Flea-Control Products Found to Be Infested With Forever Chemicals

Popular pet flea collars and treatments contain high levels of toxic PFAS chemicals, ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

FLEA-CONTROL PRODUCTS FOUND TO BE INFESTED WITH FOREVER CHEMICALS High PFAS Levels Pose Additional Risks to Pets, Owners  Popular pet flea collars and treatments contain high levels of toxic PFAS chemicals, according to laboratory test results posted today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.    PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are associated with a variety of ailments, including suppressed immune function, thyroid disease, testicular and kidney cancers and liver damage.   Popular flea and tick products were sent to a certified lab, which found that: Frontline Plus for Dogs, a popular topical flea and tick product, contains 2,390 parts per trillion (ppt) of four different PFAS, including GenX. Frontline is a liquid pesticide applied between the pets' shoulder blades once a month; it spreads throughout the skin and fur.   Seresto flea and tick collars contain 250 ppt of a long-chain PFAS. Seresto is a plastic band impregnated with insecticides and other ingredients that are released over time and coat an animal's fur.    By comparison, the EPA has yet to promulgate legal limits but has established a 70 ppt lifetime health advisory for two types of PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) in drinking water. Leading scientists have called for a drinking water safety limit of 0.1 ppt for PFOA.   After testing by PEER revealed PFAS levels of 250-500 ppt in Anvil 10+10, a widely used, aerially sprayed insecticide, the EPA asked states with existing stocks of Anvil to discontinue its use in order to minimize risks to both the environment and human health.     "EPA's oversight of pest control products is beyond negligent," said PEER science policy director Kyla Bennett, a scientist and attorney formerly with the EPA. "EPA insists that pesticides do not contain PFAS as deliberately added ingredients, yet PFAS are on both EPA's approved list of inert ingredients and are active ingredients in a number of pesticide products. On one hand, EPA declares the urgent need to control the spread of PFAS, while its other hand facilitates the spread of PFAS through lax pesticide regulation."     One major concern is that people can be exposed to these products though their skin by petting and playing with their pets and children face even greater risk through their frequent hand-to-mouth behavior.    A recent study found dogs and cats are highly exposed to PFAS and often exposed to concentrations well above the minimum risk level identified for humans.   The troubling findings regarding PFAS in flea-control products comes after documents obtained from the EPA revealed the agency has received more than 75,000 complaints linking the Seresto flea collar to harms ranging from skin irritation to nearly 1,700 pet deaths. Yet the agency has taken no action in response to the reports such as recalling the product or issuing a nationwide warning to the public of its potential dangers.    The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal legal petition last month urging the EPA to cancel the registration of the Seresto collar, which is also linked to nearly 1,000 incidents of harm to humans.   "The trust the public puts in our regulatory agencies is being blatantly violated by the EPA's pesticide office," said Nathan Donley, environmental health science director at the Center for Biological Diversity. "The lack of transparency here is dumbfounding. Not only are we finding out that these products are associated with high levels of harm, but they include dangerous ingredients that are not even being disclosed."   Often referred to as "forever chemicals" because they don't break down and can accumulate in humans, PFAS can be found in some food packaging and a wide variety of industrial and household products — including nonstick materials, cleaning products and firefighting foams. Ph: (202) 265-PEER (7337) · Fax: (202) 265-4192 All content © 2017 Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility 962 Wayne Ave, Suite 610, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Baker-Polito Administration Files New Legislation to Improve Road Safety

@MassGovernor tweeted

"Today (Monday, Apr 26, 2021) we filed road safety legislation that includes several provisions we previously filed in 2019 and several new proposals like increasing penalties for individuals who cause personal injury while driving on a non-administratively suspended license."

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/MassGovernor/status/1386696555797876739

The press release with details

https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-files-new-legislation-to-improve-road-safety

CommonWealth Magazine coverage:  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/criminal-justice/baker-proposes-new-seatbelt-traffic-camera-law/

Press release video link = https://youtu.be/Wm5jlK4PzGE

FDA and CDC Lift Recommended Pause on Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19

Following a thorough safety review, including two meetings of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined that the recommended pause regarding the use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine in the U.S. should be lifted and use of the vaccine should resume.

The pause was recommended after reports of six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals following administration of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. During the pause, medical and scientific teams at the FDA and CDC examined available data to assess the risk of thrombosis involving the cerebral venous sinuses, or CVST (large blood vessels in the brain), and other sites in the body (including but not limited to the large blood vessels of the abdomen and the veins of the legs) along with thrombocytopenia, or low blood platelet counts. The teams at FDA and CDC also conducted extensive outreach to providers and clinicians to ensure they were made aware of the potential for these adverse events and could properly manage and recognize these events due to the unique treatment required for these blood clots and low platelets, also known as thrombosis-thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

The two agencies have determined the following:

• Use of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine should be resumed in the United States.
• The FDA and CDC have confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.
• The FDA has determined that the available data show that the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older.
• At this time, the available data suggest that the chance of TTS occurring is very low, but the FDA and CDC will remain vigilant in continuing to investigate this risk.
• Health care providers administering the vaccine and vaccine recipients or caregivers should review the  Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers)external icon and Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregiversexternal icon, which have been revised to include information about the risk of this syndrome, which has occurred in a very small number of people who have received the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.

Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine fact sheet for recipients

https://www.fda.gov/media/146305/download

Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine fact sheet for healthcare providers

https://www.fda.gov/media/146304/download

Vaccine call center to be set up; Gov Baker press conf link on small grant awards

 

"AMID GROWING frustration with the state’s process for arranging COVID-19 vaccination appointments, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Thursday that his administration intends to set up a call center next week for those who need additional help.

On Wednesday, people 75 and over who are not living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities started making appointments for vaccinations. Baker said 45,000 appointments were made over the last two days but the demand far outpaced supply. An estimated 500,000 people over 75 are eligible to obtain the two-dose vaccination, but he said the state has been receiving only 80,000 doses a week, a number bumping up to 100,000 next week."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/baker-setting-up-vaccine-call-center/

Maura Healey (@MassAGO):

"First, it was unemployment. The Department of Unemployment had no live call center.
Then, it was workplace safety.
After that, evictions. No system.
We've tried to help those frustrated constituents all year. The vaccine call center should have happened yesterday. "

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/MassAGO/status/1354882824109752329

Gov Baker Press Conf Link - https://youtu.be/z0IpZCRvFME

Press Release on Small Business Grants

https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-awards-over-45-million-in-grants-to-1100-new-small-businesses

CommonWealth Magazine: some school districts rollback opening in person; new testing plan announced

"Amid rising cases, districts roll back reopening plans"

"DOZENS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS shifted to remote learning for at least two weeks after the holidays in an effort to keep the virus out of schools in the event students and parents traveled or engaged in large-person events during the break.

Brockton, which has an 11.85 percent community positive test rate, is delaying its return to in-person learning for almost 400 high needs students, which was set for mid-January, by at least two weeks. Pre-K and kindergarten students, which have been remote, would return February 8.

Continue reading the article

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/amid-rising-cases-districts-roll-back-reopening-plans/

"A shopping bag that held the key to safe school opening"

"A LITTLE BEFORE 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Liz Ruark started out from the small Worcester County town of Harvard on the 30-mile drive to Kendall Square in Cambridge. Nestled on the floor of the backseat of her Subaru Forester was a Home Goods tote bag whose contents were key to the community’s goal of keeping its schools open while also holding the COVID-19 pandemic at bay.

Ruark, a parent of two Harvard public school students, has helped spearhead a five-month effort that culminated in this week’s launch of free weekly coronavirus surveillance testing of all students, teachers, and staff in the rural district. The cargo she was rushing to a Cambridge lab held specimens from the 713 people who showed up throughout the day to have nasal swabs taken at four outdoor testing stations set up outside the town’s combined middle-high school building."

Continue reading the article

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/state-launching-weekly-school-covid-testing-initiative/

Gov Baker's press conference on Thursday, Jan 7 announcing the new testing plan

https://youtu.be/rHWX0Ml53-M

The press release with details on the new testing plans for schools (and limited funding for this)

https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-pooled-testing-initiative-for-massachusetts-schools

New MA interactive dashboard for COVID-19 reporting  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting

Town of Franklin (MA) COVID-19 status per new MA dashboard

MA hospital capacity per MA COVID-19 dashboard

"About 15% of adults in America report hearing loss, and about 1 million use sign language to communicate"

Enabling access to information for all is key.

"Saamanta Serna describes herself as a Coda – the child of a Deaf adult. She grew up up with a Deaf mother and a father who is hearing and an American sign language (ASL) interpreter, and later decided to pursue interpreting herself after high school.

Now a certified ASL interpreter, Serna has done frequent in-person interpreting for medical appointments during Covid. She has also noticed a change in the world’s perception of sign language since the beginning of the pandemic: more people are paying attention.

Conveying updated information to everyone in the time of Covid is a matter of life or death, as the Trump administration learned recently after losing a groundbreaking federal lawsuit to the National Association for the Deaf, which ensured that a sign language interpreter must be present in Covid briefings and visible on the live feed from the White House. The Trump White House did not include its first sign language interpreter on a Covid briefing until 11 November, a full nine months after the pandemic reached America."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jan/07/deaf-asl-interpreters-pandemic

 

An article on Rupert Dubler who has been seen at many of Gov Baker's press conferences https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/04/17/rupert-dubler-asl-interpreter-baker

 

ASL interpreters (like Rupert Dubler) are present for Gov Baker's press conferences

CommonWealth Magazine: "Baker did not commit to rolling back reopening phases"

From CommonWealth Magazine we share two articles of interest for Franklin: 

"AS THE SURGE of COVID-19 cases continues statewide, Gov. Charlie Baker announced new measures to expand testing and keep hospital beds open.   

Baker was visibly angry as he discussed the need to increase testing and stem the virus’s spread, saying that the state’s positive test rate “took off like a rocket,” because some people ignored public health recommendations and gathered with others outside of their households indoors and without masks over Thanksgiving.  

“We’ve been saying for months this is one of the primary ways the virus spreads, and we talked a lot about why Thanksgiving was particularly worrisome,” Baker said at a Monday briefing. He said he had a weekend call with mayors, some of whom shared frustration at seeing neighbors hold indoor gatherings without mask wearing.  

“Thanksgiving, the ultimate informal gathering among people who are informal with each other, but who don’t necessarily live with each other here and in many other places, has been exactly the kind of event that people said it would be,” Baker said. He added that he hasn’t shared a meal with his own father since February.  "

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health-care/baker-announces-expanded-testing-limits-on-elective-surgery/

Gov Baker's press conference that lead to the article can be viewed here   https://youtu.be/s04QGn97BG8

Franklin, MA: Police Dept - 2020 Media Release, Spruce Pond

On Sunday October 11, 2020 at approximately 12:49pm the Franklin Police Department through the Metacomet Emergency Communication Center (MECC) received a 911 call reporting a male party experiencing a mental health crisis in the Spruce Pond Condominium complex. The caller also advised that the individual was armed with a handgun, threatening harm to himself, and anyone who approached.

Initial responding Franklin Police officers set up a perimeter and made initial contact with the party. Additional resources, including the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council’s (Metro- LEC) SWAT team were also called to the scene.

During the incident, the male party fired a multiple rounds from a handgun striking the armored truck containing the SWAT officers. Because of the availability of this kind of armored equipment, the SWAT team did not return fire with the subject.

Swat officers were then able to engage the subject from inside the armored vehicle utilizing 40mm less than lethal munitions, Taser, and a K9 team. The subject was taken into custody while still in possession of the firearm. The subject is being treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and will undergo a mental health evaluation.

One Metro-LEC SWAT officer was struck by the ricochet of a round fired by the subject. The officer thankfully was not injured and did not require further treatment.

We are thankful that this incident ended without the loss of any life. It also serves as a reminder that incidents of this type can happen anywhere, and at any time. Officers need the tools available to them to be able to respond safely, with the goal always being the preservation of all life.

At this time the investigation is ongoing. Information on potential criminal charges will be available at the conclusion of the investigation.

Chief Thomas J. Lynch stated “I am proud of the response of my officers, and the Metro- LEC team, the professionalism of all involved, and the incredible restraint shown. Results like this are not always possible but are what we strive for.” Lynch continued “We need to continue training all of our officers and must always provide them with the tools and equipment they need to do their jobs.”

The Franklin Police Department wishes to thank all our law enforcement, and fire department partners that assisted us today with this tense situation.

 

Shared from Franklin Police  https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/2020-media-release-spruce-pond

Franklin, MA: Police Dept - 2020 Media Release, Spruce Pond

Joint Statement from Senate President Spilka, Senator Brownsberger and Senator Chang-Díaz on Today’s Actions

The following is a joint statement from Senate President Karen E. Spilka, Senator Sonia Chang- Díaz, and Senator William Brownsberger:

"The Senate is going to stay focused on what we set out to do with this bill: protect the lives of our Black and brown residents from systemic racism and institutionalized violence. We know that these conversations are difficult, and the actions we're called to take will not be easy, but it is our responsibility to begin to respond to the voices who have called on us to make these changes. 

We welcome further discussion on the very important provisions of this bill—and the right way to do that is to proceed with debate on the bill and its amendments. We hold fast to our commitment to respond to calls for greater equity, justice and fairness—now, with the Reform, Shift + Build Act, and in the future with subsequent legislation."

The press release and fact sheet for the Reform, Shift + Build Act released earlier this week

• press release

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1179Pej1JZPAZQmWiX4iCIMuFy7Q8cPZd/view?usp=sharing

• fact sheet

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16YyJdQLp5kQDXUcZZh5YB-jMwY0B32ec/view?usp=sharing

"to keep people alive and to keep our health care system from getting so overwhelmed"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"A trio of executive orders Gov. Charlie Baker signed Thursday aims to expand the health care system’s capacity and ensure access to COVID-19 treatment, including in field hospitals.

The actions come almost one month into a state of emergency as the latest step preparing for a surge in infections and hospitalizations that could arrive as soon as Friday. At his daily press conference, Baker also discussed new details about a South Boston field hospital and the state’s ongoing quest to obtain ventilators.

Baker said the state heard from the federal government last night that it will receive an additional 100 ventilators, and Boston Children’s hospital is making a “wonderful donation” of five ventilators. So far, Massachusetts has received 100 ventilators of the 1,700 it’s requested from the national stockpile.

“Obviously, we continue to be focused on the pursuit of ventilators through other means and other channels as well,” he said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200409/new-orders-aim-to-attract-staff-for-covid-19-surge


The full press release and link to the update as recorded live on Thursday can be found
https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-field-medical-station-details-new-support-for-health

"to keep people alive and to keep our health care system from getting so overwhelmed"

Franklin Police: Media Release - Stewart Street Update

As a result of an investigation which started on 3/15/2017 at 84 Stewart Street the Franklin Police Department has submitted a complaint to the Wrentham District Court. A criminal summons has issued against Paul D. Therieau, resident of that address for the following violations of Massachusetts General Law:

• 94C/32A/E; Manufacturing of a Class B drug, methamphetamine
• 94C/32A/G; Possession with intent to distribute a Class B drug, methamphetamine
• 94C/32A/G; Possession with intent to manufacture a Class B drug, methamphetamine
• 274/6; Attempt to manufacture a Class B drug, PCP
• 274/6; Attempt to manufacture a Class A drug, GHB
• 274/6; Attempt to manufacture a Class B drug, MDMA
• 274/6; Attempt to manufacture a Class B drug, Barbiturates
• 94C/32/C; Possession of a Class B drug, Phenyl 2 Propanone (P2P)

http://www.franklinma.gov/police-department

At this time an investigation is still ongoing, and additional charges may result after findings from laboratory testing. The Franklin Police Department would like to thank our partners at the Franklin Fire Department, Massachusetts State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Clandestine Laboratory for their assistance with this investigation.

The information contained in this press release does not imply listed individuals have been convicted in a court of valid jurisdiction of the crimes for which they were charged or arrested. All individuals are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty by a court with proper jurisdiction over the matter(s) for which they were charged or arrested.



You can also find this information on the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/2017_media_release_therieau.pdf

Franklin Police: Robbery Press Release

Franklin Police Detectives are still working all leads in this robbery investigation. Female victim was surprised by lone male with a handgun while exiting her car in the driveway. Male suspect brandished firearm at victim and demanded cash, victim gave cash from her pocketbook and suspect male fled down Forest Street on foot. Franklin Patrol Units were in close proximity when call of robbery received and closed off immediate area to allow for Franklin K-9 search. 

As a precaution elementary schools in the area were put on administrative lockdown. K-9 search of the area had negative results. Canvass of residents in the area provided limited detail. Case actively being investigated. We are thankful that no one was hurt during this incident. 

If you have any information at all we strongly urged you to call the Franklin Police Department Tip Line @ 508-440-2780, leave an email @ tips@franklinpolice.com or speak to a law enforcement officer you know and trust. 

Thank you. 

Chief Stephan Semerjian
911 Panther Way
Franklin, MA 02038
ssemerjian@franklinpolice.com
508-528-1212 ext. 2709 

“Service for One Service for All”
Fairness, Compassion, Integrity

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Franklin Police Station - 911 Panther Way

The Milford Daily News article posted for the Friday paper can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/06/a-standard-safety-procedure.html

Franklin Public Schools: Press Release update

The following update was received this afternoon from the Superintendent of Schools, Maureen Sabolinski:

Horace Mann - Oak St complex

You can also download a copy here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczdDc2RWMzTlgxMXgzNEJaSmNUVUppa0pVYjFj/view?usp=sharing


The original press release can be found here:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/04/franklin-public-schools-press-release.html

Franklin Public Schools: Press Release 4/15/15

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello

Late this afternoon we received a press inquiry about a complaint file with DCF by a Franklin parent. Please see attached press release. As this is a matter of confidentialty for the student and staff we are unable to comment further.


File attachments:





You can also view the Press Release file here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczM0ZYcWc3T1ZxLU9idWhiblZLeVgxY2xpUFVF/view?usp=sharing


This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message.