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The new Dalton ambulance has arrived and now has to be customized with decals and lettering.

Dalton Fire District Ambulance Arrives

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District's new ambulance has arrived and is anticipated to be in service by March 1 as an Advanced Life Support unit.
 
The new apparatus arrived in basic white so still needs its decals and lettering put on and to be outfitted with supplies.
 
In December, district voters approved borrowing up to $350,000 to purchase a new ambulance and any related costs.
 
The district contracted RSI Signs in Pittsfield to complete the 2024 Ford F450 Road Rescue Ambulance decals. 
 
The department is still using its 2019 Ford Econoline for calls until the new apparatus is ready to be put in service.
 
The Fire Department has two ambulances: a 2019 Ford Econoline and a 2016 International. During several meetings, it was demonstrated that both vehicles needed to be replaced because of their deteriorating condition. 
 
The district will be trading in both vehicles. According to previous comments from the district, the Ford has a trade-in value of $30,000 and the International $2,500. 
 
All the paperwork to trade in the vehicles has been completed, District Clerk and Treasurer Melanie Roucoulet said. 
 
The district got a loan from Greenfield Co-op with a 4.75 interest rate, which could go down in following years. 

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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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