Lenox Library Planning 'Party of the Century'

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LENOX, Mass. — A Black and White Masquerade Ball to benefit the Lenox Library will be held on Saturday, March 10, beginning at 6 p.m. at Blantyre. A cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, and a silent auction are planned.

The Black and White Ball is modeled after Truman Capote's 1966 masquerade ball at The Plaza in New York, following the release of his book, "In Cold Blood." The exclusive guest list at Capote's event included a mix of New York socialites, Hollywood stars, artists, authors and politicians. Among the guests were Norman Mailer, Candice Bergen, Frank Sinatra, Mia Farrow and Walter Cronkite. Like the original Black and White Ball, the library’s event is being billed as the "Party of the Century."

Lisa Nelson, who is on the board of managers of the Lenox Library and is chairing the gala, said, "We wanted to do something different and thought it would be fun to recreate the elegance and mystique of Truman Capote’s ball."

Berkshire Bank is the premier sponsor for the Black and White Ball. Blantyre is hosting the event.

Tickets are $250 per person, with proceeds benefitting the library, a non-profit organization providing public library services to the greater Lenox community. Overnight stay options are also available. For more information, contact Sharon Hawkes, library director, at 413-637-2630, gala@lenoxlib.org.
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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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