Taunton, Massachusetts News & Information - Taunton, MA - Bristol County

Morton Hospital Receives Beacon Hospice Excellence Award

June 25, 2009 – Taunton, MA - Morton Hospital and Medical Center was recently selected as the recipient of the Beacon Hospice 2009 Excellence Award. The Hospital was nominated by Amy Ippolito-Kelly, Beacon Hospice Service Representative, and is the only hospital in Massachusetts to receive the award.

The Hospital staff was honored for outstanding performance and lasting contribution in quality end of life care, especially on the S-1 Unit. During the recent awards ceremony, Ippolito-Kelly and Michael Hutchinson, Vice President-Sales, presented certificates of excellence to Marie Lebrun, RN, BSN, S-1 Nurse Manager, and Thomas Porter, Morton Hospital President.

Morton Hospital was recognized for its leadership in partnering with Beacon Hospice to provide excellence in end of life care and working with Mohamed I. Khedr, MD, Beacon’s in-house Medical Director, to guarantee access to hospice care for all patients at the end of life, as well as its commitment to continuing education. "There are many resources available to hospitals, and not everyone takes advantage of them, but you do," said Hutchinson. "That shows your commitment."

Hutchinson also acknowledged a clear linkage between Beacon’s mission and Morton Hospital’s mission of providing access to quality health care. "Your mission is exactly what you are demonstrating every day," said Hutchinson. "That is why we are here today celebrating your achievements."

Pictured left to right: Amy Ippolito-Kelly, Beacon Hospice Service Representative; Thomas Porter, Morton Hospital President; Marie Labrun, RN, BSN, S-1 Nurse Manager; Michael Hutchinson, Beacon Vice President-Sales; and Mohamed I. Khedr, MD, Beacon’s In-house Medical Director.

Route 95 Accident Claims Two Lives Including 3 Year-Old

June 22, 2009 - On Saturday, June 20, 2009, at approximately 5:36 p.m., State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Route 95 northbound near Exit 2 in Attleboro that resulted in two fatalities.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a 1997 Ford Explorer operated by a 23 year-old Jessica Ebert of Attleboro struck a 1996 Chevrolet operated by 18 year-old Jennifer Poissant from Pawtucket, RI . The 1997 Ford Explorer then rolled over ejecting some occupants and fatally injuring a 3 year old juvenile and a 20 year-old Matthew Kercado of Taunton. A 14 month- old, 42 year-old Heather Kercado from Taunton, 40 year-old Christopher Ebert of Boston and Jessica Ebert were transported to local hospitals with injuries. The operator of the 1996 Chevrolet was not injured.

The crash remains under investigation with the assistance of the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. Troopers on scene where assisted by the Attleboro Fire and Police Department and Mass Highway.

The highway was closed for approximately 1 1/2 hours for the crash investigation and vehicle removal.

Parker Middle School Receives a $10,000 Grant From Verizon for Closing the Achievement Gap

June 19, 2009 - Taunton, MA – Parker Middle School has been awarded a $10,000 grant to focus on "Closing the Achievement Gap." The purpose of the grant is to help reduce achievement gaps in English Language Arts for students who are underperforming at Parker Middle School. These students lack the specific skills and strategies to access literary texts and are struggling with increasingly complex vocabulary in literacy texts. This grant is a classroom project that uses an online educational tool, developed by Verizon and endorsed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(L to R) Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester, Richard Colon, Verizon Regional Director External Affairs, Stacey Pattou-Hammond, Taunton Public Schools Reading Coordinator & Donna Cupelo, Regional President Verizon

"This grant presents a great opportunity for Parker School’s staff to receive professional development and support in order to target particular skills. This will also support Parker’s goal to facilitate common understandings about the role of culture and diversity to support all students" says Taunton’s reading/literacy coordinator Stacey Pattou-Hammond.

Dr. Arthur Stellar Taunton’s superintendent stated, "Reducing the achievement gap is key to school improvement and an area of concern across the Commonwealth. This project is an example of how one can move urban schools forward in an era of high accountability."

The project is one of 15 creative educational-improvement ideas that will come to fruition, thanks to $150,000 in grants awarded by the Verizon Foundation as part of the 2009 Think Ahead With Thinkfinity Awards. 

"Taunton’s Reading Coordinator Stacey Hammond should be commended for pursuing and receiving this grant which will aid struggling students at Parker Middle School," added Superintendent Stellar.

Morton Hospital Breast Surgeon Receives "Unsung Heroine" Award

June 19, 2009 - Taunton, MA – The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women recently named Elizabeth Tito, MD, one of its 100 "Unsung Heroines of 2009." Dr. Tito, a breast surgeon at Morton Hospital and Medical Center, was nominated by her colleague Ginny Starvish, RN, Morton Hospital Breast Care Nurse Navigator.

Dr. Tito was honored for her outstanding contributions to Morton Hospital and the greater Taunton community during a ceremony at the State House in Boston. The event was hosted by NewsCenter 5’s Liz Brunner, and featured an introduction of each honoree, as well as a catered reception.

According to the Commission, the Unsung Heroines "don’t make the news, they make the difference," and Dr. Tito has been making a positive difference at the Hospital for several years. Some of her most recent accomplishments include the initiation of a nurse navigator program to assist breast care patients, and the creation of a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to improve future programs and services to breast care patients. She is a constant advocate for women’s breast health awareness, and has helped to raise more than $10,000 to support patients and their families.

Elizabeth Tito, MD

"It’s been an honor to work with such an amazing group of women in our community," said Tito. "These brave women faced breast cancer, and at the end said what can we give back? The Community Advisory Board that I created gave them a chance to serve the community and shine."

For more information, or to make an appointment with Dr. Tito, call (508) 828-7693.

Old Colony Historical Society Welcomes New Staff Member

June 17, 2009 - Taunton, MA - The Old Colony Historical Society is pleased to welcome a new member to its staff, Ms. Christie Jackson. Her position title, the Ruby Winslow Linn Curator, is named for a generous donor to the museum. Col. Linn had donated more than 500 objects to the museum over the years, and one of Ms. Jackson's duties will be to care for these and all of the museum's 12,000 historical artifacts.In addition, the curator will create exhibits and interpret collections to the public through tours and educational programs.

Ms. Jackson brings an impressive educational background to her new position. She recently completed her tenure as a Fellow in the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture at the University of Delaware, where she received a Master's Degree. This is her second graduate-level degree; the first was a Master of Education from Harvard University with a specialization in museum education. Her undergraduate degree was a double major in biology and philosophy from Dartmouth College.

The new curator's career experience is equally diverse and notable. She has several years experience in college administration, was an author and advocate for understanding learning disabilities and has considerable experience with underwater science and archaeology. After re-focusing her career goals in the museum field, Ms. Jackson worked on educational programs and exhibits at the Japan-America Society of New Hampshire, Winterthur Museum and Gardens and the Williams-Mystic Program at Mystic Seaport, The Museum of America and the Sea.

Christie Jackson

Along with her new curatorial duties here in Taunton, Ms. Jackson is in demand as a researcher, writer and program presenter. She was awarded the Williams-Mystic Alumni Research Fellowship to investigate the interior design of ocean liners in London. This research will take her back to London to speak before the Frederick Parker Foundation this coming October.

Concerning her recent arrival at Old Colony Historical Society, Ms. Jackson noted, "I am looking forward to drawing upon my educational, curatorial and administrative experience in my new role. I've felt very welcome here and look forward to exploring the treasures at Old Colony and in Taunton." Fellow staff, board members and Society members have greeted the new curator with enthusiasm. Jane Hennedy, Director of the OCHS, said, "I'm certain that, with her background and energy, she will be excellent at both uncovering new research on our object collections and finding new ways to share those great stories with our community. We are all fortunate to have this talented and personable new colleague."

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