Compiled by Debra Scherban. Please send items to dscherban@gazettenet.com.
The Northwestern District Attorney’s office is hosting a day-long conference on strangulation prevention and intervention Sept. 22 at Hadley Farms Meeting House on Route 9 in Hadley.
Co-sponsored by Baystate Health, Cooley Dickinson Health Care and Heywood Healthcare-Athol Hospital, the conference will feature Gael Strack and Casey Gwinn, founders of the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention in San Diego. They are nationally renowned speakers on non-fatal strangulation, a terrifying and potentially lethal tactic used by abusers in intimate relationships to control and threaten their partners, according to the district attorney’s office.
“If a victim has been strangled once by her abuser, she is seven times more likely to be killed by that abuser,” said Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Suhl, chief of the DA’s Domestic Violence and Adult Sexual Assault Unit.
“Often abusers strangle victims, not to kill them, but to let their victim know they CAN kill them,” said Mary Kociela, Director of Domestic Violence Projects for the district attorney.
Goals of the conference are to promote an understanding of this abuse and to identify its signs and symptoms.
Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan will give opening remarks at the event that runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
About 160 law enforcement officers, medical first responders and community advocates locally and from across the state, are expected to attend. Some space is still available. The deadline to register is Sept. 9.
Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s Oncology Department will present two free seven-week sessions of Gentle Yoga for Cancer Survivors, at the YMCA of Greenfield. The first session will take place Wednesdays, Sept. 14 to Oct. 26, noon to 1:30 p.m. The second session will meet Wednesdays, Nov. 2 to Dec. 21.
The classes will be led by Pam Roberts, a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher and a breast cancer survivor. She is also a certified Yoga of the Heart for Cardiac and Cancer Patients instructor.
The free program is sponsored by Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s Oncology Department and the YMCA in Greenfield. It is funded by BFMC’s annual Wheeling for Healing Bike Event which supports oncology patients, programs and services at Baystate Franklin.
To register contact Roberts at 625-2402 (pamro@aol.com).
Hampshire Regional YMCA has been chosen by Y USA as one of 15 YMCAs in the country to join the next group to offer the Livestrong Cancer Survivorship Program. It will begin in September.
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA helps adult cancer survivors reclaim their health and well-being following a cancer diagnosis.
Participating YMCAs help participants improve their strength and physical fitness, diminish the severity of therapy side effects, develop supportive relationships, and improve their quality of life. The program is free and includes a 12 week YMCA membership.
It is open to anyone 18 years or older who is living with or beyond cancer.
Public, private and business donations are being sought for Northampton’s pilot program. For more information on participating in or supporting it, contact Lynne Zusi at 584-7086.
Area blood drives
To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Following are some upcoming local blood donation opportunities.
Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., World War II Club, 50 Conz St., Northampton.
Thursday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Cooley Dickinson Hospital, 30 Locust St., Northampton
Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Belchertown Senior Center, 60 State St., Belchertown