On the Calendar

Caritas Gala

March 21: Mercy Medical Center’s fourth annual Caritas Gala will be held on at MGM Springfield. The gala, with its theme of “A Magical Night in Monte Carlo,” will raise funds to benefit the greatest needs of Mercy Medical Center. These areas include the Pathway to Care initiative addressing the opioid crisis, the new Mandell Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Center, as well as improvements to the Emergency Department.

Honorary chairpersons for the event include Daniel and Jill Keenan and Dr. Robert and Heather Roose. The annual Caritas Awards will honor Nicholas Cocchi, Hampden County sheriff, and Anthony Gulluni, Hampden County district attorney. A posthumous Caritas Award will also be given to the family of Carolyn Meuse, who was Complex Care coordinator at Mercy Medical Center.

The Caritas Gala will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, live entertainment, dinner, silent auction, a Hannoush Jewelry drawing, and dancing. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to purchase tickets to the gala, visit www.mercycares.com/caritasgala.

K of C Golf Tournament to Benefit United Arc

May 22: The Greenfield Knights of Columbus, Council #133, will host its seventh annual charity golf tournament at the Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston. This year, the Greenfield Council #133 recognizes the United Arc as its tournament partner.

The event will be an 18-hole, four-person scramble with tee advantages for senior golfers. The entry fee of $125 per person includes greens fees, carts, lunch and dinner, and prizes for the winners. Those less inclined to tee off and who would rather enjoy the views of the 18th green while supporting a good cause can take in a meal at Zeke’s Grill. Dinner-only tickets are available for $30.

Raffles and a silent auction will feature lottery tickets, gift cards, a three-day Cape Cod vacation, Crumpin-Fox and Hopyard golf certificates, a mystery box, and more. There will also be a hole-in-one contest for a chance to win a new car.

The United Arc supports people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving the universal goals of inclusion, choice, and independence. Every year the organization provides services to individuals and their families in Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, and Worcester counties.

In addition to the United Arc, proceeds from the event will be used to fund a number of Council #133’s worthy causes in Greenfield and Franklin County, including the Pan Mass Challenge, Baystate Hospital Wheeling for Healing, Farren Hospital Gift of Light, the Greenfield Homeless Shelter, monthly community meals, honoring veterans by placing flags on graves for Memorial Day and Wreaths Across America wreaths placed on graves at Christmas, several youth sports programs, and more.

To sign up or to get more information, call Lou Grader at (413) 774-2848, Dan Arsenault at (413) 774-5258, Bob Wanczyk at (413) 774-2465, Paul Doran at (413) 774-2801, or Joe Ruscio at (413) 768-9876.

Women’s Leadership Conference

March 27: Bay Path University’s division of Strategic Alliances announced that producer, author, entrepreneur, educator, and, of course, top model Tyra Banks will bring her bold attitude, unique style, and well-honed business acumen to Springfield as the keynote speaker at the 25th annual Women’s Leadership Conference. This year’s theme, “Own Your Now,” will encourage conference guests to examine the forces that have shaped their careers, relationships, and aspirations; recognize what drives them and what holds them back; and empower them to confidently move forward.

Suzy Batiz, who will deliver the morning address to open the conference, earned a place on Forbes’ list of most successful self-made women — and an estimated net worth of $260 million — by creating of a suite of eco-minded household products, including Poo-Pourri, a toilet spray she developed to combat bathroom odors. Patrice Banks will address the audience at lunchtime. She is the owner of the Girls Auto Clinic and Clutch Beauty Bar, an auto mechanic shop and beauty bar staffed by women. She is also the founder of the SheCANics movement, which looks to demystify car repair and engage more women in the automotive industry.

Breakout sessions — focused on navigating the complicated relationships, personalities, and dynamics of the workplace and the impact those have on our careers and opportunities — will be led by bestselling authors and researchers including Laura Huang, Harvard Business School professor and author of Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage; Emily Esfahani Smith, author of The Power of Meaning; Dr. Ramani Durvasula, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Don’t You Know Who I Am: How to Stay Sane in the Era of Narcissism, Entitlement and Incivility; and Jennifer Romolini, author of Weird in a World That’s Not: A Career Guide for Misfits.

For further information on the conference and to register, visit www.baypathconference.com.

NAMI Western Mass. Annual Meeting

March 29: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Western Massachusetts will hold its annual meeting from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front St., in the Bazan Community Room located downstairs, which has elevator access. Light refreshments will be served.

Because the annual meeting in January did not have a quorum of members, NAMI Western Mass. must have another meeting to vote on a slate of officers and board members. The meeting is open to the public, but only current members are eligible to vote. Individuals whose membership has lapsed need to renew their membership either through the office or at the meeting in order to vote. Member attendance at this meeting is critical to the continuation of the NAMI Western Mass. affiliate.

To view the slate of officers, board member information, as well as bylaw proposed changes, visit www.namiwm.org/home or call the office at (413) 786-9139.

Hearing Loss and Balance Seminar

March 30: Baystate Health’s Senior Class will hold a free seminar titled “Hearing Loss and Balance Care” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Snow Conference Room at Baystate Wing Hospital, 40 Wright St., Palmer.

“Hearing loss by itself doesn’t cause balance problems, but hearing loss can occur together with balance-impairment symptoms and can indicate problems with the inner ear and vestibular system,” said Susan Fontaine, senior coordinator of Loyalty Programs at Baystate Health. “It’s important to also know that a balance disorder may occur in different situations and may have various causes.”

The program will be offered by audiologist Deborah Stroetzel and Lori Manseau, physical therapist and manager of Baystate Rehabilitation Care at Baystate Wing Hospital. Together, they will discuss hearing loss, from diagnosis to treatment, and vestibular problems such as vertigo and inner-ear issues that affect balance, and how both are treated.

Baystate Health Senior Class is a free loyalty program dedicated to health and wellness, offered exclusively for men and women ages 55 and over.

The “Hearing Loss and Balance Care” seminar with Stroetzel and Manseau is offered at no cost, and refreshments will be served. Registration is required by calling (413) 794-5200 or visiting hearinglossandbalance.eventbrite.com.

Unify Against Bullying Cut-a-Thon

April 4: Hair-salon owners and their teams are being asked to make a difference in the fight against bullying. Unify Against Bullying is looking for local and regional salons to participate in a one-day Cut-a-Thon, donating proceeds from haircuts, blowouts, and styling to the anti-bullying organization.

Some salons will also offer temporary pink hair color — the signature color of Unify Against Bullying. In addition, each salon will add its own fun activities and promotions for the event. Although the main event is being held on April 4, some salon owners can choose the option to hold the fundraiser for the whole month to make it easier on their team.

This year, Basia Belz, a Unify Against Bullying board member and owner of Vivid Hair Salon, located at 99 Elm St., Westfield, will chair the event. Salon owners who wish to participate can contact Belz at (413) 564-0062 or basiauab@aol.com.