U.S. News Ranks Wentworth-Douglass Hospital as One of the Best Regional Hospitals in Area

DOVER—
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has been ranked #16 in the category of Nephrology in the Boston Metro Area for in U.S. News Media & World Report’s 2011-12 Best Hospital rankings. The latest rankings showcase 720 hospitals out of about 5,000 hospitals nationwide. Each is ranked among the country’s top hospitals in at least one medical specialty and/or ranked among the best hospitals in its metro area.
According to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital President & CEO Gregory Walker, this is the second consecutive period Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has been ranked as a Best Regional Hospital in the Boston Metro Area.
“This ranking recognizes the contributions of all our caregivers who provide high quality care everyday for patients in our community,” Walker said. “We are honored to be listed among the other distinguished healthcare institutions in the Boston area.”
Covering 94 metro areas in the U.S., the regional hospital rankings complement the national rankings by including hospitals with solid performance nearly at the level of nationally ranked institutions. Hard numbers stand behind the rankings — death rates, patient safety, advanced technology, patient care resources and high patient satisfaction scores compared to state and national scores.
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital was recognized as Best Regional Hospital in the category of Ear, Nose and Throat in the U.S. News Media & World Report 2010-11 listing.
Photo caption: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover was recently recognized in U.S. News Media & World Reports in the category of Nephrology. (Courtesy photo)

Hot Reading for Hot Weather

By Chip Schrader

Book Reviewer
The summertime brings to mind many traditions: vacations, baseball, cookouts, and beach days. More often than not, a good book is typically paired with a beach outing, and a handful of titles tend to be the “it” books for each summer. This summer is no different. Bestseller lists, personal recommendations and book clubs are the best indicators for the browser to find out what’s hot, and this year we have a few newer titles, and a few that have been around.
“Room” by Emily Donoghue, acclaimed author of “Slammerkin,” is the newest of these books. The life of the main character, Jack, is entirely lived in one room with his mother, who struggles to provide a normal life for him. They are held captive in this place by a man named “Old Nick.” On the author’s webpage, there is a video trailer of the book, a full description and a bevy of accolades from Donoghue’s contemporaries on how well she narrates from a five-year-old boy’s perspective. Currently, this is possibly the most popular book this summer. Little Brown, 336 pages (2010).
Earlier in the year, Abraham Verghese’s “Cutting for Stone” began catching fire. This is the story of twin boys born in Ethiopia, and then separated shortly after birth. The novel takes on an epic theme of humanity and the birth of modern medicine as it spans generations and continents to tie together how one person’s actions can be a consequence to someone a world away. This novel is also critically acclaimed and enjoying high summer sales. Vintage, 667 pages (2010).
Since last year, Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” has dominated the bestseller list and continues to be a popular read for this summer. Set in the antebellum south, this story follows the help, or the housekeepers who are employed by wealthy southern families. Jackson Mississippi was a hotbed for the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, and readers will be surprised by the racial climate in that era. The book has been made into a film, and is enjoying a resurgence in sales and reading groups in anticipation of its August release. Berkely Trade, 544 pages (2010).
The 1996 novel, “The Game of Thrones” by George R. R. Martin, is the subject of barroom chatter and fodder amongst fantasy aficionados as its adaptation by HBO has just finished its first season. Set in medieval world, a king is slain, and the drama of two families unfolds. One family, the Lannisters, was thwarted from the throne by the recently deceased king, and the Starks are headed by a man assigned to be the new kings personal hand. This is the first of four volumes, and a giant book. Bantam Books, 720 pages (1996).
Among other hot titles for this summer is the trilogy by Steig Larsen with “The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo” as the first in the series. Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” also begins a trilogy, and a non-fiction epic about the horrors of World War II “Unbroken” by Lauren Hillenbrand. All titles are widely available at local and online bookstores, and libraries in various formats.
Photo caption: “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett is one of many books that people are continuing to bring to the beach this summer, largely due to its upcoming film release. (Courtesy book cover image)

Hampton Falls Hosts Farmer’s Market

HAMPTON FALLS—
The Hampton Falls Farmer’s Market was conceived of and founded by Sue Veilleux. Sue raises Nubian goats at her Jesta Farm in Hampton Falls. She has been selling her goats’ milk soap, milk and eggs at various local farmer’s markets for many years. Her dream was to create a market on the Hampton Falls common to serve as a meeting place for town and area residents and provide an opportunity for smaller and unique producers to sell their wares.
To that end, she founded the Hampton Falls Farmer’s Market Association and the group has been sponsoring markets on the common on Monday afternoons between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. Besides Sue’s Jesta Farm, the market offers vegetables and fruit from Applecrest in Hampton Falls and Long Hill Orchard in W. Newbury, MA, items from Buzz Bomb World spices and gluten free bakery in Hampton, and maple ice cream and candy from Sugarmomma’s in Northwood. They also offer honey wines from the Moonlight Meadery in Salem and cut flowers from Indian Hill Farm in South Hampton. Other vendors offer products ranging from herbal teas and syrups to Belgian waffles.
The vendor list is constantly growing and the market welcomes applications from area producers, especially in the category of organic produce. For more information, contact hamptonfallsfarmersmarket@comcast.net.