image description — More than 600 people participated in this year's Buddy Walk at Craneville Elementary to celebrate and recognize people with Down syndrome.

Berkshire Buddy Walk Draws Hundreds to Dalton

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:36AM / Monday, September 29, 2025Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — There was a penny raffle to support the Berkshire Arc Down Syndrome Family Group in the fields at Craneville Elementary School, but the Buddy Walk of the Berkshires Saturday morning was not about raising money.

And it never has been.

For the 19th year, the families who lift up their loved ones with Down Syndrome and one another on a daily basis welcomed the support of the wider community.

More than 600 participants registered to participate in the walk from the school down to Main Street (Route 8) and back through the neighborhoods many of the participants call home.

"I've been involved with this event from the beginning and, in some way, I believe I've been to all but last year when I got the date wrong," state Sen. Paul Mark told the crowd before the walk began. "What a great event, what a great example of the amazing supportive community that Dalton and the Berkshires is.

"And it's just great year after year to see people gathering, offering support for families and letting everybody know that this is a welcoming community and a place you want to raise a family and a place you want to be."

The National Down Syndrome Society lists more than 100 Buddy Walks nationwide plus two international events, in Japan and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Buddy Walk of the Berkshires is one of three in the Bay State, along with walks in Westfield on Oct. 4 and Wakefield on Oct. 12.

The goal of the Buddy Walk is to educate about, advocate for and celebrate the Down syndrome community.

After carrying the event's banner through the streets of Dalton and hearing the well wishes of the motorists stopped for the walk and residents who waved from their porches, the families and allies returned to Craneville for lunch, face-painting, lawn games and that penny raffle, which featured scores of prizes donated by families and businesses throughout the county.

Planning already is under way for next fall's 20th edition of the Buddy Walk.

See photos here.

Tags: benefit walk, down syndrome,

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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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