Great Barrington Invites Participants to Join Senior Tax Work-off Program

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Great Barrington residents age 60 and older are invited to participate in the town's Senior Tax Work-off Program to earn up to $1,500 off their FY23 property tax bill.
 
Participants can work a few hours each week with the town in jobs such as office/clerical support, gardening, library help and other positions.
 
There are no income restrictions for participants in this program, and all resident property owners are welcome.
 
Work can be completed anytime during the period of September 2021-August 2022. Hours worked are tallied based on the state's minimum wage, and this amount is applied to the third and fourth quarter of the FY23 property tax bill, up to $1,500.
 
The town is now accepting applications, which can be downloaded here, on the town website. Application forms may also be picked up at Town Hall during business hours.
 
Completed forms may be returned to Amy Pulver, via email (apulver@townofgb.org) or dropped off at Town Hall. Applicants will be contacted by phone for next steps. Those who have participated in the past need not reapply, but should notify Amy Pulver.
 
Examples of skills/work needed in town include:
  • Computer/technology: scanning and archiving, digitize files, data entry
  • General clerical: answering phones, filing, taking minutes
  • Library shelving, delivering books
  • Gardening
  • Maintenance
The Senior Real Estate Tax Work-off Program operates in many towns across the state to assist residents 60+ in offsetting their property tax bills.

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Elevated Mercury Level Found in Center Pond Fish

BECKET, Mass. — The state Department of Public Health has issued an advisory after a mercury-contaminated fish was found in Center Pond. 
 
According to a letter sent to the local Board of Health from the Division of Environmental Toxicology, Hazard Assessment and Prevention, elevated levels of mercury were measured in the sample taken from the pond. 
 
The concentration in the fish exceeded DPH's action level of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram, or parts per million. 
 
"This indicates that daily consumption of fish from the waterbody may pose a health concern. Therefore, DPH has issued a FCA for Center Pond recommending that sensitive populations should not eat chain pickerel and all other people should limit consumption of chain pickerel to 2 meals/month," the letter states.
 
The letter specifically points to chain pickerel, but the 60-acre pond also has largemouth and smallmouth bass and yellow perch.
 
The "sensitive populations" include children younger than 12, those who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant.
 
The Toxicology Division recommends reducing intake of "large, predatory fish" or fish that feed on the bottoms of waterbodies, such as largemouth bass and carp. More information on safely eating fish can be found here
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