Scholarships available for medical students

The Franklin District Medical Society, the local chapter of the Massachusetts Medical Society, is accepting applications for the Percy W. Wadman M.D. Scholarship for medical students. The deadline to apply is April 30 and successful applicants will be notified by the end of September.

The scholarship is awarded based on merit and financial need. Amounts range from $1,000 to $2,500. Recipients will be chosen by the Executive Committee.

The following criteria must be met for an individual to be considered:

■At least one parent or guardian must live in Franklin County.

■A letter of matriculation must be submitted from the medical school the individual is attending.

■A copy of the letter of recommendation from the undergraduate school to the medical school must be submitted.

To apply, visit massmed.org/franklin or to receive an application, contact the Massachusetts Medical Society West Central Regional Office at 800-322-2303, ext. 7715 or email wcro@mms.org.

Girl Scout cookie season kicks off

The Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts will kick off the 2024 Girl Scout cookie season this weekend. The season continues through mid-March each year.

This year’s theme, “Unbox the Future,” aims to remove social barriers for girls. Customers can enjoy the full assortment of Girl Scout cookies, including Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs and Do-si-dos as well as Trefoils, Lemon Ups, Adventurefuls, S’mores and the gluten-free Toffie-tastic.

Nearly 4,000 girls in central and western Massachusetts participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Girl Scouts acquire important life skills like money management, team building, public speaking and decision making. All proceeds from cookie sales stay with the local council and troops to power Girl Scouts’ experiences year-round.

How to purchase Girl Scout cookies this year:

■If you know a registered Girl Scout, reach out to her to find out how she’s selling cookies. If you don’t know a Girl Scout, check your local council’s Girl Scout Cookie Finder (gscwm.org/en/cookies/find-cookies) to find a booth and purchase cookies.

■Beginning Feb. 16, customers who do not already know a Girl Scout will also be able to buy cookies to be shipped directly to their homes by entering their ZIP code into the Girl Scout Cookie Finder. This link can also be used to find a local booth or to donate cookies for local community causes.

■You can also text COOKIES to 59618 to stay informed about how to purchase Girl Scout cookies.

For more information about joining the Girl Scouts or becoming a volunteer, visit girlscouts.org/join.

Virtual Heart & Vascular Health Lecture Series begins Feb. 4

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Health will hold its free Virtual Heart & Vascular Health Lecture Series in February beginning with “Minimally Invasive, Maximally Effective: New Technologies in the Cardiac Cath Lab” on Sunday, Feb. 4.

The Virtual Heart & Vascular Health Lecture Series, presented by the Baystate Heart & Vascular Program as part of American Heart Month, will focus on the latest advances in heart and vascular care.

Baystate cardiac surgeon Dr. Andrew Goldsweig, medical director of the Cardiac Cath Lab, will lead the first lecture focusing on the latest devices and innovations used in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab for procedures such as valve replacement, stroke prevention and more.

In addition to being held online as a webinar, Goldsweig’s presentation can be attended in person at the Baystate Health Education Center on 361 Whitney Ave., second entrance to the building, in Holyoke. This is the only lecture in the four-part series with an in-person option.

The free lectures will continue with “Heart at Work, The Pharmacist’s Role in Cardiovascular Health” on Sunday, Feb. 11, presented by Baystate pharmacists Jared Ostroff and Anna Mortali. They will discuss cardiac care and improving outcomes with pharmacologic involvement and advances.

On Sunday, Feb. 18, the talk will be “Advancements in Bypass Surgery” presented by cardiologist Dr. David Bull, vice president and medical director of the Heart and Vascular Program. He will talk about cardiothoracic and vascular surgery as well as advances in preventing strokes during bypass surgery.

The series will end on Sunday, Feb. 25, with “Ozempic, Zepbound and More: Behavioral Interventions & Weight-Loss Medications for Heart Health” presented by Dr. Michele Gortakowski. She will discuss new medications and advances in medically assisted weight loss, as well as behavioral interventions that can improve weight-loss efforts.

All lectures will begin at noon. Registration is required for each session by visiting baystatehealth.org/heartseries.

Local Farmer Awards deadline: Jan. 31

The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation invites western Massachusetts farmers to apply for Local Farmer Awards of up to $2,500. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31.

These awards are for capital/infrastructure improvement projects related to planting, growing, harvesting and processing that will help farms compete in the marketplace. The awards have helped farmers make necessary improvements such as upgrading electric fencing, purchasing no-till equipment, expanding irrigation, installing frost-free water systems, purchasing feed troughs and applying shade cloths for greenhouses.

The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Big Y and the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture along with the support of other funders, is entering the 10th year of the awards program. Since its inception, the program has helped more than 260 farmers carry out a total of 572 projects. The Three County Fair is a new addition to the group of funders this year.

“We’re honored and pleased to be able to support our local farmers and their families with these practical and impactful grants,” Charlie D’Amour, CEO of Big Y, said in a statement. “Seeing how these awards are creatively and intelligently applied not only highlights the resiliency of our local farm community but underscores the needs and support we can provide.”

To be eligible, farms must have gross sales of $10,000 and be located in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin or Berkshire counties. For a full list of eligibility requirements and application information, visit farmerawards.org.