“Day-care provider in Auburn shaken baby case faces weekends in jail ... - Syracuse Post-Standard” plus 4 more

Day-care provider in Auburn shaken baby case faces weekends in jail ... - Syracuse Post-Standard
KATH's timely intervention saves baby's life - GhanaHomePage
Fifty-eight Years Ago I Was a Forceps Baby - Salon
Parents and kids: Sept. 23 - Abington Mariner
Baby found in bag at hospital - WAVY News 10

Day-care provider in Auburn shaken baby case faces weekends in jail ... - Syracuse Post-Standard

Posted: 22 Sep 2009 02:23 PM PDT

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KATH's timely intervention saves baby's life - GhanaHomePage

Posted: 22 Sep 2009 02:31 PM PDT

Kumasi, Sept. 22, GNA - The timely intervention by the Management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has helped to save the life a two-year-old baby girl. The hospital picked the bill for the toddler and a medical team to be air-lifted to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) for emergency surgery.

She had gone into distress after a grain of corn she was eating got stuck in her airway, resulting in severe respiratory difficulties. Doctors at the hospital put her on a ventilator, resuscitated and stabilize her before airlifting her to the KBTH last week Sunday for the emergency surgery.

Mr Kwabena Sanseh, the 30-year-old father of the baby girl from Derma in the Brong Ahafo region, told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi that, there was no way his child would have survived without the kind and quick intervention by KATH authorities. "My baby was breathless and almost at the point of death but doctors at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) worked round the clock to revive her and accompanied her and my wife to Accra all at the expense of the hospital." Mr Sanseh said the baby-girl is now doing very well and had been discharged from the Korle-Bu. He expressed his deepest appreciation to the management and doctors of KATH for the medical attention and humanitarian support, without which, he would have lost his child.

Professor Ohene Adjei, Acting Chief Executive of KATH, told the GNA that, a medical team led by a doctor had to accompany the baby because she was in a life-threatening situation and had to be put on respiratory support and monitored throughout the flight.

The management of the hospital paid for the cost because it would have been too dangerous and risky to have conveyed her in an ambulance given her unstable condition, the nature of the Kumasi-Accra Highway and the time it would have taken to cover the distance. Professor Ohene Adjei commended the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Anaesthesia units of KBTH for the efficient manner they dealt with the emergency.

He also thanked the National Ambulance Service (NAS) which provided an ambulance to convey the team from the Kotoka International Airport to the KBTH.

"The co-ordination between our medical team and that of the NAS and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital was simply impressive and it is my hope that we will continue to collaborate in the years ahead to save lives", Professor Ohene Adjei noted.

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Fifty-eight Years Ago I Was a Forceps Baby - Salon

Posted: 22 Sep 2009 09:59 AM PDT

"Complications during child birth, such as a large baby, a breech position, or prolonged labor, sometimes require the use of forceps to safely deliver the baby. However, if proper medical procedures are not followed while using forceps, birth injuries such as nerve or brain damage can result. Forceps use in childbirth is permissible when the baby appears to be in fetal distress, when the mother is having trouble pushing, or when the positioning of the baby in the birth canal is incorrect. The structure of the forceps allow them to clamp on the sides of the baby's head, giving the doctor a steady grip but also putting the baby at risk for damage if the procedure is performed improperly.

"If done correctly, a forceps delivery can save the baby's life or prevent it becoming severely hypoxic, or oxygen deprived. If an infant goes without oxygen for too long, severe and permanent brain damage can occur. Likewise, use of forceps might be the only way to deliver the child or protect its head because of improper positioning. Because of the vulnerability of a baby's skull, it is extremely important to care for the head. If a doctor does not take necessary steps to shelter the skull, brain damage can result.

"Conversely, forceps delivery can also hurt the baby, sometimes permanently. Some degree of force is always employed in forceps delivery so risk is inherent in the procedure. Specific dangers include facial nerve damage, skull fractures, and cerebral palsy. Babies are not the only parties at risk for complications during forceps births. Mothers face increased risks for lacerations, urinary tract infections, and rectum injuries.

"The most severe risks of forceps deliveries to babies include facial nerve damage and cerebral palsy. With facial nerve damage, permanent facial asymmetry may occur, especially evident when the child laughs or cries. Cerebral Palsy develops when damage to the cerebrum of the brain occurs, resulting in motor control difficulties. Although it is a non-progressive disorder, meaning the brain damage does worsen with age, there is no known cure. Cerebral Palsy is considered the second most expensive developmental disability to manage over the course of a lifetime, with the average lifetime cost nearing about $921,000. Its exact cause is not known but it is almost always linked with birth trauma, including improper forceps delivery, as well as hypoxia, premature birth, multiple births, and certain infections in the mother both before and after birth" (Devine, Joseph, "Forceps Delivery Birth Injuries," ezinearticles.com)

I was a ten-pound baby with wide shoulders and my doctor had to use forcepts to pull me out; however, he was skilled enough to do it without causing much damage. "Forceps used with delivery can leave temporary marks or bruises on the baby's face and head. Babies delivered by vacuum extraction may have some scalp bruising or a scalp laceration (cut)." I found this quote on the webpage of a lawyer who handles brain injury lawsuits. I did suffer some scalp bruising that eventually became a knot in the back of my head that sometimes gets abscesses on it now that I neutralize with Vitamin E oil.

The damage occurred on the part of my skull where the parietal lobe of the brain is located and has resulted in some minor vision and spatial problems.

"Organs such as ears and eyes may be working perfectly well, but the part of the brain which makes sense of incoming information from these sources may not be working properly. This gives rise to several different types of difficulty.

"Problems in judging distances, spatial relationships and orientation can mean, for example, that a person may bump into furniture that they have seen, but have misjudged where it is in relation to themselves.

"Sometimes a person will have a problem where one side of whatever they are looking at is not seen (visual neglect). A person may only eat half the food on their plate, or read only halfway the across the page. The ability to recognise something viewed from a different or unusual angle can be lost. This can also apply to sounds as well as vision.

"Building objects or drawing them from component parts such as coloured block may be very hard" (www.headway.org.uk).

I'm always bumping into furniture and cannot drive due to a lack of peripheral vision, but do not suffer from visual neglect or the more extreme deficits.

I credit my country physician, Dr. Wade, who delivered me in my grandparents' home with having no more damage to my skull than I have and no internal brain damage as a result of the forceps birth.

Working with intellectually disabled people for the past twenty-one years, I have seen numerous victims of brain damage caused by forceps births. While my "bump" can be a nuisance and those little abscesses hurt, I am so grateful that I was delivered by a doctor who knew what he was doing.

I will be 58 years-old Wednesday, September 23, and although I can't drive, I lead an otherwise normal life that is full of wonder, joy, love and adventure. I would never have had any of that were it not for Dr. Wade. The last time I saw him was when I had a medical exam before entering college in 1969, and he advised me to go into dentistry when I told him I was majoring in nursing.

That was good advice, but I left the medical profession at the first sight of a substantial amount of blood. I have no regrets. My first degree was in English and since then I've gotten a masters degree in education and a specialist degree in special education. Along the way, I've written plays, poems, songs, a novel, several curriculum guides, and a couple of spiritual guides.

It's been a great 58 years thanks to Dr. Wade.

Parents and kids: Sept. 23 - Abington Mariner

Posted: 22 Sep 2009 11:39 AM PDT

SPBA basketball signups

South Plymouth basketball signups will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at South Plymouth Elementary School. First through eighth grade only. This is on a first-come, first-served basis. There are only 80 spots available at each level. Any questions please visit spbahoops.com or e-mail info@spbahoops.com.

AD-IN of Plymouth

The next AD-IN meeting will be 7:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at PCIS. Guest speaker will be Dr. Fergus Moylan, Plymouth pediatrician, and the topic is "Exciting advances in the diagnosis and medical treatment of difficult children: the practical aspects of everyday pediatrics."

Nov. 6, guest Christine Blake, MEd, Clinical Director, REACH Educational Services, Plymouth, will speak on "Taking the mystery out of social skills instruction."

AD-IN meetings are usually held on a Friday, at 7:15 p.m., in the Little Theater at Plymouth Community Intermediate School, 117 Long Pond Road, Plymouth. To defray expenses, a $5 donation at the door is suggested. An annual family membership is available for $20. To confirm meetings, call 508-746-3959. The Attention Deficit Information Network Inc. is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization offering support and information to families of children with ADD, adults with ADD, and professionals through a network of AD-IN chapters. Contributions are appreciated and may be made to AD-IN of Plymouth and mailed to the treasurer at 42 Talia Way, Plymouth, MA 02360.

Coastsweep beach cleanup

Plymouth County Extension 4-H Volunteer Charles Chace and the Nature's Navigators 4-H Science Club of Middleborough will head up the Massachusetts Coastsweep beach cleanup event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 26, at Plymouth Harbor Beach, off Route 3A in Plymouth.

"We have responsibility for the entire area from the end of the jetty to Plymouth Rock, so we welcome any volunteer participants," Chace said. This is the Nature's Navigators seventh year participating in this beach cleanup. Anyone interested in helping with this project can e-mail the Nature's Navigators at Nature.Navigators@gmail.com. For more information on the Plymouth Harbor clean-up event, future 4-H community service activities, or how you can become involved in Plymouth County 4-H as a member or volunteer, call the Plymouth County Extension office at 781-293-3541, or e-mail plyctyext@mindspring.com.

Community Heroes at Edaville

Edaville USA, just off Route 58 in Carver, celebrates Community Heroes with a festival in their honor from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 26-27. Join in the fun with firefighters, police officers, paramedics, the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and many more. Show your appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis. In addition, two famous Super Heroes will be on hand, Spider-Man and Wolverine, to do meet-and-greets with the children and their families. There will also be seminars on safety and activities for the whole family, including, video viewing, 11 amusement rides, model train layout, play area, large indoor ball pit, fishing and rides on the historic train through an 1,800-acre operating cranberry plantation. Tickets for the Community Heroes Festival are $18 for ages 2 and up. This includes unlimited amusement park rides, train rides, Ellis' Playhouse and all attractions. Community Heroes Festival tickets are on advance sale at www.edaville.com. For general information visit www.edaville.com or call 508-866-8190.

Camp Rock

At 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, the Old Colony YMCA will kick off its monthly family night with a movie on the beach. Take your blankets and chairs and enjoy a movie outside, right on Camp Clark's waterfront at 200 Hedges Pond Road. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. For information call the YMCA office at 508-888-2290 or e-mail Stacy at sryan@oldcolonyymca.org.

Tickets for Polar Express

Tickets went on sale Sept. 16 for the Dec. 5 South Shore Polar Express. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be on sale the day of the event. As the train heads to the "North Pole," Chris Van Allsburg's story, The Polar Express, is read while passengers enjoy special treats. Once at the North Pole, Santa and his elves board the train and greet the children, collecting their Santa letters and listening to their special requests. Children and all the "young at heart" are encouraged to wear pajamas over their clothes. Children will find out the meaningful gift the boy in the story chooses, and will receive one as they leave the train.

The Plymouth Housing Authority and Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority host the holiday Magical Journey to the North Pole with four trips throughout the day Dec. 5, boarding at the Kingston MBTA commuter rail station at 11:45 a.m., 1:30, 4 and 7:10 p.m. Tickets are $20, cash and money orders only, and may be purchased at the Independence Mall in Kingston from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, starting Sept. 16, until sold out. For details call 508-746-2105, ext. 300. This is a fundraiser for the social services of the Plymouth Housing Authority.

Arc training series

Starting Sept. 17, the Arc of Greater Plymouth is pleased to host "Making the Transition from School to Work," a five-week training series for young adults with developmental disabilities ages 18-22 and their parents/caregivers. This series is presented by the Institute for Community Inclusion/UMass Boston and developed in collaboration with the Department of Developmental Services. It is free and made possible with support from the Massachusetts Medicaid Infrastructure and Comprehensive Employment Opportunities Grant (MI-CEO). The program runs from 6 to 8 p.m. starting Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Arc of Greater Plymouth office, 10 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 208. Dinner will be provided. For details call Amelia Robbins-Cureau, 617-287-4367, or e-mail Amelia.Robbins@umb.edu.

King Richard's Faire

King Richard's Faire, New England's largest and longest-running Renaissance Festival, will run for eight consecutive weekends until Oct. 25, including Columbus Day. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. King Richard's Faire is a vivid recreation of a 16th century English marketplace at festival time. Actors, dancers, puppeteers, jugglers, minstrels, mimes, magicians and musicians perform each weekend. Many new acts have been added to the list this year along with a jam-packed schedule of special events that encourages faire goers to join in the fun.

Special events are as follows: Sept. 26, Prince and Princess Costume Day; Oct. 3, Renew the Romance, Vow Renewal Ceremony; Oct. 10, Tattoo Contest; Oct. 24: Adult Halloween Costume. For more information visit www.kingrichardsfaire.net or call 508-866-5391. You can also visit King Richard's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/kingrichardsfaire.

Lighthouse Theatre workshop

Registration is now open for the Lighthouse Theatre's children/teen workshop production of A Christmas Carol. The workshop begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Beal House in Kingston. Space is limited. Students must preregister. For more information contact Eric Henderson or Karin Page at 508-747-6857.

PNBA signups

The Plymouth North Basketball Association announces signups for the 2009-2010 winter season. The league is open to boys and girls in grades 3-8. Signups will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 29, at the PCIS cafeteria on Long Pond Road. PNBA registration fees remain unchanged from last year, and include a membership to the Boys and Girls Club ($20 value.) Registration fees are $90 for one player, $150 for two players in same family, $175 for three players in same family.

The PNBA philosophy is to teach basketball fundamentals through skills clinics and balanced competitive games while having fun. Games are played at the Boys and Girls Club and Nathaniel Morton School. The season will start in November with Drills for Skills clinics at the Boys and Girls Club. During these clinics, each player's skills are assessed so that balanced teams can be selected based on players' ages and abilities. Games are played from December until March. Further information and registration forms can be found at www.pnhoops.com. Questions can be sent to webmaster@pnhoops.com.

Preventing ACL injuries

From 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Evolution Sports Performance, 30 Independence Road, Kingston, Plymouth Bay Orthopedic Associates, Jordan Hospital and Evolution Sports Performance will host a free educational seminar called Preventing ACL Injuries in Student Athletes. This seminar is designed to help athletic directors, trainers, coaches, parents and students learn ways to prevent ACL injuries. There will be presentations from three leading orthopedic surgeons from Jordan Hospital as well as a hands-on demonstration by two highly trained physical therapists. Each attendee will receive an ACL injury prevention guide and will be entered to win prizes including a free month of sports performance training. To register, call 800-2Jordan or 800-256-7326. Deadline to register is Sept. 25.

Climbing classes

The Arc of Greater Plymouth in cooperation with Lighthouse Fitness is pleased to offer eight-week indoor rock wall climbing classes for children and adults with developmental disabilities in a small group environment. The course is taught by Lighthouse Fitness staff of experienced climbers and covers the basics of safe climbing. The benefits of the Rockwall include building core strength, problem solving, overall sense of accomplishment and self confidence. Lighthouse Fitness is located at 10 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 243, Plymouth.

Classes are Sept. 30-Nov. 18; ages 8-18 from 5 to 6 p.m.; ages 19 and over from 6 to 7 p.m. Cost is $110 per session. For an additional $40 parent or caretakers may purchase a workout pass to exercise during rock wall classes.

The Arc of Greater Plymouth is a nonprofit organization serving individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in Plymouth and surrounding towns. For more information call Malissa Kenney, Director of Family Support, at 508-732-9292, ext. 29, or send e-mail to malissak@thearcofgp.com

Manomet Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts

Manomet Cub Scout Pack 51 includes Manomet Elementary School, Indian Brook Elementary School and St. Bonaventure's Church. If you have a son in first through fifth grade who is interested in becoming a Cub Scout, call Melissa at 508-224-1413.

Manomet Boy Scout Troop 51: If you have a son in grade 6 through 12 interested in Boy Scouting, call Melissa at 508-224-1413.

Curry College information session

Curry College invites all to a drop-in informational session at the Plymouth campus, 20 North Park Ave., from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. Advisors are available throughout the day to meet with you. No appointment necessary. Drop in at your convenience and learn about Curry's continuing education and graduate program. In addition learn about the eight-week, blended and weekend scheduling options, flexible transfer credit policy, and financial aid and registration processes. If you'd like, take copies of your college transcripts with you. Advisors will review them and provide you with an education plan that details what you have left to complete your studies.

For more information contact Curry College at 508-747-2424 or visit www.curry.edu/cegrad.

Mothers of Preschoolers group

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a nonprofit support group designed to nurture every mother with children from infancy through kindergarten. It's a group that "gets" moms, knowing the unique joys and challenges of this early season of mothering. MOPS is a place that exists to encourage, equip and develop every mother of young children to realize her potential. Members come from all walks of life, but share one desire, to be great moms. During your MOPS meeting, you can enjoy creativity, experience encouragement, hear community speakers, and "you" time, all while your child is lovingly cared for.

If you're ready to have community with other mothers of preschoolers in your area, take that next step and join the meeting from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, to learn more. The speaker this month is Sue West, a Family Educator at Jordan Hospital who has led many programs including Active Parenting, a program that helps parents face the special challenges of caring for toddlers 1 to 4.

Sue West will be speaking on "Encouraging the Challenging Toddler." Toddlers can be both a blessing and a handful all at the same time. She will help you look at how to encourage your toddlers to act appropriately while maintaining high self-esteem. This session is intended to give very specific methods of dealing with what many find to be a wonderful but challenging stage in parenting.

The meeting will take place at Plymouth United Methodist Church, 29 Carver Road, Plymouth. E-mail pumcMOPS@gmail.com for details or visit http://www.pumchurch.org.

4-H adult volunteers

Plymouth County Extension's 4-H youth program is looking for volunteers to lead 4-H Science and Technology Clubs. To introduce potential volunteers to the 4-H program, Plymouth County Extension will offer a series of volunteer informational sessions. 4-H volunteers are responsible for teaching youth, organizing 4-H Clubs, and scheduling 4-H Club meetings. The 4-H program is open to all youth ages 5 to 18. All 4-H clubs teach youth leadership, citizenship and life skills. What 4-H can teach youth is limited only by the imagination and creativity of their 4-H volunteer leader.

The 4-H volunteer information sessions scheduled for this summer are:

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, Plymouth County Farm Harvest Festival, Obery Street, Plymouth

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, D.W. Field Park Towerfest, D.W Field Park, Brockton

Plymouth County Extension requests that interested adults call the Extension office at 781-293-3541 or e-mail plyctyext@mindspring.com to preregister for the volunteer information session of their choice.

PSHS Booster Club road race

Plymouth South High School Booster Club will hold its first Sam Fry Memorial 5k Road Race (formerly the Frank Fanning Memorial 5k) at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4. Registration is at 8 a.m., starting time 9 a.m. and food and awards at 10 a.m. Starts and ends at the Cabby Shack restaurant, 30 Town Wharf, Plymouth. If you have any questions, call Cathy Ketterer at 508-889-9886 or e-mail kettras@comcast.net.

National Youth Science Day experiment

Youth from across Plymouth County are invited to participate from 6 to 8 pm. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the 4-H National Youth Science Day experiment, "Biofuel Blast," at the East Middleborough 4-H Clubhouse, 183 Thompson St., Route 105, Middleborough. Plymouth County Extension's 4-H Program will offer the experiment. Participants will learn about science and alternative energy through hands-on activities, and will have the opportunity to share their results with hundreds of thousands of other youth nationwide via the Internet. There is no cost to participate in the experiment, but preregistration is requested. In keeping with the 4-H philosophy of "learn by doing," the 4-H National Youth Science Day experiment is hands-on and only requires materials available at a local grocery store.

Plymouth County Extension's 4-H Program provides youth with the opportunity to learn about topics of their choice through hands on activities while teaching valuable life skills. All Plymouth County 4-H Clubs are led by CORI screened adults who volunteer their time and talents to benefit Plymouth County youth. To register for the 4-H National Youth Science Day experiment, or to learn how to become involved in Plymouth County 4-H as a member or volunteer, call the Plymouth County Extension office at 781-293-3541, or e-mail plyctyext@mindspring.com.

Special needs seminar

Plymouth Special Needs Parent Advisory Council is offering a seminar on "Inclusion" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, in the Plymouth North High School cafeteria. Participants will learn the philosophy of inclusion and inclusive classrooms. Essential components necessary to make inclusion successful will also be addressed. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss potential benefits for all students and teachers as well as challenges associated with creating successful inclusion classrooms and environments. RSVP appreciated to plymouthspedpac@yahoo.com or call Sue McDonough at 508-732-9111.

Moms Club

The Moms (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club will meet from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, in the Cedarville Community Room at the fire station, 2209 State Road, Plymouth, for a monthly social, plus a Halloween party. Take your little ones in their costumes for games, treats and fun.

The Moms Club of Plymouth is a local chapter of the International Moms Club (www.momsclub.org). It is a nonprofit support group for mothers who have chosen to stay at home to raise their children. It includes mothers of all ages, as well as those who work part time or out of their homes. Members believe that staying home to raise children is a fulfilling full-time job. The club offers many fun activities including monthly socials, playgroups, field trips, activity groups (book club, recipe club, walking group, and many more) and a Moms Night Out. Meetings are usually in the Cedarville Community Center on Route 3A in Plymouth (below the Cedarville Fire Station). For more information call Beth Doyle at 508-746-9811.

Haunted House

Old Colony YMCA will hold its fifth annual Haunted House at 200 Hedges Pond Road in Plymouth from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, and from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. The Fun House Maze of Terror is for ages 8 and up. Kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost is $5 per person. For more details e-mail Stacey at sryan@oldcolonyymca.org.

Old Colony YMCA Harvest Fest

The Old Colony YMCA will hold its first Harvest Fest, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, at Camp Clark, 200 Hedges Pond Road, Plymouth. Admission is free. Fun for the whole family. There will be carnival games, crafts, face painting, bouncy house, Camp Clark Maze, paint your own pumpkin and stuff your own scarecrow, and a petting zoo and pony rides. Food and drinks available. For more information call 508-888-2290.

West Elementary Frosty Village Holiday Fair

West Elementary School is looking for crafters and vendors for this year's Frosty Village Holiday Fair, to be held Nov. 13 and 14. Anyone interested should contact Jeannette Christensen at 508-747-5942 or jeannette7704@yahoo.com. The fair will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 13 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 14. There will be crafters/vendors, raffles and bake sale. Free admission.

South Plymouth Cub Scouts

South Plymouth Cub Scouts are now taking applications for boys going into the 1st through the 5th grade in the fall. Applications will be taken over the summer and throughout the year. Call Susan at 508-224-8806 to learn more about Scouting in your area. Make Scouting the best part of your son's young life.

Kids' films on PACTV

Viewers can enjoy the eight films that were created by budding filmmakers who participated in the PACTV Kids Summer Video Workshops this summer. The films will be shown on PACTV public access channel 13 (Comcast) and 43 (Verizon), at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturdays. The Kid's Summer Video Workshops were held for four weeks in July and August. Forty students in grades 5-9 from local schools participated in the program. The workshops were a collaboration between Plymouth Rock Studios, Plymouth Public Schools and PACTV. The workshops were held on location at the Plymouth waterfront, Plymouth North High School and at PACTV. The students learned how to write a script, operate a camera, operate a boom mike, act, create graphics and edit their films. The films were created entirely by the students.

WIC

WIC (Women, Infants and Children) is a nutrition program that provides health education, healthy food and other services free of charge to Massachusetts families who qualify. Its goal is to keep pregnant and breast-feeding women and kids under 5 healthy by providing nutrition consultations and vouchers to buy healthy food. The Plymouth WIC is located at 123-1 Camelot Drive. Call 508-747-4933 for information. There are also area offices in Middleboro 508-946-0632, Wareham 508-295-0056, Rockland 781-878-0669 and a new office in Marshfield 781-834-8980.

Jordan parenting classes

The Jordan Hospital, 275 Sandwich St., Plymouth, offers many parenting classes. Call 800-256-7326 to register (unless otherwise specified) or for information about any of the following classes:

·Active Parenting: A program that helps parents face the special challenges of caring for toddlers 1 to 4. Classes are scheduled on an as-needed basis. Call Sue West, 508-830-2929.

·Active Parenting of Teens: Classes are scheduled on an as-needed basis. Call Sue West at 508-830-2929.

·Breastfeeding class: Wednesdays, from 7 to 9 p.m.; preregister, $15.

·Breastfeeding support program: Mondays (except holidays) from noon to 2 p.m.; take your lunch and babies; registration is not required and there is no fee.

·Combining breastfeeding and working: Babies are welcome; preregister, $25.

·Your Baby Care class: Wednesdays, from 7 to 9 p.m.; preregister, $15 per couple.

·Refresher/VBAC childbirth class: Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m.; enroll a month prior to due date, $25.

·Prepared childbirth class: Mondays 7-9 p.m., Tuesdays 7:30-9:30 p.m.; a six-week series; should be started about eight weeks prior to due date; pre-register, $135; also offered at the Jordan Medical Building, 441 Route 130, Sandwich, Thursdays, 7-9 p.m.

·Intensive childbirth preparation weekend: One weekend per month, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; sign up and prepay, $150.

·Sibling class: Prepares brothers and sisters for birth of a new baby, Sunday from 4 to 5:30 p.m.; $25 per family; call to register.

·Infant massage: Four-class series in which you will learn step-by-step techniques, progressive routines and special methods to soothe and nurture your baby; meets Tuesdays from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (offered six times a year); $35 for the series; call for dates and times and to register.

·Parenting Birth to Birthday: A series of four classes; $20 for series or $5 per class; meets Mondays, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; register, call 508-830-2929.

·Parenting Your Toddler: A series of four classes; Thursdays, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; $20 for series or $5 per class; register, call 508-830-2929.

·Depression after delivery: Meets the second Thursday of each month, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., in the meditation room on the third floor; all new mothers and their families are welcome; call Gerri Piatelli at 781-837-4242.

·Grandparents program: Review of updated changes in childbirth and infant care for grandparents and grandparents-to-be, Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m., $40 per family; call to register.

Babysitting, home alone

These courses are held at the Jordan Hospital, 275 Sandwich St., Plymouth. Call Bette Antonellis at 508-830-2174 for details or to register:

·Babysitter safety training: For new and seasoned babysitters aged 11 1/2 and up, this six-hour program teaches about child development, child-care skills, basic first aid, how to handle emergencies and the responsibilities of a successful sitter. The fee is $40.

·Home Alone and Staying Safe: This is a course for children in grades 4 and 5. In this three-hour course, children will talk about their fears and find solutions to their concerns surrounding a variety of home-alone issues. They will learn about safety while traveling to and from school, phone and food safety, first aid and Heimlich, preventing emergencies and basic self-defense. The fee is $40.

Classes at Center for the Arts

Art classes for adults, children and teenagers are available at the Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St., Plymouth. For information call 508-746-7222 or visit www.plymouthguild.org.

Plymouth Family Network programs

The Plymouth Family Network (PFN) provides playgroups, story times, music classes, parent workshops and support to families with children under the age of four and expectant parents living in the town of Plymouth. All services and activities are free of charge through an Early Education and Care grant awarded to the Plymouth Public Schools. For information call 508-732-0166 or visit the play center at 91 Carver Road in West Plymouth Plaza. You can also visit www.plymouthschools.com and click on Family Resources.

Curry College in Plymouth

Curry College's Plymouth Campus of Continuing Education is at 20 North Park Ave. and offers undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs. To learn more call Curry College at 508-747-2424 or visit www.curry.edu.

Plymouth campus of Quincy College

The Plymouth campus of Quincy College is at 36 Cordage Park Circle, Plymouth, near the MBTA train station and on the GATRA bus line. Pick up a course catalog. Many courses offer a reduced tuition rate for high school students and those over age 65. Visit www.quincycollege.edu or call 508-747-0400 for information.

Head Start

South Shore Head Start and Child Care offers preschool and full-day childcare programs for children aged 2 years and nine months, to age 5. Head Start serves the South Shore from Hingham to the Cape. The Plymouth location is 196 South Meadow Road. Before and after kindergarten care is available for Plymouth children (only). You are eligible for Head Start if you live in one of the following towns: Plymouth, Marshfield, Kingston, Carver, Duxbury, Pembroke, Halifax, Hanover, Plympton, Scituate, Cohasset, Hingham or Norwell; if your family meets the income guidelines; your family exceeds the guidelines but your child has special needs; or if you have a foster child. Call Megan at 508-746-0333 for information.

Woodside School

The parenting education and support program at Woodside School and Community Resource Center, 34 Southers Marsh Lane, Plymouth, features small group discussions facilitated by Nancy Stearns, a certified parenting educator and co-director of the school. The parenting program has again been awarded a grant from the Children's Trust Fund. Each weekly meeting is free and focuses on topics of interest to parents of children from infancy through age 6. Call the school at 508-830-3384.

Holistic Moms

The Holistic Moms Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting moms with an interest in holistic health and green living. The Plymouth/South Shore chapter of the Holistic Moms Network holds monthly meetings on a variety of topics including organic food, breastfeeding, healthy lawn and garden care, and positive discipline. The chapter also offers a playgroup for moms with babies, preschoolers and older children. The local chapter welcomes moms, dads, grandparents and other family members from Plymouth, the South Shore and surrounding areas. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at the Plymouth Public Library, Fehlow Room, 132 South St., from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. For more information, contact Chapter leader, Juli Ford, at 617-733-1124 or by e-mail at juli@wholemomhealth.com. Web site: www.holisticmoms.org.

Parents of Twins Club meetings

The Plymouth Parents of Twins Club meeting location (September through June) will be Christ Church Parish, 149 Court St. Meetings are at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month. Meetings include guest speakers, group discussions, fun nights/vendor night, support. Activities include playgroups, family holiday parties, Meals on Wheels, field trips, clothing/equipment tag sale. Send e-mail to info@ppotc.org for more information, or sign up to receive a complimentary newsletter.

Hear Together

Hear Together is a new nonprofit support group for parents of children with all degrees of hearing loss in the greater Plymouth area. The group welcomes families of children with all degrees of hearing loss in Plymouth and the surrounding towns. Meetings are the first Monday of every month at 7 p.m. at Plymouth Family Network (PFN), 91 Carver Road, Plymouth (same plaza as Ocean State Job Lot). For more information call Ellen at 508-789-5797 or e-mail Cathy, cathleenguiliani@hotmail.com.

Donate books to charity

There are now two easy ways in Plymouth to donate your used books to a great cause. The Town of Plymouth has partnered with Got Books to place two drop-off donation and reuse containers for residents, businesses, schools, libraries, and other groups looking to contribute books they no longer have a use for. The bins will also accept CDs, DVDs, videos and audio books. The Got Books donation containers are located at the South Street (Plymouth) and the Beaver Dam Road (Manomet) transfer stations and both are open to all town residents. The South Street container is open every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Manomet container is available every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donating books is a great way to keep them out of the trash stream and give them a new life with someone who will treasure them as you once did. Books collected through these Got Books containers are sold in charity book sales to raise money for local nonprofits. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from these Got Books donation containers will benefit Plymouth's general town funds. Got Books is located at 35 Concord St., North Reading. For more information visit www.gotbooks.com or call 978-664-6555.

Old Colony YMCA

The Old Colony YMCA's Camp Clark is located at 200 Hedges Pond Road in the Cedarville section of Plymouth. For information, call 508-888-2290 or log onto www.oldcolonyymca.org.

Prom dresses

Becca's Closet of Plymouth is a nonprofit organization that provides formal attire to high school girls who otherwise would not be able to afford a prom, homecoming or semi-formal dress. Becca's Closet wants to make sure that all girls will look amazing on their special night. Girls needing a dress should call for an appointment and take a valid high school ID to the appointment. Becca's Closet is located at The Cleanist Dry Cleaner on Long Pond Road in Plymouth, right off Exit 5 (Route 3) near Friendly's Restaurant. Call 508-747-4622 and ask for Maureen, Adrianna or Caroline.

Plymouth public schools address all disabilities

It is the responsibility of the Plymouth Public School Department to identify any child who is a resident of Plymouth, who may have a disability, regardless of the severity of the disability. It is also the responsibility of Plymouth Public Schools to evaluate those students to determine which are eligible for special education or related services under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) or 603 CMR 28 (Massachusetts Special Education Regulations).

The Plymouth Public Schools are committed to locating children before their third birthday in order to provide early intervention services for children 3 and 4 years old. If you have questions or concerns regarding your child's development and would like to have him/her screened, call Mary Mello at 508-830-4347 for an appointment.

If you or your pediatrician believe(s) that your child should be evaluated to determine eligibility for special education services, please request this in writing. Include your child's name, address, date of birth and telephone number with a brief description of your concerns to the principal of your child's school. The telephone numbers are listed below.

Cold Spring Elementary, 508-830-4335

Federal Furnace Elementary, 508-830-4360

Hedge Elementary, 508-830-4340

Indian Brook Elementary, 508-830-4370

Manomet Elementary, 508-830-4380

Mount Pleasant Preschool, 508-830-4347

Nathaniel Morton Elementary, 508-830-4320

Plymouth Community Intermediate, 508-830-4450

Plymouth North High, 508-830-4400

Plymouth South High, 508-224-7512

Plymouth South Middle, 508-224-2725

South Elementary, 508-830-4390

West Elementary, 508-830-4350

Before and after school programs

The Old Colony YMCA Before School and After School programs accept registrations for ages 6 to 13 years old. The Y Kids Club programs offer homework support, fitness, arts and crafts, literacy, as well as incorporating the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility into these activities. The EEC licensed programs are a safe and fun place for your children to grow.

The programs are located in all the Plymouth elementary schools, as well as the Plymouth South Middle School. The Before School programs start at 7 a.m. and run until school begins (except Indian Brook, 7:30 a.m.), and the cost is $5 per morning. The After School programs are from dismissal until 6 p.m. daily, and the cost is $13 per afternoon. Plymouth South Middle has an After School program only. This program, which runs from dismissal until 6 p.m., costs $13 per day. There is a two-day minimum registration required for all programs.

The Old Colony YMCA also offers Before-and-After School programs in the towns of Carver, Kingston, Whitman, Hanson, Pembroke and Marshfield. These childcare programs are offered during school vacation weeks, early dismissals and summer vacations.

If you are interested in finding out about employment opportunities with the YMCA or to request information about any of its programs contact the office at 508-833-4796.

Learn to Skate

Learn to Skate Plymouth teaches basic ice skating skills to both beginners and advanced, ages 5 and up. Small classes with experienced instructors are offered. Learn to Skate has been teaching the children of Plymouth and surrounding towns for more than 30 years. The classes are owned and operated by Sidney Arnold and Margot Marino. For information on class times, or to register, call 508-746-5668, or 781-582-0006. For more details log on to www.learntoskateplymouth.com.

Scouts

South Elementary Cub Scouts

Open enrollment: Pack 1620 has been enrolling South Elementary boys since 1976. Camp, hike and learn survival skills from Eagle Scout leaders while serving your community. Grades 1-5. Call Rob at 508-224-8774 or e-mail mimimanson@aol.com.

Manomet and Indian Brook Cub Scouts

Manomet and Indian Brook Elementary Schools, boys grades 1-5, register now and join in the fun. Call 508-224-6183.

South Plymouth Cub Scouts

Applications are being taken for South Plymouth Cub Scouts. If you are a boy going into the first grade through fifth grade, now is the time to join. Call Susan at 508-224-8806.

Boy Scout Troop 51

Boy Scout Troop 51, Manomet, meets every Monday during the school year from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Indian Brook School. Any boy between the ages of 11 and 18 who is interested in scouting is welcome to attend. Call Mike Cavallo, Scoutmaster, at 508-833-6188.

Boy Scout Troop 9

If you are interested in scouting and outdoor adventure, Boy Scout Troop 9 West Plymouth is looking for you. Boys 11-17 years old are invited to check it out. Meetings are at West Elementary in Plymouth, 7 p.m. most Wednesdays throughout the school year. For more info contact Troop 9 committee chairman, Jack Gallant, at 508-830-3610.

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Baby found in bag at hospital - WAVY News 10

Posted: 22 Sep 2009 07:21 AM PDT

NORFOLK, Va. - A DePaul hospital security officer found a baby inside an unzipped storage-style bag Tuesday morning, a hospital spokesperson reported. The officer found the bag outside the hospital's atrium building after someone reported seeing a person leave the bag, according to Lynne Zultanky.

"Our security is a hero and the baby is alive and we are grateful," said Zultanky.

The baby boy was discharged from the hospital Tuesday afternoon and is now in the custody of Child Protective Services.

Zultanky said the report of the person leaving the bag came into security officers at 5:05 a.m. The security officer checked out the report and found the bag around 5:25 a.m. The baby was clothed and the bag also had blankets inside, Zultanky said.

The baby, who Zultanky said was a white male was taken to the emergency room to be checked out.

"It's unusual in the sense that it doesn't happen that much," said Dr. Joshpat Musapatike.

Dr. Musapatike was in the e.r.. when the baby was examined. Doctors are calling him "baby doe".

"The obvious danger to a baby dumped like that is the elements," added Dr. Musapatike. "It could be cold, it could be hot or the baby itself could have some medical problems."

Hospital officials say "baby doe" wasn't injured and is in good health. No one knows who left the him there, but doctors say it must have been tough to do.

"It is a difficult decision for them to have made, but my assumption they dumped the infant at a hospital so the infant can be cared for," said Dr Musapatike.

A pediatrician was also called in to do additional assessments of the child's condition and to determine the child's age.

While it is not illegal to leave an unharmed baby at a hospital or fire station under safe haven laws, the hosptial is working with Norfolk Police to provide investigators with security camera footage outside the Atrium. Police say they don't plan to charge anyone. Officers just want to know how "baby doe" got to the hospital.

Zultanky called the security officer a hero for making the discovery. "This was not the ideal situation to find a baby; if someone is going to leave a baby here, we would rather them physically hand the baby to a health care worker." Zultanky cited a similar case where a person handed the baby to a worker at DePaul years ago. "Fortunately, this was not a cold night," she added.

Currently all 50 states have a form of Safe Haven Law which permits a person -- usually a parent -- to abandon a newborn baby at a specified location such as a hospital, firehouse, or police station.

"If the baby is unharmed and left in that particular way, then obviously criminal charges can't be filed," said Karen Parker-Chesson with Norfolk Police.

Stay with WAVY.com and WAVY News 10 for more on this developing story.