Westport
in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Sunday,
November 1, 2015
photos/EverythingWestport.com
except as noted
Quick
Article Index . . .
Star Wars
technology for visually impaired seniors comes to the Westport Free Public
Library.
Westport
River Watershed Alliance to host Watershed Walk at Boiling Brook.
Sneak Peak
Film Screening: ‘Sense the Wind’ at The
Shattuck.
“We lived... thanks to a
Subaru.”
Harold J.
"Jack" Sisson, Jr., 61, of Westport.
Westport Free Public Library -
serving readers who are visually impaired. The Westport
Free Public Library is proud to announce the launch of a new program to serve
the needs of their visually-challenged patrons with a marvelous new world of
assistive technology. EverythingWestport.com Wednesday,
October 28, 2015 The Westport Free
Public Library is proud to announce the launch of a new program to serve the
needs of their visually-challenged patrons with optical impairments. Several years ago
the library received a generous gift from the estate of Prudence Chadwick,
formerly of Cadman’s Neck, specifically restricted to serve the needs of
people who are visually impaired. With that they began to increase
their resource collection with items such as large print books, audio discs,
and variations thereof. But they also began to investigate development
in the marvelous new world of assistive technology, and the possible
acquisition of new devices for the magnification and illumination of print
materials such as newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, correspondence,
bills and invoices, and technical reports. The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts has two prime Centers for the Talking Book, for works featuring
such equipment and service, one at the Worcester Public Library; the other
in Watertown at the famous Perkins School for the Blind where Helen
Keller studied. While visiting
Perkins, Westport Library personnel met with Ellen Hall, who is a liaison to
regional libraries looking to establish assistive tech programs. Ellen demonstrated
a range of products to give them a sense of what might be appropriate for
their small library. Shortly after,
Hall came to Westport to make a presentation to Westport’s Library Board, and
to assess the library’s space and capability. She also put the library on to
the Brooks Free Library in Harwich, which for ten years has been building a
program for individuals who are blind or partially sighted directed by Carla
Burke. Carla convinced the Harwich Library and Town Officials to hire her and
she has built a model program for what the Westport Free Public Library
envisions in Westport someday. The MA Commission for the Blind lists over
1,000 area residents as legally blind and in need of assistive technology
services. Carla then led
Westport to Linda Holtzman, Regional Director of
the MA Commission for the Blind in New Bedford, and Margaret Gaffney, her
remarkable and visually impaired IT Director. With their
recommendation, Westport librarypersonnel
constructed a mail survey of the 74 Westport residents listed as legally
blind, according to the MA Commission records, to determine specific
community needs, and as a result eceived a healthy
50% response. Twenty-four of the residents are already active with the
Perkins outreach program for audio and computer-linked material and were
clearly supportive of their library’s plans. Finally, it was
determined that Westport should make an initial purchase of an electronic
desktop magnifier with flexible capability, plus two handheld magnifiers - which
allow scanning one column of print at a time – to assist readers with
newspapers and magazines. Above: handheld devices
can be slid over reading material, held by a flip-out wand, or simply held in
one hand, whichever is most comfortable for the reader. So Westport is
the first library on the South Coast to initiate such a project, and have set
aside an area adjacent to our History Room for patrons. They invite and
encourage residents and others to stop by and experiment with these
devices. They are honored to be able to realize the blessings of the
Chadwick Trust in this manner. “The handheld electronic
magnifiers are also great for reading pill bottles, instructions for medications
that are written in impossibly small type, or the “small
print” in contracts and legal documents.” Some article
content provided by Robert Gormley, Library Trustee
and Susan Branco, Library Director. Westport
River Watershed Alliance to host Watershed Walk at Boiling Brook. EverythingWestport.com Friday, October
30, 2015 The Westport River Watershed
Alliance (WRWA) has scheduled a watershed walk in the Boiling Brook area of
Fall River on Saturday, November 7th at 10:00 a.m. WRWA Executive Director Deborah Weaver will
team up with Green Futures Director Everett Castro to lead the walk through
conservation land at the northernmost area of the Westport River
watershed. Many are
surprised to learn that much of the eastern part of Fall River is forested
conservation land, and connected to the 14,000 acre Bioreserve
that extends into the Freetown State Forest.
The Boiling Spring got its name for the manner in which the
underground waters bubble up to the surface.
The resulting stream is a tributary of the Westport River. These areas of open space make a real
difference for the watershed, with the natural, open terrain keeping the
waters free of pollution. “The Boiling Spring got its
name for the manner in which the underground waters bubble up to the
surface. The resulting stream is a
tributary of the Westport River.” - Steve Connors The Westport
River Watershed covers 100 square miles, extending into the surrounding areas
of Fall River, Dartmouth, and Freetown, as well as Tiverton and Little
Compton in Rhode Island. Directions and Parking Information. Parking for the
Boiling Spring walk will be at the Copicut Rifle
Association parking area. Take Copicut Road north to Quanapoag
Road – go east about 100 yards to a gate on the north side of the road. Signs will be posted to mark the way. The walk will
start promptly at 10:00 a.m., and appropriate dress and good hiking shoes are
recommended. The walk is free and open
to the public. If the weather is
questionable, call 508.636.3016 on the morning of the walk, or check the
Westport River Watershed Alliance Facebook page prior to the walk for
cancellation information. For further information, email WRWA at outreach@wrwa.com. Sneak
Peak Film Screening: ‘Sense the Wind’ at The Shattuck. Blind
sailors race across open water. Come enjoy a preview of the completed
documentary with the Director! EverythingWestport.com The Dedee Shattuck Gallery invites you to a Sneak Peak Film
Screening: Sense the Wind. Blind
Sailors Race Across Open Water. Come enjoy a preview of the completed
documentary with the Director! $15 Ticket
Donation; tickets available at the door. Thursday,
November 5, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Q&A with the
Director followed by a reception; preview DVDs available for sale. The sea is bright, there's a
steady wind out of the SW, the race meeting is over and a conga-line of
sailors makes its way to the waterfront. A white cane taps along the dock, an
outstretched hand struggles to grab a halyard to step up onto the boat deck. In regattas
across the US and abroad, visually impaired sailors learn not to fear what
they cannot see. They sail by feel: sensing the breeze on a cheek or tension
in the tiller, listening to the pattern of waves hitting the hull and sails
luffing in the wind. Sighted guides describe the racecourse and give tactical
race advice. On the water disability is no longer a focus. Sense the Wind is a journey into the sport of blind sailing and into the lives
of four of its competitors. On board cameras and audio capture the high
stakes tension. Camera angles at the Start, Marks and Finish Line of
each race bring the viewer up close to the action. Competition is fierce in
fleet racing. We are in the race with Inky, Matt, Nancy and Phil. Sense the Wind brings to life stories from under-served communities of people
with disabilities. A variety of advisory partners anxious to screen the
film include: disability organizations, educational institutions, adaptive
competitive sports teams and the sailing community. This film provides
rich narrative content for viewers whether sighted, blind, vision impaired,
disabled or for anyone in search of an inspiring story. In the end, Sense the Wind subtly challenges us to
consider what we are willing to do with the abilities that we have and to
re-examine our notion of what dis-ability means. Join the gallery
in celebrating the strength of these amazing sailors! “We lived... thanks to a Subaru.” EverythingWestport.com Saturday, October
31, 2015 Accident photos
courtesy of the Westport police. A currently
running Subaru car commercial will be a stark reminder for 48-year-old Kyle
Gates who slammed his 2013 Subaru Impreza sports
car into a tree last Saturday morning on White Oak Run, splitting the car in
half, seriously injuring himself and 59-year-old Michael Vickers. The Boston area
men were traveling northeast on the dark, narrow, tree-lined lane around 1:23
a.m. when Gates lost control of the vehicle, crashing sideward into a tree. Above: the front half
of the car where the passengers were seated. Photo | Westport Police The speed limit
on the road is 35 mph and they were no skid marks on the road. Above: heading
northeast on White Oak Run. The red arrow points to the crash site tree shown
below. Photo | EverythingWestport.com “Speed was a factor”
said Westport Detective Antonio Cestodio, and
“charges are likely.” Wreckage from the
vicious accident was strewn all over the crash site, leading first responders
to initially believe that multiple vehicles were involved. Arriving police
found the seriously injured Gates wandering around the crash scene while
Vickers was trapped in the front piece of the car, requiring firefighters to
use the ‘jaws of life’ to free him. The Subaru Impreza failed to navigate the curve, and hit a tree in
Westport before the car split into two pieces, the second piece ending almost
100 feet away in Dartmouth. Gates and Vickers
were taken to Rhode Island Hospital where Gates was later discharged, and
Vickers listed in serious condition. Miraculously,
they lived. They were saved
by their seatbelts, Detective Cestodio said. The accident
remains under investigation Above left: the rear section
of the Subaru ended up 100 feet from the initial impact with the tree shown
above, ending up in Dartmouth. Left photo | Westport police Right photo | EverythingWestport.com Above: another view of
the rear half of the 2013 Subaru Impreza sports
car. Photo | Westport
police Harold
J. "Jack" Sisson, Jr., 61, Westport. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, November
1, 2015
Harold J.
"Jack" Sisson, Jr., 61, of Westport died Thursday, October 29, 2015
at Charlton Memorial Hospital. He was the husband of Ingrid A. (Williams) Sisson. Born in Fall River,
son of Alice M. (Allen) Laberge and her husband
Larry of Westport and the late Harold J. Sisson, Sr., he had lived in
Westport for most of his life. An avid hunter and fisherman, he enjoyed
working on trucks and motorcycles, but most of all, he loved spending time
with his children, grandchildren and his wife, who was his best friend. Including his
mother and wife, survivors include a son: Harold J. "Jack" Sisson,
III of Westport; a daughter: Michelle A. Aguiar and
her husband Stephen of Westport; 3 sisters: Carol Motta of RI, Faye Roies of Westport and Alice Sisson of Westport; 4
grandchildren: Kellee, Jack, Dylan and Benjamin;
and several nieces and nephews. Calling hours to
which relatives and friends are invited will be Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at
the Potter Funeral Home from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Private funeral
arrangements will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of
flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Southcoast Health is 1 of 3 hospitals in New England to offer an
implantable device as an alternative to long-term blood thinners. The Watchman
Devise is a new option for patients with non-valvular
atrial fibrillation that has been shown to reduce patients’ risk of stroke. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, November
1, 2015 New Bedford, Mass.
— Southcoast Health announced today that it is
just the third hospital in New England to offer a surgical implant that will
allow certain atrial fibrillation patients to stop taking blood thinning
medications that are currently used to prevent stroke. Thousands of patients
in the region stand to benefit from this new procedure. The newly approved Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC)
Device, from Boston Scientific, reduces the risk of stroke in atrial
fibrillation (AFib) patients by preventing the
heart from producing blood clots. A heart with AFib
beats irregularly and as a result can produce clots, which is why doctors
prescribe blood thinning drugs such as Coumadin or Warfarin. “Patients who undergo a procedure to implant Watchman have a much lower
risk of major strokes related to bleeding and also had significantly lower
mortality at long-term follow up when compared to Coumadin therapy for stroke
reduction with atrial fibrillation,” said Dr. Nitesh
Sood, electrophysiologist at Southcoast
Health. The procedure will benefit patients with non-valvular
AFib who prefer a non-drug alternative to blood
thinners. They can include individuals who take part in sports or other
activities that carry the risk of injury and thus excessive bleeding. Lahey Hospital & Medical
Center in Burlington, Mass. and Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, N.H.
are the only other hospitals in New England to offer the treatment. Watchman
is not currently available at any facility in Boston or Rhode Island. How it works: The Watchman Device closes off an area of the heart called the left
atrial appendage (LAA) to keep harmful blood clots from the LAA from entering
the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke. By closing off the LAA,
the risk of stroke is reduced, and over a span of about three months on
average, patients are able to stop taking blood thinners such as Warfarin or
Coumadin. Above: The
Watchman Devise is a new option for patients with non-valvular
atrial fibrillation that has been shown to reduce patients’ risk of
stroke; and over a span of about three months on average, patients are able
to stop taking blood thinners such as Warfarin or Coumadin. “The big advantage is if the procedure goes well, you have the ability
of getting someone off blood thinners and reducing their risk of
stroke," said Dr. Adam Saltzman, cardiologist at Southcoast
Health. Implanting the Watchman Device is a one-time, minimally-invasive
procedure that usually lasts about an hour. Following the procedure, patients
typically stay in the hospital for 24 hours. “The successful launch of the Watchman program at Southcoast
was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the electrophysiology
program, the anesthesia program, the CCU/CVICU staff, our cardiothoracic
surgery program, and the structural heart program,” said Dr. Margaret
Ferrell, Physician-in-Chief of Cardiovascular Services at Southcoast
Health. The device was approved by the FDA in March, but has been available
internationally since 2009. As of March, more than 10,000 patients worldwide
had been implanted with the device. The approval was based on a clinical
trial program that included more than 2,400 patients. The studies showed the
device reduced the risk of stroke. A meta-analysis of the randomized studies
found patients who received the device had reductions in hemorrhagic stroke,
disabling stroke and cardiovascular death compared with the warfarin group. About Atrial
Fibrillation Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a heart
condition where the upper chambers of the heart (atrium) beat too fast and
with irregular rhythm (fibrillation). AFib is
the most common cardiac arrhythmia, currently affecting more than five
million Americans. Twenty percent of all strokes occur in patients with AFib, and AFib-related strokes
are more frequently fatal and disabling. The most common treatment to reduce
stroke risk in patients with AFib is blood-thinning
warfarin medication. Despite its proven efficacy, long-term warfarin
medication is not well-tolerated by some patients and carries a significant
risk for bleeding complications. Nearly half of AFib
patients eligible for warfarin are currently untreated due to tolerance and
adherence issues. About Watchman™ Left Atrial Appendage Closure
Device The Watchman Device is a permanent implant designed to close the left
atrial appendage in the heart in an effort to reduce the risk of stroke. With
all medical procedures there are risks associated with the implant procedure
and the use of the device. The risks include but are not limited to
accidental heart puncture, air embolism, allergic reaction, anemia,
anesthesia risks, arrhythmias, AV (Arteriovenous) fistula, bleeding or throat
pain from the TEE (Trans Esophageal Echo) probe, blood clot or air bubbles in
the lungs or other organs, bruising at the catheter insertion site, clot
formation on the Watchman Closure Device, cranial bleed, excessive bleeding,
gastrointestinal bleeding, groin puncture bleed, hypotension,
infection/pneumonia, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, pulmonary vein
obstruction, renal failure, stroke, thrombosis and transient ischemic attack.
In rare cases death can occur. Be sure to talk with your doctor so that you
thoroughly understand all of the risks and benefits associated with the
implantation of the Watchman Device. About Boston
Scientific Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer
of medical devices that are used in a broad range of interventional medical
specialties. For more information, please visit: www.bostonscientific.com. © 2015 Community Events of Westport. All rights
reserved. EverythingWestport.com |