July 29, 2022
Announcements
Town Beach Update
 
Due to acts of vandalism to the floating dock and beach parking lot we will be locking the gate at 6:00 p.m. Please be sure you are out of the beach by that time.
 
The dock has been removed for the remainder of the season as it now needs multiple repairs. 
 
We apologize for the inconvenience to those of you who follow the rules. We are hopeful for a better season next year. 
 
If you know anything about the recent acts of vandalism please reach out to the Town Administrator.

Recycling for Monday August 1st: Cans, Bottles, Plastics, Other
Recycling for Monday, August 8th: Paper and Cardboard
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 2022 calendar or you can pick them up at the Post Office, or Town Hall
QUICK LINKS
Upcoming Meetings

Tues. August 2, 2022 - Board of Health - 5:00 PM
In Person

Tues. August 2, 2022 - Phase II Bldg. Cte. - 6:00 PM
Zoom

Tues. August 9, 2022 - Conservation Commission - 6:30 PM
Zoom

Wed. August 10, 2022 - Board of Selectmen - 6:00 PM
Hybrid

OPEN SEATS ON THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Conservation Commission Members Needed: Join a great team and get to visit properties around Richmond. The Commission meets monthly with occasional site visits and is charged with protecting our ground (drinking) water quality, wildlife, ponds and streams, and prevent flooding via MA Wetlands Protection Act regulations. We are also charged with protecting our scenic mountains and watersheds above 1300 ft. elevation via the MA Scenic Mountain Act.
 Training can be provided

One Associate Member is needed.

Contact Ron Veillette, Chairman at 413 698-3411 or Shep Evans, Agent at 413 553-7792
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Richmond Land Trust
Sixth Annual Photo Contest 2022
Get Out Your Cameras!
 
The Richmond Land Trust’s annual photo contest celebrates the beauty of the community. Besides the incredible vistas we all share, there are also the smaller parts of outdoor life that make us stop and smile. The contest is open to amateur, young and professional photographers.
 
Photographs must be taken in the town of Richmond and in the time period from January 2019 to August 2022. First and Second place will be awarded in each category. The entry deadline is August 8, 2022. Prizes will be gift certificates to local businesses. There is no entry fee.
 
Finalists will be announced at the end of August, with prize winners announced at the annual Richmond Land Trust Pie Social in September.
 
To download a copy of the form and rules, go to the website richmondlandtrust.net. For questions about the contest, please send them to richmondlandmass@gmail.com.
 
Go to richmondlandtrust.net for all past winning entries.
        
Update on the New Town Center Building

As you may have seen, preliminary work has begun at the new Town Building site. We will be sending regular updates on the project beginning in the coming weeks, including pictures of our progress.

Meanwhile, please note that the site is not open to the public, so please do not go onto the property. Thank you!
NEW NOTICE FROM THE TOWN CLERK
In order to make voting more convenient, Richmond has placed an official ballot box outside the Town Hall where you can drop off your ballots at any time.
COMBINED RICHMOND AND
WEST STOCKBRIDGE COUNCILS ON AGING
SUMMER IS HERE AND SO IS THE COA PICNIC!

It's August and the Combined Richmond and West Stockbridge Councils on Aging Annual Picnic is coming on Friday, August 19, 2022 at 12:00 PM

There will be a Caricaturist to entertain and the food will be catered by Pleasant and Main Restaurant. Feel free to bring your usual covered dish or dessert if you wish.

Please contact Phyllis at 413-441-1106 or via email at coa@richmondma.org to make your reservation by August 15th so that we can be sure to have a correct headcount for the caterer. See you there!
THE RICHMOND COUNCIL ON AGING IS URGENTLY SEEKING
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS

If Iyou have free time during the week and are looking for a way to "pay back" to your community - volunteering for the Council on Aging transportation service is a very rewarding way to do it.

Please call Phyllis LeBeau at 413-441-1106 or email her at coa@richmondma.org if you are interested or have any questions.
If you need a ride, please call (413) 553-7793. Give us a week's notice if you can, tell us when and where you need to go, and we will pick you up at home, take you there and bring you home.
Click HERE for rate schedule and policies.
EXERCISE CLASSES - SCHEDULE
Monday - Yoga - 3:15 - 4:30 PM at the Church
Wednesday - Tai Chi - 3:15 - 4:15 PM at the Church
Thursday - Weights - 11:15 - 12:15 PM at Town Hall
Friday - Line Dance - 3:15 - 4:15 PM - at Town Hall

Call Christine at 413-243-2497 or email her at rfaber9@msn.com to sign up.
RICHMOND LIBRARY
LIBRARY 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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NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY
Hotspots at the Richmond Library
Ever wish you could take the Internet with you? Borrow a library Hotspot! Please call the library for details. The Hotspots are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act grant and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
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!
Donate to Help Build our New Town Building 
with a New Home for the Library!
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
COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSOCIATION

UPDATE ON COVID-19 Information
MESSAGES FROM YOUR BOARD OF HEALTH

The Richmond Board of Health would like to remind everyone that the COVID pandemic is not over!

Admittedly, numbers of cases are declining, but the Board strongly recommends that everyone continue to maintain social distancing in all indoor situations, and continue to wear masks indoors except when at home.
There is a new app available on your I-Phone that can alert you immediately to your possible exposure to the COVID viruses. Go to "Settings" scroll down to "Emergency SOS," exposure notification should appear under that heading. Follow the prompts to register.
COVID-19 Tests at no Cost

As you may be aware, the Biden Administration is offering free rapid tests to all residents in the United States. Every household in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free and will usually ship in 7-12 days.
Please visit www.covidtests.gov to submit an order and learn more

People with Medicare can now get up to eight tests per calendar month from participating pharmacies and health care providers for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

People with Medicare can get additional information by contacting 1-800-MEDICARE and going to: https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus
Click Here for COVID-19 Information and Helpful links
Richmond Consolidated School
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Now registering Preschool and Kindergarten students for the 2022-2023 school year. District policy states that children must be 5 years old as of Sept. 1, 2022, to enter Kindergarten. 

Children who are 3 years old as of Sept.1, 2022 are eligible to attend our Preschool program based on a lottery system. Parents or guardians of eligible children should call the school office at 413-698-2207 for more information. 

Preschool and Kindergarten screenings and orientation will be held at a later date: information will follow.
 
If you suspect your child may have special needs and is three years old or older, please call the Special Education Director, Mary Shook, at 413-698-4001. to schedule an evaluation.
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Richmond has Spring Fever!

Flower Power seeds and bulbs are a great way to bring beautiful blooms to your home and support our PTA.

Bulbs, seed mats, vegetables and vertical flower hanging bags are all in the catalog and shipped directly to your door.

Use this link http://RCS.fpfundraising.com to see the on-line catalog. Thank you for supporting our school PTA.
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 or money order payable to the Town of Richmond, at 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.
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.