Old Creamery Seeks Matching Grants for Co-op

04:56PM / Tuesday, August 23, 2011Print Story | Email Story

CUMMINGTON, Mass. — The push to convert the Old Creamery in Cummington into a community-owned cooperative grocery store has entered a new stage.

A generous co-op member and longtime Creamery supporter has offered to match, dollar for dollar, all contributions received from now until Aug. 31, up to $20,000. This fundraising challenge was first announced on Saturday in Cummington at a benefit that featured Rachel Maddow of MSNBC.

The Old Creamery Co-op's fundraising effort is close to reaching its goal of raising $200,000 from individuals and $50,000 from institutions. All funds raised in response to the challenge will go toward business planning, co-op development, and the purchase of the business. Contributions made out to the Cooperative Development Institute for use by the Creamery Cooperative project are tax-deductible.

The conversion of the Old Creamery to a cooperative will include a renovation and expansion of the store and grounds, the purchase of the business from the current owners, and the recapitalization of the business to put it on a firm footing for the future. In addition to donations, over 420 individuals have already invested $150 each to be member-owners of the Old Creamery Cooperative.

The co-op conversion in Cummington has received national attention. The cooperative recently received one of only two $10,000 grants awarded in the nation this year, from the Food Cooperative Initiative, for the conversion of an existing grocery store into a cooperative.

On Saturday, Maddow expressed her support for the Old Creamery and for its conversion to a community-owned cooperative. She has previously referred to the Creamery as "the cultural heart of the hilltowns," and she repeated that assertion on Saturday.

She spoke to 250 people who packed the Cummington Village Church. After an hour and a half interacting with the crowd, the journalist and political commentator was pleased to know that her audience paid $9,000 to hear what she had to say, and to support the co-op transition.

"I don't do a lot of these kind of events, but I'd do anything for the Creamery," she said, munching a cookie made there.

For more information on the Old Creamery Co-op transition visit www.oldcreamery.coop.

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.

This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.

The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.

DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.

"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."

Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.

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