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Will Balz (Weston)
Isabel Brozena (North Reading)
Jack Carstensen (St. John Paul)
Matt Costello (Bishop Stang)
Carson Erick (Hingham)
Charlie Fearing (BC High)
Bobby Fish (Danvers)
Nicolas Gebhardt (St. John’s Shrewsbury)
Johnny Gillooly (Milton)
Owen Hamilton (Duxbury)
Tripp Hollister (St. John’s Prep)
Ryan Keyes (Wellesley)
Peter le Gassick (Old Rochester)
Terry Manning (St. John’s Prep)
Jack Martin (Nauset)
Ronan Mooney (St. John’s Shrewsbury)
Matthew Oliviera (Bishop Stang)
Zach Pelzar (Weston)
Charlie Potter (Dover-Sherborn)
Cole Redder (East Bridgewater)
John Scully (Winchester)
Chad Tordone (Barnstable)
Brandon Vitarisi (Reading)
HONORABLE MENTION
Brendan Burke (North Andover)
Chris Doherty (Hanover)
Zac Georgantas (Foxboro)
Tim Hill (Dover-Sherborn)
Spencer Kates (Wayland)
Cooper Mohr (North Andover)
Ilan Rashdan (Westford Academy)
Riley Reardon (Arlington Catholic)
Erika Redmond (Concord-Carlisle)
Ethan Sullivan (King Philip)
Richie Thayer (Bridgewater-Raynham)
WILL BALZ
WESTON
The junior tied for sixth in the Div. 3 North sectional and also tied for third at the Div. 3 state championships. The 2023 NHSGA National Invitational attendee will also attend the match in 2024. The 2022 Div. 3 state champion and North sectional champion is a member of the Modern Music Masters Honor Society is also the chess club co-president.
ISABEL BROZENA
NORTH READING
The senior captain led the Hornets’ to their first state final appearance in 20 seasons while also going undefeated individually on the season. The four-time team MVP and two-time Cape Ann League Kinney Division Player of the Year was the runner-up in the Div. 3 girls’ golf state championship last season. Brozena also qualified for the 74th Girl’s Junior Championship. The National Honor Society member and honor roll student is committed to play golf at Xavier University.
JACK CARSTENSEN
ST. JOHN PAUL
The Div. 3 state champion with a 3-over par as his team placed second in Div. 3. The Cape and Islands co-MVP holds the top scoring record as well as par scoring totals for a season. The senior is a four-time Cape and Islands All Star and a member of the National Honor Society. The honor roll student will play golf at the University of Montevallo.
MATT COSTELLO
BISHOP STANG
The Catholic Central League MVP had a 35.75 scoring average while also winning the CCL Conference while shooting a 65. The senior was a medalist at the Cape Cod High School Invitational with a 73. The seven-year varsity team member went 34-0 in league play and was part of the 2021 Div. 2 state champion squad as well as the Div. 2 2021, 2022 and 2023 sectional champion teams. The honor student will play golf at the University of Connecticut.
CARSON ERICK
HINGHAM
The three-time Patriot League All Star and 2022 Patriot League MVP placed third with a 3-over 75 in the Div. 1 state tournament while taking the Div. 1 South sectional title. The senior is a 2023 American Junior Golf Association Rolex Scholastic Junior All-American Honor Roll member.
CHARLIE FEARING
BC HIGH
The senior placed tied for second with a 1-under 71 as he sunk seven birdies at the Div. 1 North sectional which qualified him for the Div. 1 state title. He tied for third at the NE Junior PGA Qualifier out of 70 players with a score of 74 (2-over) as he qualified for both the NE Junior PGA Championship and the Avidia Cup. The high honors student and BC High Presidential Merit Scholar is a member of the National Honor Society and plans to study computer science and ethics in college.
BOBBY FISH
DANVERS
The Northeastern Conference All-Conference player went 10-0-2 on the season while qualifying for the Div. 2 state tournament where he finished tied for 11th. The senior has also made the Northeastern Conference All-Star team and won team MVP for three years. Fish also played in US Challenge Cup events and is going to college for business.
NICOLAS GEBHARDT
ST. JOHN’S (SHREWSBURY)
The Catholic Conference All Star and champion placed sixth in the Div. 1 Central sectional as well as tied for third (3-over) in the Div. 1 state title while his team took home both crowns. The senior also qualified for the Massachusetts Junior Amateur Match Play tournament. The National Honor Society member and honor roll student will be taking a gap year for golf next year.
JOHNNY GILLOOLY
MILTON
The Div. 2 North sectional medalist with an even par 72 also placed tied for sixth with a 6-over 76 in the Div. 2 state finals. The senior also averaged 37.94 in dual matches. The member of the National Honor Society is unsure of where he will attend a four-year college yet.
OWEN HAMILTON
DUXBURY
The two-time Patriot League MVP had the best scoring average across his four years in the program. The senior was a medalist at the Div. 2 South sectionals and finished top 11 at the Div. 2 state finals the past two seasons. The honor roll student is also a top-ranked disc golf player and hopes to attend Babson College in the fall with his brother.
TRIPP HOLLISTER
ST. JOHN’S PREP
The junior finished second in Div. 1 North sectionals with a 71 and had a scoring average of 36.83 with 15.3 putts per round. He played in the IMG Junior World Tournament as well. The honor roll student also is part of the track and field team and plans to play golf in college.
RYAN KEYES
WELLESLEY
The Bay State Conference individual title champion also won the Div. 1 South sectional individual title and placed tied for third in the Div. 1 state title match with a 3-over 75. The 2021 Div. 1 individual state title champion averages a 35.4. The senior is committed to Columbia University.
PETER LE GASSICK
OLD ROCHESTER
The three-year South Coast Conference All Star was a medalist in 11 of 16 matches on the season with a 36.9 9-hole scoring average. The junior placed sixth in the Div. 2 state final with a 6-over 76 and was part of the 2022 Div. 2 state title team. He qualified for the 2023 and 2024 Mass Junior Amateur tournament.
TERRY MANNING
ST. JOHN’S PREP
The three-time Catholic Conference All-Star and now two-time All-Scholastic placed second in the Catholic Conference tournament, placed second in the Div. 1 North sectional with a 1-under 71 and was tied for seventh in the Div. 1 state tournament with a 4-over 76 while his team placed second. The senior also plays basketball and will be taking a gap year to follow his dream of playing Div. 1 golf and making the sport his profession.
JACK MARTIN
NAUSET
The three-time Cape and Islands League All Star and one-time Cape and Islands MVP placed third in the Div. 2 state finals with a 4-over 74. The two-year captain also averaged 37.3 and notched three hole-in-ones in a calendar year in his career.
RONAN MOONEY
ST. JOHN’S SHREWSBURY
The junior tied for third with a 3-over 75 as St. John’s of Shrewsbury won the Div. 1 state title. In 2022, he shot a 2-under 69 and qualified for the N.E. Interscholastic Golf Championships at Mohegan Sun. The honors student plans to study business and entrepreneurial management in college.
MATTHEW OLIVEIRA
BISHOP STANG
The three-time Catholic Central League All Star was a co-medalist with a 72 in the Div. 2 South sectional and then was part of the Div. 2 state title runner-up squad. The two-time All-Scholastic was part of the Div. 2 state title in 2021 and was Catholic Central League MVP in 2022. The first honors student and National Junior Honor Society member hopes to play golf at the collegiate level while studying finance/business.
ZACH PELZAR
WESTON
The senior shot a 3-under 75 in the Div. 3 state title to lead his team to the title after hitting a 2-under 70 to win the Div. 3 North sectional crown as well. He also shot 70 and 68 respectively in the sectionals and states last season to win both events. Pelzar is committed to play golf at Emory University.
CHARLIE POTTER
DOVER-SHERBORN
The Tri-Valley League MVP and two-time Tri-Valley League All Star was a medalist at the Div. 2 Central sectionals and won the state title with a 1-over 71 as his team won the team title as well. The sophomore hopes to play collegiate golf after he graduates.
COLE REDDER
EAST BRIDGEWATER
The South Shore League Sullivan Player of the year placed tied for eighth while shooting an 81 in the Div. 3 state championship. The four-time South Shore League All Star also placed fourth with a 78 in the Central sectional tournament to advance to the state final for the first time in program history. The honor roll student is considering joining his brother at UMass in their turf management program or heading to a trade school to pursue a career in the trades.
JOHN SCULLY
WINCHESTER
The three-time Middlesex League All-Conference and All-Star team member placed fifth at the Div. 1 North sectional with a 72 as Winchester placed as runner-up. The 2022 Middlesex League MVP also tied for 12th at the Div. 1 state title with a 5-over 77. The National Honor Society member also plays tennis.
CHAD TORDONE
BARNSTABLE
The Cape and Islands MVP finished tied for seventh in the Div. 1 state final match while also placing third in the South sectionals. The five-time Cape and Island League All Star is also a three-year captain. The four-year high honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society will be attending Babson College to play Div. 3 golf next year.
BRANDON VITARISI
READING
The Middlesex League MVP had one of the greatest seasons in school history, going a perfect 11-0. The senior was tied for fourth with a 75 in the Div. 2 South sectionals and placed second with a 2-over 72 in the state finals. The honor roll student and National Honor Society member will attend Saint Anselm College to play golf.
CAPE AND ISLANDS
Chad Tordone, Colin Gleason (Barnstable); Jack Martin, Sean Kipperman, Max St. Aubin (Nauset); Jackson Rocco, Casey Huse, Christian Whittle (Monomoy); Chris Shanahan, Declan Norris, Gavin Powderly (Falmouth); Luke Silvia, Nick Rabani, Jack Debettencourt (Martha’s Vineyard); Mya Murphy, Jared Cole (Sturgis West); Colton Chambers. Bradley Knapp, Henry Kathawala (Nantucket); Ryan Weisner (Sturgis East); Ben Catalano, Tripp Germani (Cape Cod Academy); Michael Keif (Rising Tide); Jack Carstensen, Timmy Adams, Matt Curley, Sam Scioletti (St. John Paul)
MVP: Chad Tordone, Jack Carstensen, Henry Kathawala
CAPE ANN LEAGUE
FIRST TEAM: Deven Henehan, Paul Daley (Lynnfield); Colby Arel, Jack Oreal (Newburyport); Isabel Brozena (North Reading); Aidan Gray (Essex Tech); Mason Colby (Triton); Ty Southhall (Georgetown); Cooper Miller, Aidan Noonan (Hamilton-Wenham); Sam Kesterson (Rockport); Charlie Jepsen (Ipswich)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Isabel Brozena, Cooper Miller
CATHOLIC CENTRAL LEAGUE
Matt Costello, Matt Oliveira, Nathaniel Mello, Noah Cormier, Michael Zeller (Bishop Stang); Shea Newhall, Kyle Rush, Andrew Potter, Micah Hashikawa (St. Mary’s); John Kane, Gavin Walsh (Bishop Feehan); Aaron McCarthy, Brady Sullivan (Archbishop Williams); Louie Spychalski, AJ Picano, Mike Carter (Bishop Fenwick); Riley Reardon, Pat Clair (Arlington Catholic); Jai Karani, Ben Catton (Cardinal Spellman)
MVP: Matt Costello
CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
Ethan Addazio, Quinn Matthews (Malden Catholic); JJ Campbell, Charlie Fearing, Drew Garelick (BC High); Terry Manning, Seamus O’Holleran, Tripp Hollister (St. John’s Prep); Thomas Constantine, Connor Walsh, Quinn Dumas (Xaverian); Charlie Novack, Aidan Kelly (Catholic Memorial); Nic Gebhardt, Ronan Mooney, Savar Bhasin, Cael Duggan, Curtis McDonald (St. John’s Shrewsbury)
COMMONWEALTH ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Matt Tramonte, Liam Milne, Colin Lawson, Max Carpenter (Shawsheen); Jayden Auger, Noah Davidopoulos (Nashoba Tech); Derek O’Brien, Ben Morse (Minuteman); Ben Murphy, Aidan Low (Greater Lawrence); Cameron Carriea, Brian Curtis (Northeast); Dante Gentile, Evan Koes (Lowell Catholic); Jacob Torpey, Brody Simmons (Greater Lowell)
MVP: Matt Tramonte
DUAL COUNTY LEAGUE
ALL-LEAGUE: Erika Redmond (Concord-Carlisle); Spencer Kates (Wayland); Tristan Spiess (Boston Latin); Jason Ahn, Varun Murthy (Acton-Boxboro); Hugo Young (Lincoln-Sudbury); Maddie Smith (Westford Academy)
ALL-STARS: Zach Pelzar, William Balz, William Goldstein (Weston); Evelyn Parkerson, Richard Wells (Boston Latin); Jay Keenan, Connor Lent (Acton-Boxboro); Henry Behrens (Cambridge); Ilan Rashdan, Peier Li, Justin Davighi (Westford Academy); Nico Dischino, John Davis (Waltham); Matt Seney, Champa Vistesin (Lincoln-Sudbury); Will Spring, Ahrinn Desai (Concord-Carlisle); Caleb Hong, Dustin Whitaker (Newton South); Ryan Capobianco (Bedford) Jamie Lehr, Joey Burke (Wayland)
PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Erika Redmond, Spencer Kates
GREATER BOSTON LEAGUE
Frankie Annunziata, Chris MacDonald (Revere/Malden); DJ McDonough, Anthony Madarese (Medford); Emmett Easton (Somerville); John Crowley, Riley Driscoll, Jacoby Comeau (Lynn English); Kyle McKenna, Cooper Dalferro (Lynn Classical); Makenzie Powers (Everett)
MVP: Emmett Easton
HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE
Dane Holske, Bradley Lehtonen (Attleboro); Travis Thomas, Huck McCready (Canton); Zac Georgantas (Foxboro); CJ Steele, Caden Sullivan, Liam Lewandowski (Franklin); Evan Regan, Ethan Sullivan (King Philip); Brendan Vokey, Nate McClean (Mansfield); Anthony LaPierre, Jacob Hipolito (Milford); Tyson Laviano, Caiden Alberigo (North Attleboro); Braden Shapiro, Lucas Riley, Sean Kearns (Oliver Ames); Dylan Cummings (Sharon)
MVP: Ethan Sullivan
MAYFLOWER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
NORTH: Alex Dennehy, Mike Repucci, Dylan Roach (Blue Hills); Brady McCarthy, James Hoey (South Shore); Cooper Phillips, Matthew Cairns (Southeastern); Erik Larson (Tri-County); Sean Rideout (Norfolk Aggie)
MVP: Alex Dennehy
SOUTH: Matt Nawoichik, Asher Graff, Zephyn Johnson (Upper Cape); Owen Boutria, Cooper Spirlet (Westport); Devin Maloy, Donny Azar (Bristol-Plymouth); Bob Leach (Diman); Brayden Wright (Cape Tech)
MVP: Matt Nawoichik
MERRIMACK VALLEY CONFERENCE
Jacob Morgan, Lucas Jenney (Andover); Harry Garland (Central Catholic); Ryan Adams, Jake Lessard, Jacob Carlson (Chelmsford); Colin Underwood (Dracut); Tommy Murphy (Haverhill); Cooper Mohr, Tyler Faraz, Brendan Burke (North Andover); Matt Cooke (Tewksbury)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Brendan Burke, Jacob Carlson
MIDDLESEX LEAGUE
LIBERTY: Carson Muse, John Scully, Cole Cassidy, Brendan Buck, Julian Ragosa (Winchester); Brandon Vitarisi, Jack Murray, Brady Keaveney (Reading); Ryan Nortz, Rohen McKenzie (Belmont); Owen Shea (Arlington); Jeff Lo, Sabrina Wu (Woburn)
MVP: Brandon Vitarisi
FREEDOM: Bobby Cyr (Wilmington); Mitch Deveau, Daniel Crossman (Burlington); Joe Aronis, Charlie Conway, Ryan Fariq, Mike Taranto, Jacob Utter (Stoneham); Roddy McGillicuddy, Noah Fay (Melrose); Connor Jones, James Erickson (Watertown); Patrick Maloney (Wakefield)
NORTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
ALL-CONFERENCE: Bobby Fish (Danvers); Riley Fenerty (Salem); Tyler Feldberg, Cole Velardo (Masconomet); Joe Orlando, Drew Johnson (Gloucester); Charlie Grenier, Marty Ryan (Marblehead); Ryan Murphy (Winthrop)
ALL-STARS: Eli Wickham (Winthrop); Brendan Glowik, Bryce Clark (Danvers); Matt Ryder, Mike Ryan (Peabody); Simon Quicken, Jacob Hershfield, James Bickell (Marblehead); Ryan Jones (Saugus); Isaiah Francis, Nick Tarantino (Gloucester); Dylan Brother, Brenden Sheehan (Masconomet); Lucas Carbone (Beverly); Jason Bouffard (Swampscott)
GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Bobby Fish
PATRIOT LEAGUE
KEENAN: Owen Hamilton, Matt NeJame, Mike Yucuis (Duxbury); Carson Erick, JD Flynn, Drew Golden (Hingham); JD Ambrose, Justin Ford (Marshfield); Sam Magnarelli, William Sears (Plymouth North); Cam Cardarelli (Silver Lake); Blake Belcher (Whitman-Hanson)
MVP: Owen Hamilton
FISHER: Owen Barth, Joe Dacosta, Chris Doherty, Matt Reynolds (Hanover); Aidan Bridges, John Toland (North Quincy); Declan Battell (Pembroke); Matt Walsh (Plymouth South); Jack Dunn (Quincy) Meyer Gack, Tom McMellen, Luke Ryan (Scituate)
MVP: Chris Doherty
SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE
Will Gangi, Tom Moreira, Ian Emery (Dartmouth); Richie Thayer, Jack Balutis, Matt Lydon (Bridgewater-Raynham); Brady Sullivan, Devin Viera (Durfee); Ryan Sinnott, Ryan Walsh (Brockton); Craig Baptista, Luke Tarpey (New Bedford)
MVP: Richie Thayer
TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE
Rebecca Kriegsman (Ashland); Charlie Potter, Tim Hill, Sean Scannell, Mason Melchionda, Grant Mayer (Dover-Sherborn); Mikey McGovern (Holliston); Parker Winn (Hopkinton); Joey Nee, Aaron Ravech, Jack Branca, Sadie Cumming (Medfield); Owen Spellman, Gavin Shipos (Medway); Shawn Clary (Norton); Tommy O’Brien (Norwood); Lillian Guleserian, Gunther Guleserian, Patrick Dalton (Weston)
MVP: Charlie Potter
FORT MYERS, Fla. — It’s hard to imagine Garrett Whitlock’s spring getting off to a better start. The Red Sox right-hander made it three straight scoreless outings through the first week of games Saturday by sending down the Minnesota Twins 1-2-3 in the third during the club’s eventual 13-8 win.
Now, Whitlock will get ready to join Team USA ahead of the World Baseball Classic.
“I’m stoked. I’ve been jittery the past two days, like, ‘Oh man it’s almost here,’” Whitlock said. “Now I’ve got to go home, do some laundry and do some packing.”
Whitlock and teammate Roman Anthony will fly to Arizona on Sunday to join the rest of the American squad, which features Aaron Judge, Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes and many more of the game’s biggest stars. Team USA will play exhibitions against the Giants and Rockies this week before opening their tournament run in Houston against Brazil on Friday.
Among those Whitlock expects to be in Houston for the tournament is his father, Larry Whitlock, a veteran who saw combat during the Vietnam War. Whitlock said getting to represent his country is an amazing honor, and that sharing the news with his father that he’d been selected to the team last fall was an incredible moment for the family.
“I called him and I was just like, ‘Hey I want you to hear this from me before you hear it from anyone else, as a vet, I’m just so honored that I get to represent this country for baseball,’ and he kind of sobbed up and everything,” Whitlock said. “It was a very cool moment for me and him.”
“I’m actually the only male in my family not to serve in the military,” Whitlock continued. “My dad, my uncle, my brother, my granddad on both sides, so it’s a really truly special thing that’s close to my heart and that’s why it’s such an honor for me. Forget the stage and everything else, just to represent the country, obviously I’ll never be able to sacrifice like so many of our service members do, but the chance that we can hopefully bring them some joy in anything, it brings tears to my eyes thinking about it.”
To prepare for the tournament, Whitlock said he began his ramp up earlier than normal, throwing several live batting practices over the offseason when he’d typically wait until camp. The work was clearly evident through the first week of games, as Whitlock allowed just one hit in three innings with no walks and two strikeouts in his three Grapefruit League outings.
The next time he appears in a game the stakes will be a little bit higher, but if all goes according to plan, Whitlock won’t be back with the Red Sox for a while.
“It was funny, (USA manager Mark DeRosa) texted us like three days ago and he’s like, ‘Hey y’all better be packing for 18 days because we aren’t doing anything less.’ Kind of fired the guys up,” Whitlock said. “So I’m going to go home and you don’t realize how long 18 days is until you try to pack for it.”
Sonny Gray made his first start in a Red Sox uniform and wasn’t sharp, walking the first batter he faced on four pitches before ultimately allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over 1 1/3 innings. He threw 31 pitches, 13 for strikes, and allowed a solo home run to James Outman to lead off the second.
“I don’t like throwing as many balls as I did,” Gray said. “You walk the first hitter, four pitches, you know you’re not setting yourself up for success there.”
Gray escaped a potentially problematic first inning unscathed when he drew a 6-4-3 double play turned by Trevor Story and Nick Sogard to escape a bases-loaded jam. But after giving up the solo home run in the second, he allowed a single and was lifted after drawing a groundout to end his day.
Connelly Early took the mound in the top of the fourth for what was effectively his second “start” of the spring, and the rookie left-hander performed well again, throwing 2 2/3 innings while allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Early posted a 1-2-3 fourth, allowed a single and an RBI double in the fifth and gave up a single before finishing his outing with back-to-back strikeouts in the sixth. The inherited runner later came around to score, giving Early the second earned run, but the lefty still threw 27 of his 39 pitches for strikes and topped out at 97.1 mph on the radar gun.
“I’m just trying to keep building the workload and I want to hold the velo going into all three innings,” Early said. “I thought I did a pretty good job with that.”
Jarren Duran has been red hot over the first week of games, and Saturday he came through again by launching two more home runs, including a two-run shot in the first inning for the second straight day.
Duran went deep to right-center field, crushing a 2-2 fastball from Twins starter Taj Bradley 401 feet for the two-run shot. He followed that up with another two-run bomb off Kendry Rojas in the fourth inning, this one going 409 feet.
The outfielder finished 2 for 2 with the two homers, four RBI, a walk and three runs scored. Duran is now batting .583 with a 2.167 OPS for the spring.
Roman Anthony and Carlos Narvaez each went 2 for 3 with an RBI, Trevor Story went 1 for 3 with a triple and Max Ferguson hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh.
The Red Sox are now 5-3 in Grapefruit League and 3-0 against the Twins. Ranger Suarez will take the mound for the second time this spring on Sunday when the Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles. Aroldis Chapman, Justin Slaten, Wyatt Olds, Tayron Guerrero and Devin Sweet are all scheduled to pitch as well.
Applause and music echoed through the Hall of Flags at the Massachusetts State House Friday as lawmakers and community leaders gathered for the Black Excellence on the Hill and the Latino Excellence Awards.
The ceremony celebrates Black and brown residents committed to advancing economic equity.
“We’re honoring Black excellence,” said state Rep. Chris Worrell. “When we look at today, this is what it should look like. This is our house. Black people built this house, literally and figuratively.”
Honorees ranged from attorneys to former professional athletes. Nicole M. Bluefort of the Law Offices of Nicole Bluefort said she plans to use her platform to uplift others.
“I will use my advocacy skills as an attorney to move people forward,” she said.
Former NBA player Wayne Seldan Jr. talked about his journey from McDonald’s All American to a full scholarship at Kansas and a professional career.
“You always want to keep striving for continued betterment and for stuff to grow,” he said. “I don’t think there should be mountaintops. I think we should always be striving to keep building.”
The keynote address was delivered by Michelle Brown, mother of Jaylen Brown, who spoke about raising two children as a single mother and the importance of faith, discipline and education.
“There are no shortcuts. There are no guarantees,” she said. “There was faith, there was discipline, and there was a deep belief that education created mobility.”
Speakers emphasized that mobility is strengthened when communities work together for a common good. Bluefort highlighted the importance of mentorship and shared opportunity, while state Rep. Sally Kerans encouraged attendees to stand together across racial lines.
“In this moment, stand with others. Speak up. Don’t be afraid to say ‘That’s not normal.’ Be allies. Be supportive,” Kerans said.
Organizers said the ceremony was not only about recognition, but also about sustaining progress — encouraging leaders and residents alike to continue building toward a more equitable future.
Health
Massachusetts health officials have confirmed the state’s first two measles cases of the year, a school-aged child and a Greater Boston adult.
The Department of Public Health announced the cases Friday, marking the first report of measles in Massachusetts since 2024.
According to health officials, the adult who was diagnosed returned home recently from abroad and had an “uncertain vaccination history.” While infectious, the person visited several locations where others were likely exposed to the virus, and health officials said they are working to identify and notify anyone affected
The child, meanwhile, is a Massachusetts resident who was exposed to the virus and diagnosed with measles out-of-state, where they remain during the infectious period. Health officials said the child does not appear to have exposed anyone in Massachusetts to measles.
The two Massachusetts cases come as the U.S. battles a large national measles outbreak, which has seen 1,136 confirmed cases nationwide so far in 2026, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Our first two measles cases in 2026 demonstrate the impact that the measles outbreaks, nationally and internationally, can have here at home,” Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said Friday. “Fortunately, thanks to high vaccination rates, the risk to most Massachusetts residents remains low.”
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours and may even spread through tissues or cups used by someone who has it, according to the DPH.
Early symptoms occur 10 days to two weeks after exposure and may resemble a cold or cough, usually with a fever, health officials warned. A rash develops two to four days after the initial symptoms, appearing first on the head and shifting downward.
According to the DPH, complications occur in about 30% of infected measles patients, ranging from immune suppression to pneumonia, diarrhea, and encephalitis — a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the brain.
“Measles is the most contagious respiratory virus and can cause life-threatening illness,” Goldstein said. “These cases are a reminder of the need for health care providers and local health departments to remain vigilant for cases so that appropriate public health measures can be rapidly employed to prevent spread in the state. This is also a reminder that getting vaccinated is the best way for people to protect themselves from this disease.”
According to the DPH, people who have had measles, or who have been vaccinated against measles, are considered immune. State health officials offer the following guidance for the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine:
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