Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax Perform at April Hill to Benefit Greenagers

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SOUTH EGREMONT, Mass. — Yo-Yo Ma and Emmanual Ax return to April Hill on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. with their fourth benefit concert in support of Greenagers, a local nonprofit serving area youth with paid outdoor jobs and education programs. 
 
Held on the scenic grounds of April Hill at 62 Undermountain Road, proceeds support Greenagers' programs that empower youth while caring for the land and community.
 
Concert guests are invited to arrive early with their own meal; complementary beverages will be available.
 
All ticket purchases support Greenagers' mission.
 
Tickets are $1,000 (Sustainers; $960 tax-deductible) or $500 (Trailblazers, $480 tax-deductible). Sustainer tickets include priority seating and post-concert reception.
 
In a joint statement, Ma and Ax said: "Greenagers is the best of Berkshire culture-remembering our past as it imagines and builds our future. We work with our hands all the time, and so we are especially excited to add a little support to Greenagers, where young people learn to use their hands to make the Berkshires a more wonderful place for all of us." 
 
Concert guests are invited to extend their Greenagers experience by joining in the Second Annual Greenagers Gala on Friday, Aug. 15, 5:30 p.m. This is a separate event requiring a separate ticket purchase. 
 
"The gala is a refreshing change of pace designed for connection, learning, and celebrating the impact of youth work and education in our region," said Greenagers Executive Director Will Conklin. "Then on Sunday, return to the grounds of April Hill for Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax under the sunset sky."
 
Tickets and more information can be found at https://greenagers.org/concerttickets/  and at https://greenagers.org/summergala
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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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