Central Berkshire Habitat Offers Free Tax Assistance

07:55AM / Friday, January 31, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity (CBHFH) is once again offering free income tax preparation services for households earning $67,000 or less, as well as for individuals with disabilities and elderly residents, through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

The program, staffed by IRS-certified volunteers, has been a longstanding resource in Berkshire County. According to CBHFH CEO Carolyn Valli, more than 85 percent of clients return annually for assistance, with the program expanding to serve new clients in South County last year.

Tax assistance will be available at multiple locations. Habitat's Pittsfield office at 314 Columbus Avenue will offer services Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. South County residents can access assistance at the Mason Library in Great Barrington, where VITA services will be available Tuesday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., starting February 4. Additionally, tax prep will be offered by appointment at MCLA.

Lynne Newton, CBHFH Community Navigator and VITA coordinator, emphasized the program's readiness to assist clients, including offering multilingual support for French and Spanish speakers. “Tax time can be stressful, and having documents and instructions in your native language can help ease that anxiety,” she said.

Residents can make appointments by calling 413-442-3184 or visiting www.berkshirehabitat.org/VITA.

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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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