Berkshire County Kids' Place Annual Jimmy Bernardo Memorial Motorcycle Ride

08:16AM / Thursday, September 04, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Kids' Place and Violence Prevention Center, Inc., invites the community to join us for the 30th Annual Jimmy's Ride on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.

This tradition honors the life of Jimmy Bernardo and raises essential funds to help children and families heal from abuse and violence.

The ride begins at Berkshire County Kids' Place, 63 Wendell Ave in Pittsfield, with registration starting at 8:30 a.m. and kickstands up at 11:00 a.m. Riders will travel a scenic 90-minute route through Berkshire County, ending at the Tavern at the A 303 Crane Ave in Pittsfield for the After Party, which starts at noon.

The After Party is open to the public and welcomes everyone, whether you ride or just come to celebrate. Enjoy food, raffles (for purchase), and music.

In addition to supporting child abuse prevention and healing services, this year's event highlights a growing concern: online child safety. Attendees receive free internet safety resource bags, filled with age-appropriate materials. While supplies last.

"For 30 years, Jimmy's Ride has stood for protecting children and creating a safer community," said Mary, Ron, and Rob Bernardo. "This year, we're proud to honor that legacy by expanding the mission to include online safety, because today, protecting kids doesn't end at the front door. It also means safeguarding them on every screen and device they use."

The event honors the life of Jimmy Bernardo, a Pittsfield native who tragically died in 1990. For 30 years, Jimmy's family, friends, and the broader community have come together in his memory to support the work of Berkshire County Kids' Place, the region's fully accredited Children's Advocacy Center, serving families from Berkshire County.

All proceeds from Jimmy's Ride support Kids' Place programs, providing free, specialized services to children and families impacted by neglect, abuse, exploitation, and domestic violence.

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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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