Government

New Health Director Getting to Know Watertown, Sees Current Concerns, Others Down the Road

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Watertown’s new director of health comes to town with more than 40 years of experience in public health. After arriving two months ago, he said he believes Watertown has a commitment to public health, and hopes the department can move from one that is reactive to a proactive one. 

Larry Ramdin comes to Watertown after 11 years as the Health Agent in the Salem. Before that the Arlington resident worked in Reading and Newton. He was drawn to the position in Watertown. “This is a wonderful opportunity,” Ramdin said.

Government

New Director of Public Health Has More Than 40 Years of Experience in the Field

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The new director of the Watertown Department of Public Health has been appointed, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced Friday. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Larry A. Ramdin to the position of Director of Public Health, effective Aug. 27, 2018,” Driscoll said in the announcement (see the letter below). Ramdin has over 40 years experience working in the field of public health, and has been head of local health departments in Salem and Reading for the past 11 years. He also worked for six years for the City of Newton as an environmental health specialist.

Around Town

Mass. Health Department: West Nile Virus Mosquito Fond in Watertown

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The Watertown Health Department sent out the following announcement:

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Watertown, Massachusetts. In 2017, 5,496 mosquito samples were tested for WNV and 290 samples were positive. Watertown had 3 WNV positive mosquito samples identified in 2017. WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state, and are found in urban as well as more rural areas.

Around Town

Mosquito Control Efforts Underway in Watertown, Ways You Can Stop Them

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The Watertown Health Department announced that treatments have started to try to limit the number of mosquitos in the area, but there are other steps that you can take. The following information was provided by the Watertown Health Department:

Catchbasin Treatment

The Watertown Health Department announces that the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Program (EMMCP) has begun treating catchbasins throughout Watertown with a relatively non-toxic pesticide, Altosid, that kills mosquito larvae. Some species of mosquitoes will breed in catchbasins, and in other containers of water that may be found on private property. Eliminating mosquitoes in the larval stage will prevent hatching of mosquitoes that could become carriers of vector borne diseases such as West Nile Virus, which have been found to be detrimental to humans. Catchbasins that have been treated by the EMMCP will be marked with pink paint. For more information on this pesticide and the Mosquito Control Program, please visit their website at https://sudbury.ma.us/emmcp/larmosqctrlpes/

Property Pesticide Exclusion

The Town does not conduct aerial spraying, however should a public health threat be determined, aerial spraying could be conducted with prior notification communicated to residents.

Around Town

Raccoon Attacks Reported in Different Spots Around Watertown

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Three reported raccoon attacks took place in different areas of Watertown this week, according to reports. On Friday the Watertown Heath Department issued a warning about aggressive raccoons in town, including two that attacked residents. A Garfield Street resident told Channel 7 News that he was attacked by a raccoon while he was on his deck drinking coffee. Watertown Animal Control Officer Karen O’Reilly told Channel 5 News that one woman was attacked on Parker Street just outside her home, and another person was attacked while walking on Charles River Road near Paul Street. Garfield is located north of Mt.

Around Town

Watertown Health Department Hosting Two Flu Clinics in Early November

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The Watertown Health Department will host two flu vaccine clinics over the next couple weeks for town residents, the officials announced. Here is the information about the final two flu clinics of the year:

Nov. 2: Watertown Public Library, 123 Main St., 9 a.m.-12 p.m. – anyone 6 months and over

Nov. 9: Watertown Public Library, 123 Main St., 2 p.m.-5 p.m. – anyone 6 months and over

Please remember to bring all your insurance and Medicare cards with you for billing purposes where applicable. Vaccine is still available to you, even if you do not have insurance.

Around Town

Mosquitoes in Watertown Test Positive for West Nile Virus, Tips for Avoiding Them

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has notified the Watertown Health Department that mosquitoes in Watertown have tested positive for West Nile Virus, the Watertown Health Department announced. The Watertown Health Department sent out the following release:

This is not a surprise since most of the geographic area around Watertown has had species of mosquitoes testing positive. This is also consistent with having warm and intermittent wet weather. How can you prevent these mosquitoes from breeding on your property? The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project indicates that “homeowners should be aware that once a container is inundated with rainwater in the summer, it becomes a likely site for a mosquito to lay eggs on the water surface.

Government

Watertown Updates Regulations on Hens and Honeybees

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In an effort to be supportive of the sustainability movement and local food
production, the Board of Health updated its regulations regarding the keeping of
hens and honeybees in May of 2016, Town officials announced. The Health Department is pleased to report that there are currently five approved permits issued for the keeping of hens in Watertown, though there have been no requests for approval of honeybees. The new regulations followed over one year of research, discussions with industry
experts, and public hearings, and have resulted in relaxed standards on setbacks
that allow more properties to comply than had been able to in the past. The new
standards include provisions for setbacks from property lines and neighboring
properties, how much owners must know about caring for hens and honeybees,
restrictions on number of hives and hens allowed, and standards for storing feed
and waste. A permit is required for each location where hens or honeybees will be
kept, and approval from abutters is required.