Kathryn Czaplinski
/ Categories: NEWS, 2024

'Sasquatch Search' comes to Bennington Oct. 12

For Immediate Release:

BENNINGTON, VT—September 17, 2024—The Bennington Sasquatch Search, a fun, free, (and furry) family event, is coming to Bennington on Saturday, Oct. 12, 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the Stark Street Playground.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, has partnered with other community organizations and businesses to launch the Bennington Sasquatch Search. The event encourages kids and families to play outside and explore the mysteries of Sasquatch. Otherwise known as Bigfoot, Sasquatch is a mythical biped who holds a special place in Vermont folklore and pop culture.

The event will explore several questions about how Sasquatch eats, lives and stays clean. Guests can take a walk through Bennington’s wooded trails to look for Sasquatch clues, and learn about the plants and animals that are part of the Vermont outdoors.

Some of the businesses and organizations participating in the day include: Dion Snowshoes, Lake Paran, Children’s Integrative Services, Bennington Women Infants and Children, Head Start/Early Head Start. Sasquatch-themed snacks will be provided by Shire Cottage Bakery and Bennington Community Market.

Attendees can enter a free raffle to win an event t-shirt featuring the infamous Bennington Sasquatch strolling across Vermont State.

SVMC Director of Planning James Trimarchi explained that the event is one way SVMC is supporting the well-being of community families.

“Sasquatch has healthy habits we can learn from, like eating fruits and veggies and doing lots of walking,” said Trimarchi. “Sasquatch sets a good example and gives us an excuse to have fun outdoors.”

The event has been organized by Faye MacDonald, a Volunteer In Service to America (VISTA) at SVMC. VISTA is an AmeriCorps program that provides needed resources to nonprofits through a year-long fellowship. Stewart’s Shops Holiday Match Grant is also supporting the launch of the event.

“Outdoor play is essential for kids’ health. Having families enjoy time together outside exploring is one of our goals,” said MacDonald. “We’re thrilled that local businesses and organizations are excited to be part of the Bennington Sasquatch Search.”

If your organization or business wants to participate, please email: vista.svhealthcare@gmail.com.

This free, family-friendly Bennington Sasquatch Search will have something for everyone. To follow event updates, please check facebook.com/svmedicalcenter.

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About SVMC:

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, is a comprehensive, preeminent, health care system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVMC includes the Dartmouth Cancer Center at SVMC, the SVHC Foundation, as well as 25 primary and specialty care practices. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is among the most lauded small rural health systems in the nation. It is the recipient of the American Hospital Association’s 2020 Rural Hospital Leadership Award. In addition, SVMC is a five-time recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. SVMC provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.

Contact: Kate Czaplinski with additional questions or media inquiries.

 

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A Note from SVMC Dentistry

Unlike many other types of health care, most dental procedures require that a patient be present in the office with their mouth uncovered and wide open. In addition, many dental procedures, produce a lot of spray or aerosolized particles that could spread infection. For these reasons, reopening dental offices while COVID-19 circulates requires many strict precautions to ensure safety for patients and staff.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Vermont Department of Health have issued the requirements necessary to reopen our office for patient care. For the next few months, the changes lessen by half the number of patients we are able to see per day and dramatically change the care experience.

Here are some of the changes we've made:

  • We are screening and testing our staff, and all staff are wearing more protective equipment than ever, including treatment gowns and gloves, head coverings, facemasks (such as surgical masks, N95 masks, or respirators), and face-shields, as required during treatment procedures.
  • Patients can use the "virtual" waiting room to lessen the number of people in our waiting room and observe social distancing. We ask that only one person accompany a patient to a dental appointment and only if the patient needs assistance.
  • We screen patients at the Medical Office Building entrance to ensure they have no symptoms and that they are wearing a facemask. Patients must wear their facemask at all times, except during the actual treatment.
  • Some preventive care and treatments carry a higher risk for producing airborne oral droplets. These procedures may be modified to ensure that care is safe.
  • Most dramatically, depending on the dental treatment, a room must remain idle for 15 minutes - 1 hour to allow droplets to settle before disinfection. This limits the number of patients that we can treat each day.

While it is very disappointing to us—after all, we became dentists and hygienists because we like to provide dental care—all existing appointments will be suspended and a new schedule will be created, based on the time it takes for a room to be disinfected. We understand that this is frustrating for patients who must wait longer than usual for an appointment, but it is also necessary to make care safe for all.

Major changes to the ventilation systems—the installation of HEPA filtration and negative-pressure in our treatment rooms—will eliminate airborne droplets more quickly and enable us to see more patients per day. This change is expected to be complete later this summer.

In the meantime, we appreciate your patience as we meet your needs as best we can. We encourage you to continue vigilant home care and reach out to us with your questions. Most of all, we look forward to returning to a more normal time when we can deliver all of the dental care our community needs safely and efficiently.

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