🌱 Why did Great Barrington suddenly hit Simon’s Rock with a big tax bill?

Hello Great Barrington! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why did Great Barrington suddenly hit Simon's Rock with a big tax bill?
• Why Elizabeth Freeman's new Town Hall kiosk matters for Great Barrington
• How a Great Barrington cornhole tourney is strengthening first responder bonds

Also on today's calendar: Mary Verdi presents The Angels Calling Tour and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one strawberry say to the other strawberry? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: A stray afternoon t-shower, with a high of 73 and low of 55 degrees.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and nice, temps: high: 77, low: 56.
• Thursday: An afternoon thunderstorm, with a high of 78 and low of 63 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Why Bard College at Simon's Rock property is now being taxed (masslive.com) — Great Barrington has reversed course and begun taxing the Bard College at Simon's Rock campus, sending a quarterly bill of more than $131,000 while the property is up for sale. Bard officials say the assessment is inflated and may force them to reconsider keeping public facilities like the Kilpatrick Athletics and Daniel Arts Centers open as they pursue legal remedies.
   

• Great Barrington unveils Elizabeth Freeman informational kiosk in front of Town Hall (theberkshireedge.com) — A new informational kiosk honoring Elizabeth Freeman now stands outside Great Barrington Town Hall, marking the site where she won her landmark freedom suit. Local and state leaders joined the Du Bois Freedom Center to celebrate her legacy and discuss efforts to designate August 22 as Elizabeth Freeman Day statewide, tying Great Barrington's history to broader conversations about democracy and racial justice.
   

• For Berkshire first responders, the cornhole classic was about more than the trophy (berkshireeagle.com) — First responders from across the Berkshires gathered in Great Barrington for the inaugural "The Toss" Cornhole Classic, where the hometown fire department claimed the trophy. Held at Barrington Hall and hosted by State Rep. Leigh Davis, the free event focused on building trust and camaraderie among fire and ambulance crews who usually meet only under emergency pressure.
   

📸 Around Great Barrington

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Great Barrington

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★ Featured events ★

Tuesday August 25
• Berkshire Opera Festival - Lucia Di Lammermoor →
  Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle St, Great Barrington
  7:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday August 27
• School Committee Meeting
  Berkshire Hills SD Great Barrington, MA 01230
  6:00 pm
Friday August 28
• Berkshire Opera Festival - Lucia Di Lammermoor →
  Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle St, Great Barrington
  7:30 pm
Monday August 31
• Boys Varsity Golf vs Mount Greylock Regional School
  Monument Mt Regional High Great Barrington, MA 01230
  4:00 pm
Thursday September 3
• Varsity Soccer Girls @ Housatonic Regional
  Monument Mt Regional High Great Barrington, MA 01230
  4:00 pm
Friday September 4
• Boys Varsity Golf vs Pittsfield High School
  Monument Mt Regional High Great Barrington, MA 01230
  4:00 pm
• Girls Varsity Volleyball @ Wahconah Regional High School
  Monument Mt Regional High Great Barrington, MA 01230
  4:30 pm
Wednesday September 9
• Brown Bag Groceries/Food Bank of Western MA, for eligible participants →
  Claire Teague Senior Center, 917 S Main St, Great Barrington
  1:00 pm
Saturday September 12
• Mary Verdi presents The Angels Calling Tour →
  Saint James Place, 352 Main St, Great Barrington
  6:00 pm

📣 Great Barrington Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday August 25
• Sing & Dance with South Berkshire Kids
  Bushnell-Sage Library Community Room , 48 Main Street, Sheffield\
  10:30 am
• Family Storytime
  Stockbridge Library Association MA
  10:30 am
• Children's Craft: Strawberry Handprint
  Stockbridge Library Association Stockbridge Library, 46 Main St., Stockbridge, MA, 01262, Uni
  11:00 am
• Berkshire Fiber Friends
  Bushnell-Sage Library Community Room , 48 Main Street, Sheffield\
  4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Great Barrington PatchAM possible:

• Heart Path Yoga, LLC — (240) 731-1519

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Blue Rider Stables FUN DAY!
  Aug 30. French Park, North Egremont, MA 10:30 -4 Pony rides! Bounce House! Hay Rides! Food! Fun! (Nextdoor Sheffield/Egremont)
• Hi there!
  I am looking into piano lessons for my six year old daughter. If anyone has any guidance we would be so grateful! Thank you! (Nextdoor Sheffield/Egremont)

• Dunkin' posted a job opening for Shift Leader in Great Barrington. Apply here.
• Staples, Inc. posted a job opening for Assistant Store Manager in Great Barrington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Great Barrington here.

🗞 Nearby News

Stockbridge

• PETER MOST: The South County Disconnect (theberkshireedge.com)

Sheffield

• Mount Everett will host UMass Amherst's first early college program (berkshireeagle.com)

Lee

• Do you have what it takes to be a ninja warrior? You can now test your skills at the NinjaFit Playground in Lee (berkshireeagle.com)
• Summer Wrapping Up for Pittsfield, Berkshire Students (iberkshires.com)
• Overnight I-90 repairs and painting scheduled in Lee, Blandford (wwlp.com)

Ok Great Barrington! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: If you weren't so sweet, we wouldn't be in this jam! (Thank you Patti F. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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