1Berkshire Announces Berkshire Trendsetter Award Finalists

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire announced the finalists for the 2024 Berkshire Trendsetter Awards, which recognize outstanding initiatives, talented people, and innovative organizations moving the Berkshires forward. 
 
Winners will be announced at the 11th annual Celebrate the Berkshires event on Sept. 19 at the Pittsfield Municipal Airport. This year's Putting the Berkshires on the Map honoree is The Fairbank Group, in recognition of the meaningful contribution they and their businesses have made to the Berkshire economy. The Wanda Houston Band will play during the reception.
 
The Trendsetter Awards celebrate businesses, organizations, and individuals in six categories that honor outstanding achievements and commitments that have strengthened the local economy. The following are the Berkshire Trendsetter Award categories and finalists for 2024.
 
2024 Berkshire Trendsetter Awards Categories and Finalists
 
Driving Visitor Engagement
Tourism is a critical economic engine, and marketing is the fuel that makes it roar. This award is presented to a creative and effective program/event that achieved results locally and further afield, helping to maintain the Berkshires as a top visitor destination to the direct and indirect benefit of our region's businesses.
 
Finalists:
ArtWeek Berkshires, a collaboration of the Cultural Districts of Berkshire County
 
Berkshire Botanical Garden
 
BerkshiresOutside.org
 
The Mount
 
Norman Rockwell Museum
 
 
Advancing Our Economy
This award is presented to a project that pushed the envelope in bringing new jobs or people to the Berkshires, has brought previously underrepresented voices to the table, or has had a positive impact on the workforce of a single employer, employee segment, or the Berkshires as a whole.
 
Finalists:
Berkshire Innovation Center
 
CDC South Berkshire
 
EMA
 
Alander Construction
 
Moresi & Associates
 
 
Nonprofit Collaborator
The best things we do in the Berkshires, we do together. In that spirit, this award is presented to a nonprofit organization whose efforts brought partners to the table, herded all the cats, and built a coalition to improve the region's quality of life.
 
Finalists:
AYJ Fund
 
Berkshire Natural Resources Council
 
Berkshire United Way
 
Latinas413
 
Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires
 
 
Under 40 Change-Maker
This award is presented to a member of the Berkshire community under the age of 40 who is making a difference through leadership, team building, and problem-solving skills, with a heightened awareness of key issues affecting our region.
 
 
Finalists
Abigail Allard
 
Marina Dominguez
 
Jonah Sykes
 
Tarah Warner
 
 
Visionary of the Year
Clarity of purpose and the fortitude to follow through are essential components of an entrepreneur's toolkit from founding to exit strategy and beyond. This award is presented to a Berkshire business founder/owner whose company, organization, or project is leading the way and making waves in their industry.
 
 
Finalists:
Choices Mentoring
 
Roots Rising
 
Second Chance Composting
 
Woven Roots Farm
 
Guido's
 
 
Breaking the Mold
"The Way We've Always Done Things" is comfortable, but not always applicable in 2024. This award is presented to an organization, program, or individual working in the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 clusters that is thinking outside the box to shatter siloes and forge a new path through collaboration.
 
Finalists:
Berkshire Funding Focus
 
Dri
 
Let it Shine! public art partnership
 
Jenny Wright
 
Full Well Farm

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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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