"This year, Kirsten Levitt, executive director and chef of Stone Soup Cafe — the pay-what-you-can meal program serving weekly meals from All Souls Church on Main Street — has been named the Greenfield Recorder’s 40th Citizen of the Year.
… In 2015, Levitt took over as the cafe’s executive director. Over the years, what is now Stone Soup Cafe has grown to run book groups, online discussion groups and film festivals. A nearly all-volunteer model has shifted to include part-time employees in addition to volunteers.
Most recently, the cafe launched the Culinary Arts Institute, a 12-week program during which students will receive training and practice in the fundamentals of cooking, along with the safe handling and serving of food and beverages. Levitt was also invited by Congressman Jim McGovern to represent the region alongside state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and radio personality Christopher “Monte” Belmonte at the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health in September.” (Photo: Courtesy of the Recorder)
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"As analysis and self-reflection on the county’s pandemic response continues, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments has received a $147,855 state Efficiency and Regionalization grant to implement lessons learned from an after-action report to strengthen the region’s emergency response infrastructure.
With the grant, FRCOG plans to use the improvements laid out in the after-action report, conducted by Ardent Decision Group, and undertake an 18-month, in-house project that Emergency Preparedness Program Manager Alexander Sylvain said will bring together FRCOG staff and emergency preparedness and response officials around Franklin County to provide a regional service that “meets the needs of our member towns.”
Over the next 18 months, he said they are planning in engaging with everyone involved to draft a comprehensive plan for serving Franklin County through any emergency. “The highest priority is engaging with our member communities and other key stakeholders to ensure that the final product accurately reflects and meets the needs of the region,” Sylvain said. (Photo: Courtesy of the Recorder)
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Upcoming OTF Committee Meetings/Trainings |
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FEATURED EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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CONNECT: Post-Opioid Overdose Outreach Services |
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Franklin County/North Quabbin HEALing Communities Study Updates |
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The Franklin County/North Quabbin HEALing Communities Study is underway! The Action Plan has been submitted and is currently under review. Learn more about the next steps at our next meeting, scheduled on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, as we look toward implementing the strategies. Zoom details here!
Also, the workgroups have formed and are meeting regularly to help identify and implement strategies.
We continue to need your assistance to reduce the number of opioid-related fatalities in our rural region.
Your input is desired to help us:
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Participate in a workgroup
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Support our social media efforts
Want to get involved? Contact Tiarra Fisher, HEALing Communities Study Community Coordinator at tiarra@opioidtaskforce.org for more info!
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Please support our HEALing Communities Study efforts on social media by following, liking, and sharing these pages with your networks so our communities have access to these resources and increase the reach of information shared on these pages!
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Boston Medical Center Grayken Center Advancing Addiction Treatment Trainings |
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The Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston Medical Center offers other ongoing and free trainings about addiction! Click here to see their latest offerings and how to register.
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Time Sensitive Announcements |
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January 7 Stone Soup Café Menu
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January 10 Together We Can Be The Dream |
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January 12 Fuel Assistance Workshop |
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January 17-20 CCAR Recovery Coach Academy for Young Pople
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CCAR's Recovery Coach Academy for Young People equips adults with the skills and approaches needed to support young people's wellness regarding substance use through the powerful method of Recovery Coaching. For young people, it's a great opportunity to gain job skills and a potential career path as a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach. You do not need to be in recovery to learn and use Recovery Coaching skills!
People already working with young people will add more tools to their toolbox, and anyone wanting to work with young people will receive excellent foundational training. Existing coaches will hone and brush up on their skills while receiving additional knowledge and perspectives on young people. Young people will gain leadership skills, job skills, and be empowered to support themselves and their peers in powerful new ways. Young people are especially welcome and valued in the training and there is a discounted rate for them.
January 17-20th, 9 AM - 3 PM ET
via ZOOM
20 hours in class, with pre-work
30 Credit Hours for Recovery Coach credentials in MA, ME, RI, NY, CO, and CCAR's RCP
Cost is $500, or $300 for people under 26 and students
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January 17 Overdose Prevention & Narcan Training |
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January 18 HEALing Communities Study Meeting |
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January 19 CONNECTIONS Social Group Gathering |
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January 20 RIZE & MOAR Survey Deadline |
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RIZE and Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR)..." have created a survey to capture your thoughts on topics such as increasing access to care, supporting the workforce, and harm reduction to be aggregated and released in a joint memo from RIZE and MOAR to the new administration.
Responses will be collected through Friday, January 20, 2023, and are confidential. No personal information or opinions will be shared."
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January 23 Emergency Services for Unhoused Individuals Task Force Meeting |
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January 27 Thinking Outside: The Role of the Natural World in Substance Use Recovery |
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MONTHLY/WORKSHOP CALENDERS AND WEEKLY STANDING MEETINGS/EVENTS
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Improving Housing to Improve Health News |
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January Brick Housing Teen Center Programming
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Always Open! Community Labyrinth in Greenfield |
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Weekdays All Recovery Meeting at
The RECOVER Project
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Mondays Early Recovery Group |
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Mondays Advanced Manufacturing Info Sessions |
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Second Mondays of the Month - North Quabbin B.R.A.V.E. Task Force Meetings |
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Mondays Alternatives to Suicide Group |
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Mondays and Wednesdays
Restless, Irritable, and Discontent: Your Brain in Recovery
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Tuesdays Greenfield Suicide Loss Group |
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Tuesdays Drop-In Knitting & Sewing Sessions |
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Wednesdays Dining Together Family Programming |
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Wednesdays Youth Improv Series |
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Wednesdays HEROES Study Hub at GCC |
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Wednesdays Salasin Project:
Beyond Trauma, A Healing Journey
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Thursdays All Recovery Meeting -
Young People's Edition
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First & Third Thursdays Parent Support Group |
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Thursdays Coffee Hour at the Brick House
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Thursdays Beyond Trauma Group in Spanish |
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Second Thursdays Every Month, Peer Grief Support |
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Fridays - The Garden Committee Meetings |
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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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CONNECTIONS -
A Residential Program of Behavioral Health Network
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Orange Food Pantry Seeking Non-Food Donations |
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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 |
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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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Changes at the Quabbin Retreat as of 12/23/22 |
Date: Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 8:25 PM
Subject: Relocation of Dana Day Program
Dear Community Partner:
Due to low patient volume and limited staffing, I am writing to inform you that the services provided by Heywood Healthcare, at the Quabbin Retreat Dana Day Program, have been relocated to the Damon building, on the Heywood Hospital Campus. There will be no interruption of services for those in need of treatment for substance use disorder and mental health services.
Referrals may be made to Tammy Broeckel, at 978-630-6826.
Thank you for your understanding as we work to ensure access to critical services for our community.
Nora Salovardo, MSN, RN
Vice President of Patient Care Services
Chief Nursing Officer
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Update! Greenfield CSC New Hybrid Operations Change |
To the left is an image of the Greenfield Court Service Center's New Hybrid Operations Fact Sheet updated on 2/24/22.
They will be providing in-person services on Tuesdays and Thursdays, only, from 8:30 am - 1 pm, and 2 pm - 4:30 pm. They are closed for lunch between
1 pm and 2 pm.
They will continue with their remote services on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, but they will not have the same open Zoom number previously advertised.
People will reach them either by voicemail at 413-775-7483, or email, greenfieldcsc@jud.state.ma.us, or at the Court Service Center's Statewide triage center called the Universal Zoom Room, Mondays - Fridays, from 9 am-12 pm. The Universal Zoom Room number is at https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615261140 or call 1-646-828-7666 meeting ID: 161 526 1140.
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Gentle Goals for 2023
Let's talk about some gentle goals for the new year in 2023. These are all kind gestures that can improve our life, health and happiness. The goals I share today have to do with minimalism, self care, slow living and living a more intentional life.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY/NORTH QUABBIN RESOURCES |
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Free Training Opportunities
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Join the 2022 - 2023 DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps Team
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Musica Franklin AmeriCorps Opportunity |
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COMMUNITY JOB OPPORTUNITIES |
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Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region www.opioidtaskforce.org
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