCP. “It is considered more of a pre-emptive part of the program." Treating waste water basins is also a part of the attack on the 15 species of mosquitoes that carry the virus. With 51 species of mosquitoes in the commonwealth, trapping, identifying and testing specific species is a key part of the strategy for combatting the virus, said Deschamps. “It does matter what species," he said. The …
Friday, September 21, 2012
Mosquito-borne illnesses remain a serious threat until the first winter frost.
Marlborough continues to impose restrictions on night-time use of city parks and fields as EEE continues to plague Massachusetts. Earlier today the Massachusetts Department of Public Health sent out an announcement regarding a 16th case of the West Nile Virus and the sixth case of EEE in humans. The most recent EEE patient is an Amesbury woman in her 60s. "There have now been six confirmed human cases of EEE in Massachusetts residents so far this year, including one case that resulted in the death of a Worcester County man in his 70s," the release from the state said. "There were two cases of EEE in August of last year acquired in Massachusetts; a fatal case in a Bristol County man and an infection in a tourist from out of state." The most…
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
With spraying occurring throughout Marlborough's parks and fields, officials are saying the pesticides are safe.
Officials are saying the pesticides sprayed at Marlborough's parks and fields pose no threat to people during the day following night time spraying. “What we spray that night will be gone from the environment the next day,” said Tim Deschamps, the executive director of the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP) that is conducting the spraying. “The last thing we would want to do is increase the risk from anything else.” The decision was made in conjunction with city officials to conduct night time spraying of all the city's parks and fields. These are the areas with the highest concentration of people doing outdoor activities and thus a concentration of risk of exposure to mosquito-borne illnesses, said Deschamps. Let Patch…
Monday, September 17, 2012
The Marlborough School District has imposed a 6 p.m. curfew for sports.
In an effort to reduce the exposure of athletes to mosquito-borne illness, the Marlborough School District has imposed a 6 p.m. curfew for all outdoor athletic activities. "The health and safety of our students, coaches and families is our number one priority," said Marlborough Interim Superintendent Stephen Dlott. "By having everyone leave the fields at 6 p.m., we are minimizing the risk of people at athletic practices and events coming in contact with mosquitoes." The decision was made in collaboration with the City of Marlborough to reduce the potential for exposure to mosquitoes that may carry the West Nile Virus (WNV) as well as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The city has begun spraying at city parks and fields. The decision has …
Spraying for mosquitoes and use bans have been extended to all city parks and fields.
The city has extended spraying for mosquitoes to all city parks and fields as officials attempt to stave off the threat of mosquito-borne illness. It had been announced Thursday that spraying would occur at Ghiloni Park, Ward Park, Stevens Park at the lower field, Kelleher Field and the Whitcomb Middle School softball field. The decision was made by city officials to expand spraying to all the city's parks and fields early Friday. Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here. The ban on activity from dusk until dawn has also been extended throughout all city parks and field. This ban will be in place indefinitely, said …
Friday, September 14, 2012
The threat of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus has prompted the city to seek out more spraying as well as closing parks after dark.
The rising threat of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has officials closing public parks at 6:30 p.m. and urging everyone to curtail evening activities. "We want to be most protective and least painful," said Robert Landry, the administrator of the board of health who said more mosquito spraying will occur to combat the EEE. "But we need to be most protective of public health." Beginning today, the City of Marlborough will prohibit the use of Ghiloni Park, Ward Park, Stevens Park (lower field), Kelleher Field and the Whitcomb Middle School softball field from 6:30 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. The ban will be in effect until further notice. The City of Marlborough has requested and authorized truck mounted spraying at each of those fields which …
Rescheduling of sports games before the evening hours has been prompted by the heightened threat of mosquito-borne illness.
Schools are scrambling to reschedule sports games to keep students safe from mosquito-borne illnesses. "In the weeks to come it is now a scheduling nightmare for all the AD's," said Marlborough School District Athletic Director Jeff Rudzinsky. The shift is being made at schools throughout Central Massachusetts to hold all games before dusk to avoid the possibly infected mosquitoes that come out at that time. Marlborough is listed at a high level of risk for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. This meant the rescheduling of tonight's football game against Shrewsbury High School to 5 p.m. from 7 p.m. Every sport is affected by the shift that has seen area athletic …
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
From an ongoing struggle with West Nile to how long it takes to get to work; we have what you need right here.
1. Sheila Brecken has been signed on to another four years on the Council on Aging. 2. The threat of West Nile Virus continues to sweep through the area with no signs of going away until we get a few good frosts. It also recently claimed the life of a Massachusetts resident but there are numerous steps your can take to make sure you are safe. 3. It seems to be the fundraising season, with teams coming together to raise money for awareness and research of many organizations. If you are starting a team or want to help raise awareness of your fundraising events, make Patch one of your stops. You can either add events here or contact me directly via email. 4. With school in full swing, keeping track of school lunches so that your children don'…
Neil Licht
11:42 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Pyrethiums are use as spray in restaurants because they are NOT toxic to humans. Now lets use it all over the state at once: Does anyone think that the mosquito knows town boundaries and wont cross them? Since Mosquitos dont know town boudaries, its kind of dumb to expect that spraying in one town will prevent the spread of the mosquito. Lets use some common sense and Spray the entire state … more ›