Berkshire Organizations Awarded MassDEP Microgrants

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BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) today announced $140,126 in microgrants awarded to organizations, municipalities and academic institutions focused on reducing waste generation and prolonging the lifespan of products by offering donation, rescue, reuse and repair services across the state.
 
In Berkshire County Berkshire Environmental Action Team was awarded $9,440 and Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont, Inc. was awarded $9,625.
 
The funding, awarded through MassDEP’s Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant Program, is given to projects that provide innovative and impactful ways to curb waste and keep products in use through donation, rescue, reuse and repair. Approximately 74 percent of the awarded projects will serve environmental justice communities.
 
"Reducing the amount of waste we produce – by reusing, repairing, rescuing, and donating what we already have – has the biggest direct impact on our ability to meet our waste reduction goals," said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. "Funding these projects ensures we have the infrastructure to tackle waste reduction right here in Massachusetts."
 
The funding awarded by the Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant Program helps cover the costs associated with developing and implementing reuse and repair projects that lead to waste reduction, including equipment, tracking software, and training. Grants are awarded across the public, private, nonprofit and educational services sectors. Recipients were selected through an evaluation process that scored applications based on need, innovation, feasibility, sustainability and impact.

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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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