Appalachian Mountain Club, All Out Adventures partnering on outdoor event series
NORTHFIELD — To kick off their “Accessible Outdoor Event Series on the New England National Scenic Trail,” the Appalachian Mountain Club and All Out Adventures is hosting its first event on Friday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Richardson-Zlogar Cabin.
Depending on the weather and location, each of the series’ events will either feature hiking, biking, birdwatching and opportunities to connect with nature using adaptive equipment, guided support and accessible trails.
Funded through a National Park Foundation grant, “These events are designed to showcase the beauty of the New England Trail while breaking down barriers for people with disabilities and other historically underrepresented groups in the outdoors,” the event announcement reads. “This series is not just about recreation; it’s about telling a broader story: what’s possible when we invest in access and invite everyone in.”
The series will continue on Oct. 3 and Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ashley Reservoir at 250 Whitney Ave. in Holyoke. Staggered arrival is allowed for each event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn about Life Alert’s services at Senior Center
BERNARDSTON — Darlene Messier will visit the Bernardston Senior Center on Thursday, Oct. 2, at noon to answer questions about the services provided by Life Alert, a personal medical response and medical alert company.
Next puzzle swap set for Oct. 4
NORTHFIELD — Free used puzzles will be available at Dickinson Memorial Library on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Attendees are advised to park in the back and enter through the side door of the library. Turn left to find the Community Room.
Participants are invited to take as many puzzles as they want, and can keep them as long as they need. The puzzle swap is offered monthly.
For more information, email friendsofdml01360@gmail.com.
Oct. 6: Farley String Band to perform
BERNARDSTON — The Bernardston Senior Center’s next Monday Cafe will feature music from the Farley String Band on Monday, Oct. 6.
Music will start at 3 p.m., followed by food at 4 p.m. Call 413-648-5319 by the Thursday before to make dinner reservations. A $3.50 donation is suggested.
The Farley String Band performs traditional folk and fiddle tunes. Their instruments include violin, guitar, banjo, dulcimer and accordion.
Second Saturday Roast Beef Suppers back for fall, winter months
BERNARDSTON — The United Church of Bernardston’s first Second Saturday Roast Beef Supper of the season will be held Saturday, Oct. 11, with seatings at 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. The church is located at 58 Church St. (Route 10).
Suppers will continue on the second Saturday of each month through April. Each meal, which costs $15, includes roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, rolls and dessert.
Call 413-648-9306 to reserve a preferred seating time or to reserve takeout meals.
Acrylic painting workshops continue
BERNARDSTON — Attendees of the next My Art Company workshops at the Bernardston Senior Center, set for Tuesdays, Oct. 14 and Oct. 21 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., will follow Priscilla Hauser’s instructions to work step by step on painting a beach scene with acrylics.
Participants will learn how to mix colors unique to a painting, paint a background, transfer a design, block elements, add detail and refine their creation.
Space is limited to 10. Sign up for one workshop by calling 413-648-5413. The cost is $5.
Additionally, an Oct. 28 session is planned for participants who have taken workshops and would like to complete their paintings or get extra help. Registration is advised.
Vaccine clinic set for Oct. 27
BERNARDSTON — The Bernardston Senior Center will host a vaccine clinic for flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), shingles and pneumonia on Monday, Oct. 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Advance sign-up is required by Oct. 17. Contact Donna DePretto at 413-768-1148 with questions or call 413-648-5413 to register. Attendees will need to complete a consent form and bring their medical insurance cards to the clinic.
Senior Center to host Halloween Costume Party
BERNARDSTON — The Bernardston Senior Center will host a Halloween Costume Party on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 11 a.m.
Prizes will be awarded for scariest, cutest and best Halloween costumes. Attendees can also sign up for lunch at 11:45 a.m. by calling 413-648-5319.
Medicare review appointments available
BERNARDSTON — Timed with Medicare’s open enrollment period, SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) counselor Chris Maguire will be at the Bernardston Senior Center on Oct. 20, Nov. 3, Nov. 17 and Dec. 1 to review Medicare plans. Appointments are required by calling 413-648-5413.
Thomas Aquinas College ranks No. 1 on Social Mobility Index
NORTHFIELD — In its annual review of American colleges and universities, U.S. News & World Report ranked Thomas Aquinas College No. 1 in the United States for social mobility.
“This honor is greatly appreciated — but also ironic,” John Goyette, Thomas Aquinas College’s vice president for advancement, said in a statement. “While many schools build their entire academic program around trying to help students improve their socioeconomic status, Thomas Aquinas College is not one of them.”
More than 50 years ago, the college’s founders in southern California established a program of Catholic liberal education in which students pursue knowledge as a path to wisdom and holiness. The college’s classical curriculum draws upon the Great Books of Western civilization, with four years of philosophy, natural science, literature, mathematics and theology. There are no business classes, no professional training programs, not even majors and minors.
“Our founders figured that, having honed the powers of comprehension, analysis and reasoned discourse, our alumni would excel in their future work, but that was never the point,” Goyette continued. “Students pursue this education not to climb some societal ladder, but for its own sake. And yet, according to the nation’s most popular college guide, this education better prepares them to get ahead than countless other curricula dedicated to that very purpose.”
To determine its Social Mobility Index, U.S. News & World Report considers the percentage of students at a given school who qualify for Pell Grants — an indicator of economic need — and looks at their graduation rates relative to the overall student body.
“Our high ranking reflects the college’s commitment to its robust financial aid program, which puts this education within reach of every family,” Goyette said. “It’s also a testament to our small classes and devoted teaching faculty, who enable students to thrive in a highly rigorous program that has little tolerance for AI cheating or grade inflation.”
Of the more than 4,000 American institutions included in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual survey, Thomas Aquinas College ranks among the top 100 national liberal arts colleges, climbing eight spots from last year to No. 55 overall and No. 63 among “Best Value Schools.” It is one of only seven Catholic schools to make it into the top 100, with rankings based, according to the magazine, on “17 key measures of academic quality,” ranging from graduation and retention rates to faculty resources and graduates’ average federal loan debt.