Great Barrington Reduces License Fees

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The town has acted to reduce by 50 percent the license fees required of certain categories of local businesses that have been hardest hit by COVID-19.

Licenses for Restaurants, lodging establishments, entertainment licenses and movie theater license fees are among those for which licensing fees will be reduced for the 2021 fiscal year.
 
"We wanted very much to do something to help these businesses most harshly affected by Covid-19,"  Selectboard Chair Stephen Bannon said. "As we look around town, we see how very hard these business owners are working to remain in business serving customers, against tough odds."
 
Normally, the town takes in approximately $65,000 in all Selectboard-issued licenses. With these reductions, the town will reduce that take to $42,435, a reduction of $21,218. Not all businesses will receive the benefit: purveyors of retail alcohol, real estate companies requiring licenses for signage, and automobile dealers are not subject to the rebate.
 
For a list of licensees subject to the reduction in fees, click here.

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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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