Library Raffles: Offering 51 great prizes, The Friends of Cushman Library’s Winter Raffle has something for everyone, while raising funds in support of programming at the library. Featuring handcrafted items, cozy hand knit hats, a gourmet goody basket, beautiful jewelry, a framed cross-stitch, books, lead crystal animals, jam, wine, and more, the raffle can satisfy a wide range of tastes.
The drawing will take place Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $1 each, $5 for six, $10 for 12, $15 for 18, and $20 for 25. Tickets are available at Cushman Library, 28 Church St. during open hours. Cushman Library is regularly open Mondays, 2 to 6 p.m., Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Photographs of the prizes can be viewed on the Cushman Library Facebook page. Proceeds will support programming at the library, including weekly Story Hour, Summer Reading programs for children and adults, performances and workshops for all ages, and more. For more information, drop by or call 648-5402.
Cushman Library, 28 Church St., presents Story Hour every Wednesday through mid-June, from 4 to 5 p.m. All ages of children are welcome. Presenters share thematic tales, a craft or activity, and snack. Cushman Library Story Hour is funded by the Friends of Cushman Library. Cushman is open Mondays 2 to 6 p.m., Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information about Cushman’s programs, follow Cushman Library on Facebook, visit www.cushmanlibrary.org, call 648-5402, or drop in during open hours.
Kiwanis Club of Bernardston: Tuesdays, Vets Club, Hartwell Street. Social time, 6 p.m.; dinner meeting 6:30. Open to public
Free weekly playgroup: Come and enjoy time with your child(ren) and other families and caregivers from your community at the Erving Elementary School gym. For the 2016-2017 school year, playgroup will continue on Wednesdays, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. This Playgroup is facilitated by Emily Joseph and is intended for children 0-5 years of age and is sponsored by the Erving Elementary School and Union #28 Community Network for Children. Program not held during school closures. See CNC Website for program and event schedules, https://sites.google.com/site/communitynetworkforchildren/home. For more information please contact Gillian Budine, 978-544-5157 or email budine@erving.com.
Friendship Circle Holiday Christmas Program will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Florence Congregational Church, 130 Pine St. Vocalist Lauren Fleit accompanied by her father, Freddie Marion, on piano. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served after the performance. A collection for the “Toy for Joy” Gazette Toy Fund will be taken.
“Healthy Eating and Cooking for the Holidays” will take place at the Greenfield Senior Center, 54 High St. Ste 2 (entrance and parking from Union Street) on Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. Taste some new recipes and learn how to cook and eat healthy for the holidays, smart shopping on a budget. Reduce salt, calories, and sugar for diabetes and a healthy heart. This is a free nutrition education workshop. Stop by the front desk or call 772-1517 ext 0 to register. Presented by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Pub Talk will take place Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. at Taylor’s Tavern, 238 Main St. The topic will be “The Good Samaritan.” For questions, email Steve at damons_of_gill@yahoo.com.
Baystate Franklin Medical Center sponsors The Caregiver Support Group. The group was formed to support caregivers in the emotionally and physically taxing role of taking care of loved ones who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to take care of themselves. All caregivers and family members are welcome. The group meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, 2 to 3 p.m. in the Second Floor Conference Room, 48 Sanderson St. (BFMC’s Medical Office Building). For more information on the Caregiver Support Group, contact Poppi Kelley, 413-325-4050.
The Salasin Center: 474 Main St., the home of the Greenfield Women’s Resource Center and Family United Networks FUN Center. Mondays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Women’s Center Open ours. Tuesdays, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Nurturing Program for Families in Recovery, ongoing. Free child care, call Lynn Norwood to join the group at 774-4307 Ext. 3; 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., women’s Center Open Hours; 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Journey Dance in the RPX, 1 Osgood St., or enter through the Recover Project, 68 Federal St., ongoing. Wednesdays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Women’s Peer Writing Group, ongoing; 4 to 6 p.m., Drumming Group with Strong Oak. (Call Strong Oak to join at 961-9167). Thursdays — 1 to 3 p.m., ongoing peer to peer Art Group; 4 to 6:30 p.m., Family F.U.N. Center: open FUN time for the whole family. All ages welcome. For a detailed list of what is happening at the center from month to month, view the monthly calendars at www.salasincenter.org. Also “like” us on Facebook for updates and information.
Voices/Visions/Extreme States Support Group: this group, sponsored by the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community, offers free weekly meetings, Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 74 Federal St. Open to people who hear voices, see visions or experience extreme states. No registration required. For information, call or text Matthew at 687-7042 or email Cindi at cindi@cindioldham.com.
Yoga Beginnings: new to yoga or returning to it? Small classes, individual help, slow pace. Green River Yoga, Tuesdays, 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Drop ins, $15; six weeks, $75. Free introductory class. Contact Gail Connor at gconnor@comcast.net or 522-0417.
The RECOVER Project: The RECOVER Project hosts a daily “All Recovery Meeting” each morning Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m.-11 a.m at 68 Federal St. Open to all to discuss recovery – no matter what path that recovery has taken. All walks of recovery welcome. Meetings are held in the front community room. “Eddie’s Group” is held every Tuesday from 3 to 4 p.m. in the RPX. Please come join us. For more information call: 774-5489.
Al-anon Meeting: Wednesday, 7:30 to 9 p.m., Beacon Light, Second Congregational Church, Court Square. Ring bell at side door. Anyone who feels her/his life has been affected by close contact with a problem drinker is eligible for membership in Al-anon or Alateen. www.al-anon.org.
Free weekly Tales & Tunes: Come and enjoy stories, song and craft activities with your child(ren) and other families and caregivers from your community at the Leverett Public Library. For the 2016-2017 school year, Tales & Tunes will continue on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Tales & Tunes is facilitated by Heleen Cardinaux and is intended for children 0-5 years of age and is sponsored by the Leverett Public Library and Union #28 Community Network for Children. For more information please contact Gillian Budine, 978-544-5157 or email budine@erving.com.
Free weekly playgroup: Come and enjoy stories, song and craft activities with your child(ren) and other families and caregivers from your community at the Swift River School in New Salem. For the 2016-2017 school year, playgroup will continue on Tuesdays from 8:45 to 10:15 a.m. This Playgroup is facilitated by Emily Joseph and is intended for children 0-5 years of age and is sponsored by the Swift River School and Union #28 Community Network for Children. Program not held during school closures. See CNC Website for program and event schedules, https://sites.google.com/site/communitynetworkforchildren/home. For more information please contact Gillian Budine, 978-544-5157 or email budine@erving.com.
The Northfield Fortnightly will meet Wednesday at noon in the Northfield Senior Center for its annual Christmas party. The luncheon will be a pot-luck. Bring a dish to share and a swap gift.
Fines for Food: Library patrons are invited to clear their Arms Library fines while providing food for neighbors in need. During the weeks of Dec. 12 to 26, patrons can clear library overdue fines with the Arms Library by bringing in nourishing, new, non-perishable food items. Food collected will be delivered to a local food pantry for distribution. Information: 625-0306 or armslibrary.org
The Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association’s West County Arts & Culture, Women in Film and Video: New England, and Hermes Strategic Communications invite female filmmakers to submit works which run 20 minutes or less to their “Fabulous February Fringe” event which will be in Shelburne Falls on Feb. 11, 2017. All films can be submitted for free through Film Freeway. Film submissions will be accepted until Dec. 20. Full directions for submission can be found at Hermes Strategic Communications.
Community Clothes Closet: Community outreach of Trinity Church. Free clothing for all ages. Open to the public on the second, third and fourth Wednesday of the month, noon to 6 p.m. Donations of clean clothing and bedding accepted any time. Located at the lower level of Cowell Gym, 51 Maple St. for more information, call the church at 625-2341.
Free weekly playgroup: Come and enjoy time with your child(ren) and other families and caregivers from your community at the Shutesbury Elementary School gym. For the 2016-2017 school year, playgroup will continue on Fridays from, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
This play group is facilitated by Joie Ciepiela and is intended for children 0-5 years of age and is sponsored by the Shutesbury Elementary School and Union #28 Community Network for Children. Program not held during school closures. See CNC Website for program and event schedules, https://sites.google.com/site/communitynetworkforchildren/home. For more information please contact Gillian Budine, 978-544-5157 or email budine@erving.com.
Preschool Story Time: Wednesday, 11 a.m., Tilton Library, 75 North Main St.
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.
ACIM study group: A Course in Miracles meets Wednesdays, 7 to 9 p.m., 4 George Ave. It is a study group that helps people see this world in a better light and live a more peaceful life. For more information, call 863-4147.
Free Playgroup, “Come Play & Learn” for Parents/Caregivers with children, infant to age 5, Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Warwick Community School, 41 Winchester St. The playgroup will follow the public school calendar. Sponsored by PVRSD CFCE. For more information contact Deb Wood @ 413-648-5450 woodd@pvrsdk12.org.
Free weekly playgroup: Come and enjoy time with your child(ren) and other families and caregivers from your community at the Wendell Free Library. For the 2016-2017 school year, playgroup will continue on Wednesdays, beginning Sept. 14 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. This Playgroup is facilitated by Sylvia Wetherby and is intended for children 0-5 years of age and is sponsored by the Friends of the Wendell Free Library and Union #28 Community Network for Children. Program does not take place during school closures. See CNC Website for program and event schedules, https://sites.google.com/site/communitynetworkforchildren/home. For more information please contact Gillian Budine, 978-544-5157 or email budine@erving.com.
Reiki share: Tuesdays, noon to 2 p.m., Stone Mountain Reiki, 9 Masterson Road. Free. Reiki share is a chance to give and receive Reiki in an atmosphere of friendship and love. For more information, call 665-8382 or email cecelia@stonemountainreiki.com.
Learn to cope: A support network for families affected by addiction, has weekly support meetings Tuesdays, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Greenfield Community College’s main building, Room C-208. Meetings, free and confidential, are run by trained facilitators and offer hope, support, education and resources. Free overdose education and Narcan, the opioid overdoes reversal drug, available at each weekly meeting. For more information, call Marcy Julian at 508-404-3539 or email mjulian@learn2cope.org. www.learn2cope.org.