April 1, 2022
Announcements
Recycling for Monday, April 4th: Paper and Cardboard
Recycling for Monday, April 11th: 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 2022 calendar or you can pick them up at the Post Office, or Town Hall
QUICK LINKS
Upcoming Meetings

Tues. April 5, 2022 - Board of Health - 5:00 PM
Zoom

Tues. April 12, 2022 - Conservation Comm. - 7:00 PM
Zoom

Wed. April 13, 2022 - Board of Selectmen - 6:00 PM
Hybrid

PLEASE NOTE!

Baby Town Meeting – Saturday, May 14, 2022 – 10:00 AM at Town Hall
Annual Town Meeting – Wednesday, May 18, 2022 – 7:30 PM at the Richmond School
Town Elections – Saturday, May 21, 2022 – 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM at Town Hall
RICHMOND SCHOLARSHIPS - APPLY NOW!
May 1 is the deadline to apply for one of the Richmond scholarships, and both graduating seniors and college students at any level are eligible, providing they are year-round residents of Richmond.

One application form covers all the scholarships. Forms should be returned by mail or in person to Patricia Malnati, State Road, Richmond. They are available at Bartlett's Orchard, the post office, Town Hall and the Richmond Free Public Library.
Mary Pope Osborne,
author of the "Magic Tree House" series and many more children's books, will be speaking at the West Stockbridge Town Hall on Saturday, April 16th at 11:00 a.m. 

All are welcome to attend. For more information, please call the Richmond Library and ask for Kristin, 553-7795. 

West Stockbridge Librarians, Vicky Cooper and Rachel Alter, have planned this special children’s program and they have graciously invited the Richmond Library to participate.  
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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.
Staying Warm This Winter
BCAC Can Help
                                                      
Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)’s Heating Fuel Assistance Program, provides income eligible households with help paying their heating bills. The program is accepting applications now through April 30th.
 
Homeowners and renters may both be eligible. All primary heating types may be eligible for assistance, including oil, propane, kerosene, coal, cord wood, wood pellets, natural gas and electric.
 
Any household whose gross yearly income falls at or below the program income guidelines for the number of people in the household may be eligible. For example, a household of one can have an income of up to $40,951; a household of two can have an income of up to $53,551; a household of four can have an income of up to $78,751; and, a household of five can have an income of up to $91,351.
 
BCAC has funding available to serve all eligible households. Once a household is determined to be eligible for fuel assistance, it may also be eligible for BCAC’s Heating System Repair and Replacement and Home Weatherization Assistance Programs.

Eligible households may also be eligible for BCAC’s Refrigerator and Washing Machine Replacement Program, which replaces older high energy using models with new energy efficient ones.
 
For more information, individuals can call BCAC at 413-445-4503 Monday - Thursday from 9am to 3pm; or the 24-hour information line at 1-866-216-6200. The website is: www.bcacinc.org.
Free Well Water Testing for PFAS Through MassDEP
Massachusetts residents can apply for free water testing today!

MassDEP is offering private well owners an opportunity to receive free testing for PFAS compounds in communities where 60% or more of the consumers use private wells.

The link to apply for free sampling is https://dwp-pfas.madwpdep.org.

NEWS FROM THE RICHMOND RECREATION COMMITTEE
The Ping Pong Tourney is back this year on Friday April 8th.
Registration at 5:00 PM - Games begin at 6:00 PM
at the Richmond Consolidated School Gym
$5.00 per person or $15.00 for Families
Play for all ages
Pizza and refreshments will be available.
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.
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR FIRE CHIEF
An urgent reminder from Chief Traver - winter is here - it's time to get your chimney cleaned and replace the batteries in your CO2 and Smoke Detectors.

Please also be sure to come to Town Hall and pick up the house number sign you ordered through Chief Traver once he has called to advise you that the sign is ready. Signs are $20.00 and may be paid for in cash or a check made payable to Scott Kimple.
MESSAGES FROM YOUR BOARD OF HEALTH

The Richmond Board of Health has issued a masking directive to help further protect against the COVID-19 virus and its new variant Ba.2 omicron. Please click here to read. This mask requirement for Town buildings will continue for the time being but will likely be removed at the April 5, 2022 meeting of the Board of Health.

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.

As you may be aware, the Biden Administration is offering free rapid tests to all residents in the United States. The pre-order period for the at-home COVID-19 tests via www.covidtests.gov has begun. 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

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
Click Here for COVID-19 Information and Helpful links
Pediatric Vaccination:
The CDC and FDA have approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. For additional information visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccinations-for-children-ages-5-11

Registration will be through the on-line COLOR registration system. The link to register for all Berkshire County clinics is: https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/berkshire.
All information about clinic schedules, eligibility, and registration will also be posted publicly on: www.GetVaccinatedBerkshires.org.
Families may register for any of the county clinics; families are not restricted to a specific school clinic. Second shot clinics will be held three weeks after the first. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged, as there may not be enough vaccine at a given clinic for walk-ins.
All children must be accompanied by an adult to receive their vaccine. If they are not accompanied by their parent or legal guardian, the parent or guardian must have pre-registered and signed the consent on-line. On-site registration will not be permitted without a parent or guardian present. Your child will be expected to stay for a 15-minute observation period following their vaccination. Although children may experience milder side-effects such as fever, fatigue, headaches, chills, diarrhea, muscle and joint pain, severe side effects are rare. See the attached fact sheet for more information. Please have your child wear a short-sleeved shirt and prepare them for the vaccination and waiting period.

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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THE LATEST 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.
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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. Starting January 1st, patrons will only be able to access Ancestry in the library, using a library computer to search their family history. 
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
Living In Richmond









Police Department - Firearms Permits
During the Chief's absence from November 10, 2021 through April 15, 2022, all applications for firearms permits will be processed by Tracy Dunn.

Call Tracy at 413-884-2820 for an appointment. Your completed application and a check or money order,
payable to the Town of Richmond, are due at your appointment.

Chief Bullett will still be available at this time if you have any questions. He can be reached at 413-822-5971 or 413-698-2691.

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.

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.
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.