Mother Woman support group: A support group for new mothers. Meets Mondays, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at St. John’s Corner, 469 Main St. This group, under the joint sponsorship of It Takes a Village and St. John’s Episcopal Church, meets each Monday, except school holidays. Pregnant and postpartum mothers welcome. Infants stay with mothers. Snack for all; free child care for children up to age 4. For more information, contact Anna Westley at anna@motherwelldoulacare.com
Kingsmen Chess Club: Meets Sundays, noon to 4 p.m., Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main St. For more information, call John Dould at 978-249-5905 or email aelb@trysb.net or aelb@hotmail.com
Smoking Cessation: Led by Tim Sweeney, tobacco treatment specialist. Meets Mondays, 6 to 7 p.m. Athol Hospital’s cafeteria.
TOPS: Take Off Pounds Sensibly Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Athol Congregational Church.
Dick’s Angels Relay For Life team will be serving steak tips over rice with coleslaw as the Friday Night special at the Bernardston Vets Club. Hamburgers, Hot dogs, and grilled cheeses will also be available. food will be served from 5 to 7:30 pm..All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.
The following students, members of the Class of 2016 at Northfield Mount Hermon School, have been named to the Cum Laude Society. This independent-school national honor society is the secondary-school equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. Each year, students with outstanding NMH academic records for their junior and senior years are elected to membership in the society. Pablo Borra Paley of Ashfield, Brook Rulewich of Bernardston, Simon van Baaren of Bernardston, Gus Cantieni of Deerfield, Zachary Leeds of Mount Hermon, Jessica Crooker of Northfield and Lauren Downes of Shelburne Falls.
Vet to Vet: The RECOVER Project and the Recovery Learning Community offer Vet to Vet every Thursday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at 74 Federal St. This collaboration is for all veterans, regardless of discharge status, to offer support when the civilian world is a challenge. For more information, contact Tim at 475-0226.
Helpful Programs at FCHCC: At Franklin County Home Care. Any plan of care starts with your needs. Home Care Services provide assistance with light homemaking, home-delivered meals, personal care, and adaptive equipment. Caregivers can take a break to de-stress with Home Care’s respite services. In addition, the Consumer Directed Care Program at FCHCC allows elders in need to select their own care giver — perhaps a friend, neighbor or even a family member — who can be paid through this program (excludes spouses). For more information, visit: info@fchcc.org or call 773-5555 or 978-544-2259. Read more at: www.fchcc.org
The Fortnightly Club of Northfield will meet on Wednesday, April 13 at 1:30 p.m. in the Trinitarian Congregational Church lounge in Northfield. Carol Pike will present her wonderful collection of slides of Turkey, including a Turkish wedding.
Food Pantry: the community food pantry will be open Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The pantry is in the basement of Dickinson Memorial Library, 115 Main St. The pantry is open the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
The Shelburne Falls Farmers Market is looking for vendors for the coming season: Fridays from 2 to 6:30 p.m., May 27 through October 28, located on the Baptist Lot Green at the corner of Main and Water Streets. We are specifically looking for fruit, cheese, prepared food, beverages, baked goods, local crafts and musicians. Special Events will include: June 24, Fiber Day, July 29, Children’s Day, Aug. 26, Veggie Day, Sept. 30, Customer Apprciation Day, and Oct. 14, Cider Day. Potential vendors should visit the market’s webpage for an application: shelburnefallsfarmersmarket.org
Free Community Meal: Offered every Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Church, Severance Street.
Playgroup on Fridays: Playgroup on Fridays at Shutesbury Elementary School, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Shutesbury Elementary School.
Preschool story time: Fridays, 11 a.m. in the Children’s Room of the Sunderland Public Library. These story/craft times are for children ages 3 to 5 and their families/caregivers. Each story time is about 45 minutes and includes theme-related stories, songs, finger plays and crafts.
Serendipity Shop: Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Congregational Church basement. Men’s women, children’s clothing, shoes and sneakers. Most items $1. Men’s suits and all coats, $3. Women’s suits, $2. Donations accepted. Proceeds to benefit the church. 665-2890.
Franklin Area Survival Center: The Food Pantry & Thrift Store hosted by staff and volunteers is at 96 Fourth St., 863-9549. The Thrift Store is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Food Pantry is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The center is closed on federal holidays. The Thrift Shop is open to the general public and helps finance its Food Pantry. In an emergency, such as a fire or flood, the center will supply needed clothing and linens, free, and additional food to help the victims of a disaster.
Free Reiki sessions: Reiki for Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors in Franklin County. Saturday mornings by appointment, 474 Main St., Suite 2, Greenfield. Reiki, an ancient and relaxing, noninvasive therapy, enhances the body’s natural healing ability while calming the body, mind and spirit. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Mary Jessie Blazejewski, Reiki master/teacher at 774-9927.
Eventide Singers: Offering songs of hope and healing for seriously or terminally ill people, their families and carergivers. the service is offered in homes, hospitals and care facilities, without charge. The music can be selected in response to spiritual preference. Eventide’s purpose is to provide a bed of supportive music on which a person may rest in harmony while in transition from this time to what is next to come. For more information and a Youtube video of the group, go to: eventidesigners.com or call Marcia Schuhle at 774-2335 or Joe Toritto at 774-5828.
Straight Spouse Support: One to one support for straight individuals currently or once married to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender partners. Confidential helpline at 625-6636 or email jcmalinski48@gmail.com locally or at the Straight Spouse Network nationally at straightspouse.org
Counseling Referrals: the Social Work Therapy Referral Service offers free confidential referrals for individual, couple, family and group therapy, matched for specialty, location and insurance. This is a public service of the National Association of Social Workers. Call 800-242-9794.
Help the blind: Your car, truck or camper may be worth more as a donation than a trade-in. Call the Massachusetts Association for the Blind at 888-613-2777 for details. This is a free tow, quick pick up and donations are tax deductible. Proceeds benefit blind and vision impaired persons in Massachusetts.