Berkshire Veterans Photo Project Features Local Vets

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Photo by Bill Wright
World War II veteran Margaret Haggerty
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts is about to open an exhibition of the Berkshire Veterans Photography Project, which features more than two dozen Berkshire County residents who have served in the military.

The photos were taken by professional commercial and portrait photographer Bill Wright, himself a military veteran of the Gulf War. Wright's subjects range from a 22-year-old who has already served two tours of duty in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, to a 99-year-old woman who served in World War II. Other subjects include local writer Kevin O’Hara, who served in the Vietnam War, and retired Judge Rudolph Sacco, a World War II veteran.

On Friday, March 12, from 5 to 7 p.m., the center, located at 28 Renne Ave., will host a free opening reception for the show. The show will run through April 10.

The Berkshire Veterans Photography Project is part of the upcoming Big Read community book project, the third to be held in Pittsfield in recent years. This year’s Big Read focuses on the Vietnam War novel "The Things They Carried," by Tim O’Brien, and spans the month of April 2010, the 35th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon.

For more information on participating in The Big Read: "The Things They Carried," contact Ryan Weightman at the Office of Cultural Development, at rweightman@pittsfieldch.com or 413-499-9348. Free readers guides to "The Things They Carried" are available at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, the Berkshire Athenaeum, and Chapters Bookstore.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

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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