GREENFIELD — Gill resident Karen Larsen is starting a Mystery Readers Book Club at the Greenfield Public Library, with the next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The club meets on the first Wednesday of each month.
“Because we each have our own tastes in mysteries, we don’t ask everyone to read the same book each month,” Larsen explained in an email. “Instead, we get together in a casual, friendly environment and talk about what we’ve each been reading individually. Whether your thing is country cozies, dark Scandinavian noir, serial killer thrillers, historical whodunits, spy drama, fantasy conundrums or another branch of the genre, we’ll enjoy your insights into what you are reading.”
According to Larsen, even residents who didn’t have time to read anything during the month are welcome to attend and enjoy the discussion, considering they may have insights into the books other have read. Attendees can also share which books they didn’t enjoy and help introduce fellow members to new authors.
“When there’s time, we also talk about mysteries on film and TV,” Larsen added. “I’ll bring a snack and you bring your unique interests and insights.”
GREENFIELD — The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. will host a free public reading and discussion of Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” on Friday, July 5. That date will mark the 172nd anniversary of the speech, which Douglass delivered in Rochester, New York, on July 5, 1852, 14 years before he visited Greenfield in 1866.
The event begins at 5 p.m. with refreshments and music provided by the students of Twice as Smart, an after-school program founded and directed by Gloria Matlock. Following the music, a participatory reading of Douglass’ speech in both English and Haitian Creole will allow audience members to join in the reading if they wish. Dual-language handouts will be provided. A student from Twice as Smart will lead the reading in Haitian Creole.
Capping the evening, The LAVA Center’s Humanities Coordinator Matthew Barlow will lead a discussion on Douglass and his legacy, as well as the legacy of the successful slave rebellion in the former French colony of Saint-Domingue that, in 1804, became the first post-slave state to gain independence with the founding of Haiti. Members of the Haitian community in Greenfield are particularly invited to join this celebration of Haiti’s independence. Haitian Creole interpretation will be provided by special arrangement with the Translation Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
GREENFIELD — Blessed Trinity Parish at 221 Federal St. is hosting a Fireworks Party on Saturday, July 6, from 2 to 8 p.m.
While the annual Independence Day festivities are held at nearby Beacon Field, the parish plans to offer arts and crafts, children’s face painting, music, bubbles, refreshments and an obstacle course.
“We will have a kids zone to answer any questions parents may have about the Beacon of Light Preschool, also located on the parish grounds at 14 Beacon St.,” Catherine-Anne Cuff, the parish’s director of educational outreach who is also slated to be director of the preschool, wrote in an email. “Our location is very popular for people parking and going to the Greenfield fireworks. With that in mind, in addition to free parking and children’s activities, we are welcoming anyone in the community to enjoy the music, meet our parish ambassadors and join us for Mass at 4 p.m.”
After Mass and music at 4 p.m., refreshments will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. and a Parish Meet & Greet will be held from 7 to 8 p.m.
GREENFIELD — The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. is hosting a new photography exhibit by Greenfield-based artist Lindy Whiton, “Portraits and Parades: A Touch of Joy.”
The exhibit will be on display through July. Gallery hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays and Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m. A reception will be held Saturday, July 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Whiton has been taking pictures since her teens, but it was not until 2009 when her brother Paul gave her a Pentax camera that she began pursuing photography as a way to document the beauty of life around her during a transformative time. She began blogging about her experiences and documenting those experiences daily. Whiton aims to capture the spirit of life around her even during the darkest of days.
GREENFIELD — In partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium, the Greenfield Public Library invites residents to a virtual author talk with Kate DiCamillo on Tuesday, July 9, at 2 p.m.
DiCamillo will be sharing the stories behind the creation of her early chapter book series, “Mercy Watson,” as well as the follow-up series, “Tales from Deckawoo Drive.” Attendees will also celebrate the publication of the final book in the “Mercy Watson” series.
For more information and to register, visit libraryc.org/greenfieldpubliclibrary.
GREENFIELD — The gift shop at Baystate Franklin Medical Center is sponsoring an “I Love My Clogs” sale in the hospital’s main lobby on Tuesday, July 9, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The sale will feature comfort shoes, socks and handbags, with brands including Dansko, Klogs, TRAQ, L’Artiste and Alegria.
Cash, Mastercard, Visa and Discover cards will be accepted, and hospital employees can opt for payroll deductions. Proceeds from the sale benefit patient services.
GREENFIELD — If you have ever attended a Salasin Project group or worked with a Salasin Project advocate, the organization wants to hear from you.
The Salasin Project welcomes the community to share their thoughts and opinions, learn about volunteer opportunities, and more in-person at the 474 Main St. offices or over Zoom on Wednesday, July 10, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
For more details and to register, contact Becky at BeckyL-resiliency@wmtcinfo.org or 413-774-4307, ext. 101.
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Public Library will host co-authors Meghan Elizabeth Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli on Wednesday, July 10, at 6 p.m. for a discussion on their book, “The Conceivable Future: Planning Families and Taking Action in the Age of Climate Change.”
Kallman and Ferorelli turned a decade of work with their organization, Conceivable Future, into a guide for authentic family and political life amid the climate crisis. The resulting book is an empathetic, data-backed argument written in conversational prose that addresses how people, on an individual and collective level, can get politically involved to make the world safer for everyone’s children. Kallman, a sociologist and Rhode Island state senator, and Ferorelli, an activist and writer, offer practical steps for taking meaningful action in combating the climate crisis, while also making smart, balanced decisions when it comes to starting and maintaining a family.
Copies of “The Conceivable Future” will be available for purchase at the library.
For more information, contact Lisa Prolman at librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org or call 413-772-1544.
GREENFIELD — Better Together Dog Rescue is seeking to build its foster base and will be at the Greenfield Public Library on Thursday, July 11, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Representatives from the organization will answer questions and offer information about the process of fostering dogs.
For more information, contact Pamela McBride at librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org or call 413-772-1544.
GREENFIELD — Raymond Sanchez of Westover Job Corps will be at the Greenfield Public Library on Friday, July 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. to answer questions and provide details about their programs.
Westover Job Corps is a tuition-free training and education program that connects eligible young men and women ages 16 to 24 with the skills and educational opportunities they need to establish careers. The program also provides the hands-on, practical experience needed to begin working toward a long-term career.
ALBANY, N.Y. — Alyssa Stevens of Greenfield was among the 222 full-time students who were named to the dean’s list at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for the spring semester. To be named to the dean’s list, students must complete their coursework with a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 score.
GREENFIELD — Attorney Valerie Vignaux, an estate planning and elder law attorney, will speak at the Greenfield Senior Center on Tuesday, July 9, from 2 to 3 p.m.
Vignaux will touch on the important elements of a thorough estate plan, including health care proxies, MOLSTs (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment), powers of attorney, wills and trusts. She will discuss the probate process and, time allowing, long-term care cost planning, plus gift and estate tax considerations. There will be time for questions after the program.
Vignaux is a native of Ithaca, New York, who graduated from Hamilton College in 1996 and Boston College Law School in 2003. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
Advance registration is required by calling 413-772-1517, ext. 0 or by stopping by the Senior Center’s front desk. Senior Center membership is not required. This free program is sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association.
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Senior Center is offering free one-hour workshops on autobiography writing with Lynn Tryba on Friday, July 19, and Friday, July 26, from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
These workshops will introduce participants to fun techniques that will allow them to naturally and easily tap into their memories and their creativity. Typical themes of autobiography will be discussed, and attendees will write and share snippets of their life stories as time allows. Participants are advised to bring a notebook and something to write with. The instructor will provide art paper for some of the exercises.
Tryba has worked as a writer and editor for newspapers, magazines and online publications for many years. She is a certified guided autobiography instructor with The Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies in California. This nonprofit introduces people to the process of learning how to access, write, share and preserve their life stories.
Advance registration and Senior Center membership (free) are required. Call 413-772-1517, ext. 0 or stop by the Senior Center’s front desk to sign up for one date only.
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Senior Center invites residents to celebrate summer with a performance by the Pax Sax Quartet on Tuesday, July 23, from 2 to 3 p.m.
The quartet will play jazz standards and more, from traditional American tunes to music by contemporary composers. The concert is open to the public; Senior Center membership is not required. However, advance registration is required to reserve a seat.
You may reserve for yourself and up to two others in your party. Call 413-772-1517, ext. 0 or stop by the Senior Center’s front desk to sign up.
This free event is partially funded by the Greenfield Council on Aging and the Greenfield Cultural Council.
GREENFIELD — Farmers market coupons will be distributed at the Greenfield Senior Center, 35 Pleasant St. on Friday, July 26, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. to qualifying seniors.
All seniors ages 60 and up whose monthly income is below $2,322 for a single person or $3,152 for a couple will qualify. One $50 booklet of coupons is allowed per person. No registration is required, and you do not have to be a Senior Center member or a Greenfield resident.
For more information, call LifePath at 413-773-5555.
GREENFIELD — The Nurturing Program for Families in Substance-Related Treatment and Recovery offered by the Salasin Project and co-sponsored by The RECOVER Project is a 16-week, evidence-based group designed to offer adult caregivers educational information about human growth and development.
Program participants explore the impact of substance abuse and domestic violence on children and families. The topics are designed to strengthen participants’ self-esteem and to encourage strength-based models for guiding behaviors in children.
The group meets each Tuesday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and offers open enrollment. Sessions are held both on Zoom and in person at the Salasin Project, 474 Main St.
To register, contact Lynn at 413-774-4307, ext. 103 or lynn-resiliency@wmtcinfo.org.
GREENFIELD — Breaking Barriers is a women’s group that provides a non-judgmental, confidential space to share experiences at the Franklin County Re-Entry Center, 106 Main St., on Mondays from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Participants can share resources and ideas to overcome challenges with a focus on wellness and balance.
For more information and to register, contact Tina at tina-resiliency@wmtcinfo.org or 413-450-2277.
BIDDEFORD, MAINE — Morgan Martineau of Greenfield was named to the dean’s list for the spring semester at the University of New England. Dean’s list students have attained a grade point average of 3.3 or better out of a possible 4.0 at the end of the semester.
GREENFIELD — The Second Congregational Church of Greenfield has awarded scholarships to Ruthie Davis, Manuel Ferrer, Eliandra Snape and Samuel C. Whitney for the 2024-2025 academic year. Ferrer and Whitney are from Greenfield, while Davis lives in Montague and Snape is from Colrain.
Davis is entering her fourth year at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, on her way to becoming a registered nurse. Ferrer attends the University of Massachusetts Amherst, pursuing a degree in building construction technology. Snape will be a freshman at Lasell University in Newton, with an interest in forensic science and fire science. Whitney is an incoming freshman at Boston College, with plans to major in political science.
Funds are available to members and affiliates of the Second Congregational Church through the Frances W. and Charles W. Saunders scholarships, Florence V. Leach Scholarship and the Memorial Scholarship. This money has helped 74 different recipients with a total of 221 scholarships since 1979.