First Sunday Word returns April 6

GREENFIELD — The First Sunday Word (formerly the Third Tuesday Word), a long-running literary event hosted by Paul Richmond of Human Error Publishing, will be held at The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. on April 6.

Doors open at 1, open mic starts at 1:30 and featured speakers start at 2:30. Sliding-scale admission is $1 to $5. Books will be for sale.

Learn history of hip-hop at library

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Public Library will welcome professor Rondae Drafts on Tuesday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room for a program on the history of hip-hop music and dance.

Hip-hop began in the late 1970s, and is a billion-dollar, international industry that involves music, clothing, break dancing, electronics, media and DJs. This program will focus on the roots of dance and music from hip-hop culture. It will ask attendees to examine youth popular culture.

This free program is funded by a grant from the Greenfield Cultural Council. For more information, contact Lisa Prolman at librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org or call 413-772-1544.

Lunchtime chamber music series continues

GREENFIELD — The next Bach’s Lunch concert at the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew, 8 Church St., will be held Wednesday, April 9, at 12:15 p.m.

The program will be performed by soprano Kathryn Guthrie, violinist Omar Guey, pianist Jiayan Sun and hornist Josh Michal, and will feature works by contemporary composer Joseph Summer (josephsummermusic.com).

Summer is currently composing “The Oxford Songs” (titled thus due to Summer’s support of Edward De Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, as the likely identity of the author also known as William Shakespeare.) In addition to the individual scenes, sonnets and songs from Shakespeare in “The Oxford Songs,” Summer completed the opera “Hamlet” in 2006 and “The Tempest” in 2013. Summer’s operas “Hippolytus” and “The Tenor’s Suite” have been performed several times in piano reduction. Summer has recently focused on string quartets.

Guthrie is praised for her performances of the traditional operatic and concert repertoire as well as her interpretations of contemporary works. She is the recipient of awards and honors from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Houston Grand Opera’s Eleanor McCollum Competition, Palm Beach Opera’s vocal competition and the McCammon Voice Competition at Fort Worth Opera.

Guey has performed internationally as a soloist with orchestras, in recitals and chamber concerts throughout Brazil as well as the United States, Europe, Qatar, Taiwan, Kenya and the Seychelles. He was a member of A Far Cry for 10 years, a two-time Grammy-nominated chamber orchestra that performs internationally. He is also the assistant concertmaster of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, a member of the Boston Ballet and a member of Camerata New England.

Sun, hailing from Yantai, China, has been awarded prizes at many of the major international piano competitions, including third prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition and second prize at the Dublin International Piano Competition. Playing early keyboard instruments and studying historical performance practice have played a significant role in Sun’s musical activities, with critically acclaimed appearances with the American Classical Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall.

Michal is associate professor of horn at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is a member of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and is a faculty member at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan. He received degrees from Indiana University (bachelor’s), Northwestern University (master’s) and Ohio State University (doctorate), and completed additional studies at Bowling Green State University and IES Abroad in Austria.

The concert is free to attend. Attendees are invited to bring their own lunch to eat during the concert.

Next Writers Read set for April 9

GREENFIELD — The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. will present its next installment of the monthly Writers Read series, featuring Gerald Yelle, Marian Kelner and Lilian Autler, on Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m.

On the second Wednesday of each month, three writers read from their work, followed by a discussion facilitated by Lindy Whiton. There is a suggested donation of $1 to $5.

Yelle, an Amherst resident, has worked in restaurants, factories, schools and offices. His books include “The Holyoke Diaries” and “Dreaming Alone and with Others.” His chapbooks include “No Place I Would Rather Be” and “A Box of Rooms.”

Kelner is the author of five books of collected writing and one children’s book. She writes poetry, short stories, memoir, lists, letters, questions and essays.

Autler, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, works as a community development practitioner, researcher, writer, educator and facilitator. “I strive to facilitate spaces for deep reflection and creative play,” Autler said, “where we are encouraged to express our whole selves and connect with the beings around us.”

With questions, contact lindy@localaccess.org.

Student performance, talent show set for April 10

GREENFIELD — Join Musica Franklin on Thursday, April 10, from 5 to 6 p.m. for a free student performance and family-friendly talent show at the First United Methodist Church, 25 Church St.

Local students in the first through 12th grades, who have been studying together three days a week after school, will showcase their violin playing, singing and other musical talents. A meal will follow the performances.

This program is supported in part by grants from the Greenfield and Montague cultural councils.

April 10: Learn about jobs at DDS

GREENFIELD — Representatives from the MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center will be at the Greenfield Public Library on Thursday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to noon to highlight job opportunities available at the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services.

The Department of Developmental Services provides support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to enhance opportunities to become fully engaged members of their community. Open positions include direct care workers, human services coordinator, client assessment systems coordinator and licensed practical nurse.

For more information, visit masshirefhcareers.org or call 413-774-4361.

April 10: ‘Deep Sea Rising’ screening

GREENFIELD — Greening Greenfield will offer a free screening of “Deep Sea Rising,” a documentary by Matthieu Rytz and narrated by Jason Momoa, at The LAVA Center on Thursday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 6.

“Deep Sea Rising” aims to highlight the beauty and mysteries of the deep sea, and the hard choices that must be made between running low-energy gadgets and saving the oceans. Discussion will follow.

Seating is limited, so attendees are advised to come early. For more information and to watch for possible weather-related cancellations, check the Greening Greenfield website at greeninggreenfieldma.org.

DPW announces seasonal Bulky Curbside Collection

GREENFIELD — The Department of Public Works will offer its Bulky Curbside Collection every other Friday from April 11 to Oct. 31, by appointment only.

Greenfield residents can email the DPW office at DPW@greenfield-ma.gov or call 413-772-1528 to provide a list of items to be collected. At that time, residents will be provided with a scheduled date for the curbside collection of the approved items.

Residents will also be provided with the total cost of the collection, which must be pre-paid by noon on the day before the scheduled appointment. This payment is non-refundable. Any scheduled collections not paid by the noted time will be removed from the schedule. All curbside collections include a $13 pickup fee.

Payments can be made by cash, check or card in person at the DPW office at 189 Wells St. Checks, made out to the City of Greenfield, may also be mailed to that address.

For a breakdown of item pricing, visit greenfield-ma.gov/departments/dpw_department_of_public_works/transfer_station_.php.

The following items will not be collected in the Bulky Curbside Collection: demolition materials, brush, automobile parts and chemicals.

Co-authors to speak on ‘In Defiance’

GREENFIELD — The Friends of the Greenfield Public Library and Racial Justice Rising will welcome the community to “In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught In School,” a book presentation by Tom Weiner and Amilcar Shabazz, at the Greenfield Public Library on Wednesday, April 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The book brings to light the often suppressed stories of those who risked everything to end enslavement. Profiling 20 Black and white men and women, the book highlights their activism and commitment to freedom.

Co-authored by Weiner, a Northampton-based writer, educator and activist, and Shabazz, professor and former president of the National Council for Black Studies, the book weaves their perspectives into the narrative, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past.

The program is sponsored by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Greenfield Cultural Council, the Orange Cultural Council and the Markham-Nathan Fund for Social Justice.

Light refreshments will be served.

Hoffman to lead intro to tracking menstrual cycle

GREENFIELD — Martha Hoffman will provide an introduction to tracking the menstrual cycle at the Greenfield Public Library on Saturday, April 12, at 11 a.m.

Participants will learn uterine anatomy, the phases of the menstrual cycle, and how to track fertile and infertile windows within each cycle.

Hoffman is a full-spectrum doula, massage therapist and fertility awareness educator. She has been a group facilitator and educator for most of her life. She is passionate about helping people cultivate autonomy and empowerment by learning more about their bodies.

This free class, sponsored by the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, is appropriate for ages 12 and up. For more information, contact Lisa Prolman at librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org or call 413-772-1544.