Veterans Representative Town Hall Hours: Willis Thayer, Veterans representative from the Greenfield office of the Department of Veterans’ Services, provides office hours at Ashfield Town Hall on the second Thursday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. Veterans are invited to stop for information on services available and with any questions they may have.
“Healthy Bones and Balance” for bone health meets Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., at St. John’s corner. Free. For more information, call 625-2502.
Brattleboro, Vt.
Grief Support Groups: Two new adult grief support groups — one for suicide loss and one for men who are grieving — will begin at Brattleboro Area Hospice in April. Both groups are free and will meet at the hospice office at 191 Canal St. The suicide loss support group meets the first and third Thursday of the month from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. in the downstairs kitchen at hospice. This group is for adults who have lost a loved one to suicide. Drop-ins are welcome, but advance registration is appreciated by calling 257-0775, ext. 104. The men’s grief support group will begin on April 11 and will continue meeting the second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at hospice. This group for men who are grieving a death loss of any type. Advance registration is required before attending. Call Cicely Carroll at 257-0775, ext. 108, for more information.
Historical Discussion: Taverns in the 18th Century Connecticut Valley and in Colrain provided essential services for travelers as well as meeting places in which to socialize, transact business, pick up mail and get the latest information. Anne Lanning, senior vice president at Historic Deerfield, will offer a presentation on these taverns, drawing on travel accounts, diaries, newspapers, probate records and account books to recount the experiences of the men and women who operated taverns as well as those who frequented them on Thursday, May 10, at a meeting of the Colrain Historical Society in the Stacy Barn, behind the Pitt House, on Main Road. The 7:30 p.m. presentation will follow the business meeting at 7. Refreshments will be served. The program is open to the public. For information, call Belden at 624-3453.
Local Recognition: Historic Deerfield honored Brock Jobe with the museum’s President’s Award. This award is presented to an individual whose outstanding support and consistent collaboration has helped Historic Deerfield fulfill its mission. It was presented Friday at the museum’s annual awards dinner. Jobe is Professor of American Decorative Arts Emeritus of the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture. An accomplished teacher and author, he has written numerous books and articles, and lectured widely on Massachusetts and New Hampshire furniture craftsmanship.
Greenfield Moose Family Center: A pasta meal is served every Wednesday, 6 p.m., at the center. $7. Open to members and guests. A line dance is at 7.
The RECOVER Project: The RECOVER Project hosts a daily “All Recovery Meeting” each morning, Monday to Saturday, from 10 to 11 a.m at 68 Federal St. Open to all to discuss recovery. All walks of recovery welcome. Meetings are held in the front community room. “Eddie’s Group” is held every Tuesday from 3 to 4 p.m. in the RPX. Please come join us. For more information, call 774-5489.
Gamblers Anonymous: Support Group meets Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., at the RECOVER Project. Use 1 Osgood St. entrance. For more information, call 325-1389.
Family United Network: The Family United Network (FUN) Center is at The Salasin Center, 474 Main St. Open hours are Thursdays, 4 to 6:30 p.m. Fun for the whole family; all ages welcome. For more information, contact Stacey at 774-4307, ext. 4, or email slangknecht@wmtcinfo.org.
Knights of Columbus: Lt. John J. Galvin Council No. 133 of Greenfield will meet Thursday, 7 p.m., at Holy Trinity Church’s parish hall. Meetings take place the third Thursday of the month.
CAP seeks recruits: Franklin County Cadet Squadron, CAP, meets Thursdays, 6:45 to 9 p.m. at the Greenfield Teen Center, Sanderson Street. CAP is seeking new recruits, ages 12 to 18. Call Maj. Gary Longley at 773-9331 for more information.
Dementia Program: The Senior Center in Shelburne, in collaboration with Lifepath, will offer a free six-session training for individuals caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. This Savvy Caregiver Program will be offered on Thursdays, May 10, 17, 31 and June 7, 14, 21 from 2:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the Senior Center. Participants should plan to commit to all six sessions. Call Leanne at the Senior Center at 625-2502 to register or for questions.
Tai Chi, led by Lois Bascom, runs every Thursday morning from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the Senior Center. Movements follow the program designed by Dr. Lam with easy forms and repetition. Good for improving balance and stability. Program is open to all.
Spring Display: Spring flowers and birds made by preschoolers at the weekly story time at Carnegie Public Library are on display in the lobby at Greenfield Savings Bank, 282 Avenue A.
Emergency Basic Needs program: A program of Montague Catholic Social Ministries and is open Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, for resources and referrals. If you have questions or want to make an appointment, call Mary at 863-4804, ext. 1002, or email BasicNeeds@mcsmcommunity.org. To access Emergency Basic Needs, buzz No. 103 at the Moltenbrey entrance on Third Street.
Open Hours at the Women’s Center at MCSM: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. are open to all women. Computer lab, community resources, peer support, arts and crafts, free gently used clothing and more are available. For more information, call 863-4804, ext. 1003, or email christine@mcsmcommunity.org. Program of Montague Catholic Social Ministries.
Playgroup: A program of Montague Catholic Social Ministries meets Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to noon, 78 Avenue A. This informal, drop-in playgroup for parents, caregivers and children younger than 8 offers music, movement and other early literacy activities, unstructured playtime, time for parents to connect, a kids clothing exchange and a parent resource lending library. For more information, contact Mary King at 863-4804, ext. 1005, or email mary.king@gmrsd.com.
Regional
RSVP volunteer program: RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) helps adults who are 55 and older find meaningful local volunteer opportunities. Share your lifetime of experience, meet new friends and help nonprofits in your community who depend on volunteer assistance. Contact Pat Sicard at RSVP, 584-1300, ext. 183, or email psicard@hampshirecog.org.
Community meals: Wednesdays, Salvation Army, 72 Chapman St. Breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m.; coffee and soup, 10 to 11, and lunch from 11 a.m. to noon. Also on Wednesdays at Second Congregational Church, 16 Court Square, 5:30 p.m.
Free blood pressure screenings: Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon, at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 164 High St., Greenfield. No registration required.
Free hearing screenings: Baystate Rehabilitation Care, 48 Sanderson St., Greenfield. For an appointment, call 773-2227.
Overeaters Anonymous: Free meetings every week. In Greenfield: Saturday, 9:30 a.m., Baystate Franklin Medical Center, conference room 9; Sunday, 10 to 11:15 a.m., also at BFMC. For more information or to locate meetings throughout western Massachusetts, Brattleboro and northern Vermont, call 773-7394 or 783-4198.
Child Care/Preschool/Home-visiting: The Parent-Child Development Center, serving families with children kindergarten age and younger and expectant women for more than 40 years, offers free Head Start preschool, free Head Start and early Head Start home visiting programs and child care in Franklin/Hampshire counties. Spanish speaking services available. Call 475-1405 for more information.
ICRC at LifePath: The Information and Caregiver Resource Center at LifePath has answers to all your questions about elder services/caregiver support. LifePath resource consultants are experts in finding the information you need to solve any problem. If we don’t have the answer, we will find someone who can help you. Contact ICRC at LifePath at 773-5555 or 978-544-2259.
Free mediation: Landlords/tenants can save money and time using free eviction prevention mediation services. The mediation and training collaborative is offering meditation at no cost to help resolve housing related problems before they go to court. For more information, call 475-1504 or 475-1503.
Foster Care Review: Volunteers needed to serve on 3-person panels making decisions about children in foster care. Volunteers are needed in Greenfield and Holyoke. Volunteers must be 18 or older and participate in a day and a half training. For an application and more information, contact Carol Judd at 452-3373 or email: carol.judd@statema.us.
Lawyer Referral Service website: Massachusetts Bar Association has launched a lawyer referral service website at: www.MassLawhelp.com with answers to the most common legal questions. Website also serves as an online channel for the LRS to connect members of the public with a local attorney.
Consumer Information Library: The Community Health Information Center at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 164 High St., Greenfield, is a great source for consumer health information. Across from the main lobby desk, the center is open to the public for health information and research on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon, and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 773-2319.
Franklin Area Survival Center: The thrift store at the Franklin Area Survival Center is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food pantry hours remain the same, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The center is at 96 Fourth St., Turners Falls.
Breastfeeding Support Group: The group meets Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to noon, in the Obstetrics Classroom, third floor of Baystate Franklin Medical Center, and is led by Suzanne Stoneham. The group is for mothers who are breastfeeding infants (moms are welcome to bring their infants to the group). For more information, call the Birth Place at BFMC at 7733-2359.
Stutterers Support Group: A support group for persons who stutter, sponsored by the National Stuttering Association and led by Carla Bernier, speech language pathologist. The group meets monthly on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at 15 Brewster Court, Northampton. Anyone interested should call in advance at 586-1945 or email carla@comtherapy.com. This is the only such support group in the Pioneer Valley.