Simon's Rock celebrates the opening of the Livingston Hall Student Union

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New building is named in honor of founder’s husband Simon’s Rock College celebrated the opening of its new Livingston Hall Student Union on August 30, with an afternoon of celebratory events for students, staff and faculty. The new building, across the green from Blodgett House, includes space for many services and programs that were previously scattered throughout the campus, including a snack bar, the bookstore, the Office of Student Life, and Health Services. The Student Union will also give much needed space to student groups and activities. The building is dedicated to the memory of Livingston Hall, husband of Simon’s Rock College founder, Elizabeth Blodgett Hall. He was a central figure in the creation of the college, supporting Blodgett Hall’s dream of establishing this college for high school age students. He also served as an informal mentor and guide to numerous students and families in the College's formative years. Livingston Hall’s career was illustrious, and in the field of Law, he was a prominent figure. He graduated fourth in his class at Harvard Law School in 1927, and taught at Harvard Law School for 35 years, where he also served as dean. He authored and coauthored widely used law texts, including Cases on Agency (West Publishing), Cases on Criminal Law and Enforcement (West Publishing), and Modern Criminal Procedure (West Publishing). Each year, the American Bar Association gives the Livingston Hall Award, and in giving that award, the ABA cites the fact that Hall was instrumental in securing American Bar Association approval of the comprehensive Juvenile Justice Standards. The ABA gives the award to an attorney who has been exemplary in the field of juvenile justice. He was also president of the Massachusetts Bar Association. In World War II, Livingston Hall served in the South Pacific, as Chief of Operations Analysis in the 13th and 20th Divisions of the Air Corps. He retired as Lieutenant Colonel, and in 1946 he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Freedom. Livingston Hall also served as Moderator for the towns of Concord and Weston, Massachusetts, prior to coming to Gt. Barrington. He taught a course in Negotiation in the early days of Simon's Rock. Donors whose contributions helped build the Livingston Hall Student Union include Susan and Mark Beckerman, Murray and Patti Liebowitz, Thomas K. Doyle, Sr., Penzance Foundation, Emily H. Fisher, and The Sprague Foundation, Inc. In addition, the Alumni Performance Center inside the building is named in recognition of the more than 600 alumni who made gifts to the Building the Future Campaign, which also helped to make this building possible.
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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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