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Ty Allan Jackson is seeking a seat on the City Council.

Ty Allan Jackson to Run For Pittsfield City Council

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ty Allan Jackson is running for City Council.
 
The local businessman and children's author announced his candidacy for an at-large position on John Krol's "Good Morning, Pittsfield" show on Thursday morning. The New York native and author has grown to be a significant figure in the city for his work in promoting literacy among the city's youth. He has also become prominent in the business and social realms. 
 
Jackson is the founder of Big Head Books, which he launched in 2012. His career started in 2009 when he wrote his first book to teach his son about entrepreneurship. The book, "Danny Dollar, Millionaire Extraordinaire: The Lemonade Escapade," has since taken off and has been particularly notable in the African-American community for its approach toward youth about business and finance. It has been reproduced on a number of mediums since.
 
He has won citations from former Gov. Deval Patrick, former state Sen. Benjamin Downing, and the state House of Representatives. He was the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Content of Character Award and a Berkshire Trendsetter Award. 
 
Most recently, he launched the Read or Else movement focused on shedding light on the issue of illiteracy. The movement tries to instill a love of reading in children while raising awareness of the connection between illiteracy and poverty, incarceration, unemployment, dropout rates, teen pregnancy, poor health, and more.
 
Jackson says he stands for supporting and promoting small, local businesses and placing a greater emphasis on arts and entertainment.
 
Jackson's announcement came just two days after Councilor at Large Kathleen Amuso announced she would not be seeking re-election, opening the door for at least one newcomer to the council. He is the only candidate thus far to announce intentions to seek public office.

Tags: election 2017,   town elections,   

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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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