Charlestown Y's Community Kick-Off Party Tonight, Quick & Easy Meals Classes at Whole Foods

• The Charlestown YMCA is holding its Community Kick-Off Party from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Papagayo, 1 Chelsea St. Hors d’oeuvres will be served and there will be a cash bar. Lots of great Raffle items from local retailers. Tickets are $30 at the door. Proceeds will benefit kids, teens, families and military service members of the Charlestown community. 

• Forecast: A dreary day; Cold – high not reaching 20 degrees – only partly sunny and breezy with winds off the shore at 15 mph. 

• Whole Foods Charlestown's Ed Jackson, the store's in-house chef and catering director will begin a new series of free cooking classes: Quick and Easy Meals with Chef Ed, at 6 p.m. in the store at 51 Austin. Jackson will guide customers, step by step, to super easy (and super delicious) meals for the whole family. He will have a recipe or two to concentrate on each class, and plenty of time for you to ask all your questions. Join him for these FREE classes- no sign up required.

• The Charlestown branch of the Boston Public Library, 179 Main St., is holding BTU Afterschool Homework Help from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. where teachers from the Boston Public Schools offer homework help for students in all grades.

• Today is National Pie Day which is sponsored by theAmerican Pie Council, an organization committed to "preserving America's pie heritage and promotes America's love affair with the food." Today's celebration should not be confused with "Pi" Day which the U.S. Congress recognizes as March 14.