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.
Taxes: Town of Gill 2017 Preliminary real estate and personal property taxes were mailed to homeowners Aug. 23. The taxes are due on or before Nov. 1. Early payments will be gratefully appreciated. If you do not receive a bill, please contact the collector at 413-863-2105.
Community Meal: Stone Soup Cafe takes place Saturdays at noon at All Souls Church, 399 Main St. (Hope Street entrance). Local, delicious food served. Pay what you can. All welcome.
Vet to Vet: The RECOVER Project and the Recovery Learning Community offers 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.
Helpful Programs at LifeSpan: Any plan of care starts with your needs. LifeSpan services provide assistance with light homemaking, home-delivered meals, personal care and adaptive equipment. Caregivers can take a break to destress with LifeSpan’s respite services. In addition, the Consumer Directed Care Program at LifeSpan allows elders in need to select their own caregiver – perhaps a friend, neighbor or even a family member — who can be paid through this program (spouses not included). For more information, visit info@lifepathma.org or call 773-5555 or 978-544-2259. Read more at lifepathma.org
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. It is open the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
Fall Flea Market: The Friends of the Orange Public Libraries will host a Fall Flea Market on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the lawn of the Wheeler Memorial Library. Vendors are being sought to participate in the event with a 10-foot-by-10-foot space available for $15. All proceeds will benefit the programs and services offered by the Orange Public Libraries. Contributions for the Friends’ table are also being accepted. Donated items may include jewelry, glassware, house plants, small tools, craft items, kitchenware, decorative itms and seasonal items. Please, no electronics, televisions, clothes or large furniture. Contributions may be dropped off at the library beginning Tuesday, Sept. 6. For more information contact Debbie Kent at 978-544-2434.
St. Joseph Parish tag sale: Come to what has become to be known as the “Best Tag Sale in West County.” It will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon at St. Joseph Church, 34 Monroe Ave. The 12th-annual parish fundraising event features the giant tag sale, bake sale, raffles, a teacup auction and food concessions. Anyone with items to donate, or who can help transport donated items, contact Nancy at 625-8148. Items will be reduced Sunday. Rain or shine.
Free community meal:Offered every Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Church, Severance Street.
Preschool storytime: Fridays, 11 a.m., in the Children’s Room of the Sunderland Public Library. These story and craft times are for children ages 3 to 5 and their families or caregivers. Each storytime 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 are $1. Men’s suits and all coats, $3. Women’s suits, $2. Donations accepted. Proceeds to benefit the church. 413-665-2890.
Make a bracelet: free on Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Greenfield Savings Bank, 282 Avenue A. The unique seed bead bracelet can be customized to your own design, compliments of Gail Krutka. Ms. Krutka has her own designer jewelry and has volunteered her time, product and finishing detail, so that you can create a truly personalized piece at no charge. Light refreshments will be provided by the bank. Limited seating available. To reserve a spot, call Hilary or Kerri at 413-863-4316.
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 on 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 fpr free needed clothing, linens and additional food to help the victims of a disaster.
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 and teacher at 413-774-9927.
SHINE: We serve the health insurance needs of everyone. Do you have Medicare but feel overwhelmed by your options? SHINE counselors are volunteers who provide free, unbiased health insurance information, education and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries and adults with disabilities to help people figure out what their best health insurance options are, based on their unique needs. Contact SHINE at LifePath at 978-544-2259. Or email info@lifepathma.org Learn more at lifepathma.org
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
Eventide Singers: Offering songs of hope and healing for seriously or terminally ill people, their families and carergivers. The service is offered in homes, hospitals and care facilities, without charge. The music can be selected in response to spiritual preference. For more information and a Youtube video of the group, go to: www.eventidesigners.com or call Marcia Schuhle at 413-774-2335 or Joe Toritto at 413-774-5828.
Straight Spouse Support: One-to-one support for straight individuals currently or once married to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender partners. Confidential helpline at 413-625-6636 or email jcmalinski48@gmail.com locally or at the Straight Spouse Network nationally at www.straightspouse.org
Counseling Referrals: the Social Work Therapy Referral Service offers free confidential referrals for individual, couple, family and group therapy, matched for specialty, location and insurance. This is a public service of the National Association of Social Workers. Call 800-242-9794.
Help the blind: Your car, truck or camper may be worth more as a donation than a trade in. Call the Massachusetts Association for the Blind at 888-613-2777 for details.