Lyme Disease FB page

The Lyme Disease Study Committee has created its own Facebook page (click here) to share all the information it puts together and collects on protecting oneself from and preventing Lyme Disease.  Join the Facebook page to let ongoing information posts and best practices about dealing with this major health problem in our town.

Additionally, Carolyn Sampson found two really useful videos on Lyme Disease issues through the Massachusetts DPH, that the Committee recommends to people.

• protect yourself from tick bites
• keep ticks away from your yard

The Committee welcomes new members, if anyone is interested in working on Lyme Disease issues in Medfield.

Finally, below are the minutes of the Committee’s 5/19/14 meeting:

Town of Medfield Lyme Disease Citizen Study Committee

Meeting Minutes – Monday, May 19, 2014 – 7:00 pm

Attendees: Chris Kaldy (Chair), Frank Perry, Barry Mandell, Erica Reilly, Carolyn Samson, Pete Peterson, new member Michelle Dever Whelan
Minutes – reviewed meeting minutes from Apr 16.

Controlled Hunt – looking toward next fall

Frank is planning to attend the ConComm meeting on June 5 to request permission to hunt on their lands again next fall and about posting signage. He is searching for the best pricing for purchasing tree stands (“committee stands”) and possibly trail cameras with the balance of our budget. These will be set in strategic locations and used by multiple people. Chris completed the pamphlet on deer management though waiting to hear back from Mass Wildlife for permission to use their name as a supporter. Will give copies to Frank and post in Town Hall and on website. Pete will send to legislators. Discussed next fall’s preparation of permits and orange hunting season signs that need rewording. Frank reported he still has many of the Tick Warning signs available. Wheelock needs reposting.

(Per Barbara Roth, the bill to allow Sunday hunting has gone to the Ways & Means Committee and will be voted on around early June. Passage is for the 2015-hunting season.)

Actions:

• Frank & Barry to make supply purchases for next season.
• Frank to ask ConComm for permission to post land at June 5 meeting.
• Chris to print pamphlets once MWL gives permission and post in Town Hall & on website.
• Pete to send a letter to our state reps & senator (Garlick, Dooley, Timilty and Richard Ross of Wrentham) with our pamphlet, asking them to sponsor legislation to reduce the setback law.
• Nancy to contact Dan Wolff about supplying schools with his new device.

Tick & Lyme Education / Website

Discussed how to reach more people. Also would like to publish articles with stories about people, prevalence rates, carditis and other angles. Chris found the cost to put an insert in the Hometown Weekly to be $220 plus the cost of printing 4500 pieces to total about $560. Concern with this method is it’s a one-time household hit and many people throw out the inserts without looking or just throw the paper out. Other ideas discussed – putting in water/sewer bill, Cable 8, Facebook, and Twitter.

Chris reported that the CDC has published new materials and offers public service announcement feeds as well as a new clinician CME study course on Lyme. Also the Mass Dept of Public Health is redesigning its educational materials for tick-borne disease awareness and prevention. Chris said that she learned from Barbara Roth in Dover that they found point of purchase dispensers with tick cards most effective of all educational efforts in Dover.

• Erica to start a Facebook account for us.
• Carolyn will look at public service information options available via MDPH and/or CDC and contact Cable 8 about airing them.
• Chris to buy small plastic dispensers for tick cards and take to local vendors to put at points of purchase.
• Erica to contact Medfield Patch to publish article.
• Xxx to ask library to consider posting information again on their bulletin board.
• Erica to bring tick warning signs to Park & Rec new director.

Other:

1. Spraying fields – Michelle brought up spraying the playing fields in town. Park & Rec voted down spraying McCarthy. Michelle says that Memorial was sprayed last year.

• Michelle to contact Superintendent about how to go about getting this done.
• Michelle to find out who sprayed Memorial School.
• Erica to find out why P&R didn’t spray McCarthy.
• Carolyn to find out who manages Wheelock fields.

2. Budget – new budget starts on July 1.

Next Meeting: Monday, June 23, 2014 in the Warrant Meeting Room at Town Hall, 7 pm

Submitted by Chris Kaldy