TWO DECADES, TWO GENERATIONS: Eagle Pond Rehabilitation and Living Center in South Dennis, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a garden party on the grounds June 15 and Paul J. Marchwat, MBA, CHAM, the facility's new Executive Director, presented certificates of appreciation to four employees who have been working at the South Dennis facility from the beginning. They included Pat Chase, LPN (center), and her daughter, Kim Berto, CNA (pictured) as well as Emma Motte, CNA, and Claudia Cauley, CNA. Mr. Marchwat comes to Eagle Pond from the Winship Green Nursing Center in Bath, Maine. Eagle Pond also has named Kathy Griswold, R.N., as Director of Nurses.

Happenings

The Town of Provincetown has officially turned over control of its Cape End Manor nursing home to New England Deaconess Association. But many details remain to be completed before final papers are passed and Deaconess can begin work on a proposed $19 million senior housing and skilled nursing care complex that eventually will replace the aging structure. The major hurdle is the new owner's ability to pre-sell enough units-some classified as "affordable"-to obtain financing. After a new building is completed, the old Manor will be demolished to make way for additional units.

Cape Cod Healthcare has been honored as one of four Massachusetts hospital/health care systems for exceptional Community Benefits programs by Attorney General Tom Reilly. The other institutions to be recognized were Brockton Hospital, Mass General Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care.

Russell Benoit, inpatient physical therapy supervisor from Fairhaven, and Mary Ann Kristy, AP/payroll specialist from East Sandwich, have received the 10th annual Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape and Islands Marjorie Barry Spirit Awards for exemplary performance during the previous year. Robert Barry of Bourne established the awards in 1996 in memory of his late wife, Marjorie Barry, who spent five weeks at RHCI following treatment for cancer.

Senator Therese Murray (D-Plymouth/Upper Cape) has been recognized by the Oral Health Advocacy Task Force for her commitment to providing comprehensive dental benefits to more than 500,000 adults enrolled in MassHealth.

Edina Russ of Yarmouthport represented the VNA of Cape Cod at the three-day 2006 AVON Foundation Breast Care Fund Forum in Torrance, California. The program, "Challenges and Solutions in Screening and Treating the Underserved," focuses disparities in breast cancer treatment and screening. Ms. Russ works out of Hyannis as the VNA's Bilingual Navigator. The AVON Foundation has provided funding to the VNA for special staffing support since 1997.

The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Bourne/Sandwich at Bourne High School succeeded in raising $68,000 thanks to the participation of some 400 community members. A similar Dennis/Yarmouth event raised over $352,000 with the help of more than 1,800 volunteers. And the Relay for Life in Falmouth raised $78,000 for cancer research and local patient services with the aid of more than 500 volunteers

Two Cape Cod agencies are among the 12 recipients of grants totaling $128,000 made by the Massachusetts Medical Society and Alliance Charitable Foundation to non-profit health care providers in the Commonwealth.

The Cape Cod Free Clinic and Community Health Center in Falmouth was awarded $25,000 to support its Diabetes Initiative for the Uninsured. In 2002 the Foundation awarded a grant of $26,400 to the Free Clinic to provide services to the uninsured Brazilian population on Cape Cod.

The Children's Cove in Barnstable received $18,000 to support its Sexual Abuse Awareness Campaign.

Luise Speakman, a long-time professor of nursing and chair of the Department of Nursing and Allied Health was named an emeritus member of the faculty at Cape Cod Community College during the recent graduation ceremonies.

The Cape & Islands Emergency Medical Services System presented the following awards during its recent annual meeting in Hyannis:

Steve Bold, EMT-Paramedic, Mashpee Fire Department, Lloyd H. Bremer Leadership Award; Paul Medeiros, firefighter/paramedic, Hyannis Fire Department, Paramedic of the Year; Henry Sears, Captain/EMT, Brewster Fire Department, EMT of the Year; Dr. Robert Zarum, CCH Emergency Department, Physician of the Year; Katie Roycroft, R.N., CCH, EMS Nurse of the Year; Lori Enos, Barnstable County Sheriff's Communications Center, EMS Telecommunicator of the Year.

Dr. Arthur Bickford, founder and former medical director of the Duffy Community Health Center, is keeping busy. In addition to starting up a new private practice treating drug addiction patients, he has taken on the assignment as Medical Advisor to the High Point Treatment Center for addiction problems in Plymouth. Dr. Bickford also is a member of the Advisory Board of To Your Good Health, A Health Care Newsletter.