Did you know that Greenfield Community College isn’t just for undergraduates? They also offer a wide variety of online non-credit courses, which are available to the public. These courses are part of their workforce development and community education program and are offered by GCC’s online education partner, ed2go. A new session begins monthly, so you can choose the session which suits your schedule. Plus, since these courses are not for credit, they are very affordable.

Wintertime is a great time to take an online class and expand your knowledge in a certain subject or skill. Improve your daily life with classes like Conversational French, Mindful Relationships, or Everyday Math. If you are a small business owner or looking to boost your skills in your current employment, you could take classes like Accounting Fundamentals, Creating Web Pages Using HTML, or Discover Digital Photography.

Browse GCC’s online course catalog at www.ed2go.com/greenfieldcc.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

Winter is here and with the arrival of beautiful fresh white snow, everyone is itching to get out and play! Getting outside and playing in the snow is a great way to cure the winter and Covid blues. Plus, it’s easy to social distance and keep everyone safe while doing so. Check out these local beautiful spots where you can bask in a winter wonderland!

Berkshire East Mountain Resort

Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Charlemont opened on December 17. The mountain crew has been working hard to make snow and keep the trails maintained for excellent riding conditions. This season, things will be different due to Covid, but Berkshire East has been preparing new systems and amenities to make the season safe and fun. For example, they are asking that all non-season pass holders book their tickets in advance so that they can control the number of skiers on the mountain. For dining, they ask that reservations for dining inside at Crazy Horse be made in advance. Or you can check out their new outdoor dining service. Order online from an even larger selection of food than in the past, and then pick up your order from the window when it’s ready. Plan ahead for your day at Berkshire East by reading their information online related to Covid-19. This will help to make it a safe and enjoyable season for all.

Northfield Mountain

As of December 14, Northfield Mountain announced that they will not be selling trail passes or renting equipment. But the good news is, if you have your own gear, you can still access the trails when the snow cover is sufficient. Just note that the trails will not be groomed or patrolled, so know your limits and plan ahead because there will be no restroom or warming facilities. When the snow cover is thin, the public will be allowed to use the trails for hiking or cycling on fat bikes. All trail users must wear face masks at all times. Check their Facebook page or website for any updates around this. 

Happy trails!

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year, Franklin County! I am proud of this community and happy to call Franklin County home. Best wishes to all for a safe, healthy, and joy-filled 2021. 

Christmas is almost here and if you’re doing any last minute shopping, remember to support our local shops! One local shop that I’m happy to support is Plum Boutique in downtown Greenfield. More than just a retail store, Plum carefully selects products made by mission-based organizations, women-owned enterprises, and local artisans. As a member of the downtown Greenfield family of shops, they seek to enrich the community and to provide us with an ever-evolving gallery of fashion, design, and art which inspires, nurtures, empowers, and delights.

Check out their Perfect Holiday Gift Guide for inspiration on unique gifts for friends and family and get free shipping through the month of December on their website with code FREE2020.

Visit their website, plum413.com, and follow them on Facebook to stay updated on what's in the shop! 

Located at 281 Main Street in Greenfield, MA

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 
 

Recently, I came across a blog post in Coldwell Banker’s blog, Blue Matter, about the Power of Kindness in the Age of Covid. Check out the post here. The post evoked the question that in a time of such uncertainty, what can we do to make the world around us a better place to live? 

One of the reasons I love living in Franklin County is [...]

The December Outdoor Almanac from Mass Audubon has some exciting natural events listed for this month! The most interesting events include two meteor showers. First, December 13-14 will be the peak of the Geminid Meteor Shower. As many as 120 shooting stars will be visible in the dark sky between midnight and dawn. Then on December 21-22, the Ursid Meteor Shower will originate from the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor). The Ursid Meteor Shower generally has about 5 to 10 meteors per hour, but in rare instances could have bursts of 100 or more per hour. 

Check out the full December Outdoor Almanac from Mass Audubon below:

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 
 

Once you find the perfect house to call your new home, making an offer can be an intimidating part of the buying process. In such a competitive market, you’ll want to make sure you make all the right moves to ultimately land your dream [...]

Adams Donut Shop has been serving delicious donuts with creative flavors to the community of Greenfield since 1956. Charles and Myra Adams started the business, first selling donuts from their garage in the 1940s and then finally opening up the shop in 1956. The business was passed down to subsequent generations until it was eventually sold [...]

The Franklin County Fairgrounds will host a festive display of lights this holiday season to spread cheer to the community and raise funds for three organizations. They are working alongside Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Franklin County and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Regional Dog Shelter to organize a light display lasting three weekends. Over 30 groups from the community of 4 people or less are putting together the various light displays and are competing for a cash prize of $1000. We have two weekends left, December 4-6, and December 11-13, for the public to drive through the fairgrounds and enjoy the light display. 

Each car is asked to donate a minimum of $5 and each night one of the three organizations will receive 100% of the proceeds. These local non-profits have been hit hard by Covid-19 due to canceling events to stay safe and this creative fundraiser is a way to recover some of those funds and spread joy to the local community. 

For more information about this event, visit the Franklin County Fairgrounds on Facebook!

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Although this year has been particularly difficult, today is a great reminder to appreciate what we are fortunate to have and to be grateful for the positive people and things in our lives. As we approach the end of the year, we can all think about ways to show our gratitude and to boost up the community around us.

You are probably already familiar with the advent calendar. Used for counting down the days until Christmas, these calendars usually offer some sort of treat behind tiny doors on each day, typically chocolate. They are a great way to build excitement leading up to Christmas. 

But have you heard of the reverse advent calendar? Rather than having a treat for yourself on each day, these calendars inspire you to give back. Every day you can collect a food item or donation to add to a box. Then at the end of the calendar, bring your box to your local food bank or donation center as a way to give back to your community. Reverse advent calendars are a great way to spread holiday cheer and to teach children that the holidays are not just about receiving gifts and eating chocolate, but also about making a positive impact on your community. Check out the reverse advent calendar below for ideas to fill your donation box.

Plus check out this list of thoughtful holiday gifts whose sellers will donate part of the profits to different charitable organizations.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.