WMass AFL-CIO endorses ‘Back from the Brink’ campaign

The Western Mass Area Labor Federation (WMALF) AFL-CIO voted unanimously at its recent delegate meeting to endorse the “Back From the Brink” campaign for nuclear disarmament. The body’s executive board subsequently issued a formal resolution elaborating on the endorsement and highlighting the campaign’s relevance to the labor movement.

In taking this action, the WMALF becomes the largest labor organization in the United States to endorse the campaign. Back from the Brink is a national campaign demanding that the U.S. government take five immediate actions to reduce the risk of nuclear war. The WMALF joins 486 other organizational endorsers, 77 endorsing municipalities and 43 members of Congress who support the campaign.

The WMALF resolution also urges the state chapter of the AFL-CIO to endorse the campaign and to recommend to the national AFL-CIO and all affiliated unions that they endorse the campaign. It additionally calls upon the state’s elected officials to support resolutions at the federal and state levels endorsing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

The Western Mass Area Labor Federation is a regional coalition of more than 60 public and private sector unions, representing 50,000 unionized workers in Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin and Berkshire counties.

Immaculate church in Granby to host Summerfest

GRANBY — Immaculate Heart of Mary Church will hold its Summerfest on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 12-4 p.m., at 256 State St.

The family event will include a chicken dinner for $15 that features a half barbecue chicken, baked potato and corn on the cob, as well as dessert and a bottled water. Hamburgers and hot dogs will also be available. Raffle prizes are $500, $250 and $100. Other events include kids games, a bake sale, raffle baskets, prizes, lottery tickets and music by a disc jockey.

Introduction to genealogy at Sunderland Library

SUNDERLAND — The Sunderland Public Library is partnering with North Star Center for Self-Directed Learning to teach people how to discover more about their family history with an Introduction to Genealogy series.

This series of two-hour classes will teach participants the fundamentals of genealogical research: where to start, what resources are out there and what challenges the researcher may face. Spaces will be reserved for both the teens who attend North Star and public library patrons.

The classes will be led by professional genealogist Hillary Schau, a 2015 graduate of the Boston University Genealogical Research Certificate Program and volunteer at the Family Search Affiliate Library (Chicopee Library). She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society.

The idea for the class came from Loran Diehl-Saito, program director of North Star Center for Self-Directed Learning. Diehl-Saito is an amateur genealogist, who has been researching her own family history independently.

The Introduction to Genealogy classes will be held on Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m. Advance registration is required as space is limited. Registration may be done online at calendly.com/sunderlandpubliclibrary/genealogy, or by calling the library.

PVTA lands grants for improvements in Holyoke

BOSTON — Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) received $250,000 in a state grant to enhance transit access and infrastructure in Springfield, Holyoke and Palmer.

The work involves installing ADA-compliant ramps, pavement markings, crosswalks, advanced warning symbols and signage, extending bus pads to streets, installing passenger benches and extending sidewalks.

The money is part of $6.5 million awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for its Shared Streets and Spaces Program. Grants are going to 28 municipalities and two Regional Transit Authorities.

Over the last several years, PVTA, in partnership with its member communities, has used funding from the program to improve transit access and enhance safety infrastructure at 18 stop locations along rural, urban and suburban routes in its service area.