ACOA Al-Anon: For adults raised by alcoholic caretakers/parents. Meets every Saturday, 10 a.m., Athol Hospital’s conference room.
Tonight: Dick’s Angels Relay for Life Team will be serving tonight at the Bernardston Vets Club on Hartwell Street. Special will be fish (haddock or cod), with scalloped potatoes and vegetable. Hamburgers, truck burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheeses, and French fries also available. Serving from 5 to 7 p.m. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.
Garden Theater Birthday: Film and theater historian Jonathan A. Boschen will host a special 90th Birthday Party for the Garden Theater at the Garden Cinemas Monday at 7 p.m. Since it’s opening in 1929, and since being multiplexed in 1983, the Garden has exhibited thousands of films and brought joy to many. The birthday will include cake and an exhibition of Boschen’s program, “The Goldstein Brother’s Colonial Atmospheric Theaters” which will provide a digital virtual tour through old photographs and blueprints of what the Garden looked liked prior to 1983. The show will also feature a tour of the Garden Theater’s smaller sister theater, the Capitol Theater, that was constructed in Athol by the Goldstein Brothers in 1930. This theater, designed by the same architects of the Garden Theater, the Mowl & Rand Architectural Firm, was built due to the Garden Theater’s immense popularity. Admission is $5. For more information, contact Jonathan A. Boschen at 413-774-3879.
Greenfield Senior Center, 35 Pleasant St. “Attracting Birds, Butterflies & Other Beneficials” with naturalist John Root will be presented Monday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the center. This is an informative presentation on what pollinators are and how to attract them and other beneficial wildlife to your yard. After the presentation, perennials for edible landscaping and attracting pollinators and other wildlife will be available for sale. Registration required. Free. Call 413-772-1517 x 0, or stop by the front desk to register. This program is supported in part by the Greenfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Funding for this project provided in part by a Community Development Block Grant administered by Mass. Department of Housing and Community Development and the City of Greenfield.
Vet to Vet: The RECOVER Project and the Recovery Learning Community offer “Vet to Vet” every Thursday, 3 to 4:30 p.m., at 74 Federal St. This collaboration is for all veterans, regardless of discharge status to offer support when the civilian world is a challenge. For more information, contact Tim at 413-475-0226.
Circle of Moms: Meets Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon, Community Action Family Center, 90 Federal St. Free parking, childcare, snacks. For more information, call 413-774-1000.
Community Action’s Family Center: The Family Center, 90 Federal St., offers Plays & Learn Groups, Parent Support Group and special early literacy events. The staff can help answer questions you have on topics like parenting, discipline, child development and school readiness. Free books, clothing and diapers on site. Staff can help you find other resources in the community. Open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 413-475-1553. Find us on Facebook.
Free ongoing classes: The Literacy Project/Greenfield offers ongoing free basic education classes, free GED preparation classes, free job readiness workshops, free college transition workshops and free academic counseling services. For more information, call 413-774-3935 or visit: www.literacyproject.org.
Bake sale: Dick’s Angels Relay for Life Team will sponsor its annual pre-Easter bake sale Saturday from 8 a.m. until everything is gone at the Northfield Food Mart on Main Street (former IGA). The sale will offer pies, cookies, baked beans, cakes (upside down pineapple) and other goodies. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.
Northfield Senior Center: The ROMEOs and a Juliette are at the Northfield Senior Center every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m, followed by lunch. Betsy Llewelyn is always here on the first Thursday of the month and surprises us at other times. Gentle Pilates: Mondays from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. at the Unitarian Church. Robin McKeon will take you through gentle core strengthening that will help reduce falls. Blood Pressure: Walk-in clinic two Tuesdays a month at 9, including April 23. Foot Clinic: by appointment Tuesday. 498-2186. Please bring a towel.
Caregivers Support Group:This group meets every first and third Friday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the Senior Center in Town Hall, 69 Main St. Join other caregivers for support and to share stories and ideas. New members welcome. Led by Heather Tower, MSW, LCSW.
Free Ongoing Classes: The Literacy Project North Quabbin offers ongoing free basic education classes, free GED preparation classes and free academic counseling services. For more information, contact The Literacy Project North Quabbin, 131 West Main St., or call 978-544-8917 or visit: www.literacyproject.org.
Community Supper: West County Community Supper, Fridays, Trinity Church, Severance Street, Shelburne Falls. Coffee and tea at 5 p.m.; supper at 5:30. Supper sponsored by caring groups and organizations.
Free Medical Clinic: Trailside Health at 111 Bridge St., downtown Shelburne Falls, downtown Shelburne Falls. It is on the FRTA bus route. The free clinic takes place every Tuesday at 9 a.m. Call 413-625-6240.
Free Weekly Playgroup: Come and enjoy time with your child(ren) and other families and caregivers from the community at the Shutesbury Elementary School. For the 2018-19 school year, playgroup continues on Fridays from 8:45 to 10:15 a.m. This playgroup is facilitated by Joie Ciepiela and is intended for children up to 5. Playgroup is sponsored by the Shutesbury Elementary School and Union #28 Community Network for Children. Program does not take place during school closures. See CNC website for program and event schedules: https://sites.google.com/site/communitynetworkforchildren/home. For more information contact Gillian Budine at 978-544-5157.
CFCE of the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional School District Free Weekly Playgroup and Story Hour for parents with young children. Mondays: 9:30 to 11 a.m., BucklandShelburne Elementary School, 75 Mechanic St., Shelburne Falls. Thursdays: 9:30 to 11 a.m., Trinity Church, 17 Severance St., Shelburne Falls. Fridays: 9:30 to 11 a.m., Hawlemont Elementary School, 10 School St., Charlemont. Come and join other families with young children to play, learn, sing and have a snack. Wednesdays: Story Hour at the Arms Library at the corner of Bridge St. and Main St. in Shelburne Falls. Come and join other families with young children to read stories, sing songs and do an art activity. Contact Melissa Pincus, CFCE Coordinator for more information. mepincus@mohawkschools.org.
Benefits Counseling Program: Are you age 60 or older and worried about your home heating or electric bills? Income eligible seniors can find help through LifePath Benefits Counseling Program. LifePath will help file an application for fuel assistance and find other ways to save you money. Contact Gretchen Smith at 413-773-5555, ext. 2258 or 978-544-2259, ext. 2258 for more information. Email info@lifepathma.org or visit lifepathma.org for more information.
Healthy Living Program: The program, at LifePath, promotes wellness and independence among older adults. Workshops on chronic disease and pain self management, healthy eating, falls prevention and more make up this program. Contact Marcus Chiaretto at 413-773-5555, ext. 2304, or 978-544-2259, ext. 2304, for more information.
Healthy Aging Program: The program, at LifePath, are for people who want to enjoy healthier lives. Groups meet for several weeks in different communities and are led by local volunteer leaders. Choose from six, evidence-based workshops on information or to register for a free workshop or leader training, contact Marcus Chiaretto, Healthy Living Program coordinator, 413-773-5555, ext. 2304, 978-544-2259, ext. 2304 or mchiaretto@lifepathma.org. Read more at lifepathma.org.
Rehabilitation services at BFMC: Rehabilitation Services at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 48 Sanderson St. For more information or to schedule a free screening, call 413-773-2227.
Information and Caregiver Resource Center: The ICRC at LifePath has answers to all your questions about elder services, help for people with disabilities, and caregiver support. 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 the ICRC at 413-773-5555 or 978-544-2259 or email info@lifepathma.org. Go online to learn more at lifepathma.org.
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 to locate meetings throughout Massachusetts, Brattleboro and northern Vermont, call 413-773-7394 or 413-783-4198.
Child Care/Preschool/Home-Visiting: The Parent-Child Development Center, serving families with children birth to kindergarten age and expectant women over 40, 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. In Franklin County, call 413-475-1405.
Join us: More than 600 RSVP of Hampshire and Franklin Counties active adults 55 and older give a few hours weekly to improve their communities. RSVP has many volunteer openings close to home to fit your interests, skills, and time availability. Contact Pat Sicard,psicard@hcg-ma.org413-387-4558 x 1