Please send items of interest to dscherban@gazettenet.com.
Wellness program
begins for those
with Parkinson’s
A six-week exercise program for those with Parkinson’s disease is being held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Hampshire Regional YMCA, 286 Prospect St., Northampton. It begins this week and runs through May 23.
The fee for the course, developed at the Boston University Center for Neurorehabilitation, is $249 and includes the exercise manual and pre course and post course evaluations. Financial assistance is available through the American Parkinson Disease Association Massachusetts Chapter.
Participants will learn exercises specific for Parkinson’s, including strengthening, stretching, balance and postural exercises as well as strategies to improve symptom management and quality of life. Contact Debra Ellis, PT 413-695-6069, deb@debellispt.com, or www.debellisphysicaltherapy.com for more information and eligibility.
Free runners
workshop at
Baystate Franklin
The Sports Medicine Program at Baystate Franklin Medical Center invites runners of all abilities to a free workshop Sunday presented by professionals who know how to manage and prevent running injuries.
The workshop will be held in the medical center’s conference rooms from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Speakers will discuss a variety of topics including marathon running, form, conditioning exercises for the feet, hips, and thoracic spine, preventing stress injuries and safely integrating speed work into a running program.
Among the speakers is athlete and coach Martha Grinnell. A native of Northampton, Grinnel’s achievements include a 7th place overall female finish at the 1997 Hawaii Ironman, being a four-time member of the Women’s Pro USA World Triathlon Championship Team, and acquiring a qualifying time for the 2000 Triathlon Olympic Trials.
Other speakers include Jacob Quinney, DPT, Liz Millner, PT and Tara Futrell, MD of Baystate Franklin Medical Center and Katrina Hawley, Pilates educator.
RSVP’s by emailing Jeff King at jeff.king@baystatehealth.org. Include your name, number of attendees and a call-back phone number.
The medical center is located at 164 High St., Greenfield.
The Hampshire Regional YMCA is holding its annual Healthy Kids Day April 21, a free community event to inspire children to keep their minds and bodies active this summer. Activities will be held rain or shine from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Y, located at 286 Prospect St., Northampton.
The event is held at more than 1,500 Ys across the country.
Here, the day will feature sidewalk mural making, face painting, free dental exams, vegetable planting, STEM experiments, summer reading ideas, a visit from the Northampton Fire and Police Departments, water safety activities and more.
New this year is a field day challenge and a gymnastics obstacle course. for kids of all ages.
For more information about Healthy Kids Day, contact the Hampshire Regional YMCA at 413-584-7086 or visit www.hrymca.org.
To donate blood simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment.
Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Amherst College Keefe Campus Center, Route 9, Amherst.
April 16, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Northampton VA Hospital, 421 North Main St., Leeds
April 17, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Mount Holyoke College Mary Wooley Hall, 50 College St., South Hadley