Berkshire Museum Presents Winter Festival: Solstice Celebration

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After two years without an in-house holiday season celebration, Berkshire Museum brings to life its second-floor gallery spaces with a celebration of winter that is unique to the area.  
 
Opening Saturday, Nov. 12 with a celebration featuring a performance by award-winning musical artist Paul Winter, in Berkshire Museum's Little Cinema. Doors open at 5 pm, with the concert beginning at 5:30 pm, exhibition opening celebration immediately follows. Tickets to the celebration are $75 for Premium Concert Seating and $50 for General Admission Concert Seating. All tickets include holiday cheer, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres! Tickets can be purchased at berkshiremuseum.org/event/winterfestival.  
 
Winter Festival exhibitions include "Santa Classics," by Philadelphia-based artist Ed Wheeler, where visitors get to see Kris Kringle in classical works of art. As well as "Hoot's Holiday: A Solstice Tale," written by Berkshire Museum's Exhibitions Research and Content Editor Charlie Catacalos. Hoot's Holiday follows a journey through time with an Owl living atop the roof of Berkshire Museum as they find objects historic to the Berkshires. 
 
"Hoot's Holiday is a reimagined celebration of winter in the Berkshires. I look forward to visitors getting to experience the history of the Berkshires through this tale of wonder and exploration," said Catacalos.  
 
Winter Festival is sponsored by The Feigenbaum Foundation, with additional support from Mill Town Capital, and Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. 
 
Additional Winter Festival events include:  
 
Book Talk: Twas the Night – The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem 
Nov. 27, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm – Meet Pamela McColl, the writer of new book "Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem." Included with Museum admission.  
 
Wingmasters' World of Owls 
Dec. 3, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm and 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm.
Meet live owls in the Berkshire Museum's Little Cinema. $17 adult, $10 child (includes Museum admission); Museum members $7 adult, $5 child 
     
Carols of the Bell
Dec. 4, 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
Celebrate the holiday season with the First Congregational Church of Lee Handbell Choir. Included with Museum admission. 
        
Magic By George 
Dec. 31, 11 am and 1 pm – Join award-winning, Boston-based magician George Saterial as he performs amazing magic and astonishing illusions. $17 adult, $10 child (includes Museum admission); Museum members $7 adult, $5 child 
 
All information about upcoming events can be found at berkshiremuseum.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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