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Town of Richmond
News from Town Hall
May 25, 2018  
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Recycling for Monday, June 4th will be paper.
Please place your trash and recyclables in a location that is easily accessible for the hauler to collect. Also, please have your trash and recycling out by 7:00 AM to ensure that it is collected . If, for some reason it is not collected, the hauler encourages you to contact them directly at 442-8390 rather than calling Town Hall.
 
In addition, please be aware that the trucks used by the hauler are dual functioning trucks in that trash and recyclables are collected together but placed in separate compartments within the truck.
 
 WHAT'S NEW IN RICHMOND?
 



 
2018 MINI SITE COLLECTIONS:
              
SATURDAY, JUNE 2ND - 8:30 - 10:30 AM - LENOX DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS
                     275 Main Street, Route 7A, Across from Mass. Highway Dept.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20TH - 4:00 - 6:30 PM - GREAT BARRINGTON RECYCLING CENTER

PLEASE OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING:
ACCEPTABLE ITEMS:  Used motor oil, oil-based paints, spray paint, turpentine, stains, thinners (no latex-water based) .
UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS : Latex or water-based paint/stains, paint brushes/rags, medical waste, asbestos, fireworks & explosives, ammunition, gas cylinders, smoke detectors, radioactive material, fire extinguishers, empty aerosol cans, PCB's.
 
  TOWN REPORTS HAVE ARRIVED: You can pick up a copy during regular town hours, or you can download an electronic version 
at:   http://cms6.revize.com/revize/richmondma/document_center/RICHMOND%20TOWN%20REPORT%202017.pdf
 
 

Berkshire County Mosquito Control
 
A new procedure is in effect: if a resident wishes not to have their area sprayed for mosquitos, they must now make a request through the state Dept. of Agricultural Resources in Boston, either by email or regular mail. There are some residents, particularly beekeepers, who wish to opt out of spraying.
 
TO OPT OUT ...
To decline mosquito control measures, go to:  Pesticide Exclusions Application website

TO REQUEST SPRAYING OF PERSONAL PROPERTY...
Homeowners who believe they have too many mosquitoes can request pesticide application by phone or email. Mosquitoes are considered a nuisance when three to five land on a person within a minute.
 
Information: (413) 447-9808, berkmc@bcn.net or find Berkshire County Mosquito Control Project on Facebook



 
RICHMOND CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL STUDENTS CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY: After honoring Corporal Reynolds at the parade, grades 7 & 8 visited the Iwo Jima museum on their trip to DC! 











CONCERT: "RAISING THE ROOF": The Richmond Congregational Church is holding a Concert to raise funds to repair the roof on Saturday, June 16th at 7:00 PM at the church.

Ron Barron, Linda Worster, Marjorie Dix, Renee Harvitt, Doug Schmolze and Mark Kelso among many others will provide the music. Donations will be greatly appreciated.
 

The Community Health Association & The Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol Program is jointly sponsoring  and invite you to Dinner and a Free Workshop:
                   "Protect Yourself from Medicare Fraud."

Healthcare errors cost consumers and Medicare billions of dollars annually. A representative from the Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol Program will present a workshop and discussion on how to prevent, detect, report healthcare errors, fraud and abuse. This free information workshop will provide you with the tools to become a more informed and engaged healthcare consumer.
 
Cost: Workshop itself is free of charge - $10.00 per person for the buffet-style dinner
When: Wednesday, June 6th, 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Where: Richmond Congregational Church 1515 State Rd. Richmond, MA 01254
~Reservations are required~
When making your reservation, please indicate if you are planning to join us for both the dinner and workshop or the workshop only.
To make a reservation, contact Emilie Jarrett RN: Tel 413-232-0122; email: Emilie@charws.com
This program is supported in part with ACL grant no. 90-MP0226-03-01.
 
 
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:  The Town is still in need of a Field Driver and additional volunteers to assist in the occasional round-up of livestock when a local farmer is in need.  If you or someone you know is interested in being on a call-list to serve when the need arises, please contact our Town Administrator at 698-3882, or townadmin@richmondma.org
 
The Town is also in need of a representative interested in local transportation :  This position would require attendance at quarterly meetings to represent the town's interests and would work closely with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.  If you or someone you know is interested in serving in this capacity, please contact our Town Administrator at 698-3882, or townadmin@richmondma.org
 

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MEETINGS/OFFICE HOURS AT TOWN HALL
 
Monday, June 4th - Planning Board Meeting - 6:30 PM
 
Tuesday, June 5th - Board of Assessors Hours - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
 
Tuesday, June 5th - Finance Committee Meeting - 2:00 PM
 
Tuesday, June 5th - Board of Health Meeting - 6:00 PM
 
Wednesday, June 6th - Board of Health Agent Hours - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
 
Wednesday, June 6th - Building & Zoning Hours - 9:30 - 11:00 AM

Wednesday, June 6th - Board of Assessors Hours - 1:00 - 4:00 PM 

Thursday, June 7th - Sewer Advisory Committee - 5:00 PM
 

 
 
 
 
The Community Health Association:  
 
Weekly Blood Pressure Clinics
 
The Community Health Association offers Blood Pressure Screenings every Thursday from 9:00 - 10:00 AM at the Congregational Church. No appointment needed. For more information contact Emilie Jarrett, RN: 413-232-0122 or via email at Emilie@charws.com.
 
 
 
 
 
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Council on Aging News            
 
COA Director
 
OFFICE HOURS :
Monday - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Thursday - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM. 

698-3656 or at COA@richmondma.org .
 
       
      
COUNCIL ON AGING TRANSPORTATION SERVICE  
                                            
T he Council on Aging has increased the suggested cost per ride for its van service and clarified the extent of the area our vans will cover. Ride fees are, as always, suggested:
 
Any town in Berkshire County
          Suggested Fee Per Ride: $5.00
 
Rides Outside of Berkshire County:
Northampton - Cooley Dickenson Hospital or the Veteran's Hospital
          Suggested Fee Per Ride: $10:00
West Springfield - Specialist Office
          Suggested Fee Per Ride: $10:00
Springfield - Baystate Medical Center
          Suggested Fee Per Ride: $15:00
Albany - Albany Medical Center
          Suggested Fee Per Ride: $10:00
         
The Council on Aging is not able to provide rides to and from destinations outside of the acceptable distances listed above. Our drivers are volunteers, not paid for their time, it would, therefore, be unacceptable to ask them to devote an entire day to a ride taking 2-1/2 or more hours each way.
 
For transportation outside of our acceptable area, it is suggested that private arrangements be made with friends and family. Alternatively, you can contact the ambulance companies and arrange transportation with them - very often the cost of such rides is covered by medical insurance.
 
 
senor_group_with_sign.jpg ONGOING CLASSES:                                          
 
Exercise Classes with Christine Faber:
Mon.-3:30 PM @ Richmond Cong. Church-Yoga
Wed.-3:30 PM @ School-Tai Chi
Thurs.-11:15 AM @ Town Hall- Osteo Exercise
Fri.-3:30 PM @ Town Hall-Line Dance
Want to join? Sign up with Christine at 413-243-2497 or rfaber9@msn.com
 

Meals on Wheels
 
The Elder Services of Berkshire County "Meals on Wheels" menu for May
is available on line at www.esbci.org/mow/current.pdf and on the COA bulletin board at Town Hall.
 
Need Food and/or Fuel Assistance?
 
You may be eligible for financial assistance from your friends and neighbors right here in town. Contact the Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC) at 413-445-4503 or visit their website at https://bcacinc.org/. All correspondence is strictly confidential.
 
New Federal Fuel Assistance Income Limits for Fiscal Year 2017:
Household Size                   Gross Annual Income
     1                                             $34,001.
     2                                             $44.463.
     3                                             $54,925.
     4                                             $65,387.
     5                                             $75,849.
     6                                             $86,311.
     7                                             $88.272.
 
Please Note: Persons in Richmond eligible for emergency fuel assistance are also eligible for food assistance through the South Congregational Church Food Pantry located at the rear of the building at 110 South Street in Pittsfield.
 
Pantry hours are: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 - 11:00 AM and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 - 6:00 PM.
 
 
  Richmond Consolidated School
 
Follow this link to read about some exciting changes for Richmond Consolidated School
 
 
School Newsletter
 
If you are interested in receiving the school's weekly newsletter and other updates please contact Natalie Gingras at ngingras@richmondconsolidated.org and ask her to add you to the distribution list or access the website at http://www.rcscares.org/news-letter/.
 
 
 
Richmond Reads

A free parent/child playgroup for children up to age 5 meets Thursdays from 9:30 -10:30 AM in the School Library. Activities include circle time with stories, felt board and songs, and table top time with manipulatives and crafts. For information contact Jessica Maloney, South Berkshire Kids Program Coordinator, By phone 413-464-5095 or by email: southberkshirekids@gmail.com
 
 
 
 
From the Tax Collector      
 
Real estate, personal property , sewer betterment, and sewer operation and maintenance bills for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 were due on May 1, 2018. Payments that are not received by that date are subject to late payment interest. Interest begins to accrue immediately following May 1st and is charged at the annual rate of 14%. Please contact the Tax Collector for the amount that is due after May 1st.
 
Please insure any payment made through a third party, such as a bank, clearly shows the bill year (2018), the bill number and the type of bill.  If paying the bill directly, please include the 'collector's copy' of the bill with your payment. Payments received without a reference as to the year, tax type or bill number will be returned. 
 
Initial, demand and warranted motor vehicle excise tax bills have been mailed based on several 'commitments to collect' issued to Richmond by the Registry of Motor Vehicles.  Please do not ignore these bills!  Significant fees and interest can accumulate on bills not paid by the due date.
 
Motor vehicle excise tax bills that have been warranted, now need to be paid through the Deputy Collector's Office. The Deputy Collector, Arthur P. Jones, can be reached at (413) 527-2388 or online at  www.apjones.com.  
 
 
 
 
Richmond Police Department        
 
FID Cards
 
Application forms are located on the Richmond website - www.richmondma.org . Go to "DEPARTMENTS" at the top of the page. Scroll down to Police Dept., click on that - form is at the bottom of the page that opens.
 
A reminder that the completed application and a check or money order made payable to the Town of Richmond must be submitted at the time of the appointment.
 
Chief William Bullet is available via telephone for questions regarding the application at 413-698-2691 or 413-822-5971.  
 
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Richmond Free Public Library       
LIBRARY HOURS:
 
Tuesdays and Thursdays:
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
 
Saturdays:
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
 
Programs at the Library:
                    
Donation of Books
The library is now accepting adult fiction books.
 
 
 



 


 

In this Edition
 
Recycling Reminder / What's New in Richmond?
 
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