Town of Richmond
News from Town Hall
April 21, 2017
Dates of Importance in April & may:
Thursday April 27, 2017: Last day to register to vote in the local elections.
Saturday May 6th, 2017: Baby Town Meeting at Town Hall/10:00 am
Wednesday May 17, 2017: Annual Town Meeting at the School/7:30 pm
Saturday May 20, 2017: Town Elections at Town Hall/11:00 am-7:00 pm
LENOX ROAD UPDATE:
Spring is finally here, and with it comes phase two of the Lenox Road construction project.Reclaiming of the asphalt and re-paving along the road began the week of April 10th.
Construction will take place during the entire month of April, and into early May. Signage and message boards will once again be placed in prominent locations in and around the area to alert drivers.The road will be re-opened at the end of construction every day.
Please keep checking the e-news regularly for updated information throughout the Spring!
Dog Licenses
All dog licenses from the 2016/17 year expired on March 31st.License(s) renewed now will carry a late fee of $5.00 each.
Please also remember that if your dog’s rabies vaccination has expired, you will need to provide an updated rabies vaccination certificate from your veterinarian.Those can be faxed anytime to: 413-698-3272
Burning Permits
Open Burning Season has now begun and will run until May 1st. Per state regulation, open burning is only allowed from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.
To obtain a permit, log on to www.bcburnpermits.com and fill out the short application then click to submit. Once issued please print out the permit and keep it on your person while burning. There is no fee for the permit. Please note that permits are only good for one day and must be obtained between 7:30AM and 1:00PM. If weather conditions are not favorable for burning the system will not issue permits for that day.
For those without internet access, permits can be obtained by contacting Fire Chief, Steve Traver at (413) 531-8837.
RICHMOND RECREATION COMMITTEE
Reach the Beach celebrated its 10th Anniversary last year
The Richmond Recreation Committee has decided to re-imagine this event to reach even more of the community. The Recreation Committee is teaming up with the RCS PTO and community volunteers to plan a fun June event.
The day will be held at Richmond Consolidated School, and will be designed to have something for everyone in the Richmond community. Questions? Contact Rachel Kanz at .
THE RICHMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY!
We are offering reproduction vintage postcards with 12 different views of our town. A packet of 12 is available for $10.00 – or a single viewfor $1.00For choice of scenes please see the poster at the Richmond Free Public Library or log on to https://www.facebook.com/townofrichmondma/
For more information or to purchase these postcards please call Virginia Larkin at 698-2881. Great to send to your out-of-town friends and/or enjoy adding to your Richmond souvenir collection. Thank you!
SPORTS AND MEDIA FANS….AND EVERYONE
Save This Date – Friday, April 28th!
Neal Pilson, former president of CBS Sports, and current Richmond Selectman, will be the guest speaker at the Richmond Historical Society (RHS) meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 28th, to which the public is invited. The event will be held at the Richmond Congregational Church on the lower level with parking available in the back.
Sports play an important role in our culture, be it MLB, NCAA, NASCAR, NFL, PGA, or the Olympics. While at CBS, Neal was instrumental in negotiating contracts with and overseeing production for all the major sports franchises. He will tell stories that only insiders in the sports world can and show us special videos from his days at CBS.Prizes will be given to folks who ask the best questions!
Although there is no entrance fee, donations will be accepted. Please note; your donation will give you a raffle ticket to try your luck for a $25.00 gift card from Dick’s Sporting Goods! The winning name will be drawn at the end of this meeting.
Mr. Pilson’s talk is the first of three scheduled to be held during the year to celebrate the Society’s 25th anniversary.Keep watching for further information.
Important Notice to High School Seniors, College Students:
Graduating seniors, college students and graduate school students who are year-round residents of Richmond are eligible to apply for various Richmond scholarships.
One application form covers all eight scholarship funds, and forms are available at Town Hall, Bartlett's Orchard, Richmond Free Public Library and the post office. You can also access the application from the town website home page at www.richmondma.org. Completed forms should be returned to Patricia Malnati, State Road, Richmond. The deadline is May 1.
A New Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary For the Berkshires!..Right Here In Richmond:
http://www.massaudubon.org/our-conservation-work/land-conservation/success-stories/a-new-wildlife-sanctuary-for-the-berkshires!#.WKN-oB0HwRQ.facebook
Recycling/Trash
Recycling for Monday, April 24th 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 contacting 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.
“How to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Common Household Items and Dispose of Household Hazardous Materials”
A booklet, available on the Town Website Home Page, www.richmondma.org answers all your questions.
If you have any questions about recycling, please visit our website at www.springfieldmrf.org,
2017 Mini-site Collections
Saturday, May 6 - 8:30 - 11:00 AM
Great Barrington Recycling Center
Gt. Barrington - Transfer Station, Rt. 7, across from Monument Mountain HS
Saturday, June 3 - 8:30 - 10:30 am
Lenox Dept. of Public Works
Lenox - DPW, 275 Main Street, Route 7A, across from Mass. Highway Dept.
Wednesday, June 28 - 4 - 6:30 PM
Great Barrington Recycling Center
Gt. Barrington - Transfer Station, Rt. 7, across from Monument Mountain HS
[Dates are Subject to Change]
Acceptable Materials - Used motor oil, Oil based Paints, Spray Paint, Turpentine, Stains, thinners (No Latex Paint)
Not Accepting: Latex Paint, paint brushes/rags, Medical Wastes, Asbestos, Fireworks & Explosives, Ammunition, Gas Cylinders, Smoke Detectors, Radioactive Material, Fire Extinguishers, Empty Aerosol Cans, PCB's
Pre-registration mandatory: . Or call CET at 413-445-4556 ext. 14. Register online: http://www.cetonline.org/events/
Council on Aging News
COA Director
Phyllis’ office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday- 9:00 AM– 3:30 PM. She can be reached at 698-3656 or at .
ONGOING CLASSES:
Exercise Classes with Christine Faber:
Mondays—3:30 PM @ Richmond Cong. Church—Yoga
Wednesdays—3:30 PM @ School—Tai Chi
Thursdays—11:15 AM @ Town Hall— Osteo Exercise
Fridays—3:30 PM @ Town Hall—Line Dance (April 21ST is CANCELLED)
Want to join? Sign up with Christine at 413-243-2497 or
MAY IS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH!
Come Celebrate with Us!!
Thursday, May 4th – 12:00 Noon
St. Patrick’s Church Parish Hall, Rte. 41, West Stockbridge
The Richmond and West Stockbridge Councils on Aging present an afternoon of music, food, fun and camaraderie.
A catered lunch at 12:00, followed by an upbeat musical program celebrating summer with seasonal sing-alongs; Swing, Pop and Country Classics performed on guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele and harmonica by Roger Tincknell.
A $10.00 per person fee will be collected at the door. Please call in advance and reserve your seat: Phyllis LeBeau-413-698-3656 or John Zick, 413-232-0137.
[Sponsored in part by a grant from the Richmond Cultural Council, a local agency, supported by the Mass. Cultural Council, a State agency]
Meals on Wheels
The Elder Services of Berkshire County "Meals on Wheels" menu for April
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 at 413-445-4503 or visit their website at https://bcacinc.org/. All correspondence is strictly confidential.
Note to Donors:
Donations to the Food & Fuel Fund when donated to the Richmond Congregational Church and earmarked for the fundare tax deductible.
To donate, contact Holly Stover at 698-2673.
Richmond Consolidated School
The Richmond town clean upand pancake breakfast Saturday, April 29th.
The Pancake Breakfast will run from8:00 - 9:30,followed by the clean-up,which will end at 11:30. All proceeds from the breakfast with be donated to the Emergency Fuel Fund.
Please note thatthe Pancake Breakfast is for everyone to attend,not just those who participate in the clean-up.Also,inthe event of rain, the Pancake Breakfastwill still be held,but the clean-up will not.
However,map routes and garbage bags will be distributed at breakfastso that you will have the necessary supplies to clean at a later time that works best for you.See you then!
Follow this link to read about some exciting changes for Richmond Consolidated School
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/richmond-consolidated-sees-big-changes-with-improved-arts-tech-and-foreign-languages,498807
Richmond Consolidated Pre-School Program
Accepting Applications for 2017-2018 School Year.
All Richmond residents who will turn 3 by September 1, 2017 are eligible for enrollment in our preschool program. Please contact Monica Zanin, Principal,
School Newsletter
If you are interested in receiving the school’s weekly newsletter and other updates please contact Natalie Gingras at and ask her to add you to the distribution list or access the website at http://www.rcscares.org/news-letter/.
HELP WANTED – VOLUNTEER EMTs/FIREFIGHTERS
The Town needs more volunteer EMT’s and/or Firefighters from Richmond or bordering communities. If you are interested, or know someone that is, please call us today! No experience is necessary, we will train you. You will be joining a great group of experienced volunteers of all ages and skill levels. Call Chief Traver today at 413-531-8837 or EMT applicants can call Brian at 413-212-2112.
Vacancies on Town Boards
The Town is seeking applicants interested in filling the following board/committee vacancies: The Conservation Commission needs to fill two alternate seats; the Affordable Housing Committee is seeking two new members and the Agricultural Commission and the Sewer Advisory Committee, are still each seeking one additional member. We also have an opening for the Town’s Field Driver, which is a volunteer position.
The Richmond Conservation Commission is seeking two alternate members to fill in for regular members’ absences and create a quorum.
Anyone interested in serving in any of these capacities should contact Mark Pruhenski, Town Administrator, at 698-3882 or by email at .
WEEKLY TOWN HALL NEWSLETTER BY MAIL
In order to accommodate those residents of Richmond who do not have computers, Town Hall is thinking of doing a limited mailing of its weekly Newsletter to them. If you, or someone you know, cannot access the newsletter any other way than by regular mail, please send your request with the name and address and phone number to:
Mark Pruhenski, Town Administrator, Town Hall, 1529 State Road, Richmond, MA 01254
From the Tax Collector
The fourth quarter fiscal year 2017 real estate, personal property and sewer betterment bills and the fiscal year 2017 annual sewer operation and maintenance bills were mailed March 28th. Payment on these bills is due on or before May 1st. To properly credit payments, the fiscal year of the bill (2017), the type of bill (e.g. real estate, personal property, etc.) and the bill number must be provided with the payment if the ‘Collector’s Copy’ of the bill is not returned with the payment. Unpaid bills will be subject to Demand bills that will be issued shortly after May 1st.
The initial group of motor vehicle excise tax bills for 2017 and what should be the last group of motor vehicle excise tax bills for 2016 were mailed February 1st and were due on or before March 3rd and the follow-up Demand bills were due February 3rd. Warrant bills will be issued the week of April 24th for unpaid Demand bills.
The second group of 2017 motor vehicle excise tax bills was mailed April 14th and are due on or before May 15th.
The Board of Assessors controls the names and addresses on the real estate and personal property tax bills. If there are name or address errors on those bills, please contact the Board of Assessors in writing to have any necessary changes made. The names and addresses on the sewer betterment and sewer operation and maintenance bills derive from the information on the real estate tax bills transferred by the Board of Assessors to the Collector for printing and mailing.
Richmond Police Department
FID Cards
Application forms for FID cards are located on the Richmond website – www.richmondma.org. Click on Town Departments, Police Department – FID Permit Application Form appears at the bottom of the page. Fill out completely, following instructions on the form, and submit to Town Hall.
Information on renewing/applying for an FID card can be obtained by contacting Chief William Bullett, Richmond Police Department at 698-2691.
The Community Health Association Hea
Lyme Disease: What you Need to Know:
The CDC has prepared a comprehensive pamphlet on everything you need to know to protect yourself, your family and your pets from Lyme Disease. It is anticipated that this season will be an especially bad one for tick-borne diseases. You can access the pamphlet and other information at the CDC website: www.cdc.gov/Lyme or call them at 1-800-232-4636.
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
Richmond Free Public Library
Tuesdays-10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Thursdays-10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Saturdays-10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Programs at the Library:
Richmond Free Public Library celebrates 125 years!
Kate Baldwin was the winner of our Spring Raffle Basket. Congratulations Kate! All patrons who visit the library are entered in our seasonal raffle for a chance to win a seasonal basket valued at $125.00 in celebration of our 125th year!
The library is issuing a day pass letter to the Hancock Shaker Village during their Baby Animals exhibit. We have one letter to pass out per day and it is good for free admission for 2 adults and 2 youths – children 12 and under are free. Although we normally do not take reservations for museum passes, we do for the Hancock Shaker Village Baby Animal event, so please call the library to reserve a letter today.