Lynn Crager: her post is first of a kind. Contributed photoA Westporter is filling a new position established by the Department of Spiritual Care at Norwalk Hospital—Nurse Chaplain.

Lynn Crager was named to the innovative position established in collaboration with the hospital’s nursing leadership.

The post, a first of its kind in the country, will serve to support the spiritual and personal well being of nursing staff at the hospital, said Rabbi Jeffrey Silberman, director of the spiritual care program.

Crager is currently adjunct oncology chaplain at the hospital’s Whittingham Cancer Center. She is a Master’s level nurse who worked in the Emergency Department at New York’s Bellevue Hospital early in her career.

Has your dog or cat been vaccinated for rabies?  The Westport Weston Health District and the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association are holding a low cost rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats on Saturday, June 6, from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Westport Weston Health District, 180 Bayberry Lane.

The cost for vaccination is $15 per animal, cash only. There is no residency requirement. All dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers. Pet owners who are on public assistance are permitted to have one pet vaccinated at no charge by showing their state public assistance identification cards to the clinic coordinator.

Bring the animal’s prior vaccination records, if available. Written proof, either a valid rabies certificate or dog license showing a prior vaccination, must be presented to qualify for a three-year vaccination. Otherwise, a one-year vaccination will be given. Collar tags and certificates of vaccination will be provided. 

Rabies is a viral infection that attacks the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals. The virus is transmitted in the saliva of infected animals, usually through a skin puncture or open wound. It is fatal to both animals and humans if left untreated.

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the Department of Public Health has confirmed 11 new cases of novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) among Connecticut residents, including in Darien and Wilton.

Positive results for H1N1 flu were confirmed today at the department’s Public Health Laboratory for three residents of Ridgefield as well as for residents of Danbury, Derby, Greenwich, Old Saybrook, and Waterbury in addition to Darien and Wilton.

“We continue to expect new cases, and now our own state laboratory is able to do the testing so we do not have to wait for responses from the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta,” Rell said.

“Happily, the cases we have seen continue to be relatively mild and people are recovering without needing to spend time in a hospital.”

A new Westport group is promoting environmentally responsible lawns and gardens.

The GreenScapes Action Project will be on hand at Saturday’s Green Earth Fair at Westport’s Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to launch its “GreenScapes Challenge.”

The challenge involves residents “committing to a more responsible path,” the group said, and those participating will receive a lawn medallion declaring their commitment to environmental responsibility.

“If you’re interested, we’ll use ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos of your lawn or garden to acknowledge your efforts in the fall,” the group said in a news release.

Organizers are getting ready for Sunday’s 10th anniversary SpinOdyssey, a popular fitness fundraiser for American Cancer Society breast cancer research in which many Westporters participate. It takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fitness & Tennis Club, 490 Westport Ave., Norwalk. Westporters Amelie Babkie and Patty Kondub lead the event organizing with support from Westport businesses Robecks, Steaz, Ben & Jerry’s and Cycle Dynamics. Staples footballers and members of the girl’s golf team will help in the set up and clean up. Pictured are participants in an earlier event. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

By Marty Yellin

The purpose of this article is not to necessarily alarm you but instead to make you aware of collective evidence from the National Research Council, the National Academy of Sciences, the EPA, the American Journal of Epidemiology, and other respected medical sources.

They all document evidence linking commonly used lawn products to increased odds of childhood leukemia, non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, brain cancer, and soft tissue sarcomas of the colorectum and testes among children living in households where pesticides are used.

A study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that home and garden use of pesticides can increase the risk of childhood leukemia by almost seven times.

Herbicides and pesticides applied to lawns are tracked into the house where they remain for months in carpets, toys and house dust. Everyone in the house, especially children and pets continues to be exposed.