Mother Woman support group: A support group for new mothers. Meets Mondays, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at St. John’s Corner, 469 Main St. This group, under the joint sponsorship of It Takes a Village and St. John’s Episcopal Church, meets each Monday, except school holidays. Pregnant and postpartum mothers welcome. Infants stay with mothers. Snack for all; free child care for children up to age 4. For more information, contact Anna Westley at anna@motherwelldoulacare.com.
Kingsmen Chess Club: Meets Sundays, noon to 4 p.m., Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main St. For more information, call John Dould at 978-249-5905 or email aelb@trysb.net or aelb@hotmail.com.
Smoking Cessation: Led by Tim Sweeney, tobacco treatment specialist. Meets Mondays, 6 to 7 p.m. Athol Hospital’s cafeteria.
TOPS: Take Off Pounds Sensibly Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Athol Congregational Church.
Dick’s Angels Friday Night dinner will be a Mexican Theme: Tacos, quesadillas, nachos and cheese or beef and cheese, etc. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and grilled cheeses will also be available. Serving from 5 to 8 p.m. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. May 13 will be the last night of cooking for Dick’s Angels until the fall.
Kyle Artus of 147 Bald Mountain road, earned Dean’s List recognition as a first year student at Bentley University in Waltham with interest in Sports Management.
Bernardston Veterans Organization will sponsor a roast beef dinner fundraiser on Saturday with sittings at 5 and 6:30 p.m. at 16 Hartwell St. Tickets are $15 per person. Proceeds will help pay for repairs at the BVO. for tickets, call Tim at 522-5517.
PFC Kyle Lewis Meattey, 19, of Greenfield, graduated from United States marine Corps Boot Camp at marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, Sc on April 15. Meattey successfully completed 13 weeks of intensive basic training at MCRD Parris Island, S.C. as one of 77 recruits in training platoon 1028. while in recruit training, Meattey achieved expert while qualifying on rifle range. he will now be off to North Carolina for further training. He is the son of Robin Morrison of Greenfield, and Herman and Sarah Meattey of Erving.
Spring Raffle in the Baystate Franklin Medical Center Gift Shop: Chances are $2 for one; $5 for three; $10 for 12. Prizes include two Red Sox tickets vs. Cleveland Sunday, May 22; Giant Revel 2 bike road/mountain with bike jersey; two Red Sox ceramic mugs; BigR audio headphones; Yoor2 mini plus activity tracker. donated by Greenfield Radiology Associates, Greenfield Urology, Bob Perry, Connecticut River Internists and Valley Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine.
Vet to Vet: The RECOVER Project and the Recovery Learning Community offer Vet to Vet every Thursday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at 74 Federal St. This collaboration is for all veterans, regardless of discharge status to offer support when the civilian world is a challenge. For more information, contact Tim at 475-0226.
A Roast Pork Supper will be served Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Montague Congregational Church. The menu will be roast pork, red roasted potatoes, gravy, Belgium carrots, apple sauce, homemade bread, and tomato soup cake. $10 adults, $6 children. For reservations, call 367-2652. Call for take outs; walk-ins seated as space allows.
Helpful Programs at FCHCC: At Franklin County Home Care. Any plan of care starts with your needs. Home Care Services provide assistance with light homemaking, home-delivered meals, personal care, and adaptive equipment. Caregivers can take a break to de-stress with Home Care’s respite services. In addition, the Consumer Directed Care Program at FCHCC allows elders in need to select their own care giver – perhaps a friend, neighbor or even a family member – who can be paid through this program (excludes spouses). For more information, visit: info@fchcc.org or call 773-5555 or 978-544-2259. Read more at www.fchcc.org.
Maple Valley Farm, 190 Main St.: Dianne Salcedo and Bob Michaud, owners, will offer a variety of plants for sale and donate a portion of the proceeds to the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Ten percent of all sales to those who mention the library will be donated to the Friends. For more information, call Salcedo at 978-575-0131.
Country Breakfast at First Parish Church, corner of Main Street and Parker Avenue will be served Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. $8.
Food Pantry: The community food pantry will be open Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The pantry is in the basement of Dickinson Memorial Library, 115 Main St. The pantry is open the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
Free Community Meal: Offered every Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Church, Severance Street.
Playgroup on Fridays: Playgroup on Fridays at Shutesbury Elementary School, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Shutesbury Elementary School.
Preschool story time: Fridays, 11 a.m. in the Children’s Room of the Sunderland Public Library. These story/craft times are for children ages 3 to 5 and their families/caregivers. Each story time is about 45 minutes and includes theme-related stories, songs, finger plays and crafts.
Serendipity Shop: Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Congregational Church basement. Men’s women, children’s clothing, shoes and sneakers. Most items $1. Men’s suits and all coats, $3. Women’s suits, $2. Donations accepted. Proceeds to benefit the church. 665-2890.
The Minis are Coming to Town: Saturday at 10 a.m. at Greenfield Savings Bank, 282 Avenue A. In the market for an unusual pet? Come and check out these pint-sized miniatures that fit in anyone’s backyard. The Minis are gaining popularity with horse lovers and the presenters will tell you why! Learn from current owners the care and up-keep on this exciting, fun and friendly breed. Handouts will be available. This is a family affair for all ages to enjoy. Since this is an outside event in our back parking lot, it is weather permitting. Call Kerri or Linda at 413-863-4316 to verify the details.
Franklin Area Survival Center: The Food Pantry & Thrift Store hosted by staff and volunteers is at 96 Fourth St., 863-9549. The Thrift Store is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Food Pantry is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The center is closed Federal holidays. The Thrift Shop is open to the general public and helps finance its Food Pantry. In an emergency, such as a fire or flood, the center will supply needed clothing and linens, free, and additional food to help the victims of a disaster.
Solar: The public is invited to attend an informational meeting to learn the benefits of home ownership of solar electric systems this Saturday at the Warwick Town Hall from 10 a.m. to noon. The program is sponsored by the Choose Solar Initiative, Warwick, Orange, Wendell (CSI-WOW), an ad hoc group of dedicated local volunteers who say that right now is a very good time to invest in your own home solar electricity system. The program is the second in a series of public informational meetings. The focus of the meeting will be to give homeowners who are thinking of buying, not leasing, their own private solar electricity systems the tools necessary to understand the current system of prices, loans and incentive payments, as well as the confidence to evaluate bids and proposals and select a system and contractor. The program will feature representatives from three solar installation contractors.
Vigil for Racial Justice Every Saturday, 9 to 10 a.m., at the Greenfield Common. Bring your own sign or use one of ours. Everyone is welcome. For more information: email@racialjusticerising.org.
Free Reiki sessions: Reiki for Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors in Franklin County. Saturday mornings by appointment, 474 Main St., Suite 2, Greenfield. Reiki, an ancient and relaxing, noninvasive therapy, enhances the body’s natural healing ability while calming the body, mind and spirit. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Mary Jessie Blazejewski, Reiki master/teacher at 774-9927.
Eventide Singers: Offering songs of hope and healing for seriously or terminally ill people, their families and caregivers. the service is offered in homes, hospitals and care facilities, without charge. The music can be selected in response to spiritual preference. Eventide’s purpose is to provide a bed of supportive music on which a person may rest in harmony while in transition from this time to what is next to come. For more information and a YouTube video of the group, go to: www.eventidesigners.com or call Marcia Schuhle at 774-2335 or Joe Toritto at 774-5828.