Sharon Schools Implement New State Nutritional Standards

The standards, known as "competitive foods", went into effect Aug. 1, and aim at reducing childhood obesity across the state.

Students in the Sharon Public School system may notice a bit of a change in their food options during the 2012-2013 school year, which officially begins today, Aug. 29.   Sharon school officials announced in a recent statement that they plan to comply with new state requirements regarding newly-adapted nutritional standards.  Those standards, which took effect on Aug. 1, are part of the Commonwealth's widespread effort to reduce childhood obesity. As a result, a number of changes will be made to food and beverages made available to students in public schools across the state during the day.  "In 2010, the Massachusetts state legislature passed the ‘Act Relative to School Nutrition’, which directed the Massachusetts Department of Health to …

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Aerial Spraying Lowers Mosquito Population in Area

Second round of aerial spraying cut population in half in neighboring Easton.

State officials announced Wednesday that the most recent round of aerial spraying cut Easton's mosquito population in half. Sharon was told that a bird-bitting mosquito with EEE was found in town on Aug. 15. The town was notified on Aug. 21 and is at moderate risk level. Despite the good news out of Easton, the Department of Public Health is still urging caution. "Today’s results reduce but do not eliminate the public health threat of mosquito-borne illnesses in Massachusetts," said DPH Commissioner John Auerbach in a statement. "It remains vitally important that people continue to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites — use insect repellant, cover exposed skin, and avoid outdoor activities at dusk …

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Significant Decline in Mosquito Population Following Aerial Spraying in Area

Even with the success of the recent aerial spraying, officials urge residents, regardless of location, to continue taking personal precautions to protect against mosquito-borne illnesses.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced in a release that the aerial spraying conducted the weekend of July 20-22 reduced the mosquito population by approximately 60 percent within the 21-community spray zone in Southeastern Massachusetts. Sharon was not on the list of towns to be sprayed, but the nearby towns of Easton, Norton, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Raynham and Taunton were part of this spraying effort. Mammal-biting mosquitoes have recently tested positive for EEE in both Easton and Canton. No mosquitoes have tested positive for EEE in Sharon. While the risk level for mosquito-borne illness in Easton and Canton is “high,” the risk level in Sharon remains "moderate," according to the DPH. Even …

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State Health Officials Advise Precautions for Residents Near Mosquito Spraying

Sharon residents living near the Easton border should consider taking note.

Some Sharon residents might be affected by aerial spraying in Easton for mosquitoes tonight. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is advising residents living within 1,500 feet of a neighboring community being sprayed to take "take simple precautions to avoid exposure to pesticide during the time that their city or town is scheduled to be sprayed." Spraying is scheduled in Easton and other communities from 8:15 tonight to 2 a.m. Sunday, the DPH said on its website. Three Sharon-area mosquitos have tested positive for EEE this month, two in Easton. Thursday, state health officials said a bird-biting mosquito in Canton has tested positive for EEE.

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Canton Mosquito Tests Positive for EEE

However, risk levels in the area, including Sharon, unchanged.

State health officials say bird-biting mosquito in Canton has tested positive for EEE, Sharon Public Health Nurse Sheila Miller said today. However, "there is no change to the risk levels for Canton or the surrounding towns at this time," Miller said. The Canton mosquito is the latest instance of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in the Sharon area over the past two weeks. Both previous cases were in mammal-biting mosquitoes found in Easton. The first case was announced July 11 and the second one on Tuesday. Both cases came from near Easton's border with Raynham and Taunton, not Sharon. Sharon health officials have been urging residents to take precautions when outside from dawn to dusk.

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Sharon Health Officials Urge Precautions After EEE Found in More Easton Mosquitoes

The mosquitoes came from the same location as those testing positive recently.

More EEE-positive mammal-biting mosquitoes have been found in Easton, and Sharon health officials today are urging residents to take precautions when outside from dawn to dusk. The mosquitoes came from the same site as those in which Eastern Equine Encephalitis was detected recently, the first EEE-positive mosquitoes in Massachusetts this year, Sharon health officials said. News of those first mosquitoes was announced last Wednesday. Sharon Public Health Nurse Sheila Miller distributed safety tips during the Sharon Lakeside Concert at Veteran's Memorial Park and Beach that night. The state will spray in these communities, Sharon health officials said: Bridgewater, Carver, Easton, Halifax, Lakeville, Middleboro, Norton, Plympton, Raynham, …

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Sharon Health Officials Spread Word About Ticks

Information is available in the Sharon Town Offices foyer.

Sharon residents should consider heading indoors -- specifically the Sharon Town Offices -- with the outdoors season in full swing now. In the foyer, the Sharon Health Department has provided information about preventing disease spread by ticks, health board member Andrew Stead noted Monday night. Children should "check themselves for fully developed freckles," Stead said. One Massachusetts Department of Public Health pamphlet defines dog and deer ticks, the diseases they can spread, and suggests prevention options. A "tick check a day" flyer based on information from the Westwood Board of Health says where to check on the body for tick bites, to prevent Lyme disease.

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Counsel Corner

State's New Regs for School Food Unappealing

The state should have tested the regulations before implementing them, he says.

It's the end of the world as we know it. On August 1, state regulations will set new standards for food and beverages sold in public schools, including those items sold at "bake sales" and other fundraising events. Schools shall be required to offer fresh fruit and non-fried vegetables. Foods prepared in fryolators will be prohibited. With some exceptions, foods shall not exceed "200 calories per item." Beverages also will be regulated. All vegetable and fruit juices must be 100 pure, with no added sugar. After a phase-in period, milk and milk substitutes will be fat free or "low fat," which is defined as 1 percent fat or less, and entirely unflavored. "Potable water" must be made available to all students, all day, at no cost. Established…

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EEE Found In Sharon Mosquitoes

Sharon health officials offer safety tips to protect residents from the virus.

Mosquitoes collected from Sharon last Thursday had the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, state and local health officials said today. "EEE is a rare but serious illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. While EEE can infect people of all ages, people under 15 years of age or over 50 years of age are at greatest risk for serious illness," Sharon health officials said in a notice posted on the town's website. The state Department of Public Health announced today that the type of mosquito involved typically bites birds, but "can occasionally bite mammals, including humans, as well," the town notice says. Sharon health officials said they working with the DPH and other agencies on this issue. Town health officials also offered these…

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Sharon's Community Center Beach Reopens

Latest E. coli test 'very low,' recreation director says.

Sharon's Community Center Beach re-opened Thursday to swimmers after the latest test for E. coli returned "very low," Recreation Director Brett MacGowan said. The board of health ordered the beach closed to swimming Tuesday, when a test result of a Lake Massapoag sample there showed elevated E. coli levels. A Massachusetts Department of Public Health fact sheet defines E. coli as "germs that normally live in the bowel of people and animals. Most strains of this germ are harmless, but the strain called E. coli O157:H7 can make people sick." "The most common symptoms are severe stomach cramps and diarrhea," the fact sheet says. Lake Massapoag is tested for E. coli twice per week from Memorial Day to Labor Day, according to the Sharon Health …

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