Greenfield Notebook: Oct. 28, 2022

GREENFIELD — The Salasin Project hosts a weekly watercolor painting group for adults on Zoom. Days and times vary each week.

Sessions involve warm-ups and fun project ideas that are meant to foster relaxation and emotional relief. Healing arts and somatic experiencing can help soothe the whole person, without participants having to talk about their trauma. No art experience is necessary.

Groups are open to anyone and free to join. Email Bekki-resiliency@wmtcinfo.org or call 413-774-4307, ext. 104 for details or to register.

GREENFIELD — The Salasin Project and The RECOVER Project co-sponsor an education/support group for caregivers who have domestic violence and/or substance use histories. The group has open enrollment, so there is no deadline by which to sign up.

The Nurturing Program for Families in Substance-Related Treatment and Recovery is a 16-week, evidence-based group designed to offer adult caregivers educational information about human growth and development. Attendees explore the impact of substance abuse and domestic violence on children and families. The topics are designed to strengthen participants’ self-esteem and to encourage strength-based models for guiding behaviors in children.

The support group meets each Tuesday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The group is offered both on Zoom and in person at the Salasin Project. To register, contact Lynn at 413-774-4307, ext. 103 or lynn-resiliency@wmtcinfo.org.

GREENFIELD — City Council voted last week to create an ad-hoc committee to review the city’s citizen initiative measures and citizen referendum procedures (outlined in charter Sections 7-7 and 7-8).

The appointed individuals include two members of City Council (Precinct 1 Councilor Katherine Golub and Precinct 9 Councilor Derek Helie), two members assigned by the mayor (Danielle Letourneau and Ashli Stempel-Rae), two members of the public (Isaac Mass and Albert Norman), and a committee chair and moderator (David Singer).

These appointments will expire once a final report is submitted to the council’s Appointments and Ordinances Committee.

GREENFIELD — Kathy Steinem will lead a “Dance 101” class at the Greenfield Senior Center, located at 35 Pleasant St., on Wednesdays from 1 to 1:45 p.m.

According to a notice from Senior Center Activities Director Kathy Dunn, attendance only requires a Senior Center membership, which is free. This class is standing, not a chair class.

GREENFIELD — In addition to workshops and special events throughout the month, The LAVA Center will host open writing times for two hours daily in November.

Beginners, emerging writers and professionals are all welcome. Prompts will be provided for those who find them useful. According to a LAVA Center press release, there will also be occasional one-hour workshops for trying out specific writing techniques and formats, led by Jan Maher and Doug Selwyn.

Paul Richmond of Human Error Publishing and host of regular open mic sessions at The LAVA Center invites all who have created work during the first half of the month to share it at the open mic on Nov. 15, at 7 p.m.

Shop Local Saturday on Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. will include a book table featuring works by Human Error Publishing and Dog Hollow Press authors, as well as used books in good condition.

Wrapping up the month is a local launch of “Dreams for a Broken World” on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. Published by Essential Dreams Press, this anthology is co-edited by novelist Ellen Meeropol, who will moderate the event. Contributors Joy Baglio, JoeAnn Hart, Tina Egnoski, Céline Keating, Jan Maher and Robert Redick will read from their work. Books will be available for sale and signing, with all proceeds benefiting the Rosenberg Fund for Children.

■Nov. 2, 10 a.m.: Sensory awareness and adding sensory detail to writing.

■Nov. 4, noon: Flash fiction

■Nov. 6, 4 p.m.: One-minute plays.

■Nov. 9, 10 a.m.: “Interview a picture” — a process for finding stories and poems in visual prompts.

For the full schedule, visit localaccess.org/write-nov.

GREENFIELD — The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts’ monthly brown bag program for qualifying seniors will be held Thursday, Nov. 3, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Greenfield Senior Center at 35 Pleasant St.

According to a notice from Senior Center Activities Director Kathy Dunn, seniors who receive fuel assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or other benefits will qualify. To apply, call the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts at 413-247-9738. Applications are also on hand at the Senior Center.

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Senior Center, at 35 Pleasant St., is hosting a quilting presentation on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 2 to 3 p.m.

Shelburne resident Jody Stetson, who has been quilting for more than 50 years, will bring samples of cathedral, window, nine patch, crazy quilt, log cabin and other styles. Several quilts will also be on display.

The program is free and open to anyone, but advance registration is required. Call 413-772-1517, ext. 0 or stop by the center’s front desk to sign up. Senior Center membership is not required.

GREENFIELD — Scott Simundza from Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol will be at the Greenfield Senior Center on Friday, Nov. 4, from 11 a.m. to noon to provide tools for becoming more educated and engaged health care consumers, and to protect loved ones from Medicare fraud and deceptive marketing tactics.

Learn how to prevent, detect and report health care errors, fraud and abuse. There will be time available after the program for questions.

Advance registration is required. Call 413-772-1517, ext. 0 or stop by the center’s front desk to reserve a seat. Senior Center membership is not required to attend.

GREENFIELD — The annual Snowflake Bazaar, sponsored by Arcana Chapter No. 50, Order of the Eastern Star, will be held Saturday, Nov. 12.

This annual event, held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge at 215 Munson St., involves a wide variety of craft vendors.

A lunch of corn chowder with a half chicken salad sandwich, a slice of spice cake and a beverage will also be available. Baked goods, a scratch ticket tree and a holiday food basket raffle are among the various offerings.

For more information, call 413-773-0404.