CHP ParentChild+ Program Accepting South Berkshire Families

08:49AM / Monday, July 29, 2024Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — ParentChild+, a CHP Family Services program for school-bound toddlers and their parents/caregivers, is accepting new enrollments in Southern Berkshire.

The free home-based program provides peer mentoring for parents/caregivers and their young children, age 16 months to 3.5 years, who will be heading to pre-school or kindergarten in the next year or two. The program runs in parallel with area school calendars.

Parent Child+ families meet twice weekly for 30-45 minute with an early learning mentor who shares reading and creative play skills that support child development.

Mentors share reading resources and play skills that support child development and socialization, which help with eventual success in school.

ParentChild+ is a free, nationwide mentoring program that helps young children (ages 16 months to 3 years), and their families get ready for the transition to school. Participants in ParentChild+ through CHP Family Services must reside in Southern Berkshire County (Lenox and south). Spanish-language mentors are available as well.

There are no income requirements, and all are welcome.

For information contact Katelyn Parks, (413) 528-0457, or visit https://chpberkshires.org/parent-child-home-program/.

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Elevated Mercury Level Found in Center Pond Fish

11:41AM / Friday, December 19, 2025

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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