Ashfield
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 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.
Bernardston
Free Playgroup, “Come Play & Learn” for Parents/Caregivers with children, infant to age 5, will be Thursday’s 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 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 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 each working on their own projects, are welcome to enjoy the company of others while everyone works toward completing their individual projects. Rebecca Lawlor offers her expertise and experience as instructor. for more information, contact 648-5402 or cushmanlibrary@yahoo.com.
Brattleboro, Vt.
BrattleMasters, The local Toastmasters club, will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St. The theme is “Something with Heart.” Annamarie Pluhar will be the Toastmaster of the Evening. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend, and are invited to participate in the extemporaneous speaking exercises. There will also be prepared speeches, evaluations, and reports by members. For information about the local Toastmasters club, please visit http://brattleboro.toastmastersclubs.org.
Friends of the Greenfield Public Library Book Sale will sponsor a “Love Your Library” book sale Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the library, 402 Main St. Come check out the books and raffle baskets.
Alexander Morin of Greenfield has been named to the Dean’s List at Bryant University in Rhode Island, where he is majoring in Actuarial Science, for the Fall 2016 academic term. This honor requires a GPA of at least 3.4 for the semester on a minimum of 12 credits. Morin is a 2015 Turners Falls High School graduate. He is the son of Shannon Morin of Greenfield and Paul Morin of Erving, and grandson of Cynthia and Hormidas Lively of Greenfield.
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.
The RECOVER Project: The RECOVER Project hosts a daily “All Recovery Meeting” each morning Monday to Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m at 68 Federal St. Open to all to discuss recovery. 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.
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, meets Thursdays, 6:45 to 9 p.m. Greenfield Teen Center, Sanderson Street. Call Maj. Gary Longley at 773-9331 for more information. CAP is seeking new recruits, ages 12 to 18. If interested call the number above.
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. Al-Anon is online at www.al-anon.org.
Naranon Family Groups: Naranon Family Groups is a support group for families suffering with a loved one who is struggling with an addiction to Opiates or other substances. The group meets Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, 25 Church St. for more information contact cardito809@gmail.com.
The Leyden Council on Aging will present “Awesome Astronomy” upstairs in the Leyden Town Hall on Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Snow date Thursday, Feb. 23. Robin Symonds, a leading astronomer and former Director of the Charles Hayden Planetarium at Boston’s Museum of Science, will present “The New Solar System.” Symonds says, “The Solar System most of us grew up with — nine neatly organized planets, a few inert moons and an occasional comet — is no more (we now know that it never was!) In the last 20 years or so, our understanding of our home in the universe has changed dramatically, revealing a complex, dynamic and gloriously diverse system.”
Symonds served on the Education Advisory Committee for the Hubble Space Telescope from 2005 to 2010. She is now semi-retired, living in Leyden.
An introduction to 3-D Printing will take place Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the New Salem Public Library. This program is free and designed for technology lovers ages 7 to 14. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop. To register, call Diana Smith at 978-544-6334. There is a limit of 17 participants.
Moon and Stars Story Hour: Stories, music, movement and a craft will be offered Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Dickinson Memorial Library, 115 Main St. Perfect for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers. For more information, call 498-2455.
Marte Johannessen of Northfield has been named to the University of Rhode Island dean’s list with a 4.0 GPA for the fall 2016 semester. Johannessen is a senior in the honors program majoring in kinesiology. Johannessen is the daughter of Bobbo Bowen of Northfield and Arne Johannessen of Keene, N.H.
Shelburne
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.
Sunderland
School year Playgroups: Frontier Regional CFCE presents School year Playgroups for babies and children, infant to age 5, and their caregivers, Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Sunderland Elementary School. Does not run during school vacations and winter school closings.
Turners Falls
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.
Open Hours at the Women’s Center at MCSM: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. are open to all women. Computer lab available, community resources, peer support, arts and crafts, free gently used clothing. For more information, call 863-4804 Ext. 1003 or email christine@mcsmcommunity.org. Program of Montague Catholic Social Ministries.
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 8 offers music, movement and other early literacy activities, unstructured playtime, and time for parent 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.
Regional
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 non-profits in your community who depend on volunteer assistance. Contact Pat Sicard at RSVP, 584-1300,ext. 183 or email psicard@hampshirecog.org.
Community meals: Wednesdays, Salvation Army, 72 Chapman St. Breakfast from 8 to 10; coffee and soup, 10 to 11, and lunch from 11 a.m. to noon. Also on Wednesdays, 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: 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 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.
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 & 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 and more information, contact Carol Judd at 452-3373 or email: carol.judd@statema.us.
Lawyer Referral Service website: Massachusetts Bar Association has launched a new lawyer Referral Service Website www.MassLawhelp.com with answers to the most common legal questions and serves as an online channel for the LRS to connect members of the public with local attorney who have the appropriate experience.
Consumer Information Library: Need to find current information about health care and treatment? The Community Health Information Center at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 164 High St., Greenfield, is a great source for consumer health information. Across from the main lobby desk, the center 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 Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food Pantry hours remain the same, 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 773-2359.