The Common Thread
The Common Thread
A publication of the North Quabbin Community Coalition
Page 1
February 2015 ~ Volume 31, Issue 7
Heather’s Highlights
Hello Newsletter Readers,
Next Coalition
Forum:
February 20, 2015
9-10:30 am
Heywood Community
Initiatives and
Discussion About
CHART Program
Athol-Orange
Elks Club
92 New Athol Road
Orange, MA
(Driving directions at
www.nqcc.org)
~
978-249-3703
info@nqcc.org
251 Exchange Street
Athol, MA 01331
Next newsletter
submission
deadline is Feb. 24!
Email details to
admin@nqcc.org
January’s forum highlighted the work of Quabbin Mediation with Sharon
Tracy, Executive Director, and Lauren Weinsier, Mediation Director, giving a
great overview of services available. They also opened the conversation up
for people to share examples of their experiences with mediation, and
examples of where mediation might be a more effective place to go when
conflict arises. Please see page 2 for more about all of the services available
through Quabbin Mediation.
This month’s Coalition Forum attendees also proudly posed for a photo and
took the pledge for Project Purple with the Athol Area YMCA. Project Purple
is part of the Chris Herren project and supports youth and adults in making
smarter and safer choices in regards to substance abuse. If you are interested
in supporting the efforts of Project Purple throughout the year, please
contact Nekr Jenkins at the Athol Area YMCA.
February’s Forum will feature a presentation by Rebecca Bialecki speaking
about Heywood’s Community Initiatives and the Petersham Retreat as well as
Jennifer Desjardins speaking about the CHART Program.
Heather Bialecki-Canning
Executive Director
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Quabbin Mediation
Quabbin Mediation is a community-based nonprofit
organization that uses mediation as an effective
way to resolve disputes. Mediators are trained
volunteers from the community or are organization
staff. Quabbin Mediation offers seminars,
workshops, and training in mediation and conflict
resolution and will design a program to meet the
needs of any group. Workshops and training have been conducted for local
police departments, school systems, social service agencies, attorneys, court
personnel, businesses, youth groups, houses of worship, and more.
Quabbin Mediation mediates disputes of all sorts, runs an after school program
for youth, and trains volunteer adults as mediators. Quabbin Mediation has
trained adult volunteer mediators and students as peer mediators in five school
districts. Quabbin Mediation's achievements are rooted in the enduring
collaborations it enjoys with local individuals, organizations, agencies, and
institutions. These partnerships are based on Quabbin Mediation's reputation
as a reliable, professional organization that adheres to high ethical standards
while creating programs that meet the needs of people in the region.
Like us on
Facebook for
regular
updates on
NQCC
happenings
Quabbin Mediation serves all sectors of the population: children, teens, adults,
elders, people from diverse cultures, those who speak languages other than
English, and people of all ability levels. The organization has the capacity to
mediate with Spanish and Khmer speakers and can find interpreters for other
languages when needed. Services are free of charge or very affordable.
Quabbin Mediation provides:

Court-based mediation services

Community mediation services

Community mediation training

School-based peer-mediation, conflict resolution and active bystander
training

Professional seminars in problem resolution, communication, and negotiation

Facilitation and facilitation training

Nonviolent communication for adults

Triage, reunification of families as referred by Juvenile Court
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The Common Thread
Visit www.nqcc.org/events.html often for our
comprehensive Calendar of Events!!
Cour t Service Center and Probate &
Family Cour t Assistance Available
The Court Service Center and Probate & Family Court will be available at the
Orange District Court, One Court Square, Orange, on February 18 from 9:00 am
to 12:00 pm. The Court Service Center assists court users in completing forms
and documents, general information regarding court rules, procedures and
practices, contact information regarding community resources and legal
services, and user-friendly self-help materials. The Court Service Center does
not provide legal advice, nor does it facilitate attorney-client relationships.
The Greenfield Court Service Center is located in the temporary court house at
101 Munson Street in Greenfield and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am
through 4:30 pm . Walk-ins are welcome. The Court Service Center located in
the Orange District Court is available once a month. Call Kate Shapiro at
413-775-7483 for more information.
FREE Tax Assistance Program
Why pay to prepare your taxes? If you meet the income guidelines: (less than: 1
person in household: $ 32,618; 2 ppl: $ 42,654; 3 ppl: $ 52,691; 4 ppl: $ 62,727;
5 ppl: $ 72,763) and are a resident of the North Quabbin region or Franklin
County, Community Action can prepare your taxes for free! Priority
appointments will be given to those whose income & family size meet the
Earned Income Credit Guidelines. The process is fast and they will help you
maximize your refund, make sure you receive all the tax benefits you deserve,
will provide free electronic filing and you should receive your refund within 10
days of filing! You can request an appointment by filling out their on-line form
at www.communityaction.us/taxes or by calling 413-376-1136. This program is
offered in partnership with the Franklin/Hampshire Career Center and Harmon
Personnel.
Salvation Army’s New Pantry Hours
The Salvation Army Food Pantry has changed its hours of
operation, effective immediately and until further notice. The
Pantry will now be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
from 9:00 to 11:00 am. Visit www.nqcc.org for a list of pantries in
the region.
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Join the Free
TD Bank
Affinity
Membership
Program
Help raise money
for the NQCC by
opening an account
at TD Bank, or, if
you already have an
account with them,
letting them know
you want to join.
TD Bank will make
an annual
contribution to
NQCC based on the
average balance in
all NQCC members’
accounts.
Eligible accounts
include:




Checking
Money Market
Savings
Certificate of
Deposit
 IRA
Your accounts are
not affected in any
way by this
contribution.
For more info, visit
www.nqcc.org.
Valuing Our Children
Free Developmental Screening for Children 2 Months to 5 Years
Whether you have concerns about your child’s development or are just curious,
the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQs) can help you get an idea on what
your child’s strengths are or what they may need more practice with. Parents
simply fill out paperwork answering questions about their child or Valuing Our
Children (VOC) can help you with the paperwork. VOC will then go over the
results with you and will discuss activities you can do with your child to help
them as they develop and grow. For more information or to sign up for free
screenings, call Jen at 978-249-8467 x22.
Nurturing Father’s Program
Valuing Our Children’s next Nurturing Father’s Program will take place
Wednesdays, February 25 to May 27, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, at Valuing Our
Children, 217 Walnut Street, Athol. Childcare, dinner and help with
transportation provided. If you are interested and/or have any questions,
please contact Jen at 978-249-8467.
Cooking Matters Class
Hosted by Valuing Our Children and made possible by Share Our Strength,
Cooking Matters is a cooking class for parents aimed at preparing nutritious
food. The class begins February 23 and takes place on Mondays, 9:30 to 11:30
am, through March 30 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 62 Cheney Street, Orange,
MA. Contact Nicole at 978-249-8467 for more information. Childcare and
transportation are available.
STEAM for Children Ages 3-6
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) programs are free,
interactive, hour long programs at local public libraries for preschool aged
children to explore various STEAM topics. Next events:

Erving Public Library, 17 Moore Street:
February 7 at 11:00 am: Transportation - Lego Duplo with Library Lego Lady

Wendell Free Library, 7 Wendell Depot Road:
February 15 at 2:00 pm: Sciencetellers - Dragons & Dreams,
February 22 at 2:00 pm: Live Animals & Insects
For more VOC programs or information, see the next page or visit
valuingourchildren.org or their Facebook page.
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Are You Eligible for
SNAP?
LGBTIQA Elders' Group
Winter Breakfast:
"Predictions - Personal or
Global - for 2015"
Come enjoy a light breakfast,
activities, and socialization from 9:30
to 11:30 am on February 11 at Great
Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, in
Turners Falls. They will discuss the
upcoming year and make written
predictions to be stored until 2016,
when they will pull them out to see
how accurately they fared! Deadline
for registration is February 6 and can
be done online at www.fchcc.org.
Free Tutor Training by
Literacy Volunteers of
Orange/Athol
Literacy Volunteers of
Orange/Athol (LVOA) is
offering free tutor
training for anyone
interested in helping
adults in the community
improve their reading and writing
abilities. The training will run once a
week on Tuesday evenings for six
weeks beginning on February 24 and
running through March 31 from 5:00
to 8:00 pm at the Athol Public
Library on Main Street. Attendance
at all six training sessions is required.
Must call to register at 978-249-5381.
Due to the recent inclement weather
this region experienced, many Project
Purple National Stand Up to
Substance Abuse events have been
rescheduled:
 February 2 @ 6:30 pm
“Anonymous People”
Barry Family Health Center
 February 3 @ 6:30 pm
“Learn2Cope”
Barre Family Health Center
 February 4 @ 10:00 am
“Your Prescriptions and You”
Barre Senior Center
 February 4 @ 6:00 pm
“Preparing for and Preventing Peer
Pressure” (for elementary age
children and families)
Ruggles Lane Elementary School
Barre
 February 4 @ 6:30 pm
“A Place for Answers” with Athol
Officer Peter Buck and Orange
Paramedic Mark Vitale at the
Athol Area YMCA
 February 6 - 7:00 to 11:00 pm
Open Party for all Project Purple
Students at the Athol Area YMCA
Visit the YMCA’s website.
FHCC’s Hiring Connector Program!
Do you need a boost to your food
budget? Too often people do not
apply for the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly
known as Food Stamps, because they
do not realize they are eligible. You
may be eligible for SNAP even if you
are earning an income from wages,
Social Security, SSI, retirement or if
you have money in the bank. You
could also be eligible if you own a
home or a car. The SNAP Department
of The Food Bank of Western
Massachusetts provides eligibility
screening and application assistance
which can be provided over the
phone or in person by appointment.
Please call 800-247-9632 and ask for
the SNAP Department.
Meals on Wheels Drivers
Needed!
Meals on Wheels are provided
short-term or long-term to
homebound elders age 60 and older
who are unable to prepare a
nutritionally balanced noon meal
for themselves and are unable to
attend congregate hot lunches.
Volunteers deliver meals Monday
through Friday, weather permitting,
and provide a well-being check to
elders who might otherwise be
isolated. Drivers are needed, so
please consider volunteering! Just
visit http://www.fchcc.org/getinvolved/volunteer.
The Hiring Connector Program is designed to match local employers with
Franklin-Hampshire Career Center-registered job seekers. For employers, it’s a
quick way to find candidates with the right skills for your job openings. For potential employees, you can market your
top skills and experience directly to employers. A new round of current job seeker “profiles,” arranged alphabetically by
desired position is now available on FHCC’s website ( http://www.fhcc-onestop.com/index.php/employers/the-hiringconnector-program.) All participants possess resumes and have participated in FHCC programs. The profiles include
each candidate’s work experience, skills, training/education, and a current email address. Employers are invited to
review these profiles and contact participants directly to discuss employment opportunities with them. For questions
or information, please contact Andrea Reynolds by phone at 413-774-4361 ext. 309 or by email at
connector@fhcareers.org.
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State Government Task Force Meetings
(for the North Quabbin Region)
Governor Charlie Baker
617-725-4005 or 888-870-7770 (in state)
Office of the Governor
Massachusetts State House, Room 280
Boston, MA 02133
Email: goffice@state.ma.us
Senator Anne Gobi
617-722-1540
Athol, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, and
Warwick
Massachusetts State House, Room 410
Boston, MA 02133
Email: anne.gobi@mahouse.gov
Senator Stanley Rosenberg
617-722-1532
Erving, New Salem, Royalston, Wendell
Massachusetts State House, Room 320
Boston, MA 02133
Email: stan.rosenberg@masenate.gov
Representative Susannah Whipps Lee
617-722-2425
Athol, Erving, New Salem, Orange, Petersham,
Phillipston, Royalston, Warwick, and Wendell
Massachusetts Statehouse, Room 437
Boston MA 02133
Email: susannah.whippslee@mahouse.gov
U.S. Congressman James McGovern
508-831-7356
34 Mechanic Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Website: http://mcgovern.house.gov/
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren
617-565-3170
2400 JFK Federal Building
Boston, MA 02203
Website: http://www.warren.senate.gov
U.S. Senator Ed Markey
617-565-8519
15 New Sudbury Street
Boston, MA 02203
Website: http://www.markey.senate.gov
Substance Abuse Prevention: Feb. 10 @ 10-11:30 am
NQ System of Care: Mar. 16 @ 10-11:30 am
Childrens Health & Wellness: Feb. 4 @ 10:00 am
Economic Development: Feb.25 @ 4:00 pm
NQCC Board of Directors
Chief Tim Anderson, President - Athol Police Department
Brian Gordon, Vice President - Mental Health Representative
Marc Ostberg, Treasurer - Hometown Bank
Chief R. Dana Cooley, Jr. - Petersham Police Department
Glenn Eaton - Montachusett Regional Planning Commission
Lynne Feldman - Franklin County Home Care Corp.
Frances Graziano - Community Representative
Michael Grimmer - Athol Memorial Hospital
Lt. Elliot Higgins - Salvation Army
Pat Moore - Community Representative
Steve Raymond - Athol Selectboard
Sharon Tracy - Quabbin Mediation
Jeanette Robichaud - Athol Area YMCA
Coalition Membership
Membership in the Coalition is open to all agencies, religious
communities, business and industry, government officials, civic
groups and other interested individuals and organizations. The
Coalition holds monthly meetings (the third Friday of every
month except July & August) on relevant topics, facilitates
monthly task forces on critical local issues, publishes a monthly
newsletter, provides resource materials, networking services
and advocacy efforts on behalf of Coalition issues. The North
Quabbin Community Coalition is an affiliate of Valuing Our
Children. The Coalition is funded in part by the generous
contributions of members and its funders: Massachusetts
Department of Public Health; the Department of Children &
Families’ Community Connections; F/H REB School to Careers
Partnership, Town of Athol—North Quabbin Loan Fund;
Clinical & Support Options System of Care, and New England
Rural Health Roundtable.
North Quabbin Community Coalition
251 Exchange Street
Athol MA 01331
www.nqcc.org
Mission Statement: The North Quabbin Community Coalition is a community-wide alliance committed to improving the
quality of life for all those living and working in the North Quabbin since 1984.
Nor th Quabbin Loan Fund
Internships Needed for Local Youth!
Interested in starting or expanding your own
business? Have a great business idea but
don’t know where to start? Do you own a
business but want to expand? The North
Quabbin Loan Fund may be the answer!
The NQCC is looking to fill paid and unpaid
internship positions for local youth from
both Athol High School and Ralph C. Mahar
Regional Schools.
This loan fund provides gap financing for
businesses across the North Quabbin region
in Athol, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston,
New Salem, Erving, Royalston, Wendell, and
Warwick. For more information about how
to begin the application process, call
978-249-3703. Underwriting services and
technical assistance provided by:
These positions
would offer the
youth an
opportunity to
explore possible
career
opportunities and
exploration, give them experience in a
certain field and offer them the opportunity
to learn.
If you are interested in hosting a youth
internship, please contact Matt Attesi at the
North Quabbin Community Coalition at
978-249-3703 or matt@nqcc.org.