Green Team organizing talk on heat pumps

GREENFIELD — Bart Bales of Bales Energy Associates will be speaking on installing heat pumps (also known as mini-splits) as a replacement for heating with fossil fuels during a free talk at the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew, 8 Church St., on Sunday, Jan. 21, at noon. The event is organized by the church’s Green Team.

A representative from Community Action Pioneer Valley will also attend to explain financing for the new systems. Mass Save provides a $10,000 whole-home rebate for customers installing heat pumps as the sole source of heating and cooling after completing weatherization recommendations made during home energy assessments.

Bales Energy Associates is an energy and facility advisor that is pre-approved to provide energy advisory services to any state entity, municipal entity, school or water district in Massachusetts. Bales Energy Associates also advises towns and cities on Green Communities projects. In the residential sector, the company provides consultations for heat pumps and other green heating and cooling systems.

Sunday’s program will be followed by time for the audience to ask questions. The church meeting room can be accessed from Church Street by coming through the archway door to the right.

Screening, discussion to consider economic future

GREENFIELD — The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. will host a screening and discussion of the Security and Sustainability Forum’s webinar on the future of the economy and the pathways toward a more sustainable, resilient and equitable global society on Tuesday, Jan. 23, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Doors open at The LAVA Center by 11 a.m. A post-viewing discussion will be moderated by members of Greening Greenfield.

To register for the webinar, visit bit.ly/42i1jPP.

Fiery Hope chorus holding open rehearsals

GREENFIELD — Fiery Hope, which began in 1988 as the Amandla Chorus, celebrates its 36th anniversary this month with open rehearsals.

Singers who’d like to explore membership are invited to attend a rehearsal on Tuesday, Jan. 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Temple Israel, 27 Pierce St. Singers should enter the building through the Myrtle Street door.

Members of Fiery Hope sing in various languages, and have collaborated over the years with luminaries such as Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Wally and Juanita Nelson, and Malala Yousafzai. They sing in schools, elder communities, prisons, shelters, concert halls of all sizes, and home and hospice settings.

For more information, contact founder and Director Eveline MacDougall at eveline@amandlachorus.org or 413-773-8655.

Michael Nix leading
slow jam classes

GREENFIELD — Musician Michael Nix will lead a series of slow jam classes at The LAVA Center for adult players who would like to learn how to successfully play music with other people in a coached group setting.

Each participant brings or suggests a song or instrumental that they would like to play with the group. Music can include everything from folk tunes, classic rock, fiddle tunes, bluegrass and blues.

Classes take place on alternating Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Class dates are: Jan. 29, Feb. 12, Feb. 26, March 11, March 25 and April 8. Tuition is by sliding fee donation from $5 to $25 per class. Register by contacting Nix at 413-772-0328 or mnix@NixWorks.com.