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October 29, 2021
Announcements
Recycling for Monday, November 1st: Paper and Cardboard
Recycling for Monday, November 8th: Cans, Bottles, Plastics, Other:
Please place trash and recyclables in an easily accessible location by 7:00 AM. Contact the hauler directly at 442-8390 with questions or concerns. Please note: the trucks used are dual functioning. Trash and recyclables are collected together but placed in separate compartments within the truck. Please click here to see the 2021 calendar or you can pick them up at the Post Office, or Town Hall
QUICK LINKS
Upcoming Meetings

Tues. November 2, 2021 - Board of Health - 5:00 PM

Tues. November 9, 2021 - Richmond School Cte. - 6:00 PM
Zoom

Tues. November 9, 2021 - Conservation Comm. - 7:00 PM
Zoom

Wed. November 10, 2021 - Board of Selectmen - 6:00 PM
Hybrid
GRANT PROPOSALS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

The Richmond Cultural Council is seeking grant proposals for community-oriented arts, humanities and science programs.

Application forms for organizations, schools and individuals are available online (http://www.massculturalcouncil.org) or email RichmondMACulturalCouncil@gmail.com for a direct link.

The Richmond Cultural Council is part of 329 local cultural councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth.
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR TAX COLLECTOR
Just a friendly reminder that tax bills and sewer betterment payments are due on November 1st.
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR FIRE CHIEF
An urgent reminder from Chief Traver - with winter coming on it's time to get your chimney cleaned and replace the batteries in your CO2 and Smoke Detectors.
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR BOARD OF HEALTH
The Richmond Board of Health has issued a masking directive to help further protect against the COVID-19 virus. Please click here to read
COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSOCIATION
Weekly Blood Pressure Clinic Schedule:
Every Wednesday from 9:00-10:00 AM at the Town Offices, 21 State Line Road, West Stockbridge.
 
Every Thursday from 9:00-10:00 AM at the Richmond Congregational Church, State Road, Richmond.
Info: Emilie Jarrett RN, 413-232-0122 or
UPDATE ON COVID-19 Information
The FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program: Any COVID-19 related death that occurred after January 20, 2020 is eligible for assistance with expenses up to $9,000 per funeral, or a maximum of $35,000 for assistance related to more than one death.

RESOURCE: We’ve created a webpage with more information about the program, links to FEMA guidance, fact sheets in multiple languages, and information about obtaining or amending a death certificate in Massachusetts: https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance
ADVICE FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL

The COVID Delta variant is more contagious and causes more severe disease among people who are not vaccinated. The Delta variant is now responsible for 83% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to the nation’s top health officials.

“A pandemic of the unvaccinated” is how Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has described the current condition of COVID-19 in the U.S.

The best way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community from the coronavirus and its variants is to get vaccinated!
UPDATE ON COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS

Please contact 1-855-BMC-LINK (1-855-262-5465) to speak with a trained healthcare professional about COVID-19 symptoms, testing, or vaccination.

Booster Shots
COVID-19 Vaccine booster shots are available for the following Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients who completed their initial series at least 6 months ago and are:

Where Can I Get a Booster?
The federal government's Vaccines.gov website lets you search for vaccine and booster providers by zip code, with links to appointments, and many sites permit walk-ins. Many county health clinics, doctor's offices and pharmacies, including large chains like CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, are taking vaccine appointments, and lots of them offer walk-in vaccinations. 

Check with Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington and BMC in Pittsfield for booster shot appointments.
New Masking Policy
BHS is requiring all patients and visitors entering a BHS facility to wear a new medical-grade mask issued by BHS. This mask order has been mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
By distributing new masks, we can be confident that the masks of all patients and visitors have not degraded or been soiled or compromised. Masks will be issued at the entries to all inpatient and outpatient facilities and will also be available at the front desks of our BHS practices.
New Visitation Policy
Visitation will now be limited to one healthy visitor per patient at both BMC and Fairview Hospitals in adult medical/surgical units and in pediatrics.
No changes are being made to visiting hours, which continue to run from 12:00 Noon to 8:00 PM daily in the adult medical surgical units and from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Critical Care and Progressive Care units. Please visit this link to view the current visitation policy. https://tinyurl.com/VisitationUpdate-2021-08-04

Vaccination Reminder
Vaccines are available at the following BHS locations:
Pittsfield COVID-19 Testing Center 
505 East Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Sunday-Saturday, 8:30am-7:30pm.
(Between 4:00pm and 7:30pm, vaccines are administered at Urgent Care.)
North Adams COVID-19 Testing Ctr. Fairview Hospital in Gt. Barrington
98 Church St., No. Adams, MA 01247 29 Lewis Ave., Gt. Barrington, MA 01230
Sunday-Saturday, 8:30am-4:00pm Monday-Friday, 9:00am-2:00pm

Walk-ins are welcome at all vaccination locations. Learn more at

Testing Reminder
Every day of the week at:
Pittsfield COVID-19 Testing Center North Adams COVID-19 Testing Center
505 East Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 98 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247
Sunday-Saturday, 8:30am-4:00pm Sunday-Saturday, 8:30am-4:00pm
Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington
475 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
Sunday-Saturday, 8:00am-12:00pm

Please remember, you must schedule an appointment for a test. 
Call 1-855-BMC-LINK or schedule your appointment directly through the BHS Patient Portal. Turnaround time for tests is typically 24-36 hours. Learn more at https://www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/covid-19-testing-centers.
RICHMOND LIBRARY
THE LIBRARY IS NOW OPEN REGULAR
(pre-COVID) HOURS

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 – 7:00
Saturdays 9:00 – 2:00

Don’t forget that WIFI is available in the Library parking lot.    
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HOW TO SIGN UP FOR WOWBRARY
If you would like to read an online magazine, just go to https://cwmars.overdrive.com/collection/184768 . You will need to sign in using your library card number. If you don’t know the number, please call the library.
 
The Boston Public Library has a lot to offer and you qualify because you live in Massachusetts! Interested, click here, https://www.bpl.org/online-resources/

You can sign up for a Boston Public Library eCard here: https://www.bpl.org/ecard/
Ancestry Library Edition
The Richmond Library is once again offering patrons access to Ancestry.com. Patrons can use their devices or use a library computer to search their family history. For a limited time, Richmond patrons can access Ancestry remotely using their Richmond Library card and password. 

Go to http://www.richmondfreepubliclibrary.org/ancestry.php and click on AncestryLibrary at the bottom of the page. Then type in your library card number and password/pin. If you don’t know your card number or password, please call the library. 
The Richmond Free Public Library
Offers museum passes for local museums on a first come, first served basis. Patrons may not reserve the passes. (The only exception to this rule is during the Hancock Shaker Village Baby Animal Days.) 

The passes admit 2-4 people per pass for free or discounted admittance. They are due back the next open library day by 9:30 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays and by 9:00 AM on Saturdays. 

Pass letters are given out for specific days and aren't reusable. Currently we have passes or letters for the following museums: Arrowhead, The Berkshire Botanical Garden, The Berkshire Museum, Chesterwood, The Clark, Hancock Shaker Village, Mass MoCA, The Mount and the Norman Rockwell Museum and The Trustees sites including Naumkeag and the Mission House and a pass to the Bidwell House Museum and to the Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio.
Please call the library for more information.  
Kristin Smith, Director, Richmond Free Public Library
2821 State Road, Richmond, MA 01254
PH. (413) 553-7795
South Berkshire Kids is excited to announce
…Hello Berkshire Baby!!
South Berkshire Kids has created a free baby literacy bag filled with board books and resources for parents of babies who were born in the past year. The literacy bags are available at the Richmond Library. Please call the library to pick up a bag for your little one!
group_kids_computer.jpg
Tumble Book Library
The Richmond Free Public Library has a subscription to TumbleBookLibrary, and children can access it from home by going to the Richmond Free Public Library website: http://www.richmondfreepubiclibrary.org ! It’s unlimited, and it’s FREE!

The Library's Subscription to TumbleBook will expire on October 31st.

username: richmondfree
password: libra
Donate to Help Build our New Town Building 
with a New Home for the Library!
 
We met the match! Promises of $50,000 were received and we earned the full $50,000 match! Thank you so much to everyone who has given or promised.
 
Help us continue to grow the amount we will contribute to the new home for our Richmond Library!
 
Gifts are tax deductible. Checks to fulfill promises should be submitted by October. New contributions are welcome and needed! Your checks should be made out to Friends of the Richmond Library and please mark your check — Building Fund send it to:
Richmond Free Public Library
2821 State Road 
Richmond, MA 01254
Attn: Friends of the Library
(413)553-7795
Richmond Consolidated School
Living In Richmond
Police Department - Firearms Permits
Please call Chief Bullett at 413-698-2691 or 413-822-5971 to make an appointment. You will need a completed application and a check payable to the Town of Richmond at the time of your appointment.

Download application here.
NOTICE FROM THE FIRE CHIEF

Massachusetts General Law requires that all homes have 911 signs with the correct street address number posted at the end of the driveway and on the building. Call Fire Chief Steve Traver at 413-329-7153 to arrange for a sign. Signs cost $20.00 each.
Council on Aging - Transportation Program
We're back in business - Call if you need a ride
If you need a ride, please call (413) 553-7793. Give us a week's notice, tell us when and where you need to go, and we will provide you with that service. Click HERE for rate schedule and policies.
Useful Links
Please make sure you are registered for code red

Click the link to the left to be taken through the step-by-step process of creating an account.

If you don't have access to a computer call the Town hall and we will help.