Community Corner
🌱 Why did Great Barrington suddenly hit Simon’s Rock with a big tax bill?
Be sure to catch Berkshire Opera Festival - Lucia Di Lammermoor on the Great Barrington Patch calendar
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!)
- 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
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Great Barrington
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Berkshire Opera Festival - Lucia Di Lammermoor →
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle St, Great Barrington
7:30 pm
Tuesday August 25
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- School Committee Meeting
Berkshire Hills SD Great Barrington, MA 01230
6:00 pm - Berkshire Opera Festival - Lucia Di Lammermoor →
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle St, Great Barrington
7:30 pm - Boys Varsity Golf vs Mount Greylock Regional School
Monument Mt Regional High Great Barrington, MA 01230
4:00 pm - Varsity Soccer Girls @ Housatonic Regional
Monument Mt Regional High Great Barrington, MA 01230
4:00 pm - 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 - Brown Bag Groceries/Food Bank of Western MA, for eligible participants →
Claire Teague Senior Center, 917 S Main St, Great Barrington
1:00 pm - Mary Verdi presents The Angels Calling Tour →
Saint James Place, 352 Main St, Great Barrington
6:00 pm
Thursday August 27
Friday August 28
Monday August 31
Thursday September 3
Friday September 4
Wednesday September 9
Saturday September 12
📣 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
- 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
Tuesday August 25
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! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 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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