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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Keep Up the Good Work: Staying Safe as Restrictions Loosen

Like many in Vermont, the leaders and staff at Southwestern Vermont Health Care couldn’t be happier that the number of cases of COVID-19 fell below even our best expectations. The better-than-expected situation we have experienced in Vermont is thanks to all who followed recommendations as closely as possible. However, many with “isolation fatigue” may be ready to relax their own behavior, especially at hearing about the loosening of restrictions. In reality, the precautions we have been taking are as important right now as they were at the beginning of the pandemic. We’d like to take a moment to reiterate what precautions are still in place and remind everyone how important it is to continue being as careful as ever.

Keep Your Hands Clean. As restrictions have increased, calls for frequent handwashing and respiratory etiquette (covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, if possible, and throwing the tissue away) seem to have let up. While these actions alone will not prevent someone from contracting COVID-19, they are still the best actions to prevent acquiring an infection. If you have relaxed your handwashing habit, now’s the time to beef it back up again!

“Stay Home, Stay Safe.” The order to limit trips from home remains in effect through at least May 15. Some iteration of this guideline is likely to persist for some time beyond that. This means we should be leaving our home only for the following reasons: for personal safety, to get food or medicine, to seek medical care, to exercise, to care for others, or to go to work.

Cover Your Face. While outside the home, wear a cloth mask or face covering. People who do not have symptoms can spread COVID-19, so face coverings keep you from spreading the illness if you are ill without knowing it. Masks also keep you from touching your eyes, nose, and mouth and potentially infecting yourself or others.

Keep Your Distance. Even while wearing face coverings, we should all continue to keep at least 6 feet from others. The distance is about the same as the length of a long couch. If you could touch the person when both your arms are outstretched, you are still about 2 feet too close.

Stay Home Some More. You may have COVID-19 if you have a cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing or at least two of the following: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and a sudden loss of taste or smell.  Call your provider. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control has launched a self-checker tool to help guide you through making decisions based on your symptoms. If you have any questions, call the SVHC COVID-19 Informational Hotline at 802-440-8844.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention. If you have difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face, call 9-1-1 or your local Emergency Department and go to the hospital. SVMC’s number is 802-447-6361.

While the likelihood of contracting COVID-19 in our area is relatively low right now, we all need to remain vigilant in order to keep it that way. How well we adhere to the restrictions that remain is likely to make a big difference in how many of our friends and neighbors are sickened. In short, keep up the good work!

Marie George, MD, is SVMC’s infectious disease specialist.

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