On the Calendar

Healthcare Heroes Gala

Oct. 17: The third annual class of Healthcare Heroes will be honored at the Sheraton Springfield from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Healthcare Heroes, a recognition program involving the Western Mass. healthcare sector, was launched in 2017 by HCN and BusinessWest.

The program was created to shed a bright light on the outstanding work being done across the broad spectrum of health and wellness services, and the institutions and people providing that care. The class of 2019 was profiled in the September issue of HCN. Tickets cost $90 or $900 for a table of 10. To reserve a spot, visit www.businesswest.com/healthcare-heroes-2 or e-mail peters@businesswest.com.

Healthcare Heroes is sponsored by American International College and Baystate Health/Health New England (presenting sponsors), Behavioral Health Network, Comcast Business, and Development Associates (partner sponsors), and Bulkley Richardson, Design to Finish, Elms College, Keiter Builders, Loomis Communities, and Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health (supporting sponsors).

IT Primer for Older Adults

Oct. 17: Glenmeadow will offer a presentation on technology and the many ways it can be used for entertainment from 10 a.m. to noon at the West Springfield Public Library, 200 Park St., West Springfield.

“Get Tech-savvy: An IT Primer for Older Adults” is the second program in the fall Glenmeadow Learning series, which provides free educational offerings in the community. In this workshop, participants will learn how to use apps — or software applications — on computers, tablets, or telephones to connect with friends and loved ones who are far away or to play games or get a ride.

The presentation will be led by Derek Allard, owner of Tunnel 7, which offers digital design and marketing services; Ryan Askew, owner of Ryan Askew Web Design & Development; and Patrick Lostaglia, Glenmeadow’s network administrator.

Today’s technology makes it possible to connect with people through computers, tablets, and telephones. Allard, Askew, and Lostaglia will offer an overview of how these tools work. Participants will then break into small groups for a demonstration of programs that can be used for various purposes. Participants must bring a smartphone, laptop, or tablet.

“Get Tech-savvy” is free, but space is limited, and reservations are required. To register, e-mail Jazlyn Wanzo at jwanzo@glenmeadow.org. For more information or to register online, visit glenmeadow.org/events.

Willie Ross School Annual Gala

Oct. 17: The Willie Ross School for the Deaf will hold its annual gala and testimonial dinner on Thursday, Oct. 17 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow. This year, the school will honor Erica Broman, a longtime trustee and supporter of Willie Ross, and Shurtleff Children’s Services, a generous supporter of the school.

Broman currently serves as vice president of Institutional Development and director of the Westfield State Foundation at Westfield University. She previously served as executive director of the Holyoke Community College Foundation for more than 15 years. In addition to serving for many years on the Willie Ross board of trustees as a member and chair, Broman is also a board member for the National Conference for Community and Justice and a founding member of the Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley, along with a variety of other local, regional, and national board positions.

The Shurtleff Children’s Services foundation has supported the School for more than four decades, including grants to support programs and operations. The purpose of Shurtleff Children’s Services is to promote the health and welfare of children in the region.

A social hour and silent auction will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program immediately after. For more information about the gala and to purchase tickets, visit www.willierossschool.org/support-us/annual-gala.

Unify Against Bullying Awards, Fashion Show

Oct. 21: Unify Against Bullying announced it will award $21,000 in microgrants to 22 recipients at its combination grant awards ceremony and all-inclusive fashion show. The event, which coincides with National Bullying Prevention Month, will be held at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

Those who attend the all-inclusive fashion show on Oct. 21 will have an opportunity to meet all 22 grant recipients and talk with each of them about the work they are doing to combat the pervasive bullying issue. To purchase tickets, visit www.unifyagainstbullying.org and go to the events page and click on ‘tickets.’

‘Healing Hearts of Childhood Trauma’

Oct. 25: River Valley Counseling Center, in conjunction with Valley Health Systems, will host “The Healing Project: Healing Hearts of Childhood Trauma,” a program that will educate participants on recognizing and understanding adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), the lifelong impact of trauma, and how people can work together to become a trauma-informed community.

“The Healing Project” will define and recognize symptoms of trauma, explore techniques to address trauma, increase trauma-informed practices in the community and schools, and build skills and a common language for a more resilient community.

This program will take place at the Log Cabin from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $50, which includes a screening of the resilience movie “Normalizing Trauma,” a keynote presentation by Laura Porter, lunch, and a breakout session. CEU credit will be provided to licensed mental-health counselors and social-worker professionals.

Porter, a national expert and co-founder of ACE Interface, LLC, helps to develop and disseminate educational products and empowerment strategies that help leaders throughout the nation dramatically improve population health.

“The Healing Project” is ideal for mental-health professionals, social workers, teachers and school administrators, police and other first responders, probation officers, courthouse staff, faith-community leaders, social-service providers, and anyone interested in working to create a trauma-informed community.

This program also addresses the important findings of the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) conducted by Holyoke Medical Center between April and July 2019.

To register, visit www.holyokehealth.com/healing or call River Valley Counseling Center at (413) 540-1160.

BFAIR Masquerade Gala

Oct. 25: Berkshire Family and Individual Resources (BFAIR) is celebrating 25 years of success with a Masquerade Gala at the Proprietor’s Lodge, sponsored by Adams Community Bank.

The fundraiser will include a VIP hour, live auction, music, food, special guests, and handmade masquerade masks crafted by individuals receiving BFAIR services. The event has a business-casual dress code with a black-and-silver theme (masks are optional).

To register for the event or sponsor, visit www.bfair.org/25gala or call Katrina Cardillo, director of Marketing, at (413) 464-7232, ext. 317.

EMT Training

Oct. 28 to Feb. 5: Holyoke Community College (HCC), in collaboration with the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. and Emergency Medical Training Solutions, is offering EMT training at the E2E: Quaboag Region Workforce Training and Community College Center at 79 Main St.

The EMT-B Emergency Medical Technician Basic Course meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 9:30 p.m. and on select Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program consists of more than 170 hours of in-class lectures and additional online study, training, field trips, and workshops designed to prepare students for the state EMT certification exam. The course covers all aspects of emergency care, including patient handling, extrication, communication, working with law enforcement, legal issues, ethics, medical equipment, and safe transportation of patients.

The course fee is $1,099 plus $200 for texts. Enrollment is limited, so early registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, contact Michele Cabral at (413) 552-2257 or mcabral@hcc.edu, or visit www.hcc.edu/workforce.