Veterans Agent Town Hall Hours: Brian Brooks, veterans officer from the Greenfield office of the Department of Veterans’ Services, and Curt Pichette, Ashfield’s veterans agent, provide office hours at Ashfield Town Hall on the second Thursday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. Veterans are invited to stop by for information on services available and with any questions they may have.
“Healthy Bones and Balance” for bone health, Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., St. John’s corner. Free. For more information, call 625-2502.
“Come Play and Learn” is a free playgroup for parents/caregivers with children, ages infant to 5. Will be Thursdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Bernardston Elementary School Gymnasium, 37 School St. The playgroup will follow the public school calendar. Sponsored by PVRSD CFCE. For more information, contact Deb Wood at 413-648-5450 or woodd@pvrsdk12.org.
Story hour: Cushman Library at 28 Church St. offers story hour, Wednesdays between 4 and 5 p.m., to families with children of all ages. Each gathering features thematic stories, craft and a snack. Bonnie Declamp, Wendy Abramson and Karen Stinchfield take turns as presenters.
Wednesday Night Knitters: Cushman Library at 28 Church St., invites knitters of all abilities to join the Wednesday Night Knitters every Wednesday between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Participants are welcome to enjoy the company of others while completing their individual projects. Rebecca Lawlor offers her expertise and experience as instructor. For more information, contact 648-5402 or cushmanlibrary@yahoo.com.
BrattleMasters, the local Toastmasters club, will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St. Robert Packard is the toastmaster of the evening. There will be prepared speeches, evaluations and reports by members. Guests are welcome and invited to participate in the extemporaneous speaking exercises.
Winter Soup Night Series: Buckland Public Library’s Winter Soup Night Series is held Tuesday nights, 5:30 to 7 p.m., tonight, Jan. 24, Feb 7 and Feb. 28. Volunteers bring large pots of soup. Guests are encouraged to bring bread, cheese and other tidbits. Free, all are welcome. If you would like to bring soup, contact Alan at 625-8541.
Greenfield Moose Family Center: A pasta meal is served Wednesday 6 p.m. at the center. The cost is $7. Open to members and guests. A line dance is at 7 p.m.
The RECOVER Project: The RECOVER Project hosts a daily “All Recovery Meeting” each morning Monday through Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m at 68 Federal St. Open to all to discuss recovery no matter what path that recovery has taken. Meetings are held in the front community room. “Eddie’s Group” is held every Tuesday from 3 to 4 p.m. in the RPX. For more information, call 774-5489.
Gamblers Anonymous: Gamblers Anonymous support group, Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. Recover Project. Use 1 Osgood St. entrance. For more information, call 325-1389.
Family United Network: The Family United Network (FUN) Center is at The Salasin Center, 474 Main St. Open hours are Thursdays, 4 to 6:30 p.m. Fun for the whole family. All ages welcome. For more information, contact Stacey at 774-4307, ext. 4, or email slangknecht@wmtcinfo.org.
CAP seeks recruits: Franklin County Cadet Squadron, CAP, is seeking new recruits, ages 12 to 18. CAP meets Thursdays, 6:45 to 9 p.m. at Greenfield Teen Center, Sanderson Street. Call Maj. Gary Longley at 773-9331 for more information.
Al-Anon: Struggles for Intimacy, Thursday, 7:15 to 8:30 p.m., Recover Project, 68 Federal St. 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. For more information, visit: www.al-anon.org.
Best Management Practices for Composting Your Garden: This program, presented by New Salem Agricultural Commission, is tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at New Salem Public Library, 23 South Main St. Free. Amy Donovan will be presenting “Composting 101,” which covers why composting is an important activity, the climate change connection, and the three different sizes/types of composting.
Reading Aloud for Grownups: The Friends of the New Salem Public Library’s annual “Reading Aloud for Grownups” program kicks off Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the New Salem Public Library. This will be an evening of short stories chosen by the readers and read aloud. Deb and Andy Lichtenberg and Doug Turner are the first readers this season. Wine, cheese, coffee, tea and desserts will be offered during the program. Donations to benefit the Friends organization are appreciated. In the event of a snowstorm, the program will be rescheduled for Jan. 18.
Mitten storyhour: Stories, music, movement and a craft. Perfect for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers. Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Dickinson Memorial Library, 115 Main St. For more information, call 413-498-2455.
Tai Chi led by Lois Bascom runs every Thursday morning from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the Senior Center. Movements follow the program designed by Dr. Lam with easy forms and repetition. Good for improving balance and stability. Program is open to all.
School year playgroups: Frontier Regional CFCE presents school year playgroups for children, infant to age 5, and their caregivers on Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at Sunderland Elementary School. Does not run during school vacations or winter school closings.
Emergency basic needs program: This is a program of Montague Catholic Social Ministries and is open Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, for resources and referrals. If you have questions or want to make an appointment, call Mary at 863-4804, ext. 1002, or email BasicNeeds@mcsmcommunity.org. To access Emergency Basic Needs, buzz No. 103 at the Moltenbrey entrance on Third Street.
Playgroup: A program of Montague Catholic Social Ministries meets Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to noon, 78 Avenue A. This informal, drop in playgroup for parents, caregivers and children younger than age 8 offers music, movement and other early literacy activities, unstructured playtime, time for parents to connect, a kids clothing exchange and a parent resource lending library. For more information, contact Mary King at 863-4804, ext. 1005, or email mary.king@gmrsd.com.
RSVP volunteer program: RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) helps adults who are 55 and older find meaningful local volunteer opportunities. Share your life time of experience, meet new friends and help nonprofits in your community. Contact Pat Sicard at 584-1300, ext. 183, or psicard@hampshirecog.org for more information.
Computer resource center: Harmon Personnel Services in Greenfield offers free computerized training with more than 1,000 selections to choose from. Tutorials are self-guided, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Resource Center will be closed between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Prior appointments are preferred. For more information, call 774-7847 or visit: www.harmonpersonnel.com
Community meals: Wednesdays, Salvation Army, 72 Chapman St. Breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m.; coffee and soup, 10 to 11, and lunch from 11 a.m. to noon. Also on Wednesdays at Second Congregational Church, 16 Court Square, 5:30 p.m.
Free blood pressure screening: Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 164 High St., Greenfield. No registration required.
Free hearing screenings: Baystate Rehabilitation Care, 48 Sanderson St., Greenfield. For an appointment, call 773-2227.
Overeaters Anonymous: Free meetings every week. In Greenfield on Saturday, 9:30 a.m., Baystate Franklin medical Center, conference room 9; Sunday, 10 to 11:15 a.m., also at BFMC. For more information or to locate meetings throughout western Massachusetts, Brattleboro and northern Vermont, call 773-7394 or 783-4198.
Child care/preschool/home-visiting: The Parent-Child Development Center, serving families with children birth to kindergarten age and expectant women for more than 40 years, offers free Head Start preschool, free Head Start and early Head Start home visiting programs and child care in Franklin/Hampshire counties. Spanish speaking services available. Call 475-1405 for more information.
ICRC at LifePath: The Information and Caregiver Resource Center at LifePath has answers to all your questions about elder services/caregiver support. LifePath resource consultants are experts in finding the information you need to solve any problem. If we don’t have the answer, we will find someone who can help you. Contact ICRC at LifePath at 773-5555 or 978-544-2259.
Free mediation: Landlords/tenants can save money and time using free eviction prevention mediation services. The mediation and training collaborative is offering meditation at no cost to help resolve housing related problems before they go to court. For more information, call 475-1504 or 475-1503.
Foster care review: Volunteers needed to serve on three-person panels making decisions about children in foster care. Volunteers are needed in Greenfield and Holyoke. Volunteers must be 18 or older and participate in a day-and-a-half training. For an application or more information, contact Carol Judd at 452-3373 or carol.judd@statema.us.
Lawyer referral service: Massachusetts Bar Association has launched a new lawyer referral service at www.MassLawhelp.com with answers to the most common legal questions. Serves as an online channel for the LRS to connect members of the public with a local attorneys.
Consumer information library: The Community Health Information Center at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 164 High St., Greenfield, is open to the public for health information and research on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon, and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 773-2319.
Franklin Area Survival Center: The thrift store at the Franklin Area Survival Center 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 at 96 Fourth St., Turners Falls.
Breastfeeding Support Group: The group meets Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to noon, Obstetrics Classroom, third floor of Baystate Franklin Medical Center, led by Suzanne Stoneham. The group is for mothers who are breastfeeding infants. Moms are welcome to bring their infants to the group. For more information, call the Birth Place at BFMC at 7733-2359.