Smoking Cessation: Led by Tim Sweeney, tobacco treatment specialist. Meets Mondays, 6 to 7 p.m. Athol Hospital’s cafeteria.
Calendar Raffle: Erving Elementary School is running its Second Annual Calendar Raffle Fundraiser for the month of May. This year there were 67 family and local business donors contributing to the raffle. Thanks to their overwhelming generosity, the school is able to raffle off more than $3,000 in cash and prizes, over $100 per day of 31 opportunities to win. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased through any Erving Elementary School student, at the French King Bowling Alley, on the Snap On Tools truck in Athol/Orange/Greenfield area, or across from the library during the Erving town-wide tag sale this weekend. Erving Elementary School would like to thank all donors and those purchasing tickets.
Community Meal: Stone Soup Cafe 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, 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.
Northfield Fix-It Fair: “Celebrating the noble art of repair” will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northfield Elementary School. This is a free repair day where local handy-people will gather in keeping with New Englanders’ long tradition of mending, fixing, and repairing to help townspeople fix broken items. Bring what you want to get fixed, such as: clothing, electronics, bikes, furniture, lamps, jewelry, knives/tools to sharpen. Breakfast and lunch available as a PTO fundraiser.For more information, call 413-498-0245 or go to www.TransitionNorthfieldMA.org. Sponsored by Transition Northfield, Dickinson Memorial Library and Kidder & Co.
Food Pantry: 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.
Growing Our Clothes: Local Lambs in Linen will be Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Shelburne Historical Society, 33 Severence St. This kick off is the first in a series of Grow Your Own in Shelburne. This interactive program is free and open to the public. Interact with local farmers and fiber artists inside and outside (weather permitting) the Arms Academy Building, as well as meeting the fiber producing animals. Activities for the family will include making matchbox looms, embroidery, finger weaving and felted penny rug appliques. Visitors welcome inside to see the loom and upstairs for spinning demonstrations. Refreshments. Supported in part by a grant from the Shelburne Cultural Council.
The Arms Library re-opens in its beautiful renovated space at Bridge and Main Streets Saturday Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Hours will remain the same: Mondays, 1 to 7 p.m., Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m, and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Play Reading: ”The Ferryman, 2017,” by Jez Butterworth, an Irish comedy about a wonderful, very funny family still feeling the impact of The Troubles, will be Saturday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Arms Library. Free and open to readers and audience members. We switch roles often so everyone has a chance to be a variety of characters. No need to RSVP. Just show up!
Free Community Meal: Offered every Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Church, Severance Street.
Yankee Pot Roast: The April dinner at Sunderland Congregational Church, Routes 47 and 116, will be served Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The meal will include appetizer, pot roast, mashed potatoes, vegetable, coleslaw, dessert and beverage. Adults $12, children under 8 $4. For reservations, call 413-665-2890. Leave name, telephone number and number of people attending.
Frontier Regional CFCE Free Drop-In Playgroup for Children 0-5 and their caregivers. Mondays and Fridays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 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.
Art show: John Landino will showcase his art work Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Greenfield Savings Bank, 282 Avenue A. Landino, 71, a cancer survivor, will be on hand to discuss some of his work in the bank’s Community Room. He has exhibited paintings, sculptures and performance art in New England, New York City and San Francisco. A 13-year resident of Western Massachusetts, he has an unusual and unique flair for the arts which includes recording more than 40 albums. He will also share his journey battling cancer and will attempt to “turn the audience into a living poem.” Landino’s work will remain on display in the lobby during normal branch hours until May 13.
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.
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.
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. Proceeds benefit blind and vision impaired persons in Massachusetts.