BCC Massage Therapy Students Volunteer at Community Events

11:04AM / Saturday, July 29, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Massage therapy students at Berkshire Community College (BCC) provided free massage therapy sessions at various locations in the Berkshires and beyond during the spring semester, in addition to their full schedule of classes.

On April 17, BCC massage therapy students and faculty traveled to the Boston, joining a team of massage therapists to provide post-event massages to the Dana Farber Boston Marathon Team. Runners reported that knowing there would be a massage at the end of the race helped keep them motivated.

On April 22, during BCC Wellness Day, massage therapy students joined physical therapist assistant, respiratory and nursing program students and the BCC community, along with a variety of Berkshire County businesses, for a day of wellness awareness, including a 5K run and a walk. Massage therapy students provided chair massages and raised more than $300 for the Berkshire Environmental Action Team.

Finally, on May 19 at the Kimball Farms Wellness Fair, massage therapy students provided seated massage for independent living residents. The well-attended program kept students and faculty busy for the entire event.

Participating in community events provides massage therapy students with the opportunity to interact with a variety of people across multiple settings, introducing them to possible future clients, explained Judy Gawron, Massage Therapy Program Advisor.

"Volunteering at community events facilitates a volunteer mindset, an important part of a professional attitude," Gawron said. "While in the program, massage therapy students learn to balance volunteer activities with their other academic and personal commitments — a key skill for longevity as a licensed massage therapist."

"I've enjoyed all of the volunteering opportunities, though it's always nerve-wracking leading up to it. I think my nerves have

finally settled when it comes to?working with the public as I'm learning to trust myself," Massage therapy student Mary Adriance said. "Frankly, I was starting to get a little bored of working with the same six bodies in lab over and over again."

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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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