Williamstown Rotary donates DVD player, movies for NARH patients

Print Story | Email Story
Left to right: Linda Sweeney, Williamstown Rotary Club; Karin Robert, RN; Billie Allard, VP of Patient Care Services; Bonnie Staples, LPN; and Rotary President Maureen O'Mara.
The Williamstown Rotary Club has donated a fourth portable DVD player and more than a dozen additional movies to North Adams Regional Hospital's Short Stay Unit, for use by day surgery patients and others. "We were so pleased to learn that the first three DVD players and movies that we donated were being used frequently by patients," said Rotary President Maureen O'Mara. "Because they were so well received, we are happy to be able to donate another player and more movies." O'Mara and Rotary members Linda Sweeney, who organized the DVD project, and Fred Ley, a long-time Rotarian, presented the DVD player and movies to Short Stay Unit nurses Karin Robert, RN, and Bonnie Staples, LPN, and NARH Vice President of Patient Care Services Billie Allard. NARH's new Short Stay Unit was part of the hospital's expansion and modernization project completed earlier this year. The unit includes 16 patient rooms and is host to patients who are having same-day surgery, infusion therapy, and other special procedures. "This is a wonderful addition for our patients," said Lou Ann Quinn, Director of Surgical Services at NARH. "Those who are here with us for several hours will be able to select movies and pass the time enjoyably. We're very appreciative to the Williamstown Rotary Club for their thoughtfulness."
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.
 
View Full Story

More North County Stories