ON THE CALENDAR – May 18

‘Mental Health in the Workplace’
May 11: CHD and the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) will co-present a forum designed for human-resources professionals and business owners on the subject of “Mental Health in the Workplace.” The free forum will take place from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at EANE’s offices at 67 Hunt St., Agawam.
The panel will discuss topics such as identifying mental-health issues with your employees, creating a system of support and resources for your organization, the legalities of supporting employees through mental-health issues, and the importance of setting up a holistic approach to mental wellness.
Panelists for the program include Carol Fitzgerald, vice president of Human Resources, CHD; Lindsay Ciepiela, Health and Wellness Program director, CHD; and John Gannon, partner, Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. Forum participants will receive CHD’s just-released employer resource titled “Mental Wellness in the Workplace: A Toolkit for Supporting Employees with Mental Health Conditions.”
There is no cost to attend, although registration is required. To register, contact Allison Ebner, director of Member Relations at EANE, at aebner@eane.org or (413) 789-6400.

Walk to Defeat ALS
May 12: In the past year, millions of people have become more aware of ALS, but did you know ALS robs people of the ability to walk, speak, or even breathe within as little as two to five years?
You can help put a stop to this devastating disease by participating in the ALS Assoc. Massachusetts Chapter Walk to Defeat ALS at Look Park in Northampton. Registration begins at 9 a.m., followed by the walk at 10:30 a.m. To register, visitwalktodefeatals.org.

Mother’s Day Half Marathon
May 13: Hundreds of runners will toe the starting line in Whately at the eighth annual Western Mass. Mother’s Day Half Marathon, each with their own individual goal. Some will be aiming for a personal best, others will be focused on honoring a loved one, and some of them will have already reached their goal.
Proceeds from the race benefit Northampton-based Cancer Connection, a nonprofit agency that offers programs and services, free of charge, to those living with cancer and to their families and caregivers. Runners can pay an entry fee for the race, or they can opt for the fund-raising option: raise $300 for the cause and receive a free entry to the race. There is a nine-mile course for walkers with the same pricing format. For more information and to register, visit racewmass.com.

Future Tense Lecture
May 17: The second installment of the BusinessWest lecture series Future Tense, titled “What Got You Here Might Not Get You There: Mistakes Business Owners Make Before and After Retirement,” will take place on Thursday, May 17 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Tech Foundry, 1391 Main St., ninth floor, Springfield.
The lecture, open exclusively to CEOs and business owners, will be delivered by Amy Jamrog, wealth management advisor with the Jamrog Group. The cost is a $25 donation to Tech Foundry. Event sponsors include Paragus IT, the Jamrog Group, and Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. To register, visit businesswest.com/lecture-series.

‘Healing Wounded Hearts with Art’
May 19: Bereaved children and their caregivers are welcome to attend a free art-based support event from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Baystate Health Education Center at 361 Whitney Ave. in Holyoke. Titled “Healing Wounded Hearts with Art: A Retreat for Grieving Families,” the event is open to bereaved children ages 5 to 18. It is sponsored by Batstate Hospice and the Pediatric Palliative Care team.
As part of the program, children and teens who are grieving the death of a close family member will have an opportunity to meet others and connect through the power of art making. “Healing Wounded Hearts with Art” aims to help grieving children and their families to commemorate those in their lives who have died.
Space is limited and those wishing to attend must register by Friday, May 11 by contacting Betsy Flores, bereavement coordinator, Baystate Hospice, at (413) 794-6559 or betsy.flores@baystatehealth.org.

NAMI Western Mass. Walkathon
May 20: The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Western Massachusetts will hold its 18th annual walkathon, “A Journey of Hope and Recovery,” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stanley Park’s Beveridge Pavilion Annex in Westfield.
The walk is suitable for all ages and will directly benefit the continuing efforts of NAMI Western Mass. to help improve the lives of individuals living with mental illness and their families. Among the festivities will be guest speakers, entertainment, refreshments, and raffles.
For more information, call (413) 786-9139 or visit www.namiwm.org/events for entry and sponsorship forms. Volunteers are needed.

Sterile Processing Technician Course at STCC
June 4 to Aug. 8: Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) will offer a 10-week course this summer for students who want to start a career as a sterile processing technician. The Sterile Process Technician credit certification course will be taught Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. on the STCC campus, Building 20, Room 334.
The course teaches students vital infection-control techniques to keep hospitals and other medical facilities, as well as surgical instruments, safe and free from the spread of diseases, said Christopher Scott, dean of the School of Health and Patient Simulation.
Subjects covered will include the latest advancements in sterilization processes and anatomy, physiology, microbiology, instrumentation, decontamination, and infection control. Instructors will demonstrate different forms of sterilization. In addition, the training will include a clinical practicum to help students get actual experience in the field.
The six-credit course will prepare students to sit for the SPD Technician Certification Exam and can assist students in getting qualifications to work in a hospital, clinic, or other type of medical center.
For more information about the course and how to get started, e-mail the School of Health & Patient Simulation at shps@stcc.edu or call (413) 755-7477. To register for this course, contact the Registrar’s Office at (413) 755-4321 or visit Building 15, first floor.

‘Thrive After 55’Wellness Fair
June 15: State Sen. Eric Lesser and Health New England will host the second annual “Thrive After 55” Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Springfield College’s Blake Athletic Complex, located at 263 Alden St., Springfield.
The fair is free and open to the public. With more than 40 local organizations ranging from health and fitness to nutrition to elder law, the event will connect residents of the First Hampden & Hampshire District with information and resources to help them thrive.
The free program includes a boxed lunch, educational seminars, hundreds of raffle prizes, and access to information and experts to talk to. To RSVP for the event, call Lesser’s office at (413) 526-6501 or visit www.senatorlesser.com/thrive.

40 Under Forty Gala
June 21: The 12th annual 40 Under Forty Gala is BusinessWest’s annual celebration of 40 young business and civic leaders in Western Mass. The lavish cocktail party, to be held starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, will feature butlered hors d’oeuvres, food stations, entertainment, and the presentation of the class of 2018. Also, the fourth annual Continued Excellence Award honoree will be announced.
Event sponsors include PeoplesBank (presenting sponsor), Northwestern Mutual (presenting sponsor), Isenberg School of Management, the MP Group, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, Health New England, Renew.Calm, Development Associates, and YPS of Greater Springfield (partner).
Profiles of the winners were published in the April 30 issue of BusinessWest and are available online at businesswest.com. Tickets cost $75 per person (tables of 10 available), and the event tends to sell out quickly. For more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail peters@businesswest.com.