LAVA Center to host four-week theater workshop on directing and acting

GREENFIELD — Led by theater artist Jan Maher, The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. will host a four-week workshop for writers, actors and directors, exploring the basics of different aspects of theater artistry.

The workshop, scheduled to take place Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28, from 4 to 6 p.m., will offer participants some experience in other roles in theater.

Advance registration and commitment to full participation is required. People are asked not to register if they know they will be unable to attend one or more sessions.

Participation is free for playwrights who have participated in The LAVA Center’s online programming; for all others, the cost is $25.

To register, send a statement of interest/commitment to jan@localaccess.org and info@thelavacenter.org.

Andra Daunhauer to discuss relationships between ecology, psychology

GREENFIELD — Residents are invited to attend a free presentation at the Greenfield Public Library by ecological psychologist Andra Daunhauer.

On Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 6:30 p.m., Daunhauer, who moved to Greenfield in 2019, will share with attendees how the relationships between ecology and psychology help us reconfigure harmful narratives and behavior into responsible and responsive ones.

GCVS students design prosthetics for animals as part of STEM project

GREENFIELD — Greater Commonwealth Virtual School (GCVS) students designed prosthetic devices to aid injured stuffed animals as part of a project meant to build skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The approximately 100 students are participating in an Engineering Design Challenge sponsored by the Wade Institute, for which they must imagine a disability experienced by an animal and then design a prosthetic device to help the animal overcome that disability.

Students came up with animals to work on prosthetics for, with one student designing a wheeled device to help a dog with no front legs, another designing a prosthetic tail for a dolphin, and another designing a prosthetic leg for a frog.

Comfort dog Frank to visit library

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Police Department’s comfort dog will be at the Greenfield Public Library this month.

On Friday, Jan. 19, from 3 to 4 p.m., K-9 Frank will visit the Children’s Room with his handler, Officer Matthew Llewelyn. This program is open to all children up to age 12.