Agenda

Community Workshops

Oct. 1, 6, 29: Greylock Federal Credit Union will host three free community workshops on the topics of avoiding debt, building credit, and Medicare. On Wednesday, Oct. 1, “Avoiding the Gift of Debt” will be held via Zoom from 6 to 6:45 p.m., and will outline strategies to avoid debt during the holiday season. On Monday, Oct. 6, “Credit Ability: Build a Strong Credit History” (in Spanish), a hybrid workshop, will help participants understand the need to build credit, the significance of credit scores, ways to establish credit, and how to use credit wisely. Participants are welcome to join in person from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Greylock Community Empowerment Center, 75 Kellogg St., Pittsfield, or join via a Zoom option. On Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m., a virtual workshop, “Preparing for Medicare 101 and Open Enrollment Changes 2025,” will help prepare recent retirees and those looking to retire in near future. This event is presented in partnership with Elder Services of Berkshire County. For more information and to register, visit www.greylock.org/cec.

Party with 1 Purpose

Oct. 4: After a sold-out debut that earned national recognition from Breakthrough T1D as one of the Top New Fundraising Events of 2024, Party with 1 Purpose will return to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Chaired by David Fontaine Jr. and Sarah Fontaine, the gala unites community leaders, local families, and businesses in support of Breakthrough T1D’s mission to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D). Guests will enjoy an evening on Center Court featuring live music, an energetic auction, inspiring stories from local T1D families, and opportunities to directly fund life-changing research. This year’s Fund a Cure will shine a spotlight on the Kouflie family and their son Braden, who was diagnosed with T1D at age 7. The Kouflies will share their journey of navigating the daily challenges of diabetes while holding onto hope for a cure, giving guests a personal look at why Breakthrough T1D’s research is so critical. Sponsorships and tickets are available at www.breakthrought1d.org/ctma/wmassgala2025.

Barks & Brews

Oct. 5: The 10th annual Barks & Brews event, presented by Dakin Humane Society, will take place at Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton. The event will begin with a VIP exclusive preview hour from noon to 1 p.m., with general admission taking place from 1 to 3 p.m. VIP admission tickets, priced at $75, entitle holders to on-site parking, hors d’oeuvres served during the preview hour, a complimentary beer, and an event T-shirt. General admission tickets, priced at $35, include a complimentary beer. Parking is located on street and at the local school lot (a five-minute walk). Visit www.dakinhumane.org/barksandbrews to purchase tickets. All attendees of the event must be at least 21 years old. Guests are invited to bring crowd-friendly dogs on a non-retractable leash (retractable leashes are not allowed), and are asked not to bring strollers. Other event features will include a Halloween costume contest for dogs, a hot dog eating contest for dogs, a 50/50 raffle (ticket holders need not be present to win), a photo booth, nail trimming, dog baths, vendor booth shopping, and food trucks. Barks & Brews is an important annual fundraiser for Dakin, a 501(c)(3) organization. In previous years at Fort Hill, this event has generated about $30,000 for services and programs that help animals in need.

Real Estate Licensing Course

Oct. 6 to Nov. 12: The Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley will host a 40 hour, 14-class sales licensing course to help individuals prepare for the Massachusetts real estate salesperson license exam. Tuition costs $425 and includes the book and materials. For an application, call the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley at (413) 785-1328 or visit www.rapv.com.

Estate Planning Series

Oct. 9, 16, 23: Attorney Karen Jackson of Jackson Law in Holyoke will lead a three-course series on estate planning at Holyoke Community College beginning Oct. 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. “Powerful Tools to Save the Home and Other Assets from the Nursing Home Bill” will continue on Oct. 16 and 23, also from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Participants will hear a high-level overview of MassHealth’s financial requirements, “so MassHealth, not the family, funds any necessary long-term nursing home care,” Jackson explained. She will also explain the benefits of what she calls the “powerful tools in estate planning” — the irrevocable trust, the caregiver child exception, the adult disabled child exception, the Medicaid qualified annuity, pooled trusts, and long-term care insurance. She will explain the benefits and limitations of each of these tools and will encourage questions. The cost for the series is $179. To register, call (413) 552-2320.

Cancer Connection Harvest Dinner

Oct. 16: Cancer Connection’s annual Harvest Dinner will take place at Union Station in Northampton. The Harvest Dinner is one of Cancer Connection’s most important fundraisers, and bankESB’s support will help underwrite the costs of the event and allow the organization to raise more funds for its programs. This festive evening brings the Cancer Connection community together and raises critical funds to bring support groups, integrative therapies, and educational programs to more cancer patients and their caregivers. The event will include a cocktail hour, farm-to-table dinner, silent auction, and a program of speakers. Cancer Connection, the only independent cancer support center in the area, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. Founded in 2000, Cancer Connection’s mission is to provide a haven where people with cancer and their loved ones can learn how to navigate the complicated cancer journey through one-to-one guidance, education, peer support, integrative therapies, and creative programs. Cancer Connection is the only cancer support center in Hampshire and Franklin Counties and draws additional participants from Hampden County and beyond. For more information on sponsorships and tickets for the Harvest Dinner, visit www.cancer-connection.org/special-events.

Healthcare Heroes Gala

Oct. 22: BusinessWest and the Healthcare News will celebrate this year’s eight Healthcare Heroes starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The class of 2025, profiled in the Sep. 15 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com, includes the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit at Mercy Medical Center; Areliz Barbosa, clinical assistant professor and senior project coordinator at Bay Path University; Andrea Bertheaud, clinical assistant professor at Elms College; Chrissy Humason, Nursing supervisor and Stroke coordinator at Baystate Noble Hospital; Linda Koh, assistant professor at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing at UMass Amherst; Cindy Leonard, Infusion manager at the Sister Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center; Dr. Thomas Lincoln, physician and associate professor of Medicine at Baystate Health; and Dr. Yannis Raftopoulos, director of the Holyoke Medical Center Weight Management Program. Tickets cost $95, and tables of 10 are available. To purchase tickets, visit businesswest.com/healthcareheroes. Presenting sponsors include Baystate Health/Health New England and Elms College. Partner sponsors include Trinity Health Of New England/Mercy Medical Center and Holyoke Medical Center.

Fall in Love with BFAIR – One Sip at a Time Fundraiser

Oct. 22: Berkshire Family & Individual Resources (BFAIR) invites the community to an evening of fine wine, food, and music at its upcoming fundraiser, Fall in Love with BFAIR – One Sip at a Time, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Balderdash Cellars, 81 State Road, Richmond. The event, sponsored by Sourcepass, will feature wines paired with appetizers, charcuterie, and desserts by Pizza Trails. It will also feature a lively program including a silent auction, raffles, and live music performed by Brian Benlien. The evening’s proceeds will support BFAIR’s mission of providing quality, individualized services to people with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injury. Tickets cost $100 per person and must be reserved by Oct. 8 at bit.ly/452LPRn.

‘Safety Leadership for Your Workplace’

Oct. 23: The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) announced a conference, “Safety Leadership for Your Workplace,” taking place at the Marriott in Springfield. Attendees will experience a full day of presentations, including Dick Flynt from the National Safety Council, OSHA, certified safety professional Dan Williams, and the team from Protective Advanced Safety Services. Qualified Massachusetts employers can apply for reimbursement for conference fees using the MA Express Program. To learn more or register for these events, visit www.eane.org or email Allison Ebner at [email protected].