St. Mary's Elementary School in Taunton Evacuated
Manhole Fire Interrupts 'Crazy Hat Day'

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Book Signing for Local Writer Norma Pimenta Saturday 
Twice Upon A Time Books Hosts "Smiling Eyes, A Cheerleading Coach's Personal Victory" Author

Who: Local Author Norma Pimenta
What: Book Signing
Where: Twice Upon A Time Books - 222 Center St., Middleboro, MA (508) 947-6885
When: Saturday, January 31, 2009 - 12noon to 1pm

Click here for more info

"Smiling Eyes, A Cheerleading Coach's Personal Victory"

Annual Special Olympics Ten-Pin Assessment Round a Great Success
220 Special Olympic bowlers compete, earn awards

Taunton, MA - On Sunday, January 25, Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) hosted a crowd of more than 500 ten-pin bowling athletes, volunteer coaches, family members and spectators at the AMF Lanes in Taunton for the 2009 SOMA South Section Ten-Pin Assessment Round. This day-long competition showcased Special Olympics athletes-adults and children with intellectual disabilities-of all ages and ability levels in a fun, festive environment.

Sean McInnes, 30, and Andy Maynard, 27, of the Special Olympics Massachusetts/Greater Taunton team take a breather in between games at the Special Olympics South Section Ten Pin Bowling Tournament held Sunday at AMF Taunton Lanes.

The 220 ten-pin bowlers from southeastern Massachusetts required that the competition to be split into two sessions. The Opening Ceremonies prior to both the morning and afternoon sessions each featured a SOMA athlete singing the national anthem. SOMA athlete Julie Lynch from the Greater New Bedford Program sang to kick off the morning session, with athlete Jerry Smith from the Cape-based Sunshine Capers team handling the duties for the afternoon session.

During Sunday's assessment round, each athlete or team bowled three games apiece. The competition consisted of both "traditional" individual bowling, in which all athletes are intellectually disabled, and "UnifiedR" team bowling. A Unified team is made up of two athletes and two Unified partners (non-disabled teammates) competing together as a team against other Unified teams.

Following the completion of each division's play, each athlete and Unified partner was awarded an assessment round ribbon for their weeks of training, as well as their participation in the day's competition.

The SOMA South Ten-Pin Assessment Round is designed as a mid-season competition in which athletes' ability levels are assessed in order to ensure fair competition match-ups (i.e. divisioning) at the SOMA Winter Games, the season-ending statewide tournament. The 2009 SOMA Winter Games will be held in Worcester, MA on February 28 and March 1. The renowned Special Olympics gold, silver and bronze medals are reserved for the Winter Games.

Prospective athletes, volunteers, donors and sponsors interested in becoming involved in or learning more about Special Olympics should contact Jay O'Brien at 508-821-3635 or jay.obrien@specialolympicsma.org.

Barbara Leary of Taunton aims for a strike during "Unified" team play at Sunday's Special Olympics South Section Ten Pin Bowling Tournament in Taunton. A Unified team is made up of two Special Olympics Athletes and two Unified Partners (non-disabled teammates) competing together as a team against other Unified teams.

Al & Sons Painting

Taunton – In an age of the family business going by the wayside, it’s nice to know that a family business operating for more than 50 years is not only surviving, but thriving.

(Top to bottom) Peter Cravenho, Steve Cravenho and Michael Cravenho

That’s the case of Al & Sons Painting. The business began back in 1959 when Al Cravenho began painting homes and businesses in the Greater Taunton area. He apparently did it pretty well and the business grew. Al’s son, Steve entered the business learning from his father and the business continued its steady growth.

"I think we were successful because we treated our customer’s homes and businesses like they were ours," said Steve Cravenho. "We always treated our customers like they were family," added the now "senior" member of Al & Sons Painting crew.

"We’ve now got a third generation of Cravenho’s involved in the business," said Steve. "My sons, Peter and Michael work side by side with me on many projects, just like I worked with my Dad."

Al & Sons Painting can be reached at (508) 822-6639.

Morton Hospital Partners with Local Radio to Offer Health Education Program

January 24, 2009 –Taunton, MA – Morton Hospital will sponsor "Medical Minutes" on WVBF 1530 AM’s "Hometown Talk" morning show with Tony Lopes, beginning the week of Monday, January 26. The 60-second segments, which will be aired at approximately 8:15 a.m., will feature health tips from the Hospital and its staff on topics ranging from eating healthy and eliminating stress, to stroke awareness.

In addition to receiving beneficial information, viewers will have opportunities to receive free giveaways relating to various topics.

"’Hometown Talk’ is a program that many local residents turn to for news and entertainment," said Julie Weisskirchen, Morton Hospital Public Affairs Coordinator. "We think this is a perfect opportunity for us to build and maintain community relationships, while at the same time offering helpful advice."

Annual Special Olympics Ten-Pin Assessment Round
to Be Held in Taunton

January 23, 2009 - Taunton, MA - On Sunday, January 25, Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) will be hosting a crowd of more than 500 ten-pin bowling athletes, volunteer coaches, family members and spectators at the AMF Lanes in Taunton for the 2009 SOMA South Section Ten-Pin Assessment Round. This day-long competition will showcase Special Olympics athletes-adults and children with intellectual disabilities-of all ages and ability levels in a fun, festive environment.

The large number of ten-pin bowlers from southeastern Massachusetts-260 are pre-registered-requires the competition to be split into two sessions.

The Opening Ceremonies prior to both sessions will feature a SOMA athlete singing the national anthem. SOMA athlete Julie Lynch from the Greater New Bedford Program will sing to kick off the morning session, with athlete Jerry Smith from the Cape-based Sunshine Capers team handling the duties for the afternoon session.

During Sunday's assessment round, each athlete or team is scheduled to bowl two games apiece. The competition itself will consist of both "traditional" individual bowling, in which all athletes are intellectually disabled, and "UnifiedR" team bowling. A Unified team is made up of two athletes and two Unified partners (non-disabled teammates) competing together as a team against other Unified teams.

The SOMA South Ten-Pin Assessment Round is a mid-season competition in which athletes' ability levels are assessed in order to ensure fair competition match-ups (i.e. divisioning) at the SOMA Winter Games, the season-ending statewide tournament. The 2009 SOMA Winter Games will be held in Worcester, MA on February 28 and March 1. The renowned Special Olympics gold, silver and bronze medals are reserved for the Winter Games.

"This is the largest annual Special Olympics bowling event in southeastern Massachusetts, and our pre-registered numbers indicate it may turn out to be the largest we've ever held in this part of the state," said Megan Benevides, SOMA's Associate South Section Director.

Prospective athletes, volunteers, donors and sponsors interested in becoming involved in or learning more about Special Olympics should contact Benevides at 508-821-3635 or megan.benevides@specialolympicsma.org.

Taunton Men Victims of Home Invasion

January 22 - Taunton Police are investigating after a city homeowner comes home to find his home ransacked, and the suspects still inside.

Click Here to See Story

Raynham Varsity Sports Today
January 21, 2009

3:00PM Boys Varsity Swimming Silver Lake Regional H.S.
3:00PM Girls Varsity Swimming Silver Lake Regional H.S.
3:30PM Boys Varsity Winter Track @ Attleboro High School
3:30PM Girls Varsity Winter Track @ Attleboro High School
5:00PM Boys Varsity Ice Hockey Attleboro High School
6:30PM Girls Varsity Basketball Marshfield High School
7:00PM Boys Varsity Wrestling @ Barnstable High School
7:00PM Girls Varsity Gymnastics @ Plymouth South H.S.

3:30PM Boys Varsity Wrestling @ Norwell High School
5:00PM Girls Varsity Basketball @ Diman Reg Vo-tech High School

This Week on Talking Taunton Live - WSAR 1480 AM

RaynhamWeb.com's own Lyn Pelletier will be the guest on this week's Talking Taunton with George Colajezzi on WSAR 1480 AM from 2-3pm.

As one of the founders of The Call (Newspapers) Group, Lyn is now changing the way we get news and information online!

Find out about this exciting new venture and how it will keep us better informed about the people, places and things in the Greater Taunton area.

Call Lyn during the show at 508.673.1480 with your questions and comments!

Talking Taunton broadcasts live every Thursday afternoon 2-3pm from Runes Cafe in downtown Taunton.

Tune in to WSAR 1480 AM or listen live online at: www.wsar.com.

Only on the legendary 5,000 watts
WSAR 1480 AM
News . Talk . Sports

Business After Hours at Roseland Function Hall

The cost to attend this event is $5 for Chamber Members and $10 for Non-Members. Register by calling the Taunton Chamber of Commerce at 508-824-4068.

    LOCAL NEWS

Teen Attacked, Stabbed Outside Taunton Ice Rink
Police: Suspect forced girl to drive about 1 mile

CO-OP Launches New Website

January 19, 2009 - N. Dighton – We have all heard the phrase, "Good things come to those who wait." After months of work and planning, the new CO-OP website is up and running.

CO-OP kicks off the New Year with its new website at www.co-op.cc.

"Early reviews have been very complimentary," said Bill Corbett, president and C.E.O. of the non-profit disability organization. "The improvements were designed to give viewers an easy, navigable profile of CO-OP and our many services. It’s a useful tool for anyone interested in who we are and what we do."

Corbett added that a "special thanks" goes out to Ms. Eva Gaffney, a member of CO-OP‘s board of directors who oversaw the project. He also acknowledged the "fantastic job" by Andy Larrimore who created the site.

Check out CO-OP’s new website at www.co-op.cc.

Dramatic details released on plane crash into the Hudson

The wreckage of US Airways Flight 1549 was lifted from the waters of the Hudson River in lower Manhattan
late Saturday. (Michael Appleton for The New York Times)

By Matthew L. Wald and Al Baker
Sunday, January 18, 2009
New York - Just seconds after the first officer of US Airways Flight 1549, leaving La Guardia Airport in New York and bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, pointed the nose of his jet into the sky, he noticed birds on the right side - "in a perfect line formation."

The plane's captain, who had been busy watching the cockpit instruments, managing the radios and looking at charts, then looked up.

The windscreen, he told investigators, was filled with birds. The plane was going at least 250 miles an hour, or 400 kilometers per hour. The captain's first instinct, he said, was to duck. [more]

Precautions for Extreme Cold Weather

Before an Extreme Cold Emergency

• Continue to be aware of the weather conditions by monitoring media reports.

• Ensure you have sufficient heating fuel, as well as emergency heating equipment in case you lose electricity.

• Have a well-stocked Winter Home Emergency Supply Kit that includes flashlights, portable radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water and non-perishable food.

• Make sure your car is properly winterized.  Keep the gas tank at least half-full.  Carry a Winter Survival Kit in the trunk including blankets, extra clothing, flashlight with spare batteries, a can & waterproof matches (to melt snow for drinking water), non-perishable foods, windshields scraper, shovel, sand, towrope and jumper cables.

During an Extreme Cold Emergency

• Minimize outside activities, particularly the elderly and very young.  Also consider your pets.

• Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, rather than a single layer of heavy clothing.  Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.

• Wear a hat, mittens (rather than gloves) and sturdy waterproof boots, protecting your extremities.  Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs. [more]

Circuit City to Liquidate After Sale Efforts Fail

By Michael de la Merced
Published: January 16, 2009
Circuit City Stores announced Friday that it will liquidate, as the long-embattled electronics retailer failed to sell itself or refinance its debt. Circuit City, based in Richmond, Va., has become the latest in a growing line of retailers to shutter completely, as the recession weighs down on consumers’ appetite for everything from clothes to pricey flat-screen [...]

US AirWays Pilot: "Brace for Impact"
Crash Survivors Tell Their Stories

Morton Hospital Offers Specialized Testing for Asthma
and Other Lung Diseases

TAUNTON, MA – January 16, 2009 – Morton Hospital and Medical Center announces the availability of Plethysmography services to diagnose lung and breathing problems. The body plethysmograph, a unique, pulmonary function testing device, allows physicians to more accurately and effectively measure patient lung capacity and volume.

For more information about the body plethysmograph or Morton Hospital and Medical Center, call 508-828-7985, or visit www.mortonhospital.org.

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