LEYDEN — The town, with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), will hold a virtual public listening session on Wednesday, May 18, at 5 p.m. to review findings and priority actions that have come out of more than a year of discussions on community resilience building and hazard mitigation.
According to a press release from Allison Gage, FRCOG’s senior land use and natural resources planner, Leyden is seeking to become designated as a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) community through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ MVP Program. Two workshops were held in the spring to discuss the impacts of climate change, identify the town’s top hazards of concern, review strengths and vulnerabilities, and brainstorm actions to increase resiliency in three categories: infrastructure, society and environment. By becoming an MVP community, Leyden will be eligible to apply for MVP Action Grants to pursue identified action items.
The process will also result in an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan for the town, the release states. Once the plan is approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the town will also be able to apply for hazard mitigation funding from those agencies.
Interested residents can register to participate in Wednesday’s meeting at bit.ly/leydenmvp.
NORTHFIELD — Northfield EMS will offer a CPR certification class at the Senior Center on Thursday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Only nine slots are available, so participants must register by calling 413-498-2901, ext. 114. The cost is $15.
NORTHFIELD — The Deerfield Valley Art Association’s Fiddleheads Gallery at 105 Main St. is hosting its second annual photography exhibit through June 12.
The entries were judged by Greenfield Recorder photographer Paul Franz. The awards are as follows:
■Best in show — “Bound” by Carol Dunn.
■First place — “Untitled No. 2” by Edmund Burke.
■Second place — “Waiting for the Tourists” by Carol Dunn and “Dry Your Eye” by Matt Guertin.
■Third place — “Sunset Farm” by Anne Colturi, “Heartbreak” by Christine Daugherty and “Modern Dancer” by Vimala Steadman.
■Honorable mentions — “Magical Peony” by Anne Colturi, “Fungi at the Quabbin” by Anne Colturi, “Caged Daisies” by Christine Daugherty, “Spiral Ripple” by Melanie Phillips, “Hibernian Hall” by Nina Rossi and “Cuban Girl” by Vimala Steadman.
The gallery is open on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. COVID-19 vaccinations are required to enter and masks are recommended.
For more information, visit deerfieldvalleyart.org.
Attorney to speak on long-term care planning
BERNARDSTON — Kate Downes, a local real estate planning and elder affairs attorney, will present a free workshop on Monday, May 23, at 4 p.m. at the Bernardston Senior Center.
Downes will discuss strategies for paying for in-home, assisted-living and skilled-nursing care, including qualifying for various MassHealth programs, according to a Senior Center newsletter. There will be time for questions following the presentation.
NORTHFIELD — To-go meals of spaghetti bolognese, mixed green salad, a roll and lemon poke cake will be available for pick-up at the Northfield Senior Center’s kitchen door on Friday, May 27, at 11:30 a.m.
There is a suggested donation of $5 per meal. Reservations must be made by calling the Senior Center at 413-498-2901, ext. 114 or emailing seniorcenter@northfieldma.gov by Monday, May 23.
Zumba offered weekly
BERNARDSTON — The Bernardston Senior Center is now offering weekly Zumba cardio workouts on Mondays from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
For details, call the Senior Center at 413-648-5413.