ACOA Al-Anon: For adults raised by alcoholic caretakers/parents. Meets every Saturday, 10 a.m., Athol Hospital’s conference room.
Bernardston Vets Club, 16 Hartwell St.open Wednesdays 5:30 to 9 p.m. Pitch starts at 6. Players are random draw. $5. Fridays open 4:30 to 10 p.m. Food served 5 to 7:30 p.m. Saturdays open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This Friday will be a fundraiser for the Bernardston Rec Cheerleaders. A spaghetti dinner will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. $10 per person. The menu will include spaghetti salad, bread and dessert. Gluten free pasta and meatballs available. On Dec. 22 from 5 to 10 p.m. there will be a Christmas Costume Party. Music starts at 7. All welcome during club hours. The club is available to rent for holiday gatherings, showers, birthday parties, etc.
A “Calming Down Christmas” workshop will be offered Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. If you work harder in December than any other time of the year, just to wind up unhappy with your family, this workshop is for you. $20. Studio 7, 413-229-231 Main St. podcast@working9tothrive.com.
“Just Another Mile,” a documentary film by Gloria Matlock about racism, resilience, and perseverance in a small Ohio community will be shown Saturday from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 43 Silver St. Doors open at 9:45. The film is about two historically Black neighborhoods in the small city of Ravenna, Ohio, and offers a lens on race in 20th and 21st century America. To tell this story, filmmaker Gloria Matlock of Greenfield interviewed elders about their lives and the lives of their communities. Free and donations welcome. Weather-related cancellations will be announced on WHAI radio, 98.3 FM or http://whai.com/closings.
Child care available. RSVP with number and ages of children. For more information or to reserve childcare: email@racialjusticerising.org.
Parents Helping Parents Grandparent/Parent Support Group: Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 164 High St. meets Fridays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. For more information, contact facilitator Dorian at 413-624-0280.
Family United Network: The Family United Network (F.U.N.) Center is at The Salasin Center, 474 Main St., Thursdays, 4 to 6:30 p.m., a fun time for the whole family. All ages are welcome. For more information, contact Stacy at 413-774-4307, ext. 4, or visit: slangknecht@wmcinfo.org.
Vet to Vet: The RECOVER Project and the Recovery Learning Community offer “Vet to Vet” every Thursday, 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.
Circle of Moms: Meets Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon, Community Action Family Center, 90 Federal St. Free parking, childcare, snacks. For more information, call 413-774-1000.
Community Action’s Family Center: The Family Center, 90 Federal St., offers Plays & Learn Groups, Parent Support Group and special early literacy events. The staff can help answer questions you have on topics like parenting, discipline, child development and school readiness. Free books, clothing and diapers on site. Staff can help you find other resources in the community. Open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 413-475-1553. Find us on Facebook.
Free ongoing classes: The Literacy Project/Greenfield offers ongoing free basic education classes, free GED preparation classes, free job readiness workshops, free college transition workshops and free academic counseling services. For more information, call 413-774-3935 or visit: www.literacyproject.org.
The Heath Fair garnered eight awards in the 2018 Massachusetts Agricultural Fairs’ Association (MAFA) Media Awards competition, presented during the organization’s annual meeting this month. The fair received three first place awards in the Website, Potpourri and Newspaper Advertising categories; two second place honors in Radio Advertising and Posters; and two third place awards for Premium Books and Brochures — all in the Medium Fairs designation. The fair also won the Judges’ Choice award for its 100th Anniversary video. Fifteen fairs from across Massachusetts participated in the competition which drew 84 entries.
TGSC Meeting: The Town Governance Study Committee will be Thursday at 7 Pp.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium. TGSC reserves the first 5 to 10 minutes of each meeting for public comment. Agendas and minutes can be found on the TGSC web page: https://www.northfieldma.gov/town-governance-study-committee.
Free Ongoing Classes: The Literacy Project North Quabbin offers ongoing free basic education classes, free GED preparation classes and free academic counseling services. For more information, contact The Literacy Project North Quabbin, 131 West Main St., or call 978-544-8917 or visit: www.literacyproject.org.
Shelburne Historical Society, 33 Severance St. (old Arms Academy) is open every Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. Stop in and see some of our special displays celebrating Shelburne’s history. Curator, Elaine Parmett. 413-625-6150.
Community Supper: West County Community Supper, Fridays, Trinity Church, Severance Street, Shelburne Falls. Coffee and tea at 5 p.m.; supper at 5:30. Supper sponsored by caring groups and organizations.
Free Medical Clinic: Trailside Health at 111 Bridge St., downtown Shelburne Falls, downtown Shelburne Falls. It is on the FRTA bus route. The free clinic takes place every Tuesday at 9 a.m. Call 413-625-6240.
Free Weekly Playgroup: Come and enjoy time with your child(ren) and other families and caregivers from the community at the Shutesbury Elementary School. For the 2018-19 school year, playgroup continues on Fridays from 8:45 to 10:15 a.m. This playgroup is facilitated by Joie Ciepiela and is intended for children 0 to 5. Playgroup is sponsored by the Shutesbury elementary School 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.
CFCE of the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional School District Free Weekly Playgroup and Story Hour for parents with young children. Mondays: 9:30 to 11 a.m., Buckland Shelburne Elementary School, 75 Mechanic St., Shelburne Falls. Thursdays: 9:30 to 11 a.m., Trinity Church, 17 Severance St., Shelburne Falls. Fridays: 9:30 to 11 a.m., Hawlemont Elementary School, 10 School St., Charlemont. Come and join other families with young children to play, learn, sing and have a snack. Wednesdays: Story Hour at the Arms Library at the corner of Bridge St. and Main St. in Shelburne Falls. Come and join other families with young children to read stories, sing songs and do an art activity. Contact Melissa Pincus, CFCE Coordinator for more information.
Benefits Counseling Program: Are you age 60 or older and worried about your home heating or electric bills? Income eligible seniors can find help through LifePath Benefits Counseling Program. LifePath will help file an application for fuel assistance and find other ways to save you money. Contact Gretchen Smith at 413-773-5555, ext. 2258, or 978-544-2259, ext. 2258, for more information. Email info@lifepathma.org or visit lifepathma.org for more information.
Healthy Living Program: The program, at LifePath, promotes wellness and independence among older adults. Workshops on chronic disease and pain self management, healthy eating, falls prevention and more make up this program. Contact Marcus Chiaretto at 413-773-5555, ext. 2304, or 978-544-2259, ext. 2304, for more information.
Healthy Aging Program: The program, at LifePath, are for people who want to enjoy healthier lives. Groups meet for several weeks in different communities and are led by local volunteer leaders. Choose from six, evidence-based workshops on information or to register for a free workshop or leader training, contact Marcus Chiaretto, Healthy Living Program coordinator, 413-773-5555, ext. 2304, 978-544-2259, ext. 2304, or mchiaretto@lifepathma.org. Read more at lifepathma.org.
Rehabilitation services at BFMC: Rehabilitation Services at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 48 Sanderson St. For more information or to schedule a free screening, call 773-2227.
Information and Caregiver Resource Center: The ICRC at LifePath has answers to all your questions about elder services, help for people with disabilities, and caregiver support. 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 the ICRC at 413-773-5555 or 978-544-2259 or email info@lifepathma.org. Go online to learn more at lifepathma.org.
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 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 over 40, 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. In Franklin County, call 413-475-1405.
Join us: More than 600 RSVP of Hampshire and Franklin Counties active adults 55 and older give a few hours weekly to improve their communities. RSVP has many volunteer openings close to home to fit your interests, skills, and time availability. Contact Pat at psicard@hampshirecog.org or 413-387-4558 for more information.