‘Constitution Day’ event will feature McGovern

SHUTESBURY — The 7th Hampden District Coalition of Democrats from Belchertown, Ludlow, New Salem, Pelham, Petersham, Shutesbury and Wendell will host an event Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Shutesbury Athletic Club, 282 Wendell Road.

“Constitution Day: Uniting to Protect and Improve Our Democracy” will include music, refreshments and socializing, with U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern the honored guest.

Marisol Pierce Bonifaz of Generation Ratify Amherst, and Tara Jacobs, who serves on the Governor’s Council, are scheduled to speak.

Other area legislators, both past and present, are expected to attend.

The 7th Hampden District is represented in the Massachusetts House by Aaron Saunders, D-Ludlow, and in the Senate by Jo Comerford, D-Northampton.

A cash bar, including soft drinks, will be available.

For more information, contact Penelope Kim, who chairs the Shutesbury Town Democratic Town Committee, at pen2noho@gmail.com.

Veterans soughtto join newSouth HadleyVeterans Council

SOUTH HADLEY — The town of South Hadley has created a veterans council and is looking for members.

All seven members must be town residents, legal veterans, and registered to vote in South Hadley. Each member will serve a three-year term and is appointed by the Select Board.

The veterans council will advise and make recommendations to the director of veteran services, the town administrator and Select Board on legislation pertaining to veteran’s affairs. It will promote the welfare of veterans in the town and be responsible for conducting the annual South Hadley Memorial Day Ceremony, Veterans Day Ceremony and Flag Day parade.

The veterans council shall meet at least four times a year or upon the call of the chairperson.

Those who meet the membership criteria can apply on the town website at southhadley.org. Please be ready to provide veteran discharge paperwork.

The initial appointments shall serve staggered terms as follows: two shall serve one year (2024), two shall serve two years (2025) and the remaining three shall serve three years (2026). Following the first term, all appointments shall be made for a term of three years.

The Select Board will interview and appoint candidates in October.

For more information, contact Kristin Maher, executive assistant to administration, at kmaher@southhadleyma.gov.

‘Stirring the Ashes’ at Porter-Phelps museum

HADLEY — On Saturday, Sept. 23, in partnership with Ancestral Bridges, the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum will host a commemorative Stopping Stones memorial markers ceremony from 2-4 p.m. at the museum at 130 River Drive.

The ceremony will be held in remembrance of six people who were enslaved during the 18th century at the Porter-Phelps farmstead in Hadley. With soulful expression through music and renowned storytellers, Onawumi Jean Moss and Shirley Jackson Whitaker, community members are invited to honor the lives and share the histories of Zebulon Prutt, Cesar Phelps, Margaret (Peg) Bowen, her daughters Rosanna and Phillis, and granddaughter Phillis who were enslaved at the farmstead.

This program includes Reading Frederick Douglas Together, a reading of an abridged version of Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech, “The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro,” and an opportunity to visit portions of the house that recall those who were enslaved.

Sonic donates to New Hingham’s teacher project

CHESTERFIELD — Sonic Drive-In has donated $177 to New Hingham Elementary School for a “Into the Woods” project in grades pre-kindergarten to second grade.

The donation is part of the Sonic Foundation’s $1 million in donations to help fund requests on DonorsChoose, a national nonprofit that allows individuals to donate directly to public school classroom requests submitted by teachers.

The $1 million donation is part of the Sonic’s Limeades for Learning initiative. Through the program, the fast food chain donates a portion of proceeds from every drink, slush and shake purchase to the Sonic Foundation, which is used to support local public education.

March to End Fossil Fuels

AMHERST — A March to End Fossil Fuels, coinciding with a march happening in New York City, takes place Sunday at 10 a.m. on the Amherst Town Common.

The action comes as the Sierra Club calls on President Biden to stop fossil fuel expansion and protect communities, and in advance of the U.N. Climate Ambition Summit beginning Sept. 20 that will gather world leaders to commit to phasing out fossil fuels.

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