August 23, 2024: Issue 16
Offering hope and help to those impacted by opioid misuse in
Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region.
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"Annual Harvest Supper Adds Art Auction"
Greenfield Recorder (8/9/24)
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A traditional celebration of local food, agriculture and community, returning for its 19th year, is expanding to include an art auction to bolster fundraising efforts for Stone Soup Café.
The annual Harvest Supper will be held Saturday, Aug. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m.
“It’s really about celebrating the bounty of the county, bringing people together to create beloved community and to make that space where all are welcome,” said Kirsten Levitt, executive director and chef at Stone Soup Café.
At the event’s height, more than 1,000 residents gathered for a pay-what you- can meal. This year, Levitt anticipates the Harvest Supper will attract roughly 800 attendees.
Along with forging community bonds and celebrating local farming, the event also serves as a fundraiser for Stone Soup Café, which provides pay-what-you-can community meals at All Souls Church, an emergency curbside food pantry and a culinary training program.
Levitt explained Stone Soup Café hopes to raise $20,000 to $25,000 — enough to operate for a month. Last year, the organization was only able to raise $1,000 after paying the expenses involved with operating the event, so organizers are introducing the first-ever Harvest Supper Art Auction to expand fundraising efforts.
Thirty-five local artists donated pieces, which are being auctioned off at
givebutter.com/c/HarvestSupper24/auction. A selection of artwork will be on display at the Greenfield Public Library beginning Friday, Aug. 16, in the first-floor conference room, as well as across the street at Stone Soup Café, until the Harvest Supper event on Aug. 24, when the art will be transferred to the Greenfield Common. Harvest Supper attendees will have an opportunity to place their final bids on an array of artwork, ranging from paintings and sculptures to mixed media and photography.
The first Harvest Supper, held in 2005, was the brainchild of Juanita Nelson, the social justice and peace activist who was also involved with starting the Greenfield Farmers’ Market.
“[She] was sitting around musing that there weren’t a lot of people accessing the farmers market, almost 20 years ago,” Levitt said of Nelson, “and she was like, ‘If people could just eat this glorious food, have all of the nutrients, give them what they need from a cellular level up and know how delicious the food is — why couldn't we have them all just sit a table?' "
Stone Soup Café started running the celebration in 2015. Previously, the event was run by Greenfield restaurants Hope & Olive and Magpie.
The Harvest Supper will also feature a free market from 4 to 5 p.m. where gardeners and farmers can bring their excess produce for attendees to take home. There will be live music and hula hooping, too.
More information about the event can be found at thestonesoupcafe.org/p/55/Annual-Harvest-Supper-Celebration, where those interested can also sign up to volunteer or make a donation. The event has a rain date of Sunday, Aug. 25, also from 4 to 7 p.m. on the Greenfield Common.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/MATT CAVANAUGH)
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"Health Center Plans to Open by March"
Greenfield Recorder (8/17/24)
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Amid an increased demand for primary care, the Community Health Center of Franklin County plans to open a Turners Falls location sometime between December 2024 and March 2025, with primary medical care available to anyone, regardless of insurance, income or identity.
The center bought the property at 8 Burnham St., which was previously owned by Baystate Franklin Medical Center, for $825,000 last summer... With another location at 8 Burnham St., the center is helping to address a lack of primary care options. Dr. Allison van der Velden, CEO of the Community Health Center of Franklin County, said new staff members have been hired and some existing staff will also be moved into the space upon opening.
Van der Velden stressed that the health center is accepting patients now as the expansion continues.
Van der Velden calls the concept of the community health center “the best-kept secret in medical care” for its unique structure.
“There are about 1,400 community health centers that are federally qualified health centers (FQHC) in the United States. We serve 32.5 million patients in the U.S., so that’s about 1 in 10 people across the country,” van der Velden explained. A FQHC is a primary medical care center that receives federal funding and has a nonprofit structure to serve communities facing barriers to health care.
Van der Velden explained the Community Health Center of Franklin County started in 1997 after the community health center structure gained traction in the United States. Federal grant money is used to fund the health centers.
“Some of the things that FQHCs do that is most impactful are growing in ways that are dictated by community needs,” van der Velden explained. “We engage in community health needs assessments and we really try to respond to the needs of the community in a way that other organizations can’t or don’t.”
Medical and dental care are available through community health centers with an integrated- care system, meaning the primary care covers a variety of health needs. Mental health and telehealth services are also provided, according to the Community Health Center of Franklin County’s website.
A unique part of the community health center care model is that nobody who seeks care will be denied. According to the Community Health Center of Franklin County’s website, “Federal and state funding allows us to offer services thorough the Massachusetts Health Safety Net and a sliding-fee discount scale.” This discount scale, van der Velden elaborated, is based on the federal poverty level, so payment for services can be made more accessible to those seeking it.
“If you don’t have [medical] issues and you just need care, come see us,” van der Velden said. “We’re available and you’re supporting a nonprofit health care institution when you come to us for care.”
(STAFF PHOTO/ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN)
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UPCOMING OTF COMMITTEE & WORKGROUP MEETINGS | |
Virtual: Harm Reduction Workgroup
September 4, 2024
11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Treatment & Recovery Committee
September 6, 2024
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Zoom details here.
Hybrid: Public Safety & Justice Committee
September 7, 2024
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Franklin County Reentry Center
106 Main Street, Greenfield
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Emergency Services for Unhoused Individuals Task Force
September 9, 2024
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Zoom details here.
Hybrid: Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking Workgroup
September 9, 2024
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Franklin County Reentry Center
106 Main Street, Greenfield
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Education & Prevention Committee
September 10, 2024
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Healthcare Solutions Committee
September 13, 2024
10:00 AM - 11:30 Noon
Zoom details here.
Virtual: CAM Workgroup
September 17, 2024
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Methadone Workgroup
September 19, 2024
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Housing & Workforce Development Committee
October 11, 2024
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Building a Resilient Community Workgroup
October 16, 2024
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Zoom details here.
Consult our website or Facebook Page for updates. Please email us with any questions!
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FEATURED EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | |
CONNECT: Post-Opioid Overdose Outreach Services | |
Time Sensitive Announcements | |
Erving Recreation Summer Concert Series
August 23 - Matt York: The Life and Music of Willie Nelson
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August 23 Green Heron Outdoor Concert | |
August 23 & 30 Summer Kidleidoscope | |
August 24 Lake Pleasant 150th Anniversary Block Party Celebration | |
August 24 Stone Soup Cafe Harvest Supper with
Local Art Show Silent Auction Fundraiser
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August 24 & September 3 Information Sessions Multifamily DBT Skills Info Session | |
August 25 To Bee or Not To Bee A Musical Puppet Show | |
August 25 SHELTERFEST
a benefit for Friends of the Homeless
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August 25 Buckland Historical Society Summer Open House | |
August 27 Let's TACO 'Bout it' The New IEP | |
August 27 - November 19 (Tuesdays)
Nurturing Fathers Online Session
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August 28 Cooking with Just Roots | |
August 28 Summer Reading Stuffy Sleepover | |
August 28 Natural Botanical Prints on Paper Workshop | |
August 29 Magpie Farm & Art Patio Performances Fundraiser for the Memorial Hall Capital Campaign | |
August 30 DEADLINE to register for the:
Hope, Healing and Help Breakfast on September 13
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August 31 "Food Margins: Lessons from an Unlikely Grocer" an Author Talk with Cathy Stanton | |
September 5-8 Franklin County Fair | |
September 6 Down by the River: Johnny & The Flashbacks | |
September 6 - September 30 Mondays - Mini & Me Yoga | |
Women Healing Women Healing Earth
September 7 - Honoring the Sacred Seed
September 14 - Fall Harvest Fermentation
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September 9 - October 28 Mondays - Functional Training Fitness Class for Adults | |
September 10 Senior Services Health & Safety Expo | |
September 10 - October 15 Tuesdays - Intro to Genealogical Research | |
September 10 - October 29 Tuesday Healing Trauma Group | |
DEADLINE: September 11 Call for Art for the 4th Annual Special Wrapping Paper Edition of The Montague Reporter | |
September 11 FC/NQ Healing Communities Study - A Community Meeting to Discuss Study Findings
Please RSVP for this free, in-person event here
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September 11 - October 30 Wednesdays Women's Writing Group | |
September 12 Navigating the Massachusetts Courts?
How the Court Services Centers Can Help!
You can register for this free event here.
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September 17 Information Session Regarding Affordable Homeownership Opportunity in Greenfield | |
September 18 Salasin Project's Open House | |
September 19 Overdose Response & Narcan Training Please Register here.
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September 26 Narcan as First Aid: Accessing Narcan in Public Spaces
You can register for this event here
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MONTHLY WORKSHOP CALENDRS AND WEEKLY STANDING MEETINGS/EVENTS | |
August at the Brick House Teen Center | |
August Community Action Family Center Calendar | |
August Events at the Erving Senior Center | |
August Programs at Franklin County Reentry Center | |
August Programs - Great Falls Discovery Center
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August Greenfield Public Library Programs | |
August Adventures with the Highland Street Foundation | |
August Montague Public Library Programs | |
August Events at Sunderland Public Library | |
August Union 28 Community Network for Children Program Calendar | |
August at Hilltown Youth Recovery Theatre | |
LifePath's FREE Healthy Living Summer Workshops | |
The Shelburne Falls Military Band Summer 2024 Schedule | |
2024 Seeds of Solidarity Calendar of Events | |
SNAP Application Assistance | |
Always Open! Community Labyrinth in Greenfield | |
RECOVER Project Groups At a Glance | |
Weekdays All Recovery Meeting at
The RECOVER Project
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Monday/Wednesday/Friday
The Community Closet at The Franklin County Reentry Center
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Monday - Friday
Movement Group with North Quabbin Recovery Center Peer Leaders
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Mondays North Quabbin Patch Parents' Council | |
Mondays Breaking Barriers at the Franklin County
Reentry Center
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Mondays Art Guild Meetings | |
Mondays Advanced Manufacturing Info Sessions | |
Monday Drug Court Alumni Group - North Quabbin | |
Mondays Community Yoga at Wildflower Alliance | |
Mondays at FCSO Reentry Center - Recovery Through Creativity | |
Second Mondays of the Month - North Quabbin B.R.A.V.E. Task Force Meetings | |
Mondays Alternatives to Suicide Group | |
2nd Mondays Greenfield Healing Clinic
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2nd and 4th Mondays
Parenting Together at the Brick House
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Third Monday Alphabet & Allies | |
Third Monday Parenting With Pride | |
Mondays and Thursdays
Hygiene Supplies Pick Up at the Brick House
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Tuesdays Nurturing Program for Families in Recovery | |
Tuesdays Peer-Led Grief and Loss Circle | |
Every Other Tuesday - Housing Support Drop In Hours | |
First Tuesday - Dads' Group at Valuing Our Children | |
Tuesday Tea Time & Community Resource Drop-In | |
Tuesdays North Quabbin Recovery Center Coffee Hour | |
Tuesdays Greenfield Suicide Loss Group | |
First Tuesday - P.A.R.T. Task Force | |
Tuesdays Drop-In Knitting & Sewing Sessions | |
2nd Tuesdays New Member Orientation at the RECOVER Project | |
Tuesday & Thursdays Weekly Reentry Groups | |
Tuesday Men's Anger Management Group
Wednesday Women's Anger Management Group
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Wednesdays - Wendell Library Playgroup with Sylvia | |
Wednesdays - Playgroup at the Leverett Library with Gillian | |
Wednesdays HEROES Study Hub at GCC | |
Gentle Yoga and Breathwork with Jennifer
First Wednesday of the month
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Whatever Wednesday's on the
Second Wednesday of every month
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Free Food - Every Third Wednesday | |
Office Hours With An Attorney
Last Wednesdays of Every month
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First & Third Thursdays Parent Support Group | |
Thursdays Dungeons and Dragons | |
Thursdays Mens Group in the RPX | |
Thursdays Coffee Hour at the Brick House | |
Thursdays Beyond Trauma Group in Spanish | |
Second Thursdays -Peer Grief Support After Overdose Death | |
Fridays FreeWrite of Franklin County | |
Friday Writing Group at the RP | |
First Friday of Every Month: Open Mic at the RP | |
Every Friday - The Garden Path | |
MassHealth Navigation Support
First Friday of each month 9am-12pm
Third Friday of each month 1pm - 3pm
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Every First & Third Friday Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group | |
Every Second Friday Chosen Family Night | |
Every Third Friday: Karaoke at The RECOVER Project | |
Last Friday of the Month: Gardening in Recovery | |
Recovery Coach Supervisor Position at the RP | |
Recovery Coach Positions at the RP | |
Re-entry Workforce Program | |
Homeshare Program with LifePath | |
Pathways to Advanced Manufacturing | |
Specialized HVAC Training | |
Specialized Information Technology Training | |
Act Now to Stay Covered with MassHealth | |
DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps Opportunity at
Montague Catholic Social Ministries
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CHCFC OBAT Same Day & Tele-Health Appointment Information | |
Free Meals and Essentials
Saints James and Andrews Parish Hall
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Come Cook with Franklin County
Community Meals Program
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Orange Food Pantry Seeking Non-Food Donations | |
When people think of donating to our agency and food pantry, they often think of food- however, that's easier for us to obtain with local partnerships with farms and retailers. What we struggle to keep stocked are hygienic & household products, such as:
- Adult pull-ups size Medium, Large, & XL
- Menstrual products
- Bath products- bath wash or bar soap, shampoo, conditioner
- Deodorant
- Floss
- Mouthwash
- Toothpaste (we have plenty of toothbrushes currently!)
- Paper Towels
- Toilet Paper
- Laundry Detergent
- Dish Soap
- Household cleaners- Windex, multi-surface, floor cleaner, etc.
Dozen-sized egg cartons for repackaging the hundreds of eggs we receive weekly from retailers are also needed.
Please share this list amongst your networks! Donations can be dropped off at 324 Wells Street (the Franklin County Community Distribution Center) at our office, or if donating a large amount, drop-off can be coordinated via donate@fccmp.org. (Image credit: Pixabay)
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Family Self-Sufficiency Program Available | |
Eviction Self-Help Booklets Available in Multiple Languages | |
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MLRI has recently updated and translated some of our self-help booklets for unrepresented tenants facing eviction. While we still recommend tenants facing eviction seek legal help, we know resources are limited and many tenants have to represent themselves. We hope these booklets can be helpful to pro se tenants and their advocates.
You can see the full list of booklets below, or at MassLegalHelp. The booklets can help tenants prepare for court, outline their legal claims, and file court forms. There is also a booklet to help public housing tenants navigate the Grievance process.
Please reach out if you have any questions about the booklets and how they can be used.
What steps to take before going to court and what to bring to court.
An easy-to-use checklist that tells you what conditions violate the State Sanitary Code. You can also use the free self-help guided interview, MADE: Up To Code.
The Answer is a court form that tenants facing evictions can file with the court to outline your legal claims and tell the court your side of the story. You can also use Greater Boston Legal Services’ free self-help guided interview, MADE.
How to ask the court to accept your Answer and Discovery forms late. You can also use Greater Boston Legal Services’ free self-help guided interview, MADE.
A form with instructions for tenants facing eviction to get information to prepare for their trial.
A form with instructions for tenants in foreclosed properties to get information to prepare their case.
A form you can file to transfer your eviction case from a District Court to a Housing Court.
How to get a new court date if you missed your court date.
If you lost your eviction trial and think you have a good case, you may appeal. This document tells you which Appeal form to use.
How to file an appeal from a case in Housing Court.
How to file an appeal from a case in District Court.
How to get time to stay in your home if you lost your case.
How to ask the court to pay for court costs.
How to think through the terms you want in an agreement. Includes a worksheet and stipulation forms to use when you go to court. Read this booklet as webpages and watch the videos!
How to correct errors on your online court records. The Booklet includes the court form you can save to your computer, fill out, save again and print when ready.
A booklet for tenants in Mass. about the grievance process, including worksheets to help you prepare for a grievance hearing.
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Update! Greenfield CSC New Hybrid Operations Change |
The Greenfield Court Service Center is located at 43 Hope St., 1st Floor, Greenfield, MA.
They offer in-person services on Tuesdays & Thursdays, ONLY, from 8:30 am-1 pm, and 2 pm-4 pm. Remote services (email, phone, Zoom) are available on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays.
For an intake, contact the Virtual Court Service Center, Mon. thru Fri. 9 am-12 pm by telephone: 1-646-828-7666, press #, #, then enter meeting ID: 161 526 1140 or by video: www.zoomgov.com/j/1615261140.
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COMMUNITY JOB OPPORTUNITIES | |
Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region www.opioidtaskforce.org
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