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 Wednesday, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Pitch starts at 6. Partners are randomly drawn, $5. Open Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open every Friday, beginning Oct. 11. Saturday: Benefit motorcycle run and chicken barbecue with live music. The day begins at 10 a.m. with the ride, followed by food and music at noon. Music provided by Shawn Garland, Corey Knapp, Don Lacoy, Heath Lewis and the Falltown String Band.
Climate Changes will be the theme of the next meeting of BrattleMasters, the local Toastmasters club, on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Room 249 at Vermont Technical College. Drew Adam will be the emcee. Two new members will be inducted into the club during a special ceremony. The area director will visit and two members will give speeches to be evaluated. Participate in a speaking off-the-cuff exercise when audience members volunteer to answer a question without any preparation. For directions or more information, go to brattleboro.toastmastersclubs.org.
The Greenfield Duplicate Bridge Club offers a weekly game every Thursday at noon at the First Congregational Church, 43 Silver St. For information, call 413-774-2687.
Circle of Moms: Meets Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon, Community Action Family Center, 90 Federal St. Free parking, child care and snacks. For more information, call 413-774-1000.
Community Action’s Family Center: The Family Center, 90 Federal St., offers play and learn groups, a parent support group and special early literacy events. The staff can answer questions on topics like parenting, discipline, child development and school readiness, as well as help you find other community resources. Free books, clothing and diapers on site. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 413-475-1553.
Free Ongoing Classes: The Literacy Project/Greenfield offers ongoing basic education classes, GED preparation classes, job readiness workshops, college transition workshops and academic counseling services. For more information, call 413-774-3935 or visit: literacyproject.org.
Poetry Competition: The Wheeler Memorial Library and the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries will host its annual awards presentation to celebrate all participants and top 10 finalists of this year’s Robert P. Collén Poetry Competition. All who knew Collén were aware of his affection for his hometown of Orange. His most celebrated poem, “The Town and the River,” is his love song to the place of his birth and the inspiration behind the competition. On Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m., the event will take place in the upstairs reading room at Wheeler Memorial Library. The top 10 finalists of the competition will read their poems. The top three finalists will be revealed at the end of the evening. Submissions to the competition will be accepted until Saturday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. All poems being submitted by mail must be postmarked by the submission deadline date. Mail to: Robert P. Collén Poetry Competition, Wheeler Memorial Library, 49 East Main St., Orange, MA 01364. For more information, call the library at 978-544-2495, ext. 100 or 102, or email Todd Ladeau at tladeau@orangelib.org.
Free Ongoing Classes: The Literacy Project North Quabbin offers ongoing basic education classes, GED preparation classes and academic counseling services. For more information, contact The Literacy Project North Quabbin, 131 West Main St., call 978-544-8917 or visit: literacyproject.org.
Free Medical Clinic: Trailside Health at 111 Bridge St., downtown Shelburne Falls on the FRTA bus route. Every Tuesday at 9 a.m. Call 413-625-6240.
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. Join other families with young children to play, learn, sing and have a snack. Contact Melissa Pincus, CFCE coordinator, for more information. mepincus@mohawkschools.org.
Volunteers: Local non-profit organizations seek extra volunteers for the summer to prepare and deliver meals, drive seniors to appointments, help with special events and assist customers in survival centers and thrift shops. If you are 55 or older and have a few hours to spare, contact Pat Sicard, volunteer manager of RSVP of the Pioneer Valley, at psicard@communityaction.us or 413-387-1286.
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’s Benefits Counseling Program. LifePath will help file an application for fuel assistance and find other ways to save you money. For more information, contact the Benefits Counseling Program at 413-773-5555, ext. 2258 or 978-544-2259, ext. 2258, or email info@lifepathma.org.
Healthy Living Program: The program, at LifePath, promotes wellness and independence among older adults. Workshops on chronic disease and pain management, healthy eating, preventing falls and more. To register for a free workshop or leader training, contact Andi Waisman, Healthy Living Program Manager, 413-773-5555, ext. 2297, or 978-544-2259, ext. 2297, for more information.
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. Contact the ICRC at 413-773-5555, ext. 1230 or 978-544-2259, ext. 1230, 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 or to locate meetings throughout Massachusetts, Brattleboro, Vt., and northern Vermont, call 413-773-7394 or 413-783-4198.
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 preschool, home visiting and child care programs in Franklin/Hampshire counties. Spanish speaking services available. In Franklin County, call 413-475-1405.
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