Al-Anon meeting Mondays: Weekly at 7:30 p.m. Mondays at 469 Main St., opposite St. John’s Church.
The New England Equestrian Center of Athol (NEECA) invites everyone interested in equestrian activities in the North Quabbin region, to the General Meeting of members on Wednesday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Environmental Center, 100 Main St. After reviewing the accomplishments of the last year, we’ll introduce the many events planned for this coming year. NEECA event coordinators will be on hand to discuss their events, answer questions, and take registrations. After the business meeting, Jo Bunny from Horseback & Body Massage Therapy will speak at 7:30 about the benefits of massage therapy for the maintenance and rehabilitation of your horse. There will be a great door prize; refreshments will be available, and we encourage you to stay and socialize after the meeting is over.
The New England Equestrian Center of Athol is a municipal horse park easily accessed from Massachusetts Route 2. We sponsor a variety of equestrian events for horse-people of all disciplines and abilities, and offer our multi-ring, 230 acre property for lease to other equestrian organizations. For more information, see our Facebook page or visit us online at NEECA.org.
Celebrate Recovery: A 12 step program open to all seeking freedom from hurts, hang-ups and habits. The program meets Tuesdays, 7 p.m., New Testament Church, 500 Main St. For more information, call Mike M. at 978-249-3024.
Smoking Cessation: The group meets Mondays, 6 to 7 p.m. in the Athol Hospital dining room. Quitting is more successful with support. For more information, call 978-249-3511.
Fun Aerobics: Fun Aerobics takes place Tuesdays, 5 to 6 p.m. Buckland Town Hall. Instructor is Ann Doty. Cost for eight week session $15/session for seniors from Ashfield, Buckland and Shelburne; $20/session for others and participants younger than 60. Bring hand weights and your water bottle.
Community Clothes Closet: Clean and gently used clothing available to the community at the First Baptist Church’s schoolhouse building, next to the church, 83 Foundry Village Road, ongoing on Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. Donations accepted. However, all items free.
Overeaters Anonymous: Meets Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m. both at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Conference Room A, and Monday, 5 p.m., St. James Episcopal Church Street. For more information, call Linda at 625-6488.
The Salasin Center: The center, 474 Main St., is the home of the Greenfield Women’s Resource Center and Family United Network F.U.N. Center: Mondays, 1 to 3 p.m., Women’s Peer to Peer Writing Group. Tuesdays, Women’s Center Open Hours, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., and Journey Dance, 1 Osgood St., 5:30 to 6:30. Wednesdays, 1 to 2:300 p.m., Peer to Peer Parent Support Group (free child care); 2:30 to 4:30, Women’s Center Open Hours, 4:30 to 6:30; Drum Circle (call Strong Oak at 961-9167 for more information before attending this program). Thursdays, 1 to 3 p.m., Peer to Peer Art Group; 4 to 6, Family F.U.N. Center. All ages welcome. For more information, contact Stacey at 774-4307, ext. 4, or slangknecht@wmtcinfo.org.
MEGAdance Zumba Fitness: Mondays and Thursdays, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Guiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St. First class is free. For more information, call Megan at 552-6288 or visit Facebook at MEGAdance Zumba Fitness.
Cub Scouts Pack 3: Meets Mondays, 6:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, 43 Silver St. All boys in grades 1 to 5 are invited to come and join the fun and adventure of Cub Scouting. New members can join at anytime. For more information, call Mark Maloney at 773-8618 or John Passiglia at 773-3757.
Greenfield Zen: Meets Mondays, 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Green River Yoga, 158 Main St. All are welcome to join as participants practice sitting and walking Zen meditation. Both group and individual instruction is offered; beginners are invited to come at 7 for initial instruction. Suggested donations of $5 to cover expenses is appreciated, but not required. Several cushions/chairs are available to share. Contact Paul Sonier at 665-0278 or prajna801@icloud.com.
Debtors Anonymous: Tuesday, 6 p.m., The RECOVER Project, 68 Federal St. This is a 12-step program designed to help transform one’s relationship with money. For additional information, call 773-5608.
Green River Yoga: Yoga for Relaxation classes at Green River Yoga, 158 Main St. First class free for new students. Monday, 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., Gentle Yoga for Everyone and Thursday, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Over 50 Yoga classes will be at Green River Yoga, 158 Main St. On Wednesdays, Women’s Yoga offered from 5:45 to 7 p.m., Community Yoga, 16 Federal St. All classes offer individualized instruction in gentle stretches/yogic breathing. For more information or to receive a brochure of these and other classes, contact Jean Erlbaum at 773-9744 or jean.erlbaum@verizon.net
Zen Meditation: Tuesday, 7 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, 9 to 11:30 a.m., Green River Zen Center, Studio B, second floor, 158 Main St. Open to the public. For more information, call 256-1549 or visit www.greenriverzen.org.
NELCWIT Support Group: Monday Morning Around the Coffee Table, drop in from 10 to 11 a.m. for women who are or used to be in abusive relationships. Free and confidential. For more information, call 772-0871 or visit www.nelcwit.org.
Yoga For Life: In West Leyden: Mondays, private therapeutic session, mornings or evenings; Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., seasonal balancing class/workshops. Call for each season. Diverse styles also available. Call Linda Romano for listing at 624-3334. First session in any class chosen is free.
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group: The group meets the third Tuesday of the month at Congregational Church at the common from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the basement. The group is affiliated with the Alzheimer’s Association MA/NH chapter. The group is open to all persons caring for an individual suffering from Alzheimer’s type dementia. For more information, contact Michael or Marjorie Paton at mmpaton@yahoo.com or call 498-5995 or www.alz.org.
Kiwanis Club: Meets Mondays, 6 p.m. for a social get-together, followed by meeting at 6:30. The club meets October to April at Town Hall. New members welcome. Call 498-5921.
PVRS Weight Room: Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Wheeler Memorial Library: Mother Goose on the Loose, Mondays, 10:30 a.m., at the library, 49 East Main St. For children birth preschool and families. Make music, learn rhymes, sing songs. Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Rise and Romp Storytime. Stories, finger plays, make a craft. 978-544-2495, ext. 103. No registration required.
CFCE Playgroups: Free CFCE Playgroups for families with young children who live in West County. Mondays, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School and Thursdays, same time, at Trinity Church. First Friday of the Month Family Playgroup from 5 to 7 p.m., Cowell Gym, 15 Maple St. All play groups follow the public school calendar. For more information, contact Melissa Pincus or Helene Uprichard at 625-6194 or mepincus@mohawkschools.org.
Free story hour: Enjoy stories, songs and craft activities with your children and other families/caregivers at the MN Spear Memorial Library on Mondays, 10 to 11 a.m. led by Julie Stepanke. Story hour for children, infants to age 5, and is sponsored by the library and Union 28 Community Network for Children. For more information, contact the CNC office at 978-544-5157 or email budine@erving.com.
Yoga classes: Pure Yoga & Wellness Studio, 10C Elm St., offers classes in Yoga, Kidz Yoga program, Pilates, Core-Fitness Tai Chi, Reiki, Seimei and massage. The first class is free. Contact Jody Fontaine at 824-9435 or info@pureyogawellness.com.
Weekly Knitting Circle: The Knitting Circle, a free knitting club, meets Mondays, 10 a.m. to noon, in the Lane Reading room of the Sunderland Public Library. Open to people of all ages and skill levels. Each week members receive free knitting lessons, get help with difficult patterns, share ideas, learning kills. The group often work on charity projects. For more information, contact the library at 665-2642.
The Sunderland Public Library is hosting a free Zine Making Event on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Zines are little magazines or fanzines that tell stories about a particular subject using mixture of writing and art. Zines can tell any story you want, and can be created in any creative format you want. This event is geared towards teens ages 11 to 18. Sign up by visiting or calling the Sunderland Public Library, 20 School St., 665 2642.
School Year Playgroups: Frontier Regional CFCE will have school year playgroups for infants and children up to age 5 and their caregivers, Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Sunderland Elementary School, now to June 10. Exceptions: school vacations and winter school closings. Early release Fridays in the school district will not affect Friday Playgroup.
Parent 2 Parent Support Group: This peer support group meets at 78 Avenue A on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. for a light meal. Childcare is provided while parents meet for peer support in the Women’s Center, 41 Third St. For more information, contact Taryn at 863-4804, ext. 1002, or email basicneeds@mcscommunity.org.
Basic Needs Program: The program, at Montague Catholic Social Ministries, is open Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, for resources and referrals. To leave a message or to make an appointment, call 863-4804, ext. 1002. To access Basic Needs, buzz 103 at the Moltenbrey entrance on Third Street.
Al-Anon Support Group: For friends and families of alcoholics. Meets Mondays, 7:30 to 9 p.m., United Church parsonage, 97 Main St.
Free Reiki Sessions: Breast cancer patients and survivors in Franklin County are eligible to receive free individual Reiki sessions, thanks to a grant from Rays of Hope. Reiki practitioners will offer sessions on Saturday mornings at 474 Main St., Suite 2. Reiki is described as a healing energy therapy, which can help provide relaxation and energy, decrease pain or anxiety, and promote physical, mental and emotional health. Reiki is received through a series of light hand placements on the client’s fully clothed body. For an appointment, call 774-9925.
Community meals: Salvation Army Free Community Meals and Drop-in Center. Open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Breakfast from 8 to 10. Lunch 11 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Tuesdays and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday to Friday. Coffee always on. All welcome to come in out of the heat or cold.
Community meal is served Mondays at 5:30 p.m., Our lady of peace Church, Seventh Street. Free meal sponsored by Franklin County Community Meals.
Second Helping Supper: Mondays, St. James Episcopal Church, 8 Church St. Doors open at 5 p.m., supper served at 5:30. Sponsored by St. James Episcopal Church, Deerfield Academy and Franklin County Friends for the Homeless.
Loaves & Fishes: free hot meal, Mondays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m., Bethany Lutheran Church, Cheney Street, Orange, sponsored by Franklin County Community Meals Program.
Community meal: Tuesdays and Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Second Congregational Church, Court Square, Greenfield, sponsored by Franklin County Community Meals Program. Volunteer groups interested in assisting in the preparation of the meal or anyone who wants more information about the community meal can call 772-1033 or write: P.O. Box 172, Greenfield, MA 01302.
Free community meal: every Friday at 5:30 p.m., Trinity Church, Severance Street, Shelburne Falls.
A community meal is served at Holy Trinity Church, 177 Main St., Greenfield, on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Doors open at 5:15 p.m.; dinner served at 5:30.
Stone Soup Cafe: meal at All Souls Church, Greenfield, on Saturdays at noon this is the only community meal on the weekend in Franklin County. As a pay what you can offering, those who can afford to make a donation may do so while others who cannot are never discriminated against or turned away. Food includes vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Rep. Paul Mark office hours: Mark hosts office hours at various Franklin County town halls this year. Mark, or his aide, hold office hours Mondays at the GCC Downtown Center, 270 Main St., Room 119, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday at the Charlemont Town Hall, 9 a.m. to noon, and Northfield Town Hall, 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment. For more information, call 464-5635.
Employability workshops: The Literacy Project, in collaboration with the Franklin Hampshire Career Center and the Regional Employment board, holds workshops on Mondays, 1 to 4 p.m., to prepare young people, ages 16 to 24, and all Greenfield residents, no matter what age, for the workforce and higher education. Workshops take place at 15 Bank Row, Suite D, Greenfield. Includes guest speakers and field trips. If eligible, students can enroll in free GED classes at GCC and participate in a paid internship. Contact Amber at 774-3935.