LAVA Center
hosting monthly Writers Read event

GREENFIELD — The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. hosts a monthly series, Writers Read, on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. Reading on July 12 will be Amie Hyson, Dennis Finnell and Erika Higgins Ross.

Hyson began facilitating creative writing workshops for the incarcerated, previously incarcerated and women in recovery in 2017, and has led numerous workshops since then. During the pandemic, she began offering weekly online “Writing Your Recovery” workshops, which continue to meet weekly. She is working on her first book of poetry.

Finnell has published six books of poetry, the most recent being “Selected Poems” from FutureCycle Press. He has taught at the University of Tennessee, Mount Holyoke College and Wesleyan University, and was co-director of financial aid at Greenfield Community College for a decade.

Higgins Ross, a writer and therapist, is at work on a novel and has had short pieces published in Funny Pearls, LA.com, Parenting Teens Magazine, Stagebill and Juice Magazine. She has participated in writing residencies through the Key West Literary Seminar, The Studios of Key West and Star Island.

There is a $5 suggested donation.

Hospital gift shop sponsors shoe sale

GREENFIELD — Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s gift shop is sponsoring a shoe sale on Tuesday, July 11, and Wednesday, July 12, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the hospital’s main lobby.

The sale, which will benefit patient and staff services, will feature Dansko, Klogs, Traq, Alegria and Springstep brands. Socks and handbags will also be available.

Beetle 7 show set for July 20

GREENFIELD — The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. will present Beetle 7, its house band led by local musician Steve Koziol, on Thursday, July 20, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Beetle 7 is an ambient space music experience with Joel Paxton (guitar), Kevin Smith (tuba), Steve Koziol (alto saxophone, Baglama) and Leo Hwang (theremin, guitar).

A $3 to $5 donation is suggested.

Bank rep giving credit talk

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Senior Center welcomes Cassandra Morrey of Greenfield Savings Bank for a talk titled “Credit: How Can It Affect you?” on Monday, July 17, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Advance registration is required. Call 413-772-1517, ext. 0 or stop by the center’s front desk to register.

Senior Center program to discuss medication costs

GREENFIELD — The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Pharmacy Outreach Program will give a talk on reducing medication costs at the Greenfield Senior Center on Friday, July 28, from 11 a.m. to noon.

The talk will teach attendees how to reduce costs, as well as identify and apply for assistance programs and insurance coverage. Representatives can also answer questions about medications, such as safety and drug interactions.

Although the program is free and open to the public, advance registration is required by calling 413-772-1517, ext. 0 or by stopping by the Senior Center’s front desk. Alternatively, Massachusetts residents may speak with Pharmacy Outreach staff by calling 1-866-6323-1617 or learn more online at mcphs.edu/pharmacyoutreach. All outreach services are free.

Remodeled
crosswalk complete

GREENFIELD — The Department of Public Works recently unveiled a remodeled crosswalk on Federal Street near the intersection with Ames Street. The in-house effort by the department improves safety and visibility.

Over the years, the DPW recognized that improvements were needed for the Federal and Ames crossing that connects Hangar Pub and Grill and Greenfield Savings Bank. The crosswalk’s placement on a busy roadway and a catch basin located in the crossing’s path caused safety concerns. Additionally, the old layout linking one sidewalk to a driveway apron is now considered antiquated under modern regulations.

DPW Director Marlo Warner II initiated the project, funding it through the department’s annual budget. Construction for the crosswalk began in May and was completed on Friday, June 23.

The DPW performed excavation work to relocate the crosswalk and ensure it connected to both sidewalks. The department also moved a fire hydrant to account for the crosswalk’s new location.

“I think the overall effort to move a crosswalk 5 feet was incredible,” Warner said in a statement. “The in-house staff did a great job.”

One of the crossing’s features is a flashing beacon. The beacon allows people crossing the street to notify oncoming traffic in a visible manner.

“When you flash the beacon, it will help alert motorists that someone has entered the crosswalk,” Warner added.

]]>