Listings, Events, Attractions April 2010

Ongoing, NAMI Western Massachusetts Family Support Groups. Support group for family members or friends of people who are struggling with mental illness. Agawam Support Group meets monthly on the last Monday from 7-9 p.m. at NAMI Western Massachusetts office, 324A Springfield St. For more info call Lucille at 786-1236. Springfield Support Group meets monthly on last Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. at Kindred Hospital Parkview, 1400 State St. with well lit parking. For more info call Bernice at 596-5059. Springfield Hispanic Support Group meets monthly on third Wednesday from 7-9 p.m., at Baystate Medical Associates, 3300 Main St., first floor Community Room, with well lit parking. For more info call Maria at 563-8969. Ongoing, RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program), of Hampshire and Franklin counties invites people 55 and older to volunteer in their own community. Organizations in Hampshire and Franklin counties need volunteer help with marketing, grant writing, gift shop and thrift shop sales, tutoring students in all grades, peer counseling, insurance assistance and more. RSVP volunteers enjoy flexible schedules exciting opportunities, meeting new friends, learning new skills and using life experience. Call RSVP at 584-1300, ext. 183, and begin to enjoy the satisfaction of volunteering. E-mail: psciard@hampshirecog.org or log on to www.rsvphf.org. RSVP is a Senior Corps program and is sponsored locally by the Hampshire Council of Governments. April 1, Massage Available at COA. Chair massage by Gina Welch of Craniosacral and Massage Center Inc. starting at 9 a.m. on April 1 at the Chicopee COA, 7 Valley View Ct. Each session is 15 minutes. Cost is $13 for those over 60 and $15 for those under 60. Chair massage is administered while the client is clothed and seated in a specially designed chair. Massage is beneficial in reducing stress, increasing circulation, managing blood pressure and helping with depression. To schedule your appt. call the center at 534-3698, Mon.-Fri., from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. April 1 to May 1, "Fools Rush In, works by Helana Dooley and Marianne Connolly, at Gallery A3, 28 Amity St., Amherst. Reception: April 1, 5-8 p.m.; conversations with artists: April 15, 7 p.m. For info call 256-4250; or visit www.gallerya3.com. April 5, Pacficia Quartet, Chamber, 7:30 p.m. (rescheduled from last fall). Named Ensemble of the Year for 2009 by Musical America, the Pacific Quartet is recognized for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and often daring repertory choices. Its players are adept at split-second timing without sacrificing intricate interpretation, tonal balance, or unity of artistic purpose. Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Rd., on the UConn campus in Storrs. For tickets and info call the box office, Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 860-486-4226 or order online at jorgensen.uconn.edu. Convenient, free parking is available across the street in the North Parking Garage. April 8, Nelly Abkowicz on the B-SNIP Study, 2-4 p.m. at Agawam Public Library, 750 Cooper St. Do you have a family member that suffers from Schizophrenia or Bipolar and would like more information on the Bi-Snip Study? Info: 789-1550. April 8, "Don't Downsize Your Life Rightsize It," 1:30-2:30 p.m., Keystone Woods, 936 Grayson Dr., Springfield. Join us for a complimentary educational presentation. Tips and strategies for planning a move in today's economy. Coffee, tea and desserts will be served. For info call 426-9868 or visit www.keystone-woods.com. Seating is limited. April 10, Latin Dance Fest 2010, Dance Cabaret, 8 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m. Presented by Jorgensen and the Puerto Rican/sponsored by Univision Latin American Cultural Center. Celebrate the traditional and the trendy at UConn's Latin Dance Fest 2010 in a cozy, relaxing cozy nightclub setting with candlelit tables and an open dance floor. Latino dinner fare and desserts are available for purchase. Cash bar. Nationally-known headliner Tony Vega and popular DJ Andy Andy will move the crowd to the throbbing, irresistible beat of salsa, bachata, reggaeton and balada. Semi-formal attire is required. Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Rd., on the UConn campus in Storrs. For tickets and info call the box office, Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 860-486-4226 or order online at jorgensen.uconn.edu. Convenient, free parking is available across the street in the North Parking Garage. April 10, Bake/Book Sale, 10 a.m-3 p.m. The East Longmeadow Library Children's Department is calling for all bakers and volunteers to help with the Friends of the Library annual bake/book sale. If you would be willing to bake or volunteer an hour or two of your time, call the Children's Department at 525-5400, Ext. 1506. Baked goods will be gratefully accepted at the library on Friday afternoon until 5 p.m. or Saturday morning from 9-10 a.m. All proceeds from the bake sale benefit the Children's Department Program Fund. April 10, uNi Coffeehouse Concert Series presents the voice of the Maine seacoast, Gordon Bok with special guest Carol Rohl, 8 p.m. The concert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Society Meetinghouse, 245 Porter Lake Dr., Springfield. For info/reservations call 562-3990; Website: uNiCoffeehouse.org. Cost is $15 at the door. Time Magazine called Bok "The poet laureate of those who go down to the sea in ships." He sings traditional sea songs of many countries, ballads of Maine and the Maritimes, songs and dances, stories of boats and sailors from his own experience, stories of seal-folk and cantefables of his own composition, plus contemporary songs of all kinds. Bok's instruments include six and 12 string guitars and the haunting sound of the Bok whistle and the unique "cellamba" an instrument of his own design (a bass viol da gamba on a cello body). For this concert he will be joined onstage by well-known Celtic harper Rohl. Her harp can be heard on 12 recordings to date. She is also widely respected for her skills in teaching Celtic harp and conducting workshops on the power of music and healing. With her husband, Bok, she has performed at a variety of venues throughout New England and the Canadian Maritimes. They have also toured together across the U.S. New Zealand and Australia, British Columbia, and Scotland. April 14 and 28, BJ's Flower Swappers, 2 Hobbie Rd., S. Deerfield meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from April-August and the first and third Wednesdays in September, rain or shine. 2010 swap dates: April 14 and 28; May 12 and 26; June 9 and 23; July 14 and 28; Aug. 11 and 25; Sept. 1 and 15. In addition to the Plant Swap, swappers are invited to join us for the dessert buffet held June 23 and Sept. 15 and are encouraged to bring their favorite dessert to share. For more info call Bette Sokoloski at 665-4039 or e-mail: flowerpot48@yahoo.com. April 14, "Orchids" will be the subject of a Powerpoint presentation by Ernie Zobel at the meeting of the Springfield Garden Club, 11:30 a.m., in the hall of Wilbraham United Church at 500 Main St. Zobel, a Master Gardener and Longmeadow resident, is a veteran grower of orchids and will display some of his prize plants. All interested persons are welcome. Guest fee is $5. For more info call 525-6957. April 15, "UConn's Got Talent" Finals, Husky Headliner Series, 7:30 p.m. After weeks of open student auditions during the spring of 2010, the UConn campus will whittle the competition down to 15 of the top, most talented contestants. It will be an exciting night on campus as performers vie for the coveted title of "UConn Idol. Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Rd., on the UConn campus in Storrs. For tickets and info call the box office, Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 860-486-4226 or order online at jorgensen.uconn.edu. Convenient, free parking is available across the street in the North Parking Garage. April 16-18, "Letting Jews be Jews." Yiddish Book Center, located on the campus of Hampshire College, 1021 West St. Amherst. Hosted by Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times and NPR Morning Edition film critic, the weekend will explore the diverse ways American cinema has depicted Jews from the silent era of the 1920s through contemporary films. The program includes film screenings, workshops, lively discussion, and other activities. The cost for the weekend is $350, including tuition and kosher dairy meals. Reservations can be made online at www.yiddishbookcenter.org/filmconference or by calling 256-4900, Ext. 124. April 16 and 17, The Rat Pack is Back: Cabaret, 8 p.m. The audience will be transported back through time and space to a balmy night when four show business legends Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Dean Martin converged at the Sands Hotel for the first time. Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Rd., on the UConn campus in Storrs. For tickets and info call the box office, Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 860-486-4226 or order online at jorgensen.uconn.edu. Convenient, free parking is available across the street in the North Parking Garage. April 18, Children's Behavioral Health Initiative 5K Fun Run/Walk, 11 a.m., in Forest Park, Springfield. Join Behavior Health Network and students of Springfield College to bring awareness to this new initiative. Tables will be set up with info on all the new services offered to Mass Health eligible children. Participants will receive a t-shirt, water and a snack. Registration after March 31 and day of race is $25. Make checks payable to Behavioral Health Network. For registration form contact Rachel Trant or Nelson Colon, Springfield College MSW interns at 733-6661. April 20, T.A.R.A. New England. Borderline Personality Disorder, Psycho-education and Support Group for family and friends of people with BPD takes place on the third Tuesday monthly from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Deerfield Business Center, Conference Room, 110 North Hillside Rd., South Deerfield. Contact: Leena Newcomb at 824-2154. Suggested donation: $15. April 29, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, 7:30 p.m. This versatile, gifted troupe of 12 young dancers performs an eclectic repertoire of pieces by some of the world's foremost choreographers. Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Rd., on the UConn campus in Storrs. For tickets and info call the box office, Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 860-486-4226 or order online at jorgensen.uconn.edu. Free parking is available across the street.