Community Legal Aid Kicks Off Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community Legal Aid is kicking off its annual Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign, which seeks to bring legal help to residents in the county facing a variety of civil legal problems. 
 
Over the last year, Community Legal Aid's staff of attorneys and paralegals helped more than 700 Berkshire County elderly and low-income clients last year, impacting an estimated 1,750 residents trying to avoid homelessness, seeking safety from violence, and others fighting for life's necessities. Through its subsidiary, the Central West Justice Center, it also helps refugees seeking humanitarian-based immigration relief. 
 
For more than a decade, the legal community of Berkshire County has banded together through the Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign to raise funds and awareness to support Community Legal Aid. Last year, the campaign raised over $20,000. This year, the goal is to raise $25,000.
 
Jennifer Breen, Esq., an attorney with the North Adams law firm of Donovan, O'Connor & Dodig, LLP is this year's Berkshire County Access to Justice Committee Chair. 
 
"I hope members of the legal community and others will join me in supporting the Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign for Community Legal Aid, our local civil legal aid provider," Attorney Breen said. "Community Legal Aid assures fairness for all in the justice system, regardless of how much money they have. The Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign embodies the principle that 'justice for all' applies to everyone, not just those who can afford it."
 
Anyone who wishes to support the work of Community Legal Aid can find more information or make a donation at www.communitylegal.org.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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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