“Healthy Bones and Balance” Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., St. John’s corner. Free. For more information, call 413-625-2502.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS): Meets Thursdays at 5:45 p.m. at Athol Memorial Hospital, 2033 Main St. Attendees should use the main entrance and turn left to the conference room on the right. Visitors to a TOPS chapter are welcome to attend their first meeting free. Membership is $32 a year plus nominal chapter fees. Harvey Laprade has been named the new chapter leader. To find another local chapter, visit tops.org or call 800-932-8677.
Bernardston Senior Center: Today at 12:30 p.m., “What can GCC do for you?” Then, “Scam Alert” brought to you by the Northwest District Attorney’s Office will be Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. Learn about the latest scams and how to avoid them. If you would like lunch prior to the event, call 413-648-5319.
100th Birthday: Mary Elaine Fairbanks, formerly of Colrain, will be celebrating her 100th birthday Jan. 20. She enjoys getting cards and letters. If possible, local friends can send her a card wishing her a “Happy 100th Birthday.” Cards can be sent to: Mrs. Mary Elaine Fairbanks, Queen Anne’s Nursing Home, 50 Recreation Park Drive, Hingham, MA 02043.
Building Bridges Veterans Initiative will offer free weekly veterans lunches Thursdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Greenfield Elks Lodge, 2 Church St. Building Bridges is a veterans initiative of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Mass. buildingbridgeswma.com.
Greenfield Moose Family Center: A pasta meal is served Wednesday, 6 p.m., at the center. The cost is $8. Open to members and guests. A line dance is at 7.
Gamblers Anonymous: Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., The RECOVER Project. Use 1 Osgood St. entrance. For more information, call 413-325-1389.
Knights of Columbus: Lt. John J. Galvin Council No. 133 of Greenfield meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in Holy Trinity Church’s parish hall.
Franklin County Cadet Squadron (CAP) Seeks Recruits: Meets Thursdays, 6:45 to 9 p.m. Greenfield Teen Center, Sanderson Street. CAP is seeking new recruits, ages 12 to 18. If interested, call Maj. Gary Longley at 413-773-9331.
Al-Anon — Struggles for Intimacy: Thursday, 7:15 to 8:30 p.m., The 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 al-anon.org.
Northfield Senior Center: On Thursday, Robin Putnam from Consumer Affairs will be at the center at 11:30 a.m. to talk about “Home Improvement Contractors.” This is the time of year folks start thinking about having work done in the spring. Learn what you need to know and where you can call for information to have your project happen the way you want. Call 413-498-2186 by today to reserve a spot.
Ongoing Yoga for Ages 60 and Up: Mats and props provided. Drop in anytime Thursdays, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., at Town Hall, 69 Main St., second floor. Elevator available at ground level; parking at rear of building. Donations appreciated but not required. Donations are used for equipment and additional exercise sessions. Simple seated and standing yoga postures, breathing exercises, relaxation and concentration techniques. Accessible to men and women with any amount of flexibility and yoga experience. Funded by grants from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Title III grant administered by LifePath, and Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA).
Tai Chi led by Lois Bascom runs every Thursday morning from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the Senior Center. Easy forms and repetition. Good for improving balance and stability.
A Low-Cost Yoga class will be offered for seniors (55 and older) Thursdays, 4 to 5 p.m. at the Gill-Montague Senior Center, 62 5th St. Andrea Chesnes will offer gentle mat yoga stretches, yoga breathing techniques and deep relaxation. Seniors from all towns, including beginners, are welcome. A $1 donation is requested. For more information, call 413-863-4500.
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 413-863-4804, ext. 1002, or email BasicNeeds@mcsmcommunity.org. To access Emergency Basic Needs, buzz No. 103 at the Moltenbrey entrance on 3rd Street.
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, a children’s clothing exchange and a parent resource lending library. For more information, contact Mary King at 413-863-4804, ext. 1005 or email mary.king@gmrsd.com.
Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity announced applications are available for a three-bedroom home ownership opportunity in Shutesbury. The application deadline is Friday, Jan. 17. The sale price for the home will be $175,000 or less. Eligible applicants will have incomes up to 60 percent of area median income, which is adjusted for family size. Those interested in submitting an application are invited to attend an information session to learn more on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Jones Library, 43 Amity St. in Amherst. This will be the last information session before the application deadline. During the session, potential applicants will learn about Habitat’s selection criteria and how to prepare a complete application. The selection criteria include housing need, ability to make mortgage payments of $700 to $1,200 per month and willingness to partner with Habitat, such as participating in the construction of the home and other projects.
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program helps adults who are ages 55 and older find meaningful local volunteer opportunities. Share your lifetime of experience, meet new friends and help nonprofits in your community who depend on volunteer assistance, like volunteer drivers. If you have two hours weekly, a dependable vehicle and want to make a difference, contact Pat Sicard, RSVP volunteer manager, at 413-387-4558, ext. 1 or psicard@hcg-ma.org.
Free Hearing Screenings: Baystate Rehabilitation Care, 48 Sanderson St., Greenfield. For an appointment, call 413-773-2227.
Information and Caregiver Resource Center (ICRC) at LifePath: ICRC 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. Contact ICRC at LifePath at 413-773-5555 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 mediation at no cost to help resolve housing-related problems before they go to court. For more information, call 413-475-1504 or 413-475-1503.
Breastfeeding Support 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). For more information, call the Birth Place at BFMC at 413-773-2359.
Stutterers Support Group: A support group for people who stutter, sponsored by the National Stuttering Association and led by Carla Bernier, speech language pathologist. Meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at 15 Brewster Court, Northampton. Anyone interested should call in advance at 413-586-1945 or email carla@comtherapy.com.
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