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 Friday night at the Bernardston Vets Club from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The special will be sweet sausage grinders, in addition to the usual hamburgers, hot dogs, and grilled cheeses. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
The Catamount Hill Association and the Deerfield River Watershed Association are sponsoring a free loop hike in the Northeast part of the Catamount Hills. Follow old roads bordered by rock walls past cellar holes of Cannon, Willis and several Shippee families. There will be some off-trail exploration, too. The group will investigate unusual rock formations, foundations and cliffs and maybe some mushrooms, too. Hikers should bring water, lunch to eat at the Devil’s Oven Cave next to the Dens and a flashlight for going into the caves. Bring extra socks. The hike will be approximately three miles on uneven ground but little elevation change. Meet at the end of the East Catamount Road at 10 a.m. From Griswoldville in Colrain on Route 112, take Adamsville Road to Lively Road on left; immediately take East Catamount Road on left (steep and dirt) to end. Call Muriel Russell at 413-624-3311 to register or for more information.
Four Season Farming, “Keeping the Light Alive” on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Laughing Dog Farm. This is an intensive, hands-on introduction to the art and science of growing and harvesting high-quality green food around the calendar, in New England, without any artificial heating Farmer Dan will orient the (casual to serious) grower to the strategies, materials, methods, joys (and pitfalls) of cultivating and harvesting cold-hardy crops like spinach, kale, Asian greens, alliums like leeks, herbs and more, under low and high tunnel greenhouses, cold frames, row cover, and even right outdoors, despite harsh and variable conditions. Suggested donation: $25-35/barter, nobody turned away, RSVP requested at www.laughingdogfarm.com.
Community Meal: Stone Soup Cafe takes place Saturdays at noon at All Souls Church, 399 Main St. (Hope Street entrance). Local, delicious food served. Pay-what-you-can. All welcome.
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.
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.
Mohawk Trail Concerts, in conjunction with the Arms Library, will present a noon-hour concert Friday featuring Thomas Pousont, harpsichord, playing Bach and Frescobaldi at the library. The concerts are free to the public. For more information contact: email Denese Gurley info@mohawktrailconcerts.org or call 413-625-9511
Free Community Meal: Offered every Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Church, Severance Street.
The Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 15 Thayer St., will sponsor its annual Fall Bazaar Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featured will be cheese, potato and cheese, and cabbage pierogi, golumpki, pies, breads, soups and other assorted homemade foods. Handmade craft items and local honey will also be sold. Lunch will be served.
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 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.
The Monadnock Tri-State Dance Club will sponsor a dance Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. at Elmm Community Center, 21 Durkee St., off Parker Street. Music by The Old School. All welcome. 603-357-0794 or 802-722-9205
Helpful Programs at LifePath. Any plan of care starts with your needs. LifePath services provide assistance with light homemaking, home-delivered meals, personal care, and adaptive equipment. Caregivers can take a break to de-stress with LifePath’s respite services. In addition, the Consumer Directed Care Program at LifePath 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@lifepathma.org or call 773-5555 or 978-544-2259. Read more at lifepathma.org.
SHINE: Serving the Health Insurance needs of Everyone: do you have Medicare but feel overwhelmed by your options? SHINE counselors are volunteers who provide free unbiased health insurance information, education, and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries and adults with disabilities to help people figure out what their best health insurance options are based on their unique needs. Contact a SHINE at LifePath at 773-555 or 978-544-2259. Email info@lifepathma.org and learn more at lifepathma.org.
Vigil for Racial Justice every Saturday, 9 to 10 a.m., at the Greenfield Town Common. Bring your own sign or use one of ours. Everyone is welcome. For more information: email@racialjusticerising.org.
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. For more information and a YouTube video of the group, go to: www.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 www.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 two, quick pick up and donations are tax deductible. Proceeds benefit blind and vision impaired persons in Massachusetts.