POLICY: Our calendar section is intended to promote “free” events or ones that directly affect a volunteer-driven organization that benefits the community. The deadline to submit calendar items in the mail, by fax or emailed in Word document format is MONDAY BY NOON or sooner. The listings should be brief, with only time, date, location, brief activity explanation, and contact information. Please email all entries to ahenderson@turley.com.

REGISTER NOW

HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY: Deadline to register for the Belchertown hazardous household waste collection day is Aug. 27. The waste collection day will take place on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Department of Public Works, Highway Garage, 290 Jackson St. It is hosted by “Clean Harbors.” You may obtain a pre-registration formand a list of hazardous materials to be accepted at the DPW or go to www.belchertown.org, DPW website to print a form. Mail forms to P.O. Box 306, Belchertown, MA 01007. For more information call the DPW at 413-323-0415.

ONGOING

SING WITH YOUR BABY: The Clapp Memorial Library presents “Sing with your Baby” with Happy Dan the Music Man on Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m. for ages 0 to 2 years old. There is a $5 to $10 donation requested. Call 259-1808 for more information.

MORNING PRAYER: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church invites you to join them in Sunday Morning Prayer Service at 9 a.m. to be followed by coffee and fellowship. Saint Mary’s Church is located across from Old Mill Pond School on Main Street in Thorndike. See you there!

SATURDAY EVENING SERVICES: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church invites you to join them for Saturday Evening Services with Father Andrew Williams at 5 p.m. Saint Mary’s Church is located across from Old Mill Pond School on Main Street in Thorndike.

PLANT SWAP: An ongoing plant swap will be held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month until Sept. 28 at 267 Bay Road. They will be held at 6 p.m. Bring perennials, annuals, house plants, seeds, bulbs, vegetables and more to the swap. For questions call Debbie at 413-323-9394 or 413-575-8862. Everyone is welcome, please not dogs.

HEALING CIRCLE SINGERS: Gentle musical hands-on healing offered Wednesdays, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at First Congregational Church, Amherst, 165 Main St., Amherst. Call 323-9383, or dcresswell@charter.net for more information.

FARMERS MARKET: The Farmers Market is held every Thursday on the common in Belchertown from 2 to 6 p.m. Local vendors will sell their products.

CONVERSAITON CIRCLES: Conversation Circles (free speaking practice at intermediate/advanced-levels) are offered to international visitors and immigrants throughout the summer at Jones Library in Amherst. Sessions are at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and at noon on Saturdays at Jones Library. No registration necessary.

THIS WEEK

Friday, Aug. 20

HIKING FORT RIVER: Hiking the Fort River (ages 9-12)
Thursday, Aug. 19, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Rain Date: Friday, Aug. 20
Members: $65/non-members: $80
Pre-registration required; please call 413-256-6006. Everybody knows the Fort River that runs from Pelham through Amherst and Hadley to the Connecticut River. But how many have followed its winding course through the lowlands? We will spend our day exploring what’s around the next bend—a great blue heron, a mink, a red-tailed hawk, an otter slide? Come explore with us! Bring a lunch, plenty of water, comfortable water shoes and a change of clothes.

ARTIST TALK: Metal Artist, Jim Kitchen of Chesterfield, will talk at the Meekins Library in Williamsburg about his works, including the 31 sculptures that are on the library lawn, on Friday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. His works won him the "Best in Show" this year at the Paradise City Arts Festival. Kitchen creates his award-winning large and small metal sculptures by welding scrap metal that he collects from his Hilltown neighbors. The event is sponsored by Arts Alive in the Hilltowns. It is open to the public. Free. Donations appreciated.

Saturday, Aug. 21

BHS CAR WASH: The Belchertown High School Girls Volleyball team will hold a car wash on Aug. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Town Hall. There will also be a bake sale the same day during the car wash.

AIRSHOW: The Westfield International Airshow featuring the Thunderbirds and over 50 aerial and static displays will take place on Saturday, Aug. 21 and Sunday, Aug. 22 at the Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield. The gates open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is free, but a request of a $10 donation is asked. Concessions with food and drink served all day, including beer. More info, including frequently asked questions:  http://www.westfieldairshow.net/.

BEAD MAKING: Although summer seemed to take forever to arrive, it is fading fast and fall is thundering in with a multitude of new courses being offered through the Holyoke Creative Arts Center located at 400 South Elm St., Holyoke, MA. The Center will be offering a bead- making workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 21 as a prelude to its fall lineup. Students are encouraged to take advantage of an early-bird savings discount by enrolling for fall offerings and paying by Aug. 27. Call the Center at 413-532-0465 for added information or visit their site at www.holyokecac.org.

LIVE MUSIC: The United Church of Christ Pelham located at 142 Amherst Road, Pelham will be hosting live music by Larry Kellogg on Saturday, Aug. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is $5. Refreshments will be available.

Sunday, Aug. 22

FIREARMS SAFETY COURSE: State Certified Instructor Officer Edward Oey will be offering a Firearms Safety Course on Sunday, Aug. 22. Class will be held at Blazin Bodyz located at 442 State St., Belchertown. The class will begin at 9 a.m. As required by State Law, it is an eight-hour classroom. Pre-registration is required to guarantee your seat. For your convenience, applications are available at Oey’s Avon Store at 442 State Street., R&R Sports Shop on Federal Street or email robocop50@aol.com for an application.

UPCOMING

Friday, Aug. 27

OUTDOOR MOVIE: The United Church of Christ Pelham located at 142 Amherst Road, Pelham will be showing a free Outdoor Movie, “The blind side” Rated PG-13, with the help of some volunteers from UMass Police and their families on Friday, Aug. 27 at 7:45 p.m. Refreshment will be available. Bring lawn chairs. No rain date scheduled.

Saturday, Aug. 28

GIANT TAG SALE: Belchertown’s largest annual tag sale will take place on Aug. 28 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Belchertown Common and inside the St. Francis Parish Social Center on Park Street.

CHURCH TAG SALE: Church Church Tag Sale at the Florence Congregational on Saturday, Aug. 28 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain or shine. The church is located at 130 Pine St., Florence MA 01062. Spaces for vendors still available. Call Ronda at 413-977-4013 to rent tables.

Wednesday, Sept. 1

GENEALOGY MEETING: The Western Massachusetts Genealogy Society will hold their first meeting of the new year on Wednesday Sept. 1. The meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Agawam Senior Center, 954 Main Street, Agawam. The guest speaker will be Penni Martorelli, the curator for the Wistariahurst Museum. She will speak to the society members on the museum in Holyoke and about the Skinner Family who owned the mansion. There is an annual membership fee of $20 dollars a person that will also cover the genealogy computer classes offered by the society. For more information please contact us at WestMassGen@Comcast.net.

Saturday, Sept. 4

LYME DISEASE SPEAKER/BARBEQUE: The “Senior Connection” Over 55 Groups meets Saturday, Sept. 4 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Enjoy a Labor Day Weekend barbeque, say goodbye to the summer and hello to old and new friends, and learn about Lymes Disease from Lois Pare. Meeting is at the Our Savior Lutheran Church, 319 Granby Road, Rte. 202, South Hadley at 413-533-1925. (At intersection of Routes 202 and 33, take Rte. 202 North. Church is about a quarter mile on right.) Reserve lunch by Wed., Sept. 1. Only $5. Just leave your name and number of attendees. Bring a friend!

Tuesday, Sept. 7

SPAGHETTI DINNER: The Chicopee Chapter of Pioneer Valley Mass Citizens for Life will hold a Spaghetti Dinner and Bake Sale on Tuesday, Sept. 7 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The dinner will be held at the Knights of Columbus, Elder Council 69, 460 Granby Road, Chicopee. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and students, and under 5 are free. If you would like tickets please make a check out to: K of C  #69. Include a note with the number of those attending and the total cost. Mail to Monica Butler, 419 Rogers Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. For more information call Monica at 413-746-0655 or Pat at 413-536-1811. This fundraiser will benefit PV-MCFL and the Chicopee Chapter and support pro-life activities in our area.

Saturday, Sept. 11

HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY: Belchertown will host a hazardous household waste collection day on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Department of Public Works, Highway Garage, 290 Jackson St. It is hosted by “Clean Harbors.”

ALZHEIMERS WALK: The Alzheimer's Association Pioneer Valley Memory Walk 2010 will take place on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Holyoke Community College, Route 202 in Holyoke. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. with a health and awareness fair. The walk with begin at 10 a.m. and lunch (provided by Olive Garden) will be at 11:30 a.m. For further information contact the Alzheimer's Association at 413-787-1113 or online at www.memorywalkmanh.org.

NIPMUCK POW WOW: The Nipmuck Indian Council of Chaubunagungamaug will present their 30th annual Nipmuck Pow Wow on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 at Lake Siog Park, in Holland. This event is open to the public and will feature traditional and contemporary foods, authentic drumming and dancing and Indian crafts and souvenir items.  Admission fee is $2 for adults and $1 for elders and children 6-12.  Children under 6 are free.  The grounds will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.  For more information, please call 508-347-7829 or email acw1212@verizon.net.

Sunday, Sept. 12

LACROSSE TRYOUTS: Tryouts for the New England Developmental Lacrosse club will take place on Sept. 12 and Sept. 19, from 3 to 5 p.m. at SportsWorld in East Windsor CT.  Teams will be formed for girls in grades 5-8 for the 2010 fall and 2011 summer season. Cost for tryouts is $10. For registration and more information please visit www.nedlacrosse.com. If you have any questions contact Aimee Klepacki at nedgirlslacrosse@gmail.com.

Thursday, Sept. 16

LAUGHING IN ITALIAN: Guided Challenges presents “Laughing in Italian,” classes for beginners.  Thursday evenings, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sept. 16 through Dec. 16.  Classes will be held at La Fiorentina on Armory Street in Northampton. For more information, go to LaughinginItalian.org or call Fran at 413-586-5881.

Sunday, Oct. 3

MAKING STRIDES: Join the American Cancer Society in the fight against breast cancer at its 18th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5.7 mile walk on Sunday, Oct. 3 starting at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade in Boston. Registration and rolling start are set for 8 to 10 a.m. This inspiring event unites the entire community to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, save lives, and create more birthdays by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against cancer. Every step you take lights more birthday candles. To form a team, register, or for more information, visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline, call 1-800-ACS-2345.

Sunday, Oct. 17

CHAI WALK: The first annual five-mile walk for improving the quality and longevity of life for lung cancer patients. The walk begins on the UMASS Amherst Campus. Presented by the Yud-Chet non-profit organization, and starts at 9 a.m. A registration fee is required. Please refer to the website www.yud-chet.org for registration, and other information. Further donations are welcome. It’s time to Breathe Free.