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 special for Friday night at the Bernardston Vets Club will be lasagna with salad and garlic bread. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and grilled cheeses will also be available. Serving from 5 to 7:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.
A roast pork dinner with all the trimmings and apple crisp will kick off the bi-annual Home for the Holidays Auction at the Colrain Community Church starting at 5 p.m. Saturday. The live and silent auction will feature framed art by local artists, crafted items by local crafters, delicious edibles from Colrain bakers, antiques, gift certificates for goods and services, and a few surprises. Silent auction is from 5 to 7 p.m. Doug Wilkins will preside over the live auction. Runner/quipsters Kevin Hollister and Mike Beausolleil will keep it lively. Seating at the dinner, $12, is by reservation. Call Joan at 624-8818 by Friday.
The Greenfield Lodge of Elks 1296, Federal Street: Friday Night meals will be served Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. All meals $10 or less. Many raffles.
Community Meal: Stone Soup Cafe takes place Saturdays at noon at All Souls Church, 399 Main St. (Hope Street entrance). Local 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.
The Friends of the New Salem Public Library will host an “Edwardian Christmas Tea” in the historic New Salem Academy Building on the New Salem Town Common on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. The building, constructed in 1908, is now the private residence of the Abbouds, who have offered to open their home for this special “Friends” event. Tea and snacks will be served at 3 followed by a unique presentation by Mrs. Gordon, who will take you back in time as she describes her plans for the 1908 holiday. If you would like to get into the tea-time spirit (though not a requirement), wear something in Victorian style such as gloves, hats and fans. There will also be a Holiday Book Sale and a raffle for a tea-themed basket. Event is free and donations made to the Friends of the New Salem Public Library are appreciated.
Church Fairs: On Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., three churches — First Parish Unitarian, St. Patrick’s and Trinitarian Congregational — will present their church fairs. All will serve lunch, have silent auctions and display crafts and baked goods.
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.
Tea-Cup Auction/Christmas Cookie Crawl: Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Trinity Church, 17 Severance St., will host a ticket auction, Christmas cookie crawl and offer snacks for sale to support the ongoing missions and good works of Trinity Church. A tea cup auction will be for gift certificates to local and regional businesses ranging from a $10 to $100 in value. Some gift certificates included in this auction are from The Blue Rock, The West End Pub, Keystone Market, Big Y, Aubuchon’s, Wilson’s, Mo’s Fudge Factor, Mohawk Trading Post and Shelburne Falls Bowling Alleys to mention only a few. Trinity Women will host a Christmas Cookie Crawl where you can chose from homemade cookies and make your own assortment. Trinity Men will be selling coffee/tea and donuts and pastries during the Tea Cup Auction.
Free Community Meal: Offered every Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Church, Severance Street.
Gingerbread Fair at Sunderland Congregational Church will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fair will include crafts, coffee can raffle, bake sale, quilt raffle, cookie table and orders taken for Butter Braided Bread.
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.
The Montague Community Band will celebrate its 125th season with a Gala Winter Concert Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Shea Theater on Avenue A. Selections will include holiday favorites such as Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” Handel’s “Messiah,” “The Polar Express” and other music of the season. Directed by Hannah Smeltz. A reception will follow.
A Christmas Bazaar will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 84 K St. Coffee and doughnuts will be served in the morning. Christmas gifts, religious goods, bake sale, Polish food sale, vendors, giant raffle, lunch and more is planned.
St. Andrew’s Church, 2 Prospect St., will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featured items will include handmade jewelry, knit and crochet items, holiday decorations and gently used items. A food table will offer baked goods and a special treat honoring the church’s Founding Mothers: pasties, a baked meat pie often associated with working people in Cornwall in the UK that became popular during the 17th and 18th centuries.
“The Inside Scoop” on Harmon Personnel Services, presented by the Director, Mark Smith, J.D. will take place Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Greenfield Savings Bank, 282 Avenue A. Feel free to drop by to learn about the unique relationship between Harmon and Community Action of Franklin, Hampshire and North Quabbin Regions. In keeping with the philosophy of Community Action’s social mission of helping people with low incomes move out of poverty, Harmon Personnel supports candidates through training and development as well as implementing a high-quality screening with an emphasis on skills matching and retention. Light refreshments provided courtesy of GSB.
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.
S. White Dickinson Memorial Library, 202 Chestnut Plain Road: A tree lighting party is planned Saturday at 4 p.m. on the front lawn of the library. There will be music, hot chocolate, candy canes, and homemade cookies and treats for all. 665-2170, whatelypubliclibrary@gmail.com
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 caregiver – 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 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.