Al-Anon meeting Mondays: Weekly at 7:30 p.m. Mondays at 469 Main St., opposite St. John’s Church.
Danielle of the Cozy Tea Cart will be at Athol Public Library on Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Large Program Room. “The Basics of Tea with Danielle Beaudette.” Ever wonder about the differences between white, green, oolong, and black teas, or loose tea versus tea bags? Come learn about the different types of tea and production processes while you enjoy tea samples from around the world along with delicious scones.
Beaudette is the owner of The Cozy Tea Cart in New Hampshire, and is one of the first 15 individuals in the world to be certified as a tea specialist through the Specialty Tea Institute, N.Y. She has researched and learned first-hand about the production of tea through her Asian tea travels. Her tea shop in Brookline, N.H. sells only the finest, high quality, freshly imported teas, and has earned the title of “Best of NH” from New Hampshire Magazine. Free and Open to the Public. Registration required. Call 978-249-9515.
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.
Corn Fritter/Pancake Breakfast will be served Sunday from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at United Church of Bernardston, 58 Church St. All you can eat: corn fritters, pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee, tea and milk. Adults $8, children 4 to 13, $3, children 3 and under free. Tickets at the door. Bake sale and drawings at the breakfast. Fundraiser for Team III, You’ll Never Walk Alone: Dwight family & friends.
Fun Aerobics: Fun Aerobics takes place Tuesdays, 5 to 6 p.m. Buckland Town Hall. Instructor is Ann Doty. Cost for eight-week session is $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.
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.
Morning yoga at the Montague Retreat Center with Lisa Enzer. Tuesdays 9 a.m. Begins April 5. First class free. Contact 367-2658 to register.
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.
School Year Playgroups: Frontier Regional Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Program (CFCE) Free Drop In Playgroup. For children up to 5 and their caregivers. Each Tuesday and Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Sunderland Elementary School, Swampfield Drive. Call Karen Green at 665-1151, ext. 46 with questions.
This program is sponsored by Frontier Regional CFCE Program which is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and the Sunderland Public Library. This material does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Mass. Department of Education or the federal government.
On Saturday, April 2, the Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) will host master diver Annette Spaulding to discuss her recent petroglyph discovery beneath the Connecticut River. Spaulding will be joined by members of the Nolumbeka Project who will discuss Native American history in this region. This free program is open to the public and will be held at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls at 1 p.m.
This is one of two petroglyph sites known to have been submerged underwater after the creation of the Vernon Dam over 100 years ago. Spaulding is the first to locate one of the two petroglyph sites. With over 33 years of diving experience, Spaulding has discovered hundreds of historical sites and artifacts. She’s had many interesting adventures including exploring ship wrecks, diving with great white sharks and recovering a historic aircraft (which aired on National Geographic), but is quick to note that the Connecticut River is her favorite place to scuba dive in the whole world.
Spaulding is also a volunteer and trustee of the Connecticut River Watershed Council. Ed Lenik, author of “Making Pictures in Stone: American Indian Rock Art of the Northeast” will include Spaulding’s petroglyph find in his newest book.
For more information, call CRWC at 413-772-2020 or stop by the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls on weekends.
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 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 or more information, call Kate at 774-3083.
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.