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.
Colrain Historical Society will have its last meeting of 2018 tonight at 7 p.m. following a 6 p.m. potluck supper at the home of Joan McQuade, 7 Main Road. The meeting will include an update on the Pitt House property and information on upcoming fundraising concert Oct. 20. Following the meeting and annual election of officers, the usual October “Show and Tell” will be a little different. All are asked to bring an item from Colrain’s past to identify or to ask the audience to identify. Members are asked to bring a main course, salad or dessert to share, along with place setting and beverage, if they like, for the potluck. Cider will be provided. The public is welcome. For information, call Belden at 413-624-3453.
An Historical Marker will be raised on the lawn of the Griswold Memorial Library, Main Road, on Saturday at 11 a.m. The marker commemorates the birth of William Apess, Pequot author, activist and Methodist minister born in Colrain in 1798. The event is open to the public. Learn about Apess’ life and contributions. Native Scholars Lisa Brooks (Amherst College) and Margaret Bruchac (University of Pennsylvania) will present a brief overview of Apess’ life and significance, as well as Apess’ biographer Drew Lopenzina (Old Dominion University), author of the 2017 “Through an Indian’s Looking-Glass.” There will be an opening ceremony and guest speakers, followed by the unveiling of the marker.
The Hilltown Hounds Agility Club of Conway will present its annual Canine Performance event-sponsored dog agility competition Saturday and Sunday at Indoor Action Sports, 1385 Bernardston Road. Dogs will compete with their handlers running obstacle courses including jumps, dog walks, A-frames, weave poles, tunnels, panel jumps, broad jumps and a seesaw. Free. For more information contact hilltownhounds.com or Mary Lou at 413-774-6521.
Stone Soup Cafe community meal 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 413-475-0226.
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.
Plainfield Historical Society will host a tour of five barns — four 19th-century barns and one a timber-framed barn built in 2006 — in Plainfield and Hawley on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Historically, the barns housed animals and stored hay for winter feed. Today, they are used as a blacksmith shop and large open loft for family parties, a small guest house for family and friends, and for storage of tractors, canoes, and other equipment. Tour participants can talk with the owners of the barns and learn their history. Two barns are in Plainfield, and the other three are just over the town line in Hawley. Participants will meet at the Plainfield Town Hall, 348 Main St. The tour will end in Plainfield at the largest of the barns, where fresh-squeezed apple cider and doughnuts will be served. Cost is $15. Funds help historic Shaw-Hudson House attached barns. For more information, contact PHS President Judith Williams at 413-634-8099.
Free Community Meal offered every Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Church, Severance Street.
Village Neighbors: A nonprofit volunteer organization to help elders in Shutesbury, Leverett, New Salem and Wendell age in place, will present its Grand Opening Party Sunday at the Shutesbury Athletic Club from 4 to 8 pm. The event, free to residents of the four towns, will include dinner, raffles, promotional gifts and oldies music. RSVP to prvillage18@gmail.com or 413-345-6894 to be entered in the raffle and to request a song from the DJ. Suggestions. www.villageneighbors.org
Frontier Regional CFCE Free Drop-In Playgroup for infants to age 5 and their caregivers. Mondays and Fridays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunderland Elementary School, Swampfield Drive. Playgroup follows school calendar, and there will be no playgroup on school holidays, breaks or snow days. For questions contact Karen Green at karen.green@frsu38.org or 413-665-1151.
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. 413-665-2890.
Puzzle Swap Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Greenfield Savings Bank, 282 Avenue A. Swap puzzles with other fellow puzzle-masters. Light refreshments. No registrations required. All ages invited.
Franklin Area Survival Center: The Food Pantry & Thrift Store hosted by staff and volunteers is at 96 Fourth St., 413-863-9549. 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.
Community meal is served Mondays at 5:30 p.m., Our Lady of Peace Church, Seventh Street, Turners Falls. Free meal sponsored by Franklin County Community Meals.
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 413-773-5555 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 413-773-555 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 caregivers. 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 413-774-2335 or Joe Toritto at 413-774-5828.
Straight Spouse Support: One to one support for straight individuals currently or once married to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender partners. Confidential helpline at 413-625-6636 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.