About Benjamin Paulin

Benjamin Paulin is JGPR's Account Manager for Southern New England. Based in our Braintree, Massachusetts office, Ben oversees Rhode Island, Connecticut, and southeastern Massachusetts, including Norfolk, Plymouth, Bristol, Dukes, and Barnstable Counties.

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Three Dighton Police Officers Honored for Saving Man’s Life in June

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Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Three Dighton Police Officers Honored for Saving Man’s Life in June

DIGHTON — Police Chief Robert MacDonald and Town Administrator Mallory Aronstein are pleased to announce that three Dighton Police officers were honored by the Dighton Board of Selectmen last night for their efforts in helping to save a man from drowning in the Taunton River earlier this year.

On June 17, Dighton Police responded to the area of 2595 Pleasant St. for a report of a suicidal party in the Taunton River. A caller told police that the man had waded into the river and was threatening to harm himself and also told police that the man did not know how to swim.

Sgt. Shawn Cronin, Officer James McGovern and Officer Gregory Steele responded to the scene where they located the man about 100 yards offshore in the river.

Without hesitation, Officer Steele jumped into the river and pulled the man to safety while fending off his attempts at resisting.

Officer McGovern helped by securing Officer Steele’s firearm and gear in a safe area while Sgt. Cronin gave verbal commands to help deescalate the situation. The officers then helped to pull the man from the water where he continued to be combative. The man was detained and brought to Morton Hospital for evaluation.

On Wednesday, Aug. 21, the members of the Dighton Board of Selectmen presented the three officers with letters of commendation for their response to the incident and efforts in helping to save the man’s life.

“Certainly, the quick thinking and courageous actions of these officers saved this man’s life, even while he was actively fighting against them,” Town Administrator Aronstein said. “Risking their own safety to help save another is a rare and distinct quality that makes all of us proud that Sgt. Cronin, Officer McGovern and Officer Steele are members of the Dighton Police Department.”

Chief MacDonald said, “This is a great example of the type of officers we have here at Dighton PD and I am happy to see them recognized for their efforts. I am also glad that this man was okay and that we were able to help him during a time of need.”

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Maynard Public Health Division Provides Tick Safety Information After Resident Contracts Powassan Virus

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maynard seal

Town of Maynard, Massachusetts
Greg Johnson, Town Administrator
Municipal Building
195 Main St.
Maynard, MA 01754

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Maynard Public Health Division Provides Tick Safety Information After Resident Contracts Powassan Virus

MAYNARD – Town Administrator Greg Johnson and the Maynard Public Health Division would like to notify residents about tick safety after a Maynard resident recently contracted and was diagnosed with the tick-borne illness the Powassan virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Powassan virus disease is a rare, but often severe disease caused by a virus spread to people by infected ticks. The number of reported cases of people sick from Powassan virus has increased in recent years.  Powassan virus belongs to a group of viruses that can cause infection of the brain (encephalitis) or the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

The disease is not communicable, and the best defense is to protect yourself against ticks and tick bites.

“There is no longer a tick time of year. We used to think that when the first frost came that ticks die off and we are safe from them, but we know now that is not the case,” said Maynard Health Agent Kelly Pawluczonek. “Tick bites are happening all year long and the diseases and viruses that are associated with a tick bite can become difficult long-term medical issues. Residents must protect themselves from tick bites by checking themselves for ticks daily year round. Residents should also use bug spray/bug repellent when outdoors and wear light colored clothing so ticks can be easily seen.”

The Maynard Board of Health has tick identification cards and tick “pickers” (a tool used to remove embedded ticks) available in the Office of Municipal Services at Town Hall for residents.

Although tick bites can happen at any time of the year, they are especially prevalent from April to September.

To prevent contact with ticks and avoid tick-borne illnesses, the Maynard Public Health Division recommends the following tips provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Avoid Direct Contact with Ticks

  • Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter — ticks wait in vegetation and attack from below.
  • Keep a tidy yard.
  • Walk in the center of trails.
  • Use repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin or IR3535 on exposed skin, being sure to follow product instructions.

Find and Remove Ticks from Your Body

  • Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be crawling on you.
  • Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check areas carefully where ticks like to hide — between the toes, backs of the knees, groin, armpits, neck, along the hairline, and behind the ears.
  • Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats and gear.
  • If you find a tick attached to your skin, don’t panic. Use a pair of fine point tweezers to grip the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out with steady pressure.
  • You should not apply kerosene, petroleum jelly, nail polish, or a hot match tip to remove the tick. These measures are not effective and may result in injury.
  • Circle the calendar date and note where on the body the tick was removed. You may want to save the tick for identification.
  • Your physician may choose to treat you following a deer tick bite. Notify your healthcare provider if you have been bitten by a deer tick or if you develop a rash or other signs of illness following a tick bite.

Common Symptoms of Tick-related Illnesses

If you have been bitten by a tick, the most common symptoms of tick-related illnesses are:

  • Fever/chills: With all tick-borne diseases, patients can experience fever at varying degrees and time of onset.
  • Aches and pains: Tick-borne disease symptoms include headache, fatigue and muscle aches. With Lyme disease, patients may also experience joint pain. The severity and time of onset of these symptoms can depend on the disease and the patient’s personal tolerance level.
  • Rash: Tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis, and tularemia can all result in distinctive rashes.

Tick-borne diseases can result in mild symptoms to severe infections. Although treated with antibiotics, these diseases can be difficult for physicians to diagnose. Early recognition and treatment of these infections decreases the risk of serious complications. See your doctor immediately if you have been bitten by a tick and experience any of the symptoms described here.

For more information about ticks and tick-related illnesses, visit the CDC website or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website. For more information about Powassan virus disease click here.

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Whitman Fire Department Extinguishes Fire Inside Condominium Garage

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Whitman Fire Department
Timothy J. Grenno, Fire Chief
56 Temple St.
Whitman, MA 02382

For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 19, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Whitman Fire Department Extinguishes Fire Inside Condominium Garage

WHITMAN — Chief Timothy J. Grenno reports that the Whitman Fire Department extinguished a fire inside a condominium garage Monday morning.

At approximately 11:10 a.m., Whitman firefighters were dispatched to 877 Auburnville Way, inside the Village at Auburnville community for residents age 55 and older.

Upon arrival firefighters located a fire inside of the garage with the sprinkler system suppressing the flames and keeping the fire from spreading rapidly throughout the building.

Firefighters quickly used a hose line to extinguish the fire and overhauled the area to ensure that the flames had not spread elsewhere.

A female resident, who is wheelchair bound, had been evacuated by her home health aide to the first floor porch and was then moved from the porch away from the home by bystanders and responding firefighters. The woman was uninjured but was evaluated by a Halifax Fire ambulance crew on scene as a precaution.

The fire and smoke caused approximately $50,000 in damage to the garage. The home itself had minimal smoke and odor damage.

The resident will be able to return to her home once the fire alarm and sprinkler system is repaired, which is expected to be done today.

The incident was the second fire that Whitman firefighters responded to recently in which a sprinkler system helped to prevent potentially devastating damage. On July 24, the department extinguished a fire at the Bostonian Loft Apartments, 7 Marble St.

“The unit where this fire occurred was one of four attached condos in same building,” Chief Grenno said. “If it weren’t for the sprinkler system suppressing the fire until we arrived, the fire could have spread far more quickly and done a lot more damage. This is the second fire we’ve had in less than a month where a sprinkler system helped to keep a fire at bay until firefighters could arrive on scene. Having a properly functioning and regularly maintained sprinkler system can and does save lives.”

The fire was caused by careless disposal of a cigarette into a trash barrel in the garage.

Whitman Fire was assisted on scene by Abington Fire Tower 1 and Hanson Fire Engine 3.

 

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East Bridgewater Police Arrest Man Who Allegedly Assaulted Officer

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East Bridgewater Police Department
Scott Allen, Chief of Police
153 Central St.
East Bridgewater, MA 02333

For Immediate Release

Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

East Bridgewater Police Arrest Man Who Allegedly Assaulted Officer

EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Scott Allen reports that a man has been arrested after he allegedly assaulted an East Bridgewater Police officer during an incident Sunday afternoon.

A 23-YEAR-OLD EAST BRIDGEWATER MAN will be charged with Assault and Battery on a Police Officer. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and will be booked following his release and arraigned at a later date.

At approximately 3:38 p.m., East Bridgewater Police responded to a home Spring Street for a medical emergency.

Upon arrival, officers began to speak to the man when the man allegedly attacked the officers, striking one of the officers above his eye. The man then fled into the woods near the residence and officers began to search for him.

The officer who was struck suffered a minor injury and was evaluated at South Shore Hospital as a precaution.

Members of the Bridgewater and West Bridgewater police departments responded to the scene to help search for the man.

The man was located by officers approximately 30 minutes later in the area of Spring and Cook Streets and was placed under arrest without further incident. An ambulance then transported the man to a local hospital.

The scene was cleared at approximately 4:45 p.m.

These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

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