By Nathaniel Ratnasamy, MD, and Gina Bailey, BSN, RN
There has been concern about measles cases in various parts of the United States and a significant uptick worldwide. According to the CDC, 2025 was the most active year for measles since 1992, and this trend is continuing into 2026. There were 2280 confirmed U.S. cases in 2025, and as of February 12, 2026, there have been 910 confirmed cases. There have been 5 new outbreaks reported in 2026, and 90% of confirmed cases (822 of 910) are outbreak-associated (62 from 2026 outbreaks and 760 from 2025 outbreaks).
Join Joy from Corson Communications each month, February-April, for Family Storytime in ASL. Learn and experience American Sign Language through stories, games and interactive play. All are welcome and no registration is required. Dates are: Mondays, March 2 and April 6, at 6:00 p.m.
MEDIA RELEASE__World Goods Et Cetera—formerly Ten Thousand Villages, a non-profit retail store in Bluffton—has invited Carole Elchert, an artist who has traveled to Nepal for decades, to exhibit her photos in the store during the month of March.
The public is also invited to meet Carole and discuss her travel experiences and photographic work on March 26 at 6 p.m. at the 115 South Main Street shop.
MEDIA RELEASE__Writer and author Melissa Herrera will present the English Festival Forum, “Uncensored: Writing Beyond the Conservative Bubble I Lived In,” at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10, in Yoder Recital Hall.
Herrera will discuss writing about immigration, racism and daily life for a newspaper in a conservative community, while also reflecting on her book chronicling her husband’s experience as an undocumented immigrant.
