Berkshire Family YMCA Gets $1.125M in Grants Toward Renovation

07:51AM / Tuesday, January 18, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Family YMCA's Full of Possibilities Campaign announced four new grants totaling $1.125 million to aid in the renovation and construction of its North Street facility.

The $12 million renovation will modernize the building and add 25 or more child-care slots, a regulation youth basketball court, and an indoor track.

The local funders are:

The Feigenbaum Foundation, which awarded the Y a new $350,000 grant in addition to fulfilling their existing $400,000 commitment, bringing their total contribution to $750,000.
The Jane & Jack Fitzpatrick Trust, which made a multi-year commitment of $500,000.
Greylock Federal Credit Union announced a $200,000 award over several years.

In addition to these Berkshire County funders, the Amelia Peabody Foundation, which has supported both the Pittsfield and Northern Berkshire branches in the past, awarded the Y a $75,000 grant, bringing the total of recent institutional gifts to $1.125 million. Taken together, these gifts have taken a major bite out of the Y's remaining $4 million fundraising goal.

According to Y executive director and CEO, Jessie Rumlow, the new commitments will be put to work immediately to fund construction.

"We are so grateful to these important institutional donors for their confidence and belief in the Y and this capital project," she said. "The Feigenbaum Foundation's continued investment is most welcome and deeply appreciated, and we sincerely thank the Fitzpatrick Trust for their generosity and ongoing philanthropic leadership in Berkshire County. Greylock Federal Credit Union's grant is living proof that our local financial institutions are deeply committed to our community. Together these grants will help the Y to better serve thousands of people each year and we hope they will inspire many others to give generously too."

Throughout 2022, the Y's campaign leadership will be reaching out to community members for gifts and pledges in order to reach the goal. The Y remains open during construction and welcomes inquiries with regard to the campaign. Interested donors can contact Jessie Rumlow, by emailing jrumlow@bfymca.org or phone at 413-499-7650 x112 or 912-467-3488. Interest may also be expressed to the campaign's committee chair, Matthew J. Scarafoni, by emailing mjscarafoni@scarafonifinancial.com.

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

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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