On the Calendar
Sweetheart Dance
Feb. 15: Harmony House of Western Massachusetts will be the beneficiary of the upcoming Sweetheart Dance sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Harley Owner’s Group (HOG) and the Knights of Columbus (K of C) Council 4044 of Chicopee, to be held at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. The event begins at 5 p.m. with cocktails, and dinner will be served at 6 p.m., followed by dancing, fun, and raffle prizes.
The cost is $40 per person or $75 per couple, and included will be dinner, dessert, and music by DJ Stephan. Dress is casual — Valentine’s Day attire is optional — and seating is open. Proceeds from this event will benefit Harmony House of Western Massachusetts, a home for the terminally ill, along with the Thanksgiving Dinner produced annually by the Knights of Columbus, Council 4044.
Tickets are available at the K of C member lounge on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 to 7:30 p.m., or by calling Steve Dubreuil of the K of C at (413) 250-1677, Libby Martel of Pioneer Valley HOG at (413) 530-1389, or Amy Corcoran of Harmony House at (954) 495-3236.
Children’s Safety Program
Feb. 15, 22: Holyoke Community College is running a two-day program next month designed to teach children how to protect themselves from violence and harm in their daily lives. The two-session program, called radKIDS, is for children 6 to 12 years old and will run over two consecutive Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at HCC’s Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation.
The sessions will be led by Kellie Cournoyer-Cronk and Maggie Brown, two area law-enforcement veterans and trainers certified by the radKIDS national nonprofit network.
According to its website, radKIDS is a “fun, activity-based program” whose curriculum includes home, school, and vehicle safety; bullying prevention; abduction defense; and personal space/personal touch safety with a goal of “replacing fear with knowledge, skills, and power by enhancing a child’s critical-thinking abilities and physical-resistance skills.”
The $75 program fee includes snacks, water, and a T-shirt. To register, visit hcc.edu/bce and search for ‘radKIDS’ or call HCC Community Services at (413) 552-2123.
Red Cross Lifeguard Training Course
Feb. 18-21: The city of Springfield’s Aquatics Department will offer a Red Cross lifeguard training course during February vacation week at Commerce High School on 415 State St.
Individuals age 15 years and over can register for the course. An in-pool test will be given to all participants prior to the first day on Feb. 13. Based on the results of the swim test, participants who pass will continue on to the full course. The cost for the program is $175 (cash or check only) for city residents and $225 for non-city residents. All fees must be paid by the first day of the class.
Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. Interested individuals must pre-register by calling Aquatics Director Joe Federico at (413) 787-6298.
Westfield State University RN-to-BSN Info Session
Feb. 20: The College of Graduate and Continuing Education at Westfield State University will host an information session for the RN-to-BSN completion program at 6 p.m. in the Horace Mann Center lobby, 333 Western Ave., Westfield.
This program is offered at Westfield State, Springfield Technical Community College, and Smith Vocational High School in Northampton via Greenfield Community College through an accessible hybrid format, with the majority of courses taking place online and occasional evening courses on campus. Orientation is offered at the start of the program to acclimate students to the online learning and campus environments. The flexible schedule allows students to plan their program of study around work and family obligations.
Eligible students may transfer up to 90 credits toward their degree and are required to complete 30 credits. Students may opt to attend part-time or full time. Full-time students can expect to finish the program as soon as one year.
Information-session attendees will have the opportunity to speak with the program director and outreach specialists. The $50 application fee is waived for all attendees. To RSVP, visit www.gobacknow.com. For more information, call (413) 572-8020 or e-mail wsucgce@westfield.ma.edu.
‘Heart to Heart’ Lecture
Feb. 27: Area women are invited to attend “Heart to Heart,” an educational seminar offered by Grace LaValley, DNP, AGACNP-BC. The event will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Baystate Wing Hospital in the Snow Conference Room.
The Heart to Heart seminar is sponsored by Baystate Health Every Woman, a free program that offers the latest women’s health information from physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals. It is offered at no cost, and a light dinner will be provided. Registration is required by calling (413) 794-5200 or visiting hearttoheartbwh.eventbrite.com.
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 (no relation to Tyra) 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.
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.
