BHS Appoints Two Community Leaders to Board of Trustees

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Ashley Benson and Matthew Lauro
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) announced the election of Ashley Benson, MSW, LICSW, and Matthew Lauro of Mountain One Bank to the BHS Board of Trustees.
 
"We are excited to welcome Ashley and Matthew to the BHS Board of Trustees," said President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz. "They are recognized leaders in our community, and BHS will be lucky to benefit from their perspectives as we continue working to advance health and wellness for everyone in the region."
 
Ashley P. Benson, MSW, LICSW:
Ashley Benson is the founder and owner of Optimal Healing, LLC, and is a Psychotherapist, consultant and clinical supervisor. A Berkshire Mountain native and dedicated mental health professional with over two decades of experience in social work and clinical practice, she founded her practice in 2019 to provide holistic health resources to the community and formally established Optimal Healing in 2022. She specializes in trauma-focused care and the treatment of children, adolescents and families.
 
She earned her undergraduate degree from Berkshire Community College and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, followed by a Master’s in Social Work from Smith College. Committed to continuous learning and leadership in the field, she holds two post-graduate certifications: Advanced Clinical Social Work Supervision from Smith College School for Social Work and Advanced Practice with Children & Adolescents from Springfield College.
 
Matthew Lauro:
Lauro is Senior Vice President and Western Massachusetts Commercial Team Leader for MountainOne Bank. He is responsible for managing existing portfolio risk, loan growth and a team of Commercial Bankers.
 
Matthew is active in the community as a Board Member for Berkshire Education and Correction in Pittsfield, former National Council Member of the Avon Old Farms School for Boys in Avon, Conn. and former trustee of the Pittsfield Affordable Housing Trust.
 
He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the Lally School of Business Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
 
Departing the BHS Board of Trustees are Timothy Burke, Barton Raser and John Loiodice, MD, who provided exceptional leadership and service to Berkshire Health Systems for many years. 
 
"On behalf of BHS, I offer my deepest appreciation to Tim, Bart and John for their commitment to furthering our mission and their invaluable contributions in support of our community," said Rodowicz.

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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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